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The Labyrinth	By : Capitalist Category: +. to F > Card Captor Sakura Views: 10491 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Card Captor Sakura, nor any of the characters from it, nor do I own Labyrinth. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
Chapter 5
‘temptation’

Tomoyo took the final pin out of her mouth and laughed in a rather exasperated manner as she struggled to hold on to the swishing material.
“Please, my- Sakura, do stay still! I only need to sew up a final hem, and we’ll be done.”
Sakura craned her neck again, trying to see outside her balcony doors. Below, a fantastic variety of flowers were blooming in the moonlight, waving in the light breeze like a touchable rainbow. Interspersed with the flowers some thin and elegant trees stood bent over their garden, crowns bursting with soft pink petals. Sakura thought it must be the prettiest thing she’d ever seen.
“When you’re done, can we go down there? It looks like fun!”
“The king’s private garden?” Tomoyo shook her head quickly. “Oh no, Sakura, no one is allowed there but Yue. In any case, you are not to go beyond this floor of the castle. It is my king’s instructions.”
Sakura wrinkled her nose in distaste. “Will you stop me?”
“Of course not.” Tomoyo smiled gently as she bent over her work. “I am your servant. But the goblins patrolling the staircases will. And then I might be punished. Please do not disobey him.”
Sakura sighed, disappointed. “All right.”
“Besides, we have other things to concern ourselves with. Such as your new dress! Do come and see.” Eagerly Tomoyo grabbed Sakura’s hand and pulled her to the opposite corner of the room. Three tall mirrors had been arranged so she could see herself from every angle, her reflection reaching on into infinity. And as doubtful as she was about the need for any dress, Sakura had to say “wow” at Tomoyo’s creation.
White satin fit snugly against her chest, laced neatly up to the neckline and leaving her shoulders bare. The material bloomed out at her waist with a fluffy underskirt, ending just past her knees like a ballerina’s. The cut was pleasing but it was the design that was truly beautiful: Tomoyo had skillfully woven in pale pink blossoms on rambling green vines that adorned the dress from collar to hem, and brought a subtle hint of color that also highlighted her eyes. For her feet she had simple white satin slippers. It had to be the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen, let alone worn, in her short lifetime.
“Oh Tomoyo,” she breathed, and spun on one foot to admire the effect. “It’s gorgeous. I can’t believe you made this!”
Tomoyo’s eyes shone with pleasure, but she merely bowed her head in gratitude at Sakura’s words.
“I do my best to please, Sakura. I’m happy that you find it acceptable.”
“Of course I do! It looks great.” Sakura’s honest enthusiasm was too much and Tomoyo lost her humble attitude, eyes sparkling.
“It does, doesn’t it? Now we only have your hair to do.”
“My hair?” Tomoyo steered Sakura gently away from the mirrors and toward a small round table with a mirror and stool, sitting her down before she could demur.
“Naturally your hair. Pigtails will never do with a dress like this.” She whipped off Sakura’s pink rubber bands and plied her hairbrush, an elegant one wrought in silver. “You have such pretty hair, Sakura, it’s a pity it’s so short.”
“I do so many sports and cheerleading at school, it’s easier.” Sakura shrugged, fiddling absentmindedly with a comb. Her hair had never particularly mattered to her one way or another, but Tomoyo clucked her tongue and shook her head.
“The king favors long hair. I’m sure he wishes you to grow it out. I can’t wait to play with it.”
“But I -”
“And look here!” Tomoyo opened a small box and proudly showed off a pair of barrettes, glittering in the light. “Diamond clips to match your necklace. Won’t it be beautiful?”
“My necklace?” Sakura had forgotten about it, but now that she looked at her reflection, she could see the choker with its flower-cut gem resting in the hollow of her throat. It looked perfect with the dress and the small clips Tomoyo was arranging in her hair. The person she was looking at in the mirror didn’t look at all like the Sakura she knew. This girl looked like a princess.
She didn’t fidget anymore after that, while Tomoyo fussed over her hair and placed it just so. When Tomoyo produced a crystal jar of powder and brushed it over her cheeks, and then dabbed a sparkling substance around her eyes, she didn’t protest, even though she knew for a fact she wasn’t allowed to wear makeup yet. The dark haired girl concluded by rubbing a scented oil into Sakura’s wrists, then stepped back with a satisfied air.
“There. Now you look perfect.”
“Perfect for what?” Sakura smiled appreciatively at Tomoyo, but she couldn’t stop sneaking peeks at herself in the mirror.
“For the king, of course.”
“Why?”
Tomoyo blinked at the innocent and blunt question, looking a little thrown. “Well, I don’t know.”
“He’s the one you call Yue, right?” Tomoyo nodded, and Sakura plucked at her skirt. “He has wings, and long silver hair?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I don’t think I like him. His eyes are so cold, and they make me feel strange inside. He told me that this was my home now. Does that mean I can’t go home?”
She felt a stirring of anxiety again, but Tomoyo clasped her hands in hers, a warm and comforting touch.
“It is not my place to know the king’s wishes, Sakura. But I do not think he wants you to be unhappy. A smile suits you best, won’t you try and smile for him?”
Sakura concentrated on how pretty the dress was, and how nice Tomoyo was, and managed a small but sincere smile.
“That’s better. You’re very nice, and I don’t want you to be unhappy either. Come.” She tugged on Sakura’s hands again and pulled her to her feet. “I’ll show you what else he has arranged for you.”
Brimming with anticipation, Tomoyo nearly skipped out of the room and Sakura followed. Neither girl noticed the telltale feather by the curtains, whisked in from the balcony by the breeze.

Like a mountain goat, Li leapt nimbly from one craggy boulder to another while scanning the horizon over the walls. Touya followed a little more carefully, watching to make sure he didn’t land on anything sharp when he jumped. From the path he’d thought this was a solid giant statue, but like everything else here, it was an illusion. Li stopped short and Touya nearly bumped into him. The younger boy scowled and then raised his arm to point.
“There.”
From this vantage point he could see the castle better than he ever had before, glittering in the moonlight and directly in front of them, beyond the twisting walls and patches of trees. He could even glimpse the thatched roofs of the huts congregated around its base.
“We’re so much closer, I can see almost the entire thing.”
“Never judge distance in the labyrinth with your eyes,” Li grunted. “One of the easier ways to get lost. Haven’t you figured even that out yet?” He leapt off their perch, landing gracefully on the grass. Touya ground his teeth.
“Were you born this obnoxious, or did you have to work at it to get so good, so young?”
“I’m not used to baby sitting out here. I live alone, I get by on my own.”
“Not hard to imagine why.”
“You’re welcome to find your way through the labyrinth yourself.”
“If I didn’t have a time limit to worry about, believe me I would.” Touya jumped down, and Li uttered a derisive snort as he started walking again.
“Please. It’s a miracle you made it as far as you did. I’m surprised you haven’t fallen into the Ripariat by now.” Touya took a great pleasure in rapping Li smartly on the head.
“I’m not completely helpless you know. I wasn’t doing that bad.” A pause, and then, “What’s the Ripariat?”
“Someplace you don’t want to go. Just another deathtrap for the amusement of our dear leader.”
There was no mistaking the sheer hostility in that voice.
“You really hate him, don’t you?”
“I hate anyone that tells me what to do. You heard him: ‘there is only my word and my word is the law’. He controls everything in the labyrinth!” He clawed angrily at a brambly vine that blocked his way between two crumbling stone walls, tearing it into pieces before he went through.
“What about everybody else, in that city? Does everyone feel like that?”
“I dunno. Maybe.”
“Then why don’t you rebel, force him to change? Why just take it if you don’t like it?”
“Haven’t we been over this before? Yue is too powerful. His magic is bound to the labyrinth and it to him, it lives all around us, connects things.” He looked up briefly at Touya and shook his head impatiently. “You’re an outsider, you wouldn’t understand.”
“Sounds to me like you’re afraid.”
He had to jump back before the point of the sword jabbed into the wall, barring his path. It quivered with the impact, and Li spoke through clenched teeth.
“I – am – not – a – coward.” The sword he yanked back out of the moss and it dematerialized again, returning to its amulet form. “But I do want to live. And not in chains.”
“But you’re not free,” Touya insisted, and Li just muttered something under his breath before he turned and started walking again. “What good is a sword if you never use it?” he said loudly, to the kid’s retreating back. Li ignored him, turned around another bend, and Touya had to hurry to catch up.
And that was that.

Sakura had thought, when she first really looked at it, that her room was very pretty. Then she thought the garden below its balcony was more than pretty, it was beautiful. But this room adjacent to hers was even more than all that: it was breathtaking.
“Oh wow…” she whispered, almost afraid to speak. She was standing with Tomoyo at the entrance of a grand ballroom, so lovely she could hardly find the words for it. Overhead a crystal and translucent ceiling revealed the night sky, bathing the room in moonlight that reflected in walls of silver and mirrors. Under her feet the floor was a smooth wooden parquet, delicately etched with a faint silver patina to create a symbol stretching across the room. The design resembled a vast but thin crescent moon, adorned with wings. All along the outside wall, open windows admitted the soft breeze that was rich with the garden’s sweet scent.
Sakura was sure this must be what heaven looked like. Unable to stop herself, she took a few hopping steps forward and pranced along the outside line of one of the wings.
“I wish I had some music,” she said wistfully. Immediately the walls began to hum with a soft and melodic violin piece, rich and beautiful in its subtlety. Sakura jumped with surprise, but Tomoyo just grinned.
“In this castle, you have only to ask for the things you want. The king is determined that you shall lack for nothing.”
The floor underneath her slippers was begging her to dance across it. Dreamily Sakura twirled in a pirouette and Tomoyo applauded.
“You are so graceful, Sakura!”
“I like to dance, it’s really very easy.” She held out her hand in a beckoning gesture. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
But Tomoyo just shook her head and clasped her hands.
“You are too pretty when you dance, I’d rather just watch. Please enjoy the room as much as you like.”
The music was changing, swelling in volume and becoming faster. It seemed designed to reflect her mood, and happily Sakura spun across the floor with even more complicated moves. Her new satin dress swirled around her and a giddy delight surged through her bloodstream. She wished she could dance here forever.

The old and crumbling stone walls finally led them to a high barrier wall, set with another door, thankfully not decorated with any animal head. Li hardly glanced at it, however, before turning to go into a side passage on the right.
“Wait, where are you going?”
“Around.”
“I thought this patch of trees was right on the path to the castle.” He pointed up, where he could see the crowns of dark green trees over the edge of the wall.
“So it is. But we’re still going around. Trust me, it’s not worth trying to cut through.” Li scowled at the door and then him. “It’s the territory of a ferocious beast. People go in there and they don’t come out.”
“So it’s like a shortcut?” Touya pressed singlemindedly, and Li huffed exasperatedly.
“Are you deaf? I just said it’s not worth it!”
“Thought you said you weren’t a coward.” Li’s eyes flashed and he moved to hit Touya again. This time the teen was prepared and caught his wrist, holding it fast. The air crackled with animosity.
“I do not have to prove myself to you,” Li snarled, and wrested his hand free. Both took a step back. “Fine. You want to cut through, we’ll cut through. I think there’s a way over the wall, down a piece. I’ll go check. Don’t move from that spot.” He pointed a warning finger at Touya and disappeared around a corner. Touya made faces at the spot until he felt better, then turned to the door.
Like the first one, this had a scattered mosaic puzzle set into it, but this one was a riot of color. Fragments of colored glass glittered in the light like a church’s window, set in concentric rings that rotated and clicked in place. After a few moment’s study, he began with the innermost ring.

It was as he remembered it, though he rarely visited this section of the labyrinth. The broad domes of a giant stone mushroom garden staggered too close to the wall of the forest, each one increasing in height until the last one was nearly flush with the tall barrier. He leapt lightly from each to the next until he landed on the last, and saw how short the distance was. Satisfied that one could jump it easily, he turned to go back and nearly walked right into Yue.
Just in time Li jerked backwards, stumbled over his feet and fell heavily on his rear, scraping his hands in the process.
“Hello Li,” Yue greeted calmly. Li stared openmouthed until he remembered his manners, and postured himself on his hands and knees.
“Your majesty.” His heart was thumping in his throat; another visit this soon wasn’t something he’d expected. He didn’t dare look up for fear of what he might see.
“Please do stand,” Yue offered courteously. “I know how you hate kneeling at my feet.”
Li tensed before he rose reluctantly to his feet, eyeing Yue warily.
“I see,” the king began without preamble, “that in spite of my orders, you are still helping him through the labyrinth. Please do not insult me by denying it,” he added when Li opened his mouth. Li shut it again with a snap. “Spending quite a bit of time with him, you are.”
“Jealous?” Li muttered before he could stop himself. Yue’s eyes narrowed briefly, before he gave a disapproving cluck of the tongue.
“Tsk, tsk, Little Wolf. When will you learn to control that rebellious mouth of yours? It gets you in trouble with my men far too often. I probably should have thrown you into my dungeons a long time ago, but your little brawls are so amusing to watch.” Li clenched his fists at his sides. He despised this smug superiority and preferred a straight lashing any day.
“If you’re going to punish me, just do it and get it over with.” One of those rare and malicious smiles crept across Yue’s lips, and he patted Li twice on the head. Li flinched and ducked, but didn’t dare knock the hand away.
“Now why would I do that, when there are so many other more interesting possibilities?” Li suddenly felt very uneasy about the direction of this conversation, and narrowed his eyes.
“What are you talking about?”
Yue extended his hand, palm up, and summoned a hazy globe of light. The shapes within it resolved, finally revealing a young girl in a patterned white dress. Gracefully she drifted across a ballroom floor, spinning and twirling in a carefree manner.
“Pretty, isn’t she?”
Li wrenched his gaze away and glared at his feet. “I guess. Isn’t she yours?”
“She is pleasing enough,” Yue admitted, “so young and innocent. But I prefer the other one; he has a more independent spirit. I should like to tame it.” Li wrinkled his nose in disgust, which Yue ignored. “Cooperate, and I might be tempted to give her to you.”
Li’s head jerked up in surprise at this unexpected offer, and his eyes darted to the image again.
“Why would I want some silly girl?” he scorned, but his words lacked force.
“Because she is very precious to me, and someone else. Naturally she must be well protected. For instance, if I was to place her in your charge, I would allow you to keep that illegal sword of yours.”
The picture disappeared and he tapped the amulet under Li’s shirt with a knowing air, taking the time to savor Li’s horrified expression before turning away.
“I see all and rule all in the labyrinth, young Li, never forget that. You know who your king is.”
He took a few steps and then turned back, tossing something small and round at Li. Mind still reeling from the shock, the boy caught it out of sheer reflex and looked at it without comprehension. It was smooth and rosy-colored peach.
“What’s this?”
“A present.” For a heartbeat Yue’s expression became tender, then quickly hardened into its usual emotionless state. “Make sure he gets it.”
Helplessly Li felt his fingers curl around the peach, caught in the icy grip of those eyes.
“Li!”
Li jumped at the sound of his name and whirled around. Over the top of the wall, he could see Touya standing on the forest floor and looking up at him curiously.
“There you are. What are you doing, hanging around?”
He looked back; Yue was gone, as if he’d never been. Automatically he kept his hand behind his back, keeping the fruit out of sight.
“Ah -” He stopped to clear this throat, swallowing. “Er, how did you get in?”
“I solved the puzzle on the door. C’mon, let’s go.” He turned without waiting and started to make his way through the trees, quickly disappearing under the leafy foliage.
The peach felt warm in his hand, as if persistently reminding Li of its presence. It made his mouth go dry again just looking at it, but he had no choice. He could gain everything, or lose everything. Anyone would do the same.
Under his shirt he kept a small pouch slung over one shoulder, usually to keep some food or any gems he was lucky enough to find. It was small, but empty right now and easily held the peach. He lingered just long enough to tie the drawstrings tight, and then he hurried to follow Touya.

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters

Which Yue do you think is colder, Labyrinth Yue or Pleasure Slave Yue? Cruel in his punishments that he could be, I honestly think PS Yue is shown up just by Labyrinth Yue’s sheer manipulative skill.
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The Labyrinth