In the Arms of an Angel
Author's note:
Konnichiwa minna-san! This fanfic is some kind of a
prolouge to I Could Not Ask for More although this story
can also be independent. But I advise you to read this
first.
Many thanks to Heather for urging me to write fanfics and
draw fanarts. She really rocks you know.
How I wish that I am one of the four ladies of Clamp that
pioneered CCS, but sadly, I will just go on dreaming. The
characters are owned by them, so please don't sue me. I got
the title from Sara McLachlan's very beautiful song. I play
this song everytime I write this fic.
If you have any comments or suggestions, I'm very grateful
to know them so please e-mail me. I dedicate this fic to my
girl...more than ever.
Bon appetit!
* * *
Daidouji Sonomi was biting her lip as she willed her
Carrera Targa forward, the Porsche's engine seemed thrilled
as she went faster than a hundred kilometers. If she could
force the car to fly then she could've done it already. She
was not an impatient woman, and they say patience is a
virtue. Well now it isn't! Sonomi scoffed angrily. Hours of
flight from the other side of the world and four hours of
sleep had given her a whacking headache. She stole a glance
to the overhead mirror and saw a wretched woman in a
wrinkled Chanel suit and askew tie. Darn it, she hadn't
even mustered to comb her short auburn hair. She had been
in a hurry, left her three-year old daughter with her
governess in their hotel suite, and dash immediately after
a nerve-wracking phone call. She looked at her diamond-
studded watch. Half-past four in the morning. Another turn
and her eyes automatically looked upward, past the tinted
glass roof of the Porsche. Dawn would be in a long moment
later on. The stars had not yet disappeared. But she would
be driving in this road at any given time despite any given
circumstances that heaven preordained.
The road was now snaking its way up to the lush green
hills, and she can already see the family's summer
residence. Her grandfather's retreat. The muscles of
Sonomi's jaw began to tighten at the sight. Memories
automatically poured by. Suddenly, she was sixteen again,
transported to a time that had long since passed by but the
memory was still fresh on her mind, still intact.
She remembered the rest house clearly as if it had been
one lucid summer morning seven years ago. It was a
magnificent mansion in Gregorian architecture, perched on
the granite sides of the lush hills. On a lovely, warm
summer, the grandeur of the house was seen more vividly. It
resembled a formidable giant ready to leap from the stone
cliffs. It was a vision to behold. It stood aloof but
magnificent with a crown of great fluffy clouds on its
roofs amidst a clear blue sky.
This sight always thrilled her and her cousin whenever
they came to visit and spend their summer holidays here.
From their car's window, they would both stare at the house
with excited eyes and exhuberant hearts as their Grandpa's
chauffer maneuvers the black vintage, whitewall-tired
Rolls-Royce through the mountain road.
"Look, Sonomi-chan! There it is at last!" Amamiya
Nadeshiko shrieked with glee as the Rolls made the turn,
the house peeking into view behind pine trees. Still
uncontented, Nadeshiko opened the car's window and stick
out her head. The wind immediately played havoc with her
long, dark hair as she watch their ascent to the hills. She
inhaled, savoring the fresh air. She can't wait to leave
the congesting air of the city behind and spend her summer
up here, with Sonomi, of course. "Isn't it grand, Sonomi-
chan?"
The girl with the short, slant hairstyle nodded. She's a
pretty young woman with intelligent purple eyes and
patrician features, so starkly contrasting Nadeshiko's
chaste and angelic beauty. But she, unlike Nadeshiko, was
not hanging her head from the car's window. She simply sat
there in the backseat, contentedly admiring her energetic
but fragile cousin. She loved the image Nadeshiko gives as
her cousin knelt on the seat and let the wind toyed her
hair in wild disarray, the sunlight intensifying even more
Nadeshiko's olive-green eyes and ivory complexion. "Hai,
right you are, darling," she said after a moment. "But
please, don't hang your head and do sit properly before a
truck pass as by. You will be lucky to spend your summer
with your head torn off."
Nadeshiko pouted. Sonomi was still overprotective of her
as always, but something that was reassuring and not
suffocating. It makes her feel certainly special to be
treated and pampered by Sonomi like this. She sweatdropped
and embarrassingly scratched her head. "But Sonomi-chan..."
she smiled mischievously but followed nonetheless, and
settled herself next to her cousin in the backseat.
"There, there. Be a good girl now, will you?" Sonomi
sniggered and patted Nadeshiko like a kitty.
Soon, all of the signposts of civilization vanished and
the car was swallowed by the wilderness of spectacular
beauty. This is Amamiya land, preserved untouched by the
progress if the city. It is hundreds of hectares of
woodlands and meadows, crisscrossed by hunting trails and
bordered by two private brooks. The summer residence had
always been dear to Sonomi because all of the memories of
their childhood.
Moments later, the black vintage car screeched to a stop
in front of the mansion. The two heiresses already knew
that their grandfather is here, probably in his study-
library and waiting for them. Nadeshiko eagerly bolted out
and ran immediately towards the house. She literally leapt
and made a dash inside, ignoring the courteous greetings of
the house staff.
"Grandpa! I'm so glad to see you again!" she exclaimed
gaily when she found him in his study sitting behind a
massive pinewood desk and busily reading some doucuments.
Her ouji-sama put them down and she kissed him tenderly on
his forehead. She could smell the scent of tobacco and
peppermint in him. Oh, its really nice to be back.
"Okaeri, Nadeshiko hime-sama," the old man chided gently.
I'm so glad to see you too." Her lovely granddaughter
frowned.
"I'm not a princess, Grandpa."
The old man tickled Nadeshiko's cheek. "But you are to
me."
The young lady giggled again.
"Tadaima, Ouji-sama!"
The patriarch of the Amamiya family looked up and saw his
other favorite granddaughter smiling at him from the door.
Unlike Nadeshiko who was always carefree and intense,
Sonomi is reserved and liked being in control. Yet he loved
them both immensely. They were the greatest happiness of
his life. "Irrashai-mase, Sonomi. What are you doing there?
Come and give your old man a hug," he said and opened his
arms widely.
Sonomi bounced happily towards her grandfather and
embrace him around his neck, then gave him a peck on the
cheek., his beard giving him the tickles. "You look great,
Grandpa.
"And so are you, Sonomi."
Nadeshiko suddenly poked her grandfather's side. "Ne,
Ouji-sama, do you know that Sonomi-chan championed our
athletics again? She was so good that all of our classmates
were cheering for her. You should've seen her dash. She's
like a bullet, Grandpa!"
Sonomi blushed ferociously. Why does it feel this mushy
evertytime she hears her beloved cousin mouthed praises out
of those lips? But somehow, she had already known the
answer since they were only ten. And now that they are
sixteen already, that feeling hadn't changed a bit. She
noticed that it had even evolved into something far
stronger, deeper, and more intense. What idiot could resist
Nadeshiko's charm? She wiggled her toes, feeling the warmth
travel from her face downward. She scratched the back of
her head. "Uhm... its not like that, Nadeshiko-chan. I just
got a bit lucky, you know."
"Lucky?" Nadeshiko scoffed. "You call that lucky, making
Kumi-chan and the others eat dust? She told me afterwards
that her breath was up to her neck and she would never race
you again lest she wanted to land in a hospital ward with
some defibrillators. Uh-un, you aren't. You really are the
best of them all! Isn't it, Grandpa?"
The old man nodded, clearly amused. Who wants to argue
with Nadeshiko? "I think so too, yes."
The ivory-skinned girl grinned and her jade eyes roamed
to Sonomi that read 'See? I told you so.'
Their grandfather stood up and brought them to the door.
"So now, both of you must rest and freshen yourselves,
alright? And afterwards you could start whatever
pleasurable activity you're planning to do. Did you have
breakfast, by the way?"
Sonomi shook her head. "Actually, we didn't. We're so
eager to be here we had no time to eat. I'm famished
already."
Nadeshiko suddenly clasped her hands. "I know what we
have to do, Sonomi-chan! Why don't we reign in our horses,
pack a hamper and have breakfast in the meadows? Surely by
now the flowers are in full bloom. Say it's a lovely idea,
please, Sonomi-chan!" she exclaimed with glee.
Nadeshiko's enthusiasm was so infectious, Sonomi thought.
"Alright, Nadeshiko-chan. Riding with you and having
breakfasts in the meadow is very lovely indeed."
"Sugoi!" Nadeshiko brightened up. I'll go to the kitchens
now and make the chef rummage something. Then, I'll change
to my riding suit. Wait for me by the threshold, ne,
Sonomi-chan?"
Sonomi nodded.
Her cousin took off like a shot.
When Sonomi prepared to leave, she felt her grandfather's
hand on her shoulder. She was surprise to see the old man's
eyes in mist.
"She's an angel, isn't she?" the old man asked softly.
She nodded. "Hai, Ouji-sama."
The old man sighed. Sonomi can sense the happiness in her
grandfather just by watching him gaze at his favorite
grandchild. Yet, she does not feel any jealousy towards her
cousin. All the members of the family love Nadeshiko and
its just a simple fact. The vivacious, dark-haired girl had
been their pride, their jewel, the star of the Amamiya
family. And she was thinking that somehow she had served an
important role in Nadeshiko's life. For their family's own
princess, she had been the knight. The proud samurai always
ready to defend her ladyship. And she had promised to
fulfill her role dutifully.
The present Sonomi gritted her teeth angrily as she turn
the steering wheel. She hadn't stick to her promise. She
had abandoned her duty, had been a coward herself. She had
lost once, and today, she had been destined to lose again.
* * *
Sonomi was in every inch the fine noblewoman with her white
silk riding shirt matched with a black cravat around her
neck. As she stood patiently waiting under the sun in the
front lawn, the wind played messily with the strands of her
short auburn hair, the sun accentuating its golden
highlights. Her black skin-tight riding breeches fully
complimenting the shape of her hips and legs, paired with
handcrafted English boots. She easily drew admiring stares
from the house staff, but her charming smile quickly put
them at ease. It was a ladylike, authoritative look that
Sonomi can emit which was the product of regal upbringing
and not of any forced effort at all.
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