Light of My Life

by Andréa Meiouh

Translator: JaneTristanDoe

Chapter 11

Even before the sun had risen on the horizon, Sato was already up, watching over the Li mansion. He didn't want to obey Ken's orders, but if he didn't, he would suspect something. The idleness was making the boss irritated and it would be foolish to rush the pace when he was so close to reaching his objectives.

From the spot of the woods that he had chosen, he had clear vision of a balcony that faced the garden of the house. It was a place that was very frequented by the women of the house, who spent their afternoons doing some kind of activity there, while enjoying the sun.

This way, the only thing left was for Sato to wait for Black Linx to show up and deliver the message without anyone noticing. During the time it didn't happen, he made the most of it by watching Lau Ma.

Like a shadow, the man followed the young maid's routine, watching her execute her chores, one by one, without complaining. From time to time, she would stop and her gaze would lose focus, not staring at anything, as if she was remembering something or was thinking about someone.

Could it be she was thinking of him? Was it possible? After all, she had only seen him twice: the first when she collided with him by accident and the second, the other day, at the fair. But they were a little far away from each other... Could she have recognized him?

He shouldn't be thinking about her, but he couldn't help himself... She brought him so many recollections from the past... Of Akane... Of his oath... Curling his hands, Sato was assaulted by memories from his past, of a time where there was no worries and he was a happy boy.

The Sato lived well, in a province near Tohoku, in the north of Japan. It was a humble family, who worked on the fields to survive. The father, Kazuo, was proud of being a farmer and had passed that love for the land to Hiroshi and Akane, the children he had with Mitsuko, his wife, a robust woman who worked in their region as a midwife.

The children liked to run through the plantations of rice, playing catch. Hiroshi, the oldest, had advantage over his little sister Akane, but would always let her win. The two of them spent the day strolling on their father's ranch, climbing trees, bathing on the river or lying down on the grass, looking at the shapes of the clouds. They were close brothers and the boy did everything he could to protect his youngest sister.

It was a great time... Until Hiroshi's journey to Tokyo.

Amused laughs and chuckles caught Sato's attention. He turned his gaze back to the house and saw Lau Ma walk out together with a little girl. The two of them were going to the rivulet that existed several meters behind the mansion. They were carrying wooden buckets and were chatting with each other, unconcerned. Sato couldn't resist and followed.

Lau Ma gave a hearty laugh. Yuelin was a funny girl who liked to tell stories. And she was just telling one of her adventures with her sister, Pei-Pei.

"I bet you were grounded," said the maid, placing the buckets in the water.

"Of course!" the girl laughed. "Do you really think papa would let us off the hook after what we did to his kitchen?"

They looked at each other. They both knew how Huike revered his place of work. To him, the kitchen was sacred.

"Never!" they said at the same time, laughing.

They were finishing their chore when Lau Ma was possessed by a strange, yet familiar, sensation. An impression of being watched. The same she had felt at the fair two days earlier, when she had seen that man. She looked around, but everything seemed normal and calm. 'Then why the hell am I feeling this?' she thought, intrigued. Deciding to take a look around, she dropped the buckets in the shore.

"Yuelin, go home," she ordered to the girl.

"But, Miss Lau Ma... We still haven't finished."

"I know, honey... But go anyway... I'll take them later. Go on." The girl looked at Lau Ma one last time and did what she was told.

As soon as Yuelin was distant, Lau Ma started walking slowly, observing everything around her attentively. She entered the woods that existed on the property's limits, where Miss Daidouji had been found, and continued her search, even without knowing what exactly she was looking for. She had penetrated the darkest zone of the forest and was almost giving up when she felt a hand cover her mouth and the other holding her waist against something rigid.

"Don't worry... I'm not going to hurt you," a voice spoke, sounding very close to her ear. "I will release you if you promise not to scream."

Trembling and scared, Lau Ma nodded her head. Everyone in the mansion knew there were bandits on that region. Why had she been so stupid in entering the forest by herself? She felt her body being turned and came across a male tunic. She raised her head to see who was holding her and found a pair of dark eyes, who stared at her intensely.

"You!?" she released the breath she didn't even know she was holding. "What are you doing here?"

Slightly surprised for having been recognized, Sato started thinking fast. He had no intention of revealing himself to her, but he couldn't help himself. She walked straight to him, seeming to know the exact place he was standing. And he also couldn't say he was here to spy on her boss.

"I came to see you." It was a half truth. He liked to watch her, to follow her every step.

Lau Ma felt her face heat up. Her fear was, little by little, being replaced by a more pleasant sensation. "But how...?" she tried to ask.

"You're well known in town," said Sato, enjoying the way her cheeks became red.

Swinging her head, Lau Ma looked away and only then did she realize the position they were in. He was holding her waist with both his hands, while she leaned on his firm thorax. Taking a deep breath, she took two steps backwards, distancing herself from Sato. She turned even redder.

A slight smile appeared on Sato's lips. How long had it been since he had last smiled? How long had it been since he had felt this good with someone, even if they had only shared looks and a few words? He neared Lau Ma again and, touching her cheek, raised her head until their eyes met again.

"What's your name?" she softly asked.

"Hiroshi."

"Hiroshi..." she murmured, without taking her eyes off him.

Sato had never given his name to anyone. Not after what happened to his family. For five years he had been known only by his last name. And hearing that small woman, with bright eyes, whispering his name in such an intimate way, made him react. Leaning, he took her lips with his own in a reverberating kiss. Stiff in the beginning, Lau Ma relaxed in Hiroshi's arms and abandoned herself to the caress.

The two lost themselves in the wonderful sensations they were feeling until a scream made them separate.

"LAU MA!"

Scared, the woman quickly backed away, her heart pounding, her eyes widened. 'Mu Bai!' she thought, alarmed. "I have to go..." she said to Hiroshi.

"Wait..."

"No! Don't you understand?!" she fired, in a low voice. "If my brother catches us here, he'll kill us!"

Yes, Hiroshi understood. If he saw his little sister in the arms of a stranger, he would make a scandal. The right thing to do was to let her go. But he wasn't thinking right at the moment. He pulled Lau Ma and kissed her again.

"I'll be back," he spoke against her lips before releasing her and disappear inside the woods.

Lau Ma stood still, somewhat shocked, looking at the place she had seen Hiroshi flee. Another shout took her out of that stupor.

"LAU MA!"

She tried to get herself together and ran towards the voice. She didn't want her brother to know what she had been doing. While running, she tripped on a tree branch, falling on her knees on the ground. And that was how Mu Bai found her.

"Lau Ma!" he grabbed her by the arms, furious. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I-I heard a noise..." she stuttered, alarmed by her brother's rage. "I only came to see what it was..."

"Are you crazy?! Walking in the woods by yourself?! Why didn't you answer me?"

"I got lost..." Mu Bai's expression closed up even more and she could see a vein pulse on his forehead. She flinched a little. "I'm sorry, brother... I didn't want to upset you..."

"Come," he pulled her arm. "We're going home."

They were walking rapidly. Lau Ma's knees hurt a little, but she didn't dare complaining. At the entrance of the woods, they found other men. Mu Bai ordered them to search the woods, looking for anything suspicious. The woman felt a tremor run through her body. What if they found Hiroshi? She wanted to look back, but didn't, afraid someone would suspect something.

A few minutes later, they were back home. In the kitchen, they were received by Min Soo and Pei-Pei, while Yuelin cried in Sakura's arms.

"Yuelin!" Lau Ma ran to the girl and hugged her. "Oh, honey... Don't cry..."

"I was scared, Miss Lau Ma..." the girl sobbed.

"Everything's fine now, my angel... Don't cry anymore."

Lau Ma looked at Sakura and Min Soo while comforting her little friend. Mu Bai had already left the room.

"Why is she like that?"

"Mu Bai fought with her," was Pei-Pei who answered, telling what had happened to her younger sister.

When she had returned to the mansion, without the buckets nor Lau Ma, Yuelin was surrounded by everyone, who asked her a load of questions. Scared, the girl tried to explain, but was saying incoherent things. Mu Bai, taking a more energetic attitude, grabbed the girl by the arms and shook her, making her cry in pain and fear.

Lau Ma got irritated with her brother. He had no right to hurt Yuelin. She would have a serious talk with him later.

--

The success of a good thief was observation. Observing his target well. In Tomoyo's case, her target was Li Xiaolang. However, there were two problems. Firstly, since she had arrived at the mansion, she had never seen Li. It was as if he wasn't home or didn't existed. Secondly, everywhere she went, Eriol was present. She felt that, somehow, the doctor was following her.

'Or keeping vigil,' she thought, while walking in the garden, which was her favorite place in the mansion. There she could be alone, thinking and trying to find a solution to her problem.

However, no matter how hard she thought, pondered, analyzed, Tomoyo knew there weren't many options. If she tried to run, Ken would kill her and her grandfather. But if she carried out her part of the deal, she would have to hand over good people like Mu Bai, Lau Ma, Zhang, Min Soo and her daughters, and the rest of the employers to Ken and to luck itself. Not mention she would have to kill her own cousin... and Eriol.

She sat in a bench to rest. She still felt pain, especially on her chest. Her ribs were still healing and she shouldn't be out of bed nor should she be exerting herself, but she felt so tired of her room, she needed to get out a little, to bask in the sun ,to breathe fresh air.

"God! What am I going to do?" Without realizing, she thought out loud.

"You better do what we agreed upon."

Scared, Tomoyo quickly turned around and came across one of Ken's men, Sato. Tomoyo's eyes widened. "What are you doing here?" she wanted to know.

"I came to bring you a message from my boss."

"But how did you get in?"

"Do you think you're the only one who can enter and leave places without being noticed?" he spoke with sarcasm.

Tomoyo opened her mouth to speak, but Sato interrupted her, grabbing her arm.

"Now, listen to me very carefully, Black Linx... You will do everything that master Ken ordered. You have a week starting today to fulfill your part of the agreement... Don't even think in running away or calling the cops. We're watching you." He released her and started to walk away. "Don't forget. One week."

Tomoyo sat in the bench again, breathless and with her heart pounding. Now there was no way out, she had to do what Ken wanted.

"Miss Daidouji?"

Again, Tomoyo startled. Raising her hand to her heart, she tried to calm down when she saw that it was only Eriol.

"Is everything okay?" the doctor asked.

'No! Nothing's okay! I have to do horrible things in order to remain alive! How can I be okay?' she yelled inside her mind. "Yes," she lied. "You just scared me."

"I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention."

"I know... You don't need to worry," she gave him a sad smile. How could she kill this man?

"Miss Daidouji... We need to talk," Eriol said, sitting next to her.

"Talk?"

"Yes... I know you're still recovering, but there are things we need to know..."

"Like what?"

"Who kidnapped you and why..."

Tomoyo stood up. "I don't remember."

"It doesn't seem like it," Eriol refuted, getting up too. "Miss, we need to find out who did such barbarities to you so we can punish him."

"But I don't remember!" she was on the verge of tears. "Please, Dr. Hiiragisawa, leave me alone!"

He, however, neared her even more. "If you tell us what's happening, what happened... Maybe we can help. I feel you're burdened with a lot of things and that's not doing any good to you."

"I don't care, okay!?" she replied, resisting the urge to open up to him. "Go away, leave me alone!"

Eriol understood that he had reached the limit and couldn't do anything more. He knew Tomoyo was carrying with her great sorrow and a big secret. But if he wanted to find it out and help her, he would have to have patience and go easy. He slowly backed off and left the garden.

Trembling, Tomoyo hugged herself, trying to get some comfort. She let the tears, who had been kept locked for so long, run free through her cheeks. 'How will I be able to do that?' she thought, distressed.

--

"You know... If we were in the garden... Or on the balcony, I wouldn't be having so much trouble in finishing reading this book," Sakura protested.

"Right... But we aren't in the garden nor on the balcony..." Xiaolang replied. "So if you want to stop reading, I don't mind."

The couple was comfortably installed in a sitting-room, next to Li's bedroom. This room, like all of the other in the west wing, was dark and stifled. And despite having some lit candles, Sakura was having difficulties in continuing her reading.

"Ah, Xiaolang..." exasperated, she closed the book. "There's nothing wrong in getting out a little, bask in the sun, breathe some fresh air... You're so pale..."

"Sakura, don't start, please."

The two of them had had that kind of conversation before. Sakura insisted on having Xiaolang get out of that darkness, but the warrior was irreducible. He wouldn't leave his rooms and that was final.

"I don't know how many times I've said I don't get out during the day," Li grumbled.

"And every time you say that, I say there's no problem in going out," Sakura talked back. "Everyone here knows you and know what you have."

"Not everyone knows."

For some instants, the woman stared at him, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Your family."

Yes, Sakura's 'new' relatives didn't know about Li's condition. Not Masaki nor Tomoyo had the chance to meet him. The orders were for them to say that he wasn't in the mansion and to keep them away from the west wing, the same ones he gave to Sakura.

"Why didn't you want me to tell that you were my fiancé?" she asked, curious.

"After the tumult caused by Masaki the other day, Xiaolang had asked his fiancé to keep his identity a secret. He didn't want them to know that Sakura's future husband was the owner of the mansion, of all people.

"All in due time, my flower," the warrior answered. "Soon we'll announce our engagement to everyone."

"Is the license ready? We can get married?"

"In a few days, don't worry... Meanwhile, I want you to arrange a dinner for tomorrow night."

"A dinner?" she found it strange. "What for?"

"You'll see," his lips curved in a mysterious smile.

"But, Xiaolang..." she insisted.

"Don't even try, Sakura," he interrupted her, this time smiling openly. "It's better for you to continue with your reading."

Despite being frustrated with her fiancé, Sakura suppressed a smile. It was good to see Xiaolang smile. It was rare to see him so relaxed... Sighing with resignation, the woman picked up her book and started searching for the page in which she had stopped. Suddenly, she felt Li's hand pulling her and, in the next instant, she was seated on his lap.

"I annoyed you," he noted, with a amusement filled voice.

"No..." she lied, only to admit the truth instantly. "I mean, yes! Ah! It's that stubbornness of yours! Sometimes I ask myself how someone so hardheaded as you exist!"

He laughed again. "I'm just a determined man, my flower."

"Xiaolang, I just want to help!" she protested. "How can I do something if you don't tell me anything?"

Li brushed his hands through her hair, untying the bun and pushing her closer to him. "If I don't tell, than it's only to protect you... Don't worry, okay? Just do what I asked and everything will soon be settled." And catching her face with his other hand, he caressed her cheek. "Now, how about we change the subject?"

"You want me to continue reading?"

"No... I want something much better," he said, before kissing her.

--

Like a cat, Tomoyo sneaked through the shadows of the mansion, silently. After the encounter she had had that morning with Sato, she had to find Li and urgently too. She suspected he was hidden in the mysterious west wing. After all, why did that part of the house stay closed everyday?

When she approached the corridor, she heard something. It was very late and she was certain everybody was asleep... So, what was that noise and where did it come from? It looked metallic... She sharpened her ears and followed the sound.

She stopped in front of a door in the west wing. She could hear more clearly. There was people inside. Carefully, she slided the door a little and spied the room. It was a big training room, lighted by some torches. And inside, Tomoyo saw two men. One she recognized immediately: Dr. Hiiragisawa. She had never seen the other, but she could bet everything she had that that was Li Xiaolang.

They were fighting with swords, wielding them with incredible ability. She had the impression that Li was at an advantage and that caused her to feel astonishment and some admiration. In her mind, she had imagined Xiaolang to be a weak and debilitated man, diminished by his condition. Never had she expected to find a distinguished warrior, who in that moment disarmed Eriol and sent him to the floor.

She saw Li help his companion rise and then both bowing to each other. She couldn't hear their conversation well, but it must have been something friendly, for Eriol was laughing amused and Li's lips were curved in a slight smile. They were storing away their swords and Tomoyo noticed how Li's movements were certain and precise. It was as if he wasn't even blind.

She closed the door before they saw her there and marched to her room as quick and silent as she could manage. On the way, she kept thinking about what she was going to do. She had imagined going to Li's room and seduce him with sweet words and caresses, but now that she saw him, she knew she had to use another tactic...

'Direct approach, maybe?' she pondered. 'Yeah... I can do that... I don't have much time anyway...'

With the same coldness as whenever she planned one of her robberies, Black Linx started scheming her new plan, which would be executed the following night.

--

Another who was having an agitated night was Lau Ma. She couldn't sleep, despite her tiredness. She felt frustrated, annoyed... She had had a fight with her brother right after lunch. She had accused him of hurting Yuelin without having a reason and Mu Bai had replied that it was her fault for having disappeared into the woods. And for that Lau didn't have an answer. She couldn't even consider the possibility of telling her brother the reason for going into the woods and what had happened in there. Even more so after that kiss. He would kill her. And he would kill Hiroshi too.

Hiroshi... He was a complete mystery to Lau Ma but, at the same time, it was like she already knew him for a long time. She felt very at ease with him... For what other reason, after all, could she have in allowing him to kiss her like that? What kind of woman was she to let a stranger take such liberties? But she had to admit to herself, the kiss had been wonderful.

Tossing and turning on her bed, Lau Ma released a long sigh. She could still hear Hiroshi's voice... 'I'll be back.' She didn't know if she was scared or happy. What would happen if her brother found him? What would happen if she found him again? Feeling a sudden heat rise up, she got up, put on an old kimono on top of her sweater and went to the kitchen to drink some water.

When she was passing by the living room, she heard sounds of swords coming from the west wing. 'Master Li is still training,' she established, continuing on her way. Upon arriving at the kitchen, she went straight to the clayed water pitcher, but it was empty.

"Dammit!" she angrily cursed. If she wanted to drink anything, she would have to go outside, to the pond, to get some water. She took the restraint from the door, picked up the water pitcher and stepped out, willing to kill her thirst and to diminish the heat she felt.

The night was very pretty. The starry sky and the full moon lighted the way to the pond. And the grass, wet from the dew, was a relief to her barefoot feet. She didn't take long and soon arrived at the pond. She knelt and wetted her face, neck and chest, not caring if she wetted her clothes; then drank some water with the help of her hands. Finally, she filled the water pitcher.

When she turned around to get back, Lau Ma was startled, almost dropping the clayed water pitcher. Hiroshi was there, just a few meters away, gazing her in a way that made her legs tremble.

"I told you I'd be back, didn't I?" he said, narrowing the distance separating them with a few steps.

But before he had the chance to kiss her again, Lau Ma stepped away. And filled with a courage she didn't know she possessed, she asked:

"Who are you, after all? And what do you want with me?"

Hiroshi's expression changed immediately. His pleasant face changed to a more serious one, almost an enraged one. But he didn't say anything.

They stood there for long moments, at the waterside, gazing at one another. Thinking he wouldn't say anything else, Lau Ma gave up from their little nerve wrecking war and started making her way back. If he didn't want to talk, fine, but she wasn't going to stand there all night.

"Funny how things are..." she heard him say. "I never imagined I would encounter someone so alike Akane...She was impatient too... Just like you."

Lau Ma stopped on her tracks. What the hell was he talking about? Before she could ask, he continued.

"You really want to know who I am?" Seeing the woman answer affirmatively, he introduced himself. For real. "My name is Hiroshi, Sato Hiroshi. I'm part of a criminal gang, led by Ken Ryu. I'm the second in command."

This time, Lau Ma did drop the water pitcher on the floor. She didn't mind the shards hitting her feet, nor with the water hitting her sweater's hem. She was too shocked to react. Her eyes widened and her lips opened up in a silent 'O'.

"Shocked?" he bitterly laughed. "I'm not surprised..."

After opening and closing her mouth, Lau Ma managed to recover her voice. "Why... Why are you here?"

"I had a mission to accomplish."

"And have you already accomplished it?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't you go?"

"I always keep my word," he answered, looking at her like a predator before a delicious prey.

Lau Ma felt a shiver. He stayed for her? That was insane! "Aren't you afraid I'll turn you in?"

"No," answered Sato without hesitation, making her eyes even wider.

"Why?"

"For this," he kissed her with passion.

Despite her mind screaming for her to stop, that it was wrong, that she was fraternizing with the enemy, Lau Ma surrendered to Hiroshi. She could feel his hands on her hair, her neck, her breasts and going lower... Making her feel things she had never imagined. How could she stop him, when all she wanted was for him to continue?

Sato picked the young woman up and took her to the woods, where no-one would interrupt them. He put her down only to stretch his coat under a tree. He then laid her there, feeling pleasure running through his veins. A low moan was proof that Lau Ma was also appreciating their caresses.

In each other's arms, they forgot about the rest of the world. There were no problems there, in that little world of ecstasy they had created together. They forgot they were on opposite sides of a war where they didn't belong. Lau Ma forgot the fear she had of her brother. And Hiroshi forgot the promise made at his family's grave. And when they became one, they hoped that things, one day, would get better.

--

Tomoyo awoke feeling indisposed the next morning. She felt disgusted for having to do what Ken wanted, but she had no way out. She got up and decided to prepare herself very well for the execution of her plan. She had coffee with the people on the kitchen and asked Min Soo to prepare her a good bath. She chose her best perfume and her best clothes. She knew Li wouldn't see what she wore, but she didn't care. She wanted to be dressed up to the occasion.

After her long bath, she prepared herself and combed her long hair. She thought it strange that her grandfather hadn't come to greet her... What could have happened? Getting Masaki out of her head, she focused on Li again. Everything would go well. Her life depended on it.

Things seemed to be on her side, because everyone in the house were busy with the preparations of the 'formal' dinner that would take place later that night, including Eriol. That way, she could walk around the house without being noticed. She tied her long tresses in a bun at the top of her head, leaving some locks free, framing her face. She looked in the mirror before leaving. She would be prettier if her bruises had already disappeared from her face. But again, she reminded herself that Xiaolang wouldn't see any of that.

It was already lunch time when she reached the west wing. She didn't know which room should she start searching first. She decided to take a chance on the training room again. Considering what she saw last night and what she had heard from Ken, she could only conclude Li was a great warrior. Maybe he could be training again.

And her hunch was right. As soon as she got to the room's door, she heard noises inside. She softly slided the door and entered. Li was training with a staff. He was shirtless and his body was wet with sweat. Tomoyo's face heated a bit. He was very handsome.

"What do you want, Sakura?" he asked, without stopping his movements.

Tomoyo raised an eyebrow, curious. Why did he think she was Sakura? Was it usual for her cousin to frequent this part of the house? But she didn't have time for that... She adjusted her kimono, increasing the size of her cleavage and continued to approach him.

"Sakura?" he asked again, this time interrupting his training.

"No, Mt. Li," she answered, with a seductive voice. "I'm not Sakura."

Xiaolang stayed alert. Who was that woman? He knew all of the voices of the inhabitants of the house, except...

"Miss Daidouji? What are you doing here?"

"I came to thank you personally for everything you did for me, sir..."said Tomoyo, stopping in front of him.

Li couldn't see her, but he could feel her perfume. It was an exotic fragrance that intoxicated his senses. Never had he felt something alike, not even in Sakura. Remembering Sakura made him step back a little.

Realizing his movement, Tomoyo advanced on him even more. "And to hand you a present."

"Present?"

Before he could react or understand anything, Xiaolang felt her lips crashing onto his, in a passionate kiss. Stunned, he dropped his staff. Taking advantage of that opportunity, the woman cuddled against him, rubbing her soft body against his firm thorax, making the essence of the French perfume she was wearing stand out more.

Getting out of his shock, Li put his hands on Tomoyo's waist, ready to shove her away, when...

"Xiaolang, I brought your lu-..."

BLAM!

Tomoyo stepped away from the warrior and looked at the door. And standing there, with widened eyes, was Sakura. At her feet, the tray she dropped to the floor. And beside her, Eriol.

'Dammit!' the thief mentally cursed.

The doctor was the first one to break the silence. "Can someone explain what's happening here?"

--

A/N: Hello guys!!!It's been a long time, but I'm back!! Hope you had a great Christmas! And hope you'll have an even greater year! And I also hope you like this chapter (let's pray it doesn't have too many mistakes =P) Till next time!!