The Hidden Princess

Chapter 1

By: Cherrysakuragirl

E-mail: Cherrysakuragirl@hotmail.com

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Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura, its characters, its story, and its entire entity does not, and never will, belong to me. L This fanfic is the sole work of an ardent fan and not part of the original plot. By writing this, I am in no way stealing Cardcaptor Sakura nor any possessions or characteristics that one would attribute with it. Meaning: Don't Sue Me!!! You won't get anything valuable!

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Getting on with the story…

AN: This is my first fanfic, EVER, so please bear with me. Try not to laugh as I attempt to write this. My feelings get hurt easily ^.^

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A beautiful, dwarf-like blossom stood in the dismal, savage forest. It desperately wanted to grow, yet the gloomy woodland never allowed the sun to radiate through. In addition, it never rained, and the hapless flower began to falter in hope, shriveling up. On the edge of death…

"Hello? Is anybody here?" called the timid voice of a child. The young girl glanced apprehensively around the eerie, deserted forest, not seeing anyone. As she took in her surroundings, she anxiously noticed that the towering trees, which obstructed most of the sunlight, seemed to be getting larger, hovering over her like monsters over a baby's crib.

The girl was dead tired, having walked for hours through the forest, not knowing where she was. Her original mission was to gather essential herbs to cure her brother, yet finding the herbs she had quested for, she discovered that she could not find her way back home, and that nothing looked familiar. It didn't help that practically no sunlight reached the forest, and that the sun was descending.

The girl sighed, mentally recollected herself, and blinked back tears in her emerald green eyes. I must deliver these herbs! At the age of seven, the girl had shiny, shoulder length brown hair.

Suddenly, rain pelted down, drenching the tiny girl in water. Her hair was matted to her forehead, her clothes were soaked through, and she began slipping on the wet rocks. What light left in the forest disappeared when the storm clouds arrived, which acted as a blanket to keep out what was left of the daylight. As a result, the forest was plunged into a violent darkness. The little girl could barely make out her hands, much less where she was.

"C-C-Crack!" Thunder shattered the woods' tranquility, and lightning momentarily lit up the sky.

"H-H-Help! Please!!" the girl shrieked. If there was one thing she was terrified of, besides being lost in the woods on a rainy night, it was thunder and lightning.

"C-C-Crack!!!" Lightning struck the tree in front of her! The tree fell down, a malodorous ugly mess rolling on the floor.

"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" The child backed up, running away from the grotesque thing, from which pervaded burning and rotting logs.

Then, the loose stones underneath her moved, and she was launched down the slope, gathering acceleration. The rough rocks cut painfully into her skin and she accumulated countless scrapes on her body from sliding down the jagged forest mountain. Just as she was about to tumble off the cliff, she grabbed desperately for something to hold on to, a root, an edge, anything. Yet, she clasped only thin air.

Please! I don't want to die. My brother needs this medicine. Clutching the herb basket closer to her body, she waited to crash on the forest bottom.

* * * * * * * *

Li Syaoran ran frantically out of the palace. Li Meilin, in hot pursuit of her one-sided crush, was soon to follow.

"Li Syaoran, I know you're here somewhere. I'm not leaving until I find you!" screamed Meilin."You're mother even told me to fetch you for dinner."

Syaoran, coming to a forest, groaned. The reason he ran out of the palace with such stamina is because he was trying to avoid Meilin, who constantly followed him around, no matter how he protested. As prince, the next heir to the throne, his cousin took it upon herself to consistently badger him about his duties and expectations. Meilin acted as if she were older and therefore more superior to him, yet the two were both seven years old.

Meilin sighed exasperatedly. She brushed back her jet black hair and continued her search for the brown hair boy with amber eyes. Although her cousin thought that she trailed him only to be a bother, it was really because she thought he was so adorable and kindhearted. There was no one in the world that she cared for more than Syaoran.

Syaoran, who was still running at a run-for-your-life speed, heard a loud thud.

I wonder what it is. He slowed his run to a quick jog, and he came to the edge of the cliff. Looking down, he saw someone sprawled in a small heap on the floor bellow.

Oh My God. The drop from the edge of the mountain to the forest floor was at least 50 feet. There was no way that a person could survive such an immense fall. Saying a prayer in memory of the unfortunate person, Syaoran turned to leave.

Yet before he took his first step, he heard the body below stir. "Aaaargh," it moaned. Syaoran, curious as to how it survived, climbed down the face of the mountain. Thank goodness he knew the forest so well (courtesy of Meilin, who forced him to hide there many times ^.^) or he wouldn't have been able to descend so easily, being that the rocks were in all jumbled up.

When he reached the bottom, he noticed that the sky was dark. Just Great! Mother is going to be furious. He bent down to shake the bundle on the floor.

"Hello?" he asked hesitantly. The body moaned again.

Now that he was closer, he saw that it was a girl! Moving the cloak that covered her face, he saw that she was very young, about his age, and that she had a crimson colored welt across her face. Still marveling at the miracle that she was alive, for he could sense her faint breathing, he checked her for injuries. Not surprisingly, it looked as if her arms were broken and her legs were severely scratched and bruised.

"Wake up!" he tried again, shaking her more violently. He was afraid that if he didn't help her soon or if she didn't awaken, she would die. This time she awoke.

Opening her eyes, Sakura saw determined, worried amber eyes staring back at her.

"H-Hoe!" she winced. She found that she couldn't move her wrist, and that it was very painful to move her legs. Looking in the deep amber eyes, she began to get a wonderful warm feeling. "A-a-a-re you my guardian angel" she wondered.

Syaoran, transfixed by her beautiful emerald eyes, only smiled. "I have to bring you to my home so that you can receive medical attention. Can you stand up?" he asked gently. When he discovered that she couldn't, he took hold of her arms to hoist her up. He observed that she had an object clutched tightly in her hands.

"Do you want me to hold these for you?" he questioned kindly. Sakura only shook her head. Then she remembered what had happened, and what she still had to do.

"I-I-I think I fell off the cliff," she said, pointing towards the sky," and I thought that I had died! But then I saw you. You have to help my brother!" She tried to thrust the basket full of herbs at him, but she found that she couldn't feel her arm, much less dislodge the basket from her death grip. "T-t-ake the basket and cure my brother," she begged," please! I'll do anything you want." Syaoran, watching the desperate tears that trickled down her face, realized what a big heart she had. Even when she was terribly hurt, having a near brush with death, she thought of her brother first.

"Yes of course," he consented," where do you live, and who is you brother?"

"My brother is called Touya, and he lives in the Li kingdom, in the Souya Village. Please give the basket to my father. He'll know what to do." Syaoran nodded his comprehension. He knew where the village was. "I'll do it. By the way, what is your name, so that I can tell him who this is from?" he asked.

''It's Sakura. Thank-you so much. I'm in debt to you," with that final word, a cold wave hit her, and she passed out, limp from exhaustion. Syaoran patted her head and took off his outer cloak, wrapping it snuggly around her. As he extracted the basket from her hand, being extra careful to remove each finger with great care, he saw a strange key, with a star and feathers, around her neck. Peculiar… it looks funny. Shrugging his shoulder, he called to Meilin who was lurking in the forest somewhere, still searching for him.

"Meilin, Meilin!" he screamed. He hoped that she could hear him; he didn't want to leave Sakura alone.

"Li Syaoran, there you are! Kindly explain yourself! Li Leran is beside herself with rage." Meilin raved.

"Listen Meilin, there's no time," said Syaoran stepping aside to reveal a small figure wrapped in his cloak," you must take this girl to the palace and get her to the doctor."

"Why?" responded Meilin suspiciously," who is she?"

"She fell off the cliff. I'm going to her home to deliver these herbs," he indicated the basket," to cure her brother. I trust you'll take care of her." With that, Syaoran ran off, deeper into the forest.

Meilin, exasperated again, looked at the lone figure. There he is, running off again. She sighed. Then she diverted her attention to the girl. W-wait! Did he say that she survived that fall? She looked up. What she knew of the cliff told her that although many had fallen down, none had survived. Carefully picking up the girl, she half carried, half dragged her to the palace.

* * * * * * * * * *

Syaoran, sprinting none-stop to the village, reached it when the sun had descended into oblivion and the moon was already illuminated in the dark sky. Running through the community, he shouted," Touya, Touya!" A house ahead of him opened the door. A tall man with glasses stepped out of the house.

"Are you Touya?" asked Syaoran. The towering man, who wore a dazed sad expression, said politely," No, but he lives here. May I ask why you are inquiring this?"

"Are you Sakura's father then?'' Syaoran demanded.

"Yes I am, my name is Fujitaka Kinomoto " he answered," Where is Sakura? She went to look for herbs, but that was hours ago. I'm getting worried."

Syaoran, looking relieved, handed the basket over to him," Sakura told me that Touya is sick and she wants you to use the herbs to cure him. While she was looking for the herbs she took a nasty fall. I've taken her to my palace to be treated. I am uncertain as to how long it may take, because I believe her arms are broken, but she'll be back as soon as she can."

"Oh, thank you very much for helping Sakura. I really must get back to Touya." Looking more closely at the boy, and finding that he looked vaguely familiar, and the fact that he used the word 'palace,' Fujitaka asked," May I inquire what your name is?"

" Syaoran Li." Fujitaka nodded. So his suspicions had been confirmed; he was the Prince of the Li kingdom. " Thank-you, Prince." Fujitaka bowed. He glanced inside the house; Touya's coughing was worsening. " I must go. Thank you again. You have done a great service to my family." He turned his back quickly and closed the door behind him.

Syaoran stared at the house. So, this is where Sakura lived. Although it wasn't a large cottage, it had a certain charm to it, and the inhabitants seemed very pleasant. From the inside, he could hear the rustling of leaves and the calm hissing of cooking over a fire. He wished them both the best of luck. Syaoran turned around to head home, hoping that Sakura would be well.

* * * * * * * *

Finally reaching her home, Meilin collapsed on the floor, exhausted from carrying the girl all the way from the forest to her palace. Although the girl was light, it was a hot night, and she'd had some difficulty going through the forest in the dark. She hoped Syaoran was faring successfully. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Meilin proceeded to the palace.

* * * * * * * * * *

It was foggy and dark. She was trapped; there was no where to go. She wanted to run away, but she couldn't even move her limbs. Help Me! she called out. Am I dead?

In her minds eye, she saw herself falling over the edge of the mountain, again and again, each instance more anguishing than the last. Noooooo! Then she saw the boy who looked familiar, the one she knew she had seen somewhere…

"Help, help!" she called. But the boy just laughed, glaring cruelly at her. He stepped on her hand, which was clutching precariously to the cliff. "Aaaaaarrgh!! Stop it!" Then, his entire mood changed. He bent down and smiled at her kindly. He held out his hand, in an amenable gesture. Sakura smiled and reached her hand to him.

Then… his face became twisted. Now, he wore an expression of contorted malice. He stared at her, stepped closer to the edge… and kicked her fingers off the cliff. AAARGH!! Sakura screamed all the way down.

You see Cherry Blossom, how easily you are defeated? All that we must do is turn your friends against you… or take them away. After all, your friends are your power, and without them you are utterly useless. You are nothing, little cherry, just a girl who is too dense and cowardly for anything. So, Cherry Blossom, learn your lesson and never trust anyone, because your best and most cherished friend may be your worst enemy.

No!! It's not true! Leave me alone! Sakura clutched her head.

Oh, but it is true, little one, and soon we will be powerful enough to beat you. Until then, watch your back.

All around her, she heard screams and cruel laughter. It was hurting her head; she couldn't stand it. Help me! AAAARRRGHGHGG! she shrieked.

"Sakura Kinomoto, wake up!" Syaoran shook her. Opening her eyes, she saw the boy and another girl with long black hair, about her own age. So was it a dream? What did the apparition mean? Why would it try to kill her, she had never done anything to hurt anyone. If it wanted to beat her, it could; she was weak. These were the questions that bombarded her the moment she entered the world of light. She shook her head to clear her thoughts.

"Where am I?" Sakura asked hesitantly. She was in a beautiful, exquisite bedroom, on a grand bed, with silk sheets. The room held a finely crafted dresser, a vanity mirror, an intricate armoire, and a nightstand. All of the items seemed to be of the highest quality, fit for a princess or prince, but not for herself. Sakura was confused; she didn't live here.

"You're at my mansion," the two answered together. The girl giggled and added harshly," In case you don't remember, you fell down the cliff and you made poor Syaoran save you. It's a day after it happened, and you still aren't up yet?" Syaoran sweatdropped; when he returned from giving the herbs to Fujitaka, his mother was so upset that he was late and so worried that she yelled at him in front of the whole court. Sakura, confused and hurt as a result from the combination of the pain from falling down the mountain, the dream, and the cruel remark, burst into tears.

"Now Meilin…" scolded Syaoran. Meilin looked away, disgusted, repelled by the tears, a sign of weaknesses. In Meilin's eyes, this girl was to be pitied for being dumb and trivial, and was probably useless to society as well. Syaoran, however patted her head and gave her a tissue. "Please stop; I don't like to see my friends cry," he said kindly. Sakura, surprised by the friendly statement, nodded and smiled.

Meilin looked between Sakura and Syaoran. She had never seen Syaoran act so warm and compassionate before; usually he displayed a cold, impassive exterior shell. She knew in her heart that Syaoran possessed such a side, but she had never seen it before. Now, a stranger that Syaoran barely knew is able to bring out something in him that she, in the seven years that she has known him, has never been able to do. No, Meilin not only disliked Sakura, but she hated her as well.

"Do remember what happened?" asked Syaoran. Sakura, digging into her mind, nodded. Then she recalled the purpose that she was in the forest; to gather herbs to cure her brother. " Did you deliver the herbs to Touya?" asked Sakura hopefully. When Syaoran nodded, Sakura threw her arms up in the air and tried to dance around, but found she couldn't move her legs, and no matter how she tried to throw her arms up, they remained inert. Sakura, remembering her ailments from the fall, struggled to fight the tears. "How come I can't move," Sakura voiced desperately in a small voice.

"Don't worry, your bones will heal in a day or so. I told your father that you'd be back when you're healthy again." Syaoran reassured, sweatdropping. Yea, right. Broken bones don't heal normally in a day, but he could use some Chinese magic to speed up the recovery. From beside him, he felt Meilin glare at him. I can't believe he's going to use magic to cure her. I mean, whenever me or one of his friends or family is injured, he always uses his curing powers, but her? He barely knows her! Meilin steamily thought.

"Well, get some rest. We'll be back to check on you later." said Syaoran. He and Meilin left the room.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Outside Sakura's room…

"Li Syaoran, I don't get you!" raged Meilin," you've known her for a few hours and suddenly you're being so nice, offering to cure her and everything. How come you're never that nice to me?"

"Meilin, calm down," Syaoran replied stoically," I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just being this nice to her because she fell off a cliff and most of her body parts are broken! I don't see what you're that mad about." Composing himself, he regained his tough exterior. " And anyway Meilin, why would you care? All that you like to do is continuously bother and annoy me. You're nothing but a constant pain anyway," proclaimed Syaoran coldly.

Meilin, fighting back the tears that were threatening to engulf her, yelled angrily," Li Syaoran, from the moment I saw you I loved you. No matter what I do to stop this feeling, the emotion keeps rushing to me, and I can't defeat it. The training that we've done together, the time we spend together, it's all driving me crazy. Yet now it's different, I hate you!" With that, Meilin spun around. Syaoran was shocked; he never knew. Before Meilin could walk away, he gripped her arm.

"Listen Meilin, I-I-I didn't mean what I just said. You're a wonderful girl who does many things that I truly appreciate. I'm sorry if I never show it, but-but I'm just one of those people who keeps his emotions to himself," Syaoran confessed softly, his amber eyes sincere. "As for loving you, I do too, as a cousin and as a friend," he said slowly and distinctly," and I hope that you don't hate me, because I don't know what I would do without you as a friend."

Meilin, who finally lost the war with her emotions, hugged Syaoran, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. " Oh Syaoran, I don't hate you, I think that you're the most remarkable person alive. I mean you're so perfect, good at everything from sports to studies, and everyone loves you. All the girls even follow you around ^.^''

Syaoran, embarrassed at her outburst and being hugged, patted her head uncomfortably. Drawing away from her he stuck out his hand. "Friends?" he asked.

"Friends," agreed Meilin. They shook hands. Inwardly, Meilin sighed. Syaoran thought her feelings for him were strictly platonic and philanthropic, yet they were more than that. However, from now on she would try harder to relinquish such feelings, so that she would be happier.

* * * * * * * * * *

That night…

Syaoran, looking around the hallway, crept towards Sakura's room. Opening the door with great care, so that it would not creak, he entered the room. Towering over the girl, he placed his palm on Sakura's forehead. Concentrating, he unleashed a powerful flow of energy through her body. Closing his eyes, he sensed that her bones had somewhat healed. If he released anymore power, he was afraid of the effects that it would have on her body, afraid that her body wouldn't be able to withstand such power. Glancing at the peacefully sleeping girl, he thought that's what an angel should look like.

* * * * * * * * *

In the morning…

Waking from her soothing dream, she felt as if her limbs were saturated with a soothing power, and she stretched her arms to the ceiling and discovered that she could move them. Cautiously testing her legs, she discerned that she could move that too. Jumping for the sheer joy of motion, she cheerfully screamed at the top of her lungs. "YAY!"

From a room across the hall, Meilin shouted grumpily," Can't a person get some sleep? Jeez, I get no respect around here."

"Oh, sorry!" squeaked Sakura good-naturedly, still overjoyed at being able to move. She always took that for granted, yet now that she'd had such an enjoyable blessing taken away and given back to her, she vowed to not take it for granted anymore. Stepping out of bed and stretching, she realized that her legs and arms were still sore, and she had several deep, crimson scratches on her legs. Looking at herself in the vanity mirror, she saw she wore a crumpled nightgown and…a necklace? That's peculiar. Taking the thing off her neck, she discovered that it wasn't only a necklace, but a strange star key hung on it. Touching it…felt so warm, like there was some kind of radiant energy emanating from it. Weird…for some reason I want to say

"The Key that hides the forces of stars! Show your true form to me! I, Sakura, command you under the contract! Release!"

Suddenly, bright shafts of light shattered the peace of the room, and… the small key evolved into a long, pink rod, with the star key at the head of the staff. Oh MY… What the… Were some of the unintelligible words that ran in her head. Is this some kind of toy? But shaking it up and down, she couldn't find a catch that would make it release light or expand into a rod. What was she supposed to do with this? Where did the mysterious words come from? In her mind, she had the surreal idea of finding cards and of using the staff to bring out the power of the card. This is crazy! Why would cards have powers anyway? Yet for some reason, her mind latched onto the notion and wouldn't let go. For that reason, she set out to find such powerful cards, for she sensed them near her, although it seemed rationally impossible.

Sneaking out of her room, she went down the stairs quietly. Ducking behind a door, she found a room with a rows of library shelves and a plethora of books. The strange feeling that the cards were nearby overwhelmed her senses, and she plodded on towards a dismal corner of the library. Peering in one of the shelves, she saw a thick book that had an unnatural halo of light around it. Sakura curiously picked up the book, and taking a big breath, opened it. What she found inside completely mystified her. As soon as the book stood uncovered, a yellow stuffed-lion flew out, screaming "Hallelujah!" If this wasn't enough of a shock, she saw cards inside that had Sakura written on them!

"So, thanks for setting me free little girl!" thanked the teddy-bear with an odd otaku accent. Sakura found it strange to be praised by a toy, but she smiled anyways. "So you're name is Sakura , huh, judging from the card. My name is Kero! I can also turn into Ceroberus, which is a super strong big super hero! I'm the best of them all. Superman is nothing compared to me!! AH HA! I'm the seal beast, protector of the cards. Do you wanna see?" asked Kero cutely.

"Hoe-e…" Sakura sweatdropped," maybe some other time. So how come you can talk? Do you have batteries or are you solar powered?"

Kero, turning a brilliant shade of red, stated," Hey! I don't have batteries and I'm not solar powered (whatever that is ^.^). This is the real me! " Then, turning serious, Kero added," So do you know what to do with the cards? There was a reason that I was reawakened."

"W-w-ait a minute Kero-chan(do you mind if I call you that ^.^), I'm confused. How is it that you can talk (I've never seen one of your kind before ^-^) and what does it have to do with the cards?"

Kero-chan sighed; he had a lot of explaining to do. Kero-chan didn't like to explain things, but he loved to eat! Especially cake, pudding, cake, pudding…ahhhhh cake!! Although Kero-chan didn't need food to sustain himself, he hadn't eaten in a really long time, and he was really hungry! His mouth began to water…he started to dream of yummy deserts, his grip on reality was slipping…slipping!

"Kero-chan! Are you feeling ok?" said Sakura worriedly, waving her arms in front of his face.

"YAHHHH!" screamed Kero-chan loudly," why'd you do that? I was having the most wonderful dream about ice-cream and cake…"

"Hoe-e," Sakura sweatdropped," anyways you were saying about you and the cards…"

"Oh right… well there once was a powerful magician named Clow Reed, who sealed the cards in a book known as the Clow Book. He bestowed upon me the most important task of guarding over the cards, you know, to make sure that they don't cause trouble. After 30 or so years, they're all still in there. HAHA, take that Yue, he didn't think I could do it," he muttered. " So, do you have the staff with you?"

"Do you mean this?" asked Sakura, holding up the staff. Kero-chan nodded. Then he began gravely," That staff unleashes the power of the cards. Yet there is a reason why you were summoned and I was awakened. Danger must be approaching."

Sakura, remembering her dream, said," Kero-chan I had a weird dream the other day, do you think it could be a prognostication of the future?" Kero-chan looked at her, bidding her to continue. "Well-

"Crash!"

"What was that!" hissed Sakura. "Um Sakura-chan," Kero began conversationally, " is this, by any chance, your library."

"Well actually, it's not even my house. You see, it's quite an entertaining story. I fell off a cliff and someone was kind enough to take me in while I healed," admitted Sakura.

"Oh, so I see. You just came in here, without permission from the family, explored the grounds, and stole a book," Kero-chan said cheerfully.

"Hoe-e-e! You make it sound so horrible. Anyway, I didn't steal it, you jumped out of it!"

Throwing away his fake, pleasant façade, Kero-chan screamed, "Sakura! What if the book is missed! You're not supposed to go around pe-"

"Who's there?! You are not permitted on Li grounds. Trespassing has a heavy penalty!" came an authoritative voice from below.

"Uh-oh. Kero-chan it's all your fault! You screamed too loud! Now we're going to the dungeon!" scolded Sakura. From above came the clunking of several pairs of feet. "Hide!" exclaimed Sakura. Grabbing the flailing Kero and the book of cards, she made a break for the nearest dark corner. "No Sakura, they'll find us here," said Kero.

"Well, do you have a better idea Kero?" Kero nodded," Use one of the cards." Sakura, leafing through the deck, muttered," But which one? The Windy, Power, Mist…touching the Little card, she, and everything else she was touching, turned tiny.

"Good thinking Sakura-chan! I knew you had it in you!" congratulated Kero-chan. "But Kero…I didn't…" began Sakura. "Sh-hh! someone's coming!" Sakura grabbed Kero and jumped into the nearest bookshelf.

"Come out, I know you're here somewhere," said Li Leran. Li Leran, mother of Syaoran, and the current sole ruler of her Kingdom, was a beautiful, striking women, who always seemed to have a powerful, imposing aura around her. Whomever she approached felt intimidated by her (especially Syaoran ^.^). She looked around, but found no one. That's strange…I could have sworn I heard something. Descending the stairs and opening the door, she did sense something, yet what was it? Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her. I'm getting old…

"Mother, I don't think anyone is in here," declared Li Fuutie, glancing around the empty room. Li Fuutie, Li Fanren, Li Shiefa, and Li Feimi were the four sisters of Syaoran. They wore the latest fashion, and although were beautiful like their mother, they didn't hold the distinct charm and grace, not to mention power, that their mother held.

"Perhaps we should proceed, then?" offered Li Fanren. Li Leran nodded. Walking to the bookshelf that Sakura and Kero were hiding in, she started searching for the Clow book. All four sisters of Syaoran helped as well.

"Mother are you sure it's here? I don't see it…" announced Li Shiefa.

"That'd be a pity if we never found it…I don't want to imagine Syaoran's face when he can't be clow master because the book is missing. Especially after all the hardwork that he did and the tests that he completed," Li Feimi sighed.

Hidden safely in the bookshelf, Sakura looked confusedly at Kero. What did the Clow book have to do with Syaoran?

"No girls, you don't understand," said Li Leran severely," if Syaoran, as the next heir to the throne, doesn't get the book, he may be powerless to stop the impending evil that is approaching the kingdom." The sisters nodded gravely.

Then Fuutie spoke," Mother, I know that you've explained it to us to a certain extent, but why am I, as the oldest first-born, not the heir to the throne? All that you've told us is China wants a male leader and doesn't allow females as a leader, but that's not entirely true. I've done some research on Chinese rulers, and I've discovered that we've had many females on the throne, who have done an admirable job, better so than many males. After all, you yourself are a feminine ruler who has performed laudably."

Li Leran sighed; it was time for the truth. "Girls, it's not because China is full of chauvinists, but because we've discovered a prophecy that Syaoran is destined for the throne. Great times of peril are approaching, and it is said that Syaoran is the only one who can face it. The Li clan has put a lot of hopes on him." Fuutie, who at first had been irritated at the fact that her brother, the youngest of her siblings, received the throne, understood. She also felt a little relieved that she would not have to deal with such danger. She hoped that her little brother would be up to the task, for China's sake. The family continued to look for it, but their efforts were fruitless; it was not to be found.

As they turned to go," Li Leran sensed magic in the air amidst them. Roving her eyes, she searched. Could it be that the Clow book was already taken, in the hands of the wrong person? Calling out in a powerful voice," I know that you're still here, and that you have the Clow book. Hand it over and reveal yourself, or I won't be responsible for what happens to you, whether it is death or rotting in the dungeon." Sakura, confused and amazed at what she had overheard, looked at Kero and held her breath. Kero shook his head; no they would stay hidden, not surrender themselves.

"No? In that case, I will issue a proclamation to my whole kingdom. Whoever finds the person with the book, whether a magical being or not, will receive one million dollars, whether the stealer is dead or alive."

To Be Continued…

Author's note: Let's see… instead of starting out with just regular clow cards, I started out with the sakura cards. You'll find out in subsequent fanfics that I changed a lot of things from the original CCS.

Oh no! Poor Sakura and Kero! So, what do you guys think? I have a feeling this fanfic is going to be really long. It's not too interesting yet, but it's just the beginning. I have a complex plot in mind, that I'll explore in the next chapters to come. Right now, the characters are only seven, but it's S+S, so they get older as the story progresses. So PLEASE review! It'll make me really happy!! The more reviews, the faster I can post the next chapter! (I know, a feeble bait ^.^) Remember, this is my first fanfic, EVER, so criticisms and comments are much obliged and welcome! Until next time~!