Disclaimer: I do not own Card Captor Sakura

Summary: Syaoran Li is the prince of the land, soon to be wed. In traditional Cinderella style, three balls are planned to find him a wife. But what if Japan's "Cinderella" isn't whom Syaoran falls in love with? An S/S ficcy.

Notes: This is my first fan fic in this section; so don't be too hard on me. I watched Cardcaptors five years ago and hardly remember anything about it…I need to buy the manga…so if the characters aren't…well…perfectly in character; I hope you will forgive me.


One: The Kitchen Help

Syaoran's POV:

"I'm going to get married," Syaoran repeated flatly, staring at his mother, the queen, in disbelief. She nodded firmly at him.

"It is your duty as crown prince, and I expect you to take it seriously. Now, there will be three balls, held weekly for you to meet potential brides. After the third, you will then chose a woman to marry and the wedding will be scheduled. It's really quite simple. I have no idea why you seem to have trouble with it. Now, go into the tailor's with your sisters, you'll need to have proper attire for the first ball, taking place in…oh…two days…" Yelan Li instructed, and then marched out of the meeting hall before her son could argue. Syaoran frowned and sat in his seat for a long time, thinking hard.

"Hey there, Syaoran-kun!" Eriol called out cheerfully, skipping over to where the prince was sitting in the grass, staring into space, "You okay, there?" Syaoran blinked and looked up.

"Oh, it's you," he commented dryly. Eriol ignored his friend's manner and sprawled out next to him.

"I can't believe you're getting married!" the blue haired young man chirped happily, "Why, you'll have all of the richest, prettiest, hardest-to-get women in the land right in your ballroom, all trying to gain your affection. Isn't that wonderful?"

Syaoran rolled his eyes, "That kind of thing may thrill you, Eriol-kun, but it doesn't me. I never asked to be set up! I never wanted to be set up. Honestly, I never even wanted to be a bloody prince, but…"

Eriol grinned and clamped a hand over his friend's mouth before he could get further, "That is why you hang out with me, Syaoran-chan." Syaoran's eyes narrowed.

"What did you just call me?" he asked dangerously, but Eriol could see the sparkle of amusement in the prince's eye. The blue haired young man laughed and hopped up.

"Come on, princeling, there is a ball to prepare for, and I shall aide you in making a list of conversational topics to use with women," Eriol said jovially before skipping off, leaving Syaoran to scramble after him, looking slightly irritated, but laughing all the same.

Sakura's POV:

Someone else was laughing as the two young men chased each other over the castle lawns, but it was not one who was involved. In fact, Sakura Kinimoto had to lean rather far to the left while chopping carrots to look out the kitchen door to where the two were carousing, but the kitchen maid didn't mind. The prince and his friend were an endless source of amusement to her.

Especially since work had been hard lately. Sakura's brother Touya was ill and she'd had to work extra to make enough money to support the two of them. Their father was a traveling merchant and wasn't home a great deal, and with Touya sick, Sakura had to care for the family. It was a strain, especially with the head cook's temper when the older woman had a little too much brandy in the evenings. So, observing prince Li was about the only thing Sakura had to keep herself entertained in the long monotony of her current state. He had a reputation for being not very open to other people, but when she watched him…when he was alone…or with that friend of his, Prince Li was very much human.

"Kinimoto-kohai! Lunch break. You're expected back in an hour," the head cook called out, pulling her own lunch together out of the choicest bits she had saved from the royal family's meal. Sakura would have to prepare her own lunch again.

"Yes, Sempai," she replied and then scooped up a few scraps and departed for the castle library, her favorite place to spend lunch. It was quiet there, and she could spend her time in peace, reading, or simply eating in a dark corner, where no one would bother her for once…

Today Sakura did not feel inclined to read, so she headed to the farther bookshelves, where fewer people wandered through, looking around for a good spot. However, preoccupied with her own task, she was not watchful, and bumped into something.

"I'm sorry," Sakura mumbled, quickly moving to the side. The lords and ladies were easily irritated by the lower classmen getting in their way. She hoped to avoid any trouble that would make them report to the head cook. That was the last thing she needed right now.

"No, I wasn't looking where I was going. Excuse me," came a deep, slightly amused voice. Sakura recognized that voice. Swallowing, she looked up at the face of the person she ad bumped into. It was the prince Li. Sakura bowed low, averting her gaze.

"My most humblest apologies, Li-dono. Please, let this humble servant leave and never return to the library as punishment for disturbing your persons," she muttered hastily. Li raised an eyebrow, then smiled slightly, and reached out to tip Sakura's face upwards.

"No, I wouldn't have you do that for me! Um…" he paused expectantly.

"Kinimoto Sakura, Li-dono," replied Sakura automatically. All the servants were told what manners would and would not be permitted here. She would answer to the higher up, but not bother them further, etc.

"Well, Kinimoto-san, are you looking for a certain book? I know this library quite well," started Li, but Sakura shook her head vigorously.

"Li-dono, I must not speak to you. I must go back to my duties. I will bother you no longer," she said, bowing quickly and making an attempt to escape, which seemed to amuse Li more. He had addressed her higher than she deserved and if anyone caught her continuing to talk to him, she would be in deep trouble.

"You don't have to address me with the 'dono' this and 'dono' that," Li instructed, smiling, "That is only for the stiffy older people. Here, if you don't want to look for a book, I can show you a good place to sit and eat in peace where you'll run a smaller risk of running into people."

He was being too open today. High stress? Well, Sakura had heard that Li was going to be married, but he hadn't seemed too concerned when talking with his friend.

"With all respect…Li-dono…I have work to do…" she mumbled and then was finally able to flee.

Syaoran's POV:

Syaoran stood in one place awkwardly for a moment, trying to rationalize why he had tried to engage a kitchen helper in conversation and why he had almost considered showing her his favorite place by the river. There was something about her…a lost, kind of dear-caught-in-the-headlights air that intrigued him. The other female servants were ditsy and chattery, and would have jumped at the chance to be in his presence, but this Kinimoto…was rather different…

The night of the first ball was to be a masked ball, all for the fun of it, or so Syaoran's mother told him. He scowled, but agreed eventually. It was hopeless arguing with the queen.

When Syaoran entered, there was a long line of people arriving that he had to greet, and he was soon lost in the overwhelming feeling of it all, until his gaze happened to fall upon a young woman dressed in a green dress with a brown tunic over, with green eyes and short red-brown hair that looked very familiar. He couldn't quite place her…

But the prince was distracted when the whole room grew quiet. Apparently, a late guest had arrived. The annoying short announcer dude stepping forward to announce.

"Presenting that Lady Tomoyo!" (AN: I couldn't remember her last name! Meep!)

Everyone gaped in wonder as a young woman dressed in a flowing ice blue gown walked down the steps and into the room. Syaoran assumed that now would be the time to ask her to dance, though a side-glance at Eriol and all the other lords in the room, and he knew he would only get one. Though, he was more interested in finding the emerald eyed girl and talking to her…

"Excuse me…ah…Tomoyo-sama?" Syaoran asked, walking over to the young woman who had just entered.

"Yes, Li-dono?" Tomoyo responded.

"May I have this dance?" Syaoran asked, extending a hand. Tomoyo nodded and took it.

"Oh, and…" Syaoran added, "Call me Syaoran, not Li." Tomoyo nodded again, but didn't speak much through the dancing. Syaoran noted with amusement that she kept sneaking glances at Eriol through the entire song. Afterwards, another lord cut in, and the young prince was only too happy to go off on his own quest. But…the emerald-eyed girl was nowhere to be seen…


This was shorter than I intended, and just HORRIBLE. –tears out hair- Normally, I'd brush things up a bit but…soo…. tired…-already drifting off- I was not really sure about this fic when I started writing it…it's kind of odd, and the honorifics are mixed up a tad (I'm depending on Tsubasa Chronicle's honorifics guide, here!), and it's certainly not very Japanese with the Cinderella references…well, what I'm saying is, if you actually like this, please review, because I'm not going to put effort into it otherwise. I've got other stories I'm working on, but this idea popped into my head and I had to write it. Consider it a trial run. If no one cares, then I won't work on it. –grins-