Sakura The Mermaid Princess
Chapter 5:
Even after Sakura's dance with Daisuke was over and the thrilled of the dance wore off, Sakura tried to enjoy herself for Tomoyo's sakes but it was no use. Sakura was about to leave to go to her room when someone tap her shoulder, Sakura turned around and found out it was Daisuke, looking concern.
"Are you feeling okay Princess?" asked Daisuke.
"Yes! I am fine, don't worry about it." answered Sakura while smiling to hide her uneasiness.
"You don't need to smile for me you know. Isn't that what you told me a while ago?" Daisuke pointed out which made Sakura feel ashamed of not taking her own advice.
"I didn't want to bring it up but you do look strange, is the sound of festivities is giving you a headache or something? you don't look well."
Sakura slowly shook her head as to not disturb the other guests.
"I am doing okay that doesn't affect my health. I am happy that everyone is having a good time but I think I need a break. However, I don't want to be rude and leave my own birthday party." said Sakura
"You don't have to leave your own party you know." Said Daisuke sounding assured.
"What do you mean?" asked Sakura looking confused.
"I have an idea. Why don't you dance with me one more time? That way you can keep up with the appearance of having fun and while the music keeps playing, we can slowly make our way outside to the courtyard. You can take your break there and I can leave you alone without the rest of the guests knowing. You can return back to the party when you are feeling better and can really participate on the festivities."
Sakura was at awed. Such a thought never came across her mind.
"That sounds like an excellent idea! Thank you, Daisuke!" exclaimed Sakura displaying a genuine smile on her face.
"It was nothing princess." said Daisuke with a small blush on his face.
"Since we're friends, call me Sakura okay?" asked Sakura.
"Okay, Sakura." answered Daisuke with a gentle smile on his face.
Without them knowing King Fujitaka and Queen Nadeshiko were looking at Sakura and Daisuke while talking with each other quietly.
"See, I told you that they would get along just fine." said King Fujitaka proudly.
"I see that but Sakura doesn't know that he is a prince." said Queen Nadeshiko with a worried tone.
"Don't worry honey, it is just a small detail. Look at them, they seem happy together." said King Fujitaka as he left to talk with the other important guests.
"Yes, they are happy with each other dear, but Sakura only sees him as a friend for she is already in love with some else who is not of this world" said Queen Nadeshiko to herself as she watches the pair starting to dance again.
Prince Syaoran Li was outside of the palace looking straight at the sea with a sad expression, thinking about the girl who saved his life. He couldn't understand how anyone could be so strong to fight against the currents and have the stamina to swim all night before finding land. And to be a girl no less since his mother was the only woman besides the old mother and the little girl to be on board before the ship sunk.
The mysterious girl was still in his mind and he couldn't help sit still even after the doctors did a full checkup and was given the okay to move around but with caution.
The uncertainty of his savior weighted heavily on his shoulders.
Suddenly a boy who was the same age as Syaoran appeared, wearing a plain black coat with black pants, looking annoyed since it was a windy night and cold no less.
"Eriol, what are you doing here?" asked Syaoran surprisingly as he looks that the boy with the neat sapphire hair and glasses.
"I was going to ask you the same thing."
"I just wanted to see the ocean." said Syaoran with a serious tone.
"Does it have to do with the "beautiful girl" who "rescued" you from the shipwreck." said Eriol sarcastically.
"Shut up! I am telling you that she was real and I am going to find her!" said Syaoran with a determent tone and look on his face.
"How do you know that she wasn't just a figure of your imagination?" asked Eriol as he was trying to provoke Syaoran's point.
"I know how it sounds like but I felt that girl's hands when she was holding my right hand with that beautiful smile and those beautiful emerald eyes of hers." said Syaoran
"Well then, if you are that serious, I am not going to stop you." said Eriol as he sighed. "However, do you have any idea where to start looking?"
"Well, I was thinking that if I wait by the beach where the girl took me, maybe she will come back." answered Syaoran.
"And then what?" asked Eriol.
"I am going to ask her for her name and take her to meet Mother."
"What?!, You just met that girl this morning and you are going to take her to meet the Queen!?" asked Eriol with a surprise tone.
"Yes, that way I can get to know her better." answered Syaoran calmly as the wind blew gentle leaving silence between the two of them.
At the party, everyone was having fun even Sakura, who returned after taking half an hour to herself. Thanks to Daisuke, nobody seems to noticed her missing which made Sakura a lot cuter.
'I am glad that Sakura is enjoying herself now.' thought Daisuke as he gave himself a small nodded but when he saw Sakura, his heart began to race.
As Sakura was having fun, she spotted Daisuke and went up to him.
"Daisuke! Are you alright? You don't seem like yourself." asked Sakura with a worried look.
"Yes, I am fine!" answered Daisuke.
"But your face is red!" said Sakura as she went close to him. "Your face seems hot; I think you are running a fever." said Sakura as she placed her hand gentle on his forehead, looking concern.
"No! I am totally fine! I think I will go outside!" said Daisuke as he blushed even more and swam fast towards outside to the courtyard.
"Sakura, are you okay?" asked someone with a worried tone suddenly as it tapped Sakura's shoulder.
"I'm okay Tomoyo, I am just confused." said Sakura with an unsurprised tone and look as she turned to look at her friend.
"What do you mean?" asked Tomoyo.
"Just now, I went to check on Daisuke and suddenly he swam off like that."
Tomoyo looked at the merman who swam off. She giggled a bit as she gave herself a small amused smile.
"Oh my, that guy must be pretty heated. This is getting interesting!"
"I don't know what you mean by that but as long as he is not sick, I guess me leaving him to himself should be fine." Sakura said as she was confused by Tomoyo's small remark but decided it was just Tomoyo being herself as usual.
At the courtyard, Daisuke was pacing around, trying to wrapped his head around about the scene that just happened.
"Why do I embarrassed when I see her? I just met her!"thought Daisuke as he saw the flowers that was in his presence. The spot Daisuke choose to take a break was where the statue of princess Sakura was located. The sight of the mermaid princess has Daisuke a sense of peace he hasn't felt for a long time. Specially she was the mermaid who complement him perfectly.
"What is wrong with me?" said Daisuke to himself, thinking that Sakura wouldn't even understand the situation.
"So, I take it you met my daughter." said Queen Nadeshiko as she approached to Daisuke.
"Yes, I have." said Daisuke as he looks at Queen Nadeshiko and he bowed at her presence.
"So, what do you think about her?" asked Queen Nadeshiko.
"I think she is a very nice person. I never met anyone like her who was so honest and sweet." said Daisuke.
"I see." said Queen Nadeshiko calmly "I wanted to ask you if you don't mention to Sakura anything about our arrange meeting yet or she would..." said Queen Nadeshiko with a worried tone and look.
"I know." said Daisuke with the same worried tone and look on his face.
Daisuke and Queen Nadeshiko look at each other with serious looks without saying a word.
"Come on Sakura, your father said he wanted to see you" said Tomoyo as she took Sakura's hand and gently pull her towards Sakura's Father.
"I wonder what Father wants to see me about? Does it has to do with the person whom I have to meet tonight?" thought Sakura as she was deep in thought that she didn't notice that she was already facing her Father.
"Sakura, are you enjoying your birthday?" asked King Fujitaka.
"Yes Father! I am having a great time thanks to everyone!" said Sakura with a cheery tone.
"I am so happy for you Sakura" said King Fujitaka with a small smile on his face. "Sakura, there is something important I need to talk to you about."
"What is it father?" asked Sakura as she was thinking about what her Father and Mother said last night.
Suddenly Queen Nadeshiko appeared with a smile on her face which surprise Sakura and King Fujitaka.
"So dear, I see that you haven't given her gift yet." said Queen Nadeshiko.
"You know I can't give it to her until you arrive." said King Fujitaka with a little upset tone.
"Well, since everyone is here now, why don't we get it started?" asked Queen Nadeshiko with an even bigger smile that she wasn't bothered with her husband upset tone
"But I was going to tell Sakura about the thing." whispered King Fujitaka to his wife.
"That can wait till later dear but we have to do this first, okay?" whispered Queen Nadeshiko, pressing her statement.
"Fine! sometime I just don't understand you." said King Fujitaka to his wife as Sakura watched them with a confuse look on her face.
"Everyone, your attention please!" said King Fujitaka loudly as everyone stop talking and look at the king.
"I like to say that I am so glad that my only daughter Sakura is all grown up and now it is the time to give her this." as King Fujitaka opening a beautiful white shell with pink cherry blossoms marking, showing a beautiful pearl hairpin that look like a flower with five white petals and a big shiny pink pearl in the middle.
"This is..." said Sakura surprisingly as she saw the hairpin.
"This beautiful pearl hairpin has been passed down to my family from generation. This is a symbol of Sakura's coming of age." said King Fujitaka as he gently placed the pearl hairpin on Sakura's very long wavy honey color hair with pride as she was fixing it.
"May this bring you good luck and bring credit to the Kinomoto kingdom where ever you go." said King Fujitaka proudly
"I will like to give my thanks to everyone for coming to my birthday party and I will do my best for our kingdom and will do my best to make everyone proud. This is not just a matter of appearance just because I am now of age but because I want to aid the rest of our domain to continue to flourish regardless how powerless I am right now. However, I will do my very best to get strong not just for me but for everyone." said Sakura loudly and with a happy cheery voice.
Everyone clapped especially Tomoyo and Daisuke who had clapped the loudest. The party was finished soon after and everyone went home except Tomoyo, who was planning to stay for the night and leave in the next day.
Daisuke gave Sakura a finally look before he left, hoping the next time they meet would go as pleasant as this one.
As Sakura was getting ready to bed, she went to the mirror and saw her own reflection and smile proudly as she saw her pearl pin on her hair.
"This hairpin is the most valued treasure thing I own. I hope I can wear this proudly."