Forgotten Dreams: Chapter Twelve
By: Sakura
Xiao Lang stood by an open window, staring out at the night sky in quiet reflection. Both he and Sakura had reached the outskirts of Fengdu and decided to rest for the night before they ventured into the city tomorrow. Closing the window by pulling the board shut, Xiao Lang walked back to where Sakura was sleeping. She had been very quiet ever since earlier. She never said a word unless she really had to. He didn't understand it at all; why was she avoiding him? Did he do something wrong? Say something wrong? He thought she would have been happy to be reassured that she may meet this unrequited love of hers again. Xiao Lang was only relieved that she didn't know how much it hurt him to say those words earlier.
Settling into his usual makeshift bed on the ground, the Prince couldn't sleep right away. "After nine years," he thought, "Sakura's never forgotten this boy once. To care so much for someone…" Xiao Lang knew at that very moment that he honestly envied that boy, whoever he was. Why, though, he could not say. He did not know why. All he knew was that the thought made him feel rather bitter. "Well," he quietly said aloud, "if she'll be happy with him, then I suppose that's all that really matters…" Pushing the thoughts of the boy out of his mind, Xiao Lang closed his eyes and tried to sleep. But sleep refused to come to him that night, leaving him staring blankly up at the ceiling until the wee hours of morn. Only then did it mercifully ensnare him into a dreamless slumber.
He was tired of everything. Why was life always treating him so? And the one thing that he loved…had been viciously stolen away from him.
Sitting up, he looked down at the woman sleeping beside him, breathing softly. She was a pretty little thing with long, silky black hair and velvety brown eyes. No ugly women for him, he often said. Getting up from the bed he had occupied with his fourth concubine, Li Shui Ken donned a light robe over his white button-down shirt and pants and quietly slipped into the dark hallway. The past few months of search had been an utter waste. He very well knew that he was no closer to catching up with his brother than he was when Xiao Lang had first made his escape. Silently treading down the stairs, the Chinese Prince crossed the entryway to the doors and opened them.
"Master Li?"
Shui Ken turned around to face the source of the voice and watched as his "advisor", joined him. Ng Xiang Zhi was the only person that the Prince fully trusted and though they weren't really considered friends, from the Prince's point of view, Xiang Zhi was completely loyal to him, for the Prince had once saved his life. However, his younger brother, Ng Fu Shan, had a completely opposite attitude toward Shui Ken.
"I'm just going out for a walk," said Shui Ken amiably. "You're welcome to join me." Xiang Zhi assented silently and the two men left the building and into the faint breeze surrounding the courtyard outside. They had settled down on the ledge of a bridge and sat quietly together for a few minutes. The Chinese Prince was watching the room. To him, it always seems to cast cold beams of light, the night sky it settled it engulfing everyone into its dark folds. Suddenly, Shui Ken broke the silence. "Do you know what I hate most?" he asked his companion. Xiang Zhi followed Shui Ken's gaze.
"The moon," he said, unhesitatingly. It was more of a statement than a question. Shui Ken's face twisted into a scowl for a moment. Then he let his features relax.
"My hatred for the moon…it's the same as my love for the sun… They're both just as deep," whispered the Prince.
Xiang Zhi was silent, thinking of what he meant. Then a smile of understanding dawned on his face. "Your feeling of hate for your brother…it's as deep as your feeling of love for that Japanese Princess," he thought to himself. Shui Ken couldn't hear him, but his companion knew it to be so. Recognizing the rather contemplative look in the Prince's eyes and his general expression, Xiang Zhi knew he wanted to be alone. He bowed to him once and quietly slipped away, leaving Shui Ken alone to watch the night sky and the stars twinkling overhead. Shui Ken said nothing to stop him, rather grateful that he had left. It wasn't that he didn't want his company, but sometimes he just wanted to be alone.
How could the Shui Ken of the present be described now? There was no doubt that he was powerful, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Nothing could touch him; the emotions he ever felt for the most part were anger and hatred. He was also a handsome man, something that most definitely could not be denied, with midnight blue hair, nearly the shade of black, and cold amber eyes. Just one scornful look from those eyes could freeze a weaker person and make them feel as if they were far below him. And he possessed a strong attraction that drew people to him, whether it made them love him or hate him.
Ah, but the Shui Ken of the past was a very different person…and once in a while Shui Ken graciously allowed himself to slip back into part of what he once was. He had been a weakling, something he hated to admit. Weak in health and emotion. His father never paid especial attention to him as he had for some of his other brothers - Shui Ken scowled again - like Xiao Lang… He had envied his younger brother for the longest time. He had strength and magic at his disposal while little Shui Ken had absolutely nothing. The fact that he was the ninth son didn't help much either. And even to his mother, Shui Ken still wasn't at the top. He was the youngest of all his siblings and the second son, at that. His older brother was Hon Chung, the fourth son of the Emperor. Following him were two sisters, and finally, Shui Ken. However, aside from the fact that he wished he were the elder of him and his brother, Shui Ken loved his brother a great deal and Hon Chung was always very kind to him, even when no one else was.
But when Shui Ken was eleven, everything started to change for him. Hon Chung, coming back from a trip in the far off mountains, suddenly became gravely ill. Shui Ken was never really allowed to visit him, for people feared that Hon Chung's sickness may be contagious, but the young prince didn't care. He always sneaked in and even when his older brother reprimanded him for disobeying, Shui Ken continued to visit him. He liked nothing more than to sit by his brother's bedside, letting him pat him lightly on the head, showing through a simple little gesture that he loved him. One day, his mother had entered the room while the brothers were together. Angered that her son had disobeyed, she had the guards take him out and watch him while she and the doctor attended to Hon Chung. Even to this day, Shui Ken could still hear Hon Chung's wracking coughs as the latter tried to tell their mother that it was okay. However, she only turned her anger to him, saying he should have known better than to endanger his younger brother's health.
Running from his home, Shui Ken didn't stop for anything. Not when his mother scolded him, now when the ministers called for him, not even when the guards chased him. He only wished to be alone. Why couldn't anyone understand that?
Stopping by a stream, Shui Ken gazed at his reflection, only to find a small boy with a deep scowl set in his face. Why was it that he had to live a life like this? He hated it with a passion. He wished he and his brother could move far, far away and live by themselves in peace. But that was never to be.
Hearing approaching footsteps, Shui Ken didn't bother moving from his spot. What was the point? He was forever going to be trapped within the walls of the palace. May as well face the punishment now than later. They were easier on children sometimes, and he knew it. As the footsteps paused, the words announcing the arrival of Emperor Li reached his ears. Of all people, it just had to be his father. A hand rested gently on his shoulder, but Shui Ken stubbornly refused to budge. The hand retreated but seconds later, two pairs of hands roughly lifted the boy from his seat and forced him to turn around. The guards were the ones who moved him. Shui Ken's eyes flickered up for a moment and saw his father was silently observing him, before they focused on the ground.
Wong Hsiang En, an advisor to the Emperor, said in his usual shrill voice, "You are supposed to show respect to your Emperor! This rude behaviour is entirely unacceptable and, furthermore, disrespectful!" The young Chinese Prince's hands clenched into tighter balls of fists, as he felt anger welling up inside of him at the advisor's words. "And you must- Emperor?" Emperor Li held one hand out in front of Hsiang En, gesturing for him to stop. Hsiang En fell silent, but rather sulkily.
"Release him," he told his guards quietly, "and leave us alone." The two guards exchanged a glance and immediately let go of him. Shui Ken scowled at them as he scraped together what was left of his dignity. Everyone else, guards, ministers, and the advisor, meekly obeyed and left. The guards however, stationed themselves at the various entrances to the gardens. The Emperor of China sat down on the ledge and smiled amiably at his son. "Have a seat," he said invitingly. Shui Ken glanced down disdainfully at the seat but said nothing. However, he complied and sat down. The atmosphere between them was one of stony silence that was not comfortable for either person.
"I heard you wanted to leave this place," said the Chinese Emperor in a light tone, implicating nothing. Nonetheless, Shui Ken's head shot up and he stared at his father. The former pretended not to notice. "I'll be leaving here soon," he continued, "for some business." He turned to face his son, his eyes fixed on him. "Would you like to come?"
With eyes long since dried of its tears, Sakura found herself staring at the ceiling that morning, all pretence of sleep having abandoned her. Upon reflection, she realized that she had been acting rather silly. She had to make up to Xiao Lang for her earlier discourtesy. After all, she did owe him so much…
Sitting up, she glanced over at the table on the opposite side of the room, where they had left their meagre belongings. The sunlight crept into the room through the cracks on the window shutter, causing tiny shadows to dance around the room. As Sakura got out of her bed, she lightly tiptoed across the room, past Xiao Lang's bed on the ground, toward that table. As she reached for her own bag, a sudden voice made her freeze.
"What are you doing, Sakura?" Sakura turned around rather awkwardly and saw that Xiao Lang had sat up as well and was watching her. Apparently, he had woken when he sensed her movement. She bit her lip, not knowing how to answer. Instead, she reached into her bag and took out a small package. Silently crossing the space between them, she knelt down by Xiao Lang's bedside and held out the item, her head bowed down, rather shyly. Xiao Lang wordlessly took the parcel with curiosity. Unwrapping the outer layer of cloth, he found a small drawstring pouch and inside it, an embroidered handkerchief.
The pouch was made with a dark green cloth with a little circlet design. It closed with a golden-shaded string, with a small tassel at the end. The handkerchief was delicately made with dark green borders entwined with white and his name written with the same green shade. When Xiao Lang looked up at Sakura, he saw she was still in her kneeled position and her head still bowing down.
"O-otanjoubi omedeto, Xiao Lang," she stammered softly.
Xiao Lang lightly fingered the stitching on the handkerchief. Gently placing his hands on her shoulders, he pushed Sakura up to a sitting position. "How did you know?" he asked her. "That it was my birthday today?"
"Mei Ling told me," she answered, "before we left." Xiao Lang smiled warmly at her.
"Thank you," he said. He had always used to get little gifts from his Master and his father, but on his sixteenth birthday, his Master had long since perished and his father was ill. But his seventeenth birthday was different this time… Not knowing what possessed him, the Chinese Prince gently pulled Sakura's chin toward him and kissed her lightly on the cheek. Sakura turned crimson, but he didn't notice. "You're not still angry at me, are you?" he whispered into her ear. When he pulled away from her, Sakura tilted her head to one side questioningly.
"Why would I be angry with you, Prince Xiao Lang?" she asked. She smiled at him and he was relieved to see that she returned to her usual self. "I should just leave the past behind me," thought Sakura to herself. "My future is the most important right now."
Listening to an old minister drone on and on was not Shui Ken's idea of spending the afternoon. He absently murmured yes and no when necessary, but his mind drifted off again to someplace else.
He hated his father. He was nothing but a liar.
How dare he? He must have known about the tensions between Shui Ken and Xiao Lang by now. And yet, he takes the two of them - and their eldest brother, Li Chi Shing - with him on his "business trip". Shui Ken had no idea where they were going, but he couldn't care less about that. The prospect of travelling with his hated brother was more than he could stand. And that the travel to their unknown destination would take many, many days! How much more was he to endure…?
Shui Ken cast a withering glance at his younger brother, but if Xiao Lang noticed, he paid no heed. The latter son was actually staring out the window, oblivious to his surroundings. All he could think about was his mother. He was only eight and he took her death pretty hard. Shui Ken couldn't remember him saying a single word after she passed on. "Stupid idiot," thought the ninth son with obvious contempt. Many nights and days passed, and Shui Ken regretted more and more to agreeing to tag along. His father hardly gave him any attention. He was either teaching Chi Shing proper foreign protocol, since he was to be the next Emperor if anything happened to the current one, or he was attempting to make Xiao Lang say at least one word. He had been completely unsuccessful with his latter goal.
Being so wrapped up in his thoughts, Shui Ken had hardly noticed they had reached their destination. The carriage slowly halted to a stop as its passengers prepared to meet their hosts for the next few weeks. As Emperor Li stepped out, his arrival was announced and Emperor Kinomoto moved forward as well. Both rulers bowed to each other in respect. Chi Shing stepped down as well, followed by a sullen Shui Ken, and a reluctant Xiao Lang. Emperor Kinomoto smiled graciously at his guests, warm and inviting as he bade them welcome to his home. The ninth son allowed his attention to wander about as they walked through vast gardens, toward the main building. The scenery was indeed quite breathtaking, decorously filled with blossoming flowers, flourishing trees and bushes, and sparkling waters. And the night sky overhead, filled with twinkling stars reminded Shui Ken of his home, and his brother. He wondered how Hon Chung was doing…and hoped that he would recover his strength soon.
Turning his attention to the two Emperors ahead, Shui Ken was surprised to hear them share a laugh. For the first time, he noticed that the Japanese Emperor spoke fluent Chinese and had no problems communicating with his father. Emperor Kinomoto glanced back at the three sons with a smile, but when his eyes met Shui Ken's, a slight frown replaced the smile and there was a startled look in his eyes. The former quickly broke the gaze and resumed his talk with the Chinese Emperor, leaving the latter utterly confused. Had he imagined the whole thing? Why did he give him such a look? As if he had reason to be wary of him? They had never even met before…
Just a few paces ahead of Shui Ken, Kinomoto Fujitaka wondered the same thing. Why was it that, when he looked into the eyes of that boy, a cold feeling washed over him? He had never seen him before in his life, so… Fujitaka tried to laugh it away, that he had misinterpreted the whole thing. Shui Ken was only a young boy, and he was no different from anyone else. And yet, the Japanese Emperor couldn't shake the anticipation of dread away…
Glancing around the table during dinner, Shui Ken did not see Xiao Lang anywhere in sight. "What happened to the fifteenth brother?" he asked Chi Shing.
"Fifteenth brother wishes to be alone, so father let him stay in his room," responded Chi Shing rather absently. He was trying to pay attention to the protocols that passed between his father and the Japanese Emperor, wanting to learn as much as he could about everything.
This answer did not suit Shui Ken. Why should his younger brother get "special" treatment all the time? It wasn't fair at all! Abruptly standing up and placing down his chopsticks, the Chinese Prince announced, "Gochisousama deshita. But I'd rather be alone right now." Emperor Li was glaring at his son for his impudence at such a time, but Shui Ken didn't care. All of the wrongs that hurt him bubbled to the surface now and he wanted to escape from it now.
"Shui Ken!" began his father in anger. "You-"
"-may leave," finished Emperor Kinomoto, even though those weren't the words the former Emperor intended to use, and everyone present knew that. He smiled at Shui Ken. "Please return when you're feeling better." Without so much as a nod of acknowledgement, Shui Ken turned and walked out of the room, not daring to look at his father, but knowing how angry he was with him. However, he didn't care. Upon reaching the hallway, the Prince ran the rest of the way to his room. Sliding the door shut behind him, he strode straight to his window and knelt down beside it, opening it partway as he did. Angry tears stung his eyes as all he could do was recall all the hurt that accumulated inside of him. No one ever understood him - ever could… Only if they went through the exact same events he had to suffer through would he even consider them close to it.
A smile came to his lips as he thought of his brother. Wiping his tears away with his sleeve, he rested against the ledge of the window and looked up at the bright stars overhead. The thought that his brother could be watching the same stars as him comforted him a bit and calmed his heart. A great distance away, a star fell, sprinkling its bright light across the dark sky. This occurrence reminded Shui Ken of something his brother told him once that if a star fell, it meant that someone had died. He wondered briefly if it could have been someone he knew, but dismissed it immediately and decided to retire for the night.
And far, far away, a woman was told that her son had died. She may as well have been a stone, for she expressed no change in reaction nor did she move from her sitting position by her son's bedside. It was a long time before she said anything. "How selfish my son is…" she said finally, in a voice filled with deadly calm, conveying no emotion whatsoever, "to leave the rest of us to suffer in this world while he can rest easily in peace in the next."
Shui Ken absently drummed his fingers on the ledge of the window in his room. They had been there for…how long? A week? A fortnight? He was starting to miss the familiarity of home and rather longed to return. At the moment, the Prince was feeling melancholy for the letter he had written home to his brother had given him no reply. It wasn't like Hon Chung to neglect him in this matter. Concluding that the letter must have been lost, he got up and left his room, in search of another scroll to write on. Passing by Xiao Lang's room, he saw the Japanese Emperor standing just outside of it quietly. Upon noticing the boy, Fujitaka nodded politely to him. Shui Ken stared at him for a moment, bowed quickly, then turned and ran back the way he came. He had almost reached his room when he heard one of the servants calling him.
"Prince Li, Prince Li," he said, urgently. The servant dropped to his knees in a bow before him before facing him again. "Emperor Li would like to see you." Shui Ken assented quietly and followed the servant to his father's room, where the servant departed right after reaching it, closing the room doors behind him. The Chinese Emperor was clutching a scroll in his hand, and the lines around his eyes and face made him appear older.
"Sit down, ninth son," said the Emperor. Shui Ken realized that his father suddenly looked more tired than before. "We'll be leaving here soon…sooner than was originally planned…" The Prince couldn't understand why he was telling him this. "The fourth son," resumed Emperor Li, in a tone far quieter than usual, "had died the same night we arrived in Japan. His health completely broke down and he could no longer sustain against his sickness." The Emperor suddenly threw the scroll away as he dropped into a chair and held his head in his hands, shoulders shaking.
No emotion seemed to awaken in Shui Ken. He merely sat there, mouth slightly open, and tears openly streaming down his face. The news had not sunken in yet. Hon Chung…he could not be dead! Not him…ever… With a heavy heart, he got up and silently left his father's room, only wanting to be back in the silence of his own room. He wanted to be alone. The tears were still falling as he trudged down the hallway, not bothering to wipe them - what would the point be? The Japanese Emperor had stepped out of Xiao Lang's room and into the hallway, and was rather startled to see Shui Ken walking in that manner. But the latter did not see him at all and he continued walking, until he reached his room. He walked into his room, slid the door shut and just stared at the floor, not budging an inch.
Hon Chung was…dead…
Emotion shook Shui Ken from head to toe as he crumpled to the ground, his arms wrapped tightly around his legs and sobs wracking his chest. Wouldn't the pain ever end? The only person that cared for him…that believed in him…was gone…forever…and he never even got a chance to say goodbye… This last thought brought on a fresh wave of sobs and his anguished howls could be heard from the farthest corners of the palace.
So then, what was left for Shui Ken? Nothing…and no one…
His tears long since finished, Shui Ken did nothing other than staring out the window, at the night sky. With his heart full of sorrow, the young Prince could not sleep a wink. Nor could he stay in his room. It felt so stifling and empty…he craved companionship and an understanding heart.
Knowing of the guard outside his door, Shui Ken quietly swung one leg over the ledge of the window and pulled himself outside; thankful that his room was on the ground floor. He stole away into the night, seeking a more 'comforting' corner. The wind blew gently and he found himself surrounded by pretty pink petals. Cherry blossom petals, if he recalled their name correctly. He looked up to see a long row of those cherry trees, each and every one in full blossom. For some reason unknown to him, the ying hua felt soothing to him, and Shui Ken sat under a tree, in deep thought. He wondered briefly if he could take a few pretty blossoms home to show his brother, and then remembered that he had no brother to meet him when he returned and the beauty in the thought was instantly crushed. Why couldn't he just die, too?
A soft giggle reached his ears and Shui Ken looked up in surprise, realizing he wasn't alone. A little girl was dancing among the falling petals of the trees, laughing as she went. She hadn't seen him and he preferred that she didn't, so he huddled closer to the tree, curling up into a smaller ball. She would have passed by him without notice if he hadn't stepped on a tree branch and broke it in half, the sound of wood splitting the air. The girl froze and turned toward the sound, and finally saw Shui Ken. She turned red as she realized someone had witnessed her in her silliest moments and wondered what this stranger thought of her. The thought vanished from her mind seconds later and she amiably ambled over to him, with a sweet smile on her face.
"Hajimemashite," she greeted, still with the shy, sweet smile.
"Ha-hajimemashite," stammered Shui Ken in response. The little girl tilted her head to one side in surprise.
"Hoe?" she said. "So Japanese isn't your first language? Are you from China?" The Prince nodded immediately. "I can speak Chinese, too," continued Sakura, with a grin. "Otousama and niisama taught me." She took Shui Ken's hand and drew the reluctant boy away from the base of the tree, and out to the open field, with its pathways, twisting trees, and flower gardens. "What's your name? Where are you from? I'm Kinomoto Sakura, the daughter of Emperor Kinomoto." Everything she said was accompanied with a smile.
"I'm…" started Shui Ken hesitantly, but instantly faltering. "I-I'm just a Prince from China." Sakura nodded with understanding.
"So that means you're one of our guests," she said cheerfully, as she settled down on the railing of a small bridge, carelessly swinging her legs back and forth. Shui Ken quietly stood behind her, watching the little girl with slight interest. Her happiness was rather infectious for the pain in his heart was dulling slightly. "I'm sorry that neither niisama nor I were there to greet you all when you arrived," she continued to say. "I recently took ill and otousama sent me to a quiet place away to recover and he had niisama accompany me."
Sakura suddenly clenched her fists and banged them against the railing. "Wah, but niisama's so mean!" she cried. "He kept saying only monsters like me could get sick like that!" Without her hands balancing her, the little princess tottered dangerously and she fell backward with a gasp. Shutting her eyes tight, she prepared to hit the floor of the wooden bridge, but opened them seconds later, when she realized that she had been stopped in mid-air. Shui Ken had caught her before she fell and Sakura looked up into his amber eyes. Deep down, she could see an infinite sadness about them and that they were still damp from recent tears. As she was assisted to a proper standing position, Sakura tilted her head again slightly as she observed him carefully. "Are you okay?" she asked him, concern evident in her voice. "Did…" She hesitated slightly, wondering if she was treading on grounds that would best be left alone. "Did something happen? You seem so sad…"
Shui Ken looked down into her soft green eyes with surprise. He hadn't realized how careless he had been, regarding the display of his emotions. Something caught in his throat, as if trying to prevent him from speaking. "My older brother," he choked out, "has passed away." The Prince suddenly found himself on the verge of tears again. Instantly, Sakura flung her arms around him in an innocent hug. She looked up at him with her own shimmering emerald eyes, the air of naïveté never lifting.
"It hurts now, doesn't it?" she whispered softly. Shui Ken slipped his arms around her tiny frame, seeking comfort in her embrace…and finding it. The next wave of tears that he had been trying to hold back collapsed, as tears ran down his face again. He cursed himself for being so weak and pathetic, especially in front of a girl, but compassion was all that Sakura had for him as she held him while he wept. "Though it may sound terrible to us now," she resumed in a soothing tone, "eventually, the pain will go away. So the current pain we feel doesn't eat us up entirely, we must let go of it, and remember our loved ones and all the happy times we've had together. And don't forget: our loved ones cannot fully die unless we forget them. For while we live, they will continue to live in out hearts, as long as we cherish their memory." Shui Ken's tears abruptly ceased as he suddenly pulled away from Sakura, to look at her face-to-face.
"How old are you, Sakura?" he asked her.
"I'm going to be nine soon," she responded with a bright smile, her cheerfulness returning to her.
"You're only eight?" Shui Ken questioned in complete surprise. He allowed a smile to cross his lips. "For only eight-years-old, you seem to be rather wise…" Sakura dropped her smile for a moment, a tinge of sadness washing over her face.
"I know what it's like to have a loved one die, too," she said quietly. "Okaasan died when I was little…" As quickly as her expression saddened did it brighten up again. "Ne," she continued, suddenly pointing at the sky, near the area of the East mountains, "what do you see, Prince Li?"
The Chinese Prince turned to see what the girl was pointing to. "The sky is brightening," he answered in confusion. What did that have to do with anything?
"Exactly!" Sakura clapped her hands together as she watched with her face uplifted to the sky. "The sun will rise soon, bringing with it dawn, and signify that a new day has begun. It's another day we have to live in. That is our duty to those that have passed on. We must live for them, and show them that, no matter what, we can be happy. After all, that is all they really want… They wouldn't want us to be miserable for the rest of our lives…" Before Shui Ken could respond to this, the sun rose above the mountains, bright and majestic in all of its light. Darkness shied away at the approach of this brilliant ball of fire, turning the sky into shades of pale blue. "Uwaa…" was all Shui Ken heard from his companion. Taking a sidelong glance at her, he saw that her hands were clasped tightly together as her eyes drank in the beauty of the scene before. Sakura turned to face Shui Ken and was surprised to see him watching her intently. The Prince slowly moved from his position by his side until he stood directly in front of her.
"Sakura," he said in a fierce whisper, "you are the sweetest thing!" He bent down and covered her soft lips with his own in a kiss. Sakura's eyes widened further but closed immediately afterwards, as a faint blush crept over her cheeks. A warm feeling washed over her, a feeling she couldn't describe. The only thoughts that filled her mind were that she was receiving her very first kiss!
"Himesama!" The voice broke the magic of the morning. "Where are you?" Sakura pulled away instantly, knowing that she had been called. Her eyes spoke for her, the apology clear in their emerald depths.
She turned to leave, but Shui Ken held her back, with a tight grip on her hand. Pulling her closer to him, he whispered into her ear, "Thank you for everything. I'll never forget you." His grip tightened further. "I'll seek you out again and that's a promise." He released Sakura's hand and, turning away, ran, leaving the Japanese Princess behind alone, so that he wouldn't be found in her company, and headed back toward his own room. Sakura could only watch him leave, her fingers lightly touching her lips.
The Princess was absolutely right. Shui Ken had to release the hurt that he received upon hearing of Hon Chung's death and simply remember his brother for all the happiness he had given him. He was determined to continue living for Hon Chung's sake. He would have wanted it, after all. So occupied in his thoughts, the Prince almost hadn't realized that someone had been watching him. No, more like glaring. It felt like someone was trying to bore two holes in his back. Pausing slightly, he looked around and, for the first time, noticed someone standing on a balcony, watching him intently. He was a very tall, broad-shouldered lad, with short blackish-brown hair, and a grim look on his face. Both stared at each other for a long time and Shui Ken's felt his eyes narrow in annoyance. Who did this person think he was? To think he could intimidate a Prince of China. The unknown person watched him only for a few more seconds before he turned and entered the palace. Shui Ken shrugged the entire incident away and continued back to his room. His thoughts had been so engrossed with thinking about the sweet Japanese Princess that he hardly heard his servant when they told him they were to leave Japan later in the day.
"I do believe you aren't listening to me, Prince Li," complained the old minister. Shui Ken awoke from his reverie with a start. It was true that he had completely ignored the minister's words, but who cared, anyhow?
"Master Li is very tired," interjected Xiang Zhi to the minister in a sharp tone, before the Prince could answer. "Perhaps you can present this another time." The minister looked as if he were about to object. Instead, he bowed to the Prince and left the room. Shui Ken flashed a grateful smile to his advisor and Xiang Zhi bowed to him as well, before ducking out to the shadows of the room, relatively leaving his master to himself and his private thoughts.
Shui Ken knew that meeting Sakura had changed his life. He had resolved to rid himself of every weakness, such as tears, and emotions like sadness and grief, to prove that he was strong enough for her. It didn't matter that his father hardly interacted with him or that most of his half brothers ignored him, he trained himself hard, to become more skilled in the arts of swordsmanship, and to be more cunning, especially in battles. The ninth son still continued to compare himself to the fifteenth son, but never in terms of magic. It was useless to do that. Instead, he focused to exceed Xiao Lang in every other way. As the years wore by, Shui Ken was no longer a 'runt'. He could hardly be identified as the soft, kind boy from years before. His personality had undergone such a great change, as left him cold and almost brutally heartless. If he did have a heart by then, it was only the hope that he cherished since he was eleven, to have the girl who he loved since that time.
Of course, when someone physically grows up as Shui Ken has, he was bound to attract attention. At only seventeen, he already had five concubines, while most of his brothers had one or two, three at the most. It could not be denied that he was physically attractive, but his personality and his treatment of others were different stories. He had been betrayed by both his second and third concubines, who both sought love elsewhere when they could not find it in him. As concubines were not allowed to be disloyal to the one they were given to, they were both killed for their offensive deeds. It was a punishment that all concubines knew of and reminded that they, too, should not commit the same offense. But because of all of this, although Shui Ken still managed to save face, he had lost a bit of his confidence, though no one would have known, just by looking at him from the outside.
Weeks before the first attacks by China to Japan, Shui Ken had secretly gone alone to see Emperor Kinomoto. He wanted to ask for his daughter, Sakura, to be given to him. Fujitaka flatly refused his request, having never fully trusted the Prince since he had met him those many years ago. Outraged, Shui Ken rashly declared that he would lay Japan all in ruins for turning down his request and Fujitaka granted him no response, letting the Prince return home in a fury. With the Chinese Emperor ill and confined to his bed, the ninth son took this opportunity to persuade everyone that the Japanese country were against China and that it should be taken down on all accounts.
And this is also why, in his moments of insecurity, that after Sakura agreed to be his did he have his soldiers burn the capital and everything near it. He was half-afraid that Sakura would leave him, or betray him like his other concubines had. Somehow, Shui Ken had convinced himself that this was the only way he could keep Sakura to himself.
Why the Chinese Prince had never told the Japanese Princess of the few hours they had shared when they were younger was a slight mystery to him. All he knew was that he nearly forgot about that time. All he had done was work toward the goal of obtaining the girl's hand, but he had almost forgotten why he wanted it so much, being completely caught up by the pursuit. However, what made him most angry was that, after working so hard and pushing himself so much toward that one goal, that Xiao Lang could just step in and take it away in a second. Shui Ken absolutely would not tolerate such nonsense.
"Excuse me for interrupting, Master Li." Shui Ken turned around to face Xiang Zhi, an eyebrow raised questioningly. He knew immediately by the look on the latter's face that he had good news for him. "The traitor Prince, Li Xiao Lang, has been sighted outside of Fengdu." The ninth son smiled for the first time in a while.
"You thought you could trick me, didn't you, Xiao Lang?" he mused, still smiling. "I'll get you yet." Out loud, he asked, "Was Sakura with him?"
"Yes," answered the advisor briefly, with a slight nod.
"Good," approved Shui Ken. "Then have those soldiers sent out immediately, while we still have the element of surprise to our advantage." Xiang Zhi nodded and left the room. A satisfied smile spread across Shui Ken's face again. "You'll be mine again, Sakura…soon…" The Prince could not erase the image of the laughing little girl dancing amongst the falling cherry blossom petals.
Author's Note: I've been thinking about this for some time and I suppose I've finally decided. If anyone would like to know when the next chapter is posted here, please leave me your e-mail in the review. =) Any other comments would be fine, too. ^_^ Oh, and hanna-chan, I'll just tell you when I see you at school. =)
This was a rather "Shui Ken-centric" chapter, ne? It turned out to more of a side story than a chapter, as it temporarily veered away from the main story. Don't worry; we'll be back to the main storyline in the next chapter. =) So, what do you think of Shui Ken? You aren't mad that he's the boy Sakura remembers are you? *decides to hide somewhere, just in case o_O* Honestly, did anyone expect it to be him?
Phew, this was a rather long chapter, ne? It's even longer the chapters usually are for "The New Cards". o_O Do note that if you'd like to know of the progress of any of my fics that you may refer to my author profile for details. ^_^
Oh, and "otanjoubi omedeto" means "happy birthday", and "gochisousama deshita" translates to something similar to "thanks for the food". =) I don't think there's an exact translation for the latter word, which is why I left it as it was.
Author's Note to Nippion: Maze in Yu-Gi-Oh? Huh? *confused* Gomen ne…YTV hasn't gotten very far in Yu-Gi-Oh (started almost recently) so I honestly have no clue what you're referring to… ^_^* A thousand years worth of ideas, ne? That would be really nice. =) Arigato!
Author's Note to chibiookamigirl: "doshite did ya have to go?!?!?!?!" Hoe? What are you referring to, chibiookamigirl-san? Because I honestly have no idea… Gomen.
Author's Note to Satine: I'm very slowly getting to that, Satine-san. =) To be honest, after I inserted that tiny thing about Xiao Lang's master, I wish I didn't because I had no idea how to incorporate it to the story later on. However, since my ideas for this fic has been coming back to me, plus a few new ones, you'll learn, sooner or later, what his master's role is. Now, if only I could come up with a name for him… *sweatdrops*
Author's Note to amora: I'm planning on making a profiles page for all the characters, new and old. =) It'll be posted on my site, along with a few fan art. I'll post the link to it on the next chapter.
Author's Note to ChibiPunker: "do you think The New Cards will be continued any time soon? Well, if you'd like to see the progress of any of my fics, just check out my author profile here at FF.N. =) I post all my updates there and my current progress, etc. However, to answer your question, though I'd love to work on it, I have a really huge writer's block regarding that fic that's stopping me from continuing at the moment.
Author's Note to LiL DreameR: *points to above message* My answer regarding "The New Cards" is there. =)
Author's Note to hannagrace: I sincerely hope my motivation will return to me, but as it is, I still have none… =( A muse, ne? *laughs* Then maybe it is a good thing we don't have any classes together this year. … I'm kidding, I'm kidding!! =x I'd rather the two of us be in the same classes, each pestering the other about writing our fics, than not having even one class together at all…
Author's Note to Sakura Golden Wolf: … HOEEE!!!
Author's Note to Kitty Meow: *finds herself surrounded by flames and sweatdrops* Hoee! o_O* The one Sakura met wasn't Xiao Lang at all… This complicates things a bit, ne?
Author's Note to Wings of Fire: And just at a depressing point in my life, you cheer me up with what you said. *hugs* Thank you.
Author's Note to Nanali: Well, originally, that's what I thought when I first wrote that summary. But the fic has evolved a great deal since then, so it's hard to say, ne? You never know. =)
Author's Note to chunsa1004: Wing Kay plays a big part in this fic and you'll hear more about her as the fic progresses. As for Shui Ken…besides one other currently living character, I haven't decided if anyone else (major/minor) is going to die or not.
And thank you, Final Fantasy Princess, Janice, seara, blueangel28, Twisted Rose, Ninja09, Sakura Starr, Ti'ana, and everyone else, for reviewing. =) It really, really means a lot to me.
*Sakura
~The Animé Archives Team