Second chapter now - here is the never before seen material. I'm currently trying to think of a summary for the whole fic, as currently it only encompasses the first two chapters a best, but it's hard to think of one without giving too much away. Updates will be regular from now on, so watch out for this on a bi-weekly basis.

Administrative stuff

Summary: Li Syaoran must return to Kinomoto Kingdom with the remains of his fiancée after her tragic demise. But a marriage is still required to unite the two families, and now Syaoran has his pick of the six remaining daughters of Kinomoto Fujitaka for the sake of both their kingdoms. Romance/Mystery

Ages:
Kinomoto Touya: 27yrs
Li Syaoran: 22 yrs (almost 23)
Kinomoto Sakura: 21 yrs
Kinomoto Tomoyo: 20 yrs
Kinomoto Ayame: 18 yrs (dec)
Kinomoto Meilin: 18 yrs
Kinomoto Chiharu: 17 yrs
Kinomoto Naoko: 16 yrs
Kinomoto Rika: 15 yrs

Disclaimer: I do not own Card Captor Sakura.

It's Only Love – Singled Out

Kinomoto Rika chatted to him cheerfully as the two drank their tea. It was clear that Sakura had not told her the news, as she spoke to him with none of the pretext of courtship – as a brother-in-law and not a suitor.

And that was all she would ever be. He had no interest in the youngest Kinomoto. He found her too young and innocent. The seven-year age gap bothered him, even though it was hardly unusual for such an age gap to exist. Most marriages had a gap of at least ten years between the husband and wife, but Syaoran never understood the appeal. He'd much rather have a wife that was on the same level as himself in terms of both intellect and maturity, rather than a slowly withering beauty he could hang on his arm.

Not that he didn't appreciate the appeal of young Kinomoto Rika, mature in some respects but still young in so many others. She was pleasant enough to look at with her father's eyes, and her mother's soft features, and she had a charming, albeit innocent, personality. She spoke of topics he had no interest in – her needlework and something about a new bunny that Sakura had procured for her birthday – and it was easy for him to let his thoughts wander.

"So, why hasn't Ayame-neechan accompanied you?" Rika asked cheerfully, smiling at him brightly. Her eyes were bright and innocent, and he knew that in a moment he would be wiping that look off her face.

"Ayame-"

"Rika-chan," Sakura's voice cut in. Syaoran looked at her gratefully, but she only returned his thankfulness with a scowl. "I hate to interrupt, but you need to speak with Tomoyo-chan."

"Ok, 'nee-chan," Rika responded cheerfully, giving her sister a warm smile before practically skipping out of the room. It almost made Syaoran want to laugh – Rika was still such a child, and he couldn't see how anyone could see her as a wife at this stage in her life.

"You can't marry her," Sakura said as soon as her youngest sister was out of earshot. "I forbid it."

"But she's lovely, Sakura-chan," he replied, unable to stop himself from goading Sakura. A smirk pulled at his lips, but failed to reach his eyes. "She would make a wonderful wife."

"But not for you," Sakura responded stiffly. "Take anyone else, but not her. Meilin would make a wonderful wife, and she would be more than willing to have you. Just don't choose Rika-chan, it would break her heart."

"Anyone?" he asked, his eyes lighting briefly with some obscure emotion. "Do you mean that, Sakura-chan?"

She scowled again at the familiar address, but didn't tell him to stop using it. "Obviously not Chiharu," she answered sarcastically, "but I'd assume that even you aren't that low."

"You mean Yamazaki-kun's soon-to-be, soon-to-be wife?" he asked with an almost sadistic smile. "You're right, I'm not that low."

"Well in that case, I mean anyone," she replied blandly. "Tomoyo, Naoko, and Meilin would all make fine wives. You have your pick."

She shuddered a predatory grin pulled at his lips. "I don't want Tomoyo-san or Naoko-san or Meilin-san," he replied in a low voice. "And you should know I have no intention of marrying your Rika-san."

"You said you wouldn't marry Chiharu," she told him with a glare. "You better not be going back your word Li-san."

"I'm not," he responded, "although you seem to have forgotten that there are six Kinomoto women for me to choose from."

She rolled her eyes, not believing him for a moment. "You best choose wisely, Li-san," she responded before making her way out of the room. "I'll send Naoko down to speak with you in a moment."

"It'll be my pleasure, Sakura-chan."

"Onee-chan, why didn't you tell me?" Rika asked her sister as tears fell from her eyes. Rika had always been the most sensitive of the daughters of Fujitaka "I can't believe Ayame-neechan is gone."

"I'm sorry, Rika-chan," Sakura answered softly. "You needed to be kept in the dark about this.

"Li-san has given me his word that he will not ask for your hand," she lied, trying her best to offer her sister some encouragement. "He will not get in your way."

"Thank you, Sakura-chan," she said, sniffing back tears. "Thank you for watching out for me."

"It's ok, Rika-chan," she said, gently hugging her littlest sister to herself. "Naoko-chan," she said, speaking over Rika's shoulder. "It's your turn now."

"I'll put in a good word for you and Tomoyo-chan," she told Meilin and Tomoyo with a smile as she headed downstairs. She had no interest in marrying, even to Li Syaoran, and fully intended to spend the rest of her days in the castle at their father's side with Sakura. The two of them would make sure that he was happy in his old age, and when he died and Touya became king, they would act as ladies-in-waiting to Nakuru and nurses to the future monarch's she gave birth to.

Naoko spoke excitedly to the Minami monarch about ghosts and ghouls and various other disgusting topics that would make her other sisters cringe, and poor Sakura shake in her boots. She knew it was not proper conversation for a lady, but that was kind of the point. She was trying to show him what a terrible wife she would be, and doing a fine job at it.

"Naoko-san," he cut in after some fantastical tale of Chaucer's that should not be repeated in polite company, "I know you do not wish to marry," he said, seeing right through her ploy.

"Oh no, Li-san," she lied unconvincingly, "I just thought you might share an interest in 10th Century literature."

He chuckled at her comment. "It's ok, Naoko-san," he replied. "I will not ask for you, and as long as you keep telling such rotten tales I doubt you'll ever have to worry about that prospect. You shall keep your father thoroughly entertained until his dying day – that I am sure of."

"Then I guess I'll be going," Naoko said curtly, stepping up from her seat. "I'll retrieve Chiharu-chan for you at once."

"Naoko-san, wait," he cut in before she could leave, "I just want to ask you one question." He paused, waiting for Naoko to indicate that she was listening. "Who do you think I should marry?"

Naoko thoughtfully considered the question. "Sakura-chan wishes you to marry Meilin-chan," she answered pensively, "but it's only because she is worried that Meilin-chan's temper will drive away respectable suitors such as yourself. I don't believe that she will be a good match for you though – she is fiery, but she is too obliging in her own way."

"So, who would make a good match?"

Again Naoko contemplated his question. If Meilin was not a good match, then that only left Tomoyo, but again, the match seemed poor. Tomoyo was too sweet and quiet for the Li monarch, and judging by his own shy demeanour, the two would just fade together into the background. He needed someone who could challenge him and make him step out of his comfort zone.

Ayame would have been good for him. She would have forced him to stand beside her in the limelight, but she would have absorbed that light rather than making it possible for him to shine. In a moment she knew there was someone more perfect than Ayame for him. Someone who would fight him on every decision. Someone who would care for him in the way that mattered. Someone who would make him a good king, and thus would herself be an excellent queen.

"Sakura-chan," she admitted shamefacedly. "I know it's probably not the answer you want to hear, but she would make a good match even though she is the oldest and practically an old maid. I'm sure you want a young wife like Rika-chan, but in truth Sakura-chan would be the best match for you in the end."

He offered her a small smile in response. "Thank you for your honesty, Naoko-san," he said simply. "I'll see Chiharu-san now."

Naoko left quickly, and was soon replaced by Chiharu who refused to say even a word to him.

"Chiharu-san, I know you are being courted by Yamazaki-kun," he told her with a tone of amusement in his voice at her tenacity. "I have no intention of undermining my friend merely for the sake of an alliance."

"Then why did you even bother asking to see me?" she replied snarkily, crossing her arms over her chest with a loud 'harrumph'. In that moment, he could hardly believe that Takashi was so attracted to this woman. She hardly seemed his type at all, but he supposed to each his own.

"I want to ask you the same question I just asked Naoko-san," he said simply. "In truth, you have three eligible sister's, and I want to know which one you think I should marry?"

"You should marry the one you like best," Chiharu replied simply, refusing to be more helpful. "Each of them is lovely in their own way. Meilin-chan has Ayame-chan's beauty. Tomoyo-chan has her quiet intelligence. Rika has her cheerfulness. You should marry the one who encompasses the things you loved best about Ayame, and at least that way you will be happy."

He looked thoughtful, and in spite of her coolness towards him, Chiharu couldn't help but wonder the answer to the question she asked next. "What did you like most about, Ayame-chan?"

"Ayame's eyes," Syaoran answered truthfully. "They always reminded me of . . . something wonderful. She has the most beautiful eyes, and she never seemed to be able to hide anything in them. Her eyes were so honest, so pure."

Chiharu scoffed at her words, although she was actually a little warmed by hearing him speak so passionately. "Then perhaps you should marry Sakura-chan," she laughed, smiling at her own joke as she got up and left the room.

'Marry Sakura-chan,' she thought daftly to herself. 'I'm sure he loves the thought of that. Li Syaoran to wed Kinomoto-sama's old maid. That will surely happen.'

Meilin was neither subtle nor passive in her actions, and it was honestly the thing he detested most about her. Naoko was correct in her summation of her sister – she was not afraid to show what she wanted, or to fight for it, but she would do anything to have it and keep it, and that was what made her too obliging for her own good. She needed someone who would not take advantage of her giving nature and would return everything that she gave him ten fold.

Li Syaoran was not that man.

Meilin was forward as always, sitting far closer than was acceptable in their society, not even dancing around the topic of marriage as a proper woman would. She probably thought that she had this in the bag, given that she held the closest resemblance to Ayame, but the one thing that entranced him about Ayame physically, was the one thing she didn't have.

She had always lamented her sister's beautiful green eyes, and now more than ever they were being held against her. She could see Syaoran scrutinizing her face, and his gaze would constantly return to her eyes. She could see the disappointment that flashed through his amber eyes as he noted their colour – crimson was nice, but it was nothing compared to the jade green eyes of her sister.

'Or Sakura's emerald gems,' she thought moodily to herself. Sakura's eyes were even more beautiful than Ayame's, but Ayame had the whole package of the perfect princess that seemed to trump the beauty beheld by Sakura's stare.

'Perhaps I should accept Fye's offer,' she mused silently. Fye wasn't nearly as handsome as Syaoran, or as rich, or as highly esteemed; but he smiled at her like she was the most precious thing in the world. She liked that feeling. It was the first time anyone had ever made her feel like she was something special – unique even – and she secretly longed for that feeling when he wasn't around.

They lapsed into silence, both thinking of someone else. "You can marry Sakura-chan for her eyes, me for her looks, or Rika for her personality, but you'll never have the whole package," Meilin warned him as she got up to leave. "I just thought you should know that. I only look like her. Rika-chan only seems like her. And Sakura-chan will never be her. But I suppose you already knew that.

"Maybe Tomoyo-chan is the one for you," she suggested flippantly as she moved towards the door. "She's the least like her in every way. Only I don't think that's what you want, but you can't expect any of us to be like her, so forget trying to replace her and just pick somebody. The alliance is all that matters."

Meilin's last words rang in his head even as Tomoyo entered the room after her. As always, Tomoyo was direct and to the point, hitting the nail on the head. Tomoyo had always been known for her insight.

"Marry Sakura-chan," she said simply. "You know, and I know, that she's the only one that can make you happy."

"And who will you marry, Tomoyo-san?" he asked, annoyed that once again, Tomoyo had managed to read him like a book.

"Whoever takes my fancy," Tomoyo replied absently. "Don't ever think for a second that we are short of offers in this castle, Li-kun," she added amusedly. "Even Sakura-chan has her fair share, and she's considered by many to be beyond the age of marriage."

"And yet she has turned down each and every one of them," Syaoran replied with a scoff.

"Perhaps she is waiting for the right one," Tomoyo told him whimsically. "It hardly matters. If you ask for her hand, Li-kun, she won't turn you down. She knows her duty."

"Do you know yours, Tomoyo-san?" he asked, glancing at her knowingly. Tomoyo's blank façade didn't falter, and she stared back at him proudly.

"Right now, my duty is to my sister and her happiness," Tomoyo replied sternly, meeting his eye. "If you can promise me that much, then I will take my place. I will do my duty."

"I'll take that into account," he replied, giving nothing away.

Finally, Sakura came and he sat up that much straighter and smiled ever so slightly at her presence.

"I didn't think I'd be graced with your company," he told her with smirk he knew would rile up the auburn haired beauty. Sakura glared silently, which was a response he was starting to become accustomed to.

"It seems that the only one of your sisters with any interest in marrying me, is Meilin-san," Syaoran commented blandly, "and even she doesn't seem that keen on it."

Sakura continued to glare at him, and he continued to smirk back. "So that only leaves you, Sakura-chan," he said slowly. "What be your intentions towards me?"

"I intend to see this alliance through," she replied coldly, "irrespective of your choice."

One day later Syaoran came to Fujitaka with his decision.

Kinomoto Sakura.

~ to be continued ~

Second chapter out of the way. Hope you all enjoyed. If you did, you should go press that review button thingee below and show some author love.

Next chapter: Syaoran discusses his decision with Fujitaka as the elder recalls the reason for the nuptials.

Note: Syaoran said that there were three eligible sisters when he spoke with Chiharu; she assumed this meant Rika, Tomoyo, and Meilin, but Syaoran intended to include Sakura in this. It makes one wonder, who did he intended to exclude and what does Syaoran know that Chiharu doesn't?