The Clow
Disclaimer: I do not own Card Captor Sakura. Its characters and affiliates are property of CLAMP.
Author's Note:Hello, it's Yuuki!This chapter was one of the harder ones to write and it was difficult for me to break it up. I remember deleting about five pages worth and starting over when I first wrote it. Nothing's changed except for grammar issues! Have fun and don't forget to Read and Review!
*Thanks to SakuraJade for teaching me how to improve my writing! She's an excellent beta and great writer!
*Special thanks to Nari, who supports me no matter what! lol
The Clow
In a world where love and peace are long forgotten, two people, brought together in an entwined destiny, will stand and fight the evil force that threatens to consume all hope, including them…
This is the story of The Clow.
Chapter Two:
The Captain's Sister
Tomoeda Village
Province of Wood
10:46 PM
Night had fallen only a few short hours before, enveloping the small town in darkness. The streets were now completely empty, the marketplace deserted. The moon had risen over the town, casting its beam upon the surfaces of the streets. It was the only source of light other than the small oil lamps that sat burning on thick wooden poles at every street corner. In earlier times, the streets and market place would have been filled with the lively people of Tomoeda Village, hassling and buying and eating and laughing, but tonight, like every other night one hundred years ago, was silent, save for the loud, carrying voices of two men, strolling through the dark and empty streets leisurely.
"She did what?" The shorter of the two with a flat nose and dark brows asked his lieutenant, laughing unbelievingly.
"I told you. She dumped the bowl of soup on my head," the taller lieutenant answered, a bite of impatience in his deep voice. Unlike his corporal, he did not have a flat nose, but had a strong bridge to match his chiseled face features. He was rather handsome, in a charming way, but his light cold blue eyes gave him away. They were empty, the smiles that stretched his lips never reaching them. He impatiently brushed a strand of golden blonde hair from his eyes, still upset about what had taken place earlier that evening.
"Wow." The corporal was saying, amused. "Wow. The captain's sister sure is something, isn't she, Atobe-san?" Atobe did not answer his corporal, but instead fixed the scabbard of his sword and sighed.
"Yes. She's quite something else," he muttered, remembering the feel of the cold soup as it ran down his back, and the brilliant flashing green eyes that bewitched him as much as they repulsed him.
"Is it true, then?" The corporal was asking again.
"Is what true, Lavi?" Atobe asked through gritted teeth. Lavi laughed loudly.
"She must have really upset you," Lavi teased. "Is it true? Is she as beautiful as they say?" he asked, observing his lieutenant and best friend.
He had never seen him so flustered over a girl before. It really was quite interesting. All the girls that Atobe had met, rich noblewoman, practically threw themselves at the lieutenant's feet. Atobe paused, seemingly thinking something over then, he smiled.
"No, Lavi," Lavi looked up at Atobe. "She was not beautiful, she was breathtaking," Atobe said, finally turning to look at Lavi for the first time. Lavi looked up at his lieutenant in surprise. When had he ever said a woman was breathtaking before, either? He'd always say no woman was worth as much as he was, telling Lavi that he had never truly met a woman he could call beautiful. Lavi gaped.
"It is true," Atobe said quietly, remembering every detail of the captain's sister, whom he had just had dinner with a few hours before.
Lavi remained silent, staring at his lieutenant.
The dinner was supposed to be a meeting for the two to get to know each other better. The captain had chosen him, Atobe, out of all the men in the red imperial army, to woo his sister; telling Atobe that he was suitable for the job. His rank, his power, and his money were enough to ensure that the captain's sister would live well off.
The captain did not say, however, that the job was going to be so difficult, or that his sister, who had to be the most beautiful girl in the province, was going to be so stubborn and hard to handle. Atobe had agreed with the captain's besiege to court his sister because he had heard from other men of the imperial red army that the girl was beautiful beyond expectation, and being raised a noble, there were a few bonuses to the dowry.
Many men had tried for her hand, and failed miserably. Rather than live to tell the tale of how the attempts at getting her hand in marriage had not worked, the captain chose to execute the men who had not been successful to prevent nasty rumors or word of mouth about his sister. He was an overprotective brother, but an even more intimidating superior. He had not become the captain of the red army at the young age of 17 for nothing.
And as he left the huge estate that belonged to the captain and his father, nobleman of Tomoeda village, after the disastrous dinner that night, Atobe vowed that he would get the girl to marry him, even if it cost him his life. Because not succeeding in marrying her would mean the same fate.
The two men walked on in silence, each deep in different thoughts. So deep in fact, that they did not see or hear the figure cloaked in black, running between the shadows cast from the small buildings and shops in the moonlight, hurrying away in the opposite direction and making as little noise as possible.
The figure reached the end of the street and turned left onto the country lane, moving as fast as the feet attached to his body would take him; away from the town and into the outskirts of the open country. He wanted to get as far as he could from the two soldiers.
It was not unusual to see men guarding the streets at night, but those men were just the usual foot soldiers; meaning they didn't have a lot of training in weapons and were less likely to capture the slaves that did happen to wander into the streets after curfew. The red and gold uniform wearers were more troublesome. They were men that came from the red imperial army and had had real combat training, possessing a certain caliber of skills that regular foot soldiers didn't.
There was also the fact that a few of them also came from the houses of noblemen, meaning that they possessed, if only a little, some form of magic. Seeing the red and gold uniformed men in the city of Tomoeda was rare, but since the captain had come home into town, his squad had followed him as well, and were probably busying themselves at the local bars around the area with the rich noblewomen of the town.
Shuddering at the thought of being in the company of the rich and snobby nobles, the figure smiled and continued following the broad lane that was the main traveling road for travelers who used it to reach the town.
It was already late and the figure wanted to reach the place before it got any later. He knew full well that he could encounter anyone, or worse yet, anything, at this hour of darkness.
After what seemed like hours, the cloaked figure finally staggered through the white washed gates of a small brown house, situated furthest from the broad traveling lane. He could just make out the glow of a lighted candle through a window on the right side of the house, covered by moth eaten yellow curtains. The cloaked figure walked towards the front porch and raised a fist to knock the secret knock that would let the people inside know that he was friend, and not enemy.
After a minute, or perhaps five, the figure didn't know, the wooden door finally opened with a quiet creak to reveal the large dark brown eyes of a young woman, staring in silence at the cloaked figure. Impatiently the cloaked figure removed her hood, allowing her dark brown hair to cascade down her back and revealing lightly colored amber orbs. The young woman at the door gasped,
"Miyu!" Miyu gave her friend a small smile of recognition, then ignoring the small cry of surprise, pushed past her into the hallway. It was unwise to linger over doorsteps nowadays. Her friend with the large brown eyes quickly shut the door, checking to see if anyone had followed her, and joined Miyu a moment later.
The two young women passed a rickety staircase that led upstairs and a few more doors, which Miyu knew, led into the kitchen and dining room. It was a plainly decorated house. The only thing that set it apart was the expensive looking rug that lay on the living room floor. There was also an old coffee table where a sinking wax candle sat. When the two young women reached the living room, they briefly embraced.
"Miyu…what happened to you? We were expecting you earlier…" the woman with large brown eyes said as she watched her best friend undo her traveling cloak and hurriedly run a hand through her flushed cheeks. "We all thought you'd been caught coming out after curfew."
"Gomen, Sora-chan. It was hard to get out of the estate tonight. Security's been up a hundred fold since the captain's returned home," Miyu explained as she hurriedly tied her dark hair into a messy ponytail.
"Have they been waiting long?" she asked Sora breathlessly. Sora shook her head.
"No. They just arrived barely ten minutes ago. Apparently they had trouble coming too. They're waiting downstairs for you,"
Then without a second's hesitation, the two women began walking towards the corridors, Sora filling Miyu in as they moved.
"Yamazaki and Satoshi have already arrived. They're sleeping upstairs at the moment. Your mother and Huan have also sent a message, so they should be arriving here any day now. It's been hectic around here, with members running in and out, preparing for the big event," Sora paused to sigh. "But the thing that irritates me most is that no one will tell me what this big event is!" Miyu gave her friend a sympathetic smile.
"Don't worry, Sora. No one knows except the elders and the people directly involved with it. I'm afraid I don't know either," They were still walking, door after door passing them by. Apparently the house was a lot bigger than it seemed from the outside.
"Yes, and that's the problem. I wish I knew more so that I can help too," Sora said thoughtfully, biting her lower lip. Miyu squeezed her best friend's arms.
"It's going to be alright, Sor. You've already helped out as much as you can. Besides, you're lucky you get to be in the middle of it all, I'm stuck at the estate, watching what I say, or else the captain will have me hanged for it," she giggled but Sora didn't.
"Miyu! Don't joke so lightly about those kinds of things!" Miyu only giggled harder.
They had finally reached the door that would lead downstairs. Sora opened the door, revealing a staircase leading down into the darkness. With a smile and a wave, Miyu descended the stairs. Sora sighed and shut the door after her best friend, leaning against it.
She stood up again and returned to the living room to await the news that Miyu would surely bring.
The room was empty, save for the rectangular table on the opposite side of the room where four cloaked and hooded men sat. They were silent and waiting for the one person that they knew was on her way. They could feel her aura as she quickly descended the stairs and a second later, the door opposite the rectangular table opened to reveal a tall woman in her early twenties. She had dark brown hair tied in a messy bun and light amber eyes over travel worn cheeks. She closed the door and crossed the room in three strides, bowing down before the four elders.
"You're late!" the man who sat to her furthest left barked. She flinched at his tone. Jie Feng had always had the shortest temper out of the four.
"I am sorry, elders. The security around the estate has tightened immensely since the captain's return. I could not get out earlier," she bowed low, speaking in Chinese.
"Do not worry. It is not what concerns us right now," the man who sat in the middle left calmly answered back in Chinese. "The whole town's security has been upped in the last couple of days," Miyu exhaled in relief. She had always like Daitaro.
"I presume, Miyu, that you have all the final details and information?" Daitaro continued, peering at Miyu through his glasses as she knelt before the four elders on the cold stone floor. She nodded swiftly.
"Yes, I have them all. Kankuro helped me to draw out the parts of the map that we've discussed and the final details of the celebration were just made today. I have also added those," as she spoke, Miyu reached into the pocket of her dress and extracted various scrolls, passing them up to the table, where they were passed around and examined.
"Hmm…how long until the celebration?" Bo Chen, who had been sitting on Miyu's furthest right asked while shifting through the carefully hand drawn maps on the thin bamboo scrolls.
"Two weeks, elder," she answered promptly. It was getting tiring kneeling on the cold stone floor. She hadn't realized how tired she was until now.
"How goes the planning?" Daitaro wanted to know.
"They have been planning it for more than a month now and have brought in only the best from all over the country. I've had to see to a few details myself."
"And security?" Jie Feng barked. Miyu flinched.
"They have brought in soldiers from the red imperial army to guard every station on that day, regards of the emperor to the captain of the red imperial army, elders. I am afraid they have planned every single detail out."
There was silence after this, save for the continued shuffling of the bamboo scrolls as the elders looked through them. By this time, Miyu was getting more and more uncomfortable, finally choosing to sit back on the balls of her feet.
"Miyu," she jumped, bowing down quickly again, head bent low.
"Yes, Ginchiro," she answered back in calm Chinese. Years spent training had taught her not to show her emotions. Her mind was one thing, but her body was another, she thought ruefully. The elder who sat on the middle right and who had not spoken the entire time observed the girl before him before asking.
"Can you tell us about the captain's sister?" Miyu looked up, startled. Why would the elders be asking her that? As far as Miyu was concerned, the captain's sister had nothing to do with anything the elders and the Resistance had planned. Well, besides the obvious… She didn't think that the girl's concern was of any interest to the Resistance. For one, they'd never even bothered to ask her name. Still slightly surprised, Miyu suddenly realized that she had not answered the question and hurriedly apologized in Chinese, bowing low again.
"The sister of the captain is kind and gentle. She spends most of her time with her best friend, who is also her personal maid, and she is very close to Chieko-san. She worries for the slaves a lot and a lot of us are friends of hers. Even though her brother is the feared captain of the red imperial army, she still has the courage to stand up to him. It's gotten her into a lot of trouble. And she's beautiful, absolutely beautiful. The slaves are always saying that she is the image of her mother," Miyu finished, a small warm smile on her lips.
The elders exchanged a look of interest and Ginchiro cleared his throat. Miyu bowed her head again, not even realizing that it had been up while she spoke of the captain's sister.
"Thank you, Miyu. We will call you again when you are needed. You may leave now. I know that you are uncomfortable sitting on stone. If only you could have concealed your discomfort better, you would have been out of here long ago," Ginchiro said simply.
Miyu looked up surprised and saw the twinkle in Ginchiro's old eyes. She blushed. Had she been that obvious? 'Great. She needed to practice more.' She thought through gritted teeth. Her reply however was smooth Chinese in which you could not hear a faint tone of irritation.
"Yes. Thank you, elders." Bowing deeply, Miyu stood and walked towards the door. When she had reached the door and pulled on the handle, Ginchiro's voice carried across the room.
"There is one more thing. We've received news from your brother. He is coming," Miyu nodded once slowly, to show that she understood and ascended the stairs. The excitement that she'd been holding in as she heard the news burst as the door closed behind her.
Miyu shrieked with joy, flying up the stairs and thundering loudly from above. Inside the room, the elders observed the noise that came from upstairs.
"She needs to get a grip on herself," Jie Feng muttered in Chinese. The elders nodded their agreement.
The cool breeze brushed the expensive lace curtains aside as it swept into the room, playing with the long locks of auburn hair that had escaped the pleated braid.
The young woman impatiently brushed the strands aside as they moved over her face, lost in thought, staring into the open fields of green grass and what she knew was a field of wheat beyond the newly built stone wall.
It was not hard to see that she was beautiful. Her small clear face was framed by soft bangs of burnt honey colored hair, set by high cheekbones and a petite nose. Full pink lips and naturally flushed cheeks finished her look.
But the most intriguing thing about the young woman was her large eyes, framed by long soot colored lashes. They were green, a color of green so pure, many had lost themselves inside of it.
Now she sat by the window of a large drawing room, splendidly decorated, with silk cushions and pillows. Surrounding her, a large and exquisitely carved wooden table, laden with cookies and cakes of every different kind sat in the middle of the room. There were also four different kinds of tea and the most expensive glass and porcelain that money could buy situated at the table.
A white marble fireplace sat opposite the young woman, crackling with flames and above it, an expensive mantel piece. Large drawings and paintings lined the walls of the room, oozing grandeur and money.
To complete the picture, four young women dressed in jewel adorned dresses of various colors sat at the table sipping the tea and daintily biting into the cakes, gossiping in high pitched, excited squeals of delight. And contrary to the four young women, Kinomoto Sakura sat on the lace cushions near the tall open window, bored out of her mind.
"So then girls, you won't believe this, but he actually KISSED my hand!" A blonde girl was saying to the other three girls who had edged in for a better listen. Squeals of delight followed and the blonde girl smiled haughtily at her friends, enjoying the center of attention she was getting.
"Oh, Mimi-chan, you are soooo lucky!"
"Oh my gosh, he kissed your hand?"
"Ergh, you get ALL the luck with men!" Mimi just shrugged her shoulders innocently and continued to sip her tea. After the first round of squealing had calmed down, a girl with mousy brown hair turned to the jade eyed beauty sitting by the open window.
"So when did you get your first kiss, Sakura-chan?"
"Hmm?" Sakura turned around. She had not been paying attention and had missed the question.
The girl with the brown mousy hair giggled then repeated her question. Sakura smiled lightly and shrugged.
"I haven't, I guess. I want to kiss someone that I love," three of the girls gasped.
"Oh my gosh, that's so romantic!"
"That is just soooo sweet!"
"I want to save my first kiss too!"
"Too bad, Hana, you lost your first three a long time ago!"
"Shut up! I have not!" The red headed Hana blushed crimson and the girls shrieked with laughter again.
"Well, from what I hear, you've lost your first kiss a long time ago, Kinomoto-san." Mimi, who had not laughed with the other three, spoke, looking at Sakura with her deep blue eyes coldly. There was silence as the girls turned to look at Mimi and back again to Sakura.
"I'm afraid, Mimi, that you heard wrong then," Sakura simply said turning away. She did not want to deal with the drama that these four noblewomen were famous for.
"Liar!" Sakura turned around, startled by the sudden shriek that came from the usually refined blonde girl. "You're a lying whore! Why else would Atobe-sama be so interested in you then? You probably led him on and used your body to seduce him!" Mimi accused angrily. She looked half deranged, her elaborate golden curls falling out of their pins now, and her cheeks flushing a brilliant pink. Taken aback, Sakura stared, until something snapped into place.
Katashi Mimi. Himura Atobe. She liked him, possibly even loved him for a long time. And he was attempting to woo Sakura. He was the guy that her brother had chosen out of all the men in the imperial red army to ask for Sakura's hand in marriage. 'Eep!' Sakura was thinking quickly, trying to salvage the situation when,
"Tch. Mimi, Atobe-sama has never even liked you. Get over it. He wants Sakura now. I don't see why you're getting so angry over a guy who only glanced at you once during the ball in Danbi Village," the girl with dark brown hair had spoken, looking at Mimi coldly.
"Hai. Mimi, he maybe the best looking guy in the red imperial army, other than your onii chan of course, Sakura, but he's never even laid eyes on you," Hana continued. Mimi looked outraged, at a loss for words as she stared at the three other girls.
"And all that makeup, expensive gowns and jewelry doesn't seem to be working either," the last of the girls, another darker blonde said. "You're pathetic, following him from town to town trying to get his attention… Now that he wants Sakura-chan, don't get so jealous. She is after all, richer than you. And she is prettier too."
Sakura swallowed. Noble raised women were scary… This was not the way she had wanted the conversation to go. She glanced at Mimi only to see that the blonde was looking at Sakura with renewed hatred in her eyes and Sakura understood.
No matter where or how Mimi approached the topic, she was always going to lose. Kinomoto. The name had more meaning to it. The name had money, property, and her father was the land lord nobleman of Tomoeda Village. Of course the other girls sided with her. It also didn't help that her onii- chan was the captain of the imperial red army either.
Sakura almost felt sorry for the blonde girl who was staring at Sakura with hatred in her deep blue eyes. It was always the same. This was why she never really even had a true friend because no one saw Sakura for who she really was, the only thing they saw was her name, stuck to her forever. Sakura swallowed.
"Mimi, I-," She didn't finish her sentence as a dark object hurled in the air towards her.
"Ittaiiiii!" Sakura grimaced as soft hands placed a patch over her right cheekbone.
"Don't move, Sakura-chan!" Daidoujii Tomoyo scolded. Sakura gave her best friend an apologetic grin and resumed her sitting posture before, clamping her hands to the bottom of her seat so as not to get the urge to touch anything.
"Really, Sakura! You should tell on her to your father! How can she throw that porcelain tea cup at you? Imagine if it had hit you on your face instead of grazing your cheekbone! You could be in the hospital, or worse!" Tomoyo cried indignantly, deep purple eyes flashing angrily. Sakura smiled lightly, glad that her best friend was so worried about her. But that was Tomoyo for you.
They were downstairs in the large estate, in the kitchen that the slaves used. Sunlight was streaming through the tall windows and there was a light breeze coming in. Everything in the small kitchen was tidy and clean. It reminded Sakura of the little kitchens in her dollhouses that she used to play with.
"I told you, Tomoyo, I tripped down the stairs."
"Don't think you can lie to me, Sakura! You were always a bad liar… I heard those nasty girls as they left the estate, laughing about it and wondering if your beautiful face had been disfigured or not! And besides, if you had tripped, then why was a porcelain teacup smashed upstairs in the drawing room?"
"Err, I dropped it?" Sakura sheepishly replied. Tomoyo huffed under her breath and continued to rage on. Sakura was glad that her friend worried over her but sometimes Tomoyo felt like the mother, and her, the daughter. She sighed resignedly and forced herself to listen as Tomoyo lectured her about not letting girls like that intimidate her and how she should take better care of herself, even getting as far as "You know, I won't be around forever!" Sakura giggled.
"I'll have Miyu come and look at it to see if it's serious. I can't have you looking like that when your birthday is tomorrow, ne?" Tomoyo said as she cleaned up the materials she had been using. Sakura groaned.
"Tomoyo-chan, is it necessary? I want a bruise there to make my face more disfigured. Maybe then, that nasty Atobe will stop coming over…" Sakura said under her breath bitterly. Tomoyo giggled at her best friend's childish behavior, flipping her long braided raven hair behind her back as she stood up.
"That, Sakura-chan, is foolishness. Besides, Atobe-sama isn't such a bad guy," Sakura gaped.
"You only like the way he looks, Tomoyo! God, spend an afternoon with the guy and you'll know what I'm talking about," Sakura pointed out.
"I did this, and I, the great Atobe did that, oh! And did you know that this thing happened only because I, the amazing Atobe, was there?" Tomoyo giggled at Sakura's imitation of the infuriating man.
"The whole time, he doesn't ask me one single question about myself! All he talks about is himself. Him and my father's estate…He talks about what he plans to do with the estate, can you believe it? As if it's already his!" Sakura's green eyes flashed angrily.
"And what did you tell him?" Tomoyo asked coyly.
"I told him that if his head got any bigger, his ostrich neck would break."
"Sakura! You didn't!" Tomoyo giggled helplessly.
"I did! Then I told him that he was better off marrying another noblewoman, because as big as this estate is I wasn't sure it could house his ego," Tomoyo succumbed to laughter, her musical voice sounding in the small kitchen. Sakura also gave way to giggles. Both girls were laughing so hard that they did not hear the person that had just arrived come in.
"Fits of laughter in the afternoon? It's much too early for that!" Sakura looked up, not bothering to wipe the tears that had spilled from her eyes.
"Miyu!" The young woman stood framed in the doorway, light amber eyes dancing as she watched the scene before her. It was not unusual to find Sakura laughing, but she always had a sadness to her jade eyes. Today, however, at that moment, it had disappeared temporarily and Miyu wondered what could have caused it.
"Good for you! I would have said the same thing, Sakura-chan!" Miyu giggled as she applied balm to the graze on Sakura's cheekbone. Tomoyo stood nearby, smiling and watching the work of the estate nurse. The two young women had just finished recounting the story to the older girl.
"But how did Atobe-san take it when you told him?" Miyu asked. Sakura's smile faltered a little.
"He grabbed me and told me that he was going to marry me whether I liked it or not," Sakura said, unconsciously rubbing her arms. Tomoyo and Miyu exchanged looks.
And then shaking her head as if clearing it of negative thoughts, Sakura grinned again.
"But I told him I'd never marry someone like him…then kicked his shins!" Sakura finished triumphantly. Tomoyo's face of unease disappeared and she giggled.
"I was wondering why he was limping as he left the estate the other night," Miyu stared at the pretty young woman that sat before her, who was giggling with Tomoyo, and admiring how brave she was. She really was courageous, standing up to her brother, her suitors, and her fancy way of life to do what she felt was right for her. She followed her heart…
"Sakura-chan, lift up your sleeves so I can take care of the bruises that bastard Atobe gave you when he grabbed your arms," Miyu said. Tomoyo shifted.
"Hmm...I don't know what you're talking about, Miyu…" Sakura looked away, almost ashamedly. Miyu grinned.
"Sakura, has no one told you that you are the worst liar ever?" Sakura grinned back sheepishly, then sighed and rolled up the sleeves of the plain cotton dress she was wearing. Even wearing a plain dress that the maids wore, she couldn't hide her beauty. She looked flawless and shapely in the dress.
"It's actually nothing big. I was hoping they'd go away soon ..." Sakura spoke in a casual voice as she sat. Tomoyo had tears of anger in her eyes and she looked the opposite direction while Miyu tended to the girl's arms. It was not "nothing big" as Sakura had put it.
The clear fair skin had been bruised red and black where finger marks could be seen. And underneath the tender skin of the arm were nail marks that had dug deep into the flesh, still a little bloody in the grooves. It had looked as if Sakura had tried to clean it herself, but failed because she could not reach under her arms where the bruising was the worst.
"Okay! All done! The bruising and the swelling should be gone by tomorrow morning and you will be good as new!" Miyu said brightly a few minutes later as she cleaned up the patches that she had used.
"Arigatou, Miyu," Sakura said standing up and smiling. Suddenly, a maid dressed in the plain cotton dress and white cap that the three girls also wore stepped into the kitchen.
"There you are, Sakura-chan. Lord Fujitaka would like to speak with you in the parlor."
"Okay, Kiara, tell him I'll be there shortly," the maid nodded and left, glancing at Sakura's clothes as she did. Sakura turned to Tomoyo, who was watching the maid walk off.
"Sakura-chan, you better go and change out of the dress," Miyu said gently as Sakura nodded.
"Yeah. I could never let you guys get in trouble," she muttered. "Thanks, Miyu." Sakura smiled weakly as she too walked out of the sunny kitchen to change into something that a proper noblewoman should wear instead. Miyu glanced at Tomoyo, who was watching her best friend worriedly. Talks in the parlor usually didn't bode well.
"I'd better go make sure she's alright," Tomoyo said absently following Sakura out and leaving Miyu alone. Miyu watched the girls walk off. She had healed Sakura's wounds with her own magic, but just slightly so the girl did not feel it. Because Miyu knew that Sakura, being born from a nobleman, had magical powers, if not a lot, enough to sense the presence of others.
Miyu frowned, a thought that had occurred to her a dozen times since her meeting with the elders had finished came back up again. Why were the elders interested in Kinomoto Sakura? The only reason she could think of was the obvious. The resistance's big plan was going to happen on the day of Sakura's birthday, meaning tomorrow… but it couldn't be…
"You're always thinking so hard, Miyu," Startled, she looked up to see Abarai, light eyes twinkling at her. He was old, chubby and good natured. She grinned.
"Am I that readable?" He nodded.
"You always frown when you do serious thinking," Miyu laughed lightly.
"Is it time to prepare dinner again?" she asked Abarai as he entered the kitchen, dressed in his usual of white tunic and pants with apron and chef's hat.
"Hai, the estate cook never gets to rest, Miyu-chan," she nodded and put on an apron to help, prepared to keep her thoughts away as she busied herself cooking.
It was a large circular room, with red carpet and redwood walls of the most expensive kind. Large white armchairs and loveseats draped the room. Three walls were covered with an assortment of expensive items of highest quality; a piano, a grandfather clock, antique vases filled with flowers and paintings of magnificent landscapes. The fourth wall was mostly dominated by a larger than life glass window that also served as a door to the balcony outside, overlooking all of Tomoeda and the vast mountains and valleys below.
"She's late," Kinomoto Touya growled. He was standing near the window leaning on the wall and glaring at the man seated on one of the luxurious couches, reading a letter. Kinomoto Fujitaka did not answer his son, but instead, sipped from his teacup and continued reading.
"It's those maids she's always hanging out with! They're influencing your daughter. Commoners like them trying to get on Sakura's good side. And what do you do? Nothing, father, nothing. You allow her to have her stupid maid hang around her and that old lady that fills her head with ridiculous tales and stories. Don't you want her to have a good life?" Touya demanded of his father, now pacing back and forth along the carpeted room, hands behind his back.
He was wearing the red and gold uniform of the imperial army with white pants and black boots. There were numerous gold badges pinned to his chest. Running a hand through his messy straight black hair, he glared at his father again with his light hazel eyes, as if it were all his fault. Fujitaka sighed and put down his letter and teacup, observing the face of his son.
"We've already discussed this many times, Touya," Fujitaka said, taking off his glasses and slowly wiping them on a handkerchief. He had the same eyes as Touya but his hair was not the dark black that Touya's was. His hair was a light brown and he wore round, wire rimmed glasses. "Sakura will do what makes her happy. Until she turns eighteen, I won't make the decisions for her. She is happy with the way things are right now," Touya snorted.
"Happy? When'd you become so soft father? Who cares if she's happy if she lives well off? As long as she gets to live a good life, I'll take that over her happiness any day! And eighteen, father? She turns eighteen tomorrow. You won't be the one making the decisions for her then. I will," When Fujitaka didn't say anything but merely looked at Touya, he continued.
"Do you see the way she is right now? Who'd want to marry her after the way she treated Lieutenant Atobe? Or all the other suitors I found for her? Did you see when she poured that soup over his head? I thought I was going to die of embarrassment."
"Only because he was too stupid to treat me like a normal gentleman." Touya looked up as Sakura entered the parlor, her green eyes flashing. She had changed into a simple light pink dress that cut off at the forearms, the neck line ending in a V. The dress rose as it got to her hips and reached the ground, flowing before her figure. In short, she looked lovely.
"I don't want to hear your excuses, Sakura," Touya said shortly to her as she came in. Her emerald eyes betrayed a hint of hurt before they were replaced by anger.
"It is not an excuse! So you choose to listen to a man you hardly know over your own little sister?" Sakura demanded heatedly.
"Father!" Touya shouted. "Look at her father! Is this any way to act?" Fujitaka looked down.
"Sakura. Don't argue with your brother."
"But—,"
"No buts," Fujitaka held up a hand to silence her. "I asked you to come in here so that we could discuss your birthday party tomorrow," Sakura was angry and hurt that her father had conceded so easily to her brother and bit her lower lip, merely nodding.
"We will be having a birthday ball, as you very well know and we have invited a lot of important guests. Lord Shishio from Byul Town is coming to bring you a cut emerald that he himself made as a present. This is your first appearance into the noble society so I want it to go well. I will introduce you after the dance to all the noblemen of the country that are coming tomorrow," Sakura just nodded slowly again, eyes on her feet to keep from crying.
"The dress that we had made for you just finished today. You shall go try it on in a few minutes, then go eat dinner and rest. Tomorrow is a big day for you. You turn eighteen. My little girl is growing up," Fujitaka finished, smiling warmly at Sakura. She looked up at her father and he was surprised to see tears in her sad green eyes. A feeling like his heart being torn apart surfaced and Fujitaka looked away, breaking eye contact.
"There is one more thing," Touya picked up where his father left off, glaring at Fujitaka. "Tomorrow I will announce your engagement to Atobe." Sakura looked up, fear in her green eyes.
"What? No, you can't!" She cried, standing up from her sitting position on the loveseat.
"Yes, I can! I'm your brother! It's about time you get married and quit dreaming, Sakura! Atobe will provide you with the kind of life you need!" Touya shouted angrily.
"Everything except my own happiness! And love! Does that not mean anything to you, onii-chan?" Sakura asked angrily. Touya stared at her.
"No, it doesn't mean anything to me. There are no such things as love, Sakura! It's time you stop daydreaming and living! Look at the young noblewomen around you! They're getting married, and you, you're always fantasizing about a world with love, and the slaves becoming equals with us Nobles! It's not going to happen! You will marry the man I choose for you, end of questions," Touya finished, breathing hard. Sakura had her fists clenched, staring at the red carpeted floor, shaking with fury.
"I will not have my life controlled by someone like you! I hate people like you," Sakura said coldly. Touya's eyes narrowed.
"Oh? Then just what are you going to do? Marry a commoner?"
"Marrying a commoner would be better than marrying Atobe, or any guy that you choose for me! I—,"
Whatever Sakura was going to say was cut off as a sharp sting to the left side of her cheek made her forget. Touya stood above her, the force of his slap having knocked her down, breathing heavily.
"I will die before I see you marry a commoner," and with that, he walked out of the parlor, the maids quickly holding the doors open for him and scurrying out of the way.
Sakura sat on the floor, hands cradling her burning cheek. She looked up at her father, who was now standing, though she had not remembered him getting up. Fujitaka was motionless.
"Otou-san…" Sakura croaked. She held back her tears, biting her lower lip to stop the pain of the sting.
"Sakura…try not to get your brother so mad," Fujitaka lowly said, not looking at her.
Sakura sat there for more than a minute before she finally gave way to the tears, and holding her cheek, fled the parlor room. As the door slammed shut behind her, Fujitaka closed his eyes, a tear running down his cheek.
"How long has she been in there?" Miyu asked Tomoyo quietly as they stood in front of a pair of doors that led to Sakura's room.
"The whole night now," Tomoyo answered, biting her lower lip, her amethyst eyes full of worry for her friend.
After she had met her father and brother in the parlor, Sakura had returned to her room, shutting herself inside and refusing to eat or let anyone in, including Daidoujii Tomoyo, who was one of the closest people to her.
Miyu patted Tomoyo on her back comfortingly. Word among the maids was that Kinimoto Touya had struck his sister while they were arguing in the parlor. What kind of older brother would do that to his younger sister? Anger spread through her as she thought about her own brother. What was he doing now?
"Let's give her some time," Miyu said softly to Tomoyo. She nodded but didn't move.
"The girl still being stubborn?"
Both girls turned to the new voice that had joined them.
"Chieko-san!" Tomoyo cried.
It was an old lady, slightly hunched over and lovely looking. She was chubby in a motherly sort of way, and when she smiled, her warm brown eyes twinkled. She had grey hair, tied in a neat little bun, and she wore the uniform of a maid, using a walking stick to amble along the empty hallway as she approached the two girls.
"She won't come out," Tomoyo said quietly. Chieko san looked at the locked door thoughtfully, then looked up and down at Tomoyo.
"Well that's no reason to worry yourself to death!" She exclaimed. Tomoyo looked up at her, startled.
"I'll deal with the stubborn miss. You and Miyu go and get some rest. Don't worry, I'll look after her well," Chieko winked and pulled out a golden key to the bedroom door. Tomoyo gasped.
"B…but, how did you?"
"I made the blacksmith forge me a copy after the stupid stunt the girl pulled last time locking herself in for a week," Chieko said. "Now hurry along and get something to eat yourself! You're too thin as it is already!" When Tomoyo was reluctant to go, Chieko san raised her walking stick and whacked Tomoyo in the shins.
"Miyu, take this girl downstairs now! I'll take care of miss!" And with that, Chieko san unlocked the door to the bedroom and entered, shutting it firmly closed behind her. The two young women stood still in the hallway for a few moments before Tomoyo smiled and held out her hand.
"Come on, Miyu. We should go help them get the preparations for the ball ready tomorrow," Miyu looked at the younger girl, surprised. Then she smiled warmly and took Tomoyo's hands.
"Let's trust Chieko-san. Besides, she practically raised Sakura," and giggling, the two girls made their way downstairs.
In her room, Sakura sat on the edge of her bed, unseeing. She hated it. She hated this life. She felt so caged, so protected, so inferior to everyone and everything around her. She had not wanted it to be like this. She had not asked to be sheltered so, to have her life picked out and arranged for her. To watch as ordinary citizens got whipped everyday for disobeying orders by their own people. That, or being killed in masses by demons to feed on. She hated being at the top of the food chain that was Noblemen first, and ended with slaves last.
She had been happy when she was little, living in what she believed to be a carefree world. When she had grown older, all notions of her perfect little world had been ruined. She was no longer happy when she realized that just because her last name was Kinomoto, and just because she was born a noblewoman, she got to eat better food, sleep on better beds, and be served by people to call slaves. Commoners were inferior to her, all because of what? Magic? Power? Money? She sighed.
She probably had to be the worst noblewomen in history ever. She didn't have any magic, as all supposed Noblemen and their families were supposed to have. Only in small instances when she had been a small child, and she managed to get lost, she always found the way home again because she had felt a glow, an aura that led her to safety. But as she grew older, that feeling had started to fade and that same magic had not been felt for years.
Was it really her magic anyway? It was borrowed magic, given magic, by the evil lord Akuma from long ago… Everyone knew the story, or at least the slaves did. Noblemen never told their children the story, afraid that they'd turn against the emperor. But it wasn't really magic from the people, magic from the individual…
She did not want it, she had decided when she was twelve, and stopped using it sense the auras of others with magic, to stop the pink glow that would come out of her hands when she needed to mend something broken or torn. Because having it meant separation from the slave friends that she acquired as a kid. They had all left her too, when they found out who she really was, and not just the auburn haired green eyed girl that they played with and who laughed a lot. Yes, she certainly had happier times as a child.
And with a pang in her heart, she realized that her onii-chan, Touya, had had better times too. They were always close, growing up together. And when her mother had died and her father had lost the spark in his eyes, Touya had brought it upon himself to fend for the family. He joined the army.
Three years later, he became the youngest captain ever of the red imperial army, suppressing the slaves and working with the Youkai and the corrupt government officials to bring upon order to the country. The Youkai were another problem.
She knew there were still a lot left in the country, wreaking havoc and ruining villages and eating people. Everyone had learned how to live with the Youkai. They've been here for 200 years now. Life went on. Youkai were forbidden to enter towns and cities, where the majority of people lived.
Touya had always hated the demons but after joining the army, he had become hard, distant and cold. Maybe it was the warfare that he saw that made him change so, but he became obsessed with money and power. Sakura felt sorry for him at times, when he had the burden of being the captain of the imperial red army, but then again, she'd never seen him in battle.
From the stories, there was a reason he was called the "feared captain of the red imperial army". She did not want to see that violent side to her onii-chan, but already saw too much of it as it was. There was one memorable slave rebellion that he had gone to oversee and when he came back, he was such a different person that in the first two weeks of his return, he spoke to no one, and stayed locked up in his room.
It was after this that he had started bringing home these suitors for Sakura, that were more interested in her money than they were her. Sometimes they'd be just interested in her, suggesting very ludicrous things that made her shudder at the memories.
So with the help of Kankuro, the stable hand, she had learned a few nice moves that she could throw in if a situation were to arise. She would always find a way to reject each suitor though. Of course, she'd never see the man again after she rejected him, but they hadn't been very persistent either.
Sakura wasn't sure what had happened to them, but no one would speak of it and so she too left it alone.
As time went by, Sakura came to realize that she was lonely. It wasn't just the fact that her brother treated her this way either. She rarely saw her father because he was always locked in his study, doing whatever it was that land lord's did. He had been very distant with her as she grew up after her mother had died. She had always been dreadfully lonely, but only a few brave slaves had become her friends, suffering her brother's wrath along the way. Sakura had never let her brother touch the people that she loved. She was glad that she had found Tomoyo, and Miyu, and Chieko san to accompany her when she needed them. There were a few others too, but fear of her older brother had built a gate between them all.
She was lost, scared and confused. The injustice of it all broke her down each time she saw the people slaving away in the fields that belonged to her. The hate and fear in their eyes when she spoke to them or saw them made her sad. They would never truly know the real Sakura. Only the Kinomoto name remained.
Today, she had felt the full pressure of all these things overwhelming her and she couldn't take it. She didn't want her life planned out for her. She had never asked to be looked after so carefully. She hadn't even been out of the estate for over ten years. Sakura knew that no matter what path she took, she could not just marry off like one of the noblewomen. She felt like the small frog, only knowing her home of the well, but not of the ocean beyond that. And Sakura, no matter how hard she tried to suppress the feeling, somehow felt that she was meant for something else…another destiny that had yet to happen. She sighed resignedly. Of course, those were just dreams and feelings of nonsense.
She was turning eighteen tomorrow, where her engagement announcement would be made public and she would just have to accept that fate. Sakura flopped down onto her soft bed. Accept the fact that there was nothing else waiting for her out there… Maybe it was her destiny to marry Atobe. Atobe… She snorted. Just the thought of her marrying that ego inflated idiot made her want to gag.
"Well, I thought you were feeling pretty bad, that's why I came in to check on you, but now that I see that you have the energy to snort lively like that, I'll leave you alone now."
Sakura looked up.
"Chieko-san! How did you-?" Chieko held up a golden key. Sakura couldn't help it, she gave a small smile. Trust Chieko san to think of everything.
"So, have you been sneaking in on me at night to make sure I haven't done anything stupid?" Sakura asked ruefully as Chieko sat next to her on the bed. Chieko laughed.
"Oh yes, every night," Sakura sighed and reaching over, Chieko made the girl lay on the bed, her head on Chieko's lap. "Now, tell me what the problem is." Chieko said calmly while stroking Sakura's hair.
"I-I feel so lost, Chieko-san…" Sakura whispered, tears forming in her green orbs again, head still in her nana's lap. Chieko nodded.
"I don't know who I am or what I'm supposed to do. I just know that I can't stay here and have my life lived for me. ..but I don't have the strength to run away either…" Sakura's voice cracked, her tears leaving wet stains behind on Chieko's pants.
Chieko was silent for awhile, slowly caressing the young woman's long auburn locks. This was a ritual. Every times Sakura needed someone to talk to or was feeling bad over the years, Chieko made her lie down and stroked her head, talking about it until the little emerald eyed beauty felt better.
Ever since Nadeshiko, Sakura's mother, had died, Chieko-san had been taking care of the lively ten year old. She was like a granddaughter to Chieko, who had also taken care of Nadeshiko when she was young.
And to Sakura, Chieko was a mix of mother and grandmother whom Sakura loved very much. Then after a little while, Chieko spoke.
"There are some paths that we choose to take, and some paths that choose to take us, Cherry Blossom. You must choose where you will go. I have a feeling that the opportunity will show itself much sooner than you think…and when it does, choose the one that your heart takes you to."
Sakura was silent, thinking about what Chieko-san had just said, then with a faint smile on her lips, she nodded. It sounded good to her.
Sitting up, she hugged Chieko firmly. The woman had always made her feel better about everything. Chieko laughed and patted Sakura on the head, like she always did when Sakura was younger.
"Feeling better?" She asked Sakura. The young woman nodded enthusiastically, grinning. "Good. I will go call for some dinner for you. Don't go starving yourself again! You're skin and bones!" Sakura giggled.
"I am not skin and bones, Chieko-san!" She said indignantly. Chieko grinned, then her smile vanished almost at once.
"Actually, Sakura-chan, there is one more reason that I have come into your room tonight. I have your birthday present for you," Sakura looked down in Chieko's hands, where a velvet box now sat, as big as her hands, wrapped in gold and red ribbons. She gasped.
"Oh! But Chieko-san! You didn't have to! Besides, my birthday isn't until tomorrow anyway," She exclaimed. Chieko smiled warmly and pinched Sakura's cheeks.
"It is not my gift, Sakura-chan. This is a gift from your mother," Sakura sat quietly, confused.
"But how can it be?" She finally asked. Chieko's eyes twinkled.
"This was originally your grandfather's. But he gave it to Nadeshiko when he passed away. He told her to be very careful with it and to keep it safe. Now it belongs to you. She kept it for all those years, and when she passed away, she entrusted it to me. She wanted me to give it to you on your eighteenth birthday."
Tears had formed in Sakura's green eyes again as she examined the box that Chieko handed over. Slowly, with trembling fingers, she removed the cap to the small hand sized velvet box.
It was a necklace with a golden chain, and the head of what looked like a bird. The neck and plume were red, and the area around its eyes made of a kind of gold. It had a red beak, made of the same iron or metal that made the plume. Over its eyes and extending to the back of its head was what looked like miniature white wings . And where the neck should have been was the gold again, ending in what Sakura realized was a key.
The bird's head was a key. The strangest thing about the key was that it possessed a red ruby like pearl for its eyes. It seemed as if the pearl extended to the other side of the bird's head as well, so that the one pearl made both eyes, each protruding slightly.
Sakura touched it, expecting the metal of the bird's head too feel cool to the touch but was surprised. It felt warm, as if it had been lying out in the sun for a period of time. At the same time that Sakura touched the key, it dimly glowed, and a wave of warm heat infused with what could only be magic rushed past her.
And suddenly from below the floor that Sakura sat, a golden circle encompassed the floor, of a sun and moon forever entwining, expanding throughout the room, and then, in a blink of an eye, it was gone. Chieko san had closed her eyes as she felt the magic pass through the room, knowing that it would spread, perhaps throughout the world tonight.
Sakura opened one eye that she had closed when the magic glow had flared up and gone. She suddenly felt light headed and dizzy, staring at the key as if she'd never seen anything like it. It had stopped glowing and lay in the box innocently. Finally, she croaked.
"What was that?" Chieko-san seemed to be coming out of a daze too, and blinked, then smiled at Sakura again.
"That, my Cherry, I do not know. All that I am sure of is that it possesses strange and wonderful magic all at once."
"But, Chieko-san…how can my mother pass this on to me? I don't know what it does… What does it open? That magic, that wave of magic just now, I've never felt anything like it!" She cried a hint of panic in her sweet voice now. It was true. It was the strongest inkling of magic that Sakura had ever felt before. It was warm and inviting, having a life of its own. Chieko-san sighed.
"This key opens many things Sakura-chan. It was passed down to you by your mother. It was something she wanted you to have. If it has been handed down to you, you must take full responsibility for it, regardless of the consequences. It would seem that the key has chosen you to wield it, and you alone. Look at how it has responded to you," Chieko said, grinning down at Sakura again. Sakura gulped and looked down at the bird head shaped key. It was kind of cute. Then a whole rain of questions washed down on Sakura and she looked up in alarm again.
"I don't have any magic, Chieko-san. My magic isn't strong. This, this key has so much power inside of it. How can it choose me? I don't understand…why did my mother want me to have it?" She murmured. Chieko looked at the beautiful young woman before her. There were so many answers she wanted to give her, but the time had not come for it yet. In time, the young woman would find the answers for herself. That was her destiny. Chieko took Sakura's small hands into her old ones, warming them up.
"My cherry blossom, it is not for you to understand. I am sure that you will figure it out as time goes by. I do not know either, but for now, it is yours, and you must keep it," Sakura smiled faintly and nodded, picking up the key, now cool to the touch, and securing the chain around her neck. It looked nice, sitting atop her white dressing gown.
"There is one other thing that you must promise me you must do," Chieko continued, and Sakura looked up, startled.
"Yes, Chieko-san, what is it?"
"Do you remember the story of the slaves that I always used to tell you when you were younger? It was your favorite story," Chieko reminisced. Sakura giggled.
"Yes, I remember. But most of the story is true, isn't it, Chieko-san?" Chieko looked at Sakura seriously, then said,
"All of it is true, Sakura-chan." Sakura stared, confused.
"The whole story is true, my child. And what I ask of you is that you keep believing in it. You must believe in the story. Promise me that no matter what happens, you will keep believing. Promise me." Chieko's face was set and serious, gripping Sakura's hands tightly in her own old ones. Sakura nodded.
"Chieko-san…are you sure the story is real? It's difficult to believe in such a wonderful story…it's difficult when there's no more hope left…" Sakura whispered.
She had always thought the story was a fairytale, a legend passed down onto the slaves, but now that Chieko was saying that it was true, she didn't know what to believe. If it was true, then where were the heroes in the story to save the people that had become slaves and food for the Youkai? Where were they? Why did the heroes let the people suffer for so long?
"No, my cherry. You must believe it, do you understand? Keep believing no matter what. Promise me, you must promise me that you will," Chieko said, almost urgently, as she looked into the emerald orbs which always seemed to have a sadness in them. Sakura sniffed and nodded slowly.
"I promise, Chieko-san. I promise to always believe in it," Chieko-san sighed with relief, releasing the small hands.
"But there is one thing…" Sakura continued. Chieko-san looked at the young woman, whose face expression was unreadable.
"You must tell me the story one more time ^_^! I can't believe in it unless I know the story by heart now, can I?" Sakura laughed. Chieko smiled warmly.
"Alright, alright, get into bed, and I'll tell it to you once more. This will be my gift to you on your birthday," Sakura grinned and agreed happily.
"Oohh, do the voice imitations too, Chieko-san!" Chieko sighed, 'This girl...' But the corners of her eyes were crinkling. When Sakura had ducked down under the covers and popped out her head from under the pillows to listen, Chieko made herself comfortable and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Are you ready?" she asked, just like she always used to. Sakura nodded.
"Yup! Ready when you are, Chieko-san!"
"Once upon a time…" As Sakura sat listening to Chieko's smooth voice telling the story, her mind felt somewhat at ease.
She had suddenly become the keeper of a powerful magical object that her mother had handed down to her in one night. Chieko's request had also seemed like it had a lot to more to it than she had let on, and tomorrow was her eighteenth birthday.
Questions and worries filled her mind, but she brushed them aside as she listened to Chieko. She knew that there were going to be more wonders and worries along the road, but like Chieko said, there was no point in worrying about the future, when time came to choose, she would just have to decide and follow the path her heart would take her.
Forest, near the village of Tomoeda
Province of Wood
9:26 PM
"Come on, Tsubaki, you devil. We only have a few more miles to go," the young man muttered crossly to his mare, who, stood drinking by a spring and ignoring its master who was trying to lead it away by the reins. The water in the spring appeared black, reflecting the stars and the moon that had come out that night. It was another perfect night, cloudless and clear.
Li Syaoran made an impatient noise deep in his throat. He was already delayed because he had rescued the children in the Black forest. He had felt the Youkai, felt the fear and sweat that their victims felt, and was set on ignoring it, as his current task of arriving in Tomoeda Village of greater importance, but he just could not, and swearing, had returned and gotten rid of the two Youkai, rescuing the two children, and getting them out of the forest alive.
He had wasted a day's time, in which he could have already been finalizing the plans for the big event that was to take place the very next night. Now, his stupid mare seemed to have a mind of her own and refused to walk any further, even though he had given her plenty of rest and even refrained from riding her most of the day.
Growling in frustration, he dropped her reins and walked towards where the snow white horse stood, drinking from the spring, and eyeing her master apprehensively as he approached.
"You must be tired, Tsubaki." Syaoran said quietly. Tsubaki snorted and looked away, still lapping up the clear spring water.
"Well, that's too bad, Tsubaki. I was hoping you could make it to town. But it seems that I've worn you out too fast. Perhaps I should call Tsukasa instead. He's stronger and more reliable, after all…" Syaoran walked away from the spring into the clearing in the woods and raised two fingers to his lips.
He was suddenly shoved to the side, a little harder than necessary, as Tsubaki cantered forward to stand next to him, snorting and neighing, pawing the ground to show off the fact that she was no lame mare yet. Syaoran secretly grinned to himself.
"Are you sure you're going to be alright?" he asked her skeptically. Tsubaki tossed her head in reply, and Syaoran nodded slowly.
"Well, alright, just let me know when you're tired so I can call your brother instead," Tsubaki lunged forward to try to nip Syaoran with her teeth but the young man was too quick and easily dodged, chuckling lowly.
"Let's ride, Tsubaki!" he jumped onto the horse's saddle and in the fierce moonlight, they rode.
He had just galloped into the tall grass plains of the country on the outskirts of Tomoeda when he felt it. An aura that he had never felt before. He only felt a moment of it, a quick second, but he was sure that it had come from the town itself.
It was a golden aura that he knew and was familiar with, though he had no idea why it was coming from within the town, when he was the only one who could use its powers; but with it came another that he had never felt before. It felt warm and vaguely familiar, and if he could describe the color, pink crossed his mind.
Shaking his head and utterly confused at the strange occurrence, Syaoran rode harder, only one more reason why his presence in town was necessary.
Chapter Two End.
Author's Note: Once again another corrected chapter. Chapter Three's up! Don't forget to Read and Review! Thanks~