A/N: Sorry for not updating for so long. These ideas come slow. Anyway...
No more questions, please. LOL
Flaming Soul: I wonder!
Animefan66: you know, if you go to , you can find the music if you search the site.
The Veiled Piano Mistress
By: Lotus Dreams
Chapter 5: Elimination and Continuation
They remained silent for about thirty seconds, when Syaoran suddenly glanced at the clock in the corner. It struck two. That meant his parents were going to be home. The mysterious piano mistress followed his gaze.
"I must go now." Her voice sounded slightly disappointed.
"Must?"
"Must."
"Stay a bit longer. I won't bite."
"You won't, but the Queen will." The mistress stood up and curtsied. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Your Highness, for listening to my music."
"Do itashi mashite(you're welcome)," said Syaoran shortly.
"QUEEN YELAN OF LI REQUESTS THAT PRINCE LI XIAO LANG--OR SYAORAN--TO COME DOWNSTAIRS IMMEDIATELY!!!"
"Shit," swore Syaoran. He looked out the door, and saw all the servants running around, for the Queen had returned. He looked back to the mistress.
She had gone.
Again.
"PRINCE LI XIAO LANG, ALIAS SYAORAN, REQUESTS ALL MAIDS TO REPORT TO THE MAIN HALL IMMEDIATELY! DROP EVERYTHING AND RUN!"
Obediently, Tomoyo and Sakura dropped their knives onto the kitchen table and hurried towards the main hall. Sakura had a dreaded feeling about it as she wiped her wet hands onto her apron.
Tomoyo and Sakura arrived at the same time. Syaoran, who was already there, scowled.
"Next time, Kinomoto, be earlier."
Sakura's mouth dropped open. She and Tomoyo had arrived at the same time! How could he blame only her on being late?! That was totally unfair!! If he knew she was his beloved piano mistress, why she'd...
When all 42 maids were assembled (5 had been fired), Prince Syaoran spoke. His voice was cool, calm, and nonchalant.
"You've all been called here for a test. Don't worry your ugly little heads off of it, it won't be writing or anything ridiculous. I am merely doing an experiment. Anyone who does not comply will be fired immediately. I don't think you want that, do you?"
The maids shook their heads.
"Did I ask you to answer?"
The maids shook their heads again.
"Did I ask you to answer that? STOP SHAKING YOUR HEAD! Well, anyway...you will actually be going through a series of tests. It won't be hard." Then Syaoran smiled evilly. "Unless you disobey me, that is."
The maids remained silent. Sakura thought, Oh crap, it's that piano thing, I'm sure of it!
"First test!" barked Syaoran suddenly. "Hold out both your hands! NOW!"
Every single maid, including Sakura, put out their hands. Sakura had gotten a fresh cut right after playing piano, and there was a small yellow stain on her skirt after handling oil (which was after playing piano) too, so she wasn't unduly worried, as Syaoran inspected hand after hand...
...until he spent a LOT more time looking at her hands than others. Tomoyo shot her a worried look.
When Syaoran was done, he nodded at them all. "Now we'll do the process of elimination for those who have not passed." He pointed at 13 maids.
"Ayame, Chiyeko, Eri, Fusae, Harumi, Hiroko, Kaori, Maeko, Nyoko, Rika, Sumi, Tadako, and Yukako, you are all dismissed."
The 13 girls he had called out left. They all had something in common; they were all the maids that cleaned the castle on a daily basis, and their hands were coarse and rough. Sakura panicked.
Only 29 girls left to inspect.
Syaoran pointed at the rest. "All you other ones, make a line and fill in the gaps those 16 girls made." The remaining shuffled together.
He smiled, though his smile was somewhat bitter. "Congratulations, girls. You have made it to the second test."
One girl, Chiharu, piped up, "Your Highness, why do we have to undergo these tests? Is there a particular reason you looked at our hands?"
Syaoran smiled at her, his lips looking plastic-y (yeah, plastic wasn't invented then, but you know what I mean; a fake smile). "Wei."
Wei hurried forward. "Yes, sire?"
"Bring me a teapot of hot, steaming tea for me and this lovely young maiden--?"
"Chiharu," finished Chiharu, blushing.
When the teapot was delivered, Syaoran walked forward, still smiling that horrible, sarcastic smile. "You asked me WHY you all have to undergo these tests? That's a very good question, Miss Chiharu. Very good, indeed. In fact, it's so good..." As quick as lightning, Syaoran poured the contents of the teapot over Chiharu's head. Chiharu screamed.
"...I refuse to answer it."
Syaoran gave the teapot back to Wei. Sakura was frightened. Now that, she thought feverishly, THAT was just scary. Pouring a whole teapot of hot tea over her head for asking a question? What sort of insanity is that?
"Second test." Syaoran's voice was cold. "I'm going to search your rooms."
Tomoyo caught her eye. He was going to look for the veil!
Luckily, though, when Sakura ran out of the Piano Room, she had stuffed the veil down the front of her dress, and not in her room. She was so relieved she felt she might collapse.
"Something making you woozy, Kinomoto-san?"
Sakura snapped out of it.
"Iie, Your Highness," she answered, bowing. "Gomen."
"Very well." He muttered something to Wei.
"PRINCE SYAORAN REQUESTS 29 SERVANTS TO COME DOWN TO THE MAIN HALL IMMEDIATELY FOR AN IMPORTANT TASK!" In less than ten seconds, 29 servants were breathing heavily and kneeling at Prince Syaoran's feet.
"Enough," said Syaoran coldly. "I want you all to search--" he gestured at the maids "THEIR rooms. We're looking..."
...and at that moment, it might have just been coincidence, or just randomness, or whatever, but Syaoran looked Sakura straight in the eye, and said:
"...for a black veil."
The servants searched all afternoon in the maids's rooms but found nothing. They DID find, however:
1) pads
2) brassieres
3) underwears
4) undershirts
5) ...and some more feminine stuff.
Seriously. The servants were blushing all the way up to their hair and the maids were muttering angrily about privacy and perverts.
Syaoran kept his cool. Sakura bit her lip. Tomoyo nearly passed out with relief and anxiety.
"Third test," said Syaoran icily. All of the maids stood in a row. "I want you all to say, 'Guess the name of the piece'(In case you don't know, this is from chapter 4, when Sakura tells Syaoran to guess what the name of the piece she was playing was. You know, that For Eriol thing?)."
"Why?" asked a girl named Mai. Syaoran glared daggers at her.
"Would you like a teapot of boiling tea to be poured all over your head too? Because you know, I'm getting really frustrated here and I really need a laugh."
"Iie, Your Highness," said Mai quickly.
One by one, each of maids did as instructed. Syaoran listened carefully, for the same timbre and tone as the mysterious piano mistress.
When Sakura voiced the phrase, she made her voice sound higher than usual, and she tried to make her tone as different as possible. Syaoran squinted at her before saying, "Okay then." He pointed at 12 girls.
"Utako, Mai, Hana, Aiko, Tomiko, Tsuya, Nanami, Nori, Keiko, Kumi, Mari, and Ayumi, you are all dismissed." The 12 girls curtsied and left.
Only 17 girls left to inspect.
Wow. Elimination is pretty quick, eh? REVIEW!!!