Chapter 11- Curiosity and darkness
Ruby Moon searched the back of her shrine for a few minutes before she pulled out a silky red box with green designs across it. Ruby turned around and shoved the box into Sakura's hands.
"Here, take this box." she said angrily. "Take this to the underworld, to Sonomi (Proserpia, goddess of the underworld) and say 'My master, Ruby Moon, desires you to send her some of your beauty, for while tending for her sick son she has lost some of her own."
Sakura frowned, upset with herself. Every time she is reminded of Li's sickness, she remembers that it is her fault that he is sick in the first place.
"Be quick." Ruby interrupted Sakura's thoughts. "I need to paint myself with the beauty so I can appear in the circle of gods and goddess tonight."
Sakura stood there in confusion for a long moment. She waited for Ruby to tell her that this was a joke. There was no way she was going to return from the underworld alive.
When she was certain Ruby wasn't going to say anything else Sakura started shaking, but still turned to leave the room. She walked as if she was going to her own funeral, until she heard Ruby's voice.
"Wait."
Sakura turned with a light smile on her face.
I knew she wouldn't do this! This is impossible.Sakura thought to herself
"Here." Ruby had taken a piece of bread from the feed bin and threw it at Sakura, who barely caught it. "I don't expect you will make it back, so make that bread last as long as you can." Ruby smirked evilly.
Sakura turned, with tears in her eyes, and started out towards the towers that hung over the entrance to the underworld. Tears welled up in her eyes. She didn't want to do this, it was asking for death, but if she did survive there would be no way Ruby wouldn't let her see Li again.
I have to do this.Sakura told herself, the tears streamed down her face. I have to.
--
Li was feeling a little better now, his burn wasn't as bad as it had been, but he was still very sad. His servants have been keeping his spirits up with the stories of his wife's success, and after her success earlier that day with the sheep he was in high spirits. Now he was just waiting to hear what the third task was. He had sent Kero to listen in on the shrine, but he was worried. It shouldn't have taken this long for Kero to return.
But as if on cue a little yellow streak flew into his door. One of his servants moved quickly to open the door and let Kero in, in fear that Ruby may return and see him laying there. Kero was out of breath, and he looked rather worried.
"What's happened?" Li asked quietly.
"She... she has to.." he took a deep breath. "She has to go to the underworld and see the goddess Sonomi."
Li was speechless. There was a lump in his throat that prevented him from breathing.
The underworld? This is impossible.. she'll die. Mom! Why? She'll die....
Li's eyes burned with salty tears. He fought them, trying to prevent them from spilling over and down his cheeks, but it was a losing battle. He closed his eyes and wiped the tears away. He kept hearing those dreadful words over and over again in his head.
"She'll die.." he whispered to himself.
There was a deadly silence in the room.
Li pressed his hands onto the bed and pushed himself to his feet. "I.. I can't let her do this." he said in a shaking voice. "I have to stop her." he winced in pain when all of the weight of his body moved to his burnt shoulder. Dream placed her hand on his other shoulder and held him there.
"I can't let you go." Dream said sadly. She wanted to let him go, but she couldn't.
"But she'll die!" Li yelled, not holding back the tears now. "I can't sit by and do nothing!"
"You have to." Dream pleaded with sadness in her voice.
"I can't." Li said, half defeated. "To just do nothing would be a sin." he said quietly now. "It would be as bad if I wrapped my hands around her throat myself!"
Light helped Dream to keep him on the bed. "You can't go." she said in her tiny voice.
"I have to." he said in a shaking voice. "She's going to die." he whispered.
Kero went to the window and struggled to open it.
"Where are you going?" Li asked as if he was hoping Kero would stay and help him.
"I have a message for someone else." Kero said before flying out of the window and letting it slam back down.
No! Who is he going to tell! Li feared his mother was behind it.
--
Kero flew quickly all the way to a big castle in a field of flowers. Shot was standing outside waiting for the little animal. He looked ill, sleep deprived.
Shot came to attention when he saw the golden messenger approaching.
"What's happened?" Shot asked before Kero had a moment to breathe.
Kero ignored Shot for a moment to regain his composure. "She is going to the underworld."
"The underworld?" Shot dropped his head. "She won't make it." his voice was sad.
"Why do you guys keep saying that?" Kero asked almost in a stern voice.
"What do you mean?" Shot asked hiding the pain in his eyes.
"You and Syaoran both have such little faith in her. The first two tasks were impossible too and yet she made it through those just fine."
"With your help! She didn't do it alone, and who is going to help her in the underworld!" Shot replied in an almost angry voice.
"I didn't help her with the second task, Spinel did." Kero replied. "Her kindness is what helped her, so maybe if you have some faithshe may be able to make it." Kero sighed.
Shot looked at the ground. He couldn't imagine having faith in such a hopeless cause. There are demons and man eating beasts in the underworld.
"It will be Sakura's kindness that kills her in this task." Shot said sadly.
"How?" Kero sounded shocked.
"She would be the one to stand in front of Cerberus and say 'Oh, you're hungry, then please devour me! I will gladly die to make you comfortable." Shot sighed, but he couldn't help but smile at the thought of the princess.
Kero flew over and sat on Shot's shoulder and patted his head. "She'll be ok. She always finds a way."
"I know." Shot lied.
"Now... I'm starving." Kero said with a hidden order in his message.
Shot took one look at the sky and sent up a prayer.
Take care of her... please..
And he turned and entered the castle with Kero on his shoulder.
--
Sakura's tears had dried up by the time she reached the top of the high tower on top of a hill. She had heard that there was an entrance to the underworld through the tower.
She walked slowly over to the edge and gripped the cold metal bars tight in her delicate hands. She hanged her hand and looked at her dress.
I am mear shreds of the princess I used to be. she scolded herself.
Her clothes were torn, her hair was a mess, and she was dirty. She hadn't had the chance to bathe since the night she stayed in her family's castle.
If Li could see me now he would turn his head in disgust. I am a mess. she scolded herself again.
The wind blew and her hair bounced gently. She looked out across the land, searching for help.
Anxiety built up in her heart. Every moment made the cause seem more and more hopeless.
"I can't..." she said aloud, tears welling up again.
She closed her eyes tight, trying to hold back her tears and to swallow the lump in her throat. When she opened her eyes she had a stern look and walked back to the center of the tower, preparing to descend the steps and enter the darkness below her.
"Why, poor unlucky girl, are you decending to your death. Last time I checked, humans ran from the underworld, not decend into it prematurly." a feminine voice rang out.
Sakura spun around to see who was speaking with her, but there was no one there.
"Don't bother looking for me, you can't see me." the voice laughed.
"What are you?" Sakura asked.
"A friend." the voice replied. "My name is Rika, I am just a spirit."
Sakura smiled gently at the voice, but her smile didn't hide the sadness in her eyes.
"Why are you so afraid of this task when you have so flawlessly accomplished the others?" Rika asked.
"In the other tasks I had help. Kero helped me separate the feed and Spinel halted the river's fury! No one wants to help me into hell." Sakura said sadly.
"Oh, of course." Rika said. "You have to pass Cerberes and Charon to even get to Sonomi's realms."
Sakura frowned at the ground.
"It is a nearly impossible feat." Rika said.
This wasn't helping Sakura's mood. "But I have to do it." Sakura said. "I have to see Li again."
"Good." Rika said with al laugh. "Then let me help you!"
"You'll help me?" Sakura smiled brightly. "Are you mad?!" she asked.
"I guess I am." Rika laughed. "Your first task is getting past Cerberus. He is an easy task, just give him this." The spirit went silent for a moment, and then Sakura saw a floating cake.
"A cake?" Sakura questioned. Rika must really be mad.
"Yes! Cerberus loves sweets, and there isn't many sweets going through the underworld." Rika handed Sakura the cake. "You will also need this." Rika dropped coins into Sakura's hands.
The princess stared at the coins for a long moment.
"Those are to pay Charon, this will cover your trip across the Styx and back." You could hear the smile in Rika's voice.
"Why are you helping me?" Sakura asked. "Not that I'm not grateful."
"I am just a fan of doing the right thing." Rika said. She laughed. "And I'm not a fan of Ruby Moon."
Sakura smiled. "Thank you so much." She turned to descend into the underworld again.
"Wait." Rika stopped Sakura. "There is somthing else you need to know."
"What?" Sakura listened carefully.
"When Sonomi gives you that box, do not look into it. Absolutely do not."
Sakura gave a questioning look.
"A goddess' beauty is only for the eyes of a goddess." Rika said. "Now go, go on to hell while you're still breathing." Rika laughed at her oxymoronic statement.
Sakura smiled politely and finally decended the depths into the underworld.
--
The dark misty underworld smelled of mildew and death. It would have been dark as the grave if it wasn't for the torches hanging every ten feet on the walls.
Sakura walked slowly, observing every detail of the world around her. It was damp and dark, not a very friendly sight. The princess always tried to find the good in people and in places, but she couldn't really find anything in the darkness that was pleasant to look at.
She wandered in the silence for a few minutes before she heard a low, menacing growl. Sakura took a deep breath.
It must be Cerberus.. she though to herself.
She took a few more steps and entered a huge room through a twelve foot opening in the wall. What she saw horrified her. A monstrous three headed dog that filled half of the room. One head growled and barked with white foam stringing from it's jaws. Another head yelped and bit at the growling head, and the final head howled and bared it's teeth. The large black dog yanked around like it was fighting itself, that is, until it saw her.
The black dog crouched down and growled loudly at her, it prepared to run at her, to pounce on her, to tear her limb from limb and fight for the greater amount of her.
She was frozen in fear. She didn't know what to do, and if she didn't do anything she was doomed to die.
Her feet were glued to the floor.
The dog growled, flexing it's muscles, only moments from pouncing.
Her legs shook.
The dog pounced.
Sakura put of her arms to defend herself.
This is it! It's over. I'm so sorry Li!
Sakura stood there quivering, waiting for the sharp feeling of fangs tearing her flesh, but she didn't feel anything.
Her eyes remained closed. Am I dead? Did it eat me whole?
She slowly opened one eye and look over her cargo in her arms. The dog was sitting in front of her, his tail wagging and beating against the ground. All three heads were at attention, each with what almost looked like a smile on their lips.
Sakura's heart started beating again, she almost wanted to laugh at the irony, the pure luck.
Why aren't they eating me? she asked herself.
The middle head, the howler, bent down and nudged the large cake in her hands with his nose.
The cake!
She smiled gently at the beast and extended the cake out. The dog sat up and panted happily. Sakura sat the cake at it's feet.
The three heads bent down and took turns eating the cake.
Sakura couldn't help but smile. What just a few moments ago was a great beast was acting like three good little puppies. She couldn't contain her curiosity. While the monster was eating the cake she slowly extended her hand and gently ran her fingers through it's fur. It's tail wagged again, as if it were happy to be petted.
"You're just a big puppy, aren't you fella?" she asked, letting her love for animals take her over.
After a few moments of petting Cerberus she finally walked by the dog into the next room.
--
It was like a whole new world under ground. The blackness seemed to ooze with mucky water, and droplets of it fell from a ceiling that was far to high to see. If Sakura didn't know better she would think it was raining.
She was catious as she walked, afraid of what she would see, but she heard it before she saw it.
She heard the moans and cries of many people.
As she walked through the murky fog she started to see more clearly. There were hundreds of people wading around like ghosts. Their cries and moans rang out echoing in the underworld.
She tried to ignore them, but agony filled the air. She breathed it in and could feel their pain with every step she took.
These were the spirits of the people who couldn't pay Charon. They are doomed to wander the shore of the river Styx for one hundred years.
Charon was not bias to any one. As she walked she saw just as many women as men. Women who seemed like decent mothers and house wives. As she walked by the figures tears welled in her eyes. Not all of them were bad. She looked into the faces of the people she passed and pictured her family. A nice father doomed to wander, a beautiful mother, her sisters, and on one teen aged boy she could see a reflection of her brother in his eyes. She let the tears stream now.
This is terrible. she thought.
Finally she made it to the shore. There was a small boat, and on it was a man that was nothing but skin and bones. He was leaning on his oar and he watched the ghosts as they wandered around him. Sakura took a deep breath and approached him.
"Who're you?" He asked when he saw her. "You're not dead."
"Ruby Moon sent me." She said in as strong a voice as she could conjure through her fear. "I need to see Sonomi."
"Well," the skeleton man grinned. "That'll cost you." and he put out his skinny hand.
Sakura dropped the coins into his outstretched hand. "That should cover my trip there and back, right?" she asked in a shaking voice.
Charon looked at them for a long moment, jingling the coins in his hands before dropping them into his pocket. "Yeah, that'll do. Hop on." he stepped aside and let the princess onto the ferryboat.
--
Sakura had never had a more dreadful boat ride. Charon did everything right, it wasn't a bumpy ride, but as she went she watched the faces of those trapped on shore. One face stuck out to her, the face of a small child. The boy was cold and shivering with tears in his eyes, but he didn't have any money. The devil Charon wouldn't let him pass without money. Sakura's eyes fell to the river, hoping to find an escape from the horrors she saw, but there was no comfort in the river. She saw spirits trapped in it's waters being dragged down stream. Finally she just placed her eyes on Charon's feet and didn't look back up.
The silence was long and awkward.
"This'll be a bit of a trip." Charon said to break the silence.
Sakura didn't reply.
"You want to hear something interesting?"
Sakura didn't reply.
"If you make a promise on this river it cannot be broken." Charon told her any way.
Sakura thought for a long moment. "Really?"
"Yeah, you have to keep your word or there will be.. dire consequences." he said with a sinister grin.
Sakura was silent for a moment. "I vow to see Li again, even if it is the last thing I do." she promised the river.
The river started to glow, but only for a second, and she heard something of a small sigh.
"I hope you can keep that promise, girly." Charon said. "Or else I hope your family buries you with money." he laughed.
--
Sakura stepped cautiously off of the ferryboat and looked wide eyed at the large black castle before her. It seemed like something out of a child's nightmare, or a painting from someone with a melancholy heart.
"There'll be guards at the front gate that'll take you to her." Charon said with a grin.
Sakura nodded at him. She closed her eyes and pictured Li in her mind. She pictured their reunion, and the idea of being with him made her heart strong.
She smiled gently and with shaking legs approached the castle slowly.
Standing outside of the twelve foot doors were guards that put one in mind of Charon. Mearly flesh and bones. One of them looked down at her with their eyes embedded far back in their sockets.
"What business do you have here?" he asked in a deep scratching voice.
Sakura held out the box Ruby had given her. "I was sent by Ruby Moon to have a conference with Sonomi."
The guards exchanged glances.
"Ah, you are Ruby's little toy." The other guard said in a less intimidating voice then the other. "Follow me."
It took the two of the to open the large, heavy doors. The guard stepped aside and let Sakura in first and the two of them left the other guard at the front gates. The door closed with a loud thud.
The castle was full of long, dark corridors. Sakura didn't understand how the guard was so confident in his directions. Everything looked the same. Cold and dark. It was a labrynth of black walls, white vases, red roses, and spider webs.
The guard led Sakura through many of these hallways and up a flight of stairs before he finally stopped infront of a door and knocked.
"Who is there?" a woman's voice rang out from inside the room.
"You have a visitor." The guard said, and then he smirked. "It is Ruby Moon's toy." he added in a playful voice.
Only a moment later Sonomi opened the door. Sakura stared for a moment at the goddess. Her short brown hair was cut in a strange way, one side being longer then the other, yet it was very pretty. Sakura smiled. There weren't many women in this time who would have short hair. Sonomi smiled down at Sakura.
"My, you are a pretty little child." she said
"Thank you." Sakura replied with a smile. She disagreed greatly with Sonomi, however. Sakura felt that she looked terrible in her current state.
"Come in." Sonomi said.
Sakura walked in.
The room was large, and there was a banquet spread across a table. It was beautiful, and the food looked so much better then the hard bread that was sitting in Sakura's stomach.
Perhaps she will let me... She shook her head. No! The quicker I get this done, the quicker I get to see Li. she thought to herself.
"Take a seat." Sonomi said with a gentle smile.
"No, thank you." Sakura politely declined. "I'm afraid I don't have much time."
"Oh really?" Sonomi asked, taking a seat and staring at the girl. "Where must you go?"
"Ruby Moon must have this box back in time for the gathering tonight." Sakura replied.
"There is still plenty of time before then." Sonomi said with a grin.
"I am a slow walker." Sakura lied.
Sonomi smirked. She knew what was going on. "You miss him, don't you?" Sonomi asked.
Sakura looked shocked. "You know about that?"
"Ruby is not a subtle person." Sonomi said in a tone that hinted that she wasn't fond of her fellow goddess. "And she is quite the loud mouth, I'm afraid most people know about it."
Sakura frowned at the ground. "I'm probably not highly thought of, am I?" Sakura sighed.
"I'm afraid not... or not to those with closed minds." Sonomi said with a grin. "I like you, and I cannot condemn you for being curious."
Sakura smiled at her. "Thank you so much." It made her feel good to hear what she did wasn't a terrible thing.
"Besides." Sonomi started. "You remind me of myself in a way."
Sakura was shocked. To be compared to a goddess by a goddess, that is a great honor. "Thank you so much. I am honored that you would say that about me."
"You're so formal." Sonomi smiled. "You're adorable." She laughed. "So what is it that Ruby wants?" Sonomi finally asked.
Sakura extended the box out, and sighed. "My master, Ruby Moon, desires you to send her some of your beauty, for while tending for her sick son she has lost some of her own."
Sonomi laughed. "Well rehearsed." she took the box from Sakura's hands and walked to the other room.
Sakura started at the food on the table and argued with herself about whether or not she should eat it. Before the argument was over Sonomi entered the room again and gently placed the box back into Sakura's hands.
"Here you are." She said. "Make sure this gets back to Ruby Moon." she grinned. "Now you better hurry, you don't have much time."
Sakura smiled and nodded at Sonomi. She stared at the food and wished she had grabbed some, and then she took her exit.
--
I have to go get her. Li thought to himself.
He had made all of his servants leave so he could get some decent rest, but honestly he was feeling much better.
If I hurry I may be able to catch her before Charon. He told himself. That is if Cerberus didn't get her. He shook that thought from his mind and he pushed open window. He looked back to make sure no on was there.
I'm coming for you Sakura.
He pushed himself out of the window and spread his wings.
Just wait for me.
--
It didn't take near as long for Sakura to get out of the underworld. Charon was waiting on her, and Cerberus was napping.
Presently Sakura was standing several hundred feet from the entrance to the underworld.
Li, I will see you soon. she thought with a smile on her face. I have done the impossible and risked my life, yet I would do it over again for the chance to be with you.
She paused and looked down at the box that contained the beauty.
And yet I have nothing to give you, and nothing to show for it. If you saw me now all you would see was a dirty, rag covered remains of what I used to be.
She placed her hand on top of the box.
Just a little peek. I have worked hard for this, and you deserve to see me at my best. Li.
She hesitated before pulling the edge of the lid up, but she saw something she didn't expect. A purple smoke floated out of the box, and Sakura breathed it in.
She went into a coughing spell, and when she looked down at her hands she saw that she had coughed up blood.
"What...'s going on?" she said between coughs.
She fell to the ground and landed on her face and in a moment her eyes were closed and her breathing slowed. And then there was nothing.
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