Thanks for waiting everyone! I'm glad to here that you all thought the first chapter looked promising. So here's more! I hope you didn't wait too long. :D
I hope that you all enjoy this chapter as well!
-----
-----------
To Pursue Our Destinies
Chapter Two
-----------
-----
"Okaasan! I'm so sorry. I lost track of the time and…" Sakura panted heavily as she sunk to the floor in relief while sounds of raindrops falling began just outside the door. She had beaten the rain home… barely.
"Shh," Nadeshiko scolded her daughter gently. "Your father's friend is already here. Come in quietly and say hello. I'll take the rice."
Sakura smiled sheepishly at her mother before getting up and going into the main room. "Konnichiwa," she bowed to her father and his guest. "Moushiake arimasen, osoku narimashita."
"Sakura-san," her father, Fujitaka, smiled at her. "This is Tsukishiro Yue-san. He stayed with us for several months a few years back. I'm sure that you still remember him."
Yue nodded politely at her and she bowed in response. There had always been something mysterious about Yue, and Sakura was both surprised and intrigued by his sudden visit. He looked exactly the same he had three years ago.
"Kinomoto-san, you are too modest. I would hardly call saving my life and sheltering me for so long while I was not only injured but unconscious simply allowing me to 'stay with you'," his deep voice rumbled as he spoke. "It's been so long and I still have not done anything to repay you… a crime which I hope remedy very soon."
"Nonsense, I will hear none of it," Sakura's father interrupted. "You've repaid me with this visit, and you are always welcome into our home. My family and I are always happy to repay you."
"May I ask," Sakura said as she poured tea for her parents and their guest. "Why you have made this sudden visit." She regarded the silver-haired man carefully. It wasn't often a noble came to pay respects in a peasants' home.
"The truth is, the reason I am so late in coming is because I could not think of a way to properly thank you," Yue confessed. "Kinomoto-san," he turned towards Sakura's father. "You and your family showed me kindness beyond what I could have ever hoped to expect, and yet you refused all the money that I offered you. As such, I have been at a loss as to how to repay your hospitality without encroaching upon your noble pride. But I have thought of something at last."
"It has come to my attention," he continued. "That your son, Touya, was and still is a young soldier training to become a samurai in the service of the emperor." At this, the entire Kinomoto family fell into surprised silence.
"You've talked to him?" Sakura's mother spoke for the first time to Yue. "How is my son?" They had sent Touya off nearly eight years ago to the palace to learn the way of the samurai in hopes of giving him a future not restrained to being a farmer. As rules and tradition demanded they could not see him for at least another half a year, when he turned twenty. Then his training would be complete.
"He is a strong man, excelling in everything according to his instructors. And since is soon to come of age, I asked if him he'd like a… favorable position under me, as a general in the imperial army."
The entire Kinomoto family sighed in relief at the news of Touya's well being before realizing what their guest had just announced. "General??"
"The king bestowed upon me the year you rescued me the post of chief commander of the imperial army," Yue explained, and took a long drink of tea.
"Then when I found you lying on the road, covered in blood all those years ago…" Fujitaka was stunned.
"I had just been returning from a battle with some rebels… escaped is a more fitting word. I was the only one of my men to have survived," he added, allowing Sakura's father to regain his composure. "I too, would have died had it not been for you."
Snapping out of his reverie, Fujitaka moved to bow to their guest, "Excuse me sire, I hadn't known we had the honor of-"
"Please do not," Yue stood quickly, gently pressing him back into his seat. "I owe you my life. If anything I should be on the ground kneeling to you."
"So…" Nadeshiko smiled happily. "You will watch over my son then? Will you watch over him in the palace where we cannot?" She had to blink away the tears quickly forming around the edges of her eyes as she thought of her eldest child.
"Hai oku-san, I will. As for my offer though, as you can imagine, he rejected it. Such dismissal of my attempts to repay you seem to run in the family, Kinomoto-san," the general gave Sakura's father a long look before turning to Sakura herself. "He said that he would rise up and attain that standing himself. An honorable man by all accounts."
Fujitaka smiled proudly. "My son has grown up. He's no longer a boy anymore, thank you Yue-san, I know that I need no longer worry for him. He will do just fine."
"Indeed," Yue's piercing gaze hadn't moved from Sakura's face, and it made her nervous. "However, he also mentioned that any favors I might give would be, instead, given over to the little sister he loved so much."
Sakura fought hard not to squirm under his intense stare, and stared back at him, eye for eye. "Please," she said. "The news you have brought us is more than enough of a favor. I'm sure Otou-san and Okaa-san would agree that this has made us happier than we've been for the past eight years. I need nothing more."
"Sakura-san," he addressed her directly. "Do you know what all the excitement in the marketplace was about today?"
Her breath hitched. "Yes… I believe our honored Ohji-sama will be hosting a contest to find a worthy bride. Otou-san, okaa-san," Sakura turned to her parents, unable to hold up under the general's glare any longer. "Tomoyo-chan is going to participate. She's leaving in two days."
"As will you," Yue finished. When all three of his hosts openly stared at him in shock, he said, "Surely, Kinomoto-san, you would not object to improving your daughter's chances in life. Even if she is no the one the prince chooses in the end, the skills and opportunities in the palace cannot be obtained anywhere else. Now is the time for her to go."
"There is no way we could afford it," Sakura cut in, fury rising in her chest. How dare he say such things when he knew very well of their financial situation? "So I would appreciate it if you refrained from brining up useless topics with my parents. Besides, I'm needed here at the farm. I'm perfectly content where I am right now." Her parents would only feel bad because they couldn't send her to the palace. She wanted to spare them of such feelings.
"Sakura-san," her father reprimanded gently, and nodded to Yue in apology.
His silver eyes flickered from family member to family member before finally settling on her once again. "That is where I come in, Sakura-san." He said. "I will pay for everything you need at the palace, and will act as your sponsor. I absolutely refuse to take no for an answer. If I don't do something to repay your kindness I won't be able to sleep. I've decided, and you are going. No matter how content you may be here."
Sakura felt a dark blush rise to her cheeks. It seemed that she had misunderstood him earlier… but this was unheard of. A noble… the chief commander of the imperial army… a peasant's patron?
Fujitaka rubbed his forehead, suddenly looking very tired. "You're correct in saying that this is a favor I would not refuse, however…" he trailed off and his wife patted him on the shoulder comfortingly, a smile on his face. "I will the decision up to Sakura-san. If she'd rather not go to the palace, I thin you'd find it a bit difficult to get her there. She's strong-willed, my daughter."
"We're leaving this up to you, Sakura-san," Nadeshiko kissed her on the cheek reassuringly.
The general looked at her, scrutinizing her. "You're answer?" he asked simply.
"I… I think that I would like to go then," she said hesitantly, still not quite believing that this was happening.
"It's decided then." Yue stood. "My men will come pick you up in two days time. You needn't bring anything with you, I will have new clothes sent to your room in the palace. Be ready early in the morning."
A sudden, loud knock at the door halted their conversation. Sakura stood shakily and walked over to the door, calming herself down with every step. Things were happening almost too quickly for her to fully comprehend.
What took you so long?" a deep voice shook her from her thoughts. She stared up in surprise. "It's you," she murmured.
"Li Syaoran, what are you doing here?" Yue walked over to them. "Did you come here looking for me?"
The heavily cloaked stranger looked as surprised as the general was, but recovered quickly. "What are you doing here, Yue? Eriol wanted to speak to you today didn't he?" His amber eyes slid over to Sakura as if asking her why on Earth the commander of the royal army was in a farmer's home. She was too shocked that the two knew each other to respond.
"There's no need to throw a fit. I'll be leaving presently," he turned and nodded at her father who nodded back. "Please excuse us, it seems that I have some prior arrangements to take care of."
The door shut and the Kinomoto family sat there in silence. "Sakura-san," her mother began slowly. "Come here." Nadeshiko wrapped her arms around her only daughter and buried her face into her auburn hair. "You're finally getting a chance at a better life… I want you to be happy."
"We will always be here for you to come home to," Fujitaka said kindly. "You concentrate on taking care of yourself. Your mother and I will be just fine."
Sakura looked at her parents before holding in a choked sob. It was really happening. "Otou-san… okaa-san…"
-----
-------------
To Be Continued…
-------------
-----
The next chapter will be the beginning of Sakura's new life in the palace… with Syaoran nearby, perhaps? xD
Please drop me a review and let me know what you think! Until next chapter then… bye bye!