Spoil of War 11
Premonitions
Thank you to everyone who's still following this story, and I hope you all had a merry Christmas! Thanks go out to boreum dal, who kicked me out of a writer's block (believe me, four weeks of editing, deleting, and rewriting is NOT fun). I think the wait for the next chapter won't take a month this time :-D This is longer than my other chapters, as I could not cut out any of these scenes, so I hope you can read through to the end! As always, reviews are wonderful; if you want a response to an anonymous review, please leave me your email? To (nameless) who corrected my spelling of "okaeri," thanks!
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About a week after her wedding, Sakura, accompanied by the Princess Tomoyo and a few friendly guards—who liked the two young women for their kindness and friendliness—was walking towards her quarters when she ran into Lao Hu. She mentally steeled herself for rudeness from him; she had not forgotten nor forgiven his behavior at her wedding breakfast. But instead, he bowed at them, his eyes averted, and he greeted them politely without stopping.
She looked at Tomoyo, the message clear in her eyes. What was that all about?
Let's find out, the Princess mouthed. To Sakura's surprise, Tomoyo boldly called Lao Hu back. "Pardon me, honored brother-in-law to be?"
Before he turned around, Lao Hu smirked. Perfect. The two girls had played into his hands, showing concern over his silence. He walked back to them in pretended reluctance.
"My ladies?" he said, bowing.
"Future brother in law," Tomoyo began, "what ails you?" Tomoyo trusted Lao Hu even less when he was kind, and chose her words carefully as she looked Lao Hu in the eye.
Damn that intelligent little bitch, Lao Hu fumed. He had been expecting Sakura to ask the question.
"I . . . no, I am all right. But thank you for your concern, future sister-in-law," he said politely.
Tomoyo did not miss the flash of red anger in his eyes but betrayed nothing on her face. Instead she blithely asked, "But something does ail you. Can we help?" she asked sweetly.
Yes, you can die and leave me alone with Sakura! Lao Hu raged inside. He quickly came up with a lie. He sighed, pretending a reluctance he did not feel. "I've been doing my divinations, as usual. Some portents worry me, but then . . . Nothing is set in stone, oh Princess, and so I merely try to reassure myself that Saku . . ." and he cast a quick but meaningful glance at Sakura, "er, we . . . shall all be safe."
"Oh dear," Tomoyo's eyes opened wide. "But what things have you seen? Surely you must tell us, as we are family. Remember, my wedding to your younger brother takes place as soon as General Touya arrives here to represent my mother. Please, Lao Hu, ease our minds with your words."
She was driving Lao Hu into a corner, the very thing Eriol had warned her against. But Tomoyo wanted to force his hand, to make him reveal more than he wanted to. And to her delight, Sakura picked up on it.
Sakura had not missed the beginning of her name. Why would he be concerned about her wellbeing when he had never displayed any concern save lasciviousness before? She realized that she needed to play along, to make him feel he was smarter than they were. That was her and Tomoyo's advantage: Lao Hu did not know them well enough to catch them in a lie.
And she had to see just how dangerous he was. Syaoran never spoke of Lao Hu without spitting out the older man's name; his tone was revulsion mixed with frustration, and what he had told her about Lao Hu did not put her at ease. Did he deserve the benefit of the doubt? She decided to try anyway.
Placing a hand lightly on Lao Hu's sleeve, she spoke softly. "I understand, cousin-in-law. But sometimes it helps to talk about these things, doesn't it? I know I prefer to talk when things upset me. We can listen, at the very least, to your troubles."
Nodding at Tomoyo, Sakura said, "Pardon us, Princess, but I would like a quiet word with my cousin-in-law."
With her eyes, Tomoyo indicated an alcove where they would not be heard but still be seen. Sakura nodded as Tomoyo said graciously, "Of course. I shall stay here and await you."
Just leave, you stupid whore of my bastard brother! Lao Hu nearly swore under his breath, but then Sakura had beckoned him to the alcove.
Tomoyo turned to the guards and smiled at them reassuringly, though one stepped forward, intending to accompany Sakura.
"There is no need," Tomoyo said softly to the guard. "We will stay here."
"Princess," the guard said in an urgent whisper, "should we leave Lady Sakura alone with . . . with that man?"
"It will be all right," she said serenely. "Trust me."
The guard withdrew but kept his eyes on Lao Hu surreptitiously.
Lao Hu followed Sakura, but was dismayed when Tomoyo did not leave, and Sakura did not bring him somewhere he could try to seduce her. But he could work with what he had. Looking out of the window, he sighed before turning to Sakura.
"You are cruel, cousin-in-law. Why do you force me to speak of what I do not wish to speak of?" he said softly.
A thrill of distrust ran through Sakura. He was going to lie, of that she was sure. Lately, she had not had her dreams, and she felt wrong-footed. It scared her to realize how much she relied on her dreams, and she resolved to learn other forms of piercing the future, to rely on her instincts, wits, and intelligence instead.
Disarmed, Lao Hu looked into the beautiful eyes he desired. How I want you! He barely prevented himself from examining the rest of Sakura's body, imagining her naked; mentally he made a note to try a scrying spell the next time she and Syaoran made love. It will be like watching myself making love to her, he realized, and he barely prevented himself from smiling. He did, however, feel his loins swell at the thought.
Sakura barely stopped herself from recoiling; she could read his expression, unfortunately. She glanced at Tomoyo—Lao Hu's back was to her—who made a fist and a reassuring expression, her way of saying, "Bear with it for now." Sakura swallowed, then pretended to move towards the window to put some more distance between herself and Lao Hu.
He stepped towards her, almost pinning her to the wall; Sakura could not stop herself from cringing when his face came near hers. Terrified that Lao Hu would try to kiss her, Sakura searched for a way out with her eyes, unable to continue pretending she was comfortable with Lao Hu's nearness.
A cruel smile spread across Lao Hu's features; he enjoyed seeing Sakura's fear of him. He could already imagine her under him, crying for mercy, the first time he would rape her.
"I won't hurt you. I only wish not to be heard," he said softly. It was a variation on his favorite way of placating girls he was about to rape, and having Sakura so close got him so hard, it was almost painful.
Tomoyo's eyes flared, but she held up an arm to stop the guard who was about to draw his sword. Instead, she coughed discreetly, just as Lao Hu was about to try and press his advantage by lightly licking Sakura's ear. Disappointed, he swallowed an angry comment. Instead, what he said in a whisper calculated not to carry to Tomoyo's ears, was, "I worry about you, dearest cousin-in-law. I . . . have seen things I do not wish to see. They . . . it concerns . . . you. And Syaoran . . . no, I . . . I do not wish you to be hurt." He took her hand in his, caressing it as he closed his eyes, savoring the feel of her soft skin.
Sakura, on the other hand, had to fight not to be repulsed by the naked lust in Lao Hu's eyes. She had managed to move away from Lao Hu, realizing he enjoyed her fear just a little too much.
How could he be so warped? How could he live with himself? Sakura wondered. On the surface he was every bit as handsome as Syaoran was; in certain angles and kinds of light, it was hard to tell them apart. But the illusion ended quickly when he opened his eyes: the cold, cruel darkness in them was noticeable. He was Syaoran gone completely wrong: lustful, aggressive, selfish, greedy, cruel, and corrupt. But she had to know what he was doing, what he was thinking! She slowly drew her hand away from his, looking at Tomoyo as she did, so that Lao Hu would think she was being modest.
Tomoyo glanced at Lao Hu's hands and gave him a chastising look—the kind that was expected from her. Predictably, Lao Hu glared at her briefly but regained his composure and smiled.
Sakura, given some breathing room, composed herself. Now, how could she outmaneuver Lao Hu and find out more about what he was thinking?
Just be yourself, a voice inside counseled, a voice she sometimes heard and often obeyed. And so she gave Lao Hu a sympathetic look. "I do not wish to be cruel," she said. "What do you mean?"
Thinking he had her, Lao Hu turned away. "I do not wish to talk badly of my cousin," he said. "Please, let me leave."
I would like nothing better than for you to do so, in order for me to know what lies you can tell about Syaoran! Sakura thought grimly, but for her safety and Syaoran's, she had to know what Lao Hu wanted.
"Please," and she looked into Lao Hu's eyes—she could not bring herself to touch him again, "tell me. It is better for me to know than to be aware that you know something that affects my destiny but cannot tell me."
With a heavy sigh, Lao Hu spoke to Sakura's reflection in the alcove's window. "Syaoran . . . you care about him . . . do you not?"
Every instinct warned Sakura not to betray the depth of her feelings for her husband, and so she hesitated. What could she say?
Lao Hu interpreted her hesitation as proof of Sakura not knowing what she felt for Syaoran.
"You are unsure of what you feel?" he asked in a gentle tone.
Sakura did not respond, but averted her eyes so that she could lie better. "He cares for me," she said softly. "Does he not?" She let her voice waver
Lao Hu pretended he was lying to make Sakura feel better, but Sakura already knew he was lying, so she let him say what he liked so he might reveal something useful. "Syaoran, he, er, put aside other women for you," he pretended to praise Syaoran. "And he married you, did he not?" Little fool, believe me!
Your falseness is so obvious, Sakura thought. But she decided to let him lead her on. "But can I be sure there is no other in his life?" she asked in a high-pitched, quavering voice.
"I do not wish to speak ill of him," Lao Hu said quickly.
He answered me too quickly, Sakura realized, but she kept her expression vacant and a bit empty-headed. "You know something then. Please tell me. I do not know Syaoran very well."
"No," he said, turning away, pretending to not want to speak badly of Syaoran.
His melodramatic stances were beginning to bother Sakura. He certainly had not hesitated in character-assassinating Syaoran at the wedding breakfast, and Sakura thought Lao Hu was underestimating her intelligence and perception too much, but she kept her tone wondering when she asked, "But you do know something. Please, tell me."
"Do not be fooled," he said quickly as he turned to her. "Syaoran can speak words of love but he . . . he can betray you . . ." He stopped, as if realizing what he had just said, and swiftly turned away. "I apologize. I have no right to speak of him that way. Forgive me." With that he swiftly walked away from her, smirking, as he believed he had planted the seeds of doubt in Sakura's mind. Maybe tonight I can invade her dreams at last!
When he was out of sight, Tomoyo beckoned to Sakura and together, they walked quickly to the quarters Sakura shared with Syaoran, the guards trailing behind and looking over their shoulders. Once inside the chambers she shared with Syaoran, the guards watchful right outside, Sakura repeated what Lao Hu had said and her impressions of him.
"I don't like this at all," Tomoyo frowned. "Why is he trying to make you distrust Syaoran?"
"I don't like it either. But what does Lao Hu hope to gain?" Sakura furrowed her brow as she tried to think of what Lao Hu could gain from their odd conversation. "It's not like I would run to him for help . . . and how stupid would I have to be to believe him when I spend most of my time with my Syaoran?"
Tomoyo almost smiled at how Sakura called her husband 'my Syaoran.' "He might be stupid enough to think that," she said in a hard tone. "He thinks we're both idiots. There may be something we don't know, though."
"I'll let you know once I've thought this through," Sakura said slowly.
"I know you already know this, but do not trust that snake, Sakura-chan," Tomoyo said.
"I don't," Sakura said quietly. "But I don't think we should bother Syaoran or Eriol with this now . . . not when they're both preoccupied with all the attacks. Let's handle this ourselves. But we'll both be careful."
"Agreed," Tomoyo said. "Once we have proof of Lao Hu's treachery, we'll inform them. Be careful."
"I will," Sakura hugged her best friend and cousin, then ushered her out, taking care to use the locking spell Syaoran had taught her. A little tired, she lay down and went to sleep.
When Syaoran arrived at nearly midnight, feeling guilty for leaving Sakura alone all day, he found her asleep, her head on his pillow. He watched her tenderly, sitting by her side and stroking her arm. Her sleep was restful but he could tell that she was not dreaming. Part of him hated himself for wanting her to dream, but the death, the wanton destruction was beginning to take a toll on the people of his family's kingdom, making all the Lis look weak. A few were even clamoring to have the Crown Princess replaced with Lao Hu, and that Syaoran could not bear. Why were they blind to all the attacks against them?
These thoughts bothered him as he took off his short robes and trousers; he settled next to his wife naked, as he had grown used to over the time they had been together. Gently he draped an arm over her waist and drew her close.
Sakura stirred, then opened her eyes.
"Syaoran?" she asked softly, and reached out a hand uncertainly. In the darkness, with her sleep-fuddled eyes, fear told her it was Lao Hu next to her, that he had broken into their chambers somehow.
He kissed her hand gently, and she relaxed; only Syaoran had that way of fluttering his lips over her skin.
"Go back to sleep," he said gently.
Her brows furrowed, and Syaoran knew she was worried about something. Please don't let it be about her lack of dreams, he pleaded in his mind.
It was a wish that would not be granted.
"Syaoran . . . When you first brought me here, you said you needed my dreams," she began.
He bit his lip. There it was, what he did not want her worrying about.
"No. I wanted you," he said as he kissed her forehead and tried to smile.
Sakura chuckled. "You're a bad liar."
"Who says I'm lying?" Syaoran gazed into her eyes. "That dreamseeing thing was . . ."
". . . only part of the reason? Was that what you were going to say?"
Syaoran shifted so that Sakura's head would be pillowed on his upper arms. "We met in dreams long ago. I loved you the longer I knew you, even if I thought I had no hope of finding you in real life. Now that you're here, nothing changes that."
"But still you came to Tomoeda for my dreamseer abilities. I know of the attacks on the villages," Sakura said. "I did not foresee them! I haven't had dreams in so long, not since . . . not since I failed to—to s-save your sister!" Her breath hitched.
He gathered her into his arms. "No, please don't cry," he begged as he kissed her forehead and stroked her back soothingly.
Her hands bunched into fists against his chest. "I want to stop this, to help you and your family! I want to do something!" She raised her flashing green eyes to his. "I don't want to be your useless wife!"
"Don't say that!" Syaoran snarled, and he pushed her back, holding her by the shoulders so he could look her in the eye. "I need you. Here, with me."
She shook her head. "I need to dream! Why can't I dream anymore?"
"Stop it," Syaoran said sternly. "Just . . . I . . . Yes, I could use your dreams but I need you. Do you hear me? Stop blaming yourself." His voice went lower, became gentler. "Please."
"But . . ."
"Enough," Syaoran said firmly, and he held her close again. "I love you, and I need you here. Please don't be upset over this. You being here, being my wife—it's more than enough. You will dream again, and I know you can help us. Don't force it."
He held her until she calmed down, crooning soothingly, and telling her they could talk it through in the morning. After a period of silence in which they held each other, Sakura turned to kiss Syaoran. He responded, caressing her back, and she let out a soft moan, loving his touch on her skin. In the age-old human need for creature comfort, they began to make slow, gentle love. No wanton thrashing together to slake their need for each other; instead, each kiss and caress affirmed their feelings for each other. Sakura closed her eyes as Syaoran worshipped her body, taking delight in how they melded into each other. Once he was inside her, she drew him down into a kiss.
Syaoran smiled and kissed her, right before he teasingly swiveled his hips so he could grind into her a bit harder. She gasped, and he chuckled; the cares of the day washed away as they moved towards the peak of pleasure, Sakura reaching hers, tightening around him, right before he did.
Afterwards, satiated and lying in the afterglow of their lovemaking, Syaoran let her head rest on his upper arm again.
"Oh, Syaoran," she sighed.
"I want you to sleep well, love." Putting a finger to her lips to forestall a protest, Syaoran said, "Never mind those dreams. I want you well-rested, as maybe rest and some magical exercises with my mother and sister will help you."
Sakura sat up. "What? Were you thinking of that as we . . . we, uh . . ."
"Fucked?" Syaoran asked playfully. "Did the nasty? Made the beast with two backs?"
Sakura began to laugh. "You have a foul mouth!"
"Well, did you expect me to say, 'reached the heavens together'? 'Found our pleasure peaks'?" Syaoran teased.
"Don't be so crude," Sakura scolded.
Laughing, Syaoran drew her to him. "All right. I was teasing you. I'm sorry."
"No you're not," Sakura grinned.
Syaoran grunted, then said, "You should be tired. Go to sleep."
"You always worry about me," Sakura said, undeterred, returning to what she first said.
"Of course. You're my wife," Syaoran said, and he kissed her forehead.
I wish I could do so much more for you, Sakura thought. Knowing it would worry him, she did not say this out loud. Instead she pressed her lips to his, making a loud smacking sound that made them both laugh.
"I love you, silly woman. Now go to sleep," Syaoran said, as he yawned. "All right?"
Sakura settled into his arms, her good cheer restored. "All right."
Across the castle, Lao Hu swore. The longer he delayed, the harder it would be to invade Sakura's dreams, especially since she had not partaken of the 'spice' of hallucinogens he'd blended for her. The servant he'd hypnotized had died in the second attack of the dark Yue and Cerberus, and now he could find no one to take the old woman's place.
Lao Hu realized that he had to act soon, though, as Touya's ship was nearing Hong Kong Bay; it would only be two days before Sakura's brother arrived. He sped the Princess Mei Hua forward with a spell, and though it endangered the poor girl's life, he sped up the growth of the child in her womb. She would be eight months pregnant when she arrived, nearly ready to give birth.
Certainly the dark magic he used endangered the Princess and her child, but he only needed her alive long enough to destroy Sakura's faith in Syaoran. Shame; she'd been so pretty and willing when he'd seduced her pretending to be Syaoran—and if their daughter were beautiful, why, he could seduce the girl too. Incest fed dark magic, after all, and he looked forward to raping his own daughter.
But Lao Hu pushed aside his lascivious thoughts. Soon, after all, Sakura would be his. He licked his lips, feeling himself harden as he mentally stripped Sakura, remembering the fear in her eyes earlier that day. In his fantasy, Sakura was forced into his arms, refusing to see Syaoran whom she believed had cheated on her. He would trap Sakura, and then . . . he licked his lips as he told himself he would soon know what her lovely body was like. He looked forward to her screams as he forced his manhood into her, of beating her into submission just as his father had done to his mother. And then, he would father a new line of Lis on her, powerful boys whom he would teach his ways to. The ones he would let survive to adulthood; impregnating Sakura with constant rapes appealed to him.
Once the Lis and Lins killed each other in battle, he would step in and assume control of all of Hong Kong 'for peace'. He would draw power from Sakura and the dead Li and Lin royals so that he could take over the mainland; right now it was taking a lot out of him to fuel the dark Yue and Cerberus. Once he was stronger, Japan would be next, and maybe the world. He smirked. The sacrifice of his cousin, the Princess, would be worth it—it wasn't like he cared about her anyway, and hadn't it taken so much out of him not to rape her? This was his reward.
But the problem at hand was that Syaoran's presence also kept Lao Hu out of Sakura's dreams; the emotional bond between the two infuriated him. How could such strong emotions have blossomed so quickly? But he was reassured by the knowledge that intense emotions often turned against themselves: love could be turned to hate, could it not? And when the princess arrived . . . there would be the false proof of Syaoran's unfaithfulness. And Sakura would have no choice but to distrust Syaoran.
How lovely that would be!
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The next day passed uneventfully; Syaoran gently reassured Sakura that perhaps training in other magical forms might help, that perhaps his uprooting her from her home might have stopped her access to dreams. "We will get through this. Believe me," he said. He escorted her to the training chambers, where his sisters and mother were, kissing her gently before leaving to do reconnaissance with his troops.
Sakura spent the day learning magic spells from her sisters-in-law and Yelan. Delighted by her progress, the Lis had started her on more complex spells and lent her some precious spellbooks to study. In between sessions, they also told her delightful stories of Syaoran's childhood.
She happily listened, chuckling as she learned more about the man who was so important to her. "I can't imagine living without him," she said softly as Fan Ren asked how she was enjoying her married life.
The Crown Princess glanced at her mother and smiled. Sakura was in love, and did not realize it yet. With an amused look, Yelan cautioned her against saying anything to Sakura. Instead, she began teasing Sakura.
"Should we be soundproofing your chambers?"
"Hoe? I mean, uh, what do you mean, Mother?" Sakura asked. Yelan had insisted on being called "Mother" when she found out that Sakura's mother had died.
"Well," Shiefa took up the conversation with a teasing tone, "Syaoran has that room barricaded against intruders, but not for sound."
"Sound?" Sakura, who was examining a little green costume Syaoran wore as a child, did not pick up on the teasing immediately.
"Sounds like, 'oh Syaoran please, oh yes!' or Syaoran saying how much he wants you," Fan Ren grinned.
Finally picking up on the teasing, Sakura blushed a deep red. "I . . . S-sorry . . . I didn't realize . . ."
The Lis laughed. "Come now, Sakura, we were teasing," Yelan chuckled as she chucked Sakura gently on the chin. "I confess I hope those nightly lovemaking sessions will bear fruit; I have not heard the patter of children's feet in a long time."
"That's 'cause no one wants to marry the Crown Princess," Shiefa grinned.
Fan Ren flung a scroll at her sister. "Hey!"
"It's true. Mama has put out a reward for anyone willing to marry you," Fei Mei, who had been silent because a strange premonition she could not identify was bothering her, suddenly joined the conversation. Pretending to fall into a trance, she intoned, "The Li Crown Princess is going to be an old maid." She and Shiefa began giggling madly.
"Now, girls, enough teasing," Yelan said.
"But it's true!" Shiefa protested.
"You heard Mama, now enough," Fan Ren said grumpily.
"Have you dreamt lately?" Fei Mei turned concerned eyes to Sakura, who blushed in embarrassment.
"S-sorry, no I haven't . . ."
"Are you all right?" Fei Mei touched the spot on Sakura's forehead where the third eye would be.
"I . . . I don't know, I . . ."
"Fei Mei! Can't you see she's busy with Syaoran making grandchildren?" Shiefa scolded.
"Ah . . ." Sakura's cheeks flamed.
"You're embarrassing her," Fan Ren said. Taking Sakura's hand, she said in mock solemnity, "Ignore those louts. What matters is, is Syaoran good in bed?"
"Hoe!"
"That's a yes, I take it?" Fei Mei grinned.
"You ought to hear them at night," Shiefa said mischievously.
All of Syaoran's sisters began to laugh. Yelan hid a smile but said, "Enough, really now. Let's get on with the transportation spell, shall we?"
Sakura gave her mother in law a grateful look, and Yelan smiled. Heaven help anyone who interfered with Syaoran and Sakura's lovemaking, as far as she was concerned; one grandchild was all she asked for, after all.
At the end of the session, right before dinner, Yelan pressed a large, beautifully illustrated book in Sakura's hands, smiled at her, then told her to open it only in the privacy of her chambers. Though curious, Sakura obeyed. What she found were drawings that taught her how to pleasure Syaoran, how to make him reach orgasm, and how to make their lovemaking even more intense. She read through the book quickly, fascinated and engrossed, and only looked up when someone called through the door.
"Sakura-chaaan!" Tomoyo was at the door to her and Syaoran's chambers. "I heard Queen Yelan gave you something!"
Sakura checked the spell by the door that told her it was truly Tomoyo and not someone with ill intent. She opened the door, and an eager Tomoyo rushed in.
"Let me see, let me see!" she squealed. Giggling, Sakura handed the Pillow Book to Tomoyo.
"I think I need to be a dancer to try some of the positions," she began.
"But you are! You used to dance at home!" Tomoyo clapped her hands. "Oooh, you must tell me the details when you and Syaoran try these."
"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura blushed furiously.
Ignoring her, Tomoyo continued to scrutinize the book. "That 'Fixing the Screw' pose looks fun." She rotated the book and looked closer.
"I like this one," Sakura blushed as she turned to a page showing a woman giving her man fellatio.
"Oh so that's how men like it," Tomoyo said as she flipped to a page where a woman was running her tongue in circles around her lover's erect penis. "Says here we shouldn't just concentrate on the physical, though," she said as she pointed at the afterword.
"Yes," and Sakura smiled sweetly. "What you feel enhances the lovemaking, and Syaoran . . . he . . ." She sighed. "He just makes everything so wonderful!"
Tomoyo smiled, but did not charge into the conversation. The softness on Sakura's face when she looked at Syaoran, how often she brought him up, how she and Syaoran touched each other–they were in love, and if Sakura hadn't realized it, then she did not want to pry.
But no one said anything about prodding and making suggestions, so slyly, Tomoyo said, "Emotions make everything more wonderful when you make love, I agree. Does Syaoran know?"
"About the book? Not yet, but tonight he will," Sakura grinned.
Tomoyo almost sighed, but remembered that Syaoran was Sakura's first love. She smiled and decided to give her beloved cousin some slack. Picking up some parchment, she copied the illustrations that caught her fancy. "There. Now he's going to have a surprise tonight!"
"I presume Eriol-san is not going to get much sleep later?" Sakura giggled. The joke about Eriol and his lack of sleep was a running one between her and Tomoyo already.
"I'm sure his pleasure will more than make up for it," Tomoyo grinned naughtily.
Sakura laughed as she showed Tomoyo out. A messenger gave her a note, tied to a peony, from Syaoran. Sakura smiled; he always enclosed their favorite flower with his notes when he could. This one said he would be back late, to rest and to have dinner ahead of him. Smiling, she asked a servant for water in a pot and wood; she would have warm water waiting for him when he returned, and maybe some tea.
Then it hit her.
Lao Hu had begun his first assault, but failed; she was not asleep. She did not know it, but something told her that someone had just tried to hurt her. A headache began to creep up on her, and she could feel it piercing through her. What was happening? Sakura frantically chanted the words of the soothing ritual. But a strange wave of dizziness, and then a feeling of impending doom began to overwhelm her. Sakura staggered to the bed and repeated the calming ritual her Master Kaho Mizuki had taught her. Nothing worked, not until she remembered the words Mizuki had once said were an invincible spell: "Everything will be all right."
Almost as soon as it had hit her, the pain and feeling of doom vanished; shivering, Sakura lay on the bed and closed her eyes.
That was when she heard someone saying her name softly, soothingly; it was a deep voice she had heard before, but where . . .
Back in Tomoeda, she realized with a jolt. Clow Reed!
". . . forgive me, we don't have much time, but trust in yourself, not your dreams," he whispered. "You are more than just a dreamseer, and I fear the time of your Final Judgment comes soon. Remember, you are your own strength . . . and everything will be all right."
Sakura blinked. She was wide-awake, but just to be sure she pinched herself.
Ouch!
"Master Clow?" she called out.
But she was alone in her chambers.
Lao Hu swore; something had interfered as soon as he'd gotten into Sakura's head. Why was he thwarted again and again? He renewed his assault, but nothing . . . no avail.
I will have you, he swore. No matter what it takes!
And he began to pore through the Chiang Lin's forbidden spellbooks for a way to enter Sakura's mind so that he could destroy her marriage to Syaoran, and steal away her heart.
End of Chapter 11
To be continued in Chapter 12
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Sorry for removing the previews, but because I keep rewriting and expanding, scenes keep getting moved and I don't want to disappoint you when you respond to the previews. My bad, sorry!