Still same disclaimers apply. Lord I know I'm going to be sick of that by
the time I'm done with this story, but anyway. Oh, and Eriol is in this
chapter as Apollo, the god of light and truth. (The author begins to
snicker uncontrollably.) Maybe I didn't do such a good job at casting.
Eriol is probably the exact opposite of Apollo. If anyone, he should be
Mercury, who is mischievous. This is the weekend, so I actually have time
to update this. For those of you who are actually reading this, expect
updates on the weekends, and thanks for reviewing! I love it when people
review. Anyhoo, onward!
Chapter Three: Sakura's Fate
Time passed quickly since Meilin's marriage. Sakura wrote to her sisters often, who'd finally come to accept their husbands. Meilin had written that she wasn't in love with him yet, but at least he was kind. Sakura had smiled at that and wished her sisters the utmost joy.
She herself had taken up all sorts of tasks to keep her busy. She would help tend to the gardens, work in the kitchen from time to time, and was practically a permanent resident of the extensive library. While there she would tutor and be tutored in the finer points of writing and music. She would practice her lyre while there as well and often someone would join in with song or dance.
Despite how busy she'd made herself, two problems still loomed. Her father still was on the search for a suitor for her and the citizens continued to worship her instead of the goddess Yelan. Sakura was beginning to wonder how much more the goddess was going to take before she grew angry and did something about the abandonment.
'I just hope she doesn't kill me . . .' Sakura thought sullenly one morning as she walked through the halls towards the flower garden. 'Touya said he'd talk to Father about putting a stop to the worship, but ever since their argument at Meilin's marriage, they've hardly spoken.'
"Sakura!" She blinked as her name echoed down the hallway and she turned to see Yukito running up to her. She looked at him with a confused smile as he stopped running and took a few deep breaths.
"Good morning, Yukito. Why were you looking for me?" He straightened, a faint red tinge appearing on his cheeks from running. "Why were you in such a hurry?"
"Your father is in a foul mood this morning. He's summoning you and Touya to him to discuss what to do about your lack of suitors." Sakura blinked again and Yukito turned slightly to face the direction he'd come. "Your brother arrived first and the two of them had a horrible argument."
"They haven't hurt eachother, have they?" Yukito shook his head and relief flooded through Sakura. "At least they have enough sense for that." She muttered and the two of them started walking towards the throne room.
"Now the two of them flat out refuse to have a single word with the other. It's horrible." Sakura glanced up at Yukito; his face was awash with concern and he was frowning slightly. It was one of the few times she hadn't seen him smiling in some way.
They walked in silence the rest of the way to the throne room and two attendants opened the heavy doors. Yukito entered first, his sandals clicking softly on the marble floor. Sakura followed him quickly, her skirts rustling as she moved. Yukito reached her father and bowed deeply before moving to stand beside Touya, who was sitting on the three small steps up to the dais sourly.
"You wished to speak with me, Father?" Sakura said after meeting Touya's gaze for a moment. "What is so pressing that you must summon me this early?" Her father waved a hand and stood slowly.
"I know that you are up mucking about the gardens like a servant at this hour, daughter." Sakura bristled slightly; she knew he didn't approve of most of her activities, but he still had no right to insult her.
"Then what is it?"
"I wish to discuss what we are going to do about you." Sakura tried to feign surprise. "Months have passed since your sister's weddings, and no one accepts betrothal offers. People come every day from all over the country to admire you, but no one falls in love!" He said heatedly, his expression becoming perplexed. "They pass you over for a less beautiful, a less worthy woman!"
'And that's bad?' Sakura kept her thoughts to herself as her father continued to rant on and on about her lack of suitors. 'I personally don't mind one bit.' She glanced over at Touya, who was clearly restraining a glare. He was on his feet now, though, and his fists her clenched angrily.
"Father, what do you expect me to do about it? I can't make a man fall in love with me." She said coolly and her father shut his mouth with a slight click. From the corner of her eye, she saw Touya move to her side. "I don't know how to solve this any more than you do."
"That's why I've summoned you here. I am sending Touya and Yukito to the oracle at Delphi to ask what is to be done." Sakura glanced at Touya, whose mouth hung open. Yukito, however, looked as though he'd been expecting it. "I'm sure the great god of truth and light, Eriol, can tell us what needs to be done to get you a husband." Sakura grimaced.
'Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.'
***
Syaoran walked through the grand halls of Olympus in search of Eriol, the god of truth and light. Stage one of his plan was complete; no one should be falling in love with Sakura, and no one should be stepping forward to accept the marriage proposal. He smiled to himself, pleased with his handiwork.
'Now it's onto stage two.' He thought as he rounded a corner and leapt back as he nearly collided with the very god he had been looking for. Eriol regarded him curiously.
"Well, well! If it isn't the infamous Syaoran, the god of love. What brings you up to Olympus? You usually never dare to set foot here, for fear that Clow Reed or Juno will punish you for all times you've made him chase after young maidens." Eriol smiled slightly as Syaoran rolled his eyes.
"I don't see Clow Reed complain much. If anything, he'd be embarrassed over the things he's turned himself into to get to those women." Eriol's smile widened. "And Juno wouldn't punish me for her husband's actions. I may make him fall in love, but what happens after that is entirely up to him."
"Very true." Eriol said with a small laugh. "But you still haven't answered my question. Why have you suddenly decided to come to Olympus?" Syaoran fixed him with a stare.
"I need to ask a favor." He said quietly after a moment of silence. Eriol's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped slightly in shock.
"You, the great god of love, needs a favor?" Syaoran looked at the ceiling. He'd prepared himself for this kind of reaction. "What could you possibly need from me? You've got everything. Even I can't make women fall in love with me if I wanted."
"Well, you see . . ." Syaoran trailed off and Eriol fixed him with a scrutinizing stare, his eyes narrowing slightly. "It's . . . it's just that . . ." Abruptly Eriol blinked and stepped back, his expression even more stunned than the first time.
"You've fallen victim to your own magic." Syaoran nodded slightly and a smile crept across Eriol's face slowly. Soon he was grinning broadly, and it sent shivers up and down Syaoran's spine. "So what is it you need from me? Just wave your hand and she'll be in love with you as well."
"It's not that simple." Eriol's grin faded. "You see, I was sent to make her fall in love with the ugliest creature on the planet because she angered Yelan." Eriol blinked.
"What'd she do?"
"Her people started worshipping her instead of Yelan." Eriol winced.
"Ouch. And somehow you managed to fall in love with the very girl your mother wanted you to ruin." Syaoran nodded slowly. "I still don't understand where I fit in with this whole mess."
"I was getting to that. I found out that her father is trying to marry her off, so I spelled her so no one would fall in love with her and no one would accept the betrothal offers." Eriol raised his eyebrows.
"That was quite a stunt."
"So today her father is sending an assembly to your oracle in Delphi to ask what's to be done, and I need you to tell them something very specific." Eriol's eyebrows raised even higher and Syaoran mentally crossed his fingers. His whole plan would fall apart if he didn't get Eriol to agree to this.
"You know I can't lie to them." Eriol said after a moment and Syaoran breathed a mental sigh of relief. He hadn't said no just yet.
"I know that. But it wouldn't be lying, Eriol. You tell the oracle your will, right? So if this is your will, then it's not lying." There was a long pause of silence and Syaoran fought to keep his anxiety from showing.
"It's going to cost you." Syaoran blinked. "The next time I'm in love with a woman, make her love me in return, all right? I grow tired of chasing them." Syaoran grinned more from relief than anything.
"Of course. Now here's what I need you to tell them . . ."
***
It was early morning when Touya and Yuki finally reached the oracle at Delphi. It'd taken then nearly a week of nonstop travel to reach the city, and Yuki had woken Touya up early this morning just so they could get to the oracle and get home. Touya was yawning continuously and his gaze was sullenly tired.
"I swear, Yuki . . . if you ever get me up this early again, I'll kill you." Touya said and annoyance flittered through him as Yuki merely smiled. "We walked all day yesterday. One would think I'd be allowed at least one morning to sleep in . . ." Yuki adjusted his pack and glanced over at Touya.
"I thought you wanted to get the oracle's answer as quickly as possible, Touya." He glowered silently at the smiling man.
"I do, but I didn't want to have to wake up this early." He muttered as they reached the building of the oracle. Several attendants bowed to them as they entered and a young woman in clean white robes approached them swiftly.
"Welcome, travelers. May I ask the question for which you seek an answer?" Her dark eyes glanced from Touya to Yuki. "I will relay the question to the oracle, and I will return with your answer."
"We can't hear it ourselves?" The young woman shook her head and Touya looked at her suspiciously. "How will we know the answer is true?" The young woman looked offended.
"Traveler, may I remind you where you stand? You are in the house of the oracle of the Eriol, the god of light and truth. No false word falls from his lips, and none of us would dare to give you an untrue answer. We relay the message exactly as it comes. Doing otherwise would bring the wrath of the gods upon us." She said, steel underlying her words and her overall tone lofty and insulted.
"Forgive him; my friend lacks courtesy." Touya glared at Yuki, who bowed to the young woman.
"It is forgotten." She waved her hand in dismissal and fixed them with a pointed stare. "Now, I presume you have a question?" Yuki nodded.
"We are from the Tomoeda kingdom, and we wish to know about the future of the Princess Sakura. She has no suitors, but many admirers, and no one seems to wish to marry her." The woman nodded, her expression a slight frown as she took in everything Yuki told her. "We would like to know if she is ever to be married, and if so, to whom?"
"I shall relay your question to the oracle. Until I return, please wait here." She gestured to some chairs and turned promptly and left with a swish of her robes. Touya glanced at Yuki, who shrugged before sinking into one of the chairs. Touya moved to sit beside him.
'I hope this journey is worth it . . .' Touya thought as he watched the door the young woman had vanished behind. 'Otherwise we sure came a long way for nothing . . .'
Time seemed to crawl by as Touya and Yuki waited for the young woman to return. Touya started counting all the blemishes on the ceiling after a while, and he'd managed to count most of them before Yuki spoke up and interrupted. They'd talked for a moment, and then Touya went back to counting; he had to start all over again. Finally the door opened and the young woman walked into the room. Touya was on his feet in an instant.
"Well? What'd she say?" The young woman glared at him slightly.
"Your friend is right. Not only do you lack courtesy, but you are impatient as well." Touya snorted slightly. "There are other people here as well who came before you. Their questions shall be answered first, and then I shall return to answer yours." With another swish of her robes, she walked off to another waiting group. Touya glowered at her retreating form, but blinked as he heard a soft chuckle.
"Perhaps I should have let you sleep in, Touya." He glanced at Yuki, who was laughing quietly, and his glower faded. "You're much more agreeable when you've gotten a decent amount of sleep."
"What'd I try and tell you?" He said as he reclaimed his seat and he sighed. "I just hate waiting. I always have, and I always will." Yuki patted his shoulder lightly and Touya slumped in his chair.
"Patience has never been your strong point, I know. But relax, Touya. She'll be with us soon."
To Touya, it seemed like another hour crawled by before the young woman finally moved to them. She pulled up a chair and sat before them, her expression grim. Touya sat up suddenly as he noticed this. The young woman began to explain what the oracle had seen and horror filled Touya. His fingers curled around the armrests of the chair and he shook his head slowly.
"You . . . you can't be serious . . ." He said quietly, his tone and expression stunned. The young woman looked up at him, and her eyes held sorrow. Touya glanced at Yuki, who was looking at his feet. He looked as sad as the young woman did. "Tell me this was a mistake, that it isn't the right answer . . ."
"I'm afraid the oracle does not lie. That is the fate your sister is destined for." Touya shook his head again before falling back in the chair. He . . . he couldn't believe it . . .
***
Sakura sat with her sisters Meilin and Tomoyo in their father's throne room. Touya and Yukito had returned the night before, but had been far too tired from their two-week journey to say anything. It was now late morning, and Sakura awaited her brother's news anxiously. What was her fate to be? Would she have to marry a prince from a neighboring kingdom?
The doors finally creaked open, and Yukito walked in. Touya trailed in after him and Sakura frowned at his expression. His gaze was a mixture of shock and sorrow, and his eyes were glued to the marble floor. The two of them stopped just before the steps and Yukito bowed.
"Your highness, we bring the answer from the oracle at Delphi." Yukito said after a moment and Sakura's frown deepened along with her anxiety. Why was his voice wavering?
"Well? Is my youngest daughter to be wed or not?" Her father demanded and Tomoyo and Meilin moved to stand on either side of Sakura. The three of them then joined hands unconsciously, and Sakura squeezed their hands gently. Her sisters were trembling slightly.
"Yes . . . she is to be wed." Sakura heard her father breathe a huge sigh of relief.
"Then why are you so somber? This is good news, is it not?" Tomoyo asked. She and Meilin hadn't relaxed just yet. Yukito glanced at Sakura before looking away quickly, and Sakura blinked. She stood slowly.
"Yukito, who am I to be wed to?" Both of the men grimaced and her stomach was instantly in knots. "Please just tell me. Otherwise you'll kill us with suspense."
"The oracle said . . ." Yukito began, but his voice trailed off. He cleared his throat before taking a deep breath and beginning again. "The oracle said that Sakura is to be dressed for mourning and to be taken to the rocky hill that overlooks our city." He swallowed and drew himself up. "She is to be left on this hill . . . we are to leave her for dead because there will come a great winged serpent who will claim her as his wife."
Shock ripped through Sakura and she fell back into her chair. Her sisters gasped before clinging to her tightly. After a moment, Sakura looked up at Yukito, who was gazing at her with the utmost sorrow and pity. She felt her jaw clench and her hands balled into fists.
"So it must be." She said softly and her sisters cried out.
"Sakura, no! You can't be married to a serpent!"
"Listen! We'll do something to stop this! There must be something we can do!" Her sisters begged as she stood slowly and disengaged herself from their grasp. "Please, Sakura! We won't let you be married to a monster!"
She finally turned to look at her sisters, both of whom were in tears. Tomoyo reached over and took her hand, her amethyst eyes shining with grief. Meilin took a hesitant step forward before hugging her tightly again.
"Sakura, you must listen to us! You can't marry something inhuman!" Sakura couldn't help smiling slightly at her sisters and she pushed them away gently.
"You cry for me now." She looked over her shoulder at Yukito, whose expression remained the same. "This is the gods' punishment. I couldn't put a stop to the worship that was occurring, and now I must pay the price." She turned back to her sisters. "Do not cry for me now, sisters. I was lost the moment the veneration began."
"Sakura . . ." She turned back to Yukito and she steeled herself against the tears that threatened her.
"Tomorrow I will go to my fate. And Father . . ." She turned her gaze to him and he wilted. "Please know now the consequences for angering a god." Her words rang in the room and she left it quietly, leaving her family to their grief.
To be continued!
I know I know, corny, but yeah. Um, from here on out, it might get pretty mushy, just so you know. I don't want anyone getting toothaches and then blaming me, okay? Besides, if I make it too sweet and sappy, I may just kill off my friends. Or they might kill me, we'll see! Ja!
Chapter Three: Sakura's Fate
Time passed quickly since Meilin's marriage. Sakura wrote to her sisters often, who'd finally come to accept their husbands. Meilin had written that she wasn't in love with him yet, but at least he was kind. Sakura had smiled at that and wished her sisters the utmost joy.
She herself had taken up all sorts of tasks to keep her busy. She would help tend to the gardens, work in the kitchen from time to time, and was practically a permanent resident of the extensive library. While there she would tutor and be tutored in the finer points of writing and music. She would practice her lyre while there as well and often someone would join in with song or dance.
Despite how busy she'd made herself, two problems still loomed. Her father still was on the search for a suitor for her and the citizens continued to worship her instead of the goddess Yelan. Sakura was beginning to wonder how much more the goddess was going to take before she grew angry and did something about the abandonment.
'I just hope she doesn't kill me . . .' Sakura thought sullenly one morning as she walked through the halls towards the flower garden. 'Touya said he'd talk to Father about putting a stop to the worship, but ever since their argument at Meilin's marriage, they've hardly spoken.'
"Sakura!" She blinked as her name echoed down the hallway and she turned to see Yukito running up to her. She looked at him with a confused smile as he stopped running and took a few deep breaths.
"Good morning, Yukito. Why were you looking for me?" He straightened, a faint red tinge appearing on his cheeks from running. "Why were you in such a hurry?"
"Your father is in a foul mood this morning. He's summoning you and Touya to him to discuss what to do about your lack of suitors." Sakura blinked again and Yukito turned slightly to face the direction he'd come. "Your brother arrived first and the two of them had a horrible argument."
"They haven't hurt eachother, have they?" Yukito shook his head and relief flooded through Sakura. "At least they have enough sense for that." She muttered and the two of them started walking towards the throne room.
"Now the two of them flat out refuse to have a single word with the other. It's horrible." Sakura glanced up at Yukito; his face was awash with concern and he was frowning slightly. It was one of the few times she hadn't seen him smiling in some way.
They walked in silence the rest of the way to the throne room and two attendants opened the heavy doors. Yukito entered first, his sandals clicking softly on the marble floor. Sakura followed him quickly, her skirts rustling as she moved. Yukito reached her father and bowed deeply before moving to stand beside Touya, who was sitting on the three small steps up to the dais sourly.
"You wished to speak with me, Father?" Sakura said after meeting Touya's gaze for a moment. "What is so pressing that you must summon me this early?" Her father waved a hand and stood slowly.
"I know that you are up mucking about the gardens like a servant at this hour, daughter." Sakura bristled slightly; she knew he didn't approve of most of her activities, but he still had no right to insult her.
"Then what is it?"
"I wish to discuss what we are going to do about you." Sakura tried to feign surprise. "Months have passed since your sister's weddings, and no one accepts betrothal offers. People come every day from all over the country to admire you, but no one falls in love!" He said heatedly, his expression becoming perplexed. "They pass you over for a less beautiful, a less worthy woman!"
'And that's bad?' Sakura kept her thoughts to herself as her father continued to rant on and on about her lack of suitors. 'I personally don't mind one bit.' She glanced over at Touya, who was clearly restraining a glare. He was on his feet now, though, and his fists her clenched angrily.
"Father, what do you expect me to do about it? I can't make a man fall in love with me." She said coolly and her father shut his mouth with a slight click. From the corner of her eye, she saw Touya move to her side. "I don't know how to solve this any more than you do."
"That's why I've summoned you here. I am sending Touya and Yukito to the oracle at Delphi to ask what is to be done." Sakura glanced at Touya, whose mouth hung open. Yukito, however, looked as though he'd been expecting it. "I'm sure the great god of truth and light, Eriol, can tell us what needs to be done to get you a husband." Sakura grimaced.
'Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.'
***
Syaoran walked through the grand halls of Olympus in search of Eriol, the god of truth and light. Stage one of his plan was complete; no one should be falling in love with Sakura, and no one should be stepping forward to accept the marriage proposal. He smiled to himself, pleased with his handiwork.
'Now it's onto stage two.' He thought as he rounded a corner and leapt back as he nearly collided with the very god he had been looking for. Eriol regarded him curiously.
"Well, well! If it isn't the infamous Syaoran, the god of love. What brings you up to Olympus? You usually never dare to set foot here, for fear that Clow Reed or Juno will punish you for all times you've made him chase after young maidens." Eriol smiled slightly as Syaoran rolled his eyes.
"I don't see Clow Reed complain much. If anything, he'd be embarrassed over the things he's turned himself into to get to those women." Eriol's smile widened. "And Juno wouldn't punish me for her husband's actions. I may make him fall in love, but what happens after that is entirely up to him."
"Very true." Eriol said with a small laugh. "But you still haven't answered my question. Why have you suddenly decided to come to Olympus?" Syaoran fixed him with a stare.
"I need to ask a favor." He said quietly after a moment of silence. Eriol's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped slightly in shock.
"You, the great god of love, needs a favor?" Syaoran looked at the ceiling. He'd prepared himself for this kind of reaction. "What could you possibly need from me? You've got everything. Even I can't make women fall in love with me if I wanted."
"Well, you see . . ." Syaoran trailed off and Eriol fixed him with a scrutinizing stare, his eyes narrowing slightly. "It's . . . it's just that . . ." Abruptly Eriol blinked and stepped back, his expression even more stunned than the first time.
"You've fallen victim to your own magic." Syaoran nodded slightly and a smile crept across Eriol's face slowly. Soon he was grinning broadly, and it sent shivers up and down Syaoran's spine. "So what is it you need from me? Just wave your hand and she'll be in love with you as well."
"It's not that simple." Eriol's grin faded. "You see, I was sent to make her fall in love with the ugliest creature on the planet because she angered Yelan." Eriol blinked.
"What'd she do?"
"Her people started worshipping her instead of Yelan." Eriol winced.
"Ouch. And somehow you managed to fall in love with the very girl your mother wanted you to ruin." Syaoran nodded slowly. "I still don't understand where I fit in with this whole mess."
"I was getting to that. I found out that her father is trying to marry her off, so I spelled her so no one would fall in love with her and no one would accept the betrothal offers." Eriol raised his eyebrows.
"That was quite a stunt."
"So today her father is sending an assembly to your oracle in Delphi to ask what's to be done, and I need you to tell them something very specific." Eriol's eyebrows raised even higher and Syaoran mentally crossed his fingers. His whole plan would fall apart if he didn't get Eriol to agree to this.
"You know I can't lie to them." Eriol said after a moment and Syaoran breathed a mental sigh of relief. He hadn't said no just yet.
"I know that. But it wouldn't be lying, Eriol. You tell the oracle your will, right? So if this is your will, then it's not lying." There was a long pause of silence and Syaoran fought to keep his anxiety from showing.
"It's going to cost you." Syaoran blinked. "The next time I'm in love with a woman, make her love me in return, all right? I grow tired of chasing them." Syaoran grinned more from relief than anything.
"Of course. Now here's what I need you to tell them . . ."
***
It was early morning when Touya and Yuki finally reached the oracle at Delphi. It'd taken then nearly a week of nonstop travel to reach the city, and Yuki had woken Touya up early this morning just so they could get to the oracle and get home. Touya was yawning continuously and his gaze was sullenly tired.
"I swear, Yuki . . . if you ever get me up this early again, I'll kill you." Touya said and annoyance flittered through him as Yuki merely smiled. "We walked all day yesterday. One would think I'd be allowed at least one morning to sleep in . . ." Yuki adjusted his pack and glanced over at Touya.
"I thought you wanted to get the oracle's answer as quickly as possible, Touya." He glowered silently at the smiling man.
"I do, but I didn't want to have to wake up this early." He muttered as they reached the building of the oracle. Several attendants bowed to them as they entered and a young woman in clean white robes approached them swiftly.
"Welcome, travelers. May I ask the question for which you seek an answer?" Her dark eyes glanced from Touya to Yuki. "I will relay the question to the oracle, and I will return with your answer."
"We can't hear it ourselves?" The young woman shook her head and Touya looked at her suspiciously. "How will we know the answer is true?" The young woman looked offended.
"Traveler, may I remind you where you stand? You are in the house of the oracle of the Eriol, the god of light and truth. No false word falls from his lips, and none of us would dare to give you an untrue answer. We relay the message exactly as it comes. Doing otherwise would bring the wrath of the gods upon us." She said, steel underlying her words and her overall tone lofty and insulted.
"Forgive him; my friend lacks courtesy." Touya glared at Yuki, who bowed to the young woman.
"It is forgotten." She waved her hand in dismissal and fixed them with a pointed stare. "Now, I presume you have a question?" Yuki nodded.
"We are from the Tomoeda kingdom, and we wish to know about the future of the Princess Sakura. She has no suitors, but many admirers, and no one seems to wish to marry her." The woman nodded, her expression a slight frown as she took in everything Yuki told her. "We would like to know if she is ever to be married, and if so, to whom?"
"I shall relay your question to the oracle. Until I return, please wait here." She gestured to some chairs and turned promptly and left with a swish of her robes. Touya glanced at Yuki, who shrugged before sinking into one of the chairs. Touya moved to sit beside him.
'I hope this journey is worth it . . .' Touya thought as he watched the door the young woman had vanished behind. 'Otherwise we sure came a long way for nothing . . .'
Time seemed to crawl by as Touya and Yuki waited for the young woman to return. Touya started counting all the blemishes on the ceiling after a while, and he'd managed to count most of them before Yuki spoke up and interrupted. They'd talked for a moment, and then Touya went back to counting; he had to start all over again. Finally the door opened and the young woman walked into the room. Touya was on his feet in an instant.
"Well? What'd she say?" The young woman glared at him slightly.
"Your friend is right. Not only do you lack courtesy, but you are impatient as well." Touya snorted slightly. "There are other people here as well who came before you. Their questions shall be answered first, and then I shall return to answer yours." With another swish of her robes, she walked off to another waiting group. Touya glowered at her retreating form, but blinked as he heard a soft chuckle.
"Perhaps I should have let you sleep in, Touya." He glanced at Yuki, who was laughing quietly, and his glower faded. "You're much more agreeable when you've gotten a decent amount of sleep."
"What'd I try and tell you?" He said as he reclaimed his seat and he sighed. "I just hate waiting. I always have, and I always will." Yuki patted his shoulder lightly and Touya slumped in his chair.
"Patience has never been your strong point, I know. But relax, Touya. She'll be with us soon."
To Touya, it seemed like another hour crawled by before the young woman finally moved to them. She pulled up a chair and sat before them, her expression grim. Touya sat up suddenly as he noticed this. The young woman began to explain what the oracle had seen and horror filled Touya. His fingers curled around the armrests of the chair and he shook his head slowly.
"You . . . you can't be serious . . ." He said quietly, his tone and expression stunned. The young woman looked up at him, and her eyes held sorrow. Touya glanced at Yuki, who was looking at his feet. He looked as sad as the young woman did. "Tell me this was a mistake, that it isn't the right answer . . ."
"I'm afraid the oracle does not lie. That is the fate your sister is destined for." Touya shook his head again before falling back in the chair. He . . . he couldn't believe it . . .
***
Sakura sat with her sisters Meilin and Tomoyo in their father's throne room. Touya and Yukito had returned the night before, but had been far too tired from their two-week journey to say anything. It was now late morning, and Sakura awaited her brother's news anxiously. What was her fate to be? Would she have to marry a prince from a neighboring kingdom?
The doors finally creaked open, and Yukito walked in. Touya trailed in after him and Sakura frowned at his expression. His gaze was a mixture of shock and sorrow, and his eyes were glued to the marble floor. The two of them stopped just before the steps and Yukito bowed.
"Your highness, we bring the answer from the oracle at Delphi." Yukito said after a moment and Sakura's frown deepened along with her anxiety. Why was his voice wavering?
"Well? Is my youngest daughter to be wed or not?" Her father demanded and Tomoyo and Meilin moved to stand on either side of Sakura. The three of them then joined hands unconsciously, and Sakura squeezed their hands gently. Her sisters were trembling slightly.
"Yes . . . she is to be wed." Sakura heard her father breathe a huge sigh of relief.
"Then why are you so somber? This is good news, is it not?" Tomoyo asked. She and Meilin hadn't relaxed just yet. Yukito glanced at Sakura before looking away quickly, and Sakura blinked. She stood slowly.
"Yukito, who am I to be wed to?" Both of the men grimaced and her stomach was instantly in knots. "Please just tell me. Otherwise you'll kill us with suspense."
"The oracle said . . ." Yukito began, but his voice trailed off. He cleared his throat before taking a deep breath and beginning again. "The oracle said that Sakura is to be dressed for mourning and to be taken to the rocky hill that overlooks our city." He swallowed and drew himself up. "She is to be left on this hill . . . we are to leave her for dead because there will come a great winged serpent who will claim her as his wife."
Shock ripped through Sakura and she fell back into her chair. Her sisters gasped before clinging to her tightly. After a moment, Sakura looked up at Yukito, who was gazing at her with the utmost sorrow and pity. She felt her jaw clench and her hands balled into fists.
"So it must be." She said softly and her sisters cried out.
"Sakura, no! You can't be married to a serpent!"
"Listen! We'll do something to stop this! There must be something we can do!" Her sisters begged as she stood slowly and disengaged herself from their grasp. "Please, Sakura! We won't let you be married to a monster!"
She finally turned to look at her sisters, both of whom were in tears. Tomoyo reached over and took her hand, her amethyst eyes shining with grief. Meilin took a hesitant step forward before hugging her tightly again.
"Sakura, you must listen to us! You can't marry something inhuman!" Sakura couldn't help smiling slightly at her sisters and she pushed them away gently.
"You cry for me now." She looked over her shoulder at Yukito, whose expression remained the same. "This is the gods' punishment. I couldn't put a stop to the worship that was occurring, and now I must pay the price." She turned back to her sisters. "Do not cry for me now, sisters. I was lost the moment the veneration began."
"Sakura . . ." She turned back to Yukito and she steeled herself against the tears that threatened her.
"Tomorrow I will go to my fate. And Father . . ." She turned her gaze to him and he wilted. "Please know now the consequences for angering a god." Her words rang in the room and she left it quietly, leaving her family to their grief.
To be continued!
I know I know, corny, but yeah. Um, from here on out, it might get pretty mushy, just so you know. I don't want anyone getting toothaches and then blaming me, okay? Besides, if I make it too sweet and sappy, I may just kill off my friends. Or they might kill me, we'll see! Ja!