Hey everybody! Here's my new CCS fic. I know I haven't updated my other one, but I will. Promise! I hope you enjoy this! As always, please review!
Before you read this, you have to understand a few things. Sakura and her family rule the land of Hokkaido. Sakura is about 18 and is in the process of being given away to marriage. Syaoran will be in the next chapter, and then things will get exciting, I promise!
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Princess Sakura sighed heavily as she undressed from her formal attire. She hated wearing the overpowering gowns that she could barely breathe in and being the only one without the ability to chose a husband. She didn't want to marry a guy her parents pick out for her. She wanted to marry a guy for his love, not because it's royally "safe." To her it was ridiculous. Of course people should marry for love, but her dad, the King, thinks otherwise. It's how he married her mother, and even they can't stand each other. That example makes Sakura dread her wedding day when she's walking down the aisle to guy she doesn't even know.
Suitor after Suitor she just got bored with the idea of getting married. When she was little the whole thought of marriage gave her so much warmth and happiness, but now she wishes the day will never come.
"Princess Sakura, why are you distressing?" her maid, Tomoyo, asked as she kneeled before her. "You look terribly upset. May I ask why?"
Sakura instantly smiled to cover up her heartache. "I'm not upset, Tomoyo. Maybe you saw how tired I am. Meeting so many people tires me out."
She lifted her eyebrow curiously and then let out a laugh. "Yes, gorgeous men vying for my love would tire me out, too." She stood up and walked over to the door. "Don't worry , Princess, one day you'll find your Prince, even if you may not be expecting it."
"Why do you say that?" she asked, looking at her intently, interested. "What if I don't want to find a Prince?"
Tomoyo turned her head to look at Sakura. "No matter the social or society status, there is a prince in every guy." And with that, she walked away to attend to other things.
Sakura stood up and walked over to her window. She didn't know what to think of what Tomoyo had said. She trusts her, since they are around the same age and despite the situation, are really good friends. Yet no matter how much she wanted to believe her, the thought of all guys having some sort of "prince" in them baffled her. In her life she has met a lot of guys, either them being peons or royally loved, and most are arrogant, rude, and power hungry. If a prince is supposed to be like that then she didn't want to find anyone. She'd rather stay alone forever. It would be better than living with a guy who treats his horse better than her.
As she gazed out her window, she noticed a large carriage coming down the dirt road. She rolled her eyes at the site. She knew exactly was going on. "Another suitor," she said flatly. "Can't wait to see how annoying and conceited this one is."
Once the carriage reached the castle, horns blew and a red carpet lay beneath the opening of it. Two servants came around the side to help whoever was inside it. Out came an attractive, well groomed guy in a black suit along with an older woman in red gown. It made Sakura wonder why the Queen of whoever they come from, came alone. Usually a queen and king come together with their son. The whole idea without him seemed odd.
She shrugged her shoulders and walked over to her vanity. She quickly put some make-up on and then got dressed in a dress that was more comfortable than a gown. She decided that it would be better for her to get ready herself than to have all of the help from the maids. They mean well, but sometimes they make her look like she's Cinderella going to the last ball of her life. She believes that there is no need for it.
As soon as she finished, Tomoyo and a bunch of other girls came running in. They were surprised to see that Sakura had gotten ready by herself.
"Princess?" Tomoyo questioned.
Sakura turned and smiled. "Hey, let's get this done and over with. I don't need to get all dressed up for these people."
"But… your parents will be mad," Tomoyo said, and walked closer toward her. "They wanted you to wear that gown and your crown so the suitor and his parents would think you look like a perfect future queen."
She laughed. "They're crazy," she said, waving her hand. "And anyway I'll say that I wouldn't let you guys help me so you won't get in trouble."
After a speech from Tomoyo, Sakura stood up and hurried down the marble stairs. Even though she has done this a million times, butterflies jittered in her stomach. She was so nervous that she could barely breathe at a decent speed. She knew that this is just like all the other times when she turned a suitor away. This time won't be any different. So what if he is handsome, they all were. To her, he'll be just another failed attempt, which is why she doesn't understand why her parents don't get the trend.
She reached the bottom of the stairs and entered the main hallway, were her parents stood with the new prospect and his mother. She didn't say anything, pretending not to notice they were there. Tomoyo had told her that they were from a rather large country outside the land of Hokkaido, which is the area Sakura's parents rule. The country is called Hong Kong, and is very rich and powerful, or at least that's what Tomoyo had said. But it did not impress Sakura. Nothing does anymore.
"Oh this must be your Princess?" the Queen from Hong Kong said, nodding her head towards her direction. "She is very…beautiful."
Sakura's parents smiled and then turned around to look at her. Their mouths dropped and eyes widened. They couldn't believe what they were seeing. Sakura was dressed so…casually.
To cover it up, Sakura's mom laughed and then said, "Oh Sakura, why didn't you change after tennis class?" She then looked at the other queen and smiled. "Sakura is a renowned tennis player, the best in all of the land."
"Well, Keiichi here, is the best lacrosse player in our country," the Queen of Hong Kong said, motioning to her son. "It's so good that both our children are good at sports."
"Yes, very," Sakura's mom said, and nodded. "Isn't, dear?"
Sakura's father nodded in agreement. He then looked over Sakura. "Why don't you show Keiichi the courtyard while we talk to the Queen of Hong Kong?"
Afraid of what he would say if she disagreed, she nodded and said, "Yes, Father." With that Sakura and Keiichi walked toward the back of the castle, which opened up to a large courtyard full of flowers and water fountains.
She didn't know what to say once they were outside. She knew that he wanted to talk to her since he was looking at her intently, but she tried not to take notice. Although she dreaded being alone with him, she didn't hate it all that much. His good looks and nice smell made it better. He looked the best out of all the suitors she ever had, but that didn't mean he is nice nor did she like him. She only liked the sight of him.
After a few awkward moments, he broke the silence and said, "You are very beautiful."
She blushed and smiled. "Thank you. You're also very handsome."
What am I doing? I can't be like this toward him! It goes against all of my morals and…I can't help it. There is something about him that makes me like this. I don't know what it is. Could it be his looks or his magnetic eyes that keep meeting mine?… Wait a minute. I sound like a love sick puppy. What is going on? Sakura asked herself as she felt so many emotions all at once.
"You know, I've been told that you're not easy to get along with and you're very high tempered. However I have yet to see that," he said, looking her over with some kind of hunger in his eyes. "I find you very engaging and incredibly, for lack of a better word, sweet."
His words brushed against her body like an overwhelming shot of ecstasy. It felt so good that Sakura didn't want him to leave. He was so enticing and mysterious that she could barely help from wondering more about him. She didn't know why she all of a sudden welcomed a suitor to say such things to her or even to sit as close as he was, but she did know that she could be falling for him. And that sort of scared her in a way, but it may be a good one.
She swallowed hard. "Thank you, Prince Keiichi," she said, staring into his eyes. "I'm not sure what I think about you, but what I do know is that you smell very good and I can't help to sit so close to you. I'm dreadfully sorry."
"Don't be," he said with a smile. "I love feeling you so close to me, and by the way, you could just call me Keiichi."
She blinked. "You could call me Sakura if you like."
"Sakura," he said, letting her name roll off his tongue. "I can't take my eyes off of you. I wonder if I should be feeling so much for you."
She kept silent, not knowing what to say. She wondered what he was feeling for her and if they were the same feelings she had. However something inside of her made her mind think that she could like him or maybe more. She wasn't sure what was making her think that, but it could be just her heart throwing out emotions she doesn't even know about yet.
He moved closer to her until they were almost joined at the hip. His face and whole body was so close to her that she could feel his warmth surround her. However she felt embarrassed because he could probably feel her heart beating so quickly that it almost flew out of her chest.
"Do you mind if I--" he paused, placing his hand on her cheek-- "k---"
Before he could finish what he was going to say, the sound of footsteps made them turn. There stood his mom and her parents. They both quickly stood up, blushing.
For some reason, his mother seemed to look at him with an angry look, but she hurriedly changed it with a smile. "It looks like we came at the wrong time."
Sakura's parents both laughed. "It looks like we have," her mom said.
After the goodbyes, Keiichi promised Sakura that they would see each other again. Sakura's parents looked at her and smiled in happiness. She was unsure why they were so happy, but she ignored them and went to her room.
She watched as the carriage left the castle. For some reason she instantly felt the way she did before they came. No longer did her heart beat as fast nor did she feel so much warmth. It was weird too, since as soon as they left the castle so did those feelings. It made her think that maybe such feelings are only temporary. Sort of like lust at first sight.
"Maybe I'll never find love," she said to herself, and got into her bed. "It'll never find me either."
She closed her eyes and fell asleep to the sounds of the forest.
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To be continued… Please Review!