Enchanting Duel

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura does not belong to me. It belongs to CLAMP.

Time for another chapter! Yay! (No one cheers) Eh…hehehe. *sweatdrop*

Well…to my reviewers: a tremendous THANK YOU! I get a wonderful feeling inside whenever I hear comments about my writing, good or bad.

On with the story!

Note: (For those lost or confused)

Weimei- evil king

Huang- nation

Torinth- county of Huang, ruled by Kinomotos

Sakura- Countess

Tomoyo- Countess;

Eriol- Count

Syaoran- Prince

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A howling wind stirred in the castle by way of a mangled window, circulating through the vast chamber where a pretty girl was at her desk. Absently tucking a cinnamon brown strand behind her ears, the fifteen year old tentatively reached out the window, feeling the temperature. Sighing, she found it was warm and humid; there would be a storm approaching soon. Turning around to warn her brother, she saw him behind, his face pale and contorted with pain.

"Sakura," he gasped," father."

"Oh God…" she muttered, her eyes reflecting the panic. Sprinting down the stairs, with Touya in tow, she found Fujitaka sprawled on his bed, his breaths coming in ragged pants. His eyes were closed, and his face was red, like it was taking all of his energy to breathe.

"Otou-san!" cried Sakura. Clutching his hand, she willed his eyes to open.

Shaking his head, Touya gently led her away. "Leave father alone, Sakura. He is trying his best, and he needs peace to survive."

"No," came the weak utter of Fujitaka. " Do not worry about me; worry about the kingdom."

"What do you want us to do otou-san?'' asked Sakura anxiously, eager to please her father.

"Y-y-you must overthrow Weimei, not only for the sake of Torinth, but the entire Huang." Gazing desperately at his children's troubled faces, he continued," You know of the atrocities that the Wei family committed. They have overtaxed our people, punished the innocent, and the system of the entire kingdom is unjust. "

"But what can we do?" began Sakura, distressed and confused.

"Touya…he knows." Coughing, blood spurted from his chest.

"Stop otou-san!!" pleaded Sakura. "You're not going to die!! Save your strength."

Ignoring Sakura's outburst, Fujitaka faced Touya. Touya understood. "Sakura," started Touya softly,"we must do what father says. It is his last will."

"Find a honest ruler.If there is none, then you two must rule yourselves. Be careful…your mother Sakura…take care Touya…" Quite suddenly, the hand Sakura held went limp.

"Otou-san!" shrieked Sakura violently, her face overflowed in tears.

Disengaging Sakura's hand from her death grip on Fujitaka, Touya led her out of the parlor, closing the door behind them. From above, lightning shot through, bathing the entire room in an eerie light, and rain drenched through the shattered windows.

Not a word was uttered as they ran, to and fro, to patch the remnants of the windows to keep water from leaking inside. When the menial task was done, Sakura collapsed on the floor, sobs wracking her body. Touya waited a few moments, then he sat by her, his usual mocking manner gone. Gently, he pulled her into a hug and they mourned together. Through her tears, Sakura saw that Touya's flawless face was chiseled in pain.

When Sakura had run out of tears, she looked despairingly at the disheveled room. Although they were the count and countess of the county, they lived as the poor did because they paid all the taxes for their people.

Unlike others of her class, Sakura had no beautiful dresses or gowns. She was wearing an old, tough dress that was one of the few clothes she owned. It wasn't fancy or pretty, but it was reliable, and it was comfortable to do work in.

From her mother, she learned that court life was dreadfully dull, and that girls had a million dresses for the different times of the day. It was a place of deceit and propaganda, and Sakura wanted none of it. She was perfectly satisfied to roam the hillsides with her friends, learning the art of swordsmanship and making friends with anyone.

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Capital of Huang…Two weeks later…

"Greetings Prince Syaoran," announced Weimei. "Welcome to my humble castle." He nodded towards the tall, dark, handsome figure in front of him.

Syaoran merely nodded. Surprised, Syaoran saw Weimei was about his age, only a few years older. He had expected such a greawt warrior-king to be much older. Glancing around, he quickly surmised that the 'humble castle' was really a magnificent one. Fine furniture, elegant tables, large chamber…

"What do you want Weimei," asked Syaoran. The voice was polite, yet there was an unmistakable hostile edge to it. He didn't trust Weimei.

"Oh, come now. Let's not talk business first. Would you like something to drink?" Syaoran was silent. "Fine. To get to the point, Huang has heard of your many talents. We wish to enlist your aid, as commander of our army."

His cold amber eyes betraying nothing, he replied, "Why bestow such an honor on me? I heard Gysuke was directing the army. The position is already filled."

"Ah well yes." Weimei studied the young man in front of him. "Gysuke…is a poor commander. He has lost already. He has disgraced us all." Pausing to explain, he continued," The Torinth have started a rebellion. Their grounds are completely unjust. They claim that I levy heavy taxes on them and treat them like slaves for the country."

Syaoran said nothing, scowling as he thought. "Am I to assume that you don't?" he asked finally.

"Of course not. What do you take me for?" asserted Weimei. Syaoran said nothing, and Weimei couldn't discern anything from his poker face.

"Fine." answered Syaoran, "you will relinquish full control to me." Turning around, he abruptly left the room.

Watching him go, Weimei frowned. Although Prince Syaoran was reputed to be the best in military tactics, he had mixed feelings about hiring him. He was too smart; he could see it in his carefully concealed eyes. Syaoran wasn't like Gysuke; he would win. And Weimei would do whatever Syaoran wanted to keep him happy.

Weimei would never let Torinth win. He couldn't allow others to follow suite. His reputation would be lost.

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Two weeks later…

Past midnight, it was difficult to see. White snow stuck to the ground, so that the earth was blanketed in an icy frost. From the right, a faint rustling could be heard.

"Sakura-chan! Is that you? Where are you going?" hissed Tomoyo.

Startled, the girl whirled around. From behind, she saw the quiet Kinomoto camp and a wide-eyed Tomoyo guarding the tents. Warrior rags hung on her thin frame and she clutched a sword hilt. "I'm going scouting." Sakura said.

A week after the battle against Weimei, they were surviving. But recently, Weimei's forces seemed to be increasing, and they were losing ground. A few hours ago, Sakura heard Weimei hire a new general, a prince of a distant country. She wanted to find out who it was.

Tomoyo shook her head.'' It's too late! What would Touya say if he found you outside, wandering around?

"Don't worry about him. Just make up an excuse until I get back."

Tomoyo looked uncertain. "I wouldn't be a very good friend if I let you go. What if you get captured!"

Sigh. Tomoyo was always overprotective, only a little less than her onii-chan. "Onegai. Please Tomoyo. I really need to do this."

As the amethyst countess could see her friend was serious, she relented. "Fine. But only because you're going to be safe, and you won't do anything rash. Right?" she emphasized.

"Of course. I'll be back before the sun rises. Don't worry."

As Sakura turned to leave, Tomoyo whispered," Be careful."

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Shivering, Sakura tucked her ragged coat around her shoulders. But the fabric was so worn out that it only scratched her skin. Sigh. Stupid. I should have brought a warmer coat. Mentally, she chided herself.

Her eyes squinted, Sakura couldn't make out anything ahead or behind. It was too dark.

Wait…far in the distance, the countess could see the dull glow of a bonfire. The Huang campsite. Creeping along, she tried not to crunch the snow. She was almost there…Then, she came to an abrupt stop. Barely a few feet away was a small group of soldiers, playing lookout for the camp. Thank kami-san they were asleep.

Her breath held in her throat, Sakura skirted the men, crawling along the opposite bank. She heard it before she felt it. Eyes strait ahead, the countess failed to notice a certain object on the ground. Before she could utter a word, the steel jaw of the trap closed down on her right leg.

//SNAP//

"Ahhhh…" Collapsing to the ground, Sakura bit her lip to avoid from drawing attention to herself. But the biting agony…No one must know she was there…yet her grasp on reality began slipping…Her hands, no matter how she pulled, the leg wouldn't come out…The pain began swimming in front of her eyes, and soon she was drowning, sinking into a great wave…and the blackness engulfed her.

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Blinding light, shining directly in her eyes. Stifling a groan, Sakura fought to shield her face from the rays of the sun. Slowly, her eyes grew accustomed to the light, and they focused on a figure standing nearby.

Cold eyes looked back, glaring as if she were the plague. He looked about her age, with messy brown hair and dark amber eyes. He had an I-am-mightier-than-you complex chiseled in his handsome face. IF it weren't for the situation, she would have found him cute. Yet, because of his confidence, he was detesting.

"Who are you?" he demanded. "I might spare your life if you tell me."

Sakura smiled to herself. He doesn't know who I am! I have advantage then.

"I'm not telling you."

"Fine." He was laughing at her now; she could see the humor in his eyes. He drew his sword, and in one instant the blade was pressed against her throat.

"What's your name?" he mocked. His eyes were hard, holding such fire and intensity that Sakura was afraid.

She gulped. But she stuck to her principal. "I'm not telling you! You-…you have no right to demand anything of me!"

They glared at each other, a moment of dangerous silence. He made a sudden movement, and Sakura clenched her eyes, waiting for the blade to end her life. It never happened.

Instead, the boy stepped away. "I'll be back. Next time, you won't be so lucky," he threatened.

"Big words," she scoffed. The tent flap closed, and she was immersed in darkness once more.

Reluctantly, she admitted that he was, by Tomoyo's term "hot," but he was a jerk, and it was character, not looks, that measured a person. His dumb, arrogant attitude really got on her nerves.

She was surprised at her thoughts. Usually, she wasn't that mean, but it was the shock of her father's death that freed her dark side. She had to find a way to escape. Onii-chan would be worried.

Pulling her leg from underneath the covers, Sakura realized there was a bandage wrapped around the wound. Dismissing the act of kindness, she reminded herself it was their fault her leg hurt in the first place. The trap…

But the leg still ached. Although she tried, the leg would not allow her to walk. It felt like it was on fire when she put her weight on it. Dumb trap…

"Sakura! Sakura!" someone was yelling. Yanking open the tent flap, Sakura saw Touya running towards her. It was too good to be true. She rubbed her eyes together to make she it wasn't a dream.

"Onii-chan! I'm over here!" she called, overjoyed. Yet, before her brother got to her, someone grabbed her by the arm.

"Take you army and go," a masculine voice said, "Or else she will be harmed." Sakura whirled around to see who her attacker was. The amber-eyed boy. She struggled against him, but his vice on her was iron-strong.

"Who the hell do you think you are? Let my sister go!" Touya commanded.

The blade was against her throat. "You heard what I said," the boy reiterated calmy. She looked up, and saw how not an ounce of emotion in those eyes.

Glaring, Touya backed up. "If you so much as lay a finger on my sister, I swear I'll tear you to pieces." he threatened.

Then it hit her. She was being held hostage, to whatever her captor wanted. "Onii-chan! Come back!" Sakura screamed. But her brother ignored her. He didn't want to risk her life.

"Take care of yourself," Touya said, his eyes sad. "I promise I'll come back for you." He was gone.

Tears running down her cheek, Sakura glared at the boy beside her. "Let me go! I hate you!" She beat her fists against his shoulder, trying desperately to inflict damage on him.

"You can hit me all you want," he said. Had she not been so angry, she would've sworn she heard a pang of sympathy in his voice. He sounded tired.

"Come on," he pulled her inside the tent. When Sakura rushed at him, he held her by the wrists. "Can you be quiet, or do I have to tie you?" he asked. There was no sarcasm or skepticism in his tone, just truth.

Sakura sat heavily on the ground. With a dirty sleeve, she wiped the tears from her face, trying to disguise the sign of weakness from the enemy.

"I'm sorry," he said finally.

"How can you say that! It's you're fault! Just let me go!" she exploded. \

"You're…Countess Sakura aren't you?" he said finally.

The way he said it…it was so final. There was no denying it now. "So? If I am?" Sakura demanded.

He looked sad. "You started the battle. You and your brother. The punishment is death."

He looked at her then, really looked to see who she was. He saw the panic in the emerald. She was scared. But he also saw the resolve, to do what was right.

She held her head high. "My mother would be proud of me for doing what I am. I'm not sorry." Then, she glared at him. "But you should be."

From behind her back, she held out a stone that was hidden from view. Her brother taught her the number one tactic; always have a weapon ready.

With all of her strength the hurled the rock at his head. Yet, he dodged, and Sakura fell back, landing with a hard thud on the ground. A small pebbled pierced the soft part of her head. Something from above smashed into her injured leg, and great wave of pain knocked her unconscious.

The last thing she felt was someone forcing liquid down her throat. Then, blackness engulfed her mind, and she could see no more.

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Ok. I'm tired, so I don't know it this really bad or terribly bad. I'm kind of half asleep now. If it sucks, I'll go back and write it later. But please review, and tell me how you like or dislike it. It would mean a lot to me. It just takes a few seconds! That's all I ask of you. Thanks for reading! *yawns* Nighty Night! Oyasumi nasai!