Wings
By Yuki
Rating: M-ish. Some swearing.
Pairing: mainly S+S
Summary: Touya dreams about feathers (yeah... that does kind of sound dumb, doesn't it? LOL)
Notes: Oh wow, I am so sorry for taking me this long to update. I... I have lost tracked of this story and had gotten sidetracked by RL but I suddenly had the time to sit down again and here's what I ended up doing. I hope that this update, too long that it had been, does not disappoint too much...
Wings
Chapter 8
It was, as Touya had just discovered, never a good thing to receive a call from Hirigizawa. He would've gladly gone through his life without ever having to discover this particular fact but circumstances had greatly changed that and now, chagrined, he breathed noisily, angrily pressing the phone against his cheeks. Touya suddenly missed the good old days when never really had any reason at all to interact with the little kid.
Kid.
Right.
More like Spawn of Something Evil.
"Eriol, guess what?" Not a question really since he didn't give the kid enough time to answer, "I am going to England to kick your ass back to Japan. How does that sound to you?" Touya was barely able to spit the words out through his tightly gritted teeth. He knew who exactly Eriol is supposed to be – a reincarnation of one of the greatest, if not the greatest sorcerer. One that can, as time have often proved, alter much of reality, bend it to his will, a master manipulator. In other words, a reliable, dependable trouble maker. And though Touya never really much thought about it, Eriol just had a way of spooking him. Not that he'd ever admit it out loud, but anyone would agree that the whole rebirth thing was some scary shit.
He was suddenly distracted by the sound of Hirigizawa's voice coming from the other end of the line: "Sounds like you've met our visitors."
And always so infuriatingly cryptic.
Frowning darkly, Touya felt his stomach churning. Eriol sounded calm enough, so he was sure that there was no imminent danger to Sakura or Yuki (and okay, maybe even to the stupid Gaki as well), which was good news but still, it does not explain this whole sordid Not-Syaoran and Not-Sakura Situation. "What the hell is going on here?" He finally burst out, his eyes slanting into tiny, dangerous slits.
"Hitsuzen." Eriol answered serenely.
"What kind of an answer is that?" Touya roared, his voice echoing around the tiny alley. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Sakura slightly jump up with surprise, the Gaki taking on a defensive stance. He fought the urge to roll his eyes. This day was quickly going down as the Suck Fest Day of the month. Probably the year, even.
"Nothing is purely coincidental, Touya, you of all people should know that." Eriol said, the lecturing tone only adding fuel to Touya's growing irritation.
"Hitsuzen my ass." Touya answered back through tightly gritted teeth. "I want a fu-" Touya stopped just in time to censor himself. He glanced at Sakura who was watching him with wide green eyes. He took a deep breath, gripping the phone, trying to calm down. "How about I re-phrase my question, hm, Eriol? You think you could work with me here? Listen closely, okay: WHAT. THE. HELL. IS. GOING. ON. HERE?" Touya stopped and took a deep breath, quickly adding, "And I would really appreciate it if you can give me a reasonable explanation why there's someone in Tomodea prancing around wearing the Gaki's face! I mean, Kami, is one Gaki not enough? Is there really a need for another one?" He angrily turned his head, pinning Syaoran with his glare, "There is just one of your right? There isn't an army of Gaki somewhere out there, just waiting to pop out?"
It took Touya to realize that he had never said so much in his entire life. And such silly things too. This was clearly some sign of apocalyptical times.
"Please don't be mad, Touya-sama." Sakura began, tentatively taking a step towards Touya, as though trying to shield Syaoran from his wrath.
Startled at hearing Sakura's voice, Touya completely forgot about the phone he was using and Eriol who was having some sort of litany right now. He shook his head, as though trying to erase the way Sakura's voice had sounded just seconds ago.
That kind of tone, so timid and soft, it didn't belong to his sister.
Of course, this Sakura wasn't his sister. But still, he could quite think of her as a complete, total stranger. This wasn't like the Mirror card. He knew that it was a spirit wearing her sister's face – for a good cause, although, not something he entirely approved of – but that wasn't the point. Anyway, this other Sakura, well, she was or actually is Sakura. But not the Sakura he grew up with, that he protected with every fiber of his being. This was not his Kaiju. And yet… and yet, she still stirred up in him the same feelings he had for his sister: wanting to care for her and protect her and… get her away from that Gaki as soon as possible…
"If it will make you feel any better, Touya-sama," Sakura continued when he didn't say anything, "There are other Touya'stoo. Different versions of you, in different worlds and dimension. We've even met some of you."
Touya wordlessly stared at her and briefly wondered if Yukito had somehow mistakenly baked cookies with some mind altering substance. Or: "Mushrooms." He finally muttered. "I must have eaten some real bad mushrooms." Although, how, when and where, that he couldn't quite figure out.
"I'm afraid mushrooms doesn't have anything to do with this," Eriol piped in, sounding slightly amused
Touya had had enough with the riddles. So there were many versions of him. And Sakura. And Syaoran, too apparently, although for what strange purpose to actually have all these multi-universe he couldn't quite figure out – what had the world gotten into? – Touya thought, shuddering, but alright, fine: there are many dimensions and worlds; the universe is a vast vat of weirdness, blah blah blah, he's on board with that, and that's all interesting, really, but what he wanted to know was how this would affect his sister. If it would affect her at all. "Where is Sakura? Where is my Sakura?"
"She's in China. With her Syaoran."
Touya growled menacingly at this as Eriol continued on, oblivious to Touya's reactions. "There is no need to worry Touya. You're being too melodramatic."
"I'm being melodramatic?" Touya raged. "I'm being melodramatic?" He repeated, stopping abruptly as soon as he realized that repeating his utterances might be a little too melodramatic. Glaring at the phone in hand, he paced around for a few seconds, before suddenly looking around, eyes glittering with suspicion. "I swear to God, if Tomoyo suddenly jumps out from the bushes, camera in hand, screaming: 'you've been punk'd, Touya-kun!' someone is going to have to die. Slowly and painfully." He cut his eyes towards Syaoran.
There's a heavy sigh at the end of the line. "Now you're just being silly."
Touya can practically see Eriol rolling his eyes. Fuckin' little punk. "You knew about this all along," He accused, his tone slightly more venomous than a livid rattlesnake. "And do I get a warning, no, of course not, let Touya suffer from a heart attack."
"This is hardly about you at all Touya." Eriol said in a scolding voice.
A vein inside Touya's head began to throb. He had never been treated this way before. Even Kaho had never talked to him this way. Like he was a five year old kid. And okay, granted that Eriol was truly, technically, probably a hundred years older than him - just with a body of a young teenage boy, utterly creepy, by the way – Touya wasn't going to let Eriol chastise him like that.
"You get this through your thick head Eriol, if it's about Sakura, anything at all, I as her brother, deserved to know exactly what is going on!"
Another tired sigh from Eriol and then before Touya can really loose it, Eriol calmly added, "Which is why it is important that I give Syaoran and Sakura the message from Yuuko-chan."
Ah, bring in the other players! Fantastic. "And who in Kami's name is this Yuuko-chan?" Touya grumbled. The gasp from Syaoran and Sakura – who aren't really Syoran and Sakura, damn this is giving Touya a headache – told him that they knew who exactly Yuuko was.
"Can you put me on speaker, so that they can hear me?" Eriol requested quite pleasantly. Cheerfully even.
"I'm so glad you're enjoying this," Touya viciously muttered. "It must be really boring in England." That or Kaho must have finally dumped his sorry little ass.
"Any time today, Touya. If you want your answers, that is." Eriol chirped up.
Great, now I'm the freakin' secretary. Touya thought, violently pressed the speaker button, holding the phone up, like it's some sort of weapon. "Alright, you're on."
"Hello Syaoran and Sakura." Eriol greeted amicably.
Both Syaoran and Sakura's eyebrows rose and Touya had to roll his eyes.
"It is a pleasure to finally speak with the princess and her knight," Eriol continued, his voice more pleasant than normal.
"I'm no Knight." Syaoran answered, almost automatically.
Touya didn't miss the way Syaoran's facial muscles had clenched at the denunciation of his supposed Knighthood. Odd boy. Are all versions of the Gaki like him? And what was wrong with being a knight to this other Sakura? What, did the kid think he was too good to be Sakura's knight? Another fuckin' little punk. His life is filled with them, why is that? Can someone explain that to him?
"Who are you?" Sakura asked, her brows coming together, as though she was trying very hard to remember something. "I know you… your voice… but I… I can't…."
Touya watched the expressing of near-agony flitting on her sister's face; this was quickly smoothed out when Syaoran very briefly touched her arm, as though trying to distract her. "Princess, don't." Was the muted whisper from Syaoran and Touya narrowed his eyes at that.
For someone who isn't even a knight, the kid was ordering the Princess around?
"Ah, my dear child," Eriol's voice again, "I may sound different, but I think in your heart of hearts you know that you can trust me, ne?"
Sakura's delicate face visibly paled.
"Princess?" The concern in Syaoran's voice was palpable as Sakura blindly held out a hand towards Syoran, which the kid eagerly took, squeezing it gently, tugging a little, bringing Sakura closer to him.
Anymore closer they would be practically joined at the hip! This isn't really his sister but he had to tamp down the urge to grab Sakura and hide her behind his back, away from Syaoran and his grabby little hands. Which by the way, were clasped around Sakura's.
Sakura took a deep breath, closing her eyes, "I… I do. It's strange. I can't even see your face… but your voice…I do trust you, Eriol-sama." And when she opened her eyes, there was a triumphant gleam in them. As though the sense of trust that Eriol's voice had evoked was some sort of prize. Something she had grasped and was tightly holding on to.
This was more baffling and disturbing than ever, Touya thought, grimacing. Especially when Eriol had called Sakura his child. This is bringing things into a whole level of wrongness.
"Good. That is all that I need to hear from you, my little Sakura."
Touya couldn't help snarling a little at that. Since when was his Sakura became Eriol's Sakura? Since when did she become everyone's Sakura? At what point in his life did he not paid enough attention that it had gotten this far? Everyone staking a claim on his sister?!
"I do have a message from Yuuko." Eriol continued in the same velvety voice which gave Touya the heebie-jeebies. "She's quite busy at the moment. I believe someone messed up something or the other and she's trying to straighten things out over at her end. Anyway, she said not to worry. Everything will be fine. There is no danger of meeting your other selves, not now and hopefully not ever.
She's certain that there really is nothing to worry about it in the first place, seeing your other selves face to face, I mean. Well, other than presumably a bad headache, but really, no one would self-combust or go yammering-mad. There is no Universal Law about such things, at least as far as I know. I expect there'd be a bit of explaining – if and when that happens – but nothing that can't be talked about over tea or coffee, or ice cream, ne?
As it is, there might be some confusion right now, which is understandable but rest assured that no harm will come to you there. Yuuko thinks this little side trip might even help you gain some new perspective about well, yourselves, of course. And if you searched well, you'd find whatever it is that you're looking for. It might even be just right underneath your noses." At this point, Eriol lets out a small pleased chuckle.
"So let me officially welcome you to Tomodea," He continued without missing a beat. "I certainly hope that you enjoy your stay there. It will be brief, but enlightening, I can assure you that."
Listening closely, Touya didn't think he felt like he could sit back, relax and just enjoy the show. Frankly, the more Eriol was trying to explain things, the more confusing it was becoming. Who the hell is this Yuuko character and what does she have to do with all of these?
Probably some sort of sorceress, Touya concluded with a grimace. Figures Eriol would be friends with someone who'd be so careless as to get two different worlds all tangled up. These magicians! Always messing around people's lives like its some sort of hobby. Arrogant people!
"She did warn me about other people watching closely, but again, there is no need to be alarmed. You're both safe there. And to answer your question, Touya, I think The Watchers won't be bothering your Syaoran and Sakura…"
"You think?!" Touya growled into the phone. This conversation was supposed to make him better?
The sound of a long suffering sigh filtered through the phone. "Fine," Eriol grumbled, as though he was finally realizing that he was being incredibly bratty. Impossible, of course. So maybe Kaho was giving him a reprimanding look. "I am quite certain, Touya, that Sakura and Syaoran are both fine in China. Perhaps you'd like me to swear on something I hold precious and dear, hmm?"
There was a smug, teasing tone in Eriol's voice that Touya didn't like. "You want some swearing, Eriol?"
"Oh, Touya, give it up. I know you're worried but do you think that Syaoran or his mother and his sisters would allow anyone to harm Sakura? Even the Chinese Girl would be ready to defend Sakura if things… get out of hand, which, again, I am assuring you, will not happen." Eriol had said this all in one quick breath, making sure that Touya wouldn't get a single word in. "Although Suppi says that you shouldn't really count on the Yellow Plushie." Eriol chuckled, "Bad Suppi!"
Someone purred from the other end of the line and Touya could swear that every hair on his body had stood on its end. His sister was surrounded by crazies.
His silence was misinterpreted as there's another sigh and then, "Kaho promises that everything will be fine."
"She can't go home yet, can't she?" Touya asked after a few minutes of silence, his voice sounding hoarse. From all that shouting, of course.
"Well, sure, she can, Touya." Eriol's voice brightened up. "In fact, call me when she comes home, I'd like to watch you explain all these to her."
Touya made a face. Hahaha. Eriol is so funny, isn't he? "No thanks." He muttered. He can go without Sakura home for a few more days. As long as she's safe back in China, then fine, she can stay there until everything in Tomodea goes back to normal. Besides, Touya sneaked another peak at Syaoran who, FYI: now has an arm wrapped around Sakura's shoulder, the mere thought of having two Syaoran's walking around Tomodea, arrogant and irritating? Hell no.
"Well then, I guess all is settled." Eriol said, sounding business like.
Settled? Oh, this was so far from settled. "Oh no you don't-"
Eriol gracefully cut him off. "So Syaoran and Sakura you just have fun there. And good luck with the search. But… be careful, though," he added in a slightly lower tone of voice. "Kinomoto-san can be quite psychotic."
And then the line went dead.
The flat beeping sound seemed to echo all around them, most especially in Touya's head. What the hell? Did that little magician punk hanged up on him?
Unacceptable! Totally unacceptable. He had specifically asked for an explanation and instead he got absolutely… well, nothing! Nothing at all. Turning to look at the phone, gritting his teeth, frustrated that none of his questions we answered at all, worst now he's left with more questions than ever, he turned to glare then at Syaoran.
"Let's get this straight alright. I don't care about you. I'd be more than fine if you'd gotten into some warped dimension and someone fried your ass but I sure as hell want to know exactly what's going on. What 'Watchers'? What 'search'? What the hell is Eriol babbling about?"
Sakura answered her voice painfully small, tentative. "Eriol-sama said not to worry."
Touya cringed at the way this Sakura spoke. "I'm sorry okay, but I don't entirely trust the guy." He said, his tone softening as he regarded Sakura with an apologetic half-grimace.
"Why not?" She asked looking bewildered, her face so familiarly scrunched up.
Her confusion at not being able to trust someone, it brought a sad, something aching inside Touya's chest. Swallowing past the lump in his throat, Touya shook his head, breathing deeply, trying to calm himself. "Because he likes manipulating people and he thinks its fun. He does it for the fun of it."
"I don't trust him either." Syaoran announced in a lowered voice. He glanced up at Touya and for a moment, they shared a look and the fact that he and Syaoran are sharing a look – well, Kami cue in the creepy music.
Shaking his head, Touya resumed his pacing. He could feel Syaoran watching him. Finally, Syaoran straightened up, locking his eyes on him again. "The Watchers, whoever they are, they won't hurt your Sakura."
Touya huffed. "Oh, yeah? How can you be so sure?"
A haunted look crossed Syaoran's face. "She isn't the princess. It's the princess that they want."
Sensing the sudden shifting of Syaoran's mood, Sakura quickly reached out her hand, touching the taller boy's shoulder, gently squeezing. "Syaoran-kun…"
Syaoran turned towards her, taking her hand, enveloping it inside his own two larger hands, squeezing back in reassurance. "Princess, please don't worry about it. I'm here to protect you."
Touya watched this exchange, his face setting into a stony expression. "If something happens to my sister…" He hadn't realized it, but he had been glaring at the other Sakura.
"She didn't do anything." Syaoran answered back, standing up to his full height. "Look, I'm sorry, uhm…sir, we didn't mean to cause any trouble or upset you." The Older Brat had put himself in between him and the Not-Sakura Sakura, bowing down low in apology.
Touya stepped back, more out of surprise. "Gah, what are you doing? Stop that! Don't do that!" The Gaki had never been this polite with him – ever. This was bringing the creepiness of the whole thing past… well everything!
Syaoran Number Two quickly straightened up. "Gomen ne. Force of habit." The kid paused as though considering his next words. "You see, in our world, you're the king"
Touya could feel his eyebrows rising and his lips curving into a smile, but he couldn't help himself. "I'm the what in your what?" He needed to hear the brat say it just one more time.
"You're the king." The kid nodded curtly. "Or at least you look like our king; you don't act much like a king."
"Nani?!" Nostrils flaring, Touya took a step forward. He shouldn't really be offended, since he had no plans of being king and it was the last thing he'd ever consider himself to be. But to be told by that insufferable Otherworld Gaki that he couldn't act like one, in front of his Otherworld Sister no less, well, okay frankly, he was insulted.
"It's just an observation." The kid answered calmly, not even flinching. And try as hard as he could, Touya couldn't help but feel a little bit impressed by this sudden show of courage. Not that the other Syaoran had ever backed down on him. Of course, this Syaoran was much older and he seemed more… poised, more self-assured. Which only grated on Touya's nerve.
"The king would never insult the princess." Syaoran added with a firm nod. "And the king isn't arrogant at all. Well, not as arrogant as you, anyway."
"What did you say? Would you like to run that by me again, twerp?"
"The king is noble and wise and kind."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Touya asked, raising his eyebrows. At the back of his mind, some voice was telling him to be grateful that the brat was a loyal subject, ready to defend his king – which would be him, technically. Although, to admit that would be tantamount to acknowledging that the kid isn't really as bad and would even be nearly perfect for his sister. Okay, his other sister, but well, fuck that.
The kid was glaring at him.
Touya narrowed his eyes. "You and the king are real buddy-buddy then? Got along fine, didn't you? Hang out by the palace much?" He asked, trying to goad the Taller Brat.
Something flickered across Syaoran's face. A defeated look, was it? Something sad and terrible that Touya almost instantly regretted his words.
"No. Yes. I mean, I… I…" Syaoran's features seems to crumple from some weight, gritting his jaws, he finally shook his head. "No, I am not allowed in the castle grounds until I'm summoned."
"So well then, you really wouldn't know what kind of a King I am." Touya paused, frowned, "well, he is, I mean my other self." Goddammit, why did he start this stupid conversation again?
"The king would never…" Syaoran began, his hands balling into tight fists.
Sakura suddenly stepped in between them, startling them both. "Its ok Syaoran-kun," Sakura said, laying a hand over one of the brat's fists. She glanced at Touya, smiling softly, a familiar almost affectionate little smile. "My Touya-'ni sama calls me Kaiju a lot, too"
"He does?" Syaoran and Touya asked at the same time. Syaoran sounded both appalled and surprised. Touya on the other hand sounded pleased and vaguely tender. Almost touched by this revelation.
Syaoran looked from Sakura to Touya, shaking his head. "Well, he shouldn't. You aren't a kaiju…"
It was Touya's turn to look at Syaoran with a death glare. "Yeah, well what if she likes it, huh? Have you ever thought about that, brat?"
"Maa, maa, you two." Sakura said, finally taking control of the situation that was quickly escalation into a death glare fest. She turned to Syaoran, "I do kind of like it." She paused, tilting her head. "I think. But it annoys me sometimes too. Especially when you… when he does it in front of… other people." And as though this was something she was just realizing, her face began to glow, brightening, her smile slowly stretching her face.
Touya watched as she clasped her hand, turning her back against him to face Syaoran and holding both of his hand, her whole body shaking.
"I remember! I remember, Syaoran-kun!" She breathed excitedly. "I remember it from the feather that you got me the last time."
Alarm bells went off inside Touya's head. Loud. Clear. Ringing, ringing, ringing until everything went falling into place.
"Did you just say feather?" He asked in a strangled sort of voice.
Sakura turned to face him, cocking her head a little. "Why yes, you see…"
"What do you know about the Hime's feather?" Syaoran quickly interrupted, pushing Sakura behind him. However this Syaoran looked and acted like his Sakura's Syaoran, Touya had to remind himself that he was not the same little Hong Kong Kid. He could tell almost instantly that this Syaoran had fought more battles, had won almost all of them. He was stronger too. More adept at fighting. Would not think twice of fighting him, if it came to that.
Well, Touya can fight too. "Don't take that tone of voice with me, kid." He stepped back, hands closing into fists as well.
"Please don't fight." Sakura begged them, watching them with worried green eyes.
"It's alright hime." Syaoran assured her, nodding curtly at his direction.
So the brat thinks he can take me. Maybe he can. Maybe the best way to deal with this was to avoid violence of any sort, Touya thought almost warily. He wasn't a fan of violence, especially not with Sakura in their presence. Rolling his eyes, he relaxed his stance. "Why do you keep calling her that? Her name's Sakura." He said, in a perceptibly friendlier voice, although the tone didn't really convey hugs and kisses, at least it was more… civil.
Syaoran looked at him, taking in the slackened arms and hand. He did the same thing, standing shoulder to shoulder with Sakura, as though acknowledging that Touya wasn't an immediate thread. "A commoner can't just call the Princess by her first name."
Commoner? What was the kid doing hanging out with Sakura, the Princess if he was just a commoner? Trust Sakura, even in the other dimension, she just had to seek out Syaoran. "What's a commoner doing with the Princess then?" Touya asked, not meaning to sound cruel, just curious.
Syaoran turned beet red. "I… well, I…"
Rescuing Syaoran from his discomfort, Sakura gave Touya a look, that familiar Shut Up Oni-chan look. "Please don't be mean to him. He's helping me find my memories."
Touya frowned at them. There was just no way of getting a straightforward normal conversation with this two. Ask a relatively logical question and they'd throw in something like this. "Your memories?"
"Un." Sakura nodded sadly. "I lost them. They all went flying away."
The image of it struck Touya like a giant anvil falling on his head: Flighty, little white feathers, flying away…
Touya felt nauseous. "Kami-freaking-sama." He muttered, suddenly remember his mother visiting him earlier this morning. Fucking hell. This was what his mother was telling him! Why had he forgotten about it? How could he have forgotten about it?
He must've looked like he was about to be sick because suddenly, he felt Sakura's hand tugging at the sleeves of his shirt, looking up at him, her green eyes wide and worried. "Is… is everything alright?"
Instinctively, Touya took her hand, pressing it into his palms. He suddenly felt sorry for her. No memories. How fucking sad was that? "No. No way in hell is everything all right." He choked on the words, clearing his throat. Where was he – where was her brother King when this was happening? How could he have let this happen to her?
"Did… did it hurt?" He asked softly.
Sakura shook her head.
He let out a breath he had been holding. At least it had been painless. "How did you lose your memory?"
"I…I don't remember." She confessed, blinking up at him. "But Syaoran-kun was there and he saved me."
Touya looked over at Sakura's head to watch Syaoran standing almost like a royal guard, still on the same spot minutes ago. "So he says." Touya muttered, shaking his head. How could something so unbearably awful happened to this girl? What if it had happened to his sister? He couldn't imagine how terrible it would be for him, for her friends… for Syaoran if she couldn't remember them.
"I believe Syaoran-kun. I trust him with my life." Sakura told him, her voice suddenly strong and sure.
"Hime…" Syaoran started in a low, pained voice, but was promptly interrupted when they heard a gurgling noise of sort.
"Hoe!" Sakura said, turning bright red, clutching at her stomach.
Touya and Syaoran both sweatdropped.
"Princess, you are hungry, why didn't you tell me?"
"It's… it's… this is embarrassing."
"Oh hell. C'mmon, you better come with me. I'll prepare dinner."
"But…"
"I almost run you down with my bike, it's the least I could do." Touya said, his voice becoming gentler. It was the least he could do after everything that had happened to her. Dinner. How awfully small and pathetic. Maybe he could ask Yue to help them. Yue has to help right? This was still Sakura after all. Right?
He thought about this, watching as Sakura and Syaoran exchanged looks, they seemed to be communicating with their eyes, something that he had seen numerous times before, but this time he could sense a little bit of their distrust and seeing it on his sister's green eyes was too much to bear. He averted his eyes and pretended to wipe the dirt off his bike handle. "Well?" He asked gruffly, impatiently.
"Ok, Touya-sama," Sakura said and Touya cringed again. He could still remember Sakura calling him by his name yesterday. The added –sama was almost just as bad. "We accept your invitation," Sakura continued, "thank you very much."
Well, this Sakura was definitely much more polite. She should be, Touya thought. She is, after all according to the brat, a princess. Although, Touya could barely imagine his little sister as a princess. His Sakura would make a lousy princess. All that yelling and screaming. Touya felt a sharp pang, as he realized that now, more than ever, just how much he missed his Sakura. He glanced at the other Sakura who was looking up at him with her green eyes and he knew, somehow he knew that she could tell exactly what he was feeling.
It was sort of disturbing.
Actually, the whole thing is disturbing.
But whatever. Touya took a deep breath. This Sakura was hungry and if his sister went wandering the streets, hungry and looking for her memory, he'd feel so much better if he knew that someone would take care of her too. He finally nodded his head and proceeded to lead the way towards their house. He stopped when he saw, from the corner of his eyes, the kid following them. "Just you," he said, pointing at Sakura. "Not him."
"I'm coming too." The taller Syaoran said in a calm voice that managed to sound threatening.
Touya raised his eyebrows. Taller Gaki equals bigger pain in the ass. He scowled and glared at Syaoran, who despite the increase in his height still fell a wee bit shorter than him. "You didn't lose your memories, did you?"
Confusion marred the boy's face before he answered with a reluctant, "Well, no."
"Yeah, I didn't think so." Touya said, huffily. "So scram."
"I go where the Princess goes." Syaoran declared, Touya could almost bet he'd stamp his foot to prove a point, but this Syaoran stood tall and proud.
"Yeah, who says so?" Touya countered.
"You did. The King did. I promised the king I'd take care of his sister."
Like a fist in the chest. The day had arrived, Touya thought grimly. I have trusted my sister to the brat. I have handed her over to him. What a lousy brother I am in that other world.
"Alright, fine. Pick those up and follow us."
And Syaoran did as what he was told.
Dinner should be very, very interesting indeed.
-tbc-