Chapter 13: A New Family and a Lover
Next Morning
The sun rose slowly and carefully as if afraid to let its rays shine on the kingdom. But finally it came shining brightly as the first day it was created. It was happy. Happy that it did not shine on the sadness that it usually faced.
The sun shined through a crack of a heavy curtain landing on the eyes of a certain Prince. His eyes opened and the result was a beautiful liquid amber being reflected by the small ray of sunlight. He rose from his place on the chair when he tried to stretch his left hand was held down. He looked at the bed and found a small girl curled into a ball holding his hand near her cheek. He smiled and knelled at her bedside never moving his injured left hand. With his right hand he lifted up her bangs and felt her forehead. Her breath was slow and even but her body temperature was getting a little high.
"Its not as bad as last night."
Slowly the young princess opened her eyes. Her emerald orbs reflected against the sun like a mirror. She clutched his hand tightly as she meet his gaze. She smiled seeing his familiar face.
"You didn't let go." She whispered sitting up in the bed.
"No, I didn't. I told you I wouldn't let you go." He replied sitting on the bed.
"I hadn't h-heard you."
Syaoran did not reply. Instead he leaned forward a bit. Sakura was startled at first thinking he would want a kiss. But she figured that he would not force her to do so when she was so sick and vulnerable at that point in time. So she waited. Syaoran's face drew closer to her own. He placed his forehead on her own. Surprised Sakura blushed but did not pull away from him. He took both of her hands into his two large ones. He smiled to himself with his eyes closed. Sakura stared at him in confusion. What was he doing?
"Well you can hear me know can't you?" He said his voice lower than a whisper. Her mouth was dry and she did not have enough courage to nod. "I know you can, that is why..." He squeezed her hands. "I'm telling you again that I will never let you go, not now nor ever."
"Promise?" She asked finding her voice. Syaoran chuckled.
"Yes, I promise." They remained silent. The sun rose higher in the sky. A grandfather clock chimed in the halls announcing the time. But they didn't want to let go of each other nor move from their current positions. He sighed and pulled away from her.
"You must rest. Chiharu will come in and check your wounds. I will come back right after she has finished."
Sakura panicked and held onto his hands that had still been on hers. She came from under the covers and wrapped her arms around his left arm. She buried her face in his shoulder. He didn't move and she didn't let go.
"Don't leave." She whispered her voice shaking.
"I will come-" He was cut off when she gazed at him with her emerald orbs. They shined at him.
"Please don't go. Syaoran please." She pleaded. Syaoran looked down at her confused.
"Is something wrong Sakura?"
Her eyes widened in shock. She had made a mistake, a grave mistake. Immediately she let go of him and scooted to the far side of the bed.
'I forgot...I-I can't tell him my true feelings.'
"I-I just..." She stammered.
'But that doesn't mean I can't spend time with him.'
"I want to spend more time with you. I-If that's alright." She looked at him still leaning on the bed's head board far away from him. Her cheeks burned when their eyes meet and she quickly look at the bed sheets.
"Of course its alright, Sakura." He said standing up. He came close to her he was about to hold her hand but chose to pat her head affectionately instead.
'What are you hiding from me now? Why won't you just trust me...'
"Excuse me." Someone said after knocking lightly on the door. Syaoran reluctantly let his hand drop and moved away from the bed.
"Come in." He said. The door opened and Chiharu came into the now familiar room.
"I must check the young Princesses wounds and ready her for the day." She said looking at Sakura. Syaoran nodded.
"Alright." He said leaving the room. Sakura watched him go with saddened eyes. She wanted to be with him as much as possible before her father came and took her back to that prison. It was only a matter of time before that did happen.
"Princess please lay down." Chiahru said touching her shoulder gently. Sakura gave her a dubious look.
"Why are you calling me Princess?" Sakura asked but Chiharu only smiled.
"The queen will explain it to you in due time." Chiahru said pushing Sakura down on the bed. Sakura did not want that answer but did not see how she could get more out of the wacky doctor. She was about to lie down when a thought struck her.
"H-How do you know about my wounds?" She suddenly blurted out startled. Chiahru stopped her pushing and looked down at Sakura with sad eyes.
"The prince told me. You have had a fever because they have been infected. But the queen is very informed about your," She paused. "situation."
Sakura's eyes widened as she finally remember what her father had almost done. Terror filled her at the thought of Syaoran knowing of him. But she could not understand how these people knew of her private life.
"H-How..." Her lips trembled trying to get the words out but they wouldn't flow.
"All in due time princess." Chiharu replied. Secretly Sakura was getting sick of the doctor hiding things from her but the terror she felt was much more overpowering.
"D-Does Syaoran know?" Sakura asked. Chiahru smiled once again.
"He knows of the wounds." She lied. To her knowledge aside from the Queen;Syaoran had been the second person to find out about her situation. But she did not need to know that yet. Sakura sighed in relief.
"That's good." She said finally lying down.
Chiahru lifted Sakura's dress and started to take off the old bandages.
"Have you grown smitten of the Prince?" Chiahru asked dabbing the healing herbs on her wound. Sakura said nothing. "Princess?"
"Don't tell him." She said quickly. "Please don't." She pleaded. Chiahru started to wrap her stomach wounds in fresh and clean bandages.
"Of course not. This is something you must do." She said.
"Chiharu why am I allowed to stay here?" Sakura asked trying to change the subject. Chiharu played along.
"You must ask the queen." She replied finishing up her stomach then moving to her arms. Sakura sighed.
"I wish I didn't have to bother her like this. I must be such an annoyance." Sakura replied closing her eyes to concentrate on anything but the sting of the herbs. Chiharu had finished her arms and legs. She held onto the Princesses small hands and smiled.
"Remember this young princess. To us you are never an annoyance. We took you in and want you to be happy here. Do not think such sad thoughts." Chiharu said trying to encourage Sakura. Sakura's eyes stung. She hadn't felt this kind of love from anyone but Reu.
"Thank you." Was all Sakura could manage to say."
"Don't thank me, young Princess thank Queen Yelen." Chiharu said. Sakura nodded.
"I will." She replied.
Chiharu walked over to the closet door and opened it. She turned and was pleased to see that Sakura was amazed by all the dresses, gowns, and head pieces of different shapes, color, and sizes. It was like a light colored rainbow had suddenly appeared in the room. Sakura's eyes were wide and glazed with delight. Just thinking of trying them on made her giddy with excitement.
"This is your wardrobe young Princess. You can choose your cloths from any of these. Rika will be your personal maid and tell you what dress or gown is for what occasion, assuming of course if there is an occasion."
"I-I can't-" Sakura began feeling all to awkward and unworthy to even gaze upon the beautiful cloths.
"Yes, you can. This is all yours Princess Sakura." Chiahru said smiling and gesturing the cloths again.
Sakura was in tears. She got up and hugged Chiharu unexpectedly. Chiharu returned the embrace but was careful not to hurt her.
"Excuse me Princess." A small voice said near the door. Sakura looked up and was surprised to find that a young girl stepped in the room holding a pillow that had a gold tiara with a single white diamond stone in the center. "My name is Sasaki Rika, I am your personal maid princess." She said with a bow. Sakura nodded acknowledging her.
"I will leave so you can dress. I look forward to seeing you again, Princess." Chiahru said as she left the two alone.
Rika set down the pillow and walked over to the closet where Sakura was currently engulfed in.
"What do you wish to wear Sakura Hime-sama?" Rika asked watching her princess go through the many items in the closet.
"I don't know there's so much! Something to run in would be nice." She said over her shoulder going deeper into the closet. Rika looked at Sakura's back in surprise.
"That's a nice change of pace." She said and smiled. She dug inside the closet along with Sakura but a second later stopped.
"May I ask if you have a preferred color?" Rika asked looking at her through some cloths.
Sakura gave an excited nod. "Pink!" She said making Rika laugh in amusement.
"Alright, this would be nice for the day." said Rika.
Rika took out a pink dress. It was woven with elegant heart patters on the hems. In the chest area was the crest of the Kingdom. It had short sleeves and reached her knees which allow others to see her bandages but the two didn't seem to care.
"That's perfect! Tomoyo would love it too. I hope Syaoran-" Sakura closed hr mouth before anything else came out. She starred at Rika who could only smile.
"Don't worry. My lips are sealed." She said but Sakura looked a bit skeptical. "I'll tell you a secret. I'm in love with someone too but they are a bit older than me so we still haven't told anyone." She winked at her and handed Sakura the dress. Then she went back into the closet going further back. She pulled out a matching pair of slippers.
"T-Thank you." Sakura said referring to both the outfit and for promising to keep her secret.
"You know the Prince loves green. I'll give you something for your ankle that is that color." She said scurrying over to the door. "Oh, please do get dressed and when I return I will fix the tiara in your hair."
Sakura nodded. When the door closed she carefully slipped the dress on and noticed that it fit perfectly. She put on her slippers and checked herself in the mirror. For some odd reason she really did look beautiful and like a princess. But that was just her imagination. Being called a princess was getting to her head.
"I love it." She said with a smile.
"I'm glad." Rika said making Sakura jump. She scared her. Rika laughed. "Come now Princess sit down." She said point to the chair she had taken back to her vanity.
Rika knelled down and lifted up Sakura's leg. She took a small piece of jewelry from her apron and placed it around Sakura's ankle. When she had finished Sakura lifted her leg a little and stared in wonder at the silver chain with green gems encrusted in selected points of the chain, then on a small extension of the chain was a heart shaped diamond. It was beautiful. She liked how it looked on her ankle but the bandages ruined the look so she put her leg down.
"The Prince had this relic with him for quite some time. Before his father died he gave it to him. I don't know what exactly the King had told him but the Prince had asked me to specifically put this on your ankle." Rika explained standing up and dusting off her apron. She smiled. "I remember when I was first assigned to be a maid in this castle that Queen Yelen had this on her ankle. The King had placed it on her at a dinner party. I believe he said that he had received it as a gift from the young princess of a foreign kingdom."
Sakura stared at her. She was engrossed in the story. When Rika finished Sakura stared at her ankle again. She turned it left then right.
"Syaoran's father gave this to him." She said and Rika nodded. "And Syaoran told you to give it to me?"
"Yes, he is currently waiting for you in the royal garden." Rika replied beginning to fix her hair. She put her hair into a bridal bun. Some strands of hair stubbornly laid on her ears. She placed once diamond incrusted hair piece in the bun to hold it together then placed the tiara on her head. She fixed it so it would stay at the very top of the bun that was located low on the back of her head. This was it wouldn't bother her too much. "Princess Tomoyo and Prince Eriol have gone out for errands associated with their respective kingdoms and will not come back until night fall. Princess Melin is also with them" She said finishing fixing Sakura. She turned to the maid looking at her with suspicion.
"Rika-chan, you are being awfully helpful." She said but then giggled. "Overly helpful actually."
"Good Luck. You have the whole day to confess to him." Rika said with a wink. Then she left. Sakura looked at her reflection with sad eyes.
"I wish I could tell him Rika. I really wish I could."
Royal Garden
Syaoran's POV
I leaned against the trunk of a peach blossom tree looking up to the clear blue sky. Two birds passed by one and perched themselves on a tree branch above me. I stared at them and smiled when I realized that they were love birds. They cuddled and played with each other.
"Syaoran?" A small voice called out to me. My gaze fell on the one I was waiting for. Her ankle was beautifully wrapped with the anklet my father had given to me. Her head was adorned with a tiara that held a white diamond. Her dress was light pink and embroidered with hearts at the hems of it and the crest of the kingdom was on her chest. The slippers she had on matched her dress. She was beautiful nut the truth to me she would always be like this, as beautiful as a little fairy, even if I still do not know her feelings for me.
I smiled at her and beckoned her over and she willingly came to me. She smiled at me as I was still gawking at her in her new dress. She spun around and posed cutely with her hands behind her back and one foot pointing skyward all in one graceful movement.
"You like it?" She asked. I shook my head and saw disappointment in her eyes.
"Like would be unworthy to describe you. Love is better. I love it." I said still examining her. She giggled and it sounded like an angels laughter to me.
"Thank you, your highness." She said with a bow. This time it was my turn to frown. I didn't like her calling me by formalities for any reason.
"Syaoran." I said stubbornly. She looked puzzled.
"Pardon me?" She asked standing next to me.
"Call me Syaoran and only Syaoran." I said. "I want you to call me by my name." I turned my body to her and gently pushed her against the tree. She only looked up at me with laughing eyes. That was not the reaction I wanted but Sakura was naive so I would allow her to catch up on her own time.
"Alright, but don't start calling my Princess Sakura either. I want you to call me by my name." She said mimicking my voice. I laughed. She waited me to stop before she continued. "Syaoran, what are we going to do today?" I shrugged then with my left hand I gently took her chin and smiled down at her. She blushed and tried to avert my eyes. She pressed herself against the tree and I could almost hear her heart racing. Yes, that was the reaction I was waiting for.
"Whatever you want, my Angel." I said adding my new name for her. Her eyes softened along with her smile. It almost looked loving towards me but I couldn't allow myself to think that far for her. Her blush was lighter almost satisfied.
"My Angel, huh?" She whispered to herself. "I'm I that beautiful to you?" She asked looking at my hand that still wouldn't let go of her face. I allowed my forehead to touch her own.
"Of course. You are to me everything and as such you are the most beautiful thing I have laid my eyes upon." Her eyes widened as my words drifted towards her. I only hoped she could understand. "Its almost like heaven on my earth. Even if I am restricted from certain things I am able to enjoy the rest to the fullest."
"S-Syaoran, I-I..." She held my arm with her delicate small hands. "I don't know what to say." She whispered. I smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Tell me what is it that you wish to do today could be a start." I said leaving my lips on her head.
She dropped her hands from my arm and placed them on my chest. Her head laid itself on my collar bone and I could feel her warm breath on my neck. It felt so wonderful I didn't want to let her go ever.
"You already know what I want Syaoran." She whispered.
Of course I knew. The words she said to me while she was still isolated in her room never left me. But I wanted her to at least say it one more time.
"I-I want to be with you, I want to spend more time with you. I-If that's alright." She said. Her stammering only made her small voice that much more cuter. I wrapped my arms around her waist pulling her closer to me.
"Anything you want will always be alright with me, Angel." I said softly in her ear. I felt her heart slam into her chest. I could see she really like that name. I held her body away from mine and took her hand. "So touring the Royal Garden would be your wish as well?" I said looking into her eyes. They were bright and clear but once again I saw something that looked strangely like love but I ignored it. She nodded and smiled sweetly.
"Yes!" I chuckled and started walking. I didn't let go of her hand.
We walked around the garden our hands joined together. We guided her to the most beautiful flowers the servants had been tending to recently. Her eyes sparkled in awe as we saw each one. It made me happy to see her in such high spirits. We stopped at a small fence where flowers in red, pink, and purple were being frown. She looked at them in awe and knelled down cupping one in her small hands.
"Look Syaoran." She said glancing at me and smiled. "Their so beautiful! What are they called?"
"Carnations. The garden is full of them. My mother loves these flowers the most." I explained knelling beside her. She looked back at them and caressed the petals gently.
"My mother would have loved these as well. You know she named me and my brother after flowers? Sakura means Cherry Blossom and Touya means Peach Blossom." She said her eyes beginning to look sad.
"What happened to her?" I asked. Sakura winced and though I wanted my curiosity satsified I regretted asking her.
"My mother died when I was only five. I can barely remember her. My brother went to advance in his studies in another country."
"So its only you and-" I couldn't bring myself to say that name. But it seemed she knew what I was trying to say and smiled.
"No, not only us. Reu is with me and Remi-kun too." Her voice was shaking. It was hurting her to speak of them. Her shoulders shook as well.
"Sakura lets go somewhere else." I suggested.
"Alright." She stood and held my hand with one last glance at the flowers we headed to another section of the Royal Garden.
We went over to a part of the garden that not everyone knew about. I was the one who took care of it. My mother allowed that privilege. This part of the garden was hidden by untamed shrubs and trees.
"Syaoran, where are we going?" She asked her voice sweet and innocent voice echoing in my ears. I breathed a sigh of relief. She was back to normal.
"You will see." I replied squeezing her hand a bit. Her eyes softened again and she smiled that odd smile as well.
We stopped at the untamed bushes and trees. I let go of her and and crouched down on the grass.
"Would you like me to carry you or would a piggy back ride suit you best?" I asked. She looked at me in surprise then began to think about it.
"I-I..." She fidgeted with the bottom hem of her dress. I had to use my will power not to look up at her underclothes. She was trying to drive me crazy, she was trying really hard, or maybe she didn't know better. I wasn't really sure. But she had to stop, I didn't want any other men getting the wrong idea. "I want you to carry me." She said softly.
"As you wish, my Angel." I said enjoying watching her blush. She pulled her hem harder.
Gently I swooped her off her feet. I carried her as grooms carry their newly wed wives. My face was close enough for me to kiss her. When she saw how close I was she blushed hard and looked away. I refrained from trying to kiss her. Her blush alone satisfied my needs a little. The sky was beginning to darken a bit. I had not realized we had spent so much time out in the garden. It also seemed tat the others had not come back yet. But I really could care less. Spending so much time with Sakura gave me more joy than anyone could. I did my best to protect her from the thorny bushes and trees. She curled up against me yelping from time to time because of the thorns. Soon we were able to get out of them. I walked a little bit more just to keep her in my arms. Then I set her down at the edge of a meadow. I smiled when I saw her face. She looked around in awe taking in the cherry blossom trees. Then her gaze slid to the pond in the center where rare fish that I had bought from all over the kingdom were swimming. Surprisingly they coexisted together without any fights.
"Its beautiful." She whispered sniffing the fresh air. She sighed happily. I had not known that she enjoyed nature so much.
"I am happy you enjoy it. Do you mind siting on bare grass?" I asked aware of how girls could be. Melin and Tomoyo detested to sit on the grass. Here eyes lit up and they glowed in excitement. It was obvious she didn't mind.
"Is it alright if I take off my slippers?" She asked. I chuckled.
"It is not very like a princess but as I said earlier. Anything you wish is alright with me.
She squealed and jumped with joy. I laughed as she quickly slipped off her slippers. She sighed in content as I watched her wiggle her toes in the grass.
"This feels heavenly." She sighed happily.
I sat near the pond and Sakura sat beside me. She kicked the water and laughed when the fish splashed back. I sighed and laid on the feather like grass. I felt my life complete with Sakura here by my side laughing her time away.
I closed my eyes and slowly images of Sakura filled my eyes. She was smiling and saying to me. Then she took my hands and whispered something in my ear. It sounded something like, 'I-I can't...forgive me.' I tried to ask her why she said that but my voice was lost. My eyes opened and I had not realized I had actually fallen asleep, I had dreamed. It was dark already nut I could see because many of the stars and fire flies giving light and hovering about.
"S-Sakura?" I asked groggily sitting up. I rubbed my eye and yawned.
"You're awake." She said responding to my call. Her back was towards me and I could see her wipping her face. That could only mean one thing.
"You were crying." I said. She shook her head and laughed a little.
"I'm alright." She said forcing herself.
"No, you are not."
I stood up and put my hand on her trembling shoulders. Slowly she stood up from the grass. Her fight soaked in the pond water. She faced me with a fake smile.
"See? I told you I was alright." She said trying to convince herself more than me. A tear slipped from the corner of her eyes. I wiped it away wit the back of my hand and caressed her cheek.
"Why are you lying to me, my angel?"
She did not answer me nut that smile she had did vanish. I gently took her waist and leaned in a bit. But she pushed me away and looked down at the grass as the cool wind blew past us. Her eyes held a look of sadness and pain. She held her chest like she was trying to stop a horrible ache in her heart.
"I can't." She whispered closing her eyes.
"What?"
"Syaoran..." She glanced at me and the pain and sadness had intensified. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me." She whispered letting go of her chest. Her bangs covered her eyes while she shed silent tears. Why couldn't she just tell me what was wrong? Why was she asking for so much forgiveness when she had done nothing bad. I couldn't understand this part of her. I really wanted to understand but I just couldn't.
"Sakura-" I wanted to say something but she did not allow me.
"Don't" She said stepping away from m. I sighed and held out my hand.
"It is late, let us return before we cause others to worry."` I said.
With a small nod she took my hand and I held it firmly. Not allowing her to pull away as she wanted. I wouldn't let her go. I didn't care what she was hiding I would not loose her to this.
"No matter what happens I will always love you. I will do whatever it takes to make you happy. You are my angel, the only one that gives my life meaning, I will not lose you." I said determined to get my feelings across. She looked at me in shock a blush running across her checks. Then it was gone and a determined look entered her eyes.
"Then I have no choice. I will do what it in my power to keep you safe."