By: Marie-Claire
Author's Note: I'm back! I'm back! Oh my God, even I can't believe it! I'm sorry for the long, llllooooooonnnnnngggg delay this fic went through, you guys. It went on hiatus for a number of reasons: first, the insane workload that my teachers gave, second, I hate to say this, but I lost the inspiration for this fic for a while, not to mention the fact that I encountered writer's block. Thirdly, I was concentrating on my new HP/CCS crossover fic. I know those are not suitable excuses, but, I'm here, and I'm staying! So, without further ado, here's the new chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter Eleven:
Sakura raised both arms to the sky, stretching leisurely as the sun beat warmly at her face. She could hear the birds perched on the flowering vines of her balcony twittering madly, welcoming the new day as they fluttered here and there, sometimes going near enough for her to stroke their feathery backs. She grinned at the awesome view of miles and miles of what she figured was the estate gardens, though 'garden' was not suitable a word to call such a beautiful place. Nope, what it was, was paradise, she decided.
Squinting, she observed the gardeners tending towards the flowers, both those familiar and exotic to her eyes. Near the walls, bushes with large, brightly colored blooms were arranged in an orderly fashion, while towards the inner areas, smaller, but no less beautiful flowers were planted. A golden shower tree was in the very center of the paradise, its heavenly yellow blooms scattered on the boughs and on the grass, trailing down abundantly. Surrounding it farther away on the four directions where four fountains, spouting sparkling water straight into the air. Rose bushes were planted around it, the water sprinkling the large, luscious blooms, making the blood red petals sparkle in the morning light. The whole place was alive with and colorful, and the glass that blanketed the healthy brown earth looked soft and oh-so green. She couldn't quite get over the abundance of beauty that her eyes were now feasting on.
She heard the door open behind her. Turning around, she looked to see a young servant girl wearing the maroon, white, and black uniform that she figured was Eriol's House's colors. Her hair was hidden by a white housekeeping cap, but a few dark strands had excaped. Her eyes were wide and were a brown the color of acorns, as was the hair partially hidden beneath her cap. Sakura stepped away from the balcony and delighted in way the girl's eyes brightened when she saw her.
"Oh, you're awake! How do you do, Miss!" The girl chirped in a lilting kind of voice as she began plumping the pillows. "You already made your bed," the girl said with greatly distressed tones, making Sakura worried.
"Yes. Did I do something wrong?" Sakura asked as she walked over to the girl and sat at the edge of the bed.
"No, of course not, Miss. It's just that you didn't have to do it. It's me job an' all, seein' as to how I'm your personal attendant and all that," the girl explained, giving her another toothy smile.
"Personal attendant?" Sakura asked blankly, staring at the girl who was now dusting the huge vase of fresh flowers that she knew had been brought up before she awoke. "I didn't ask for a personal attendant."
"Well, Master Eriol gave me to you, so now you do," the other girl said patiently as she now began ushering Sakura towards the vanity table and mirror, seating her on the plush chair in front of it. "I'm Marianna, by the way."
"Hmm, you have beautiful hair, that you do," Marianna said as she began combing Sakura's auburn hair. "And what a face! Simply stunning!"
Sakura blushed, but glowed prettily at the compliment, sensing that the girl was sincere. "Thank you, Marianna. You look pretty as well, and nice too!"
Marianna reddened a little, apparently unused to such words. "The miss is too kind." Then she smiled. "I can see why the Master is so besotted by you! Why, I'm sure, anyday now, we'll be preparing for the wedding! You'll be wearing yards and yards of lovely, heavenly white! And the master will be absolutely dashing, just you wait and see."
Sakura smiled at the girl's enthusiasm, but knew she had to correct the rumor. "Oh, but I'm not his intended. I'm just a friend of Eriol's, and please, just call me Sakura, alright?"
Her personal attendant looked disappointed for a moment. "Well, you're the prettiest of his friends that I've ever seen. But we have to dress you for breakfast! The Master is already downstairs, an' he has guests." Her tone dripped with unveiled sarcasm on the last word.
"Guests?"
"Aye, er…I mean, yes, Miss Sakura." Then she walked over to the large walk-in closet at the side of the room. "Now let's find you something to wear.
Sakura's eyes widened when she saw the array of multi-colored dresses paired up with several pairs of shoes in the closet. "B-but those aren't my clothes. I don't understand. Where are my things?"
"Master Eriol gave these to you, Miss Sakura." Marianna replied proudly using her hand to brush back all the clothes. "He had everythin' made especially for you before you even arrived."
"That was really nice of him," Sakura replied as her eyes drifted back towards the open glass doors leading towards the balcony, feeling a rush of gratitude towards her friend. "So what do you think I should wear?"
She sweatdropped when she turned around to find that Marianna had already disappeared inside the walk-in closet, apparently having burrowed in past the tons and tons of clothes. She sighed as she began brushing her hair once more, waiting for the girl. "I have a feeling this is going to take quite a long time."
~ * ~
After a couple of minutes—okay, so not just a couple, Sakura admitted—spent dressing, she headed down the winding staircase, dressed in a simple spaghetti-strapped white dress with the hem reaching just an inch below her knees, paired with a pair of white high-heeled sandals with the straps wrapped around her legs securely. Her long, luxurious auburn hair had been pulled up into a deliberately messy upsweep that nevertheless looked decidedly charming. She passed several servants on her way down, all of them dressed immaculately in their maroon, white and black uniform. The maids all smiled pleasantly at her and while the menservants bowed as she passed, greeting her good morning and calling her 'Miss Sakura' just as she had told them to.
It was not long before she arrived at the terrace, where Eriol was taking his breakfast, or said the maid she had asked for directions. As she passed by the glass doors to the warm sunlight, she saw that her friend had guests indeed. Eriol was sitting at the head of an elegant metal and glass square table, while across from him sat a male whose identity was unknown to Sakura. His very light blonde, almost platinum hair was spiked stylishly and the eyes that sparkled as he spoke to Eriol were a very deep purple. Between them sat another female, back facing to Sakura. She obviously had elegant taste in clothes, though she probably was a bit overdressed for a simple breakfast visit, for she was wearing a gown with a very puffy skirt and a slightly lower neckline than what Sakura was used to seeing. Her hair was blonde and her skin was as white as alabaster.
Apparently, the female had sensed her arrival. Without turning around in her seat to look at her, she one hand and motioned with a finger towards her half-filled glass of water. "Maid, could you fetch more water? I fear my glass is empty," she said without looking back.
Eriol's eyes were wide behind his glass as he glanced apologetically at Sakura. She saw the way his lips tightened as he moved to rise from his seat, but she held up a hand to stop him. The other guy, who hadn't missed anything just leaned back in his seat with twinkling eyes to observe the proceedings.
Sakura walked over to the pitcher standing on top of a serving tray near the entrance. Bowing subserviently to the woman, she poured the sparkling water to the glass that the female had raised and asked in a humble voice, "Is there anything more you need, my Lady?"
The female gave an impatient shake of her head as she smiled winningly at Eriol. "Nothing more. You may go. And next time, be a little bit faster, would you?" She shook her head again as she took a dainty bite out of her toast. "Honestly, it's so hard to find good help this days. Don't you agree, Eriol?"
Eriol's smile didn't quite reach his eyes as he stood up and held out his arm to Sakura. "Maybe, but I certainly don't have any problems with mine, Melissa."
Melissa's cornflower blue eyes widened in shock when Sakura walked over to take Eriol's arm. With a smile of thanks towards her friend, she took her seat and smiled pleasantly at the shocked girl, who was trying to hide her furious blush behind a forced cordial smile. "My mistake. Pardon me, miss?"
"Avalon. Sakura Avalon." Sakura replied pleasantly. Then she looked towards the up to now silent guy who was grinning at her. "And you are?"
"Jason Patrick Langford, Duke of Rosendale and friend of Eriol." He smiled at her, genuinely, Sakura noticed, as he himself poured her tea. "Friends call me Jace, though."
Sakura raised one perfect eyebrow at him as she took a sip from her cup. "Oh? What should I call you then?"
Jason grinned more widely at that, not missing the infuriated look that Melissa was giving Sakura. "Jace."
She nodded and smiled again at him. "Then you should call me Sakura," she decided, extending one creamy hand towards her new acquaintance."
She was surprised when Jace took it, and instead of shaking her hand as she thought, he lowered his face to it and gave her hand a light brush with his lips. "Believe me, the pleasure is all mine. I think we will become great friends in the future."
"Great friends indeed," Sakura echoed, still blushing slightly.
Eriol's light laugh broke their staring match. "I personally think you are much too charming for your own good, Jace."
"Why Eriol," Jace said, putting a hand against his chest in mock surprise. "I never knew you thought of me as 'charming'." He shifted in his seat as he regarded Eriol with a playful glint in his eyes. "Where have you been keeping your lovely friend?"
"Nowhere," Sakura answered. "I'm just visiting from Japan."
Jace's eyes brightened. "Oh! You're that girl Eriol keeps talking about."
Sakura's eyes widened in mock shock. "Oh no! Eriol's been talking about me? Whatever he said to you, it's not true. I didn't do it," she promised fervently.
Violet eyes crinkled with laughter as the Duke of Langford threw back his head and laughed. "I like you," he told her between chuckles. He said to Eriol, "Now I know why you wanted to go back to Japan all this years, Hiragizawa."
"Why Jason, you seem quite taken with Eriol's new friend," she pronounced the last word as if it was an expletive, looking decidedly annoyed at the coolly smiling guy. She turned to Sakura whose smile had never wavered and gave her a glacial smile of her own, possessing none of Jason's charm and warmth. "I'm Melissa Hartford Glace, Baroness of Morningside." Then she put her fingers to her lips and asked, "Are you really not titled, Miss Avalon? What a shame," she said with a self-satisfied smirk. It vanished with Eriol's next words, though.
"Oh, she doesn't need titles, Melissa. Sakura's wealthy enough to buy one if she wanted to."
Melissa raised her eyebrow in faintly disguised disbelief. "Hm? Really, Eriol? How's that?"
Langford gave a cold laugh and looked at the Baroness Morningside with unconcealed dislike that baffled Sakura for a moment. Even to her newcomer's eyes, she could sense the deeply seated hate that was emanating from Jason at the moment. "Really, Melissa. Must you be so clueless? She's an Avalon, isn't she? And as far as I know, there's only one Avalon in the world." He looked at Sakura. "She's Sakura Avalon, heiress of Avalon Incorporated, the best and largest corporation in the world."
Melissa's eyes flew to Eriol for confirmation, obviously not trusting Jason's words. Eriol nodded at her. "They have bases in five continents, and is involved in everything from advanced computer technology to military weaponry to wine trading to shopping complexes."
The Baroness couldn't quite hide her hatred as she sat more primly in her chair, trying to stare Sakura down from the tip of her nose. "How—fortunate for you then, Miss Avalon," she managed after a while. The breakfast was continued in frosty silence on Melissa's part and pleasant conversation between Jason and Sakura while Eriol merely sat comfortably with a half-smile on his face as he casually admired Sakura.
And while said girl was completely oblivious, the other two did not miss his admiration.
Wise violet eyes were contemplative as he drank his tea, while on his right side, blue eyes were burning jealously. He's mine.
Author's Note: And so it begins! I hope you liked this new chapter. While nothing totally significant has happened yet, I assure you that the two new characters who have entered in this chapter will have a large part to play in the upcoming events, so that makes this chapter semi-important at least. Once again, I am so sorry for the excessively long delay in posting. I just hope it won't happen again. Thank you to all those who reviewed faithfully. I love you all! You make me smile, everyone.