Feathers of Love

Chapitre Four: The Singing


Haku continued staring at the two of them, thinking hard about where he had seen them before. He was frowning now, but he did not care, for he knew that he had seen them before but he was not sure where. Now, what were their names again? Oh yeah! Nadeshiko and Sakura. Hmm...he seemed to remember something about them now, especially the one called Sakura. But which one was Sakura?

Sakura was trembling, for the boy guest who was here was really staring her and her mother. She could feel that he was frowning at the two of them, but what was the reason? They had not done anything wrong...unless, unless they knew about the harp! If so, would they let Queen Debonair and Princess Nova know? Sakura glanced sideways at the boy. He looked to be around her age, perhaps seventeen and had a head of unruly brown hair that was threatening to fall over his eyes. She stared at the pair of eyes...they really seemed very familiar and it was as if she knew him before...she was afraid but where had she ever seen him before? Was it before she was brought here as a slave?

Haku continued looking at the girl. The younger one. Princess Nova noticed this and asked Haku, "So, which of our slaves do you like? The younger one called Sakura?" Nova smiled.

"So the younger one is called Sakura..." he realized in his mind. Then, he sensed something emanating from them. "Magical auras?"

Haku remained silent. Nova gave up trying to talk to him.

Nadeshiko did not know what song to play. She really did not know. She snuck a glance at the boy and smiled. 'Perhaps something to hint about their past. I assume that Sakura is now confused and wondering why the boy seemed so...curious about them. Shiroi Ryuu? Or some other song?" Nadeshiko wondered.

Nadeshiko was startled out of her wondering when Princess Nova suddenly asked in her imperious, "Why are the two of you not singing?" Sakura was also startled and she whispered to Nadeshiko hurriedly, for Sakura had no idea what to sing at the moment, "Play Kingfisher Girl."

Hearing that, Nadeshiko started playing the familiar tune. This song was beautiful...for it told the story of a girl who could turn into a kingfisher. It was probably a love song...

Haku listened to the tune, mesmerized by it. When the music started, the who Dining Hall became silent, all its inhabitants listening to an unknown song, except Princess Nova, who, though had listened to this song before, wanted to listen to this song again.

The introduction of the song over, the two of them started singing.

When the two of them started to sing, it was as if the world had stopped revolving. It seemed that the two of them were the ones who controlled the world. Everyone listened, tears glistening in their eyes for such a bittersweet song. To Nova, it was as if she was in heaven. For the song was even better when the two of them sung together! Everyone continued listening and not a single sound broke Nadeshiko's and Sakura's singing.

Haku listened, his heart pounding. He could not believe that someone could sing such beautiful songs! It was as if they were singing with their heart and soul! The singing, however, did not touch Yubaba. She sensed something coming from the two of them. Magical auras, or was it not? It was possible that something was done on the harp. Unless this was the harp they were planning to steal? However, the design she was looking for to confirm the harp they wanted was not where she could see. It was underneath the whole thing.

Debonair was thinking, "Who could have sung such good songs among our slaves and servants? I must take them order them to sing for me everyday!"

Sakura was not really happy to be there, in front of all the people and singing. Though she liked what she was singing, she was in fact quaking inside. What if she and her mother were flogged for singing this well? If that were the case, then the two of them would really suffer later that night.

Nadeshiko stole a look at her daughter. She seemed worried about something. Was it that she had suddenly remembered who that familiar boy on the guest seat was? She hoped not, for it was a very bad place for her to remember. If she really did so, the spell in the bracelet would break and then her magical powers would resume to its might and the cards would be out. She really hoped not. However...she suddenly remembered that only the kiss of the soul mate could break the spell...how could she have forgotten about that? It was a miracle for her to do so, unless this did not happen before. She remembered that none of her ancestors had a soul mate...

Souls mates were of course rare, and to meet the one a person was destined to, it was even harder. She knew that Sakura was destined to meet someone...that someone whom Sakura had forgotten...oh dear, what if Sakura really did remember?

Haku gazed at Sakura. She seemed to be so...beautiful and so delicate too. He remembered something about them finally. They were at a castle, small but beautifully and simply furnished. They were talking about something, something that he could not remember but he knew that they were enjoying themselves...

Yubaba looked at Nadeshiko and Sakura, then at Haku. "He seems to be falling in love with the younger girl..." Yubaba thought as she tried to sense whether it was magical aura or not. "Hmm...it seems to be magical aura...I'll ask for that harp, if I cannot get it then I will ask Haku to steal it for me."

Nova was looking at her singers. They seemed at ease of what they were doing, though they looked a bi frightened. Especially Sakura. Their faces were slightly white, though it was not very clear. She looked at her mother, Queen Debonair, and realized that their singing, like Haku and the other people in the Dining Hall, also mesmerized her. So she would get her mother's praise when the ball ended. "Good, but mother might want to take the two of them away from me..." Nova thought.

Sakura looked up, and involuntarily, she met the eyes of the one who was staring at her all the time. She looked down quickly.

Haku caught the look on Sakura's face. She was terribly frightened. However, he also noticed her eyes...they were emerald and were beautiful...

The song ended, and applause erupted from everyone's hands. Though everyone was applauding, Nadeshiko and Sakura shakily curtsied, fearing that all the applause was just a façade, and that they would be punished later on.

Nadeshiko and Sakura continued to look down. Nova ordered, "Sing another song for us."

"Yes, Your Highnesses, masters', mistresses', Yubaba and Haku. Your slaves are obliged." Sakura murmured.

"What song are you going to sing now?" Yubaba asked, feeling something unpleasant.

"Madam, how about Shiroi Ryuu?" Nadeshiko asked.

Applause sounded everywhere, while Yubaba's face turned white with fear, fearing that their purpose of stealing something would be given away to everyone...


Clow looked at what was happening...and smiled again.

"Yes, everything is still going as I had planned..." he said as he continued watching events unfold...


Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with any of the authors of the manga, anime, song...etc, so please don't sue me. :D

So...how was it? Please review if possible! I will appreciate that! Please do...please? All right, I have finished updating my two fanfics in one day! I should have some form of incentive, right? I will try to update as soon as possible, if I can get some reviews from you readers out there:D