Author's Note: Sorry for the late update! I was trying to get everything back in order with two fics going on instead of three! So this one was left abandoned for a bit… but don't worry, I'm back on track now! And every, :drum roll: welcome my first Beta-Reader ever, MANUCA! :)
Eh Manuca, sry didn't let you beta-read this chapter… just that I've not updated in SO long so screw the grammars! :P gotta at least get something updated before ppl think I stopped writing or something! Forgive, forgive!
)Mariko( - I'll tell you for now this story won't have your typical ending (in fact there's going to be two endings… you'll see what I mean) but I WILL make everybody (the characters not necessarily the readers :P) happy.
)Julia( - Yeah, unfortunately I can only make all the CCS characters happy… I can't guarantee to make the poor, poor Reyn happy… :( Actually I have never really done this 'past talk' thing… just trying my best… 'tis my first attempt :P Highness, Your Highness… I don't know, I just think the 'your' is a bit extra, I mean Highness is saying you at the 'High' order, why bother with the your? I don't know, I have weird habits and thoughts… is writing Highness by itself wrong though? Yeah Syaoran should've died… but couldn't let that happen… story can't go on without him… damn the roles main characters play…
)Crystalz Tearz( - maybe this is just a story of mine as an excuse to experiment pairs… :P because there'll be a lot of different pairings till the end, then there will be no more confusion as to who ends up with whom. :)
)luckyducky7too( - xD poor Syao! Seems everyone's calling him a bastard! :P
)SaddenedKimiko( - Research? Actually I haven't done any researches… I never do researches for my stories… all that stuff about the Ball I either made up or thought up from past forgotten memories… :P
)Yukino-chan( - oh TRUST me, this is going to be SO different of an ending I hope you can take it… :evil smile:
)Inkirietta( - Wow many questions… the assassin is actually… I gotta stop myself… I always get tempted! AAAAH! No more clues! :zips mouth:
THANKS TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO REVIEWED!
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Chapter Nine
Kaho's Goodbye
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Lilia found herself in a world where there were no rules, where boundaries stretches forever and where everything was so simple you floated right along no matter how hard you resisted.
Jayx's life has been proven to be way less intense and interesting than that of King Reyn's, yet much more to Lilia's liking. He did not do much each day, besides planting his own crops that he feeds off of, nurturing trees that he uses as shades in the summer and made into wooden furniture when it has grown to a certain size, he also has 4 hens in a small wooden box he has built himself and a sheep with a string around its neck and tied to a wooden pole. He fed them scraps of food from his leftovers, which explained why they looked so feeble and weak. But the hens laid small eggs daily, and the sheep gave wool from time to time, which Jayx used to make clothing and blankets and things as such.
Yet even such simple tasks sometimes took till night. And with Lilia's previous position as a Queen, she was more trouble than help. She apologized a million times and said perhaps she should just go out into the wild and pick berries instead—after all, she can't mess that up—but Jayx insisted it was no problem to teach her. After all, he had said, it's rare that anyone's even interested in learning such basic things.
A few days passed and because Lilia was a fast learner, she found herself beginning to be useful around the place. She would care for the animals and cook while Jayx would take care of the plants and sometimes hunt. She has even learnt to cook edible foods that tasted acceptable and wasn't poisonous nor burnt. It was something Lilia has never even dreamed of doing inside her royal castle.
With the two of them working together, supportively alongside each other, what usually took till near dawn, now only took till the beginning of night, which left the rest of the time to them.
It was the night before their wedding. Lilia and Jayx sat around a campfire he built as they embraced each other, taking in each other's heat to fight the cold. "How are you feeling?" Jayx asked gently.
"I'm fine…" Lilia replied.
"Are you nervous?"
"Why, darling? Why shall I be nervous? It is to this day that I have waited so impatiently for, it is to this day that I have prayed to come faster, how is it possible for me to have seconds thoughts for a man like you?"
"It's just, I keep thinking I am not worthy of you…"
Lilia turned around and held his face between her hands. "I have told you, Jayx, never doubt yourself again. You're worth everything in the world, because a person's worth is not determined by those who abandon him, but by those who love him."
He looked deep into her eyes, and slowly, kissed her without breaking the eye contact. Nowadays he could kiss her freely without feeling shocked or shameful. "Tomorrow, you will be mine… no, tomorrow I will be yours…"
"No, no one belongs to another, we can only be together…"
"Yes, yes." Jayx has never argued with Lilia and to this Lilia found uncomforting. It is not he faked to please her, but he really did agree with everything and saw her like a goddess. It is not that the feeling is creepy—after all, she has been a Queen—it's how familiar it was that spooked her. She was afraid she would never change and continue being the egomaniac Reyn was all his life.
At the thought of his name, she sighed.
"Is something the matter, love?" Jayx asked with worry.
Truly, he treated her too well. She often didn't feel too much difference living here than living in the castle, besides the fact she did more stuff herself here. "Nothing, dear, nothing at all…"
"Really Lilia, if you're having second thoughts at all, talk to me, please, I will understand, and will announce our marriage whenever you're ready."
She grabbed his hand. "Really, Jayx. You know I won't ever hide my feelings from you, and to this promise I swear I want to be officially yours with every nerve within me."
Jayx squeezed her hand. "I know, sweetheart, I know… I just want the best and most comfortable for you. I am sorry if I am asking too much and annoying you."
"You will never annoy me, Jayx."
Jayx kissed her on her forehead and nodded.
A minute passed in silence when all they did was listen to the night air and the sprinkles of the fire. Then Jayx stood up. "I have something for you." He said.
"Really?"
"Really. I think you will like it." He went back into their hut and soon came out with something in his hands.
"What is it?" Lilia questioned.
He bent down and opened his palm to reveal a medium sized silvery clam.
"It's very pretty…" Lilia commented.
"That's not the best part…" He said with a smile, as he opened the clam's mouth. Inside, was a tiny pearl.
"Oh, wow!" Lilia exclaimed. "Where did you get this? Is it still alive?"
Jayx laughed at her surprised expression. "Yes it is still alive, I found it by the lake when I was picking berries today morning."
Jayx had always had something for her every night. He always claimed he 'found' them, but Lilia believe he had gone through great trouble to 'find' them. Yesterday he came back with a peacock's tail feather that was brilliant and shiny. The day before he brought back a wood carved sculpture of a woman who suspiciously resembled her. Jayx claimed he had found that too. The days before he brought her a baby blue jay, tiger lily, and a small conch. "It's a alive?" She exclaimed. "But it's not breathing…"
Jayx was bewildered at her comment, but laughed. Lilia spoke so maturely about subjects and understood so deeply, yet these simple things it seemed she could not comprehend at all. Jayx found that quite interesting. "It's a clam, dear, you don't see it breathing… we can keep this in a bowl filled with water and as the days progresses, the pearl will get bigger, and bigger, until the day it's a single, full pearl, we will take it on that day and have a celebration and call it our anniversary."
Lilia flushed with joy. "That sounds most wonderful, Jayx…"
"We should get a good night's sleep, Lynetta's coming tomorrow early morning, we should be rested by then."
"Yes, indeed we should." Lilia stood up with the help from Jayx's hand.
They walked over to their bed where they laid down together. So far, Lilia has not yet been touched by Jayx, for he believes that till they were truly wedded, he had no right to violate her precious body. As they lay down together under the thin, handmade single blanket, Lilia couldn't help but think to the day when Reyn and her had wedded. They had no love for one and another that day, no feelings at all, actually. They were simply two strangers who had never met but were put together under fate.
On the night he took her, she felt no pleasure, it was simply something she had to go through for it was a tradition and the mothers would check in the morning. Afterwards they did not say a word to each other and slept facing different ways.
But that had been a heavenly wedding. The decorations, the wedding gown, the guests, the flowers…
Lilia closed her eyes, blocking out the images. She didn't want to see the scene again; she didn't want to be disappointed tomorrow.
—
"Morning my hon's, today is the most precious day of your lives!" Lynetta announced as she, her husband—who was a gorgeous and terribly nice man—her child and 5 of their friends marched in. "Honey, you and Randy and Grant take care of my brother over there, I'll take the ladies and give Lilia a make-over—not that she needs one."
"Sure thing hon."
Jayx and Lilia barely even had time to look at one another before they were dragged into separate directions.
The hut was terribly small, so they did everything outside. All that was between the two was the hut, acting like a wall. It didn't matter what they did in the fields, out in the open, because no one was here; it's safer than the most private rooms.
Lynetta twirled Lilia's hair up on top of her head leaving only a strand of hair on each side of her head. She then braided those two strands into 4 tiny braids—two on each side—and stuck in flowers at the side of her head. This was nowhere near her wedding with Reyn… in fact she receive more treatment in the castle everyday just for waking up. But she did not say a word, and instead smiled. For if there was one difference, is that today, she was marrying a man she loved.
But there was still a doubt in her mind. Is this allowed? She has wedded once, is it appropriate to wed again? Would God forbid? Would they be punished for this? She had been the one to announce the making of this new rule that she and Reyn were allowed to marry again, but who is she to be saying such things? She was merely the Queen! Not even the blood Queen, but a Queen because she was married into the family! Lilia had a bad feeling…
They dressed her in a long sleeved white flower dress that reached to her ankles and she couldn't help but think of her wedding gown that was made out of silk and diamonds that head stressed meters behind her. "Sorry dear, but this was the best dress I could make with the material and time that I had Dear Lilia, I would've lent you my wedding gown but I'm sure you know it's a tradition that that's not allowed, for it filths the true memories…"
Lilia had truthfully not known, but she nodded anyways. "I understand, it's all right…"
They took off her straw tied sandals and slipped her on a pair of white fluffy shoes that were made out of wool. She missed those glass high heels she had… The child handed a bouquet of daisies and dandelions to her.
It had only been from morning to midday, and they were ready, already.
"Now, dear, close your eyes…" Lynetta giggled as she began pulling the blind Lilia with her.
Last time there was a silver-lined veil over her eyes and was carried by four servants and surrounded by eight guards.
When they arrived, they were in a field where a portion of the grass had been cut off and it was surrounded by flowers. She and Jayx stood in the middle. There was undeniable excitement in his eyes, and the moment Lilia saw that, saw him, all her regret, her past memories, her luxuries were forgotten. There was a shrine to their right.
Lynetta walked up, holding a white piece of white handkerchief as she handed Jayx a razor. "Do you take Lilia here as your wedded wife?"
"Yes." He cut into himself and drop of blood fell onto the clean cloth.
"Do you take Jayx here as your wedded man?"
"I do…" Lilia too, cut herself and let the blood drop. No one rushed up immediate to bandage her finger.
"You have now both agreed, and will now swear your eternity oath to one another.
So much for eternal oaths… Lilia thought to herself as they walked up the shrine. What eternity is my oath to Reyn?
"You will now vow to the Gods that you will forever be together."
They bowed to the shrine.
"You will now vow to your family and friends that you will forever be together."
They stepped out and bowed to the small crowd.
"And last, you will now vow to each other that you will forever be together."
They faced each other, and bowed.
"The promises have been completely, you will now finish the ceremony with a sealed wine." Two small glass of cheap wine were brought up.
Lilia and Jayx intertwined arms with the drink in hand, then drank it dry.
A slow smile appeared on Lynetta's face. "The ceremony has been complete. You two are now bounded to each other for the rest of eternity, whether on earth, in heaven, or in hell. You may now, continue to the final step." She bowed everyone watched Lilia and Jayx holding hands, and walking together to their hut. Looks like there's not royal feast like there had been at the castle.
(The wedding tradition I took from the Olden Day Chinese tradition—besides the blood part—because I thought the western way was too modern).
Lilia walked inside, and was surprised to see they had decorated it. There were red strings, and lanterns and happy things everywhere, and someone had given them a new bed! A much nicer, softer one, no longer the one made out of grass and straws.
Jayx took her in his arms as they fell together down onto the bed.
"We're finally together." His grin was so wide and uncontrollable that even she laughed.
He kissed her hungrily on the lips as he began to push her against the bed. His hands touched the back of her dress, but suddenly, Lilia shrunk back.
She didn't understand why she did that except she suddenly saw Reyn in that moment. Her eyes were wide with fear and longing and discomfort.
"Lilia…" Jayx whispered with a hurtful frown on his face. "What is the matter?"
"N-Nothing…" She shook her head, wanting to erase the image. She wanted to make Jayx happy, she wanted to complete the wedding properly, but why couldn't she?
He removed himself from on top of her. "If you're not ready that is quite okay…"
"No… no, Jayx, I, no. No. Jayx it's not that, I don't know what happened, but it's okay…"
"I don't want to force you to do anything… I want you to be comfortable…"
"Well stop worrying about me dammit!" It was the first time she had shouted like such, and they were both surprised. Lilia was so frustrated but she couldn't understand why. All she knew what that she had to give herself to Jayx tonight and say goodbye to the images of Reyn once and for all. "Listen would you just stop worrying about me and worry about yourself for once?"
"But—"
"Listen to me, I am ready!" She cried as she forced his hands onto her dress. "Please don't treat me like the Queen, we are equal after all!" You're not my servant Marie… or anyone like that… she thought secretly, not voicing her opinion.
"If you're sure…"
"I am, more than ever."
And she was again engulfed by the Jayx's kisses. They were hypnotized by each other, and slowly, Jayx unzipped her dress and pulled it off, as she took off his shirt, and the rest of his clothing. "Lilia you're sure you're ready to give yourself to me."
"Stop questioning. I have answered this question a million times." Again a memory of Reyn came into her mind but she closed her eyes and told it to go to hell. No one was ruining her night tonight. She was so uncontrollably furious, like she had never been.
The door was suddenly kicked down.
"AAAAH!" Lilia screamed as she brought the blanket around her herself. Who the—
"HA-HA!" Triumphant, burly laugh was heard as Lilia watched in a horror when a fat, old guard invited himself in. "Look what I found, boys!"
And Lilia wasn't even sure how it happened, except that suddenly there were at least 15 guards inside the hut and that Jayx and her were being stared at and laughed at. Lilia gasped. She recognized at least 4 of the guards. They were King Reyn's guards. She doubted they recognized her in her condition though, but she shielded her face just to be sure.
"Get some sheet over ya'self, ya goin' to see the King!"
"W-What?" Jayx stuttered.
"WHAT?" Lilia gasped. Had Reyn found out?
"Ya heard me boy, get something on will ya? Yes, now woul b'nice." He said.
"But, but why?" Lilia inquired as Jayx began to dress hurriedly in shame.
"B'cause the King say so. He say he wife's gone missin' and he's takin' all the man till he finds which one she's been staying with."
Lilia trembled. Why is he doing so much for her? "And, and then what will he do?"
"He'll wait till she cames 'long, askin' ta have her man back."
"And… and then he'll take her and keep her?"
The guard was annoyed. "Why is you askin' so man' unnecessary quest'ons?"
"N-Nothing… I just, I just want to know how to get my husband back… we have only wedded tonight…"
"Darlin', then you betta go an' find tha' Queen, and tell her' ta go claim a man and return ta King Reyn."
Jayx stood there dressed in front of her. He looked at her. She looked at him. "Please!" She begged. "Don't take him! I need him tonight!"
"HA!" He laughed. "I know ya do, I've see'n! But it's the King's o'da sweets, can't disobey. GUARDS! TAKE HIM!"
"NO!"
Two guards came up and forced Jayx to the ground as they tied his hands together.
"WHY TREAT HIM THIS WAY? HE'S DONE NOTHING WRONG!"
"B'cause the King o'da it to be so! Thas wha'."
"JAYX NO!"
"LILIA!"
"MOVE IT!"
"NO PLEASE!"
"GET HER AWAY! GUARDS, GET HER AWAY FROM ME!"
A soldier came and kicked her across the face sending her sprawling on the ground. "LILIAAAAA!" Jayx cried as he was dragged outside.
"Oh Gosh…" Lilia buried her face in her hands. "What have I done…? Not only did I bring hell to Jayx's life, the same thing is happening to every couple throughout the land!"
Lynetta bursts through the broken door. "LILIA!" She cried, tears pouring down her eyes. "WHERE ARE THEY TAKING MY BROTHER?"
Lilia stood up feebly. Putting on her dress, she hugged the howling Lynnetta to her chest. "I don't know…" She muttered softly. "But I'm about to get him back…"
"KING LI!"
The door opens as the soldier rushes in immediately going on his knees.
Sakura stopped reading as she looked at him. But King Li was annoyed. "Can't you see I am spending some private time now? Couldn't you tell there was a reason she was reading to me?" He growled with great aggravation.
"I'm sorry, my King, but, but she has escape!"
King Li narrowed his eyes. "Who has escaped?"
"Mizuki! Mizuki Kaho!"
"THAT FILTH! HOW DARE SHE? I WARNED HER LAST TIME THIS WAS NOT TO HAPPEN! HAS SHE DARED TO DISOBEY A DIRECT ORDER? FILTH! SHAME! SCUM!" He cried furiously storming out of the room following the soldier to her whereabouts.
"King Li—I mean, King Syaoran, wait, please wait! Maybe, maybe you shouldn't chase after her!" Sakura cried.
He ignored her and kept storming. "You may be righteous sometimes, and in my happy mood I might cave in, and but this time no way am I listening that that order!"
Sakura winced as she hurried after him, hugging the book tightly to her. Just about to find out if Lilia's going to confront Reyn or not… She thought. Oh well… and what's wrong with Kaho? She was perfectly fine yesterday… This must be a mistake…
—
Tomoyo buried her face in Kaho's chest, tears pouring uncontrollably out of her eyes. "No, please, you can't! King Syaoran forbad you to! He'll kill you if you're caught!"
Kaho touched her hair gently. "Which is why you're going to help me, aren't you, Tomoyo?"
"No! No, no, no, NO! It's not just that! I don't want you to leave either! I won't let you leave! Kaho don't leave me alone in this castle, please! I can't end up with another roommate who'll probably be really mean and the whole time I'll just be thinking about how I'll probably never see you again! No! You're probably one of the closest friends I've ever made in such a short time, and I rarely make friends! You can't go now, you just can't!"
Kaho was patient and understanding. "Tomoyo, I don't have a chance in this competition and you know it. I am older than everybody else and certainly not as pretty—"
"You're wrong! You're so beautiful! You're more perfect than any of us!"
"—and it really is time for me to move on… before I end up alone for the rest of my life… I must go, Tomoyo. If you truly cared for me, you'd understand, and you'd help me with this."
"No…" Tomoyo moaned with a defeated tone. "This can't be…"
"It is… I've been living in a dream for too long, for I've set my eyes on an unapproachable man… perhaps me entering this competition was just to forget him… but I see now, that I cannot waste any more time… Not unless I want to live the rest of my life miserable and alone…"
Tomoyo looked at her with a tear-streaked face. "I-I'll help you… I'll help you out of this castle, and into freedom… if, if you promise we will meet again someday, after I get kicked out of this castle, most likely." Tomoyo laughed sadly.
"I promise you, Tomoyo, we will see each other again. This isn't the end of our friendship. But the next time you see me, I will be with a man."
Tomoyo nodded, wiping her tears. "Where?"
Kaho looked thoughtful, then finally, she said, "If you stay with Sakura, you'll always find me."
"What do you mean?"
Kaho shook her head with a sad smile. No matter what happens, I will always, watch over him… Even if I marry… "You will understand on the day we meet. Now please, time is being wasted, I must leave." Kaho said, lifting her bag onto her shoulders.
"I cannot do much alone, however I will beg for the help of Advisor Eriol."
Kaho smiled slyly. "I wish you best of luck, dear… not with King Syaoran, but with his advisor."
Tomoyo blushed. "Yeah…" And she was out the door.
—
"WHAT?" Eriol exclaimed. "THIS IS ABSURD!"
"Eriol, please! You have to help Kaho! I know how difficult this is for you but I know that you know deep down what she is saying is right, she cannot remain here anymore, it's much too cruel for her… you have to help Eriol, I have nowhere to turn to but you…"
"Tomoyo, asking me to keep this secret is hard enough, never mind asking me to take part in it. I am the King's closest advisor! I cannot betray him!"
"I'm not asking you to betray him, I just wish to know the route to the front door of the castle!"
"Even if I do tell you it's not possible! There's 8 guards guarding the door every second of the day! It simply cannot be done!"
"I'll distract them! And besides, Kaho is a small woman, she can sneak past one or two guards easily!"
"You cannot distract all if them! Maybe you can take care of one or two, but not eight!"
"I'll find a way! If I have to I'll set something on fire!"
Eriol's face turned dark. "No, Tomoyo, I cannot allow you to do such a thing."
"Oh, I'm sorry… I just really want to help Kaho…"
Eriol sighed. "But face it, you can only do so much…" Eriol soothed gently.
The door suddenly opened and the three of them jumped.
In walked a bold, confident girl. "I'll help."
"Ilonka!"
She took out a black ribbon and tied her long, bright red hair up into a bundle. "I'll help you distract them." She said with a confident smirk.
Eriol sighed. "I still cannot participate in such an unrighteous matter."
Tomyo frowned. Slowly, she took a few steps towards him until they were so close their bodies were pressed together. "Please, Eriol…" She begged. "I'm not asking for too much… all I want to know is the way to the front gates… that is all… please Eriol, do this… for me…"
Tomoyo had never ever stepped this close to Eriol before, and it made him feel excited at the same time uncomfortable. He swallowed, feeling his resistance wavering. "All, all right… but if we are caught you must not tell the King I was in anyway involved with this."
Tomoyo smiled, and immediately took a couple of steps away from him. "Agreed. And, thank you."
—
As the three girls traveled through the castle trusting nothing but Eriol's directions, they soon reached King Syaoran's room. "Well, here's the hardest part…" Tomoyo muttered. "And just as luck would have it his door just had to be open."
Ilonka rolled her eyes and walked by without slowing her pace the least bit. She got by just fine. Tomoyo scurried quickly and she too went by just fine.
However as Kaho walked by the door, she couldn't help but to look inside. Whatever was happening has got King Syaoran in some kind of a deep trance, and that's rare especially since whatever was happening wasn't sex. She peeked in, and was surprised to see Sakura there, reading contently and slowly to the King. What's more surprising, was that the King had an adoring look on his face, and he was concentrating to no one else, but the girl reading in front of him.
From time to time, Sakura would look up, meet his eyes, and smile shyly. She almost looked as if she was… enjoying herself? Could this be possible? Could the King actual begin to develop feelings for a woman? Especially one at that age? Could Sakura actually stop despising the King? Could she forget the mission? Is she forgetting her dear, dear husband? It is rare that a married woman should smile so sweetly and genuinely to a man, and it made Kaho sad thinking what Touya was going through while Sakura was here being so friendly with the King.
"Kaho!" Ilonka hissed. "Let's go!"
"Coming…" She muttered, running towards the other side.
Soon, after many turns, and lies to soldiers and stuck a couples of times, they were at the front gate. Kaho hid behind the bush as Tomoyo rushed out, with dirt all over her cloth and face. "Help! Someone, help! Please!" She cried weakly, while limping and tripping. "Guards! Yes, you guards there! You have to help me!"
The guards looked at her. "Hey! What's this darling doing here?"
"I'm lost!" She cried in the most desperate and girly voice she could master. "Please I must get back to my room, I cannot stand the dirt of this filthy outside air anymore! And my dress, it's absolutely disgusting! I demand a bath now!"
The guards raised an eyebrow. "And who the bloody hell are you?"
"I'm Lady, Lady… Lady Meiling!" Well, it was the best she could come up with…
The guards exchanged looks. "Oh yes, I've heard of you! Yes, it's you! Lady Meiling!" And all the guards went on their knees.
"Great, thanks for the recognition but I cannot stand this debris for one more second even! Someone, take me back!"
"Yes, my lady, it will be my pleasure." What looked like the highest rank guard stepped up, and offered her his arm.
But Tomoyo fell to the ground. "Ah! Oh dear, it looks like I've been walking for too long… Oh dear… my legs really hurt! I cannot walk anymore!"
"Very well, Lady Meiling." The guard said, bending down to pick her up.
"How dare you!" She screeched slapping his hand away. "How dare you try to touch me? What would King Syaoran say about such things?"
The guard immediately backed up. "I'm so sorry milady, please forgive my rudeness, I was not thinking, please forgive me, do not punish me, please!"
"Very well…" Tomoyo said after a thoughtful moment. "I demand a man-carried carriage be used to take me back."
"But that'll take four people…"
"Yes. I want it right now. Don't even think about finding people within the castle, that'll take much too long."
"Y-Yes…" The guard said uncertainly as three more guards stepped up, carrying the carriage on their shoulder. "You four got the gate?" He called out to the four left.
"Yes sir!"
"Good…" They lowered the carriage and Tomoyo stepped on, as the four carried her away into the castle.
—
"There's four guard left now, I'm going to scream as loud as I can and pretend to have fallen into King Syaoran's fountain and is drowning. They might not all rush towards me but my screams will certainly divert their attention for a bit. During that time, I want you to run, run with all you've got. The gate's heavy and won't be opened easily, but there is a space at the side of the gates that I think you will fit through if you throw your bags out first then move yourself. You've got one chance. Make it work."
Kaho nodded. "Thanks, Fei, I hardly know you yet you're being so helpful."
"Call me Ilonka. No need with the last name politeness." She winked. "Make this count." And she dashed through the trees and towards the fountain.
Kaho began crawling, from behind one tree, to another, until she was at the one closest to the gate.
3… 2… 1…
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
The guards were so startled they all ran towards the scream. "INTRUDER!" One called, running towards the sound, as the other three followed, getting their guns ready.
Taking that opportunity, Kaho ran. The distance towards the gate was incredibly long, and she really couldn't run with her high-heel shoes. She kicked them off and ran bare-footed.
"FREEZE! DON'T MOVE!"
"HELP HELP HELP!"
"You, check her!"
One guard stepped up cautiously to the fountain. "Sir! There's a girl in there! She's drowning!"
The head guard rolled his eyes. "Well rescue her first, you fool!"
"Yes, sir!" The guard dragged the screaming and struggling Ilonka out of the water, and immediately leveled his gun at her.
The other three guards immediately rushed up. "STATE YOUR BUSINESS! ARE YOU CARRYING ANY EXPLOSIVE OR DANGEROUS WEAPONS WITH YOU?"
"LOOK AT ME!" Ilonka screeched, soaked from head to toe. "Do I look like I have anything bulging out of me?"
One guard smirked. "Hell yes, you've got breasts."
Ilonka turned scarlet. "I would shut your mouth if I were you! I am no ordinary woman! I am King Syaoran's woman. I am here for the competition."
The main guard looked her over. "Ah, boys, there's nothing suspicious about her, leave me, and go guard the gate before some real assassin escapes or something. Nowadays we can't let anyone out rememba? Not with that assassin trying to kill King Li and all. Leave me with this girl, I'll take care of her."
"YES SIR!"
—
Almost there… almost… Kaho threw her bags out the slight opening. She put one leg over to the other side, and just as she was halfway through…
"HEY! STOP!"
"SOMEONE'S TRYING TO GET AWAY!"
Kaho's heart began pounding fast, quickly, almost too quickly, she got her entire body over to the other side, but ended up falling onto the hard ground, scraping her knees and arms. Scrambling up quickly, she dragged her bags and ran as fast as she could towards the forests nearby.
"HEY YOU THERE, I SAID STOP!" A gun fired and Kaho screamed, but she kept running.
"SOMEONE INFORM KING SYAORAN! FORM A SEARCH PARTY!"
—
"LOST HER? WHAT DO YOU MEAN LOST HER?"
It was now night and the guard had bad news to report to King Syaoran. "I'm sorry, your Majesty, but we could not find her anywhere! However we have got posters up everywhere around town with a bounty on her head for 50,000 dollars. I am sure if anyone sees her they will surely return her to the castle."
Sakura had been sent back to her room in all this chaos, and now, standing beside King Syaoran was her Lady Meiling. "What has she done to deserve a bounty on her head?"
"FOR ESCAPING, OBVIOUSLY!"
"But she hasn't hurt anyone or anything like that…"
"BUT SHE COULD HAVE! OTHER WISE WHY WOULD SHE RUN AWAY? FOR ALL I KNOW SHE COULD BE THE DAMN ASSASSIN!"
Meiling touched her hands to his shoulder and massaged them gently. "Calm down, my King… We will find her, rest assured… we will find her… but for now, this is not good for your health…" I certainly hope you don't find her… She thought secretly, but said nothing about it.
King Syaoran sighed. "Thanks, Meiling. What would I do without you?"
She smiled thinly. "You'd do just fine, your Highness."
—
Kaho coughed weakly as she finally reached a town. Her clothing had been ripped and torn by the branches, her hair and face was a mess and her elbow and knees were red from stained blood. The bags she packed felt like 100 tons to her right now, and all she wanted to do was faint. But a slow smile crept onto her face. "I made it… I made it…"
She dragged her feet, telling herself that at the first door she reaches, she will knock and ask for shelter—heck, beg on her knees and promise to work for it in the future if she had to.
A small cabin appeared in view, and Kaho breathed a sigh of relief. Just a couple more steps now… and you'll have rest… don't give up now, Kaho…
At last, she made it. Knocking on the door with just about the absolute last strength she had, she thought of ways of convincing the people of letting her stay.
"MOMMY!" There was a cry inside, as anxious footsteps came.
The door was yanked open. "SAKUR—"
"Sir, ma'am please let me stay here I promise I will be no bother—" A little girl hugged her around the legs. Kaho looked down and somehow she looked familiar. Then she looked up and gasped.
"You're not Sakura…" His voice turned cold. "What the hell do you want? Chiika, get away from this woman. That's not your mother."
Just as I remembered… as cold as ever unless to family… The shock was so overwhelming, to see his handsome face overflowed her, Kaho felt faintish. "Please let me stay… Touya…"
He blinked. "How the hell do you know my na—"
But she had already passed out into his arms.
—
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Author's Note: There's so many characters! Aaaah! It's so hard to write a chapter that'll include everybody and even harder and more repetitive to write everything more than once to get across the reader what each character thinks of the events… xD Ahhh, but at last, the pairings are finally starting to take shape…
6300 words. Chi, I know you hate the word counts but I love 'em. ;)