Note: This story isn't historically accurate. The author made great use of historical license in writing it. The inaccuracy is designed to add to the dramatic aspects of the plot. The Huns' invasions and the first Japanese incursion into Chinese territory are at least two centuries apart. The military apparatuses used in the story are out of their respective Eras, as well. That being said, the cultural aspects of Chinese society were extensively studied and are, mostly, accurate, though. Enjoy the reading!

Flower of China

By Kath Klein

Translated by Yoruki Hiiragizawa

Chapter XV

'W-what?' Xiao Lang stopped and stared at his pupil with wide eyes and raised eyebrows as he clenched his hands around where his manhood was supposed to be.

Touya had stopped trying to get away from his grasp, turning as pale as a ghost while opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water. The kid's green eyes were wide in panic as his breathing came out in rapid shallow breaths.

Xiao Lang lost his grip on the… the creature in front of him and took a hesitant step back. The General was unsure of what was happening there.

'Wh-What are you?' He said with a stammer and a nervous twitch in his left eye.

Sakura looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Is he really going to make me say it?" She took a deep breath and considered telling him... something else. That she was a eunuch, maybe, or…

She shook her head. She knew the General was stubborn enough that if he was still refusing to see the truth after touching the evidence, he'd prefer to believe some preposterous lie, instead. She was the one fed up with the secrets, after all.

'You ought to have it figured out, General,' She cleared her throat to try and get rid of some of the roughness she usually forced into Touya's voice, but already knew, by her time spent with Tomoyo, that some lingering hoarseness was to be expected. 'I'm a woman,' she said, trying to project a false sense of calm which she was far from feeling.

'What did you say?' He creased his brow and twisted his mouth in shocked disbelief, his eyes moving frantically from one side to another, still trying to come up with another explanation. Xiao Lang wanted, no, he hoped… He needed that to be a misunderstanding, some kind of hallucination.

Sakura closed her eyes and breathed in with trepidation. 'I'm a woman and not a man, Sir.'

The General's face showed a huge spectrum of emotions; so many that Sakura could hardly keep track of them all. It shifted all the way from incredulity to resentment to anger. 'What kind of sick joke is this?'

Sakura's eyes darted around in a calculating manner, knowing that she would have only one chance to escape him and only if she played her cards right. 'There's no joke here, General.' She squared her shoulders, facing him with unblinking eyes.

It was almost funny to watch such a self-assured man not knowing what to do or to think like that. Though, as it was to be expected, given his character, he soon turned to the most simplistic emotion he could deal with at the moment. He flared up toward her with a flushed face and furious eyes.

In that split second, Sakura felt terrified. Not even on their first meeting had she been frightened out of her wits like that. His movements sprouted a hasty reaction out of her as he grabbed her by the wrist before she could escape.

'Are you saying you lied to me?' He hissed, pulling her closer to him as he painfully wrung her arm. 'Are you trying to tell me that you made a fool out of me this whole time?'

She groaned, trying to get rid of his grasp. 'I had no other choice.'

Xiao Lang scowled at her, gritting his teeth. He didn't want to accept the evidence. He felt like he couldn't trust his senses. He couldn't believe what his fingers touched… or rather failed to touch. Kinomoto was just too bright to be a woman. Pressing the squirming Captain against the closer stall, he then ripped the buttons off his uniform top.

Caught by surprise, Sakura didn't exactly know how to react, torn between trying to escape and covering herself up. She tossed and turned, attempting to get away from him, but he had the advantage of being stronger and not being injured. As it was, she had the feeling her wound had reopened and started bleeding again.

Xiao Lang held her tightly against the wall, gripping her wrists with one hand and using his knee to hold back her legs so that she wouldn't kick him again. With his free hand, he opened up her uniform, frowning at the sight of the sashes covering her breasts.

'Let go of me!' Sakura demanded, watching him with wide-eyed desperation.

Xiao Lang said nothing as his fingertips lightly brushed over the bandage on her abdomen before moving to the compressed volume on her chest. Even seeing Touya like that, it was still hard to believe. How could a girl make a fool out of him for so long?

The General suddenly reached for the throwing knife Sakura always carried at her ankle, making her jerk from side to side at the possibility that he would execute her right there.

'Be quiet!' Xiao Lang grumbled impatiently as he slammed her against the wall.

He made fast work of the fabric covering her breasts and, at the sight of her breasts freed from constriction, he let her go. He stepped back and shook his head with a strange mix of disappointment and perplexity in his face.

Sakura hugged herself, closing her uniform tightly and staring at him dangerously resentful at his gall.

'You are a girl…' he said, at last, staring at her bright green eyes. 'How is that possible? You can't be a girl...'

'And why not, General?' She inquired with a deep frown. 'Is it that hard to believe that a woman can be as smart as a man? Smarter even…'

'What kind of a freak are you?' He bristled, glaring at her.

Sakura straightened up her body, jutting out her chin in a display of false spunk. 'Just because I'm intelligent, now I'm a freak?' She sneered, making him bare his teeth. 'I'd forgotten how little regard you hold for women.'

He brought up his hand and slapped her across her cheek, causing Sakura to stumble back.

'Lower your gaze,' he growled at her.

Sakura licked the corner of her lips, distinguishing the bitter metallic taste of blood in her mouth. In spite of his aggression, though, she refused to yield and raised her face once more. 'So now that you know the truth, I can't look you in the eyes? You always heeded every word out of Touya's mouth, but you don't want to hear what I have to say?'

He was fuming at her impertinence and raised his hand to hit her again, but stopped himself at the defying look in her eyes. Those eyes… Those green eyes that so many times reminded him of… His eyes went as wide as saucers and he grabbed her by the arm, his other hand gripping her face to examine it closely. Letting go of her face, he pulled the leather strap holding her hair tied and watched in a daze as the auburn strands fell over her shoulders.

He let go of her as if suddenly burned, but unable to stop staring at her. 'It's you …'

'Aren't you satisfied, General? You've finally found me,' she gloated at the perplexity she could see on his face. 'Wasn't that what you wanted?'

They engaged in a staring match, both with their breaths coming out in short pants out of pure irritation. The only sound around them that of the snorting horses and stamping of hooves in the early morning.

'Oh, how you've must've laughed at me seeing me turn Shanghai upside d-…' he said with a flushing face and throbbing veins in his neck.

She interrupted him. 'I told you on the very first day that it would be in vain.'

The General frowned, taking her in from head to toe. That girl had made a fool out of him. What should he do? He craved for twisting that little neck. Maybe if he ended her, he'd be able to erase the shame of falling for her machinations for so long.

Sakura watched him carefully. She knew he had to be controlling his temper and that she shouldn't be trying to provoke him but at the same time, she wasn't sure that allowing the General to think clearly was a good idea. Her punishment, when applied, would be that of a traitor. In her head, she started to recite every single rule she'd broken in her time in the army – she knew that list by heart, after all.

Looking around, she located the bay where her mare was resting and cast about for anything she could use to defend herself against the General while holding tightly at her sore side. If… No, when he lashed out against her, she had to be ready to run. She could only imagine what dark thoughts were running through that man's mind right now.

In spite of all her awareness of her surroundings and the knowledge that the General would move soon, he still managed to get her by surprise when he finally sprung to get her. Startled, Sakura had stepped back to get away from him but was blocked by the stable wall behind her. The wall she knew was there. "Stupid! Stupid!" She berated herself for allowing him to corner her out of shock. She unwittingly made it harder for her to escape.

'When I'm through with you, you'll wish you never were born, Kinomoto,' he snarled at her through bared teeth and roughly pinned her against the wall, making her wound twinge.

She let out a groan as all air left her lungs due to his merciless manhandling of her; her face contorted in severe pain.

'You must've thought you were very clever, huh girl? Did you think I wouldn't eventually find out?'

Sakura wheezed heavily, still catching her breath. 'Yes, I am very clever. I'm even smarter than you!' she growled, struggling against his hold of her. There was no doubt now that her injury was bleeding again, as attested by the sharp pain in her side. She felt her eyes burning, in part from grief, partly from pain and partly from disappointment, but she refused to allow the General to see her cry. In her flailing, she somehow managed to elbow his jaw. 'You should've allowed Touya to die, General!'

And just like that, it was as if something finally snapped inside of him. He tightened his grip on her arms and jerked her around. 'You're the worst kind of vipers there is. If you're so clever, then tell me, how do we deal with vipers?'

Sakura shrank back, her eyes wide in dread.

Holding her still, the man grabbed her by the hair, making her whine in pain; a dangerous look in his amber eyes. 'I would love to kill you right now, but death isn't even close to what you deserve!'

If she had thought she was scared before, she had no words to describe how terrified she felt right now. He was seeing red, completely out of himself. Sakura wasn't sure if the hatred he felt was aimed at her or at the whole situation they found themselves. Not that it mattered. If she didn't leave that place right at this moment, she'd die at his hands as soon as he was through with whatever punishment he thought she deserved.

There was an agitated snorting and a shrill neigh from the horse in the stall nearest to them and the minute distraction was all she needed.

She twisted and turned until she freed one of her legs from his constraint. The sudden lash was on target as her knee hit right between his legs again; this time it had been strong enough to make him release his grip on her, doubling over himself. As she tumbled down, she bent her body, using her arms to sling her back up and aimed a kick at his head.

The General's reflexes kicked in and he was able to avoid the worst of the blow, being hit on the shoulder, instead. He lost his balance, anyway, stooping on the floor, still groaning because of the pain in his lower bits.

Sakura tried to use the opportunity to run, but Xiao Lang was able to latch on to her ankle, making her collapse on her face. She tried to kick him again, but he held her legs in a vicelike grip.

'Let me go!' She commanded, squirming around.

He didn't say anything –– not that he didn't have anything to say or that he'd usually let her have the last word, but because he was still recovering from her last blows in.

Her thrashing around caused one of the wooden buckets used to fill up the water-troughs to fall. Grabbing it with trembling hands, she turned around, bashing it against the General's head with all her strength.

She crawled away from him and stood up on unsteady legs. Without looking back, she mounted on Yin riding the white mare away from the stables. She pressed her pace even before passing through the palace's gates, praying to any entity above that the sentinels wouldn't notice anything too out of place with her. if she had any luck, they'd think that her rush was due to having received an urgent order of some kind.

Sakura rode desperately for hours, without rest. She didn't look back fearing that, no matter how far she went, the General would be right behind her. Only when Yin started to show signs of exhaustion, she pulled tightly on the reins, bringing the mount to a trotting pace and looked over her shoulder. When she didn't saw anybody, she finally brought her mount to a halt.

'It's alright, Yin,' she whispered to her horse caressing the greyish mane. 'Everything is gonna be alright.'

She made to dismount, but her legs were shaking and, unable to support her weight, she fell to the ground. She curled up on her side, a choked sob tore from her throat as she allowed the tears to flow down her face. She was in so much pain. Not only physical, but the last events also made her feel as if she was broken inside.

Yin got closer, snorted and nudged her shoulder affectionately as if sensing her distress.

Sakura let herself stay there, as her sorrow rendered her too weak and too disheartened to stand up.

The first thing Sakura noticed when she opened her eyes was the faintly illuminated dark-wooden ceiling above her head. She sat up abruptly, the movement making her sides sting, as she tried to figure out where she was and what had happened.

Then she heard a soothing voice speak from the other side of the room. 'Ah! You're finally awake, dear.'

Sakura turned to the side, taken aback at the sight of a beautiful strange woman with milky-white skin, cinnamon-coloured eyes and long reddish-brown hair pulled back in a ponytail by a white ribbon that ran down her back. She was wearing a simple white with red accents hanfu.

'Uh, I don't…' Sakura stammered, feeling her mouth dry. 'Where, where am I?'

The woman stood up from her seat and sashayed toward the bed where Sakura was lying down, gently placing her hand on her forehead to check for a fever. Due to how frayed she felt at the moment, the simple gentleness behind the action alone brought unwanted tears to Sakura's eyes. It was not something she was used to receiving, after all.

The woman smiled warmly. 'You're in my house. Don't worry, you're safe, for now.'

Sakura darted her eyes around the unassuming room, unwilling to let her guard down in front of a stranger. She noticed that the top of her uniform had been changed for a clean warmer garment and she felt the bandages around her wound tighter than before, which indicated the woman had tended to her injury. She turned her eyes back to the other woman, feeling twitchy. 'Why are you helping me?'

The woman didn't seem bothered by her abruptness and just smiled. 'Because you need my help.'

Sakura narrowed her eyes, sceptical. Nothing in her life had ever been that simple and easy. 'How did I end up here?'

'I found you unconscious and brought you here,' she explained, opening a tight-lipped smile at Sakura's suspicious nature. 'I'm stronger than I look.' She chuckled. 'There's no reason to fear, child. Now, what's your name?'

'Kinomoto Tou–' She shook her head. She would need to get used to the fact that Touya was dead now. '... Sakura. I'm Kinomoto Sakura.'

The woman seemed unfazed about the slight stumble of the tongue, answering without batting an eye. 'And I'm Mizuki Kaho.'

Mizuki's candid acceptance of Sakura's answer and the fact that she wasn't making any questions did nothing to assuage her fears.

Mizuki stood with an effortless kind of elegance – worthy of envy, really, – as she looked down to Sakura still prone on the bed. 'Please, relax and rest a bit more. I'll bring you a warm broth in a bit. You've lost a lot of blood and need to recover your strength.'

Weakened as she was, there was nothing Sakura could do, other than hesitantly agree.

When the woman returned a little while after, carrying a bowl of hearty thickened soup, Sakura had dozed off again. Waking up a second time to the delicious scent of a chicken and sesame oil broth made a grateful smile brighten up her face. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until she took the first spoonful to her mouth. She didn't hesitate to accept seconds.

Though a very pleasant company, Mizuki was a rather mysterious woman. Sakura prided herself on being a good judge of character, but no matter how long Sakura watched her host, she couldn't see past her gentle smiles. The woman was discreet, at least. Never inquiring why Sakura was wearing military garb or how she got hurt. It even seemed at times that she already knew the answer to those questions, which was equally improbable as it was concerning.

After eating, Sakura fell fast asleep once more. She had been asleep for only a couple hours when Mizuki gently shook her shoulder, waking her up.

'The one who's chasing you is nearby,' she said and Sakura could hear the urgency in her voice. 'You must leave. Now.'

Sakura swallowed hard, slowly getting up from the bed, feeling her injury sting with every movement. 'The General is here?' The fear that the General would find her there got her wide awake, despite her weakness; but when she stood up, she felt some dizziness and her mind got clouded.

Mizuki didn't answer. Instead, she opened a drawer and pulled a thick leather coat and a dark cloak, giving it to Sakura. 'Cover yourself. It's cold outside.'

Sakura nodded and dressed herself as fast as she was able.

The woman waited for her at the bedroom door, holding out a bundle of food for Sakura to take for the journey. As soon as Sakura was finished getting dressed, Mizuki beckoned her toward the backyard door, where Yin was tied down, well-rested and fed.

Sakura mounted her horse and took the food Mizuki was offering her, feeling deep gratitude for the mysterious woman. 'I don't know how I'll ever repay you.'

Mizuki held Sakura's hands and stared deep down into her eyes. 'You'll face many more obstacles from now on, Sakura. You'll have to overcome them by being yourself, though.'

Sakura widened her eyes, unable to look away from the woman's wise gaze. A gentle smile spread over the older woman's face. 'Don't worry so much. Everything will be alright.'

'Th-thank you,' Sakura stuttered, swallowing the lump in her throat.

'Now go!' She commanded, squeezing Sakura's hands before letting go. 'Ride away and don't look back!'

Sakura spurred her horse and disappeared into the forest, with only the last strip of the waning moon to guide her

Mizuki took a deep breath as she watched the girl ride away until she no longer could hear the sound of hooves. She, then, turned around re-entering her house in time to hear the first knocks on the front door.

Knowing fully well who it was, she took her time, leisurely sauntering to the door. She would do what little she could to delay him in his pursuit. The knocking on the door turned to pounding as the man on the other side grew impatient.

When she opened the door, she took a good look at the man, noticing the swollen black-eye he sported and his unshaven face. 'Good evening, Officer,' she said, keeping her voice even. 'How can I help you?'

'I'm looking for a green-eyed girl with auburn hair. Have you seen her?' He inquired not even bothering to acknowledge her.

She smiled at him, patiently. 'No, Sir, I haven't seen anyone with that description.'

The man watched her with a raised eyebrow, distrustfully. 'Don't lie to me, woman.'

'I'm not lying, Sir. If you don't believe me, why don't you look around my humble house?' She stepped away, giving him passage.

'As if I needed your permission,' he sneered, crossing the threshold.

Mizuki followed him inside. 'If I may ask, what might a girl have done that warrants a high echelon Officer to personally look for her?'

'That's none of your business,' he bristled at her inquiry.

She just nodded, graciously accepting his answer as he inspected every crevice of the small house like a wolf with blood rage.

'Dammit!' he cursed, pacing up and down in exasperation as he ran his fingers through his hair.

'You must be hungry and tired, Sir,' she spoke again, serving him with a bowl of soup and a cup of tea. 'And I see that you've got hurt, as well. May I treat your wound?'

The General watched the woman e mumbled something unintelligible, but sat at the table anyway, accepting the offered meal.

'Is this the only house in the region?' he asked in between spoonfuls.

'Yes, Sir. No one else dares to live in such isolation,' she said simply.

Xiao Lang stopped eating, the spoon halfway to his mouth. 'You're a witch, aren't you?

She smiled benignly. 'That's such an offensive label, Sir.'

He gave her a wry smile. 'If you're really a witch, then tell me how to find the girl I'm looking for.'

'And why are you looking for her? Is she a runaway bride?' She raised an eyebrow, with a knowing look.

'I'm the one making the questions here, not you,' he harrumphed, his face growing serious.

'Unfortunately, I can't help you, Sir. The girl you seek isn't close by anymore,' she raised her shoulder slightly and briefly. 'Do not fret, though, you'll find her again someday. Fate has it that thrice shall your paths cross.'

'I don't need powers to be sure that I'll find her again,' he remarked, pursing his lips; his voice tone acerbic.

Once he went back to taking the soup, she graciously sat in an armchair. 'Have you ever heard the tale of The man and the glass, Sir?'

The man looked at her with a raised eyebrow. 'I don't have time for these foolishnesses…'

'Allow me, anyway. While you finish your meal,' she insisted as he rolled his eyes. 'One distant day, a man was walking down a path when a shiny object drew his attention,' she started, watching him turn his attention back to the hot broth. 'He took just one look at it and decided "It must be a shard of glass." Then he resumed his way and never thought of it again. Sometime later, another man walked through that same place and noticed the glint, he approached it, took it in his hands and saw that, underneath all the mud, there seemed to lay a huge diamond.'

'These stories mean nothing to me, woman,' he mumbled and sighed exasperatedly.

She continued as if he hadn't interrupted her. 'It really seemed to be a diamond, reflecting the light in rainbow colours when held against the sun. The man then thought: "Could it be a diamond? Maybe I should take it to a lapidary." However the more he looked at the stone, the less certain he seemed to be, until he finally dropped it back on the ground, saying to himself: "How stupid of me! Imagine if I, of all people, would find a diamond out here. It ought to be just a shard of glass, an imitation. If I had taken it to a jeweller, I would be laughed at." And so he proceeded his way, complaining about his poor luck and his misfortunes.'

Trying hard not to smile, Mizuki noticed that the man no longer complained and, though he refused to look at her, he was now paying attention to the tale. He even had stopped eating.

'The following day, another man walking through that path, saw the same stone and was lured by its lustre. "What a beautiful stone!" He thought. "It looks like a precious gem and may even be a diamond. Or it may be a shard of glass. The only way for me to know it is by taking it to a lapidary." And so he stashed the stone in his satchel and went along his way.' She paused, briefly, staring at the General.

Xiao Lang raised his head, furrowing his brow; a gleam of curiosity in his eyes. 'So? What was it?'

The woman grinned, like the cat who ate the canary. 'When he took it to the jeweller, he found out that it was, indeed, a diamond. And a big one, with several karats. And with that gem, he built his fortune and fortified his lineage for many generations.'

He tilted his head, frowning deeply as if trying to solve a puzzle before shaking his head. 'Charming story,' he snorted, waving his hand dismissively as he finished his meal. As soon as he was done, he stood up, ready to leave. 'As what I seek really isn't here, I'll proceed with my search.'

'Have you understood the tale, Sir?' she asked as she stood up from her seat, a stern look transforming her beautiful face.

'Oh, yes. I understood that some people are smarter than others,' he smirked, sarcastically.

She was unamused at his antics. 'No, Sir. This tale is about failing to recognize the value of that which lies in front of our eyes.'

'I've never found a diamond, madam. But rest assured, that when I do, I'll know not to throw it away,' he said, his upper lip curled in disdain.

'It's more than a cautionary tale, General,' she admonished him. 'For, twice now, you've had a pair of precious gems at your reach, yet you failed to acknowledge its true worth,' she said, seeing him stop on his tracks at the door.

Xiao Lang turned to look at her –– a creased brow and eyes narrowed in suspicion. 'What craziness are you talking about now?'

'Diamonds are valuable, but there's not enough gold in the world worth a pair of Jade stones, sir,' she replied cryptically. 'I hope that, when you find those precious gems again, you might give her the merit she's due.'

With those parting words, Mizuki walked past the General and opened the door for him to depart.

The man muttered a couple of curses, crossing the threshold and mounting on his horse. Without even looking back at the mysterious lady, he spurred his horse to continue his search for Kinomoto. He would find her if he had to look for her in Hell itself.

Mizuki watched as the shadow of the rider disappeared into the darkness, her visage marked by a melancholic wave of sadness.

'And once again, the Dragon in his fiery nature chases his Phoenix away.'

To be continued.

Mild editing on Jan. 9th, 2020.