Author's Note: Hello. I reposted this chapter. Two parts have been fixed up a bit, butit's reallyno big deal and sorry. . .I said I'd post up another chapter, but I haven't finished it yet. That will be in another day or so. Sorry again.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Part 11: Stay With Me
Within a matter of days Queen Yelan's castle was filled with guests. Everyone had arrived and now all there was left was to determine strategies and prepare. She spoke with the Crimson Knight daily, inquiring about the progress of the other knights in their training. Apparently, the Crimson Knight was doing a fine job from what she could see and the Bronze Knight's men were almost just as good.
Her son, Syaoran was in his own preparation. He was practicing his swordsmanship, heightening his skills, to his mother's dismay and disapproval. This left the poor Sakura alone. She spent most of her days in the garden, taking in the sweet scent and colors of her flowers.
Tomoyo was busy assisting the queen and so she didn't get much of a chance to see Sakura either. But now that the other Ladies were here and acquainted with Sakura, Yelan hoped that the girl would no longer have to with stand her loneliness.
With a sigh she sat down on her bed. She inhaled deeply, but her lungs felt as if they were shriveling with every breath she took, leaving a sharp residue of pain in her chest.
"Maybe I should send for Yukito," Tomoyo suggested, turning toward the door.
"No," Yelan said. "I'll be fine. I just need to rest up a bit." She smiled at her, assuring her, but Tomoyo was not confident in her reply. "Go. Sakura may need more company."
"As if Rika and the other's aren't enough," she said, smiling herself. "But I will keep her company. She'll need someone to keep her head straight with that bunch."
Queen Yelan laughed, despite her growing chest pain.
With one last smile, Tomoyo left.
Yelan lay down on her bed and tried to will the pain away. She closed her eyes and forced upon herself the sleep she had been waiting for for days.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"This better be well worth it, Darco," the woman said. Her black hair swept across her face and touched the floor as she stood there, her dark eyes aflame with urgency and anger.
"Calm yourself, Persephone," the man with her replied calmly, but his calmness was like the eye of a storm. It was there and then it was gone. He looked to Darco, narrowing his eyes. "Darco will tell us his reasons for summoning us."
Darco smiled, oddly calm and at ease with them. He was actually grateful that they had not changed. Then again, what could possibly cause a change in them?
"You're lucky our son is old enough to watch after the kingdom in our leave," Persephone replied. "Very lucky. But I still worry. He is still young despite his age."
"Princes all over take their parents' throne by the age of sixteen," Darco assured. "And he is strong. Your people fear you. They will not revolt against you. And your son has your great fury, King Hades. And he has your short temper, Queen Persephone. A deathly combination. No one will dare rise against him. Not if they value their lives."
This pleased the two Underworld Lords.
"Very well," Hades said, a grin on his face. "What do you summon us for, old friend?"
Darco smiled ruthlessly. "A war, my dear king."
"A war?" the woman replied, a glint of excitement in her eyes. "Do continue, Darco."
"Of course, your majesty." He smiled as he bowed. "Queen Yelan wishes for allies. It appears that her son has betrayed her. He has gone to the Northern Kingdom with the young wizard and a few of his most trusted men with the excuse of delivering medicine from the Southern Queen. He is waging a war against his own flesh and blood and has managed to gather up the Northern Kingdom and all neighboring kingdoms as well. He has also managed to get the approval of support from the Four Corners."
Persephone stared, shocked and amused.
"That's quite and alliance, Darco," Hades replied. "The Northern Kingdom is the most influential kingdom of us all."
"But your's is the most feared," Darco said. "Queen Yelan needs an alliance of her own and who better to support her with all other kingdoms against her, than the two of you. And," he added, "the two of you could work this in your favor." A glint of something malicious flashed in his eyes.
The two thought about it a moment and looked at one another. Persephone looked and her unwilling husband. "Oh, Hades," she said, her voice chillingly sweet as she snaked her arms around him. "I long for the taste of blood and the feel of it in my very hands. I long for the warmth and thickness of it. I miss the torture and the screams and gasps of a man's dying moments." She looked at her husband, her head moving slowly toward his. She kissed him once and asked nicely and then kissed him once more, hungrily and passionately.
When she pulled away, he looked at her curiously and then shrugged. "Alright."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and then turned to Darco. "So when shall we meet this queen of your's?"
"Now."
They turned. Queen Yelan stood, dressed in her long, flowing dress and the cloak that bore the insignia of her royal family.
"It's a pleasure," Hades said.
"The pleasure is all mine," Nadeshiko said, reaching out her hand. The floor beneath her seemed to quack and cry as the tall king walked to her and then she felt as if her head would split in two when his hand met hers in an alliance she wasn't sure she wanted anymore.
"No," he said, "the pleasure is all mine." He bent to kiss her hand , his eyes glinting and his wife grinning. When his lips met her hand, the alliance was sealed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Yelan sat up quickly, her heart throbbing and her chest screaming. She huffed and tried to take deep breaths, but the effort sent a sharp pain through her lungs, making her double over in pain. She clutched her chest, trying hard to breathe, but all she found was more pain with every intake of breath. Something was wrong, something was horribly, horribly wrong.
"Na. . .de. . .shi. . .ko. . ." she whispered through clenched teeth as she looked out her window, her eyes setting on the path toward the south. "What. . .have you. . .done?"
She screamed as the pain consumed her.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Yukito pulled at his hair, the pain in his head was horrendous. He held in a scream as he closed his eyes, but no matter how many times he opened or closed them, he could not be tricked. The vision had taken a hold of him and it was not letting go. "Nade. . .shiko. . ." he managed. She had just made the worst transaction in her entire life and this was hitting him harder than the vision of the dying bird.
The pain that racked his brain, completely engulfed his mind and it began to spread through his body. He felt it crawling slowly into his arms and legs. He felt it sneaking into his hands and feet and felt it as it consumed his fingers and toes and then ate away at his fingernails.
This vision was eating him alive! One image followed another, one at at time, in a fast pace that not even he could keep up, but he saw it. Bits and pieced that he was able to pick up on before they his mind flashed with another image. He watched as Nadeshiko joined with the Underworld Lords. He watched as they ravaged the people of the lands. He watched as they stripped the kingdoms of their power and strength. And he watched as they raped the world of it's color and grace.
He could faintly hear Touya's voice and he wished-oh! how he wished he could stop the pain and leave this horrible nightmare he was trapped in.
The pain became too great to contain and without realizing it, Yukito screamed in a way that could have brought tears of fear and sorrow to anyone who heard it.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Sakura," Syaoran said as he entered her room, knowing full well that she had stepped aside from the group of guests that spoke in a chatter in the castle's main hall. "I. . ."
A scream that could only be his mother's stopped him in his tracks. Sakura stood, her eyes growing wide. Panic struck him then and he fled to his mother's room without any more hesitation. Sakura raced behind him, but he stopped when another scream sounded. It was a blood-curdling scream that brought pain to his heart. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Sakura heave with emotion as she stopped, her eyes overflowing with tears.
"What is happening?" The hurt and sorrow was immense in her eyes. He knew her heart ached for those in pain. She clutched at her chest as if feeling whatever it was that made his mother scream and. . .the wizard?
He picked up his pace again as he took Sakura's hand. He needed to get to his mother and Yukito as quickly as possible.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Yukito!" Touya shouted, but the wizard couldn't hear him over his loud screams of agony.
Touya fought the ball forming in his throat and the tears threatening to escape in his eyes. His one true friend was in pain and he didn't know how to help him. It scared him, to be honest, to see him in such a way, to be a witness to his breakdown and tears. It was as if all sanity left him.
"Yukito!" he shouted again, this time he could not stop the tears from escaping. He could no longer resist his emotions. He threw himself at the wizard in an attempt to calm him. "Stop, Yukito! Please!"
Takashi rushed inside, Nakura behind him. They didn't know what to do themselves, but they rushed to his aid and tried to hold him down, but Yukito thrashed about, pulling at his hair and. . .and at his eyes as if trying--no, he was trying to tear them out. Whatever he was being a witness to, he didn't want to see it.
"Yukito!" Touya shouted, again in vain. But he would not give up, for if he did, it could mean the end for his friend.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Syaoran ran into his mother's room. Tomoyo, Rika, Naoka, Chiharu, and Meling didn't even turn to look at him. Each one of them was trying their hardest to calm her down and each of them were trying to help her breathe, patting her back or soothing her with gentle strokes. They hovered over her, tears in their eyes and sobs in their throats.
"Let me through!" he shouted. "Mother!" He moved toward her as she feel into her pillow. Her chest heaved and she sounded as if she were choking. There were screams from the other girls, but his mother's seemed long gone now. He and Tomoyo sat her up as someone reached for the bowl of water at her bedside table. He soothed her back and spoke to her gently, hoping, wishing, praying to the gods to let her live. The tears came without welcome and without notice and the pain that struck him was in the same league with his seizing panic. His heart raced with an increasing speed and his hands began to shake. He found himself almost convulsing with emotion at the sight of his mother and the feel of his helplessness, but he continued to try his best to calm her.
"Please, breathe," he whispered. "Ger some help!" He shouted, too late. Meling and Chiharu had long since gone in search of help. Rika and Naoka did all they could, their sobs never once subsiding. Tomoyo became immobile. She stared in a horrible shock, tears streaming down her face as she stayed, silently watching.
Sakura stood by the door, her eyes swollen with her own tears and her heart aching. She stared, but she didn't do anything. She sobbed uncontrollably as she watched the scene unfolding before her. Syaoran looked at her, pleading with her. "Help me, please," he mouthed. He let his head fall on his mother as she gasped for air, her chest heaving, her eyes bulging and turning red. Silent tears rolled down the sides of her face, her eyes searched for a help from the the great divine.
Sakura chocked on her sobs, but she found the courage to move forward. She didn't know what she was going to do, but she had to help and so she would try. She knelt down beside Syaoran and put a gentle hand on his arm.
He looked at her and then stood up, turning away, his sobs in control of him now.
She looked to the queen, tears still in her eyes and then she closed them. Words she never remembered speaking before, flooded her mind and that was when she lost all sense of herself.
Tomoyo gasped as the queen stopped her struggles. Syaoran whipped around, loss tearing at his heart, but he gasped himself when he saw Sakura bathed in a moonlight glow, her eyes aflame with the same soft, mysterious light. She carefully stood, seeming weightless as she did so. Her hand moved out stopping just above the woman's chest. There, her hand hovered.
Without warning, she spoke. Her voice was wispy and hauntingly soft as she said, "Aspiro." It rolled of her tongue with an ease and grace that suggested she had always spoken the foreign language. She repeated the word and then she lifted her right hand, slowly, repeating the word, and as she did this, Yelan's chest rose. Sakura's hand fell away lightly and Queen Yelan's chest mimicked the move.
Sakura repeated the word once more, lifting her hand and her hand rose, so did the queen's chest. It fell again with Sakura's movements and then slowly Sakura moved her hand away from the queen's chest and Syaoran's mother was able to breath on her own. What just happened?
Syaoran's mother gasped as she sat up, her chest rising and falling fast as she caught her breath. Tomoyo remained still. She turned to Sakura and then the queen, her mouth fell into an "o", but then she turned away, soothing the queen as the woman regained herself.
Rika fainted only moments after and Naoka remained immobile.
Syaoran stared. The wind suddenly seemed to take in a deep breath. Syaoran could hear it, low and soft and then it echoed in an exhale as Sakura lost her soft glow. Her body began to fall as her eyes closed. Syaoran ran to her and caught her in his arms before she fell. He looked at her, surprised and scared but grateful all the same and as he looked upon her with awe he realized something and suddenly things made more sense.
He looked at his mother as she regained her breath. The woman looked at Sakura once and then looked away, avoiding Syaoran's eyes. He looked down at Sakura again. I understand now, he thought. Now I understand why mother insisted on having a villager live with us. There was no doubt now that her presence in the castle and her role in the coming war was far greater than anyone had anticipated.
"What have we begun," he whispered as he looked up at his mother again, Sakura cradled in his arms.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Not too far away, Yukito still screamed. There was no divine miracle for him as there was for Yelan. Sakura was not there to help him. There was no one for him. Touya was soon joined by one of the castle's aide attendants, but they could not sooth Yukito's pains. The young woman didn't know what she was doing herself and she was brought to tears at the sound of his cries.
Touya's tears did not stop and he didn't care anymore. His friend was in danger. "Yukito, you have to stop this!" But Yukito couldn't hear him.
He scratched at his eyes , wishing to rid himself of the visions he saw. Touya watched the horrible scene unfold before him, disturbed as Yukito managed to break the skin over his right eye. The blood came quickly and it didn't take it very long for it to spread and pool over his eye. Yukito continued to scratch at it, wanting to tear away at the skin and flesh.
Nakura pulled at his hands, but Yukito was strong. She fought him, but he fought back. Takashi, tried to stop his thrashing as Touya tried to sooth him. The aide attendant stood by, watching. She wanted to look away, but she couldn't. Her eyes remained fixed on the sight before her.
Whatever it was that pained him, Touya would make it all end for him and he would not allow any more of this self torment. He took Yukito's arms and willed them away from his eyes, pulling with all he could. "Move!" he ordered and Nakura stepped aside. Takashi, too. He fought Yukito for power and then when he saw an opening he apologized and pushed him as hard as he could. Yukito's back fell flat on the floor and Touya pinned him down, holding his arms. Takashi held down his legs with all his strength and Nakura took hold of his thrashing shoulders. Together they worked to keep him on the floor.
"Fight it, Yukito!" Touya urged. "Fight it, damn you! You're stronger than this! You're stronger, fight it! Fight it, Yukito, fight it!"
Yukito's screams did not die away, but his thrashing seemed to dull by the slightest bit, they all felt it.
"It's working," Nakura breathed. "You can get through to him, Touya."
"Yukito," Touya said, his voice firm. "You have stood by me my entire life. I will not let you leave my side now! We've come to far! I can't fight unless I know you're there to support me!" He paused, recalling a gentle boy reaching out to a lonely prince. That gentle boy had been Yukito and the lonely prince was Touya. "Yukito, you have to fight! You have to fight to live! Fight this and win!"
Yukito's screams began to tone down. Touya watched as his friend struggled to free himself of this prison that his visions had brought upon him.
Touya watched as Yukito waged his own inner war and he couldn't help it any longer. With one swift motion, he ripped Yukito from Nakura's hold and pulled him into an embrace. "I will not allow for this, Yukito!" he shouted. "I will not!" His arms tightened around his frame. "Please, fight this. Please." He held on tight, squeezing him harder and harder as if it would help him, but it did. With every squeeze, Yukito's movements dulled.
"Stay with me," Touya whispered in his ear, tears rolling down his cheeks as he squeezed his eyes shut. "Stay with me."
Slowly, Yukito's thrashing eased and his screams died away. Takashi let his legs lose and stood as he watched Touya and Yuikto.
As soon as Touya heard the heavy breathing in his ear, he opened his eyes. Nakura stared straight back at him. She cried as she held a hand to her mouth, nodding.
A soft hand reached around him and Touya almost jumped. "I'll stay. . ." Yukito breathed, ". . .with you."
Touya pulled away to see a weak, smiling Yukito. He winced as Touya moved away, but he managed a soft laugh despite his pain. He reached a hand out and wiped away Touya's tears. "I've never once seen your tears, Touya." Yukito smiled. "Not until today."
Touya felt the threat of new tears, but he composed himself. He wasn't going to allow for these people to see any further weakness and besides, that wasn't like him at all.
He frowned. "And who's fault is that?" he asked, his voice firm.
Yukito laughed. "Mine, I guess." He smiled and then took in a deep breath as he tried to stand, wincing with every movement.
"Don't you move an inch," Touya warned as he stood, lifting Yukito to his feet with him. Nakura took one of his arms and placed it over his shoulder and held onto him as Touya moved to do the same. Takashi didn't need any orders. He quickly lifted Yukito's legs up off the floor as gently as he could and helped Touya and Nakura bring him over to the bed. They gently lay him down and stepped aside.
"Call us if you need any more help," Nakura said, placing a soft hand on Touya's shoulder, sensing a need for them to be alone. She held Yukito's hand for a moment and then turned away.
"I'll call for a doctor," Takashi said, patting Yukito and then Touya on the shoulder.
"Thank you," Yukito said as the two walked toward the door.
"Nakura. Takashi," Touya called. They stopped and turned to face him, but he did not turn to look at them. "Thank you."
With a smile they nodded and walked out.
Touya looked at Yukito and frowned. "I always knew you'd cause me trouble," he said.
Yukito smiled, but then it faded. "I saw the queen."
"Yelan?" Touya asked, reaching for the bowl of water that the aide attendant left behind as he watched Yukito. Where had that woman gone?
"Nadeshiko," Yukito said.
Touya stopped. "My mother?"
Yukito nodded."She's made an alliance with the Underworld Lords."
Touya froze. His pulse felt like ice in his veins as Yukito's tears rolled down his cheeks. Touya knew exactly what this meant and the odds where not so good for them. Though he had the support of the other kingdoms, it didn't much make a difference. The playing field was tipped in their favor before, but now the playing field was balanced a little more toward the south. The Underworld Kingdom was one powerful force. They alone wielded the power to bring death.
Yukito coughed, his lungs recoiling at the force and sudden sharp pain that stabbed through his chest, but he looked at Touya and said. "Only horror awaits us all."
