Sweet Deception

Witch-Mistress-Animaru

A/N: Loosely based on Japan's history, inspired by a fic I read here somewhere, but it's only the basis and beginning that's the same. The plot differs, somehow. This first offering includes the full summary and the cast of characters. The next chapter uploaded the same time as this default chapter is the prologue timeline narration about Sakura Kinomoto's ascendancy. Note that the real Taira Antoku (Li Syaoran in the story) was but a child when he became emperor due to his grandfather Taira Kiyomori. The Tairas and Minamotos used to be allies, but somehow they ended up as rivals when the Tairas rose to power. The Minamotos caused a revolt and won, thus the start of the rule of Shogunate in Japan. This was supposed to be uploaded yesterday but the document uploading feature of FFnet seems busted. Dang.

Background Information

Notable names in Japanese history, Heian Era:

Fujiwara – Counterpart of Kinomoto in this fic (I'll explain later)

Taira – Counterpart of Li in this fic

Minamoto – Eriol's clan in this fic

Notable Dates:

11th Century AD / 1000's – End of Fujiwara rule in Japan's Royal courts.

1156 – Minamotos and Tairas settle a dispute by military force.

1159-60 – Tairas win a war, causing them to be leaders.

1180 – Taira Antoku is made emperor of Japan by Taira Kiyomori

1180-1185 – Gempei War (Started by the Minamotos' Revolt), the end of Taira rule and start of Kamakura Shogunate.

Disclaimer: There will be deviations from Japanese history, as I told you it is only a loose basis for the story. Some things might not fit the era, though I will try and minimize those things. The story is different from the one which inspired me. I'd like to acknowledge it: Through a Looking Glass by Aisaki Sumi. There will be lines from modern songs and such that I used as the basis of the chapter. Some characters, like Fujitaka, will be OOC. The word usage will be as ancient as I could make it sound. And lastly, CCS isn't mine. I'm having last-minute thoughts if I should change Eriol's character to Kurogane's, but I don't think I should. The characters are purely fictional.

Characterization

Kinomoto Fujitaka – a seemingly harmless yet mysterious rich man residing in Heian (Modern Kyoto), then-center of political power in Japan. He gained Taira Kiyomori's trust when he saved the life of the latter in the war back in 1159 and 1160. He was a young man back then. Now 43 years of age and married to Amamiya Sonomi, Fujitaka comes forward to reap his decades-overdue reward. His wish is that his only daughter be married to Kiyomori's grandson and the next emperor of Japan, Li Syaoran. Unknown to anyone, he is the last surviving line of the disgraced Fujiwara clan, and this request is but a last desperate attempt to regain what his family lost a century ago.

Amamiya Sonomi and Amamiya Nadeshiko – the sister servants of the Kinomoto household, they come from a line of slaves-turned-servants from the Ainu tribe. Sonomi married her master, Kinomoto Fujitaka and bore his daughter Kinomoto Tomoyo. Nadeshiko is Sonomi's younger disgraced sister, who was raped by Minamoto soldiers in the 1159-1160 war. She bore a son a year later, Amamiya Touya, a boy destined to suffer his mother's neglect and indifference. After Tomoyo was born, Nadeshiko became Fujitaka's mistress. A year later Amamiya Sakura was born, destined to never be acknowledged by her father and be resented by her mother.

Amamiya Sakura – Neglected by her father and hated by her mother for being a girl, Sakura is considered more as a servant rather than a daughter of the Kinomoto household. She considers her half-sister Tomoyo her only friend and family since her brother ran away. When Tomoyo turned 18, and Sakura 16, Fujitaka announced his plans of marrying Tomoyo off. A few days after that, Sakura's sister ran away, leaving only a letter of request to her sister, asking a huge favor: For Sakura to marry Li Syaoran instead in her place. Early disillusionment and ambition hardened her resolve to do just as Tomoyo asked. Sakura refused to believe in love anymore; her parents never loved her, the opposite of that in fact, and love destroyed Tomoyo's chances of being the most powerful woman in all of Japan. Left with no choice, Fujitaka agrees to Sakura's suggestion to save face. Thus, Amamiya Sakura became Kinomoto Sakura, while the legitimate daughter of the house was disowned…

Kinomoto Tomoyo - An impulsive woman, acting upon her emotions and intuition rather than on logic, Tomoyo is the exact opposite of her sister. Whereas Sakura was cold, aloof and logical, Tomoyo is warm, friendly and emotional. Giving up her identity to follow her heart's yearnings, meek and obedient Tomoyo rebels and runs away to where her dearest was — the Minamoto Territory. For she has fallen in love with him at first glance: Minamoto Eriol stole her heart, there was no doubt about it. She dared to enter the Minamotos' servitude, changing her name to a common one — Daidouji Tomo…

Li Syaoran – Grandson of Taira Kiyomori and next emperor of Japan, Syaoran is Sakura's male counterpart — cold, aloof, domineering. They differ on one thing alone: Syaoran still believes in love, but he is more inclined to do his duty and marry the woman his grandfather chose for him. Besides, the one he loves is already tied to another —Meilin married Li Mamoru, his cousin, who was also considered to be emperor if he did not marry early. Setting aside his heart and choosing to be indifferent to the matter, Japan's next emperor has turned heartless…

Hiiragizawa Eriol – An orphan cared for by the Minamotos, Eriol is a samurai sworn to loyalty to the clan that nurtured him. A surrogate son of the head of the clan, his faith on the Minamotos is infallible. He tried, once, to negotiate with the Fujiwara's surviving son who refused to help them oust the Tairas. There he caught a glimpse of mesmerizing amethyst eyes — eyes that belong to a woman now married to the enemy. Driven by this belief, he continues to serve the Minamotos, hoping to one day claim Kinomoto Fujitaka's only daughter as his, not knowing that the one he yearns for is just around him…

Amamiya Touya – Sakura's half-brother who ran away when he was 15 to search for his Minamoto father, Touya found solace in the Minamoto Territory. He now serves as a samurai for the clan, risking his life as a spy for the clan he considers as his family. All things he did are directed to save his sister from further destruction in the household he left. He has a promise to keep, and he will do anything to keep it. Only, he learns of a devastating truth — that his sister was now among those he has to kill…for Sakura married Li Syaoran, and that alone sealed her fate, unless Touya did something about it…

Li Meilin – A lady of the court hailing from Guan Dong province in China, Meilin arrived in Japan a few years ago. She felt a strong attraction towards Li Syaoran, but due to unfortunate circumstances, she was forced to marry his cousin Mamoru instead. When he married someone else, she felt like she died. She recently had a clash with the new Empress's servant, a man whose face she has yet to see.

A/N: See the next installment for the prologue (A mere narration) which I uploaded at the same time as this default chapter and please review if you can!