Chapter Twenty-Two
Disclaimer: I don't own CCS.
Heaven has a road, but no one travels it; Hell has no gate but men will dig to get there.
~ Chinese Proverb
With his left hand, Syaoran clutched the hilt of his jian. The blade ran upwards laying flat against his spine. Smooth as a cobra, he slid to his right and flowed into his sword forms, his blade flashing in the sunlight that peeked through the heavy, grey skies. His steps were careful and precise, sharp and swift. Snow whirled about him as his sword swung in his experienced grasp. He bent low and the trees themselves seemed to dip with him.
Then he saw him. Sheng. He regarded Syaoran with mocking interest. In the blink of an eye, Syaoran propelled himself into the air and ruthlessly slashed downwards, but Sheng was already far from his reach. He growled deep in his throat. He lunged at Sheng again but like before, every time Syaoran caught up to him, he was out of reach.
He screamed loudly, cutting at the over and over again, until the muscles in his arms burned hot as coal, and his legs gave out. He crashed to his knees, holding onto his jian for support. He dipped in and out of dizziness but finally managed to clear away the fog in his mind. He caught his breath and then turned to Kinomoto Touya who had been watching him silently for some time now.
A strange expression crossed Touya's face. Syaoran caught sight of himself in the blade of his jian. His usually brown eyes were almost entirely a golden hue. He closed them for a moment and drew five controlled breaths. When he reopened his eyes, they were a bright brown.
"What do you want?" he asked Touya, rising to his feet."
"You've stayed out here so long you've forgotten the woman you left behind?" asked Touya. "Or is it that difficult to keep track of your harem of women?"
Syaoran's penetrating stare narrowed in irritation.
"I have asked a question. You will be wise to answer it, Kinomoto."
Touya's hatred of Syaoran was evident in his taut shoulders and his slight sneer, but he managed to stop himself from being even more antagonizing.
"My sister wants to see you. She said she misses you. And she's worried."
Syaoran tried to recall how many days had passed.
"I have been training for only..."
How long had it been?
"Three weeks, four days" said Touya, providing the difficult answer.
Syaoran's jian faltered in his hand.
"A month."
"Hai."
How was it that the days had passed so quickly?
"I will return to camp this evening, Kinomoto Touya," said Syaoran, sliding his jian into the sheath at his back. "I will see my wife then."
"If you don't return now, something tells me you'll forget this conversation as soon as I leave your sight."
Syaoran made no reply and Touya's face screwed up in disgust. Turning on his heels, he made to walk away.
"It is forbidden to turn your back on the emperor without being dismissed. It is also required that you address him as Huangdi."
"You won't punish me," said Touya, twisting his neck to look back at Syaoran. "You need to keep pretending you are kind and generous because it's the game you enjoy playing with my sister."
"I play no games," said Syaoran. "My words are law even unto myself. If I say I will do something it will be done."
Touya shook his head.
"Then do something about your soldiers. You have no idea what is happening in your camp. You do not know the danger Sakura is in."
Syaoran stood straight as a needle and his he bristled like a bear.
"Danger? Has someone threatened her? Made an attempt on her life?"
"Not yet. But the tension in your camp has been thick for some time now. The soldiers are tired and hungry. They have not seen you in weeks. They are close to mutiny. By some luck, they still fear to approach her tent. How long their reverence will last is unclear."
"My men have waited for me many times," said Syaoran. "So long as I breathe Sakura is safe."
"When you were the "Great Imperial Son" and you had a place in the Forbidden City. But the Forbidden City has an emperor. Now you don't seem as formidable to them. It is your title that is revered and now you are without it."
"It is not only my title that is revered Kinomoto Touya. Come with me and learn."
Together, they returned to the army camp in silence with Syaoran leading the way. At his back, Syaoran felt the agitation of his wife's brother. The man was apprehensive and agitated, but he did not seem as threatening as when he had first appeared that fateful evening, katana in hand.
As they approached the army camp, it was indeed as Touya had spoken - the air was full of intense hatred and unease poised to strike. A large gang of soldiers were gathered together with the others hanging back - nervous but excited, scared but daring. There were raised voices coming from somewhere to the east. Only a few noticed Syaoran and Touya as the commotion up ahead was holding fast to their attention. Those who did notice quietly dissolved away into the background, least they feel the wrath that was approaching with a jian at his back.
Three of the more seasoned high-ranking soldiers were directly opposing Renshu and the generals. A fair number of other notable soldiers stood behind the opposing ones in support. The remaining soldiers hovered around, undecided on which side they were on, but waiting for a time to take up arms against either one.
It was easy to pinpoint the lead instigator. His chest was puffed out and he wore a proud smirk on his lips, his eyes leering at the higher ranked officers and his prince.
"Step back," said Renshu, his words ringing strong and clear. "Kowtow before the Great Imperial Son and mercy will be shown."
The usual insincerity that followed most things Renshu said was gone. It was a deadly moment. Some of the soldiers dropped, immediately touching their foreheads to the cold ground. Others slowly prostrated themselves before him. Renshu's eyes darted about as he evaluated the disobedient ones.
"Our Great Imperial Son is not born," said the rebel soldier. "Do not dare command us after our magic-less emperor abandoned us. At least he has respect and has retreated in shame. WE HAVE NO FOOD, WE HAVE LITTLE WATER. We no longer serve you. We are the masters of our lives now. PERHAPS WE WON'T KILL YOU FIRST SON. PERHAPS WE WOULD MAKE YOU OUR SERV-"
Syaoran darted through the surrounding soldiers with a feral viciousness. He appeared in front of Renshu like an apparition; his golden eyes transfixing the lead instigator to the spot.
It was a sight that would not quickly be forgotten by many. In a flash, Syaoran grabbed the small knife at the soldier's side and pierced it through his chin, screwing it all the way into his skull. Then he stepped forward and for a grisly moment, a dead man was walking, his eyes darting back and forth in confusion. The soldier's body stood only because Syaoran still had the knife planted in its head pushing it upwards relentlessly, his eyes threatening to burn a whole in the world.
The other two close supporters of the dead rebel soldier stuttered for words. Syaoran released the knife he held in the rebel's head and the body crumpled. He ripped the knives from the other two rebels' waistband and handed it to them. Renshu did say mercy could be shown.
The men raised the knives to their throats and slit the flesh. Flecks of blood spattered Syaoran's face as their bodies fell to the ground. Without orders, the members of the army camp fell to their knees one after the other, smashing their foreheads into the earth. Even the ones who did not see exactly what had happened, felt the deaths in the air, and they too kowtowed before Huangdi.
Syaoran stared into the eyes of Kinomoto Touya who was still standing - disobedient until the end. But on his visage there was no disgust or mocking. Rather, an inkling of dread was creeping into his narrowed eyes and that is what should have been there from the very beginning. Good. He will understand who Huangdi was soon enough.
Suddenly, the high-spirited sounds of drums and horns pierced the air, completely incongruent with the somber atmosphere of the camp. Still, no one moved. The sounds were imperial. They spoke of a majestic army and even more admirable ruler and, they proclaimed that they came in peace. By the time General Yue came striding up to Syaoran, half of the soldiers had turned blue from the cold. He kowtowed as they had but then rose to his feet.
"You seem disturbed General," stated Syaoran.
"The men did not rise to protect you," said Yue.
"The men are learning consequences. And you are not my enemy."
Yue's gaze swept over the three blood-covered bodies on the ground. He looked into Syaoran's golden eyes.
"Huangdi forbid this."
"I am Huangdi now," said Syaoran. "I am stronger now. I can wield it now."
"Eriol also believed -"
"He doesn't want me to be as powerful as him," said Syaoran. "He wishes to be like his father - the greatest magician in the world."
"I do not believe that to be true, Huangdi. He is nowhere near Clow's strength and he has never expressed such admiration for his father."
"Who knows what lies within the deepest corners of a man's heart."
"I already see a change in you," Yue said, carefully. "Hear it too. Do you know what you could become?"
"I am becoming what I need to be to defeat our enemy. To rescue our family... your brother. To regain the empire. And you criticize your emperor?"
"Your will is my own Huangdi. My words only advise caution."
"I have had enough of your words," said Syaoran with a flick of his hand, dismissing Yue like a lowly servant. "First Son Li Renshu, command the army and join them with those of my sisters that General Yue has so graciously procured for us."
Syaoran headed off in the direction of his tent, Renshu began belting out orders, and Yue went over to Touya.
"You live," said Yue. "Huangdi's generosity truly is great."
"Sly words for a man who has fallen out of favour with his god-king. And everyone heard it. I might not speak Chinese but I'm certain I can tell when someone has been told to fuck off."
Yue's eyes glowed an icy blue for the span of a heart-beat.
"My emperor has trained hard for us all. The side-effects of his power are of no offence to me."
Touya's face muscles twitched in a sign of amusement.
"Whatever helps you feel like you still have your balls."
Behind them, the soldiers neatly arranged themselves into straight lines in their various divisions and units.
"Huangdi was lenient with you before," said Yue. "But it will be wise to not test his patience in these upcoming months. His feelings for your sister will not stay his hand."
"Feelings? He has not been to see her in weeks."
"Then as his right hand I shall have the honour," said Yue.
His wings materialized at his back and he shot into the sky. Touya ran through the army camp in an attempt to get to Sakura before the general. No matter how much they assured him of their good intentions, Touya would never believe the words of imperials.
When he got to Sakura's tent, he swore beneath his breath. The white robes of Yue were peeking out at him through the tent opening.
"What is this?" the general asked staring at Sakura, his skin pale as a corpse.
"What is what?" asked Touya.
"I have authority over certain kinds of magic so I am immune to their effects," he said, his gaze pinned on Sakura. "Therefore I see through the illusion she had conjured."
"Illusion?" asked Touya, looking back at his sleeping sister. He had been feeling her magic more potently but an illusion? When had she done that?
"She is dying," said Yue as if afraid of the very words themselves. "Xiao Lang does not know?"
"Dying?" asked Touya. "What are you talking about? She's just... resting..."
But as he said the words, Touya felt a strange temperature in the air and a strange light glinted about Sakura's body. Then the magic had raised the hairs on his arms like never before.
"What is she doing?" he asked, his eyes going wide.
"She cannot die. Huangdi will be beyond anyone's control," said Yue, ignoring Touya's words.
"She can't die because she doesn't deserve to," said Touya. "And because her life has meaning to me."
"It has meaning to Huangdi as well," Yue told him. "More than you can accept, at least until she is gone and ushers in hell on earth for us all."
Touya broke the weighty silence first.
"What is she dying from?"
"A curse I suspect," said Yue, his eyes glowing as he looked over Sakura. "We need to cleanse her."
"We can't," said Touya. "That would be too taxing on her body. We could hurt the child. She will not forgive me for it."
"Sometimes a limb must be cut off to save a body."
"We're not talking about a limb. I don't care if that child sees daylight but Sakura does. She already loves it."
"Love makes people irritatingly irrational," said Yue.
"Do you want to kill your future "Great Imperial Son?"" Touya bit out. "Do you think your "Huangdi" will take kindly to that?"
Yue released a pent up breath of frustration, though his frigid features certainly did not show that he was frustrated.
"I will dissolve the Illusion. And I will ensure Huangdi visits her."
"What's your plan exactly?" asked Touya.
"Huangdi will know what must be done. He will make a decision. And our hands will be clean." He made to leave the tent but looked back. "Have no fear Kinomoto. Your sister will survive. Huangdi will ensure this."
A/N:
Hey Tomodachi! Thank you all reviewers. ^_^ Until next time, Ja ne!