Thanks dbzqtfan2004, youkaigirl64, and 1-2-3-sakura-3-2-1 for your reviews. Here's Chapter II just for you guys.

If anyone knows how to get the tab feature to work I'd appreciate it.

Cardcaptor Sakura belongs to Clamp and the idea for Second-in-Command comes from Lynette Dyer Vuong's The Golden Carp and Other Tales from Vietnam.


Chapter II: An Amiable Friend

As soon as the family gateway was out of sight, Sakura began to cry. The adrenaline of preparing for her deception was all that was holding her up at this point. It wasn't until her family and her familiar hometown was out of sight did her nervousness set in. Would her commanding officers believe that she was a man? She was going to eat, sleep, and fight with men for who knows how long. Bathing was another ordeal. Carefully she remembered her father's instructions to only bathe when no one was around, preferably late at night when the others went to bed. She sighed quietly and tried to calm her mind.

She would pretend to be Kinimoto Touya, while the real Touya would remain at Yukito's house assisting with his farm. She laughed quietly thinking that this plan was foolish. What happened if she came home with great honor? Would it be given to Touya and she would just melt back into the background? She thought for a moment, supposing that she could live with that. Another thought struck her: What if she died? How would they explain two Touyas? She had supposed that her father had already thought of an explanation but did not want her to worry, just to come home in one piece.

Flicking the reins lightly, she motioned Kero into a trot. She had to reach the main campsite before mid-afternoon. As she approached a fork in the road, she heard the hoof beats of an approaching rider. He rode on the road opposite of her village, so she guessed he was from the neighboring town.

Taking the time to observe him Sakura made a few conclusions. "Head down with a straight back. He must be an accomplished rider," she thought. As the distance between them grew shorter she saw him raise an arm in friendly greeting. She froze suddenly: should she answer back, or should she ignore him? Facing a time of loneliness in camp did not bode well with her, so she chose the former. Slowing Kero down to a walk Sakura allowed the other rider to catch up.

Up close Sakura gasped inwardly. The other rider was quite handsome. He had a lean face with quick amber eyes, which too surveyed her with amusement. Extending his hand and with a low baritone voice he introduced himself.

"My name is Li Syaoran. Are you joining the army too?" he questioned.

Remembering to lower her voice Sakura replied, "Yes. I am taking the place of my father who has already served. My name is Kinimoto Touya."

"Kinimoto?" his eyes widened in surprise as Li heard that name. "He was one of the greatest tacticians in the war and a skilled warrior. I heard stories of his great military victories and that he even served under the emperor himself. It is an honor to meet you. My father probably served alongside him at one point," Li added.

Sakura, surprised herself, nodded in acknowledgment. "My father does not speak of the war much, but I'll be sure to tell him of your praises." "If I ever get home alive," she murmured under her breath.

"Well, if we're both going to enlist we might as well travel together," Li proposed. Sakura concurred and was glad for a friend despite her disguise.

As they rode closer to the camp, Sakura learned a great deal about her new companion. Li was a part of a wealthy family and the youngest son. He had four elder sisters, who, according to him, loved to exclaim over the cuteness of their little brother, and other torturous comments. Sakura laughed out loud. When questioned about her family, she chose her words carefully.

"I have an older sister. She's 17, and very untraditional. My father taught us both swordplay and maneuvering tactics. She even plays chess." She knew that by playing the part of Touya, she would not have to make up some lie about not having any siblings.

Syaoran nodded in acknowledgement. His sisters, too, knew how to defend themselves whenever some dire need occurred, but were not very advanced. Chess was also a good means at learning strategy, but he confessed to have not known any woman who could play it. Sakura could only grin.

Her companion smiled too. He was expecting to enlist and to keep a life of solitude until the battles were over. This Kinimoto boy ("he wasn't old enough to be a man," Syaoran thought) had drawn him in. There was something in those emerald eyes which was secretive and mysterious.

The camp was crowded and very chaotic. Soldiers were milling around spitting and bragging. Boys hauled weapons, shields, and armor for captains. Scribes rushed around with imperial summons. Sakura frowned quietly. "Ugh, this is just too much," she groaned in her head.

"Don't worry," Li said as if reading her thoughts, "There'll be less people when they split us into our regiments."

Sakura grew alarmed. Was she going to be sent somewhere else? She felt a pang of sadness at having to be separated from her new found friend.

A long queue led to a table where an imperial official directed which front each soldier would serve at: up North against the Huns, or East against the rebels. Ahead of her, Sakura observed a short, slender man looking very nervous. Startled by a flash of red which peeked out of the soldier's back, Sakura swore it was a lizard. Sakura knew that lizard weren't that brilliant in red. Confused, Sakura drew her attention back to the soldier. A quick glance showed a scroll wrapped in blue ribbon. Blue: north against the Huns. Startled doe brown eyes met emerald. Giving the other soldier a small nod, Sakura wished him luck silently. He returned the nod with one of his own.

"Maybe I'm not alone in this," she thought wryly.

Turning, she gave the official her name, and in turn received a scroll. Sighing she gave it a murderous glare. Red, she was going to be fighting the resistance forces in the East. She knew it would be harder fighting against kinsman than against blood-thirsty Hun barbarians. Looking around she soon found Li, and broadly smiled when he too held up a red scroll.

Clasping her hand Li shook it with a firm grip. "Well, it looks like we'll be serving together, Kinimoto. You'll be sure to keep an eye on my back right?"

Sakura grinned at him, "As long as you keep an eye on mine too."

They both ate a quick lunch of rice, eggplant, and fish distributed by the Imperial staff.

"A bon voyage treat," Sakura said laughingly as she took her bowl.

"Or a last meal," Li remarked. That comment earned him a playful punch in the shoulder by Sakura.

Soon they set off with other soldiers assigned to the Eastern border.

A little slow so far, but in Chapter III there's a great sword fight scene between Sakura and Syaoran.

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Grignard