~*~Silence Of The Heart~*~

Chapter Two:

Sakura was hand scrubbing the wooden floor clean from top to bottom. She stops for a moment as she wipes off the sweat from her forehead. It was exhausting work. She had been doing this for the past hour, not to mention that she still has a long way to go.

Afterward, Sakura was finally done with the first half of the house, as she grabbed the soapy water bucket and moved on to the next.

As she went outside towards her destination, she spotted the cherry blossom tree that was fully in bloomed. She smiled, as it brought her delight in her heart.

It has been two years since she last saw them blooming like this when her life was completely different. When she last saw her father and brother.


Her Father, Fujitaka was the leader of the Japanese army as Touya was his second in command. Sakura couldn't understand why both of them love fighting so much since she will always worry herself every time they leave on their missions. Especially when they came back home with cuts and bruise.

News arrived from their allies in Jade, saying they needed help against Jarret. Many of their men were outnumber, mostly killed and wounded.

When they heard this, they started to get their stuff ready to leave on the next day.

The next day, Sakura was in front of the house to seeFujitaka and Touya off.

Sakura was in sad to see them go, but she put it aside and smile.

"Well, I guess this is where we have to say our goodbyes." said Fujitaka as he looks at Touya, nodding.

Sakura clenched her dress as she looks at her father. "Do you really have to go?"

"I'm sorry my cherry blossom but we have to." answered Fujitaka smiled.

Sakura sighed as she faced her head on the ground. Fujitaka knew his daughter well, knowing that this was upsetting her. He got from his horse, walking towards her, giving her a lovely hug. Sakura hugged him back as tears finally ran down her cheek as she cried.

"I promised we'll come right back as soon as we can." said Fujitaka as he looks at her.

Sakura nodded as wiped her tears away.

"Meanwhile, try to keep the house in one piece," said Touya, mocking her.

Sakura huffed but smiled. She will miss Touya so much.

A few weeks later, Yumi appeared in the front door. At first, Sakura thought that she was a peasant, looking for a job. But them, she showed her papers saying that she was her aunt from her Mother's side of the family and was sent by Fujitaka to watch over her until his return.

Before she knew it, Sakura was treated like the lowest servant. Sakura didn't understand why her father would send a cruel woman like her to watch over her but knowing her father there had to be a good reason.

However, it doesn't matter now. Sakura was happy since a message was delivered to the Kinomoto manor a few days ago from her father. It said that they won the battle in Jade and will be returning home. After a year of waiting and praying, she will see her family and everything will be just like before.


Later on, after a long day of cleaning, Sakura went to her room as she laid on her bed for a well deserve rest.

Suddenly she heard something. Sakura followed the sound until she found it coming from the servant's corridors. Sakura quickly opened the door, finding Tomoyo on her bed with her head on the bed.

"Tomoyo, what's wrong? Why are your eyes red and puffy? Have you been crying? Don't tell me that you and Kaho were..."

"No, it much worse than that" Tomoyo replied quickly.

"What do you mean?" she asked. What could be worse than her and Kaho been wiped by Yumi?

"I'm sorry but I can't say. I think you should go and see Mistress Yumi."

Sakura was surprised to hear her calling Yumi Mistress as she went over to Tomoyo, confronting her until she fell asleep and left the room.

Sakura deiced to meet Yumi.

"Don't bother me with nonsense, girl! Can't you see, I have important house affairs to deal with!" said Yumi commanding.

"By what right do you..."

"By every right!" said Yumi, cutting her off but took a deep breath for what she was about to say next. "As your only living relative, I have every right to take on authority here."

"What are you talking about?" asked Sakura, upsetting and confuse at the same time.

"I'm sorry to say this but Lord Fujitaka and Touya are dead."

Sakura felt her heart sank, wishing she was lying.

"They were attacked by the Jarret army on their way back. Thanks to your father, your brother was able to escape from the fight to get help from the army. Since your brother was badly wounded, he used the last bit of his strength to make it to the town where the army was. By the time they came, it was too late. All they found was your father's horse slaughter and a big pool of blood along with this... "

Yumi pulled a package from her back showing it to Sakura. Sakura carefully took it from Yumi'shand and opened it. Her eyes wide and watery as her eyes began to shimmer. It was a pair of glasses with a crack on the lens with blood on it. It wasn't just any pair of glasses but her father.

"No, it can't be," whispered Sakura as she fell hard on her knees. She couldn't believe it. No, she didn't want to believe it. First, her mother was gone and now, her father and brother. How much pain can she take in her heart? "Father...Brother...why?" as she began to cry, not showing Yumi her face.

Yumi got off her seat as she moves towards her, lifting her chin, smiling at Sakura's expression. Sakura looked at her, as her beautiful emerald eyes were now red and puffy.

"Don't worry your pretty little head, my dear. Since you are still too young and need a guardian, I will personally take you and raise you as my own child," she smirked.

"No!" Sakura responds. "I... I will have Yukito as my guardian! It was promised to me by my father and he will see to my needs."

Now Yumi was starting to loose her patience. "My girl, you don't have any say in the matter. Young girls like you don't have the right to chose their guardian. Besides, if what you say is true, your father would have left some papers behind. However, I'm here, there is no need for Yukito to be your guardian."

"Then I will speak to him and you nor anyone else can't stop me!" as she was about the leave until she felt Yumi's hand pinning her to the wall, crushing Sakura's hands.

"And how will you do that? You can't leave the manor without an escort and I will make sure you will never have one."

Sakura looked at Yumi with hatred in her eyes.

"Besides Yukito will have no reason to come here since he doesn't know that they are dead. "

Sakura gasped. "He doesn't know? Why was he not told about this?"

"I thought it is best to wait until you are engaged. There is no need to bothered a busy man like him with this kind matter. I am suitable to find a proper husband for you without any help."

"Husband? My father and brother just died and you want to have a wedding?"

"I know it's not a good time but you have no choice. Since you are the only one left in the Kinomoto bloodline, it's your duty to born an heir to this noble family but not to worry, I will choose a suitable husband for you."

"You chose? Never!" said Sakura as her voice rose furiously. "If I want to get marry, then I will choose my own husband! It was already promised to me by my father!"

"Don't be stupid! A girl your age shouldn't make an important judgment like this. The idea!"

"Then I won't get marry! I rather die then become a man's slave!"

"Is that so?" Yumi smiled as she let go of Sakura, causing her to fall on the cold hard floor.

"I'm sure your father would have disagreed with that tone of behavior. I should whip you for talking back to me like that... but since this is a sad day for all of us, I will let it slide this time. Now leave before I change my mind."

Sakura stood up, showing no emotion as she walked slowly out of Yumi's room, without saying a word.