Sakura the Mermaid Princess
Chapter 12:
In the bottom of the sea, the once happy Kinomoto kingdom was now covered with sadness. The merfolk missed their mermaid princess so much. They missed how her cheerfulness would light up their hearts every time she swam around the kingdom, her bubbly personality and her childishness. As soon as it was announced that Sakura was missing, everyone started looking all over the kingdom for her. She was the pride of their country and most important, the future bride to the powerful allied prince Daisuke.
"Did you find her?" King Fujitaka said urgently.
His son Touya just arrived at the great hall, looking distressed for not finding his little sister. Even his wife Kaho was with him, staying by his side, trying to comfort him for the lost little mermaid.
"I searched everywhere, even in Tomoyo's kingdom but I still couldn't find her. We are planning to expand our search over to the road of foaming whirlpools. Sakura may have got herself caught in it and is waiting to be rescued."
His father agreed, not waiting to think about the worst kind of predicament his beloved daughter was in because the road of whirlpools was one of most dangerous natural forces in the sea, so unpredictable that many mermen and mermaids caught inside would be crushed or tumble until they are spit out and landed to territories unknown.
With the plan decided, the king made up his mind which one of the mermen soldiers to select and let out a royal decree to depart to the road of foaming whirlpool.
King Fujitaka was now left alone, sitting on his throne, pondering how all of this could be happening.
"Damn it! Where the heck can she be? I just can't believe that my only daughter would run away from home. It's not like her."
"How did you expect her to take it, announcing a surprise engagement like that?" a voice answered, as the king looked upwards, only to find his beautiful queen, staying there, looking unpleasant.
"Excuse me dear wife, Sakura knows her role as a princess and that marrying a merman with a powerful connection to aid in flourishing our kingdom further is required."
"I understand but Sakura is still a child, you see how sweet and innocent she is. She doesn't have any experience with suitors because you forbid any merman to come near her. She has been sheltered and alone in the kingdom her whole life and doesn't know how to live on her own."
King Fujitaka can only sigh "It's just that those two got along so greatly. Daisuke is a good ruler and has great leadership. With him by Sakura's side, they will make our country great. He will make an excellent husband for her."
Exhausted with her husband ranting, Queen Nadeshiko started to head out of the throne room but the king stopped her in her tracks.
"I'm going to search for her." exclaimed the queen. "Maybe I can get Meilin to help. She did it once before."
"What did you just say? The sea witch Meilin. She knows our daughter's whereabouts and you knew this all this time?"
"No, I didn't. I just know that Sakura was transported to Meilin's realm. Most likely due to her emotional distress, which you know activates anyone to her domain, unwillingly or not. Sakura most likely made a wish when she arrived and is now paying the price for it."
"I can't believe that our daughter would want to wish for something since we provided her with everything she could ever want."
'There is one thing our daughter really wants. You and I once wanted the same thing but sadly you forgot how it feels.'
"All we can do now is to leave Sakura alone. She needs time to play out her wish wherever it lands. After all, I'm sure that she is somewhere safe and is well taken care of. You know Meilin's wishes have a timeframe and no harm will come to her until the price is paid in full."
"And that makes it all this worse, Sakura is vulnerable and alone. I made my decision, the mermen will still go to the road of whirlpool, Sakura must have been there since Meilin's house is located there. Once we know Sakura's location and the time of her wish wears off, the wedding will take place according to plan regardless of what may happen."
Sakura has only been on the surface for a month, but so far nothing seems to change.
Of course, Sakura learned more about the human world every day. She witnessed how people make their living and the different animals that roamed around the field and forest. These creatures are more different than the birds back home which are called fish here for some reason. She, like any other merfolk had her share of eating them for nourishment, but still felt sympathy when they were taken of the water, chopped into pieces and cooked in a strange light called fire. Nevertheless, Sakura needed to learn these customs if she was going to fit in. Well, she was still new to human culture. However, it seems that her friend Tomoyo was accustomed to it as if she lived in the human world her whole life.
Back home, Sakura would be too busy with her royal duties to be concerned about fitting in with merfolk subjects who always praised their love and devotion towards her whenever she passed by and in return, she too loved them. She wishes she could have given herself time to go and explore the sea floors more often and socialize with her subjects, but worry about it now won't help.
Even though she had kept her room and board by working at the palace as a maid, as well as Tomoyo's assistant, Sakura still wasn't close to the prince then she was on the first day she arrived. As a princess, Sakura knew how busy Syaoran's work would be, but he didn't seem to notice her presence whenever they counter each other by chance.
One-time Sakura spotted the prince heading towards the council room, surrounded by people who were holding loads of papers for him to sign and look over at. Along with piles of books that were needed for research purposes.
Sakura's new social status didn't allow her to cross paths with the prince whenever he had the time for himself. Although her legs took some time to adjust, Sakura still felt sharp pains coursing through her being, forcing herself to smile whenever a person nearby spotted her, afraid that her lack of stamina would be discovered and would be thrown out of the castle due to her incompetence.
The palace's garden has become Sakura's most favorite spot. She had her own back at home, especially these strange plants called cherry blossom trees, decorating the palace with its pink hue. Sometimes she will sit under it while making flower crowns, have her meals there and enjoy the feel of grass against her skin, while being masked with the warmth of the sunlight.
At night when no one was looking around, Sakura would go outside to the garden breathing the fresh air, grateful for its presence. It was quite different from living at the sea. She could see the stars twinkling in the fire lights in the night sky. She could feel the wind combing through her hair, and see the stars shining in heaven while the bright moon cast its brilliant silver light down the surface.
Days were passing by and Sakura would spend most of her work at Tomoyo's studio, helping out with dresses for the queen and the other noble ladies in the court to wear for upcoming engagements among tailoring and creating suits for the prince and his men.
While Sakura roams the castle to get supplies and materials for Tomoyo, she witnesses everyone rushing back-and-forth, and sometimes would be called for assistance. Sakura will help out with picking up flowers for arrangements, cleanups, picking up items from vendors at the nearby villages and do any other other odd errands.
What made Sakura feeling more downhearted was when she was tasked to write down list of people to invite for the prince's upcoming ball, mostly princesses and other suitable ladies from the neighborhood kingdoms and sending out the invites to the postman.
Thinking about how these princesses will have the opportunity to get close to the prince made Sakura feel inadequate. She knew that her the chance of love were slowly slipping away and the prince's only thought was the mermaid who saved him. Despite surveilling the prince whenever he was alone, he always look liked he was lost in thought whether is was exercising his physique or staring at the sea. Sakura got the feeling that Syaoran was still searching for her especially when she saw the intense look in his eyes. Like the prince wanted to passionately take the mermaid in her arms, devoured her and pronounce words of love to her which make her both thrilled and heartbreaking.
"I don't understand what you have been doing this past month?" exclaimed Tomoyo when Sakura returned to the designer studio, looking hopeless.
"You only have a few months left until time runs out. I know you can be reckless sometimes but this is a huge problem."
"Tomoyo, I know that you love me and are willing to be straight with me but trying to tell me how things are supposed to be and scolding me isn't helping."
Tomoyo sighed deeply. She knew that her friend was serious about gaining her a chance of love and was trying her best. It wasn't Sakura's fault that she wasn't inexperienced on the topic.
"Hey, why don't you place yourself in the prince's path? You shouldn't stalk him just because you want to know what he's up to, guys don't like that. Find out what he likes and ask him out."
"Hoe! The prince seems so busy and I don't want to be a burden."
Sakura's statements were starting to bother her. "Sweetie, I get what you're saying, but you don't have the luxury to pussyfoot around if you don't take action. You'll never know what he thinks about you if you just walk around, spying on him."
"I know."
'This is going to be harder than we thought.' Tomoyo thought as she placed her hands-on Sakura's shoulder, giving her a pitiful look while Sakura continued to look confused.