Unmasked Destiny
The gardens are peaceful at night, thought Sakura. She sighed. What is this power of mine and why do I have it? Why should I, of all mortals, be chosen for this? Surely there must be someone more deserving than I!
Throughout the garden, sounds of the night could be heard. The sky, a big velvet cloth, was stiched with diamonds.
Completely perplexed at her situation, Sakura sat underneath a Sakura tree, letting the night wash over her senses. A crisp breeze made her fine silk nightgown flutter, and her hair blow into her face. Yes, the pricess sat there relishing in the serenity of night, totally unaware that someone with just as big a problem was approaching.
Walking down the road to the palace, Syaoran couldn't help but feel that something was going to change his life.He didn't know exactly what it was, but it was knawing away at his insides.
It must be the marriage to Meiling, he reasoned. What else could cause such emotions?
Sighing, Syaoran hurried forwards, wanting to bask in the glory of the Cherry Trees. Sure, they had that type of tree on the Mystic Cloud, Realm of the Gods, but it wasn't the same. Trees there were perfect. Every blossom was perfectly equal to all the others. Trees like that made him uneasy. Yes, the God of war much prefered trees with faults. It told him that people, like the trees, could have faults, but could still be beautiful.
Perhaps that's why he didn't feel any emotions towards the Goddesses on the Mystic Cloud: they were too perfect. They were all graceful and soft-spoken, except for maybe Meiling, but she was only loud when it was just the two of them.
But even if he did want a less-than-perfect mortal woman, that would be completely against the rules. Sure, he could bed them all he wanted, but he could never love one of them. If the Fates found out (which they would because they know everything), he would be forced to return to the Mystic Cloud or the subject of his affections would be killed before his very eyes.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Syaoran realized that he had arrived at the Palace gardens' gates. Times sure flies when your mind wanders, he thought, chuckling.
"Who goes there?" demanded a guard. The Palace soldier walked up to Syaoran. "What is your business here?"
"I have simply come to look at the Sakura trees. They are open to the public, are they not?" asked Syaoran, unfazed by the sword in the guard's grip.
"They are," the guard said suspiciously, "though I have to search you to assure that you have nothing potentially threatening."
"Search all you like," said Syaoran, lifting his arms. He coul've taken down the guard in less than ten seconds, but he didn't want to cause trouble. He just wanted peace and quiet.
To mortals, Xiao-Lang and peace didn't belong in the same sentence, but in truth, it happened more than you can imagine. He didn't like loud and exciting all the time, Meiling was proof of that, as were his sisters. Shiefa, the Goddess of autumn, Feimei, Goddess of summer, Fanran, Goddess of winter, and Fuutie, Goddess of spring. His sisters, and boy, were they hyper-active.
He much prefered training alone, preferably at night. Night always seemed to calm him, as did his mother. Perhaps it was because they were almost one and the same.
The guard completed his search, having found nothing even remotely dangerous. "You may proceed," the guard declared. "Sorry for the hold up. Can't be too careful at night."
Syaoran nodded and continued into the garden. The second he entered, the sweet aroma of flowers over-came his senses.
The gardens were surrounded by three sides of the palace, though they continued sometime after the wall had ended. [1] The front of the garden was filled with every type of flower imaginable. The back of it was covered in a lush wood. Cobblestone paths wove intricately throughout the whole of the garden. In the very centre of this utopia, there was a circle of Sakura trees, with the largest, and most majestic in the middle.
That's were he was headed.
Knowing where to go, he followed the paths to the Sakura tree circle. The perfect place for some much needed relaxation, he thought. Syaoran continued walking to the centre of the circle, to sit juner the most beautiful of them all.
Approaching the tree, he sat down silently. He sat there, how long, he didn't know. Syaoran's thoughts were interupted by the sound of movement on the other side of the tree trunk.
Thinking it was some God, come to lecture him, he stood up and yelled, "Who dares disturb my peace!"
A gasp came from the other side. Walking around to the other side, Syaoran grabbed the object of his anger and pinned it against the tree trunk.
"Please! Stop!" came the strangled cry.
Upon closer inspection, Syaoran realized it was a woman; a woman he had never seen before. He promptly let her fall to the ground.
After catching her breath, Sakura glared up at the man. She couldn't really see his features, but that wasn't her biggest concern at the moment. "Who, in the name of the Gods, do you think you are?! I was just sitting here, minding my own business, and you walk up and pin me to the tree! Is this your idea of fun?! Attacking women during the night?! I could have you executed for that!" fumed Sakura.
Though Syaoran's expression was impassive, inside he was shocked. Never had anyone spoken to him in such a manner, and it intrigued him. Why does she stand up to me if she knows I can easily over-power her? he wondered.
"I beg your pardon," said Syaoran. "I thought you were someone else, someone else, someone I did not wish to converse with."
"Well, you could've at least checked before you attacked," snapped Sakura. She stood up and brushed herself off.
The war God's eyes narrowed. "Pardon me, but what is a young woman of obviously noble blood doing out at such an hour?"
"Pondering life's greatest mysteries," quipped Sakura, brushing passed him and heading towards the nearest entrance to the palace.
"They're not a mysterious as mortals like to think," muttered Syaoran.
Sakura spun around, "Pray tell, what did you say?"
"Nothing you need concern yourself with," informed Syaoran, turning his gaze to the woman. His breath caught as he looked at the woman who seemed spot-lighted by the moon beams.
Emerald eyes seemed to glow, right now with frusteration. Soft pink, pouty lips formed a thin line. Pale skin was formed into a frown, though moonlight reflected, making it look surreal. Auburn hair, that was mid-back in length, was billowing softly in the breeze. The silk nightdress did little to conceal her figure: firm breast and wide hips.
Sakura eyed the man suspiciously. There was something strange about him - apprart from the fact that he approached without her hearing and then attacked her. No, it was something else, something that couldn't be described in words.
"Come into the light," she ordered, still eyeing him.
Sighing, Syaoran considered his options. One: walk away and have the whole kingdom looking for an attacker, whose description could be got from the guard, or two: do as teh woman commands and let her see him. The latter seemed much more logical. He slowly strode forward into the moonlight.
A gasp was heard from the petite princess. Those eyes, those piercing amber eyes boring into her very soul. She had seen those eyes before. She could not tell you where or when, but the feeling of recongnition was strong. She was sure they must be aqquainted.
"Do I-"
"Your Highness! What are you doing out at such an hour?" cried an approaching guard.
"I was merely getting some fresh air, when I encountered this man," Sakura replied.
The guard looked at her strangely. "Beg your pardon princess, but what man?"
Turning around Sakura saw that the spot where the man had stood was empty. He had vanished!
Sakura faced the guard again and shook her head. "I must be imagining things, but I could have sworn..." She sighed. "Would you be so kind as to accompany me back to the palace?"
"Of course your majesty." The guard held out his arm to her. Sakura looked back at the empty spot before accepting it.
"Well that went well," said the first woman sarcastically. "He attacks her then he disappears!"
"Everything will be alright," said Nadie calmly.
The man sighed. Things were not going according to plan. All he could do is trust Nadie's judgement. After all, she knew more about this subject than he did, and that was saying alot. "This has to work, or all is for nothing," he whispered.
A/N: I hope you like the chapter. I wish you well in surviving the week.
