Kawaii Kitty-chan: Hiya folks! I'm back, and with another idea for a CCS fic. I have decided I want to try my luck with a 'Prince and Princess' fic.
Summary: The Li Clan rules the south of China and the Kasuwari Clan rules the north. The two separate kingdoms are constantly warring against each other. One day, during the festivities of the southern emperor's birthday, the Kasuwari Clan sends an assassin to murder the Royal Family. The Li Clan was wiped out and the great palace destroyed, but there is a crazy rumor that the heir, Syaoran, and one of his sisters somehow survived…
On the other hand, Princess Kinomoto Sakura of Japan is a cheerful, naïve girl who can brighten anyone's day. But that changes when she finds herself betrothed to the prince of the Kasuwari Clan, for reasons unknown to her. Sakura protests against this, but to no avail. Soon after she meets her fiancée, he attempts to rape her, but luckily a certain amber-eyed, chestnut-haired commoner saves her. Now she must try to find a way to break the engagement, and at the same time sort out her feeling towards her savior…
*squeal* Sounds exciting, ne? *drum roll* On with the fic!
Intertwined Destinies
Prologue ~ The Past and Present
By Kawaii Kitty-chan
His eyes narrowed as he watched the scene before him through a hidden hole behind an old tapestry.
Laughter rang throughout the large, grand hall and voices filled with happiness and joy chattered excitedly. Colorful banners hung from the high, gold-and-green-trimmed ceiling and other beautiful decorations adorned the tall walls. Lined along one of the walls were mahogany tables of exotic fruits and other refreshments. A trumpet sounded and the noise instantly died down.
"About time," were the only words the assassin uttered quietly, as he took a vial filled with acidic green liquid out of a secret pocket in his shirt.
A squire entered through a door next to a large, carpeted marble staircase that ascended to upper levels in the palace. He cleared his throat and announced in a loud, clear voice, "Presenting the Royal Family of Southern China. Her Royal Highness, Princess Li Xie-Fia."
A beautiful girl in her teens entered the hall, gliding down the large stairs with perfect elegance, her pale, dainty hand skimming the banister. She wore a traditional Chinese dress made out of peach-colored silk with butterflies and small flowers embroidered on it in magenta thread.
"Her Royal Highness, Princess Li Fan-Ren."
Another figure appeared at the top of the stairs, but she looked slightly younger than her sibling. The slit in her lavender and violet dress exposed her slim, creamy legs from knees down.
"Her Royal Highness, Princess Li Fuutie."
A vibrant red silk skirt lightly brushed the carpeted steps. A pale complexion brought out her silky brown hair and eyes, not unlike her sisters.
His hands were nimble and cautious as he poured the poison into an opening in a small, sharp dart. Handling it carefully, he loaded the dart into hand-held contraption and prepared to take aim. "Not long now…"
"Her Royal Highness, Princess Li Fei-Mei."
The youngest Li princess made her way to join her sisters, her porcelain face slightly flushed. A short-sleeved, pale pink dress with lilies and dragonflies sewn in sliver and white covered her body to end at mid-calf. Together, the princesses of the Li Kingdom curtsied to their guests. In unison they then sat on sliver thrones that were perched on the platform a little lower then the gold thrones that were for the emperor and empress. A slightly smaller throne was placed in the middle of the four princess' thrones.
"Her Royal Highness, Empress Li Yelan and His Royal Majesty, Prince Li Xiao-Lang."
A young boy of about eight with messy chocolate hair and cold amber eyes stood at the top of the staircase. Midnight blue skirts that belonged to a regal looking Chinese woman in her mid-thirties brushed the floor next to him.
His hands itched, knowing that his target would be announced next…
"And His Royal Majesty, Emperor Li Raiu of South China!"
A tall, muscular man stood stepped down the stairs. He wore a fancy red shirt with gold trimming and white pants. He had unruly hair like his son's, and the same fiery amber eyes except his were more gold.
"Perfect," the assassin whispered, and he pulled the trigger.
The dart flew towards the emperor at lightening speed. Emperor Raiu stopped at the bottom of the stairs and spun around something, sensing something. His keen eyes widened as he saw the poisoned dart heading towards him and tried to call a shield using his magic, but it was too late. The dart struck its target with deadly accuracy, and the once mighty emperor winced, sinking to the floor, blood trickling from a wound on his arm.
He slipped away into the shadows before anyone remembered to seal all the doors. He would've liked to get the heir too, but the assassin knew that magical barriers were now surrounding the Royal Family. Even if there weren't, there was still no way to get a clear shot. But that didn't matter; he'd kill them all in one go. He laughed cruelly and cupped his hands. Calling on his magic, he created a small, burgundy fire in his palms.
Screams filled the atmosphere, as everyone panicked, scrambling to get out of the doors incase the person sent to murder the emperor was still there and decided to kill a few more people. Guards rushed into the room, calling desperately for healers, but the poison was already taking effect on their ruler. With his dying breath, Emperor Raiu said to his family, "Get Xiao-Lang out of here; he is the only hope for our future… And remember I love you all." Love shined in his eyes for his wife, son and daughters who were crowding around him, tears falling like rivers from their eyes.
His chest rose and fell one last time, and then he lay motionless, cradled in his wife's arms. Suddenly, flames engulfed the room. Chaos reigned as people were sucked into the raging flames or suffocated from the thick smoke.
"Run!" shrieked the empress. "Run my children and be safe!"
"Muqin!" the children protested. The fire was closing in on them, and Yelan knew she only had a few minutes before they all perished.
"Fan-Ren, take Xiao-Lang," Yelan ordered. "I will use my magic to transport you to a faraway country where I want you to raise Xiao-Lang as best as you can. Train hard, my son, and always remember this day. I hope that eventually our Clan's deaths will be avenged."
KK-chan: Maybe I should end it there… na! I want to add a part with Sakura in it first. By the way, the next part of my fic is set 8 years in the future. China is now ruled entirely by the Kasuwari Clan. Syaoran is 16 and Sakura is 15. Fan-Ren is about 24, as I have no idea how much older she is than Syaoran. On with the fic!
~*8 Years Later*~
"NANI KA?!?!" Her scream echoed in the throne room, the word bouncing off the high, gold trimmed walls.
King Fujitaka sighed. "You are to be engaged to Prince of China, Kasuwari Hiroku," he repeated.
Shock was clearly evident on Sakura's face, as the words registered in her mind.
'Engaged… engaged… engaged… ENGAGED!'
Sakura whimpered slightly, but her defiant emerald eyes burned with fires of rage. "How can you do this to me?" she questioned softly. "I want to marry for love, not some stuck-up prince I have never even met."
"Your mother and I were in an arranged marriage," Sakura's father replied. "It worked out fine in the end."
"But how do I know the same thing will happen to me?" she argued back. "Otou-san, I'm only 15 years old."
"Old enough to marry," was the response. "Sakura, my daughter, please. You have rejected every other suitor that has asked for your hand in marriage, and I need you and the Prince to marry so an alliance can be constructed between our lands. The Kasuwari Clan is very powerful, and they may announce war on Japan if you decline their proposal. It is essential for the well-being of our kingdom, and as the Princess of Japan it is your duty to your people."
Sakura chewed her bottom lip in frustration, deep in thought. 'I don't want to get married!' her mind screamed. 'There are too many things I want to do first. I don't want to be tied down, much less to some perverted prince. But then again, I don't want to stand in the way of peace between Japan and China.'
"Very well, Otou-san. I will give his marriage a try, but I shall not like it in the least. And, DON'T expect me to produce any heirs." And with her decision made, Sakura turned on her heel and exited through the huge oak doors with a swish of her long pink skirts.
The king sighed. 'Gomen, Sakura-chan,' he thought solemnly. 'I know you don't wish to marry, but our country and peoples' lives are at stake…'
Kawaii Kitty-chan: So, whaddya think? I forgot to mention this before, S+S's parents used to be great friends and had arranged for them to be married when they grew up. Neither Sakura nor Syaoran was informed of this, however. The engagement was canceled though, for obvious reasons. S+S only met each other once when they were about 4. Sorry if there are some grammar mistakes! I started writing this prologue ages ago, and I really wanted to post it. Besides, I've only edited it about 6 times… Things may be a bit confusing at first, but hopefully everything will clear up after the next few chapters. Please review! Cya!!
P.S. I'm officially on holidays! Yippee! That means that hopefully I will be able to update a bit sooner… big accent on the 'hopefully'. *shrug* How quick I update; only time will tell!