Chapter 7: A cold return
Iroel's Note: Hey everyone, I hope I didn't make things too confusing in the last chapter. I intend to answer a lot of questions as this fanfic move on… so be patient if you want the questions to be answered.
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Chapitre sept: Un retour froid
"You're a wise king to follow my advice." Yuko complimented.
"Well, seeing how my dad usually did, I thought I might as well do the same." Toya grumbled.
"Do you have men positioned to protect the walls?"
"Do you take me for an idiot?"
"Very well, however, take caution for the forces which will assail you. Fei is very dangerous and resourceful man."
"Oh? Can you prove that statement?"
"He is responsible for your father's death. How much more do you need to know?"
"When you say he's resourceful, give me an example about what to look out for."
"He has many allies which will aid him against you. Coming with your sister is two men who many are after."
"Then I'll kick them out of this country."
"You would do that to the two people who protected her?"
"If it means that they won't attack us."
"Regardless, Fei will still convince others to attack you. Fai and Kurogane are very good fighters. At this point, you will need all the fighters you can get."
"Yuko-san, just tell me how many friggin soldiers are going to attack us."
"I cannot tell you that, because even that is veiled from my sight."
"The other information you revealed to me… It's quite disturbing, especially the one about him. Can you tell me any more?"
"I'm not sure why you need more information, you know what to do."
"But you revealed so little, how should I be prepared for him."
"You can't, his purpose is one that reaches deeper than anything which anyone can dissuade."
"Is this the same with Fei?"
"Indeed, these two are both men who you should not have against you. It's already too late with Fei, however avoid tampering with the purpose of the other, or he may prove to be even deadlier to you, for he, unlike Fei, can travel the worlds. I must get going now. Be careful, he is called the Angel of Fear for a reason."
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"King Toya," Yukito and some guards entered the room, "what did the witch tell you?"
"Not good news, as usual, but we can be assured of what will come."
"How soon?"
"Be ready for anything when Sakura comes. The attack will come soon after."
"How is Syaoran-kun doing?"
"Not sure, she didn't tell me."
"It appears they have arrived…" Yukito sounded worried and sad.
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"What an interesting world…" Fai remarked.
"There's sand everywhere… that's kinda depressing…"
"You there," a guard came to them, "go the castle immediately. King Toya and High Priest Yukito await you there."
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"Sakura…" Toya embraced his sister, "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine…" Sakura barely mumbled.
"I'd like to thank you for looking out for her." Yukito thanked Kurogane and Fai.
"Mokona helped too!" Mokona playfully remarked.
"Sakura, what's wrong?" Toya was concerned. The only answer he got back was the tears rolling down her cheek.
"I didn't even remember him…" Toya understood.
"Syaoran gave up his relationship to restore Sakura's memory. Just a little heads up."
Toya noticed the green cloak around her, and the small stains of blood which splashed onto it. Toya simple brought her closer, comforting her in any way he could. Sakura just pushed him away and ran off towards her room.
"So then…" Toya sadly started, "What happened?"
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"They arrived at the country of Clow."
"Deploy the forces towards that world for the next 12 hours. Use whatever methods to conceal the army. If we strike suddenly, they'll have no time to protect against our massive forces."
Miles away, hundreds of thousands of soldiers vanished slowly towards Clow.
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"Why does it hurt so much…?" Sakura continued crying and held tightly to her chest. Tears wouldn't stop, but she wasn't trying to stop them. Alone in that room, she allowed the sadness to surround and take her. Memories continued to flood through her head, memories she had forgotten and will never share with Syaoran again.
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"What surprises me is how you've prepared for battle already." Kurogane remarked.
"That witch told me something about an attack."
"Either way, I don't think you have enough men to withstand the amount that devastated my castle."
"I've already taken that element into account."
"Oh?"
"You do realize there are other countries surrounding us."
"So you asked them to help you?"
"Well… yes I did, but there's a problem… I'm concerned about the moral level of their soldiers."
"Just don't tell them about an expected attack. By the way, how did you get them to help you?"
"Well, that's the part I'm regretting right now… The prince of their country-"
"-Will marry Sakura-hime." A voice interrupted Toya. Descending from the upper levels of the castle, a jet-black haired boy walked down the stairs. Dressed in fine clothes and wearing glasses on his face, the boy smirked.
"My name is Eli Hikari. Nice to meet you."
"You're the prince?"
"Indeed. My father sent me here with the twenty battalions of soldiers to assure that I will take Sakura-hime's hand." Kurogane's hand twitched instinctively towards his sword.
"Well… we're just glad you're willing to help us."
"Think nothing of it. I am curious however. You two do not seem to be from around here…"
"We're travelers."
"Ah, I see. Also, where has Sakura-hime been for the past ten months?"
"It's only been ten months?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Oh, nothing. We went on a journey to save her from death."
"What was the threat?"
"It's complicated."
"Then I will implore that question no longer. As for the morality of the soldiers, I can assure you that they will fight for you as hard as they fight for our country."
"When will the wedding take place?"
"I am not certain, but I do not concern myself with that. I will indeed marry her one day. However it does not concern me greatly right now."
"Who required that Sakura-chan's hand will be given in exchange for the alliance and aid?"
"My father. However, I disapprove of this arranged wedding. I am mostly concerned for Sakura-hime."
"Why are you worried for her?"
"Because to be one who cannot choose is a very unfortunate and sad position that I feel none should be forced to take."
"Then why do you take up the offer?"
"Because I feel that I have a duty as a prince to care for my neighbors. This will ultimately prepare me to be a king in the future."
"Toya…" A soft voice echoed behind them. Sakura was close to tears as she came face to face with her brother. "Why would you do something like this to me?"
"Sakura, I didn't have a choice, and at the time I didn't know." Toya went closer to hug his sister
"Leave me alone." Sakura retreated back to her room.
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As Sakura left the room, Eli felt a nervous feeling in his gut. His leg unnoticeably twitched and he felt a bit queasy. However, he felt an odd sadness inside of him, looking into her sad eyes, which could've been assumed to hold much happiness before.
"I wonder why she is so angry…" Eli calmly said.
"It's complicated…" Toya, Kurogane, and Fai all said at once.
"Very well…" Eli focused himself back to the matter at hand, shaking off that odd feeling for Sakura.
"I'm going to talk to her." Kurogane walked after Sakura.
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"You're pathetic…" Kurogane started.
"Kurogane-san, leave me alone."
"You're acting like a big baby Sakura-chan, you need to move on."
"It's not that easy." Sakura started to break down.
"Sakura-chan… I know it isn't easy, but you have to move on." Sakura simply cried.
"Look, if I could get through my princess' death, you can get over Syaoran's death."
"It's not as easy."
"You're wrong Sakura-chan, it was just as hard on me as it is to you now."
"Why?"
"Tomoyo-hime had been there for me since I was a teenager, ever since my parents were killed."
"Your parents?"
"The kid never told you about my past?" Sakura merely shook her head. "At that one world we visited, with the huge library, we found a book completely empty. After I looked through it, Syaoran took the book and saw my memories. From that, he learned why Ginryuu was so precious to me and my unpleasant adolescent years.
My father left with Ginryuu to kill a monster which had beaten him up pretty badly. I was instructed to protect my mother, who was the miko at the time, and make sure that the barrier stayed up and repelled monsters. But, something went wrong. During my watch, my mother was killed. I now found out what it was I saw, after my experiences in dimension traveling. A hand stuck out from a portal, and stabbed my mother with a huge sword. What disturbs me is that it looked exactly the same as the sword that killed Syaoran. Not long after, a huge monster intruded into our city, killing a good number of our people. When it came to me, I saw a hand in its mouth, clutching Ginryuu. The sword dropped and I lost all of my senses.
Souma and the empress of Japan later told me that when they found me, the monster was completely slaughtered and bloody. In my eyes was a pure white rage and blood stained my body. Since that moment, Tomoyo-hime took me into her service rather than hiring someone else. She even helped me through my parents' death. But now she's gone isn't she? The times I had when I was under her service were unforgettable. I'd lost my old master who went off with my father, and a good number of friends in the ninja battalion. Tomoyo-hime comforted me and took me into her counsel."
"Kurogane-san, I won't be able to get through this soon, so please just let me be."
With a sigh, Kurogane turned to leave, acknowledging defeat, however he went closer to Sakura and dropped two sheathed knives next to her.
"Where did you get these?" Sakura curiously inquired.
"That hooded guy dropped these when he ran."
"Aren't you afraid that I might kill myself?"
"No, because what I'm about to tell you next will prevent that…"
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"Syaoran's killer is still out there." Kurogane turned away, knowing he wouldn't have to worry anymore.
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Iroel's note: Well, this chapter was finished in some decent amount of time. Anyway, that stuff on Kurogane's past are all a part of the manga. Kurogane did have a father who was killed mercilessly by a huge monster. Kurogane did lose a good friend in the ninja squad. And Kurogane's mom was assassinated. (Chapitre 96, The Boy's Roar). Chapter 8 should be coming out soon. I'm still working into a massive conflict which you won't want to miss. (I know you miss Syaoran T.T I miss him too!)
