WHY ARE YOU ASKING FOR MY ADVICE…
Wow. I never thought so many of you would love this story. I meant it to be a one-shot thing but, hey, you guys want another chapter, you got it. Once again, I don't own Cardcaptor Sakura.
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After that night, I mulled quietly over those thoughts in Yukito's mind. Perhaps…I should act?
In Castle Dracula, the Prince crushed the butt of a freshly finished cigarette into a crystal ashtray as he leaned over a dusty old book in his library. He grumbled to himself in a long dead dialect of the Romanian language as he noticed a few scrawls on the edges. "Blasted Radu, never could leave anything around him, he'd just go and…" He stopped and turned to see his angelic friend standing out upon his balcony. Dracula stood and gestured for him to enter.
"Prince Dracula, I need your help," said the Guardian as soon as he had entered the old fortress. The Prince raised an eyebrow at Yue's request. "Of course, my friend," said the Prince. Dracula had poured a strange red liquid out of a crystal decanter into a small glass and raised it to his lips. "What is it?" Yue stopped and blushed before going on, "Can you help me court Sakura?"
Yue grimaced when Dracula ejected some of his drink onto a rather ancient rug.
Back in Japan…
"I'm home!"
Sakura Kinomoto plopped down her book-bag on the chest near the door and went into the kitchen. A yellow note caught her eye…
Sakura
I'm at a dig
in Hokkaido. Be back by midnight. Could you deliver the flowers tomorrow?
Love,
Dad.
She looked over at the sink, where a tall collection of flowers sat wrapped in paper.
And how many years was it now, since she had gone? Ten?
It seemed so long ago since she heard her mother's voice…
"Ha, now," said Dracula, "You've told her?" I shook my head. "This is still…" What should I say? "…Very new to me." Dracula growled in thought and looked down. With a look of disgust and a private scold, he made a mental note to look into what kind of chemicals would be most useful in the repair of his rug. "But why me, Yue? Despite what that Frank Langella man suggests, I am not that much of a ladies man." He walked over to a desk. A drawer opened as his hand reached for it, and he smoothly extracted a long cigar. Fumbling about his smoking jacket, he continued the conversation.
"After that damnable incident with Harker and Van Helsing…where did I put those matches…I was left alone here with a tastefully furnished wing of my castle, a few bottles of Hungarian perfume, and an oak closet full of dresses and women's items. What could I offer you for advice?" I was silent for a moment as the Lord of Vampires gave up on his jacket and began rooting around his desk for the missing matchbook.
"I need her, Prince," "Of course you do, she's your mistress." "But, I need something more." The Prince stopped lifting a pile of papers as he regarded me calmly. Dracula sighed and shook his head. "Well, now, I suppose the traditional approach is with flowers…" Prince Dracula abandoned the desk and looked over around the other pieces of furniture. "But that is too…cliché. Why can't I find those matches? Anyway, flowers are usually the way to go, however that is something they would expect, ja? So, you should present them in an unusual manner. Is there some special occasion arriving soon?"
I was silent as I tried to remember. No birthdays now. No holidays. Yet, Professor Kinomoto had circled a date on his calendar in red. I dug into Yukito's memories to discover the significance of that day…
And then, I discovered it. "I think I know when…" The Prince uttered a mumbling as he plucked a matchbook from his table. "You do, eh?" Dracula smiled as he clamped the cigar between his teeth and struck a match. "Yes," I stood and bowed to the Prince. "Thank you for your help."
The Next Day…
Kero sat on Sakura's shoulder as she started up the cemetery path. Kero had sensed the woman's ghost often in the house, clinging on to her home and Dracula's visit confirmed her presence. The Kinomoto family, despite their happy appearance, always seemed to be in silent mourning for Nadeshiko. Her pictures always displayed a beautiful happiness, and he supposed that the family tried to please their loved one by using her gift of pleasure. But the Kinomotos were always aware of their loss, and remembered that tragic anniversary every year. The familiar gravestone approached them now, and another familiar shape stood by it. His long white hair flowed down a back now devoid of wings.
He turned at the sound of their approach and silently greeted his Mistress…
I watched her approach and she gave a smile to me, obviously distracted by the resting place of her lost mother. She kneeled down and lay the blossoms at the grave. She then turned to look strangely at a sprouting tree. She went over to it and examined it. "A Sakura," she said. I felt some of that warmth beginning to make it's way to my cheeks again. "Did you plant this, Yue?" she asked. I hesitated before slowly nodding. "I…thought she may like it." Sakura smiled and gave me a hug. A hug!
"Thank you, Yue…"
Although she and Kerberus, I believe I let a small smile out…