Cards, Love, war, and rebellion
Chapter 13
Authors note: ok main battle is coming up. Get ready cause there will be blood and death in this one so don't say I didn't warn you.
3rd POV
The battle began 10 minutes after the guards arrived at the Long clan compound, it was a chaotic fight. Most of the long clan guards were fighting for their lives while the city guards were trying to subdue the long clan. Bao had no trouble taking on the guards with his superior monkey like agility. He knew that he must stall the Long clan guards in order for Sakura and Syaoran to get into the compound and cut the head of the snake.
"I sure hope that those guys are having an easier time than we are." Bao said to himself.
"Probably not Bao, Cause I'm sure that the young master is having some trouble with the guards inside the compound, and I'm pretty sure that he is fighting skilled warriors in there." Shanyuan assured punched a guard's lights out.
"I know that but I can't help but hope." Bao retorted as he gave a Long guard a good kick to the chest. Little did he know that things may get bad from here on out for the gang. When the battle began the gang managed to slip into the compound by climbing the wall. They did meet a few guards but they were quickly dealt with as soon as they made contact with them.
"I hope we won't get any surprises after this." Ryouma said calmly as he knocked the last guard unconscious.
"Let us continue on our way and find this guy and take him out." Syaoran reminded.
"Hai!" everyone shouted. As they walked through the maze of buildings they arrived at the gardens. It was a beautiful garden if it weren't for the fact that it was part of the enemy's garden.
"Sure is a beautiful garden don't you agree?" Sakura asked.
"Now's not the time to compliment the enemy's taste Sakura we must move on and take care of this Chang Bo-an guy." Meiling retorted.
"I'm not quite sure of that." A voice replied. The gang turned their heads to see Liu chen standing in his black and red hanfu a doa in his right hand and a torch in his left. What disturbed the gang was his face, his hair is a mess and his facial expression is quite concerning. It looked like that he doesn't have his marbles intact, especially with the way he walked and how his eyes portrayed him. It's as if he had lost his sanity or something.
"I wouldn't care much about your little mage girl here but you Ryouma, you will pay for the humiliation you've put me through. Ever since you've wrecked my ship and beaten my crew to a pulp the grand elder forbid me to go on any more ship hunting anymore." Liu Chen said with annoyance in his voice.
"I'll take care of this guy myself." Ryouma declared.
"Babe?" Meiling asked in surprised.
"Ryouma san?" Sakura asked in the same tone.
"I'm gonna finish what I have started. It seems this guy won't leave us alone." Ryouma declared with confidence.
"We're counting on you." Syaoran said. With that the gang ran leaving Ryouma with Liu chen. Ryouma readied his butterfly blades preparing for a final confrontation with his hated enemy. Ryouma looked at the way Liu chen stoon and how he swayed. It is clear as day that he is not in control of his emotion and is going mad.
"You betrayed our little deal! You should have given me your cargo and everything will be fine! But no you decided it is a good idea to attack and break off our agreement!" Liu chen said in anger.
"first of all there was no agreement, second you looted my ship every time I tried to trade to ends meet. and third I retaliate because my friends helped me out and taught me what I know, I still have allot to learn but it's enough to deal with you. And last but certainly least, you've killed my father right before my eyes. Do you ever think you had it coming?" Ryouma retorted, He reacted calmly but you could tell the hatred and anger coming from his words.
"What?" Liu chen shouted.
"You deserved worse Liu Chen, and I've warned you I will not be as merciful like last time." Ryouma said with confidence.
"Insolent brat!" Liu chen yelled as he charged towards Ryouma raising his sword over his head. Ryouma blocked blade in a cross block and kicked Liu chen square in the chest. As Liu chen staggered back Ryouma followed up with a 360 spin slashing combo which got Liu chen almost of balanced. Liu chen retaliated with a number of sloppy yet predictable slashes as he tries to land a hint on Ryouma who easily blocked and deflected his strikes.
"You're getting sloppy there Liu chen, did you forget to do some practice?" Ryouma mocked. This enraged Liu chen more than needed.
"Shut up, shut up shut up SHUT UP!" Liu chen roard as he threw his torch towards Ryouma. Ryouma dodged the flying torch however it landed straight into a house. Seeing that it's made mostly of wood on the inside Ryouma knew that this meant trouble, however as he looked at the now charging Liu chen raising his sword. As Ryouma blocked and snapped Liu chens Dao in half, he could see that Liu chen has lost all of his sanity and has now become a true mad man. This got Ryouma concerned because never in his life has he seen on man fall into madness like this for revenge.
"This is your fault! I had a life of wealth and luxury coming my way. I was going to get my sixth wife and they have left me because of you, not only that you've ruined me." Liu chen yelled
"You took the wealth of others and ruined theirs. Don't you think you had it coming?" Ryouma retorted.
"Curse you, Curse you curse you curse you curse you CURSE YOU!" Liu chen roared. As he lifted his sword for a fast downward strike Ryouma quickly rolled out of the way, with that Liu chen staggered with the momentum.
"I'll kill you. I"LL KILL YOU AND DESTROY YOUR VILLAGE RYOUMA!" Liu chen roard.
'I knew it. this man has lost his sanity and sense of reason' Ryouma though. The two clashed blades once more and it was a fierce slug fest. Liu chen was more trained than Ryouma was however due to his mentality and lack of real battle experience he is sloppy and sluggish. Ryouma however though less well trained had a good teacher as well as real battle experience on his hands. It was an even match till Ryouma accidentally opened up his guard and Liu Chen took the opportunity to thrust his dao into Ryoumas guts winding Ryouma from his breath. Liu chen just stood there with a disturbing satisfied grin on his face with a maniacle look in his eyes. however as soon as he had thrusted his sword he felt a knee to his stomach, not once not twice but four times. Then Ryouma gave Liu chen an uppercut to the face and drop kicked Liu chen as he staggered while stunned. Liu chen looked on in surprise as he saw his foe still alive after a thrust like that.
"HOW? I'VE KILLED YOU!" Liu chen shouted in confusion as he stood up.
"Check your bladeds quality next time. a well-made katana could easily take you out in one strike." Ryouma retorted. Liu chen looked at his sword only to realise that he's been fighting with a broken sword. Fear enveloped him as he saw Ryouma charging him. He raised his arms and blade to defend himself but Ryouma anticipated this and cut his foes sword hand completely off causing Liu chen the scream in terror.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAH! MY HAND!" Liu chen screamed as blood was spilling out of his arm. As he said that the house he threw his torch in started to catch on fire and the flames slowly start eat at the house.
"That hurts huh? Well that pain you're experiencing was nothing compared to the one you've inflicted on me as a child!" Ryouma shouted as he thrusted his left blade into his foes abdomen. Liu Chen groaned at the pain going through his body as his blood was spilling out of his guts.
"Why?" Liu chen wondered.
"Cause you didn't take you practice seriously and only went the easy way in and out." Ryouma said coldly. He readied his second blade and sliced Liu Chens neck with. Liu chen then bled even more and collapsed to the ground lifeless.
"For my father." Ryouma said to Liu chens corpse as he collapsed to his knees breathing heavily.
"I gotta work on my stamina. Father I know you wouldn't have want me to do this. He already had been punished but I promised him that I wouldn't be merciful the next time we meet. This time though he threatened to take out the village, I couldn't just let that go. But don't worry father cause once this is over I would have a wife, kids, as well as a nice life coming up in the near future so please look over them." Ryouma prayed after berating himself for lack of stamina. He was glad that his father avenged and as well as justice, now his father can finally rest and be reborn into a new life knowing that his family is safe.
When the four of the five members of the gang ran from Ryoumas little engagement they thought that Liu chen would be the only one, how wrong they were. As they entered the court yard Tomoyo immediately felt something wrong as she stopped in front of her friends much to their surprise. Tomoyo took out a couple of shurikens and tossed them at a certain direction as they impaled on a wooden post. She readied her naginata as she noticed a presence nearby.
"I know you're here! Come out of hiding coward!" Tomoyo shouted in the direction she threw her shuriken.
"So you have noticed huh?" a voice called. And a man walked up from behind the pillar. It was Feng Hu wearing full scale armor and a highly jewel finished guandao that is about 6-8 feet in full length. He wore an air of confidence as he walked out but one thing eluded him was how he was quickly found out?
"How did you realized I was here little girl?" Feng Hu asked.
"Simple really, it is your smell sir." Tomoyo explained.
"What?" Feng Hu stood aghast.
"the incense spice that you're using is not a good choice. You got pretty bad tastes for smells sir." Tomoyo explained
"Why you insolent brat." Feng Hu said calmly while his anger was completely shown in his face.
"I'll take care of this man every one, you go and get that bastard." Tomoyo told everyone.
"I'll Help you out Tomoyo this man is no amateur, he's Long Feng Hu the head of the Long clan and a accomplished warrior." Meiling said.
"So that means he's got skill and experience huh? Well this will be interesting." Tomoyo said impressed.
"Be carefull you two." Sakura pleaded with worry.
"Don't let him get to you girls." Syaoran added. and the couple ran around Feng Hu while the two girls charged Feng hu who tried to stop the couple but Tomoyo threw another pair of shuriken to which he easily blocked with the wide flat of his blade, then Meiling went in and gave him a flying kick which he block with his pole. The couple was able to quickly pass through leaving the two girls and family head to the building. This annoyed Feng Hu who had been anticipating this, he wanted to kill the Li clan heir so that they will be in disarray and easy to deal with, However he didn't get the chance. Feng Hu looked furiously at the two girls who dared to take him on. In his eyes women are not meant to do a man's work so seeing two girls who are old enough to be his daughters have martial skill really triggers him.
"I won't let you two get away with this little missies!" Feng Hu said in disgust.
"Just because you're out numbered two to one doesn't mean we'll go easy on you." Meiling retorted.
"That's right. And I couldn't let you take on Sakura chan without MY permision." Tomoyo added.
"You are just girls. A man should fight and die by men, not some silly little girls like you." Feng Hu said in disgust.
"If you think that women are inferior to men then you're wrong. I'm first in line for the throne and I'm not gonna let men like you run amok." Tomoyo argued
"Yeah, enough talk Feng Hu and fight us if you are a man." Meiling taunted.
"RRRRAAAAAAAAAAGGHH" Feng Hu roared and the battle commenced. Feng Hu Swung his Guandao with lethal skill honed over the years as a warrior. He had years of experience fighting bandits, spies and even guards and other clans. His swing were skillfully swung and his strikes were accurate. However he soon learned and found out that the girls were more skillful than he thought even though he refused to admit it. The girls proved to be more quick and agile as well as flexible than the aging Feng Hu. As Tomoyo swung her Naginata which will be either blocked or parried by Fung Hu Meiling close the distance and land a few strikes on him. The battle was fierce and fast that it almost looked like a dance rather than a slugfest. As this exchange went on Feng Hu became more and more enraged by the minute as more and more of his strikes were evaded, blocked and parried by the girls. He even felt some of the punches and kicks from Meiling. Feng Hu had fought many opponents but never women, this was a first for him. This battle proved to him that a two on one battle with the girls proved to be difficult since they are fasters, more agile, and just as cunning and tactical as they are beautiful. He had plans to capture atleast the women who are fighting him and either turn at least one or two of them into concubines or pleasure slaves for himself or his son. But now he started to regret his decision. The girls proved to be much more stubborn and strong for his liking. His wife was a weak woman and showed to much compassion for his liking, but her being a weak woman was the reason he married her, to control her. But here he met two strong women who dared to defy him which angered him. Feng Hu Swung his guandao in a wide horizontal arc to which the girls backed off in order to evade it.
"Girls Like you shouldn't leave your homes and only raise the children you bear for your husbands. It's a womans duty to serve a man." Feng Hu exclaimed.
"How wrong you are! I'm going to become the next monarch of my country and I'm not going to get a man like you do as you please Jii san!" tomoyo argued.
"Shut up woman!" Feng Hu yelled.
"men like you are the cause of pain for many women in this world." Meiling retorted.
"Face it Jii san, the world is changing and women are going for equal rights with men, you're just a stuborn old man who can't seem to accept the change, or are you afraid that we women will be better than you men out there?" Tomoyo taunted.
"PIPE DOWN" Feng Hu shouted. With anger fueling his strength he became more ferocious as the three battled. His hits were harder and faster than the girls could have thought, but they were sloppier in technique than it was when it started. While the girls could easily see this coming but it's the speed and power behind the blade that made them hard to avoid. Feng Hu swung a wide horizontal swipe with the flat of his blade and slammed into the girls sending them flying to a wall nearby. As soon as they landed unbeknownst to them a building started to blaze in fire. As the girls landed on the stone floor they struggled to get up. The force from the hit really winded the two girls that it caused them to cough a bit. Feng Hu looked at them thinking that they were hopeless started to laugh like a maniac. The girls loked up wondering what was so funny. Feng Hu laughed for a good few seconds till he stopped and took a deep breath.
"You think you girls can stand up against me? I have fought hundreds of battles and duel back in my youth. Did you ever think you would stand a chance? Like I said before, women are weak and they should stay in their homes with their husbands and children cause that's all they were good for." Feng Hu said arrogantly, as Tomoyo and Meiling struggle to get up. The pain they felt lessened and they were a bit unbalanced in their stance as the breathed heavily. Feng Hu looked at their desperate attempt to stand up and saw this as weakness.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Don't bother standing up. It's time for you girls to die." As Feng Hu raise his guandao at the ready he took one step but he suddenly fell to his knee.
"What in heavens name?" he gasped in surprise, Feng Hu didn't know what had happened till he fell a warm wet trickle coming down from the back of his leg. Then he realized that one of his tendons were slice.
"HOW?" Feng Hu shouted wondering what had happened.
"Simple really." Tomoyo said as she stood up straight as she found her balance. "I nicked your leg before you swung at us."
Feng Hu was shocked to hear that, he didn't even felt the blade hit him. Even Meiling was surprised at this revelation.
"And by the way Feng Hu san, aren't you aware of the reputation the blades of Ni-Hon-kaido blades hold? They are considered the sharpest blades ever forged in the word. So sharp that it could cut a tree down in one full swing so clean that it could heal itself as if it weren't cut at all. My Naginata here is sharp enough to sever a vessle that wouldn't notice it was severed till after a few seconds." Tomoyo told Feng Hu with a smile. Feng Hu then looked at his weapon and realized that cut marks and nicks were beginning to appear on both his blade and his handle. He now realized that Tomoyo used the sharpness of her blade to her advantage by wearing his weapon down and possibly nick him, and she did. Meiling looked at her friend with a nervous look on her face. She knew that Tomoyo is not one to mess with but now she realized that it's best not to trigger her.
"Tomoyo." Meiling said with a sweat drop.
"Hai Meiling chan?" Tomoyo asked.
"Remind me never to piss you off." Meiling told her. Feng Hu was so enraged that girl managed to strike him before he could land a hit. This in turn was breaking his pride and cause him to go in full denial which only made it worse.
"This can't be, there's no way I would be beaten, I cannot be defeated by two little girls!" Feng Hu yelled.
"Shut up and die you scum bag!" Meiling shouted as the girls charge towards the incapacitated man. Feng Hu tried to strike but he's losing strength by the amount of blood leaking from his wound. Meiling easily knocked the Guandao aside and gave Feng Hu a swift kick to the face. Tomoyo follow with a thrust to the chest. Feng Hu gasped at force as his heart was pierced. Tomoyo withdrew her Naginata and she spun as she sliced at his head. Meilng then gave Feng Hu a palm strike and sent Feng Hu's head flying across the court yard. As soon as the battle ended the girls soon realized what they did. Meiling nearly vomit at the sight of the head but she sat down. Tomoyo leaned on her naginata still feeling the pain from the force of the guandao. As the two girls rested Ryouma stagered in as he saw the girls winded.
"You girls ok?" Ryouma asked still catching his breath.
"We're fine babe, just a bit winded." Meiling answered.
"we just won our battle here." Tomoyo explained.
"Yeah I can see that." Ryouma observed.
"Still I can't believe the Long clan are led by this idiot of a man!" Meiling complained.
"How bad was he?" Ryouma asked.
"He considered all women inferior to men! Can't you believe it?" Meiling said in anger.
"Not only that he even said that we should've stayed home! We aren't even graduated yet.!" Tomoyo shouted. Soon they saw a bright pink glow coming out the building Syaoran and sakura have entered. As the trio looked on they hoped that their friends will be alright.
When Syaoran and Sakura entered the building they were met with red lights from the candles and the darkness in the room. the candles being the only source of light they can see nothing but shadow and the brightness of the candles. It all silent for a good amount of time till Chang Bo-an decided to break it.
"Welcome card mistress. I have been waiting for you for a long long time." Chang said through the shadows
"You can no longer hide in the shadows there Chang Bo-an san!" Sakura shouted.
"You've got a huge voice for a girl, and yet you brought in your guardian with you. I'll give you one chance to give me the cards and leave while you're still alive." Chang bo-an said through the shadows.
"We are not leaving. The cards belong to Sakura, and your reign of terror ends right here!" Syaoran yelled. Chang Bo-an walked out of the shadows when he realize who it was. Chang didn't look any different centuries ago, but now he sports a mustace and his demonic eyes glowed a golden in the shadows.
"Li clan heir. You are very brave coming here, was it your obligation as a descendant of clow to help the mistress? Or was it that you would take them back into the clan?" Chang Bo-an asked.
"Neither. It's true I have a relationship with sakura, but the cards and the clan are a separate mater from that. So don't asume that I'm doing this for the clan. I'm doing this for our future." Syaoran yelled back.
"You say that yet I have a feeling that you were after the cards yourself right? Then why don't you take them instead and I'll pay a fine price." Chang Bo-an offered. Syaoran was shocked to hear this.
"Syaoran kun?" Sakura asked.
"it's true that I wanted the cards at the beginning since I believed it to be my birth right. However I have already lost my chance and I accepted that loss." Syaoran retorted.
"He's right, and besides you don't choose the cards, the cards choose you!" Sakura chimed in.
"Then you all will suffer a horrible death." Chang retorted.
Authors note: and cut. . . sorry for the cliff hanger, do ou want to see the final fight? it's in the next chapter. Some of ya'll may be thinking "Dude you made a sexist antagonist in the story? What the heck man!" well in ancient times there were allot of sexist views so I thought I might add the most extreme sexist man to lead the Long clan. Lucky for us his son is not following in his father's footsteps. Many sons take after their father while others take after their mother. Untill then see ya'll in the nex chapter.