On the sixth day when Kel was in her room alone watching the movements of the girl's breathing, when she slowly opened her eyes and blinked slowly. Sakura's vision was blurry and it was hard to make out everything. Kel noticed and told a servant maid to get the King, Dom, Shinko, Raoul, Yuki, and Alanna. Kel, herself went to Duke Baird's office, where Neal was talking to him. "Neal, she's starting to wake up." Neal, Duke Baird and Kel dashed off into the girl's room.
The first thing Sakura felt was a dull throbbing pain in her arms and all over her body. She couldn't remember what happened and suddenly remembered the crash. Sakura found out she was in a warm bed and that her Kimono was gone and replaced with a white nightgown. She heard the rustling of feet near the wooden door and saw a whole group of people come in. They all stared at her and were dressed in weird clothes besides two young ladies who were wearing Kimonos. "Izuko gozen watashi?" croaked Sakura in Japanese.
She assumed that the Japanese ladies would understand her except a tall girl with long hair came instead to her. Kel went up to her and said. "You're in the palace at Corus. " Replied the tall girl. Sakura was confused. "What?" Jonathan came up to her. "What's your name?" Asked Jonathan in a cool gentle tone. "Sakura Meliara Alaine Jasmine" Alanna handed Sakura a cup of water and drank gratefully. "Where did you say I was?" Sakura was really confused now. Everyone around her seemed to be like people from the Middle Ages, she tried to stay calm. "You're in the palace in Corus of Tortall." Sakura was shocked and nearly choked on her water. "WHAT!" Sakura knew what they were talking about now. Sakura knew what Tortall was all about. She read the books about them, which were by Tamora Pierce. Tamora was her favorite author. She read all of her books.
"You must be joking" Sakura tried to laugh, but saw the confused looks on the people around her. "I must be hallucinating or dreaming. I can't actually be here. This is all a big joke. This is not real." One of the ladies in the beautiful kimonos came up to Sakura who Sakura already knew as Yuki from the books. "No, it's not a joke, it's all real. Why would you say that? Of course this is all real." Sakura shivered. "You don't understand, I'm not from Tortall or anyplace else. I'm from a different world and must have been transported somehow." Sakura was a bit freaked out. She's in a whole different world, she always wanted it to be real and now she had her wish. "Ok, how did you find me" Asked Sakura. "Well, we found you on the grass near the palace entrance covered in blood" Explained Kel. All of a sudden that reminded Sakura of her mother. Sakura dug her face into the soft white pillow and started to sob and cry.
Kel came over and patted her back. "What's wrong, was it something I said?" Asked Kel totally confused." Sakura turned back around and continued to cry, tears slowly dripping down her face. "You see, Kel. When you found me… Somehow … In my world my mother and I were in an accident. I saw my mother next to me covered all over in blood and in a condition worse than mine. That was the last thing I saw before, I came here. I'm afraid that… that she's dead. "I'm so sorry" Kel laid a hand on Sakura's shoulder. The rest of the crowd of people came forward.
"Excuse me Sakura, How do you know my name? I mean, I didn't introduce myself or any of the others." Kel was puzzled. "Oh, I know all your names. Your Keladry of Mindelan, Alanna of Pirates Swoop and Olau, King Jonathan of Conte, Shinkokami, daughter of the Emperor of the Yamani Islands, Yuki of the Yamani Islands, Nealen of Queenscove, Duke Baird of Queenscove, Sergeant Domitan of Masbolle, Roaul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak. Everyone was dumfounded and shocked. "How do you know all our names?" asked Alanna. "Well, in my world, your all in books written by this person named Tamora Pierce and supposed to be all fake and unreal. I read all her books, I know everything about you. Except, now I know there is a place called Tortall and everything." Sakura stopped crying and smiled.
"Come over Neal or should I say Meathead." Sakura laughed. Neal was shocked and staring at Dom. "I promise, I didn't tell her." Dom was laughing and so was everyone else. "Alanna, can you come here for a minute so I can get a clear view of you." Alanna stepped forward and went to Sakura's side. Sakura smiled. "I always imagined you to look like this exactly. In my world, you were my hero and I admired you. Now, I finally get my chance to see you." Alanna blushed a bit. "Roaul, how are you doing with Buri, Congratulations?" Sakura was absolutely excited inside but kept a clear façade expression on. "Well, I'm fine and we are doing well." Roaul was amazed with what she knew. "Uhm… How long was I asleep." Asked Sakura. "For 6 days. You were in bad condition when we saw you. "What's going to happen to me? Sakura knew she was probably going to live here now. They don't know where I'm from and Numair won't be able to do anything either. "I'm going to have to live here now, right." The king nodded his head. Sakura was about to cry but held back the tears.
"Can I borrow some clothes?" asked Sakura with a blank face on. Shinko came forward. "I'll let you wear one of my kimonos." With that Shinko went off to fetch one of her kimonos. "I'll be fine, don't worry about my condition or health. I've felt pain worse than what I'm experiencing now. Actually, I really don't feel anything. While I was training with my father, in Japanese hand to hand combat, now that was real pain." Sakura laughed at the memory but also felt a prickly on her skin. "What is Japanese?" Asked Kel who was silent after Sakura told everyone about how she knew everyone's name. "Japanese, in my world is the same as a Yamani person. I'm half Japanese and half Korean. Korea is a country in my world, but it's close to being Yamani. Don't worry I can speak in the Yamani tongue."
Kel nodded her head and got off the side of the bed. "You know how to fight?" asked King Jonathan. "Of course I do, in my country it's not what men and women usually do but I do it because I enjoy doing it. "Oh!" King Jonathan was a bit shocked. Shinko came in with a huge wooden chest. "I'm giving you some of my Kimonos, I have a lot. We'll all leave you, to get dressed." Shinko smiled brightly at her. Sakura smiled back. She tried to get up but failed by lurching forward. Roaul caught her before she fell. "I'm fine, just a bit stiff. Put me on the floor." Roaul hesitated and still held her.
"Roaul, it's ok. I'm fine. Please, can you just put me down?" Said Sakura, pleading. Roaul listened and gently put Sakura on the beautiful rug that was laid on the floor. Sakura had been taking gymnastics for years, since she was just a toddler. She was practically a professional. Sakura first stretched one leg in front of her and touched her tow with her hand without bending her knee, then she did the same for her other leg. Then she stood up straight and bent her body backwards touching the ground, performing a bridge, which got rid of the kinks in her back. Everyone watched her perform that trick easily as if she wasn't in bed for 6 days at all.
"How did you do that? I mean…" Neal seemed to be lost for words. Sakura smiled and walked towards him. "My dear, Meathead I can do much more than just that. I'm practically a professional in things like this. If you'll excuse me Sir Meathead but I have to get dressed and refresh myself." Neal's mouth was agape and everyone laughed their selves out of the room. A maid had a warm bath ready for Sakura.
Alanna and Duke Baird finally healed the cuts and wounds that were inflicted on her body. Her bandages were removed and didn't leave a scar at all. She bathed and stayed in the bath for a long time. I can't believe I'm actually here. I'm going to miss you everyone. Dad and mom. Mom if you're alive, I will love you forever, even if your not, you know I still love you no matter what. Sakura blinked back soft salty tears that were flowing down her face. The water was scented with lavender, which engulfed the room in a beautiful fragrant aroma.
Sakura breathed in the lavender scented air. I'm going to miss my world. I'll miss you all Cladai, everyone. Goodbye. She finished washing her hair with the rose scented soap and washed herself with jasmine scented soap, which was her last name.
She got out of the bath, and slowly dressed herself in Shinko's kimono. It fit her perfectly, except for the waist which had to be wrapped around a bit more to accommodate her waistline. A brush was brought to her. She brought her luminous long dark brown hair in front of her right shoulder and slowly brushed her long hair, getting the tangles out of her hair until it was as soft as cotton. She saw her two jeweled hair ornaments on the table beside her.
This is the last sign of any memory and with the life I had before. The memory of my mother's mother passing this down to my mother, which is now passed down unto me. This hair ornament, which is grasped in my hands, was worn by mother and the last reminder of who loved me and cared for me. I'll pass it down to my children, mother, and I won't fail you because I know you'll always be in my heart no matter where you are. Sakura sniffed.
She gently grasped her thick hair and fashioned it into a braided bun. Loose strands of wavy hair framing her pale even skin, some strands coming out of her braided bun. With careful ease she put the two hair ornaments that were worn by generations of people in her family into her own. She wore the slippers that perfectly fit her and tied the ribbon around her ankles crisscrossing it until there was just enough to tie the ribbon into a bow. She did the same for her other foot. The slippers were the same as ballet slippers from her world. She walked gracefully out the door, where she met her new friends. They looked up as they heard the door open.
They all smiled and stared. Sakura kept her face cool and even. She wore Shinko's kimono, the under robe the color of autumn leaves, embroidered in gold thread of lotus flowers. The over robe the color of creamy peaches, embroidered with light pink thread of cranes and Jasmine. Her obi was pastel orange. All the materials were made of the finest Yamani silk. She had found a beautifully decorated fan, which was also a shakusens. Sakura was absolutely capable of how to use it. She hadn't applied any face paint, but left her natural beauty the way it was. A jade necklace was around her slender neck, included with earrings, a bracelet, and ring.
She looks different and pretty after days of slumber. She's rather stunning. "You look wonderful, Lady Sakura" said Dom bowing. Sakura smiled. "Dom, we're getting formal now are we? Well my name is Sakura, Meliara, or either Alaine, or Jasmine. It is a large selection, but my mother always called me with my first name, middle names, and last name. So, it really doesn't matter to me. But please don't call me Lady, I'm only thirteen." Alanna grinned. "You're only thirteen, you look tall enough to be fifteen. I know what you mean, people sometimes call me Lady Alanna, which I don't like to be called." Sakura walked over to Shinko. "Thank you for letting me wear some of your clothes, I'm in debt to you." Spoke sakura in such a polite manner, bowing in Yamani style, which was the same for Japanese. "Oh, no need to bow, you are now of my kin and friend."