Disclaimer: I don't own CCS. Never did, never will.
Meaning of Love
By AnimeAngel
Chapter Two: Sneaking Out
"Oh Sakura-hime! You're back!" Tomoyo exclaimed as Sakura entered her bedchamber. She wandered outside until she was certain that the dinner was over. I do not wish to go back there...I think Meiling-san has insulted me enough for the day.
"Gomen nasai Tomoyo-chan, if I worried you," Sakura said. Tomoyo shook her head. "I'm so relieved you're okay!"
*Knock* *Knock* The door opened to reveal Xiaolang.
"Xiaolang! What brings you here?" Sakura asked, trying to hide her surprise.
He took a deep breath. "I apologize," he said, "For both my cousin and myself. I could've been a little more...polite than how I was. I hope you accept my apologies." He then took a quick bow and then left.
Sakura stared at the door for a long time. Did Xiaolang just...apologize to me!?
Tomoyo grinned. It seems... "Princess, I told you to give him a chance!" she said. "Xiaolang-sama isn't really that bad, honestly!"'
"I suppose..." Sakura sighed. "Anyway, Tomoyo-chan, where in Japan did you live?" she questioned.
"Oh...umm..." Tomoyo looked hesitant. No...not yet, it's still too early. "Different parts," she said quickly. Sakura looked at her curiously but decided not to push it any further.
She sat on her bed and lied down upon it. Then she asked, "Tomoyo-chan...what is the rest of China like?"
Tomoyo laughed but then immediately stopped. "Gomen hime, I wasn't laughing at you," she said quickly. Sakura smiled to show that she didn't care and Tomoyo continued. "China is a very big country princess and even I myself have not been everywhere. But I think its quite the lovely place...except for certain people whom I think, bring dishonor to the royal family!" She then quickly covered her own mouth. "Eek! I really must be careful of what I say!" she exclaimed. "Sakura-hime...you won't...?"
Sakura smiled warmly. "I would never say anything. I must agree with you," she laughed. But Xiaolang...he's quite different. One minute he's insulting me and the next, he's apologizing. I never thought that he would...perhaps I really should be kiner towards him. Then she frowned. But as for Meiling...well, that's a different story!
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"Xiaolang!" Meiling stormed throughout the garden. Xiaolang was watching her wearily.
"How could you...apologize!?" Meiling demanded. "Do you want to marry her?"
If it was my choice, I would not marry period. "No, but I felt it was my duty to do so," Xiaolang replied.
Meiling glared slightly. "If I was certain, I would almost say you somewhat like her," she said suspiciously.
"Hmph." Xiaolang crossed his arms and frowned. (AN: Almost like Vegeta! *smile*). "I just don't wish for this to happen."
Meiling opened her mouth to say something, but then she was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Enter," Meiling said, irritated. Two servants entered the room.
"Sorry to interrupt you," one said. "But Empress Yelan has requested your prescence Lady Meiling."
"Fine. I'm sure she wants to talk to me about...her." Meiling started for the door but before she left, she said quietly, "Xiaolang...don't be afraid to say what you want...you're a human too and whether you like it or not, you have feelings that count."
Xiaolang stared as the door closed. Meiling...
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Sakura sighed as the sun's warm rays hit her eyes and woke her up from a peaceful rest. Another day, she sighed, Of living here.
A week had passed since she first arrived. She and Xiaolang had been avoiding each other as much as they could, not wishing to communicate any more than they had too. Wherever Xiaolang was, Meiling was right next to him and whenever she saw Sakura, her ruby eyes would narrow and she would glare at the princess. She would also make rue remarks about what Sakura did during the day and who she was around.
Sakura spent her time with Tomoyo, them becoming closer and closer friends as time passed. Tomoyo showed her around the palace and though Sakura wasn't permitted to leave the palace grounds, Tomoyo told her all about China outside of the palace walls.
"All the people are quite kind," Tomoyo said. "I think you would like it out there."
Sakura sighed. "Out there. You make it seem as though I have never seen out there. At home, I was allowed to go out as long as the guards came along with me. I wasn't shut out from the world like this."
Every day, Sakura would almost just wander around, looking for something to do. Many ladies of the court disliked her, not because of her personality but because she hung out with the servants and to them, those who spend time with the servants are no better than them.
"Princess, did you sleep well?" asked one of the attendents kindly when she entered Sakura's bed chamber. Many servants were cleaning and etc. while Sakura sat on a chair staring outside.
"Yes." As well as I can around here, she thought. No matter what, she was very uncomfortable in the palace. Everyone would point at her and whisper and it was quite annoying.
*Slam* A red-faced, panting Tomoyo ran into the room.
"Tomoyo-chan, daijoubu k-" Sakura started to ask but was interrupted.
"Daidouji!" The head maid, Minmei, stormed over, an look of absolute furry on her face. "How dare you slam and storm into a room of a princess like that! And after being late too! Do you have no respect!?"
Tomoyo bowed down her head and said, "I'm sorry m'am but I was-"
"Don't give me your excuses! You shall have no dinner tonight and you will do so many extra chores, you won't know what hit you!" Then, the maid turned to Sakura with a fake sweet smile. "I'm sorry dear princess for her rudeness. It won't happen again."
Sakura frowned. "It's quite alright, really. I would truly appreciate it if you granted me the favor of taking back Tomoyo's punishment."
Minmei raised her eyebrow. "But princess," she said in a sugary voice, "This maid has been the most disrespectful. Why, I felt it was my duty as a servant to you to make sure you are given the utmost best treatment and respect. I mean, such a irresponsible maid should not even been in the prescence of such a princess as yourself."
Sakura rolled her eyes slightly and repeated her request without hesitation. Minmei sighed, unable to ignore royal request, and did as she was asked. When she left the room, she shot Tomoyo a icy glare that sent chills up the girl's back.
"Arigato Sakura-hime!" Tomoyo said, and forgeting all about her position and Sakura's, threw her arms around the other girl's neck and laughed out loud. Then, her eyes widened and she quickly jumped back, and bowed. "I mean...arigato for your kindness and I promise, I shall repay you back some how."
Sakura shook her head. "No need...but I do have a question. What seems to be the problem with that maid? I mean, she was downright rude towards you Tomoyo-chan."
Tomoyo sighed. "That's Minmei, she can be like that. She used to be actually really sweet but she's been yearning to gain Lady Meiling's favor and so in which, is trying to make herself more superior than the rest of us. In fact, she's only "head maid" because Meiling asked her to be."
"Oh. I see. Well, that explains her rather rude behavior-she reminds me of Meiling." The two girls laughed.
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"Ugh!" Sakura walked around the room, throwing her hands in the air and giving a frustrated yell. Meiling had been all day trying to make Sakura look bad or be embarassed and the same was for Minmei. And no matter how many times Sakura tried to avoid them, they'd pop again with another scheme.
"Why are they so against me, Tomoyo-chan?!" Sakura exclaimed. "Geez!"
"Well, Lady Meiling was Xiaolang's future bride before you came. However, the Emperor and Empress decided to have you be the future Empress since you are a real princess and it might help the relationship between China and Japan. However, Lady Meiling was most displeased, along with Minmei. They had been working together to get Meiling to become Empress, and that, as Minmei was hoping, would help her become higher in status, even perhaps to one of a Lady of the Court," Tomoyo explained.
"So...Meiling is just using Xiaolang for...the throne!?" Sakura asked.
"No, Meiling does truly love her cousin and if she had to, could become his wife. I just think she's angry that not only will she not get the power, but someone else shall take away her cousin, who was engaged with her since they were babies."
"Wow...all their lives, they were engaged and suddenly..."
"Suddenly, it was changed. But don't worry about it, Sakura-hime," Tomoyo reassured. "It's not your fault and I'm sure, or at least hope, that Lady Meiling will soon see the error of her ways and you two can make peace. Along with Minmei."
"I suppose," Sakura said. "But still...I feel like with them two around in the meantime, I can't go anywhere! I'm prohibited to go outside the palace grounds and I'm stuck here, and even if I go anywhere in the palace, those two will be there!"
"Hmm..." Tomoyo looked thoughtful. "Perhaps, I could sneak you out of here..." She shook her head furiously. "What am I thinking!? We'd both get into trouble, especially me! And I think I'm in hot water as it is!"
"Well, you could just tell them I commanded you to help me, and forced you to it. You won't get in trouble for that, I will. And the worst they could do is send me home, which I'm more than willing to accept." She took Tomoyo's hand and looked at her pleadingly. "Please Tomoyo-chan, even if it's just for a tiny bit, help me just escape this cage for just a little while. Please? I don't think...I can stand being here much longer...And if anything, like you said, you owe me!"
Tomoyo sighed. "I know something bad's going to happen, but it appears I have no choice. Follow me."
"Arigato Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura said cheerfully.
"But here's the plan..." Tomoyo motioned Sakura closer and the two began whispering plans of Sakura's trip out of the palace.
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"Tomoyo-chan...are you sure we're in the right place?" Sakura questioned, pulling up her sleeve. The two were in a sort of dark alley far south of the palace, but still on the palace grounds. It was extremely narrow, and covered in leaves and vines. Sakura had changed into more normal clothes that Tomoyo had designed, and Tomoyo had done the same.
"Hai. I'm positive. See, look?" Tomoyo pointed at the end of the alley, in which a barely visible little door was hidden behind a bush.
"Oh!" Sakura clapped her hands in delight.
"I'll go in first." Tomoyo slipped into the alley and carefully pushed open the door. Sakura followed suit. When the two went through, they were on the road outside the palace.
"We made it!" Sakura cheered. Tomoyo shook her head. "Not yet Sakura-hime. Come, we must hurry!" Tomoyo bent low and started running along the side of the palace walls away. Sakura looked confused but did the same.
When the two were securely away, Tomoyo said, "Now we're safe. Outside the palace walls, we are still able to be caught."
"Arigato Tomoyo-chan, for showing me how to get out," Sakura said. "But...should you be going back now? I don't want you to be in trouble."
Tomoyo shook her head and smiled. "I'd get in trouble anyway, if they found you missing. If anything, I'm not going to let you wander around by yourself Sakura-hime."
Sakura grinned. "Arigato Tomoyo-chan, again!"
"Now come on!" Tomoyo grabbed Sakura's hand. "I'll show you around!"
"Okay!" They went into some shops and Sakura talked to some of the people. She found the town to be quite fascinating. She played with some little kids and she and Tomoyo watched some musicians preforming on the streets.
"Tomoyo-chan, this day was fun!" Sakura said, an hour later, when they finally had to head back. It was took risky to stay longer, and they might've already been found out.
"Hai, I agree. I think that any punishment would be worth it for this...well, almost." The two giggled and opened the little door back into othe palace.
"I hope we can do this again, Tomoyo-chan," Sakura said, looking back at Tomoyo while going through the door. "This was really so much-" Sakura stopped when she bumped into something and fell back.
"Sakura-hime! Are you okay?" Tomoyo asked as Sakura got up.
"Yes, but what was that...?" Sakura wondered. They peered into the door, and saw two eyes staring back at them.
"Hoe!" Sakura exclaimed. "What is that!?"
Tomoyo glared at the figure. "Who are you!?"
The figure stepped out into the light. "Don't worry, I come in peace."
Tomoyo gasped. "C-Could it be...!?" It couldn't! Why would he...?
"Xiaolang!" Sakura exclaimed. What's he doing, sneaking out!?
AnimeAngel: Well, what'd you think of this chapter? I FINALLY got it out! Yay! It's sort of short, and I was kind of rushing to get it done today. -_-;; Anywayz, don't forget to READ AND REVIEW!!!!!! 'Kay? *smile* Ja minna-chan!
