Author's Notes: Do you ever get tired of reading these notes? I can't help it, fics just aren't balanced without them. Anyways, I know that there are
some things in this chapter that don't fit in ancient China, but I poked fun at myself just a little about it twice in this chapter. Want to know more
about Sakura's past? Then request a sequel... that's going to be a big part of it. Also I really, really want to write it. I'm running out of time, so
think disclaimer and then enjoy the story! -Anrui
The guard stood against the wall eating the dinner that his wife had packed. Akuma never really checked on them outside of their shift change, so the guards usually took time out for such things.
A clang sounded from down below, but he ignored it. "That Mara's a real trouble maker," he muttered under his breath. He started to continue on with his meal and stopped as he heard a nearby door swing open. "Who's there?" he commanded in his deep voice. Someone took him from behind and held a sword to his throat.
"You don't say anything," Syaoran told him, "Or I'll cut your throat." The guard stood completely still. "Good," Syaoran continued, "Now you can lead us to where he is keeping my son." The guard pointed a finger, and the five of them started down the hall in that direction.
"Emperor... did you know that you're wearing women's clothing?" Kentaro asked studying the outfit. Mara and Sakura both stifled giggles.
Syaoran turned red, "It's a long story." All of them froze as they heard footsteps approaching from down the hall. It was another guard, one who had apparently been drinking quite a bit. He passed on by, swerving from wall to wall.
"Some security this place has," Mara snorted, "A better trespasser could clear the place out."
Kentaro frowned, "How much longer is this going to take?"
"Why?" the three of them asked, turning.
He blushed, "I kind of have to use the bathroom."
"Third room on the right," Mara told him, pointing to the door. They all turned to her. "What? Can't a lady no the location of bathrooms? Mom called it a gift." Kentaro went off in that direction and the others started down the flight of stairs. When they reached the bottom the guard made a noise and pointed to a room.
Syaoran opened the door and peeked in. Akuma lay nicely tucked in his bed, slumbering. He shut the door and pressed the sword closer to the guard's neck, "One more move like that, and we'll be forced to look on our own." The guard gulped and then led them up the stairs again.
Kentaro emerged from the bathroom, wondering about the mechanics of a second-floor bathroom, or the second floor at that. It felt as if he were time traveling, "He must be very smart."
"Why do you say that?" Mara asked.
"Not even the emperor has a second floor or such a complex draining system."
"I'm sure he's ahead of his time," Syaoran said dryly.
"Or it could be witchcraft!" Mara exclaimed. They all ignored her suggestion. "What?"
"Shh! We're supposed to be silent," Sakura pointed out. The guard made another squeaky noise and pointed at another room. They opened the door to find little T'ien sitting on the bed quietly. Sakura ran over and hugged him, tears in her eyes, "I missed you so much."
T'ien held himself stiffly, and she looked at him. He pulled away. "What's wrong?" she asked sadly.
"You don't love daddy!" the little boy accused.
Sakura bent down to face him, "And who told you this?"
He lowered his head, "The evil man."
Sakura lifted his chin with her hand, "T'ien, I do love your daddy... very, very much, okay?"
T'ien threw his arms around her neck and sobbed into her shoulder, "I love you, mommy."
"I love you, too," she whispered in his hair, hugging him tightly.
"This is sweet and all..." Mara interrupted, looking over her shoulder, "But it's not exactly the best place for it."
Kentaro was sniffing, "... just like in the plays..." She whacked him on the head and then started making her way back to the dungeon. The rest of them followed, wanting to get out just as badly.
The opening still lay at the end of the tunnel, light spilling out from the other side. Snow still lay like a clean, white blanket over the landscape. T'ien stuck his thumb in his mouth, "I don't want to go out there. He said there were snow monsters."
Sakura shot Kentaro a dirty look before pulling her son's finger out of his mouth, "There are no such things out here, and how many times do I have to tell you not to do that." T'ien pouted, but looked significantly more at ease.
Kentaro rubbed his neck, "It was just a story." Mara patted him sympathetically and then slapped the back of his head.
"You're both so violent," Sakura told them, "What kind of example are you setting for my child?"
"Yeah," Kentaro jabbed at Mara.
"I didn't ask you," Sakura snapped. Kentaro put his head down, wearing the same expression as T'ien.
Mara glanced around, bored with her husband's present situation. Syaoran was lost in thought, so Mara stuck out a foot and tripped him.
Syaoran glared at her, "Do you know I could count that as high treason?"
"What were you thinking about so hard anyway?" Mara asked with mock innocence. He turned his head away and didn't say anything else.
The five of them marched on for awhile in relative silence. Sakura sat down after a moment, T'ien resting sleepily in her arms, "I can't go any further. The rest of them sat down, tired themselves.
"You know," Kentaro said offhandedly, "I thought that you two'd fight a lot, like in the rumors that everyone's been telling."
"Yeah, and I thought that you'd," Mara pointed to Sakura, "be a real..." The last word got cut off as Kentaro stuck a hand over her mouth.
Sakura looked weary, "It's a long story."
"You never said you loved me," Syaoran commented.
"What was I supposed to say? That I hate the way you treated me, but that's okay now because I love you? Just because I love you doesn't make everything automatically okay..." Sakura stopped as she watched his face fall. "But..." she added, "It is a start."
"That's all I've ever asked for..."
Mara gagged, "Is that all you people ever do? I can't say it's healthy... there's way too much emotion for that. Wouldn't it be better to just say that everything without storing it up and making it all emotional? I mean, if you'd have just made the right decision in the first place Syaoran, or if you had just accepted the way your life was Sakura, then it all would have turned out okay... you could've paid more attention to your kid... and then you wouldn't be in this mess."
"But that's not the way it works," Kentaro whined, "Where's the romance in that?"
"Romance is for sissies," Mara snorted.
"I rather like it..." Kentaro retorted. Sakura and Syaoran sighed as they started fighting.
Suddenly, an evil laughter sounded through the trees. "Usually when you're running, you try not to make too much noise," Akuma said silkily, appearing from their right. "Pity you're not that smart."
Syaoran stood up, sword in hand, but Sakura put a hand on his arm, "No... let me do this."
He gave her a pleading look, but she held firm. Syaoran handed her the sword, "All right, but be careful."
Sakura advanced on Akuma, who now had his own weapon handy. Taking the first swing, she ducked as he tried a high counter-attack. "Is that the best you can do?" he jeered.
She spat on him, "No, I just needed somewhere to start." His eyes narrowed as he wiped his cheek. They started sparing again, meeting each other attack for attack.
"Who taught you to fight so well?" he asked, panting while he blocked her.
"That's none of your concern!"
"I just wanted to know who's pupil I was going to kill..." with that he lunged at her with all the strength he had left. She side-stepped and put her sword down just in time for it to slice into him. He gasped, dropping down and holding his side.
Sakura looked slightly appalled, but she walked over to him anyway. "Never," she told him angrily, "mess with me." Sakura lifted the sword and brought it down upon the back of his neck. He fell the rest of the way to the ground, staining the snow a crimson red. Mara, Kentaro, and Syaoran stared at her in shock, the latter covering his son's eyes.
"What? Did you think I couldn't do it?" she asked, wiping her hands.
T'ien tried to move the hand over his eyes, "What did mommy do?"
"Your mommy just killed that evil..." Kentaro put his hand over her mouth, and she stopped.
"Sometimes," Sakura stated calmly, "Soft just doesn't work." She started walking and then looked back at them, "Well... are you coming?" They all shook their heads sheepishly and then started out after her. "By the way, Syaoran," she said sweetly, "We're going to have another baby."
"And you didn't think to mention this before I let you fight?" Syaoran asked, trying to sound angry, but it didn't work. He sighed and then smiled, "It would be nice to have another child..."
"You mean you like the things?" Mara asked, "I think they're incredibly annoying."
Kentaro wiped a tear from his eye, "This is so sweet. I never really did believe those stories."
"But they were actually pretty true," Sakura pointed out to him.
Mara put a hand on her hip, "You mean to say that you were actually a circus performer that the emperor captured from Mongolia?"
Sakura gave her a strange look, "I haven't heard that one."
T'ien looked questioningly at his parents, "What's a con... concubine? I heard the evil man say it in the hall."
"Kid," Mara told him, kneeling down, "Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?"