Yay winter break! I'm free for almost 2 months! OMG we hit another record on the review department for the last chapter (4 reviews…). I got twice as much for the first chap of my other fic but o well… I guess that's thepower ofromance… Well umm Wolf Jade about the Seki thing…I really didn't know what his name meant since I basically took the name from an anime I really liked (Tokyo U.). Guys I wanted to ask all the readers if you find this fic too violent. I was wondering if I should lift the rating to R. I thank everyone who reviewed last chapter especially lilasiancherry (You're the second person to review twice for this fic after the supreme reviewer Wolf Jade). I only have one thing to say…KEEP IT UP! What was that thing about the quote?
Syaoran
"In fact I received the order to kill you…" Sakura tensed when he finished his sentence. He was really after her then… She wondered why he had bothered to take her in this tent and talk to her like that. Was he really a bad guy or was he just trying to frighten her?
"Maybe he just wants to have his way with me before following his orders." The very thought frightened her. She looked at him straight in the eyes. He didn't have the eyes of a murder but in this situation she knew she couldn't listen to her judgement. She followed his every step as he walked up in front of her and lifted his hand to stroke her cheek. She winced preparing herself for the inevitable.
"Chuckle" The sound of his soft laughter completely surprised her. He had a beautiful smile…
"Don't worry…I won't harm you in anyway. I just wanted to hide you from my men. Who knows what they'd do to you if I left her highness unguarded.
"Have we met…?" She dared to ask feeling more and more comfortable with this man.
"One could say that…" He answered vaguely. He looked dazed for a moment then snapped out of it to look at the princess.
"Looks like your prince's here to save you…The little wolf is bold, he charges the camp even thought he knows he's completely outnumbered." Almost instantly screams and battle cries were heard outside of the tent.
"I won't interfere this time Kinomoto-Hime… I'll let the prince win this time…" He muttered picking up his sword. He gave her one last glance before venturing outside the tent.
"No matter what happens do not get out before he comes to get you…" With those last words he disappeared outside the tent. Sakura stared incredulously at the exit. Who was he? She was so worked up trying to figure out what had just happened to even notice the ruckus out of the tent.
"Gaki! Wait up!" Keroberos shouted after the berserk prince. He had gone completely mad after seeing the soldier's bloody swords piled up next to a tent. Kero noticed the change in his aura when he lost his mind. The once green aura was slowly changing… Even his sword seemed to react differently to his touch.
"Gaki! I'll look for my mistress while you distract them…" The prince didn't even seem to acknowledge his presence as he dashed down the hill screaming at the top of his lungs.
"I will kill you all! Bastards!" By now the soldiers had noticed the screaming boy, they where surptised at first. Some of them started laughingat him; what kind of a crazy boy would charge thirty men alone screaming like a mad man?
"I'll get him!" One of the soldiers snarled picking up the bloodiest sword. The other men smirked looking at the running boy. He would be torn to shreds by Rajin the Barbarian. They all started to laugh noisily, went back to their spots next to the fire and installed themselves comfortably to get a good look at the scene.
"I'll give you a good show! I'll try not to kill him too fast!" Rajin barked lifting his sword. His companions screamed approvingly. Some were actually already placing bets on how long Rajin would take to tear the boy in pieces.
"RAAAAH!" Rajin looked back in the direction of the prince to find him already steps away from him. He suppressed a surprised yelp and quickly raised his sword to slice the prince in half. Li saw right through his technique and quickly leaped over him. He somersaulted and landed behind him. In less then a second, he turned around neatly chopping Rajin's head off his shoulders. He didn't evengive hima chance to see what was coming at him.
"It's your turns now…" The prince whispered his eyes glowing strangely. He picked up Rajin's head and threw it in the fire. The other soldiers watched shocked, the head roasting in the hot flames.
"Argh!" One of the soldiers squealed horrified by the sight. The soldier's scream seemed to wake his companions from their daze. They panicked and scrambled to get their swords but it was already too late the raging prince was already up at their level…
"It's over now…" Keroberos whispered in the princess' ears reassuringly. They were oblivious to the commotion outside the tent too happy to see each other to even bother paying attention to the cries.
"What happened here? Why are your abductors dressed as Kinomotos?" Kero asked seriously.
"They were!" She gasped, this was really serious then…
"How did you get here? Are you the prince Seki told me about? Where were you all this time? How did you get past the soldiers?" Sakura asked breathlessly.
"Wow wow calm down Sakura! You mean you knew we were here all along?" He asked surprised.
"Well…Seki told me you would come and get me…" She answered puzzled.
"Who's that Seki where is he? He must have magic since he sensed the gaki's presence! Heck, I wonder why you even needed us to get out of this mess…Why didn't you use the cards to protect yourself!"
"Mou! Kero you just found me and you're already starting to scold me!"
"I'm sorry Sakura-chan but you really scared me back there… I really thought you were gone…" He answered sadly.
"Don't worry Kero! Seki took good care of me." She chirped trying to lighten the mood.
"Who's that Seki you keep on talking about!"
"It's a long story I'll tell you about it when we're out of this place." Keroberos' little eyes widened remembering the situation they where in. The boy wouldn't be able to hold them out any longer…
"Wait Kero something's wrong I sense a weird aura outside…" Kero stopped moving and tried to pick up what his mistress was sensing. He noticed that there weren't anymore shouts outside. What was happening out there? Had they neutralised the prince already!
"I have to help him! It's my fault he got stuck there in the first place!" Kero thought panicking. He quickly flew out of the tent ignoring his mistress' questioning glance. The sight that awaited him when he got to the middle of the encampment completely surprised him…
"Kero why did you run off like th…..HOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEE!" Sakura screeched noticing the bloody scene in front of her. A man with is back turned to them stood over a pile of cadavers. He was covered in blood and dark light was radiating out of his sword.
"H..he's the one Kero, the one with the weird aura. It would be wise to get out of here before he notices us." Sakura whispered keeping an eye on the dark figure.
"He did it again…" Kero sighed and flew up to the dark figure.
"Kero watch out he's dangerous!" Sakura hissed.
"Gaki! Why'd you have to barge in here and slay them all! You say they're monsters and run around butchering them like a demon." The prince slowly turned around to glare at the flying bear. His eyes flashed dangerously and his tousled hair raised up on his head. The dark auraaround around him thickened.
"Don't you dare compare me to this worthless scum!" He screeched pointing at the dead bodies all around him. He completely turned around to get a better look at his companion keeping his burning glare on him.
"Didn't your mother teach any manners gaki! You're scaring the lady!" The prince's gaze shifted from the sun guardian to the damsel in distress (AN: Special quote from Tigerissakura'sreview. I couldn't stop myself here so I had to write this. And no Sakura won't be weak but she won't be stronger than Li either.). She was the incredibly beautiful. An almost angelic halo surrounded her and her unusual green eyes glowed almost as intensely as the fire behind him.
"I guess I overdid it this time…" He muttered finally calming down. He walked towards them his bare sword still in hand.
"They really got you this time…" Kero whistled getting a better look at the boy.
"Don't worry it's not my blood. They didn't stand a chance against me! I'll get back to this little pondwe saw while getting here. You can follow me if you want… I need to get rid of all this blood." He walked away heading back into the forest.
"Hey Gaki wait up! You know I can't find my way in these woods." He shouted after him. He turned around smirking. Sakura stared at him incredulously; he was a completely different person now. Did he have some kind of double personality? And those eyes…She knew she had seen them somewhere before she just couldn't figure out where…
"Are you coming or not! I sense Yue and the others they're almost here! I want to meet up with them before they can come and to see this." He looked disgusted with himself all of a sudden.
"Gaki…" Kero turned back to look at his mistress.
"We really should follow him. As much as I hate to admit it he's the only one who can protect you right now."
"Is it really okay with him…?" She asked looking at the young man.
"He's a good kid; just don't tell him that you're a Kinomoto thought…He hates them for some reason…"
"Hoe?"
"Let's go Sakura-chan he really won't wait for us you know! Aya, its getting reallydark! I guess I have no choice…" Kero started to glow as a magic circle formed itself under him. His wings sprouted out of his back to completely envelop him. The wings parted to reveal a transformed Kero.
"We don't have time Sakura-chan! Climb on my back you won't be able to walk around in that dress of yours." He urged her to get on his back and quickly flew after the prince.
On the outskirts of the encampment
"Do you think we're safe now?" One soldier asked breathlessly.
"I don't think he'll come and look for us around here…" The other answered panting.
"So you managed to get out of this hell hole…Impressive" A voice whispered in the darkness
"He found us!" The soldiers panicked and quickly raised their swords trying to figure out where the enemy was.
"Calm down men it's only me…" Seki stepped out of the darkness. He looked injured and his uniform was stained with blood.
"You're injured commander! Did you fight the demon-boy?" One of the soldiers asked.
"He's stronger than I expected him to be…" The two soldiers nodded approvingly.
"He might even be stronger than milord…" Seki thought
"You two will have to report this to his Excellency. I have one last thing I must do…" The two soldiers gasped.
"You're injured Seki-sama let us take care of it!" The two men chorused.
"No! You will follow my orders and report to his Excellency!"
"Yes Sir!" They quickly scrambled off to get their horses.
"I guess I'll have to send this to the Ratean prince…" He whispered to himself. He walked off in the opposite direction and quickly disappeared in the dark woods.
Back to the stream…
"What happened to you Li-sama? You're not injured are you? Queen Yelan will have my head if you are!" Kensuke exclaimed noticing the prince's bloody clothes.
"He's a prince!" Sakura thought awed
"And who is she?" He asked noticing the girl a little far back behind the prince.
"That's something I'd like to know too" The prince said turning to get a better look at her.
"Hoe…?" Sakura squirmed under their gaze.
"She's the daughter of an Asturian merchant. He's really wealthy; you'd even take him for a king!" Kero intruded before she said anything that would endanger her.
"Is that so? Why would a merchant's daughter be escorted by the Kinomoto Royal Guards" The prince asked suspiciously.
"That gaki even noticed that!" Keroberos thought alertly.
"Well…I told you his father was like royalty…He sells items to the different Royalties." Keroberos stumbled.
"I am royalty and I've never heard of this merchant of yours…What's her name anyways?"
"Where are your manners gaki! You don't ask for the name of a Lady that way! Heh I'm sorry to pop your bubble but the Li kingdom isn't fit for this type of refinement!"
"Can't you let her talk for herself fluffy?" He hissed visibly ticked off.
"What are y…"
"It's ok Kero I think he's right. You should let me present myself." Sakura objected regaining the attention of everyone. She squirmed a little under the prince's intense gaze but quickly recovered.
"My name is Kino…erm…Kino, Sakura." She blurted out.
"Kino…Never heard of it before…" Kensuke thought out loud. Li seemed thoughtful for a second but finally snapped out of it and finally walked up in front of Sakura. He bent down on his knees and delicately took the blushing princess' hand planting a soft kiss on it.
"It's a pleasure to meet you princess…My name's Li Xiao-Lang, Heir of the Li kingdom." He said getting back up. Sakura's and Keroberos eyes widened. They were in big trouble! He had figured out who she really was!
"What are you trying to do gaki? I won't allow you to touch my mistress." Kero exclaimed rising to his mistress' defence.
"Calm down fluffy! You're the one who told me I wasn't refined enough and now that I prove you wrong you go mad! You really need to make up your mind."
"Heh…?" Kero sighed relieved. He hadn't figured it out yet…
"What is it? You both look a little pale…Is their something wrong." Keroberos sweatdropped, he was getting suspicious…
"Xiao-Lang, Little Wolf…Syaoran…"
"What…?" The prince asked hearing the girl mumble something.
"N…no it's nothing…" Sakura stuttered
"…"
"What're you planning to do from now on gaki…?" The guardian beast asked trying to break the uncomfortable silence.
"Well I was planning to get back to the Li Kingdom as soon as possible but now that we found your mistress I don't know what to do from here…Maybe we should escort her?" He said looking thoughtful.
"No! I'll go with you!" Sakura shouted before she could stop herself.
"Hmmm…?" He said focusing on her again.
"Don't you have people waiting for you…? Your parents must be worried." He pointed out.
"Mou! They sent me there to get married with the dull Ratean prince. I have no one waiting for me there but that power hungry buffoon and my idiot of a brother." She answered emotion taking her over. She clamped her mouth shut when she noticed what she had just said. If looks could kill she'd be dead and buried by the glare Kero was giving her.
"Since when do commoners marry with Royalty? Or is this another custom I've never heard of?" He said snickering.
"I guess it doesn't really matter...You made your point. I have no reason not to take you with us. It'll save me the trouble of escorting you further in Ratean territory."
"Li-sama we should depart before nightfall…It wouldn't be safe to camp here tonight." Kensuke said hesitantly.
"You're right, we'll take the princess with us then…" He said looking at her up and down. She blushed feeling his piercing gaze.
"We should do something about those clothes though…Kensuke do you have anything that could fit her?" He asked his companion.
"Yes Li-sama I might have something for her…" He answered fumbling in his bags.
"There!" He exclaimed triumphantly pulling a white shirt and pants out of his bag.
"You should wear those before we leave. It'll be easier for you to move around than with this frilly dress."
"Yes…of course…" She answered taking the clothes he was giving her.
"Where should I change…?" She asked herself looking around
"There's a small cave not too far from here. Kero will show you the way there." he answered when he heard her.
"Hurry up we don't have a lot of time before blackout."
"Yes uhm…"
"What is it Kino-san?"
"Ano…uhm…What should I call you your highness…?" She asked him shyly.
"You can call me whatever you like!" Her eyes brightened at his answer. She clamped her hands and squealed with glee.
"Sugoi! Syaoran-kun!" She chirped skipping off with Kero following closely behind.
"Syaoran?" The prince asked clueless.
"I think it's your name translated in Japanese…" Kensuke replied.
"Japanese is the official language of the Kinomotos isn't it?" He asked absentmindedly.
"Yes I believe it is…Why are you asking Li-sama?"
"No it's nothing…"
"I must be wrong…"
Somewhere…Far away…
"…and he finished them all of!" The two soldiers exclaimed to the dark figure.
"Hmmm…and you two managed to escape…?" The dark figure suggested bending up to get a little closer.
"Yes your highness!" The two men chorused.
"Impressive…"
"Hey you two there! I want you to bring captain uniforms for these two fine soldiers." He shouted at the two guards standing at the entrance.
"Captains…No it's too much your highness"
"Of course it's not my dear friends…Soldiers that managed to survive Li's wrath completely have my esteem. You will need this luck when you lead my troops to the Li Kingdom!" The dark figured howled.
"T…the Li Kingdom! Yes your highness!"
"I only need Seki to finalize everything for me now." The shadow snickered.
Taeguki Castle
"WHAAAAT!" Touya screamed slamming his fist on the desk.
"Your sister was abducted by the Lis your highness." A Seki dressed in a Ratean uniform repeated.
"What about her escort…I mean she had 15 of the best men of the royal guard with her! Why would the Lis take her! They know they can't take us on!" He babbled incoherently.
"The battalion has been completely obliterated sir. I sought soldiers to go and pick up the cadavers. There was no sign of her highness within the perimeter. I only found this cloth with the Li crest sewed on it." Seki said handing the cloth to the enraged prince.
"I told you those Lis were up to no good! Yet you didn't listen; now that your sister was taken away will you have it my way?" The prince of the Ratean Kingdom, Sato, sneered.
"What can we do about it now…She was abducted there's no way to get her back but …"
"Yes Touya-kun the only way is war! My armies should be able to completely crush them in less than week! I only need your authorisation to unleash my troops on them…" Sato urged.
"If it's the only way to get my sister back, let there be war!"
Male Author
Born to be the champ, after the girls that is…
Woot this is short! That'll do I'm tired now… I typed the entire chapter listening to the Gundam Seed song "Invoke" over and over again! I'm primed! It's a Seed nation peeps! Ya…and…uhm…for the next chapter of the other story…I don't know when I'll update it 'cause I have all these parties… I don't really want to go but…If I don't everyone will be pissed off with me. So everyone R&R gimme a lil early Christmas gift!