Moonlit Rose

Summary: A prince, cold and dark, ruling a country happier than light. An orphan, cautious and feisty with a secret she doesn't even know herself. These two paths destined not to meet, but a rose changes it all.

Disclaimer: Card Captor does not belong to thy.

Author's notes are now at the bottom.

And by the way, one quote to keep in mind when you're reading the story

Never judge a book by its cover.

And without wasting more time, onto the chapter!

Chapter 11

Seven words pierced her thoughts, "I ordered the killing of your parents."

Sakura's heart stopped.


Syaoran stood silently against the northern wall of his mother's room. He watched as the sun started to set and listened for Sakura's reaction. How she would feel.

Will she despise me now? He wondered, then glared at himself. Why would he think such a thing? He would care less if Sakura hated the mere sight of him.

Syaoran decided to just stop thinking and observe; Sakura had frozen. Even in shock, she was still plain, but beautiful. The bigger her dark green eyes widened in shock, the lovelier she looked. Syaoran resisted the urge to slap himself. What has gotten a hold of him?

Sakura's frozen stance melted and she quickly twisted out of Queen Yelan's hand and went to the other side of her desk. Queen Yelan didn't look surprised or angry at her reaction at all.

Sakura's sad eyes were replaced by a sudden fury, "What is the meaning of this?" She demanded.

Queen Yelan sighed and stood up, facing away from Sakura and her desk and facing the setting sun as it spit many swirls of colors.

"News has been gathered in far off places. Rumors spread quicker than wildfire. In time, the truth reveals itself. Sometimes, it reveals itself too late. Do you understand what I'm saying, Sakura?" The Queen turned around suddenly.

Sakura seemed to tremble a little, but when she spoke, her voice became a mockingly polite tone, "Oh yes, of course I do. But, please, do go on. You were saying something about the truth?"

Syaoran smirked. Never has anyone spoken in such a tone towards his mother, the Queen.

"Yes, the truth." Queen Yelan seemed to be at loss for words.

"Start off with, maybe, with the fact you 'my parents weren't my parents' or that 'you ordered the killing of them'!?"

Queen Yelan looked startled at being ordered, but she continued as such.

"Sakura, would you sit?" She asked, gesturing towards a white, leather seat.

"No. I rather stand," she replied rather rudely.

"I understand you're feeling quite angry. But-"

Sakura interrupted, "I know what I'm feeling. But, please, tell me everything, your majesty," she forced herself to be a little more respectful. This was, after all, the Queen of the Li Lands and the leader of the Clow clan.

Queen Yelan chuckled, "Impatient, are we? Well then, how to start…

"Your parents were friends with the Li family," she began, "many years before you or Syaoran were born.

"When you were born, your parents died in a tragic accident."

How cliché can one's life be? Sakura thought sarcastically.

"You were only 1 months old. I couldn't take you in, for I already had a baby to take care of.

"A very gentle, couple came forward to ask if they could take you in. Their names were Fujitaka and Nadeshiko Kinomoto. They were very close to your parents, so close that they were often seen as siblings. They were also a powerful family. Some say they were too powerful, but, as I've stated before, rumors spread faster than wild fire. After questioning, I realized they were the perfect parents for you. Kind eyes were always watching over you, even as I interviewed them for the last time.

"They lived in our castle for some time, but the time came, when they had to move away. After all, they had another son who was to begin school. I had our families get a picture painted a together, so we could always remember. But," she sighed heavily, "There are times in one's life where one makes a terrible mistake.

"My husband, you may not know this, was assassinated. For the longest time, everyone believed it was the works of the Kinomoto's. I was infuriated. What could I have done for them to bring such horror upon my life? Because of that, I quietly ordered assassins to take care of them."

Queen Yelan breathed in deeply again and her deep black eyes became glistening raindrops.

Sakura stood still. Everything had stopped for her. The Queen's lips were still moving, but Sakura neither heard nor cared for what the Queen was saying. All she felt was her heart burning up.

"I am more than grieved at the news which my son has recently acquired."

Sakura looked up.

"The murderers of my husband was not of the Kinomoto's."

Sakura felt her sardonic remark erupt from her before she could contain herself, "Oh yes… doubt the Kinomoto's, old family friend, because of rumors." She nodded. "Yes, that is what every great ruler does. That is what every friend does. Believe wild rumors and order the killing of a whole, innocent family. Oh yes, how proud you must be." Her emerald eyes flashed as she continued nodding in a nonchalant way.

Queen Yelan stood up furiously and spoke in a grave voice, "You know that I am not proud of my actions."

Sakura continued talking in a calm tone and looked straight into the Queen's eyes, "Even though evidence proved that goblins have killed your husband, you still believe it was my family that killed your husband. So you plot to-"

"Enough! I will not have you talk in such a way to me!" Queen Yelan's voice went high and loud, but it quickly calmed itself. "Would you like to know more of the news?" Her voice was tight as it forced itself to composure.

Sakura reacted nothing, yet the Queen took that as a sign of agreeing.

"Fairies," she said quietly.

"Er…what about fairies?"

Queen Yelan breathed in a quivery breath, "Fairies were the cause of this."

Sakura's face was nothing more than disbelief. Everything was quiet, then, suddenly, she chuckled. She started laughing.

Queen Yelan and Syaoran stared, seeing her to have lost all signs of sanity, possibly, from all the news.

After calming down, she said, "I understand. You're trying to frame little fairies and you thought I would be gullible enough to believe you. Honestly, do you really think I believe all this nonsense you have just fed me? If you ask me, this sounds a lot like a hoax of some sort!"

Queen Yelan let out an exasperated sigh, "I hope you believe me. If not, you might believe evidence in flesh."

She nodded at Syaoran who immediately left the room, which was filled with a sense of awkward silence.

Syaoran came back, followed by the butler Sakura recognized as the one who showed her the way to the library. After the butler walked a short man who Sakura had never seen before and he was holding something large that was covered with a cloth.

Sakura watched as Syaoran waved a hand to the blonde, short man. He uncovered the thing was hidden, and underneath was a cage with something glittery inside.

Sakura looked closely and inwardly gasped.

It was a fairy. A very familiar one at that.

"Akako!?" She asked in surprise.

--

"Sakura?" Sakura looked up at the sound of her name. It was Tomoyo, eyes full of concern. Sakura had been clutching her head, attempting to clear her mind.

Tomoyo reached a pale hand out, "Would you like to take a walk with me around the garden?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm going to decline."

"We don't need to talk," Tomoyo assured, "Taking a stroll around the garden always calms me down."

Sakura thought about it for a second, then she nodded.

As the two roamed the flower garden carelessly, Sakura's mind wandered back to few minutes beforehand, though it felt like years before...

--

"Akako!?"

The fairy princess glared at her. Her tiny mouth was bound by the smallest piece of tape and her wings seemed to sag on her.

Sakura turned towards the Queen with fury, "Let the fairy go! She has done nothing wrong!"

Queen Yelan looked at Sakura with pity, which just aroused Sakura's fury even more.

"Let her go!" She repeated.

"This I cannot do. She has been sentenced to exile by her father and I have placed an execution sentence on her."

Sakura gasped, "Y-you cant do that!"

"And why can't I?"

"Why would you?" Sakura asked back.

"She killed my husband, Sakura."

Sakura laughed dryly, "I am quite sure, she did, your majesty. Is this what you do in your pastime? Order the killing of innocent beings."

Queen Yelan's voice was that of anger, "Why don't we hear this fairy out?" She nodded at the butler, "Alright, Wei."

Wei took out a vile and poured the blue, glittery powder into the cage. Akako went still, eyes wide open.

All was quiet, even Sakura, who looked as if she would burst out an accusation.

Suddenly, Akako's eyes brightened as life seemed to reenter her figure. She glanced around the room and asked brightly, "Why the sullen atmosphere?"

Sakura breathed, afraid that Wei might've killed the poor creature.

"I have a few questions for you, Akako," Queen Yelan started.

"Alright! Ask away!" Akako smiled gleefully.

Sakura stared. This was not at all like the Akako she met and encountered. This Akako was too happy and childish.

"Zhen Powder," a whisper came from Sakura's side. She quickly turned around, to find Syaoran's cold face. She flinched.

Seeing Sakura's confused face, he explained, in, what looked like, an exasperated and annoyed way, "A powder created for small creatures that makes them tell the whole and complete truth. It makes them happy at the fact they are telling the truth."

"How?" She whispered back.

"From my knowledge, something in the powder takes over their brain waves."

Sakura inclined that she understood, a bit puzzled at the fact Syaoran was being so informative and, actually, acting little like a gentleman.

Syaoran watched Sakura watch the fairy. He had finally drawn up enough courage to stand next to Sakura…his servant! Why was he so nervous to be near the one who served him? He groaned. This girl confused him more than the logical questions he was once given in an exam.

His mother's voice stopped his confused thoughts, for the time being, "Who are you?"

Akako's overly cheerful voice replied, "Akako! Princess of Pixies and Fairies!"

"What is your relationship with your father?"

"Oh, my father is dead! I live with my uncle and I absolutely loathe him. Everyone believes him to be my father, but it's all a lie. I hate being known as his child," It was quite ironic at the words coming out of her mouth and the gayness in her voice.

"And why do you hate him?"

Syaoran knew what was coming. After all, it was he who captured this pixie princess. The leprechaun mission was just a cover.

"Because he killed my father in order to claim the throne, right after he ordered the killing of the King of the Li Lands, than put the blame on the Kinomotos. We watched it all as a show. It was quiet humorous. It's hilarious how people retaliate, especially when they believe a lie."

On the side of her eye, she saw Syaoran clenching his fists.

"Why did your uncle order to kill the King?" Queen Yelan's voice was very bitter.

"The King of the Li Lands was planning to throttle and destroy the population of fairies and pixies. As a Fairy Lord, my uncle couldn't do nothing. So, without my father's knowledge or approval, he hired goblins to do the dirty work for us. Of course, no one believed that little goblins could do much, so my uncle spread rumors about the Kinomotos and their little conspiracy against the Li's.

"Personally, I didn't believe the Queen of the Li Lands would believe such stories. But, alas," Akako took a deep breath and sighed, "I underestimated the stupidity of humans. She did, indeed, believe the stories. But, not all the Kinomotos were killed. Oh, no. The youngest of them still lives and she will bring one soul to peace. Well," Akako laughed, "That's what I've heard. Sure sounds like a prophecy, doesn't it? I hate those. They make me gag."

Sakura stepped up to the cage, "What do you mean…she will bring one soul to peace?"

Akako peered up at Sakura with her too-bright eyes, "I'm not too sure. Something about something."

Sakura sighed. That sure helped.

The Queen suddenly asked, "What part do you play in all this?"

Akako giggled wildly, "Of course, I was the one who convinced my uncle to kill the King. I fed everyone silly stories about Kinomoto conspiracy. I persuaded the Queen to order the killing of the Kinomoto. All too fun and easy. I had friends everywhere who helped." She continued giggling, as if this were to be the funniest thing ever.

Sakura felt her stomach drop, "Akako. What about the story you have told me before? About my family being in debt and such?"

Akako turned towards Sakura, "And who may you be? Have we met?"

"I am Sakura Kinomoto."

Akako's eyes widened, "So you are! I do remember. Little imbecile, haven't your mother ever told you that in this world people and creatures lie? Haven't she ever told you to not believe so easily? How naïve you are. I simply wove a tale to gain your trust. I'm sure you never doubted me an instant."

Emotions conflicted within Sakura. Anger, disbelief, distrust all whirled together until Sakura couldn't take it anymore. She ran out of the room.

Queen Yelan waved a hand and announced, "I believe we have heard all that we need to hear. Take her away."

--

A far-off voice was calling her, "Sakuura. Sakuura!"

Sakura flinched out of her daydream. She had forgotten she was taking a stroll in the garden with Tomoyo, who waved off the apology she kept giving.

"Sakura," Tomoyo's smile was scaring her, "Look who's over there." She pointed.

Sakura followed the direction the finger was locating. It was a bundle of messy, chocolate hair. She gulped. The prince. And he was walking towards them.

Tomoyo winked and exclaimed, "Must run. Accompany me sometime again, alright?" With that, she strolled away, leaving a sputtering Sakura behind.

Syaoran slowly approached Sakura, who didn't understand why she was feeling anxiety wash over her. Most likely because she didn't feel like doing any work.

"How are you feeling?" His voice was low.

"Huh?" Sakura stared at him. Did the prince just ask about her feelings?

Syaoran smirked, "As usual, things must be repeated for your simple brain to understand."

"Hm," Syaoran did not expect a curt answer from her.

"Is that all my little servant has to say? Is that all she can think of?"

"Is that your goal? To make my life more miserable by the minute?" Sakura's calm voice shot back.

Syaoran pretended to think, "That's a great goal. Thank you, servant."

"Would you stop calling me that!? Honestly, all you ever call me… servant this, servant that! Learn my name. It's Sakura Kinomoto! I actually thought you had the brains capable of remembering that. But," she laughed bitterly, "Apparently, I was wrong."

"Good. You're back. You may have the day off for today. Tomorrow, you start working again," he lifted a hand and patted Sakura on the head and glided his hand down her hair, before walking off.

Sakura was dumbfounded. She wasn't quite sure to be mad at the prince, or not. One thing was for sure though, his little pat and slide sent shivers all the way to her toes. This was not a good sign.

Syaoran walked up to his room, looking at his hand. It wasn't as if he kissed her or anything. Just a simple pat, but it took every single nerve to lift his hand. When he patted her, he felt her hair, not particularly silky, but mysterious enough for him to want to feel more of her hair. He felt his face burning at this bold thought. He could still feel her hair beneath his hand. This was a bad sign.

-

-

-

-

-

-

Ohmigoodness. I haven't updated for over a month. I had so many thoughts for this chapter, but after I typed them, I quickly delted them. I was like 'oh yeah, like that would happen.' D

Seriously, I really want to know how you feel after reading this because I believe it's a load of silliness. Tell me, criticize me, flame me. I'm most likely going to redo this chapter, unless you, readers, enjoy it... IDK...

Well, Please Review!