WHOOOOOOOOOA it's been over a year since my last update. I have been busy with the real world lately... but I needed an escape, so I decided to write this chapter! I was debating on this story or Vampire Hunter, but in the end I felt like feudal Japan so I chose this XD
Sorry for the long update! This chapter is pretty long though:) and I promise that over the Christmas break, I WILL UPDATE VAMPIRE HUNTER!!!!!
So please stay tuned :)
Read, review, fave ;)
,¸¸,ø¤º°°º¤ø,¸¸,¸¸,
ஐ+ Thousand Year Love Story + ஐ
ஐ千年戀物語ஐ
Chapter 2 – Under the Sakura Trees
ஐ
ஐ
,¸¸,ø¤º°°º¤ø,¸¸,¸¸,¸¸,ø¤º°°º¤ø,¸¸,¸¸,
Year 1185 of the Kamakura Period
The sky was blue and clear, with the sun shining down in its magnificent glory upon the imperial palace. The royal residence appeared to be in a bustling and upbeat atmosphere, as many were scurrying from one place to another while carrying various items. Some servants could be seen with baskets filled with bottles of sake and mochi, while some courtesans were busying themselves with preparing instruments and elaborate kimonos.
"The sun has already risen!" a man called out, "Hurry with your preparations!"
Despite the business, many seemed to be enjoying themselves; the cherry blossoms were dancing in the breeze around them, creating a relaxed and beautiful setting. The pink petals gracefully fell down from the trees, making the ground its dominant color.
Away from all the fuss, a woman dressed in an elegant purple kimono was walking into a house that branched not too far from the royal family's chambers. She held her flowing robes embroidered with lotus blossoms, stepping gracefully from the stepping stone and onto the wooden platform. Quietly, she slid through the paper doors and into the chambers within.
The woman smiled slightly as she was inside the room; this room was separated from the bedchamber of the occupant for recreational use. The bookshelf was filled with advanced reading materials, and some were scattered on top of the desk beside it. What made her smile, however, was the series of meaningless poems and paintings that were clearly the works of a young child; they were all signed "Kinomoto Sakura," and were preciously mounted on the walls in a decorative manner. The oldest work was a simple drawing of the princess holding a chestnut-haired boy's hand and riding her horse with him; the most recent was a poem that read, "No matter what happens, no matter where I stand, no matter where you stand, the time we shared and the memories we share will not change."
The woman's smile became slightly bitter upon reading the poem, but she pressed on forward, past the messy arrangements of paper and books on the floor. She soundlessly opened the doors to the bedchamber and couldn't help but roll her eyes.
Syaoran Li was leaning against the wall, holding his sword in one hand and his body turned towards the open window. The cherry blossom petals had fallen into his room, and were emitting a pleasant fragrance. He seemed at ease, almost at peace, with a softened and unguarded expression that he rarely displayed when awake.
With a soft smile, the woman carefully approached him, but within a moment, a sword was pointed at her throat.
Syaoran's peaceful expression was nowhere to be seen; his eyes were glaring at the woman with no emotion, until he recognized her. She couldn't help but shiver at his eyes, no matter how many times she had seen them before. There was a reason for this man being the "Demon," and the number one assassin in the country.
"Tomoyo-sama," he sighed tiredly, "Please forgive me." He sheathed his sword and ruffled his messy hair. "However, I must tell you to stop sneaking into my chambers to try catching me off guard."
Tomoyo giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. "I'm sorry, Syaoran. But it is just so rewarding to see your sleeping face." Her long black hair swayed in the breeze, and she took in a deep breath to take in the scent of the cherry blossoms. "But really, you have a warm and comfortable set of futons. You should really use them sometime."
Syaoran shrugged. "At times, I feel more comfortable being in discomfort." He took a petal from the floor and smiled tenderly. "It is finally spring."
She nodded. "She is finally sixteen."
He smiled again. "And it is finally her favourite time of the year."
"The princess requested that you have breakfast with the royal family today," Tomoyo smiled, "We should leave soon, if you do not want to hear her complaining about your tardiness again."
Syaoran sighed, glancing out the window. The sun was already bright; how long had he slept for? He certainly did not want to displease the princess on her birthday. He grinned sheepishly. "I guess today is the day I should wear what she gave me for my own birthday."
"That will certainly make her happy, yes," Tomoyo agreed with a soft laugh. "Eriol-san is also waiting for us. You better hurry."
Syaoran nodded as she exited his chambers to allow him to change. With a small smile, he reached inside his wardrobe and took out the dark green and black kimono that Sakura had given him for his eighteenth birthday. As he washed his face, he kept glancing over at it, remembering how happy she had been when he told her it fit perfectly. She had decided upon the fabric and colors herself, and personally embroidered his name on his sleeve.
As he dried his face, he turned over the sleeve to look at his name, allowing himself another smile. He swiftly put on his robes, having given up on trying to straighten his hair a long time ago, all the while hiding several weapons underneath and tying his sword to his waist. Before he exited, he remembered to grab the princess's gift; it was something he had seen while he was outside the castle grounds, and he knew that she would love it. He wished that he could take her outside the castle more often, as she adored the outside world; however, it was dangerous times in Japan, and the princess was too precious to be exposed to harm.
"Good morning, Syaoran!" called Eriol cheerfully, waving with one hand and holding Tomoyo's hand with the other.
Syaoran smiled and bowed his head politely. Eriol was the financial advisor to the emperor, and from a powerful noble family; Tomoyo was the princess's cousin, who was known for her musical and artistic talents. The couple had been betrothed upon birth due to political connections, but they were also the rare case; they both were hopelessly in love with each other. Sakura would always dreamily go on about how lucky they were and how she could not wait until the wedding, which was to be held next month.
"Did you get some good rest, or did Tomoyo-san disturb you?" chuckled Eriol.
Tomoyo frowned slightly, hitting Eriol's shoulder. "I happened to wake him up in time. Syaoran himself would have not like it if he slept in on a day like this!"
Eriol grinned at Syaoran. "I know, I know. I just love teasing you."
Tomoyo blushed slightly and hit him once more.
Syaoran smirked and moved aside to allow them to enter the dining hall first. Eriol and Tomoyo bowed down respectfully towards the imperial family.
"Good morning, your highnesses. And I congratulate you upon your sixteenth birthday, princess," said Eriol with a smile.
Fujitaka nodded with a pleasant expression, with his empress, Nadeshiko whispering about how their wedding was approaching. "Good morning to you, as well. Please have a seat."
"Good morning!" grinned Sakura, "And thank you!"
As Syaoran entered, some courtesans began to whisper among themselves. Syaoran fully knew what they were glancing over at him constantly about. They found his rare attendances in events such as this was inappropriate; he was an assassin, found to be dirty and defiled and not worth being presented in front of the imperial family. Syaoran did not particularly enjoy attending such events either; he agreed that he was too defiled. However, his only reason for agreeing to attend is because the imperial family favoured him, especially the princess. They had saved his life, and this was among the least he could do for them.
He bowed down, lowering his sword in respect. "Good morning. I am glad that the day is befitted for the princess's birthday."
Fujitaka gave Syaoran a warm smile. "Thank you for coming, Syaoran."
Sakura beamed at Syaoran wordlessly. However, her smile was enough to explain her feelings to Syaoran, and he quietly smiled before seating himself beside Eriol.
All throughout the meal, Syaoran found himself glancing at the princess as always, smiling whenever she did. This was the only time he truly felt human; the princess made him feel. No matter what he did, no matter who he killed, she always smiled for him. She never changed around him. She was the reason he was still sane over the years.
Sakura was precious to him more than anything else in the world.
He lived for her, and he would gladly die for her.
The Sakura Festival, as well as the Princess's birthday festival, was well underway by the afternoon. The palace was filled with laughter and music, and outside the palace the commoners were also celebrating.
Syaoran knew that Sakura wanted to experience the commoner's festival, and had secretly asked the Emperor for permission to take her outside the castle walls for an hour or two. Fujitaka trusted Syaoran, and thus agreed without hesitation. Now Syaoran was sitting on a platform, watching Tomoyo sing in front of many nobles and the imperial family.
Tomoyo's beautiful voice filled the courtyard, being well-suited with the graceful cherry blossoms. Syaoran smirked as he noticed the evident pride and smitten look on Eriol's face. The next moment, he realized that Sakura had moved directly next to him with a huge smile.
"Thanks for coming to breakfast, Syaoran. I know you don't really like it when nobles are present," she whispered, holding up a bottle of sake. "Here. I wanted to pour for you!"
Syaoran smiled before nodding and holding out his cup respectfully. He watched as her small, soft hands carefully poured the white sake into his cup, and her face lighten into a grin when she finished.
"I'm really glad you attended. I know you must be exhausted from your work."
Syaoran shook his head. "Anything for you, hime," he took a sip, "All I need is your smile to keep me going."
Sakura blushed profusely upon his comment, causing Syaoran to laugh. She was too cute. She laughed as well. "I love it when you laugh, Syaoran," she giggled, "I wish I could see you more often."
Syaoran smiled. "For you, hime, I would laugh even if I'm sad."
"No!" she frowned, "Laugh only when you're truly happy! I want you to cry or at least tell me when you're sad. I'll always listen to your worries!"
He found himself patting her head, just as he had done when she was a child. "Your word is my command."
She stuck her tongue out, scrunching her face. "Ah, I wish I could change out of this attire. It's so heavy." She gestured at her elaborate kimono, which was richly detailed with Sakura blossoms and petals cascading down the black and pink robe. She took a sip of her fruit wine, spilling some on her hand and lips. "Oops."
With a sigh, Syaoran pulled out the black handkerchief with golden flowers that Sakura had given him ten years ago without much thought. Sakura stared at it, awed. "You still have it?"
Syaoran felt himself blush slightly. "Of course. I keep everything that you give me, princess."
Sakura smiled shyly. "And I know you have all those poems and paintings I gave you when I was little! I'm happy, but at the same time embarrassed! I'll give you a new handkerchief and give you more poems and paintings, so please hide the old ones!"
Syaoran grinned. "No can do, hime. I can't bear to throw anything out from you. It's too precious."
It was her turn to blush again. "Fine. I understand, because I have everything you gave me in the past too."
Syaoran cringed. "Are you telling me that you still have my old paintings mounted in your chambers as well?"
"See? You have the same response!" Sakura giggled. "And of course I do. They're actually quite nice."
It was late afternoon now. The festivities were not ceasing, however. They would not cease until the night ended. Syaoran glanced at the majority of the crowd, who were now watching geisha performances and conversing over sake.
Syaoran looked back at Sakura, reaching over to brush off petals from her hair. "Princess, do you want to go somewhere else?"
Sakura's eyes lit up. "Yes!"
He laughed again. "I haven't even told you where I will take you. What if I told you I was going to take you to the edge of a cliff?"
Sakura grinned. "I trust you with my life, Syaoran. I would go wherever you want to take me."
Syaoran felt a dull pain in his heart. Her comment was bittersweet to him. However, he forced him to smile once more before nodding. "I will never betray you."
"I know," she giggled, "Now, take me to wherever you wanted to take me."
As the two retreated from the palace, Eriol and Tomoyo could be seen staring after their backs with a sad expression.
"Fate is cruel," Tomoyo said quietly.
Eriol nodded. "It pains me to see the two of them."
Without knowing what their close friends were saying, Syaoran and Sakura were soon outside the palace gates, once they had found a less elaborate kimono for Sakura and something to cover her face with.
"Could I hold your hand?" Sakura asked as soon as they were outside the palace.
Syaoran raised an eyebrow. However, upon her innocent happiness, he couldn't resist granting her wish. He wordlessly grasped his small, soft hand in his bigger, rougher one. Syaoran felt his heart racing, and told himself to get a grip on himself. He was acting like a hormonal teenage boy. He was merely holding her hand because she wished to do so, and it was safer than allowing her to be far from him.
Unbeknown to him, Sakura was suffering in a similar fashion, but she was not denying her heart. She knew that she loved Syaoran. She loved him ever since they were children. She knew they could not be together. She cursed Clow Reed for making Syaoran into an assassin; he was the one person she truly detested in this world. If Syaoran was not an assassin… he could have become something more acceptable. She would not have cared if Syaoran was a stable boy, but she knew that him being an assassin made them impossible to come true. That's why she admired Tomoyo and Eriol's relationship so much; they truly loved each other and they were socially befitted for each other. If Sakura was not a princess, she would have pursued Syaoran without thought. But she was a princess. Her body and heart was not truly hers.
However, today was her birthday, and she allowed herself to be happy. She squeezed Syaoran's hand harder, laughing excitedly as they approached the commoner's festival. Sakura pulled Syaoran towards the food stands, admiring the different delicacies. She bought two of everything she found to her liking, always handing Syaoran one first before biting into hers, and never letting go of his hand.
She loved the feeling of freedom. She was freely holding the hand of the person she loved, eating what she wanted, walking without a dozen maids and guards surrounding her… She knew the reality. She knew this was a temporary dream. She knew that she was of age, and that soon she would have to marry a stranger who would benefit the imperial family. Only if Syaoran was a prince… If only she was not a princess… Sakura felt tears welling up in her eyes. However, she swallowed them and grinned at Syaoran.
"This is really good!" she giggled.
Syaoran nodded with a soft smile.
Sakura loved his smile. It hurt whenever she saw him injured, covered in blood after returning from his work. She knew he hated it when she saw such things, but she wanted to see every side of Syaoran. She was sorry she couldn't protect him from such a cruel fate. She was sorry she had no power. So all she could do is smile for him. He told her that his priority was her happiness. So she tried to offer him the same. She wanted to make him feel happier.
She noticed that he was staring at something; upon following his gaze, she found a bracelet with a little cherry blossom in the center. She smiled. She pretended to busy herself with admiring a set of fans displayed in the cart next to it. And as she predicted, Syaoran swiftly purchased the bracelet and hid it in his pocket.
This was the best day she had ever had.
Time passed by too quickly; soon, they were sitting on a bench beneath a Sakura tree, looking at all the things they had bought.
"Takoyaki for Tomoyo and Eriol, Okonomiyaki for father and mother, a small model of a katana for onii-sama, art scroll for Yukito-san…"
Syaoran smiled, brushing off more petals from her hair. He quietly handed her the bracelet he had bought earlier and the wrapped gift that he had prepared beforehand. "Happy birthday, hime."
Sakura beamed at him, immediately putting the bracelet on. She hurriedly unwrapped the present, uncovering an intricately detailed silver dagger and a hair ornament that formed a blossom with beads of their favourite colors; green and pink. It was simple and plain, but it appealed to her; it symbolized that Syaoran also valued their relationship as much as she did.
"I am giving you the dagger because I want you to be safe at all times. And now that you are of age, you should be able to defend yourself if your guards fail you," said Syaoran quietly.
"But you'll always protect me if everyone else fails," said Sakura with a knowing look.
"To the best of my ability, yes," he nodded, his amber eyes crinkling in a smile. "And that ornament… It is not as elaborate as the ones you have now, but it has a simple charm."
"I love it," she said sincerely, "Thank you so much."
Syaoran blushed slightly with a cough. "It's really nothing."
Sakura giggled before carefully putting the dagger inside her robes. She handed the ornament to Syaoran. "Please put it on for me."
Syaoran hesitantly reached for it and slowly brought it to her hair, as if she would break upon his touch. Sakura's heart was beating fast as he placed it in between her hair, his long fingers brushing against her scalp as he did so. He smiled. "It looks good on you."
To hide her blushing face, Sakura hurriedly handed him a small package. "Here. I didn't have a chance to give you this before."
Confused, Syaoran opened the package, his eyes slightly widening. It was a green silk handkerchief, with his name and other simple patterns embroidered in a fashion that he could recognize anywhere. She had made this especially for him.
"I didn't think you would still have that handkerchief," she blushed, "I'm happy, but this time it's something I wove, so I want you to use it."
Syaoran gave her a sincere smile. "Thank you very much."
Sakura couldn't help but redden even more. Then she did something even she did not expect she would do.
She leaned in and pressed her lips against his.
Her face brightened even more than before. She was about to pull back, but Syaoran unexpectedly put his hand behind her neck and pulled her in even more.
He didn't know what had come over him; he couldn't help but deepen the kiss, although his mind was screaming for him to stop. He should be hanged for this. But his body was not listening. He knew that he had to pull away now, or he would not be able to stop…
Sakura took a deep breath as Syaoran's tongue slid past her lips. She knew it was inappropriate, but it felt too right at the moment… so she simply let herself melt into his strong arms and taste him. She loved the feeling of his hand holding her face, of her body being in his embrace…
It was her first kiss, and she was beyond happy that he was the one.
For Syaoran, it was certainly not his first; he was a man of eighteen, after all. However, kissing the one he had placed before him for ten years left him speechless. It was something he could not even dream about, as it was beyond forbidden… He knew that… but…
A sharp pain jolted him awake from the dreamlike state; bringing him to reality. He pushed Sakura away from him, turning around and placing him in between the attacker and her. Sakura, holding her swollen lips, realized with shock that there was a dagger buried in his shoulder blade; blood was oozing out of the wound, yet he was steadily holding Sakura's arm and maintaining a protective stance.
"Who are you?" he called out, already having drawn his sword.
A slender figure dressed in black appeared before him, holding no visible weapon. Her black hair was tied high in two pony tails, and her ruby eyes glittered dangerously.
"I already know who you are, so I guess it's only polite I give you my name," she smirked, "I am Meilin Li. You're the royal family's dog, correct?"
He flinched inwardly. A Chinese assassin, like him. "Who are you working for?"
"Someone who does not appreciate such a talented assassin like you working for the emperor," she snickered, "Sorry to disturb your little romance, but I couldn't stand watching the most dangerous man in the country be so smitten over a little girl like that."
Sakura blushed behind him, covering her face even more.
Syaoran growled. "Watch your words, woman." With a short grunt, he pulled out the dagger and threw it back towards her in an instant.
"Be careful," she laughed mockingly, catching it without hesitation. "I just wanted to greet you for today. And treat this as a warning as well; the imperial family will soon fall. If you want to live, come find me soon. I wouldn't want such a skilled Chinese assassin burned alive for being with the wrong side."
He glared at her dangerously. "What do you mean by that?"
"Until we meet again, Xiao Lang," said Meilin before disappearing into the trees.
Syaoran flinched at the mention of his Chinese name; it was easy to figure it out from his Japanese name, but he hadn't heard it since his parents passed away. Throwing his confusions aside, he hastily turned to Sakura.
"Are you alright, hime?"
She nodded silently, staring at the pool of blood at his feet.
She wanted to ask if he was okay, but she already knew what he would say.
What had happened? Everything was going perfectly… And the kiss…
Syaoran knew what she was thinking, and he made the hard decision of choosing not to press further about the topic. "I am sorry, I was off guard. Let's go back to the castle."
Sakura bit her lip. So things would go back to how they were. Of course they would. Even if they talked about the kiss, what would change? Nothing. She knew that. But her heart ached despite the fact that she already knew. She wanted to elope with him, right now. But she did not have the courage for that. She touched the ornament that Syaoran had placed in her hair and smiled bitterly.
"Okay, Syaoran," she said with a smile, "Let's go back."
ஐ
,¸¸,ø¤º°°º¤ø,¸¸,¸¸,
ஐ
Chapter 2 –桜の木下で– End –
Did you think that I was going to make it all fluffy and light? OF COURSE NOT! XD
Sorry to disappoint. From here on, the story will continue to hold angst angst angst and more angst XD
and some fluff in between :3
Review, fave, stay tuned :)
Vampire Hunter will be the next to be updated within this month!
