DISCLAIMER: I don't own MKR, CLAMP does. Am just one crazy fan. And all of these stuff I had written or will write is a product of my imagination and my imagination only....Yada...yada...Don't sue me.
DESTINED TO BE
Chapter 1
Lady Hikaru Shidou stared in awe at the enormous mansion in front of her. With her mouth wide open, she stood there, still could not believe that she would be residing in such a large house. Even her father's ancestral home could not compare to this one. 'It must be more beautiful inside…' she told herself.
The door suddenly opened, catching her by surprise and making her gasp out loud. She wasn't even able to do anything besides letting out a nervous laugh at the tall man with lavender hair scowling down at her.
"I…err…good day…" she finally managed to say. The man did not greet back though and continued looking at her with a frown. "Look sir, I do not think it is quite gentlemanly to stare at a lady like that." The frown was then replaced by an astonished expression. "I would like to see the Earl."
"I'm afraid that would not be possible, little Miss."
"It's Lady Hikaru Shidou, sir. I believe the Earl is expecting me."
"You…? You are Lady Shidou?" The man then stepped aside to let her pass and at the same time took her luggage. He then said, "I will show you your room, my lady. The Earl specifically instructed me to lead you to his study afterwards."
She found themselves walk past the lobby, then the dining hall, up the stairs and after what seemed to be twenty doors or so, they finally reached a door to what looked like an enormous room. The young butler led her inside, where a maid was waiting. "This is Marilyn and she is going to be your personal maid. In the meantime, we should hurry. The Earl does not want to be kept waiting."
Hikaru nodded and let herself be lead again. 'Living in a mansion like this would definitely take a lot of getting used to…' She gave a slight glance at the young man beside her, thinking of a way to strike a friendly conversation.
"Nervous, Madame? The Earl is really a very nice man, I assure you. Forgive me if I was rude to you earlier. It was just for the reason that we weren't expecting you until later this afternoon and the Earl is very particular about not letting any stranger inside the house…I had to admit it was quite stupid of me not to remember the short description that the Earl had given me about you…"
"But it was years ago when he last saw me!"
"I am quite aware of that." Hikaru couldn't help but blush as she remembered that the first time she saw him was when she was in the middle of a duel with some bully.
"Ah! Here we are!" She heard the butler say as he knocked at the door in front of them. After hearing a muffled, 'Come in!' from inside, he then turned the handle and led her in. "Lady Hikaru has arrived, my lord."
"Thank you Clef, you may now leave…" said the tall man looking out of the window. Clef then did as he was told, closing the door silently behind him.
"Thank you," Hikaru told the butler in a soft voice.
After Clef left the room, the earl turned around to face her. His deep violet orbs froze her in her place---mesmerized. She wasn't sure of how many moments had passed before she finally heard him speak. "Please take a seat, Lady Hikaru…It has been a long time since we saw each other, hasn't it?"
"Indeed it has, my lord," she replied, blushing terribly as the memory of their first meeting came to her mind again.
"I believe it was what? Eight? Nine years ago?"
"Almost ten years had passed, my lord."
"Yes, it had been a very long time indeed. I trust you had a good journey?"
"Yes, my lord."
"If I knew you were arriving earlier than expected, I would have sent a carriage to pick you up from the station."
"Clef did tell me that I was not expected to arrive 'til this afternoon."
"Indeed you were…but enough of that. I am relieved that you were able to arrive safely. I hope that the room that Clef had shown you is sufficient to your taste. Otherwise I will have to tell the servants to arrange it in a manner of your liking. Or, if it is too small I will have another one arranged that would more suit your needs."
"I assure you there is no need for that, my lord. My 'tastes', as you call them are very simple."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Very well…And please there is no need of such formality towards me, Lady Hikaru."
"As there is no need towards me," Hikaru retorted with a smile. "The truth is, I do not know what to call you. If you were twenty years older, I would have called you 'Uncle', as you are now my guardian."
"Lantis would be fine."
"But my lord…!"
"As you said earlier, there is no need of strict formality between us. As my legal ward, you are now a member of my family and since I am too young to be called 'Uncle', I'd rather be called by my first name. You shall call me Lantis and I shall call you Hikaru, would that be fair enough?"
"I suppose…"
"Very well. Lunch would be served in half of an hour. Come…I will introduce you to my niece. She is currently in the nursery."
Both left the library together, and with Lantis leading the way, they headed towards the mansion's West Wing where the nursery was located.
"I mean no offense in this, but I would never understand why Father wanted me to have a guardian when I am old enough and very capable of taking care of myself and our old home…"
"Ladies of marriageable status like you should not live alone much more settle on not having a guardian. At least you have someone to guide you in choosing among the marriage proposals that you would be receiving hence a lesser possibility of being a victim of those vultures out there."
"I know my judgment is good enough in those matters, Lantis. I am not that daft you know."
"I am not saying you are Hikaru. I'm just saying it would be much better to be safe. You have just had your entry in society a year ago, have you not?"
"Oh yes. I did wonder why you were not able to attend…"
"I was away doing some business. I've heard that you have had many suitors yet have been too picky that you have not accepted any of their proposals."
"I have no use for scoundrels like them. If I am going to marry someone like that, well, I suppose I'd rather be an old maid!"
"Ah…here we are…the nursery…Mira! Mira!"
"Coming Uncle!" a small voice from underneath the table said. What followed was a sound of shuffling of cloth, a huge bump, and then a shout of "OWW!"
"Mira! What the he—heck are you doing down there?"
"Playing," Mira answered softly as she emerge, ruffled clothes and all, from her hiding place. Despite of her now filthy appearance, nobody could deny, with the girl's shiny blond hair and fair skin, that she was a very adorable little girl.
"But under the table?!" Lantis exclaimed.
"Shhhhh!!! Anastatia is sleeping."
"Don't tell me Anastatia is sleeping under the table?"
"But it's supposed to be bedtime for her now. And it's night-time under the table."
"Anastatia is her doll," Lantis explained to Hikaru, who couldn't help but giggle.
"Who is she Uncle?"
"This is Lady Hikaru Shidou, a daughter of a very close friend of the family. She is going to stay with us from now on."
"Are you going to marry her Uncle?"
Again Hikaru giggled and then said, "No Mira, your Uncle is not going to marry me. Your uncle is my legal guardian, which means he will be helping me until I find a husband."
"Oh…too bad. I thought Uncle was going to marry you. I was quite happy that Lady Primera was not going to be my aunt…"
"Lady Primera?" Hikaru asked, an eyebrow raised.
"A friend. Mira, hurry now and change. We'll be having lunch soon."
"Yes Uncle. See you later, Aunt Hikaru…You really don't mind me calling you 'aunt' right?"
"No Mira, I'm quite glad."
"Good. See you!" The energetic child then ran out of the room.
"Such an adorable little girl, she is." Hikaru said.
"Yes. I have been taking care of her since…Anyway it had been years ago. Come, I'll show you the gallery…"
OHOHOHOHO! YES PEEPS! AM BACK! Hehehe…Ok so not quite…just a li'l bit…dun worry am gonna try to update as fast as I can so I won't keep you too much in the edge…hehehe…Oh btw, I've adjusted Hikaru's age a li'l bit to adapt to the plot and all…
ANGEL: Oh gee…thanks a lot! It's my first time to write a historical romance kinda thing so bear wiff me here k?
SHI: Thanks too…as I said I'll try to update as fast as I can
KAJI MIKAGE: Domo! Hehehehe…I dun feel that I write *that* good still actually…
LADY OF GENESIS: Oh yes…the "eww"…I kinda liked it too…And well…I…well…*blushes*…I really am not good still really…but thanks a lot!
GODDESSLD: You bet I will!
PSEUDONYM SYLPHMUSE: Ok…I hope I spelt ur nickie right…Thanks…And I will…
SUNDANCE33: Wow! I feel like I have a fan now or something! Hehehehe…Anyway, about the Neo-Magic Knights…I haven't really *discontinued* it…It's just my thing to write whenever I feel like it and well I'm just waiting for some kind of inspiration for it J I've finished chapter 4...I fink it's chapter 4…yeah…and well am still thinking if I would have it re-edited or something but I'd be posting that chapter one of these days…
