Through a looking glass
By: Aisaki Sumi
o
o
o
Chapter Six Deep into the darkness, peering
o
o
o
In the midst of which all day
The red sun-light lazily lay.
Syaoran stood still, his hand holding tightly onto the pendant given by Sakura as he watched her being carried away on the now howling wind, and by his worst enemy. His eyes, tracing her silhouette with desire battling against regret showing in his eyes.
He wanted to call out her name, but felt his voice was faint as Sakura's shadow grew more faded. It was like trying to call someone in a snow storm, the other disappearing from his sight, the defiance and the dazzling smile diminishing into a wall of white fury, getting further and further away while his feet remained stuck in snow.
It was pointless to shout, so he could only whisper. "Sakura…" and in this mind, the snow kept on falling.
The murmur had been purposely soft and quiet, but Meiling, who was standing just a few meters away from Syaoran, had exceptionally sharp learing when the occasional need rose, and was stunned to hear him calling the foreign name "Sakura", rather than Sakuno.
Meiling didn't know if it was intentional, but if it was, there had to be a connection between these two names. Irritated, she could only ask Lady Sakuno about it after she saves her from the Minamotos.
It irked her to no end that the other pulled her to the side before the Taira clan comes face to face with the Minamoto Clan, and told her to stay with the army no matter what. It is an order. She recalled Sakura's words, and her smile, the enigmatic smile, so gentle and yet cutting at the same time.
She was so perplex upon hearing those words at the time, and now she knew why.
Rules are meant to be broken and orders are meant to be overruled, she comforted herself inwardly and found herself able to grin again. Yes, that's the plan. Besides, she didn't respond to the order with the usual "yes my lady", and even if she did, she could deny it.
But for now, she could only stand here and prepare a perfect plan for rescuing lady Sakuno. Temporary defeats mean nothing when one would ultimately triumphs over at the very end. She would be such a person; she's certain of that…
……
Looking a tad ruthfully at the fast shrinking view of the Taira military campus and the man who, in the end, ultimately chosen to wage a war against the more advantaged Minamoto Clan, than selling her to the enemy, Sakura felt a bundle of emotions surging into her heart, yet she couldn't quite identify what they were.
They felt too strange to her system. No one had ever done something like that for her before. At first, it was saving her life, he didn't have to, but he did, and she could only convince herself that he did it out of pride rather than sentiments. And now, he once again managed to surprise her. It was out of his nature to do such a thing.
If he was on his rightful mind, he would never chose war over a woman, yet he did, he did…the fact tugged at her heart restlessly. But why? The question echoed in her mind, desperately wanted to be answered. She thought of him, the man who could provide her with a satisfying answer, but he was no where to be found.
For the first time in a very long time, Sakura felt a little lost.
After they had left the Taira camp, Sakura was bundled into a carriage specially prepared for her, and sent off to some unknown destination by the enemies of her current state.
Watching the scenery fleeing past her window, she couldn't help wondering if she was being sent on an adventure she couldn't return from, although she would find a way back somehow, but she wasn't certain how long it would take to happen.
Either way, she had her survival talents, and no matter what lied ahead of her, she would retain her composure and find a way to survive this brutal world called reality.
As the trip continued, Sakura occasionally cast fleeting glimpses upon the navy-haired young leader of the powerful Minamoto army, and recollected the memories of their unexpected yet inevitable meeting. The first time they met, he shoved poison down her throat so she could aid him in his escape.
The second time they met, she pretended to be poisoned so she could protect the man she never thought would protect. Life was simply that strange sometimes. Fate wanted their lives entwined and all tangled up in a messy lock of threads, and maybe it was for a reason full beyond the mortal comprehension, but whatever it was for, she could only bare bitter resentment against it.
She had a faint suspicion of what was going to happen next, but nothing prepared her for the expensive looking compound the carriage drew beside. The building was somewhat small, but it retained the elegancy and delicacy of wealthy households during the Heian era.
The lights were on when she was directed to enter the compound, with Eriol no where to be found and only two dozen soldiers acting as guards. Strangely the place felt, with its soft, piped traditional Japanese music playing in the background by musicians of the household and maids standing in a perfectly formed line. A rather luxurious prison, if it could be considered as one.
"Sakuma-san." A soft voice by the door startled her, and she instantly swerved around to meet the eyes of the owner of those words. Those cerulean orbs were as breathtakingly beautiful as she remembered, along with his astonishingly handsome features, formed a countenance not so easily to be forgotten.
Yet he seemed different somehow. Perhaps it was the way he dressed, the casual clothing masked away some of his oppressive aura and added a bit of exquisiteness.
"Please make yourself comfortable. It will be your new home from now on. I've order this compound to be built just for you. It's a smaller rendition of the Heian-kyo compounds." A hiatus, as if waiting for a response from her, even though he was certain she would provide him with none.
"These are the maids I've prepared for you." He went on, directing her attention back to the bowing maids. He seemed a little excited, like a little boy showing off his toys to his friends.
"What is it that you want from me, Lord Eriol?" Sakura questioned, narrowing her eyes into an icy glare. She wasn't here for light-hearted conversation, or the soul-pleasing music.
Even if the compound was made up of gold, it was still a prison at heart. The extravagance, the overwhelming luxury, wasn't enough to cover up the ugly truth hidden beneath. If he thought, showering her with gifts and wealth would change her mind about him and make her work for him, then he was dead wrong.
A long, drawn out pause, whereby the smile on Eriol's face froze, like a picture in time, "what do I want?" Eriol echoed, looking at Sakura with something close to disbeliefs and self-mockery glimmering in those cerulean orbs of his.
The smile melted, flowed away. It was a slow and solemn movement, and he suddenly fell silent – seen to be convulsed, in the first moment with a strong shudder either of terror of distaste; but in the next, his brows reddened with rage.
"Reading people's mind at a glance, isn't that what you do best, Sakuma-san?" Eriol demanded hoarsely of the dauntless and sagacious woman who stood before him.
"Do you truly not know, or you're just playing dumb with me?" Those words, upon his utterance, rang throughout the entire compound, loudly and clearly, and the music had become hushed at the waving of his hand.
"If I could read your mind, my lord, I wouldn't even be here." Those words echoed in Eriol's mind like an endless chant, taunting him, mocking him, and the underlying tone of scorn from the woman he had learned to love and hate, was something he could either ignore or believe in.
Swerving around hastily, he strode towards the egress of the compound. Until she learned the Taira clan was no match for the Minamoto Clan, and that her so-called husband could not do anything to claim her back, she would know who she should turn to, he would lock her away in this compound. He had plenty of time on hand.
In the battle against time and between two minds, one that loses patience first is the first one to lose. And he was determined to be the winner.
"Aiko, keep a close eye on her and give her whatever she requires, but make sure she does not leave this compound." Eriol turned to the quite, expressionless girl next to him as they left the compound. Her hair was as dark as the midnight waterfall, and those ebony strands were tied neatly into a ponytail.
If one were to make an educated guess on her age, solely based on her appearance, one could be confident to say that she was no older than sixteen.
"Yes, my lord." She went down on one knee, kneeling to his gracious. The shadows cast upon her face by the late hours masked away the bitter resentment flashing in her ink-coloured eyes.
……
For the next three days, the compound obtained a pleasant tranqulity. The musicians were ordered to leave, since Sakura was never fond of noisiness. She preferred silence over music; books over watching traditional Japanese dances. And for three days straight, she kept her silence, not speaking a word since the last conversation she had with Eriol on that fateful day of her imprisonment.
He came by a few times to see her, but she treated him with open hostility. Eriol stormed away on the first day, but for the duration of the following two brief visits, he managed to keep his cool and collectiveness. Surprised by his demeanour, Sakura had to admit, for someone as proud and haughty as he was, and to indulge her almost childish actions and open scorns, was quite remarkable.
But it managed to irk someone else, and that person was none other than Aiko. She had been attending Eriol since she was ten. For six whole years, she remained to be the only girl he allowed to be in his presence. At first, it was just admiration and idolization, but then, it turned into something more – something she couldn't control, shouldn't feel, but she did; because she loved him.
Without him, she would've been dead long ago, beaten to death by her previous master – the one her poor parents sold her to, just for two rice balls. He brought hope and life back into her despairing world of blue and gray.
And now, she was forced to witness him being subjected to such malevolent treatments – it broke her heart to see that doleful look on his face when he turned away and wander into the darkness, thinking no one could see it.
Such a forlorn look did not belong to a valiant and sublime man like him. But somehow, it was expressed, and she thought even the brooding silvery moon could not compare to the overwhelming sadness she felt in his aura.
This was all because of that Sakuma-san, whom she learned was actually a woman after keeping such a close watch on her. If she was the person Lord Eriol's heart sought for, then Aiko would help him, even though it was a jab to her heart. Lord Eriol's happiness was her happiness.
She thought to herself, lowering her head as she clenched her fists. Something sparkling rolled down her cheeks from the corner of her eyes as she made a firm decision in her mind. It was probably the toughest decision to make in her entire life. It meant she would have to disobey Lord Eriol's order.
But it was for a good cause, she told her self.
It was for Lord Eriol…
……
A gentle knock was heard, snapping Sakura out of her tranquil world of books. She flickered up a glance at the source of the unexpected, and highly unwelcomed intrusion, her eyes softened slightly, letting down her guards a little.
It was that quite girl, in charge of bring her every meal. Out of all the servant girls provided to her, she liked her, the best. Perhaps it was due to the close resemblance she bore of Miyuki that let her lower her defensive walls.
Sakura watched the girl placing the tray with little plates and a small bowl of rice on the counter by the door in absolute silence, almost in amusement. There was never an exchange of words between them, not even of short greetings. Everything was so silent, the way Sakura enjoyed.
The girl had her eyes fixed upon the wooden floor, as if there was something highly attractive on it. Before exiting, she bowed politely as she always did, before closing the door of egress behind. Her dainty form then blended in with the invasive darkness, lurking out from every single corner as the night carried on, as if the world was wrapped in a velvet cloth.
Chuckling slightly to herself, humourlessly, Sakura ambled towards her dinner at her third night in this compound. She placed a small needle into the miso soup, the rice, and the delicate dishes – it was a habit she developed since her sixth birthday when she found out that others would put poison in her and her mother's meal, just so they could disappear out of their lives.
It was the first time she saw the darkness and the cruelty hidden in the human heart, which seemed all compassionate and kind on the outside. Seeing no color changes, Sakura wiped the needle clean and put it back into the small oaken box it came from, before tugging it back into the pocket hidden in her kimono sleeve.
But soon, she would realize that what she ate bore no poison that could kill, but it could do damages worse than killing. Aiko had put aphrodisiac potion into her food, and her needle would not be able to give out a positive test, because it was nothing poisonous, but it was more poisonous than anything in the world.
Sakura would lose her ability to retain that jarring composure of hers, no it was worse than that, Sakura would lose her dignity and the most precious thing for women in that era – her virginity.
……
It was midnight. The cold wintry wind pierced through Meiling's clothes and her skin, sending shivers straight down her spines and depths into her bones. Her face was covered by a piece of black cloth and so was her body.
She dressed herself into a black ninja suite, in hopes that it would blend her figure into the brooding darkness of the night. To make her invisible to the naked eyes and to boost up her confidence of saving Lady Sakuno, she had seen and heard stories of secretive assassins dressed this way, and it should definitely work. Or so she thought.
Meiling swiftly made her way from tent to tent, occasionally taking hideouts to conceal herself from the patrolling soldiers. It took her a while to get out of the heavily guarded Taira military camp, and when she thought she had succeeded to gone fully unnoticed, she felt a hand grappling her shoulder.
The warm emitted from that person's palm forced Meiling into realization that her plan had failed. Gulping, Meiling tried to move her petrified body, but before she could do so, a cold, familiar voice whispered into her ear. "I know you're planning to save her, but do you really think you can do that all by yourself."
Stunned on the spot, Meiling whipped her head around and only found her widened ruby eyes gazing into a pair of pensive amber ones. It was none other than Lord Syaoran.
He was dressed in black as well, hiding away his handsome features so he could move swiftly and unnoticeable in the shadows, as if he was born to be in its overwhelming darkness. "Are you going to stare at me all day long, or do you want to be hasty and save your mistress?" He jeered almost cruelly, curling his lips.
Meiling frowned and looked away, ignoring him and continued on with her previous plan -- save lady Sakuno.
……
By the time they arrived at the compound which kept Sakura imprisoned, it was already three in the morning (once again, I'm using the time that you guys are more familiar with rather than the olden Japanese way of keeping track of time).
The pale moon light that stretched their shadows, to prevent them from mixing with the blackness of the night, was the only witness to their conspiratorial actions. With a little disagreement of Sakura's whereabouts earlier on the night, Syaoran triumphed over with his suggestion and it turned out to be the right one, much to Meiling's dismay.
They made their way to the back door, where only two guards stood. Syaoran shot Meiling a glance to tell her to jump over the wall first, in case they were discovered, at least one of them could get it. Meiling past down a brief nod of acknowledgement before jumping over the wall expeditiously while retaining the silence of her movements.
Seeing the two guards remaining unresponsive to their intrusions, Syaoran followed Meiling and they both disappeared into the dominating calinosity. No wonder assassins preferred night over daylights. Meiling amused before she was dragged into the bushes by Syaoran.
Tumbling through the bushes and using them as camouflage, they slowly discovered the path that would lead them to the one that had been occupying their minds since her departure. It was hard for them to go out on their way entirely noticed, and they had no choice but to knock a few patrolling soldiers out to reach Sakura's room.
Nearing the ingress, Meiling suddenly grasped Syaoran's arm, her face bearing an unusual expression of sobriety. "Why did you let Lady Sakuno go with them, despite the fact the treaty was unsigned?" There, she managed to toss out the question that had been torturing her mind for the past three days.
She wanted an answer, or rather, she wanted to prove herself wrong. She wanted to know he truly cared for her, despite the answer might shatter her hopes forever.
"I wanted to a confirmation." He said, keeping his answer short and vague, with obduracy gracing over his face. Only he knew the meaning behind those words, and that was just enough.
He didn't need to explain himself to anyone else, and that even included Yukito. He remembered the other storming away after he had turned him down for an answer. It was the first time he had done so, and he didn't even know why.
Before Meiling could press on any further for a clearer answer, Syaoran dashed forward and hit the guard in charge of the security of Sakura's room, and knocked him out unconscious.
Following that, he hastily pushed the sliding doors open, but only to find Sakura curled up in a corner. Her fragile form was trembling uncontrollably, and her face bearing an unnatural shade of red.
She looked disastrous. Her usual collectiveness was gone, replaced by an effeminacy which he could never imagine himself from seeing.
Rushing forward, he kneeled down and wrapped a nearby blanket around her shivering body. "It's okay, we are here." He murmured softly into her ear, hoping it could bring some comfort to her.
But she made no replies. Realizing there wasn't much time to waste, Syaoran wrapped his arms around her body and picked her and directed Meiling a glance to follow him while keeping an eye on the patrolling soldiers. He didn't want to fight his way through this place, but if he had to, blood would be shed and wash over this ground with its scarlet stains.
Eventually, he would make the Minamotos pay for what they did to Sakura. Until then, they had to get out of here, and fast.
……
The smell of blood hung heavily in the air as Syaoran and Meiling killed their way out, with Meiling wounded, but they made no stops in between their trip. Riding hastily on their horses, the wind hollered in their ears but it did not slow them down.
They had to bring Sakura back to the Taira military camp as fast as they could, since it was only a matter of time before the few survivors of the massacre bring the news back to Eriol. Syaoran held Sakura tightly in his arms, her head resting on his chest.
He felt her burning up, and the unnatural red tinge on her cheeks darkened as time passed by but she remained silent. He could see the blood trickling out of the wounds on her lips, made by teeth as if she was trying to fight off something.
Tightening his embrace, he heard a moan, and suddenly realized what was happening to her. That bastard. He spat atrociously in his mind, if Eriol stood before him at this instance, he would have been ripped into pieces.
When they made their way back to the Taira military camp, no one seemed to be surprised by two black clothed and masked people fleeting through the guarded gates. Syaoran thought there would be some tiresome explanation to do when he got back, but there were none, and he silently thanked Yukito for it.
The other was probably had found out about his plan, yet didn't stop him from doing so. He didn't expect Yukito to be understanding of his situation, for heaven's sake, he didn't even understand it himself. But somehow, Yukito managed to read his mind and made his life slightly easier.
Syaoran forced Meiling to get her wound checked before carrying Sakura back to his own tent. He gently placed her down on his resting pad, his hand grasping his own blanket so he could cover her up and ask Yukito for advices on curing such potion. But before he could do that, Sakura seized his hand, cold of sweat and pulled him down toward her.
His mind went entirely blank the moment he felt her soft lips pressing against his, with such a heated passion, unmatched by anything else. His body screamed stop, but he couldn't. His instincts told him to fight it off, but he couldn't. He knew it was the potion's effects, and probably when the effects fade away, they would regret what they did. But for now, it was their moment.
Syaoran closed his eyes. For now, he just wanted to follow the guidance of his heart.
.
.
.
a/n: all epic tales have the war part, it's unavoidable. And trust me, if was hard on my end to write it out too. So, I apologize for the boringness and the lack of romance, but bear in mind that is only a small part of the big "epic" picture. The war strategy used in this chapter is from the history of the three kingdoms. I'm not intelligent enough to make up something as awesome as this.
……
II. Trusting to the mild-eyed stars
Around these images, and cling
The notion of some infinitely gentle
Infinitely suffering thing
The next morning when Sakura opened her eyes, Syaoran was already gone. Rubbing her tired eyes, she reflected on the events of last night. She had ingested the aphrodisiac potion, if they didn't come in time, things would probably be worse than she could ever imagine. At least she was his wife, and bearing him an heir was only a matter of time.
What happens now and later didn't make any difference. Pushing aside the blanket, she picked up the kimono and the other pieces of her cloth thrown onto the ground and wrapped them around her naked body. Upon getting off her feet, she saw a blazing contrast of scarlet red staining a snow white surface.
It was the blood shed by her, a sign of a maiden finally becoming a woman. She stared at it, the strong contrast of red against white was so brilliant that it blinded her eyes, it blinded her mind.
For the following month, they have purposely avoided each other. Sakura kept herself busy with healing the bruised, lightly-wounded soldiers who were being pushed very hard by Syaoran and Yukito to prepare them for the battles to come.
While Syaoran, spent most of his time with training the new Taira soldiers, baking in the sun, freezing in the water, jogging for miles, making weapons for the upcoming battles, and forming battling tactics so they would stand a chance against the vicious ruthless attacks of their enemy, the Minamotos.
There were a few instances where they do run into each other, where Syaoran would turn away and keep his eyes affixed on something else, and where Sakura would tilt her chin upward to gaze at the azure heavens above – all this formed their inevitable little meetings when they bump into each other unexpectedly. Then, they would never take that path again.
The two of them were getting along fine like this, but someone else could not stand it anymore, and that person was Meiling. On the night of Sakura's rescue, she was told to go back to her own tent to get her wound cleaned up.
Her mind was frantic and worried, deeply concernd about her ladyship's well-being, which resulted her carelessly treating her own wounds and rushing to Lord Syaoran's tent to visit Sakura. It was now a decision she greatly regret.
The sounds of shortened breathes, soft moans and the occasional gasps – all led her to one unavoidable conclusion of what the events occurring on the inside. Shades of scarlet red spread across her cheeks as she felt her face growing hotter and hotter by the passing second, with the increasing moans that led one's imagination run wild and wander into the forbidden territories.
Then, she ran, she ran with such haste, knocking a few things over here and there, and a few people over on their butts. But that didn't stop her, she wanted to run away from the disturbing images invading her mind.
It wasn't hard to guess what happened to Lady Sakuno. Meiling thought she acted quite unlike herself at the compound, with that unnaturally red smudge on her face and by the way she trembled in the darkness. At that time, she pushed aside the thought her instincts had offered her, hoping if she didn't think about it, it would not be true.
Denial, she was in denial, like she has always been. During her stay with Shang Guan Yun, she had witnessed his young concubines pouring some white powdery substances into his tea while he wasn't looking. Then, an hour after he had devoured it, his face would turn jarringly red, as if he had a high fever.
The young concubine would then lead him to her bedroom, closing the door people and wrinkling at the perplexed little Meiling. She was so little back then, the loud moans of pleasure ringing in the air, reverberating so disturbingly throughout the corridors – she didn't know what it meant back then. But when she got a little older, she understood.
The white powdery thing was used to create aphrodisiac potion, famous for its effects of bringing out the lustful sides of people and make them lose control over their body. Under its influence, they would do anything with anyone, in fact, just so they could get ride of the burning sensations in their bodies and the tingly feeling in their heart which would feel like a thousand ants crawling inside their veins.
Meiling abruptly shock her head, in a desperate attempt to remove those memories from her childhood from her mind. At least, she was thankful that Lady Sakuno wasn't with Eriol when the potion was taking its full effects, otherwise…god, she didn't even want to think of the scandals that would embrace their already chaotic lives.
……
Silent reigned over the air as the two blue-haired men sat elegantly across from each other, their legs folded in the traditional Japanese way. Mists from arising from the tea cups placed before them swirled upward into the air, as if blinding their views of each other. Eriol clenched his hands into tight fists as they rested upon his thighs.
He lowered his head, letting the twilight of the chamber to cast a shadowy shade over his prominently handsome features. His thoughts were concealed and his feelings were masked, rendering his expression unreadable to the other elder man.
"Brother, please let me lead the troops and meet the army led by Taira no Syaoran." A simple request was said in Eriol's usual emotionless tone, yet the other older Minamoto could tell the almost indistinctive nervousness presented Eriol's voice. With this request, thousands of life would be effected, and their destinies rewritten, by a man of power and brilliance and cruelty.
But it was a battle they have to fight someday, and Eriol believed it was better to be fought out now than later, because their enemy on the other side of the river was growing stronger by the passing seconds.
"The newly formed Taira army are short on ammunition and experience, it is best to crush them now than later, brother." Eriol argued, a hint of persistence flashing in his eyes.
"We cannot wait any longer, I do not need many men, five thousand would do." A hiatus; and Eriol could almost hear the time ticking in his mind, blended and synchronised so perfectly with the beats of his heart. A nod, a permission of some sort was all he looked for.
"Brother?" He echoed uncertainly and hopefully, eyes trained on the dark and silent figure across from him – the man who he fought so hard to catch up with since his childhood.
His brother, the most brilliance man he had ever known, was the head of the Minamoto Clan. Without his guidance and erudition, the Minamoto Clan would remain in pieces and would never have the chance to rise again and even pose threats to the existence of the most respected and powerful clan of the century – the Taira Clan.
"You may, Eriol." It was a deep and coarse voice, as if rumbling out of the core of the Earth. The words were pronounced in such a powerful and strong way that they reminded their listeners of the personality of their owner – stoic, astute, and insidious.
"But remember, never let feelings blind your views and your ability to judge with reason." He added, as if reading Eriol's mind like a open book, and Eriol was instantly appalled as if his darkest secrets had just been revealed to the world.
"Of course." Eriol answered with finality and firmness, as if trying to convince himself rather than his brother. He would prove to Syaoran of his worth and that he was indeed the better man.
A man's pride was on the bet, and he would not lose it, not to anyone, not even to fate itself. His brother had told him when he was little, the stories of the fallen emperors of China, of beauties that led people launching wars upon each other.
He never thought of himself doing such a thing someday. But life had proven him wrong, again. When one fell in love, it was hard to control what he felt.
If it must be decided upon the outcomes of the war, then let it be, because she was worth it.
……
"The Minamotos are preparing for battles." Yukito had his arms crossed in front of his chest; his words were as cold as his eyes, and his voice, stoic, low and cutting just like his presence.
"Our men are still not fully recovered from the previous attack and the poison. The Minamotos are most likely going to use this advantage." He analysed, eyes dark and penetrating.
"If nothing goes wrong, they would be launching an attack on us in a few days, and a week the latest." He shifted his gaze to Syaoran, scrutinising him as if searching for traces of emotions that would reveal his thoughts to him.
"But we are short on weapons, especially arrows. Most of our stored arrows have been used up in the last attack, and it takes at least a month or two to make ten thousand more for our men. Syaoran-niichan, what should we do?" Atsumori reported the statics of their current predicament, his eyebrows meeting each other in a deep frown at his temple.
Anxiety and trepidation were evident in his emotions, displayed by his countenance. Time was working against them, and so much was left undone. At this rate, they would lose, and it would bring disgrace to the Taira family. Atsumori nearly shuddered at the thought of his angry father.
All eyes were now focused on Syaoran, their general, for plans and a decision that would both save them from brutal casualties and from disgrace. Syaoran remained silent, his expression contemplative and engrossed.
His mind raced at the speed of light to run through all the possible ideas it could produce at that moment, but none could be offered as a comfort to lighten up their difficult situation. It was then Sakura entered the tent, a smile plastered across her face – the unwavering, polite, forged smile that stunned Syaoran's eyes as his vision aligned with hers.
"My lord, I think I have the solution to our problem." She said, the claim stirred the almost vanished hopes in everyone's heart and with a simple curl of the lips, a smile as blindingly bright as the sun enchanted its beholders.
Stagnation fell upon them, as they saw the springs of life awakened by such a smile. The dreariness brought out by winter and its dark shadows and the silent flight of the raven-winged hours.
"All I require is duration of three days, and ten thousand well-made arrows would be brought to your feet, my lord." Once the promise was made, gasps were heard across the tent and disbelieves were written on their faces as they gaped at Sakura as if she had just suggested something as holding the sun in her hands.
"How is that possible, Sakuma-san? Event the most skilful makers could not create ten thousand arrows in three days!" Atsumori was the first one to make an exclamation, which was then echoed by all.
"Ah, it's quite possible, Lord Atsumori." Sakura replied, with a confidence that surprised all and challenged by all. But she didn't seem to mind the opprobrious and supercilious glares cast at her way. She was a woman of her words, and she would never make promises she could not keep.
Those foolish men were always contemptuous, which created their ultimate weakness – their inability to think and see the heart of the problem clearly because they were so blended by their own bias – construing them as perpetually inferior to her.
"This is outrageous! What if you do not keep your words?" One of the high-ranking officers scoffed, and Sakura narrowed her eyes in a rare seriousness. Her lips pressed into each other, forming a thin line of solemnity.
The temperature in the tent seemed to have dropped a few degrees as Sakura's oppressive and almost sanguinary aura spread across it. The man that sneered at her a moment ago fell silent, along with the others, they were befuddled and perturbed by the fact that such fearful aura could be emitted by such a frail person.
"Then I shall be seized and hung at the light of dawn on the fourth day." Sakura acceded. Upon feeling the intensive glare directed at her way, she tilted her head slightly and gave Syaoran a small grin of assurance.
It was now up to him to grant her the chance of using her extensive knowledge of the art of military science, he could either make her, or destroy her, with just a few words of utterance. She felt herself holding her breath, and before her mind could process anymore thoughts, she found the answer she was looking for.
"Very well then, we shall give Sakuma-san a chance." Syaoran said with finality. He knew she was capable of many things, but those things didn't include miracles. Puzzled like everyone else standing in the tent, he waited for his wife to astonish the world with her intelligence.
"Thank you, my lord. But before commencing my task of accomplishing the impossible, please grant me fifteen vessels and thirty soldiers."
……
Sakura stood by the river bank, her eyes set on the afar. The wretchedness of the earth was multiform. Overreaching the wide horizon as the wriggling mists, its hues were of a mixture of different shades of gray, distinct yet intimately blended.
The vessels she acquired two days ago were now resting on the surface of the river, with scarecrows filling the shipboards, wearing the Taira military uniform. The outermost layer of the vessels were covered with a thick layer of straws, and in the cabin, a large war drum is placed in it.
Sakura assigned two soldiers for each vessel, one for controlling the direction of the vessel and the other is responsible for drumming the war drum. Usually, the war drums were used to excite the soldiers so they could be prepared for battle, but Sakura had other uses for her war drums.
Watching the soldiers adding finishing touches to the vessels, Sakura turned her head slightly to the right. She stole a glimpse from the fringe of her vision at the chestnut-haired young man standing by her side.
Almost amusingly, she drew out a lazy drawl, tempting the other.
"Would you like to be a witness to the miracle that is about to take place?" Her words were like a poison to the mind, once one was seduced by such low-sounded murmurs, there would be no turning back.
Syaoran could only stare at her in discombobulation as she took his hand and led him on board of one of the vessels. There were two tatami-sitting-pads placed in the center of the cabin, and everywhere else was surrounded by straws. The set up clearly puzzled Syaoran but he managed to hold back curiosity stirring in the back of his mind and took a seat on the pad as he was directed to.
He looked at Sakura, in a desperate attempt to seek the answers his mind gnawed for, but was greeted with an abstruse smile. The other was determined to make him wait so he could found the answers to his question on his own.
The vessels sailed in the mists of the night, with only the faint and serene moonlight as its sole guidance. They followed the current of the wind which was bringing them close to the heart of the enemy's territory. It was then, Sakura gave out the signal to drum the war drums as loudly as they could.
Catching the sign, rumbling sound of the drums shattered the peaceful tranquility of the night. The sound was so staggeringly loud that it shook the earth to its core. All fifteen vessels met up in a perfect alignment following Sakura's second signal.
The enemy was awaken from their deep slumber, and in a panic, the Minamoto soldiers followed Eriol's command to take their positions into defence mood, as they watched the vague shadows of fast advancing Taira vessels.
Frowning, Eriol tightened the grasp on his sword as he stood upon the tallest watching tower in the Minamoto military camp site. It was hard to make out how many vessels were there, and he could only do what his instincts told him to do.
"Fire the arrows!" He shouted out the command, and the archers aligning the frontal side of the camp raised their bows into the air at almost the same angle so their arrows could go into a perfect projectile path that would produce the longest horizontal distance.
With the sound of the last word still lingering in the heavy air, hundreds of arrows were directed towards the invasive vessels lurking in the mists, like a rain of dangerous arrows. The resonating sound of the arrows piercing through the invisible fabric of the air ringed loudly in the night sky.
Eriol watched shadowy vessels tilting back and forth upon the impact created by the strikes of hundreds of arrows. "Ready, and fire!" Repeating his precious command, the rain of arrows like flying daggers all fell towards the wandering vessels. It was hard to see through the creeping mists and Eriol could only direct the archers to shot towards the drumming sounds.
Inside one of the vessels, Sakura and Syaoran fought hard to remain still since the momentums generated by the arrows were enough to knock the vessels over, while Syaoran watched the entire process in amazement. He would never think of such brilliant plan and he was quite certain that none of his subordinates could come up with such magnificent plan.
Why make the arrows when you could just borrow them from the enemy?
Wasn't it listed in Sun Bing's Art of Military Science that if one wanted his army to triumph over his enemy, he should not always depend on making his supplies, but obtain them from the enemy somehow, because it would be burdening his own country's economy and resources to keep a constant supply of weapons for the troops at war?
Syaoran was suddenly hit with realization that when Sakura mentioned she was well-educated in areas of war-strategies, she was actually serious about it. But for a woman to become the best strategist his army has ever had would be the most shocking news of the year, and possibly of the many centuries to come.
Almost gawking at the woman sitting idly across from him, his mind pondered if she was going to surprise him with more of her talents.
Becoming aware of the inclination of the vessel, it would only be a matter of time before it tilted over entirely. Sakura then pulled out her third signal, which was for all the vessels to make a 180 degrees turn so the other side could be used to gather up the arrows.
A small grin of satisfaction played on Sakura's lips as she ambled over to one side of the vessel to observe the condition of the straws. The scarecrows were jabbed with arrows and so were the thick layer of straw that covered the outermost layer of the vessel.
Humming an artless tune, Sakura watched more waves of arrows directed at their way and puncture through the scarecrows as if they were the Taira soldiers.
Realizing the vessel was full of arrows, Sakura ordered the drummer to stop and pull the vessels away from the Minamoto camp site. She shot a glance at the outside, analysing the state of the mist and be cognizant of the fact that the mist were starting to clear up.
Their tactic would be revealed like an open book without the thick mists as their coverage. The Taira vessels slowly drifted into the depth of the mist and disappeared as soundlessly as they came, confusing the Minamotos.
Eriol glared hard at the retreating vessels while the cheering sounds of the Minamoto soldiers ringed in his ears. It might be a little too early for victory celebration, for he had a feeling, deep down in his heart that they may have lost the battle they just fought it. But it was just a gut feeling.
When they finally returned to the Taira camp site, Syaoran instructed the arrows to be removed from the boats while Atsumori and the other high-ranking officers gawked in disbelief.
Yukito leaned against the wooden support of the watching tower as he silently watched Sakura. He underestimated her greatly, even though he still could not make himself trust her, he had to admit that he was glad to have her by their side, for now at least. If she sided with the enemy, it would bring disasters to the Taira army.
And Yukito was quite certain of that.
……
For the next several days, Sakura was promoted to the position of the war-strategist and she fully took it to its full use. "We have less people, and going against each other face-to-face would be greatly disadvantageous to us." Sakura noted, frowning her pretty eyebrows in deep-contemplation as her eyes scanned across the map laid before her.
It was a geographical map of their current location, and a quite accurate one as well.
"What do you suggest we do, Sakuma-san?" Atsumori questioned with great impatience and curiosity, his eyes glistening with excitement.
After being astonished to his bones by the arrow-event, he had become an admirer of Sakura, and nearly warshipped everything she said and did. Before, he always admired Sakura of her appearance, which was based on human's instinctive attraction towards all the beautiful things in life. But now, he was fully convinced that she was as beautiful as she was intelligent.
"Five hundred riders will cross the river to meet the Minamotos in a close combat, and pretend to retreat in defeat. Then, the riders shall fled to the vale not too far behind from the Taira camp site, where most of our men are hidden." Sakura pushed a group of wooden men, representing the Taira soldiers, to encircle the vale.
"Then, one more troop will chase behind the Minamotos once they've entered the vale, such that it becomes a closed field where we are in the dark while the enemy is fully exposed in the light." Another group of wooden men were placed at the sole opening of the closed vale, forming a large trap to lure in the Minamotos and then perish them like attempting to squash a bug in a closed container.
"The first troop of riders will be led by Yukito, to forge an apparent defeat and retreat to the vale, while Atsumori take hideout in the bushes at the opening of the vale. Once the Minamoto enters, Atsumori will lead his men to close the path for the Minamotos and attacking them from the behind.
While I stay at the vale with the rest of our men." Syaoran followed Sakura's suggestion and divided up the tasks. Sakura may be the one coming up with the strategy, but he was the one to provide the army with his final nod of agreement.
After all, he was their general.
……
The next day, the Taira army and the Minamoto army finally met each other on a true battlefield. Sakura stood in the tent with Meiling by her side. Everything was carried out to plans and Sakura had to admire Yukito's ability to lead his soldiers.
His success was the most critical part of the plan, it was crucial to the entire plot. If the enemy detected something unnatural about his actions, the plan would fail. Sakura's nails dug into her flesh as she anxiously waited for reports back on Yukito's success so they could proceed to the next stage of the plan.
"Sakuma-san." Meiling whispered, she was told to address Sakura with her pseudo-name unless they were alone.
"Do you want to take a little rest, or at least eat and drink something." She suggested almost in a pleading tone. Sakura had been deprived of food and water since the preparation of the battle and its commencement until now, and Meiling was worried if she would shatter.
"I'll be fine." Sakura replied hastily, her eyes were trained upon the draperies that formed the entrance of the tent.
While her countenance remained calm and collective, deep down inside, she was in a frantic state as well. After all, she lacked the experience of a true strategist and everything she did up to this point was purely based on theory. Countless lives were lying in her hands, and the outcome of her plan would decide their fates.
"Emergent report!" A young soldier rushed into the tent, there were smudges of dirt and blood on his face, covering his features, making it hard to estimate his age.
But by the coarse sound of his voice, which was a prominent trait of the stage in a boy's life where he was transformed into a man, that he was no older than Atsumori.
"Speak, dear boy." Sakura urged, her body leaning slightly forward while her nails dug deeper into the flesh of her palms. She could feel the warm blood trickling out of the newly formed wounds, but it was the last thing on her mind at the moment.
"First stage, cleared." As the boy uttered those words, Sakura felt the heavy weight lifted off her shoulder so that she could finally breathe again.
"Very good, report back once the second stage is reached." Sakura instructed in an authoritarian manner and watched the boy dashing out of the tent with relief.
.
.
.
to be continued...