Disclaimer: Don't own Card Captor Sakura, told you, CLAMP does.
The Veiled Piano Mistress
By: Lotus Dreams
Chapter 9: Help
Time seemed to stop as the two girls' eyes widened at the prince (formerly known as butthead) surveyed them coolly. He didn't seem to acknowledge that he had just shocked the girls out of their wits.
"What-What are you doing here?" stammered Tomoyo. "You-Your Highness?" she added, wanting to sound polite. The prince shrugged.
"Walked around the castle. Ended up here."
"We were just talking about er - er - "
Syaoran raised his eyebrow.
"No need to improvise, Sakura. I already heard everything."
"I - I - " sputtered Sakura. Tomoyo's hands flew up to her mouth.
"Kami-sama!" whispered Tomoyo.
"Sakura," Syaoran continued smoothly, "I need to see you outside, onegai(please)." She gulped. He glared at her when she didn't instantly obey. "It's an order."
Tomoyo glanced fearfully at Syaoran. "Uh, Your Highness, I think - "
"Quiet," said Syaoran sharply, "I didn't ask you to speak." Tomoyo fell silent. Sakura gave Tomoyo a reassuring look, and followed Syaoran.
He led her down various corridors, and into a secluded room. Sakura walked inside hesitantly, and Syaoran shut the door behind him. Sakura bit her lip.
He wasn't happy.
"I want to know why."
"N-Nani?" stammered Sakura.
"You heard me."
"I...I'm sorry, I don't understand..."
"You lied to me. You said you were Hikaru."
"I..."
"Explain yourself!" Syaoran spat out. "It's not like I'm going to murder you or anything. Spit it out!"
Sakura didn't know what to say. Or how to say it, for the matter.
"I...I...I...I'm...gomen nasai, Your Highness," Sakura said softly.
"Sorry? That's all you have to say? SORRY? You know how much time I've spent trying to find you? All along, it was YOU. All those times I was with you..."
"Your Highness, I..." Sakura swallowed. "I...I didn't know what you wanted with me."
"You realize how many times I have told I WASN'T GOING TO TELL ON YOU?"
"Yes," Sakura said defiantly, "Yes, I do realize. But if not that, then what? That's my question. I'm not risking anything. That's why I told you I was Hikaru, and not Sakura. And I do wonder, Your Highness, why use up so much effort to find a measly little servant that can play piano?" She glared boldly at him. "If you wanted someone to play Fur Elise for you, you can go find any other pianist."
"It's not that."
"Then what?"
"I..." He suddenly felt embarrassed. Why had he gone to such measures to find that one girl again? Sakura looked at him intently. "I don't know how to explain it...I guess...I should start off saying that...you had reminded me of Fuutie." Sakura glanced at him sharply.
"I...did?"
Syaoran nodded. "Whenever she played something...it was different. I don't know. More full of passion. I'm not saying girls play better than guys, but I guess there's something more genuine about your and Fuutie's playing. Something I...I liked." He looked away.
"Then we'd get into little conversations, and for once, I wasn't grumpy. I mean, I was kinda offended at first that a servant was talking to me this way, but I guess I'm more casual when...when you're around; I mean, part of the reason I was always so aggressive was that I had no freedom. My mother and father ordered me around, do this, do that, be a GENTLEMAN - but I wanted none of that. I wanted to be the way I wanted to be. Do the things I wanted to do. But I'm not allowed."
Sakura stayed silent. She was still wondering how any of it related to her.
"And then...I found you. Now that I think of it, we're alike. No freedom. I'm ordered around by my parents, you're ordered around by me. When I saw you playing the piano - when I heard you playing the piano - I sensed something there, in your music. A longing to be free. I heard how your music fluctuated, how it rose and fell and how it just moved so damn freely. I wish I was music that you played so beautifully. Oscillating with rhythm, ebbing and flowing with liberty. The way you played...it wasn't refined. It wasn't...restricted. I...I really can't explain it, but your music really touched me. In a way."
He's touched by my music. Sakura felt a sort of pride. Syaoran was touched by my music.
"Well," Sakura croaked - she cleared her throat, "I'm - I'm glad somebody likes it. The music, I mean."
A faint smile touched Syaoran's lips. "I think anyone would be moved. Anyone. Everyone."
She froze.
Anyone.
Everyone.
Everyone...
Syaoran noticed the look on Sakura's face. "You okay?" he inquired, in an actual concerned tone of voice.
"Um...I'm...um...fine." Sakura swallowed, but with difficulty. Was he going to get her to play in front of PEOPLE or something? Let everyone know about her secret?
"I'm not implying that you're going to play in front of everyone, Kinomoto-san." It was as if he read her mind.
A wave of relief swept over her. "Um...arigatou. Um. Your Highness..." His eyes suddenly sparkled. Sakura was getting really scared. First he said he liked her music, then he actually cared that she nearly had a heart attack, and now his eyes had that weird look...
"How well do you think you play the piano, Sakura?" he asked quietly.
"Me? Ah..." Sakura felt her cheeks redden. "Um...not very well, Your Highness." Syaoran raised an eyebrow.
"Really? I think you play beautifully. In fact, it reminds me of the Hiiragizawa style." Sakura held her breath. Syaoran continued.
"I do wonder though...who taught you how to play? I mean, it's not like you were born to play the piano, right?" Sakura shook her head.
"I taught myself."
"And where would you get a piano?"
"I stole one."
"You WHAT?"
"Um...I mean..." Sakura mentally slapped herself. "I..."
"Spill it," Syaoran ordered. "I'm not going to tell. I keep my promises, Sakura, you should know that by now."
Sakura bit her lip. "...Eriol Hiiragizawa." Syaoran sweatdropped.
"No wonder you play like him."
"So...um...you were saying?"
"Well, I don't know." Syaoran turned his back to her, instead looking out the solitary window of the room they were in. "The law seems kinda stupid. Women aren't allowed to play piano? That's just phony shit. I mean, it's not about your gender, it's about how well you play. I think...well...I think that you're a perfect example. Something to convince my parents that piano isn't just for males. And it's a chance to change the law. The law is why my sister was executed for a stupid reason. I want to change it. You know...prevent loss of another person, prevent loss of talent...so I'm asking you right now...will you help me?"
"I..."
He turned to look at her. Oh, the intensity of his dark eyes...Sakura averted her gaze.
"Onegai. I promise that your life will be in no danger whatsoever," said Syaoran softly.
"Alright then." Her voice came out cracked. She cleared her throat. "Then I will compromise. I'll help you."
A look of pure joy crossed Syaoran's face.
"Really?"
"H-Hai."
"Arigatou gozaimasu, Sakura-san!" Sakura merely smiled.
"As long as it pleases you, Your Highness," she said, her tone slightly tinged with sadness. Syaoran smiled back.
"See you at dinner." A soft chuckle escaped from her throat.
"See you." He exited the room. Sakura was left standing there alone.
All of a sudden, the tears started. They traveled down her cheeks, creating wet patches onto her apron. Why? she asked herself. Why am I crying again? Why am I always crying because of him? She knew it wasn't because she was touched by the fact he wanted to change the law for his deceased sister. Then...what was it?
Oh wow. One whole scene. Why is Sakura crying? Well, that'll certainly be cleared up in later chapters. This is definitely not the end of the story yet; I've decided to make it a little longer than planned. Until next time! REVIEW!