MT: Hey there all you CCS and S&S fans! I'm here to assure you that this fic will be entirely S&S! (Gomen nasai to all those who favour different couplings!) I thought I'd give you a bit of insight into the plot of the story, so here it is:
Summary: Li Syaoran is a prince in the wealthy Kingdom in which Sakura now resides. He mourns the loss of his beloved friend and fiancée, his Ying Fa. She has been missing for over 8 years. Avalon Sakura is a young 'peasant girl' whose origins are unknown. What happens when they meet unexpectedly when the prince returns with his troops? What happens when she finds out something that her 'parents' have been hiding from her all these years? What happens when she finds out he has to get married? You'll just have to wait and see...
What do you think? I hope you enjoy it! And please review! I don't mind flames, but please! Constructive criticism! Not just random stupidity! Thank you! Now...*drum roll*...ON WITH THE FIC!
The Golden Rose
By: Mystress Tate
Chapter One: Fulfillment of her Destiny...
As the mist swirled about her head, Sakura found herself in yet another location. She was now by the side of a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains with wildflowers blooming all around; it was spring, though Sakura knew it to be just ahead of midwinter. Gradually, a tune rose from across the lake. It was a beautiful tune, very melodic and graceful, serene and breathtaking. It was being played upon a flute; Sakura recognized that almost immediately, for she herself played the flute. However, this was no flute Sakura had ever heard or seen before in her lifetime. It had a rather eerie sound to it, almost haunting, but Sakura could not discover the maker of this wondrous music. Sakura struggled to see who made the beautiful music, but the mist obstructed her view. In that moment, while Sakura was still occupied in trying to discover the identity of the one making the beautiful music, the mist once again swept her away, but this time she awoke to the sound of someone working in the fireplace.
~***~In the cellar of the Avalon cottage~***~
"Hai, mama, I will do it. I promised I'd do, didn't I?" Avalon Sakura sighed as she took yet another jar of preserves of the shelf and handed it to her mother who was halfway up the ladder of the cellar. She turned and threw her long auburn hair over her shoulder. Her hair was finally reaching her desired length; it came down to her waist with small ripples that just made it shine all the more. Nevertheless, it was her eyes that were her pride and joy...she was the only peasant she of knew who had eyes the same color as hers.
"Hai, that you did, but all I can think of is that last time I asked you to do this for me, you put me off for three hours while you watched the prince's return to the castle."
Sakura sighed. "I guess I did do that, didn't I? But at least I got the job done!" she replied with a rather vacant expression on her face. It had become so easy to just reply to her mother without thinking about it in the least since she had been doing it for over eight years. Unfortunately for her, that was as far back as she could remember, and if she had been able to remember farther, she would have realized that she wasn't where she belonged. She sighed again, thinking back to the day she'd seen the parade that her mother was talking about. 'It's just that he's so darned handsome, I couldn't give up the chance to see him...and this time, I could've sworn he looked my way!' Unfortunately, she soon came back to the present due to a rather vicious remark from her mother.
"Hai, you did, but it took you three hours longer than it would've taken any normal person! When, my dear, are you ever going to learn to keep your head out of the clouds?! I've been trying for the last three months to teach you to focus on the task in front of you and not let yourself drift into daydreams, but you haven't learned one darned thing! What's it going to take to get you to pay attention?! You do realize that without the ability to do these tasks, you'll never find yourself a good husband!" She harrumphed, and quickly climbed back up the stairs carrying three jars of preserves. Sakura smiled. It was just too easy to annoy her mother like this.
'Nevertheless, you couldn't say that she wasn't a good daughter…it was just that sometimes she wasn't…all there, shall we say. In truth, she was a very dedicated daughter and a fine young lady, if only she could learn to keep her head out of the clouds for once in her life!'
"Mother! Now you're the one that should be chastised! You're the one that I've been trying to get to pay proper attention to me for the past five minutes!"
"Well, I've been doing that since you came here, so don't argue that you have it bad!" She quickly took the jars and turned to go up the ladder, and because of that gesture she missed the look of bewilderment on Sakura's face.
'Since I came here? What is she talking about? Haven't I always been here? Wasn't I born here? That can't be…maybe she just got her words mixed up…yes, that must be it...' Sakura smiled inwardly as she walked towards the ladder with four more jars. 'I mean, she wouldn't lie to me, would she?' "Sakura! That's enough! You can come up now!" "Yes, Mother!" 'Of course not, what a silly notion!' And with that, she climbed up the ladder towards her home and her family…
~***~In the carriage of the Royal Family~***~
"Mother! Stop this! Quit being ridiculous! You know perfectly well that what you're thinking of isn't possible with the kingdom in this state, so can you stop trying to force me to do these things that cannot be done!" Xiao Lang was furious. He couldn't believe what his mother, his mother who had promised him he would never have to do anything against his will unless it were for the betterment of their society, was forcing him to...oh, he couldn't even bear the thought of it.
"Oh please, Xiao Lang!" Now his mother was angry too. He smirked. This could only get better from here. "You're the one being ridiculous! You know that this would be good for the kingdom! If only you'd listen to the elders!"
"No, mother, I will NOT listen to the elders for three reasons. One, it's ridiculous; two, it's ridiculous; three, I DON'T WANT TO GET MARRIED!"
"Now, Xiao Lang, you know and I know that I would only pressure you to marry her if there were no other way, and I'm telling you, there's no other way!"
"But I don't believe you! I will not betray her! I WILL not! I CANNOT!
"Really? Well, we'll just have to SEE about that! She disappeared over 8 years ago! Get over her! How do you even know that you'd like the girl anymore?"
"I just do! And besides, I can't believe you would be so insensitive as to betroth me to her sister! Her sister! What were you thinking, mother?! How could you do this to me?!"
Oh, you'll get over it soon enough. It's not like you have a choice in the matter. Now, when we get to their palace, you must behave! When we arrive, you will be given a chance to meet the four princesses...Kinomoto Tomoyo, Kinomoto Chiharu, Kinomoto Rika, and Kinomoto Naoko. They are all of similar age to you, all but Naoko that is. She is much too young for you...only about 14. However, the others are all of age to be married. Now, there will be three balls..."
Xiao Lang groaned and tuned his mother out with a touch of magic. He knew where this was heading. He knew that he would have to go to some stupid ball and dance with the stupid princesses, and then decide which one he liked best. After that, another ball would be held to announce his decision and allow him to make his proposal. However, he also knew perfectly well there was only one way to get out of it...he had to find Sakura...his Ying Fa...his cherry blossom...
~***~At the park~***~
"Sugoi! Sugoi! It's wonderful! They're beautiful! Don't you agree onii-chan?" Avalon Sakura was dancing excitedly on their way home from the market. She had begged her onii-chan to take the longer way through the park so she could see the Sakura blossoms. She twirled around, her long auburn hair floating around her like a halo, causing the petals to spin around with her, like a circle around her body.
Touya sighed. It was obviously going to be a long afternoon. "Hai, kaijuu, I agree."
At the sound of her unwanted nickname, she turned around with a glare on her face. "Touya! How many times do I have to tell you! I am NOT a kaijuu!" She turned her back on him, a pout evident on her pretty face.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say...squirt." Touya smirked. Now she would turn around and get really mad at him for using the other hated nickname...only she didn't. She kept her back to him, only now she was looking at something with awe. Touya came up to her and quickly followed her gaze. Along the path next to the park came the royal carriage. And out the window had floated...a piece of cloth? A coat, perhaps? Touya couldn't be sure from their distance. It was at that moment that Sakura snapped out of her trance, and immediately took off towards the cloak. As she did so, she noticed a young man lean out the window and shout a thank you to her for retrieving the cloak. Little did she know that the cloak would lead to the fulfillment of her destiny...
MT: So, what did you think? Is it good? Is it good? Please tell me! I won't know unless you tell me! So...*pauses*...
Kero: *mumble mumble*...stupid game...*mumble mumble*...
MT: PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! REVIEW! OR... *lightbulb flashes over authoress' head*...I'LL SET KERO ON YOU! Readers: *shrink away in horror*
Kero: What?! Are you crazy woman? I'd NEVER attack my loyal fans! (readers cheer)
MT: Well, fine! I'll set Syaoran on you! He'll help me!...right Syaoran?! (vein popping on forehead)
Syaoran: (shrinks away) Ano...ano...I kinda agree with Kero...as much as I hate to admit it...
Kero: WHAT?! You gaki! Why I just oughta...
MT: KERO!!!
Kero: (shrinks away from authoress' fury)...Yes ma'am?
MT: Do NOT touch Syaoran...EVER! Do you hear me?!?!?!
Kero: Yes ma'am...(sweatdrops) (to readers)...she goes a little bit berserk sometimes I think...
MT: KERO!!!
Kero: (whistles and flies away)
MT: Why you little...(starts chasing Kero across the stage)
Syaoran: Well, it seem that our dear Mystress Tate is too busy to say goodbye, so I'll say it for her...Ja ne!
MT: (stops mad chase for 30 seconds)...and don't forget to review! (begins to chase Kero again)
Syaoran: (sweatdrops) Yes...that too...Ja ne!
