Disclaimer: Card Captor Sakura is strictly property of CLAMP.

I'm leaving for my church retreat in approximately three hours! I'm so excited! :D I hope everyone is finally on summer now, because now that you're on summer, you can't pretend like you don't have time and not review! ;)

Haha… yeah, I know. I was bad again, leaving poor Touya alone with those two evil Li brothers like that… xP But it's going to really be great fun reading about it – really!

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Inscribed in the Blade

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Chapter Twenty Nine

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Never before, in her sixteen years of existence, had Sakura ever locked herself up in a room and refused both meal and audience. Why? For two rather simple reasons. The first, being the simpler of the two, was that she simply did not possess the capacity to go for long periods of time without food when it was a mere ten feet away and smelling delicious. The second was that she easily became lonely. So back at home, throwing temper tantrums were really out of the question.

Here in the Academy, even under kind and hospitable Rika-chan's roof, the latter seemed inescapable no matter how many people were around her. Sakura's emerald eyes had long since lost their original spark after the death of her parents, but now they seemed even more lifeless than before. Even hunger was taking a back seat to the pit that had formed in her soul.

She felt numb.

She was lonely.

"Sakura-chan?"

She hated herself.

"Sakura-chan?"

She almost wished to just die. Even death had to be less agonizing than the turmoil she was currently going through.

"Sakura-chan!"

The girl in question lifted her heavy head slowly, finally realizing that it was her name the voice was calling. "Yes, Rika-chan?" she called in reply.

"Sakura-chan…" the voice trailed off in hesitancy. "Sakura-chan – are you sure… no, Sakura-chan, I really think you should eat something now. It's been two days already, and you haven't come out of this room!"

Two days? Had it really? The only daughter of the Kinomoto family felt as if she could go for at least another week or so – and yet there were things to be done.

Getting up from her sitting position, Sakura stood and went over to the door, removing her sword from its side, which she had used to keep it shut. "Sorry for locking myself in a room that wasn't even mine, Rika-chan. I hope I haven't made you worry too much," she said meekly at the surprised and furious glare her friend gave her.

"Of course I've been worried sick! Come on, let's get you to a bath, and then you'll have something to eat. What have you been doing in there for the past two days?" the young wife huffed, but the concern in her eyes made Sakura smile, just a little.

"I've been doing some thinking and planning," she replied quietly. "And I've made a few… arrangements. Thank you for letting me be by myself for a while." The door could have easily been broken down, of course, if Rika had insisted, but her understanding friend had been patient enough to give her some space.

If she had wanted to be perfectly honest with her friend, Sakura would have to her that actually, as pathetic as it was, she had spent the first twenty-four hours locked up by herself because she was depressed and nervous. Plus, it probably wouldn't be safe to move around the Academy so soon after Syaoran had caught her anyways. Still, the first half of her silent solitude had been spent in relative self-pity and misery.

But then, loneliness and sorrow had in no way dampened her resolve or thirst for vengeance – a quick flash of her parent's bodies lying on the floor… that was all it took for the burn of hate to rekindle. After thinking everything through carefully yesterday, Sakura finally had a plan that would make up for her previous loss of time during the survival challenge.

After a bath and some breakfast, she would put it into action.

Soaking in warm water did wonders to soothe her stiff muscles, and as Sakura tested her leg out carefully, she was pleased to find it fully healed. Stepping lithely out of the bath and wrapping herself in a white, cotton yukata, Sakura exited the bathhouse feeling completely refreshed. And something mouth-watering was wafting over from the kitchens. Her stomach growled for the first time in 48 hours.

She hurried over to the dining area quickly, and was delighted to see the large bowl of udon Rika was making. "You still cook even though there are over a thousand servants in the Academy?" Sakura asked with amused incredulity. It was something Rika would do.

"Well, you know I love to cook, Sakura-chan," she said, smiling brightly and putting a bowl on the table. "Go ahead."

"Udon for breakfast? You're spoiling me," Sakura grinned brightly before immediately chowing down. "Going to join me?"

"Just for a little," Rika said, sitting down. "I'm planning on bringing Yoshiyuki-san his obento in about ten minutes."

Auburn tresses tickled her face as Sakura giggled. It was a forced giggle, but she feigned it with valiant effort, seeing as her entire plan revolved around Rika believing what she was about to say. "Aww… you two are so cute! Here, let me tell you something interesting I heard while I was still free to move about in the Academy." She leaned in. "You know the legend that if you confess your feelings to the one you love during the flower festival at the centermost Sakura tree in the forest – your love will last forever, right?"

Copper-colored eyes twinkled. "Yes, I've heard that one before. It's a rather popular story among the girls right now."

Sakura laughed. "Well," she said smiling mysteriously. "My mother has been there before." To her, the sounds of her happy giggles were hollow, but her companion seemed to buy them, and that was all that mattered.

Rika gasped. "Sakura-chan, you mother has been to the Academy before?"

"Twenty years ago, there was no civil war and both Northerners and Southerners attended the Academy," she said. "My father was a student here, and my mother attended the Daidouji Institute. They met and fell in love here at the Academy, and during the hanamatsuri, they confessed their love at the cherry blossom tree." Sakura winked. "And we all know how my parents are…"

The brunette sighed. "So romantic… perhaps Yoshiyuki-san and I should renew our vows at that tree…"

Sakura smiled through gritted teeth, feeling horrible. It was hard making up lies about her parents in the present tense when they were already dead. It felt almost blasphemous. "If the two of you are any more in love, I'm afraid you'll both burst. But here's the thing I wanted to tell you. It turns out that that cherry blossom tree isn't just any tree in the forest. My mother was very clear about one thing. The centermost Sakura tree isn't surrounded by other trees but by a lake. If you're able to navigate through the maze of trees in the Sakura forest, then you're supposed to reach a clearing where there is a lone cherry tree in the center."

"Truly?" Rika asked, burning with curiosity. "Did she tell you how to get there?"

At this, Sakura did her best, fake sigh of "frustration", and leaned back unhappily. "The thing is, she left me… I mean, gave me a hint, because she knew I was coming here, but no matter how much I begged, she wouldn't tell me more."

"What's the hint?" her friend asked excitedly.

"Here, let me write it down for you. It's kind of long you see… do you have paper?"

Rika clapped her hands and a young maid rushed in with ink, pen, and parchment.

"Will this do?"

"Wonderfully," Sakura answered, swiftly putting onto paper the cryptic puzzle she'd thought of while hiding inside of Rika's guest room. In truth, the solution was almost ridiculously simple, but the young female hoped that that would be what threw most people off. "I don't know if you'll be able to decipher it though – heaven knows that I can't."

Terada-sensei's wife deflated slightly when she saw what Sakura had written. "Oh yes… that is difficult, isn't it?"

"Well, my mother didsay that this was an ancient poem passed down in the family. She was able to find the tree from it too, so that's why she wanted me to find it on my own as well. But here's an idea," Sakura said soothingly. "Why don't you ask some of your friends? You might as well stop by where the Daidouji girls are after dropping your husband's lunch off. They're all very bright, I'm sure. Maybe one of them will be able to figure it out."

"Oh yes, five heads are better than just two, aren't they?" Rika agreed enthusiastically, getting up and putting Sakura's paper into the folds of her kimono. "I think I'll do that."

"Be sure to let me know if anyone figures it out. I'm pretty curious myself," Sakura said cheerfully, bending over her noodles once again. "But remember, you didn't hear it from me."

"No, no of course not."

Sakura allowed herself a satisfied smirk. Five heads? More like several hundred. The only reason Gaoran hadn't gone after those swords already was because he didn't know how. Well, if he didn't, then she would simply have to lure him there. Those little slips of paper would be everywhere by the end of the day.

--

No one, except for perhaps Eriol, had ever seriously accused Li Syaoran of being anything less than brilliant. Therefore, when legions of giggling girls armed with little scraps of paper, claiming that whatever hint was written on them would lead to a cherry blossom tree in the middle of a lake appeared, he had the notion that Sakura might be behind it all.

Part of him was elated that traces of her existence were finally appearing once again after two days of complete silence. The other half of him was worried about what kind of plan she was concocting. Either way, he was bound and determined to find her before anything fatal could occur.

"Follow after blooming petals.

The answer you seek lies there.

Pebbles decorate her shores.

There fall heaven's blessings.

You dream of an everlasting potency.

Shall I reveal its location?

Find the ancient inscriptions of old.

Clow's legacy there lies.

Treasures and the precious desire of your heart."

Syaoran read the "ancient poem" several times more before rolling his eyes. What was she thinking, spreading a thing like this around? That idiot. For the first time in what seemed to be years, the young Li heir felt a familiar tug at the corner of his lips.

For a female who had successfully duped nearly an entire Academy of intellectual elites into believing that she was a boy, Sakura was certainly not lacking in knowledge about women. Syaoran had to admit that whatever her goal was, the first part of her plan had been executed superbly. If what she wanted was to have this information passed around, then placing it in the hands of gossiping ladies was definitely the right way to go. It was racing from female to female like wildfire on blades of dry grass.

"Syaoran."

Amber eyes widened slightly, but Syaoran kept his facial expression schooled carefully as he turned around to face his second eldest brother.

"Dairan," he acknowledged coolly.

The older male sauntered over to his younger sibling, a wide smile on his face. "I see you've also caught a bit of spring fever yourself. Planning on finding that cherry tree with that fiancée of yours?"

Syaoran's eyes narrowed. The jab was clear. Everyone already knew that Tsukishiro Sakura had returned to her brother's home for "familial" reasons. Whether or not his brothers were aware of her real identity, he still wasn't sure.

"No such thing Dairan. I was merely taking a look at what has got the Academy in such an uproar," he crumpled the piece of paper indifferently. "Such a thing is ludicrous."

Brown eyes flashed. "But not false?"

Syaoran shrugged before tossing Dairan the poem he had been reading. "I don't know, and I don't particularly care. The poem is supposed to be an ancient one, according to all those chattering females. Whether or not such information is true I am unaware."

"How interested are you in the affairs of a certain Clow Reed, Syaoran?" Dairan asked softly. There were the subtle tendrils of persuasion laced in his tone. "You are aware of who he is, aren't you?"

He scowled. "What is this Dairan? A game of twenty questions?"

"So you are interested," the older of the two nodded, satisfied. "No, it's nothing. I was just thinking that it's about time you started spending some time with the other males in your family, Syaoran. Gaoran and I have so much to teach you. Why don't you come with our squads on the patrol tomorrow instead of with your usual command? I'll show you something interesting."

Syaoran frowned. They were up to something again. "I refuse," he said flatly. "If that's all you wanted to say, then leave."

"Ah, ah… so cold to your family. Well, let me know if you change your mind," he turned before pausing, as if just remembering. "Oh, and before I forget. Your sisters are arriving tonight. We have a dinner in the main house, and Okaa-sama wants you there. I've already informed your teachers, not that any of them would dare give you a hard time anyways. So many people here just seem to lack backbone…"

"Would you be willing to say that to Yue's face?" Syaoran asked scathingly. "I'm sure he'd have a thing or two to say about 'backbone'."

"When will you learn that some things are simply better said… and done, in secret, otouto?" Dairan laughed.

He crinkled his nose in distaste. "Go spin your self-absorbed theories elsewhere Dairan. I'll be there to greet my sisters later."

"Our sisters, Syaoran. Ours," he smirked. "What's yours is mine… and what's mine is yours, of course."

Syaoran's temper flared and he stormed back into his dojo. "That bastard," he hissed.

The dinner that night took place right before the evening's history exam. The ranking competitions had been increasing in number as the hanamasturi neared day by day, but Yelan had ordered it pushed back tonight so that the Li family could properly welcome its daughters back home from Fuutie's engagement ceremony in Hong Kong.

"The girls are late," the headmistress of the Academy said severely, gazing at the empty seats around the table with displeasure.

"I'm sure that they were merely delayed for a short while, Okaa-sama," Gaoran said placatingly, motioning for a servant in the back to check if their carriage had arrived yet. "It is quite a trip from Japan to the continent, after all."

Dairan nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, yes. How many fascinating things they must have seen there! I, too, hope to travel to China one day as well. The Li Clan there is strong as well, is it not?"

"Your eldest sister's fiancé is to be head of our Chinese branch, subordinate only to the main house here. You know this, Dairan. Gaoran, tell the servants to begin bringing in the food. Your brother still needs to attend the challenge for this evening," Yelan commanded.

"Hai, Okaa-sama."

Syaoran remained steadfastly silent. The dishes were brought in one by one, each grander than the one before, but the young Li heir found himself wondering what it was that could possibly keep the giggling, female members of his family away for so long when they had all written mountain loads of rapturous letters telling him how much they missed their precious 'Syao-chan'. Usually, right about this time-

"Syaoran!! We've missed you!!" The regal silence of the room was broken suddenly by four, beautiful women bursting through the door, all of them rushing in and pouncing immediately upon their youngest brother.

"Oh, oh Syao-chan, when did you break up with Mei Ling-chan and find a different fiancée all by yourself? I was so sure that you two children were going to be together forever!" Feimei gushed.

Shiefa wrapped her arms around his neck tightly and squealed, "Oh I want to meet her! I must! Who's this beautiful girl who's stolen our baby brother's heart?!"

"Fuutie, Shiefa, Fanren, Feimei – please keep your affections and hands to yourselves," Syaoran complained exasperatedly, seriously rethinking his previous concern for their safety.

"But Syao-chan!"

Their mother inclined her head slightly. "Girls," she said smoothly.

Almost immediately, the four sisters straightened politely, and bowed low to their mother with great grace and respect. "Okaa-sama," they chorused.

Fuutie lifted her head first and went over to Yelan's side. "Okaa-sama. As I have written in my usual correspondence, the engagement has been completed and Izhao and I will hold our wedding here in the main house next year, spring."

The powerful mistress of the Academy smiled. "It is good to see you again, Fuutie."

"I have missed you, Okaa-sama." The eldest daughter kissed her mother's cheek.

"Take your seats girls. The dinner has already begun," their mother said.

"Oh, Okaa-sama. Hong Kong is just as you described it! The people there really do wear those new qi pao dresses instead of the old hanfu clothing! It was so strange. I bought an entire cartload of them, filled with all sorts of different colors as a bit of a souvenir," Fanren said excitedly.

"Yes, yes! I'd never seen anything like it! But I was thinking how beautiful Fuutie's wedding dress would be if we blended both the Japanese kimono and Chinese qi pao together," Fuumei added dreamily.

Yelan took a sip of the soup before putting her spoon down. "Girls, your excitement is inappropriate for this dinner."

Fuumei pouted. "But it's the first family dinner we've had in so long. Must we be so formal?"

"Fuumei," Fuutie said admonishingly.

The youngest daughter sighed and hung her head. "Gomen nasai."

"Did Wei come back with you?" Syaoran asked suddenly. "I thought you wrote he would."

"Oh yes. Wei said that he wanted to see to the household management first though. He's such a dedicated head manservant isn't he?" Fanren giggled lightly. "And here the four of us were all hoping he'd find a nice Chinese lady to bring back with him, but all that was on his mind was taking care of us."

"That is why I sent him with you," Yelan told her daughters, the ghost of a smile on her lips. "You must all have been quite a load for Wei to handle."

"We behaved ourselves perfectly!" Fanren said hotly.

"The last time you said that, imouto-chan," Dairan smirked with good humor. "I believe we discovered that you'd accidentally broken Mei Ling-chan's prize vase."

She flushed fiercely, and when her mother wasn't looking, stuck her tongue out at her brother.

"You've been rather silent this entire meal," Fuutie said, smiling. "What might be on your mind, Gaoran?"

Gaoran chuckled lightly. "It seems such a long time since you've asked me that question, Fuutie. I always used to follow you around when we were children, but you could never guess what I was thinking."

"I still find your mind a bit puzzling now," the oldest child of the Li family said, a bit sadly. "But it is so good that you have returned to the Academy. I was beginning to think that our ties would have to be cut."

"The Academy is not so much home as it used to be," he acknowledged diplomatically. "But I am, of course, still a member of the Li family, legal heir or not."

Everyone in the room, with the exception of Gaoran, Syaoran, and Yelan, stiffened perceptibly.

Fuutie dabbed at her mouth daintily with a napkin before folding her hands neatly. "Syaoran, who is this fiancée I've heard about? I hadn't realized that our family was blessed so much as to have two engagements occur within the same month."

Mentally, Syaoran applauded his sister for her shrewd and skillful ability to change the topic without causing any added tension. "Her name is Sakura. I will introduce her to you some time."

At this, his brothers and mother turned towards him sharply. Yelan smiled approvingly. "That is wonderful news Syaoran. Will she be returning to the Academy soon?"

Syaoran took another bite of rice, ignoring the curious stares Dairan and Gaoran were both sending him. "It may take a while, but I plan on bringing her back not too far away in the future."

Next to him, the two males narrowed their eyes shrewdly.

"I've never seen you so taken by anyone before, Syaoran," Dairan commented in a strange voice. "I must admit I was surprised when I was informed of your engagement ceremony one morning, and then was immediately dragged off to attend it. This is a bit out of character for you, isn't it? You've changed a great deal since I left."

Amber eyes narrowed. "Yes, well you left."

Fanren giggled. "Well I think it's about time he became a bit more spontaneous."

"Syaoran," Gaoran said setting his food down and gazing over at his youngest brother across the table. "Come with me tomorrow during my patrol. I have some things I want to teach you."

Although he was the heir of the Li Clan, until he inherited his position, Gaoran was, at the very least, on equal footing with him. In the presence of his mother and sisters who had no knowledge or even suspicions of the two son's possible betrayals, it was difficult to maneuver.

"Very well," he said, distaste dripping from his lips. "I'll join you."

--

He watched with appraising admiration at the orderliness and effectiveness of his brother's troops. Dairan had retired to the tents to speak with some of the advisors, but Gaoran stood roughly ten feet in front of Syaoran, commanding his men with an undeniably impressive authority. They moved, stepped, and breathed to his every instruction. With a sort of cold shiver, Syaoran wondered if these men would be the ones they'd be forced to fight if, indeed, Gaoran was heading a faction to create war.

Seeing that Gaoran was preoccupied with a small squadron that was having difficulty with the new catapult the Academy had just issued, Syaoran strolled over to a group of younger trainees who were looking after their weapons.

"You," he said clearly, addressing a short boy who was sitting a distance from the others. "What is your name?"

"Li-sama!" the fighter jumped to his feet immediately and bowed low. "My name is Itomura, sir. How may I help you?"

Syaoran crossed his arms. "At ease. I have some questions for you regarding this squad's usual routines. How long have you been under my brother's command?"

"I was brought in to serve here but two months ago sir."

"Gaoran handles the northwestern front of the forest, does he not?"

"Yes sir!"

"Have you participated in any of the campaigns along the front lines?" Syaoran asked.

The boy promptly turned red. "Ahh… no sir. I have been at the border several times, but never participated in any campaigns. I was sent there – um," he hung his head. "As punishment for failing to transport the ammunition quickly enough. Now I'm in charge of saddling the horses, sir."

"I see," Syaoran said after pause, realizing that he had picked the wrong person to question. "Is everyone else here is actively involved?"

The soldier shook his head. "No sir. Well, perhaps I should say that the men are divided into separate groups, sir. Most of them men rarely go near the actual border, but serve as rescue squads for other teams or maybe patrol occasionally. Only the men who've been trained specially by Gaoran-sama are allowed on the missions he leads himself."

This piqued Syaoran's interest. "But you have been at the border?"

"Saddling horses and manning the retreat camp sir."

"The retreat camp?" – what need was there for a retreat camp when they were merely patrolling? – "Where do these favored men go during their assignments?"

"Why, into the forest sir. I'm not certain exactly, since I've never followed of course," he said quickly. "But they say that they merely scout deeper into the woods. The main squad is often gone for extremely long periods of time, however, and most of the time they come back with wounds. The South must really be forcing their way upwards, even though I've never actually seen any of the enemy."

Syaoran nodded, digesting this. A squad that actually went into the trees, where no one else could see what they were doing. His expression was grim. As much as he detested his brothers, he dearly hoped that they weren't really the ones responsible for provoking the North and South to arms, but the situation looked bleak.

"I see. And everyone else merely patrols on our side of the border?"

"Well," Itomura began, but then stopped.

The young Li heir caught the slight immediately. "Speak," he ordered.

At this, the boy began to fidget. "Well, there is one other group. A bunch of men Gaoran-sama trained himself, but I'm not really sure where they came from. In any case, it seems as if they move around in the North a lot – probably to help all the other squads and teams," he stammered hurriedly. "But no one really knows what it is they do. Only that they're under direct command of our general." In a slightly awed voice he added, "I think they probably do a lot of top secret missions for the North."

He let out a low hiss. Two squads, one sent to the South and one sent around the North. A little prodding the two opposing sides and Japan's two halves were sure to scream for blood. This was looking a bit too indicative for his liking.

"Acquainting yourself with my men?" a deep voice drawled.

Syaoran turned immediately towards his brother. "You were the one who told me to observe how your men work, Gaoran," he said coolly. "I was asking this boy what sorts of assignments he's been sent on. It turns out he's in charge of the horses."

"Yes," Gaoran said, sneering slightly at the blushing soldier. "I remember this one's slip up rather well. Cost me some extremely valuable men."

"He seems smart. Make use of him, Gaoran. We have stable boys to take care of horses," Syaoran commented, knowing what sort of response his statement would elicit from his brother.

"Mind your own squads, Syaoran. The one who was brought here to learn was you," the older man answered hostilely.

Inwardly, Syaoran allowed himself a satisfied smirk. Unfortunately for Itomura, he was going to stay horse boy for a little longer. The young Li heir planned to make use of him.

"Come. I wanted to show you something back at the cells," Gaoran said suddenly, turning away from the open fields where his men were.

Syaoran was surprised, but schooled his features carefully, revealing none of this. What was it that Gaoran wanted to show him in the prisons? The ruthless general was not known for taking prisoners.

They rode back to the Academy in relative silence, since only Dairan among the males in their family was talkative, but soon Syaoran began to notice that they were headed not for the military jail, but towards a more secluded section in the large school.

"A private prisoner of my own. I was very fortunate to have caught him," Gaoran said, answering Syaoran's questioning look. "Keep his existence a secret for now. I have my own agenda regarding this one. That I'm showing him to you at all is a sign of my esteem and trust." Brown eyes locked carefully onto amber ones. "I hope that we will become closer in the future, Syaoran. Living among friends at the Academy seems to have dulled your warrior instincts, but I can help you gain a strength you've never even dreamed of."

Syaoran regarded his brother stoically. "I have not become soft, Gaoran. Merely more flexible." His words had a steel edge to them, but Gaoran merely smiled maliciously.

He pulled a small, brass key from his sleeve and unlocked the door, sliding it open for Syaoran. "After you."

He cast Gaoran a suspicious glance before walking into the dark building wordlessly.

It was day, but there were no windows, and when the door was shut, the entire room was enveloped by darkness. Behind him, Gaoran lit the candle of a lantern hanging from the ceiling, and Syaoran's eyes widened in shock at the sight before him.

"What… is this?" he said slowly, not believing what he was seeing.

"This is the best prize I have won yet, a hostage and a treasure chest full of our enemy's secrets. Do you know who this is Syaoran?" Gaoran asked, grinning maliciously down at the bound man. "Few Northerners have ever seen his face. This is Kinomoto Touya. A nobleman from the South, recently named the head of the Kinomoto family. Of them, at least, I'm sure you've heard."

It was really a good thing that his brother was too busy gloating to realize how white Syaoran's knuckles had gone and how furious he was. It took every inch of his control to keep from forcefully freeing Sakura's brother immediately. The proud Southern aristocrat was crouched in the corner of the room, his hands and legs bound, gagged, blindfolded, and chained to the far wall. It was so shameful Syaoran could hardly bear it. At the sound people entering the room, the prisoner had immediately snarled at the two of them and struggled at his bonds.

"Why are you keeping him here?" he questioned, unable to keep the hint of anger from his words. Gaoran did not seem surprised, though.

"You're too noble Syaoran. War is war. When you fight opponents on the battlefield you do not duel them. A fighter must do everything in his power to win; only samurai in peacetime have the luxury of fighting fair and kindly. This man is our enemy. What does it matter if we put him in chains? Everything is merely a means to an end. I'm sure you understand that."

Syaoran went over to the thrashing man. "And what is the 'end' that you're aiming for?" he asked, before reaching out and removing the blindfold. The moment Touya could once again see, his eyes flew up in furious rage to glare at the person in front of him, but he stopped for a fraction of an astonished second.

Subtly, Syaoran shook his head so that only Touya could see. Sakura's brother narrowed his eyes, but seemed to decide it was worth his while to play along. He kept silent, not that the gag left him much option.

"An interesting question, otouto," Gaoran commented slowly. "What prompts it?"

"Nothing," he said, straightening and backing away from their prisoner. "Only, you never seemed incredibly patriotic to me, Gaoran. I'm surprised that you would go so far for your country."

A dry chuckle. "Not for the country perhaps, but for my family I wouldn't mind doing a few favors. You're right in saying that it is not the North's benefit I seek, but mine and those who I deem as belonging to me. There is power to be gained from war."

Although bound and gagged, the young head of the Kinomoto family could still hear perfectly well, and Syaoran saw on the older man's face a growing revulsion for his brother that he himself was unable to openly express.

"What do you owe your nation and your people Syaoran?" Gaoran asked with a cruel smirk. Syaoran turned to glare darkly at him.

"What do you mean?"

"Aristocracy… nobility… royalty – everything that has power and influence and respect, how did these people obtain those ranks? By force – by taking." There was an eerie, almost mad glint in his expression as he spoke, and Syaoran felt another shiver roll down his spine. "Why do the common people follow their leaders? Because their leaders have the power to both create and destroy their happiness. That is why. There is nothing else separating nobles from peasants except that we have soldiers who can crush, without mercy, all the rebels. So why not take it for ourselves?"

When his younger brother remained silent, Gaoran's voice dropped to a low whisper. "Let's become royalty Syaoran, royalty."

There was so much disgust and horror running through his system that Syaoran could barely spit out a sarcastic, "And you thought that up all by yourself then, did you?"

"No, our beloved father did."

The loathing welling up in his chest was immediately replaced by fury. "You are trying to tempt me with an ideal that man created? You're out of your mind Gaoran. There is no being in the world I despise more."

"Aniki, otouto. Call me aniki, like you used to when we were smaller. I'm your older brother, and the both of us possess the blood of that man, as you so affectionately named him. Never forget that blood is thicker than water. Your bond with your blood runs too deep to simply disappear."

Syaoran remained immobile, not believing what was coming from his brother's mouth.

"You aren't just a Li, Syaoran. you're an Akushin. Father might have taken Mother's name to reap the benefits of the Li family surname, but his blood does not lie, and neither does yours. You possess a demon heart, just like Dairan and I."

Gaoran began walked past him and knelt in front of a livid Touya. He smirked. "I want you to join us, Syaoran. It's about time you took your place in our ranks." He raised a hand high, and then slapped Sakura's brother hard across the face. The sound of the blow split loudly through the air, and Syaoran, who had not been looking, turned around in furious surprise.

"What are you­-"

"I know that honor and respect and all that good nonsense has been ingrained into you since birth Syaoran, but it's alright. I'll make the transition painless." He took the blindfold from Syaoran's hand and retied it around Touya's head, despite the prisoner's thrashing. "All you have to do is stay the obedient boy you are. Listen to my instructions and keep protecting the North, which is what you know best. The rest you may leave to me until the very end."

He rose and sauntered over to the door. "Come Syaoran. It is time for us to go. You may come with me again later when I decide it's time to make use of the Kinomoto boy."

It was with great difficulty that he clenched his fists and strode silently over to the exit, leaving Touya by himself. The anger, disbelief, and revulsion he felt was almost too much to bear, but in order to correct the situation, he would have to stay quiet for a little while longer until he and Eriol could regroup.

Gaoran grinned malevolently. "There's a good boy, otouto."

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Tsuzuku…

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Now that I go over it once, this chapter doesn't really seem like thirteen pages of size ten font, does it? I know nothing huge happened, but it's a necessary prelude to an exciting development… promise. :D

Okay, so now you've seen a bit of both Sakura and Gaoran's plans, so I wonder what is running through all of your minds right now? Haha. I know what kind of climax I want to create, but I suppose you will all simply have to read and see. Oh, and a couple of extra REVIEWS might speed the 'reading and seeing' process up. –wink wink-

Oh, and before I get any questions. Akushin is a name completely fabricated by myself. As previously explained in the story, Li Yelan was from the Li Clan while her husband was from a different, wealthy family. He took on her name when the two households merged.

Won't you drop me a…

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otouto – younger brother

aniki – older brother

okaa-sama – honored mother

arigatou – thank you

qi pao – Chinese style of dress that most of you are probably familiar with. It's the high collar, colorful, tight-fitting dress with slits on either side.

hanfu – a style of Chinese dress before the Chi Dynasty. It's more similar to the Japanese style, which was derived from the hanfu style.

gomen nasai – sorry

imouto – younger sister

hai – yes

hanamasturi – flower festival

Akushin – a name I made up by myself. Aku means demon. Shin means heart. Therefore, demon or devil heart.