Sleeping Warrior Reincarnations. Disclaimer: No, I don't own OUAT or the characters. Just the story.
"Is this really necessary?" Mary exasperated. "Of course, it is, daughter, we are getting to know the culture of our," the king paused momentarily, "friends." The royal family had changed into more comfortable clothing and was walking toward the House of Sakura, an okiya. According to their hosts' explanation, an okiya is a boarding school for women to be dancers, singers, entertainers in general. 'Entertainers,' Mary scoffed as she thought what the true underlying subtext of that of what she assumed, here she was sitting with her father and sister among many of their ambassadors to watch such entertainment. Yes, the dance was entertaining as it was unique, different from the motherland. But all of Mary's bitter thoughts when a certain woman started her performance. She was different from the many, starting with her appearance. Though she had the same amount of make up on, Mary could tell this one was tanner than the rest. She was also taller, which explained why during most of her performance she was on the ground. Even though it was for the slightest moment, the girl made eye contact with the older princess. Mary put a hand on a chest as if that would stop the loud beats she could hear from her heart. "She's pretty," her sister noted. "She's the best in this house, but I hear she's the best in the entire country that every other okiya wants to buy her," said their over-enthusiastic host.
Mary excused herself before departure, briefly saying that she would like to meet the women who performed. "Probably because she can't move her own body that way," she heard her sister joke from afar. Mary noted to get back at her on that soon. In the meantime, she just had to meet that woman. Somehow find her in this vast house. 'Thank the gods,' Mary thought when she had soon found the woman in the gardens, under a cherry blossom tree. Mary found herself to slow her steps, stopping even. Because what she had saw could do no mercy to anything she had seen. It was like watching a beautiful serene painting, only better because it was real. Because this woman was so beautiful. Beautiful didn't even fully define the beauty, the wonder this woman possessed. Mary snapped out of her thoughts when the said girl abruptly turned her head towards her. Mary was at loss of words. She tried to form an apology of some sort, but immediately stopped when she remembered they did not share the same dialect. "Oh, well, this is embarrassing," Mary muttered. "I wish I had actually learned the language or something." She groaned as she put her face into her hands. She peeked between her fingers, unable to show her face out of embarrassment. She was, however, surprised to see an amused face from the rather stoic lady. 'At least she didn't walk away,' Mary thought as she stepped closer, feeling bolder by each step. "I know you probably wouldn't understand what I'm saying, but," Mary smiled, "you were amazing tonight. And I would like to get to know you better during my stay here." Mary let out a small laugh. "I guess the first step would be to find out your name."
Mary was surprised when the woman smiled. She was even more surprised when she received a kiss on her hand, one that was more charming than any gentleman had given. "Saki, is my name," the woman said in perfect English. "It would be my honor to acquaint you, princess."
"And mine to befriend you," Mary answered, not noticing the blush rising in her cheeks.
A/N: Saki means blossom or hope in Japanese.