I want to challenge you! If you played the classics Tomb Raider, I challenge you to find the easter eggs in this chapter xD
Enjoy :3
Chapter 4:
Revelations
Beijing, China. 6th June 2016. 10:30 AM
Syaoran after the ambush from Luoyang' excavations , came back to Hong Kong, to sign some documents from lawyers and trying to avoid the journalists that wanted immediately a scoop of the ambush and also to talk about the stolen artifact in Luoyang's museum.
Many died in there, including his assistant and Mei-Ling's trainee, Naoko Yanagisawa. Syaoran blamed himself while he travelled through Beijing, to meet Sakura Kinomoto in her home. That woman saved him from death and if it was necessary he would help her to get back the Jade Heart to its place or in the most extreme case: destroy it. He was a bit sad at the through of destroying it since it was an important discovery in his career, but if it does have the Secret of Immortality, Sakura has no choise but to destroy it.
The Taxi driver brought him to the address that was written on the business card that Kinomoto gave to him that night in Luoyang, where he suspected of her on being a thief. In a way she was, but she stole from the dead people, dead from centuries and centuries. Syaoran couldn't help but be fascinated by that woman and from her back-story. She was indeed mysterious and doesn't talk much about herself. He was tempted on searching about her on google but he decided to do not do that.
Syaoran found himself in front of an immense mansion, with a gothic gate that surrounded it. He got closer to it and rang the intercom of the house, a bothersome noise came out of it but Syaoran decided to ignore it. He waited with his arms crossed that someone opened to him the gate or at least answer him on the intercom.
« Who it is? » a metallic voice came out of the intercom, it sounded like a male voice, gentle and kind Mhm… Maybe Miss Kinomoto is married.
« Erm… I'm professor Li Syaoran, I'm here for - »
« Oh yeah! Lady Kinomoto mentioned me when she got back from Luoyang. Here I'll open you immediately! » Syaoran raised an eyebrow to how the man called Sakura, in the meantime the gates opened and he entered inside of it. The garden looked gorgeous, it was like Versailles's gardens or a botanical garden, it had a fountain with a mermaid on the left. All kinds of flowers and a cherry blossom tree was on both sides of the gates. It wasn't the time of them blossoming but they were beautiful.
Now that he thought about it, Sakura's name means "cherry blossom". And she didn't seem Chinese… her last name is Japanese, so is her name. So Syaoran figured out that she moved here in Beijing just because it's a bit more comfortable to travel all around the world from China than from Japan.
Syaoran's lips pursued into a sly smile as he walked through the door of the mansion, he was surprised that it was opened and entered in the house without many compliments. The hall was pretty huge, with two twin stairs on both sides, the colors were bright, white and grey were dominant in that room. It had also some paintings and photos hung on the wall.
One took his attention: There was Sakura and people that he didn't know, a man with dark brown hair that was hugging a smiling red-haired woman with blue eyes and she was holding a toddler in her arms , in front of Sakura there was a girl. He supposed that she should be a least fourteen, dark brown hair and blue eyes.
In the picture they looked all happy, Sakura included. She was smiling and it wasn't a sly smile or a malicious one… But… an happy one. Syaoran blinked twice, undecided to believe or not if in that picture there is truly Sakura. He decided to do not indulge on it, maybe Sakura will tell him about it.
« So you made it. » A voice behind him made Syaoran jump his heart into his chest, he turned and saw the font of the voice. It was Sakura that was looking at him from the stairs, she was going where Syaoran was.
Sakura had her neat ponytail, she was dressed in a grey shirt, that exposed her breast and waist and black shorts and was also barefoot. Syaoran noticed that she had also very long and well-made legs, a thing that he loved most about women was the legs… And she had very beautiful legs…
Sakura approached him, with a sly smile on her face and she moved her hips slowly. Syaoran didn't know if she did that on purpose or it was an habit of her, he decided to give himself a mental slap. « Welcome to my humble abode Professor Li. » Syaoran only nodded at her and saw that she crossed her arms across her chest and raised an eyebrow « I suppose that you want to know if It's really me in that photo no? »
Syaoran felt embarrassed and his cheeks felt like lava, he bit his lower lip and then, after an awkward moment, decided to answer. « Yes, It got me curious… And… Wow » he turned his head around, looking again at the hall of the mansion « You must be a filthy rich bitch to have an home like this » Sakura smirked only, Syaoran knew that she was annoyed when he said "filthy rich bitch", he felt a little guilty about it but in his heart he was right. She must be very rich to have an house this big.
« My books finances me a lot, even though I don't reveal my real name, also some museums are paying me very well for keeping safe some artifacts, like the British Museum in London or The National Museum of China here in Beijing »
« I understand Miss Kinomoto. You must be paid very well for these thing you do as cover from your real job. » Sakura rolled her eyes, again in annoyance « These are my real jobs professor. I write about my adventures and pull a false name under the protagonist to let everyone know that it is something awesome being a Tomb Raider. » she looked at the floor, arms still crossed against her chest « It is exciting but also very dangerous, you have no idea how many times I risked my life with this. » Syaoran nodded only. He has an idea on how risky it was on being a tomb raider.
He was only an archeologist and a professor at Hong Kong's university, so he didn't know the excitement of being a thief of tombs, tomb raider… whatever Sakura was. But being an archeologist was as dangerous as being a tomb raider, on an excavation in Italy a boulder was about to crash him. When he was young he took some Kung-Fu lesson so he had his reflects ready, If he didn't had that… Syaoran would have probably died.
Sakura released her arms from her chest and gave again to him a sly smile on her face, in the meanwhile, a man approached them. He was, literally, dressed like a penguin, with a black bow tie on his neck. He was a bit older than Sakura, he had black hair that fell into his sides of the forehead, he had black eyes that resembled kindness. Sakura heard his footsteps and her smile changed from sly to a pleasant one, witch it was strange for Syaoran to see it.
So she knows how to be kind…maybe doctor Qiao Wang was right though Syaoran as he saw the smile on her face. « I suppose that he's our guest for today, am I right Lady Kinomoto? » Syaoran recognized the voice, It was the one that answered him on the intercom. He let get away the thought that Sakura was married, also she didn't have a ring on her hand Stupid Li.
Sakura nodded at the man, still that kind smile on her face. « You're right. Oh let me present him to you. » Kinomoto put an hand on Syaoran's shoulder. He was still dazed and confused by her expression on her face, he didn't saw her being so kind.
« Professor, this is Yamazaki Takashi , he's my butler and also a dear friend ». Sakura looked at her butler when he presented him to Syaoran, he nodded only. Then she looked at Syaoran, still that smile on her face. « Takashi, this is Professor Li Syaoran, the archeologist that I've talked about, he also teaches Archeology in Hong Kong's university. »
How does she know that?!
« Very pleased to meet you Professor » he straight his arm to shake Syaoran's hand, he did it too and shook the butler's hand « Pleased to meet you too. » he said only. Syaoran had to admit it but he was a little embarrassed by the presence of Takashi. It's okay, he's a trusted friend of Kinomoto and her house, well… better to say mansion, was hidden from every satellites. Sakura noticed the embarrassment on Syaoran's face and turned to Takashi, her smile disappeared but there was kindness on her eyes.
« Bring us some cold tea and a bit of sweets Takashi, we'll be in the Trophy room » Takashi nodded at her and headed towards the Kitchen. The kindness on her eyes disappeared as she turned her head to Syaoran and nodded at him to follow her.
He decided to do not argue about it and followed her « Lady Kinomoto? » asked Syaoran, one of his eyebrows raised. Sakura shrugged her shoulders as she looked at him, while he asked that question « Long story… I'll tell you one day » and she winked at him. She stopped by one book-stand and took a book and removed it.
The book-stand turned, revealing to be a secret door. She was indeed jealous of her "trophies". As he entered he found that the room was pretty large and it had a nice décor as well. It looked darker than the main hall and it was lighten up by a fire-place at the end of the room. The halls were red and dark drown, several paintings also in there, and the "trophies" were exposed in columns, one of with their own column and a glass showcase.
« Impressive, It's like an independent museum » Syaoran breathed those words speechless, Sakura wasn't listening to him, since she was turning on the stereo, that was on a desk along with three PC monitors. Violins echoed from the stereo and they sounded so classy and so relaxing to his ears. Syaoran closed his eyes while listening to that music, it was hypnotizing to his ears, it gave him a sensation of calm and relax. « Do you like it? » asked Sakura out of the blue.
Syaoran opened his eyes in surprise, not expecting her voice to disturb his listening, but he had to admit that her voice suited those violins very well. Sakura moved her fingers as the violins of the music get faster and faster and then again slow, Syaoran tried to do not smile at that image. It was a bit out of character for a person like Sakura Kinomoto, she always looked so serious, so firm. Maybe it's better not to judge a book by its cover.
As the music was about to end, Sakura approached him, with her arms on her back and a smirk on her lips « It's my sister in law's favorite music. She loves this kind of music, it soothes my mind and makes me relaxed and feel a bit classy. But only a bit ».
Syaoran nodded only, giving to her a simple, but warm, smile. He had to admit it once again. That woman was full of surprises.
He decided to have a look on the artifacts that she had found during her journeys. One in particular took his attention. It was exposed in a glass showcase; a dagger.
With a golden dragon and red silk on its tight, the blade was silvery and it looked pretty sharp. Syaoran put an hand on the glass and looked at it with curious eyes. It was a truly stunning dagger and he supposed that it was an ancient dagger. He felt Sakura came close to him and she looked at the dagger as well. « It's my favorite discovery. That is called the Dagger of Xian. » Syaoran looked at her and chewed the inner part of his cheek, not knowing about the artifact.
« Never heard of it » Sakura laughed and crossed her arms across her chest once again that day. « I thought that it was a fantasy only for that videogame back in 1997. But in 2002 I found out that It was true.
« Legend says that a man that has the courage to stab himself in the chest with this dagger, he will become a dragon. Well… It's true professor. » Sakura shrugged her shoulders and looked at him, there was seriousness on her face « Some rascal bastard from the Italian mafia wanted to stab himself in the chest and he became a dragon. I faced that dragon and killed the bastard with all the weapons I had. » Syaoran opened his eyes in shock, drinking everyone that she had made it exit from her poisonous mouth « Incredible. » Sakura nodded only, closing her jade green eyes.
There was a knock on the door of the trophy room, Sakura moved to the door and with a button she opened the door. It was Takashi that was carrying a silver tray with two glasses of ice-cold tea and biscuits and chocolates aside.
« Sorry If I have Interrupted you two Lady Kinomoto. »
« No worries Takashi, put it on the desk, you can rest now » Sakura's voice was gentle and sweet, maybe it was a tone that she used with the ones she was very close to. Takashi put the tray on the desk and leaved the room, waving to Syaoran goodbye.
Sakura pushed the button once again as Takashi walked away from the room, the secret door closed and she moved away from there, approaching the desk and taking her glass of ice-cold tea.
Syaoran joined Sakura, by taking his glass and drinking some of his tea. « Your butler is as well a friend for you, Am I right? » asked Syaoran as he put the glass on the tray and took a biscuit to his mouth and eat it. They tasted like they were handmade and they were very delicious.
Sakura nodded at his question and she put as well the glass on the tray, she drank half of her ice-cold tea. « Yeah, but sometimes when I'm in a bad mood he knows that he should not stay close to me or he will get a trip into the fridge. »
What?! Syaoran was shocked, not in a good way, by her words. What a crazy woman.
« Let's talk about business… » then she said firmly, moving to her three-monitors computer. Sakura sighed and closed her eyes and looked at Syaoran, mentioning him to sit on the chair that was in front of the desk « I'll ask you the same questions that I said when we left Mei-Ling at the hospital. First off: What do you know about the Jade Heart? » he asked as he sat down on the chair that Sakura mentioned to him.
Sakura took a piece of paper, that was beside her on the left side of the desk. She handed him to Syaoran, making him watch what was written on the paper. The language was in Japanese, luckily he studied some of it when he was in high school but he couldn't understand some parts. The piece talked about the Empress Wu Zeitan, he already knew about her story… Then, why is she showing it to him? « I don't understand, this is Empress Wu's story. What does it mean? » Sakura moved her lips nervously as she tipped her fingers on the desk, then she sighed and looked at him: her face was serious and determinate, and she was ready to tell him the truth about the artifact that he discovered in Luoyang.
Thanks to Mei-Ling, he discovered an half of his mistake, The Jade heart could have the secret of Immortality or of the Eternal Youth and this was thanks to his cousin. Her bones looked nothing like the Empress died at the age of eighty.
« As you know, Empress Wu was the only Empress of China during the Tang Dynasty, in 650 After Christ. But you don't know that when she was crowned Empress, one of her advisors gave to her a gift. This one said that the pendant was a gift from the Gods, made of jade and it has incredible powers. That pendant was the Jade Heart. » Syaoran remained silent, curious to know more about that artifact that made him almost die two days ago.
« Empress Wu found out that It wasn't a simple pendant, but it had some magic on it and also the Artifact could transform anyone into a Jade Statue, anyone could die in the process or be an entire army of Jade, that obeys only to the one who has the Heart. »
« That could be the cause of why there were some traces of jade on the bones of the Empress? » Sakura shocked her head, she knew the answer to that question « I don't know, but it could be. The Empress had found that the artifact could produce the Elixir of Long Life, she drank it and remained forever young. But only the pendant could kill one who had drank the elixir from the Jade Heart… »
Syaoran opened his eyes in shock, that was amazing and he was surprised that she knew more about the Empress than himself. He felt a bit of shame on himself and his pride was hurt by those words that she had said.
Sakura blinked her eyes twice as she threw a photograph of the Jade Heart on the desk, but there was a new element on it: behind the Jade Heart there was an army entirely made of Jade, their weapons were made of that material too. « I have the bad feeling that the Empress died by the hand of the Jade Heart… » Syaoran said in a whisper as he looked at the photo, Sakura nodded at his words as she took other two photographs on her hands and played with them for a while.
« I have the same opinion Professor, my theory is that that same advisor who gave to her the pendant killed her by making of her a Jade Statue. She died in 705 After Christ and with the body of a thirty years old woman, not with the body of an eighty years old. » Syaoran tightened his fists, his fingers were becoming red of rage and shame.
His pride was hurt, he should have known this before and so he wouldn't took that pendant from the excavations and sell it to the Luoyang's Museum. Sakura was right about him on one thing: He was naïve on that artifact. Sakura's words that night at the Museum echoed on his mind: "We are on 2016 Professor Li, many could watch us but you're too naïve to understand the dangers of this artifact" That artifact was dangerous: It could transform an entire army in a zombie-like army and they only obey to the one who has the artifact, and it could produce the Elixir of Long Life. Who will drank it will become Immortal and Eternal Young.
Syaoran looked at Sakura who was waving the photographs like a fan on her face. She indeed was mysterious and amazing, and so intelligent too. If he knew her sooner, he could have asked her hand in marriage and his mother, Yelan Li, leader of the Corporation after his father passed away, would have agreed with the union.
He gave a mental slap at that thought, he hates her, she hurt his pride after days of hardworking and study. You're a bitch Miss Kinomoto
« Who are these Hiiragizawa and Daidouji? » at his question, Sakura threw the photos on the desk, Syaoran had the vision of those two people; A man with dark hair and a pair of round glasses, he was dressed in an elegant white coat, with a blue necktie. He had a smirk on the photo and he was speaking to his phone at the moment the photo was taken. A woman with dark hair as well, white skin like snow and violet eyes that screamed maliciousness at only at one look in the photo. She was dressed in a black coat and white shirt and was holding a book. « Eriol Hiiragizawa is a politician, he's trying to get the role as the next President of the United States. He wants the Heart for becoming immortal… or worse… use it to have the entire American Army under his control » Sakura tighten up her eyes, trying to find the next words, knowing that Daidouji was a little worse than Hiiragizawa.
« Tomoyo Daidouji-Hiiragizawa is his wife, she's a specialist in genetics and infective diseases, she also wants to gain the Immortality. But I'm afraid that she wants the Heart to play with the genetic of people, it already happened… » Sakura's expression sadden suddenly, and chewed the inner part of her cheek
Syaoran raised an eyebrow, not knowing what she means. He rubbed his fingers on his temples and closed his eyes, trying to find the right words. Maybe a member of her family was a cavy for Daidouji's experiments or someone who was very close to her. From the look on Sakura's eyes he assumed that it was a member of her family.
« What do you mean "it already happened" ? » he asked in a soft tone of voice, Sakura looked at him, her eyes still sad from her words. « Amelia Lynch was one of Daidouji's cavy and she died as result. She was my sister in law's sister… » Syaoran's eyebrows went skyward, she didn't understand her words… Maybe she was also close to her sister in law's family. He couldn't tell it but curiosity was killing him alive. He didn't want to pursue her into some uncomfortable questions. It was business and nothing more than business.
Sakura removed that look from her face and turned once again serious « I'll leave tomorrow for the search of the Jade Heart, you are not forced to come with me Professor. »
Syaoran shocked his head, giving to her a sly smile « No, I committed this mistake and took the Jade Heart without knowing the danger of it. I'll follow you » Sakura and Syaoran shared together a sly smile to each, she was feeling content that he accepted to come with her on the research to possibly destroy an artifact on witch Syaoran cared so much because it was a discovery of him.
Sakura felt glad that he learnt his mistake. « Good. » she stood up from her chair and moved to the silvery tray on witch the glasses of cold tea where still there. Syaoran approached her and took his glass, Sakura did the same and she drank some of it.
« I hope you do have a passport. »
« I do. Don't worry Miss Kinomoto »
Sakura nodded at him, not hinting on a smile on her face. She raised her glass, towards Syaoran « So… To our alliance Professor Li Syaoran ».
Syaoran laughed curtly as he raised as well his glass and approached Sakura's glass « To our alliance Miss Kinomoto Sakura ». And their glasses meet, toasting to their new alliance. Tomorrow they would leave for the adventure, in the search of the Jade Heart.
Beijing, China. 6th June 2016. 11:32 PM
« Are you sure that you want to do this Syaoran?! » Mei-Ling's worried voice on his phone was a thing that had made him stressful that night, not only the hurt pride that Kinomoto gave to him that morning on her manor in Beijing . Syaoran sighed for the tenth time, there was going to be an eleventh time on that Mei-Ling's question on his ear, he felt it. « Chill Mei-Ling, I'm not going to die, I can handle myself and also you saw that Kinomoto can protect herself very well. »
He heard Mei-Ling sigh, knowing that he was stubborn to such things. Syaoran drank some of his whiskey on his glass, he had already drank two entire glasses of whiskey while he was talking to the phone with Mei-Ling.
« By the way how you're doing? »
« I'm at my apartment in Hong Kong, Mei-Xing came to Luoyang and took me home, she has decided to stay with me until I'm healed. »
« Good, at least someone will watch you if you're smoking in your convalescence » Syaoran laughed curly as he put the glass on the bedside table. He heard Mei-Ling fuming on the phone, witch made him laughing loudly.
« Shut up! You don't know how it's hard for me, It's already an entire day that I don't touch a cigarette and with Mei-Xing being a smoker too is even harder! »
Syaoran continued to laugh, he loved to tease her with that thing on not smoking during her convalescence. « Okay, I have to hang up, I have to wake up tomorrow. I have a plane to take. »
« Al right, let me know. And indeed the thing that Miss Kinomoto said to you about the Jade Heart are very interesting. I couldn't think that a pendant could be that dangerous for our world » Syaoran made a sad face at those words and took again his glass of whiskey and put it close to his lips « Neither I did... Stay well Mei-Ling » he said in a distracted voice as he drank the whiskey on the glass « Stay well you too Syaoran. » It was Mei-Ling who closed the call.
Syaoran put away the phone from his ear and put it on the bedside table, along with his glass. He played with his fingers for a moment and then he looked at his side. There was his laptop in there, he always carried to make some research, even during a vacation.
He automatically took it and turned on the laptop, Windows 10's screen on his face when it started. He entered his password and logged to his desktop. He automatically went to the internet and googled a name. His fingers moved alone on the keyboard.
He typed "Sakura Kinomoto" on google, with the curiosity that killed him like a stray cat.
Strange… she didn't have Facebook but there were some Facebook results on google's pages. Like "Katrina Kinomoto" for example. Curious, he clicked on that woman's name, her profile picture resembled a young woman around the thirties, with blue eyes and wrinkles on her honey skin. Her hair were loose and red, a flower on the hair.
Married with Touya Kinomoto, It was on her profile. Syaoran swore that he already saw that face, he continued to look on that woman's profile and a picture got his attention. There was that woman and a brunette with the same eyes as hers. Katrina Kinomoto's comment on the photo was this, date 5th May 2016;
Today would have been your birthday, you were my strength when you were alive, you were my sun and I was your moon. I miss you so much, happy birthday 3 Amelia Lynch.
On the comment was tagged Amelia Lynch, one of the many cavies of Tomoyo Daidouji-Hiiragizawa, the one that Sakura mentioned to him. This must be Sakura's sister in law. He though while he came back to google and continued his research and not looking for Facebook results. There was an article that confirmed his research on her… well. To be exact there where many.
He clicked on the first one, there was an house and some police lines, It must have been a crime scene.
Terrible tragedy in Tokyo. Fujitaka Kinomoto was killed on his house, he was a well-known collector of ancient artifacts in all Japan. His children, Touya and Sakura Kinomoto have decided to do not have declarations to the journalists. It looked like Sakura's father was killed by something and he had the bad feeling that was partially Sakura's fault… but why?.
The Kinomoto family was also part of the royal circle of the actual Emperor of Japan, but Fujitaka had cut the contact with it since the circle were disappointed by his daughter's choice to study archeology instead of being the next governor of a little town named Tomoeda. Fujitaka and Touya supported her since neither her brother was interested on being the governor . Another article said that, that's why Yamazaki called her "Lady Kinomoto".
Her father was a collector, her brother was studying jurisprudence for becoming a lawyer and she studied archeology back in Tokyo's university, but she didn't claim herself to be an archeologist, but a tomb raider and it's far beyond than being a simple archeologist like Syaoran. That shocked him in a terrible way.
Sakura studied languages, gaining first that university degree before taking her degree or specialization in archeology. He doesn't have quite an answer to that, these are things that Sakura only can answer to him. He thought that Sakura was indeed intelligent and sharp, he felt a strong admiration for her mind and for her mental strength. She went through pains, the death of her father, the death of a family member of her sister in law…
He clicked on another article and saw on this that she was posing, but in lingerie. Maybe she did these photos to pay her studies he thought as he watched those photos where she posed. She looked sexy and confident and she looked younger than she is now. Dark make-up on her eyes made her gaze hypnotizing with those green eyes. In a photo she had an hand on her cheek and a finger on her lips, with her strong and confident attitude. Syaoran suddenly felt a bit of warm inside as he saw that photo of her.
Sakura Kinomoto was one of our best models here in Tokyo, she had everything that this modelling company could have. Even that she always said that she did this job for paying her studies, she's studying archeology at Tokyo's University at the moment. A shame that she will leave as soon as she will get her degree. She slays the shows and the photoshoots. So Sakura had used her beauty to pay her studies. She could have been a successful model and then, she chose to follow her heart and passions.
Syaoran closed his eyes as he exited the article and sighed, maybe he and she weren't so different after all. Maybe she was more stubborn and is always straight to the point.
Syaoran shut down his laptop and put it on the bedside table and took his glass of whiskey, drinking the last parts of it. He saw her sister in law, he knew something more about her past, she had studied languages and archeology at University and she was a model to pay her studies. The amazing thing is that her father didn't disowned her, but supported her to follow her dream to study and not to become a stuffy governor of a little town in Japan.
As he finished the glass, he put it on the table and decided to sleep a bit, feeling tired and his eyes were about to shut.
Syaoran fell asleep with a smile on his face, an adventure with an intriguing Tomb Raider was about to begin and it would begin tomorrow.