City Under Siege:
Chapter Five
True intensions revealed
The ultimate plan is set
Courage and wisdom
Sole weapons against this threat
There was a bright flash and Sakura looked around to see that she and Syaoran, who was standing next to her, had returned to Natsuo's study. They were about to discuss what they had just witnessed, when the felt Natsuo's presence.
Syaoran covered their tracks, or what Sakura had thought. Natsuo said he was to be punished and ordered him down on his knees. Sakura grew worried, for she knew what was to happen next. Natsuo handed her the whip and ordered her to whip Syaoran.
Horror enveloped Sakura as her body went against her mind and grabbed the whip.
No! I can't! She pleaded with her body, but it didn't want to listen. She then heard Syaoran voice in her head asking her to do it. She didn't want to, but she felt her hands rise above her head and she tried to fight against it.
Please no! I don't want to hurt you! Sakura's hands came down and the tough leather came down full force. Upon contact with Syaoran's tan skin, it ripped the first of many large gashed into his back. Through his shirt and three layers of skin, until blood veins were broken and blood spilled all over his back.
Sakura wanted to cry out as she too felt his pain on her back. But she couldn't. Her body wouldn't let her. No! Syaoran-kun!
"No Syaoran-kun!" Sakura shot up in bed, drenched in bed.
Immediately the form next to her woke up and wrapped his arms around her. What! What's the matter! Syaoran's voice came to Sakura's mind.
Sakura started to cry and leaned into Syaoran's embrace. I'm so sorry! I couldn't stop it! I never wanted to hurt you! She silently told him.
Syaoran knew to what she referred and rocked her back and forth. Shhh. It's okay. I'm all right. You didn't do anything wrong.
Sakura shook her head. No I hurt you. I wanted to stop, but I knew I couldn't! Why is this happening to me! To…you…
Syaoran brought up Sakura's face to meet his own. Listen to me. You have to be strong. We will get through this, but only if we stick together. Are you with me?
Sakura nodded. I am.
Syaoran smiled one of his rare smiles. Great, now, let's get planning.
Once Sakura calmed down, Syaoran took out the scroll that he had found in Natsuo's study. They reviewed it and tried to understand its meaning. It transcribed:
Infiltrating the evil
Is a difficult task from the start
You will be tested
To see the true nature of your heart
True intensions revealed
The ultimate plan is set
Courage and wisdom
Sole weapons against this threat
All will not be
As it appears to the eye
Loss of innocence is shown
Your dear loved one may die
Sakura gasped at reading the last part. Could it mean Syaoran?
It could mean anything. Syaoran assured her.
But then Sakura remembered the reading she'd done the other day. Light? Syaoran-kun!
Syaoran peered into Sakura's green eyes. What haven't you told me?
Sakura looked up at him, shock written on her face. I…um…
Just then, the door flew open, and Sakura and Syaoran turned to see a boy, from their school, they didn't know his name, standing there. Syaoran narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?" He asked, keeping his character, as Sakura hid the scroll.
"Meeting, now, in the audience chamber." He said and left.
Sakura frowned. Audience chamber?
The cafeteria. Or at least where it used to be. Syaoran told her.
Let's take this time and see if we can find out what Natsuo is up to. Sakura suggested.
Syaoran nodded. We'll sneak back into her study and try to get her master plans. Syaoran proposed.
Sakura nodded. We have to stop her before she can… She stopped, not wanting to say the words. But she knew it was a possibility. Syaoran might have to go through something horrible, and he might leave her, forever.
Syaoran took her hand in his. I'll be okay. Don't worry. I need your help. He asked for her solemn word. You have to be strong. I can't do this alone. Promise?
Sakura smiled and squeezed his hand. I promise. They closed the deal with a pinky swear and made ready tonight.
Sakura closed the door behind her as she and Syaoran entered Natsuo's study. She felt uneasy about the whole thing, but knew it had to be done. They decided to stay together and this time keep their senses open for any other presences.
Anything yet? She wondered.
Nothing. Then he stopped. Sakura felt it too. They went to a glass-cased cabinet and saw what seems to be a journal. It glowed with a golden light.
Sakura gazed in awe and amazement at its beauty. She went to open the cabinet, when Syaoran sensed something wrong.
Matte! He warned, but it was too late. When her hand touched the casing, an alarm went off. Sakura covered her ears against the sound. Syaoran heard footsteps and soon the whole room was filled with Natsuo's "soldiers", including their friends and family. They came in and grabbed Sakura and Syaoran, separating them.
Their cover blown, Sakura screamed. "Syaoran-kun!!!!" She fought to get back to him.
The guards pulled her arms behind her back and held them there tightly. More guards were needed to hold Syaoran back. "Sakura!!!"
Soon, after he was restrained, Natsuo entered the study. "So, it seems you were never under my control after all, ne?" She narrowed her eyes at Syaoran.
He glared at her back. "I would never fall under your control so long as I draw breath!" He said.
Natsuo growled and brought her hand viscously across his face. A red mark slowly formed on his cheek.
"Iie! Syaoran-kun!" Sakura struggled, but could not get free.
Natsuo turned to her. "So? You withstood my powers too, ne? Well, you'll live just long enough to see your poor Syaoran-kun die, by my hand!!!"
Sakura's eyes grew wide and filled with tears. She tried to fight them back, but remembered the Light Card from the reading. It was going to happen, and she couldn't stop it.
Natsuo charged up a blast in her hand and aimed it Syaoran.
Sakura couldn't watch. She'd failed him. You have to be strong…She remembered what Syaoran had asked her to swear. Promise?
She had, and she was breaking that promise by sitting her doing nothing. "Iie!!!!!" Sakura cried out. The blast was let loose and something in Sakura snapped. Her outburst triggered the powers Clow Reed had given them. The closet that held the journal went flying across the room, and went in front of Syaoran.
Natsuo couldn't stop what was happening and watched in horror as her blast hit the closet, spraying wood in every direction. The splinters struck many of the guards and Sakura was set free. She ran to Syaoran who used his power to levitate the couch towards them.
"Duck!" Syaoran and Sakura ducked as the couch went flying over them and hit the guards holding Syaoran at bay. They went flying into the wall and stayed there unconscious.
Sakura helped Syaoran to his feet and together they faced Natsuo. Syaoran looked at Sakura. "Arigatou." He said gently.
She smiled. "I never break a promise." She winked at him.
Natsuo came forward and picked up the journal that had been in the case. It held all the journal entries she had made, while Clow Reed was alive, and with her. She looked at it longingly. "He did this to me." She whispered.
Sakura and Syaoran frowned. Natsuo closed her eyes against tears. "He did this to me and left me alone!" She started to get angry, tightening her grip on the book.
Sakura caught on. "He did it because he loved you!" She told her. "He wanted you to survive!!"
Natsuo opened her eyes and they flashed red. "You have no idea what your saying!!! It's because of him I'm here now!! Alone!!! He left me alone!!!"
"That's not true!" Syaoran said.
Natsuo growled. "It isn't? How can you be so sure?" Syaoran stayed silent. "I'll show you what he did to me! I'll let you see!!!!" She threw her hands forward and the winds in the room picked up. The winds twirled around Sakura and Syaoran and they screamed as their souls were ripped out, leaving their bodies, like empty shells, lying in a heap on the floor.
Sakura and Syaoran were pulled into the book, followed by Natsuo. She would show them. She would let them see for themselves what pain she'd gone through. Pain without him…