JC: Like, I'm totally sorry for not updating any sooner. I went on vacation for a week in another place and when I got back home, I found out that my computer was fried. Good thing my files were spared. I know it's been a long while, but I'll try to update faster from now on. If you were looking for Hotaru, then look no further. She's going to make an appearance here with a good role. The real story is about to be unveiled by Natsume. Strange things will happen here and I tell you that they're not like you expected. This chapter will be shorter than the previous one. Don't forget to leave a feedback in the end, okay? Happy reading, everyone.

Author's Additional Note: The Sakura Family and the Hyuuga family are mostly composed of original characters taken from the Anime and Manga. Keep in mind that the Sakura Clan is rich and very influential. They are a world-renowned family, so it's no wonder they are admired by people. Many characters in this story will be treated as celebrities or royalty. Some OCs will pop up later on to fill in the spaces.


Sakura no Hihou

Chapter 09: Himitsu no Sakura

It was starting to rain as Yuka finished the story and carefully held Mikan's hand. A tragic story between two lovers, a tragic story of their ancestors—that very same story was the sole reminder of the people of the present, a reminder in which a Sakura can never love a Hyuuga. There were a few who broke the rule. However, they met a dreadful end. When the story was told to her by her grandfather several years ago, the story kept repeating over and over in her mind, and she wondered inevitably if there was a way to end the curse. It was hard to look for a solution, but she had already thought of the risks and the sacrifices. As the rain poured even harder, Yuka asked Natsume once again to tell everyone in the room about what he saw in the book. Natsume seemed reluctant to tell, but Yuka insisted that he should talk.

The fire-starter looked out the window. He was ready to talk, but he wondered if it was all right to tell them everything without waiting for Mikan to open her eyes. Quite frankly, he was seriously worried about the brunette princess. He was pretty surprised when he found out she was in comatose state after waking up. He felt rather guilty for not being able to protect her. He was about to speak, to relate his story, but Imai Hotaru came in unexpectedly. Natsume immediately shot her a glare.

"I'm here to see Mikan," Hotaru said as she took a few steps forward. "I know she's in a coma, but I just want to see her. And I've heard everything—about the story and the curse."

Natsume swung his legs off the bed. "Get out of here," he told Hotaru. "You don't have anything to do with this, so don't get involved."

"Is that so? Then tell me why is Andou-senpai here?" Hotaru narrowed her amethyst eyes. "He's not part of the two clans yet he's here. Even my brother was told about Mikan's condition." She kept a calm façade, though it seemed like she was raging inside.

Yuka and Yukihira were pleased to see the girl care so much for their daughter. Sure, Hotaru doesn't seemed to look like she has a care in the world, but they could feel it inside her. Hotaru loved Mikan and treasured their friendship well.

Sakurano was the one who answered Hotaru. "All members of the Student Council were informed about Mikan-san's condition. Imai-san, I understand that you're worried about Mikan-san, but you're not supposed to be here. You're neither a relative nor a Student Council member."

"I'm not leaving," Hotaru said coldly. She walked over to Natsume, keeping direct eye contact with him, as she pulled out an invention. "Not until I hear the story too."

"Are you an idiot?" Natsume conjured a flame in his palm. "I'll give you to the count of three to get your butt out of here."

Hotaru rolled her eyes away, obviously not afraid of Natsume. "I have something here to make the story telling a little more interesting." She revealed two accessories in her palm: a ruby ring and an earring. "The earring can tap into the user's memories and the ring will allow you to project holographic images of your memories. This is a lot more convenient than wasting your breath to talk."

"And it's very inconvenient to have you here," Natsume said, surrounding the inventor with his fire. "I know you're friends with the princess, but you're not wanted here. Get out now."

"Settle down, Kuro Neko-chan, and that fire is dangerous, you know." Yukihira nullified Natsume's fire in a snap. "Since Imai's little sister has already heard so much, why not let her stay?" Yukihira suggested. "Besides, her inventions sound kind of cool. Let's use it."

"Good idea," Narumi said. "Imai-san's invention will save us more time, Natsume-kun. You should give her a chance."

Natsume shrugged. "Do what you want, freak…"

"I'm not going to put this ring and earring on you," Hotaru said, dropping her invention on the bed. "In fact, I don't even want to touch you, stupid cat."

Everyone in the room was kind of shocked to hear Hotaru talk that way to Natsume. And they have noticed the scary expression on Natsume's face as he placed the ring and earring on. "Now what do I do, freak?" he asked, and everyone sighed. Natsume and Hotaru were alike in so many ways, especially the way they talk. "I don't have all day."

Hotaru folded her arms in front of her chest. "Just remember everything you've seen in the book. The earring will take in the information and send it to the ring. The ring will then project the images." She walked over to the light switch and turned the lights off. "We'll see images much clearer in the dark. Think of it as a movie house."

"Cool! We should have brought popcorn," Tsubasa said with a chuckle, but he was immediately silenced by Misaki by clamping his mouth with her own hand.

"This isn't the time to be joking around, Tsubasa," Misaki told him.

"We're ready when you are, Natsume-kun," Yuka said.

Natsume was ready to show everyone. Thinking back real hard, the ruby on the earring started to glow. The ring glowed next, and Natsume slowly pointed it towards the wall. In a matter of seconds, an image was shown—an image of the past.


In the nation of Japan, there lived a clan of great power and wealth, of which everyone praised and respected, and it was known as the Sakura Clan. The clan was a highly skilled group of Power wielders with excellent control and precision, as the members are trained since childhood. The clan followed a hereditary monarchy system in choosing an heir. Under this system, the next heir must come from the same family and the right is passed down from one member to another member of the family. The future heir is decided at a young age and must be kept for isolation for years. The heir is trained in different fields, especially mastering the Power. The most prized Powers of the clans were the following: Nullification, Stealing, Amplification, Bestowal, Immortality, Copying, and Absorption. Having one of these powers will make you invincible, and a young girl named Sakuya, the current princess and heiress of the clan, possessed Bestowal and Stealing.

Among the members of the Sakura Clan, Sakuya was a gifted master and highly favored princess. A girl with long brown hair and a lovely pair of amber eyes, Sakuya was named after her late grandmother, and it was a well-known fact that she and her grandmother were both prodigies. Even when she was a child, Sakuya demonstrated her natural talents early in life. Her beauty and kindness gained her much attention and acclaim.

It was starting to snow as Sakuya, who was dressed in a lovely pink kimono with butterfly patterns, crossed the Sakura Bridge and casually made her way to the River of Tranquility, one of the purest and sacred rivers in the country. It was peaceful, and she felt surprisingly down as she began to hum a song her late mother once taught her. It was sad to know that her life had always been under the control of her grandfather, the proud and powerful leader of the noble Sakura Clan. She had never had a life like all the young girls around. She had been isolated her whole life, forced to live within the sanctity of the Sakura Land. Although being isolated was an assure way to protect her life from the dangers of the outside world, it had also made her lonely. She had longed to see the world. But she was forbidden to be free. She was forbidden to live a life her way. She may be a princess, but she was like a caged bird.

The snow began to collect in drifts, and after an hour on the bridge, she returned to the main mansion and headed straight towards her room.

"How was your day, Sakuya-sama?" a woman who brought tea and snacks to her room asked pleasantly. She was gorgeous and had dark hair tied in a traditional Japanese updo style.

"Everyday is the same thing," Sakuya said, heaving a silent sigh. "Nothing exciting ever happens around here. I wish I could go outside. You are quite lucky, Hiyomi-san. You get to leave this place whenever you want." And she had been stuck inside for 15 years.

Hiyomi poured tea into the cup and carefully handed the cup to the princess. "I wish I could do something to cheer you up, Sakuya-sama," she said.

"I do not want you to get in trouble again for my sake," Sakuya said before sipping her tea. In her early days, she did make an attempt to escape from the Sakura Land, but in doing so, Hiyomi got punished for not stopping her. Sakuya felt so guilty for Hiyomi and swore to never put her at risk again. But the punishment for Hiyomi wasn't cruel or painful, much to her relief.

She went out for a walk later that night, and was amazed to see how high the snow was. There were several feet on either side of the pathway, and she smiled to herself as she walked away from the mansion. As she reached the Sakura gardens, she stood under a leafless tree and looked at the night sky. It was incredibly wonderful and her face tingled in the cold air. She made one round, firm ball of the crisp white snow and tossed it at a tree. It made her feel like a 10-year old again. She threw a snowball again, and then she giggled. She wished that she could have thrown the snowball at someone. She used to play snowball fights with Hiyomi before. And in the midst of her daydreaming, she heard a twig snap and immediately she scanned the area. She could sense someone's presence, but the aura didn't belong to a Sakura.

"Show yourself to me," she said calmly, clasping her hands, feeling a bit nervous about the unexpected company. A boy stepped out of the shadows and knelt down before her. She couldn't tell what his eye color was, but it was very clear that he had raven-colored hair. His long hair was pulled back into a ponytail, but there were a few strands framing his face. He was dressed in a traditional samurai kimono. Judging from his looks, he seemed to be her age. "Who are you and what business do you have here?"

"I am sorry if I may seem suspicious, but I assure you that I mean no harm," the boy promptly said, keeping his head low. "I am a warrior hailing from the Hyuuga Clan and I have come here to serve your noble family, my princess."

"I have heard of the Hyuuga Clan. They say they are one of the best when it comes to martial arts. But tell me something… Why have you come here at this time of night?"

"I have actually been in the Sakura Land since this morning. I was merely taking a stroll. As you know, I am new to this place, so I figured that it was best to explore my new surroundings. After all, I have to be familiar with the place since I am going to work here."

Sakuya was taken aback. "You are going to work here? As what if I may ask?"

"I am to be a bodyguard of someone from your family, princess."

It does make sense for a Hyuuga to be a bodyguard of a Sakura. The Hyuuga Clan had served the Sakura Clan for several years, and their loyalty to each other were strong and unbreakable. "You must be really strong if you were chosen to be a bodyguard," she said. "May I know what your power is? Can you show it to me?" It was a rare opportunity for her to meet someone who was not relative and a servant from her family, and the boy seemed very interesting. She wondered if he could be her friend.

The boy lifted his head to look at her. "It would be my honor, my princess," he said politely. He stood up, bowed at the princess, and took a stance. With powerful energy surging through his body, he pushed his fist into the air and created a large crimson flame. He quickly dispersed the fire and positioned his arms for fighting. As he released a punch, he would release fire. He did several punches and kicks accompanied by fire. Afterward, he formed a phoenix out of his fire.

The princess had never seen such an amazing display of fire control before. She was more than impressed with the boy's performance. "It seems like you have been taught well," she said. "I commend your abilities."

Bowing once again, the boy said, "Thank you, my princess."

"You do not have to be so formal. There is only the two of us here. You may call me by my name if you wish."

"No, I am unworthy of—"

Sakuya cut him off. "Please call me Sakuya," she said, walking over to him and raising her hand to shake. "And I hope we could be friends."

He stared at her hand before he gazed upon her eyes. A smile had graced her lips, and he was amazed to see such a warm and friendly smile on such a beautiful face. He shook hands with her and smiled his own way. "It would be my pleasure to be your friend, Sakuya-sama," he said.

"This is the first time I have made a friend during this time of night," she said, giggling. "Oh, by the way, you have not told me your name yet."

"My name is Hyuuga Natsuhiko," he replied.

"You have a very nice name, Natsuhiko-san."

He slightly blushed. "Thank you, princess… But your name is much nicer than mine."

"You give me too much credit." She walked away from him, turned her back, and knelt down. "Natsuhiko-san, the night is really beautiful, and I am really happy that you are here with me under the stars." There was a momentarily silence before she heard Natsuhiko walking towards her. Quickly she scooped up some snow, rolled it into a ball, and threw it at him. However, the snowbell was melted by his fire before it could even reach his face. Laughing, she scooped another snowball and threw at him again.

Natsuhiko evaded it, rolled his own snowball, and threw it at the princess. He expected a direct hit, but the princess was also quick in dodging it. The two got engaged in a snowball fight and had a lot of fun. They played for almost an hour and neither of them seemed tired.

Sakuya was laughing cheerfully as she lay down on the snow. "I feel like a child again," she said, making a snow angel. "It feels good to play with someone."

The young warrior sat down beside the princess. "I feel the same way too, Sakuya-sama," he said, looking down at her. "I will never forget this night."

"Me too…" Sakuya sat up and took one of Natsuhiko's hands. "Since you are going to work here, we'll be seeing each other everyday, am I right?"

Natsuhiko slightly blushed. "O-Of course, Sakuya-sama…"

Giggling, she embraced Natsuhiko tightly, causing him to blush furiously. "We are going to be the best of friends," she said, releasing him. "Let us meet again at this place tomorrow night. I would like you to meet someone."

"Um… Sure… As you wish, Sakuya-sama…" Natsuhiko said, almost losing his composure.

The next day, Sakuya found out from Hiyomi that Natsuhiko was tasked to be her grandfather's personal bodyguard. She was very happy for Natsuhiko because it was such a great honor to serve the leader of the Sakura Clan. Sakuya wanted to go congratulate him, but she was stopped by her maids. They told her that a high-class princess like her was not allowed to show her face to any random males—even if he was from the Hyuuga Clan. Sakuya wanted to tell them that Natsuhiko was her friend, but Hiyomi dragged her away before she could open her mouth. When they reached her room, Sakuya let out a pout and reprimanded Hiyomi for not letting her speak out. Hiyomi then reminded her that she was forbidden to meet with other people without her grandfather's permission. Sakuya pouted again and marched over to the window. She once again complained that her life was no fun.

Later that night, Sakuya brought Hiyomi to the place where she first met Hyuuga Natsuhiko. Hiyomi stated her concern about escaping from the mansion in the middle of the night, but Sakuya didn't seem to have a care in the world.

Sakuya scooped up snow in her hands and rolled it into a ball. "Hiyomi-san, you are going to love Natsuhiko-san," she said, throwing the snowball up and down. "He is very nice and friendly. He even played snowball fight with me yesterday night."

"In other words, Hyuuga Natsuhiko-dono is just as childish as you, Sakuya-sama," Hiyomi said, smirking.

Sakuya puffed up her cheeks. "You make it sound like it is a bad thing," she said as she looked at the snowball in her hand. An idea came up and her lips curled up into a mischievous smile. "Well, let me show you how childish I am, Hiyomi-san." She threw the snowball at Hiyomi, hitting her face dead-on. Sakuya let out a giggle and stuck out her tongue.

"My goodness, princess," Hiyomi said as a vein popped out of her head. "You really are a child." She made her own snowball and threw it at Sakuya. However, Sakuya simply dodged and the ball hit something else instead.

"You can never hit me with that kind of throw, Hiyomi-san," Sakuya said, laughing out loud. But then she noticed that Hiyomi was staring at something behind her. Turning around, she let out a gasp of shock as she saw Natsuhiko with a face covered in snow. "I guess Hiyomi-san had a good throw after all."

Natsuhiko rubbed the snow out of his face. "It looks like you two have started playing without me," he said with a smile.

Hiyomi felt embarrassed and bowed her head at Natsuhiko. "I apologize for hitting you, Natsuhiko-dono," she said.

"It's all right. I know that snowball was meant for Sakuya-sama." Natsuhiko turned his head to look at the princess. "So, is she the one you wanted me to meet?"

Sakuya nodded her head. "Natsuhiko-san, this is my best friend, Hiyomi-san," she said, gesturing her hand toward Hiyomi.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Hiyomi-san," Natsuhiko said.

"And I am sure you know a lot about Natsuhiko-san, correct?" Sakuya asked Hiyomi.

"Quite indeed," Hiyomi replied.

The bond between Sakuya, Natsuhiko, and Hiyomi grew stronger over the month. They were almost inseparable if it weren't for Natsuhiko's duties as a bodyguard, Hiyomi's work as a servant, and Sakuya's training as a princess. But they made it a habit to meet every night to tell stories, to play, or just to gaze at the stars. Natsuhiko also taught the princess a little bit about sword-fighting and, in return, Sakuya taught him some techniques to improve his fire-casting more.

One night, when Sakuya was creating a dragon out of the fire she borrowed from Natsuhiko, Hiyomi came to them running and panting. She looked very troubled, which worried Sakuya. "What's the matter, Hiyomi-san?" She let out a gasp of shock as soon as Hiyomi started crying. "Hiyomi-san, why are you crying? Did something bad happen? Please tell me."

"I-I can n-no longer s-serve you, Sakuya-sama," Hiyomi said between her sobs. "I am sorry. I know I made a promise to stay by your side, but I-I…" She clamped her mouth with her hands and dropped onto her knees.

Sakuya knelt down to her level and pulled her into her arms. "I do not understand… What do you mean by those words, Hiyomi-san?" she asked, as Hiyomi trembled in sadness. "Why can you no longer serve me? Why?"

"I have been appointed to be the next Guardian Priestess of the clan by your grandfather," Hiyomi replied, looking up at Sakuya, as tears continued to fall. "Ever since I was little, I have always dreamed of becoming a Guardian Priestess like my late mother. When I became a servant here, I thought I would never get the chance. But now that I have finally got it, I do not feel happy at all…"

"Hiyomi-san, it is what you have always dreamed of. You should be smiling right now instead of crying."

Natsuhiko deeply sighed. "I believe that she is crying because she will not get the chance to see you again, Sakuya-sama," he said in a solemn tone. "You see, Guardian Priestesses are taught to detach themselves from the world to achieve their full potential. Selfless duty calls them to sacrifice their own needs and do whatever it takes to protect the clan. In other words, Hiyomi-san must sacrifice her friendship with you in order to fulfill her destiny as a Guardian Priestess."

Sakuya slowly shook her head in dismay. "No…That can't be true…" She looked back at Hiyomi with eyes wide. "We have to be separated…? That is…rubbish! We can't end our friendship! Hiyomi-san, we have been together since we were little and we simply—"

"I understand your feelings, Sakuya-sama, and I feel the same way." Hiyomi lowered her gaze to her lap as she clenched her hands. "I wanted to refuse, but your grandfather forced it upon me. I am not angry at your grandfather for that, only a little upset. But it had me thinking. If I take up the position, then I will be able to protect you all the time, Sakuya-sama."

"But you're already doing a good job taking care of me."

Hiyomi wiped away the tears from her eyes with her sleeve and looked up at Sakuya. "You were always getting yourself in trouble when you were still little. I may call you childish and irresponsible all the time, but I truly think of you as a strong and independent princess. I am sure you can move on without me." She hugged Sakuya and cried on her shoulder. "All those times we have been together were the best for me and I am so glad that you chose me as your friend, Sakuya-sama. We may not see each other again, but I will always remember you in my heart."

"I know this may sound selfish but I-I do not want you to go…" Sakuya clasped Hiyomi's kimono tightly as she started crying. "You said that my grandfather forced this responsibility to you, right? Then let me talk to my grandfather. I am sure he will change his mind."

"Sakuya-sama, the leader chose me because he knew that I have the power to protect all of you," Hiyomi said, stroking Sakuya's back. "It is my destiny to be Guardian Priestess as it is your destiny to be the heiress."

Heaving a deep sigh, Sakuya eased back to face Hiyomi. "I am really going to miss having you around, Hiyomi-san," she said, gracing her lips with a smile. "But I will never ever forget you because you are my best friend."

Hiyomi placed her hands on Sakuya's shoulders. "And I will never forget you, Sakuya-sama," she said.

After exchanging a few comforting words and smiles, the two girls hugged once again.


In the midst of the Sakura Land, Mikan appeared along the trail leading up to the main mansion. Her whole body was colored in a light shade of blue. Clearly she wasn't just being illuminated by the moon's glow. She was glowing in a surreal fashion. Her hair was loose and she was clad in a white kimono. She could see the wind blowing the trees, but strangely she could not feel it. She reached out to touch a tree but her hand went through it. She was shocked by this. She wondered if she had turned into a ghost, but a voice in her head, much to her surprise, assured her that she was merely in the spirit world. When she asked for the name of the one speaking to her, the scenery quickly changed to a ruin.

Mikan scanned the area and noticed that she was now standing on a motif. It was her family's symbol—a splendid design of a Cherry Blossom. Taking another look around, she saw more of her clan's symbol on the walls. It definitely belonged to her family, but it was her first time to see such a place. She had no memory of her family ever speaking of such a place.

"This is so strange…" Mikan muttered to herself. "What is this place? I wish somebody would give me answers." All of a sudden, Mikan glowed in a brighter color of blue. The light then dimmed and a blue cloud of smoke came out of Mikan, moving across her and forming a human-like shape. The smoke took shape into Sakuya, one of the past princesses of the Sakura Clan and an ancestor of Mikan.

"I see that you are lost in more ways than one right now, young princess," Sakuya said, smiling gracefully.

Putting on a depressed face, Mikan turned her head away. "You're the one from the story," she said. "The tragic princess of the clan…"

"I know you have been into the book," Sakuya said, clasping her hands together against her chest. "And I know that you have witnessed everything."

Mikan faced Sakuya with eyes nearing to tears. "I-I'm really sorry for what happened to you in the past." She lowered her gaze to the ground and embraced herself tightly. "I wish I could have done something to prevent it from happening. I wish I could have stopped that man from cursing the families."

"Please do not be hard on yourself, young princess," Sakuya said in a gentle voice. "The past can no longer be changed. But you can still make a difference for the future. You read the book because you wanted to find a way to lift the curse, correct?"

"Yes… I want Natsume and Kaname-san's sufferings to end," Mikan said as tears finally came out of her eyes. "I don't want them to die."

"In my life, as you know, I tried to find a way to lift the curse as well. But it backfired. If I had been a lot stronger, I could have stopped the curse. It was my fault to begin with. If I had been more attentive to Masayuki-sama's feelings, I could have saved everyone." Approaching Mikan, she opened her arms and embraced the young girl. "Princess Mikan, I know you must feel helpless seeing two of your most important people suffer. I know you're a gentle spirit and the people who loved you have taught you well. What I am about to teach you will not only save the cursed people, but it will also endanger your life as well. Are you willing to take the risk?"

There a brief silence before Mikan spoke up. "I'm willing to take any risk, Sakuya-sama," she said, easing away to face Sakuya. "So…Please…Teach me how to lift the curse."

Sakuya caressed Mikan's cheek, giving off a small smile. "The true heart can touch the poison of darkness without being harmed. Darkness thrives in our world but there will always be light to purify it." Blue light illuminated the symbol on the floor once Sakuya placed her hand on Mikan's head.

To be continued…


JC: For the record, Hiyomi-san here is not an OC. She's actually a character from the series—only under the guise of a different name. Feel free to guess who she really is. The spirit of Sakuya-hime appeared before Mikan and taught her the way to lift the curse. But there is this risk involve. Things are never easy with these kinds of things. You'll find out if Mikan will be able to lift the curse from Kaname and Natsume. Stay tuned for more!!! Please review. No flaming!

Next Chapter: "Unmei no Wa"(Wheels of Destiny)