Panny-chan: I just had to fix the names and grammar in this story. IT WAS DRIVING ME INSANE! Anyway. I hope you like this version better. And please help me with the challenge (see next chappy listed). Thanks!



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Kinomoto Sakura, Li Syaoran, Yue (Tsukishiro Yukito), Keroberos, Daidouji Tomoyo, Hiiragizawa Eriol, Spinner Sun, and Ruby Moon (Hiiragizawa Nakuru) all ran towards the evil monster now trying to take over the world. Kero and Spinner (A/N: I don't know what his Japanese name is, if you do please e-mail me @ inugrl3004@yahoo.com) took their true forms, Sakura used the Fly Card, Eriol used his magic, Syaoran and Tomoyo got on Kero's back as they all took to flight. A large dark creature that looked like a panther flew before them. Sakura pulled out the Windy Card and prepared her magic. Syaoran got his sword ready and Eriol prepared his staff. The creature opened its mouth and black smog surrounded everyone. They covered their faces but they still breathed in the smog, it slowly put them all to sleep...



"Sakura-chan, time to wake up... Princess! Wake up!" Tomoyo yelled. Princess Kinomoto Sakura rubbed her eyes. 'What a strange dream, I know that none of that could ever happen...but it seemed so real. Well, father will want to see me for breakfast soon,' she thought. Daidouji Tomoyo, Sakura's best friend and lady-in-waiting, helped her dress in a sky blue velvet dress. Sakura tied back her long auburn hair. Her hair and big green eyes came from her mother, who died when she was three. Her mother was an angel sent to earth, or that is what her father always said.

"You probably can't wait for your big sixteenth birthday party tonight. It's to be the social event of the year... Your father told me that you are to pick a husband tonight. Do you think Mr. Right will be here? I wish I could marry the one I love..." Tomoyo said as they walked into the dinning room. King Kinomoto Fujitaka, Prince Kinomoto Touya, and Lord Tsukishiro Yukito stood as they entered. Sakura and Tomoyo took their seats. Over breakfast the men talked of politics and the ladies talked of what they were going to wear to the ball.

"Oh, please Sakura-chan, wear that gown that I made for you. It would mean so much to me and you will be the loveliest woman at the ball," Tomoyo pleaded.

"Oh, all right, but only because it's my color," Sakura sighed. A messenger rushed into the room.

"Your highness, a message from the Kingdom of China. Prince Li Syaoran wants to set up an alliance, and will be coming to tonight's ball. His mother, Queen Li Yulan, will be coming as well," the messenger said.

"Well now, this is good news. Prince Syaoran is a good alliance with England and us. Prince Eriol and his sister, Princess Nakuru, will be coming as well. So Touya, please don't try and beat him up like you did last time he visited," Fujitaka said. Touya sighed.

"But father... that boy is so.... -" Touya started.

"Smart?" Sakura supplied.

"Snooty?" Yukito helped.

"Eccentric?" Tomoyo said.

"That's it! Eccentric, that boy is odd. And anyways, he was back talking me," Touya complained.

"No back talking me, young man," Fujitaka said. Touya nodded, but seethed inside. "Anyway, Queen Mackenzie (A/N: If you know her name in Japanese please e-mail me) says that if our children marry, namely Sakura and Eriol, then our alliance will be stronger than any force out there," Fujitaka said.

"Daddy! I don't want to marry Eriol! We are friends and I could never do anything such as marry without love!" Sakura said, tears forming in her eyes.

"I know, baby, that is why I've set up the ball for tonight," Fujitaka explained, "you see, I want you to find someone you can love. The ball will go on for a week, since we are also celebrating The Cherry Blossom Festival here this year."

"Okay, daddy," Sakura agreed. She stood, "I will take my leave now. I would like to be alone, please Tomoyo." She nodded.

Sakura left the room and headed to the sakura garden, for the cherry blossom trees that she was named after. She sat under a tree and began to cry softly. A shadow fell upon her, without her knowing.

"Why does such a fair maiden cry?" A deep, but soothing, voice asked. Sakura looked up to come face to face with a very handsome young man. He had chestnut brown hair and similar eyes. He looked very caring.

"My father wishes me to marry for an alliance, when I want to marry for love, for that is why I cry," she said simply and sadly. The young man kneeled in front of her.

"Angels should not cry," he said smiling weakly, "my mother is forcing me to marry for the same reasons. For what is your name, fair maiden?"

"My name is Kinomoto Sakura, I am princess of this castle," she said.

"Sakura? That means cherry blossom, if I'm not correct. My name is Li Syaoran, it means little wolf," he said.

"It suites you, you have a sword at your side, which tells me that you are a fighter. Which means that you are either a knight, and I can tell is not true due to your clothes, or royalty, and that must be," Sakura said smiling. Syaoran smiled back and sat next to her. "Are you here for the week long celebration, Prince Syaoran?"

"Yes, and is it not your birthday today, Princess Sakura?"

"Yes, and please, call me Sakura."

"And you may call me Syaoran," he said before taking her hand and kissing it. She blushed lightly.

"So, how did you get into the castle without all the commotion?"

"I rode ahead of everyone, they should be here before night fall. My four older sisters and my mother take forever just to pack a few dresses, it's ridiculous."

"Yes, I don't care as long as I'm comfortable-"

"And can move? Hai, I know how you feel."

"Well, I must go. Lessons await, thank you for talking with me and cheering me up, Syaoran," she said standing. She kneeled down again and kissed his cheek. She walked away, but not before saying, "This week shall be fun with you here, see you here at lunch time?"

He only nodded; he was blushing terribly, and was afraid that if he spoke he would only stutter. Sakura giggled and walked away. 'Wow,' he thought, 'she's so...beautiful and smart and..... simply Sakura. What is this feeling? My pulse has never raced this fast, except for when I go running, but I am sitting still. Sakura.... I will never forget her... never. I wonder what she thinks of me...'

'Whoa! He's so cute! And smart... and dreamy.... Syaoran. I hope he liked me, and I hope he courts me to the ball tonight...' Sakura thought as she headed to her lessons.



The day went by too slowly for Sakura and Syaoran. They wanted to see each other again. At lunch Sakura told her servant that she wished to eat in the garden and for Prince Syaoran to join her and no others. She nodded and left her princess. Sakura walked into the garden and sat at a table that was set up.

Then she saw a beautiful golden cat, the size of a tiger, and it was limping. She walked up to the great beast. She approached carefully, but it did not seem to mind her presence. She kneeled in front of it and inspected its paw. A giant thorn was imbedded in its paw.

"Stay here, I have something to ease the pain, okay?" It grunted a response and lay down on the ground. She rushed to her room and got her antibiotics kit. It had everything she needed for the job. She came back to the great beast. She took out the thorn first. She put rubbing alcohol on the wound, the beast roared at the pain.

"I know it hurts, but this will stop it from getting worse, okay?" The beast nodded. She then wrapped it's foot.

"Now... what to call you? You need a name..."

"How about Keroberos? The great guardian beast," Syaoran said from behind her. Sakura turned and smiled.

"It's perfect! What do you think, Kero?" Kero purred in acceptance. Sakura smiled and hugged the great beast. Then she turned to Syaoran, "Thank you for the name." She kissed his cheek. Kero growled and tackled Syaoran to the ground. Sakura giggled. "It's okay Kero, I was just giving him a kiss." Kero got off Syaoran and rubbed against Sakura. Syaoran snorted.

"It seems that Kero does not like me, and I came up with the name." Sakura kissed his cheek again.

"He just has to warm up to you, and thank you for the name." Syaoran smiled in victory, and blushed from the kiss.

"Princess, your lunch is served. Would you like me to bring your lunch out as well, Prince Syaoran? And some meat for this animal?" Sakura nodded, as did Syaoran. Kero purred and followed the maid to his food. Sakura sat down and Syaoran sat across from her. His food arrived shortly afterwards. They ate in silence and afterwards told each other of their lives so far. Syaoran was a seventeen-year-old prince that had to find a bride by his eighteenth birthday, who loved to fight with swords, and go mountain climbing, he was also a very good cook. Sakura was a now sixteen year old princess that loved to sing, was just learning to cook, loved watching fencing matches, and loved to jog. Syaoran and Sakura had fallen in love and everyone that saw them after lunch knew it from their faces.

Kero lay on Sakura's bed as Tomoyo helped her dress. It was almost time for the party. Earlier Syaoran had asked if her could court her to the party and she agreed. Tomoyo tidied up Sakura's hair in a beautiful French twist. Kero purred at her when she was done.

"Tomoyo can I watch you get ready then head off together?" Tomoyo nodded. They left Kero in her room and went to Tomoyo's room. Sakura watched as Chiharu, Tomoyo's lady-in-waiting, helped Tomoyo get ready. When she was done the two headed off to the ballroom. Syaoran stood waiting with Touya and Yukito when they saw the two girls. Syaoran kissed Sakura's hand and offered his arm. Sakura smiled and took it and they went in with Tomoyo. Touya was steaming; he didn't like this Syaoran boy. And because he didn't know that Sakura and this boy liked each other.

Yukito put his hand on Touya's shoulder. Touya turned to him and smiled. Since no one was there Touya kissed Yukito on the lips, and Yukito kissed back. Their love was hidden from everyone, a gay couple was not allowed in this time. Touya wished he could tell his father, but he would probably disown him. He could tell his sister, she always kept secrets, but he didn't want to burden her with this secret. One time she had almost walked in on the two making out, but luckily for them she knocked first. Touya loved his baby sister; she was so much like their mother it was uncanny.

Touya broke the kiss and walked into the room. Yukito followed soon after, he had to calm his heart first. Yukito was in love with Touya, but to tell anyone could mean death for the both of them. Touya would probably have to marry a beautiful woman and produce an heir to the throne, but Yukito would always love him.



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*Author Rants: More to come soon! Please read my stories. C ya!

Panny-chan