FALL BREAK RULES!!!!
I apologize for not updating in so long, I was on vocation to North Carolina. It was awesome, I got to see the Smoky Mountains and I actually hiked up to the tallest one. But I'll stop rambling about it not, I'm sure you guys don't really care. LOL
I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed. It means a lot to me. At first I didn't know where this fic was going, but now I kinda do.
Well, here's chapter 2:
" Princess, it is my highest honor to meet you." A young man said, bowing and kissing Sakura's hand. His coal black eyes looked up at hers, not breaking contact.
All she could do was smile.
An elderly mad walked up to her, smiling warmly at the prince. His blue robes dragged behind him as he walked. " Sakura, I want you to be nice to him. Now show him around the palace for a while and remember, be nice." He whispered into his daughter's ear, turning his attention back to the raven- haired prince.
Slightly nodding in agreement, Sakura sighed. She had to admit, Prince Arthur was handsome. Yet she couldn't force herself to fall in love with someone just because of his looks and charm. There had to be a much deeper connection...something the two could build on. Just from one glance she knew Arthur was not that guy.
" Prince Arthur, would you like to see the grounds?" She asked in a sweet voice. Or maybe pack up and go home, she suggested in her mind.
He smiled widely, taking her hand in his," I'd love that, Princess."
Stop touching my hand, she wanted to scream at him. But what could she do? It was her duty as a princess to obey her father's wishes and marry after her sixteenth birthday. When Lee touched her hand like that......it was a different feeling. It was something she didn't mind at all. Actually, she liked having her hand in his strong, protective one. If only he was here instead of HIM, she thought, looking at the man in front of her.
" This is going to be a very long day..." She quietly muttered under her breath.
~*~*~*~*~*~*Somewhere in the gardens~*~*~*~*~*~
Sakura could only listen and pretend she was interested. In the hour they spent together, Prince Arthur couldn't stop talking about the kingdom he would inherit if he were to marry a princess such as herself. He was trying to impress her with tales and myths....she wasn't looking for that.
" There are so many lakes by the castle. It says in various books that in one of our forest there lay a magic oasis. Do you think such a thing exists?" He asked, his eyes anxiously looking at her, trapping her.
This is so boring, Sakura thought. She hated doing this! She hated talking to him; she hated looking at him! She hated her father for making her doing this. It just wasn't fair. Why should she have to marry a stranger just because she's a princess? It wasn't right. Maybe I don't want to be a princess anymore, she thought as she vigorously stood up, taking her hand out of Arthur's.
" What's wrong princess? Did I say something?" He worryingly asked.
" No, it's nothing you did. I don't feel too good.....now if you'd please excuse me, I'd like to back to the palace and rest. It was nice meeting you, Prince Arthur." Sakura said, quickly walking away, leaving the dazzled prince in the gardens.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
" Sakura? Where's the prince?"
" He's still in the gardens, father." She replied, preparing to go up the marble stairs.
The king stopped her, looking sternly at her. " You just left him there? Really, Sakura, I thought I'd raised you better than that. How could you just do that?"
Sakura has had enough. " Father, this is not fair! I don't want to meet any princes who only care about getting kingdoms and power! When I do fall in love, I want it to be special.....with someone I really care for, not a stranger!"
" Love? Is that all you care about? Your mother and I were forced to marry and believe me, neither of us wanted to. But in time we learned to love each other. This is how the kingdom can be saved from unworthy rulers....I only want what's best for you."
" What's best for me now is to be left alone! I don't want to marry anyone, not Arthur, not anyone!" She screamed.
" I will not hear of this! If you want to be the queen of Erkelle, then you will listen to me and marry Arthur. Is that clear?" Her father coolly asked.
Sakura's eyes shot to the floor, tears forming. " Well maybe I don't want to be the queen, father. Did that ever cross your mind? Maybe I don't want any of this!" She yelled, motioning at the riches of the palace.
" Nonsense, Sakura."
" No, it's true. I'm sick of all this. I want a normal life."
The king stood up from his throne. Slowly walking up to his daughter, he placed his hand on her shoulder. " If I hear another word of this, I will arrange for you to marry Arthur in a few weeks." He stated, glaring at her.
Bitter tears streamed down her cheeks. This was so not fair! She wanted none of this! Sucking in everything she was about to throw at her father, she ran. She ran out of the castle. There was no way she was going to marry Prince Arthur.
" Sakura! Sakura! Where are you going?"
She heard her father yell after her. None of it mattered. She didn't care. She just had to get away.
" Oh mother, why did you have to leave me? I need your guidance!" She whispered though her rapid gasps for air and continuous sobs. Before she realized it, Sakura wound up somewhere in the middle of the forest, hoping and praying to see Lee again. She needed to gaze upon his beautiful eyes and see his strong features.
Sakura collapsed on her knees, allowing her tears to control her. She didn't understand why she was crying. The tears just wouldn't stop coming.
" You're ruining your dress, you know that, right?"
Glancing up, she saw a familiar figure standing over her, smiling.
" Lee?"
" The one and only!" He replied, taking hold of her shaking body and pulling her up.
Sakura felt her face flush. He was so different from that Arthur prince....he wasn't a prince, that's what she liked about him. He was just a normal boy.
Brushing her tears away, Lee smiled," What could be bothering a beautiful girl like you on such a beautiful day?" He asked, his charming smile widening.
Sakura had to laugh. Now that he asked, she did feel kind of stupid crying for no reason at all.
" It's nothing important..." She whispered but before she knew it, she was telling him everything starting from the death of her mother to her father forcing her to marry. Lee listened patiently, never interrupting. When she was finished, more tears found their way.
Lee wrapped his arm around her, trying to calm her down. " It will be okay, Sakura....I know it will. Everything will work out." He smothered.
" No it won't! Nothing will ever be okay with me!" She choked out, burying her face in his chest.
It seemed like hours passed before she stopped. During all that time Lee stayed by her side, trying to calm her. To her own surprise, Sakura felt like she could tell him everything. It was as if she'd known him since she was born, yet that couldn't be possible.......or could it?
Jerking her head away from Lee's chest, she looked into his deep brown eyes. She has seen them before, but where? It wasn't when she first met him, but sometime before that.....
" What? Do I have something on my face?" He asked, smiling.
Sakura looked away. " Oh, um, no, it's just....I keep getting the feeling that I've known you for a very long time. I don't know how to explain it exactly...."
" I feel the same way. But it can't be possible, I mean, you're a princess and I'm - " Lee started saying but stopped suddenly, as if he'd almost said too much.
" What Lee? I'm a princess and you're who? Tell me." Sakura demanded, standing up and brushing the grass off her dress. The stains were going to be there for good.
Lee stood up also, taking her hand in his. " Sakura, I can't do that."
" Why not? You practically know everything about me and I know nothing of you."
" It doesn't matter. It's not important. I need to get going now." He quickly spat out and ran towards the break in the thick woods and disappeared.
" It does matter, Lee......" Sakura wistfully whispered into the warm wind. As fast as it came out of her lips, the wind snatched it and carried it far away into the depths of the forest. She couldn't explain it, but when Lee left like that, she felt hurt. She wanted them to be good friends, and yet he wasn't telling her anything about himself. His name is all she knew.
Stop being so selfish, she told herself. Yet that nagging feeling that he was hiding something was there and grew stronger with every passing second.
" What is it that you don't want me to find out, Lee?" She whispered, her eyes still glued to the last place she'd seen him. " Do you think if I know I won't care for you?" She asked, hoping for him to come back.
~*~*~*~*~*~At the palace~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sakura slowly crept up the massive stairs. Tiptoeing down the lengthy hall she opened the door to her room and gently shut it behind her. She made it. At least today she wasn't going to get another lecture from her father.
She glanced at the reflection in the mirror. She was a mess. Her once white dress was covered in grass and mud stains. Her hair was wild, each strand out of its proper place.
Something rattled outside. Snapping her head in the direction of the noise, Sakura gasped.
" Sakura, it's been a while, girl. It's time for me to take what's mine......" A cloaked female hoarsely said, stepping towards her.
" W.....Who are you? How did you get up here?" Sakura stammered nervously, stepping back. Her back felt the surface of the wall.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lee felt a growing uneasy feeling in his stomach. Sakura was in trouble, something just told him that.
" Lee, what's with you?" A soft voice asked.
Lee turned towards its source. A raven-haired girl about Sakura's age stood there, her black eyes locking with his.
" Tiara, I need your help. I think Sakura's in danger."
" Who's Sakura?"
" It's not important right now. We need to go." Lee decided.
Tiara shrugged and smiled. " Alright, whatever, brother."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
[ A/N - That's the end of chapter 2. Please review and give me your comments. The more reviews, the faster the updates.
Ja ne,
~ Angel ~
I apologize for not updating in so long, I was on vocation to North Carolina. It was awesome, I got to see the Smoky Mountains and I actually hiked up to the tallest one. But I'll stop rambling about it not, I'm sure you guys don't really care. LOL
I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed. It means a lot to me. At first I didn't know where this fic was going, but now I kinda do.
Well, here's chapter 2:
" Princess, it is my highest honor to meet you." A young man said, bowing and kissing Sakura's hand. His coal black eyes looked up at hers, not breaking contact.
All she could do was smile.
An elderly mad walked up to her, smiling warmly at the prince. His blue robes dragged behind him as he walked. " Sakura, I want you to be nice to him. Now show him around the palace for a while and remember, be nice." He whispered into his daughter's ear, turning his attention back to the raven- haired prince.
Slightly nodding in agreement, Sakura sighed. She had to admit, Prince Arthur was handsome. Yet she couldn't force herself to fall in love with someone just because of his looks and charm. There had to be a much deeper connection...something the two could build on. Just from one glance she knew Arthur was not that guy.
" Prince Arthur, would you like to see the grounds?" She asked in a sweet voice. Or maybe pack up and go home, she suggested in her mind.
He smiled widely, taking her hand in his," I'd love that, Princess."
Stop touching my hand, she wanted to scream at him. But what could she do? It was her duty as a princess to obey her father's wishes and marry after her sixteenth birthday. When Lee touched her hand like that......it was a different feeling. It was something she didn't mind at all. Actually, she liked having her hand in his strong, protective one. If only he was here instead of HIM, she thought, looking at the man in front of her.
" This is going to be a very long day..." She quietly muttered under her breath.
~*~*~*~*~*~*Somewhere in the gardens~*~*~*~*~*~
Sakura could only listen and pretend she was interested. In the hour they spent together, Prince Arthur couldn't stop talking about the kingdom he would inherit if he were to marry a princess such as herself. He was trying to impress her with tales and myths....she wasn't looking for that.
" There are so many lakes by the castle. It says in various books that in one of our forest there lay a magic oasis. Do you think such a thing exists?" He asked, his eyes anxiously looking at her, trapping her.
This is so boring, Sakura thought. She hated doing this! She hated talking to him; she hated looking at him! She hated her father for making her doing this. It just wasn't fair. Why should she have to marry a stranger just because she's a princess? It wasn't right. Maybe I don't want to be a princess anymore, she thought as she vigorously stood up, taking her hand out of Arthur's.
" What's wrong princess? Did I say something?" He worryingly asked.
" No, it's nothing you did. I don't feel too good.....now if you'd please excuse me, I'd like to back to the palace and rest. It was nice meeting you, Prince Arthur." Sakura said, quickly walking away, leaving the dazzled prince in the gardens.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
" Sakura? Where's the prince?"
" He's still in the gardens, father." She replied, preparing to go up the marble stairs.
The king stopped her, looking sternly at her. " You just left him there? Really, Sakura, I thought I'd raised you better than that. How could you just do that?"
Sakura has had enough. " Father, this is not fair! I don't want to meet any princes who only care about getting kingdoms and power! When I do fall in love, I want it to be special.....with someone I really care for, not a stranger!"
" Love? Is that all you care about? Your mother and I were forced to marry and believe me, neither of us wanted to. But in time we learned to love each other. This is how the kingdom can be saved from unworthy rulers....I only want what's best for you."
" What's best for me now is to be left alone! I don't want to marry anyone, not Arthur, not anyone!" She screamed.
" I will not hear of this! If you want to be the queen of Erkelle, then you will listen to me and marry Arthur. Is that clear?" Her father coolly asked.
Sakura's eyes shot to the floor, tears forming. " Well maybe I don't want to be the queen, father. Did that ever cross your mind? Maybe I don't want any of this!" She yelled, motioning at the riches of the palace.
" Nonsense, Sakura."
" No, it's true. I'm sick of all this. I want a normal life."
The king stood up from his throne. Slowly walking up to his daughter, he placed his hand on her shoulder. " If I hear another word of this, I will arrange for you to marry Arthur in a few weeks." He stated, glaring at her.
Bitter tears streamed down her cheeks. This was so not fair! She wanted none of this! Sucking in everything she was about to throw at her father, she ran. She ran out of the castle. There was no way she was going to marry Prince Arthur.
" Sakura! Sakura! Where are you going?"
She heard her father yell after her. None of it mattered. She didn't care. She just had to get away.
" Oh mother, why did you have to leave me? I need your guidance!" She whispered though her rapid gasps for air and continuous sobs. Before she realized it, Sakura wound up somewhere in the middle of the forest, hoping and praying to see Lee again. She needed to gaze upon his beautiful eyes and see his strong features.
Sakura collapsed on her knees, allowing her tears to control her. She didn't understand why she was crying. The tears just wouldn't stop coming.
" You're ruining your dress, you know that, right?"
Glancing up, she saw a familiar figure standing over her, smiling.
" Lee?"
" The one and only!" He replied, taking hold of her shaking body and pulling her up.
Sakura felt her face flush. He was so different from that Arthur prince....he wasn't a prince, that's what she liked about him. He was just a normal boy.
Brushing her tears away, Lee smiled," What could be bothering a beautiful girl like you on such a beautiful day?" He asked, his charming smile widening.
Sakura had to laugh. Now that he asked, she did feel kind of stupid crying for no reason at all.
" It's nothing important..." She whispered but before she knew it, she was telling him everything starting from the death of her mother to her father forcing her to marry. Lee listened patiently, never interrupting. When she was finished, more tears found their way.
Lee wrapped his arm around her, trying to calm her down. " It will be okay, Sakura....I know it will. Everything will work out." He smothered.
" No it won't! Nothing will ever be okay with me!" She choked out, burying her face in his chest.
It seemed like hours passed before she stopped. During all that time Lee stayed by her side, trying to calm her. To her own surprise, Sakura felt like she could tell him everything. It was as if she'd known him since she was born, yet that couldn't be possible.......or could it?
Jerking her head away from Lee's chest, she looked into his deep brown eyes. She has seen them before, but where? It wasn't when she first met him, but sometime before that.....
" What? Do I have something on my face?" He asked, smiling.
Sakura looked away. " Oh, um, no, it's just....I keep getting the feeling that I've known you for a very long time. I don't know how to explain it exactly...."
" I feel the same way. But it can't be possible, I mean, you're a princess and I'm - " Lee started saying but stopped suddenly, as if he'd almost said too much.
" What Lee? I'm a princess and you're who? Tell me." Sakura demanded, standing up and brushing the grass off her dress. The stains were going to be there for good.
Lee stood up also, taking her hand in his. " Sakura, I can't do that."
" Why not? You practically know everything about me and I know nothing of you."
" It doesn't matter. It's not important. I need to get going now." He quickly spat out and ran towards the break in the thick woods and disappeared.
" It does matter, Lee......" Sakura wistfully whispered into the warm wind. As fast as it came out of her lips, the wind snatched it and carried it far away into the depths of the forest. She couldn't explain it, but when Lee left like that, she felt hurt. She wanted them to be good friends, and yet he wasn't telling her anything about himself. His name is all she knew.
Stop being so selfish, she told herself. Yet that nagging feeling that he was hiding something was there and grew stronger with every passing second.
" What is it that you don't want me to find out, Lee?" She whispered, her eyes still glued to the last place she'd seen him. " Do you think if I know I won't care for you?" She asked, hoping for him to come back.
~*~*~*~*~*~At the palace~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sakura slowly crept up the massive stairs. Tiptoeing down the lengthy hall she opened the door to her room and gently shut it behind her. She made it. At least today she wasn't going to get another lecture from her father.
She glanced at the reflection in the mirror. She was a mess. Her once white dress was covered in grass and mud stains. Her hair was wild, each strand out of its proper place.
Something rattled outside. Snapping her head in the direction of the noise, Sakura gasped.
" Sakura, it's been a while, girl. It's time for me to take what's mine......" A cloaked female hoarsely said, stepping towards her.
" W.....Who are you? How did you get up here?" Sakura stammered nervously, stepping back. Her back felt the surface of the wall.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lee felt a growing uneasy feeling in his stomach. Sakura was in trouble, something just told him that.
" Lee, what's with you?" A soft voice asked.
Lee turned towards its source. A raven-haired girl about Sakura's age stood there, her black eyes locking with his.
" Tiara, I need your help. I think Sakura's in danger."
" Who's Sakura?"
" It's not important right now. We need to go." Lee decided.
Tiara shrugged and smiled. " Alright, whatever, brother."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
[ A/N - That's the end of chapter 2. Please review and give me your comments. The more reviews, the faster the updates.
Ja ne,
~ Angel ~