Sakura felt as though she was on the back of a swift moving stallion moving through the trees of the forest with ease. At some moments it felt like she was flying, but she wasn't sure what was really going on since she was unconscious. When she finally regained conscious, she heard voices around her.
"Do you really think he'll come? He doesn't seem like the type to care about this comrades," a voice Sakura remembered as Yumi.
"Oh he'll come all right. I'm sure if it's for these three or the jewels. But for whichever reason, he'll come," Tomoko replied.
"And then? If he does come what will we do with those three?" Ami wondered. Tomoko let out a chuckle that sent a cold shiver down Sakura's spine.
"We kill them of course. He deserves to suffer for what he did to father."
"Did you check to make sure you took her necklace from her? Master Erim doesn't want a drop of blood on it," Yumi said. This made Sakura more alert, and she tried to feel if the necklace was still there, but she couldn't move her arms. She tried to pull them apart, but something tight was wrapped around them. She figured it must be rope. Her eyes had yet to adjust to the dark of whatever room she was in, and was relying on the voices around her to indirectly tell her what's happening. But from what she could tell, from both the talking of the three sisters and little things she could make out, she, Tomoyo, and Kero were in a small room with a small fireplace in the center. There seemed to be a small circle in the center of the ceiling that was covered over with a leather flap. There were four walls around them which made it seem more like a prison than a room. The three sisters seemed to be at least four feet in front of her, and from what she could tell, they weren't very alert or on guard right now.
Light suddenly flooded into the room, and Sakura squeezed her eyes shut from the sudden illumination. When she opened them again, she could finally tell where she was. There were in a small room all right, but it was more a small cabin than a room. She was right about the four walls, fireplace, and the opening in the ceiling. But what stuck to Sakura the most about where she was, were the poles that were set up all around it. They weren't very tall, only seemed to reach a fourth of the wall's total height. They were thin upwards, and four inches thick across. Sakura's heart rate sped up when she noticed the skeletons that were tied to them. There arms were bond, and their skulls had cracks and holes going all around it. Many rib bones were broken, and on one, the jawbone was only hanging on by a thread. There was another one his arm bones in pieces, and they were laid out around the skeleton with cobwebs, and rats crawling through the rib cage. Sakura's attention was turned back to the three sisters when she heard them address the person who walked in.
"Master Erim!" they said, and bowed deeply. The young girl looked up, and saw a thin man in a green kimono with a black pattern going around it. He wore light armor on the top, and some metal shoes that went up to his knees. His hair was tied in a high ponytail, and had a sword at his side. His brown eyes looked at Sakura with disgust.
"So I see you brought her," he said simply.
"Yes sir. She and her friends put up quite a fight, but we were able to subdue them," Tomoko replied. Yumi and Ami just scoffed.
"You think those weaklings put up a fight? Give me a break. I barely broke a sweat with mine," Ami chuckled.
"I assume you took whatever jewel this girl has on her," Erim said.
"Yes its right here," Tomoko answered, and held up the Kamikaze necklace. "Syaoran has the rest, and should be coming here soon." The man chuckled and approached Sakura.
"Do have any idea, where you are right now?" he asked as he stooped down to her level. Sakura shook her head. "You're in Fort Ryu, my personal fort. This is where my army and demon henchmen reside. I rule over this entire area, and have sent every demon you've faced since you met with Mudo some time ago." It was at this point, Sakura found her voice.
"What do you mean?" was all she could say however.
"Remember the moon demons that attacked at the temple you and you're little group were staying at the night Syaoran lost his powers? The forest mistress Situra, the spider woman Witmua, and her lord Yuotoku, the spear user Tatsuki, and those fifthly bat demons that attacked on the day that it rained. They were all my servants. I sent them in order to take the jewels in your procession. They were all defeated, but I didn't expect them to win anyway."
"What about Risuba? Was she your servant too? And if you didn't expect them to win, why did you send them after us?"
"No. Risuba was an independent, but how I wish I had employed her in my service. And the only reason I sent them after you was to see how strong Syaoran has gotten over these past two years. I expected him to grow weaker, but I guess I underestimated him. I won't do that this time though. I have devised a strategy that will gain me the jewels for sure this time."
"Strategy?"
"It's actually quite simple really. I sent the three sisters just weaken Syaoran, and to give him a severe wound. Then kidnap you three. When he arrives he will be so weak from blood loss that he won't be able to put up a fight anymore, and it will be easy for my soldiers to take the jewels from him. Then these three move in, and kill the little bastard. After that, you three go." Sakura instantly grew worried. She didn't know Li was hurt that badly. "Even if he doesn't come, it will only take a matter of time to track him down, and eventually kill him. That wound will take at least a whole year to heal fully. This plan is foolproof."
"No it isn't," Sakura shot back. "The only fool there'll be is you, when Li comes and beats you with his eyes closed!" Erim just chuckled.
"You have that much confidence in him? You actually believe that he can win with all that I've stacked against him?"
"I know he can!" she exclaimed. "I know he can." Erim stood up, and shook his head as he walked out.
"Get ready," he muttered to the three sisters, who smirked darkly.
"So the moment has finally come at last," Tomoko said with dark excitement. "Which one of you want to take his head?"
"You're the eldest, you do it. But Yumi and I will make sure he stays down for it," Ami chuckled.
"Please wait!" Sakura suddenly exclaimed.
"You be quiet!" Tomoko hissed.
"Do you really believe that he did it? That Li killed your dad?" she asked quietly.
"Of course we do! We were right there when he did it! That bastard has no concern for human life at all! He butchered our father with no concern with who was watching! And now he has the nerve to deny it! He deserves to die for killing the only person we had left in the world!" the blue haired girl yelled. Sakura looked down with her bangs covering her eyes, taking in what Tomoko just said.
"I don't know much," she said finally, after two minutes of silence. "I don't know much about fighting, or magic, or martial arts, or demons. I don't know swords, or any other weaponry. I don't know about sprits or jewels, or anything like that."
"Where are you going with this?" Yumi asked annoyed
"But," Sakura continued as if she wasn't interrupted. "I do know one thing. And that's the look in a father's eyes when he looks at his daughter!"
"What?"
"I lost my mother when I was six, and my dad had to raise me and brother all on his own. He's a good person, and taught me to never to hold a grudge against people. And I bet your father taught you the same."
"Our father taught us to be strong, and fearless! He told us to always be proud, and he'll always be proud of us!" Ami shouted.
"If he taught you all that, can you imagine what he would say if he saw you guys now?" This seemed to reach the three sisters. "Would he still be proud, and look at you three with the same look of joy and love he always looked at you with?"
"What are you saying!" Tomoko exclaimed.
"I'm saying, even if you do kill Li, that will only be like spitting on your father's grave! Killing everything he wanted you be, all the hopes he had for you! No father wants to see his children go down a path of anger, and coldness. He was killed by someone I know, but don't you think he would rather you celebrate his life, than avenge it?"
"You don't know anything!" Yumi snapped. "You don't know anything about him or us for that matter! Don't think you can use your own father to judge ours!"
"You just don't get it do you? It doesn't matter what he taught you, or what you think he taught you. Parents all around the world have to same wish. To have their children grow up to be successful, and happy. There's no parent alive that wants a life of anger and vengeance for their child. Don't you see? The path you're going down now won't led you to happiness. It'll lead to more pain and sorrow! I know it's hard, but let it go! There's nothing you can do to bring him back! Not even if you do kill whoever killed him!"
The three sisters stood there, as if frozen in a shock like state, as if realizing this for the first time. Sakura couldn't tell if they were really taking in what she said, or just didn't have anything say. But for whatever reason they stood there not moving for a good ten minutes. Sakura wasn't sure because of the darkness of the small cabin, but she could have sworn she saw tears at the corner of their eyes as they stood there. Eventually Tomoko spun on her heal and muttered a quick 'let's go' to her sisters and they walked out without a word. Sakura hoped they would take what she said to heart. For both their sakes, and Li's.
"Hey, Sakura," a voice muttered quietly. Said girl turned and saw Tomoyo next to her tied to a pole as well. She saw Kero, still in his beast form, on the floor with his four paws tied together, and his wings tied down.
"Oh, Tomoyo, I didn't see you there. How are you feeling?"
"Pretty lousy," she replied with a soft giggle. "I heard what you said to the girls. It was great!"
"You really think so?"
"Uh-huh. Do you think they'll listen?"
"I'm not sure, but I hope I do."
OOOOO
Li growled as another wave of pain crashed upon his body as he tried to walk. He clutched the wound, and leaned against a tree for support as he waited for the pain spell to pass. He still had a long way to go, and he was barely a quarter of the way there, the wound was really slowing him down. He would have been dead right now, if the necklace he wore didn't have a healing element to it. It couldn't fully heal the wound, or the bones he had broken in the fall, but it could suppress the pain to some extent, and fix the broken the bones at least a little so it wouldn't bother him when he fought. But right now his mind wasn't on his wounds, the three sisters, Sakura and the others, or the jewels. No, his mind was on something that he found out only a few minutes ago.
'I can't believe that bastard! Why would he do something like that, and then leave for me to take all the blame! That bastard! If he wasn't already dead, I'd track him down and kill him myself!' When the shot of pain finally passed, Li pushed himself off the tree and continued on the way, with blood dripping out of his wound, and leaving a small trail as he walked.
OOOOO
Sakura wasn't sure exactly when she fell asleep, it must have been after she and Tomoyo talked for a few minutes. There wasn't much else to do in this cramped cabin anyway. But nevertheless she was awoken by the sudden yelling around the fort, and the sound of running feet around the cabin. She looked around, and noticed that the room was much darker than when she was last awake. Tomoyo, who was awake as well, seemed to notice it too. The door suddenly swung open to reveal Tomoko in the doorway. Behind her, was an orange red sky with the clouds matching it. In the distance, she saw a yellow orb slowly sinking beneath the hills. It was dusk, and the soldiers in the fort were getting in different positions around the walls and the front gate. Arches were placed on the battlements of the fort with their arrows ready. Some soldiers were placed to brace the front gate, and two units of soldiers were behind them to back them up. It was as if they were preparing for a fierce battle.
"He's come," Tomoko said simply, and untied them. "Follow me, and if you even think of trying to escape, I'll kill all three of you." The three of them nodded, and followed Tomoko out of the stuffy room. As they followed her, Sakura noticed the soldiers running around, shouting orders, following orders, and getting into positions. She had to ask herself, was all this necessary for one person? Tomoko led them to the side a large cabin, far lager than the others, Sakura had to guess it was Erim's quarters. Tomoko told them to climb up a ladder that was placed there. When they reached the roof, Erim, who was sitting on a chair with wine in his hands, greeted them.
"Greetings," he said casually. "I hope you will join me in watching Syaoran die from here."
"What makes you so sure you will?" Sakura asked. Erim chuckled as he took a sip.
"Sure," he said sarcastically.
"Master! He's here!" a soldier cried.
"Perfect," the thin man replied as he pulled out a spyglass, and focused on a small dot in the distance. "He won't make it past the archers!"
"Hey!" Tomoko hissed. "You promised my sisters and I that we were to take his head!"
"Silence!" Erim hissed back. "He's reached the gate."
Li watched with uncaring eyes as countless arrows were shot at him from the battlements of the fort. The young man closed his eyes as he reached for his sword. He didn't move an inch as the arrows shot towards him. They all passed him harmlessly.
"What! We missed! Reload!" When the arches went to aim, they found the young man was gone! "What! Where'd he…!" But before the captain could finish, a sword was stabbed through his stomach.
"Hi," Li muttered. The arches that recovered from the shock fired their arrows, only to hit each other as Li flipped off the battlements and into the center of the fort. The soldiers rushed towards him with their weapons drawn, and their loud cries filled the air. But their battle cries were replaced with cries of agony as the amber-eyed swordsman cut them up. Li dodged a spear thrust and gave the solider a deep upwards cut in his skin, then sliced off the heads of five approaching soldiers. Seeing no other way, the soldiers all came at him, surrounding him. When they all charged slashes and the sound of metal cutting through armor filled the air. In a matter of seconds, the charging soldiers were all dead, with deep slashes in their chests. When the soldiers all fell lifelessly, the onlookers received a good look of Li's empty and pupil-less amber eyes.
"How! How could someone move so fast!" Erim gasped as he watched from the roof. Li dashed past an incoming wave of soldiers, and the second he past them, they all fell in over in a pool of blood. Once he reached the cabins, archers from the rooftops aimed at him, and fired their arrows. They were shocked to see not only had all theirs missed their target, there was no target to begin with!
"What the hell! Where is he!"
"Look! Over there!" All the archers turned to the right to see Li standing on top of the wall with his sword in his mouth, and his hands in a seal position.
"Lighting!" he whispered. Lighting rained down on all the archers frying them instantly. Erim was physically shaking as he watched Li take an entire unit of soldiers in seconds. Tomoko was also quite shocked, how much was he holding back when they fought?
"Li…!" was all Sakura, Tomoyo, and Kero could whisper as they watched their friend kill countless soldiers in seconds. A charge order reached the ears of the young man, who simply jumped down from the wall, and went into a stance. The more fearless of the soldiers charged first, only to be cut down before they could take another breath. The remaining soldiers in the fort took a few steps back before breaking out in a full-blown retreat.
"Monster! He's a monster!"
"Cowards! Get back here!" Erim shouted.
"You're not getting away," he muttered as he chased after them. They didn't stand a chance. Four seconds later, all were dead with deep slash mark all over their bodies.
"There's no way a human can move so fast!" Erim exclaimed.
"Well look who it is," Li said calmly. "Erim, still up to your old tricks again I see."
"You bastard! You shouldn't be moving at all! That wound should have you completely weakened by now! I had it all planned out!" Li just chuckled.
"Well that's what happens when you plan your enemy's moves for him, they completely surprise you!" With that the swordsman dashed towards Erim's cabin, but at that moment, a weight burst out from behind one of the cabins and shot towards Li's head. The young man quickly ducked and knocked it away with his sword, only to be blown back by petals.
"Well looks like we'll be able to fight him after all," Ami said as she jumped on top of cabin, with Yumi next to her. "Sister, let us have our fun with him first! Then we'll let you have the honors!"
"Fine, just don't take too long. I want my fun too," Tomoko replied.
"Okay, but no promises!" With that, Ami hurled the weight towards the young man, who swiftly jumped back, but was caught off guard when the weight suddenly came up from the hole, and continued its attack. The weight was inches away from smashing Li's face in when the young man bent his upper body backwards in order to save himself. Once he straightened himself out, he dashed towards the blonde with his sword ready. Ami let out a smug smirk, that's when Li's ears picked up a sudden whoosh sound. He turned around and saw that the weight had made a complete u-turn in the air, and now was heading straight towards his skull.
"Damn it!" he growled and leapt into the air to avoid it. But once he looked up he met with pink, and was knocked into the roof of a cabin by a gust of pink petals. Above him was Yumi with her fan over her mouth, but he could tell she had a smug smirk on her face. As he was getting up the chain burst up from under the roof, and just barely missed his leg. The young man jumped back, but the weight made a sharp turn and collided into his stomach, making him cry out in pain as he crashed into the ground. He didn't even fully recover with Yumi blasted him through two cabins with a strong blast of petals.
"Li!" Sakura cried out.
"That's not fair!" Tomoyo exclaimed. "He's injured! He can't take on two people at once, let out two strong girls like them!"
"Silence!" Erim hissed as he pointed his sword at Tomoyo's face.
"I told you guys to let me have my fun too!" Tomoko called as Yumi and Ami approached the rubble.
"Sorry. He's just so weak right now, it's easy to get carried away. Don't worry, we won't kill him," Ami replied.
"We'll just make sure he isn't a corpse by the time you jump in!" Yumi giggled, and waved her fan. Petals shot out, and pulled Li out from the rubble. "Free hits!"
"Gladly. Snake Bind!" The blonde threw the chain, and it tightly wrapped around the trapped teen. "Here's where the fun begins. Yumi drop you're technique!"
"Right!" The second the petals dispersed, Ami began to swing the wrapped up Li around, and around. She began going to fast that the chain, and Li were nothing but blurs. The blonde, after five whole minutes, pulled on the chain, making the swordsman spin through the air like a top while he was fifty feet above the ground. He crashed through the roof of cabin, leaving a very large hole in it. Yumi rushed towards the cabin, which was practically on the other side of the fort. Li stumbled out of the door, using his sword to keep himself up, but that didn't last very long.
"Petal blades!" Pink petals surrounded him, and began to cut into his skin like small knives as they circled around.
'Damn it!' he growled.
"Ha, ha! Now take this!" Yumi waved her fan again, making Li fly through the air, and straight towards Ami, who hurled the metal weight at him. Li could tell it was aimed straight for the center of his forehead, which would kill him instantly. Thinking quickly, he pulled out his sheath, and held it in front of him. When the weight reached him, it wrapped around his sheath, saving him for now. Once he slid on the ground, Li sliced the chain in half.
"Nice one!" Sakura cheered.
"That ought to even things up," Li said with a smirk. But Ami returned the smirk.
"You would think." At that moment the cut off piece slithered back to its original position, and reattached itself. "Ha! This metal is a special demonic metal. It's filled with demonic aura, and once it's cut it automatically reattaches itself. And that's not all, it has no limit of chain. It just keeps growing and growing based on how much my aura I put in it."
"Great, just great."
"Now that's enough talking!" Ami leapt into the air, and hurled the weight towards the amber-eyed fighter, who quickly dodged it. But he walked right into a blast from Yumi, who was waiting for the right moment to attack. As he flew through the air, the chain wrapped around his neck, and pulled him towards Ami. The blonde smirked, and sliced his chest open with her mini-scythe, then threw him across the ground. The young man bounced against the ground, and slammed against the wall of a cabin.
"Li!" Sakura exclaimed and was about to jump down to help when Tomoko's sword was pressed against her throat.
"Didn't I tell you if you moved from this spot, you die?" the blue haired girl reminded her, but Sakura seemed unaffected.
"Does this seem right to you!" she exclaimed. "He's barely fighting back!"
"This what he gets for killing our father!" Ami yelled in reply.
"I didn't do it," Li growled quietly with blood trailing down the side of his head.
"This again," Yumi said as she was rolling her eyes. "We've had enough of your bullshit!"
"Call it that if you like, but it's the truth," he replied. "I don't care if you believe it or not. But the least I can do for you three misguided sisters is to tell who really killed him."
"Oh, let's just say we do believe you. Who was it then?" Ami asked obviously not caring.
"If you don't believe me what's the point of telling you then?" Li asked.
"Yeah, you're right," Ami said as she began to spin her chain around.
"Hold on!" Tomoko exclaimed. "Let's hear what he has to say." Yumi and Ami scowled.
"Don't tell your gonna believe what this bastard says are you Tomoko!" Ami yelled.
"If it will allow him to rest easier in death, then it's the least we can do." Ami let out a scoff, and Yumi just growled. "Tell us then, who killed our father?"
"You really want me to tell then huh? Somehow, I just don't feel like it anymore." The three girls practically fell over in shock.
"What!" they all shouted. "You bastard!" Li smirked as he got himself to his feet, and pulled out his sheath.
"Now let's finish this fight." Ami and Yumi just smirked.
"If you insist!" The pink haired girl suddenly vanished while the blonde hurled the weight towards the young man. Li quickly held up his sheath, and the weight wrapped around it. The young man then quickly put his sword in between his teeth and pulled on the chain. Ami suddenly flew in his direction, and the swordsman spat out his sword, and attacked with a strong downward strike that Ami blocked with her scythe. The young girl kicked the chestnut haired fighter in the chin, and flipped backwards to get away.
"That all you got?" he asked wiping the blood from his chin. Ami pulled on the chain, getting it to unwrap around the sheath, and began to twirl it around.
"Oh I still have a lot left! Snake Twister!" The blonde threw the chain weight, and it curled into a spiral as it moved through the air. Li didn't look very worried at all. He placed his sword next to his waist slid his right foot forward slightly.
"Are you asking to die!" Tomoko called from the roof. But all of a sudden a loud CLANG echoed through the air, and the chain weight flew through the air.
"I've told you cutting it off won't work! It will just reattach itself!" Ami laughed as the cut of end began to slither towards the chain. Li just smirked.
"I know, and I was counting on it!" he exclaimed and stomped on the piece, stopping it from moving. He then threw his sword to the side, and grabbed the chain with both hands.
"What the-!" But before Ami could say anything else, electricity suddenly entered her entire body, and she let out a loud cry as it shocked her all around. The second the electricity reached her brain, the blonde was out like a light, and fell to the ground like a rock.
"AMI!" the two remaining sisters screamed.
"You bastard! First you take our father, and now you take our sister!" Yumi screamed, and attacked with a wave of petals. Li had enough of these false allegations. He literally cringed in anger at Yumi's words. He pulled out a talisman from his cloak, and grabbed his sword.
"Damn it! I didn't kill your dad! MY FATHER DID!"
"What-!" Before Yumi could say anything more, the flames of his Li's fire talisman consumed her and her attack.
"YUMI, AMI!" Tomoko screamed.
"How…how did he beat them?" Erim asked in shock. Sakura, Tomoyo, and Kero were just as shocked. Li managed to beat both sisters with two major wounds on his body, was he even human?
"YOU ABSOULUTE BASTARD! FIRST MY FATHER AND NOW MY SISTERS! DO YOU ANY CONCERN FOR HUMAN LIFE AT ALL!"
"I'LL TELL YOU FOR ONE LAST TIME! MY FATHER KILLED YOUR FATHER!"
"Wh-what?"
AN: And so the truth is revealed. Yeah I know it was kind of easy to figure out it was Li's dad, that was the easy part. But the question is, WHY did he kill him? Eh, I'm not that proud of the fight scenes. It could have been better, but I figured I left you guys hanging long enough, and was overdue for an update. So sorry if it isn't as good as last chapter. Oh and don't expect anything special for Valentine's Day, it's too early for that. So anyway, sorry if I took too long, it was the normal stuff, school, and homework. And the fact that I temporarily lost the inspiration for this fic, mostly because I've been watching too much harem and romantic animes rather than swordplay animes, which give me ideas. But this chapter is out, so I'm sure you guys are happy. So without further ado, here's the preview for the final chapter of this arc.
Sakura: So it was Li's father who killed Tomoko's father? Why would he do that?
Tomoyo: I'm not sure, but that's the last thing on Li's mind as he takes on both Tomoko and Erim! How can he beat these two strong opponents?
Sakura: One's thing for sure he can't do it alone, no matter what he may say. But can Li really convince Tomoko that what he's saying is true? Find out in "The Sword of Truth" next time on Seven Deadly Jewels. See ya soon.