~*Destiny*~
Chapter 2: Inside the Li Clan Palace
By: Sakura Sparkles
***Sakura Sparkles***: Hi~! I updated...hope some people came to see it...PLEZ REVIEW!!! I think I'll continue this story when I get enough reviews. Evil...? lol. But I don't actually know how many people read this if they don't review. And I really want to read your opinions and stuff...thx!!! So now, for our "feature presentation"...
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A woman around 40 years old with straight black hair tied up into a bun behind her head came into the door.
Sakura and Tomoyo both turned.
Kero quickly hid into the basket half-full of apples.
The woman clapped her hands loudly to get everyone's attention.
Few started shouting and demand their way out of here. Few aimed spits at her and swear all the known swear words.
The woman's expression didn't change.
"Now that you're here you know what you're in for. Begging, screaming, crying all don't work on us. If the problem gets too tough we will be gladly to send you away from here. Here you will not lead a horrible life, as long as you loyally serve our kingdom and be faithful to Prince Syaoran and/or Princess Meilling. We choose young girls for maids around the castle, young boys for butlers and servants. Strong men shall apply for army, old men can do some farming, old women can take care of the animals. Prince Syaoran's old personal maid has suddenly passed away for some reason and if any of you is lucky enough you shall get picked for the honorable job. People with special talents such as machinery, sewing, special entertaining skills or such things please step up and we'd lead you to a better and more challenging job...if you get picked. If not, do not worry, you'll just come back here and get another easier job."
About one-third of the women/men stepped forward.
"So that's why the prince has to go through everyone for himself!" Tomoyo nodded in acknowledgement.
Another elderly Japanese heard their conversation and interrupted, "Being his personal maid is terrible! I heard people say that if you anger him he directly sends you to execution! That's why they keep changing them..."
Sakura's eyes grew wide in horror.
"But I've heard that the prince always pick his servants himself because he's so picky!" another Japanese added in, "He can sense for traitors and select good quality, if the people were too bad he would send them away and if they're dangerous he would execute them..."
"Hoe?!" Sakura letted out a yell.
"Shhh...we'll be heard!" He warned her immediately.
"Oh!" A young man joined in with them, "Did you know that the personal servant always got to test out the Prince's new stuff to see if they were good quality?"
The four of them looked at him.
"She gets to test out all of the Prince's clothes, food, furniture, and many many more..." the young man continued with a little smile, "Her life is wonderful, she can do as she likes! She has to be very picky though, because if the Prince doesn't like one thing the servant girl selects he would send her away to work with the other servants in a much harsher job!"
Sakura gasped. Everyone else sweat-dropped.
Tomoyo gently smiled, "It's not true, Sakura-chan, don't worry."
Sakura's face twitched, "You mean-it was-"
The young man smiled, "Of course it's true, and no servant girl had stayed at that job for longer than two days because of the picky prince..."
Sakura looked at him and then at Tomoyo.
"So is it...true? Or...not?"
The young man smiled again, but before he could say anything a young girl came out from the back and covered his mouth, "Let's go, Yamazaki!"
Sakura stared.
"What do you think we'll end up as then?" Sakura whispered to Tomoyo.
"Probably castle maids..." Tomoyo whispered back softly, "You don't think we look like army men do you?"
Sakura laughed, but soft enough that the woman did not hear.
Then the women looked at the rest of the people, "The rest of you shall stay here until Prince Syaoran has time to view and select you."
At that she nodded to the other people and lead them out of the room.
Sakura let a sigh, "Are you sure I can't just Fly out of here?"
Kero shook his head seriously, "Uh-uh, no, nein, nope. The Li Clan is way too strong for the two of us...and I can't sense a single glimpse of Yue's aura or power near us!"
Sakura threw her hands up in frustration, "But what if they find out!? What if he notice when he comes to 'view and select' us!? If we escape now maybe they won't have enough time to catch up! As soon as we're back far enough in the Japanese Territory we won't have to worry about them, leave them to the army!"
Kero rolled his eyes, "Baka! They have thousands of guards, loads of people belonging in the Li Clan family, and plenty of powers! What do we have? One little monster and an idiot who can't think!"
Sakura was about to say something back, but found nothing to say. He was right.
* * *
"Do they care to feed us prisoners?" Sakura whined, "If we die they have no one to serve them! And I haven't ate all day!"
Kero putted his hands over his ears, "Just be quiet, won't you? I'd explore this place...but I think it's too dangerous. After all, best thing to do is-"
"-start no commotion and cause no attention," Sakura finished for him, "I know, I know..."
Tomoyo scratched her head, "But you'd think the woman could have 'select us'...why does the Prince have to do such a job? He has enough servants to do that for him, and it's not like we're important to him or anything...all these people to choose all the time..."
Kero and Sakura sighed, "Who cares! We just wanna get out of here!!"
* * *
"Prince Syaoran, would you like to view the prisoners now?" the woman with a bun politely and, like the captain with a harsh voice, with fear, asked.
Prince Syaoran was sitting on a big arm chair by the warm fireplace. Watching how the fire moves, flickers, rise, burn.
"Yes," he answered slowly and coldly, "It's about time I meet this person."
The woman blinked at him in confusion but didn't dare to say anything.
* * *
The door opened slightly.
Everyone's eyes shot to the door.
The woman with the bun came in, opened the door to its widest and slightly bowed her head down as a silhouette came out of the shadow.
A shiver went down Sakura's neck as she senses a powerful aura entered the room.
She can also see the reaction of Kero by the way the apples moved in the basket.
A young man went into the room, he was actually quite handsome, but his face was blank and cold. His eyes were first closed as he entered, and then they suddenly opened and his sight shot towards Sakura. Sakura quickly looked away but she could feels his cold eyes staring at her.
"Tomoyo-chan~!" She whimpered.
"All shall bow before Prince Syaoran!" the woman announced sternly.
Everyone quickly organized themselves and gave him a light bow.
The prince walked right towards Sakura, his eyes moved to the basket of apples, and back at her.
Sakura was sweating like mad, cold sweat was coming out of her palm. She wishes to be anywhere but here.
His eyes were looking directly into hers, but she was desperately trying to avoid it.
"She shall be my personal maid then," he said coldly.
The woman quickly came by and bowed, "Yes, Your Majesty!"
Prince Syaoran started to walk away, "Have a servant-dress ready for her and she shall start serving me tomorrow morning."
The woman bowed again and snapped her fingers.
Two maids came from the side. She murmurs something to them and they took Sakura by the arm.
"Come with us."
They look her out of the room as Syaoran quickly finished choosing.
They took her into the palace, crossed many halls and places, then finally ending up at a door.
One of them knocked gently on the old rusty Chinese wood door.
A girl with straight short hair opened the door.
"Nee-how, Naoko shiao-jie! This is who Prince Syaoran picked for his personal maid." the two girls said and bowed.
She nodded, "Very well."
Then she took Sakura's hand and lead her inside as the two maids curtseyed and left.
Sakura studied the girl, she had short brown hair, with big glasses, and a beautiful smile.
"Do you like ghost stories by any chance?" She asked curiously, trying to be friendly.
Sakura jumped, "NO!"
The girl was taken by shock and surprise, but chuckled.
"Gomen-nasai!" She quickly said to Sakura, seeing the fear in her eyes.
"You know Japanese!!" Sakura said, this time it was her turn to be surprised.
"Of course, I am Japanese!" Naoko laughed gently, "What did you think?"
"But," Sakura gapped in surprise, "You sit in such high position...I mean, those maids over there were all listening to you, and so polite with great respect...and...and..."
Naoko smiled, "Prince Syaoran doesn't judge a person by their race, but only by their abilities. He may seem cold and distant but he's still justice and fair."
Sakura nodded, the idea of being his personal maid came back to haunt her.
"It won't be that bad," Naoko smiled, studying her expression.
Sakura smiled awkwardly, this was way far from keeping down and getting no attention.
Suddenly an image flashed through her mind.
"Omg! What about Tomoyo-chan!?" she thought.
"What's wrong?" Naoko asked. Sakura quickly forced a smile, "I'm just worried about a friend of mine..."
"Speak no more, I'll check where she is for you as soon as they all finished getting picked. If she's on Prince Syaoran's side of service I would surely tell you the news, but I don't control the maids on Princess Meilling's side...but it's all right, uh...."
"Sakura," Sakura replied politely. She couldn't believe she could make a friend so fast in the palace.
"Now let's get you made over and we'll start on the rules," Naoko said kindly.
Sakura smiled back. "Kero's over-exaggerating, it's not so tough in here!" She thought.
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***Sakura Sparkles***: Hi~! Hmm...I wonder if people actually read what I say??? That's really a good question... Do I feel like I'm talking to myself? Yes... SO...HEY YOU OVER THERE!...YES YOU! LOOK AT THE BIG CAPITAL LETTERS!!! Lol..hahaha...evil me...tatz wut my friends alwayz say...Oh well, plez REVIEW and if I see that people are *actually* reading this story (*sob*...I really hope so) I'll continue. ThX~! :D