Pharaoh
Chapter Ten
The evening was warm and smelled of the delicious feast that awaited the noble gathering. The dining hall was filled as it had been to welcome the arrival of Lady Tomoyo, only now it was to welcome home the royal adviser and the Lady he'd escorted on some diplomatic mission or other, who Sakura had heard was the Pharaoh's cousin. The name kept escaping her as soon as she heard it.
She leaned into Chiharu, seated on her left. "What's the Lady's name again?"
"It's Meiling," her friend hissed. She threw her hands up. "How many times do I have to tell you before it'll stick?"
Sakura smiled sheepishly. "I'll remember this time, I promise."
Chiharu dropped her chin into her palm. "Yeah, you better remember. Let me tell you, she won't take well to you not remembering her name."
"Uh-oh." Sakura fingered her wine glass, still smiling. "A piece of work, is she?"
Chiharu grinned and started to speak, but Rika leaned in and cut her off.
"Lady Meiling is taking her vows to serve the Clow," she said in a stern, hushed tone. "She will not have you make light of it."
"Taking her vows?" Sakura repeated, confused. "To the Clow?"
Rika nodded. "She is dedicating her life to the Clow and to Nut. She will live in the Temple with Reed."
"Chastity, prayer, and obedience," Chiharu rhymed off in a bored voice, counting the words off on her fingers. By the look on her face, she'd heard it a million times before.
Sakura frowned. "Why to Nut? Why not to Khonsu? Or Ra?"
"Nut is the goddess of the sky and all it contains," Rika explained, though Sakura still wasn't sure that she understood it. "Khonsu guides the Keepers of the Clow, but others may be guided by, say, Ra, as Syaoran is. And Nut is an encompassment of all skyward things."
That made sense, Sakura supposed. She nodded.
"Chiharu doesn't seem to approve of Lady Meiling's choice," Rika went on in a chastising voice, casting a pointed look at the other girl.
Chiharu threw her hands up. "I just don't get it! I think she's nuts. I've got Clow magic, why do I have to give up everything else in my life have more?" She leaned into Sakura very seriously and said, "No men. None at all. No women, either. All romantic dreams, Clow-certified crushed."
Rika rolled her eyes. "Meiling doesn't care about romance just like you don't care about the Vows."
Chiharu seemed to contemplate this. "That's fair enough, I guess." But she shot Sakura a quick look that said, but that's still crazy.
Sakura smiled. But she thought she understood Meiling's choice. Giving yourself to the Clow and to the gods must be so freeing at the same time that many must see it as being chained down. Having no earthly worries at all . . .
Although she did enjoy romance.
Her eyes slid to Syaoran.
Not that he had anything to do with that.
Sakura shook her head. She leant in and whispered to Chiharu, "And what about Eriol?"
Chiharu shrugged. "Oh, he's nice. He's all propriety and responsibility though, so he's not really much fun."
Sakura frowned. "Oh."
Her friend narrowed her eyes. "'Oh?' Why, you sound so disappointed. I thought Syaoran was simply unbearable?"
A blush coloured Sakura's face and she drew it into a frown. "He is, Chiharu."
She made a disbelieving noise, sipping from her goblet nonchalantly.
It was Sakura's turn to throw her hands up. "I can think Syaoran's horrible and still think boring people are just as bad!"
Chiharu threw her a devilish grin and shrugged again. Sakura heard the tinkle of her laughter echo around her glass as she drank from it, and smiled begrudgingly.
Sakura was beginning to really take a shine to Chiharu, but she found herself casting her gaze at Tomoyo, seated at the head table next to Syaoran's currently empty seat. She caught her friend's eye and they both waved. Tomoyo looked so lonely, Sakura hated to be cooped up at the concubine's table and let her friend endure the night alone with a practised smile.
Soon the doors opened and Syaoran entered, a girl on his arm. Sakura's lips twitched at Syaoran's thinly veiled irritated expression, and the girl's look of smug satisfaction as they made their way over to the table. The girl – what was her name again? – was wearing a large cloth scarf wrapped elegantly around her head, hiding her hair, and had tan skin to match the Pharaoh's. Her eyes were sharp, Sakura could tell even from where she sat, sly and the colour of copper.
Behind them strode a man with neatly combed navy hair and spectacles, his posture perfectly straight as he took a seat next to the Lady Tomoyo. Sakura saw him introduce himself and kiss her hand and felt a stroke of appreciation for her soon-to-be-tutor.
The people applauded and Syaoran stood to address them. "Today we celebrate the return of my dear cousin, Lady Meiling, and Duke Eriol. We'll feast as Ra watches over us to welcome these two beloved members of my court home." He raised his glass to more applause and then sat, the signal for the food to be brought in, finally, and for everyone to start eating.
Sakura kept her eyes on the head of the noble table, on Syaoran and Meiling looking exhausted with each other, and Eriol engaging Tomoyo in polite conversation. Sakura was glad to see her friend looking relaxed. She also noted the looks, almost cross ones, that the adviser occasionally threw at the Pharaoh, and couldn't help wondering what they were about.
Her eyes also wandered over to the doors where she spotted the guard from Tomoyo's rooms. She grinned and waved at him, and he nodded back. She liked to think he was smiling.
That night, Sakura waited in the courtyard at the spot where Syaoran usually met her, wondering about her new instructor. She had already taken a shine to him from how courteously he had treated Tomoyo at dinner, so she kept telling herself that as thoughts of Syaoran rolling his eyes and trying to resist a smile continued to creep into her mind.
She looked up at the sound of footsteps with a bland smile, and was surprised to see Eriol walking toward her with Syaoran in tow.
"Oh," she said. "Hello."
"Sakura," Syaoran said, "this is Eriol. Do refrain from biting his head off all night."
Sakura made an exasperated noise, but Eriol just smiled and extended his hand. Sakura took it, and he pressed his lips to her knuckles as she'd seen him do to Tomoyo earlier. "It's lovely to meet you, Miss Sakura."
"The pleasure is all mine," Sakura replied graciously. "Thank you so much for stepping in to train me and my magic."
Eriol nodded, smiling, and Sakura caught Syaoran behind him, positively glowering.
"Can I ask what your problem is, Syaoran?" Sakura asked flatly.
Colour blotched his face and neck. "Nothing's my problem," he retorted hoarsely.
"Mhmm."
He clucked his tongue and braced his hands on his hips. "I just thought I'd come an introduce you. I know how unpleasant you can be when you first meet someone," he said pointedly.
Sakura grit her teeth. "It depends on the person."
Eriol chuckled softly and put a hand on Syaoran's shoulder. "Thank you, Syaoran. I can handle it from here."
The harsh look on Syaoran's face melted away as he looked at Eriol. The two men exchanged something in that look that made Syaoran look quite sad, and Sakura was suddenly itching to know what it was.
"Remember what I said," Eriol said quietly.
Syaoran pursed his lips tersely, but that melancholy look remained in his eyes. "I know," he snapped.
"Good night, Your Majesty." Eriol's voice was dismissive, and to Sakura's great surprise, Syaoran acquiesced, and nodded.
The Pharaoh's eyes flitted quickly over to Sakura. "Good night, Sakura."
She was too stunned to respond as he turned and swept away. She watched him go until Eriol clapped his hands together and said, "So, Miss Sakura, why don't you fill me on in on everything you've learned so far with His Majesty?"
As it turned out, the royal adviser was truly an endless well of knowledge. He taught Sakura so many tiny details about the Clow, so many things that she naturally didn't think about when she did it on her own, that it felt like she'd been looking directly at the sun, with her eyes blinking and watering, all this time, but now she'd finally thought to cover her eyes with her hand and take it all in properly. He was also endlessly patient, he was never cross with her and always understood when she had difficulties and helped her through it step by step.
A part of her delighted in thinking it, another hated it, but she thought that he really was a better teacher than Syaoran.
Syaoran.
She hadn't seen him in several days, since he'd introduced her to Eriol that night. It didn't bother her, of course. No, not at all.
He must have been spending a lot more time with Tomoyo, she supposed. That was a good thing. They could certainly stand to get to know each other better, of course.
It was a rather calm, mild afternoon, and after this thought Sakura found herself meandering to Tomoyo's hallway.
She spotted her guard standing in his normal spot, back straight, staff parallel to his posture. With a smile she hurried over to him.
"Hello! I feel it's been a while since we've had one of our chats," she said, and he turned his head to her, his eyes sparkling. "You've been well, I hope?"
He nodded, and she caught him raise an eyebrow beneath his mask.
"I've been quite well, too, thank you," she replied, giggling. She glanced around. "Does anyone else ever guard the Lady Tomoyo, or is it just you?"
This time the guard seemed to hesitate, like he wasn't sure if he should answer or not. In the end he decided to shake his head.
Sakura's eyes widened. "Really?" It had been meant as more of a joke. How could only one guard be on duty all the time? "It's really just you?"
Again he nodded, looking rather proud.
"Have you always been a guard?" she asked. "It seems like you were just raised for guard-dom."
He seemed to hesitate again, and then shook his head, slowly.
Sakura pursed her lips, and then sidled closer to him. In a whisper, she said, "If you speak, you know, I won't tell anyone. Promise."
She was near enough that she heard his tiny, breathy laugh under the mask. But he shook his head.
"Well, at least you're loyal." She crossed her arms and leaned back. "Is she in?"
He nodded, and pointed to the door, a question.
"Yes, please."
He nodded again, and Sakura wondered if he ever got dizzy with all that nodding and shaking as he knocked on the door with his staff to let Tomoyo know she had a visitor.
The Lady's voice was muffled as she called, "Coming!"
Then the doors swung open, and the guard nearly picked Sakura up to sweep her out of the way of them.
Tomoyo noticed, and wrung her fingers together sheepishly. "Sorry! Sorry. I'm just so glad to have a visitor."
Sakura laughed and patted the guard's arm, which tightened protectively around her and made her feel quite warm inside. "Syaoran's not enough for you?"
Something in her friend's eyes flickered, but she pushed through with a smile. "Of course he is."
Sakura's heart sank. She hadn't missed the disappointment in Tomoyo's eyes. She and the Pharaoh were obviously still not clicking.
And something horrible in Sakura was glad.
"Come on, Sir Guard, let her go, she'll be in no danger now," Tomoyo chided, coming to grab Sakura's hands.
"I'll have you know," Sakura said as Tomoyo began dragging her off somewhere, "he's the most faithful man you've probably got. No matter how I prod, he simply won't speak!"
Tomoyo laughed and threw an appreciative look over her shoulder at him. "Oh, yes, that's why he was assigned to me. He's truly the best, our Yukito."
Sakura's head snapped over to Tomoyo. "Yukito?" She couldn't hide the shock on her features. It felt like she'd been plunged suddenly into the Nile.
"Oh, I suppose he couldn't have told you his name before." She giggled. "I think it's cruel, not letting him speak, but Father insists upon silence. He says people will take them more seriously that way. Pretty name though, isn't it? Yukito."
"Yes. Anatolian," Sakura whispered. She barely had time to stare at him before Tomoyo pulled her around the corner and out of sight. He was leaning forward to watch them and Sakura lifted a hand like she could reach him.
It couldn't be him. Could it?
She waited until after her lesson with Eriol, when it was verifiably late in the night, and then set off back to Tomoyo's chambers. Her heart pounded with every step, every corner she swung herself around until finally she reached that hallway and bounded down it to the guard.
She stood before him for a moment, panting, staring at him, and he remained still, his head angled down toward her.
Finally she breathed, "Yukito?"
A long second went by, and then he nodded.
She burst into tears.
He looked around hurriedly, and then pulled his mask off and tossed it onto the ground. She barely had time to lift her eyes and take in his face before he wrapped his arms around her.
"Oh, Sakura," he whispered, and his soft voice was hoarse from disuse. "I'm so glad that you're safe. But I'm so sorry that you had to come here to be –" His voice cracked.
She squeezed him, so overwhelmed her chest felt like it was stuffed with tangible emotion. "Don't. It's okay. Honestly. Don't worry about me."
"I'm sorry I didn't say anything before," he went on.
"I'm sorry that I didn't even recognize you," she mumbled, trying to wipe at the tears on her face.
He shook his head, his fair hair shining in the moonlight. "I've changed a lot. And, come on, I wear a mask and don't speak."
She pulled back to look at his face. He still had that stubbornly pale skin and those kind, soft eyes and smile that seemed to come together as a set. But he had circles beneath those eyes and scars of varying lengths and widths across his face and neck.
"Oh, Yukito," she breathed, grasping one of his calloused hands.
He lifted the other to brush her hair out of her face and cup her cheek. "You're all grown up. And we missed it." His words were almost inaudible.
Fresh, hot tears spilled onto her cheeks. "Touya? Do you know where he is?"
His mouth wobbled as he shook his head, and he held her against his chest.
"I don't even know if he's alive," he managed, and his voice broke. Sakura's heart broke for him, for both of them.
They stood there like that for several minutes, murmuring words of comfort to each other. Sakura could hardly believe it was real, and thanked the moon and every star in the sky and the sky itself. But too soon, Yukito took a steadying breath and pulled away.
"I'm sorry, Sakura," he said, and sorrow lined his face. He looked even more tired than before. "You have to leave now."
She nodded blearily, rubbing at her face. "It's okay. I understand."
He squeezed her hand once more before replacing his mask and retreating back into stony silence.
She let out a breath and then hurried out of the hallway.
And ran right into the Pharaoh.
"Syaoran!" she exclaimed. He reached out to steady her. "What are you doing here?"
He seemed to realize he was still holding on to her, and quickly put his hands back at his sides. He looked distraught.
She stepped closer to him, peering into his face. "Are you all right?"
"I'm . . . ." He searched her face right back, and she suddenly became aware of their nearness, and stepped back.
Suddenly it clicked. Sakura glanced behind her. "Did you see . . . ?"
"I'm sorry," he blurted, and for once he didn't appear to be cursing himself for apologizing. "I'm sorry, I saw. You and that guard . . . ." His face darkened with colour and he didn't seem able to meet her gaze. "I won't say anything, I promise. It – it's not any of my business."
She stared at him. He looked like some invisible force was strangling him. She'd never seen him fidget so much with his hands.
She started to say, "Whatever you're—"
But he cut her off, holding up his hands. "It's fine! You can – do whatever you like – you're not even a real mistress, so it's okay –"
Now she understood, and could swear she flushed a crimson deeper than the setting sun. She swatted his hands away. "Syaoran," she said sternly. "There's nothing romantic going on with Yukito and I. He's just –" She cursed herself but tears had choked her again. Syaoran must have seen her struggle, because he touched her arm gently in comfort. It was warm and that buzzing between them was like a shock on her skin. She looked up at him in surprise, and he must have thought distaste, because he pulled his hand back sheepishly. She wished he hadn't. "I've known him for as long as I can remember. He was my brother's lover. I used to see him every day." She rubbed at her eyes. "They both had to sign up for the military many years ago and I haven't seen them since. And now they've been separated, too." She grit her teeth against the sob that wanted to come out. Why here, in front of him?
This time, the Pharaoh enveloped her in his arms. At any other time Sakura would have shrieked in alarm, but now she just threw her arms around his neck without letting herself think about it and allowed more silent tears pour down her face. She needed this right now. Someone to comfort her. Her whole body sung at being so close to him, at touching him, and she felt herself miraculously calming down.
"I'm sorry," he whispered against her hair. "That this happened to your family. To you."
A dizzy feeling suddenly struck her. She sucked in a breath and pulled out of Syaoran's grip. Her eyes went to his like an automatic reflex, and she saw concern, genuine concern there. All his embarrassment from earlier was gone. His hands even hovered near her, like he was reluctant to let her go.
"Thank you," she whispered, and ducked behind him to run back to her room.
Woooooo stuff happening yeah yeah what did you guys think? Also sorry I totally just keep injecting Western royalty stuff but oh well c'est la fanfiction. Shoot me a review let me know how you feeeeeel.