Disclaimer: Card Captor Sakura belongs to CLAMP.

Chapter 11

She stood alone on the little bridge over the creek that ran through the West Garden, the princess. Bloss was skulking about, ready to eat the food she smuggled out, when she saw her – just up there, looking all gorgeous with her chin resting in her palm. I knew I should have gone to the East one, she thought, stuffing her bread back under her sleeve. Any normal servant would have wondered, "Hey, what's Her Royal Highness doing out at this hour by her-royal-self?" Not Bloss, though. Oh, did she know that princess: as a figure approached her with a bouquet of flowers, Bloss knew she was right. Prince Li and Princess Aishi were at another one of their fiancé-to-fiancée meet again; the two seemed to have already said their vows on their own time, and they were stuck happily together like white on rice. It's been going on for a week, their intimate behavior, and Bloss doubted that it would end any time soon. Shrugging, she decided not to stay behind for a loving conversation between the two and started back towards the castle.

"Shaoran, you made it!"

"Aah," he smiled and thrust forward the flowers. "I'm a little bit late…"

"Freesia and peonies," Sakura exclaimed with delight. "Neither is native to the Kinomoto land. They are beautiful, Shaoran. Thanks!"

"I, heh, had Meiling go back to Li to get some," Syaoran said, leaning against the wooden rail. "She just got back; there was a storm back home."

"I hope she gets a good rest then," said Sakura as she hugged the bouquet tighter. "After all that trouble – Meiling is so kind."

"That's my cousin," Syaoran chuckled. He found his arm wrapping itself comfortably around her tiny waist. "You're too skinny, Sakura. You should eat more."

"It's not my fault that they serve in such small portions here," Sakura gave him a stubborn nudge. "I wish I could take you to have lunch with me at my house. You'll never be the same again."

"The food is that good?" said Syaoran, sounding incredulous.

"They prepare it with a different kind of love there…the simple kind."

"Sounds delicious."

"See?" she giggled. Sakura tugged absent-mindedly at a petal as she gazed at the silver ripples in the creek when a soft gust of wind dashed by. "Ne, Shaoran, since we're talking about…homes and houses – if we get married, where will we live?"

Syaoran was silent for a moment; bit by bit, he let go of his grip around her. "Well," he said, both hands now on the rail. "When we get married, I suppose my parents will expect us to go back. To Li, that is."

"Who will take are of the Kinomoto land in the future? After my fa – no, the king…"

"Why are you worried about this all of a sudden?"

"It's just, ever since I told you who I am, I'm scared that –"

"You'll make a habit out of spilling your secret?" Syaoran asked, pushing a strand of Sakura's hair back.

"You never know…I hadn't really planned on telling you," she said, letting out a wry laugh.

"I'm glad you did," whispered Syaoran.

Me too, she smiled and looked up at him. He leaned in; Sakura's eyes widened with elated surprise. Not once in her 18 years of life had she been so close to a man's face…

Shaoran…

- -

"Kyaaa!"

"Tomoyo, not so loud!" Sakura panicked and put a finger to her lips, motioning for her best friend to shush up. The soldiers checking the horses' straddles turned at them with their expressions quite bewildered; Sakura nodded at them. "You keep working hard! Ehe…"

"You kissed," Tomoyo breathed, fanning herself for air.

"Yes, yes – so?"

"You kissed the Prince of Li!" Tomoyo squealed.

"It's no big deal," Sakura muttered and tried to block the soldiers' views with the carriage door. She was about to see her cousin off when she revealed the news. "I'm not a little girl…and – and he's my fiancé. You should be saying, 'Well, it's about time!'"

"And it certainly is," said a male voice. Sakura spun around, her heart thumping around inside her chest like a mad cow.

"Eriol!" she gasped as she bowed at them. "Why are you here?"

"I kind of want to visit Tomoyo' s home," he said. "She said it'd be fine."

Sakura stepped away from the entrance and watched him climb in. Has Shaoran told him about me? She wondered.

"See you in a few days, Sakura," Tomoyo waved from the small window.

"Tell Syaoran where I'm going to, would you, Princess Aishi?" Eriol said, smiling.

I guess not…she bit her lip. "Y-yeah," she gave a little wave as the carriage began to depart. When it was out of sight, Mikkou stepped up and asked to escort her back to the palace. "Alright, let's go."

The carriage bumped its way to the village on the rocky road; Eriol and Tomoyo didn't leave any mercy for silence and talked almost nonstop. They debated about the weather – Eriol had warned her to prepare for an upcoming storm, which would be moving away from Li and heading to Kinomoto. Tomoyo brought up interesting clips of history about her hometown, and Eriol countered that with his personal anecdotes. The soldiers up front couldn't help but overhear the miniature battle going on inside the carriage. Intense as their talk was, the two were, in the end, just bonding. Eccentric boy meets intelligent girl.

"We've arrived," Tomoyo laughed as the carriage came to a halt. "I can't believe that duke thought you were the Prince of Li."

"Syaoran was grumpy all night that time; couldn't figure out why though," Eriol opened the door for her.

"Mm, I think it's around lunch time," Tomoyo said, stretching herself after the journey.

"I think you're right," he pointed at the chimney.

"Come on," she said and walked past the soldiers to her house. "Thanks for taking us. You can go to the back and give the horses some water. If you want, stay for lunch!"

"That's quite alright, Miss," one of them said. "We'll take care of the carriage and, uh, go for a walk around town. Master Eriol, we'll be back to pick you up."

"Good, go enjoy yourselves," Eriol said with a smile.

Following Tomoyo's footsteps, Eriol entered the Daidouji house. It was – there really wasn't another word for this – lovely, almost like something out of a fairytale. Cozy yet spacious at the same time, he could understand why Tomoyo wanted to come back, other than the fact her whole family was there. Speaking of the family, Eriol noted the number of plates around the table, and so did Tomoyo.

"Great, Mother set one for Touya. But I guess you'll have to fill his shoes today, Eriol."

"Touya?" Eriol inquired as he obeyed and sat down in the seat.

"Sakura's brother," said Tomoyo, pouring some water for her guest. "Here."

"Thank you – wait, where is this Sakura? I've been wanting to…meet her."

Tomoyo's smile faltered. "Uh, I don't think she's in right now," she said. "But I'll have a look. Maybe she's helping my mother in the kitchen – er, just sit here and relax, alright? Be back in a minute!"

If Sakura looked like Princess Aishi, then… he smirked. "Hmph, a pity that I've taken a liking to Princess Aishi."

- -

Meiling was riding on her prized horse around the trimmed bushes behind the front gates of the Kinomoto castle. Her twelve followers stood protected under the shade of a nearby tree. All thirteen of them were finally without their capes and they had on normal clothing – normal, that is, in the Li kingdom.

"C'mon, Da Lang," she patted the horse's strong, muscular neck. She had named him after Syaoran, or Xiao Lang, whose name meant "little wolf." Da Lang would be the "big wolf."

"-it's for the wedding!" an angry voice caught her attention. It was coming from the side gate.

"Let's go, boy," she told her horse and pulled it in that direction.

"Sorry, but I can't let you pass," Meiling saw one of the guards say. The tone was rather disgusting and much too proud. Stuck-up, she frowned as she jumped off Da Lang. "Stay," she whispered before tiptoeing towards the gate.

"The stuff is ordered," said a man who looked to be in his twenties. His shirt was practically all wet from sweat; he must have journeyed from somewhere far. The dirt marks on his face didn't smudge his handsome features. Meiling was much more interested now.

"We didn't order them," said the soldier, jerking his head at the sacks on a wagon pulled by two oxen.

"Of course you didn't," the man scoffed. "Some higher-up probably –"

"Would kill you, but I will –"

"Let him through," Meiling banged at the gate.

"Lady Meiling!"

"Thought I'd join in with your completing-the-sentence game," she said. "Well? Are you going to do it? Because if you don't, I will."

"But –"

"Hmm?" Meiling glared at him.

"H-he needs some form of authorization…"

"I have an order form," the man said, taking out a piece of paper. He pulled it closer to his face, as if he was reading it, and let out a faked gasp. "Ah, and it is signed by the king himself."

The soldier was speechless. His mate shoved him out of the way and unlocked the gate.

"Thanks," the man murmured, leading his oxen and wagon in.

"Frankly I didn't do much," Meiling twisted one of her pigtails.

"Can't believe they'd keep the keys that unlock the gate on them, though," he said. "It makes life easier for criminals."

"I kind of barged in that way," said Meiling, reminiscing a fine moment, "taking keys and all."

"Really?" he asked. "They seemed to have respected you. Called you, uh, Lady –?"

"Meiling," she said. "What's your name?"

"Touya. Kinomoto Touya."

"Kinomoto? Are you related to the king?"

"No," he laughed, though his laughter quickly died away, as if he remembered something. "No…you see, the people who desire to claim the last name can claim it. I took it because my mother wanted to. It's – complicated."

"Ah…"

"That's a beautiful horse," Touya said, smiling at the approaching Da Lang.

"It's mine," Meiling grabbed its rein with pride.

"Sorry to intrude, but how are you related to the king? Your clothes look foreign."

"My whole body is foreign," Meiling giggled. "I'm from Li. I'm the cousin of the groom."

"Groom and gloom…"

"It seemed to be that way at first," she said. "But now he's really happy!"

"All this food should make him happier," Touya said. "If my baby sister was getting married…"

"Speak of the devil! That's the prince and the princess," Meiling exclaimed, pointing at the two people not far from them. One of them, the boy, was talking. He had chestnut hair and amber eyes. The other, the princess – Touya's jaw dropped. She wasn't wearing her hat.

"Of course," he whispered. They were in the castle grounds.

"What?" Meiling asked; she obviously didn't know about the hat.

"Nothing," he shook his head. Touya took a good look at the princess: short auburn hair, peachy skin, and emerald eyes. She really was beautiful.

…Wait…

"Sakura? Sakura!"

"Hoe?" Sakura froze at the cry of her name. And that voice, it was so familiar. She squinted her eyes at the man beside Meiling. Her breathing stopped. "Touya?"

Syaoran gripped his sword. "Sakura, who is he?"

"My brother…!"

- -

Fujitaka liked to listen to music while he worked. The louder it was, the easier he could concentrate. It seems that once the volume reached a certain point, though loud, it is quiet, dead quiet. He had working more than usual that month; the last thing he would want on his daughter's wedding day was an unsigned treaty.

"Sir? Sir!" his trusted advisor broke in. He rushed to the music and turned down the volume. "Your Majesty!"

"What is it, Gerard?" Fujitaka asked in his urgent yet calm voice. He knew Gerard; if there wasn't something big, he wouldn't barge in like that.

"Down in the front! Someone is trying to attack the princess!"

Fujitaka jumped up. He marched towards his door, suddenly hating the large size of his office. Followed closely by Gerard, the worried father ran down the steps and halls, his mind filled with one thing – protect Aishi. They saw a soldier with a horse walking in their direction and Fujitaka quickened his sprint. He took the horse from the shocked soldier and jumped on. "Gerard, gather some more guards!" he called without looking back.

After a short while, Fujitaka was able to see a crowd near the gates. He stopped the horse and got off; in the next twenty seconds, he'd never ran faster in his life.

"Aishi!" his voice boomed and broke the soldiers apart. He saw his daughter safe behind Prince Li, who had his sword out, and let loose a huge sigh of relief. "Step aside," he ordered the castle guards. "Let me see the dangerous man."

"Father! He wasn't trying to hurt me!" he heard the princess' cries on his right; it seemed as though his ears had stopped working – there was the saying of blinded by rage, but deafened by it? All the noises around him turned foggy as he walked up to the man.

No…

"Your Majesty! What are we to do with him?"

"…Aishi," the king whispered, his eyes glued to the young man in front of him. "You said –"

"Aishi?" he heard the boy repeat to himself with utmost confusion.

"-he didn't try and hurt you?"

"No! Never! Father, let him go."

"Very well," Fujitaka said.

"But, Your Majesty!"

"Do it."

The guard nodded at the men who were holding him down. In the back, some soldiers were busy taking the sacks of food off the wagon. After they were loaded off, the guard pulled the oxen, leading them to the gates; the livestock left quieter than the boy did – when he was dragged out, he shouted. He shouted so loud –

"Sakura!"

– The name echoed for a countless number of times inside Fujitaka…He turned around to face the daughter he thought he knew. She looked back at him, the bright emerald eyes brimming with fearful and worried tears – the orchestra of nothingness began to play.

"…Sa…kura?" For the second time in his life, after seventeen years, the name had escaped his mouth.