Soul's Eclipse: Yes, I am a pianist.
eskimo: THANK JOOOOOOOOOOO
TrickyChicky454: Damn, I was all looking forward towards that money. xD Yes, I can play La Campanella, which is how I know how to describe it in detail. -starry eyes- Awesome piece. But it took me MONTHS to learn the whole piece and get everything the way my teacher wanted and still when I play it it sounds awful. T-T
Disclaimer: I don't own Card Captor Sakura, which rightfully belongs to CLAMP.
The Veiled Piano Mistress
By: Lotus Dreams
Chapter 11: Courting
"We have decided to change it."
"N-Nani?" Syaoran couldn't believe his ears.
King Li sighed. "We have decided to allow women play the piano, against your grandfather's wishes."
"Are you for real?" said Syaoran in awe.
"Hai."
"Oh, don't sound so grim about it," said Yelan cheerfully. "I've always wanted to play piano as a little girl, but unfortunately, ojii-chan never let me. I think this is a great opportunity."
"I never said I was grim about changing it," snapped King Li. "It's just...I don't get why he was so obsessed over something so simple."
"Well," said Syaoran coldly, "At least he can go back to his beloved little piano mistress and try to win her back."
King Li looked at him sharply. "What did you say?"
"Nothing."
"Listen," said his father sternly, "I was in no position to stop him from killing Fuutie. I was powerless. Until your ojii-chan died, he was still the king, and as king, he can do whatever he wants. And so, he wanted to kill Fuutie. Do you know how devastating it is, to see your own daughter beheaded? And have no power to control it?"
"No. But I know how devastating it is to lose a sister."
King Li sighed. "I wonder why I hadn't changed the law sooner." Syaoran shrugged.
"Well, I'm glad you've changed it now." Bowing to his parents, he left. Yelan watched him go, a faint smile on her face.
"He's changed."
"Yes, he has," agreed King Li.
"He seemed so determined to...change the law."
"I know."
"And all because of that girl - that maid - who played the piano so beautifully..."
"How did she learn it, anyway?" Yelan shrugged.
"No idea. All I know is, I like her playing."
A week later...
Syaoran had informed her as soon as his parents told him. Now, Sakura was free to play piano as she pleased, without doing it in secret. Well, not really. As a maid, her ranking wasn't enough to be able to play piano whenever she wanted, although the King and Queen were thinking of making her a dinner musician instead of a maid.
He hadn't said anything to her. Ever since he changed the law. So that was it, wasn't it? thought Sakura. Use me to change the law and never speak to me again. She hadn't seen him very often, and even when she did spot him, it was just brief glances before he disappeared again. Finally, she asked a maid called Fusae about him, who cleaned his room daily.
"Oh, you're wondering why we never see him?" she said loftily. "He's currently being courted by many...ladies, to say the least, and so he's pretty busy."
"Courted?" echoed Sakura. "But he's only 18!"
Fusae rolled her eyes. "Tuh. If he finds someone he likes, he'll be engaged to her, not married right on the spot. And besides, looking at the way he treats all the girls that throw themselves at him, I'd say he won't find a girl he likes until he's a wrinkly old man."
"Oh." Fusae glanced at a grandfather clock. "I'd better get going. Ja, Sakura!"
"Ja."
Courted. No wonder. She felt herself grow slightly jealous. After all, he was a pretty good-looking guy, AND trustworthy, although he had sneered at her countless times. He was definitely nicer to her after he found out about her piano skills, too. AND he seemed pretty devoted to making things right for his sister, which showed he wasn't as heartless as she had thought.
Forget it, she thought. You barely know him, anyway.
"Good afternoon, Prince Syaoran." The princess curtsied. In return, he bowed.
"Hello, Princess Rinako."
"I trust you are well?" She smiled warmly at him. He smiled back.
"Why, yes, very well, in fact. And you?"
"Fine, fine."
He gestured at a bench hanging from some metal bars, like a wide swing. (You know, those romantic couple swing bench thingies...) "Would you like a seat?"
"Arigatou gozaimasu." The two took a seat, the bench swinging gently back and forth.
Queen Yelan and Rinako's mother, Queen Sae, looked at the two fondly.
"Rinako and Syaoran seem to be getting along so well."
"Hai," agreed Yelan. "She seems to be the one Syaoran doesn't mind the most."
"Do you think he's interested in her enough to..."
Yelan shook her head. "Not yet. Look at them. He's most polite to her, but they are both sitting so stiffly."
"Even so." Queen Sae's tone had become slightly haughty. "They are old enough already. I think Rinako suits Syaoran very well. And besides, we want to marry her off soon so we don't have to keep worrying about her not getting a grandchild."
Yelan blinked. "Grandchild?" she said cautiously.
"Why, yes. We want to make sure there is another heir to the throne, you know."
"Of course."
"Aren't you concerned?"
"Not really," said Yelan loftily. "It'll be years before Syaoran dies."
"I suppose." Sae eyed them. Yelan was right. Even though Syaoran was being most polite, he was sitting a good half a foot away from her, and Rinako only smiled and gave vague replies to his questions and statements. Her smile was fixed. His smile was fixed. She narrowed her eyes. I want my daughter to marry a respectable young man, not some commoner. She'd better start liking Prince Syaoran.
"I do hope they get along together well."
"Yes, I do too," replied Yelan, although her tone of voice was tense.
On his mother's orders, he was courting Rinako. Well, sort of. In a way. Not really. Okay, just plain NO. He asked normal questions, started boring conversations, but he just wasn't interested in Rinako. Not really. She didn't seem as ditzy as the other idiots, and she was very pretty too, with her brown hair curling softly just below her shoulders, framing her violet eyes. She was wearing a red gown, with puffy sleeves and an elegant sash around the back, with layers and layers of fabric for the skirt. It was covered in ruffles and bows. However, she seemed uncomfortable, and although she barely moved, Syaoran could see she was trying to shift around to make the dress more comfortable.
"Are you alright?" asked Syaoran.
She forced a smile. "Yes. Fine. Grand."
"You seem a little shifty."
"Shifty?" She forced a laugh. "You make good jokes, Syaoran-san."
"No, I'm serious." She forced another laugh. (A/N: Get the pattern?)
"Of course you are."
"Are you unhappy to be here, Princess Rinako?" he asked gently.
"Nani?" She nearly jumped. "Of course not. I am very happy to be here."
"I know you don't want to be here."
Her smile faltered. Then she sighed. "No, I don't. I'm afraid I've already found a suitor, and I don't need another one. I mean that in the nicest way possible."
Syaoran frowned. "If you've already found a suitor, then why did you mother bring you here?"
"She doesn't know."
"Nani - ?"
"My suitor is not royalty. If you catch my drift." He caught it.
"Oh..." The two stayed silent for a moment.
"Well, there's no point pretending to court each other. Let's go." He jumped off of the bench lightly, and held out his hand. "May I?" Placing her tiny hand in the palm of his, Rinako stepped gracefully off of the bench/swing and he graciously escorted her towards two bewildered looking queens.
"Well," said Yelan, recovering first. "You two...um...have done...being acquainted with each other already?"
"Hai, okaa-san," said Syaoran pleasantly. "Rinako is a very nice girl." He let go of her hand and turned to Queen Sae. "It's been a pleasure to meet her, Your Majesty."
"Hai, hai," said Sae uncertainly. "Well, Rinako, shall we go?"
"Yes, okaa-san," said Rinako quietly. Queen Sae gave a sharp nod to Syaoran and Yelan, gathered up her flowery ruffly fancy-schmancy layers and layers of skirts, and walked away haughtily. Rinako followed, although not with as much pride as her mother.
"Rinako-san!" She stopped and turned. He smiled at her.
"Gokouun o inorimasu." A genuine smile spread across her face.
"Arigatou gozaimasu. Good luck to you too." Then she left.
Sakura was watering the plants in Syaoran's room when she heard them.
"GAH! NO! STOP THAT!"
"MWAHAHAHAAAAAAAA! SANOSUKE, YOU ARE DEAD!"
"IIE! COME ON! IT WASN'T ON PURPOSE!"
"YEAH? WELL TOO BAD!"
A servant burst into Syaoran's room, pursued by another servant. "Hey!" Sakura cried out crossly, "This isn't a playground you maniacs - AUUUGH!"
The servant that was the chaser had been carrying a bucket of ice cold water, and Sanosuke, the one being chased, had hidden behind Sakura for cover, and the other servant ended up throwing the water over Sakura!
"This water is FREEZING COLD!" she shrieked, dripping. The chaser servant was rooted to the spot, gawking at Sakura. Sanosuke had gotten wet also, but most of the water was on Sakura. He shook his head.
"Tsk, tsk, Kai," said Sanosuke. "You could learn to be a bit more careful about where you spill the water."
"HE'D BETTER BE!" screamed Sakura. "NOT ONLY HAVE YOU DROWNED PRINCE SYAORAN'S PLANT, YOU'VE ALSO MANAGED TO SOAK HIS BED, YOU STUPID CRAZY BASTARD OF A SERVANT! NOW HOW IS HE GOING TO SLEEP?"
Sanosuke whistled. "Damnnnnn."
"SHUT UP, YOU IGNORAMUS!" He quickly hid behind the sopping wet bed. Angry women were not to be tempered with.
At that moment, Syaoran entered his room.
"What the hell went on here?" Sakura immediately lost her screaming-at-stupid-guys mode.
"I-I-I..." stuttered Kai, the chaser servant.
"My, my, what a mess," said Syaoran in a voice of natural calm, "but who will clean it up?"
"I will," Sakura blurted out automatically. "I should have stopped them from messing up the bed."
"Me too," said Sanosuke apologetically, "The water was...um...meant for me."
"And me - " started Kai, but Syaoran interrupted him. "YOU, you ignorant jest, are going to suffer more." His eyes flashed. "Go clean up the kitchen. When I get there, I want every nook and cranny sparkling. And you are to do this while the cooks are cooking, you understand?"
"H-Hai," stammered Kai, and rushed off. He looked at Sakura and Sanosuke. "Take your time, but I want it changed by the time I go to bed."
"Hai," answered Sakura and Sanosuke together. "Sayonara, Your Highness." Syaoran's gaze lingered on Sakura before snapping back to Sanosuke, and then somewhere else entirely.
"Yes. Goodbye."
"Gomen nasai," apologized Sanosuke for the millionth time.
"I'm telling you, it's okay," replied Sakura, a little more aggressively than she meant to.
"But it's all my fault you're wet and you have to clean with me..."
"I'm fine, and I don't mind, I'm telling you, Sanosuke." Sakura continued washing Syaoran's sheets. Since they were already wet, Syaoran told her to wash them, as well as the bed sheets. Sanosuke, as punishment, was to wash the curtains and pillow casings and everything else.
The black-haired servant observed Sakura out of the corner of his eye. She was extremely pretty, with her auburn hair, although dark with water, and green eyes, focused intently on the task before her. She was slender, and she was just a little shorter than him, although not by much.
"So...uh...are you familiar with Prince Syaoran?"
"I don't know."
"What kind of maid are you?"
"I water the plants."
"I heard you were the girl that learned piano in secret, and played so well King Li and Queen Yelan decided to change the law."
"Hai."
"Wow." Sanosuke was a bit slow at washing, since it was more of a feminine task. Sakura eyed him attempting to wash the curtains and then sighed.
"Here, Sanosuke-san, let me help you." She showed him the proper way of cleaning it, and then getting rid of whatever grime was hiding in it. After giving him the lesson, she accidentally let the curtains drop into the barrel, and since they were wet, they were quite heavy, and she ended up splashing quite a bit of water onto Sanosuke.
"OH MY GOD! Gomen nasai! I am so sorry, Sanosuke-san!" He ran a hand through his sopping hair.
"I suppose I deserve it after getting you wet."
"No, no, I'm really, really, sorry...I didn't mean to..." He smiled at her.
"It's alright. And besides, I wouldn't being splashed by a pretty girl like you." Sakura flushed at his last comment.
"Um. Right." He grinned at her. "Ah...we should get back to work now, Sanosuke-san. There's still a lot to clean and wash and stuff."
"Okay." They continued to do their work.
From somewhere a bit farther, Syaoran had just arrived exactly the time when Sanosuke said that comment to Sakura. Flirting. Courting. Whatever-ing. Suddenly he was paying attention. Sanosuke was trying to shuffle closer to Sakura, and she didn't seem to be moving away from him. Every time Sanosuke moved, he bristled. Every time Sanosuke said something to Sakura, his mouth twitched.
He didn't know how long he was there, watching them. By the time they were finished, it was already pretty late, and past the time Syaoran should have been in bed, although he wasn't feeling very tired at all.
Was he feeling slightly jealous? That Sakura didn't really mind Sanosuke?
No freaking way.
Hehe. Is he? OF COURSE HE IS:) Well, anyway, REVIEW!