Love On Horseback:
Part Seven
Fumi helped Sakura off Shelly and together, with Suzy, entered the stables.
"So how'd your first lesson go?" Suzy asked.
"It was great! I learned a lot!" Sakura said enthusiastically.
"You sure gave Shelly a good work out." Fumi commented. They walked back to Shelly's stall and started to wash her down. Suzy got a hold of the hose and whispered something to Sakura. The girls giggled and aimed the hose at Fumi. "Hey!" He shouted in protest. The girls laughed some more and turned off the water, leaving a thoroughly drenched Fumi glaring at them. "I will get you back for that!"
Suzy winked. "Can't wait."
Brian watched from afar as the three entered the stables. He smiled. Sakura didn't even know that she was now linked to him. During that dream with her, Brian had made a magical, and physical link with Sakura. She had been strong and woken up, but he still reached his objective. With Sakura under his control, she would be his soon. And there was nothing that little wolf could do about it. Li had better stay out of his way…or else. Brian smiled. I think I'm going to have a little fun with the brat before I take his most treasured possession away from him. Then Brian disappeared.
Li rode Lightning over a hill. He sighed. Something was bothering him, but what was it? The sun set beneath the western mountains. It was a beautiful sight. He just wished Sakura were here to see it. But she was safer with his cousins. They would protect her.
Just then, Lightning started to pace nervously. Li patted his neck. "You sensing something?"
"You left her alone, little wolf. Now she will be mine."
Lightning reared back and Li was thrown from the saddle, landing hard on the ground.
"She's vulnerable, and open for the taking. Brian's voice called out.
Pure horror crossed Li's face. "No! Sakura!!" Li shot up and grabbed Lightning's reins. He threw his leg over and jumped on. He kicked Lightning and started in a fast trot back towards the house.
Suzy continued to laugh at Fumi's misfortune until she noticed Fumi's frown. She followed his line of sight and looked over at Sakura. "Sakura?"
Sakura's eyes were glazed over, completely green in color. She didn't respond to Suzy's call, she simply continued to stare straight ahead.
"Sakura? Are you alright?" Suzy said again. Behind her, she heard Fumi unsheathe his sword. She whirled around. "You sense something?"
He nodded and scanned the room. Suzy started to sense it too and brought out her staff. It was a bit taller than she was, and made of strong Redwood.
Fumi held his sword in front of him, trying to pinpoint the source of the magic he felt. His sword, similar to Li's in design, was blue-studded, not green, and was encased in a silverfish metal.
Fumi gasped and tensed up as a boy, Brian, materialized in front of him. Suzy moved in front of Sakura, staff in both hands.
Brian smirked. "I've some here to collect my prize. I suggest you get out of my way before you get hurt." He warned.
Fumi narrowed his eyes. "The only one who's going to get hurt is you, if you don't leave. Now." He countered. Suzy nodded her agreement.
Brian threw back his head and laughed. "I doubt you will be strong enough to stop me." He unsheathed his sword and waved his fingers, taunting Fumi to come forth.
Fumi let out a growl and charged at Brian. He brought his sword down hard on Brian, but Brian met it with his own. Steel hit steel and both bots pushed their weapons hard against each other.
Brian pulled off a dirty move. Releasing one hand from his sword, he rammed his elbow into Fumi's chest, driving him back. He pulled his sword back and thrust it forwards. Fumi's eyes went wide and he dodged the attack, causing it to hit the stable wall. It got stuck in the wood.
"Fumi! Be careful!" Suzy yelled.
With Brian's sword stuck in wood, Fumi took this opportunity and attempted to slice Brian from behind. Brian saw the attack coming and back flipped behind Fumi. Brian's leg came up and made contact with Fumi's back, slamming him into the wall. He slumped to the floor, dazed.
"Fumi!" Suzy growled. "Why you!" She ran forward and hit Brian in the stomach with her staff. Brian doubled over in pain. Suzy followed up with a knee to his head. There was a distinctive crack heard, as Brian's jaw was hit shut, and he fell to the floor. Suzy took this opportunity to run to Fumi's side.
Brian sneered at the fleeing girl and lashed out with his hand. Blue lightning came out and flew at Suzy. It struck her in the back and she cried out in pain. She fell to the ground unconscious.
"Suzy!" Fumi cried, but was unable to do anything. He slowly crawled over to her and glared at Brian/
Brian removed his sword from the wood and walked over to Sakura. "It's been fun, but I have an arrangement to attend to."
"Not so fast!" Someone said.
At the end of the stables, stood Li, sword at hand.
Brian smiled at his nemeses. "So, the little wolf decided to come to the party after all."
Li narrowed his dark amber eyes. "Let her go."
Brian laughed and waved. "I believe I'll be going now." He and Sakura started to fade away.
"No!" Li exclaimed and charged forward. He went right through where they were, but now they were gone. "Sakura!" Li cried out to thin air. He fell to his knees. "I'm sorry." He whispered. Someone groaned and Li's head shot up.
Suzy was just coming to and looked around. "Where…where did they go?"
Fumi closed his eyes in shame. "He's got her."
Suzy clenched her teeth and slowly stood up, Fumi handed her staff to her and she leaned heavily on it. "We…we have to…find her." She managed through gasps of air.
Fumi shook his head. "You are in no condition to be going anywhere."
Li got up and moved over to his cousins. "This isn't your fight." He put his sword away and started out of the stables.
"Where are you going?" Fumi asked.
Without turned Li replied. "I'm going to go get her back." His voice was full of determination.
Suzy snorted as she limped over to him, Fumi by her side. "You don't even know where she is."
Li turned to her. "I can always find her. I will always be able to sense her."
Fumi crossed his arms in disbelief. "Okay. Where is she?"
Li closed his eyes and opened his senses. He filled his mind with images of Sakura. He light auburn hair, her dazzling green eyes, that cheerful smile. He smiled at the memories.
Then, he felt her. To the west, near the mountains. No, in the mountains. But that would mean… Li's eyes opened. "She's in Dead Man's Cavern." He said.
Suzy's eyes went wide. "De…Dead Man's Cavern?" She whimpered.
Fumi frowned. "That cave in the mountains we use to go to and tell ghost storied to? The one with all the passages, where one could easily get lost of they didn't know where they were going. Why would he take her there?"
"Think about it. Even if I can sense her, there are a million ways to get lost in there. Probably why our parents never wanted us to venture out there." Li smirked.
"I still don't like going out there." Suzy used one hand and rubbed her arms.
Fumi laughed. "You still think ghosts are there? Ready to take your soul if you get lost? Those are just stories grandpa used to tell us to try and scare us."
Li shook a finger at Fumi. "Don't tease her now. Sakura has the same fear. She can't stand ghosts. Another reason why he took her there. She'd be too afraid to run away, by fear of getting lost."
Fumi nodded. "Then he would be able to hold her with little resistance."
Li clenched his hands into tight fists. "He's not going to hold her for long." He turned and went out of the cave.
"Wait!" Fumi said. Li stopped and turned.
"We're going with you!" Suzy cried.
Li shook his head. "I don't want to endanger you too we well…"
"Too bad! We're coming." Suzy said determinately. She then walked past Li, off towards Dead Man's Cavern.
Li sighed in defeat and Fumi placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "She's got the magic and the skills…"
"…And the stubborn attitude!" Both Fumi and Li said. Then they laughed and followed Suzy towards where Brian held Sakura. Whatever the cost, Li swore he would make Brian pay.
A/N: So how was that? Suzy and Fumi able to fight? They are from the Li Clan, ne? Most have powers. Except Meilin of course. You've seen their skills, soon you'll see their magic. And I promise you…Brian will get what's coming to him. And I'm sure you'll love it!
Another note and the biggest of them all…MY NEW WEBSITE IS UP AND RUNNING!!!! Ii has all my Fanfics and Fanpoetry. Also it has my fanart! That's right! I bought a scanner and now all my drawings are open to the public! The design is simple, cause I'm just learning how to do this. Here's the address. http://www.geocities.com/digidynasty/ Hope you like it! E-mail me and tell me what you think!