Ahhh . . . Chapter 4. I've been itching to write this chapter since I had the idea for "Girl of Their Dreams." Everybody is CLAMP's as I've mentioned countless times before. Enjoy! Thanks for all the email, keep it coming, li_luva_2000@yahoo.ca Rated R for language and content.
Girl of Their Dreams
Chapter 4- Discovery
Kelly M.
"Sanae, don't get so close to the water."
Sanae was standing unsteadily on the end of their dock, helping her father unload the days catch. Her mother worried too much.
Her father agreed, "It's fine dear, let Sanae help, she is ten after all."
"Practically grown up," chimed in the young girl. She loved her father, he always had so much faith in her, "Besides, there's nothing else to do on summer break," she whined.
"All right," her mother conceded, "but be careful."
"I will," she said, once again tottering shakily.
Her mother laughed, she was as stubborn as her father, "I'm going to go back home to start dinner, see you two after you get these shipped off to the market. Bye."
"Good-bye darling." "Bye mother!" they called after her.
As she walked off into the distance, Sanae marveled at her beauty. She was pretty, but not just from the outside. It was like you could almost see her heart shining from inside her.
"Yes, your mother does have that special quality known as inner-beauty. And so do you. Keep it in you always, Sanae. Promise me that." her father said, staring off into the sea.
It always scared her a little when he did that. How did he know what she was thinking? There was something her parents weren't telling her. Last week she'd walked in on her mother cleaning, and the broom was moving itself. She'd never noticed anything like that when she was younger. "Okay dad, I promise."
"Good. Here comes Yoshino-san now to pick up the fish."
It was a minute or two before Sanae saw him. He came around the bend in the road and greeted them, "Hello, how are you doing this evening?"
"Great. With a sunset as lovely as that, how could one not feel uplifted," the two men shook hands and Yoshino-san and her father started loading the fish in his truck.
"That's wonderful to hear. How are you, child?"
"Good," she replied nervously. She was quite shy around anyone but her family.
The man laughed jovially, turning to her father once more, "A timid one, that girl is. Not much of a mind of her own. She'll make a fine wife some day. Any prospects in mind?"
Sanae narrowed her eyes. She wasn't an idiot just because she was a girl and didn't go to school. Her father had taught her to read, and write, as well as do math, science and geography.
That was another thing that was odd. Most fishermen in their town were barely literate, but her father was very smart. She wondered where he'd gone to school. He and her mother hadn't told her anything about their pasts.
Her father took Yoshino's comment with a grain of salt, "She's got more in her head than she lets on, sir." He laughed, "And no, we haven't got anyone lined up for her yet. I'm afraid we don't have much of a dowry to offer."
"Why, her looks alone are a fine prize. And she comes from a good stock. You and your wife are both hard-working. Any father should be glad to have Sanae marry their son. In fact, my youngest is yet to be betrothed. I would be very interested in Sanae."
Her father looked almost shocked, he shook Yoshino-san's hand vigorously, "Of course, sir. Why don't you come up for tea tomorrow so we can discuss it?"
"I'll be there." He closed the back door of the truck and left. Sanae and her father walked home as dusk settled across the land.
~*~*~*~*~*
Later that night, Sanae lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She should've felt happy because she was bringing her family honor by marrying Yoshino-san 's son. Yoshino-san was one of the richest men in the village. But she wasn't sure she wanted to be married . . . especially to his son. Sanae shuddered, remembering.
It had happened earlier that summer. She had begged her parents to go to the market alone one day to get eggs. Everything had gone fine, she'd set off down the road like she usually did, only this time without her father, but that day had been different.
~ Gray clouds hovered in the sky, and the air hung wet and heavy. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Sanae pulled at her sweat soaked shirt, trying to let the air circulate. She looked up at the sky, wondering if the rain would cool things off. As though the heavens were answering her question, cold rain poured down. Behind her, Sanae heard a sound. Two headlights were visible, cutting through the darkness. The car pulled up beside her, and the window rolled down. It was Yoshino-san, "Would you like a ride?"
"Yes, thank-you sir," Sanae replied, getting into the truck.
"No problem. You're Li-san's daughter, aren't you?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm his only child, actually."
"Where are you going all on your own?"
"My mother needed eggs, and I wanted to go get them."
"So you're going to the market?"
"Yes."
"Good, so am I. I can give you a ride home afterwards if the rain doesn't let up."
"Thank-you, sir."
"Don't mention it."
They rode the rest of the way in silence. Sanae stared out of the window, watching the harbor-front houses, similar to her own. She was grateful for the ride. The walk into town usually took three quarters of an hour. This way, she'd be home by the time she usually arrived at the market.
Her parents would be surprised.
They got to the market, and ran out quickly, gathering their items and returning to the truck. Yoshino-san had purchased the eggs for her, against her protests, as he was buying some for himself, and when they started back toward their village, Sanae was in high spirits. She barely noticed when they had turned off the main road onto a deserted country road, surrounded by a dense forest of trees on either side. She did notice, however, when they turned onto a wide forest trail, as the branches kept hitting the side of the truck. Rain splattered thickly on the windshield, and even the gray sky was blocked out by the tightly packed trees, making it almost as dark as night. She started to worry.
"Um . . . where are we going?"
"Oh, it's just a short cut," he assured her.
He stopped in a large clearing and got out of the car. Walking slowly around, he stopped with his back turned to her about twenty feet away from the truck. Worried, Sanae grabbed her basket of eggs and opened the truck door, "Sir?" she called meekly. She got out of the car and started walking toward him, "Sir?" He still didn't respond. She was nearly to the spot he was standing on, "Sir?" She tapped him on the shoulder.
He spun suddenly, seizing her wrist and pulling him close to her. The kindly look on his face had been replaced by a hungry, animal-like stare. Sanae writhed, kicked and screamed, but there was no one there to help her, and she couldn't get away, he was too strong.
With his free hand, he worked furiously with the ties on her robe, not even noticing her struggle. He was finally successful and pulled the clothes off her. Grabbing hold of the other arm, he stood behind her and held her there. Sanae heard him grunting, the sounds of a belt buckle being undone. She flailed her legs aimlessly behind her, hoping to connect with something. Praying this was all some strange dream. She felt her foot strike something, then a loud yell. He let go of her arms and she started to run toward the edge of the clearing. If she got to the forest, she would be able to hide. Yoshino was only stunned for a moment though, and she heard snapping twigs close behind her. "Only fifteen feet, come on Sanae, ten, you can do it," she urged herself on, her legs felt like lead, "Five, just a little bit more." She pushed herself forward. She was so close. An arm tightened around her waist, dragging her back. Ten feet from the sweet shelter of the forest, fifteen, twenty. He pushed her on the ground, pinning her arms down. He was sitting just below her hips. He released one of her hands, still undoing his pants. She tried to hit him but he barely flinched. She felt her underwear being pulled off, him forcing himself into her, pushing, rocking, moaning. The pain between her legs was immense, she screamed, her thoughts, her will to fight, being blocked out by the white-hot rush of agony spreading like wildfire throughout her body. She wanted to die. She heard the sound of a wild animalistic howl. Was that her voice?
~*~*~*~*~*
'I feel so . . . weak.' The pain was starting to subside, thoughts were coming now in spurts. His energy was lacking, he was becoming softer, it would be over soon. He pulled out of her, panting nearby. She saw him stand, pulling up his pants. He started to walk toward the truck. Though her body was stiff and weak, rage forced the words out of her, "I'm going to tell everyone what you did!"
To her surprise, he turned toward her, his lips curling up into a twisted smile, "Do you think they'll believe you? Or even care? I own this town, no one gives a shit about fisher-trash like you. I doubt you're father would even listen to you." He spat at her, and retrieved something from his truck. It was his basket of eggs, "There, take those and go back home," he pointed to her overturned basket, "I think your's are broken." He laughed cruelly and left her in the clearing.~
She had never told anyone, she arrived home at the same time she would've if she'd walked to the market, and her parents had just assumed her clothes were dirty from walking in the rain, the blood on her underwear from her first period. She never told them anything different.
All of a sudden, a burst of lighting illuminated her room, awakening her from the haunting thoughts. Strange, there wasn't a cloud in the sky when she'd went to bed ten minutes ago. A thunderous knock at the front door echoed throughout the house. She heard her mother gasp and the door of her room was thrown open, her father bursting in. He looked worried. "Father, what's wrong?" she asked.
"There's no time to explain, Sanae," he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the hall, opening their large linen closet, "Stay here and don't come out, no matter what happens. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, but why? What's . . . ?"
"Please, just do it. And stay quiet." He shut the door hastily, and Sanae found herself in the dark. She heard the door of their house slam against the wall, followed by her mother's screams. Her father spoke, his tone calm, "So, the clan has found us?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"Yes. You got lazy, used your powers too openly, we found you," replied another voice, equally calm, "And you know the price for betrayal and cowardice. It is on this night that I must collect that price, your lives."
Sanae shuddered, how could her father take this so calmly? The man was going to kill her them. Her father spoke once more, "You can't kill me, you know the rules of the clan, only my brother is supposed to kill me if I betrayed them. You don't have the authority to overrule the elders." What was he talking about? Elders? Clan? Brother? Both her parents had told her they were only children, and their parents had passed away. Sanae had thought her only relatives were her mother and father.
The man laughed bitterly, "Very true, traitor. But your brother is as unmanly as you, how could we ever think he would be our strongest leader? But he wasn't meant to be a leader, that was supposed to be your job. He refused to come and put you to death honorably, so we had to kill him."
"Did you do it? My little brother . . . " her father's voice trailed off in disbelief, then rose in anger, "Murderer! He had a family, a little boy, and you killed him in cold-blood! Didn't you?"
"I guess it's good you don't have a family, they'd be ashamed of you. You just have your wife, the whore!" barked the man, "Was she worth it, scum? Was she worth your clan's trust? Your brother's life? You killed him, not me. But I will take pleasure that you'll die by my hands."
Sanae heard her mother's sobs. A blinding blue flash illuminated the dark closet for a brief moment, followed by the screams of her parents. Something thudded up against the closet door, followed by the sigh of a man, "You could've been the strongest, but you gave it up, traitor. You deserve to be dead." The front door closed, and Sanae sat in the eerie calm of the closet's enveloping hold. The silence choked her, her breathing shallow and labored, coming in gasps. A sticky liquid trickled over her hand, seeping under the door. Sanae cried herself to sleep, never leaving the sanctuary of the closet.
~*~*~*~*~*
The officer spoke rapid Mandarin to her, asking all sorts of questions which she didn't understand. She managed to pick out a few words that were similar to her native tongue, Cantonese, but not enough to even piece together what he was asking. She didn't care about the questions. She just wanted her parents. A fresh batch of tears rolled down her face, the officer stopped with the inquiry and held her close, his soothing tone enough for Sanae at the moment.
Another man walked over, a detective, and asked a question to the officer she was with. He replied in a low voice and Sanae picked up a few words, " . . . neighbour came . . . Yoshino . . . bodies . . . called us. . . . we found her . . . closet . . . father's body against the . . . crying . . . can't speak Mandarin," he finished. He looked down at her with sympathetic eyes.
"Hey," the detective said rather roughly, "do you speak Cantonese?" Finally she understood the words.
"Yeah," she said uncertainly, not trusting her own voice.
"Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"
"No. Go ahead." She concentrated on the patterns of the dirt in her front yard.
"Those people who were killed, were they your parents?"
The question caught her for a second. She didn't realize he would be so gruff. "Uh huh," she nodded.
"And what were you doing in the closet?"
"I . . ." she looked at him straight in the eyes before continuing. "I didn't know actually. My," she choked out the word but still continued, "father told me to hide there. He said I'd be safe, . . . I . . . he . . . " Sanae broke down in tears, and the detective looked at her quizzically. The officer scolded him, Sanae could tell by the tone, even if the only word she caught was "blunt."
"I'm sorry," he apologized to Sanae, "I'm not used to working with people so . . . young." He cleared his throat and continued, "So your father told you to hide in the closet and you did, right?"
"Yes," she replied, looking back at the ground.
"Did you stay there until the officer found you this afternoon?"
"Yeah, I didn't want to find them, d . . ." she hung her head and sobbed, body trembling, burying her head in the officer's shoulder.
The detective paused before continuing, "Can you tell us anything about the person who killed them?"
"It was a guy, but I didn't see him. I don't know why he would ever . . ." she couldn't continue, she just couldn't.
The officer stroked her head gently, and asked the detective something rather harshly. The detective looked taken aback by the officer's tone but obediently asked her, "Do you have any relatives you could stay with?"
Head still pressed against the officer, Sanae replied, "No, my parents are . . ." she paused, "were only children."
The detective relayed the response to the officer, who then posed another question, the detective quickly translated, "Are you engaged? Could you stay with that family?"
Sanae bit her lip, she hated Yoshino-san, "No, I'm not engaged."
The two policemen talked about it for a long time, too long, in Sanae's opinion. As she listened to the steady, rhythmic patterns of their voices she drifted slowly off into a peaceful sleep, distinctly hearing the word "orphanage" several times.
~*~*~*~*~
"What a way for you to spend your twelfth birthday, eh Sanae?" asked her friend, sitting beside her in their classroom.
"Are you kidding me," she joked, "Who wouldn't want to take a math test on their birthday?" Her friend laughed, and took out her notebook for some last minute studying. She peered up from her book and looked at her friend, Sanae, who was gazing intently out of the window. Something set her apart from the other children, though most chose to ignore it because Sanae was so kindhearted. She *was* different, like the time the teacher's glass exploded when he yelled at Sanae, shattered into thousands of tiny sharp projectiles, each barely missing him. That had happened only last week, but there had been other incidents, smaller ones. Sanae just wasn't like the rest of them, maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.
Sanae stared out of the window. She'd been in the orphanage for just under two years, made friends, started a new life. Sanae knew she would never be adopted, only the little kids were, or the boys who were needed to work on farms. She'd probably live here until she was at least eighteen, six more years in this hell. It wasn't really that bad, but she just pictured more for herself. In fact this place could be somewhat enjoyable, Sanae had spent countless hours reading the books in the library (she'd read them all at least twice, even the senior's textbooks), or playing a game with the class of four and five year olds. But what she really wanted was a home with a family, like she had before. With a father's warm smile, a mother's loving hugs, a . . . The classroom door opened and snapped Sanae out of her daydream.
One of the teachers walked in the room and started distributing the tests, giving out instructions as he went. Sanae scanned it quickly, this stuff was a breeze, she knew it all. She was about half done when there was a knock at the door. Their teacher had a brief conversation, then suddenly called, "Ms. Li, can you please bring your test paper up to the front, along with your books, you're excused from this class."
Sanae obediently did as she was told, thoroughly perplexed. Was she going to get in trouble for the glass thing? It was an accident, she didn't know how it had happened. She followed the headmistress into her room and sat in one of the chairs. In the chair next to her sat a woman, dressed in expensive silk robes. Sanae felt rather shabby sitting next to the woman in her old, discolored, orphanage issued uniform. Sanae didn't meet her or the headmistresses eye, she simply stared down at the hands that were folded neatly in her lap. The headmistress spoke, "Sanae, you are a lucky young lady, Mrs. Li is very interested in adopting you."
Sanae didn't quite believe her, "Me specifically, ma'am?" Why would this well bred, obviously rich woman, want a poor fisher-girl from the heart of mainland China?
The headmistress looked stern, "Mind your manors, Sanae. Yes dear, you specifically. It turns out she is your aunt, and wants to take care of you."
"I have an aunt? I have an aunt!" she stood up and turned excitedly to Mrs. Li, "You're my aunt! ," she declared exuberantly, all manors forgotten. The headmistress looked utterly disgusted at Sanae's outburst but she couldn't help it. She had a family! What a great birthday present. Mrs. Li smiled a little at the child, so full of energy, it seemed almost cruel to take her away from this place, back to the clan, where she would be shamed, her will broken, poor naive child. A voice in the back of her head, one she hadn't heard for a long time, her conscience, spoke out unexpectedly, "You could always tell the clan you couldn't find her, you could always help her hide from them." She pushed the voice back bitterly, ignoring it.
She spoke, "Sanae, our plane leaves tonight. It's best if you started packing your things now."
"We're going on a plane?" Sanae's amber eyes, so similar to her son's, widened.
The voice spoke again, "Like your son's. Would you do this to your son? Would you lead him like a lamb to slaughter, so innocent, so trusting?" If a person could kill a sound, it would be certain Mrs. Li would have done so at that moment. She replied to Sanae, "Yes, please pack your belongings."
Sanae smiled brightly, "Alright, I'll be back in a bit." She practically ran at full tilt to their rooms. Twenty bunk beds lined either side of the room, making for a total of 80 places to sleep, Sanae found her bunk and opened one of the heavy green trunks at the foot of her bed. The other belonged to the girl on the bottom. Inside held all of her worldly possessions, which were few but precious: her fathers sword, though she didn't know it, it was in it's concealed form and she didn't have enough power to unlock it yet; her mother's wedding robes, embroidered with the Li family crest; a picture of her family together, just months before they had died: and finally, a set of bonds that her father had left her. It turned out they were not as poor as she thought, the bonds had just matured leaving her over $50,000 when she turned 17. They rest of the money, from the house, had went toward her parent's funerals. In fact, everyone had thought her family was dirt poor until the police had found the will, along with the bonds, the dress, and the sword, all of which were left to Sanae. A lone tear dripped down Sanae's cheek, but she was still sent here. She had no family . . . until today. She brightened, today was not a day to cry, she was going to have a home. She closed up the trunk and dragged it back towards the main office. A thought occurred to her almost subconsciously, how had her aunt found her? Out of the blue, a voice echoed in her head ". . .you got lazy, used your powers too openly, we found you . . ." She pushed it back not wanting to think of that now.
~*~*~*~*~
She looked over at her aunt, who was reading quietly. Her aunt was pretty, not near so as her mother, but nice to look at. She just didn't seem to have that inner beauty her mother possessed. She had barely spoke to Sanae the entire plane ride, she had simply told her a proper lady should hold her tongue. But Sanae had so many questions. Like where were they going? The stewardess had promptly answered that question when she greeted them "Welcome to Air 'something' (Sanae couldn't quite remember), we hope you enjoy your stay in Hong Kong." Or if there were other children in her house? Or if she would be able to go to a real school? Or . . . oh there were so many things! Why was Mrs. Li not talking to her? Sanae honestly didn't think it was because she was mean, she just didn't seem very good with children. Bored, Sanae started to doodle on the back of one of the flight magazines the flight attendant had given them. Her aunt looked over and sighed, Sanae's father used to do the same thing.
"You're so much like your father," she said quietly.
"You knew my father?" asked Sanae inquisitively, "Were you his sister?"
"No," she replied, bitter memories lurking just below her easy tone, "I was engaged to him. But then he met your mom and they went off and got married. I ended up marrying his brother instead." 'Bastard,' she thought, 'breaking an arranged marriage for something as trivial as love. He had no sense of duty.' Sanae's father was cursed by the clan, her mother loathed. But the poor child didn't know that.
"Oh," replied Sanae. What else was there to say? They spent the rest of the trip in silence.
*~*~*~*
"This is your room," said her aunt crisply, "there is a bathroom just through that door. You are, under no circumstances allowed to leave this room. Your meals and tea will be left outside your door, the servant will knock three times, and then leave. You will wait at least a minute before opening the door. You will eat your food and place the plate back on the cart for collection. You cannot go onto the balcony. There are books to read for your entertainment. The clothes in the closet are for you, as are the toiletries in the bathroom. I cannot stress the importance of you not leaving this room. Understood?"
Sanae understood the words, but not the reasoning behind them. However, she agreed in an effort to please her aunt. She left and Sanae looked around in wonder. There was a gigantic canopy bed, head butted up against the wall, but the bed looked minute in the vastness of the room. There were two easy chairs, a couch, a bureau with a mirror, a small desk, and a huge walk in closet.
Sanae opened the doors of the closet with interest. When her aunt had said "the clothes in the closet" Sanae had expected an outfit or two. Instead, it was filled with gorgeous silk robes of every color , and these had a label over them marked "everyday outfits." Just behind them was a rack filled with the most exquisite robes and dresses she'd ever seen, marked "evening/company wear". Even her mother's wedding clothes looked shabby compared to these. And they were all for her, Sanae. It was like she was living in some wonderful dream, that you knew wasn't real but you enjoyed it until you woke up. She noticed another rack labeled "sleep attire" and suddenly realized just how tired she was. A yawn parted her lips as she changed into her pyjama's and headed for the adjoining bathroom, which was just as grand as the bedroom. As she climbed into the comfy, down filled bed and drifted off to sleep a thought occurred to her, she didn't ever want to wake up from this dream.
~*~*~*~*~*
"Whatcha doin'?" To be quite honest, Syaoran was bored. His mother had gone on another business trip for the clan. She'd just came back from one last night, but she wouldn't tell him what she had done. He didn't think his mother liked him very much. He had tried to play with his sisters but they had all shooed him out of their rooms, calling him annoying. He was NOT annoying. But, nevertheless, they didn't want to play with him, and he had nothing to do, *and* he was hungry! Oh the cruelty, to be bored and alone and hungry. He hadn't eaten since lunch, and it was 1:30 already! Which is why he was here bugging. . .er, talking to the cook.
"Making tea," replied the cook shortly. She had very little patience with the Li boy, he could be quite a hindrance. And she was busy, she continued to arrange several pastries on a plate and set out milk and sugar for the tea on the platter.
"For who?" he asked, bright eyes shining. Those pastries looked really good.
"Not for you," she replied. It would get better when he started his training, she reminded herself, less than two years.
"Oh," he looked crestfallen, but curiosity was getting the better of him, "For who then?"
"No one."
This perplexed the kid for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. "Why?"
"Just run along and play," said the cook, sighing. Master Li obeyed her, dejectedly leaving the kitchen. The truth be told, she didn't know who it was for. She was just told to bring three meals a day outside the master guestroom, knock three time, and run. But she didn't dare ask, one didn't keep a job in the Li household by asking questions. She poured the tea and set up the platter. She carried it up the set of stairs to the guest wing, not noticing the small figure following quietly.
~*~*~*~*~*
Sanae heard the three knocks at her door, followed by rapid footsteps taking the other set of stairs at the opposite end of the hall. Whoever brought her food was leaving, the person had done the same thing at both breakfast and lunch. She was seated in one of the armchairs, dressed in a pale green robe, hair out and down. Sanae rose slowly, being sure to wait a full minute. That was when she heard it, the sound of light footsteps moving stealthily toward her room. Maybe she was just imagining it. She walked over to the door, opening it slowly, muscles tense, just in case. She nearly broke out in laughter.
There, seated in front of her tray was a boy of no more than six, probably five or so. Her tray of food was wide open, the kid had a pastry in his mouth and another clutched in his stout little hand. He was drinking the milk for her tea right out of the small delicate, china jug. Unfazed by the opening door, he continued right on enjoying his feast. He smiled a lopsided, icing filled grin at Sanae.
She was instantly won over by the small boy. Finally, there was some sunshine in this dreary house. She sat cross-legged next to him, looking him over. He looked back at her and the two identical pairs of eyes locked, creating a bond Sanae had never felt with anyone but her father before. He grinned impishly again at her after finishing the last of the food. Sanae grinned back, "You know what?" she asked.
"What?" he replied, voice toned with great interest.
"I have more of those pastries in my room left over from lunch."
His eyes widened, "Really?"
"Would you like some?"
"Yeah!" He followed her into her room. She closed the door to the room as they went in, taking the black tea with her. She sipped it as she watched him devour the rest of the food, and if possible, the grin grew wider, "I like you," he declared suddenly, "What's your name?"
"My name's Sanae Li, what about yours?"
He liked the way her accent sounded. It was different, friendlier than his mothers. She was nice, "I'm Syaoran Li and I'm five and a half," he declared proudly, then added, "How old are you Sanae Li?"
"I just turned twelve," she said, smiling. She wasn't used to being called by both her first and last name.
"Twelve? Wow," he said, "you're old! You know what Sanae Li?"
"What?" she asked, laughing, certainly amused by the fact that she was old at twelve.
"You're pretty."
For an old person, she thought, laughing. "Thank you Syaoran. You know, you don't have to call me Sanae Li, just Sanae."
"Okay," he said, "Do you want to play with me Sanae?"
"Sure." She spent the afternoon amusing Syaoran with her quirky sense of humor and kind words, while he amused her with his bluntness and innocence. By the time 4:00 had come around, poor Syaoran was exhausted from his day. As Sanae and he sat on her bed, reading story books, he drifted slowly off to sleep. Sanae watched the small chest rise and fall rhythmically, overcome with deep love for this young boy who had captured her heart in one short afternoon. She'd always wanted a little brother, but a younger cousin was almost as good. After asking Syaoran a few questions, she found out her aunt was his mother, as she'd already expected. He was so perfect. She yawned. And she was so tired. Sanae couldn't help herself from falling asleep beside him.
~*~*~*~*~*
"What do you mean you've lost my son?" asked Mrs. Li furiously. She just spent the entire day in an airport waiting for Meilin and her parents to arrive, as well as Nao, and now here she was, her guests eating their dinner happily in the dining room, and her servant telling her no one had seen her son since about 1 o'clock.
"We searched the entire house, as well as the grounds. We just can't seem to find him," replied the servant nervously. Everyone had been looking for him since he didn't arrive at the dinner table with his sisters at 4:30. The cook was in hysterics, she blamed herself. His sisters were also self-condemning, saying they hadn't played with him. In the servant's opinion, and it was worth every two cents, the boy would eventually turn up, he'd been known as a trouble maker and was probably just trying to get a rise out of everyone.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Syaoran awoke in complete darkness. He was hungry again, but definitely not bored. He heard his mother's voice: harsh and loud, and sighed, looking over at his cousin. Sanae was so funny, and nice, and good, not like his sisters or mother at all. They were too busy for him. But not Sanae. He wanted her to wake up.
~*~*~*~*
Sanae felt a tiny hand patting her face and a voice calling, "Sanaaee? Saaannnaaaaeeee?" She opened her eyes, still heavy with sleep and found herself gazing up into the face of a boy, she knew him. Her sleepiness was starting to lift, it was Syaoran, her cousin. She sat up and flicked on the bedside lamp. He grinned at her, "I'm hungry, Sanae."
She smiled, "So am I, Syaoran. Let's see what they left outside my door okay? We'll split it."
"Sounds good."
Sanae turned on the main light in her room, following Syaoran to the door. She laughed at his disheveled hair and, fixing hers quickly in a mirror, started putting his back in place. When she was satisfied, and they had reached the door, she grabbed the tray of food and brought it quickly into the room, not even waiting for the three knocks. Her aunt had told her dinner would arrive at her door at promptly 4:15, so whoever had delivered it was well gone. It was 6:30.
She opened the food tray on her bed and began dividing the food. She put half of it on the roll plate and left the rest on the dinner platter. She handed it to Syaoran, and he stared at her quizzically. "What?" she asked.
"We're. . .we're not going to sit at a table?" he asked, his voice full of awe at his cousin's defiance of house tradition.
She laughed, "Nope, not tonight."
He was amazed at her carefree attitude and her seeming lack of respect for manners, "Could we maybe . . . um . . . read a book. . .while we eat?" He looked so shocked at himself for saying these things, his mother would have scolded him for even suggesting something like that. But Sanae didn't seem to even think twice.
"Sure, what book would you like to read?"
He grinned at her, she was so much fun.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was absurd. Was that laughter coming from Sanae's room? Her son's laughter? But Syaoran doesn't laugh, Mrs. Li told herself, at least not around me. This whole idea was ludicrous, but she had checked everywhere else. She turned the door handle and slowly opened the door, shocked by the sight she beheld.
Sitting on Sanae's bed was her son and her niece, thoroughly ignoring any etiquette or table manners. They were absorbed in a book and Sanae's words floated toward her, " 'By the way, Amelia Bedelia,' said Alcolu, 'Mrs. Rogers told me to prune the hedge. Could you show me how?' 'I would be glad to,' said Amelia Bedelia. She went to the cupboard. She took out a box of prunes. Amelia and Alcolu went to the hedge. 'Now,' said Amelia Bedelia, 'you take a prune. Then stick it on like this.' . . . " (AN- direct quote from: Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower, © 1966 by Margaret Parish, I used to love those books!)
Syaoran's laughs echoed in the large room. He never laughs around me, she thought bitterly, he never snuggles up close to me like that either. His words cut through her, "Sanae, I love you." He had never told her that, either. The only time he'd been this free was around his father. Hot tears stung her eyes, it was this girl's fault he was dead. She wiped her eyes and walked into the room, Syaoran's laughs dying instantly. He scrambled off the bed and stood at attention.
"Syaoran, what are you doing?"
"I was just . . ." he trailed off, his eyes resting on the floor.
"Just ignoring the clan rules? Just failing to show up promptly for dinner? Just disobeying my orders to stay out of this part of the house?"
"Yes ma'am. . ." he admitted, ashamed.
"Go to your room this instant. A servant will be up shortly to get you bathed because, as you have probably forgotten, your bride selection will begin tomorrow. Any questions?"
"No."
"Then go."
She turned to Sanae, "As for you," Sanae flinched, "I suggest you do the same. You will be pared off tomorrow as well. That is all."
She spun on her heel and walked out of the room, leaving Sanae on her own.
~*~*~*~*~*
Sanae awoke in the middle of the night to the sounds of voices outside in the hall. She crept closer to the door, listening hard.
". . . don't know what you're trying to pull. I was under the impression that our daughter and you're son we're going to be the only ones at the choosing ceremony. And now you tell me the little half-breed is going to be there. Not to mention Nao, ugh. What if Meilin gets paired with him? You know it's thought he works a lot with dark magic. What else could've happened to his parents?"
"You know nothing has been proven. I'm as unhappy as you are, believe me. But not to worry, Meilin and Syaoran were raised since birth to be each others mates. And we've taken certain precautions. The table is square, we'll sit them across from each other, and do the same with Sanae and Nao. The staff is too long to point to anyone else except for the person across the table."
"Excellent, sister, excellent . . ." The voice was so familiar, she was sure she had heard it before.
~*~*~*~*~*
Sanae entered the exquisitely decorated room early the next morning, following Syaoran, a girl with intense red eyes that looked at her condescendingly even though she couldn't have been any older than six, and a boy, a man really of about eighteen. Her aunt and another couple, with the same patronizing stares, were already standing in the room.
She saw her name scrolled across one of the plates and she sound down at the place indicated. The others did the same. Her aunt walked over to the table, carrying a heavy wooden case. She placed a hand on top of it, "Ancient staff of Clow, grant us your wisdom. Match each person sitting here today with their ideal mate."
The staff rose out of the box and flew into Sanae's hand. Almost instinctively she spun it, generating a large circle of light around her. She heard the couple gasp, and the man say, "Unbelievable, only Clow can operate the staff."
Her aunt raised her left hand and shouted, "Here!" The staff flew from Sanae's hand and into her's. Everyone was staring at Sanae.
As though she chose to ignore what had just happened, her aunt handed the staff to Syaoran, who was sitting to Sanae's left, "Please activate this Syaoran."
He looked at the staff gravely, as though all the laughter from last night had been drained from him, "Staff of Clow, point me to the one whom I shall marry." The long hunter green stick began to spin, stopping just in front of the girl with the mirthless red eyes. The staff appeared to be struggling. It vibrated and began to bend. Mrs. Li raised her hand, fighting to keep the staff where it was. The room waited with baited breath. The girl's parents also raised their hands and began to help her aunt. The staff shuddered violently on the table. Breaking the deathly silence of the room, it snapped in two, the other end pointing to Sanae. The adults gasped, cursing under their breaths. Finally, her aunt spoke, "Will you all please wait in the study, Meilin's parents and I have something to discuss."
They didn't wait long. Meilin's father came out shortly after and spoke to them, "We have decided that the couples shall be as follows, Syaoran and Meilin, and Sanae and Nao. We've come the conclusion that the staff's decision is incorrect because it snapped. Sanae, Nao, you will be married at the end of this week. Meilin and Syaoran you will complete your training and be married when you reach the age of twelve. That is all." She realized where she knew the voice from, it was the voice that killed her parents.
~*~*~*~*~*
Nao wielded the heavy metal bat, spinning it in his left hand. He laughed, and she could smell the alcohol on his breath. He'd been out most of the night, playing baseball with his friends, chasing women in the local bar. She'd been with him two years, and the story was always the same, he'd go out, she'd get some peace and quiet, but there was hell to pay when he came home. Sometimes he'd hurt her with magic but on occasion, like tonight, he said he liked the sport of beating her by hand. He moved closer to her, knocking a large glass vase on to the floor. The glass shattered, and scattered across the hardwood floor. Sanae backed away, and Nao laughed again, bitterly, "So, wife of mine, when I was out with the boys tonight, I came to a conclusion.. Do you know what that was?"
She trembled and prayed he wasn't going to hit her, not with the bat, "No."
"OF COURSE YOU DON'T! I came to the conclusion that all my friends didn't have to worry about how much money they spent 'cause they didn't have a wife," he yelled, slurring his speech, "You ungrateful little bitch! You haven't even given me a child yet!"
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Not as sorry as you're going to be." He brought the bat down hard, connecting with her right leg, she fell to the floor, pleading with him to stop. But he didn't, he took several more swings, breaking several of her ribs and her left arm. She heard him laugh as he swung one more time, bringing the bat across the side of her head, "I'm outta here. I hope you die."
~*~*~*~*~*
Sanae stared at the hospital ceiling, trying to count the tiles but failing miserably because one eye was completely swollen shut. It had been two days since Nao had last beat her, the first time she'd been in the hospital because of it. Somehow she had managed to dial 911 before passing out and when she awoke she found herself here, being asked questions by a countless number of police officers. Today they had stopped coming, and she was left alone. From what she understood, they had placed a restraining order on Nao to keep her away from him, but they could only charge him if she agreed. Somehow, she didn't think charging him would do any good. She did however, want to file for divorce. She laughed a little. She was going to be a fourteen year old divorcee.
A busy looking nurse bustled into her room, "It's good to hear you laugh, child. If it were me, I don't think I could keep up such a high spirit." She changed Sanae's IV and opened the curtains.
"If I don't keep up a high spirit, what else do I have?" she asked.
"That's the way to approach life. You'll never go wrong with an attitude like that. You know, you have visitors."
"Visitors?" Who would be visiting her? She had made no friends these past two years with Nao.
"Yes, they're checking in at the front desk now." She left the room, leaving Sanae wondering. A short time later she heard the distinct sound of shoes walking down the long corridor on which her room was found. From what she could tell, there were two people coming.
The door creaked open and Sanae sat up. It was her aunt and Syaoran. Her aunt looked tired, as if the past two years had taken their toll on her. She barely recognized Syaoran. The eyes were cold and soulless, the lop-sided grin had been replaced by a serious frown, and he had bruises covering most of his forearms and his right eye.
Her aunt looked at her, "I'm sorry this happened, Sanae." I'm sorry he didn't kill you, she added in her head.
"It's not your fault, I . . . I just don't know where I'm going to go. Where am I going to live? What's going to happen to me?" She sobbed, the tears she had been holding in for the past two days, the past two years, came pouring out.
"I'm going to go talk to the nurse," her aunt said crisply. She spun around and left, leaving Sanae crying on the bed.
She felt a warm hand grasp her's. Syaoran had come around the side of the bed, and she looked up at him. The eyes that had been so cold moments ago were filled with warmth and compassion. He hugged her, and she wept into his shoulder, neither of them speaking for several minutes.
His small voice comforted her, "It's okay, don't cry. What's wrong?" He was only seven, she didn't expect him to understand, she just wanted him to be there. She wiped away her tears and looked at him again. He had grown at least a foot over the last two years, and he had lost his childhood chubbiness.
"Nothing's wrong Syaoran, I'm glad you're here now," she smiled for him, "What happened to your face and your arms?"
"I'm in training now," he announced proudly, calling forth a sword that was more than half his height, "I lost in battle." The dark, serious look came back to the boy's face, and Sanae noticed he looked particularly focused for someone only seven, "But I will train hard and live up to my potential as the next leader of the Li clan."
She felt bad for him, it was as though all the laughter had been taken from his life, like a rose plant that had never budded or bloomed. He stared distantly out of the window, attention focused on a single, solitary bird which was trilling on a nearby tree. He spoke, his voice low and toneless, as though the boy who had just comforted her moments ago had been repressed deep inside him, "You're coming to live with us, mother told me. You're going to train with Meilin and I to become a magical servant to the Li clan and it's elders."
"Serve them? Why would I want to serve them? They killed my parents. I don't see why you would want to either, after what they did to you," she said bitterly. She looked at Syaoran, he was looking back at her quizzically, "You don't know, do you?"
"Know what?" His voice trembled as though he knew what was coming, but hoped it never would.
Maybe it would be best to wait until he was older, but he was going to find out eventually. "They killed your father Syaoran. He wouldn't kill my dad, so they murdered him," she said softy, he deserved to know.
Tears spilled out of his large amber eyes, "You're lying," his voice shook, she knew he believed her. She hugged him tightly and her pulled her closer, "They . . .k . killed . . .him." He was gasping and sobbing, clutching her. She smoothed down his hair with her right hand, stroking it soothingly.
"Shh . . . it's okay. Let it all out. I know, it's okay," she comforted him as best as she could.
"It's . . . That's not going to happen when I'm the leader of the clan," he choked out after a few minutes, "You're still going to come back and train though, right?" He pleaded with his eyes if not his voice, "Meilin's not very good, she doesn't have ANY magic. And I had to go find her bird 'cause she lost it." He scoffed into the floor, the emotions from moments ago once again lost deep inside the small boy.
"What?"
"Never mind. You are coming back, aren't you?" he asked again, insistence obvious in his voice.
"Sure, for you I will. But I don't think I have any magic either."
His eyes widened, "You do! I heard my mom talking about it, she'd says you could be as powerful as Clow."
"Who's Clow?"
His eyes became even bigger, "You don't know who Clow Reed is? He's our ancestor, he created a whole new type of magic. But it became too powerful so he had to conceal it in cards. And he put them in a book, and he created a guardian beast, and a judge and a. . ."
"Whoa, slow down, kiddo," she said laughing, "So Clow was pretty important, eh?"
He nodded enthusiastically, "When I'm done my training, I'm going to be just like him and make a new type of magic. Or maybe find the Clow book. 'Cept I'll call the cards the Syaoran cards, and they'll be green, like my battle costume. You can see it when we get home."
~*~*~*~*~*
Sanae, Meilin and Syaoran stood in a line, the elders of the clan sat before them. The one in the middle spoke, "After two years of training and completing your final trial successfully," she smiled as she watched Syaoran rub his backside, it was debatable at how successful they had been at their final trail, "I now pronounce you able to serve and uphold the traditions of the Li clan. You should all be very proud."
~*~*~*~*~*
Touya watched the image flicker and jump, he saw flashes of Syaoran, his sister, Sanae, himself, and many others he didn't understand, like his sister spinning a staff. The orb's blue glow faded to nothing and fell onto the floor, startling him with the quiet thud. He looked at the clock, it was now 12:47 a.m.
He understood why Sanae didn't want to date him, first the pedophile Yoshino and then that bastard Nao, it was a small wonder she didn't totally hate all men. He felt terrible for her, she had such a terrible life and his constant pushing for a date and lack of tolerance for her magic was so stupid of him. He hit his bedside table with his fist. God, he hated himself.
He needed to talk to Sanae, explain that he understood, that he was sorry, that he still needed her in his life. He needed to tell her it was alright, comfort her, whisper endless cliches to her until the world ended and nothing was left in it but the two of them. He needed to think, the silence of the house was deafening. So he did what he always did when he was confused, or afraid, or lonely - he pulled on his sweats and sneakers. Creeping quietly out of his bedroom, he made his way down the stairs and out of the front door, breaking into a brisk run as the rain fell onto his shoulders.
~*~*~*~*~*
Sanae awoke with a start. Lightning flashed, casting jagged shadows across her bedroom floor and rain pelted the roof mercilessly. She stretched and yawned, she was suddenly very awake. The large green numbers on her bedside clock flashed 2:56.
Sanae rolled out of bed and walked out to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea. Putting the kettle on to boil, she stared out of the kitchen window. The lightning cut ragged paths across the sky and thunder boomed close nearby. The storm outside matched her mood. How could she have judged Touya so wrong? She had thought he would have been tolerant of magic, it ran in his family. Somehow, Sanae didn't envy Sakura on the day she told her brother of her powers. She stretched again, though she did envy her on every other day. She had so much natural power, unlike a certain other dashingly handsome but ultimately thickheaded member of the Kinomoto family. But that wasn't true either, Touya definitely had some magic, his aura was far to strong not to. Maybe he was just an idiot, Sanae laughed to herself.
Her thoughts were interrupted by pounding at the front door. Getting to her feet, Sanae moved quickly toward the sound, hoping the knocker wouldn't wake Syaoran. One good thing about her training, she thought, was the fact that she never had to worry about some crazy maniac on the other side of the door trying to assault her, she could kick any man's ass. She flicked on the porch light and unhooked the chain, the knocking was becoming more insistent. She swung open the door, poised to attack if needed.
Standing on her front porch was Touya, totally drenched and shivering. He was mumbling something to himself and didn't even seem to notice that she had opened the door. She stared at him, "Touya, what are you doing here?"
"Sanae, I'm s. . . so sorry. I just . . . and then . . . the ball . . . Nao . . . I understand," he looked at her with pleading eyes, "I understand now. Please, you have to forgive m. . .me. I'm an idiot . . . an idiot . . . God, it's all my fault. Please. . ." He was shivering badly and his words came out in fragments and stutters.
"Touya, what happened?" She took him by the hand and led him inside, his lips had turned a shade of light blue. Though she was still mad a him, she was also very worried. She sat him on the couch and ran to her closet, finding an old sweat-suit that was at least three sizes too big, she handed it to him and lead him to the bathroom, "Here, put this on."
"But I understand now. I have to . . .to talk to you." he protested, she continued to try and get him to change, starting to close the bathroom door. "Sanae, listen to me!" He cupped her face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes, "I love you. I love you with a force that scares me. I love you, and I'm the biggest idiot in the world for trying to make you love me. I know about Yoshino-san and Nao, and I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for not understanding your magic, I'm so sorry for everything. If you never want to see me again, it's okay. I just had to tell you."
"Oh Touya," she was shocked by the power of his words, "I love you too. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before about the magic, or Yoshino, or Nao. How did you find out?"
He grabbed the orb out of his pocket and threw it to her, "A little wolf told me." he smiled as water puddled on the linoleum of the floor.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Touya pulled the hood of the coat Sanae lent him over his head, running toward his house. He and Sanae had spent the last hour talking, and as it stood now, they were more than friends. A broad grin formed on Touya's face, Sanae was the most amazing girl he had ever met.
As he ran into the house, he didn't notice the pair of cold red eyes staring out at him from behind a nearby bush. (dun dun dun)
To be continued . . .
By Kelly
li_luva_2000@yahoo.ca
Woohoo, I'm sorry it took so long for me to write but it was definitely worth it (at least I think so). Aww . . .I feel so bad for Sanae, if it wasn't for the S+T WAFF at the end I would've been seriously depressed writing this chapter, but you don't really care. Anyway, in chapter five- Touya suffers the repercussions of staying out all night walking in the rain, plus I promise Sakura will be in it somewhere. I barely mentioned she was alive in this chapter, oh well. I mean, she's ONLY the central character of the entire anime and manga, she doesn't really matter, right? (Laughs manically) I hope to see you at the next chapter . . .please R&R!! I beg you!!
Girl of Their Dreams
Chapter 4- Discovery
Kelly M.
"Sanae, don't get so close to the water."
Sanae was standing unsteadily on the end of their dock, helping her father unload the days catch. Her mother worried too much.
Her father agreed, "It's fine dear, let Sanae help, she is ten after all."
"Practically grown up," chimed in the young girl. She loved her father, he always had so much faith in her, "Besides, there's nothing else to do on summer break," she whined.
"All right," her mother conceded, "but be careful."
"I will," she said, once again tottering shakily.
Her mother laughed, she was as stubborn as her father, "I'm going to go back home to start dinner, see you two after you get these shipped off to the market. Bye."
"Good-bye darling." "Bye mother!" they called after her.
As she walked off into the distance, Sanae marveled at her beauty. She was pretty, but not just from the outside. It was like you could almost see her heart shining from inside her.
"Yes, your mother does have that special quality known as inner-beauty. And so do you. Keep it in you always, Sanae. Promise me that." her father said, staring off into the sea.
It always scared her a little when he did that. How did he know what she was thinking? There was something her parents weren't telling her. Last week she'd walked in on her mother cleaning, and the broom was moving itself. She'd never noticed anything like that when she was younger. "Okay dad, I promise."
"Good. Here comes Yoshino-san now to pick up the fish."
It was a minute or two before Sanae saw him. He came around the bend in the road and greeted them, "Hello, how are you doing this evening?"
"Great. With a sunset as lovely as that, how could one not feel uplifted," the two men shook hands and Yoshino-san and her father started loading the fish in his truck.
"That's wonderful to hear. How are you, child?"
"Good," she replied nervously. She was quite shy around anyone but her family.
The man laughed jovially, turning to her father once more, "A timid one, that girl is. Not much of a mind of her own. She'll make a fine wife some day. Any prospects in mind?"
Sanae narrowed her eyes. She wasn't an idiot just because she was a girl and didn't go to school. Her father had taught her to read, and write, as well as do math, science and geography.
That was another thing that was odd. Most fishermen in their town were barely literate, but her father was very smart. She wondered where he'd gone to school. He and her mother hadn't told her anything about their pasts.
Her father took Yoshino's comment with a grain of salt, "She's got more in her head than she lets on, sir." He laughed, "And no, we haven't got anyone lined up for her yet. I'm afraid we don't have much of a dowry to offer."
"Why, her looks alone are a fine prize. And she comes from a good stock. You and your wife are both hard-working. Any father should be glad to have Sanae marry their son. In fact, my youngest is yet to be betrothed. I would be very interested in Sanae."
Her father looked almost shocked, he shook Yoshino-san's hand vigorously, "Of course, sir. Why don't you come up for tea tomorrow so we can discuss it?"
"I'll be there." He closed the back door of the truck and left. Sanae and her father walked home as dusk settled across the land.
~*~*~*~*~*
Later that night, Sanae lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She should've felt happy because she was bringing her family honor by marrying Yoshino-san 's son. Yoshino-san was one of the richest men in the village. But she wasn't sure she wanted to be married . . . especially to his son. Sanae shuddered, remembering.
It had happened earlier that summer. She had begged her parents to go to the market alone one day to get eggs. Everything had gone fine, she'd set off down the road like she usually did, only this time without her father, but that day had been different.
~ Gray clouds hovered in the sky, and the air hung wet and heavy. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Sanae pulled at her sweat soaked shirt, trying to let the air circulate. She looked up at the sky, wondering if the rain would cool things off. As though the heavens were answering her question, cold rain poured down. Behind her, Sanae heard a sound. Two headlights were visible, cutting through the darkness. The car pulled up beside her, and the window rolled down. It was Yoshino-san, "Would you like a ride?"
"Yes, thank-you sir," Sanae replied, getting into the truck.
"No problem. You're Li-san's daughter, aren't you?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm his only child, actually."
"Where are you going all on your own?"
"My mother needed eggs, and I wanted to go get them."
"So you're going to the market?"
"Yes."
"Good, so am I. I can give you a ride home afterwards if the rain doesn't let up."
"Thank-you, sir."
"Don't mention it."
They rode the rest of the way in silence. Sanae stared out of the window, watching the harbor-front houses, similar to her own. She was grateful for the ride. The walk into town usually took three quarters of an hour. This way, she'd be home by the time she usually arrived at the market.
Her parents would be surprised.
They got to the market, and ran out quickly, gathering their items and returning to the truck. Yoshino-san had purchased the eggs for her, against her protests, as he was buying some for himself, and when they started back toward their village, Sanae was in high spirits. She barely noticed when they had turned off the main road onto a deserted country road, surrounded by a dense forest of trees on either side. She did notice, however, when they turned onto a wide forest trail, as the branches kept hitting the side of the truck. Rain splattered thickly on the windshield, and even the gray sky was blocked out by the tightly packed trees, making it almost as dark as night. She started to worry.
"Um . . . where are we going?"
"Oh, it's just a short cut," he assured her.
He stopped in a large clearing and got out of the car. Walking slowly around, he stopped with his back turned to her about twenty feet away from the truck. Worried, Sanae grabbed her basket of eggs and opened the truck door, "Sir?" she called meekly. She got out of the car and started walking toward him, "Sir?" He still didn't respond. She was nearly to the spot he was standing on, "Sir?" She tapped him on the shoulder.
He spun suddenly, seizing her wrist and pulling him close to her. The kindly look on his face had been replaced by a hungry, animal-like stare. Sanae writhed, kicked and screamed, but there was no one there to help her, and she couldn't get away, he was too strong.
With his free hand, he worked furiously with the ties on her robe, not even noticing her struggle. He was finally successful and pulled the clothes off her. Grabbing hold of the other arm, he stood behind her and held her there. Sanae heard him grunting, the sounds of a belt buckle being undone. She flailed her legs aimlessly behind her, hoping to connect with something. Praying this was all some strange dream. She felt her foot strike something, then a loud yell. He let go of her arms and she started to run toward the edge of the clearing. If she got to the forest, she would be able to hide. Yoshino was only stunned for a moment though, and she heard snapping twigs close behind her. "Only fifteen feet, come on Sanae, ten, you can do it," she urged herself on, her legs felt like lead, "Five, just a little bit more." She pushed herself forward. She was so close. An arm tightened around her waist, dragging her back. Ten feet from the sweet shelter of the forest, fifteen, twenty. He pushed her on the ground, pinning her arms down. He was sitting just below her hips. He released one of her hands, still undoing his pants. She tried to hit him but he barely flinched. She felt her underwear being pulled off, him forcing himself into her, pushing, rocking, moaning. The pain between her legs was immense, she screamed, her thoughts, her will to fight, being blocked out by the white-hot rush of agony spreading like wildfire throughout her body. She wanted to die. She heard the sound of a wild animalistic howl. Was that her voice?
~*~*~*~*~*
'I feel so . . . weak.' The pain was starting to subside, thoughts were coming now in spurts. His energy was lacking, he was becoming softer, it would be over soon. He pulled out of her, panting nearby. She saw him stand, pulling up his pants. He started to walk toward the truck. Though her body was stiff and weak, rage forced the words out of her, "I'm going to tell everyone what you did!"
To her surprise, he turned toward her, his lips curling up into a twisted smile, "Do you think they'll believe you? Or even care? I own this town, no one gives a shit about fisher-trash like you. I doubt you're father would even listen to you." He spat at her, and retrieved something from his truck. It was his basket of eggs, "There, take those and go back home," he pointed to her overturned basket, "I think your's are broken." He laughed cruelly and left her in the clearing.~
She had never told anyone, she arrived home at the same time she would've if she'd walked to the market, and her parents had just assumed her clothes were dirty from walking in the rain, the blood on her underwear from her first period. She never told them anything different.
All of a sudden, a burst of lighting illuminated her room, awakening her from the haunting thoughts. Strange, there wasn't a cloud in the sky when she'd went to bed ten minutes ago. A thunderous knock at the front door echoed throughout the house. She heard her mother gasp and the door of her room was thrown open, her father bursting in. He looked worried. "Father, what's wrong?" she asked.
"There's no time to explain, Sanae," he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the hall, opening their large linen closet, "Stay here and don't come out, no matter what happens. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, but why? What's . . . ?"
"Please, just do it. And stay quiet." He shut the door hastily, and Sanae found herself in the dark. She heard the door of their house slam against the wall, followed by her mother's screams. Her father spoke, his tone calm, "So, the clan has found us?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"Yes. You got lazy, used your powers too openly, we found you," replied another voice, equally calm, "And you know the price for betrayal and cowardice. It is on this night that I must collect that price, your lives."
Sanae shuddered, how could her father take this so calmly? The man was going to kill her them. Her father spoke once more, "You can't kill me, you know the rules of the clan, only my brother is supposed to kill me if I betrayed them. You don't have the authority to overrule the elders." What was he talking about? Elders? Clan? Brother? Both her parents had told her they were only children, and their parents had passed away. Sanae had thought her only relatives were her mother and father.
The man laughed bitterly, "Very true, traitor. But your brother is as unmanly as you, how could we ever think he would be our strongest leader? But he wasn't meant to be a leader, that was supposed to be your job. He refused to come and put you to death honorably, so we had to kill him."
"Did you do it? My little brother . . . " her father's voice trailed off in disbelief, then rose in anger, "Murderer! He had a family, a little boy, and you killed him in cold-blood! Didn't you?"
"I guess it's good you don't have a family, they'd be ashamed of you. You just have your wife, the whore!" barked the man, "Was she worth it, scum? Was she worth your clan's trust? Your brother's life? You killed him, not me. But I will take pleasure that you'll die by my hands."
Sanae heard her mother's sobs. A blinding blue flash illuminated the dark closet for a brief moment, followed by the screams of her parents. Something thudded up against the closet door, followed by the sigh of a man, "You could've been the strongest, but you gave it up, traitor. You deserve to be dead." The front door closed, and Sanae sat in the eerie calm of the closet's enveloping hold. The silence choked her, her breathing shallow and labored, coming in gasps. A sticky liquid trickled over her hand, seeping under the door. Sanae cried herself to sleep, never leaving the sanctuary of the closet.
~*~*~*~*~*
The officer spoke rapid Mandarin to her, asking all sorts of questions which she didn't understand. She managed to pick out a few words that were similar to her native tongue, Cantonese, but not enough to even piece together what he was asking. She didn't care about the questions. She just wanted her parents. A fresh batch of tears rolled down her face, the officer stopped with the inquiry and held her close, his soothing tone enough for Sanae at the moment.
Another man walked over, a detective, and asked a question to the officer she was with. He replied in a low voice and Sanae picked up a few words, " . . . neighbour came . . . Yoshino . . . bodies . . . called us. . . . we found her . . . closet . . . father's body against the . . . crying . . . can't speak Mandarin," he finished. He looked down at her with sympathetic eyes.
"Hey," the detective said rather roughly, "do you speak Cantonese?" Finally she understood the words.
"Yeah," she said uncertainly, not trusting her own voice.
"Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"
"No. Go ahead." She concentrated on the patterns of the dirt in her front yard.
"Those people who were killed, were they your parents?"
The question caught her for a second. She didn't realize he would be so gruff. "Uh huh," she nodded.
"And what were you doing in the closet?"
"I . . ." she looked at him straight in the eyes before continuing. "I didn't know actually. My," she choked out the word but still continued, "father told me to hide there. He said I'd be safe, . . . I . . . he . . . " Sanae broke down in tears, and the detective looked at her quizzically. The officer scolded him, Sanae could tell by the tone, even if the only word she caught was "blunt."
"I'm sorry," he apologized to Sanae, "I'm not used to working with people so . . . young." He cleared his throat and continued, "So your father told you to hide in the closet and you did, right?"
"Yes," she replied, looking back at the ground.
"Did you stay there until the officer found you this afternoon?"
"Yeah, I didn't want to find them, d . . ." she hung her head and sobbed, body trembling, burying her head in the officer's shoulder.
The detective paused before continuing, "Can you tell us anything about the person who killed them?"
"It was a guy, but I didn't see him. I don't know why he would ever . . ." she couldn't continue, she just couldn't.
The officer stroked her head gently, and asked the detective something rather harshly. The detective looked taken aback by the officer's tone but obediently asked her, "Do you have any relatives you could stay with?"
Head still pressed against the officer, Sanae replied, "No, my parents are . . ." she paused, "were only children."
The detective relayed the response to the officer, who then posed another question, the detective quickly translated, "Are you engaged? Could you stay with that family?"
Sanae bit her lip, she hated Yoshino-san, "No, I'm not engaged."
The two policemen talked about it for a long time, too long, in Sanae's opinion. As she listened to the steady, rhythmic patterns of their voices she drifted slowly off into a peaceful sleep, distinctly hearing the word "orphanage" several times.
~*~*~*~*~
"What a way for you to spend your twelfth birthday, eh Sanae?" asked her friend, sitting beside her in their classroom.
"Are you kidding me," she joked, "Who wouldn't want to take a math test on their birthday?" Her friend laughed, and took out her notebook for some last minute studying. She peered up from her book and looked at her friend, Sanae, who was gazing intently out of the window. Something set her apart from the other children, though most chose to ignore it because Sanae was so kindhearted. She *was* different, like the time the teacher's glass exploded when he yelled at Sanae, shattered into thousands of tiny sharp projectiles, each barely missing him. That had happened only last week, but there had been other incidents, smaller ones. Sanae just wasn't like the rest of them, maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.
Sanae stared out of the window. She'd been in the orphanage for just under two years, made friends, started a new life. Sanae knew she would never be adopted, only the little kids were, or the boys who were needed to work on farms. She'd probably live here until she was at least eighteen, six more years in this hell. It wasn't really that bad, but she just pictured more for herself. In fact this place could be somewhat enjoyable, Sanae had spent countless hours reading the books in the library (she'd read them all at least twice, even the senior's textbooks), or playing a game with the class of four and five year olds. But what she really wanted was a home with a family, like she had before. With a father's warm smile, a mother's loving hugs, a . . . The classroom door opened and snapped Sanae out of her daydream.
One of the teachers walked in the room and started distributing the tests, giving out instructions as he went. Sanae scanned it quickly, this stuff was a breeze, she knew it all. She was about half done when there was a knock at the door. Their teacher had a brief conversation, then suddenly called, "Ms. Li, can you please bring your test paper up to the front, along with your books, you're excused from this class."
Sanae obediently did as she was told, thoroughly perplexed. Was she going to get in trouble for the glass thing? It was an accident, she didn't know how it had happened. She followed the headmistress into her room and sat in one of the chairs. In the chair next to her sat a woman, dressed in expensive silk robes. Sanae felt rather shabby sitting next to the woman in her old, discolored, orphanage issued uniform. Sanae didn't meet her or the headmistresses eye, she simply stared down at the hands that were folded neatly in her lap. The headmistress spoke, "Sanae, you are a lucky young lady, Mrs. Li is very interested in adopting you."
Sanae didn't quite believe her, "Me specifically, ma'am?" Why would this well bred, obviously rich woman, want a poor fisher-girl from the heart of mainland China?
The headmistress looked stern, "Mind your manors, Sanae. Yes dear, you specifically. It turns out she is your aunt, and wants to take care of you."
"I have an aunt? I have an aunt!" she stood up and turned excitedly to Mrs. Li, "You're my aunt! ," she declared exuberantly, all manors forgotten. The headmistress looked utterly disgusted at Sanae's outburst but she couldn't help it. She had a family! What a great birthday present. Mrs. Li smiled a little at the child, so full of energy, it seemed almost cruel to take her away from this place, back to the clan, where she would be shamed, her will broken, poor naive child. A voice in the back of her head, one she hadn't heard for a long time, her conscience, spoke out unexpectedly, "You could always tell the clan you couldn't find her, you could always help her hide from them." She pushed the voice back bitterly, ignoring it.
She spoke, "Sanae, our plane leaves tonight. It's best if you started packing your things now."
"We're going on a plane?" Sanae's amber eyes, so similar to her son's, widened.
The voice spoke again, "Like your son's. Would you do this to your son? Would you lead him like a lamb to slaughter, so innocent, so trusting?" If a person could kill a sound, it would be certain Mrs. Li would have done so at that moment. She replied to Sanae, "Yes, please pack your belongings."
Sanae smiled brightly, "Alright, I'll be back in a bit." She practically ran at full tilt to their rooms. Twenty bunk beds lined either side of the room, making for a total of 80 places to sleep, Sanae found her bunk and opened one of the heavy green trunks at the foot of her bed. The other belonged to the girl on the bottom. Inside held all of her worldly possessions, which were few but precious: her fathers sword, though she didn't know it, it was in it's concealed form and she didn't have enough power to unlock it yet; her mother's wedding robes, embroidered with the Li family crest; a picture of her family together, just months before they had died: and finally, a set of bonds that her father had left her. It turned out they were not as poor as she thought, the bonds had just matured leaving her over $50,000 when she turned 17. They rest of the money, from the house, had went toward her parent's funerals. In fact, everyone had thought her family was dirt poor until the police had found the will, along with the bonds, the dress, and the sword, all of which were left to Sanae. A lone tear dripped down Sanae's cheek, but she was still sent here. She had no family . . . until today. She brightened, today was not a day to cry, she was going to have a home. She closed up the trunk and dragged it back towards the main office. A thought occurred to her almost subconsciously, how had her aunt found her? Out of the blue, a voice echoed in her head ". . .you got lazy, used your powers too openly, we found you . . ." She pushed it back not wanting to think of that now.
~*~*~*~*~
She looked over at her aunt, who was reading quietly. Her aunt was pretty, not near so as her mother, but nice to look at. She just didn't seem to have that inner beauty her mother possessed. She had barely spoke to Sanae the entire plane ride, she had simply told her a proper lady should hold her tongue. But Sanae had so many questions. Like where were they going? The stewardess had promptly answered that question when she greeted them "Welcome to Air 'something' (Sanae couldn't quite remember), we hope you enjoy your stay in Hong Kong." Or if there were other children in her house? Or if she would be able to go to a real school? Or . . . oh there were so many things! Why was Mrs. Li not talking to her? Sanae honestly didn't think it was because she was mean, she just didn't seem very good with children. Bored, Sanae started to doodle on the back of one of the flight magazines the flight attendant had given them. Her aunt looked over and sighed, Sanae's father used to do the same thing.
"You're so much like your father," she said quietly.
"You knew my father?" asked Sanae inquisitively, "Were you his sister?"
"No," she replied, bitter memories lurking just below her easy tone, "I was engaged to him. But then he met your mom and they went off and got married. I ended up marrying his brother instead." 'Bastard,' she thought, 'breaking an arranged marriage for something as trivial as love. He had no sense of duty.' Sanae's father was cursed by the clan, her mother loathed. But the poor child didn't know that.
"Oh," replied Sanae. What else was there to say? They spent the rest of the trip in silence.
*~*~*~*
"This is your room," said her aunt crisply, "there is a bathroom just through that door. You are, under no circumstances allowed to leave this room. Your meals and tea will be left outside your door, the servant will knock three times, and then leave. You will wait at least a minute before opening the door. You will eat your food and place the plate back on the cart for collection. You cannot go onto the balcony. There are books to read for your entertainment. The clothes in the closet are for you, as are the toiletries in the bathroom. I cannot stress the importance of you not leaving this room. Understood?"
Sanae understood the words, but not the reasoning behind them. However, she agreed in an effort to please her aunt. She left and Sanae looked around in wonder. There was a gigantic canopy bed, head butted up against the wall, but the bed looked minute in the vastness of the room. There were two easy chairs, a couch, a bureau with a mirror, a small desk, and a huge walk in closet.
Sanae opened the doors of the closet with interest. When her aunt had said "the clothes in the closet" Sanae had expected an outfit or two. Instead, it was filled with gorgeous silk robes of every color , and these had a label over them marked "everyday outfits." Just behind them was a rack filled with the most exquisite robes and dresses she'd ever seen, marked "evening/company wear". Even her mother's wedding clothes looked shabby compared to these. And they were all for her, Sanae. It was like she was living in some wonderful dream, that you knew wasn't real but you enjoyed it until you woke up. She noticed another rack labeled "sleep attire" and suddenly realized just how tired she was. A yawn parted her lips as she changed into her pyjama's and headed for the adjoining bathroom, which was just as grand as the bedroom. As she climbed into the comfy, down filled bed and drifted off to sleep a thought occurred to her, she didn't ever want to wake up from this dream.
~*~*~*~*~*
"Whatcha doin'?" To be quite honest, Syaoran was bored. His mother had gone on another business trip for the clan. She'd just came back from one last night, but she wouldn't tell him what she had done. He didn't think his mother liked him very much. He had tried to play with his sisters but they had all shooed him out of their rooms, calling him annoying. He was NOT annoying. But, nevertheless, they didn't want to play with him, and he had nothing to do, *and* he was hungry! Oh the cruelty, to be bored and alone and hungry. He hadn't eaten since lunch, and it was 1:30 already! Which is why he was here bugging. . .er, talking to the cook.
"Making tea," replied the cook shortly. She had very little patience with the Li boy, he could be quite a hindrance. And she was busy, she continued to arrange several pastries on a plate and set out milk and sugar for the tea on the platter.
"For who?" he asked, bright eyes shining. Those pastries looked really good.
"Not for you," she replied. It would get better when he started his training, she reminded herself, less than two years.
"Oh," he looked crestfallen, but curiosity was getting the better of him, "For who then?"
"No one."
This perplexed the kid for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. "Why?"
"Just run along and play," said the cook, sighing. Master Li obeyed her, dejectedly leaving the kitchen. The truth be told, she didn't know who it was for. She was just told to bring three meals a day outside the master guestroom, knock three time, and run. But she didn't dare ask, one didn't keep a job in the Li household by asking questions. She poured the tea and set up the platter. She carried it up the set of stairs to the guest wing, not noticing the small figure following quietly.
~*~*~*~*~*
Sanae heard the three knocks at her door, followed by rapid footsteps taking the other set of stairs at the opposite end of the hall. Whoever brought her food was leaving, the person had done the same thing at both breakfast and lunch. She was seated in one of the armchairs, dressed in a pale green robe, hair out and down. Sanae rose slowly, being sure to wait a full minute. That was when she heard it, the sound of light footsteps moving stealthily toward her room. Maybe she was just imagining it. She walked over to the door, opening it slowly, muscles tense, just in case. She nearly broke out in laughter.
There, seated in front of her tray was a boy of no more than six, probably five or so. Her tray of food was wide open, the kid had a pastry in his mouth and another clutched in his stout little hand. He was drinking the milk for her tea right out of the small delicate, china jug. Unfazed by the opening door, he continued right on enjoying his feast. He smiled a lopsided, icing filled grin at Sanae.
She was instantly won over by the small boy. Finally, there was some sunshine in this dreary house. She sat cross-legged next to him, looking him over. He looked back at her and the two identical pairs of eyes locked, creating a bond Sanae had never felt with anyone but her father before. He grinned impishly again at her after finishing the last of the food. Sanae grinned back, "You know what?" she asked.
"What?" he replied, voice toned with great interest.
"I have more of those pastries in my room left over from lunch."
His eyes widened, "Really?"
"Would you like some?"
"Yeah!" He followed her into her room. She closed the door to the room as they went in, taking the black tea with her. She sipped it as she watched him devour the rest of the food, and if possible, the grin grew wider, "I like you," he declared suddenly, "What's your name?"
"My name's Sanae Li, what about yours?"
He liked the way her accent sounded. It was different, friendlier than his mothers. She was nice, "I'm Syaoran Li and I'm five and a half," he declared proudly, then added, "How old are you Sanae Li?"
"I just turned twelve," she said, smiling. She wasn't used to being called by both her first and last name.
"Twelve? Wow," he said, "you're old! You know what Sanae Li?"
"What?" she asked, laughing, certainly amused by the fact that she was old at twelve.
"You're pretty."
For an old person, she thought, laughing. "Thank you Syaoran. You know, you don't have to call me Sanae Li, just Sanae."
"Okay," he said, "Do you want to play with me Sanae?"
"Sure." She spent the afternoon amusing Syaoran with her quirky sense of humor and kind words, while he amused her with his bluntness and innocence. By the time 4:00 had come around, poor Syaoran was exhausted from his day. As Sanae and he sat on her bed, reading story books, he drifted slowly off to sleep. Sanae watched the small chest rise and fall rhythmically, overcome with deep love for this young boy who had captured her heart in one short afternoon. She'd always wanted a little brother, but a younger cousin was almost as good. After asking Syaoran a few questions, she found out her aunt was his mother, as she'd already expected. He was so perfect. She yawned. And she was so tired. Sanae couldn't help herself from falling asleep beside him.
~*~*~*~*~*
"What do you mean you've lost my son?" asked Mrs. Li furiously. She just spent the entire day in an airport waiting for Meilin and her parents to arrive, as well as Nao, and now here she was, her guests eating their dinner happily in the dining room, and her servant telling her no one had seen her son since about 1 o'clock.
"We searched the entire house, as well as the grounds. We just can't seem to find him," replied the servant nervously. Everyone had been looking for him since he didn't arrive at the dinner table with his sisters at 4:30. The cook was in hysterics, she blamed herself. His sisters were also self-condemning, saying they hadn't played with him. In the servant's opinion, and it was worth every two cents, the boy would eventually turn up, he'd been known as a trouble maker and was probably just trying to get a rise out of everyone.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Syaoran awoke in complete darkness. He was hungry again, but definitely not bored. He heard his mother's voice: harsh and loud, and sighed, looking over at his cousin. Sanae was so funny, and nice, and good, not like his sisters or mother at all. They were too busy for him. But not Sanae. He wanted her to wake up.
~*~*~*~*
Sanae felt a tiny hand patting her face and a voice calling, "Sanaaee? Saaannnaaaaeeee?" She opened her eyes, still heavy with sleep and found herself gazing up into the face of a boy, she knew him. Her sleepiness was starting to lift, it was Syaoran, her cousin. She sat up and flicked on the bedside lamp. He grinned at her, "I'm hungry, Sanae."
She smiled, "So am I, Syaoran. Let's see what they left outside my door okay? We'll split it."
"Sounds good."
Sanae turned on the main light in her room, following Syaoran to the door. She laughed at his disheveled hair and, fixing hers quickly in a mirror, started putting his back in place. When she was satisfied, and they had reached the door, she grabbed the tray of food and brought it quickly into the room, not even waiting for the three knocks. Her aunt had told her dinner would arrive at her door at promptly 4:15, so whoever had delivered it was well gone. It was 6:30.
She opened the food tray on her bed and began dividing the food. She put half of it on the roll plate and left the rest on the dinner platter. She handed it to Syaoran, and he stared at her quizzically. "What?" she asked.
"We're. . .we're not going to sit at a table?" he asked, his voice full of awe at his cousin's defiance of house tradition.
She laughed, "Nope, not tonight."
He was amazed at her carefree attitude and her seeming lack of respect for manners, "Could we maybe . . . um . . . read a book. . .while we eat?" He looked so shocked at himself for saying these things, his mother would have scolded him for even suggesting something like that. But Sanae didn't seem to even think twice.
"Sure, what book would you like to read?"
He grinned at her, she was so much fun.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was absurd. Was that laughter coming from Sanae's room? Her son's laughter? But Syaoran doesn't laugh, Mrs. Li told herself, at least not around me. This whole idea was ludicrous, but she had checked everywhere else. She turned the door handle and slowly opened the door, shocked by the sight she beheld.
Sitting on Sanae's bed was her son and her niece, thoroughly ignoring any etiquette or table manners. They were absorbed in a book and Sanae's words floated toward her, " 'By the way, Amelia Bedelia,' said Alcolu, 'Mrs. Rogers told me to prune the hedge. Could you show me how?' 'I would be glad to,' said Amelia Bedelia. She went to the cupboard. She took out a box of prunes. Amelia and Alcolu went to the hedge. 'Now,' said Amelia Bedelia, 'you take a prune. Then stick it on like this.' . . . " (AN- direct quote from: Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower, © 1966 by Margaret Parish, I used to love those books!)
Syaoran's laughs echoed in the large room. He never laughs around me, she thought bitterly, he never snuggles up close to me like that either. His words cut through her, "Sanae, I love you." He had never told her that, either. The only time he'd been this free was around his father. Hot tears stung her eyes, it was this girl's fault he was dead. She wiped her eyes and walked into the room, Syaoran's laughs dying instantly. He scrambled off the bed and stood at attention.
"Syaoran, what are you doing?"
"I was just . . ." he trailed off, his eyes resting on the floor.
"Just ignoring the clan rules? Just failing to show up promptly for dinner? Just disobeying my orders to stay out of this part of the house?"
"Yes ma'am. . ." he admitted, ashamed.
"Go to your room this instant. A servant will be up shortly to get you bathed because, as you have probably forgotten, your bride selection will begin tomorrow. Any questions?"
"No."
"Then go."
She turned to Sanae, "As for you," Sanae flinched, "I suggest you do the same. You will be pared off tomorrow as well. That is all."
She spun on her heel and walked out of the room, leaving Sanae on her own.
~*~*~*~*~*
Sanae awoke in the middle of the night to the sounds of voices outside in the hall. She crept closer to the door, listening hard.
". . . don't know what you're trying to pull. I was under the impression that our daughter and you're son we're going to be the only ones at the choosing ceremony. And now you tell me the little half-breed is going to be there. Not to mention Nao, ugh. What if Meilin gets paired with him? You know it's thought he works a lot with dark magic. What else could've happened to his parents?"
"You know nothing has been proven. I'm as unhappy as you are, believe me. But not to worry, Meilin and Syaoran were raised since birth to be each others mates. And we've taken certain precautions. The table is square, we'll sit them across from each other, and do the same with Sanae and Nao. The staff is too long to point to anyone else except for the person across the table."
"Excellent, sister, excellent . . ." The voice was so familiar, she was sure she had heard it before.
~*~*~*~*~*
Sanae entered the exquisitely decorated room early the next morning, following Syaoran, a girl with intense red eyes that looked at her condescendingly even though she couldn't have been any older than six, and a boy, a man really of about eighteen. Her aunt and another couple, with the same patronizing stares, were already standing in the room.
She saw her name scrolled across one of the plates and she sound down at the place indicated. The others did the same. Her aunt walked over to the table, carrying a heavy wooden case. She placed a hand on top of it, "Ancient staff of Clow, grant us your wisdom. Match each person sitting here today with their ideal mate."
The staff rose out of the box and flew into Sanae's hand. Almost instinctively she spun it, generating a large circle of light around her. She heard the couple gasp, and the man say, "Unbelievable, only Clow can operate the staff."
Her aunt raised her left hand and shouted, "Here!" The staff flew from Sanae's hand and into her's. Everyone was staring at Sanae.
As though she chose to ignore what had just happened, her aunt handed the staff to Syaoran, who was sitting to Sanae's left, "Please activate this Syaoran."
He looked at the staff gravely, as though all the laughter from last night had been drained from him, "Staff of Clow, point me to the one whom I shall marry." The long hunter green stick began to spin, stopping just in front of the girl with the mirthless red eyes. The staff appeared to be struggling. It vibrated and began to bend. Mrs. Li raised her hand, fighting to keep the staff where it was. The room waited with baited breath. The girl's parents also raised their hands and began to help her aunt. The staff shuddered violently on the table. Breaking the deathly silence of the room, it snapped in two, the other end pointing to Sanae. The adults gasped, cursing under their breaths. Finally, her aunt spoke, "Will you all please wait in the study, Meilin's parents and I have something to discuss."
They didn't wait long. Meilin's father came out shortly after and spoke to them, "We have decided that the couples shall be as follows, Syaoran and Meilin, and Sanae and Nao. We've come the conclusion that the staff's decision is incorrect because it snapped. Sanae, Nao, you will be married at the end of this week. Meilin and Syaoran you will complete your training and be married when you reach the age of twelve. That is all." She realized where she knew the voice from, it was the voice that killed her parents.
~*~*~*~*~*
Nao wielded the heavy metal bat, spinning it in his left hand. He laughed, and she could smell the alcohol on his breath. He'd been out most of the night, playing baseball with his friends, chasing women in the local bar. She'd been with him two years, and the story was always the same, he'd go out, she'd get some peace and quiet, but there was hell to pay when he came home. Sometimes he'd hurt her with magic but on occasion, like tonight, he said he liked the sport of beating her by hand. He moved closer to her, knocking a large glass vase on to the floor. The glass shattered, and scattered across the hardwood floor. Sanae backed away, and Nao laughed again, bitterly, "So, wife of mine, when I was out with the boys tonight, I came to a conclusion.. Do you know what that was?"
She trembled and prayed he wasn't going to hit her, not with the bat, "No."
"OF COURSE YOU DON'T! I came to the conclusion that all my friends didn't have to worry about how much money they spent 'cause they didn't have a wife," he yelled, slurring his speech, "You ungrateful little bitch! You haven't even given me a child yet!"
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Not as sorry as you're going to be." He brought the bat down hard, connecting with her right leg, she fell to the floor, pleading with him to stop. But he didn't, he took several more swings, breaking several of her ribs and her left arm. She heard him laugh as he swung one more time, bringing the bat across the side of her head, "I'm outta here. I hope you die."
~*~*~*~*~*
Sanae stared at the hospital ceiling, trying to count the tiles but failing miserably because one eye was completely swollen shut. It had been two days since Nao had last beat her, the first time she'd been in the hospital because of it. Somehow she had managed to dial 911 before passing out and when she awoke she found herself here, being asked questions by a countless number of police officers. Today they had stopped coming, and she was left alone. From what she understood, they had placed a restraining order on Nao to keep her away from him, but they could only charge him if she agreed. Somehow, she didn't think charging him would do any good. She did however, want to file for divorce. She laughed a little. She was going to be a fourteen year old divorcee.
A busy looking nurse bustled into her room, "It's good to hear you laugh, child. If it were me, I don't think I could keep up such a high spirit." She changed Sanae's IV and opened the curtains.
"If I don't keep up a high spirit, what else do I have?" she asked.
"That's the way to approach life. You'll never go wrong with an attitude like that. You know, you have visitors."
"Visitors?" Who would be visiting her? She had made no friends these past two years with Nao.
"Yes, they're checking in at the front desk now." She left the room, leaving Sanae wondering. A short time later she heard the distinct sound of shoes walking down the long corridor on which her room was found. From what she could tell, there were two people coming.
The door creaked open and Sanae sat up. It was her aunt and Syaoran. Her aunt looked tired, as if the past two years had taken their toll on her. She barely recognized Syaoran. The eyes were cold and soulless, the lop-sided grin had been replaced by a serious frown, and he had bruises covering most of his forearms and his right eye.
Her aunt looked at her, "I'm sorry this happened, Sanae." I'm sorry he didn't kill you, she added in her head.
"It's not your fault, I . . . I just don't know where I'm going to go. Where am I going to live? What's going to happen to me?" She sobbed, the tears she had been holding in for the past two days, the past two years, came pouring out.
"I'm going to go talk to the nurse," her aunt said crisply. She spun around and left, leaving Sanae crying on the bed.
She felt a warm hand grasp her's. Syaoran had come around the side of the bed, and she looked up at him. The eyes that had been so cold moments ago were filled with warmth and compassion. He hugged her, and she wept into his shoulder, neither of them speaking for several minutes.
His small voice comforted her, "It's okay, don't cry. What's wrong?" He was only seven, she didn't expect him to understand, she just wanted him to be there. She wiped away her tears and looked at him again. He had grown at least a foot over the last two years, and he had lost his childhood chubbiness.
"Nothing's wrong Syaoran, I'm glad you're here now," she smiled for him, "What happened to your face and your arms?"
"I'm in training now," he announced proudly, calling forth a sword that was more than half his height, "I lost in battle." The dark, serious look came back to the boy's face, and Sanae noticed he looked particularly focused for someone only seven, "But I will train hard and live up to my potential as the next leader of the Li clan."
She felt bad for him, it was as though all the laughter had been taken from his life, like a rose plant that had never budded or bloomed. He stared distantly out of the window, attention focused on a single, solitary bird which was trilling on a nearby tree. He spoke, his voice low and toneless, as though the boy who had just comforted her moments ago had been repressed deep inside him, "You're coming to live with us, mother told me. You're going to train with Meilin and I to become a magical servant to the Li clan and it's elders."
"Serve them? Why would I want to serve them? They killed my parents. I don't see why you would want to either, after what they did to you," she said bitterly. She looked at Syaoran, he was looking back at her quizzically, "You don't know, do you?"
"Know what?" His voice trembled as though he knew what was coming, but hoped it never would.
Maybe it would be best to wait until he was older, but he was going to find out eventually. "They killed your father Syaoran. He wouldn't kill my dad, so they murdered him," she said softy, he deserved to know.
Tears spilled out of his large amber eyes, "You're lying," his voice shook, she knew he believed her. She hugged him tightly and her pulled her closer, "They . . .k . killed . . .him." He was gasping and sobbing, clutching her. She smoothed down his hair with her right hand, stroking it soothingly.
"Shh . . . it's okay. Let it all out. I know, it's okay," she comforted him as best as she could.
"It's . . . That's not going to happen when I'm the leader of the clan," he choked out after a few minutes, "You're still going to come back and train though, right?" He pleaded with his eyes if not his voice, "Meilin's not very good, she doesn't have ANY magic. And I had to go find her bird 'cause she lost it." He scoffed into the floor, the emotions from moments ago once again lost deep inside the small boy.
"What?"
"Never mind. You are coming back, aren't you?" he asked again, insistence obvious in his voice.
"Sure, for you I will. But I don't think I have any magic either."
His eyes widened, "You do! I heard my mom talking about it, she'd says you could be as powerful as Clow."
"Who's Clow?"
His eyes became even bigger, "You don't know who Clow Reed is? He's our ancestor, he created a whole new type of magic. But it became too powerful so he had to conceal it in cards. And he put them in a book, and he created a guardian beast, and a judge and a. . ."
"Whoa, slow down, kiddo," she said laughing, "So Clow was pretty important, eh?"
He nodded enthusiastically, "When I'm done my training, I'm going to be just like him and make a new type of magic. Or maybe find the Clow book. 'Cept I'll call the cards the Syaoran cards, and they'll be green, like my battle costume. You can see it when we get home."
~*~*~*~*~*
Sanae, Meilin and Syaoran stood in a line, the elders of the clan sat before them. The one in the middle spoke, "After two years of training and completing your final trial successfully," she smiled as she watched Syaoran rub his backside, it was debatable at how successful they had been at their final trail, "I now pronounce you able to serve and uphold the traditions of the Li clan. You should all be very proud."
~*~*~*~*~*
Touya watched the image flicker and jump, he saw flashes of Syaoran, his sister, Sanae, himself, and many others he didn't understand, like his sister spinning a staff. The orb's blue glow faded to nothing and fell onto the floor, startling him with the quiet thud. He looked at the clock, it was now 12:47 a.m.
He understood why Sanae didn't want to date him, first the pedophile Yoshino and then that bastard Nao, it was a small wonder she didn't totally hate all men. He felt terrible for her, she had such a terrible life and his constant pushing for a date and lack of tolerance for her magic was so stupid of him. He hit his bedside table with his fist. God, he hated himself.
He needed to talk to Sanae, explain that he understood, that he was sorry, that he still needed her in his life. He needed to tell her it was alright, comfort her, whisper endless cliches to her until the world ended and nothing was left in it but the two of them. He needed to think, the silence of the house was deafening. So he did what he always did when he was confused, or afraid, or lonely - he pulled on his sweats and sneakers. Creeping quietly out of his bedroom, he made his way down the stairs and out of the front door, breaking into a brisk run as the rain fell onto his shoulders.
~*~*~*~*~*
Sanae awoke with a start. Lightning flashed, casting jagged shadows across her bedroom floor and rain pelted the roof mercilessly. She stretched and yawned, she was suddenly very awake. The large green numbers on her bedside clock flashed 2:56.
Sanae rolled out of bed and walked out to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea. Putting the kettle on to boil, she stared out of the kitchen window. The lightning cut ragged paths across the sky and thunder boomed close nearby. The storm outside matched her mood. How could she have judged Touya so wrong? She had thought he would have been tolerant of magic, it ran in his family. Somehow, Sanae didn't envy Sakura on the day she told her brother of her powers. She stretched again, though she did envy her on every other day. She had so much natural power, unlike a certain other dashingly handsome but ultimately thickheaded member of the Kinomoto family. But that wasn't true either, Touya definitely had some magic, his aura was far to strong not to. Maybe he was just an idiot, Sanae laughed to herself.
Her thoughts were interrupted by pounding at the front door. Getting to her feet, Sanae moved quickly toward the sound, hoping the knocker wouldn't wake Syaoran. One good thing about her training, she thought, was the fact that she never had to worry about some crazy maniac on the other side of the door trying to assault her, she could kick any man's ass. She flicked on the porch light and unhooked the chain, the knocking was becoming more insistent. She swung open the door, poised to attack if needed.
Standing on her front porch was Touya, totally drenched and shivering. He was mumbling something to himself and didn't even seem to notice that she had opened the door. She stared at him, "Touya, what are you doing here?"
"Sanae, I'm s. . . so sorry. I just . . . and then . . . the ball . . . Nao . . . I understand," he looked at her with pleading eyes, "I understand now. Please, you have to forgive m. . .me. I'm an idiot . . . an idiot . . . God, it's all my fault. Please. . ." He was shivering badly and his words came out in fragments and stutters.
"Touya, what happened?" She took him by the hand and led him inside, his lips had turned a shade of light blue. Though she was still mad a him, she was also very worried. She sat him on the couch and ran to her closet, finding an old sweat-suit that was at least three sizes too big, she handed it to him and lead him to the bathroom, "Here, put this on."
"But I understand now. I have to . . .to talk to you." he protested, she continued to try and get him to change, starting to close the bathroom door. "Sanae, listen to me!" He cupped her face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes, "I love you. I love you with a force that scares me. I love you, and I'm the biggest idiot in the world for trying to make you love me. I know about Yoshino-san and Nao, and I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for not understanding your magic, I'm so sorry for everything. If you never want to see me again, it's okay. I just had to tell you."
"Oh Touya," she was shocked by the power of his words, "I love you too. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before about the magic, or Yoshino, or Nao. How did you find out?"
He grabbed the orb out of his pocket and threw it to her, "A little wolf told me." he smiled as water puddled on the linoleum of the floor.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Touya pulled the hood of the coat Sanae lent him over his head, running toward his house. He and Sanae had spent the last hour talking, and as it stood now, they were more than friends. A broad grin formed on Touya's face, Sanae was the most amazing girl he had ever met.
As he ran into the house, he didn't notice the pair of cold red eyes staring out at him from behind a nearby bush. (dun dun dun)
To be continued . . .
By Kelly
li_luva_2000@yahoo.ca
Woohoo, I'm sorry it took so long for me to write but it was definitely worth it (at least I think so). Aww . . .I feel so bad for Sanae, if it wasn't for the S+T WAFF at the end I would've been seriously depressed writing this chapter, but you don't really care. Anyway, in chapter five- Touya suffers the repercussions of staying out all night walking in the rain, plus I promise Sakura will be in it somewhere. I barely mentioned she was alive in this chapter, oh well. I mean, she's ONLY the central character of the entire anime and manga, she doesn't really matter, right? (Laughs manically) I hope to see you at the next chapter . . .please R&R!! I beg you!!