Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Through A Looking Glass ƽ��Ι��Z ❯ The blurred line of life and death ( Chapter 12 )

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Through A Looking Glass
By: Aisaki Sumi
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Chapter 11 the blurred line of life and death
Living nor dead, and I knew nothing, Looking into the heart of
light, the silence.
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Heian Jidai (Heian Period), 1179, mid-winter, Near Heian-Kyo
The harsh wintry winds jabbed at his skin like a thousand needles striking a
surface, but Syaoran minded none of it, his sole attention was set upon the
blurred image of a dashing rider and his prisoner. Behind him, was a quad of the
enemy troops chasing after him in a desperate attempt to aide their commander in
his escape.
Furrowing his eyebrows in displeasure, Syaoran lowered his body to reduce the
air resistance of his body. With a slight tilt of the head, he whispered into
his houseâ��s ear, as if it could understand its masterâ��s commands. â��Show them the
meaning of haste.â�� The white beast neighs, calling upon the blazing wind to its
aide, accelerating to a speed that could rival the speed of light.
Behind him, the enemies followed in close vicinity. They pulled out their
bows and arrows to aim at their target and take him down in vain, disregarding
the fact that it was ten against one. The arrows, thrusting through the roaring
wind, like lightening bolts ripping the fabric of the air into pieces before
striking their target.
Syaoranâ��s well-trained ears picked up the almost indiscernible sounds and
quickly tossed a look over his shoulder to get a glimpse of where the arrows
were coming from. Ducking his head, and pulling hard on the rein to direct his
horse to stray from the path of the arrows.
A soft sigh of relief was breathed into the intensified air as Syaoran
watched the arrows meeting each other in a single point. He wouldâ��ve been used
as a practicing arrow target of the enemy if his reflexes quickened enough. He
might have dodged a bullet right there, but more was coming at his way and the
longer they rode like this, the more dangerous was it for him. And the more
dangerous it was for Sakura.
He had to end it fast, real fast. His mind raced at the speed of light,
conflicting thoughts and sensations rushed through him as his calculative mind
tried to come up with the perfect plan in a limitedly short amount of time.
Pressing his lips tightly together as his mind grasped one dangerous tactic,
Syaoran himself was not found of it, but he was left with little choice.
On a battlefield, there was rarely any room left for doubts and time to dwell
upon useless things. Syaoran knew it, better than everyone else. The impetuous
fury of the gust of wind that came so abruptly against the riders -- almost
lifted their horses off the ground. The quad pursuing Syaoran were inevitably
slowed down by the wind, and their attacking arrows were halted into a stop
before they could reach mid-air. The wind, almost acting like an invisible
child, protected its hero and his horse.
Syaoran immediately acted towards advantages provided by Mother Nature and
made a dash for the rider in front of him. This was his only chance, and his
horse, could only keep this pace up for a few minutes. Even for the king of all
horses, such maintaining such speed would be exceedingly difficult.
Hasty in his movements, Syaoran drew out his sword and forcefully exerted
himself upwards, as if diving into the air. In a blink of an eye, for perhaps
even quicker than that, he threw it towards tall masculine rider of his target,
striking upon the head of the rider, who rolled off his horse, taking Sakura
with him.
He, the once proud and brutishly man, couldnâ��t before what he was feeling --
the burning pain, gnawing, and the fatal wound sucked the life out of him and he
could feel his life slipping away. If he dies, he will bring the girl with him,
thought he bitterly before his mind became entirely blank.
Falling before Syaoran, the man tilted his head to perceive one last look at
the man who took away his life, with a lingering sense of fervent hatred before
finally giving up his pesty breathe with a shriek so horrid and harsh, and
withal so piercing that Saoran had fain to close his ears with his hands against
the dreadful noise of it, the like whereof was never heard before.
Quickly recovering from it, Syaoran uplifted Sakura unto his horse and picked
up his speed from before, as if riding on the wind. The soldiers tracking them
down, witnessed the ruthless killing in great shock -- it all just happened too
fast. If they hadnâ��t beheld the events with their own eyes, they probably
wouldâ��ve thought it was a deceptive trick played on their minds.
Their commander was killed, just like that, and how dare he challenge their
pride like that! The riders growled like vengeful wolves of the night, thirsty
for blood-shed. Men, when enraged, could drive their minds to the verge of
insanity -- a madness that belonged to primitive beasts only. They would lose
their ability to reason and their logics, and act upon impulse and the deep
desire for destruction.
The arrows were shot with greater force, each and every one of them aimed for
Syaoranâ��s critical points. The attacks picked up on a higher frequency and more
brutal force, and dodging them became increasingly hard for Syaoran to
accomplish, especially with Sakura in his arms. One of his hands held onto
Sakuraâ��s thin waist, holding her tightly to his chest for protection, while
grapping onto the rein. The other hand, was much too busy with dodging the
upcoming arrows with his sword.
A Sharp pain shot up from his right arm, and the sound of metal prodding at
his flesh, ripping the muscle fibers blended in so perfectly with the hollowing
wind. Syaoran narrowed his eyes, wincing slightly at the pain, but he did not
slow down, he couldnâ��t slow down. He could feel the warm liquid gushing out of
the wound, scarlet and bright, dying his white cloth a dark shade of red.
The sight of blood excited the hunters even more, arousing them and filling
their head with adrenaline rush. They snarled, not in anger, but rather, in
excitement. And the forthcoming sight a precipitous cliff amused them even more,
for, it was the end of the Taira clanâ��s famous general.
Syaoran held his breathe at the scenery before him. It was the cliff of
death, but there was no turning back. With Sakura in his arms, there was no way
he could battle their way through the ten riders behind them, waiting to rip
them into pieces. Both of their lives were in his hands and he only had one
shot. Darting for the thin line that divided life and death, Syaoran inhaled
deeply and whispered into Sakuraâ��s ears. â��Hold on tight and trust me. Iâ��ll
protect you, no matter what.â��
Acting singularly upon impulse, Sakura wrapped her arms around Syaoranâ��s
waist and closed her eyes. The violent wind, threw her hair about her delicate
face relentlessly, as if threatening to tear her apart. And the pervasive
coldness, seeped through the thin fabric of her clothes, biting at her skin. But
his words warmed her heart, something that she thought she had ripped out a
while ago.
Her cheeks, pressing themselves roughly against his icy cold armours, and her
ears, which were muffled by the wind, miraculously caught the sound of his heart
beating. Yes, his heartbeats, his rhythmic heartbeats -- forming a lulling
melody that had been softer than the wind-harp of Aeolus, in murmurs growing
lower and lower as she felt both of them sink to the core of the earth.
Their enemies reined their horses into a stop as they approached the tip of
the cliff, one of them had a smugly look on his face. â��Well, Taira no Syaoran is
out of the way nowâ�¦victory shall be ours! Letâ��s report back to General
Eriol.â��
â�¦â�¦
Sakura tried to open the eyelids that felt as heavy as a tonne in painful
attempt. Every part of her body ached with a sharp and almost soul-torturing
pain -- was all too foreign to her. Wincing silently, her pretty eyebrows met
each other in a tight knot at her temple, but she refused to make any noises.
She had chosen this path on her free will, a life of death and pain and
bloodsheds. The war shows no mercy to anyone, and only the fittest shall survive
its wrath. She wasnâ��t as strong as the men, but she had greater endurance to
make up for her shortcomings.
Slowly, her eyes adjusted to its surroundings, and she was astounded at what
came into view. They were in a valley, beneath the sun of dusk which threw such
ethereal lights about the earth. The valley, embraced by such pleasant
tranquility that if it wasnâ��t for the experience of falling off a cliff, she
wouldâ��ve thought they came to a wondrous dream land.
No unguided footsteps came upon this vale; for it lay away up among a range
of giant hills that hung beetling around about it, shutting out the sunlight
from its sweetest recesses. From the dim regions beyond the mountains at the
upper end of this encircled domain, there crept out a narrow and deep river, and
winding stealthily about in mazy courses, it passed way at length, through a
shadowy gorge, among hills still dimmer tan those whence it had issued. There
seemed to be a hushing influence in its gentle flow. No murmur arose from its
bed, and so gently it wandered along, that the pearly pebbles upon which Sakura
gazed, far down within its bosom, stirred not at all, but lay in a motionless
content, each in its own old station, shining on gloriously forever.
The margin of the river, and of the many dazzling rivulets that glided
through devious ways into its channel, and the spaces that extended from the
margins away down into the depths of the streams until they reached the bed of
pebbles at the bottom, were carpeted all by a light shade of whiteness, and
beneath it, Sakura could almost see the soft green grass, thick, short, and
perfectly-even -- as if they were hiding underneath the brilliance white for
warm.
Sakura immersed herself in its exceeding beauty which seemed to speak to her
heart in its sweet, heavenly tones. A small curve formed itself upon her lips,
but it quickly waned away at the sight of Syaoran. His clothes were torn,
stained by dirt and blood, and his face, besprinkled by muddy spots still
obtained its handsomeness.
â��Here, eat up. Youâ��ll need something to fill up that grumbling stomach of
yours.â�� He passed a half-burned meat to her, and she instantly frowned at its
smell. If her noise had no deceived her, the meat most likely had once been a
part a great horse. Widening her eyes, she glared at him in shock, as if trying
to find hints of remorse or sorrow upon his countenance -- but she found
none.
He killed his battle horse for food, the beast that fought long his side for
those countless battles and one that saved him from the verge of death. Yet its
ultimate fate was becoming something used to stuff their hungry stomachs up. How
ironic. Sakura had only seen the proud beast once, lofty and honourable it was
-- just like its master -- and so gorgeously white. And now, it lies as a piece
of overly barbequed meat in front of her.
Biting down at it, Sakura held her breath to prevent the horridness of its
smell from reaching her nostrils, and gulfed it down hastily while ignoring the
fierce eyes set upon her, as if trying to pierce through her covers. Humiliated
she felt, but kept her silence, because if it wasnâ��t for him, she wouldâ��ve died
already, and let alone eating the meat of that haughty horse.
â��While you were resting, I took a look around this place.â�� He said, his voice
deprived of emotions and she found the coldness of his words almost matching the
harsh coldness of the winter. â��The chances of us finding a way back to the top
slender, I hope youâ��re aware of what youâ��ve brought upon yourself, Sakuno.â��
Sakura felt her heart skip a beat as he brought upon the one thing that she
feared of discussing. She knew it was due to her recklessness that they were
brought to this fate. The enemy probably scouted her and Meiling out a while
ago, yet they followed so silently behind their tracks, waiting for them to
bring disturbance to the tired Taira army to provide them with the perfect
chance to strike. However, she felt humiliated by his taunts. He knew, long ago,
of her true identity, yet he still toyed with her -- it hurt her pride, almost
too greatly.
â��I fear no punishment, nor death; it was my decision to make, it has nothing
to do with my family. If one must be punished, then let it be me.â�� Sakura
retorted, aligning her eyes with his in a ferocious glare, challenging him,
luring him into the forbidden realms. â��I am just as intellectual and brave as
any man. My country is embraced by chaos, with wars coming from its front and
side, how could I sit and watch and hide myself behind the shields of men?â��
â��My husband is battling his life away for the safety of his people, how can
his wife be like all those scornfully pity women? A heroâ��s wife shall be heroic
in her own ways.â�� Sakura breathed heavily as she pronounced her reasons to him,
in hopes of touching his pride, just a little bit. He might be a complex man,
but strong sense of pride was so evident in his eyes, and Sakura knew, if she
had to persuade him somehow, she had to start on his pride.
The air between them was oppressive and unforgiving, and the silence that
filled it up -- was one that could be broken with a drop of a needle. The only
sounds distinctive to the ears -- were the whistling of the wind, and the
clangour of Syaoranâ��s armours as he sat down. Sakura could feel his penetrating
gaze upon her, but she remained calm and collective, for she knew, if her mask
cracked right now, it shall remain cracked forever.
â��If you managed to stay alive until the rescue team comes, I shall give your
suggestion a thought.â�� Syaoran suddenly said, conceding her actions in his own
unforgiving way. Lowering his head to take a bite of the other piece of house
meat he had prepared for himself, and Sakura noticed something rather strange
about the way this particular action was carried out.
He was using his left hand, almost awkwardly, while his right hand fell
weakly along his side. And it hit her. Of course, how could she have been so
blind? They were chased by hundreds of murderous arrows and fell off a cliff
together. It wasnâ��t a miracle that she remained unhurt. It was he, who protected
her from it all with his own body.
Narrowing her limpid green eyes, she reached over for his right arm, ignoring
the perplexed looks thrown at her way. She ripped his sleeve open -- the one
that was stained with mud and blood -- she could no longer tell them apart, they
fused so perfectly into each other, and there what came into view made her draw
up a sharp gasp.
It was the worst wound she had ever seen. The cut was so deep -- it dug
through layers of his flesh, cutting countless veins in its path, and reached
for his bones. She could almost see hints of them, white and hard. There was a
thin, carelessly made bandit wrapped around the deepest part of the cut, which
only served the part of stopping his blood circulation so crimson liquid
wouldnâ��t be gushing out of the fissure on his arm.
â��Does it hurt?â�� She muttered a question that she didnâ��t even know she was
asking it, until the echoing of these words reached her ears.
â��No. It doesnâ��t hurt. Not anymore.â�� He responded distantly, retaining his
cold smooth demeanour, but Sakura could tell there was more warmth in his
response this time, though trifling it was. It was then, a rare peaceful
tranquility saturated the atmosphere between them -- rare it was -- but it was
also brief, so brief that it was shattered before it could take hold of
everything.
A loud sound of fabrics tearing perished the serene tranquility once and for
all, Sakura had just ripped a large piece of fabric off the cleanest part of her
cloth and skilfully wrapped it around Syaoranâ��s disturbing-looking wound. Those
slender and tapered fingers abruptly froze in midair awkwardly as the owner of
those hands suddenly realized she was deprived of threads to secure the bandage
in place.
Within seconds, an idea surfaced in her mind as a smile drew up on her lips.
She untied the white ribbon that secured her hair in place and let the silky
auburn hair cascade over her shoulders. The messy strands were thrown into the
air by a gentle wind that just whirled by, tossing them about her face
relentlessly. And Syaoran felt himself being mesmerised by such ethereal beauty
that he almost forgot the fact that his arm still lay in the warmth of her
palm.
He felt something tugging at the strings of his heart, just so ever briefly,
and the feeling was quickly pushed away by him, almost forcefully.
But he didnâ��t know, none knew of course, that this was the seed implanted in
his heart forever and ever, silently growing into something so great and
passionate that shall astound him in the future.
For now, they shall remain as their lofty and obstinate selvesâ�¦
-- Until they fall in love.
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a/n: most likely I will go into massive editing for this chapter tomorrow
morning when I get my brain refreshed, since I am immensely unsatisfied with
this chapter. But I wanted to get it up today and keep my 3-days-an-update
promise. I need my rest and leave the editing work for tomorrow. Nite everyone.
Itâ��s midnight in Toronto right now. Gah. So tired.</BODY></HTML>

Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Through A Looking Glass ƽ�����Ι����Z ❯ The blurred line of life and death ( Chapter 12 )

Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Through A Looking Glass ƽ��Ι��Z ❯ The blurred line of life and death ( Chapter 12 )