Disclaimer: All normal disclaimer stuffs apply. sigh I wish I owned CCS but I don't.

Bows Thank you all for reading my story. Please read and review to my humble fanfiction. This is my first Card Captor Sakura story so please judge kindly.

- Oh, and please excuse how poorly I write… only in seventh grade ya know!

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Samurai Secret

Chapter One

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"Mother! Father! I'm as good as any boy! You know this to be true!" a sixteen-year-old girl with long, silky, auburn hair and emerald eyes insisted.

The lord and lady of the Kinomoto Estate sighed and looked sadly at their daughter. She wanted so much to become a samurai, but only boys were permitted at the Li Institute, the only available school in this part of Japan. Her brother, Touya, and his friend, Yukito, had gone, graduated, and became teachers there.

Shifting on her chair gently, Nadeshiko, the beautiful woman sitting elegantly upon the chair frowned a bit, truly upset at the lack of privileges for women. It wasn't truly fair that her youngest child and daughter could not participate in the fighting arts… she had taught her as much as she could… but Sakura needed proper training.

The two beautiful emerald eyes moved from the forms of her mother and father to her feet, "I know girls are not allowed… but I can dress up as a boy! I can do it! Touya and Yukito are there to back me up! I won't have to share a room with the boys or even go to the open baths! Please! I can pull it off!" Sakura was on her knees now and begging her parents.

The man, Fujitaka, finally gave in. "Very well Sakura. You may go, but you will have to receive the approval of the dojo master, and you must stay close to your brother… do you understand?"

Face lighting up at the prospect, she let a wide grin spread across her face, and even her mother turned to smile at her husband. "Thank you ever so much Father! Thank you! I'll go tell Tomoyo!" (In this fic Tomoyo is Sakura's older sister.)

The next day Sakura woke up early and hurried to put on her gi and hakama, being sure to bind her chest and to have the ends of her gi cover that area.

She continually checked her reflection in the foggy mirror, trying to make sure that she was immaculate… and perfectly presentable… she wanted to make an impression.

Realizing what she was doing, Sakura scolded herself for her silliness and reminded herself that her appearance should no longer matter to her… in just a few hours… she would have to be a boy.

"Oi! Kaijuu! Hayaku! We'll be late… and Yelan-sama will not be happy with you if you're late for your first day!" It was her brother, Touya. He had come to pick her up. Biting her lip to keep from bursting out laughing as she stomped on his foot, screaming that she was not a monster, Sakura had to admire how he had grown.

It had only been a few months since she had last seen him, but he was still growing… taller by a few inches now. He had to be at least six foot three… Giggling at how she was admiring her own brother's shiny black hair and charming eyes, Sakura knew that she came from a prestigious family… made up of the beautiful Tomoyo and dashing (not to mention extremely popular) Touya. She would have to prove her worth as a Kinomoto as well.

After recovering from his… initial pain caused by Sakura, Touya looked at her sharply, "Sakura. I do not approve of you coming to this school. It's for all boys! But Father and Mother are allowing you… so I guess I will have to let you be. We're going to see the dojo mistress, Li Yelan-sama. You have to be on your best behavior, understand?"

Sakura was nervous now. The dojo mistress was rumored to be extremely powerful and harsh. Sakura could only manage a shaky nod before swinging onto her faithful horse and riding off with Touya.

Sakura's POV

Breathe Sakura. You can do this… All you have to is make Yelan-sama admit you into the school… ok…. Easier said than done…

Groaning with frustration because of the noisy voices in her head, Sakura had to smile and assure Touya that nothing was wrong and that no she had not been talking to herself in a rather… violent way after he had promptly informed her that speaking to one's self was one of the first signs of insomnia.

His words had not made her feel any better, and now she was fighting to keep her head clear and breathing even. She had to make this Yelan-sama accept her.

Yelan's POV

Where is that Wei? I thought I told him that I needed to find Syaoran immediately… there are some things I need to discuss with him—

A knock came on the door.

Oh. Perfect timing, it must be Wei.

"You may enter!"

Looking up, Yelan saw Touya, one of this dojo's most prized teachers. Glancing to the small form next to him, she also saw someone with auburn hair tied up in the traditional samurai style.

Not Wei but… I see…

This has to be Touya's sister. Their family spoke to me about it. I suppose it's because she's his sister and part of the Kinomto family that I'm even giving her a chance to appear before me, though I highly doubt she'll be able to fit the part. It's preposterous. There was a time when this school admitted female students… and it was complete chaos.

If she wishes to interrupt the peace and orderliness I have established here, I will have to ask her to leave… even if she is a Kinomoto and Touya's younger sibling.

He was nudging her forward, so Sakura silently stepped up towards the desk and bowed, "Y-Yelan-sama."

She's fairly polite and actually does look relatively like a boy. She could pass for a male, Yelan reluctantly noted. But even so, there is much more to being a samurai than merely being polite… you've got to have courage…

Sakura straightened and looked Yelan directly in the eye.

What? How peculiar… and interesting. Her eyes… they're emerald. It's somehow… There's something about this child…

"My name is Kinomoto Sakura and I am here to plead admittance to this institute though I know the male regulation," her voice wavered at first, but she smoothed it out and continued. "Please consider me as a possible pupil for your school."

"Sakura… What a lovely name," Yelan surprised herself. It wasn't like her to give out compliments. "But tell me… there are many young girls who have wished to come here, yet I have refused them all… why should I even consider you?"

Taking a deep breath, Sakura mustered up all her courage and spoke clearly, "I am not afraid of all the challenges… I am ready… Please just… please consider me."

I can't decide whether to let her in… Not many women… let alone men are brave enough to speak back to me… she wasn't even particularly rude. How is it that she can disagree with me so gracefully? Even Syaoran cannot manage to do so.

There's just something about this girl that I like, and somehow, I know to expect great things from her.

"Very well." Yelan finally decided, "Starting from now on, you shall attend this school. Understand that you are to not reveal yourself, meaning your true identity to anyone. You will be sharing a complete dojo with my son, Syaoran. I have not told him of your gender, nor to I intend to. I have placed you with him so that you will not suffer with the rest of the boys attending this school. Your name will be given as Kinomoto and nothing else. Touya, I have sent Syaoran on an errand. You will show this new student… his room."

A small smile graced the regal woman's lips as both Touya and Sakura bowed low before leaving the room.

Normal POV

During the rest of the afternoon, Touya got permission from Yelan and showed Sakura around the school. She had a chance to see where she would be taking lessons from him and Yukito before he left her at the dojo she would soon be sharing with the schoolmistress' son.

Right before letting her go into the dojo and get ready for her new life at the Li Institute, Touya warned her, "If any of these boys even so lays a finger on you, tell me. They'll be dead."

"How can I practice sword fighting if they cannot even attack me?" Sakura giggled and waved her brother off. "Go on. Yukito-san is probably waiting for you… as is the rest of your class."

He clapped her softly on the back before nodding and walking away, giving her a thumbs up for reassurance.

(Yes, I know that thumbs-up did not exist back then either.)

Realizing that she should make herself feel more comfortable there before she became homesick, Sakura began setting about laying out her futon and arranging her sword and other possessions around the room.

Sighing softly, she ran a hand through her long, auburn hair before whispering, "Ok… now what?"

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To be continued…

futon – a mat that ancient Japanese people slept on

dojo – a samurai training building

hakama – kinda… like the pants that some samurai wore.

Gi – a bit like the upper half of a yukata (or a Japanese sleeping robe.) Samurai often wore this to cover the upper part of their body.

Kaijuu – monster

Hayaku – Hurry

Please Review! PLEASE REVIEW PLEASE REVIEW PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!

Syaoran will show up in the next chapter. Promise!