darki: i knoe, i knoe, i promised s+s kawainess right?? I'm reali reali
reali sori but this chappie's way 2 long so I'll stick it in the next
chappie, k??? PLEASE DON"T KILL ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it's
already 9 pages long!!!!!!! GOMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll
post the next chappi as soon as possible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't own ccs so leave me ALONE
RUNNING FROM THE PAST
By darki and mishi
CHAPPIE 7 –
Who says chibis don't have power??
Sai followed Meiling up a long winding staircase and into a new wing in the Li mansion. "Wow....." Sai breathed when they passed through the archway into the new wing. "It's beautiful." Sai looked around only to find herself surrounded by the prettiest paintings she had ever seen. The ceiling was a natural dark violet-blue with faint silvery stars glinting away. The walls were covered with murals of Chinese gods and goddess and other legendary characters. Sai gasped at the perfect artistry of the goddess' pale serene faces, the mischievousness of the Monkey King, the sternness of the Jade Emperor and the scenes stretched down the entire endless hallway. "Nice, eh?" Meiling commented from beside her. Sai could only nod mutely. "Xiao Lang painted half of these.... the rest were done by my crazy cousins - Fanren, Feimei, Siefa, and Fuutie – they're Lang-zi's older sisters. Auntie Yelan painted the ceiling.... I have no clue how she did the sky – the ceiling changes colours with the real sky outside."
Saiyuri's eyes widened "WHAT???!!! It changes colours with the sky OUTSIDE???!!!! Holy crap, she got magic or something??!" Meiling nodded. "Yeah she does actually." She replied with a serious face. Saiyuri's eyes nearly dropped out. Meiling burst laughing at Sai's reaction. "Just kidding, just kidding. But seriously, Auntie Yelan is very powerful. Like she can kinda read minds – more emotions actually – and she kinda has precognition." Sai narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Really?" "I'm telling the truth this time. Auntie seriously does some powers." "And where would she get these 'powers' from, hm??" Sai questioned her mind racing. Why did this all sound familiar with her? "Where? You mean you don't know?" Meiling sounded surprised. "No, you priss, of course I know, that's why I'm asking you right now." She snorted sarcastically. "Geez, touchy, touchy. Okay, I'll tell you. It all began-----"
"YI-YI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" a childish voice squealed getting louder by the millisecond. Sai and Meiling snapped out of their little mythology discussion to see a violet haired chibi sprinting towards them as fast as her little legs could carry her. "Zilan!" Meiling laughed as she crouched down to catch the little girl and pick her up in a warm hug. "How's the little flower of the Li clan doing, hm sweetie?" Meiling murmured as she tickled the little girl. "Heehee!!! Stoppit, it tickles!!! Heehee!!!!! Ah... Ahahaha.... Zilan's been very good...... Heehee!!!!! Stop!!!!" Sai grinned as she watched the taller one tickle the smaller one mercilessly. "Stop!!!! Yiyi, who's that?" the chibi inquired pointing a chubby finger at Sai. Meiling smiled. "That's Kimakaze Saiyuri. Say hello to Saiyuri-jie- jie." "Hello Saiyuri-jie-jie." Zilan repeated obediently. "Hey." Sai replied with a grin.
Zilan grinned back. "I like you." She declared. Saiyuri chuckled "That's good. I definitely don't wanna be wandering around this house without being approved by every member that I've met so far." She replied seriously with absolutely no trace of sarcasm. Zilan narrowed her eyes. "Really? You not making fun of me?" "Of course not. I believe that everyone deserves respect no matter how young or old they are or what they look like, race, gender, and everything else." Zilan's eyes raked over her as she scanned Saiyuri looking very much like an old business lady scanning a new trainee. "Hmmm.... Give me a hug." "A hug?" Saiyuri was shocked – how often did one get a young child demanding a hug from someone they barely even knew?! "Yes, a hug." Zilan tapped her foot impatiently. "Ok."
Sai bent down and picked Zilan up and gave her a warm and gentle hug. "Mmmmm...." Zilan murmured. "Ok you can put me down now." Zilan hopped out of Sai's arm happily and beamed at Sai. "I like you." She announced. Sai couldn't help but grin back at the beaming child at her feet. "That's good." She replied. Zilan nodded wisely at her and spoke. "I can tell that you are a gentle and caring person naturally....." Zilan sat down and her eyes glazed over as she continued on, Meiling watched her little 'niece' intently while Sai listened on slightly confused. "But you were changed dramatically... by someone you thought you could trust..... And you grew; colder than ice on the outside and inside.... your soul lost its innocence and you shed tears for the loss. And you 're running.... running from the past." Zilan stared straight at Sai even though she couldn't see her in her trance. "The time will come, Sakura, daughter of Air and Water, when you must face your past and choose whether to return or leave. Choose wisely for the blood of many will be spilt."
Zilan's eyes rolled back in her skull and she collapsed onto the ground in a dead faint. "Zilan!!" Meiling yelped as she scurried over to the small girl and cradled her and slapping her cheeks gently. "Zilan!!!" "Oh my god! Meiling, is she ok??!" Sai cried as they carried the girl down the hall. "Yeah, she's always tired after looking." "looking? Whadaya mean?? You mean what she was just talking about that I have absolutely no clue whatsoever as to what it meant?" "Yeah." Meiling sighed as she placed Zilan on her bed. "That's another reason why we took Zilan in – she's got a strong gift. She can tell about people's past and future... that's what she just did to you – but she's always tired afterwards and she sometimes passes out like today." Meiling plucked a vial of smelling salts out of a small drawer beside Zilan's bed, uncorked it, and waved it below Zilan's nose. "Come on...." she muttered. "Ah.....ah...... ahchoo!!!" Zilan sneezed waking up instantly. "Wah--? Yiyi, where am i? I'm so sleepy...." she murmured. Sai answered her. "Shh, it's ok. You're in your room and you just passed out after you looked at me." "Oh." Zilan gave her a sleepy smile. "You're very complicated, Sai..... *yawn* so sleepy....." Meiling tucked the dozing chibi in snugly. "Sleep, then. We'll be here if you need anything."
Meiling closed the door behind Saiyuri. She sighed as they walked down the hallway towards the main floor of the mansion. Sai peeked at Meiling's face before she ventured out a question. "Meiling?" "Mm-hm?" "What.... what did Zilan mean by what she spoke about me earlier?" "Huh? Oh.... welll, it was pretty straightforward, don't you think?" "I know, I know. I'm not talking about my past or future stuff that she was blabbing about, I want to know what she meant when she called me ' daughter of Air and Water.'" "Oh..... well-----wait, what did she call you before that little title thingy?" "What/" "She called you Sa....Saku...... something like that." "Oh. Nothing. I can't remember either." Saiyuri quickly lied.
Meiling's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Really?" "Yeah." "Whatev. Anyways, this daughter of Air and Water thing leads us back to where we were before Zilan arrived. Remember how you asked about how Auntie was a precog and stuff? *Sai nods* Well, there are the 3 ancient clans of Asia – the Li's, the Kinomoto's, and the Tsukanshi's. These 3 clans basically controlled everything - they were royalty, high nobles, war leaders, everything. The Li's are obviously from China, the Kinomoto's from Japan, and the Tsukanshi's were a mix of China and Japan. In the past, there were many clans and petty wars over land. The 3 clans, however brought both war and peace to their countries because, as the myth goes, we had magic. Our 'magics' included everything from fortune-telling to telekinesis. We had superior power thus either crushed or absorbed all the other clans." "But how does this all apply to the daughter of Air and Water thing??" "I'm getting there. Each clan had its own emblem or symbol. The Li's had Fire, and the Kinomoto's had Air."
Meiling shrugged. "I don't know about the water part though. Maybe it was for the Tsukanshi's but their bloodline's nearly died out, I think. Maybe somebody's got a couple drops of Tsukanshi in them but right now, there's only one person who's half Tsukanshi and that's Mr. Tsukanshi Tomoe. He's looking for a Tsukanshi girl right now and so far, he's found only one but she's only an eighth Tsukanshi." "Wait, I don't get it. Why's he looking for a Tsukanshi girl?" Meiling snickered slightly at Saiyuri's confused question. "Because, in the Tsukanshi clan, all power belongs to the females of the house. And poor Mr. Tsukanshi's gotta find a girl to take up the power before he dies." "oh..." Sai nodded. "I think i get it... kinda..... not really...." Meiling laughed. "Yeah right. It's not your fault anyways – I just blabbed out a lot of random facts at you so you being confused is quite normal." "Huh, and you expect to make me feel all warm and fuzzy by that statement did you?" Sai replied with a grin. "Na, I just----"
BOOOOOONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Shit!" Meiling hissed. "I totally forgot tonight's a clan meeting!!!!! Damnit!!" Sai looked at her friend curiously. "What are you talking about.?" "Arghh!!! Every other month, there's a meeting hosted at one mansion for the elders and leaders and their close family of various 'clans' or in other words, rich families. And we're hosting this time... again. And Xiao Lang said no guests allowed when we host." Meiling looked at Sai apologetically. "I'm so sorry, I totally forgot. You probably should go as it----" "Meiling!!! Here you are! You DO remember that tonight's there's a meeting for--- hey, who are you?!" A tall young woman with long golden brown hair hanging loose slid to a stop in front of them. Meiling rolled her eyes. "Yes, Feimei, I remembered like 2 seconds ago. And this is my friend, Kamikaze Saiyuri." "Nice to meet you." Saiyuri bowed deeply. Feimei frowned. "Hm, I suppose you forgot as well that NO GUESTS are allowed on meeting nights, hm?" Meiling winced. "Um, yeah..." "I can leave right now, if it's going to be more convenient for you two." Sai offered. "Nonsense! We'd be in even more trouble if we sent a guest off in the middle of the night! How rude that would be to you. Oh! And I haven't even introduced myself to you!" Feimei smacked herself on the head. "So sorry! I'm Feimei, second daughter of Yelan of the Li clan. I'm also Little Wolf's sister." Feimei frowned. "Speaking of Xiao Lang, where is he? HE'S never late for the clan meetings....."
At that precise moment, the front door banged open. Xiao Lang strode in his eyes furious and his mouth set in a tight line. HE glared balefully at the three girls in front of him and snarled. "Meiling! I told you no guests on meeting nights." Meiling cringed as if she had been slapped. "Sorry Xiao Lang. I forgot." She whispered. Sai stared at her cringing friend shocked at how quickly her quick-spirited friend had lost her spark. "That's the fifth time you've forgotten! Idiot!" Xiao Lang slapped Meiling across the face. Meiling crumpled onto the ground holding back her tears. "Meiling! Are you alright?!" Feimei cried rushing over to her as Sai stood frozen in shock. How could Xiao Lang so cruelly hit his cousin like that? "Feimei! Why didn't you remind me that tonight there was a clan meeting?!" he barked. Feimei glared sadly at her cold younger brother. "I'm sorry, I thought you remembered." She hissed. "Sorry's not good enough! You deserve-- -"
"She deserves an apology." A cold voice stated behind Xiao Lang. He whirled around to face Sai who had finally snapped out of her shocked daze. "And who the fuck are you?!" he growled. Sai frowned. "Hello? Don't you remember me? I'm Saiyuri – we met again a couple days ago at La Korina. Remember?" He glared at her. "I was drunk that day so I have no recollection. Get the hell out of my house. Strangers are unwanted." "Xiao Lang, she's a guest! You can't----" "Shut up Feimei!" He yelled at his sister. "I am the clan leader here! I say what goes on around here!!"
Sai gasped in indignation. "Well, of all priggish despicable things to say to your own sister! How could you say that?!! What she said was her own personal opinion and you can't stop her from saying it! It's her choice! Don't yell at your sister or cousin like that!! If you want me to leave, I'll leave! You don't go ranting at your kin just because of a small opinion or mistake! And you NEVER hit someone like that either!! Holy crap! I would've thought that the leader of the Li clan had more self control and be more humane!!" Sai glared furiously at the shocked Xiao Lang. Meiling and Feimei watched on silently – they were afraid for Sai as they had no idea what Xiao Lang would do to her. "I. Am. The. Law. Here. Get. The. Fuck. Out." Xiao Lang gritted out. Sai sniffed. "What a stupid little rich bastard you are. My god, don't you even no how to say 'please'? Or does that overblown head of yours full of nothing?? But I suppose that is a stupid question to ask as you go around slapping people just because they forgot about a stupid little meeting that you YOURSELF had forgotten about as well, Mr. I'm-so-High-and-Mighty."
Xiao Lang blew up. "You stupid little bitch! First of all you enter my house without permissions, then you lecture me, then-----" "That's quite enough my son." A tall elegant woman with jet black hair pulled back in a severe intricate bun stated calmly. Xiao Lang glared at his mother. "Mother, a certain female *gives Sai the evil eye* **Sai glares right back** intruded onto our property on the most important of nights! You know that---" "Yes I do know that but it doesn't matter. She's a guest and we must be courteous. She will be staying for dinner. That's all." Yelan replied her last two words edged in ice, just daring for Xiao Lang to argue. Xiao Lang clenched his fists but bowed his head. "As you wish Mother." And stomped down the hall and up the stairs.
Yelan, Xiao Lang's mother, turned and smiled gently at Saiyuri. "Forgive my son. He has gone through a hard time and still has not recovered." "Still hasn't recovered after 4 years and abuses his family?" Sai replied sourly. But she hastily bowed when Yelan frowned slightly and added "Forgive me, mistress. It is not my place to criticize the leader of this clan in his own house." Yelan sighed. "It's alright as you spoke only the truth. My son still has yet to repair his heart and learn to control his temper." Then she smiled. "I am Yelan – mother of Xiao Lang as you might have gathered. Feimei, get up and go show our guest Ms. Saiyuri where the robes are. And Meiling, follow me – I have some ointment for that bruise on your cheek." Yelan inclined her head slightly towards Saiyuri. "Till later, daughter of Air and Water."
~~Half an hour later~~
Feimei sorted through a variety of evening gowns so far which each she had tossed away into a growing mountain of 'rejects'. Saiyuri sweatdropped. "Uh, miss Feimei—" "Feimei's fine." "ok.... Feimei, why ARE you sorting through kimonos anyways?" "Hm? Because you need to look presentable of course. And we're supposed to wear formal clothing on a meeting night." Feimei raised an eyebrow. "And I'm correct to assume that you want to look presentable?" "Yeah. But that doesn't mean---" "Good. Then I haven't been wasting my last half hour. Now where was I??" Saiyuri fell over anime style just as the door burst open to reveal 3 other hyper females all that looked identical to Feimei with just different hairstyles. "We heard that there was a GUEST here!!!" one with her hair braided, twisted up and pinned in an elegant knot trilled. "Oh excellent!! I LOVE dressing up our guests!!! And this one is sooooo pretty!!!" another one with two loops of hair on either side of her head and the rest of her hair loose giggled. "Aawww, she's is just perfectly edible!" the third one shrieked with two side buns and 3 braids encircling her head and the rest of her hair loose. All of them also had beautiful and ornate hairpins placed somewhere in their hairstyles.
Feimei rolled her eyes. "Saiyuri, these are my sisters. That's Fanren, the one with her hair up, *Fanren inclined her head with a smile* and she's the oldest. I'm Feimei, as I told you earlier and I'm second oldest. The one who was just was just talking about dressing you up was Siefa, who's third *Siefa smiled and waved a little* and then there's finally the hyper mistake of the family who just declared you edible, Fuutie." "I'm not the mistake of the family!!" Fuutie shrieked at her sister as she sprinted over to Sai and glomped her. "HI!!!!! So glad you're here!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She laughed happily at the flattened Sai and offered her a hand up. The rest of her sisters sweatdropped at their youngest sister's antics. "Fuutie, you really should think before you act!!" Fanren chided. "Yeah, you could have really hurt Saiyuri!" Feimei added with a slight frown. "Or worse, you could've----" Siefa started. "Enough!!! Stop ganging up on me!" Fuutie cried out. Then she turned and grinned evilly at Saiyuri. "We all came here for a similar reason you know, dear Saiyuri...." The four sisters huddled around Sai who was starting to feel extremely scared. "Umm..... Can I go to the bathroom??" she squeaked. "NOOO!!!!" the four chorused and laughed maniacally as they pounced on their new 'dolly'.
~~1 hour later~~
"I feel like a nitwit." Saiyuri groaned as she stared into the mirrors surrounding her. She had been stuffed into yet another 20 layer kimono for what felt like the billionth time. "Ha, not my problem. Hmm, Siefa, what do you think??" "hmm, no. Fuutie?" "I think it's ok. Fanren?" "I think it's ok too." "Doesn't MY opinion count??" Sai whined. "Oh right!!! YOU'RE here too!!!" Fuutie grinned. Sai fell over again anime-style. "No, I've been standing here for the last hour for nothing....."
Sai stood up and brushed herself off. "Ok, so what happens on meeting nights?" The 4 sisters blinked. "Um, well, a bunch of rich families come over---" Fanren started. "And beg you to marry them." Fuutie giggled. "Have dinner and then a ball or party." Feimei continued on. "And the men discuss their business' and make deals and stuff." Siefa concluded. Sai raised an eyebrow. "What, no female leaders?" Feimei sighed. "No, their used to be though when the Tsukanshi clan was still strong..." "Oh.... So when does this meeting thing start?" "Oh shit, in 45 minutes." "Damnit, and we still have to greet the guests which leaves us 15 minutes....."
Sai pointed at a dark blue evening gown. "How about that one?" "This one?" Siefa pulled out a long halter top royal blue evening gown. "Yeah." "Aww, but I don't wanna give up on the kimono idea though..." Fanren pouted. "Fanren, I look like an idiot. "NO you don't! Ok, slightly stupid, but STILL...." "No." "Fine." Sai dragged off the heavy kimono and slipped into the FIRST dress that she had personally chosen that night. ^___~ "Ahhh...." she breathed, "so much lighter." She paused and turned around to look at the 4 sisters. "What?" she demanded.
All of them were staring at her with fascination. "Wow..." Fuutie breathed. "Oh my god..." Feimei added. "I'm totally gibing up on the kimono idea." Fanren added. "You look beautiful Sai." Siefa grinned. "Really?" Fuutie place a pair of 6 inch stiletto heeled black strappy sandals in front of Sai. "Put them on, they' match the dress." She whispered. Fanren stood behind Sai and fingered her hair frowning. "Your hair's dyed.... want me to take out the dye?? You'll look better without it." "I dunno..." Sai replied her emotions confused. She knew that she should take out the dye as it would prevent her old associates from recognizing her so easily and targeting her for assassinations as they had never seen her true hair colour but she still felt attached to her old life much as she hated to admit. She sighed "Take it out."
Fanren nodded and motioned her to sit in front of a tall bureau/makeup desk. She wrapped a towel around Sai's shoulders and sprayed something onto her hair and started combing out her hair. The black dye came out in large streaks and soon her hair was back to it's original golden brown. Fanren gasped in admiration. "Your hair's so beautiful.... so soft and smooth..." Sai stared at her reflection in the mirror in front of her. Gone were the spiky locks and wild black mane. Now instead, their was only long mid-back length golden brown hair with natural blonde streaks in it and curled slightly by itself. She sighed. "It's been so long since I last saw my natural hair..." she murmured. Fanren smiled and started braiding and twisting Sai's hair up. "I'm gonna put your hair up in a bun ok?" Sai nodded. "Whatever you want."
"Ok, we've got to start greeting the guests. Fanren, Fuutie, and Siefa, you guys go and I'll stay with Sai a bit longer and fetch Meiling to keep Sai company." "Sure." The three sisters walked out and strode down the winding staircase to greet the guests filtering in. Feimei smiled at Sai. "Ok Sai, I think you should look at yourself in the mirror now." Sai stood up and could hardly recognize herself in the mirror. She was wearing an ankle length dark royal blue halter top dress that had a low V neck that just showed the corves of her breasts and left her back bare. The dress was drawn tightly in the front so that the material layered and rippled on itself and had a long slit in the front starting about mid-thigh. Her hair was back to it's original colour and glowed in the light and Fanren had pinned it up in an elegant bun and Fuutie's sandals peeped out from underneath the dress. Feimei hand Sai a box and smiled reassuringly. "You look gorgeous. Meiling's coming and I run to greet the guests. Will you be alright?" "Sure but what's the box for?" "Oh just a little something to spice up your look. Gotta run. See ya!"
Sai smiled and gasped when she opened the box. Inside was a thin white gold chain with a long star shaped diamond pendant and diamond studded chandelier earrings and a platinum bracelet with a delicate engraving of a dragon and a phoenix. "Oh my god, Feimei..." she whispered. She slipped on the jewellery and was admiring the craftsmanship when Meiling bounded in looking happy with no trace of the bruise she had received earlier. "Hey Sai!" she chirped. "Hey Meiling. Are you feeling ok?" Sai asked concerned. "Oh I'm fine. Listen." Meiling leaned in close to Sai's ear and looked around nervously. "Look, never talk about Xiao Lang's attitude or actions at all, got it?" "What? Oh, you mean for the reputation of the clan and everything, right?" Meiling nodded vigorously "Yeah. So not a sound, k? It didn't even hurt that much anywayz – I've had worse in my days from tripping down stairs over a dress hem." Meiling laughed but quickly grew serious again. "Please Sai, don't say anything." Sai gazed at her friend. "Not a word." Meiling grinned. "Good. Now time to show you off to the guests and watch them drop down like flies at your looks."
darki: yesyes, my bad my bad, stori had no s+s, right? and it was reali late right? well I have valid reasons. Number 1, this ficcy is already 9 pages long in size 8 font. o.O yeah. And my internet blew up ove the last 3 weeks and I just got it fixed. So no flames, kk??? Not my fault!!!!! And I promise promise that there WILL be s+s moments next chappi!!!! PROMISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JUST REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't own ccs so leave me ALONE
RUNNING FROM THE PAST
By darki and mishi
CHAPPIE 7 –
Who says chibis don't have power??
Sai followed Meiling up a long winding staircase and into a new wing in the Li mansion. "Wow....." Sai breathed when they passed through the archway into the new wing. "It's beautiful." Sai looked around only to find herself surrounded by the prettiest paintings she had ever seen. The ceiling was a natural dark violet-blue with faint silvery stars glinting away. The walls were covered with murals of Chinese gods and goddess and other legendary characters. Sai gasped at the perfect artistry of the goddess' pale serene faces, the mischievousness of the Monkey King, the sternness of the Jade Emperor and the scenes stretched down the entire endless hallway. "Nice, eh?" Meiling commented from beside her. Sai could only nod mutely. "Xiao Lang painted half of these.... the rest were done by my crazy cousins - Fanren, Feimei, Siefa, and Fuutie – they're Lang-zi's older sisters. Auntie Yelan painted the ceiling.... I have no clue how she did the sky – the ceiling changes colours with the real sky outside."
Saiyuri's eyes widened "WHAT???!!! It changes colours with the sky OUTSIDE???!!!! Holy crap, she got magic or something??!" Meiling nodded. "Yeah she does actually." She replied with a serious face. Saiyuri's eyes nearly dropped out. Meiling burst laughing at Sai's reaction. "Just kidding, just kidding. But seriously, Auntie Yelan is very powerful. Like she can kinda read minds – more emotions actually – and she kinda has precognition." Sai narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Really?" "I'm telling the truth this time. Auntie seriously does some powers." "And where would she get these 'powers' from, hm??" Sai questioned her mind racing. Why did this all sound familiar with her? "Where? You mean you don't know?" Meiling sounded surprised. "No, you priss, of course I know, that's why I'm asking you right now." She snorted sarcastically. "Geez, touchy, touchy. Okay, I'll tell you. It all began-----"
"YI-YI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" a childish voice squealed getting louder by the millisecond. Sai and Meiling snapped out of their little mythology discussion to see a violet haired chibi sprinting towards them as fast as her little legs could carry her. "Zilan!" Meiling laughed as she crouched down to catch the little girl and pick her up in a warm hug. "How's the little flower of the Li clan doing, hm sweetie?" Meiling murmured as she tickled the little girl. "Heehee!!! Stoppit, it tickles!!! Heehee!!!!! Ah... Ahahaha.... Zilan's been very good...... Heehee!!!!! Stop!!!!" Sai grinned as she watched the taller one tickle the smaller one mercilessly. "Stop!!!! Yiyi, who's that?" the chibi inquired pointing a chubby finger at Sai. Meiling smiled. "That's Kimakaze Saiyuri. Say hello to Saiyuri-jie- jie." "Hello Saiyuri-jie-jie." Zilan repeated obediently. "Hey." Sai replied with a grin.
Zilan grinned back. "I like you." She declared. Saiyuri chuckled "That's good. I definitely don't wanna be wandering around this house without being approved by every member that I've met so far." She replied seriously with absolutely no trace of sarcasm. Zilan narrowed her eyes. "Really? You not making fun of me?" "Of course not. I believe that everyone deserves respect no matter how young or old they are or what they look like, race, gender, and everything else." Zilan's eyes raked over her as she scanned Saiyuri looking very much like an old business lady scanning a new trainee. "Hmmm.... Give me a hug." "A hug?" Saiyuri was shocked – how often did one get a young child demanding a hug from someone they barely even knew?! "Yes, a hug." Zilan tapped her foot impatiently. "Ok."
Sai bent down and picked Zilan up and gave her a warm and gentle hug. "Mmmmm...." Zilan murmured. "Ok you can put me down now." Zilan hopped out of Sai's arm happily and beamed at Sai. "I like you." She announced. Sai couldn't help but grin back at the beaming child at her feet. "That's good." She replied. Zilan nodded wisely at her and spoke. "I can tell that you are a gentle and caring person naturally....." Zilan sat down and her eyes glazed over as she continued on, Meiling watched her little 'niece' intently while Sai listened on slightly confused. "But you were changed dramatically... by someone you thought you could trust..... And you grew; colder than ice on the outside and inside.... your soul lost its innocence and you shed tears for the loss. And you 're running.... running from the past." Zilan stared straight at Sai even though she couldn't see her in her trance. "The time will come, Sakura, daughter of Air and Water, when you must face your past and choose whether to return or leave. Choose wisely for the blood of many will be spilt."
Zilan's eyes rolled back in her skull and she collapsed onto the ground in a dead faint. "Zilan!!" Meiling yelped as she scurried over to the small girl and cradled her and slapping her cheeks gently. "Zilan!!!" "Oh my god! Meiling, is she ok??!" Sai cried as they carried the girl down the hall. "Yeah, she's always tired after looking." "looking? Whadaya mean?? You mean what she was just talking about that I have absolutely no clue whatsoever as to what it meant?" "Yeah." Meiling sighed as she placed Zilan on her bed. "That's another reason why we took Zilan in – she's got a strong gift. She can tell about people's past and future... that's what she just did to you – but she's always tired afterwards and she sometimes passes out like today." Meiling plucked a vial of smelling salts out of a small drawer beside Zilan's bed, uncorked it, and waved it below Zilan's nose. "Come on...." she muttered. "Ah.....ah...... ahchoo!!!" Zilan sneezed waking up instantly. "Wah--? Yiyi, where am i? I'm so sleepy...." she murmured. Sai answered her. "Shh, it's ok. You're in your room and you just passed out after you looked at me." "Oh." Zilan gave her a sleepy smile. "You're very complicated, Sai..... *yawn* so sleepy....." Meiling tucked the dozing chibi in snugly. "Sleep, then. We'll be here if you need anything."
Meiling closed the door behind Saiyuri. She sighed as they walked down the hallway towards the main floor of the mansion. Sai peeked at Meiling's face before she ventured out a question. "Meiling?" "Mm-hm?" "What.... what did Zilan mean by what she spoke about me earlier?" "Huh? Oh.... welll, it was pretty straightforward, don't you think?" "I know, I know. I'm not talking about my past or future stuff that she was blabbing about, I want to know what she meant when she called me ' daughter of Air and Water.'" "Oh..... well-----wait, what did she call you before that little title thingy?" "What/" "She called you Sa....Saku...... something like that." "Oh. Nothing. I can't remember either." Saiyuri quickly lied.
Meiling's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Really?" "Yeah." "Whatev. Anyways, this daughter of Air and Water thing leads us back to where we were before Zilan arrived. Remember how you asked about how Auntie was a precog and stuff? *Sai nods* Well, there are the 3 ancient clans of Asia – the Li's, the Kinomoto's, and the Tsukanshi's. These 3 clans basically controlled everything - they were royalty, high nobles, war leaders, everything. The Li's are obviously from China, the Kinomoto's from Japan, and the Tsukanshi's were a mix of China and Japan. In the past, there were many clans and petty wars over land. The 3 clans, however brought both war and peace to their countries because, as the myth goes, we had magic. Our 'magics' included everything from fortune-telling to telekinesis. We had superior power thus either crushed or absorbed all the other clans." "But how does this all apply to the daughter of Air and Water thing??" "I'm getting there. Each clan had its own emblem or symbol. The Li's had Fire, and the Kinomoto's had Air."
Meiling shrugged. "I don't know about the water part though. Maybe it was for the Tsukanshi's but their bloodline's nearly died out, I think. Maybe somebody's got a couple drops of Tsukanshi in them but right now, there's only one person who's half Tsukanshi and that's Mr. Tsukanshi Tomoe. He's looking for a Tsukanshi girl right now and so far, he's found only one but she's only an eighth Tsukanshi." "Wait, I don't get it. Why's he looking for a Tsukanshi girl?" Meiling snickered slightly at Saiyuri's confused question. "Because, in the Tsukanshi clan, all power belongs to the females of the house. And poor Mr. Tsukanshi's gotta find a girl to take up the power before he dies." "oh..." Sai nodded. "I think i get it... kinda..... not really...." Meiling laughed. "Yeah right. It's not your fault anyways – I just blabbed out a lot of random facts at you so you being confused is quite normal." "Huh, and you expect to make me feel all warm and fuzzy by that statement did you?" Sai replied with a grin. "Na, I just----"
BOOOOOONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Shit!" Meiling hissed. "I totally forgot tonight's a clan meeting!!!!! Damnit!!" Sai looked at her friend curiously. "What are you talking about.?" "Arghh!!! Every other month, there's a meeting hosted at one mansion for the elders and leaders and their close family of various 'clans' or in other words, rich families. And we're hosting this time... again. And Xiao Lang said no guests allowed when we host." Meiling looked at Sai apologetically. "I'm so sorry, I totally forgot. You probably should go as it----" "Meiling!!! Here you are! You DO remember that tonight's there's a meeting for--- hey, who are you?!" A tall young woman with long golden brown hair hanging loose slid to a stop in front of them. Meiling rolled her eyes. "Yes, Feimei, I remembered like 2 seconds ago. And this is my friend, Kamikaze Saiyuri." "Nice to meet you." Saiyuri bowed deeply. Feimei frowned. "Hm, I suppose you forgot as well that NO GUESTS are allowed on meeting nights, hm?" Meiling winced. "Um, yeah..." "I can leave right now, if it's going to be more convenient for you two." Sai offered. "Nonsense! We'd be in even more trouble if we sent a guest off in the middle of the night! How rude that would be to you. Oh! And I haven't even introduced myself to you!" Feimei smacked herself on the head. "So sorry! I'm Feimei, second daughter of Yelan of the Li clan. I'm also Little Wolf's sister." Feimei frowned. "Speaking of Xiao Lang, where is he? HE'S never late for the clan meetings....."
At that precise moment, the front door banged open. Xiao Lang strode in his eyes furious and his mouth set in a tight line. HE glared balefully at the three girls in front of him and snarled. "Meiling! I told you no guests on meeting nights." Meiling cringed as if she had been slapped. "Sorry Xiao Lang. I forgot." She whispered. Sai stared at her cringing friend shocked at how quickly her quick-spirited friend had lost her spark. "That's the fifth time you've forgotten! Idiot!" Xiao Lang slapped Meiling across the face. Meiling crumpled onto the ground holding back her tears. "Meiling! Are you alright?!" Feimei cried rushing over to her as Sai stood frozen in shock. How could Xiao Lang so cruelly hit his cousin like that? "Feimei! Why didn't you remind me that tonight there was a clan meeting?!" he barked. Feimei glared sadly at her cold younger brother. "I'm sorry, I thought you remembered." She hissed. "Sorry's not good enough! You deserve-- -"
"She deserves an apology." A cold voice stated behind Xiao Lang. He whirled around to face Sai who had finally snapped out of her shocked daze. "And who the fuck are you?!" he growled. Sai frowned. "Hello? Don't you remember me? I'm Saiyuri – we met again a couple days ago at La Korina. Remember?" He glared at her. "I was drunk that day so I have no recollection. Get the hell out of my house. Strangers are unwanted." "Xiao Lang, she's a guest! You can't----" "Shut up Feimei!" He yelled at his sister. "I am the clan leader here! I say what goes on around here!!"
Sai gasped in indignation. "Well, of all priggish despicable things to say to your own sister! How could you say that?!! What she said was her own personal opinion and you can't stop her from saying it! It's her choice! Don't yell at your sister or cousin like that!! If you want me to leave, I'll leave! You don't go ranting at your kin just because of a small opinion or mistake! And you NEVER hit someone like that either!! Holy crap! I would've thought that the leader of the Li clan had more self control and be more humane!!" Sai glared furiously at the shocked Xiao Lang. Meiling and Feimei watched on silently – they were afraid for Sai as they had no idea what Xiao Lang would do to her. "I. Am. The. Law. Here. Get. The. Fuck. Out." Xiao Lang gritted out. Sai sniffed. "What a stupid little rich bastard you are. My god, don't you even no how to say 'please'? Or does that overblown head of yours full of nothing?? But I suppose that is a stupid question to ask as you go around slapping people just because they forgot about a stupid little meeting that you YOURSELF had forgotten about as well, Mr. I'm-so-High-and-Mighty."
Xiao Lang blew up. "You stupid little bitch! First of all you enter my house without permissions, then you lecture me, then-----" "That's quite enough my son." A tall elegant woman with jet black hair pulled back in a severe intricate bun stated calmly. Xiao Lang glared at his mother. "Mother, a certain female *gives Sai the evil eye* **Sai glares right back** intruded onto our property on the most important of nights! You know that---" "Yes I do know that but it doesn't matter. She's a guest and we must be courteous. She will be staying for dinner. That's all." Yelan replied her last two words edged in ice, just daring for Xiao Lang to argue. Xiao Lang clenched his fists but bowed his head. "As you wish Mother." And stomped down the hall and up the stairs.
Yelan, Xiao Lang's mother, turned and smiled gently at Saiyuri. "Forgive my son. He has gone through a hard time and still has not recovered." "Still hasn't recovered after 4 years and abuses his family?" Sai replied sourly. But she hastily bowed when Yelan frowned slightly and added "Forgive me, mistress. It is not my place to criticize the leader of this clan in his own house." Yelan sighed. "It's alright as you spoke only the truth. My son still has yet to repair his heart and learn to control his temper." Then she smiled. "I am Yelan – mother of Xiao Lang as you might have gathered. Feimei, get up and go show our guest Ms. Saiyuri where the robes are. And Meiling, follow me – I have some ointment for that bruise on your cheek." Yelan inclined her head slightly towards Saiyuri. "Till later, daughter of Air and Water."
~~Half an hour later~~
Feimei sorted through a variety of evening gowns so far which each she had tossed away into a growing mountain of 'rejects'. Saiyuri sweatdropped. "Uh, miss Feimei—" "Feimei's fine." "ok.... Feimei, why ARE you sorting through kimonos anyways?" "Hm? Because you need to look presentable of course. And we're supposed to wear formal clothing on a meeting night." Feimei raised an eyebrow. "And I'm correct to assume that you want to look presentable?" "Yeah. But that doesn't mean---" "Good. Then I haven't been wasting my last half hour. Now where was I??" Saiyuri fell over anime style just as the door burst open to reveal 3 other hyper females all that looked identical to Feimei with just different hairstyles. "We heard that there was a GUEST here!!!" one with her hair braided, twisted up and pinned in an elegant knot trilled. "Oh excellent!! I LOVE dressing up our guests!!! And this one is sooooo pretty!!!" another one with two loops of hair on either side of her head and the rest of her hair loose giggled. "Aawww, she's is just perfectly edible!" the third one shrieked with two side buns and 3 braids encircling her head and the rest of her hair loose. All of them also had beautiful and ornate hairpins placed somewhere in their hairstyles.
Feimei rolled her eyes. "Saiyuri, these are my sisters. That's Fanren, the one with her hair up, *Fanren inclined her head with a smile* and she's the oldest. I'm Feimei, as I told you earlier and I'm second oldest. The one who was just was just talking about dressing you up was Siefa, who's third *Siefa smiled and waved a little* and then there's finally the hyper mistake of the family who just declared you edible, Fuutie." "I'm not the mistake of the family!!" Fuutie shrieked at her sister as she sprinted over to Sai and glomped her. "HI!!!!! So glad you're here!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She laughed happily at the flattened Sai and offered her a hand up. The rest of her sisters sweatdropped at their youngest sister's antics. "Fuutie, you really should think before you act!!" Fanren chided. "Yeah, you could have really hurt Saiyuri!" Feimei added with a slight frown. "Or worse, you could've----" Siefa started. "Enough!!! Stop ganging up on me!" Fuutie cried out. Then she turned and grinned evilly at Saiyuri. "We all came here for a similar reason you know, dear Saiyuri...." The four sisters huddled around Sai who was starting to feel extremely scared. "Umm..... Can I go to the bathroom??" she squeaked. "NOOO!!!!" the four chorused and laughed maniacally as they pounced on their new 'dolly'.
~~1 hour later~~
"I feel like a nitwit." Saiyuri groaned as she stared into the mirrors surrounding her. She had been stuffed into yet another 20 layer kimono for what felt like the billionth time. "Ha, not my problem. Hmm, Siefa, what do you think??" "hmm, no. Fuutie?" "I think it's ok. Fanren?" "I think it's ok too." "Doesn't MY opinion count??" Sai whined. "Oh right!!! YOU'RE here too!!!" Fuutie grinned. Sai fell over again anime-style. "No, I've been standing here for the last hour for nothing....."
Sai stood up and brushed herself off. "Ok, so what happens on meeting nights?" The 4 sisters blinked. "Um, well, a bunch of rich families come over---" Fanren started. "And beg you to marry them." Fuutie giggled. "Have dinner and then a ball or party." Feimei continued on. "And the men discuss their business' and make deals and stuff." Siefa concluded. Sai raised an eyebrow. "What, no female leaders?" Feimei sighed. "No, their used to be though when the Tsukanshi clan was still strong..." "Oh.... So when does this meeting thing start?" "Oh shit, in 45 minutes." "Damnit, and we still have to greet the guests which leaves us 15 minutes....."
Sai pointed at a dark blue evening gown. "How about that one?" "This one?" Siefa pulled out a long halter top royal blue evening gown. "Yeah." "Aww, but I don't wanna give up on the kimono idea though..." Fanren pouted. "Fanren, I look like an idiot. "NO you don't! Ok, slightly stupid, but STILL...." "No." "Fine." Sai dragged off the heavy kimono and slipped into the FIRST dress that she had personally chosen that night. ^___~ "Ahhh...." she breathed, "so much lighter." She paused and turned around to look at the 4 sisters. "What?" she demanded.
All of them were staring at her with fascination. "Wow..." Fuutie breathed. "Oh my god..." Feimei added. "I'm totally gibing up on the kimono idea." Fanren added. "You look beautiful Sai." Siefa grinned. "Really?" Fuutie place a pair of 6 inch stiletto heeled black strappy sandals in front of Sai. "Put them on, they' match the dress." She whispered. Fanren stood behind Sai and fingered her hair frowning. "Your hair's dyed.... want me to take out the dye?? You'll look better without it." "I dunno..." Sai replied her emotions confused. She knew that she should take out the dye as it would prevent her old associates from recognizing her so easily and targeting her for assassinations as they had never seen her true hair colour but she still felt attached to her old life much as she hated to admit. She sighed "Take it out."
Fanren nodded and motioned her to sit in front of a tall bureau/makeup desk. She wrapped a towel around Sai's shoulders and sprayed something onto her hair and started combing out her hair. The black dye came out in large streaks and soon her hair was back to it's original golden brown. Fanren gasped in admiration. "Your hair's so beautiful.... so soft and smooth..." Sai stared at her reflection in the mirror in front of her. Gone were the spiky locks and wild black mane. Now instead, their was only long mid-back length golden brown hair with natural blonde streaks in it and curled slightly by itself. She sighed. "It's been so long since I last saw my natural hair..." she murmured. Fanren smiled and started braiding and twisting Sai's hair up. "I'm gonna put your hair up in a bun ok?" Sai nodded. "Whatever you want."
"Ok, we've got to start greeting the guests. Fanren, Fuutie, and Siefa, you guys go and I'll stay with Sai a bit longer and fetch Meiling to keep Sai company." "Sure." The three sisters walked out and strode down the winding staircase to greet the guests filtering in. Feimei smiled at Sai. "Ok Sai, I think you should look at yourself in the mirror now." Sai stood up and could hardly recognize herself in the mirror. She was wearing an ankle length dark royal blue halter top dress that had a low V neck that just showed the corves of her breasts and left her back bare. The dress was drawn tightly in the front so that the material layered and rippled on itself and had a long slit in the front starting about mid-thigh. Her hair was back to it's original colour and glowed in the light and Fanren had pinned it up in an elegant bun and Fuutie's sandals peeped out from underneath the dress. Feimei hand Sai a box and smiled reassuringly. "You look gorgeous. Meiling's coming and I run to greet the guests. Will you be alright?" "Sure but what's the box for?" "Oh just a little something to spice up your look. Gotta run. See ya!"
Sai smiled and gasped when she opened the box. Inside was a thin white gold chain with a long star shaped diamond pendant and diamond studded chandelier earrings and a platinum bracelet with a delicate engraving of a dragon and a phoenix. "Oh my god, Feimei..." she whispered. She slipped on the jewellery and was admiring the craftsmanship when Meiling bounded in looking happy with no trace of the bruise she had received earlier. "Hey Sai!" she chirped. "Hey Meiling. Are you feeling ok?" Sai asked concerned. "Oh I'm fine. Listen." Meiling leaned in close to Sai's ear and looked around nervously. "Look, never talk about Xiao Lang's attitude or actions at all, got it?" "What? Oh, you mean for the reputation of the clan and everything, right?" Meiling nodded vigorously "Yeah. So not a sound, k? It didn't even hurt that much anywayz – I've had worse in my days from tripping down stairs over a dress hem." Meiling laughed but quickly grew serious again. "Please Sai, don't say anything." Sai gazed at her friend. "Not a word." Meiling grinned. "Good. Now time to show you off to the guests and watch them drop down like flies at your looks."
darki: yesyes, my bad my bad, stori had no s+s, right? and it was reali late right? well I have valid reasons. Number 1, this ficcy is already 9 pages long in size 8 font. o.O yeah. And my internet blew up ove the last 3 weeks and I just got it fixed. So no flames, kk??? Not my fault!!!!! And I promise promise that there WILL be s+s moments next chappi!!!! PROMISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JUST REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!