War of Magicians

The Birth of the Phoenix

Chapter 6

Forbidden City was a gigantic place surrounded by walls. There were gates surrounding it, but at this time all of them were closed. There were few cars driving along the Tiananmen Square, which was the side Yue had landed on, and guards stood, stiff as a statue, at every gate.

The guards, serious as they were, did not see Yue fly into the city, lights and all. Inside the protective walls the city was quiet. The tourist hours were long over, and there was a sense of death in the air, ancient and cold, emitting from the buildings that had been destroyed and rebuilt over the ages.

Syaoran, blinking at his surroundings, remained silent for a long while as they waited. An eerie breeze blew across the ghostly city.

" Can we go inside?" He asked finally."
" Of course. I was only afraid Sakura won't be able to find us."
" She will. It's practical this way. If the clerics follow us we'd be out in the open. Not a good place to be."

The beds were old and smelled old and dry. Syaoran thought the bed felt hard. But the covers were warm.

He didn't want to sleep, but it seemed once entering the chambers all his exhaustion piled upon him, making him drowsy. Yue had insisted he should rest and after a few minutes of bickering Syaoran had relented.

There was something familiar about the bed. Syaoran remembered lying in this position with Yue right beside him, but it couldn't be possible. The bed was never this hard. The pillows were never this high. Yet he could remember, lit in candlelight, a room just like this one, with curtains over the bed and servants coming-

Servants?

There was a small creak. Syaoran focused. It was Sakura's aura. He pretended to be asleep.

" Eriol-kun told me what happened." Sakura said almost breathlessly. " Syaoran-kun, are you alright?"

Syaoran did not answer. His eyes remained closed, his breathing even. Sakura was silent for a long while.

" What do we do now?" Kero asked.
" I don't know." Yue shrugged. " Pray for the best. The last time this happened Syaoran only survived for a short time."
" But we're prepared now, aren't we?" Kero asked hopefully. " Kid, I know you're not asleep-"
" Let him rest Kerberus he doesn't want to talk right now." Yue interrupted, laying his hand on the boy's arm to reassure him. " He's strangely tired today and yesterday. I wonder what's wrong."
" He was getting tired during the end," Kero said thoughtfully. " Though I believe that this is just a state of unhealthiness."

Yue and Sakura stared at the guardian.

" He's unnaturally thin." Kero defended himself.

Syaoran chose this moment to sit up.

" I am not malnutritioned, Kero." Syaoran answered. " There is something called stress. It's not especially fattening. It comes from the Japanese style of education."
" As if Chinese education weren't stressful either." Kero muttered.
" We certainly were allowed to write stories instead of just memorize." Syaoran muttered, " Memorize this! Memorize that! But that's besides the point. The point is the schools were just so strict with grades and what school you get into. But how long are we staying here? The old smell isn't comforting."
" It isn't." Yue agreed thoughtfully. " Clow mentioned Kaho. I do believe she's coming here as well."
" How? Drive a flying car?" Syaoran sniffed. " I doubt Kaho can fly or move like that anyway. It's too dark in here. We ought to light a few candles-if we have any, anyway."

There were old candles but they were old. Yue wasn't sure if they would light. Kero melted some of them but the room was significantly brighter.

" What the heck am I going to do in school?" Sakura muttered.
" What are we going to do?" Syaoran shuddered. " Your brother would notice if he hadn't already, and your father, lord knows...tamade." He muttered.

Sakura stared at him, puzzled, then figured it was probably a statement like her " Hanyan" or " Hoe". Syaoran stood up.

" I get the feeling we're going to be here for a long time." Syaoran said quietly. " And I think it's better we stay in one place. But what should we do?"

They were quiet. Yue looked at the former prince.

" Oh look." Syaoran blinked. " Is that Go I see there?"

The board game was lying against the table. Two pots filled with stones lied right next to it.

Yue looked at Syaoran. " Do you still know how to play?"
" Of course I do." Syaoran sniffed. " Though I'm not as good as Julan, probably. White stone or black stone?"
" You always used white stones."
" Then black stone it is."
" What are you talking about?" Sakura asked.



If what Syaoran said was true about his abilities, then Yue was out of practice, because he was losing quite badly to Syaoran's ' Wicked schemes'.

Syaoran's white stones littered the board while Yue's black ones were pitifully scattered, one by one falling under Syaoran's white stones. Syaoran, his face straight, had a glitter in his eyes at Yue's pitiful attempts.

" You said you won a few."
" I haven't played in a really long while."
" Two thousand years?"
" It's a long time to forget."

Syaoran sighed as he leaned back. " And I can't help you with that. You already got the black stone, and black stones go first. You already had the advantage."

Yue smiled sadly at Syaoran. The boy really was exactly like Julan. Syaoran noticed the nostalgic expression.

" After this, Yue," Syaoran attempted at humor, " Never call me ' Your Highness'."

To all of their surprise, Yue burst out laughing.
" And what would you do, ' Your Highness', if I really did call you that?"
" Then I will use those phoenix feathers to burn your hair." Syaoran smiled, pleased that he had cheered the guardian up.
" Oh, believe me, I tried that." Kero piped in. " Yue's hair is still as long as ever, but you see those short strands?" He dodged as Yue went after him, " That's my doing."
" Very fashionable." Syaoran observed.

Yue self-consciously felt his hair, uncertain how to act.

Sakura observed the scene with obvious amusement.

" I didn't know that was how your hair became that way." Syaoran continued.
" It wasn't." Yue almost stammered, but Kero, who was right beside him, mouthed Don't listen to that guy.

The sky cracked. Syaoran started.

" That didn't sound good."
" That does not feel good." Kero agreed.
" Clerics can't make lightning." Yue blinked. " Nor can clerics."
" You know enchanters. They like a dramatic entrance." Kero said flatly.

Syaoran cocked an eyebrow. Suddenly the ground shook. Yue looked towards the door.

The door swung open. Eriol walked in with Kaho.

" Where is he?" Eriol glanced at Syaoran. " Good."
" Do you have anything in mind?" Syaoran asked calmly, and for a moment Yue had the impression that it was the prince in peasant's clothing. " I'm certain that if we stay here forever they're bound to find us."
" I know. I'm afraid there's going to be a war over you, my little descendant. Right now we can't do anything until reinforcements come."

Syaoran ignored his title. " Just when would these reinforcements come?"
" I don't know." Eriol answered apologetically."

Sakura had a strong feeling that Syaoran was less than impressed.

" You would think," Syaoran began, " That under the circumstances I should learn a thing or two about offense and defense instead of just running away. I do have a conscious and I do not like others protecting me when I could protect myself. I can understand why this was not the case for Julan, but I am perfectly aware of magic and its existence and I intend on using it if you would bother telling me what you know of my powers."

Eriol seemed startled. This was certainly different from the Syaoran at school. This was the voice of royalty.

" I don't think that's a good idea," Yue said uncertainly. " You were unnaturally tired when I brought you here-" Syaoran silenced him witha look.
" You are aware they sense magic at work when its active?" Eriol asked, though he knew he was being cornered.
" That is no reason for me not to exercise it." Syaoran answered.



Eriol created a strong barrier all around Forbidden City. The guardians helped Syaoran waken his new powers, most of which include fire.

Syaoran sat down, a little tired from the work.

" No sight of them yet." Ruby called from one of the towers, safely hidden from the view of the guards.
" We ought to move inside. Tourist hours are starting." Syaoran headed to one of the buildings. " I think if we stay here they won't see us. People rarely come to this section."

The room was old, and it smelled old. Syaoran sat on the humid bed and pulled his legs up underneath him.

They could hear the sounds of the tourists now from far away. Syaoran sighed and lied down. Sakura went to another bed.

The day passed uneventfully. No one came into the section. Syaoran read books that came from nowhere. Yue wondered where he found them if the archaeologists didn't already.

" This board was Julan's." Syaoran said unexpectedly.
" How do you know?" Yue asked, successfully keeping the surprise out of his voice.
" It says here in the book." Syaoran answered. " You wonder where I found it. Well, these books were Julan's too, until he died that is. The guy should have enchanted them somehow, being a sorcerer and all. Don't you agree?"

Trying not to be impressed, Yue did not answer.

Sakura sat down next to Syaoran.

" North...river...teacher...I give up." Sakura sighed. Syaoran laughed. It was his first laugh since he came to Forbidden City that was extremely lighthearted.
" You ought to be able to read more than me. I'm not that good at traditional Chinese, and these were really really traditional. Though I daresay they didn't change much in two thousand years."
" Calligraphy. Ah."
" I know. It took the Chinese five thousand years to learn how to store ink into the pen. Took them even longer to learn that powder put into barrels shoot better than arrows."
" And you still lost land to the British."
" Aren't we intelligent?"

Sakura giggled.

" I heard that in middle school you would have to start learning calligraphy."
" Really? I don't know. Oni-chan never told me."
" Why not?"
" He usually doesn't show me his homework. I don't bother him either. He does help me with mine though."

Syaoran suddenly fell silent.

Yue, entering the room, stopped at Syaoran's first question.
" Wo jia men?"

Yue paused. " I doubt they will."
" Is it possible?"
" They're not that intelligent."
" I hope not."
" At least the clerics. The enchanters and clerics, I don't know. Perhaps. But they should be able to fend them off much easier."
" What are you two talking about?" Sakura asked.
" Nothing." Both of them answered.

Yue sighed. " Why are his stuff here?"
" Perhaps because I'm here." Syaoran answered.
" What do you mean?" Sakura asked.

This time, Syaoran decided to answer her.

" Julan's stuff is in Forbidden City, in this very room. He's supposed to live in Chang'an so they're not supposed to be here."
" Oh."

Syaoran turned back to Yue. " Well?"

Dear Yue,

I write this to ask of you a great favor. Here at the borders of the great Han, unrest is arising. With the lasin board I have located the following sorcerers in this country. I have written my orders on the cloths you must have received. Take them to my Royal Father and ask him to press his seal on each of them, and I ask you to personally deliver each command to every sorcerer listed. They are required to defeat the clerics. My greatest appreciations for your labor.

Crowned Prince Julan

Eriol rolled up the scroll.

" He appears to have had a lasin board in his past life." Eriol frowned. " This is strange."

Ruby and Spinel were silent. Eriol frowned again.

" Where are they now?"
" In the princess's bedroom." Ruby answered.
" Ah." Eriol nodded. He said no more.

Spinel curled up on Eriol's armrest. " I'm sure things will turn out fine in the end."

Eriol remained silent.



Dear Meiling,

I have a strategy I need for you to partake in. When you hear the drums from the east, release your horses.

Royal Cousin Julan

" Bad move Yue."

Yue smiled. " I should have remembered that."
" Your move."

Yue paused, studying the scene. He placed one stone on the wooden board. Syaoran laughed.
" Are you trying to let me win?"
" What do you mean?"

Syaoran pressed a stone down and took ten stones off the board, returning them to Yue.
" How long do you plan for us to stay here?" Syaoran asked.
" I don't know."
" It's the same as that desert."
" Gomen nasai."

Syaoran smiled. " Somehow I think experiences would help this time."

Yue looked more depressed than ever. Syaoran decided to keep quiet.



" Richard you bloody idiot of a magician, if you don't open this door now I'll blast it open!" Eriol shouted with each pound on the door. The door opened quickly, with the sorcerer in his pajamas.
" Oh, it's you Eriol." The man shook the sleepiness out of his head. " What are you doing here? Aren't you testing the new Card Master? And what the bleeding hell was that all about?"
" My apologies I know it's quite rude but this matter is urgent." Eriol answered, looking around him. He was pale and sweating. " Haven't you bloody sensed it yet?"
" Sensed what?"
" The magicians you idiot!"
" What? Why are they here? Aren't they supposed to be in their own little worlds handling their own problems?" Richard asked, pushing his messy blonde hair out of his eyes.
" Let me in." Eriol answered. Richard gestured inside and Eriol stepped in, leaning heavily on his staff to regain his breath.
" Good Clow, where did you arrive from, mate?" Richard asked.
" China, Forbidden City, locomoted one second ago."
" Gee, that's a long trip mate. But that's no reason for you to look like this. You look like an asteroid hit ye."

Eriol sat down heavily. " I was training Li Syaoran."
" Training? I didn't know you took apprentices Eriol."
" I don't. I was protecting him. Set up a big shield. All around Forbidden City."
" That's crazy! Why the bloody hell would you do that?"
" He's the reincarnation of the Crowned Prince Julan from the Han Dynasty in China."

There was a long pause.

" Bloody hell..."
" I know."

Eriol sighed, noting that he had cursed more in this conversation than he ever had in his life. Both himself and Richard, that is.

" So what do you want me to do?" Richard asked, still in his pajamas but retreating behind a door to change. " Do you want me to call up the others? I have some associates in France and in Germany, but as for the Americas, the Egyptians, and the Asians-that's up to whoever you have over there. Although I can contact a few summoners from ' Lower Egypt' but that's all." He came out.
" That's better than I could ever hope, I assure you." Eriol answered. " Choose carefully though. I don't want this to be like last time. One of my guardians had close relations with the boy and if anything happens to the child from my recklessness I can promise you he will not hesitate to slice me into tiny bits and feed me to the dogs."
" Really? I thought your guardians were all mighty loyal."
" Were. Ruby Moon and Spinel Sun did not make too many connections in Russia-too few sorcerers there, but Kerberus and Yue now have a new mistress and Yue adored the prince deeply. Syaoran's also Clow Reed's descendant so I am partly responsible for his well being-he's not well right now though. From what Yue told me, Syaoran arrived to Forbidden City unnaturally tired and weak. Stubborn lad though, insisted on enhancing his magic."
" Which was why you set up a shield around that blasted city, I assume."
" Correct."
" Who came?
" Everything. Clerics. Clerics. Enchanters and enchantresses."
" Half mortals?"
" Well, I wouldn't know about that."
" What about Linians?"
" Those Atlantis freaks? I wouldn't know and I really really doubt it.. Besides, they're magic's too old now and too impure to detect."
" They're still quite powerful."
" They're also quite stupid. If they're on land, they're the ones with Down Syndrome and all the other mental retardation related diseases. If they're in water, there's no need to mention it."
" Really?"
" Haven't you read?"

Richard frowned.

" And what about the beastmasters?"
" They were on Julan's side, from what the books say." Eriol answered.
" What about the seers?"
" They can't do anything about them. I haven't met any so far. They didn't come to Forbidden City."

There was a long pause.



" Aw good grief!" The Australian woman huffed, her brown hair damp and filled with dirt. " That was just fantastic!" She said sarcastically. " Encouraging a dingo of all things to drive a cleric away? Are you so willing to let the boy die early?"
" It's not like we have a dragon here Martha." The beastmaster answered her. " The dingo's jaws are stronger than the vultures. And besides, I did send a vulture."
" Hmph. I hope you know what you're doing. It's the Phoenix's Son we're talking about here."
" I hope the sorcerers know what they're doing. We're not magicians."
" Which is why we're dong what we can." The beastmistress groaned. " I hope the ones in Brazil are having more luck."



Che'er,

War is upon us. Flee now and don't worry about me. I have Yue here to protect me.

Yue set down the letter. So much for protecting the prince. He looked over at the child talking with his mistress. The sky began to get cloudy. It was going to rain.