All For Love
by Celste

Disclaimers apply. No offence is intended and historical facts are as accurate as possible. Please note that nearly all characters are fictional except for 1 or 2 who are real historical persons.

Names and their Chinese equivalent:

Misao: Cao, or Xiao Cao
Omasu: Zeng/Ah Zeng
Okon: Jin/Ah Jin
Okina: Lao Die (Old Father)
Shiro: Ah Bai
Kuro: Ah Hei
Kaoru: Xun/ Xiao Xun
Megumi: Hui/ Xiao Hui
Yahiko: Mi Yan
Tsubame: Xiao Yan
Yu Ting Ban Zong: Oniwabanshuu(!)

Chapter 2: A Time of Fear

Cao's POV

I ran as fast as I could to the village at Bukit Timah, with only the moonlight to guide me. I didn't want to run into any soldiers again...I had gotten away this time but I couldn't risk being discovered the next. Strange though, the greyish-blue eyed officer had definitely noticed me, why had he not captured me or done anything? From the rumours that I had heard, the Japanese soldiers were blood and sex-thirsty beasts, killing or torturing and raping wherever they went. I hadn't believed it but when I saw the group of them, for a while I was afraid that the rumours were true.

Of course, the officer could be the exception rather than the rule...

The sight before my eyes interrupted my thoughts. The entire village lay in shambles. Blood and corpses were all over the place...every single thing there had been wiped out--cruelly slaughtered. By the Japanese. The dank smell of blood and rotting bodies filled my nostrils, along with the stench of smoke from the fire that had razed what was left to the ground.

How could I possibly hope to find Hei and Bai there, much less alive?

But I had to try. Gingerly, I stepped into the ashes, hoping for the impossible. Tears stung my eyes as I took in the sight...broken bodies, bayoneted and shot. Not just the men, but women...children. Half-burnt corpses covered with blood...limbs torn from bodies...it was horrible and I nearly threw up. But for my brothers' sake, I had to try...to at least find their remains if they weren't alive. And it was nearly impossible that anyone could still be alive after the bloodbath that had taken place there.

A red bandanna soaked with blood. My heart filled with hope as I brushed away the soot from the cold, lifeless body. No...not either of them, but a fellow resistance fighter.

Those men had risked their lives to protect the country. With what little weapons they had--catapults, bird-hunting rifles with only a few rounds, they had laid down their lives and fought bravely, even though they must have known they did not stand a chance against the powerful rifles and grenades of the enemy, whose bayonets spared no one. They did not die in vain...or did they?

I got my answer soon enough. It lay in the soft, khaki colored peaked cap that lay bloodied on the ground, near a body clad in the same-colored uniform that had countless bullet holes through it. A sense of triumph, but I still felt almost sorry for the enemy. How many of those who died were husbands or fathers, brothers or sons? Perhaps their loved ones would never know, and would keep waiting in vain.

Suddenly, I thought of him--the officer. Had he actually done this? Killed so many innocent people? Did he actually allow it? Those intense greyish-blue eyes flashed into my mind. I would probably never know.

I kept searching, my hope waning the more familiar faces I identified. The boy across the road who always waved to me, the uncle who sold noodles by the roadside, a neighbour's son, a friend's father...the cheerful lady who always came to town to sell sweet desserts and bee hoon (rice vermicelli), the little girl I saw so often going to school...the old lady I often met at the temple...the wife of the chicken rice seller...the little boy who loved cycling around.

They were all dead--brutally murdered. My fists clenched. The Japanese soldiers had to be worst than beasts! Sinking into the bloodstained sand, I watched as a tear fell and sank into it. Why did this have to happen? In just barely a month, my entire life had changed--for the worse. We all knew there was a war going on but few had anticipated that the war would come to us...and everything was so real, although I didn't want to believe it. My brothers...probably dead...would they do the same to us in town as well? Would the soldiers massacre everyone regardless of their innocence as well? I didn't want to think about it.

The wind blew and I shivered. It was getting cold. But I had to go on searching, I hadn't checked all the corpses yet. Until I had, there was still hope of finding their bodies--if they were dead. And if they were alive, they probably would have escaped, right? I stood up, and began sifting through the rubble and ruins with renewed hope.

Perhaps...perhaps...

"Xiao Cao! Where have you been the whole night? We've all been sitting here and worrying the whole time!" Jin-jie yelled at me the moment I walked into the house. She froze the moment she saw the look on my face. "Oh no...it can't be..." And then I lost my composure.

"I looked for them...I looked through all the bodies I could find...but I couldn't find anything. We don't even know if they're dead or alive now!" I sank down to the floor, unable to keep the tears from flowing. Silence reigned, nobody knew what to say.

"You say you couldn't find their bodies." Lao Die's voice broke through the unnatural silence. "Then there's still hope that they're still alive. They won't die so easily."

I realised that what he said was true. What had happened to me? I had never been so pessimistic before, but it was only normal I guess. I had grown up with them, and they had protected and taken care of me, together with the rest, as I had been the youngest of all of Lao Die's adopted 'grandchildren'. My real parents had died when I was little--to little to remember much of them. They had been members of what people would call a gang--the Yu Ting Ban Zong. Only it wasn't really a gang in the sense, they hadn't gone around terrorizing people but instead worked with the police in investigations, helping to keep the peace in the country as much as they could. It was during a clash with one of the violent Chinese gangs that my parents had been killed and Lao Die, being a friend of my late grandfather, had taken me in. And he had treated me, as well as Hei, Bai, Jin and Zeng who were either orphaned or abandoned, just like his real kin.

I wondered then how he really felt about the possibility that Hei and Bai were dead. It was hard to read the emotions on his face. But I guess we all had to look on the bright side and hope that somehow, they had escaped and gone underground as the Japanese would not let anyone who was found to be part of the anti-Japanese resistance off, and even their families would not be spared. As long as there was no proof that Hei and Bai were dead, there was still hope. For now, we could only wait and pray.

25th February 1942

In less than two weeks, everything had changed so much. The British had surrendered Singapore to the Japanese. It came as a surprise to many--we had expected the British to defend us but yet-- They had called us an impregnable fortress, but now the Japanese had won. And from then on, Singapore was known as Syonan-to-- Light of the South.

Road blocks and check points had been set up, with soldiers manning them. If you didn't bow to them, they would slap you, or beat you up. I had seen an elderly couple go past them, forgetting to bow. The enraged soldier had pulled them back roughly and slapped the man, kicking him in the stomach.

They beheaded looters, putting the heads up on posts for all to see. It made me sick, but I guess it served as a harsh warning against looting. Still, I couldn't help but pity all those who had to bear the sight of the cruel fate of a loved one.

Then there was the Sook Ching operation, where all men aged 18 to 50, and in some areas, women and children, were called to report at mass screening centres. There, they would be questioned and the Japanese informers and Kempeitai ( the Japanese secret police) would decide who was anti-Japanese. Those who passed the screening were given a precious stamp on a small piece of paper, or even their shirts or arms. Those who did not, I heard, were taken away in lorries and never heard from again.

There were the rapes...or rumored rapes. Many families hid their daughters for fear of what would happen if the soldiers came barging in forcing the residents of a home to provide food and temporary lodging, as they often did. Nobody could refuse them, for the soldiers would beat up (at best) or kill (at worst) those who defied them. And the family would have to act like the soldiers' servants, being at their back and call, up to a few days at times. And at other times, the soldiers would chance upon a young girl in the streets, and drag her forcibly to a deserted place. Sometimes bystanders would try to help the girl away from the clutches of the soldier but few dared to out of fear. Sometimes these girls were kidnapped and taken to brothels to serve the soldiers. As a result, many women and girls cut their long hair short and dressed like men, hoping that they would not attract any unwanted attention. But often, it was in vain.

Zeng and Jin were taking no chances either, they too had cut their hair short and started wearing men's clothes, instead of putting on makeup and beautiful clothes like they had before. Me, I just tucked my long braid into a cap, along with the men's clothing, which I felt more comfortable in anyway. Call me a tomboy but I didn't think any soldier, even the most deprived, would be turned on by my scraggly body. Still I had to take precautions.

I looked around me. Good, no soldiers. Lao Die hardly let us out now, except to collect rations. Even then, he wouldn't let any of us go alone, even though all three of us--me, Jin and Zeng, knew martial arts. Every family with women was simply paranoid. But having Jin and Zeng around me all the time could be stifling and it was a rare chance that they were distracted by a handsome shop tender, leaving me to scurry home on my own. Even so, I was a little scared, there were so many what ifs that could happen.

And then I heard the faint screams and cries. They came from a back alley, and I nearly did not hear them. A sense of justice overcoming me, I rushed toward the direction where they came from.

"Help...somebody help...." A woman's voice sobbed in Mandarin. Another voice, male this time, cursed in Japanese. Then, there was a slap and the cries softened into whimpers, pleading softly and weakly. "Jiu ming..."

At once, I knew what was happening. Anger flowed through my body. How dare those Japanese devils ["Ri ben guizi" was what many Chinese people called the Japanese at that time, so forgive me if I offended anyone] actually dare to do such a thing to anyone! I grabbed a piece of wood shrapnel I found lying on the floor nearby, and crept up to them.

She was sobbing and struggling, ceaseless in her cries for help. He--old and overweight, was pinning her down and leering. Shocked and angered, I hurled the piece of wood at his head with all my strength, wishing it were something sharper--a knife, maybe?

"ITAI!" he yelled, and I guessed it was an exclamation of pain. He then yelled out something else before letting go of the woman, and keeled over on the floor, holding his head in pain. Blood streamed from the wound in the back of his head.

I ran to her to help her up. Thank goodness the soldier had not managed to do his evil deed! But the girl, whom I think was much younger than me, was still sobbing. Her clothes were ripped and torn in some places.

"Thank you," she whispered softly.

Suddenly, shadows fell over us. I looked up to see a group of soldiers, all leering lecherously.

"Run!" I yelled at the girl, sensing the danger. Then, I positioned myself in a fighting stance, hoping to distract them from running after the girl. Then I could knock all of them out and make my escape as well.

"You dare to injure a soldier of the Nippon Army!" One of them growled in accented English. I glared back at him. "You're just a little girl...no match for us."

Little girl?! "I'm already 16 this year!" I yelled at them. They had angered me enough! Gathering all my strength, I elbowed him in the stomach. He yelped in pain, and his two companions lunged for me. One of them managed to catch me in an armlock, and I struggled to get away. The other soldier came up to me, brandishing his bayonet.

"Matte," the soldier that I had elbowed in the stomach said. He told the other soldiers something, and immediately they all nodded in agreement.

"You are very lucky. My friend says he will delay your death until after we have our fun with you," The one who was holding me down said."

Have their fun with me? Fat hope! I had to show them them we Chinese women were not so easy to bully! With a cry and a strong twist, I freed myself from his grasp, somersaulting in the air to land behind them.

"You Japanese devils!" I yelled, before lashing out with all my might, punching and kicking at everything I saw. And at last, everything was quiet. I surveyed the scene around me. Two of the soldiers lay on the ground, unconscious and bleeding from the nose. I smirked. So they thought that they could--

Before I knew it, I was pushed down onto the ground by a brute force. A low voice hissed, "You little brat, you've done enough..."

The third soldier! I had forgotten about him. And this time, I knew I couldn't escape, having used up all my strength. I could almost laugh at the irony of it all--just a few moments ago, I had saved a girl who had been in the same position I was in now. Now, who would save me?

He leered and his breath stank. It smelt as if he had not taken a bath in years. I glared my fiercest glare and struggled. I would show him--taking a Yu Ting Ban Zong woman by force was not going to be that easy!

I kicked and flailed with all my might, until it was as if I was wrestling with him. But he was so strong...especially as all his weight was on me. I nearly thought I was done for until..

"Yamero!" A low, rough voice commanded.

Shinomori's POV

I stared disgustedly at Yamada. To think my subordinates would actually try to take the local women by force! To rape is not honorable, especially for a soldier. And he should have known better, having come from a samurai family. "Yamada, yamero yo!"

He stopped, and looked up. "Shinomori-shoukou [officer]," he gasped as he hurriedly got off the girl, who was glaring at him with an intense fire in her eyes. He bowed. "Gomen nasai Shoukou, I didn't notice you were there."

I glared at him. I knew him all too well, he and his gang had always been a lecherous trio, so much that even the comfort house was not enough for them and they still had the cheek to go about taking local women by force no matter where they went. They would have to be disciplined severely.

"We couldn't control ourselves and so..." My glare stopped his weak attempt at an excuse.

"It gives you no right to rape," I told him coldly. The girl was still looking at him--no, us with her intense glare.

"But this girl injured Tanaka-san," Yamada argued. "She had to be punished."

"Punished, yes. But not in this way!" I shouted, feeling an urge to slap him. But I controlled myself. A good leader would not act on his feelings in public.

It was as if Yamada had been trapped by fire. In front of him, I was glaring at him. behind him, the girl whom he had tried to take by force was also glowering at him, her fists curled into tight balls. I had never seen such fire in anyone's eyes in my life.

By then, the other soldiers had regained their consciousness, and scuttled over to kneel down in front of me.

"I'll see to it that you are suitably disciplined. Now get out of here and never show your faces to me again, and be glad that I've decided to let you off lightly for now," I growled. They muttered their apologies and thanks and scurried out of the place, like the rats that they were.

Cao's POV

The officer with grayish-blue eyes, whom I had seen on the day I went out to look for Hei and Bai, then walked towards me. I showed him my fiercest glare, hoping that it would discourage him from trying anything funny. He didn't stop, and I involuntarily trembled slightly in fear. He seemed stronger than the other soldier...and if this officer tried to do anything to me, who else could help? For all I knew, he could have told his inferiors to leave me to him.

His eyes were so cold...so cold and emotionless, yet intense and deep at the same time. There was no sense of warmth coming from that man. He came nearer...and nearer.

"You Japanese devils! You'll rot in hell for all I care," I yelled. I saw his lips curl slightly--was that a smile?

"I like your spirit," he told me in English. I held his gaze defiantly. What did he mean?

"Don't come any closer or I'll--I'll--" This man unnerved me.

"You'll knock me out like you did to him?" He threw a gaze at the soldier with the head wound, lying in a growing pool of blood on the floor.

"I--I.." He gave another of his partial smiles. "Girls like you will not have injured a soldier without a reason. tell me and I'll decide whether to punish you or not." He sat down next to me.

I hesitated, not knowing if I could trust him. He gazed at me questioningly. I remembered that night when he saw me hiding among the trees, but didn't do anything. And then I decided I could trust him.

"He was trying to take another girl by force. I did it to stop him." There. Now the question was, would he think I was lying? I looked at him straight in the eye. Again, his intense stare burned through me and I couldn't help but wonder about the mystery in those unfathomable eyes.

"Just as I expected. Lecherous as usual." He stood up, and, to my surprise, held his hand out to me. I hesitated.

"I'll accompany you home. Just in case you get attacked again."

I looked at him, surprised. His eyes seemed to smile, as he helped me up.

"Not all of us Japanese devils are that lecherous you know." Was that a joke? He seemed so solemn. And then I realised that I couldn't judge by appearance alone. He seemed like a good man, unlike his subordinates.

"But what about him?" I asked, looking at the unconscious soldier on the floor.

"My juniors would probably return soon with help for him. They know what to do." He turned away. "What is a young lady like you doing out alone at this time anyway?" I realised that it was getting dark--Lao Die and my sisters would be worried--again.

"Well...I was on my way home." I still had a burning question. "Sir--Officer, may I know your name?"

" Shinomori Aoshi. And you? "

"Cao. Juanding Cao." Suddenly, I felt extremely hot--and I realised why. I was actually blushing. Why, I don't know.

Shinomori Aoshi...somehow, I felt an affinity with him and I just didn't know why.

tbc...

Glossary:

itai: painful
matte: wait
yamero: masculine command form of "stop"

Sorry for taking so long to put up this chapter, I hope this didn't disappoint anyone who was hoping for something better. Rewrote this twice--the first time, it sounded incredibly like a history textbook (I think some parts still sound kind of textbooky). Sources of information: Understanding Our Past (my history textbook), Beyond the Empires: Memories Retold by Cindy Chou.
Thanks for reading, and as always please R&R