Misunderstandings

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura belongs to Clamp. I do not own it.

Konnichiwa minna-san! It's me, back from studying and school. So much homework! And four test/quizzes everyday! Ahhhhh!!

Hehehe. ^_^ Anyways, I'm starting a new fic. What number is this…the 6th? *Sigh* Yes, I procrastinate. And yes, I should be working on my other 5 fics. But no, I'm working on this first ^.^

Yes, the overall theme of the fic is a little conventional and overdone, but I am a non-conformist with somewhat original ideas. So expect plot twists and the usual spruce. Please read, enjoy, and review! On with the story!

Summary: At childhood, princess Sakura helps Prince Syaoran escape the confinements of slavery in her kingdom. Six years later, Syaoran returns the favor when Sakura's kingdom is destroyed and her life in peril. Will their friendship evolve into something more? Through betrayal by a friend, he will stick by her. S+S

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Once upon a time, a lively, beautiful princess was born. A princess of compassion, with a terrible curse…

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Stars.

Slight Glimmers in the night Sky.

Hope.

Happiness and Compassion.

Pain.

In-between the Joy. Inevitable.

One knows no suffering without laughter, no love or friendship without tears.

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Princess Sakura Kinomoto slipped on a light dress of pink silk, her thoughts toward the night sky, and the arrival of otou-san. Fortunately, she was able to sneak out of the castle; the guards were asleep. The young girl sprinting to the forest and climbed the tallest tree in sight. Looking out, over the horizon, Sakura didn't see her father. Sighing, she remembered how otou-san had ridden over the country with the army, to conquer new lands. She didn't approve of the way her father took over other kingdoms, but no matter how she protested, with her childlike reasoning, he just shook his head and smiled sadly. She hoped he would return soon.

Relishing the way the wind whipped her honey- auburn hair, Sakura sat, hidden in the dark underbrush of the tree. Then she heard it. The soft, subtle, pitter-patter of the horse's hoofs.

Over her line of sign, a large army of men neared the castle, otou-san in the lead.

"Otou-san!" cried Sakura happily. Jumping gracefully out of the tree, Sakura ran to meet the party.

"You've finally come back!" the princess exclaimed. Fujitaka nodded happily, bending down to give his daughter a hug.

"I've brought a special present for you, "added Fujitaka seriously.

Eyes wide with curiosity, little Sakura wondered," What?"

From behind, one of the soldiers appeared, tugging something behind him. It abject horror, Sakura realized that the thing was not an object, but a person.

"Otou-san! That's a boy!" yelped Sakura, as if reminding her father of a mistake he had made.

"Hai, Sakura. He will be your slave, until his kingdom pays for the deaths they have caused. Prince Syaoran will be stripped of his power, and any offenses from the Li Kingdom will result in his retribution."

Tears forming in her truculent green eyes, Sakura glanced at the boy next to the soldier. Taller than she was, his dark amber eyes pierced into hers. Glaring at the princess, the prince ran a hand through his tousled brown hair, revealing the tight muscles in his arms. At 9, Sakura saw the boy to be a few years older than her, perhaps 11. He was wearing ornate pants and a formal shirt, but now his clothing was ragged and worn.

"Father, I can't take him as a slave!'' protested Sakura heatedly.

Surprised, Fujitaka saw that his obedient daughter was defying him. Something she had never done before. Giving Sakura a stern look, he commanded, "Sakura, go inside and arrange accommodates for your little friend."

Syaoran huffed. As if he would be that little girl's friend.

"B-but o-tou-san-"

"Go."

Stomping inside, Sakura grabbed Syaoran's arm, not noticing the stifle of surprise that arose from him.

"Oh…what is otou-san doing?" cried Sakura in despair.

Snatching his arm away from the girl's estranged grip, Syaoran demanded," Where are taking me?"

A weird look crossed her face, and she answered, as if it were the most obvious thing, "Don't you want a bath? You look kind of…dirty. And I can have a bed prepared for you too, if you want."

The tall boy glared at her suspiciously. "Why are you treating me with such kindness? You're not getting anything in return."

A small smile played on her face, and with honest emerald eyes, Sakura responded," You don't deserve the way my otou-san treated you. Please excuse his behavior; he's just worried about the kingdom. Last year okaa-san died, and he's still sad. So am I." A wistful expression crossed her delicate features, and she fingered her auburn hair pensively.

"I'm sorry," Syaoran said softly, words gentle and benevolent. The small girl, eyes red from sorrow, stirred pity in his heart.

Wiping back the tears that flowed freely, the brave girl forced a smiled and replied, "Don't be. It wasn't your fault."

Gripping his hand, Sakura led Syaoran to the bathhouse. This time, Syaoran didn't draw his hand away.

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"Syaoran! Prince Syaoran!" a voice called, disrupting his abyss.

"Wha-a?" he started groggily, stuck in between the world of reality and shadowy figures.

"You have to leave now!" hissed Sakura seriously.

On opening hesitant eyes, the bedraggled prince saw the girl that had befriended him earlier. "Go where?"

Pulling his arm, Sakura said impatiently," To the Li Kingdom, of course! I've arranged a horse and some supplies to carry you."

Now Syaoran was awake. Eyes snapping open abruptly, Syaoran asked," Really? Why would you do this, for me. You will be defying your father."

When the amber-eyed boy finally got out of bed, Sakura answered, "It's not what he really wants. My okaa-san would never approve of it. Come on!"

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With the prince mounted on the high horse, Sakura bid him farewell. " Goodbye Syaoran-kun! Have a safe trip and visit me sometime."

Syaoran-kun…no one called him that, with the exception of his family. "Thank you princess. I wish there was someway I could repay you, "replied Syaoran, his warm eyes sincere.

''Just…let's be friends."

"Of course." From his finger, Syaoran procured a ring, the most unique in all of the kingdoms. The one possession the soldiers weren't able to take from him. A prized Li heirloom, one of extreme wealth and value.

"Here. Take this, as a promise ring. Friends forever."

Delighted, Sakura took the exquisite object, marveling at its minute engravings. It was heavy, yet warm from his touch. So lovely…"Thank you Syaoran-kun. I will treasure it forever and ever! But… I don't have anything to give to you." Pensively, Sakura scrunched up her face, thinking deeply on her dilemma.

Syaoran resisted the urge to laugh at her. She looked so serious, so unlike her bubbly self.

"I know!" Standing on tiptoes, Sakura planted a light kiss on Syaoran's cheek.

Shocked, Syaoran blushed. He'd never been kissed before from someone outside his family (besides the occasional peck on the cheek from a relative or crazy sister).

Sakura frowned. "Is something wrong? Did I hurt you?"

Hastily, Syaoran answered," No, it's nothing, princess." Looking out, over the calm blue sky, Syaoran saw dawn was readily approaching. Reluctantly, he said," I have to go now, princess. Thank you, again, for everything."

Sakura giggled. "Call me Sakura. And you don't have to thank me."

After enveloping the small girl in a warm embrace, Syaoran turned his back and rode out, the quickly rising sun on his left side. Soon, he was nothing more than an obscure dot on the horizon, barely recognizable in the fading light.

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Six years later…

"Sakura-chan, how did it go?" squealed Princess Tomoyo, amethyst-eyes brimming with excitement.

Sighing, Sakura answered," It was awful! The guy smiled too much, and he insisted on taking my hand. There wasn't an original thought in his head!"

"How can he help it? Your beauty traumatized him!" remarked Tomoyo.

Sakura laughed, unaware of the veracity of the statement. Emerald eyes and soft features framed her face, and silky honey hair flew down her shoulders. The kind princess was neither too tall nor short, her figure slim and fluid to wear the most elegant dresses.

"Kaijuu!" called a deep voice. Whirling around, Sakura saw her onii-chan.

"Onii-chan! Don't call me a monster!" pouted Sakura.

"Good job Sakura. You scared your suitor away. I must be a good teacher," commented Touya.

Sakura sweatdropped." What do you mean? I didn't scare him away. I accidentally spilled a cup of tea, and he had to go home and change."

Touya huffed. Towering over her, he replied," That's all you did? Pathetic. I win."

Stomping her foot on his in a very unlady-like manner, Sakura yelled, "No you don't. I win because he went home. Your last suitor, Nakuru, was hanging all over you like bees over honey, and she didn't leave until otou-san told her to. Even though you were mean to her and spilled five different flavors of juice, she stayed the whole time. So I win!"

Touya laughed and messed up his sister's hair. "Whatever, kaijuu." Turning around, he left Sakura to fume by herself.

"Oh hoho…"sweatdropped Tomoyo. Sakura and Touya had a bet, to see who could scare off suitors faster, and Touya usually won. Sakura was too kind to purposefully scare someone, so she settled on being extra clumsy. That did the trick sometimes.

"Sakura! Sakura!" called a servant. "It's past your bedtime!"

She made a face. "Oyasumi Tomoyo! I'll see you tomorrow."

Sadly, Tomoyo shook her head. "I'm leaving today. But I'll see you next week!"

The two friends exchanged a hug, and then Sakura ascended the stairs. "Come back soon!"

A small smile on her lips, Tomoyo answered, "I will. Goodbye, cousin."

Unknown to both was the true meaning of those ironic words.

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A pasture of flowers. Sweet fragrances waft to my nose. Butterflies-

"Sakura! Wakeup!"

Shaken awake abruptly, Sakura yanked open her eyes.

"Get up!" Pulling his sister roughly to her feet, Touya took her to the window. Outside, campfires littered the ground. Doing a double take, Sakura realized the fires were actually burning down houses, destroying livestock and the land.

"Kami-sama…Onii-chan, what's happening?"

"A fire. We're under attack," answered Touya tersely. Grabbing Sakura, he forced her to look in his eyes. "Take only the necessities. Travel light. Take the strongest, fastest horse. Moonlight, my horse; take her. Ride, as far as you can away from here."

"B-but what about you?" screeched Sakura, shaking from head to toe.

Touya shook his head. " They want to rule. We're in danger. You must run, away from our kingdom. Tell no one who you are. We must save our people."

"But onii-chan! You're in danger too! What if they catch you and father?"

"Father…he is already-

"NO! "screeched Sakura. "He's not…d-dead is he?"

Touya said nothing.

"Oh God…kami-sama…otou-san.." Tears trickled down her face, and no matter how strong she tried to be, she couldn't fight them.

BOOM BOOM

"GO!"

"NO!" screamed Sakura.

"I'll hold them off. They're getting through the door, and it won't hold out much longer."

But Sakura didn't move. She stood, stock still, tears rolling down her cheek, the only sound save that of the intrusion downstairs.

BOOM BOOM

Then, the enemy was through; the drawbridge down, and the opposing soldiers streaming in the castle. Where was their army, to protect?

"No. I'll fight them. I'm just as good as you are." asserted Sakura. Quickly, she grabbed two sharp swords, throwing one to onii-chan and keeping one for herself.

Touya and Sakura trudged down the massive staircase. They were met by a horde of soldiers, attired in green and blue. They weren't Kinomoto soldiers.

With one backward glance, Touya commanded, "Go to the stables, Sakura. Run." Then, in one swift movement he leaped down the stairs, as agile as a jaguar, and stabbed the nearest man. He fell, and others surrounded her brother. Soon, he was engulfed on all sides, a plethora of green and blue.

Following his lead, Sakura ignored Touya's request and fought as well, her sword slashing left and right.

"No!' yelled onii-chan," Go. S-

Before her very eyes, he was pierced in the chest. Her brother, her annoying yet overprotective friend, all wrapped into one. Even now, she could see his arm dropping, and his shorten of breath. He was dying…

"NO!" Sakura was about attack again, but then she saw her brother's eyes. They were pleading, and as they rolled into the back of his head, she understood his last wish.

He wanted her safety.

Tears streaming down her face, Sakura turned around and ran blindly, outdistancing herself from the mob of soldiers. But they trailed closely behind, and one slashed her back. Gasping at the warm blood on her fingertips, which both startled and hurt her, Sakura stumbled. Sprawled on the floor, she didn't have time to get up again before the soldiers advanced.

The last thing that swam in front her eyes before she was knocked unconscious was a cruel face looming above. Then it was pain, and the blackness engulfed her.

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To be continued…

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AN: Thank you for reading! If you have enough kindness, I would like it if you would review. I'm feeling kind of sad now, so I would appreciate it a lot. It might brighten up my day, or bring a smile to my face!

Oh, and please review my fic "Love your enemy" and "once upon a time" Thanks!