Before dinner, Sakura retreated to her room to clean up. She showered and washed off all the sweat from the flight and her spar with Feiwang. Then Meiling appeared with a pink hanfu for her to wear. The shy girl took a while to accept the gift, but not nearly as long to put it on. When she entered the opulent dining hall, Xiaolang rose from the table and almost fainted at the sight of her.
“Down, boy,” joked Meiling.
The food was delicious, and Sakura ate her fill. Conversation drifted from Sakura’s combat technique, to Xiaolang’s teaching style, and then onto what she intended to do with the Cards. Sakura had little to say about that, given that she’d only focused on capturing them. She did mention that she liked using the Cards to make other people happy, such as influencing the shadow of a bully to teach its owner a lesson, or using the Lucis and Noctis Cards to alleviate a salaryman’s depression. While Feiwang was receptive of such ideas, Yelan cautioned, “The Cards do have a far higher purpose than that, Lady Kinomoto.”
“I know, Missus Lee,” said Sakura. “Eriol told me that Clow Reed created the Cards to promote kindness in the world and defeat evildoers. But …” She thought for a moment. Frustrated that she couldn’t articulate herself, she blurted, “I’m just a kid from Tokyo. I’m hardly qualified to fight bad guys, am I?”
“You may have to,” murmured Yelan. Her eyes glimmered subtly, and Xiaolang exhaled slightly. Sakura heard his reaction, but she couldn’t figure out his meaning.
Feiwang raised his hand and said, “Perhaps your small acts of kindness are precisely what Clow had in mind.” His gaze fixed on Sakura, even though his words were targeted at Yelan. The woman only raised her eyebrows at her husband, but said nothing more.
The meal finished soon after. When the house staff cleared the table, they put a bowl of boiled rice in front of Sakura. Confused, but not wanting to be rude, she took her chopsticks to the bowl, only for Xiaolang to stop her. He shook his head silently, and motioned her to leave the bowl on the table11.
Tea was served thereafter. Then Yelan and Feiwang took their leave. Meiling also left, explaining that she had some prior engagements. This finally gave Xiaolang and Sakura some alone time. They went to his bedroom and closed the door. Sakura followed Xiaolang to the sofa beside his desk and sat down with him. She noticed the small pink fimo shisa on his desk and stroked it gently.
“She can’t wait to get back to Japan,” said Xiaolang. Sakura shuffled over, nestled into his embrace, and rested her head on his shoulder. She sighed with contentment.
“Why didn’t we do this sooner?” she mumbled.
“Didn’t have time at the airport,” replied Xiaolang.
“I was being rhetorical,” said Sakura.
Absentmindedly, she threaded her fingers through his and kissed his knuckles. When she looked into his eyes, she remembered Meiling’s jibes about nuptials earlier in the day. She blushed.
“What?” asked Xiaolang.
“I was just thinking about … marriage,” she stammered.
“You want to get married now?” Xiaolang choked.
“No!” snapped Sakura. “Not now, I mean. I still want to finish school. Plus, even with the Cards, I don’t know if I want to be some master magician or something. I just …”
Xiaolang brushed a few hairs out of her face and cradled her cheek.
“Never mind about that,” he said. “Why worry about stuff in the future? Just think about right now.” He looked right into her eyes and smiled. She could see her own reflection in his amber irises, and decided she didn’t like the perturbed expression she saw. She smiled instead.
“Can I sleep with you tonight?” she murmured.
Xiaolang’s eyes widened. Sakura suddenly burst into a paroxysm of stammers and babble. Her face grew hotter than the sun as she blurted, “I didn’t mean that! I meant just share a bed!”
Xiaolang laughed off his embarrassment. He calmed her down and said, “I’d love to share a bed with you tonight. But my parents won’t allow it. Wei actually has instructions to escort you back to the guest bedroom after a certain time.”
Sakura actually felt disappointed. It was as if she had a bedtime – something she’d not had since she was thirteen. She pouted, which made Xiaolang laugh even more.
They stayed in Xiaolang’s room until long after dark. They discussed a few of the sights to see in Hong Kong during Sakura’s trip. Eventually, Wei disturbed them and announced that Sakura needed to return to the guest quarters. She kissed Xiaolang goodnight, and moved to follow Wei.
The lights in the mansion suddenly went dark. Confusion fell over Sakura’s mind as she glanced around in the sparse light from the Moon outside. She could see Xiaolang’s silhouette move in front of the window. There was panic in his voice as he said, “Can you sense it?”
Be it fatigue or the lingering joy of being with her boyfriend, Sakura’s senses were dulled. She shook her head and extended her awareness outward.
She sensed a horde of people at the edge of the Lee compound. They appeared as normal humans, but carried malicious intent. Among them, she sensed a presence, unwavering in shape and form, and yet crackling with bloodlust and an absolute absence of conscience. It hummed stridently, and yet the sound was dulled as if echoing through congealed blood.
“What is that thing?” she asked disgusted.
“A homunculus,” said Xiaolang. “An immortal flesh-eater, and it’s brought friends.” He gave Wei commands in Cantonese.
Wei then took Sakura by the shoulder and led her out of the room. “Come with me, Lady Kinomoto.”
Xiaolang left the room and went down the corridor. He heard Sakura call out to him, and he replied, “Stay with Wei, Sakura! Use your magic and protect the servants!” Then he clapped his hands and materialised his sword. He emerged into the entrance atrium, illuminated by a ball of energy held in Yelan’s hand. The woman’s stoic expression radiated only the slightest amount of disgust at the creatures that approached the mansion. Xiaolang joined her and Feiwang at the front door. His father had manifested a Chinese spear, which he held erect like a tribesman upon a mountain.
Five figures sauntered toward the entrance. The tallest wore baggy pants and a sleeveless shirt that barely concealed his muscular body. In the light of Yelan’s orb, his face of Indian descent bore a sneer that upturned into a hungry grin. The second tallest was Chinese, whose long button-less jacket showed off his muscles. Two smaller gangly ones smiled sinisterly at the house and the people who stood to defend it.
Then there was the yellow-faced man in the single-breasted suit – the source of the homunculus signature. His tiny eyes narrowed as his grin widened.
“Moon,” he chirped. “Protracted period precluding perception, Clan of the utmost Lee-ness!”
“Not protracted enough, Nikolaev,” replied Feiwang firmly. “I hear you prefer the name ‘Moonface.’”
“Moon, that is correct,” said Moonface as he craned his neck to soak the rays of moonlight. Then he said, “I vie for various valuables in your vault. Relinquish them and relax the remainder of your reverie.”
“Or what?” snarled Xiaolang.
Feiwang’s hand raised to silence him. The man tightened his grip on his spear, but spoke calmly and firmly.
“I am not in the mood for a fight today,” he said. “Please leave.”
Moonface inhaled manically and softly chimed, “Moon!” Then his underlings charged forward. The two gangly twins leapt into the air, and their bodies contorted. Their skin bled metallic entrails that formed the carapaces of two man-sized lobsters.
“They’re homunculi too!” yelled Xiaolang, his heart racing with terror.
“A Witch’s soul protect spell,” said Yelan. “It hides their true nature!”
The creatures gurgled as they thrust their pincers at the trio. Yelan and Xiaolang withdrew into the atrium, while Feiwang somersaulted over them. The creatures scampered into the atrium to face Xiaolang and Yelan.
Moonface’s henchmen cocked machine guns and unleashed them upon Feiwang. He held his fingers outstretched, erecting a magical barrier that harmlessly deflected the bullets. Then he diverted his mental energy into the shield, which burst with sound and light, and threw the attackers off balance. The Indian charged forward to bludgeon Feiwang, but the man was quicker. He swatted the gun aside and brought the blade of his spear down upon the man’s shoulder. Then the Chinese man came at him with a sabre drawn from his belt. The duo working as one drove Feiwang back into the house, yet failed to land a successful blow.
Yelan meanwhile confounded the humanoid lobsters with waves of her hand, issuing ethereal flashes to disorient them, and forces of magic to bludgeon them. Xiaolang, unfortunately, couldn’t find an opening for his sword. While one was dazed, the other was pressing the attack.
“They’re twins, Xiaolang,” said Yelan.
Xiaolang noted the identical striae upon their shells, and the synchronicity of their movements. He caught onto his mother’s meaning. Together, they raised their hands and bellowed, “Soul Resonance!” The homunculi scampered backward in alarm as the mother-son duo began to shimmer green. The duo withdrew paper charms and held them high. “Léidì zhāolái!” they yelled. The paper charms crackled with electricity, disorienting the homunculi. Xiaolang then raced forward and decapitated them with his sword.
Yelan and Xiaolang raced through the cloud of decay wafting from the dead creatures. Feiwang and his wife handled the two henchman, while Xiaolang leapt over them to attack Moonface. The yellow-skinned beast dodged Xiaolang’s downward swipe and backhanded the boy. Xiaolang recovered and slashed upward across Moonface’s torso, tearing his suit in two.
Moonface snarled manically, and charged at the boy. He slashed and swiped at him, but missed each time. Xiaolang tripped up Moonface and brought his sword across the creature’s face. Black blood burst from Moonface’s yellow skin, but the pain only angered him further. He caught Xiaolang’s sword-wielding arm and threw a punch into the boy’s face. Then his jaw dislocated, baring a maw of large inhuman fangs.
“Huǒ shén zhāolái!” bellowed Feiwang. A fireball burst from his hand and hit Moonface squarely. The homunculus flew to the ground and writhed in pain. He rolled around to stop the fire. His cooked flesh stank of burnt rubber and rotten eggs. He pulled himself up, only to see the tip of Xiaolang’s sword in his face.
“Gimme a reason not to,” he said.
Feiwang and Yelan approached, having dispatched his remaining henchmen. Black blood dripped from Feiwang’s spear. Moonface gazed up at them. And yet, despite his evident defeat and severe burns, he chortled.
“Delay my death to determine my design?” he asked.
“The Regiment will want to know how you used a soul protect spell,” said Yelan.
“As do I,” said Feiwang.
Moonface harrumphed. “Havin’ a Witch helps.” His response shocked them. He raised his finger. “But! You should have paid more attention to your surroundings.” The trio exchanged mortified glances. Yelan reached out with her senses and detected trespassers approaching the vault deep within the mansion.
“He’d been the bait,” said Yelan.
“Stay with Moonface, Xiaolang,” barked Feiwang. Then he and Yelan pursued the creatures.
Xiaolang grabbed Moonface by his melted flesh and slammed him into a wall. He held his sword to the homunculus’ throat and snarled, “Tell me what you’re here for and I’ll make your death quick.”
“Ooooh, big boisterous boast blurted a billion times,” retorted Moonface. “You, the Regiment, and even the Reaper … you’re all sadistic slaughterers! I’m here to put a stop to that.”
“How?” barked Xiaolang. “What do you need from our vault?”
“Moon! Something not even you could imagine,” chirped Moonface. “But I’ll do what I must to get our shorn shameless Shaula what she needs!”
“Shaula?” Xiaolang’s eyes shifted as he scanned his history lessons. “You mean Shaula Gorgon? What does she need?”
“Not your giddy girlfriend, that’s for sure,” said Moonface. He snickered as he looked right into Xiaolang’s horrified eyes. “Wouldn’t mess up our plans if we kill her, would it?”