Chapter 9: Crouching Tiger Street

Haha my friend *cough* xiLynnx *cough* told me she was pretty sure Sakura calls Yelan Yelan-san. I'm gonna change it from now on. Excuse my retardedness. Hehe. Microsoft Word has underlined that in red. Well, it's a word for me!! (retardedness)

...……sorry

xXSakuraBlossomsXx you're probably gona kill me for this chapter.

"character talking"

character thinking

(me talking)

sound effect

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"THIEF! SOMEONE'S TAKEN MY MONEY BAG!"

A few people turned their head towards her out of curiosity, while others just ignored her, pretended not to hear and continued to cheer for the performers. It wasn't too surprising, it was something that happened everyday.

Sakura hurried back into the crowd, squishing through the people, desperately looking on the floor in case she had dropped it.

Syaoran growled. He saw someone not far from Sakura break off from the crowd and run.
Must have been him.

Syaoran sprinted after him.

"Hey. Syaoran, hey! What're doing?" Meiling yelled.

"Thief!" He called back.

Meiling squeezed through the crowd after him.

"Excuse me, coming through! Oops! Sorry! I didn't mean to-WHO JUST TOUCHED MY ASS?"

Sakura crawled out from the crowd gasping for air, almost getting trampled to death. Really shouldn't have looked on the ground…

A brown and green blur zoomed past her.

"Hey, Syaoran! What're-"

"THIEF!"

Syaoran was gaining up on the thief in front of him when suddenly the thief, not much older than him, Syaoran noticed, bumped into someone. He picked himself off the ground and ran off again. Syaoran was so close by now he was about to make a grab for the thief. But he suddenly realised the thief's hands were empty.
Aww what?!

Looking to his right, he saw the guy the thief had 'bumped' into running off in the other direction, something rose pink in his hands. Something rose pink in the shape of Sakura's money bag.

Ah, so they're together in this. Trying to throw me off track to get a head start?

He smirked.

Heh, let's see you try to outrun me.

He could hear Sakura and Meiling, both very fast runners, not far behind him, screaming and yelling.

Syaoran picked up speed. No way was he going to let this little thief run away with their precious money.

The thief was sneaking looks back, with a scared expression, seeing Syaoran was gaining up on him. Suddenly, he was tripped by a foot he had failed to see and landed with a splat, the money bag rolling out of his hands. Syaoran skidded to a stop. The thief was on the ground, trembling, a sword pointed at his neck. Syaoran looked up and saw the owner of the sword, not much older than 16, smiling at him.

"Don't move." He said sternly to the thief.

The mysterious guy bent down, black hair with copper brown streaks flapping in the breeze, and picked up the bag, tossing it to Syaoran. The thief took this opportunity to run.

Syaoran let him go, since he already had the money. He opened the bag, to find it was filled with pebbles.

"What the fudge?!" (Okay, childish I know, but it's my substitute for f***. I only use the actual word when I'm really mad or surprised etc. Don't worry; I'm sure you'll get used to fudge as an alternative. And you have to admit, it's cute coming out of Syaoran's mouth. I wonder if he likes chocolate fudge…)

The mysterious guy's cerulean eyes twinkled with what seemed to be amusement.

"Ahhh, thieves these days. Smarter than you think they are."

Syaoran was seething. He glanced up to see the guy was gone.

Okay. That was…weird…

Meiling and Sakura came up to him, panting, cheeks red. Meiling looked like she was about to die from the heat.

"Arrrghhh! Stupid thieves! Making me run in this weather! If I see any one of them again I swear I'll rip their heads off and chop them up and feed half to the cockroaches and then with the other half I'll…" And on and on she went about the consequences the thieves would suffer if she ever saw them again.

"So, who was that guy just then?" Sakura asked, choosing to ignore Meiling.

"I dunno, some random who helped me catch the 'thief'." He emphasized the word thief. He was still seething.

"Uhh, then why are you so mad?"

"Because the 'thief' I chased at the start had the money bag all along. But when I saw this guy running, holding something pink, I assumed that the first guy had given it to him when they bumped together, so this guy could run off with it. But it was all planned out. This guy would run off holding a similar coloured bag, pretending they had swapped when they hadn't really." He was almost shouting with anger. Li Syaoran never got tricked by anyone. It was disgraceful and embarrassing.

Sakura didn't know what to say. She tried to comfort him.

"Well, everyone makes mistakes sometimes Syaoran. You wouldn't have been able to see-"

"You know what, Kinomoto? If you hadn't been stupid enough to let someone take the money in the first place, none of this would have happened! And I think it's more appropriate for you to address me as Li."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Syaoran regretted it.
What have I done?

He looked to the ground to avoid seeing the hurt look on Sakura's face. By now, Meiling had stopped her rambling and was watching intently. She whacked Syaoran's arm when she heard his last statement.

"What the hell! Syaoran!"

Sakura felt tears welling up in her eyes.
Did he…just say that?

She fought to keep them from falling.
I will not cry in front of anyone. Especially Syaoran…

I waited two years to get this? Fine, if that the way it's going to be.

The hurt was soon replaced by anger.

"Alright. Then. Li." She bit out each word.

Syaoran winced. She had said his name with so much...hate.

He dared to look up again and saw that she was fuming.

"I'm sorry I was so stupid to let the thief quietly take the money bag while I was trying hard to stay alive and breathe in the middle of a damned suffocating crowd! But it's not all my fault! You, Mr. Li, were stupid enough to get fooled by a few amateur thieves and let them run off with the money right before your eyes! YOU KNOW WHAT LI? PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES OKAY. PEOPLE ARE FORGIVED IF THEY REALISE THEIR MISTAKES. BUT OH NO. MR HIGH AND MIGHTY LI OF THE LI CLAN, IS TOO PROUD TO DO THAT. HE HAS TO GO AROUND BLAMING OTHER PEOPLE!"

With that, she stomped off. Meiling trailed after her, debating whether to comfort her or stay back in case she got her head bitten off.

Ouch.

Syaoran stood rooted to the spot.

He turned his head slowly to see the back view of Sakura barging through the crowds of people.

What have I done?

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An awkward silence had fallen between the three and lasted until now, hours later. Syaoran looked up at the sky, from the position of the sun, he could tell it was about it was about 5 to 5:30 in the evening.

Finally, Meiling couldn't stand it and cracked.

"Rarrrghhh! Will somebody talk!? Will you guy make up or something! God this no talking thing is really getting to me! At least talk to me! I didn't do anything."

"I asked a shopkeeper before." Syaoran spoke up.

"Thank you!" Meiling sighed with relief.

"He said that we have to go through the bamboo forests, which is common around here, to get to the next village."

"Woot!" Meiling cheered.

"And from the looks of it, we'll probably get to the end of the village by nightfall."

"Woot!" Meiling cheered again.

"And we have no money so we won't be able to stay at an inn or buy anything to eat." Syaoran concluded.

"Woo-WHAT!?" Meiling stopped, mouth hanging open.

"So we have to make money, and fast!" Two pairs of eyes turned to look at Sakura. One pair surprised, the other awkwardly.

Sakura blinked.

"What?"

"Sakura-chan you spoke!" Meiling hugged her.

"Haha. Uhh, am I not allowed to?"

"No it's just…nothing Sakura-chan."

It sounded so weird to Sakura. And then realisation dawned upon her.

"Chan? Japanese? Meiling you suddenly blabbed Japane-HOEE! I've been speaking Chinese this whole time!?"

Meiling laughed. "You sure have."

"Wow. So that's why the chan sounded so weird…"

Meiling laughed again. "Yes sorry. So no chans or kuns or sans. Or people will think we're weird."

"So, Li-kun. Oops. I meant, Li."

Ouch again. "Yeah? he answered.

"Any ideas how we can make money? And fast?"

She was smiling like she normally did, yet she managed to sound so…cold.

"Uhhh.."

Twack

A piece of paper flew right into Syaoran's face.

"What the hell?"

He ripped it off and was about to scrunch it up when the first sentence caught his eyes.

"Eh? Syao? What is it?" Meiling asked.

"Don't call me that." He glared at her and she cowered behind Sakura.

Let's just say, Syaoran's glare can be very…intimidating.

He decided to read it out loud.

"Want to earn money fast? Come to the Arena at Crouching Tiger Street and beat the undefeated. Whoever stands at the end of the day will win 20 taels of silver!"

"So…it's like…fighting? OMG Syao! What are you waiting for!?"

"Don't. Call. Me. That." He said through gritted teeth.

Meiling cowered behind Sakura again.

After asking a few passers-by, they found they were heading to Crouching Tiger street already.

Walking for a few minutes, they began to see a big blur of colours in the distance. After moving closer, the three realised it was a huge crowd, gathered around what seemed to be a stage of some sort.

There were cheers and shouts when suddenly someone flew out and landed into a vegetable stall.

"My carrots!" The old man cried. The victim who had been kicked off the fighting 'Arena' groaned but didn't get up.

Sakura shuddered. So, there were no safety rules to this thing.

The cheers were louder. The three heard an 'MC' of some sort shouting above the crowds.

"Chen YiDao wins again! He's been undefeated all afternoon. Any more challengers? Anyone dare to come and fight him for 20 taels of silver?"

The three stared in surprise after they squeezed through to the front of the crowd. The young man standing there wore a dark grey costume fit for fighting. He had a black, silk belt around his waist. His hair was partially tied up messily, and he was holding a broadsword. Another one was still sheathed on his back. Chen YiDao was the young man who had helped Syaoran 'catch' the 'thief' earlier.

His copper brown streaks shining in the last rays of the sun as he twirled his broadsword around in his hand.

A skinny, scrawny man with crooked teeth climbed onto the stage with difficulty (did I mention he was short too?).

"I will!"

The crowds hooted louder, if that was possible.

Many girls were chanting, with stars (or hearts) in their eyes,

"YiDao! Wo ai ni! YiDao! Wo ai ni!"

"Pfft." Meiling scoffed.

"What?" Sakura turned to her friend.

"Can't you hear them? YiDao! We love you! He's got fans already."

Sakura laughed.

"Well, you can't blame them. I mean, he's obviously good at fighting. And you have to say he's very good looking."

Syaoran growled. A growl he thought no one heard until Meiling secretly elbowed him.

"Ooh. Is that jealousy, Syao?" Her expression changed as soon as the word left her mouth. Without even waiting for his glare, she cowered behind Sakura.

"What's up with you?" Sakura looked around at her friend.

"N-nothing."

Let's just say, Syaoran's glare can be very very intimidating.

On the stage, YiDao was smiling at his new opponent. The scrawny man was flexing his muscles, if he had any at all.

YiDao sheathed his sword. Even though he was still smiling, everyone could see his cerulean eyes were mocking, taunting the man in front of him.

"Well, I guess I won't be needing that for this fight."

The scrawny man's nostrils flared.

"What are you implying?"

"Oh, nothing. Nothing."

The scrawny man laughed like a hyena choking on a fish bone.

"Beware! Chen YiDao! I have mastered the Claw of the Tiger skill. Mwahahahaha."

He curled his fingers in an attempt to imitate a tiger's claw, which did not work, and charged at YiDao.

"Really, now?" YiDao murmured. He stood, unmoving, arms crossed in front of his chest. He cocked his head, smirking at his opponent.

The scrawny man ran as fast as his skinny legs could carry him, filled with anger.

"I'll show you! RAARRGHHH!!!"

"Ouch, my ears. Hopefully that was not an attempt at a tiger's roar." YiDao said sarcastically.

Just as the scrawny man was about to lunge at YiDao with his tiger claws that looked more like a hermit crabs, YiDao's fist shot out and hit him squarely in the stomach, sending the scrawny man flying off stage, into the old man's vegetable store.

"My cabbages!" The old man cried.

The crowd cheered again.

The MC announced, "We have time for just one more challenger. Anyone willing? 20 taels of silver! Hm, looks like Yi Dao is our champion for today!"

Syaoran began making his way to the steps.

"Yay! Syao! … RAN!" Meiling called.

I can't believe I'm doing this for money. Sigh.

He climbed up and faced YiDao, a bored yet unwilling expression on his face.

"I'll be the last challenger." He mumbled.

"Looks like YiDao has yet another opponent. Will this chestnut haired young man beat him? Or will he fly off stage like all the previous challengers?" The MC shouted, annoyingly.

Sakura heard murmurs pass through the crowd of 'fangirls' standing at the front.

"Ooh, he is so handsome." One said in a dreamy voice.

"And so young!"

"Well, YiDao isn't much older!" Another defended.

"If he wins, I will be joining his fanclub."

"Young, handsome, powerful…what more could you ask?"

"Maybe someone who is smart with knowledge, knows science, history and different languages and skills that-"
The 'nerdy' one was cut off.

"Ugh, why are you here anyway? You are not interested in these type of things."

The 'nerdy' one was about to reply when the audience fell quiet. The fight was about to start.

Syaoran and YiDao both put their left palm over their right fist and bowed slightly, a polite way of greeting before fighting.

"Chen YiDao."

"Li Xiao Lang."

They introduced themselves.

"I see you have a very nice sword there. I hope you are more interesting than my previous opponents. Be careful, as my name suggests, I can kill with one strike." (Yi=one. Dao=blade. YiDao=one blade or one strike of the sword etc.)

Syaoran scoffed.

"Oh I am. And you're the one who needs to be careful because you are about to get your ass whipped."

"…"

Oops, too much slang. He has no idea what the hell I'm talking about.

"…Whatever that was…I hope you're ready."

"Ready as I ever will be." Syaoran replied, his eyes glinting with excitement. He hadn't had a proper fight in ages. Syaoran lifted his hand to his back, clasping his sword tightly but not pulling it out. He was itching to start.

"You have a very interesting choice of speech, I am sure on that. About your skills, we will have to wait and see."

The two stared at each other for what seemed like eternity. Suddenly, like the speed of lightening, YiDao charged towards Syaoran, sword ready for a diagonal slash.

Meiling looked impressed. Sakura gasped. She hadn't even seen him take out his sword, yet it was there, held in front of him, inches away from Syaoran's face.

Clang!

The sound of metal striking against metal echoed through the streets. Syaoran had been equally fast, bringing out his sword and blocking the attack. The crowds were now silent, captivated. They had never seen such speed. The opponents YiDao had faced before were not skilled enough to make YiDao show his real talents. But YiDao had sensed Syaoran was different. And he was right.

"Not many people can see my first strike and live to talk about it. This is going to be interesting."

"Pfft. You and your 'first strike'. Geez, stop being so obsessed with your gay name, you retard. It's not normal. But I'll tell you what is normal. The speed of your precious 'first strike'. Utterly pathetic, so slow I could have taken a nap and then dodged it."

YiDao looked genuinely confused. Syaoran seemed to be speaking Chinese, and the tone of his voice seemed to be insulting him, but he couldn't understand what the hell he had just said.

"Gay?" He repeated a word he remembered.

"Yes gay. And you can live the rest of your life not knowing what it means."

They pulled apart, the screeching sound of metal scraping against metal made most of the audience cover their ears.

YiDao spun and delivered a sharp roundhouse kick, which Syaoran blocked easily. He thrust his sword forward, YiDao crouched to avoid it and attempted to trip Syaoran. Syaoran saw that coming and jumped up. Midair, Syaoran could feel the adrenaline rushing though his veins. He hadn't felt this type of thrill for a long time, too long.

Syaoran flipped in the air and dived back down, sword aimed at YiDao's head. YiDao moved back and the two engaged in a swordfight. Every time one attacked the other defended equally well.

YiDao suddenly spun in a perfect butterfly kick. Syaoran smirked and twisted to dodge it.

"Why a butterfly kick? You should know that it looks complicated but has no use in fights."

"Oh really?"

Just as YiDao landed from his kick, he pulled the second broadsword from it's sheath. He connected the ends together and secured it with a click. Now holding a double sided sword in his hands, he flung it like a boomerang. He had been blocking Syaoran's view with his kick so Syaoran didn't see it coming.

"What the…!?"

Syaoran jumped to the left.

"Heh, missed."

Then he felt something behind him, coming at a great speed. He turned and held his sword out.

Just in time. The double sided sword had flown back like a boomerang and hit his sword on an angle.

Before Syaoran had to time to think YiDao jumped up, caught his sword aimed a kick at Syaoran's jaw, which sent him flying to the edge of the stage.

"That's what I use it for."

The crowd stared, wide eyed.

"Syao!" Meiling gasped. Then she added. "RAN RAN RAN RAN RAN!"

Sakura heard murmurs being passed through the crowd.

"What was that?"

"It was so fast, I didn't see a thing!"

"Since when could YiDao connect his swords?"

"Is that his special move? I've never seen him use it on anyone…"

"Me neither…maybe this Xiao Lang really is something…"

"Is he okay?"

Syaoran picked his self up and used his sleeve to wipe the trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. He fingered the ugly bruise now forming on his jaw.

"Guess you caught me off guard. Maybe I underestimated you. Now that I know your attacks, the real fight begins."

Syaoran ran forwards and slashed at YiDao, who twirled his double sided broadswords so fast they became a blur. Syaoran sword rebounded off it. He side kicked and jumped up, predicting YiDao's next attack. And sure enough, YiDao threw his broadswords 'boomerang' style.

Syaoran smirked. Perfect.

YiDao then noticed he was in the air and regretted his attack.

How did he know?

Syaoran landed just as the double sided sword spun beneath him, pinning it to the ground. He side kicked it aside and punched YiDao when he made a grab for his swords, making him crash to the floor. YiDao tried to get up but Syaoran pointed his sword at his neck.

Silence.

More silence.

Slight applause.

The MC finally recovered and announced in a shaky voice.

"L-looks like Chen YiDao has finally been defeated. The 20 taels of silver go to Li Xiao Lang."

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Here's a pic I drew of YiDao.

Not my best drawing, I know. But I hope you get the point. It's sort of what I envisioned. Sorry if my descriptions made you think totally different, I can't really describe things well. And yeah, Ancient China, guys had long hair, so sorry if it's a bit weird or awkward.

I don't scan my drawings, I take a picture with my phone and then put it on my computer so it's a bit blurry. Hehe. Oh, I don't have photoshop either so it's all done with pencil. Nothing shiny, nothing spectacular. lol

crap I just realised the link kinda died or something. If you wana see it go to my profile! ^w^