The Lost Princess
Chapter 8
"Darn it! I've lost track of them!" came the frustrated hiss of the guy from the shadows.
It was a rather unusual dark night with only the presence of a handful of stars. Even the moon was hidden by the dark heavens. Maybe because the moon knew what the night would bring…
Silent screams of agony… Blood draining of the guilty… Eternal slumber for the fallen angel's minion… The quiet retaliation of the innocents…
The moon didn't want to witness such cruelty and madness because although the cause was just… the means was not right, would never be right.
"Mech! Locate them… Now!" the silent night could hear the quiet panic in the guy's voice as he spoke to the communicator.
"I'm on them, Night." The guy heard the boyish reply. Then silence. He looked around in hope that he'll spot them again.
~Stupid! Why did you let them out of your sight?!~ he mentally scolded his stupidity, his heart beating in an unusually fast rate. His mind was a total mess while his instincts were warning him of danger yet unknown. He unconsciously touched the hilt of his blade which was strapped around his waist, hidden from view by his long, flowing black coat.
"That's weird." He heard Mech's confused voice from the ear phones.
"What?" Night touched the earring on his left lobe, the disguised communicator and located designed by him and Mech.
"Her locator is out. Something might have happened to it." Mech's voice had sounded worried and a bit scared.
"Darn!" Night cursed angrily the moment he heard the bad news.
"What now?" he demanded, already clutching the hilt of his blade, his sense of dread increasing every minute that she was out there without some back up.
"I don't know, Night." Mech's voice had grown panicky.
At this, Night raked his already messy dark hair in obvious worry and agitation.
"I'll scour the park." He announced to Mech, hating the feeling of fear and helplessness creeping into this being.
He scoured the park stealthily and quietly, hiding behind the shadows of the large trees and thick bushes.
He heard a noise and whipped to that direction. It was only the rustling of the leaves caused by the cold zephyr. He moved on, ears alert on any sound. He suddenly stopped. But it was only the whistling of the wind. He walked again in to the place where the plants were thick and the trees, large. No unusual movements. He was about to turn back when he stepped on something that cracked. He knelt down to examine it. Even though the light was insufficient, he was still able to identify it. It was her locator!
~Damn!~ his heartbeat went faster, the hand clutching the blade hilt tightened as he stood up, ran to where the plants were thick and forced entry, ignoring the painful scraped of the branches on his face and neck.
His mind was much too focused on getting to the other side. It took him almost forever before he had successfully gone through the plant barrier.
The scene that greeted his arrival made his dark eyes fierce and darken even more dangerously. In anger, he drew his blade from its sheath and pushed the sharp tip hard on the dying guy's heart. He was immediately robbed of his breath.
Night stared at the dead man dispassionately, eyes cold and hard. He riveted his gaze and looked at her who was sitting, staring at the corpse with something akin to trauma, her clothes torn, her hair a mess and her body full of bruises.
He made a move to her direction, shrugged off his coat and placed it on her shoulders, around her, as a shield from the cold. He knelt a knee infront of her, hands on her shoulders and shook her a little.
"'Ey!" his voice was surprisingly cracking. Maybe it was due to his fear for her and the relief that she was not killed.
No response.
~Damn!~ he cursed again, searching her gem-colored eyes. They were so unfocused… so lost.
"It's okay. It's all over." And he did something he hadn't dreamt of doing, gathered her in his arms and hugged her tightly and protectively.
XXX
"The guy had been murdered last night!" came Takashi's information as he told a shocked Chiharu.
"Surprising, isn't it?" Takashi asked with a wry grin.
"So…is he guilty?" Chiharu asked when she finally found her voice.
"Yes…" was his quiet answer.
"By the way, where's Sakura?" he asked Chiharu as they walked towards the auditorium for the Valentine's Day presentation that Saturday morning.
"She was summoned by the school director." Chiharu answered distractedly, her thoughts still on the mystery of the guy's murder.
"'Ey! Where's Tomoyo?" came Takashi's inquiry the moment he went to the back stage and saw the dancers preparing.
"Her mother called. She developed a flu last night and her temperature rose this morning." One of the dancers answered his query.
"What a bad time to be sick." Takashi commented before going to where Syaoran was, already wearing their dance clothes.
"You're late." Syaoran pointed out with a frown.
"I slept late last night." Takashi answered nonchalantly as they walked to the dressing room.
Syaoran raised a brow at this statement, suspicious.
"I was just restless, Syao, that's all. Nothing serious so don't fret." Takashi assured the suspicious guy.
They entered the room and Takashi started changing as Syaoran opened his own locker to get something.
"You heard the news about the murder on the morning news?" came Syaoran's quiet inquiry as he styled his hair.
"Yeah. It was such a shock." Takashi commented.
"Who could have done it?" Syaoran inquired, styling his hair.
"No idea."
The program was already starting and Sakura wasn't around yet.
"Where the hell is Sakura?" came Takashi's frustrated inquiry, looking around the back stage for any sign of his missing friend but she was nowhere to be found.
"Damn her." He hissed quietly as they were called for a quick recap.
After a couple of recaps, he saw Sakura dashing in, not yet in their dance outfit. He marched purposely to her direction with a frown.
"Where the hell have you been?! You're late!" he demanded, giving her a menacing look.
She just gave him a sweet smile which evaporated his temper then she touched his cheek fondly, saying, "I'll take your lecture later if it's all the same to you." Then, she dashed into the dressing room to change and prepare.
Their dance number had just ended and they were already backstage, chatting in relief. Takashi looked around for Sakura inorder to deliver his long litany but she was nowhere to be found again.
~Where could she be?~ he thought, confusion evident in his expression.
"Lost Sakura again, haven't you?" Syaoran teased, grinning in amusement, hazel eyes dancing with unconcealed mirth.
"Yeah. Where could she be?" Takashi wondered aloud, looking around.
"If Sakura is smart, which I know she is, I'm sure she already ducked for cover to be spared from your litany." Came Syaoran's chuckled statement.
Moments later, a soft angelic voice floated melodiously backstage, making the people there stop whatever they were doing.
"Such wonderful voice." One of the students commented.
"Who could that be?" Syaoran gave Takashi an inquiring look while listening to the voice.
"Let's find out!" and Takashi jogged out of the backstage and went to the vacant row seats infront of the stage, followed closely by Syaoran.
The two guys' expressions of surprise and disbelief were almost comical, their lips slightly parted.
"I didn't know she can sing like this." Came Takashi's murmur, awe evident in his dark eyes.
"Neither did I…" Syaoran answered just as quietly, watching her perform passionately on stage, his expression guarded.
"Talents are really distributed unjustly, aren't they?" Takashi grinned slowly, not getting his eyes off the stage.
"She's already a poet, a writer and a dancer. Now, she had become a singer." Takashi added, unaware that his words fell on deaf ears because his friend's ears were filled with nothing but the melodious voice of the singer onstage, aware of how attractive she looked with the flowing silvery-blue dress and with her long auburn hair done in tresses which fell elegantly and gracefully down her back.
He was unquestionably mesmerized, along with the amazed audience who had hushed the moment she sang the tragic love ballad. Her face was fired up with the right emotions and her voice teased the notes as she delivered the word with rhythm and ease.
She was already on her second song, another ballad, when in the middle of the song, a guy walked up the stage, carrying a bouquet of white roses.
They guy looked so familiar, thought Syaoran with a slight frown. His frown deepened when after giving the bouquet, the guy bent and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. The audience were already shouting and shrieking in giddiness but he was unable to hear it, too wrapped up in his developing temper.
"Isn't that Eriol?" only Takashi's voice managed to pull him back to reality.
"Eriol who?" Syaoran asked, pretending nonchalance but never taking his gaze from the now alone singer.
"Tomoyo's friend." Takashi reminded him.
"Oh… That jerk."
After the performance, Sakura hurried backstage, a bundle of quivering nerves. Her heart rate was abnormally high, her hands cold and clammy.
The moment she stepped backstage, she saw him, waiting for her with a charming smile. He approached her.
"Congratulations! You've just captured everyone's hearts today." He complimented, a smile playing on his luscious lips.
"Huh…? Uh… Thanks." She stammered, a blush starting to creep into her cheeks.
She had looked down on the floor in total nervousness and embarrassment,
"Don't be coy, Saku." Eriol stated, placing gentle fingers beneath her chin and making her look up at him.
His slate-colored eyes were full of friendliness that her awkwardness faded… a bit. She gave him a hesitant half smile.
"So, 'you surprised about me being your secret admirer?" he teased lightly, a gentle smile playing on his lips. He had withdrawn the fingers from Sakura's chin.
"Y-yeah…Very…" she replied with all honesty, unable to stop the grin that formed on her lips.
"Good." It was more than a murmur, "So, are you available after the program?" he added.
"Huh…? Uh… Yeah… I think so… Why?" she answered in innocent confusion, brows creased.
"I'll pick you up. We'll go somewhere." He announced cheerfully, chuckling her chin fondly before turning to leave. He was already a meter away when he heard Sakura's call. He turned his head and gave her an inquiring look, his expression happy and cheerful.
"How's Tomoyo?" came Sakura's surprising question to him, her emerald eyes showing her genuine concern.
Sakura noticed the darkening of Eriol's eyes upon her inquiry but it was so fleeting that she thought she'd just imagined it.
"She's fine. Just sick because of stress." He answered calmly and levelly, shrugging in nonchalance. He then waved goodbye and left her wondering.
"What?!" came Takashi's outraged surprise when he managed to catch up with Sakura before she could go inside the dressing room to change and after she had told them that she was going on a date with Eriol.
"Shut up, Takashi! You're exaggerating." Sakura complained with a frown, hands on her hips. Syaoran was behind Takashi, chuckling in amusement and she gave him a deadly glare before turning her flashing eyes at Takashi.
"You're not going out with that…that guy!" came Takashi's firm command that made Sakura raise an eyebrow in quiet disbelief.
"You're not bossing me around, Yamazaki!" Sakura announced in equal outrage before stomping away and entering the dressing room with a bang of the door.
"Darn it! She's too stubborn!" Takashi muttered in annoyance, raking his dark hair infrustration.
"Let her be, Takashi…" Syaoran advised, patting him comfortingly on the back, hazel eyes dancing in amusement.
"That girl needs a keeper!" Takashi hissed to the very calm Syaoran, his dark eyes flashing.
"Don't let her hear that or you're dead." Syaoran advised again good-naturedly, eyes on the closed door of the dressing room.
XXX
The night was ripe and filled with a deafening silence. The dark sky… moonless. The lights…out except for those on the streets. The people…dead to the world in their deep slumber. Most of them, that is. Because for some, the darkness was a good cover for their daily meetings.
"You have another mission." A man's voice announced to the three who were positioned in their desired and usual places.
"It's different from your other missions because this one's complicated." He continued.
"What is it?" the young boy couldn't seem to contain his curiosity any longer.
"You'll be after the Crow Organization, an expanding syndicate which is behind the disappearance of the Reed Monarchy." The man answered quietly and levelly.
"But, we have no clue of who the members are." The young boy commented, confusion evident in his voice.
"Don't worry. I've already devised a plan to draw them out. That is, if all of you will be willing to cooperate." He looked at each of them, his gaze lingering on the quiet lady before landing on the equally quiet guy near the window.
"I won't have her risking her life again." Came the guy's hard voice.
"Don't worry, things had been taken into consideration. She'll be guarded and protected." The man assured him.
"Make sure of that 'cause if things go wrong and she'll be hurt I'll hunt and kill you." The threat was delivered with such calmness that it brought a tiny shiver down the man's spine. He knew the guy could carry out the threat, especially after what had happened to their last mission.
"So, do we have an agreement?" the man asked after an uncomfortable silence.
The young boy looked at his companions worriedly, uneasy at the obvious tension in the room. He couldn't really blame Night 'cause they almost lost her.
"Yes." The quiet agreement of Butterfly made him crease his brows. He looked at Night but couldn't read anything in his stance.
"Mech?" the man turned to him for his answer.
"Huh…? I dunno'… Yeah… Sure… Okay…" he was torn.
"Night?" the man turned to the serious and silent guy. Silence. The tension in the room increased. Night was going to answer in negative, he knew. But before he could answer, "Please, Night…" the pleading tone came from Butterfly as she glanced up at him. Night met her pleading gaze, "I'll not see you get hurt." Night's deep voice was devoid of any emotion.
"I know… but…" she trailed off.
"Okay." Night finally assented after a huge, audible sigh.
