Ch 2: Hello Hong Kong
Sakura stared with wide, green eyes reflecting the bustling activity around her. Women rode in little carriages, wearing costly, fine silks and velvets, all in the modern styles that kept changing in the capital. Men strutted around in fine suits, looking business-like and imperious. Delicate little shops showed off their goods through their windows.
"There're so much people!" she exclaimed softly, her hands pressed against the expensive windowpane on the pricey horse carriage.
Yurihana, or Yuri, sniffed, turning up her delicate nose at the country girl. She was a pale girl, with long sunshine gold hair and ice-blue eyes that gave her an exotic, goddess-like aura. Her clothes, of course, were of the utmost quality, fitting her thin frame well. She was like an ice-princess; cold to most people, although beautiful and cunning. Underneath her frosty eyes was a calculating mind, one that thought out carefully how to ensnare the most handsome, rich boys in her web.
"It's in that village of yours where there's so little people," Kireinacho, or Kireina, muttered. The younger Kozu daughter had more meat on her bones than her skinny sister; she wouldn't be considered fat, but she was a bit chubby all the same. She constantly tried to diet, choosing vegetables and tofu over the rich meals that were prepared for the family, fit for a king. A little plump or not, Kireinacho was an eyecatcher, always flirting and fussing over her looks. She had ebony black hair, inherited from her mother, with chocolate brown eyes.
Sakura, being who she was, didn't notice, or really pay attention to, any of the two girls' faults. She was a naturally bright and happy girl, with red-brown hair and sparkling emerald eyes. She cared little for clothes, boys, or money; something the Kozu sisters just could not comprehend. Sakura didn't notice the scornful glares sometime directed at her, and the way the two sisters often rolled her eyes and her ignorance of city life.
Shuirobara, or Shuiro, sat primly in the carriage. She was an intimidating-looking woman, with raven-black hair, flashing, dark eyes, milk-white skin and a perfectly sculpted face. Both her daughters inherited their mother's vanity, and Shuirobara made sure to cultivate it, constantly ordering ladies-in-waiting to fix Kireina's hair, or add a bit more make-up on Yuri. But however cold and snappy she was, Sakura thought she was practical and sensible, and that they would get along well enough, if not well.
The carriage rattled along the cobblestone road through the gates that marked the entrance to the Li clan castle. This time, Sakura was too stunned to say anything but a small "Ho-e!" and gape.
The Li clan was royalty, and so, of course, was the richest family. Their castle reflected their vast wealth: spiraling towers and stained glass windows, lush gardens with a rainbow of flowers, guards dressed smartly in their uniforms, a meadow with prancing horses…
Sakura's head whipped this way and that, trying to see everything at once. "Calm down," Yuri said coldly. Sakura just beamed at her.
"But there's just so much stuff!" she exclaimed happily, "I've never seen such grandness!"
"Of course not," Kireina sighed, exasperated, "This is the Li castle, and you're from the countryside." The words "Li castle" and "countryside" were emphasized, but Sakura took no notice of their negative purpose.
They arrived in specially prepared rooms on the second floor within the large castle; the Kozu family, after all, was a prominent member of the high-class rich and famous. The walls were made of creamy marble, the rooms with fluffy down beds. Extravagant paintings adorned the walls, and fresh flowers sat in intricate vases.
"Ho-e!" Sakura exclaimed, running into the main room and twirling around, arms spread out. She saw two separate bedrooms ahead, one for Shuiro and the other for the girls. She heard a stifled yell from behind, and turned.
"She's going to sleep in our room?!" Kireina wailed towards her mother, who seemed to have just broken that news.
"Why can't she sleep in the servant's quarters?!" Yuri demanded.
Shuiro silenced them both with a glare. "I promised dear Fujitaka that we'd take the best of care of Sakura," she said sweetly, smiling towards Sakura.
Sakura managed to smile back, even though Shuiro's expression and the girls' menacing glares caused a shiver to run up her spine, and make her want to run all the way back to Tomoeda, where Otou-san and Onii-chan and Yukito would be waiting, with real smiles on their faces. The smile on Shuiro's reminded Sakura of poisoned-honey.
It was then Sakura realized her relationship with the two sisters didn't seem to be going along all that well, but she was determined to make it better. "We'll be friends in no time!" she thought hopingly.
A loud meow from the doorway got their attention. A battered-looking footman came in, carrying a carrier with a cat inside. The animal was yellow and very small, will small eyes that resembled just dots. Its large ears were catlike, and it had a large head with a small body. A thin tail whipped around angrily, with a little white tuft of fur at its end.
"Kero-chan!" Sakura gasped, rushing forward to take the carrier. "He's a strange one, ma'm," the footman scowled, "He sure made a large commotion for such a little, sweet-looking kitty."
"Sorry," was her reply, as she stroked Kero's (short for Kerberos, actually) head, "He can get a bit feisty."
Yuri and Kireina were edging away from Kero as if he were rabid. "Please, don't go around in public with that thing," Kireina moaned, "If I'm seen with it, my reputation's ruined. It looks like a tiny cat plush animal with an ultra-big head."
Kero hissed, and would've attacked Kireina (most likely chomp on her finger) if Sakura didn't hold him back.
"Lord!" Yuri gasped, "What type of savage creature are you taking care of?!"
"Oh!" Yuri and Kireina suddenly gasped simultaneously, after something through window at the courtyard caught their eyes. Sakura blinked cluelessly as they scrambled and raced out of the room, down the stairs to the outdoors.
"Ho-e?" she chirped as she ran, following them, leaving behind the still-fuming Kero. She noticed, as she went out the door that led into the gardens, that a gaggle of girls was clustered around the courtyard that could be viewed from their room window. Some males were there too, watching something, and all the people were ooh-ing and aah-ing at whatever spectacle they were watching.
Sakura managed to squeeze through the mass of bodies to get an adequate view of what was going on. What she saw surprised her.
A boy dressed in loose but fine Chinese-style clothes whirled around. He had chestnut brown, floppy hair and dark eyes with thick brows, giving him a mature, serious look. His arms and legs flashed as he whipped a decorated sword around, obviously doing some kind of martial arts. The girls around her squealed and clapped, screaming words. Sakura could make out some like, "Ohjisama! ("Prince")" and "Li-sama!", although no one called by his first name.
She started. She was looking at the Li clan prince, sought by almost every girl: Syaoran Li!
Currently, there was no king on the Li throne; there was only Queen Yelan Li. Her husband had passed away a long time ago, leaving her to raise four daughters and a younger son. Syaoran Li was, therefore, the heir to the throne, and whomever he would be married to would be the next queen.
Another footman had come trotting over, and made his way to where the prince was standing. "Ohjisama," he said, bowing, "It is time for the afternoon meal." The boy, however, ignored the footman, and continued on with his practice. The footman hung around nervously, wondering if the prince hadn't heard.
"Syaoran!" a shrill voice from behind yelled. People were pushed away as a figure bounced towards him. "Come on, it's lunch time!" A pretty girl ran to him and glomped him. Sakura resisted the urge to giggle. The prince looked very grim and annoyed as he glared at the girl, and as if he were almost used to it.
The newcomer had black hair tied up in two buns with quite a bit of hair still let down from them. She wore also Chinese-style clothes, but hers were in bright colors, unlike Syaoran Li's.
"Her name is Meilin Li, in case you were wondering," a soft voice whispered in Sakura's ear, "She's Li-sama's cousin, and self-appointed fiancée." Sakura whipped around, and found herself staring into a kind, smiling face.
End of Ch 2
R-E-V-I-E-W-S!!!!!!!!!!!! Por favor!
Sorry, no interaction between Syaoran and Sakura yet, and I feel as if the plot is going along at a snail pace, but… sorry. I just can't seem to quicken the pace, and I'm taking my time introducing all the characters and stuff…
