Chapter 8: Reunion
(by Hayama, added on 2005-10-15 11:14:42 AEST) [Discussion Topic]
By the time Fai and Kurogane arrived at the Merowa village, Syaoran was already busy making plans with the king. He was doodling all over a dusty patch of ground with a stick, pointing and directing with enthusiasm.
Fai had to admit he felt uneasy amongst the creatures who had attacked him earlier. He felt somewhat safe beside Kurogane though and put on a huge grin so as not to worry his traveling companions. All the fake smile in the world, however couldn’t hide that Fai was not looking forward to fighting more of these creatures. Fai decided to shake that thought from his mind. All of this was for Sakura’s feather, her precious memory. Considering Fai’s failure to protect Sakura earlier, he felt responsible now. He would just have to grin and bear it.
“Wheet whoo!” Fai laughed in the most carefree tone he could manage. “We’ve arrived!”
Kurogane almost smacked Fai upside the head on instinct. Instead he smiled a little and ruffled Fai’s hair affectionately. The whole ‘saying the sound’ thing still bothered Kurogane, but he was willing to take it. He knew Fai only did weird stuff like that because he was nervous.
“Kuro-non,” Fai whined, “My hair will be messy if you keep that up.”
Kurogane’s smile changed to a devilish grin. “Your hair is already a freaking mess. Everyday.” Kurogane's smile went back to normal. “But… I like it that way.”
Fai grinned wider.
Their fun little conversation was interrupted when Syaoran approached.
“Where’s Sakura?” Fai asked before the boy could even open his mouth.
Syaoran glanced over his shoulder. “She’s over there playing with some of the Merowa children.”
“Merowa…” Fai and Kurogane both tested the name at the same time. That must be what Mokona’s ‘kitty monsters’ called themselves.
“She’s been worried over you, Fai-san,” Syaoran whispered. “You see alright to me though. How are you?”
Fai struck a pose. “The model of perfect health!”
Kurogane resisted the urge to smirk.
“Kuro-puu took good care of me, didn’t you Kuro-pon?” Fai teased.
Kurogane sighed. This prompted a laugh from Fai and Syaoran.
“You’re more calm than usual, Kurogane-san,” Syaoran pointed out, oblivious to the shift in Fai and Kurogane’s relationship. “Usually you would…” Syaoran was suddenly cut short.
“FAI-SAN!” Sakura cried, running up to the sorcerer and throwing her arms around his waist. She nearly knocked him over. “I was so worried about you.”
Fai’s grin faded to a gentle smile and he ruffled her hair. “I was worried about you too, Sakura-chan. Did these creatures treat you well?”
“Un!” Sakura answered with an enthusiastic nod. “They scared me at first but now I know that they are nice. They want to help me get my feather back!”
“So I’ve heard!” Fai’s grin was back.
Kurogane sighed, bringing the others out of their happy moment and back to reality. “So, what’s our plan of attack?”
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Syaoran and the others now stood outside of the little stretch of trees where the friendly Merowa lived, Merowa warriors steadily gathering behind them. They faced a larger expanse of forest, the home of the Merowa who had Sakura’s precious feather.
“I had the Merowa make these for you,” Syaoran explained. He handed Fai a long wooden staff. For Kurogane the creatures had crafted a weapon shaped like a katana, almost exactly like a wooden practice sword. “They’re amazing when it comes to working with wood,” Syaoran explained. “I told them what kind of weapon to make and they had it perfectly done in about an hour.”
Kurogane tested his ‘sword’ with a powerful swing. He grinned. “I don’t think this will cut anything, but it should keep those critters at bay.”
“What about for you Syaoran?” Fai asked.
Syaoran also had a staff, but his was shorter and thicker than Fai’s. “This one is better for me,” Syaoran explained. “I should be able to hang on to this and still kick.”
Fai nodded, understanding Syaoran’s preferred method of fighting.
Suddenly, a howl went up among the Merowa warriors. The enemy was approaching.
“They are drawn to girl,” the king said, walking up behind Syaoran. “They sense power.”
Syaoran nodded and gripped his staff tighter. The plan was going to work.
Kurogane was grinning like a madman, eager for the fight.
Fai took a deep breath and readied himself for the oncoming attack.
From the trees ahead of them burst several dozen Merowa, different from the kindly Merowa only in that they had painted white marks on their chests and forearms.
“War paint,” the king hissed angrily, “They destroy peace to make war. We must end this!” The feline warriors on both sides charged forward and clashed in a series of snarls and slashes.
Syaoran noticed that one of the enemy Merowa hung back, growling orders instead of fighting. Around his neck he wore a string of wooden beads… and Sakura’s feather. “I see him! Syaoran shouted to Fai and Kurogane. They nodded and began making their way though the fighting Merowa.
Behind him, Syaoran could hear the king let out a firm, howling cry. That was the signal. The plan was in motion. The friendly Merowa began to back off, into the forest. Naturally, the painted Merowa, now enthralled in the battle, followed. The bearer of Sakura’s feather started to call his warriors back, but Syaoran had arrived.
“Give me the feather,” Syaoran demanded coldly.
The creature clutched the powerful item in its clawed hand. “No!” It growled. “Feather will make me strongest of all.”
“It doesn’t belong to you,” Syaoran replied. “If you don’t return it, I’ll have to fight you.”
The Merowa changed his stance and bared his teeth. “Then fight me!” With that he lunged.
Syaoran dodged.
It then became a frenzied contest of speed and strength. Syaoran managed to dodge most of the blows but the Merowa’s claws did find the occasional spot on his arm or shoulder. Syaoran attempted a few swings but he was mainly occupied by dodging.
He couldn’t lose. He knew that. It was Sakura he was fighting for. He had to win for Sakura. For Sakura…
Syaoran swung the staff with all the strength and speed he had in his body. He didn’t hold back. He didn’t leave room for a guard. He swung with everything. If he missed, he would surely stumble. If he missed, the Merowa would surely end him. Syaoran swung… and hit.
The Merowa stumbled back, growling in pain, arms folded across his chest. He fell to his knees before Syaoran.
“Give me the feather,” was all Syaoran said.
The Merowa glanced up at him, wincing. “No! I will be strongest.”
Syaoran approached the fallen warrior and with one quick tug, pulled the feather off of the necklace.
As soon as Syaoran removed the feather, the Merowa’s expression seemed to change. He looked up at Syaoran, bewildered.
What had the power of Sakura’s feather really done to this creature?
“Syaoran,” came a gruff voice behind the boy. Syaoran turned around and his eyes met with the Merowa king’s.
Behind the king, Syaoran could see Fai and Kurogane dusting themselves off… or rather, dusting each other off. The war-painted Merowa seemed frozen by the defeat of their leader. Behind them, coming out of the forest, the friendly Merowa were dragging large nets full of their adversaries. The battle frenzied Merowa had fallen into Syaoran’s carefully planed traps.
“You caused much trouble,” the king began, approaching the defeated leader. “You broke peace of many centuries. You made war on your brothers. You…”
“Stop!” Syaoran suddenly spoke up. “I don’t… I don’t think he could help it. I think the feather made him do those things. It was too much power. It drove him mad…”
The king turned to Syaoran and nodded. “This I know.” He turned back to the other Merowa. “There will be no punishment if you renew peace.”
The defeated Merowa nodded and struggled to his feet. “No more.”
“Then,” said the king, “let us feast!” |
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