Of Lions and Dragons
Chapter 10
Disclaimer:
This so depressing CCS isn't mine…
Author's Notes:
Tee Hee! Gomen that's a laugh I adapted from Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's Kokiri children, lol. Anyway did you like my cliffhanger? Who will win? (Do I really need to ask this question? We all know who's gonna win ^_^) Keep reading! One more note…ok I'm kind of answering a couple questions here. One question (or rather comment) was that Syaoran always saves Sakura in my fic…yeah, yeah, I know…I know…all I'm saying is please keep reading! There will be something major coming up soon…the fact that he always saves her is part of my story, there's a reason for it trust me. Second question was concerning the rating of my story…I'm sure a lot of you have been wondering about this. *sweat drop* You see the way I had the story originally planned is rated R for later chapters…I'm just too lazy to switch the ratings back and forth so that's why it's rated R right now…gomen nasai minna….hope this didn't cause too much confusion! Enjoy Chapter 10!
Chapter 10
The captain charged at Syaoran, the young warrior nimbly dodging the blow and spinning to press steel to steel. The captain laughed menacingly. "You're pretty good for a kid."
Syaoran shook his head and forced the blade closer to the man's throat. "You haven't seen anything yet."
From farther off, Sakura watched helplessly as the young man she loved fought for her life and his own, never backing down, meeting his every blow with a calculated and skilled defense of his own. Soon, the two pirates released her; finding the ensuing battle much more interesting than their prisoner. Sakura clenched her fists and reached for the key around her neck. Ducking around a corner, she held the key in front of her as it began to glow and rise into the air.
O key which hides the powers of Darkness,
Reveal thy true form to me
I, Sakura command you under contract
Release!
Wind swirled about Sakura's feet and rose up around her body, the small key lengthening and morphing into the sealing staff into her hands. "SWORD!" Blue mist swirled around the wand and transformed it into a long gleaming blade. Sneaking behind the crowd of pirates, Sakura crept up to the mast and slipped her sword under the rope, releasing her friends and leading them down to the lower deck unnoticed. Meiling looked nervously to Sakura. "Kinomoto-san, what are you going to do? There's no way all of us can take on a whole crew of pirates!"
"I know…demo…" Suddenly Sakura brightened. "Ah, I know who can help!"
Eriol nodded and Tomoyo laughed. "Kero-chan and Rhyu-chan ready for battle, ne?"
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Meanwhile on deck, the battle raged on, both combatants successfully evading each other time after time. The crowd around them grew more riotous and one of the men attempted to trip Syaoran, knocking the warrior off balance and leaving his side open for attack. He cried out in agony as the captain pressed his blade into Syaoran's side, extracting it and smiling at the small amount of blood collecting on the edge of the rapier. "Guess you're not as good as you think you are, ne?"
Syaoran held his side in pain and panted heavily, grimacing from the pain. Forcing a grin he stood in battle ready stance and faced his opponent with heroism. "Give me your best shot you coward."
The captain charged enraged and Syaoran leapt up straight into the air, landing on the captain with both feet and pressing his steel blade to the captain's throat. The crew stared with gaping mouths and then began to charge, Syaoran being whisked into the air by an unknown hand. The young sorcerer looked up, his own tawny eyes meeting Sakura's jade ones; he smiled gratefully as Sakura carefully pulled him up onto Kerberos's back. Setting the young warrior in her lap, Sakura leaned his head against her shoulder and stroked his face tenderly, "Don't ever do that to me again, ne?"
"Matte," Syaoran panted. "I'm not finished yet."
Sakura looked quizzically to Syaoran and raised an eyebrow. "Nani?"
Syaoran whispered in her ear, eliciting a nod from Sakura as she instructed Kerberos's to fly by the mast. Syaoran smiled back at Sakura and planted a soft kiss on her forehead before stepping onto the top of the mast. "There's a little thing I think you forgot, Captain…"
The captain's eyes widened in bewilderment at the flying lion and dragon hovering nearby, then narrowing at the brave teen standing courageously atop the mast. "And just what would that be?"
Sakura grinned and stepped up next to Syaoran, resting her hand on his shoulder. "That Li Syaoran never loses, and neither do I."
Syaoran smiled to Sakura and wrapped his arm around her to keep both their balance. "Hai…we don't. Ne, captain how much DO you know about the Li Clan?"
"That you're a powerful family…" He began to sweat nervously, he knew something was coming.
Syaoran produced a small ofuda from his pocket and pressed it to his sword as he watched the captain back up away from the mast. "That's it? Is that all you know? I think you forgot something, Captain."
"What?"
Sakura whispered an incantation under her breath and the captain watched baffled as the small necklace transformed into a pink staff, Sakura holding a card mischievously to her cheek.
"The Li Clan are all possessors of powerful magic." Syaoran closed his eyes, Sakura copying him as she tapped the staff to a card. "FIRE!" They yelled simultaneously. A swirling red fire began to spread around the ship consuming the timber with each passing flame. Syaoran wrapped his arms about Sakura's waist and agilely leapt to Kerberos's back once more, saluting the captain with a smirk.
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"Syaoran…let me see."
"Iie, I'm fine." Syaoran whispered grimacing as he hid the wound on his side from Sakura. The jade-eyed teen put her hands on her hips and attempted to pry the warrior's fingertips from his side. Reluctantly he agreed and removed his hand, crimson blood covering his palm. "Syaoran…"
He flinched and watched as Sakura pulled a card from her pocket, tapping her staff to it and smiling as a washcloth appeared, already sodden with water and healing herbs, a roll of bandages appearing in her other hand. Kerberos flew silently beneath them; he could feel a strong power growing stronger and stronger as they came closer to the island. Sakura then instructed Syaoran to turn his side to her, he smiled gratefully and turned. Applying the washcloth to his side, she cleaned the dried blood from his wound and let the healing herbs work their magic. She reached for the bandages and began to wrap them around his torso, being ever so careful so not to hurt him.
"Arigatou Sakura…"
Sakura didn't reply or smile, immediately alerting Syaoran that something was wrong with his angel. "Hey what's wrong?" He tenderly laid a hand on her shoulder and pulled her into an embrace, Sakura burying her face in his chest. "I can't…I…Syaoran…."
"Nani?" He asked gently, still holding her tenderly.
Sakura looked up to him with glistening emerald eyes, his own ocher eyes gazing softly at her. "Syaoran…there's something I wanted to tell you too…"
Suddenly Kerberos stopped in midair, his jaw hanging wide open from shock. "Ne, Kozou?"
"Nani Negumi?"
"Is that…your house?"
Syaoran looked ahead of them and Sakura followed his gaze. "HOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" She screamed so loud that she almost fell from the golden guardian's back.
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"Ah, home sweet home." Meiling stated yawning as she stretched her arms above her head. Tomoyo and Eriol stared in dumb shock at the sprawling mansion appearing before them. Tomoyo pointed to it, her mouth hanging open. "Sugoi…that's…"
"….quite impressive." Eriol finished for her.
Kerberos alighted softly on the ground nodding to his passengers. Syaoran stepped off the lion-like guardian and held out his hand to Sakura, helping her down to stand beside him. "Syaoran…is this just one house?"
Syaoran nodded and gestured around. "Welcome to the Li Clan Estate, Sakura."
(AN: If you've ever seen the first CCS movie, I know that Syaoran lives in a mansion and all, but this is a LOT bigger in this story, ne?) Sakura gaped around the island still not fully comprehending. An expansive mansion rose all around them. White stucco walls rose three stories into the sky, the roof painted China red, a solid gold ball adorning each little point on the roof, symbolizing the family's immense wealth. A flight of stone steps rose up a terraced lawn, tropical flowers of all sorts embellishing the walkway, lush palms lining the path as well. Ornate oriental windows covered the house from top to bottom, giving the manor the sort of feel of a palace. Kerberos folded his great white wings around him, a flashing light ensuing as a familiar stuffed toy emerged from the large wings and perched quietly on Sakura's shoulder. "Oi, are we just gonna stand outside all day?"
Syaoran chuckled and offered his hand to Sakura. "Shall we, Sakura?"
"Of course." Sakura took Syaoran's offered hand and smiled as everyone walked up the flight of stairs, still in complete awe of the extensive grounds and extravagance. Once they had reached the top, Sakura stopped in her tracks. The doors were almost two stories high and covered in elaborate carvings of every kind. Syaoran, (now dressed in a new outfit compliment of the Create Card and Sakura) knocked three times on the immense doors, one of them slowly creaking open. One of the attendants stepped into the doorway and bowed respectfully to Syaoran, taking a few moments to recognize who it was. "Li-sama!"
Syaoran nodded and motioned for everyone to follow him inside. "Please, could you tell me where my mother is?"
The attendant nodded and led everyone through the elaborate entranceway and down a large hallway, stopping in front of the double doors. "Li-sama, would you like me to direct your guests to the parlor?" She motioned to the party who had followed him inside.
Syaoran nodded. "Hai that would do nicely, arigatou."
The dark haired young woman gestured to Tomoyo and Eriol to follow her down the long hallway, to which they followed reluctantly. Meiling smiled, "It's good to be home, ne Syaoran?"
The young sorcerer nodded and smiled. "Hai…Meiling?"
"Nani?"
"Could you please keep Daidouji and Hiiragizawa occupied until dinner? You know like with a tour or something…"
Meiling flipped an ebony ponytail behind her shoulder and nodded. "I'm sure you and Kinomoto-san have some things to sort out anyway."
Emerald orbs blinked in surprise. "Nani? Shouldn't I go with Tomoyo-chan and Eriol-kun?"
"Iie, remember? The whole point of coming here was to meet mother and confirm your abilities…"
The ruby eyed young woman laughed and mumbled something about 'dense love' before going to entertain her guests. Sakura looked apprehensively to the large double doors, a tremor going through her body.
Syaoran only smiled and wrapped a protective arm around her shoulder. "It's alright, I wouldn't make you do anything that would put you in any kind of danger or make you feel uncomfortable."
"Hontou?"
"Hai." Syaoran reached for the golden doorknob and turned it slowly, gently bringing Sakura into the room with him and shutting the door behind them. "Okaa-san?"
"Xiao Lang…come and bring your friend with you."
Sakura stopped and her eyes widened in shock. How had she known that she was here? Syaoran saw the worry clearly apparent in Sakura's eyes and whispered to her gently. "Everything will be alright."
Soft footsteps resonated on the hardwood floor and out of the dim shadows emerged a tall woman. She was pale and rather stern looking, long ebony tresses held back by a golden headpiece flowed down her back. Her eyes were stern and bright, like hard diamonds, her lips a deep scarlet in contrast to her pale skin. The first thing that Sakura noticed about her however was her powerful magic, almost exploding about her, this woman was extremely powerful. Syaoran bowed respectfully and Li Yelan bowed back, Sakura jumping back to reality and doing the same. "I'm Kinomoto Sakura…please to meet you--…."
She stopped as Yelan raised her hand. "No need for introductions, Kinomoto-san. I sense great power….you are the Clow Mistress, ne?"
Sakura nodded and Yelan gestured to her son. "I'm sure my son has explained to you the arrangements at hand, ne?" Another nod from Sakura confirmed the Clan matriarch's question as she closed her eyes. "Then you also know that you are Xiao Lang's rival…"
Sakura shook her head. "I don't know…I guess that's supposed to be my destiny but… but I don't want to be Syaoran's rival…"
Yelan blinked in shock. 'What? 'Syaoran'? He's letting her call him by his first name? He never let's anyone but immediate family call him that…' "I see…Well, I believe you will be here for while, Xiao Lang will show you to your room later." She then turned to her son, finding him gazing adoringly at Sakura, a small smile threatening to turn up the corners of his mouth. "Xiao Lang…there's something else you wanted to discuss with me, isn't there?"
The young sorcerer replied with a nod of his head and Sakura once again bowed respectfully. "Gomen nasai! I'll wait in the parlor…"
Syaoran smiled. "Hai…the parlor's just down the hall and to the left, Sakura."
"Arigatou, Syaoran!"
A look of pure adoration shone through Syaoran's eyes as he watched Sakura skip happily from the room, educing a look of confusion from the present leader of the Li Clan. "Xiao Lang?"
"Nani?"
Yelan gracefully took a seat in a lavish armchair and motioned for her son to take a seat across from her. Syaoran did so and opening his mouth to speak, was stopped by the raising of his mother's hand. "I know the matter at hand."
"Y-You do?" Syaoran stuttered.
"Hai…you wish to cancel your
engagement to Meiling, ne?"
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-_-;;; Gomen nasai this was a really lame chapter…but I'm writing chapter 11 as you read this so hang in there! I just wanted to tie up some loose ends here, ne? Onegai review!
