Sakura the Mermaid Princess
Chapter 13:
Every night, Syaoran would sit by the windowsill and study the ocean. He observed the curl of each waves as it broke and crashed onto the shore, exploding into glittering white foam. His every thought whenever he looked at the sea was his mermaid.
Syaoran was unusually bothered, whenever he saw the mermaid either back in his memories or in his dreams, the feel of his mermaid pressing herself against him when she rescued him using the softness and smoothness of her hands and the smell of the sea that proved her existence, still lingered in his soul.
Once he even imagined that the girl he saved, Sakura, was a lovely resemblance to his mermaid with the same deep green expressive eyes that wanted to tell him something but can't. However, it was instantly dismissed when he witnesses Sakura scurrying around the castle, carrying bundle of blankets to change the palace's chambers bedding, acting so troubled that it became her regular facial expression whenever he passes her by. He saw how clumsy Sakura was with simple tasks and always found her looking depressed and struggling, like she was sheltered her whole life but she was also trying her best which he always admired in someone.
Nevertheless, his mermaid was perfect despite how easily embarrassed she got whenever they met and how her mysterious lore and voice can make him forget his troubles. The mermaid who wore her pink pearl hairpin that releases mystical phenomenal that not even the best writers in his kingdom can capture its description, her glistening pink scale on her tail that look like gems and her white translucent skin that can be easily conceal by the sea was the only being who occupies his every waken moment.
The next morning, Syaoran was called to the palace courtyard to have an audience with his mother to talk about a gathering with the other royalties they were allied with. As he waited for the outdoor tables and chairs to be set up, he spotted the girl Sakura clearing up the leaves and other kinds of debris that had fallen from the surrounding area. Afterwards Sakura was done sweeping, she headed towards the garden furniture space and pulled out the ironed table cloth and dishware that was set aside. She was about to start when she noticed the prince, staring at her.
Sakura froze but quickly gave out a friendly smile. She had to admit he looked quite dashing with his hair tumbled over his forehead.
"Good morning my prince, I'm sure you are waiting for her majesty to have your morning breakfast with. It won't take long; the cooks just finished preparing the food, I just need to quickly set up the silverware and I will be on my way."
"Do you always cleanup the gardens by yourself every morning?"
"Not really. I am usually inside the castle but the rest of the servants were so busy with making preparation for the upcoming congregation that I ended up with the duty of setting up the garden."
"I see. You seem to be enjoying yourself here despite being alone."
'With hope by my side, I am never alone.' Thought Sakura, giving herself encouragement.
"I can say that for yourself; I hardly see you having the time to enjoy the outdoors."
"I am a prince; I don't have the leisure to roam around the kingdom but sometimes I do."
"I am the same." Said Sakura "Back home, I always wanted to explore my kingdom but I was always confined by my father to stay indoors."
"I never thought you were so confided with overprotective parents too. I imagine you as a carefree person with no worries."
"Everyone has some kind of worries that keep one from achieving their own goals but standing around and doing nothing is like admitting defeat."
'I can relate to that; I still can't forget the night I met her but here I am, doing nothing to find her.' Syaoran thought to himself, a little envious that this girl is doing everything she can to make her dream come true.
"I recalled that you came here to complete your personal mission, if you don't mind telling me what it is, maybe I can assist you."
'Oh my.' Sakura thought as she felt her heart give a little thump from his words.
"There is no need, I have to do this on my own. Otherwise, it won't work and I won't be able to be happy and obtain the thing I want."
"I see. Don't you miss being back home?" asked Syaoran curious that a girl like Sakura would ever leave her home where she is obviously loved and well taken care off.
"Of course, I do but the love I have for my country, friends and family back home is always here with me, although I am far apart, it won't waiver my resolve." Said Sakura, giving out a fierce and strong look in her emerald eyes.
Shocked by Sakura for not backing down, Syaoran felt that her discourse was wise, someone who is clearly educated can conclude.
"To be honest, it is kind of refreshing being here." Sakura said as she notices Syaoran's perplexed look.
"Why is that?" asked Syaoran, curious.
"I like the feel of nature surrounding the castle especially in this time of day, it makes it look tranquil and reviving that I twirled around whenever I feel at ease." Sakura proclaimed as she instantly gave a quick demonstration of her dancing, not noticing her surroundings nor whom was watching. She felt like she was back in the ocean, free to move around without the weight of gravity and pain holding her back and harmonizing with her habitat without a care in the world.
When Sakura realize what she was doing, she stopped. She was taking up the prince's time with her silly statements and before she could see the expression on the prince's face, Sakura returned back to her task and made a quiet exit when she was done.
Syaoran was at awed, the strange emotion that Sakura had invoke on him with her little twirl just now was mesmerizing and graceful like something that came from a dream. Miss Sakura was elegant like a foam of bubbles. He knew that Sakura's dancing won't only attract him but by others who were lucky enough to witness it.
Still, the prince felt pity for her, being alone in a new kingdom and working so hard to keep her room and board. Even when he rescued her, the newness Sakura once had been mostly gone and replaced with time of weariness. However, it seems that she still held on to her kindness and gentleness trait that she displayed when she first arrived, when she tried to console him.
This pleased him.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting. I see that you kept yourself busy with miss Sakura."
In that instant, Queen Yelen strode in the garden parterre with impeccable and confident presence as she greeted her son and sat down at the prepared table, following Syaoran after.
"So, what do you think of Sakura's progress so far, my son?" asked Queen Yelen.
"That girl. From what I been told by the castle's head butler, she seems to be most helpful and capable despite being slow."
"I'm not surprised, that girl mentioned she came to this kingdom with a task to uphold but I haven't yet seen any progress or hints of what it is."
"They are somethings people tend to keep private." Syaoran pointed out as the servants began to place dishes of food in front of them. "Even with your trained eyes mother, the girl seems like she is hiding some oddities that doesn't concerns us. As long as she keeps up with her work, I don't see any harm of her roaming around the kingdom during her free time and do what she came here to do."
A bemused smile appeared on the queen's face. She never seen her son defending someone's privacy, let alone a girl with unknown origins. Normally, Queen Yelen would never allow anyone to work at her palace without references or experience in their belt. However, once she noticed the girl whom her son rescued displayed determination and motivation, the queen felt that having Sakura around with her natural traits would rub in her own son's sense of duty as a prince greatly.
"I need you to be more focused on your duties as a prince like what miss Sakura is doing with her own agenda. Anyway, the neighboring kingdom princesses and noble ladies are coming to the ball and it is the best time to extend and deepen more connections with their countries, maybe finding a bride amongst them."
Syaoran sighed. "Once again, you make me sound like a disappointment for not focusing on finding a bride."
"With your father off to check for signs of trouble in the realm, you as a prince it is your job to cover for any responsibility that your father, the king isn't available to do during his absents. It will someday be your job to protect the realm." Queen Yelen said severed.
"I already know that. I don't need a reminder."
"When one has great powers, it will at times attract great danger. I need you to be focus on your position more than usual especially around that girl you saved."
"Do you believe that miss Sakura is going to give the kingdom some sort of trouble, perhaps aide our enemies?" Syaoran asked, puzzled at his mother's statement.
Queen Yelen just stared at her son. "I have been told that powerful people are at works and are hiding amongst our allied countries. Rumors of your strange action would be a talk in the congregation and would be most likely be used against us."
"That girl doesn't look like she would give anyone trouble but I can see your point. Having a mysterious girl with no origin who showed up in the palace will certainly give off suspicious amongst the noble men and would take advantage of it to underestimate our sovereignty.
"I saw the way you looked at her, I see great potentials. Miss Sakura will do well with greeting our guests and attending to the princesses and the other royal ladies after a few lessons in royal etiquette." Queen Yelen stated as she was intrigued with Sakura's doing and having her close to the court would satisfy her curiosity.
Prince Syaoran nodded in agreement. Miss Sakura's appearance and impression did look like someone who came from a high noble status and playing the part as a lady in waiting wouldn't be too hard than the work she has been doing so far.
"You actually talked to the prince?!" Tomoyo squealed in excitement when Sakura returned back from the garden, her face flushing red.
"I don't know how I did it. One moment I'm greeting him and the next I'm dancing for him." Sakura said, feeling embarrassed.
"You must have been so layback, showing off your elegant moves. It must be your instincts as a mermaid kicking in, trying to attract your mate." Tomoyo pointed out, teasing her.
"Tomoyo, I know we are both half fish but I never thought of doing something so sneaky."
"Honestly, you finally got the chance to be alone with the prince for a mere minute and you ran off before he can say something. Perhaps he was entranced by your dancing, everyone back home always enjoyed watching you dance."
"It is different here. I never even thought of getting someone's attention before, let alone a man."
"Really? Aren't you overthinking it?"
"I am not trying to provoke anything. I feel that the prince is starting to question me being here and talking around it doesn't feel right. He would think I am lying to him." Said Sakura, feeling down.
"Sakura." Tomoyo exhaled as she examines Sakura carefully before looking her straight in the eyes. "Look at you! You are so cute, gentle and sweet. Anybody would be crazy not to fall for you. You are a high-class woman!"
Sakura didn't know what to say whenever Tomoyo acted like this but she knew she had good attention in her heart.
The sudden disappearance of the mermaid princess Sakura Kinomoto caused a great sensation and solicitude among prince Daisuke's subjects who admire him for his skills in battles, his powers, wisdom, social gathering with governing leaders that made up his kingdom and for his gentle and agreeable manners. Despite their concern for Daisuke's reputation, the noble merman was more concerned about the natural disasters that kept popping up around his domain.
Prince Daisuke roamed around his kingdom, surveilling his territory with his merman soldiers due to the natural disasters that started when the mermaid princess from Kinomoto kingdom went missing. Through his power, Daisuke knew that the cause of it was princess Sakura abandoning her father's decree that the ocean's god had told the king to carry out. Princess Sakura's aura alone seems to maintain peace between the sea creatures and tamed the weather phenomenon, it was like losing the princess caused them to be destructive.
Closing his eyes, Daisuke senses danger coming from one of the gates of his kingdom as he orders his mermen to attack the unknown entity. Meanwhile Daisuke headed the other direction, detecting a mass that was coming from the seafloor. The mass would be the ruined of the kingdom's fields of crops that his people needed to live off on. Daisuke briefly moved his fingers as the foreign mass became solid and turned into crystals. Daisuke picked up the crystals so he wouldn't danger his people harvest. The moment he touched them, they turned into dust and vapored.
More unknown disasters kept popping up around his kingdom and in the other allied merfolk domains. Daisuke's enhanced instincts detected all of it.
Ever since Daisuke turned into adulthood, his advisors told him that Sakura would be his mate since her raw abilities complement his perfectly. From that moment, he had dreamt of meeting Sakura, his attendant bride and witnessing her true character for himself. Her childlike innocence and miracles are like a breath of fresh air from him being restrained from ruling his country. It was like he didn't mind staying confined in his lonely castle as long as Sakura was there by his side. He wanted Sakura to let him express his feelings gradually before she made her final decision.
Daisuke knew how dangerous it was to bare his soul to the mermaid princess who he never met in person before but he could sense she needed a little faith. Despite the fact that he truly did want to marry Sakura, he also wanted her to be happy and felt secure in this arrangement. As safe as she could be with someone of his powers.
Suddenly, one of Daisuke's advisor swam over to the prince to relay a message, when the merman prince who was about to head out to aid the rest of his men with another weird incidents with the other sea monsters.
"Your majesty! word from the Kinomoto kingdom. Prince Touya and their soldiers are leading a charge to go the field of whirlpools. Rumors says that princess Sakura is being held captive by the sea witch Meilin and is forcing her to go through a dangerous trial to avoid the sea god's decree."
"The sea is always changing, always flowing but not everyone can't live like that. We all must pay a price in order to know what is waiting for something that might come. For princess Sakura, she must have a reason to leave. However, I am concern for her safety so I order you to send the most available soldiers to accompany prince Touya's troop for backup."
"But my prince! That princess clearly rejected you, it is not worth wasting your precious resources on someone who clearly doesn't want to be with you."
A premonition that is on Daisuke's mind made his heart races just like the one he saw in his dreams. Regardless, Daisuke put on an expression that was more serious than usual as he watches the rest of his men from afar and put up a strong front.
"The currents around that area are hard to resist even with the strongest and capable mermen. They would be pull off in different directions and pummeled to their deaths. We can't let an allied kingdom get ravage because of personal differences. Beside I know the Kinomoto princess, she is not like that and would be sadden if anything happens to her people because of her behalf."
"If that is what you wish, I will abide." Said the advisor as he swam quietly back to the castle.
When Daisuke first laid his eyes on princess Sakura, he already knew she would be in grave danger and it would take place in the near future. His scales began to change into a deep red that indicated how upset he was that his future wife was gone, mostly how much pain Sakura would be in when her journey will hit its great peril.