Hey everyone. I know I know, my updating time is so slow. don't worry though. I'll update on it a lot faster. I had to change all conversations and do a lot of editing although it doesn't sound like a lot. And for those that read the first two parts because I seperated the original first part in two, don't worry, I have the next part ready to post, I just need some reviews, so you guys know what to do once you finisah reading this part.
PART 2
Xiao Ying immediately shoved the jade back between the thick padding and zipped the zipper again. With that Xiao Ying hurried to the princesses' bath chamber and got the bath ready. The two princesses stepped in just in time. The three of them would talk and chat and that stuff, but today, Xiao Ying was being unusually quiet.
"Xiao Ying?" called Tomoyo
"Oh, yes?" asked Xiao Ying.
"You looked spaced out today, what's wrong?" asked Meiling.
"Nothing" answered Xiao Ying.
"Xiao Ying, we have been friends forever, we know that something is wrong." said Tomoyo.
"Really, I'm fine." said Xiao Ying trying to cover up.
"Your face tells us something else." said Meiling.
"What's wrong?" Tomoyo asked again.
"Really nothing's wrong." assured Xiao Ying.
"What's wrong? You talk to us about all kinds of stuff." asked Tomoyo concerned.
"Yeah, it's obvious enough that something's wrong." said Meiling
Xiao Ying took a deep breath. She couldn't hide it from her friends though she wished she could.
"I'm just…thinking about my parents." said Xiao Ying.
"Oh, you never talked much about your parents, tell us." said Tomoyo intrigued.
"Come to think of it, you don't talk about your past period." commented Meiling.
"Yeah. You near talked about the 10 years before you came here." agreed Tomoyo.
"Oh, regular life, nothing special." said Xiao Ying.
"Well, you're friends with princesses and you say that's nothing special?" teased Meiling.
"I meant my old life is nothing special." said Xiao Ying.
"How come you talk about your past so little?" asked Tomoyo.
"I… let's just say painful memories." said Xiao Ying.
"Oh, I'm sorry." apologized Tomoyo.
"That's ok." said Xiao Ying.
Over the next five days, Xiao Ying did her daily routine, but she was spaced out and all her friends knew it. Xiao Ying was clumsier than usual and she hardly heard what other people said those few days. Her brother was worried, but didn't get a chance to talk with Xiao Ying. Tori wondered why Xiao Ying seemed so spaced out. He was doing his patrol around the castle, (he's an imperial guard, NOT a eunuch) when he spotted King Terada from an overbridge. He knew immediately why Xiao Ying was spaced out. He went to Xiao Ying's quarters and luckily found her there. Tori pulled his sister into her room and locked the door.
"Why didn't you tell me that he's here?" asked Tori upset that his sister didn't tell him about this.
"I didn't want you to overreact." said Xiao Ying.
"You're right I will. I'm going to strangle that guy." said Tori in a low angry voice.
"No! He's a king. You can't. You'll be executed." said Xiao Ying shaken.
"That guy! The only thing he did is make the land dark and made the citizens go into poverty and you know it!" yelled Tori in a low voice.
"Of course I do, but we can't do anything. We're servants." said Xiao Ying.
"I don't care! That guy killed out parents and I won't let him get away with it!" Tori hissed his voice a bit louder than necessary.
"Quiet down! Someone will hear." urged Xiao Ying.
"Sorry." apologized Tori.
"Our pass life is behind us. We are not Sakura and Touya anymore. We're Xiao Ying and Tori." said Xiao Ying.
"The names don't matter. We still have the same blood." reasoned Tori.
"Tori please, He's leaving the day after tomorrow. Promise me that you won't do anything foolish and reveal that we're still alive. The old life is over." plead Xiao Ying.
"Ok, for you.. I'll do it to protect my sister. I'll keep my distance from him so I won't explode and strangle him." agreed Tori.
"Good. This is our life now. Just forget that we were ever Sakura and Touya." said Xiao Ying hugging her brother, the only family she had left.
Tori agreed. He'll do it to protect his sister. He himself was boiling. This guy ruined their life. He killed their parents, caused them to change names and identity, and become servants here and he still had to show up in front of them again? Tori hate him.
Luckily Tori steered clear of King Terada the next day otherwise, Tori really would have strangled him. King Terada knew that Xiao Ying looked a bit familiar but didn't understand it. He felt like he saw her somewhere before, but didn't know where.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Son, what do you think of Princess Rika?" Yelan asked her son.
"She's ok. At least she isn't one of those princesses that flashes eyelashes and do all those other flirty stuff." responded Syaoran.
"Well I'm glad you have a good impression of Princess Rika. As you know, you need a bride..." started Yelan before she got cut off by Syaoran.
"Mother, I know what you are going to say. Since she isn't one of those, you want us to get married." said Syaoran.
"Yes son. You need a bride." said Yelan.
"Mother, I feel more like her brother. I just don't have that connection to her." said Syaoran.
"Son, you are 18, you need a bride and we don't have time." said Yelan starting to get exasperated.
"I know, I know" said Syaoran throwing his hands up in frustration as he leaves.
(At the garden)
Xiao Ying was carrying a bucket of water to the garden and had arrived there when she saw King Terada walk off. He didn't see Xiao Ying, but she saw him. Her hands went numb and dropped the bucket of water she was holding. Luckily King Terada didn't hear it. Xiao Ying picked up the bucket and was going to get some more water, but slipped on the water on the floor. She tried to pick herself up, but couldn't. Xiao Ying pushed her hands on the ground again trying to heave herself up, but no avail. She was about to pushed once more when a voice stopped her.
"Here, let me help you." The voice said extending a hand to help her up.
"Prince Syaoran, I couldn't…" gasped Xiao Ying and got cut off as he pulled her up by the hand.
Xiao Ying heart skipped a beat at the touch. His comforting hands pulled her up gently.
Xiao Ying struggled to do her polite posture as she said thank you, but she started to fall again. Prince Syaoran held onto her shoulders and steadied her quickly saying no need. He was able to see her bright green eyes.
"Thank you, Prince Syaoran." thanked Xiao Ying afraid to look up at his face.
"No big deal." said Syaoran.
Xiao Ying was seriously scared. Not only were regular men and women not allow this type of contact, it was the prince that was helping her. They shifted positions and Syaoran helped Xiao Ying to the seat in the back of the garden. Syaoran would've stayed a bit longer if they didn't run into another servant girl who happened to be Xiao Ying's friend Naoko.
"Xiao Ying you ok?" asked Naoko, a fellow palace servant girl and one of Xiao Ying's best friends.
"Yeah." assumed Xiao Ying
"You're so lucky, the prince touched you!" said Naoko almost squealing
"Don't go around saying that!" said Xiao Ying in a panicky voice.
"You two looked so right together. I can just tell that you two are meant to be together." squealed Naoko in a low voice.
"Naoko! He's the prince! Stop saying that! You're going to get me executed!" hissed Xiao Ying.
"Ok, I'm sorry. But seriously, you two look like soulmates." said Naoko.
"You say that one more time…" threatened Xiao Ying.
"Ok, I'll keep my mouth shut." said Naoko raising her hands in defeat.
Neither Xiao Ying nor the prince thought much of the encounter. Xiao Ying just happen to trip and the prince just happen to be there and thus helped her. Thus passed the next two days.
It is now time for King Terada and Princess Rika to leave. The entire royal Li family was seeing them off.
"We hope you have a safe journey." said Yelan.
"Thank you." thanked Terada.
"We hoped you enjoyed your stay." said Yelan.
"I most certainly did." assured Terada.
The two royal families waved and with that, King Terada and Princess Rika left. Finally Xiao Ying and Tori were relieved. They haven't had a peaceful night sleep for quite a while even if it had only been one night for Tori.
(next day)
Everything was finally back to normal. Everybody was starting to get excited because the Annual Li Kingdom Festival is coming up. There will be a whole carnival-like event with lots of games and competitions. This was a huge event where everyone enjoyed themselves and had fun. The entire kingdom was starting to prepare for it. Xiao Ying and her brother are finally relieved now that King Terada was gone. Thus everyone was excited and at ease. Well, almost everyone…
Xiao Ying was doing her usual daily work when she encountered her friend Chiharu. Chiharu seemed to be relieved to see her.
"Hey Xiao Ying, can I ask you a favor?" asked Chiharu.
"Sure, what is it?" said Xiao Ying.
"Well… I kind of… umm…iwannagoonadatewithyamazakibutihavemaidwork." said Chiharu, the last part real fast.
"Run that by me again." said Xiao Ying cocking an eyebrow.
"I have a date, but I have maid work" said Chiharu her face red with embarrassment.
"I thought you said that." said Xiao Ying.
"Can you help me?" asked Chiharu shyly.
"Sure, you have to tidy the prince's quarter's right?" said Xiao Ying.
"Yeah, that's right." confirmed Chiharu.
"Ok, go have fun." said Xiao Ying.
"Thanks, I owe you big time." thanked Chiharu while running off.
Xiao Ying shook her head smiling. Once Chiharu ran out of sight, Xiao Ying turned and headed towards the prince's quarters to do her maid work. Once Xiao Ying arrived at the prince's quarters, she started to work.
hope you guys are enjoying the story. You know to click on the review button if you guys want the next few parts.