Disclaimer: CCS and all related characters are the creation and property of CLAMP. We only borrowed characters to create fan fiction with.
Story format…
"Speech"
"Thoughts"
Seen Change…
Chapter 9
War, Politics, and the Devil's Hand
Last Chapter…
Kero sat on Sakura's shoulder getting to know her and her scent.
Soon they would all be off to bed and by morning the Northern Queen's and the Western Princess's new arrangement would be put to the test.
Syaoran could feel the migraine coming on already.
A few days later in the royal garden…
Syaoran sat in the training yard in the garden atop a tall tree polishing his sword.
An unusually cold breeze blew trough his ever messy hair.
The rag moved up and down the blade faster and faster as his mind raced in ever growing impatience.
What was the source of his agitation one might ask? More like whom. A yellow stuffed toy and the princess that it's been attached to would be good candidates to start looking at.
But the problem was the pair was not causing any problems at all. And that is what was annoying him the most.
After his mother struck her deal with the princess he had prepared himself for the worst case scenario.
He mentally prepared himself to deal with every disaster they were sure to cause.
He had readied himself for everything, from another escape attempt, to suspicious servants who might get nosey about the identity of the unknown noble girl wondering the hall ways, and what did he get? Nothing!
And that was aggravating him.
For all his foreboding the pair was keeping a surprisingly low profile.
It helped that the princess's movements were still restricted.
She was only allowed into a few select places on the upper floors close to the wing his bedroom was in, and was still not allowed outside.
Tomoyo had also begun abducting the princess for hours at a time to use the poor girl as a living dress up doll. But she seemed glade for the company and Ceroberous and Tomoyo had also taken charge of bringing the princess her meals.
He had barely seen or heard a peep from the lady Sakura at all.
Syaoran knew he should be happy that he was free of the burden of having to babysit the princess so why on earth was the whole thing bothering him so much?
He switched to his sharpening stone as his mind continued to wonder.
He wondered what the princess was up to now.
When she was not with Tomoyo or gossiping with one of the other girls who apparently had also become taken with her cheerful but down to earth personality, she liked to spend her time haunting the palace libraries and reading rooms.
In particular there was a small parlor on the second floor of the library that she basically confiscated for her own privet use.
She spent hours at a time in there reading all kinds of books or playing games with Ceroberous or "Kero" as she called him since he has become her constant companion.
Eriol had thought it odd that Kero had taken such a liking to her. In the absence of his true master he had never really bonded with anyone before this.
Kero usually just made a nuisance of himself and transformed to his true form so he could terrorize the kitchen staff in order to steal the fresh made sweets as they ran off screaming about monsters.
"It was no wonder this place can't keep a cook all that long."
He figured Ceroberous just liked her because she was pretty much the only person who had the time to bother with the little pest, except for Spinel-sun.
But since the war began Spinel-Sun was usually away playing messenger pigeon between his mother and "The Source" leaving his yellow partner in crime without anyone to keep him in check.
He hated that plush toy, but Princess Sakura cued and cuddled him as if he were a puppy or something. Lousy little pest!
"That's it, I can't take this. I can't concentrate!"
He pocketed his shaping stone and jumped down from his perch in the tree.
He had an important World Counsel meeting this afternoon and needed to prepare.
"Prince Syaoran look out!"
"AH" He ducked just in time to avoid a string of arrows, knifes, and other projectiles from imbedding themselves within his body.
"Prince Syaoran, are you all right?" Chiharu came running over to where he had fallen on to his back.
She dropped her spear and knelt down next to him and began to check him for injuries. As a side note he recently learned her weapon was not a spear as he had always thought but that it was actually an eastern styled weapon called a Naginata.
"I'm fine don't worry." he said and shoed her hands away.
"Syaoran what were you doing? You walked right in front of our practice targets." Meilin yelled at him.
"You know you really should keep your head out of the clouds when there are deadly objects flying around." Ryou said while giving him a hand up.
"Thanks for the advice." He said clearly annoyed by the warrior.
Ryou was the more sarcastic of the twin brothers.
"Alright everyone I think this is our signal to pack it in, it's almost midday anyway." Eriol said taking everyone's attention off their flustered leader.
Later back at the palace…
"Well that was a marvelous performance of someone with no sense. What ever will you do for an encore?" Eriol teased while clapping his hands.
Syaoran growled at himself as they walked back to his privet study to retrieve some notes for the alliance's council meeting. He was running late for a meeting with several of their kingdom's allies.
"I hate to say this but he is sort of right Syaoran." Yugi said as he walked along with them.
"Lately you have seemed really distracted and that is just not like you. You're the type that always has his head on strait, but today you almost got it taken off. What's been on your mind?"
"It's nothing for you two to worry about. I've just been a little unfocused lately that's all."
"Oh really and what precisely has you so preoccupied?" Eriol mused.
Syaoran was about to rebuff the comment when the very thing that had been preoccupying his thoughts walked around the corner.
Princess Sakura was wearing a simple day dress. It was a long dark rose colored dress the fit around her curves in an easy and loose fashion.
It was clearly designed (by Tomoyo no doubt) for her to spend another lazy day in the library.
In fact she was flipping through a book while she walked, with Kero sitting on her shoulder.
She jumped back into surprise when she nearly knocked into the three of them as she rounded the corner, but she greeted them in a casual but cautious kind of way.
They were still her kidnappers after all.
"Good afternoon gentlemen. You are all well I trust." She said polity.
"Why yes my lady, we are well. Thank you for asking. And how are you this fine afternoon?" Eriol answer with a formal bow.
"And where are you going." Syaoran asked with his arms crossed.
"There is no reason to sound so suspicious your highness." She replied. "Kero and I will be spending the afternoon in the library's upstairs parlor. I want to finish some of the books I have been reading."
"Have you had anything to eat yet? Eriol and I were heading to the kitchens after this, we can get you something if you like princess." Yugi offered, always the gentlemen around women.
"Don't call her that someone might hear you." Syaoran told him.
"Sorry." Yugi apologized to them both.
"No not at all. Please don't worry about it." Sakura told him.
"Some people are just paranoid" she shot Syaoran a dark look.
"You know I once heard a tale of a man whose paranoia was so bad he was said to have developed every kind of phobia known to mankind.
"Ahh"
Yamazaki's sudden appearance caused everybody to jump back in surprise.
"Where does he always come from?" Sakura asked, as she held a hand over her heart. "That is one of the world's great mysteries." Eriol said
"Speaking of mysteries did you guys ever hear…"
"Not now Yamazaki. Why are you here?" Syaoran asked.
"Well to be honest one of your sisters asked me to come and remind you that you are expected in the war room in half an hour."
Syaoran knew that of course but he thanked Yamazaki none the less. He was one of his oldest and dearest friends after all.
Sakura interrupted.
"I can see you're all busy. Please don't allow me to continue distracting you, good day to you gentlemen." Sakura said and continued down the hall on her way to the library.
Everyone went their separate ways as Syaoran and Eriol stopped off in his study to pick up some paperwork for the war council.
Eriol watched while Syaoran roamed about looking for what he needed.
"Damn it. I knew it. She cleaned up in hear too." He yelled
"Who cleaned up what? You don't mean to say you have the princess cleaning your study for you?" Eriol inquired.
"I don't have her doing anything. She said she gets "bored" and just takes it upon herself to do stuff." He explained.
"Just yesterday I walked into my room only to find all my stuff moved around and out of place. She left me a note saying she had cleaned up and dusted for me since I don't allow the servants in my room so they won't realize I'm keeping a girl in my closet. So she moved and rearranged all my stuff, alphabetized my books and scrolls so I can't find anything and rearranged my wardrobe according to color. Which by the way she says is in need of an update." Syaoran explained.
"Ah now I see, and apparently she struck here as well. That explains where she was coming from when we saw her in the hall before." Eriol said.
"She is doing this on purpose you know, to get on my nerves. She must think she is being absolutely brilliant. Pretending to be nice while knowing she is driving me up the wall in the process." Syaoran said after he finally finished gathering what he needed.
"Oh that evil fiend of a princess, how dare she organize your stuff. Why it's clearly part of some evil plot to destroy you with color coordination and alphabetization. It's practically an act of terrorism." Eriol sarcastically stated.
"Well look on the bright side you can always use yelling at her for this as an excuse to go see her." Eriol said
"What do you mean?" Syaoran asked.
"Well you remember when I first meet Tomoyo after she arrived in the capital and she and the others were recuperating from the attack on their village? I remember I couldn't get her out of my mind. It would drive me crazy when I couldn't see her so I would always make up all kinds of crazy excuses so I could go and visit with her." Eriol explained
"What does that have to with anything?" Syaoran asked
"You have been distracted lately because you're upset about not being able to see much of Lady Sakura right? So you can use this as an excuse to go and see her after the meeting but try not to spend the whole time arguing ok."
"I am not distracted because I want to see her I just have a lot to think about. I'm trying to fight a war here."
"Well if you say so. You are my best friend Syaoran so as a friend please take my advice and don't fall for the one girl you can't have."
That said Eriol left.
Syaoran just scowled at his back as he left the room and stomped of to the meeting, all the while denying Eriol's accusations in his head.
Later that afternoon in The War Room of the palace…
Prince Syaoran sat next to his mother in the war room.
Around the large round table that occupied the center of the room sat what had become known as the World Council.
They were the Li kingdom's allies and the rulers of the other kingdoms that dotted the continent. Many of whom like the Li kingdom, were currently under siege from the Kenard Empire. Some of the other kingdoms had already been overrun.
Some of the surviving rulers or their relatives were now heading resistance movements in their subjugated lands.
This would be the last allied meeting before the snows came to the northern mountain range and the mountains that surrounded two thirds of the Li Kingdom became too treacherous for travel.
Then the roads would be impassible and anyone not on the side they wanted to be on would be stuck until spring.
"This is unimaginable" said an older King who once ruled over a small southern country that was one of the first to fall to the empire.
"The Kenard have taken over more then 60 of the continent. Is there no end to this?"
"We must not lose hope. The remaining 40 can still fight back." Yelan said.
"Also the resistance movements in the subjugated territories are making them difficult to fully control and maintain, which works to our advantage because they have to stretch their forces to deal with the rebel factions to sustain control over the occupied territories."
"You may be right about that but the fact remains that even with that problem their armies are having no problem continuing their march across the continent." Said another Queen.
"Even the Li Kingdom with its vast resources is currently in a stalemate with the Empire's armies. The fact is, if not for the natural barriers that stand between your country and theirs they may have already overrun even you Queen Yelan." Another ruler said.
"Our forces have been able to hold back the empire because of their determination and skill not just because of the Northern Mountain range." Yelan told them.
"Still they outnumber all of our forces. Everyday the situation looks more and more hopeless." One member said
"We must not lose our resolve if we do all will be lost." said another member.
"And what of the Kenardians themselves? Those barbarians continue to look the other way while those around them suffer."
"You really can't expect much from a people who are themselves oppressed by their own government. They are just ordinary people. They fear for their own lives and families. People lose their need for humanity and charity when their own survival is an everyday struggle."
"It's human nature."
"That's enough we are arguing in circles." Yelan intervened.
"For now all we can do is continue our efforts to hold back the empire's army's from advancing any further until we can come up with a strategy to defeat them."
"The only way they would recall their forces from any of the fronts would be if we could launch an attack on the Kenard homeland."
"But most of our forces have their hands full just holding off their attacks. Even combined we just don't have the man power to launch a counter offensive at least not a successful one."
"It could be possible if the nations that are still neutral would join in the battle."
"But they are too afraid of inviting the wrath of the empire to their own door steps."
"Most of us are guilty of the same action and our failure to act when other lands were threatened has cost many a free kingdom as well as the lives of the soldiers who tried to defend them."
"The neutral nations must know they are only delaying the inevitable once the Tolken's are finished with one country they recruit or enlist new men and resources and move on to the next conquest."
"It's nothing but a game to them."
"We will continue to negotiate with the neutral nations and defend our keeps as best we can, for now it's all we can do." Yelan said.
"She is right" said a female member.
They all agreed.
"Queen Li may I have the floor?" a man in his late 40s stood up.
"Yes lord Asaka
"Lord Asaka was King of one of the near eastern territories of the continent.
Or rather had been but the Kenard empire had already conquered all of the near and most of the far eastern lands. King Asaka was one of the only rulers to survive the eastern campaigns.
All of his family had perished in the flames of war that consumed his country.
He now led the resistance movement in the east with the desire to one day resurrect his kingdom and avenge his family's deaths.
"My lady some of my sources from within the empire have herd whispers recently of a very interesting rumor."
"Rumor?" she asked
"Yes. Although they are trying to keep it quiet, the rumors say that your people have taken a member of the Kenard royal family prisoner."
This instantly got everyone's attention.
"Is this true?" asked one of them.
Syaoran could feel his teeth grinding as the group looked toward his mother for an answer.
"Yes" she said.
"Then it's true, you have the Kenard princess in your custody." Asaka said
"Why where we not made aware of this when we arrived yesterday?" one woman asked.
"This matter did not have anything to do with The Conceal. It concerned only my kingdom."
"It concerns all of us. She is an enemy of our states as well. Why was she not immediately brought before The Conceal in order to stand trial?"
"I agree bring her here at once." another demand.
"She is not here to stand trial." Syaoran said firmly.
This surprised them. The Li prince usually said very little during the allied meetings unless he was answering a question regarding the fighting in the mountains.
"What gives you the right to decide that?" Asaka angrily demanded.
"He didn't, I did" Queen Yelan said.
"Her capture was a strategic move on our part to force the royal family to agree to a prisoner exchange it has nothing to do with the war directly."
"You are wrong Queen Li. Anything to do with the royal family of Kenard has everything to do with this war. There is not even a point in having a trial; any member of the royal house of Kenard should be executed on the spot for the crimes of that accursed kingdom."
"That is not true." Syaoran steeped it.
"While it's undeniable that the Tolkens are guilty of many terrible war crimes and crimes against humanity, the Princess herself does not share in their guilt and has had nothing to do with their reign of terror."
"She has only been with the royal family for a little less then a year." acknowledged another member of The Conceal.
"And they are not even married yet."
"And her clan is renowned for their humanitarian work throughout The Empire, including in the occupied lands." said one woman.
"She is to be the bride of that barbarian that in of itself is a crime."
"I'm sorry lord Asaka but the matter is not up for debate. The young woman is under our kingdom's protective custody pending a prisoner exchange. That is all I will say on the matter. Yelan said
"However let it also be known that if any of you betray my trust and speak of this matter to anyone outside this room the Li Kingdom's promised war aid packets to you will be withdrawn."
There was a cold silence in the room that told the group acknowledged the Li Queen's threat and knew she was sincere about it.
It was the Li's wealth that was funding many a resistance movement in the other territories and no one could afford to lose their support or favor during this crucial period in the Kenard wars.
Manipulating your allies as well as your enemies was how the Li Kingdom played politics in this troubled age.
"One last word of warning my friends" She said
"Our intelligence is showing that the Kenard army appears to be holding their positions in the Northern Mountains. They are digging in for the upcoming winter and some legions are even being recalled. I urge you to be on your guard as the recalled legions may be sent to some of the other war fronts were your troops are fighting. Let us be prepared."
With that Yelan dismissed her comrades.
Their caravans home, which included their war aid packets and escorts, were waiting for them.
"Mother has the Empire's army really halted their advance already? The snows are not due for at least another mouth." Syaoran asked after they all left.
"I am afraid so my son and the news becomes worse then that. Because the reason they have stopped is because snow and ice have already begun to fall in the tallest peaks of the mountain range. It's the first sign; The Snows will soon be here."
"This early that's impossible! What about the Kenard princess?"
"We have heard nothing new from the Kenard Empire as of yet. If we don't hear from them before The Snows advance down the mountains and into the valleys then we will have no choice but to hold her until spring."
"It will be impossible for us to keep her identity a secret until spring. You saw the council's reaction she'll be lynched if someone in the palace finds out who she really is."
"Yes I am aware of the dangers of the situation and we are taking steps to prevent it."
"What kind of steps?"
"Well you sisters decided the best thing to do would be to spread gossip among the staff in order to quell their curiosity. And we well know once the rumor mill gets moving the word will spread from the kitchens to the garden and the laundry before the end of the week. Especially if its "juicy, as they say. The maids so love to gossip."
"That's true. What exactly are they telling them."
"That she is the daughter of a displaced noble family from and area in the mountains that is under siege, and that we offered to give her refuge for a while. The girls believe that spreading the news around will throw off any suspicion as to her real identity. In the event that we will have her hear longer then we originally planed we will just have to handle the situation as best we can."
"So I suppose I have to be the one to tell her that she is to be our guest a little longer then originally planed." He sighed.
"Yes. Oh and by the way I thought you'd might want to know that your sisters are also saying she was brought here because you were interested in courting her. They said it's to cover for the fact that she came back with you that first night. They said you wouldn't mind." She told him with a slight smile.
He did not respond to his mother's sarcasm but made sure to slam the door loudly on his way out.
In the library's second level reading parlor…
Sakura lay across one of the parlor lounge sofas near the fireplace as she read.
The hearths in the palace were all so well kept and even now were already stocked with wood in preparation for the cold northern winter that was coming.
It did not snow in the western regions where she lived so she had never seen snow herself.
But it looked beautiful in paintings of snowy landscapes she had seen.
But the thought of snow made her nostalgic for home because it brought her friend Yukio to mind and her brother and parents as well.
She hoped her brother's wound had healed and that he was alright and that her parents weren't too worried about her.
She whished so much that she was home with them now.
She also wondered what Saiya might be doing now.
Was he collecting her ransom?
What were his thoughts when he heard what had happened?
Did he miss her or worry for her? Was he planning her rescue even now?
As she dwelled on her thoughts she heard the door open.
"That must be Kero"
He had gone to the kitchens to get snacks for them. (Mostly for himself)
"Kero do you need help with anything?" she asked as she turned toward the door.
But when she turned around it was not Kero who was in the doorway.
Standing there was an older middle aged man with dark graying hair and an even darker expression.
"Good evening to you sir" Sakura said while closing the book she had been reading.
She stood up and bowed slightly
"Can I help you in anyway?" She asked.
Asaka spotted the young woman the moment he walked into the parlor.
She had been reading a book before she noticed him and them met him with a warm smile and polite bow.
She was dressed like a courtier, clean and well kept. Her mannerism and style of speech told him she was of noble blood, but her accent reviled that she was from the west.
Asaka had roamed the Li palace asking the servants if they had seen anyone usual in the recent weeks.
The only lead came in the form of some gossip about a mysterious noble woman who had arrived at the palace with the Li prince about two weeks ago.
They say she was a refugee who was staying as a guest of the royal family but no one knew what room she was staying in.
Some also said that they had heard the prince was courting her but they were rarely seen together.
No one seemed to know who she was or where she came from. That pulse the fact that she had arrived with the Li prince unexpectedly at about the same time as the Kenard princess' abduction…he knew it had to be her.
Now that he had finally located the girl, his feelings were confirmed. For the Kenard princess was known for having a very distinct trait, emerald green eyes.
It was rare trait outside the west and northwestern regions of the continent. And even then only 1 in 100 people had them.
By asking around the palace for someone whom matched her known description he had finally tracked her down to the library, where she was apparently known to spend a great deal of time.
"Whatever brings you to the library today sir? Usually I am the only one up here."
Sakura tried to start a conversation with the stranger but he did not seem to want to respond to her small talk.
He looked at her a moment and then his face seemed to contort with anger.
He walked the short distance across the parlor to where she was standing next to the lounge.
Suddenly he had her around the neck and slammed her back onto the couch.
Sakura caught the gleam of a dagger as the man pulled it out from behind him.
She could feel the cold side of the blade on her neck and was too frightened to even scream. He almost seemed to be enjoying the look of fear in her eyes.
He took hold of her left hand and tore her engagement ring off her finger. Asaka examined the expensive looking ring.
On the back the royal seal of Kenard was engraved. It served as the royal family's identification in all its provinces and it was proof beyond all doubt that this was the Kenard Princess.
He smiled as he finally spoke.
"Well this is fitting." He said as he raised his dagger.
"He had my loved ones executed. Lets she how he likes having his fiancé sent back to him in pieces."
Acting on instinct Sakura kneed him in the gut and elbowed him in the side at the same time.
He rolled over in pain and Sakura took the opportunity to run.
She quickly ran out the door closed it behind her and ran down the stairs to the library's first floor. She barely had time to duck behind one of the book cases. She herd him follow and knew he was somewhere in the library searching for her.
"Little girl, come on out. There is no escaping from this place. Stop hiding and accept your fate."
"Oh God, he's going to kill me. Someone help me! Why is this happening? Who is he? Why is he after me?"
She was crouching behind a stack with her knees hugged to her chest.
Hearing footsteps getting closer she ducked behind to the other side of the shelf she knew he was on the other side and as soon as he turned the next corner he would find her. She only had one chance. When she could tell he was on the opposite side of the book shelf about to round the corner she pushed the rows of books from two shelves on top of him and ran to another corner of the library.
She could hear his angry voice ranting in what she thought might have been an eastern accent as he shoved the heavy books away and got up to continue pursuing her in the direction she ran in.
She didn't know what to do next. He would see her if she tried to make it to the door and she did not know if she could outrun him or even if the door had been locked.
He was coming in her direction again and she had to think fast.
Dashing to a corner she started climbing a latter to the top of a stack of books that was against the wall.
As Asaka rounded the corner he was not looking up and did not see her.
He heard a sound like wood creaking and turned to see the giant cherry wood book case fall on top of him.
Sakura braced her back against the wall and used her feet to push on the book case to make it fall. The books scattered everywhere and he was stuck beneath the case.
Sakura took the chance to make for the door. It was jammed and she desperately pulled at the handle until finally it opened.
She ran out but ran into someone who grabbed her by the upper arms and stopped her in her tracks.
"What are you doing didn't anyone teach you not to run around in the hall ways when you were a kid." Syaoran said in a mocking voice.
"Oh thank goodness you're here." She said throwing her arms around his middle.
"Wha…wha…what are you doing?" he stammered and his cheeks turned bright red.
"There is a man in the library…I was reading…and Kero was getting snacks… and he was chasing me and he…he…" she was in tears and babbling but he got the idea, especially as loud crashing and cursing from the library began coming their way.
Sakura loudly gasped and clung closer to him.
He wrapped his arms around her and stepped a few paces back from the door.
It flew open to reveal King Asaka.
Syaoran knew he must be hurt because there was blood dripping down his face.
"What did you do to him?"
"I kind of pushed a book case on his head." She said trying to look innocent.
He looked at her with a raised eyebrow and dumbfounded expression.
Syaoran's attention then turned to the large dagger Asaka had in his hand.
"Mokoto Asaka, what the hell were you trying to do? You dare go around attacking women in my home?!"
Asaka stared hard at the young man. His rage seemed to double by seeing him so willing to protect the Kenard princess.
He did not bother to answer the prince, and again charged at the princess.
Syaoran pushed her out of the way and grabs on to Asaka's wrist as the dagger swings between them.
The twisted the man's arm and flung him on his back.
Asaka got back up and unsheathed the sword he had strapped to his waist.
"Your just looking for a fight aren't you?" Syaoran said.
He took off his beaded pendent and transformed it into his blade.
He took his sword stance and prepared to attack.
But Sakura grabbed onto his arm and stopped him before he could.
"Please stop, if you keep fighting like this someone is going to get hurt. I don't want that. Not for this. It's not worth it." Sakura said n a desperate voice.
"Are you crazy? You do realize he's trying to kill you don't you?" he yelled.
Before she could reply Asaka charged at them again. He jumped aside while holding on to her. He then turned to face their attacker.
Their swords met with a metallic clang.
Syaoran turned his sword so Asaka's would slice into the wall and be trapped in the hard marble.
But he soon released that had been a mistake because while both his hands were stuck holding down their swords Asaka still had the dagger in his other hand.
He had completely left himself open and Asaka had no intention of wasting the opportunity.
Asaka made to stab him with the dagger in his other hand he had no time to react to the on coming blow however Princess Sakura did.
She had jumped in beside him placing herself between them.
But this was no self sacrificing move; she was no fool after all. She used one of the books she had been reading to block the stab. It drove through the tomb and most of the dagger was sticking out the other end.
But she did succeed in blocking the blow.
She then used the book twist the weapon out of his hand and flung it across the floor.
Syaoran did not waist the opportunity.
He jammed the hilt of his sword into Asaka's gut and then grabbed the man's fist and twists the man's arm around and forced him to his knees. Then he grabbed him around his neck with his upper arm and the other hand behind his neck and held him in a chock hold.
Asaka soon passed out from the lack of air.
Syaoran let the man slump to the floor and then turned to the princess.
She slid back against the wall and was trembling on the floor.
They were both sweating and breathing hard.
He ran over to her.
"Hey Sakura look at me are you alright?"
He grabbed both sides of her face and turned her head to make her look at him.
"Yes I'm fine. Is he alright?" she asked motioning to Asaka on the floor.
"He'll be fine stop spending all your time worrying about your enemies. And don't ever do something that stupid again. Come on lets get out of here before someone else shows up."
He took hold of her hand and started to lead her away.
"Wait he took my engagement ring, before in the library." She said turning back.
She heard him grown under his breath and he went back. He fumbled around the man's pockets and found the ring and put it in his own pocket
"Come on." He said and took hold of her hand again and quickly pulled her down the hall way.
He did not notice the red tints of her cheeks. Her eyes were on their intertwined hands and her mind was on the tender sound of his voice when he had said her name.
She did not remember giving him permission to use her first name but somehow at the moment she could not bring herself to care all that much.
Later in the palace dungeon…
Asaka was sitting on the floor in a cell in the dungeon when Queen Yellen Li came in and stood before him.
"What were you thinking, attacking an innocent girl like that?"
"She's no innocent."
"Well we will have to agree to disagree, I suppose. I understand your anger and your need for justice, but murdering that young woman in cold blood will not bring you the peace you seek,…nor will it bring them back to you." She said softly.
He did not reply.
"Your carriage and your men are outside waiting for you. Return to your homeland your people still need you."
"You are wrong to believe that woman has nothing to do with Kenard's evil. Protecting her now will give her license to come back and destroy you all when she is their queen.
"Go Asaka."
Then Yelan left leaving the door open behind her.
Unsatisfied King Asaka left the dungeon only to meet with Prince Syaoran Li at the main entrance.
Syaoran was waiting with his arms crossed, his right foot up against the wall and casually leaning back against the wall.
"This time I will personally be making sure you get to where you should be going."
"You" Asaka growled.
"I'm sorry you had to wait but we thought it best if you had a cool down period in a cell while your men slept off an encounter with a guard."
When he and Princess Sakura had rounded the first corner away from the library they had found Kero in his full form sitting on top of two of Asaka's men.
They had been lying in wait in case anyone should come along or if Sakura tried to slip away.
They freaked out when they saw Kero and he had to take them out when they attacked him.
But they made him spill all his treats on the ground and he was all worked up about it.
He told the pesky plush toy to take Sakura to Meilin and Tomoyo and explain to them what had happened and ordered Sakura to stay with Tomoyo till he came for her.
"Why do you insist on protecting one of those barbarian monsters?"
"You can't blame the actions of a kingdom's rulers on its people. You should know that. She told me she wants to be Queen in order to help her people. But frankly she has no real clue about what is going on in this war. She refuses to see that's she's being used by the Tolkens."
"The way you defend her one might think you have feelings for that wench."
"Don't be stupid old man."
"Watch you mouth whelp."
"I'm the one who put you on your back old man, not the other way around remember? They had reached the outside gate.
Now go cause trouble in your own home instead of mine." Syaoran said pointing out the door.
"If only I still could, ah boy."
Syaoran gave the man a hard but sympathetic look.
"Beware boy; you should kill the girl before she has the chance to drive a knife into your back."
Elsewhere…
Sakura sat with Tomoyo and Meilin.
No one said much, Sakura was obviously shaken by what had happened.
Tomoyo felt that she should try to talk to her, try to make her feel better.
The poor thing needed a friend right now and if Tomoyo Daidouji was nothing else she was good friend material.
"Lady Sakura will you be alright?" she asked
"Yes but I just don't understand. What could I have done to make that man so angry that he would attack me I don't even remember meeting him before tonight." She sniffled
Tomoyo and Meilin looked at each other in confusion. Was she actually blaming herself for this fiasco?
"What do you mean by that?" Meilin asked wanting to know how the princess would respond.
"That man, when he attacked me, he was speaking in an eastern dialect when he was shouting at me. He spoke with a heavy accent and I could not understand what he was saying to me and Prince Li. My eastern isn't very good so I don't know why he was so angry."
The girls passed each other a knowing glance. Finally Meilin spoke up.
"You did not do anything to him, the Talkons did.
"I don't understand."
"Well you see Lady Sakura…" Tomoyo began.
"Just Sakura is fine please."
"Very well Sakura. That man's name is Mokoto Asaka he is or rather was the king in the lands east of the original Kenard Kingdom before the expansion began. His kingdom was one of the first to be invaded. Despite his best efforts his armies could not hold them back and the capital was quickly taken. He had been injured on the front lines and some of his men helped him to escape but his wife and children were captured when they tried to flee the city and well..."
"And they were publicly executed supposedly on Prince Tolkin's orders. He attacked you to take revenge for their deaths." Meilin had to finish what Tomoyo could not.
Sakura looked shocked and horrified.
Yes she knew that the Eastern lands had fallen quickly one after another.
She had been invited to many a victory party in the noble courts at the time. Nobody knew back then that the King had no intention of stopping after the first campaign.
She knew that Saiya personally lead the charge and had been praised as a military genus upon his triumphed return home.
But she had never heard of such an appalling thing happening during the first occupation. She felt ashamed because the truth was she had never given a second thought to the fates of the royal families and government officials that lost in the wars.
No one back home ever spoke of such things.
It now occurred to Meilin that Syaoran had been right. This girl had no clue what went on in the Kenard court or the war front. "How could he do something like this, oh Saiya why?" Sakura thought to herself.
Seeing Sakura's distraught face Tomoyo knew she had to do something. Then she got an idea.
"Hey I know lets do something fun" she said and grabbed hold of Sakura's and Meilin's arms and ran out of the room.
Later when Syaoran went back to find the girls they were not there.
He went to Eriol's study hoping they might be there.
When he opened the door he found not only all the girls but the guys and Kero and Spinal as well.
There they were sitting around table playing poker! (With cookies)
"All right one more hand." said Ryou. "I'll meet your sugar and raise you 2 chocolate chips."
Bro you may want to quit now. If you loose any more of your snack rations to the girls your going to starve this winter." His brother warned.
"Not this time the pot is mine 3 pair." He laid down his cards.
"Beats me" said Rika how about you Sakura.
"All I have is two A's and three Kings is that good?" she asked showing her hand.
Everyone else just threw down their cards and moaned.
"That's the third hand in a row. She has the devil's luck." Naoko said.
"More like an angel's I would say." Tomoyo replied.
"Well well look who's here to join us. It's my cute little decedent." Eriol said seeing the prince enter the room
Ryou ran over to him and grabbed his shirt.
"Dude you have to give me some of you snack rations just one more pot and I know I can turn it around."
"Ryou there is drool coming out the side of your mouth get a hold of your self." Syaoran said and pushed his face away.
"Call it a night gang Ryou is about to loose it."
They all agreed and started to clean up the mess from the game.
Sakura walked over to Syaoran with a large tin filled with cookies.
"Welcome back, would you like one? I won Mr. Ryou's snack rations for the next four weeks. Here Miss Meilin said you like the chocolate ones."
She handed him a chocolate chip cookie. He was not sure what was going on but she seemed ok considering everything that happened earlier and some how he felt relieved.
He could always count on Tomoyo and Eriol to handle a difficult situation.
"To bad you missed all the fun tonight Syo we killed the boys." Meilin said.
"But we did have them out numbered" Rika said.
"So do you all know where the game of poker originated?" Yamasaki asked.
"No and neither do you. It's too late in the evening for your lies." Chiharu said and pulled him out of the room by his ear.
"Come on you too." Syaoran motioned to Sakura
"Very well, have a wonderful evening everyone and thank you for inviting me into your game."
"Your welcome we enjoyed having you." Yugi waved to her as he and Meilin were folding the table cloth.
"Please come and join us again Lady Sakura." Naoko said.
"Yea you have to give my brother a chance to win his pride back." Masaya joked.
Everyone was giggling at poor Ryou's expense as they left.
Sakura and Syaoran walked back to his room together.
Everyone had rooms in the same wing so they only had to go down a few doors.
"You know I think you're fitting in with them better then I do." Syaoran said.
"I knew you and Tomoyo have been getting along, but since when are you on first named bases with the rest of my friends."
"Well I have been getting to know everyone and it just seemed silly to have everyone continue to use my title when they address me. Pulse weren't you worried about someone overhearing. After tonight I think I understand why you have been so worried."
They arrived at his room and he held the door for her."
"I'm sorry you had to go through that. I should have known better then to leave you with the plush toy."
"Hey it wasn't my fault those guys held me up." Kero had been in the cookie tin eating Sakura's winnings.
"Kero you can go ahead and take that into our room I'll be along in a moment."
"Yes mam." Kero flew underneath the tin and it looked liked it was floating into the closet where the princess slept.
"I wanted to ask if you got my engagement ring back?"
"Right here." He said taking it from his pocket.
"Thank you very much for retrieving it for me."
She reached for it but he pulled it away.
"You can't have it back."
"Hoe, why not."
"Because I didn't know it had the Kenard royal crest on the back. This is how Asaka was able to tell who you were. He would not be the only person to try to hurt Saiya by hurting you. It's to easy to find out who you are if your wearing this. I can't let you have it back." He told her.
"What you say, is that not the same thing you are doing right now." she asked in a sad voice.
"No, I haven't tried to kill you yet have I." He stated seriously
She sighed heavily.
"Very well I won't argue over the matter. I won't win so there is no point."
"Some how I expected a little more fight out of you. Is anything else bothering you?" he asked her.
He was so used to fighting with her that not having her fight back felt strange.
I'll give back your ring when its time to send you home not before."
"And when will that be again?" That seemed to get her attention a little.
"To be honest we don't know yet. We had hoped it would not take long but there is a chance that The Snows may be coming early. If that happened we won't be able to go through with the trade until early spring."
"And I'll be stuck living in your closet until then. That sounds like my luck, its only good for games." She scoffed at herself.
"I'll miss all the winter holidays with mama, papa and Toya and Yuki."
"I'm sorry it has to be this way." He said.
"Sure, can I ask you about one other thing?" she asked.
He nodded for some reason she could not look him in the eye.
"The others told me about that man and his family. Tell me are there others like him?" She asked.
"What do you mean 'like him'?" he asked.
She seemed to think about it before shaking her head.
"Never mind, I'm starting to think that I don't want to know. I have a feeling I won't like the answer."
"If you mean, are their others that Saiya has hurt, the answer is yes, and worse. Royal family members and government officials are typically executed upon capture. Citizens who resist are enslaves, imprisoned, or killed. They use fear to hold onto power, it's their foreign policy. Its how they play politics."
He saw no reason to lie to her or sugarcoat the truth. In the end it would be for her own good to know.
"I see." She said.
She did not say anything else. She just headed over to the closet door and opened it so she could go inside.
"But you know the work you and your family have spearheaded has saved many lives. Don't feel guilty for things that are not in your control."
She did not reply but had a sad expression on her face and seemed to be lost in thought.
She went inside and closed the door behind her.
"Who knows by spring maybe she won't even want this ring back." Syaoran thought.
He locked it up in a draw and lay down to sleep.
Outside a light snow fall began in the dead of night. The Snows had come to Li kingdom. For a while the people knew they would be safe from the reach of the evil whose hands were trying to reach them over the mountains.
All they could do was wait while this silly little game played on around them.
A game no one could predict the outcome of, nor the moves of its players.
The players: War, Politics, and the Devils ever reaching hand.
This chapter was 33 pages long. Maybe I should think about shorter chapters but I had to get a lot of stuff out of the way in this chapter so it could not be helped.
I even ended up changing the chapter title to give it a little more of a kick
I hope it was worth the wait. Thanks for your patience and I hope you are enjoying our other story Shadows of the Past along with this one.
Remember to read and review. Reviews are my number one motivators
Next Chapter
Sakura is stuck in the Li kingdom for the winter. She has never lived in a place where there was snow before. So she may be surprised by the kind of power a snow fall seems to have over people's hearts.
Next time on Star of Hope…Chapter 10: Winter's Spell
You won't want to miss it.