Chapter 16.- Crests' Trial.
It took the teens a while to digest what Tomoyo what just told them.
"Why would they marry so suddenly?" Hermione asked.
"You know Yelan-sama is sick." Tomoyo said seriously. "It appears that the difficult situation in the Magical Society isn't just involving us, but them too. The Eastern Council wants to feel safe, with their current leader gravely ill they want someone else to lead them, that person is Shaoran-kun."
"Shaoran?" Harry was quite surprised at this.
"Hai." Eriol nodded. "Shaoran-kun had been trained to take his place as the Leader of the Eastern Council after he had turned eighteen, he's been trained for that his whole life."
"But what has Sakura and Shaoran's wedding to do with that?" Draco asked.
"The Eastern Council has existed for millennia, their traditions are very…'conservative' you could say." Naoko explained. "For them having a leader is not enough, he has to be someone strong, which is why the leader is always someone from an important Clan, like the Li Clan, and also he has to prove he can have descendants just as strong as or even stronger than him; for that he has to present a bride."
"So Shaoran is the appointed leader and he has to marry Sakura because tradition indicates so." Hermione summarized.
"That's very much it." Eriol nodded.
"But aren't they too young to marry?" McGonagall asked.
"Nadeshiko-san got married when she was seventeen." Sonomi told her as-a-matter-of-fact. "In Asia it isn't really that strange to find women and men marrying at age eighteen, or even before."
"Besides, Sakura-chan and Shaoran-kun have been engaged since last summer." Tomoyo added. "They were planning on marrying once we returned home after finishing Hogwarts, so even if it is true that we hadn't imagined this wedding to happen right now, it isn't fully unexpected either."
"I suppose you'll be attending." Dumbledore said seriously.
"Hai." Eriol nodded. "If possible we would like to leave tonight. Harry-san, Hermione-san and Draco-san are free to join us if they wished."
"Really?" Hermione was really excited at the idea.
"Where would we be going?" Draco asked curiously.
"The wedding will be taking place in Hong Kong." Sonomi told them. "Probably we could go for a visit to Tokyo, but that's not for sure."
"I would love to see new places." Harry nodded.
"It will be so wonderful!" Hermione said happily.
"You think you'll get permission?" Naoko asked.
"Yeah." Hermione immediately nodded.
"It's not like anybody would care what happens to me anymore." Draco said carelessly.
"No problem with that." Harry nodded.
They began making plans about what they would be taking, places the Asians wanted to show the others, until something dawned to them.
"What about Ron?" Naoko suddenly asked.
.---.
What about Ron? That question had let them all thinking the rest of the morning, while the Professors tried their best at giving the last class of the semester, though no one really seemed to be paying attention anyway.
At lunch time Harry and Hermione decided to try a discreet approach to Ron, try to find out if he had any plans for that Christmas Break.
"This is awful, the worst thing that has ever happened to me." Ron was saying as the other two arrived.
"What is it Ron?" Harry asked.
"Mom just sent Ginny and me a letter." Ron answered. "Apparently Fléur's family want to meet us before she and Bill marry so we have to go to France for Christmas."
"Really?" Hermione asked.
Her mood suddenly seemed to brighten, though Ron didn't notice.
"Yes." Ron nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before guys, but this was as unexpected to me as for you."
"Don't worry Ron." Hermione told him. "We understand this is a family thing."
"Hey Harry-kun, Hermione-chan, anything planned for Christmas?" Naoko asked as she approached them.
For a second the teens were a bit confused, had she forgotten where they would be going?
Just follow my game. Naoko told them telepathically.
"Well, not really." Hermione lied. "I suppose we'll be staying here."
"Why don't you come with us to China?" Naoko suggested. "Tomoyo-chan and us decided we would be going there to meet with Sakura-chan and Shaoran-kun. You know to give moral support to the Li's, maybe even be of some help. And I'm sure you'll like the way we celebrate Christmas there."
"Yes." Harry accepted. "It will be wonderful. Thanks for the invitation Naoko."
Naoko smiled and winked at them when Ron wasn't looking.
That was settled, Harry and Hermione would be accompanying the Asians to Hong Kong for Christmas Break and Sakura and Shaoran's wedding; and there was also the possibility of them being able to help Yelan with whatever sickness she had.
.---.
After lunch was over the students walked to Eriol's Classroom, double-hour of DADA was the last class of the day, and of the semester.
Harry, Hermione and Draco were the last students to enter, right behind Naoko and Tomoyo, but before they could enter Eriol stopped them.
"What is it?" Hermione asked.
"You are excused from this class." Eriol told them. "Go to your dorms and get some sleep."
"What?" Draco was quite confused. "Why?"
"We're leaving for China this evening." Eriol told them. "But because of the time-difference when we get to Hong Kong there it will be early morning; so unless you wish to pass the day dozing off I suggest you get some sleep right now."
"Alright." Harry nodded.
With that the three of them left.
For Eriol, Tomoyo and Naoko it wasn't really too difficult, being sorcerers the time-difference didn't affect them as much as it did common wizards or muggles, and Sonomi, well, she was used to the changes already.
.---.
Eriol, Tomoyo, Naoko, Draco, Harry and Hermione appeared suddenly right at the front of two enormous gates that preceded a just as enormous and elegant front lane, with gardens, fountains, different trees and exotic flowers all around.
"This is it?" Hermione asked in shock.
"Hai." Eriol answered with a smile. "Welcome to the Li Manor."
"Why didn't we transport ourselves inside?" Draco asked.
"Because shields in the limits of the property prevents us from doing such things." Tomoyo explained. "It's for security reason, after all it is the most important family of Hong Kong the one living here, and one of its members is the Leader of the Eastern Council; nothing can go in or out of this property without having to pass through the check-out at the gates."
"Check-out?" Harry asked. "Is someone going to come and check to make sure we have no weapons or such?"
"No." Eriol shook his head. "It doesn't work that way."
"This is a magic check-out." Tomoyo explained. "Just by walking through the gates the magic here determines if you can be considered a threat to those in this house."
"Well come on, we didn't come all this way just to be standing at the gates." Eriol said.
And as he said that he extended a hand, his power immediately unlocking the gates and pushing them open for all of them to pass.
As she passed Hermione thought she could feel something strange, almost as a shiver, though it passed quickly and she didn't feel anything wrong coming from it.
"That was the check-out you felt." Tomoyo informed her. "It felt strange because you're not used to it but don't worry, it's alright."
Hermione just nodded.
Harry had felt a similar thing and too nodded, relaxed.
They walked slowly through the stone-path that went through the gardens until they finally reached the front door of the manor.
Again, Eriol extended his hand and touched the knob ever-so-lightly; it opened to them a moment later, revealing Wei behind it.
"Oh, Good morning Master Eriol, Miss Tomoyo, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger." Wei greeted them. "I don't think I've met the last two."
"These are Malfoy Draco, a half-wizard half-sorcerer and Yanagisawa Naoko, a Sprite." Eriol introduced them.
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Malfoy, Miss Yanagisawa." Wei greeted the last two as well.
Naoko and Draco did a short bow to greet the butler as well.
"Have you seen Sakura-chan or Shaoran-kun, Wei-san?" Tomoyo asked with interest.
"The young masters are in the Golden Hall." Wei answered.
"The Golden Hall?" Eriol sounded honestly surprised. "What are they doing there?"
"They went in for a meeting with the elders of the Eastern Council about half 'an hour ago." Wei answered. "If you wish to wait for them in the study I shall tell them you're here as soon as they come out."
"Arigato Wei-san, we'll like that very much." Tomoyo nodded.
The butler nodded, did a quick bow and left.
Eriol in the other hand guided the group of teens to the study.
"What's the Golden Hall?" Hermione asked suddenly.
"As the Li Clan has been in the Leadership of the Eastern Council for several generations already the meetings are held here, it is considered safer." Eriol went to explain. "There are several Council-Rooms in this manor: the Silver-Hall, which the one used for common meetings; the Bronze-Hall, which is smaller and only used when half or less of the members of the council are required to attend, when the businesses to be discussed aren't too important; and finally the Golden-Hall, which is the smallest of them all because the only ones aloud in there are the Leaders of the Council and the Elders, that hall is only used when discussing very important matters in confidentiality."
"What could they be discussing in there right now?" Naoko asked.
"I don't know." Eriol replied.
"It doesn't necessarily have to be something top-secret." Tomoyo added. "Just an important matter that required meeting with the elders outside of the common Council-meeting."
The rest just nodded, satisfied with the explanation.
.---.
Still Sakura and Shaoran didn't enter the study until after lunch, and when they did the air really seemed tense around them.
"Is everything alright?" Hermione asked.
"Iie!" Shaoran spat, talking in a mix of Chinese and Japanese. "Nothing is alright. Those elders are definitely out of their mind. How do they even dare doubt Sakura-chan's power? Hell, how do they even dare doubt me? I could have very well sent them all into oblivion for those offenses!"
The English teens remained in silence, not understanding a single word Shaoran had said but knowing it wasn't wise to try and ask him.
"Seems things got difficult in your meeting." Eriol, who had been able to understand all the rampage, said.
"Difficult doesn't do justice to it." Sakura said tiredly.
Yes, things had definitely been a lot more than difficult in their meeting, she could still remember every thing that had been said and done:
Flashback
Sakura and Shaoran entered the Golden Hall slowly, both wearing their ceremonial clothing. They went to take two empty seats right in the middle of the semi-circular room, all the front full of elegantly-dressed sorcerers and sorceresses who were seating in a level higher than Sakura and Shaoran, as if announcing that even when the teens may have the titles of "Leaders of the Eastern Council" the Elders still had more authority than them.
"Introduce yourselves." The first elder ordered them.
"I am Li Xiao Lang, son of Li Xiao Len and Li Yelan, recently appointed Leader of the Li Clan and the Eastern Council." Shaoran declared seriously. "And besides me stands Li Ying Fa, my partner and betrothed."
"Who has given you the right to give this woman the surname of our noble clan?" A second Elder barked.
Two things were obvious: he was of the Li Clan, and he definitely didn't like the notice of Sakura being Shaoran's fiancée.
"I believe being the Leader of the Li Clan gives me enough authority as to whom I give the Li surname to." Shaoran said keeping his voice firm and trying not to lose control. "And being the Council's Leader gives me the right also to demand that you apologize for the offense committed against my intended."
"Apologize!" The second elder snapped. "It is her presence that insults all of us here. A sorceress with no crest, and no clan to back her up, she's in no way a worthy bride for anyone of this clan, less of all the chosen Leader of our Council."
"He's very right." A third Elder said seriously. "Tell her to leave this room at once, she was never given permission to come in."
"Beg your pardon." Sakura finally had the courage to speak. "I believe that if you wish to tell me something you could very well talk to me directly."
"This is an outrage!" The first elder yelled, enraged. "The woman speaks without given permission to do so."
"Ying Fa is my fiancée." Shaoran said through gritted-teeth. "And as such she has every right to speak her mind."
Sakura turned to look at Shaoran silently, a thankful expression in her face, Shaoran nodded, encouraging her to finish what she had wished to say before being abruptly interrupted.
"As I was saying." Sakura continued calmly. "I believe if you wish something for me you could very well address me directly. My true name is Kinomoto Sakura if you wish to know, I am Japanese. It is true, indeed, that I belong to no known magic clan, although I do possess magic; I don't have a crest but I have never needed it, after all, the magic is in me, not in some symbol sewed into my clothes."
This left some elders dumfounded and others even more furious than before; Shaoran was simply delighted by Sakura's confidence; while Sakura tried to breath deeply and constantly so as not lose control of her emotions, it was hard though, to keep her temper in check and not let her aura flare out, if it did everyone would immediately discover who she really was, and she still wanted to earn the elder's respect before telling them exactly what kind of sorceress she was.
It seemed like the elders wanted to say something to 'put Sakura in her place', but before any of them could even finish forming a though, lets not say a sentence, she decided to go on speaking herself.
"I have magic on my own." Sakura went on seriously. "With a good-level of knowledge on Western-Magic, Martial Arts and several different weapons. I am a Sorceress by my own merit and am willing to prove it to you anyhow, anywhere and anytime."
Some of the elders were about to scold her for her insolence at speaking to them in such a way when suddenly one of them (Sakura believed the leader considering he was at the very top and center of them all) spoke:
"You wish to prove your worth to us?" He asked, though he didn't wait for an answer. "Very well young miss, then the Crests' Trial shall take place."
End of Flashback
"The Crests' Trial?" Harry asked.
"What's that?" Draco asked at the same time.
"You'll see." Shaoran told them seriously, it looked like he had calmed down a bit. "Just wait until tomorrow and you'll see."
.---.
Never had the Eastern Magical Society seen a Crests' Trial take place under such short notice. Though it was true that desperate means call for desperate measures; the sudden selection of a new Leader to the Eastern Council and the fact he was yet single called for the need of a proper bride to be chosen. That's what the Crests' Trial was for.
The sun was in its highest peak in the sky; dozens, if not hundreds of sorcerers were reunited around a fighting arena in the farthest side of the Li estate.
In one of the dressing rooms Sakura was standing, her ceremonial clothes on, her hair secured in two buns. The Sakura Cards remained in hidden pockets in between her clothing, that way she had easy access to them and no one would see what it is she was using, not unless she wanted them to know anyway.
"What do you mean you will be fighting for your right to marry Shaoran-kun?" Tomoyo was about to throw a fit, no matter how unusual that may be for her.
"Just like you heard." Sakura told her.
"I'm afraid I don't understand." Hermione said in a low tone.
"It's called the Crests' Trial." Sakura began explaining. "According to it, prior to an important sorcerer's wedding the chosen bride must prove she's worthy of marrying him. She achieves this by fighting and defeating any other woman that may challenge her, believing her more suitable to marry the sorcerer. The fights may be with martial arts, weapons, magic or a mix of them. In this case two women had challenged me, they belong to important magic clans here in China, Xiefa-san believes the Elders favor them; but if I manage to defeat them they won't be able to stop Shaoran-kun and I from getting married anymore."
"I have a doubt Sakura." Draco said suddenly. "Do this people are foolish enough to challenge you even knowing who you are?"
"Iie." Sakura answered. "They don't really know who I am. I mean, they know that even if Shaoran has named me Li Ying Fa my true name is Kinomoto Sakura, but they don't know what kind of magic I possess, so obviously they don't know I'm the Card Mistress or Clow's Heiress for that matter."
"And why the hell not?" Eriol asked, annoyed. "If you were just to tell them that I can assure you that would shut their mouths right away and you're problems would vanish."
"I know." Sakura nodded. "But I decided I wanted to gain their respect without them knowing the truth, and I'm not backing from that decision. I'll make them respect me for being me, not for carrying a title or Clow's heirloom."
.---.
Sakura walked out of the dressing room walking slowly but confidently. Eriol, Tomoyo, Naoko, Draco, Harry and Hermione had left just a minute before to go seat in the special places that they had earned by being their in representation of Sakura's family; Fujitaka couldn't get there so suddenly, neither could Yukito, while Kero and Touya hadn't been informed of what Sakura was doing for obvious reasons.
Shaoran was sitting in a place specially made for him, in front of the main representatives of the Council. He didn't like what was going to happen, not because he doubted Sakura, he was maybe the one who knew her the best, she wasn't one of the Supreme Sorcerers for nothing; what he didn't like was that others doubted her power, he thought that was the worst offense anyone could direct to her.
Just as Sakura reached the center of the fighting arena two other women came out from different doors. They were the challengers.
"We are here this day to witness the Crests' Trial." Someone announced to everyone. "For those who may not be familiarized with this tradition I'll tell you it is for the bride chosen by our new Council Leader to prove herself defeating those who believe to deserve the place more than her. As the women have already been explained each of their carries a crest within her, the opponent must defeat her in martial arts, weaponry or magic and take the crest to prove her victory. Is this clear?"
The three women nodded.
Sakura had chosen her crest to be her star-key, it had been almost like a little dare, to see if anyone would discover the truth about her with that; but after all Clow had used the magic of the sun and moon, not the star, no one but those involved in the Card-Capturing, Final Judgment, and then the Changing of Cards could know the truth.
The first of Sakura's opponents was a woman of about nineteen-years-old, wearing an orange ceremonial tunic, two long daggers strapped in her back; physically she was several inches taller than Sakura, with short dark-blonde hair and amber eyes. Her crest was an amulet tied to the belt around her waist. Her name was Kido Masako.
The second of Sakura's opponents was a woman eighteen-years-old, dressed in light-blue ceremonial robes and carrying a silvery staff with a white moon on top; physically she was about Sakura's height, with long straight black hair and midnight-blue eyes. Her crest was the silver-moon brooch that kept her hair pulled back from her face. Her name was Shin Seika.
"First Challenger." Masako declared walking to Sakura. "Kido Masako, from the Kido Clan. I challenge the one named Ying Fa in a duel of martial-arts and swords."
"And I take up on your challenge." Sakura replied calmly.
That said both bowed deeply in Shaoran's direction, then in their family's directions, and finally to each other. Once finished bowing they still got in their own fighting stances: Masako's offensive, Sakura's neutral.
"Fight!" The announcer ordered.
The battle began harshly. At first they were only punches and kicks, some combined with elaborate movements used to distract the opponent.
Hermione was practically biting her nails just watching everything while Harry just stared, completely dazed by the show.
"It looks almost like they are dancing…" Draco commented.
"In a way you could say they are." Eriol said. "A dance both beautiful and lethal."
After almost ten minutes of fighting nonstop and none really managing to make contact with the opponent there was a change, Sakura stopped for a moment her attack and Masako took these opportunity to unsheathe her daggers.
"How will you fight my daggers when you are bare-handed?" Masako asked at the same time she attacked Sakura again.
"Who said I was bare-handed?" Sakura asked with a little smirk.
Before anyone could really know what was happening Sakura did a sharp movement with her hand and the Sword materialized in it.
"You were saying?" Sakura asked playfully.
"Even then, one sword won't defeat two." Masako said, sure of herself.
"You never know, it just might." Sakura replied.
That was the last talking those two did. Their fight resumed, faster and tougher than before; their movements becoming more and more complex with each passing minute. That was until suddenly all movement stopped.
Masako was standing near the limits of the fighting arena, her daggers still tightly held in her hands. She turned wildly around to face Sakura once again, ignoring the light-pain in her side from the small cut, almost scratch she had just acquired.
"Come on, fight me!" Masako called.
"No, there's no need." Sakura replied lowering her sword slowly until it disappeared.
"What?" Masako asked. "Are you giving up?"
"Not quite." Sakura replied. "I've already defeated you."
And to prove her point Sakura raised her hand, showing the amulet she was holding.
It was then that Masako noticed, apparently Sakura's last attack hadn't been as wrong as she had believed, Sakura had planned it to be that way, to get the crest with as little harm done to her opponent as possible.
"The current bride has defeated her first Challenger and now holds her crest in possession." The announcer said. "Time for the last Challenger."
"Second Challenger." The second woman introduced herself. "Shin Seika, of the Shin Clan. I challenge the one called Ying Fa to a duel of magic."
"And I take up on your challenge." Sakura said seriously.
Again they did all the bowing and then got in battle stances. Seika holding her staff tightly in both hands, Sakura just standing with all her senses in alert.
"Shouldn't you bring out a wand, scepter or something of the sort?" Seika asked.
"Don't worry for me." Sakura replied. "Just give your best, for I shall do the same."
"Hm…she doesn't even have enough magic to get herself a scepter." Someone in the crowd snorted. "She won't last with a sorceress from the Shin Clan."
Shaoran growled angrily but didn't say a thing, the man obviously didn't know who he was talking about: a sorceress who had stopped a killing curse with her bare hands… the most powerful Sorceress of their time, with or without a staff.
"Fight!" The announcer ordered.
"Rock chains!" Seika was the first to attack.
And for the kind of attack she used it was obvious she wanted to end the fight as soon as possible and with as less mishaps as she could; though Sakura wasn't going to make it an easy task for her.
Sakura concentrated and went through the chains as if they weren't there.
"Sand Storm!" Seika did her next attack.
"Watery!" Sakura counterattacked.
From the green-eyed sorceress's hands came a spiral of water that turned the sand created by the blue-eyed one into nothing but mud that fell noisily at their feet.
"My turn." Sakura said. "Earthy, Chains of Justice!"
The attack was good, but apparently earth attacks didn't work with Seika because she managed to get free easily enough.
"Nice trick." Seika told her. "But not good enough to beat me. And I saw you using the water. What if I did the same? Cerulean Whirlpool!"
The magic cone of water trapped Sakura in its center, making her spin wildly, and not allowing her to breathe.
"Give up and I shall spare you!" Seika told her.
"I don't think so!" Sakura managed to reply.
"If you don't give up you'll die!" Seika insisted.
It was obvious Seika really didn't want to hurt Sakura, but wasn't ready to lose to her either. They both were stubborn and strong.
Hermione was about to cry out Sakura's name already, even when she knew very well what Sakura was capable of, she still couldn't help but worry.
"Enough is enough." Sakura said suddenly, concentrating. "Firey!"
The whirlpool broke and practically evaporated, just like it had happened with the incantation Eriol had done against her, when she had changed a card for the first time.
The fight went on, one spell after another, in a certain moment Seika used her power with earth to open a big hole almost in the center of where they were standing. Any mistake of either of them could led them to a fall and almost-sure-death.
The fight went on for almost fifteen minutes and neither of the sorceresses seemed to be ready to give up; one because of honor, the other because of love (you guess who because of which). Those witnessing the fight were quite surprised to see the new sorceress last that long with a representative of one of the strongest clans.
"Stone-knives!" Seika summoned suddenly.
The attack took Sakura off-guard, and the only thing she could think of was creating a shield out of her aura. Though, subconsciously, she added to this the Reflectus Spell; therefore making the daggers fly back to her opponent.
Seika was so surprised she didn't manage to dodge or call up a shield in time. Several daggers scrapped her, and in her efforts to dodge a direct blow from the last one she fell down the hole she had open herself before.
Several of the Shin Sorcerers gasped at seeing this.
"Oh Kami!" Sakura exclaimed. "Fly!"
Her white angel-like wings spurted from her back and to everyone's surprise she dove right to the hole. After a few seconds of nervous silence she reemerged with the blue eyed sorceress clinging tight to her.
Sakura landed on the ground, next to the hole, Seika collapsing on her knees, practically trembling out of fear, she had been too close to death for her liking.
"Earthy." Sakura called in a low voice. "Please close the hole."
The Card obeyed Sakura's orders right away, the results surprising even more those watching everything, it looked as if the hole had never been there.
"Are you alright?" Sakura asked to Seika worriedly.
"Yes." Seika answered in a whisper, then she took off her brooch and handed it to Sakura. "Here, take it. You definitely deserve it more than I do."
"Arigato." Sakura smiled at Seika.
Sakura got on her feet, showing off the crests she had won from Masako in one hand, and the one that Seika had given her in the other, her own 'crest' still hanging around her neck. It was official now, she had won.
"Ladies and gentlemen." The announcer called. "Before you the woman who has passed the Crests' Trial; Who shall be a wife to Li Xiao Lang, and Leader to the Li Clan and the Eastern Council; honor Li Ying Fa."
All of those present got on her feet and did a deep bow, to Sakura's embarrassment.
Shaoran immediately jumped from his place and practically flew to his beloved's side. Sakura smiled brightly at him.
"I did it…" She whispered to Shaoran joyfully.
"You did." Shaoran nodded.
She had gotten her wish: she had earned the sorcerers' respect by her own merit, without telling them a thing related to Clow.
At least that's what she believed until…
"Who the hell are you!"
So, what do you think about this? I thought it would be interesting to consider what those sorcerers from the Eastern Council would say about Sakura before they knew she was the Card Mistress and leader of the Supreme Sorcerers. Now, the reactions of when they found out who she truly is, as well as all the rest you'll see them in the following chapter.
For the following chapter I can also announce some more things about Tsubame and finally the solution to the problems Eriol and Tomoyo are having in their relationship. The wedding I'll include until chapter 18, or so, along with something about Ron, I think it's time he incorporates to the important part of the story.
I'm still open for comments on the same topic I stated in the previous chapter. Should they or should they not know already who the first Rose is?
Please leave reviews, I'm receiving very few recently and that makes me very sad. In fact I would have waited longer to update, with the hope of more reviews, but then I thought it wasn't fair to those who had reviewed my previous chapter since the first day and left the reviews in hopes of seeing this soon, so here I am. Please, leave reviews…onegai…
Arigato, Ja ne!
