Chapter 16: Silence Before the Storm
Syaoran sat upright on his bed, recovering from the battle before with Clow Reed. He had barely made it out, he was lucky if he was even alive. Syaoran winced as he put his hand over his taped up stomach, he probably broke a minor rib, but at least he was alive. Searching quickly for a shirt to wear, Syaoran put the bed sheets over himself to cover his nakedness. All of the sudden, the tent door opened with Sakura carrying a pail of water over to him.
Sakura kneeled down to Syaoran and dipped a rag inside the bucket. "You know, you could've gotten yourself killed," Sakura warned, "And you know you would've upset me really badly." Sakura was saying this really coldly to Syaoran, like she hated him for a while. "I was only doing this for you Sakura, I didn't mean to worry you," Syaoran apologized, "I would have succeeded too!" Syaoran said all this in confidence as Sakura began using her wet cloth to rub Syaoran's injured chest. "Being mad about leaving is one thing," Sakura said, "But not telling me that Clow-sifu was dead is another."
Syaoran was speechless, he didn't know what helped him or what that impostor was, it certainly wasn't Clow. Syaoran looked into Sakura's peeved eyes and tried to tell her truthfully, "If you would have known that they killed Clow-sifu, you probably wouldn't have had the heart to continue this anymore." Sakura, for the first time in a long time slapped Syaoran across the face. "Because of you, because of everything, I don't think I can go on, period!" Syaoran was shocked to hear this. "What about the rebels Sakura? Are you not with them?" Sakura shook her head as she finished rubbing Syaoran's back. "This rebellion, this fight, it's all not worth it," Sakura was sad to say this as she hung her head down, "For freedom, for my lost dreams, why do all those held dear to me leave me?"
Syaoran looked away from Sakura, as sad as her, "Though many people die for this, don't you think it will all be worth it when this is over?" Sakura denied everything, "This is no longer my fight Syaoran, my lost dreams, they can never be accomplished, all those have died for me to accomplish those lost dreams but I will never find them without them alive anymore." Syaoran shot his eyes open as he knew Sakura's motive, she wasn't going to join them in a full assault tomorrow.
Sakura Narration
Every night before this war, when I had a regular family and a regular life, I always dreamt of this family, this family which seemed so kind and so peaceful, that I would love to join that family. Every night, the same dream would reoccur, with a more additional thing to add into it. Every night, I dreamt me in eternal bliss, with peace to boot, and nothing was ever wrong, it was like a perfect utopia, an ideal world.
Now, my father, Clow-sifu, mother, and Lung, they all die for this very purpose of rebellion, to fight a fight that will bring peace. How can you bring peace through war? I just don't see any purpose in fighting on. More people will die, more people will get hurt. I have made my decision, I will not fight for them, I am no longer a rebel.
End Sakura Narration
Syaoran held Sakura's arm as she began to exit the tent, "You know," Syaoran said, "Maybe they call them lost dreams because they are hard to reach, but surely one day you will find them." Sakura silently hung her head down, "But do all have to die before I find them?" Sakura looked at Syaoran's necklace, the necklace which she gave him, she remembered how Syaoran was brought into this, how he did it for her, but he now had to go it alone.
"I'll wait for you Syaoran," Sakura said, "You will go alone tomorrow, without me by your side; I want you to return to me after tomorrow is over." Syaoran didn't know if he could keep his promise, but for Sakura's sake, he had to. With one last look at Syaoran, Sakura left the tent giving her best wishes for Syaoran in battle tomorrow. But this time, she wasn't going to come.
The anger that Sakura had felt up to this point had made her wonder about her past, her future, how would she live. She was unsure what this fight would bring. But so far, it has not brought anything favorable in her eyes. The rebel cause, the fight for an uncorrupt China, it was all behind her, Sakura wanted to forget, wanted to leave. Quickly climbing her horse, Syaoran came out of the tent and saw her dry hair shine in the sun.
Syaoran looked at Sakura worriedly, "Are you leaving?" Syaoran asked. Sakura nodded, looking at the sun so Syaoran couldn't see her cry. "I want t get away from this conflict, get away from this war, we have no hope of winning." Syaoran was startled; Sakura's determination had fled from her heart. "Then I wish you the best of luck Sakura!" Syaoran said looking away from her, ready to turn around. Sakura couldn't control it any longer; she quickly got off the horse and rushed to Syaoran.
"WAIT!" Sakura begged holding her hand out. In an instant, Syaoran turned around, seeing Sakura run up with arms wide open. In one tight big collision of their bodies, Syaoran and Sakura hugged, for perhaps the last time. "It doesn't matter if you win or lose the battle," Sakura said with a tear dropping off her cheek and onto Syaoran's shoulder, "I will always love you, and there is nothing more that I want then for you to return home after tomorrow's battle." Syaoran was touched, he had a reason to win now, a reason to live, he felt that through keeping Sakura happy, he could redeem himself from the killing of the first rebel he ever stained his hands with.
"I will!" Syaoran said, determined, "And you shall be alive too, don't ever let them get their hands on you." Syaoran and Sakura broke the hug, though each of them didn't want to. Sakura slowly backed off to climb her horse. Syaoran nodded at her with approval that she was leaving. Sakura hit the side of the horse as it began to gallop away into the sun. Syaoran began to feel an overbearing pain reach his heart, but this pain was not insatiable, for it would soon disappear after he won the battle tomorrow.
Tianjin:
Vung silently sat in her rocking chair and began to feel her babies inside her stomach kicking. Vung in deep contemplation looked out the window to her room to see the people outside in Tianjin, foreigners and Chinese both minding each others' business. Not bothering each other in anyway, but in some ways, it was as if the foreigners and the Chinese both hated each other and didn't want them there but they were pretending that they were nonexistent. Vung closed her eyes as she remembered what this reminded her so much of.
Flashback
Vung had just finished watering the garden, the sweat from her clothes drenched her body, making her figure protrude out. Any man who probably saw her could not help but to stare for just a moment. As she walked back into her room, she saw a red rose on her bed. The rose had been freshly plucked, but despite her being a very attractive young lady, she did not happen to know who possibly could have given her a rose.
"Perhaps it was Henry!" she wondered as she sprawled her body all over her bed, "He's had a crush on me almost ever since we started to wait tables together." Vung thought it was quite sweet that somebody had given her a rose, though she didn't have any feelings for anyone in Tianjin, she still thought it was sweet and smelled the rose.
Suddenly, somebody politely knocked on the door and pushed the door open. Sticking her head out, Khana was looking at Vung over her bed. "Vung, how are you today?" Vung with a cheerful smile sat upright on her bed and invited Khana to sit beside her. "Oh Khana!" Vung said, "It's wonderful, somebody gave me this rose and I feel so special now!" Khana saw the look in her eyes, the feeling that she was in love and nothing else in the world mattered to her.
"I think Henry gave this to me!" Vung said, "He's always had a crush on me, so it's only natural that he might do this." Khana shook her head, "It couldn't have been Henry, he's been on duty at Yuen post to look out for the Imperial Guards." Vung looked at Khana puzzled, "Could it be Fredrick?" she thought, "He's been eyeing me the past couple of years." Khana shook her head again, "No! I don't think so! He's been seeing a fellow country woman the past couple of months, so I doubt that."
Vung smiled, "Well no matter, it was nice for anyone who has done this so I'm happy!" Khana smiled at her friend being so happy. Khana trying to bring up a conversation on purpose began to ask Vung, "Vung, what do you think about lost dreams?" "Lost dreams?" Vung repeated to confirm, "Lost dreams are the greatest thing, if anyone could ever make them come true, it would be the greatest thing in the world. If you could make an impossible dream come true, then it makes it feel like the whole world is conquerable, and there is no such thing as lost dreams."
Khana satisfied with her answer continued to ask, "Do you have any lost dreams?" Vung began to blush, "Khana!" she embarrassedly shouted, "Come on, I won't tell!" Khana replied. Vung looked down embarrassed, "Well okay!" she said, "But you have to keep this a secret." Khana nodded, with her fingers crossed behind her back. "One day, I wish to start my own family!" Khana shocked at this answer felt so happy and excited, "Ohh…great! Who do you think would be the lucky man?" Khana asked interested, "Anybody in this town?"
Vung shook her head, "No he's gotta be perfect!" Khana nervously continued to ask, "Describe what is perfect to you." Vung was in deep thought, "Hmmm…I don't know, maybe tall, handsome, strong, dreamy eyes, great hair that shines like light brown, maybe he should be English or Scottish." Khana disappointed asked her to try to end the conversation. But before she could speak, loud footsteps could be heard walking. "Who's there!?" Vung asked trying to catch the eavesdropper. "I'll deal with him Khana offered, "See you around Vung!" Khana waved as she left. "Bye Khana!"
Khana walked down the hall frantically whispering for the person eavesdropping to come out. "Master…young master…where are you?" Khana looked around the darkest corner, he always hid around there, but to her surprise, Lung was seen on a well lit wall. "I'm sorry master!" Khana apologized. "Don't be!" Lung walked away, "It's not your fault that I don't fit those descriptions she said!" Khana for comfort reassured Lung, "Hey Master, it's not true, you are handsome and strong and pretty tall for your age." Lung shot down the comforting words of Khana and went back into serious mode, "But I'm not foreign and brown haired, am I?" Khana couldn't respond to him. Lung using this moment of silence, walked away.
Later that Night:
Lung carefully put each wooden plank carefully to cover the restaurant so that people would know that it was closed. Shutting the lanterns which hung from the ceiling, he dimmed the whole room into a light shade of orange and walked to the back of the restaurant so he could reach his room.
Lung opened the door to the inn areas of the restaurant and walked slowly to the front door of his room. Suddenly, somebody tapped him on the back very lightly. He slowly turned around to see it was Vung, in her home made nightgown, which made her look so pretty, but Lung would not dare to stare or think about any perverse thoughts. "What's wrong Vung, it's 3:00 AM, why aren't you asleep?" Lung had a look of concern on his face. "I couldn't sleep, can we talk Lung?"
The night moon and sky was dim tonight, the moon shone on two bodies who were bathed in the moonlight as one sat on the balcony rails and the other bent her elbows and leaned on the rails. "Today, Khana and I talked, about lost dreams," Lung looked at Vung with interest in what she had to say, he could see a sad face on her. "I didn't know what to say when she asked my idea of a perfect man, so I lied to her that I wanted him to be strong, tall, handsome, English, and brown haired, but I was just being shallow." Lung was happy to hear this. "The truth is, I would love anyone who loved me back, it's been so long since I've been loved, that I don't care about any of that. I want my man to be perfect, but perfect in the way that he cares for me and loves me."
Lung began to understand every word she was saying and began to get off the railing. "Would you like to know my lost dreams Vung?" Lung leaned beside Vung on the balcony railing and looked at the moon. "I want to meet someone like you said, she should make me happy, but I also want her different from me." Vung looked at him confused, "Different?" Lung back into her deep sapphire blue eyes, "Different in every way, she has to be different, so that when we love each other I could try and find out something new about her every time we meet and every time we talk. Sort of like how I'm telling you about my lost dreams now."
Vung couldn't help it; she looked away from him and began to blush with a light pink tint across her face. "By the way Lung," she said with her hands happily clasped together and back facing him, "Happy Valentine's Day!" Lung confusedly asked, "What's Valentine's Day?" Lung asked. Vung responded, still not having the courage to turn around and look at him, "It's a day where you celebrate your love with somebody whom you like very much," Lung began to blush, "I received a rose today on my bed, I think somebody knew about Valentine's Day so he sent me that rose." Lung fixed his throat thinking nervously, "Today was Valentine's Day? I did that as a coincidence!" Vung continued to talk which snapped Lung out of his thinking. "Since I've no one to celebrate my love with, I guess you're the only one who is close to celebrating it with me." Vung turned around, "Thank you Lung!"
Lung blushed a light tint of red over his cheeks. "Are you blushing too?" Vung asked seeing Lung's head hung down. Lung picked his head up and looked at Vung. She was incredibly beautiful, her hands were behind her back, her blush and smile made her look like an innocent blonde angel from heaven. Basked in the moonlight, her nightgown began to show a silhouette of her shapely body. "Goodnight Lung, I wish you have pleasant dreams!" Vung walked away and shut the door behind her. Lung looked at the moonlight and felt a flex of his mouth. Was he smiling?
End Flashback
Vung smiled thinking about the memory, "Lung," she whispered to herself, "I cherish each of our memories and lost dreams together, don't you worry about a thing." Just as Vung wanted to think of something else that happened in the past, she was woken up by a call. "Lady Tien!" a man cried out, "Lady Tien!" he repeated. Vung slowly using her triceps pushed her out of the rocking chair and saw a frantic man run into her room. "What is it?"
"Imperial guards!" the man shouted, "They are seen across nearly 50 miles away, they will arrive here by tomorrow and attack Tianjin. They've come for you!" Vung grabbed an orange headband and tied it on her forehead. "Lady Tien! What are you doing?" Vung pulled out a locket, the front of the locket had two golden wings, the back had a picture of Lung and Vung respectively. "I'm going to fight them off!"
The startled man frantically begged Vung, "Please Lady Tien, you don't know what you're saying, we should evacuate at once since the rebels took our forces, we need you to keep both Drake and Fina for possible rebirth of rebellion if the rebels fail." Vung not scared saw a white pigeon by her window and walked up to it slowly. "Lady Tien, it's hopeless, are you listening to me Lady Tien?" Vung put her finger below the pigeon's feet and picked it up to her mouth. She lightly gave it a peck on the beaks and let it go, making it fly to the sky at amazing heights.
"Let's go wait for them for tomorrow!" Vung said confidently. The man scared ran away and followed Vung who was walking down the stairs to everyone. In the quietness of her room, the window drapes blew open and the pigeon dropped a feather through the window, the wind blew her locket off the table and landed picture side up on top of the white bird feather.
Sakura was crying. Her tears wet the horse's mane to become a drenched mop. Galloping away, into the sunset, she no destination on where to go, she didn't know what home was anymore, and there wasn't a home for her to go to anymore. Thinking about all the events that have happened thus far, she wasn't sure where a safe place was, except for one, the place where it all started, back at the Forbidden City. Hitting her horse on the side once more, the horse galloped away with blinding speed.
Sakura Narration
I never thought I'd see this place again! It's like a bad memory. (Sakura walks up to the guard to the left of the gate. "Let me in!" (Sakura is being blocked by the soldiers crossing their spears to not let her enter) "None shall pass!" "Allow me in at once." "Go home girl!" "I have none!" That's right, now let me in. (The guard grabs Sakura by the hands) What are you doing? "Hey stop that where are you taking me?" (The guard pushes Sakura into a puddle of mud) "Insolent girl, do you not heed Emperor Wuji's orders, he wishes none to pass, now go away or I shall tell the emperor of your trespassing." Fine geez, now my clothes are all soaked, I have no where to go!
End Sakura Narration
All of the sudden, it began to rain. Sakura felt that bad luck was on her side today. Sakura put her hands in the air to block the raindrops from hitting her head; she rushed over under a leaky roof until she saw something that caught her eye. Sakura ran as fast as she could to the house she saw with huge lion statues guarding it. She quickly rushed in and closed the door behind her. However, the massive door had the hinges rusted that the door could no longer open all the way. As Sakura tried to run through the flower garden, something caught her eyes.
The gasping she made when she saw all the flowers her father had planted for her, were all chopped away from their stems. The raindrops hit the dead black flowers on the ground, and the flower beds were flat straight across cut. "Why?" she asked, the rain dripping from her eyes like tears.
"Your father left it like this, after he felt there was no hope to have you as a daughter anymore!" a cute high pitched voice said. "Tomoyo!" Sakura exclaimed, "What are you doing here!?" Tomoyo having the rain drip from her hair down to the ground like a tunnel for draining water. "I came to see what you were going to do, I didn't want you to go to Wuji and give yourself to him just to save us." Sakura hung her head down.
"Tomoyo, I let you down, I let Clow down, I let my brother, father, and Min all down!" Sakura felt guilt all over as her tears and the rain mixed together and streaked down her face quicker. "I needed to make him stop, if he would get me, I thought he would be satisfied and I could do something to get him, because after all Tomoyo, there is no hope left." Tomoyo looked as depressed as Sakura was and looked at the flat bed of flowers. "Sakura, hope will always be eternal, as long as there is a sign of hope, there is always a way to accomplish something."
"What hope!?" Sakura choked out, "These flowers won't even grow any--" Sakura stopped as she looked at the flower bed in astonishment. "What is it Sakura, do you see a sign of hope?" Tomoyo asked confidently. Sakura was looking carefully at the shaved flower bed and knelt down to see a single blue flower, still healthy and standing after all this time, waiting for something to make all the other flowers grow and be with that single flower once again.
"You're lonely aren't you?" Sakura asked the flower, as if it was alive, "Don't worry you will have friends once again!" Sakura reassured the flower by lightly touching it. As she felt the flower, it began to die and wither and turn black. Sakura sadly hung her head down, "Don't worry, you have survived all this time, your friends will be back." All of the sudden, the rain began to die down, and from the flower bed, there began to bud new bulbs from the stems. The dead flower now fell to the ground, petals and all, and finally could wither and die now that his friends have returned.
Sakura shot her head up with a determined look on her face and rushed into her former house. Tomoyo saw her friend, finally filled with hopes. "You're lost dreams, as long as there is a dream, there is always hope, and there is always putting that dream to a reality."
The Next Morning:
Slowly, without zeal and very morbid spirits, the rebels galloped on their horses up the mountains with sad faces. "What's up with our morale?" Touya asked Syaoran. "I don't know, but I have a feeling that they all know that today it might be their last days on this world. "Don't blame them, we are dealing with a formidable enemy, they can kill us today and our rebellion might be crushed." Syaoran also felt depressed from the fact that Sakura was not with them.
Tianjin:
The Imperial guards, the highest regime in the Forbidden City lined up with soldiers ready to strike Tianjin just around the corner. "Alright men," the general said, "Prepare to attack!" he raised his weapon in the air as the whole army behind him shouted.
The Rebels:
Syaoran began to ponder deeply how he might have upset Sakura. "I wonder if it was right not to tell her about Clow Reed, I wonder if I'll ever see her again." Syaoran then heard light footsteps ahead of them. "Take positions!" Touya commanded as he raised his machete and the whole army shouted. Sakura appeared above the hill, with her old magician clothes, but these sported a black flowing cape, white tights, and a black hat like a witch. (Imagine one wicked looking cool Sakura who means business)
Syaoran shot his eyes open and smiled. Touya looked at her with the hope inside him ignited once again. "Welcome back Sakura, what made you change your mind?" Touya asked. Sakura smiled cheerfully and determined, "I've come to do what Vung wants to do, kick some imperial butt, now who's with me?" The whole army thought about this cute little girl, once scared and afraid of venturing to fight a corrupt nation, but now they saw a different face of a young woman who wanted to make that nation a better place. At first, the soldiers stared at her with looks of astonishment, but then, those faces actually turned into applause and a renewed morale.
Quote of the Chapter:
"As long as there are lost dreams, there is hope, then there is that determination to make those dreams come true." –Tomoyo
Meaning of the Quote: Self explanatory, many people who dream dreams that seem impossible, as long as they have that dream, they have the chance to make it reality with the hope that they possess to make it come true.