THE KNIGHT'S VOWS
After being nominated to become Princess Sakura's Knight of Clow, Syaoran Li competes to prove his worth to her and the Kingdom. But as he prepares to tackle five difficult tasks, the line between his duty and his heart begin to blur. Syaoran x Sakura
Chapter 1: The Nominations
"Are you sure?" Touya rubbed the bridge of his nose. The meeting had been long, he was tired, hungry and particularly fed up of hearing how 'perfect' Syaoran Li was.
Yukito paced around the room, "I am, your Highness. You know him. The Princess knows him. It only makes sense. Sakura-Hime can trust him. That surely means a lot to you. I mean what's he been away for all this time? Your own Knight oversaw his training! Surely that alone would be reason enough."
Touya continued to rub his nose, irritated. "Yes, yes…" He sighed and slumped back into the chair. "Kurogane?"
"Yes my Lord?" The tall, darkly dressed Knight was seated to the left of the King, his arms folded and eyes narrowed in their usual way. Touya regarded his Knight.
Originally from the neighbouring Kingdom of Japan, Kurogane was an orphan that had been taken in by the Emperor of Japan. After losing his family to bandits, he was left to fend for himself, stealing whatever he could to survive. As time passed, although he was only a young boy, stories of his frightening strength began to spread and eventually reached the ears of the Emperor of Japan. Realising that such strength and skill should not be left unchecked, but rather be honed and disciplined, the Emperor approached Kurogane and gave him the option of joining the Royal guard. Surprising to all, the Emperor included, Kurogane accepted. However, he only remained with them for four years before the Emperor nominated him as a Knight for the Crown Prince of Clow and heir to the Kingdom, Touya.
Kurogane was only fifteen; the youngest ever Knight. Once again, to the surprise of all, Kurogane agreed and travelled to the Kingdom of Clow.
Touya could still remember the day they first met. It was in the throne room of the palace, a formal introduction. He had been scared at first. Kurogane was tall, even more so than his own father. He carried the largest sword Touya had ever seen and was dressed all in black. The young boy couldn't help but think he looked like the villains of his storybooks.
How untrue that had turned out to be.
It only took a few days for Touya to become attached to Kurogane, and soon he even refused to train with the Royal sword masters, insisting that Kurogane was the only friend and teacher he needed. The King and Queen were thrilled that such a bond had developed and they announced the nomination. Following that, with valour and an impressive display of strength and wit, Kurogane completed all five trials. Six-year-old Touya was then bound to Kurogane in a ceremony that would seal them together for the duration of their lives. It was a tradition that had existed in the Clow family for centuries, and one that Touya, despite his fierce independence was grateful for. Kurogane provided a point of honesty and reliability. He was a trusted advisor, Touya's shield in the world, and most importantly his friend and brother.
That was what he wanted for Sakura. Touya rested his cheek against his fist, his attention returning to the matter at hand.
"Syaoran has completed all his training?"
"To the highest standard your Highness, that I can assure you."
"And he returns to Clow tomorrow? For good?" Touya probed further.
"Yes. He stopped for a night in Selece on my instruction. He will arrive tomorrow."
"I see..." Touya chewed his bottom lip, before shaking his head and sighing, "Well, I will need to speak to Sakura before this can proceed any further. Please inform Lady Chii to bring my sister to me before she retires for the night."
"I will do so, your highness." Kurogane stood and bowed slightly. He was about to step away, when he spoke up again, "If I may speak openly King Touya?"
"Of course Kurogane, you know you can."
"As you know, I have overseen Syaoran's training. He can do it. He will do whatever it takes to protect that girl, and he will be able to do it with loyalty and skill. Just as I have for you. He would guard her with his life. I know it."
Touya held Kurogane's gaze for a few moments, "I know it too. It's just…" Touya paused, weighing different outcomes in his mind. "Never mind. This meeting is adjourned for the moment. We will speak, all three of us, with Sakura and Lady Chii tonight. If she is to have a Knight, whoever it may be, we need to get things moving as soon as possible."
…
Sakura eased herself into the tub, wincing as she tried to submerge her body in the scolding lavender water; just the way she liked it. When at last she was able to lean back and rest her head on the bath pillow, she reached over the side of the tub to the little table and grabbed a towel. After ensuring her hands were perfectly dry, she picked up the letter and prepared to read it for what was perhaps the fiftieth time since it had arrived three days ago.
Dear Sakura Hime,
I hope, as always, that this letter finds you well. This is perhaps my last letter to you. In a four days time, I will be returning home to Clow. Soon our conversations will consist of voices, expression and laughter, instead of ink and my poor grammar! I am very excited yet, if I'm completely honest, a part of me feels anxious. I haven't lived in Clow in eight years. I wouldn't go as far as to say that I'll miss this place, but I wonder if I can cope with city life? With Castle life! It will be strange to be back. But no matter how strange it will feel, I can't think of anywhere else in all the kingdoms I'd rather be.
We've changed a lot haven't we? I often read through your old letters and I can see it, I can see how we've both grown, albeit we have quite different lifestyles! This will be our first meeting since we were eleven years old... How strange! I wonder what you will think of me? I think I look the same, just a taller version of what you remember. I think. I suppose I'll let you be the judge.
I must go, I can hear Kurogane calling me. I'm jealous that he will leave before me, but I can be patient. He needs to be back for the King. Even though he often travelled back, I believe it's really pained him to be away from King Touya for so long. As a Knight, I suppose that sense of duty is so great. It still feels unbelievable that King Touya gave his own Knight to train me. It's been a real honour learning under Kurogane. And I'm happy that he will be able to return to the King's side now. I will go and see him off now and return to writing this later.
I'm back. I've just seen Kurogane off. I walked past his room and it's empty. This is so strange! This little house has been home for so long. I think a part of me will be sad to leave. But I'm sure being alone here for three days before I set off for Selece will remedy that! I can already feel the loneliness settling in. It's quite unpleasant. I suppose I should go into the village, there are a few people I will need to say goodbye to. You remember me telling you about Mrs Makino? The baker? I've asked her to send me away with some of those pastries I told you about. I know you will love them. She's a very sweet lady and it will be difficult saying goodbye to her. A few others too. Everyone's treated me really well here.
I suppose I should finish this up. Now that Kurogane isn't here to drill me, maybe I'll go play some sports with the village kids and enjoy the halcyon days while I can!
I guess there's just one more thing to say. I should say it now while I can be eloquent. I think I'd be terrible face to face, I'd mess up my words and you wouldn't have a clue about what I'd be trying to say. So here goes.
Thank you, Sakura-hime.
I am nothing more than a soldier, a warrior. I was never able to write to you about anything interesting, or exotic or appealing to you sensibilities, and I would like to apologise now if anything I ever wrote to you was distasteful, or just horrifically boring. Thank you for writing to me all these years. Thank you for keeping our friendship alive and for providing me with the comfort of home. Thank you for giving me something to look forward to every single week.
These letters from you will mean more you will ever know. So again, I thank you, with every ounce of my sanity, my spirit and my heart.
Take care Sakura-Hime, I'll see you soon.
Your true friend,
Syaoran.
Sakura sighed, dropping the letter on top of the towels, she sank deeper into the hot water, still thinking over his words.
The last one. The last letter. Sakura suddenly found herself feeling very self-conscious. He was right, the next time they spoke it would be face to face. There would be nowhere to hide. Syaoran would see her for everything she was. At least in letters she could take her time to be charming and witty, interesting and topical. In real life, he would be able to see that she was still the slow, completely boring and destructively clumsy girl she had been in their childhood. Moaning at the anxious knot in her stomach she slapped the bubbles around her.
He's grown up so much, and you're still a little girl who knows nothing! He's going to be so disappointed.
…
"Sakura-chan, may I come in?" Chii heard her make a muffled sound of approval and opened the door to find Sakura at her vanity with hair slides in her mouth, trying to comb down a stubborn section of hair. Chii smiled and walked behind her, prompting Sakura to gave up the comb and remove the slides from her lips.
"Thank you. It's just typical that Onii-chan gets my mother's hair, and I end up with father's." See pouted and Chii looked at her in the mirror with a smile. "Your hair is beautiful. In fact, your mother was so pleased that you got your father's hair. She loved him so much she wanted another version of him to exist."
"Do you think I'm more like him then, Chii-chan?" Sakura turned her head slightly to look at the framed picture on her bedside. A beautiful and candid moment that showed her handsome father helping her beautiful mother down from a wall.
Chii smiled again, but there was a little sadness in her eyes, "You and your brother are perfect amalgamations of your parents but in different ways. You have your mother's passion and sweetness and vivacity, Touya has your father's cool and intelligence. But Touya is stubborn like your mother, and you're much more level headed like King Fujitaka. But…" Chii leaned over and retrieved the slides to secure her hair into place, "At least you can hold a note like your mother. Singing is not a talent inherited by male members of the Clow family!" Sakura giggled.
She loved when Chii spoke of her parents. Lady Chii was her mother's Knight, and had been appointed to the post shortly after her engagement to the future King of Clow had been made official. But Chii had known Nadeshiko long before her Knighthood; they were best friends. As a result, Chii was like a second mother to Touya and Sakura. After the death of her mother, Chii had stepped up and provided, as much as she could, a maternal love. She loved Touya and Sakura like her own.
Sakura knew her mother's death at the hands of malignant masses within her own body had broken Lady Chii's heart more than anything. It was a battle which Chii could not win for her Queen. The feeling of utter helplessness had never left her.
"What are you looking so forlorn about?" Chii tapped her head and Sakura, who had been staring at her own reflection, lost in her thoughts, jolted in her seat.
"Oh, sorry Chii-chan. Nothing, just thinking about them." Chii looked into her eyes through the mirror.
"We miss them very much, don't we?" She had a small but sad smile on her face, and it broke Sakura's heart to see her that way. This beautiful and wonderful woman had given her life to two children who weren't her own. After the death of the Queen, she had been released from her duty, and yet she stayed. All out of love.
Sakura gazed at Chii and smiled, her eyes shining, " Yes we do. But we have each other, and that makes me so ridiculously happy."
"You know what, I was just thinking the same thing." Chii replied, her expression matching Sakura's, "Now let's hurry, your brother wishes to see you."
…
"You took your time." Touya eyed Sakura as she strolled in, followed by Lady Chii. "Why are you dressed so slobbish you little monster, this is an important meeting."
Sakura, who was just about to sit down in a chair across from him, spun around on her heel as soon as he'd made the remark, "Onii-chan! It's almost midnight! I had just bathed and was getting ready for bed when Chii-chan came in and told me I had to come and see you!" She glared at him, "Don't expect me to dress up nice for you when you want to call stupid meetings at stupid times." She sat down in the chair and sighed and folded her hands on the table in front of her. "Now what is so important that it couldn't wait till tomorrow?"
Touya glared at her for a moment and she returned it. They held each other's stares for a moment before he sighed and stood up from his desk and walked over to the fireplace.
"I'll just get straight to the point. Sakura, it is customary for members of the Royal family to have a Knight. And as you know, your nineteenth birthday is fast approaching-" Touya moved away from the fireplace and sat in a chair across from her. He rested his arms on the table and leaned towards her, holding her gaze as if to make sure she was listening to his words carefully enough. "You will debut into society soon, and I need reassurances for your welfare. And so, it is time to appoint you a Knight."
Sakura blinked at him. He continued to hold her gaze as she remained silent. She stared back at him for a few moments until she realised he wasn't going to say anything further. "Is that it?" She asked dully.
"What do you mean 'is that it'? This is serious business?" A vein pulsated in his forehead as he tried to stop himself from shouting at her.
"Well with the way you called me into your office, so late at night with Chii-chan and Yukito-san and Kuro-chan, you made it out like there was some sort of life or death situation! Honestly Onii-chan," Sakura puffed her cheeks out and crossed her arms, "Why are you so serious and dramatic about everything. You'll never find a wife if you continue to behave this way."
Touya stood up, "This is a serious matter Sakura. Trialling a Knight is no small feat! It's complicated and dangerous. We need to pick the perfect candidate or else your safety is compromised and I can't have that! I won't!" Sakura straightened up slightly as she detected the genuine anger in her brother's voice, not their usual sibling banter . He was perhaps the most overly protective person on the planet, and whilst it was suffocating at times, she knew it all stemmed from love. She considered herself lucky to have a brother who cared so much.
"I'm very sorry Onii-chan." She spoke clear and direct. "You're right, this is serious. And so, I accept."
"You do?" He turned to look at her.
"Yes." Sakura spoke slowly. "It's tradition. I knew it would come someday. And, like you said, I have to debut soon. So yes, I accept. I can't really say no anyway."
Yukito laughed, "His highness was expecting you to take the news badly I think Sakura-chan. He was giving us a pep-talk prior to you coming in about how you are quite prone to 'tantrums' and we should brace ourselves. You've left him feeling a bit wanting of a reaction now." He chuckled and sat down next to Touya who scowled at him.
Sakura raised an eyebrow, "'Prone to tantrums'?"
"Well then," Touya cleared his throat, "I guess it's time to discuss whom we propose to nominate."
Sakura shuffled her dressing gown around and leaned back. Knowing you, it's probably the entire army! "Ok dearest brother, who do you propose should be my knight? Who have you decided is good enough?"
Touya folded his hand beneath his chin and rested his elbows on the table. He closed his eyes, sighed then fired his gaze directly at her.
"Syaoran Li."
Hmm… well there we go! This wasn't the original chapter… it got lost somehow, so I posted up a very short rough re-write, and now this is the newest and final version. Hope you enjoyed! Please please, review! They really make my day and motivate me to write more. I'm so busy with other stuff, but when I see an email that I have a review, all I want to spend the rest of the day doing is writing, so please even if it's a mean review, it's all good for me :')