Alright everyone sorry for the delay, but im sure u know how school can be right? Anywayz…u people really need to review u know that! Lol ok heres the deal, im not gonna update again until….i get at least fifteen reviews! Ok? Ok. But for now…On with the story!
Chapter 2
19 year-old Syaoran had been wandering around the forest grounds of the Li Manor, when he eyed the old tower that had once been his home. He hadn't been there for almost 7 years now. At first he had visited once every week, a few months after his mother had died. He had wanted to be sure that Una wasn't still returning there.
But after a while, he just couldn't take it anymore. He hated the feeling that that place had. It was filled with nothing but misery and regret. The only highlight of being there, in the first place was that it carried his mother's scent. But once time had eroded it away, Syaoran saw no reason to keep returning. Until today that is.
He had heard that the Li's were planning a party for that night, apparently is was Lady Yelan's daughter's sixteenth birthday. Syaoran intended to be there. He needed to set a few things straight with Una and Lady Yelan. He was hesitant at first about going, but then remembering the note that Lord Li had written him in the treasure chest, there was no way he would back down now. At least in front of guests, they wouldn't openly harm him. Not if they wanted to keep their appearances up.
But before he did any of that, he was going to go visit the place where he had grown up, the place where his mother had died. He rode up on horseback, taking the long-way around so as not to attract any unwanted attention. After dismounting, he tied the reins to the old stable behind the tall, overbearing tower. He walked all the way around until he reached the double doors that led inside.
When he saw the open door, and the broken vines, he suddenly turned on the defensive. He unsheathed his sword quietly, and noiselessly opened the door farther, the little light remaining showing a small figure curled up in an arm-chair, it's body trembling uncontrollably. It didn't hear him and when he got closer he saw that it was a young woman, and he heard the stifled sobs as she hugged herself.
Suddenly the door squeaked, and Syaoran cursed as the girl looked up with frightened eyes. Trying to sound friendly, he asked, "Who are you?"
The girl suddenly even more frightened than before jumped up from the chair and made a mad dash towards the door. Thankfully she had to pass him before she could get there, and Syaoran caught her around the waist and swung her around to face him. He was about to say something when the light suddenly revealed to him the color of her eyes. They were a bright yet deep emerald. Something about those eyes seemed vaguely familiar.
He heard the girl take in a soft gasp. He tried his best to calm her, "I'm not going to hurt you."
She still looked like prey being cornered by its hunter. After regaining some of her composure, she looked away. "Please, let me go."
After unsheathing his sword, he brought his hand down to her chin and forced her to look at him, she cringed at the contact. Trying to sound as gentle and harmless as possible he tried again. "I said I'm not going to hurt you."
She was shaking like a rabbit now. "Please, just let me go."
Stunned, Syaoran retracted his arm from her waist and took a step back. The girl, surprised by his action, looked up at him briefly, then turned and fled. Syaoran, after recovering from the run-in with the mysterious girl, turned back to his surroundings. And once again he began exploring his old home.
-''-
Sakura heaved a sigh of relief when she got to the kitchens. While leaning against the wall for support, she tried to catch her breath, before sliding down to the floor. Those amber eyes had looked so familiar. At first, she thought it could've been that boy that had saved her all those years ago, then decided against it. There must've been hundreds of people with eyes that color. It could've been anyone.
Suddenly she felt a tap on her shoulder. Looking up she saw none other than Kaho contemplating her with a small smile. "Been running around the gardens again I see."
Sakura honestly didn't feel like talking so she merely nodded. Kaho continued, "Well it's about time you showed up. I've had my girls looking all over for you! You didn't forget about the dinner party tonight did you?"
Sakura looked at Kaho strangely, "What party?"
Kaho sweatdropped. "Uh, Sakura, sweetie, the party we've been planning for months now. Lady Zi's sixteenth birthday."
Sakura's eyes widened, "O MY GOSH! I completely forgot oh Kaho what am I gonna do? Una's gonna kill me!"
Kaho smiled secretively, "Don't worry I had Chiharu and Tomoyo help out with your chores. Una will never know. Now you can make it up to me, by coming over here and helping me fix my famous pastries. Goodness knows I need all the help I can get. Then after we're finished you can go find Zhen and you two can watch the party. Sound good?"
"Hai!" Sakura said happily, trying to forget everything else.
After she and Kaho were finished with the pastries, Zhen made her way into the kitchens with a storybook. When she saw Sakura she smiled widely and held up her book. "Sakura read Zhen story?"
Sakura smiled back, "I will, but after the party. You remember right? Tonight is Lady Zi's birthday party."
The storybook completely forgotten, Zhen started jumping up and down with glee. "Zhen loves to spy!"
Sakura smiled and ruffled the twenty year old's hair. "I know, and now that I'm done with helping Kaho-chan, how bout we go to our hiding place ne?"
Instead of answering Zhen grabbed Sakura's hand and started skipping towards the stairway, that led to the tiny room with peep holes, where noble girls that were too young to attend balls would look through. But since Zi was the youngest, it was no longer used by the Li family. So, instead some of the servants, mostly women, would use them.
Tonight, however, the other women who usually came would not be able to. This event was so big, that every maid and servant in the manor would be needed, except Sakura that is. She wasn't allowed anywhere near the other nobles, thanks to good ol' Una.
After a while the guests started arriving. The music was ringing in the air, and the ladies and gentlemen were dancing to its rhythm. Sakura remembered when she was younger, and she had stared out of this peephole, she couldn't wait to be out there, dancing like that. And then, Uncle Xiao-hu had died. And that ruined everything.
She focused her mind back to the present and laughed at all of Zhen's antics. Although Zhen was 20 she still acted as though she were seven. And a lot of times, Sakura would forget that Zhen really was 20. "Pretty dresses Saku pretty dresses!"
"Yes Zhen they are very pretty. Now hush, they might be able to hear us!" she whispered while putting a finger to her lips.
Zhen smiled and put one to her own as well, then turned back to the small hole in the wall.
After another long while, "Lady" Zi finally decided to make her entrance. When she appeared in the doorway atop the stairs, Sakura had to try so hard not to break out laughing. Zi was a very plain girl, she was from Yelan's first marriage, to a man that didn't last very long in this type of lifestyle. He had abandoned Yelan and their unborn child.
Sakura would've felt sorry for Zi, except for the fact that she was the most snobbish, uptight, narcissistic person she had ever had the displeasure of meeting. She was very homely, and yet she tried everything to counter it. For example, now, she was wearing a very gaudy dress, trying to flaunt many things that weren't there. To Sakura, it looked like a piece of beautiful Chinese silk overtop of rough old wool. That's how bad it clashed.
Sakura and Zhen had a very marvelous hour. They whispered about the lady's dresses, and how elegant the dancing was, and how good the food smelled, and probably tasted.
Out of nowhere the mystery man from the tower appeared in the dancing hall. She gasped and waved off Zhen's impending questions. What was he doing here? Was he going to tell Yelan about her dealings with him at the tower? She didn't think so. He looked very handsome and not to mention rich in his green silk warrior's outfit. She didn't really think that he would have any care about an encounter with a simple servant girl.
-''-
Walking into the dancing hall was like stepping into another world. Syaoran had spent half his entire life in solitude. The first half he had spent in a tower with only his mother to keep him company, and the second in a cottage that belonged to Lord Xiao-Hu. Now it was finally time to repay the debt he owed to his Lord. He would do as the note instructed. He would see to it.
Una was the first to spot him. Her eyes widened and then narrowed in anger. She gracefully yet purposefully strode over to him. "What do you think you're doing here?"
"I wish to speak with Lady Yelan."
"You will speak to me."
"I will not. And I will certainly not leave either, not until I speak with Lady Yelan."
Una eyed him then turned her gaze to Yelan and nodded curtly as she quietly but quickly strode over towards her mistress. Meanwhile, he had other problems, the guest of honor, Lady Zi, came up to him and introduced herself. "I have never seen you in court Milord."
"I am visiting temporarily milady."
She smiled seductively, "I can change that."
Swallowing back a laugh he nodded politely and excused himself, before she became so bold as to ask him to dance. Thankfully he noticed Lady Yelan hurrying over to where he stood, with Una right behind her. "This had better be good."
"I wish to be there when you open his lord's last chest."
Lady Yelan scoffed. "The bastard son of my husband? I do not think so."
"I am not his son. He told me so the night he died."
"Then why should I let you see the chest."
"He wrote me a letter, instructing me to be there when it opened, I know not why, however I will do as he asks."f
Yelan snatched the letter, read it and gaped at the seal of her deceased husband. "This is forgery! Get out of my house!"
"Very well Yelan,
but I will be here when the chest is opened." He retrieved the
letter, put it in his pocket and turned.
"Is that a threat
boy?"
"No, tis a promise."
With that he walked out of the dining hall and embraced the darkness of shadow.
