As a few people noticed, this story is based off of "Romeo X Juliet" I initially put it in my notes in the beginning, but changed those notes and forgot to put it back in. But I'd like to say that I already have more than half of this story written out in a notebook and that most of the plot is based off of "Romeo X Juliet" but not all. You'll see what I mean by the end if you've already seen "Romeo X Juliet."

Also, thanks for the reviews and please keep reading!

"I hope…" Sakura whispered to herself as she traced the outline of the cherry blossom that she held in her hand, "I hope that he doesn't forget me."
"I could never forget about you," a voice stated, "You'd never fade from my memory."

4. The Past Revealed

--

"Syaoran-kun," Sakura thought upon hearing the familiar voice. "I-it can't be," she quietly said.

"You've been on my mind," Syaoran reached out to touch her shoulder, but hesitated, pulling his hand back. "I've been thing about you…ever since last night." He waited for an answer, but when he didn't receive a response, he put his hand down to his side.

"I've been thinking about you too," Sakura finally replied, turning toward him. "I wanted to meet you again, Syaoran-kun."

"Iiya," he quickly said, "Just Syaoran."

"Okay," she blushed," I wanted to see you again, Syaoran."

"What's your name?" he questioned, "I really wanted to know your name."

She held out the cherry blossom to him. "You said it last night. When we first met."

He took the flower from her hand. "Sakura. Is that it?" She nodded as her reply. "What a beautiful name. No wonder I was always reminded of you whenever I held a cherry blossom."

She looked up at his reddening face and smiled shyly. She took a step closer to him. "Why are you here? Don't you live in the palace?"

"Yeah, I live in the palace," Syaoran answered flatly, "but I'd rather be out in the city, meeting its people. That's why Hien," he stroked the pegasus' nose softly, "is one of my best friends. You can pet him if you want."

Timidly, Sakura reached out her hand, afraid of the pegasus.

"Don't worry," Syaoran took her hand in his and pressed it against the skin of the pegasus' nose. "He's very docile."

"His fur is so soft," she observed as she moved her hands between the pegasus' eyes. "You must take really good care of him."

"Arigatou," he said, running his fingers through Hien's soft mane. "Would you like to take a ride?"

"I'd love to," she replied, "but I've got to get back home. We're celebrating something today."

"Really? What is it?"

"Today's my sixteenth birthday," she answered quietly, slightly embarrassed.

"Is it?" Syaoran stated dumbfounded. "Anno…ah…" he searched for something suitable to present to her as a gift. Looking up, he saw the cherry blossoms and reached for one. "Ummmm…I know that this isn't much, but congratulations!"

Taking the flower from his hands, Sakura pressed it against her heart. "Arigatou. It's more than enough."

His cheeks already a pale pink, Syaoran smiled at her. "How about the next time we meet, I'll give you a ride on Hien."

"Next time?" she questioned, remembering the look on Touya's face when they were first rescued by Syaoran.

"Isn't there going to be a next time?"

Even though something in the back of her head was shouting for her to say no, her heart was screaming yes. Not sure of how to answer, Sakura said, "I really should get going."

"When will I see you again?"

No answer. All Sakura did was begin to walk away, an unsure look in her eyes.

"Please!" Syaoran pleaded, taking a hold of Sakura's hand, causing her to stop. "I want to see you again!" He pulled her toward him, embracing her in a hug. "I need to see you again!"

It was as if his embrace had quieted her fears. "Syaoran?"

"Yes, Sakura?" he said, his voice muffled in her hair.

"I want to see you again too," she replied, returning his hug. "Can we meet here again later tonight?"

"Really?" he asked, letting go of her.

"Yeah," she answered, "I've got to go now," she started running home, "I'll see you later tonight, right?"

"Yeah, I see you later," Syaoran shouted, watching her leaving, "And happy birthday Sakura!" When she was out of viewing distance, he got on Hien. "Let's go back to the palace."

--

Knowing that Touya and Yukito were probably home, Sakura tried to sneak back up into her room quietly.

"Don't try it, kaiju. I already see you."

"How does he do that?" Sakura thought, referring to her brother's innate ability to always know where she was. "Hey onii-san, back already?"

"Where have you been?" Touya asked, standing in the entrance to the kitchen.

"Does that really matter, Touya?" Yukito stated, appearing beside him. "Sakura-chan, come on. We've gotta get going."

"Where?"

"You'll find out when you get there," Touya answered sharply.

--

After feeding and brushing Hien, Syaoran wondered the halls of the palace, wondering where his father was.

"Syaoran," a voice called from behind him, "Where have you been?"

"I've been out, father," Syaoran answered, turning to face his father, "I really wanted—"

The Grand Duke held out his hand and slapped his son across the face. Syaoran stood his ground, keeping eye contact with his father.

"I've told you many times not to go about the city," Li-sama stated, "If you're going to take over the throne, you must learn."

Resisting the urge to speak his mind, Syaoran merely nodded in agreement.

"Come, son," the Grand Duke said, continuing in the same direction that Syaoran had previously been walking, "There's a council meeting now. I want you to be there today."

Quietly and obediently, Syaoran followed his father.

--

After climbing out of the carriage, Sakura and company followed Kero, everyone hiding their identity by wearing a cloak. They passed into a neglected cemetery, a feeling of uneasiness filling the air. Sakura stopped to more closely observe a tombstone. The weathered plague was uncared for. Moss had grown heavily on it and the wind had eroded away the name.

"We're almost there," Touya stated, urging his sister to move on. "You'll find out where we are soon enough."

Without saying another word, Sakura followed the rest of the group. Along the way, she noticed that all the tombstones had been worn away and some looked as if the named had been forcibly scratched away.

"We're here," Touya said, putting down his hood. Everyone else also dropped their hoods.

"Where are we? We're pretty far from the city," Sakura asked.

Kero approached her. "Sakura, come with me." The group parted as they walked through. "Take a look at this."

Sakura couldn't believe what stood in front of her. Where, she deduced, a large magnificent tombstone once stood was now blown into several pieces, the base still intact. "What is this?"

"Sakura," Touya stepped forward. "This is our father and mother's grave."

It started drizzling.

--

"I propose an act to…" the Grand Duke announced, addressing the city council members.

Syaoran sat still in a chair behind his father, staring straight ahead. He was only partially listening to what his father was saying about keeping the citizen in line.

"All those in favor of placing a curfew on the citizens, please rise," the official secretary shouted.

Most all the audience stood up, Syaoran observed. All but the city's mayor stood up immediately. He looked hesitant, but at seeing the sea of people standing around him, he stood up as well.

The city's mayor was Yamazaki's father. He was a very well-known man and cared for the city deeply.

Li-sama bore a grin on his face as he waved for the council to sit down and cleared his throat for another announcement. "I also want more security on our streets to search for the Kinomoto siblings and the Red Hurricane. They've been a nuisance for long enough. I propose that all young women around the age of sixteen be brought into custody."

Syaoran drew the line at that point. "Why father? You're only looking for the one girl. Why are you going to separate all these other girls from their families?" he stated, getting up from his seat.

"Son, do you want to inherit the throne in the future?"

Syaoran kept quiet. He didn't care about inheriting the throne at this point. He didn't want Sakura to get separated from her family.

"Syaoran, answer me!" the Grand Duke raised his voice, "Do you care about this city? Because if you did, you'd want to capture her as soon as possible."

He couldn't stand it anymore. Syaoran turned his back to his father and left without saying another word.

"Secretary, please call for the vote," Li-sama stated, turning his attention to the audience.

--

Back at the stable, Syaoran opened Hien's stable and led him to the platform outside.

"We're going to visit okasan," he told Hien, getting upon his back and nudging the pegasus to take flight.

--

In a quiet convent, a young and beautiful woman was tending to the garden, watering the flowers. Yelan was her name.

"I'm home, okasan!" Syaoran greeted as Hien landed, who started nibbling at some stray grass.

"Syaoran, you're here." Yelan put the watering can down and embraced her son, "Isn't your father going to be mad at you for coming down here?"

"I don't care anymore. Life's too hard at the palace away. Nobody's ever there to welcome me with a smile."

Yelan reached out and brushed the stray hairs from her son's handsome face. "Gomen. It's my fault because I left you when you were younger."

Syaoran sat in an open field of irises. "Mom, father's already got me betrothed."

"Really?" Yelan sounded surprised. "I always thought that your father was against that." She placed the daffodils she was holding on the table. "But then again, they did have a bad history…" she added in a hushed tone.

--

"Otosan?" Sakura said in a shocked voice, "Okason? Their grave? Why is it that it's destroyed? Why haven't you told me before?"

"Because Sakura-chan," Yukito tried to calm her down, "Twelve years ago, they were murdered."

"Before our current Grand Duke was on the throne," Kero further explained, "Both of your parents," he was also addressing Touya, "were the rulers of this city. But Li-sama decided to murder them. We don't know exactly why he did it. He didn't want to stop with your parents, though. He tried to go after you."

"But, somehow father was still alive," Touya continued. "He told me to protect you and to escape. He said to run to his house, meaning Yukito."

Water dripped down Sakura's face as she recalled that rainy day. "But why have I been disguising myself all these years? What about Touya? How come he could freely walk about as himself?"

"Because they don't know how old I am," Touya answered, "but they know how old you are."

"How?" Sakura questioned, "How do they only know my age?"

--

"What okasan?" Syaoran inquired, "What does father have against arranged marriages? Who did he have a bad history with?"

Yelan sat beside her son. "Is your father still looking for the Kinomoto girl? And her brother?"

"Well, yeah," he answered, "Why is he searching for them? What do they have to do with this?"

"When you were younger," she took a hold of her son's hands, "I had arranged a marriage for you."

"Is that why I'm betrothed to Meilin-chan?"

"No, the marriage I arranged wasn't with her."

"Then who?"

"It was with the daughter of Kinomoto-san…"

Syaoran still doesn't know who Sakura is at this point, but he now knows that he was betrothed to the girls they've been looking for. Sakura is finally told about her past, but what more is there to know? Also, Sakura and Syaoran have a secret meeting planned. Will she still go, knowing that his father killed her family? Find out in the next chapter!