Chapter One
The girl saw him sitting by the window again, staring outside with no expression. She stopped for a moment, wiping her hands, damp from filthy dishwater, on her dirty apron. He sat there every day, and no one bothered him. Of course not, he was the king, if title if nothing else. But it did not seem to bother him that his mother was the true ruler and he was a mere figurehead. It was as if he had not personality. Sakura could not remember if she had even heard him speak. Although it would not surprise her if she were to learn that he would never speak in front of a worthless servant like herself. She took a cautious step forward, eyes to the ground. "Master Li," she said quietly. He did not turn around, or even acknowledge that she had spoken. She had expected as much, and yet she was still disturbed by his coldness. She took a deep breath and continued. "The knights are waiting for you. You are to go with them to Rana by way of the Kyani Forest." Without looking at her, Syaoran stood up. It was as if he had planned to get up anyway and her being there was just a coincidence, Sakura thought. She took a step back, bowing deeply. "I am to accompany you, my lord." Syaoran nodded once and began to walk to the front of the castle. As he walked, Sakura several steps behind, she dared to glance up at him. He was not bad-looking, her Master Li. No! She, a mere servant girl, must not think such thoughts. It was not fitting. The castle is just like him, Sakura thought. Cold, emotionless, without personality. Silently observing. Always silent. Why, she wondered, is he like this? Look at his sisters, ever talking, laughing, playing, taking advantage of their positions as princesses. But Master Li is the king and he enjoys nothing.
Before she knew it, they were outside in the bright early afternoon sunlight, walking across the vast lawn, beautifully kempt with trees strewn all around, their leaves just beginning to turn red and orange and yellow, a reminder that autumn was on its way. A cool, brisk breeze blew as Sakura followed Syaoran to the stable, tucked away at the edge of the lawn, right by the forest. She could already hear the clamor of the knights and their young apprentices that would accompany them. Sakura suddenly felt awkward. She would be the only girl on this trip. But it was unlikely that anyone would pay her any attention. With her short, dirty auburn hair, filthy body and ragged clothes, her only outstanding feature was her brilliant emerald-green eyes, always turned to the ground. She glanced again at Syaoran, the warm sunlight shining on his clean, chestnut-brown hair, ruffled by the gentle breeze. He wore no robe or crown; his dress did not betray his position. He wore simple white pants and a smooth green shirt. Sakura could not deny that he was handsome, with broad shoulders and strong arms. He was perfectly proportioned. But his light-brown eyes, which would have been beautiful, were sad, she thought, though she could not see them now. Sad to look at, rather. There was no emotion in them, just the coldness that defined the whole of his being. As they reached the stable, Sakura walked to Syaoran's horse, Karu. He was a beautiful while stallion with long mane and a lot of spirit. Only Syaoran could control him. Sakura saddled the horse cautiously, taking care not to disturb him. She then waked over to the plain brown mare she would be riding, Niya. Sakura smiled and stroked Niya's nose gently. She nibbled at Sakura's hair. Sakura giggled, and then began to load the minimal supplies she would be carrying onto the bags on either side of the saddle. As she worked, she listened to the knights' conversation, which was no longer so chaotic now that Syaoran was here. "We should make it to Rana by tomorrow," a rough, deep voice said. "That is, if the rebels don't stop us first," said a younger voice. Syaoran, Sakura realized. That was Syaoran's voice. The knights were all older than the seventeen-year-old king, and one of the young boys would dare to speak. "The rebels would never dare bother the king," said another voice. "You underestimate them," replied Syaoran. "They feel that they are being unfairly treated. All the peasants are unhappy, but these rebels are especially dangerous. What do you think happened to my father?" Silence descended as this sunk in. Syaoran finally broke the silence. "I hope you all have your swords," he said, "because we may need them. We must be especially cautious in Kyani Forest. As you all should know, it is very dense. The rebels could be surrounding us and we'd never know." "Maybe," the rough voice suggested, "you shouldn't go to Rana, Your Highness." "On the contrary," replied Syaoran. "I must go. The king of Rana will only talk to another king. Only with his help can we end the rebellion before anyone else is hurt." Anyone that's not a peasant, you mean, Sakura thought bitterly, because of course peasants don't matter. We're not human. She shook her head. Such foolish, pointless thoughts! She finished her work and stepped quietly back behind Syaoran. "We are ready, Master Li." He nodded without turning. Sakura realized that he expected her to bring him his horse. She quickly followed the squires back into the stables. After a moment they all returned, one by one bringing the horses to their respective masters, and then scrambling back for their own horses. Sakura paused a moment to stoke Niya's flank. "I'm glad you're coming with me," Sakura whispered. Soon everyone had mounted his horse and was ready. Sakura could hardly contain her excitement, and she struggled not to let it show. She had never left Kija before. Going to Rana, while a chore for Syaoran, was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for her to travel and see another kingdom. Her best friend, Tomoyo, another servant in the castle, was extremely jealous. "Bring me something back from Rana," she had said. "If I can't go I can at least see something from there." Her eyes had sparkled with excitement for Sakura. Syaoran, of course, was at the head of the group. "Let's go," he commanded, and began heading north, straight into the nearby Kyani Forest, away from the castle. Everyone followed, chattering amongst themselves, especially the squires, many of which knew each other. Sakura rode Niya in silence. None of the boys would want to talk to her, she already knew. She suddenly felt lonely. She wished Tomoyo could have come along. Without thinking, Sakura's hand went to her throat. She reached for the chain that held the small charm, a strange key, pink with tiny white wings. She had always had this key with her, though she did not know where it had come from. It was her good luck charm, and always a source of comfort when she was sad or afraid or lonely. They had been traveling for almost an hour when Sakura felt suddenly strange, as if someone was watching her. No, not really like that. Just that someone was there, or something. Sakura shook her head, confused, but she could not shake the strange sensation that someone or something was there. She looked around nervously, and then noticed that Syaoran was doing the same. Did he feel it too? The sensation left as quickly as it had come. Sakura shook her head again. Perhaps it had just been her imagination? She tried to convince herself of it, but could not. The memory nagged at the back of her mind. "How could I just feel that someone's there?" she whispered to herself. She tried to relax and forget about it, but could not. She reached for the key that was at her throat and was surprised to find it outside of her shirt. She always kept it under her shirt out of the fear that it would be taken from her. "I really am going crazy," she murmured, tucking it back under her shirt. The party continued on, and eventually Sakura relaxed, though the strange events still played insistently at the back of her mind.
Author's Notes: Well, I finally started my second fic! If you haven't read my first one, please do. ^_^ Hopefully this one will be even better! I've got a vague idea for the plot. We'll see what happens. And if anyone's wondering if it's S+S, well, you'll just have to wait and see. ^_~ Please review- they make me write faster. Thanks for reading my fic! Ja ne!
The girl saw him sitting by the window again, staring outside with no expression. She stopped for a moment, wiping her hands, damp from filthy dishwater, on her dirty apron. He sat there every day, and no one bothered him. Of course not, he was the king, if title if nothing else. But it did not seem to bother him that his mother was the true ruler and he was a mere figurehead. It was as if he had not personality. Sakura could not remember if she had even heard him speak. Although it would not surprise her if she were to learn that he would never speak in front of a worthless servant like herself. She took a cautious step forward, eyes to the ground. "Master Li," she said quietly. He did not turn around, or even acknowledge that she had spoken. She had expected as much, and yet she was still disturbed by his coldness. She took a deep breath and continued. "The knights are waiting for you. You are to go with them to Rana by way of the Kyani Forest." Without looking at her, Syaoran stood up. It was as if he had planned to get up anyway and her being there was just a coincidence, Sakura thought. She took a step back, bowing deeply. "I am to accompany you, my lord." Syaoran nodded once and began to walk to the front of the castle. As he walked, Sakura several steps behind, she dared to glance up at him. He was not bad-looking, her Master Li. No! She, a mere servant girl, must not think such thoughts. It was not fitting. The castle is just like him, Sakura thought. Cold, emotionless, without personality. Silently observing. Always silent. Why, she wondered, is he like this? Look at his sisters, ever talking, laughing, playing, taking advantage of their positions as princesses. But Master Li is the king and he enjoys nothing.
Before she knew it, they were outside in the bright early afternoon sunlight, walking across the vast lawn, beautifully kempt with trees strewn all around, their leaves just beginning to turn red and orange and yellow, a reminder that autumn was on its way. A cool, brisk breeze blew as Sakura followed Syaoran to the stable, tucked away at the edge of the lawn, right by the forest. She could already hear the clamor of the knights and their young apprentices that would accompany them. Sakura suddenly felt awkward. She would be the only girl on this trip. But it was unlikely that anyone would pay her any attention. With her short, dirty auburn hair, filthy body and ragged clothes, her only outstanding feature was her brilliant emerald-green eyes, always turned to the ground. She glanced again at Syaoran, the warm sunlight shining on his clean, chestnut-brown hair, ruffled by the gentle breeze. He wore no robe or crown; his dress did not betray his position. He wore simple white pants and a smooth green shirt. Sakura could not deny that he was handsome, with broad shoulders and strong arms. He was perfectly proportioned. But his light-brown eyes, which would have been beautiful, were sad, she thought, though she could not see them now. Sad to look at, rather. There was no emotion in them, just the coldness that defined the whole of his being. As they reached the stable, Sakura walked to Syaoran's horse, Karu. He was a beautiful while stallion with long mane and a lot of spirit. Only Syaoran could control him. Sakura saddled the horse cautiously, taking care not to disturb him. She then waked over to the plain brown mare she would be riding, Niya. Sakura smiled and stroked Niya's nose gently. She nibbled at Sakura's hair. Sakura giggled, and then began to load the minimal supplies she would be carrying onto the bags on either side of the saddle. As she worked, she listened to the knights' conversation, which was no longer so chaotic now that Syaoran was here. "We should make it to Rana by tomorrow," a rough, deep voice said. "That is, if the rebels don't stop us first," said a younger voice. Syaoran, Sakura realized. That was Syaoran's voice. The knights were all older than the seventeen-year-old king, and one of the young boys would dare to speak. "The rebels would never dare bother the king," said another voice. "You underestimate them," replied Syaoran. "They feel that they are being unfairly treated. All the peasants are unhappy, but these rebels are especially dangerous. What do you think happened to my father?" Silence descended as this sunk in. Syaoran finally broke the silence. "I hope you all have your swords," he said, "because we may need them. We must be especially cautious in Kyani Forest. As you all should know, it is very dense. The rebels could be surrounding us and we'd never know." "Maybe," the rough voice suggested, "you shouldn't go to Rana, Your Highness." "On the contrary," replied Syaoran. "I must go. The king of Rana will only talk to another king. Only with his help can we end the rebellion before anyone else is hurt." Anyone that's not a peasant, you mean, Sakura thought bitterly, because of course peasants don't matter. We're not human. She shook her head. Such foolish, pointless thoughts! She finished her work and stepped quietly back behind Syaoran. "We are ready, Master Li." He nodded without turning. Sakura realized that he expected her to bring him his horse. She quickly followed the squires back into the stables. After a moment they all returned, one by one bringing the horses to their respective masters, and then scrambling back for their own horses. Sakura paused a moment to stoke Niya's flank. "I'm glad you're coming with me," Sakura whispered. Soon everyone had mounted his horse and was ready. Sakura could hardly contain her excitement, and she struggled not to let it show. She had never left Kija before. Going to Rana, while a chore for Syaoran, was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for her to travel and see another kingdom. Her best friend, Tomoyo, another servant in the castle, was extremely jealous. "Bring me something back from Rana," she had said. "If I can't go I can at least see something from there." Her eyes had sparkled with excitement for Sakura. Syaoran, of course, was at the head of the group. "Let's go," he commanded, and began heading north, straight into the nearby Kyani Forest, away from the castle. Everyone followed, chattering amongst themselves, especially the squires, many of which knew each other. Sakura rode Niya in silence. None of the boys would want to talk to her, she already knew. She suddenly felt lonely. She wished Tomoyo could have come along. Without thinking, Sakura's hand went to her throat. She reached for the chain that held the small charm, a strange key, pink with tiny white wings. She had always had this key with her, though she did not know where it had come from. It was her good luck charm, and always a source of comfort when she was sad or afraid or lonely. They had been traveling for almost an hour when Sakura felt suddenly strange, as if someone was watching her. No, not really like that. Just that someone was there, or something. Sakura shook her head, confused, but she could not shake the strange sensation that someone or something was there. She looked around nervously, and then noticed that Syaoran was doing the same. Did he feel it too? The sensation left as quickly as it had come. Sakura shook her head again. Perhaps it had just been her imagination? She tried to convince herself of it, but could not. The memory nagged at the back of her mind. "How could I just feel that someone's there?" she whispered to herself. She tried to relax and forget about it, but could not. She reached for the key that was at her throat and was surprised to find it outside of her shirt. She always kept it under her shirt out of the fear that it would be taken from her. "I really am going crazy," she murmured, tucking it back under her shirt. The party continued on, and eventually Sakura relaxed, though the strange events still played insistently at the back of her mind.
Author's Notes: Well, I finally started my second fic! If you haven't read my first one, please do. ^_^ Hopefully this one will be even better! I've got a vague idea for the plot. We'll see what happens. And if anyone's wondering if it's S+S, well, you'll just have to wait and see. ^_~ Please review- they make me write faster. Thanks for reading my fic! Ja ne!