Chapter 5: A Promise
Sakura was greeted with a wide array of choices when Shot seated her in the dining room, but she didn't feel well. She didn't eat anything other then bread.
"You should eat something with more sugar in it." Sweet said sadly to her princess. "Here, we made cakes, try some!"
"I fear the sugar will make me sick." Sakura replied, eating more bread.
"Then you should atleast drink something warm." Thunder said to her. "Let me make you some tea."
"No thank you." Sakura replied stoically. "The water is fine." She smiled weakly at her invisible servants.
"Perhaps... you should just go to bed." Shot said finally, a light sigh in his voice.
Sakura nodded.
As Shot lead her down the large hallways Sakura developed a hatred for herself. Here she was in a castle with the kindest people she had ever met taking care of her. She had good food and great friends, and more then that, she had Li. He seemed like he loved Sakura, and she felt a devotion inside of her. For once in her life she felt like she was where she belonged. So why is she sad? Why does she take all of this for granted and goes to her room to sleep the day away. Sakura hated herself for the way she was feeling. But every time she tried to make herself happy again she pictured her family on top of that mountain, slowly descending. She remembered her beloved brother crying hopelessly, hating himself, feeling worthless and helpless. It was eating away at her heart. If only she could just see them one more time. Just long enough to tell them that she is ok. She just wanted to see her family without tear stained faces.
She wanted to remember them smiling.
"Here we are." Shot said, taking Sakura from her thoughts.
She looked up at her bedroom door. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes, but she didn't want to worry Shot. She was tired of making people worry about her. She smiled over at Shot before replying to him.
"Thank you so much, Shot. For everything you've done for me." her smile was weak and worn.
She placed her hand on the door to open it, but before she could Shot pushed the door open.
"Princess... why are you trying to pretend you're happy?" Shot asked her calmly as he lead her to her bed.
Sakura remained quiet as she laid down in her silk beds. Shot slowly covered her up and moved to her large windows to close the curtains.
"You know... you're not alone here Princess. You don't have to be sad by yourself." Shot said softly.
Sakura could feel him sit next to her on the bed. She could feel his soft, invisible hands brush the hair from her face.
"As long as I live, you will never be alone.. Princess. Please don't suffer in loneliness. Tell me why you're hiding your tears. Why are you smiling to make us happy. Please Princess, tell me."
Sakura felt lump in her throat. She tried to choke it back.
"And still you hide your tears." Shot sighed lightly. "Speak with me, Princess."
Sakura let her tears fall.
"My family." Sakura whimpered. "My brother's tears are haunting me. I can feel him suffering.. even now." Sakura laughed a little through her tears. "He loved me dearly. I knew he did.. even when he teased me I knew that he loved me. Toya. I had never seen him cry before." Sakura closed her eyes. An overwhelming sadness took her heart. It became so heavy of a burden it was hard to hold. "I thought my brother was an impenetrable fortress... he could never be hurt... and I was the one to hurt him. I saw him crying.... that last thing I ever wanted to see in my life... and yet it is my last memory of him." She couldn't stop the tears. "I want so badly to be happy. I have everything a person could ever dream of. Such wonderful friends... a castle with no compare, and my husband. Li. Someone who loves me so much he has promised me never ending happiness... and yet I am sad."
"It is becuase you miss your family." Shot said, wiping tears from Sakura's eyes. "Our king surly never thought you would forget them."
"I miss them so much, Shot. I... just want them to know that I'm ok.. I want... I want them to be happy."
Shot ran his fingers through Sakura's hair to calm the princess down. Slowly she drifted into sleep, wearing herself out with her tears. Shot kissed her on her head and left her in her room, waiting patently for her next orders.
--
"What's wrong Li?" Eli asked his friend.
They had been talking normally when Li suddenly lost his breath. He quickly grabbed his chest and gasped for air.
"I.. i don't know." Li was still gasping for breath. "My heart... it feels weird.. and heavy."
"Why?"
"I don't know... it hurts..." His nails dug into his chest. "Something's not right."
"Maybe you should check on your mom, or your girl friend!" Eli said with his usual smirk.
"What do they have to do with it?!" Li asked, a tad bit of anger in his voice.
"You know, people say that when you're close to someone you can feel when they are sad or hurt. That's what I meant." Eli said with a fragile smile.
"What makes you think I'm close to my mother?" Li said, getting defensive.
"I-I don't know, I just figured... you know, since you used to do her dirty work n' stuff." Eli smirked.
Li sighed. Then a pain shot through his heart again. "I have to figure this out."
Li's large white wings opened wide and caught the wind. He decided to see his mother first.
--
Ruby Moon was grinning evilly down at her shrines on Earth. Since Sakura's disappearance her shrines were packed full. Young teenagers were begging for lovers, young lovers were begging for marriage, and young brides and grooms were begging for children. Her ego beamed now that there were so many people obsessing over her again.
She was happy to be the most beautiful again.
"Mother." Li said quietly as he entered Ruby's room.
"Yes, my boy?" She replied, in quite the good mood.
"Are you feeling alright?" Li asked, trying not to grab his chest. He didn't want his mother to start questioning.
"Alright? I am feeling wonderful! Just look!!" She pointed to her looking glass down onto Earth.
Li did as he was told and looked through. There were hundreds of people at dozens of shrines, all on their knees, praying to Ruby Moon.
"I don't know what you did to that little tramp of a princess, but I'm glad you did!" She smiled happily.
"She's not a tramp." Li said under his breath.
"What was that?" She looked at him. Her eyes were agitated, but she wasn't sure what he had said.
"I didn't say anything mom." Li replied with a sigh.
"What did you do with that girl, any way?" Ruby asked. "I had been meaning to commend you for it."
Li's throat tightened up.
now what he thought to himself this is awful! What can I do?
He had to stop himself from looking worried. He couldn't let his mother find out that he married the very girl she wanted rid of.
"Serpents." Li said suddenly, trying not to waste any more time.
"Serpents?" Ruby questioned.
"Yes. After everyone lost interest in Princess Sakura the family gave her to the Serpent king as a bride. They didn't know what else to do with her." Li lied diligently.
Ruby laughed her evil cackle. "That's fantastic! I love it! Li, you are my boy!" She continued to laugh.
Li hanged his head and took his leave.
The pain in Li's chest was getting to be unbearable. Obviously it wasn't his mother who was in pain, so that only left Sakura. He couldn't go see her until night.
What's wrong with her? Li thought helplessly to himself as he made his way back to Eli. Why is she hurting so bad?
--
Just as night fell across Olympus Li arrived at his castle. He moved quickly through the halls, making his way to his room. Only steps from his bedroom door he was stopped by Shot.
"Lord Syaoran."
"Shhh! Call me Li while Sakura is here!" He snapped.
"I'm sorry my lord. But the Princess..."
"What? What's wrong?"
"She is home sick. She has made herself ill with the thought of her family."
It grew silent for a moment. Li grabbed his chest.
Could that have been what I was feeling?
Li opened the large door to his room and walked over to his bride. Gently he sat on his bed and brushed the hair from the shadowed silhouette's face. Her temperature was high, and her aura seemed sad.
The gentle feel of the fingers through her hair woke Sakura from her slumber. She saw the outline of her husband above her. She knew he was smiling at her, so she returned it weakly. She felt him kiss her on her head.
"I hear that you're sick, love." Li managed to say softly.
"Just a little.." Sakura laughed lightly.
"What's wrong, princess?"
A pain shot through Li's heart. He gripped his chest. Sakura didn't seem to notice.
"I'm.. just really missing my brother." She said.
Li could hear the tears in her voice. He gently wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"What can I do to make it better?" Li replied. Her tears distracted him from the pain in his chest.
"I couldn't ask for anything more!" Sakura said with tears in her eyes. She sat up and smiled at her love through the darkness. "You've given me so much! I could never ask for anything more!"
"Princess.." Li said, almost interupting her. "You've taken care of everyone else.. your whole life you were treated more like a slave with benefits, rather then a princess." He placed his hand on her face, his eyes were fully adjusted to the darkness. Her cheeks were swollen from tears, and a weak smile rested on her lips.
"It's time for you to let yourself be taken care of. I will send Yukito to your family's house tomorrow. The next day your family will be here."
"I-I can't ask you..." Sakura had tears streaming down her face, across her real smile.
"You don't have to ask." Li said, placeing his forehead on her's. "This is my gift to you.. princess."
Softly Li brushed his lips acorss his bride's. She had been shocked by the action, but when she opened her eyes she was smileing happily. Gently she pressed her lips against his.
Suddenly Li noticed that his chest wasn't hurting anymore.
No comments:
Post a Comment