(A/N) Sorry for taking such a long time on this chapter. Details were hard to work out and other things have been getting in the way - including state testing. There's only one thing I want to point out in this chapter, and it's that Xiao Lang will be referred as Syaoran or Li-san. So don't be confused when I make the switch okay? Okay! I'm sure you guys want to read this chapter now.
Once Upon a Time in China
By Sang H.
Disclaimer - I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura. If I did, I wouldn't be here in Fanfiction.Net!
Chapter 3 Untitled
"AND WHY SHOULD I GO?!"
"IT IS MY WISH THAT YOU GO!"
"I don't want to go anywhere!" Sakura cried angrily to her older brother, the king. She slammed her fist against the polished table and frowned deeply at Touya.
"Sakura please understand!" Touya pleaded angrily, pulling Sakura by the shoulders. He stared into her eyes sadly.
"You can't make me go. I won't go." Sakura muttered indignantly.
"Just-! ... I want to see you smile again. I want to see you happy... Please go for me." He murmured these words, but Sakura caught them all. Her skin was pale and she was incredibly thin. She shivered and blinked back tears that threatened to fall.
"I can't be happy. I can't. Not without you 'ni-chan." Sakura whispered. Ah, it was no use. Tears rolled down her face.
Touya pulled Sakura into a tight hug, feeling tired and frustrated. "I know that. I know, Saku. Just... just try, okay?"
Sakura sighed, her hands dangling limply at her sides. "Okay... I'll go..." She said in defeat. Touya released her from his embrace and dried her tears.
"I love you kaijuu." He said, patting Sakura's head.
She let him tease her. "Me too..."
The day was dreary and bleak. A light haze settled far over hills to farmlands and sea ports. Xiao Lang strolled along the dock, taking in the sight before him. Sailors bustled by, carrying large cargos onto ships. Occasionally, they'd bump into him, but he didn't mind.
"Ah! Li-san!"
Xiao Lang looked up to find a tall man about his height with short, jet-black hair. He approached Li, smiling in relief.
"I've been searching forever for you," the stranger panted, wiping the beads of sweat off his forehead. He grinned and straightened immediately.
"Sorry. You're probably wondering who I am. My name is Yamazaki, Takashi. It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance." The man extended his hand.
"Li, Syaoran. The pleasure's all mine," Li replied, shaking Yamazaki's hand. "Though I'm curious to know how you knew who I was."
Takashi chuckled. "I was given orders to meet and guide a soldier at arriving at this very port. You've got the posture of a fighter."
Syaoran nodded in comprehension. "Well, I suppose we should get going then? I wouldn't want to arrive late for the gathering."
"Of course! Right this way, Li-san."
Syaoran gathered his luggage and followed Yamazaki, who sauntered on ahead.
The room was crowded with noisy soldiers and their families; sake was passed all around. Sakura shrank against the wall alone, watching the ladies laugh and smile as they danced with the drunken men. Inside, she hoped that no one would notice her throughout the whole night. However, amber eyes had, and a man was making his way towards her.
Sakura was quite alarmed when she felt a hand slide on her shoulder and whirled around, slightly gasping and feeling somewhat lightheaded. She found herself facing a very handsome young man, about three years older and smiling kindly.
"Sorry if I had startled you miss. I was just curious as to why you're standing here all alone." He said. Sakura opened her mouth to speak but closed them immediately. Perhaps it wouldn't be a good idea for everyone to know that she was a princess. She smiled weakly back but had a reply ready.
"I really don't know anyone here except for the master of the house." Sakura murmured and averted her gaze to the wooden floor, leaning against the wall for support.
"Hmm..." was the young man's only reply as he gazed at her. "Well, my name is Li, Syaoran," he said smoothly, "and if you ever find yourself short of company, I may be around. Perhaps we can get to know each other? Become friends, I mean. I don't really know anyone around here either because I just arrived from China."
Sakura paled at the name of the country and her legs felt weak. Syaoran noticed this and immediately inquired, "Miss, are you feeling alright?"
"I-I'm just not feeling very well." Sakura's small frame trembled and she fought to keep her balance.
Syaoran stared meaningfully at her small body. "I can see that. Come with me. We'll get away from all this-" he motioned to the drunken men and giggling women, "nonsense." Li held his hand out to her, but Sakura looked away.
"It's alright-"
"You look as if you're going to pass out soon." Li cut her off. Sakura sighed wearily. "I suppose..." she murmured, taking his offered hand. Syaoran led the young girl to a small garden and told her to wait there, promising to return soon. She did as she was told and found Syaoran returning with a bowl of soup, the tantalizing scent filled the air. Sakura's stomach suddenly felt empty and she couldn't have felt any more fatigued.
"Here. Drink this. It's best that you start off with soup. You can take solid food when you're stomach has adjusted." Li murmured, handing Sakura the bowl. Sakura silently took the bowl, her fingers brushing against Li's fingers.
"Thank you," she said quietly, staring at the moon's reflection in the soup. She looked into Li's amber eyes in soft gratitude. She had barely known this stranger, and here he was, kindly bringing her food. "My name is Sakura." She raised a spoon to her lips, hand trembling slightly, and slowly sipped some broth. Syaoran took her hand in his, steadily guiding her.
"Sakura... it's a pretty name." Li commented gently. Sakura didn't reply, but kept sipping spoonfuls of soup. He watched her, studied her while she ate. She looked like a quiet girl, young and naïve. Yes, this girl may prove useful...
(sigh) I really wanted to add more to this chapter, but I didn't know how I would end it. I guess three pages will have to do for now. Again, I'm really sorry for taking longer than expected to get this chapter out. And, if you feel you have to yell at me for taking longer than you'd like, go ahead. Just don't insult me or cuss me out. Flame me, or whatever. I know how it feels to find a good fic and never get to finish reading it. Well, please R&R.
-Sang
Once Upon a Time in China
By Sang H.
Disclaimer - I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura. If I did, I wouldn't be here in Fanfiction.Net!
Chapter 3 Untitled
"AND WHY SHOULD I GO?!"
"IT IS MY WISH THAT YOU GO!"
"I don't want to go anywhere!" Sakura cried angrily to her older brother, the king. She slammed her fist against the polished table and frowned deeply at Touya.
"Sakura please understand!" Touya pleaded angrily, pulling Sakura by the shoulders. He stared into her eyes sadly.
"You can't make me go. I won't go." Sakura muttered indignantly.
"Just-! ... I want to see you smile again. I want to see you happy... Please go for me." He murmured these words, but Sakura caught them all. Her skin was pale and she was incredibly thin. She shivered and blinked back tears that threatened to fall.
"I can't be happy. I can't. Not without you 'ni-chan." Sakura whispered. Ah, it was no use. Tears rolled down her face.
Touya pulled Sakura into a tight hug, feeling tired and frustrated. "I know that. I know, Saku. Just... just try, okay?"
Sakura sighed, her hands dangling limply at her sides. "Okay... I'll go..." She said in defeat. Touya released her from his embrace and dried her tears.
"I love you kaijuu." He said, patting Sakura's head.
She let him tease her. "Me too..."
The day was dreary and bleak. A light haze settled far over hills to farmlands and sea ports. Xiao Lang strolled along the dock, taking in the sight before him. Sailors bustled by, carrying large cargos onto ships. Occasionally, they'd bump into him, but he didn't mind.
"Ah! Li-san!"
Xiao Lang looked up to find a tall man about his height with short, jet-black hair. He approached Li, smiling in relief.
"I've been searching forever for you," the stranger panted, wiping the beads of sweat off his forehead. He grinned and straightened immediately.
"Sorry. You're probably wondering who I am. My name is Yamazaki, Takashi. It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance." The man extended his hand.
"Li, Syaoran. The pleasure's all mine," Li replied, shaking Yamazaki's hand. "Though I'm curious to know how you knew who I was."
Takashi chuckled. "I was given orders to meet and guide a soldier at arriving at this very port. You've got the posture of a fighter."
Syaoran nodded in comprehension. "Well, I suppose we should get going then? I wouldn't want to arrive late for the gathering."
"Of course! Right this way, Li-san."
Syaoran gathered his luggage and followed Yamazaki, who sauntered on ahead.
The room was crowded with noisy soldiers and their families; sake was passed all around. Sakura shrank against the wall alone, watching the ladies laugh and smile as they danced with the drunken men. Inside, she hoped that no one would notice her throughout the whole night. However, amber eyes had, and a man was making his way towards her.
Sakura was quite alarmed when she felt a hand slide on her shoulder and whirled around, slightly gasping and feeling somewhat lightheaded. She found herself facing a very handsome young man, about three years older and smiling kindly.
"Sorry if I had startled you miss. I was just curious as to why you're standing here all alone." He said. Sakura opened her mouth to speak but closed them immediately. Perhaps it wouldn't be a good idea for everyone to know that she was a princess. She smiled weakly back but had a reply ready.
"I really don't know anyone here except for the master of the house." Sakura murmured and averted her gaze to the wooden floor, leaning against the wall for support.
"Hmm..." was the young man's only reply as he gazed at her. "Well, my name is Li, Syaoran," he said smoothly, "and if you ever find yourself short of company, I may be around. Perhaps we can get to know each other? Become friends, I mean. I don't really know anyone around here either because I just arrived from China."
Sakura paled at the name of the country and her legs felt weak. Syaoran noticed this and immediately inquired, "Miss, are you feeling alright?"
"I-I'm just not feeling very well." Sakura's small frame trembled and she fought to keep her balance.
Syaoran stared meaningfully at her small body. "I can see that. Come with me. We'll get away from all this-" he motioned to the drunken men and giggling women, "nonsense." Li held his hand out to her, but Sakura looked away.
"It's alright-"
"You look as if you're going to pass out soon." Li cut her off. Sakura sighed wearily. "I suppose..." she murmured, taking his offered hand. Syaoran led the young girl to a small garden and told her to wait there, promising to return soon. She did as she was told and found Syaoran returning with a bowl of soup, the tantalizing scent filled the air. Sakura's stomach suddenly felt empty and she couldn't have felt any more fatigued.
"Here. Drink this. It's best that you start off with soup. You can take solid food when you're stomach has adjusted." Li murmured, handing Sakura the bowl. Sakura silently took the bowl, her fingers brushing against Li's fingers.
"Thank you," she said quietly, staring at the moon's reflection in the soup. She looked into Li's amber eyes in soft gratitude. She had barely known this stranger, and here he was, kindly bringing her food. "My name is Sakura." She raised a spoon to her lips, hand trembling slightly, and slowly sipped some broth. Syaoran took her hand in his, steadily guiding her.
"Sakura... it's a pretty name." Li commented gently. Sakura didn't reply, but kept sipping spoonfuls of soup. He watched her, studied her while she ate. She looked like a quiet girl, young and naïve. Yes, this girl may prove useful...
(sigh) I really wanted to add more to this chapter, but I didn't know how I would end it. I guess three pages will have to do for now. Again, I'm really sorry for taking longer than expected to get this chapter out. And, if you feel you have to yell at me for taking longer than you'd like, go ahead. Just don't insult me or cuss me out. Flame me, or whatever. I know how it feels to find a good fic and never get to finish reading it. Well, please R&R.
-Sang