rlm@2: Dear Sakura
rlm@2: by Amazoness Duo and G.P.
rlm@2: amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@2: pearsong1954@yahoo.com
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Waiting for the taxi to take him to the airport, Syaoran worked up
rlm@2: the courage to tell his mother about the trip. Since he was a small
rlm@2: child, the Illustrious Head of the August House of Li had frightened
rlm@2: him. He grew up secretly envious of his sisters, whom Ieran indulged
rlm@2: extravagantly. His portion of love seemed meager and sparse, and
rlm@2: nothing he did could satisfy or please her. Her training in the
rlm@2: martial and magical arts was harsh and exacting. Though not so
rlm@2: thorough as to enable him to beat his cousin, he thought through his
rlm@2: pain with a wince. Once he had asked her in tears why she was so mean
rlm@2: to him. For a brief instant he saw her face soften with pity, but
rlm@2: then the aloof and impassive countenance returned. She told him he
rlm@2: was the successor to the House of Li, the most noble and powerful
rlm@2: family in all of Hong Kong. Therefore, he must be strong, or the
rlm@2: House would suffer when he rose to lead it. At first he had hated the
rlm@2: training, and the pain, and the constant sense that what he did was
rlm@2: never quite enough.  Why couldn't he be like his sisters, enjoying
rlm@2: the tender affection of a Mother, instead of a scorned and neglected
rlm@2: son? In the end, he realized that only by measuring up to her lofty
rlm@2: standards could he please her, and win her love. So, he dedicated his
rlm@2: young life to perfecting the requisite skills to become the most
rlm@2: powerful of sorcerers. When she sent him to Japan to investigate the
rlm@2: presence of Clow Reed's long lost cards, he went determined to
rlm@2: succeed. But did not. He had failed.
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Looking at the bed he shared with his wife, he felt a spasm of pure
rlm@2: anger. She had bested him, capturing the Cards with ridiculous ease.
rlm@2: A girl. A Japanese schoolgirl had turned out to be the successor to
rlm@2: the mightiest magician in the entire world. Nearly overmastered by
rlm@2: his fear of failure, he dreaded returning to Hong Kong. But instead
rlm@2: of rage he met indifference, as if she regarded the turn of events as
rlm@2: unsurprising and trivial. Indeed, when the girl showed up in Hong
rlm@2: Kong his mother treated her as an honored guest, even bestowing a
rlm@2: farewell kiss. It shocked and irritated him, but he knew enough to
rlm@2: see that his mother now recognized the girl as Mistress of the Cards.
rlm@2: Before leaving again for Japan, he asked her why she had conceded so
rlm@2: much to such a silly girl. She looked at him with a rare fury, and
rlm@2: for a moment he thought she would actually strike him. Angrily she
rlm@2: told him never again to show such disrespect to the Mistress of the
rlm@2: Cards. He was fortunate beyond his worth to act as her servant, she
rlm@2: said, and from now on should remember his proper place. Crushed at
rlm@2: first, he came to accept his role as Sakura's helper, and even found
rlm@2: himself attracted to the girl. His love for the mysterious, fair-
rlm@2: haired Yukito waned as he and Sakura captured and transmuted the
rlm@2: Cards. The more the two Cardcaptors were together, the stronger his
rlm@2: love waxed. It pleased him that she accepted his help, and he gloried
rlm@2: in the knowledge that without him she would have failed time and
rlm@2: again. It was obvious she needed him, and her frantic race to deliver
rlm@2: the teddy bear before he flew back to Hong Kong showed her love as
rlm@2: well. 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: As love grew across the distance, he felt for the first time in his
rlm@2: life the power he had always desired. Unlike his mother, Meiling, or
rlm@2: even his teasing older sisters, Sakura depended on him. Yet it wasn't
rlm@2: until the Daidouji girl mentioned marriage that the thought of making
rlm@2: her his wife occurred to him. She was right, of course, for they were
rlm@2: meant to be together. With that, the Mistress of the Cards was his,
rlm@2: and everything came full circle. This marriage was right, despite
rlm@2: what Meiling and their Grandfather and even his Mother thought. H had
rlm@2: captured the heart of Clow Reed's successor. This was the mark of his
rlm@2: true power. Of course, it had still been, well, difficult to break
rlm@2: the news to his Mother. Thus, the marriage took place in Japan, with
rlm@2: no notice given to his own kin. After a month's honeymoon, he
rlm@2: returned to Hong Kong to face his Mother's wrath. Surprisingly, she
rlm@2: showed no sign of anger; seemingly regarding what was done as done.
rlm@2: She treated Sakura with the same cold aloofness as her son, which
rlm@2: was, he thought, a fitting and proper relationship for a mother-in-
rlm@2: law and her unworthy daughter-in-law. All seemed well until that
rlm@2: meddlesome Daidouji girl had come and upset everything. The
rlm@2: nondescript girl was at everyone's center of attention, and even
rlm@2: merited a grander banquet than his own bride. Not that his clueless
rlm@2: spouse would care about such things, he brooded. When he asked his
rlm@2: sister why Mother had put on such a splendid banquet for some little
rlm@2: rich girl from Japan, Fanren looked at him with a shocked contempt he
rlm@2: had never seen her show. She said that Mother had done a long and
rlm@2: complex water prophecy, and that the woman was of overwhelming
rlm@2: importance to the House of Li. She asked him sharply that if Mother
rlm@2: had so determined, did he think she deserved any less? He snorted his
rlm@2: derision, remaining baffled by his family's treatment of a mere
rlm@2: friend of his wife. But now he wondered about her importance, because
rlm@2: it seemed she was at the root of his flighty wife's sudden
rlm@2: disappearance. That would cast her in a new light entirely, for
rlm@2: whoever stood in the way of the Heir to the House of Li was an enemy
rlm@2: to be struck down without mercy.
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: The righteous anger he had worked up vanished like a morning mist as
rlm@2: he stood on the threshold of his Mother's study. Swallowing his fear
rlm@2: as best he could, he knocked softly. After informing the idiotic
rlm@2: flying teddy bear that he had to tell his Mother he was leaving, the
rlm@2: so-called Beast of the Seal laughingly promised to rescue him if he
rlm@2: didn’t return in half an hour. From deep within he heard his mother's
rlm@2: silken, iron voice answer his knock,
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: "Come in."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Syaoran entered, eyes adjusting to the dim candlelight that
rlm@2: illuminated the windowless room. She was hunched over a yellowed
rlm@2: scroll etched in odd, shimmering characters. He felt his stomach
rlm@2: tighten with the realization he was interrupting her research.
rlm@2: Clearing his throat, he managed to stammer out,
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: "Sakura is gone."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: His Mother slowly turned to face him, taking off a pair of delicate
rlm@2: spectacles as she carefully regarded him. In a calm, quiet voice that
rlm@2: demanded attention, she asked, "What do you mean, gone?"
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: He looked at the floor, feeling the helplessness of childhood wash
rlm@2: over him again. Trying to sound like a concerned husband baffled by a
rlm@2: hopeless wife, he answered, "I don't know for sure, but I think she
rlm@2: went back to Japan. I think it has something to do with the Daidouji
rlm@2: girl."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: He peeked up and saw his Mother smiling at him. Like a snake ready
rlm@2: to strike, he thought, and felt anger and fear at his helplessness.
rlm@2: Smiling, she purred, 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: "Yes, I know."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Startled, he blurted out, "Then why didn't you tell me? Why did she
rlm@2: go like that?"
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Gazing at him like a long-suffering teacher with a particularly
rlm@2: dense pupil, she replied flatly, "As for the latter, I don't know,
rlm@2: exactly. As for why I didn't tell you, it is for the good of the
rlm@2: House that you not interfere. And for your good, too, for that
rlm@2: matter."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: His anger overmastered his caution, and in a demanding voice he shot
rlm@2: back, "How can she do this to me? She can't leave me like this."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: His Mother regarded him silently, letting his anger surge, and then
rlm@2: dissipate, leaving him flustered and faintly ridiculous. She spoke in
rlm@2: a neutral tone, again the patient teacher, "Syaoran, she should never
rlm@2: have been here in the first place. If that woman can undo the damage
rlm@2: you have wrought, a thousand banquets would not suffice for my
rlm@2: gratitude."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Syaoran starred with wide eyes and open mouth. Utterly at a loss for
rlm@2: words, he slumped into the nearest chair, forgetting the etiquette of
rlm@2: standing in the presence of the Head of the House. Had he not been so
rlm@2: stunned, the trembling young man might have detected a trace of pity
rlm@2: in her voice as she continued,
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: "You thought you never asked for my permission to wed because I
rlm@2: would have said no, as indeed I would have. But you yourself also
rlm@2: knew it was wrong, or you would have stood up to me for what was
rlm@2: right. That is how I raised you, and for all your flaws that is how
rlm@2: you are. Your courage comes from doing what is right, but you married
rlm@2: secretly, like a coward. That in itself doomed you both, but it was
rlm@2: even worse than that. You were graced by fortune to be servant to the
rlm@2: Mistress of the Cards. For someone of your meager strength, that was
rlm@2: a far better portion than you deserved. But you wanted more. You
rlm@2: lusted for power you could not have. That explains your attraction to
rlm@2: Yue in his false form, and your selfish desire to make Clow Reed’s
rlm@2: noble successor your humble wife. All this without a single thought
rlm@2: of the consequences for her, or this House, or even yourself. It is
rlm@2: said there is nothing more dangerous than a weak fool. You have
rlm@2: proved the sage wise by your reckless actions."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Syaoran burned with humiliation at his Mother's words. He stared at
rlm@2: the floor, and replied in a voice laced with anger, "She loves me.
rlm@2: And I love her."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: The cold fury of his Mother's rejoinder shook him, "Don't speak to
rlm@2: me of 'love'. You have no conception of what you are saying. Sakura
rlm@2: loves everyone. That is her nature. But you love her power, not her.
rlm@2: That “Daidouji girl”, as you call her, could teach you a lesson in
rlm@2: what real love is. She cheerfully sacrificed her life for the one she
rlm@2: loves. What did you sacrifice? Like a greedy miser, you could only
rlm@2: take what you longed for, without a thought or care for anyone but
rlm@2: yourself." 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Ieran sighed, feeling the mounting weight of years and
rlm@2: responsibilities. Her whispery voice was almost plaintive, "Why
rlm@2: didn't you ask me? You at least owed me that much, though perhaps it
rlm@2: would not have mattered in the end. How can a blind man see the cliff
rlm@2: that approaches?'
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: The two sat silent in the near dark for several long minutes.
rlm@2: Syaoran fought back tears as he finally whispered, "I know she loves
rlm@2: me."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Ieran's voice was surprisingly gentle, "Pray that she knows her
rlm@2: heart at last, and that it is not to late for all of us." 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Watching her son carefully, the woman rose and walked lightly to the
rlm@2: door, locking it with a heavy metallic chungk. Striding to the center
rlm@2: of the room, she stood in front of a golden bowl filled with water.
rlm@2: Gesturing for her son to stand by the bowl across from her, she
rlm@2: softly began to sing and chant. Syaoran, recognizing the words of a
rlm@2: powerful and dangerous spell, felt a ripple of fear as his Mother
rlm@2: waved her hands above the shimmering surface. The bowl began to
rlm@2: vibrate and sing in odd harmony with her voice. The young man stood
rlm@2: silent, in awe of the magic that billowed through the room. He felt
rlm@2: an odd metallic tang in his mouth, and caught an overripe scent of
rlm@2: something both sweet and foul. His eyes made out vague shapes in the
rlm@2: water, flickering images like projections on a liquid movie screen.
rlm@2: He strained to see the figures as they coalesced, and was startled to
rlm@2: see Sakura dressed all in white, like mourner. Her sudden wailing
rlm@2: chilled him, as if she were some mindless animal in agony. Like a
rlm@2: madwoman she beat her hands bloody on a dark gravestone, and then he
rlm@2: saw himself pulling her away as she keened and sobbed. The image
rlm@2: shifted and blurred, and next he saw the Card Mistress dressed in an
rlm@2: odd, half-finished costume, like that girl used to sew for her. The
rlm@2: Cards danced about her, chained with iron, howling in pain as she
rlm@2: swept the air with her staff. The staff had become a monstrous
rlm@2: scythe, fiery and alive, infused with a cruel and vengeful will. Her
rlm@2: magic roiled and blossomed in an obscene wave of sheer power. The
rlm@2: emerald eyes were blank and dull, but amidst the terrible storm he
rlm@2: heard her lifeless voice,
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: "Bring her back to me."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: This vision swiftly gave way to a horrifying vista of destruction,
rlm@2: as the house he had grown up in was torn apart by the furious
rlm@2: tempest. Soon other buildings were swept into the maelstrom, and the
rlm@2: entire City was consumed in a holocaust of wind and fire. The last
rlm@2: image was a graveyard, stones and bodies torn from the groaning earth
rlm@2: and swept into the throbbing, black sky. He fell back, faint and
rlm@2: sick, staggering to the wall where he slumped to the floor and
rlm@2: cowered in fear. His Mother struggled with the spell, and in a
rlm@2: supreme effort banished the awful images to wherever they had come.
rlm@2: Pale drained, she managed to walk imperiously and confront her son.
rlm@2: Her voice was shaky but still commanding,
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: "Since your ill-begotten marriage I have lived with this nightmare.
rlm@2: Pray to all the spirits of our illustrious ancestors that it remains
rlm@2: but a dream. Now, leave me."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: As her son walked unsteadily out the door, the woman dropped to the
rlm@2: chair and held her head with shaking hands. Blanketed by the
rlm@2: throbbing pain of a merciless headache, her mind was consumed in
rlm@2: black hatred,
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: "Damn you, Clow Reed. Damn you for all you have done."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Syaoran walked down the hallway, the shock of what he had seen
rlm@2: slowly wearing off. His anger surged anew, fed by a righteous rage at
rlm@2: his abandonment by Sakura, and by the Daidouji woman's stealing her
rlm@2: away. Under his breath the defiant husband resolved,
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: "I'll bring her back. She loves me. She's mine."     
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: