Ch.5

It was a late afternoon at Yuktio's mansion. Yukito, Yue and Yamazaki all sat around the fire laughing as best friends would. They have been friends for ages and there was no need for secrets between them. All of them spoke their mind without worrying about what the others would do; they had that comfort with each other.

"Master Yukito," an old man came walking into the room and handed a letter to Yukito, "I found letter addressed to you." Blowing low to Yukito, he left the room. Yukito quickly opened the letter puzzled at what the contents could be. Quickly reading over the letter, his face fell. Throwing the letter down, Yukito grabbed the first object on the ground and threw it with all his might. The lamp fell on the ground smashing into multiple pieces. Yukito ran his hands through his hair as he paced the room back and forth quickly. The look Yukito's eyes was a mix of distress, anger and confusion. Exchanging glances at each other, Yue and Yamazaki knew that the content in the letter was not good. Yamazaki got up and walked over to the paper on the ground while Yue was trying to comfort Yukito. Scanning over the letter quickly, Yamazaki gasped. He recognized the swirly handwriting anywhere, it was Sakura's.

My darling Yukito,

You mustn't look at this the wrong way. I am not leaving you in any way, shape or form. My absence is of my own choice. I haven't been truly myself these past few months and being on my own will let me be able to. You have done nothing wrong nor could you have prevented this from happening. This way I can truly be at ease without distractions. I felt as though I was under a microscope for everyone to examine. I want to feel free and not worry about anyone or anything in my life. By the time you are reading this I am already gone. Do not look for me. I will be back in three months my love. It is not too long. I love you with all my heart.

Your Cherry Blossom,

Sakura

There was one thing for certain, Sakura was gone. All of the men were looking at each other in awe of what to do next. Yukito angrily looked at his companions.

"Find her."

It was just before the morning traffic at the train station. There Sakura was, waiting anxiously for the train to get there. She was leaving everything behind but a few belongings she packed to be on her own.

"It's just a vacation. Nothing more," She thought to herself while fidgeting in the navy blue trench coat courtesy of Tomoyo. The black hat she wore covered her face just right so no onlookers could see her. Her hair was cut a little above her shoulders and dyed to a darker tone of brown. Sakura's eyes were a dead give away to her identity, so she put in color contacts to change them a dark brown. Although no one knew of Sakura's plans other than her best friends, she was on high alert for people she knew. Tomoyo was the only one to accompany Sakura must to her dismay; if all the girls were there, people would be suspicious. A train was beginning to be heard from a distance getting louder and louder was it neared. Sakura knew this was the best way for her to deal with herself, and find out what she really wanted. She found that being alone was the best time she could really think. There were no words exchanged as they waited for the train. It was calm silence. Tomoyo had the gift to know when to speak and when not to. She just put her hand to Sakura's shoulder for comfort as the train pulled into the station.

"Well I guess this is good bye for now…." Sakura trailed off. She wasn't really sure how to feel at the predicament she was in. There were six months until her twenty-third birthday and then a week later was her wedding. Due to Yukito's high ranking in society, their wedding was the talk of the town. It was the biggest social event of the year. She only planned on being gone for three months and then continue with the wedding as if nothing happened. Looking back at Tomoyo, Sakura walked to the conductor handing him her ticket. She gave a big sigh as the conductor approved the ticket and boarded the train.

Sakura arrived at the Gare de Lyon in France. It was quite frightening at the train station. Although Sakura knew French fairly well due to her father's travels but she was very anxious to get to her new home and out of this unknown area. She had never been to this part of France before and was excited to look around. It was the beginning of rush hour at the train station and Sakura was getting more and more flustered by the minute.

"Oh why didn't we plan this out better," Sakura thought to herself looking desperately for any signs of where she was going. Tomoyo simply told her not to worry; a driver already aware of the situation was going to pick her up. People were knocking into her left and right as they tried to catch their respective trains. Sakura felt very strange out in the open but fine at the same time. No one was looking at her, it was a huge contrast to the stares she got back home. Then someone knocked her down. As she fell to the ground all of her belongings were scattered. As she scrambled to collect all her items, someone kicked her. Looking back to her left, there was a man on the ground very upset.

"I'm so sorry sir!" Sakura exclaimed to the man getting up. She offered her hand out for the man.

"Watch it!" the man exclaimed getting up from the ground without Sakura's help and ran hurriedly to his train.

"Well it looks like you're new here," a young man chuckled to Sakura.

Sakura turned her head around to the source of the voice. It was a young man that looked no older than Sakura and about a head taller than her. His strong physique showed in his faded jeans and green polo that made his eyes shine. He had light chestnut hair that shined in the lights of the train station and a set of wide green eyes.

"Well you better watch it here. That's how you get things stolen," the brown haired stranger showed a sense of amusement in his bright green eyes.

"And just who are you?" Sakura questioned acidly as she gathered the rest of her belongings, "Someone knocked me down and I dropped all my stuff."

" And I've luckily have not lost anything yet," she replied smugly looking through her belongings. He smirked at her as she looked.

"Wait, where is my money?" Sakura asked panicked looking through her wallet for her forty yen.

"See told ya. You need to watch it in the big town like this. Let me guess? You're from some teeny tiny town in Japan. It's your first time in the city and you're looking for some adventure?" The man questioned proudly. He saw girls just like her often when he was on his way to and from work.

"Far from the truth!" Sakura exclaimed, "I'm from Hong Kong. You know? The big city in China? I am perfectly fine of taking care of myself. I was simply just caught off guard. And for your information, I am not looking for adventure I am looking for life."

"Oh really? Life?" the man laughed with a smirk on his face.

"There is something…..missing in my life. And I decided to leave to find myself a little more…and….wait. Why am I telling you this?" Was Sakura really explaining all her problems to some stranger? She was really in deep trouble if she would do that.

"Because you think I am devilishly handsome," he proudly said winking at her.

"As if," Sakura scoffed.

"Excuse me. Could you be Ms. Fukui? I was told to pick you up," questioned a man in a nice suit.

"Oh yes I am. Thank you," Sakura replied surprised. She quickly gathered her suitcase along with some other bags.

"There is no need," the chauffer replied taking her bags.

"Thank you," Sakura replied. Once the chauffer left she turned to the green eyed man.

"Well I would like to say it was a pleasure getting to know you but then again no really."

As she was walking away the brown haired man reached out and grabbed her hand.

"Wait!" He said before looking down at his hand on her arm. Although he seemed like a confident man, he seemed to be in shock on how bold he was. He had a slight blush on his face as he looked into her deep chocolate eyes. Dark daring brown ovals to clear curious green circles. They were in a deep trance with one another, not daring to look away.

"I-I…um..er..what's is your name?" he asked embarrassed.

"I'm-It's um…." Sakura fumbled for her words. She knew this would happen. Tomoyo told her all the details of the trip, having an alias was the only part she had to remember. Everything else was really about her.

"Now all you have to remember Sakura is your name," Tomoyo explained giving Sakura all her documents, "All of your documents say Sakura Kinomoto but this slip says that you are Ayame Fukui." She said handing her a small piece of paper.

"Tomoyo….my name is Sakura?" Sakura questioned puzzled. Her best friend was weird at times but this is crazy.

"We need to change it. Just in case someone finds out who you are and contacts the press. It's for safety purposes only," Tomoyo said with a smile, "You're name is now Ayame. Ayame Fukui."

"Iris…..and fortunate….." Sakura said slowly.

"Yue would always call me his iris after the engagement. He always bought them for me. Irises are flowers that signify passion, purity and also a promise in love. Yue promised to always love me as a woman, a friend, and a lover." Tomoyo explained with a bit of sadness in her voice.

"Oh Tomoyo," Sakura cried giving her best friend a hug.

"It's alright. You are my best friend Sakura and practically my sister. You are a pure girl that has a fiery passion for everything in life. And you have Yukito who is promised to love you."

"Alright. My name is Ayame Fukui from now on," Sakura said proudly. Tomoyo laughed as they continued to pack.

"I'm Ayame. Ayame Fukui," Sakura said pulling her arm away, straightening herself up.

"Iris…..it's a lovely name," he replied in a trance. Noticing how he was acting, he began to blush furiously stuttering, "Well I mean you know. For a um you know a pretty-. It's Japanese right?"

Sakura laughed, "Yes it is and thank you.. You seemed so smooth at the beginning now you're all blushing. I'm surprised you know Japanese, how d-"

"Excuse me Miss Fukui, we must be going," said the driver.

"I apologize my driver is waiting for me. But what's your name since I graced you with mine?"

"It's Ace. Ace Chevalier."

"That means noble at birth….and knight, right?"

"Yeah and ironically I am around the bottom of the middle class and I have no idea how to use a sword," he laughed.

"Well then Ace Chevalier, goodbye," Sakura replied waving to him as she left.

Sakura sat in her car thinking about the strange guy she met at the train station for a while. But she casted it to the side thinking that she would never see him again. She was curious to look around where she is staying in France. Looking out the window, she saw Paris fly by. Paris really was a beautiful city. It was pretty amazing that this was even happening to her thought she had to admit, her life was not a normal one.