Disclaimer: Card Captor Sakura isn't mine.

Previously in Worth Fighting For:

"But I can't imagine what will happen if he did not return. And I can't bring myself to make an announcement like that even if it's for Clow's sake," she paused to wipe her tears. "And the commander seems to agree with my uncle. He said that I should do it to protect the throne."

His expression softened. Syaoran can't imagine what the princess had to go through. He knew that the king went missing, but he never gets to know why. Judging from what the people in the palace had talked about the king, he knew that the king was a good man. He heard so many stories of how close the princess was with her brother. He heard so much about how the king was doting on his sister. If he loved her, why didn't he return? Why did he let the princess go through this misery?

"I just don't know what I should do now," she continued. "Hey, Syaoran. What do you think I should do? If you were at my place, what would you do?"

Worth Fighting For
Chapter 21: Tomoyo's Report

"I'm tired, Syaoran. I'm just tired of crying and being so weak and helpless in everything." She wiped her tears furiously and breathed. "I'm not the right person to govern a country and making decisions. I'm not capable enough. I didn't know what was my stupid brother thinking when he left me to step up in his stead. But right now, I just... wanted to escape all this. The ministers, the politics, and everything. I gave up."

"Your highness," his voice was a whisper. Syaoran stepped closer to the princess and raised his hand to touch the princess's shoulder, but decided against it. Instead, he clenched both his hand to his side.

At that moment, Syaoran could see himself in the princess. He had once felt the helplessness being a royalty. There was too much burden he had to carry with him, which was why he had stepped down as the crown prince of Li and let his cousin, Eriol to take over his place. The abdication didn't go as smoothly as he planned. His parents had been furious with his decision. They were livid when Syaoran requested the permission to travel to the other country. He hadn't spoken to his parents ever since.

But the princess was different than he was. She didn't really want to give it up.

"Are you sure that is what you want?"

Sakura looked up to meet with his gaze. "W-what?"

"Once you leave the throne and your people behind, you can never return back," Syaoran said. "Once you leave, the ministers will take over. There's going to be a chaos within the court. Clow will be in chaos. But even so, you can never return back to the palace. Do you think you can live with that?"

The princess swallowed. She didn't think that Syaoran would say anything about it. When she told him about the minister's request, she imagined that he will stand there in silence, listening. She was going to dismiss him with gratitude and apology for listening to her problem when she was done. After all, her intention was to vent her frustration. She felt that if she didn't vent out, it will suffocate her.

So, that was why she had a puzzled look on her face when Syaoran began to speak.

"You're a brave princess, your highness. I've said it once and I'll say it again," Syaoran said. "I may not be around since the first day you stepped up as the king's substitute, but I have been around you long enough to know that you don't mean the things you said. You love Clow and its people. Or else, you wouldn't risk to sneak out every now and then to distribute food, and playing with the children." Syaoran smiled. "So, please don't say things like you're giving up when you didn't mean it."

xxx

"Your highness," Tomoyo bowed and raised her head. "I'm very sorry that I haven't been around for you yesterday."

"That's alright," Sakura motioned for her cousin to come closer. "Will you help me to get ready?"

Tomoyo stood up, took the garment from the princess's maidservant, and helped the princess to get dressed. The princess turned around and motioned her maidservant to leave them, as Tomoyo fastened the sash around Sakura's waist.

"I heard about Minister Abe requests through my mother," Tomoyo said when the door behind them shut. She led the princess to her chair and began combing her hair. "Are you alright?"

The princess replied her with a weak smile. "I have to be."

Tomoyo paused briefly as she fixed a hana kanzashi to the princess's hair. She recognized that the ornament was a gift from Touya before he went missing. "What did Advisor Tsukishiro think about it?"

"He hasn't spoken much about it. I know that it must have been difficult for him too," Sakura said. "But he wanted me to give a thought about the minister's suggestion. Both the advisor and the commander think that I should go along with the minister's proposal. Not because I believed my brother to be deceased, but because doing so will protect the throne and Clow. And Yukito thought that Minister Abe wanted to shake my confidence. That was why he suggested such things."

"What are you planning to do about it?"

"I don't know. I haven't really decided yet," Sakura studied her reflection through the mirror and. "But I know that I'm not ready to give up the throne to those ministers just yet. I have another meeting with both Yukito and the commander after this. I'll have to make my decision after that."

Tomoyo smiled. She knew that the princess was upset with the minister's proposal, but she was happy that the princess was being optimistic. After all, the princess looks much better with a smile on her face. "You don't need to rush into making a decision."

"I know," Sakura spoke. "But if I didn't make a decision right now, the ministers wouldn't stop pestering me about it. Oh. That reminds me. I was going to tell you that I won't be able to participate in our secret activities for the time being," Sakura said. "I'm going to be busy with a lot of things after this."

Tomoyo nodded. "I understand. Don't worry. I'll carry on the activities as usual. But the children are going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss them too," Sakura said. "I know how hard it will be to distribute foods with less manpower. I'm going to ask Chiharu to visit the villages in my stead along with one of my royal guards."

"One of your royal guards?" Tomoyo raised a brow. "Syaoran?"

"No. No. Yamazaki," Sakura said. "We can trust him. Don't worry."

"Oh."

Sakura stood up. "So, are you going to tell me what happened to you yesterday? You don't usually cancel your visit to the palace, unless for emergencies. Is everything alright?"

Tomoyo bowed. Her gaze went towards the floor. She was hesitant to deliver the news she heard yesterday. "Forgive me, your highness. But there is something that I must report to you."

The princess straightened her posture. Judging from her cousin's expression and tone, she knew that it was a serious matter. "What is it?"

"Have you heard anything about our rice trading with Mikage through the ministers?" Tomoyo said cautiously.

Sakura shook her head. "No. I haven't. Is there any problem?"

Tomoyo heaved a sigh. "I received information from my traders that we're going having problems with the supply of rice," she paused to study the princess's expression. "But it isn't just the Daidouji. A few other big merchant groups in the city were facing the same problems."

Sakura frowned at the news. She knew very little knowledge of commerce. "I haven't heard anything about rice supply from my uncle," Sakura said. Her uncle, Jinnosuke was the minister of commerce. "Is that going to be a problem?"

"A few of my men received word from the merchant in Tanpopo Port. They informed me that the merchants in Mikage hadn't set their foot on Clow for weeks," Tomoyo continued. "After some investigation, we heard rumors that Mikage had declined to do any business transaction with Clow."

"What will happen if Mikage stopped doing any business transaction with Clow?" Sakura asked.

"Rice is a staple in Clow," Tomoyo began. "But Clow's produce was very limited. With the amount of rice field in Clow, I don't think that it is going to be enough, which is why we have been importing rice from the Mikage. And Mikage has been the largest rice importers to Clow for years. If they decided to stop any business transaction with Clow, then, we will have to depend on the produce we have in Clow. The value of rice will escalate and a lot of our people will go hungry."

The princess's face paled. She understood what her cousin was trying to deliver to her. "Don't we trade rice with another country?"

Tomoyo nodded. "Yes. With Usetsu."

Sakura cringed inwardly. She knew very well that Usetsu was not a big fan of her. After all, it was in Usetsu that the unpleasant rumors about her overthrowing her brother for the throne started.

"But the amount of rice trading we did with Usetsu wouldn't be enough to support the people," Tomoyo continued. "Furthermore, there are rumors that the price of rice in a few provinces in the western part of Clow has gone up. But I'm still investigating the news. I can't confirm whether it was accurate."

Sakura took a deep breath. Suddenly, she was very tired. There are just too many things for her to consider. She hasn't made any decision regarding the minister's request to announce her brother as dead. And now this.

All her life, she has been living in the palace, carefree. She never knew that ruling a country would be this hard. Sakura wondered for a moment how her father and brother dealt with this kind of things. They never shared with her about these things. They never showed her how tiring it is their work.

"I understand," Sakura spoke. "I will speak to my uncle regarding this matter. In the meantime, please continue and do your best to be my eyes and ears outside the palace. I can't always go beyond the palace gate and see for myself what is happening to Clow. I want to know everything, but I can't really trust the ministers. Not after Masashi lies."

"Yes, Princess Sakura. I'll do my best." Tomoyo bowed, briefly. She had already instructed her people to stop spreading the rumors to avoid more chaos. "But Your highness, I'm still worried."

Sakura smiled to ease her cousin. "I will be alright. I know that I will have to face a lot of things to keep the throne. Yukito had previously warned that I will have to face various things if I were to accept Touya's order to step in as a substitute. I understand that they will do anything they can to bring me down."

Tomoyo lowered her gaze to the floor. She couldn't tell the princess what she was really worried about. But she was afraid that if the rumors were true, the people of Clow would get upset. And when the people were upset, it wouldn't be impossible if an uprising to depose the princess from the throne began.

"Sakura," Tomoyo called and reached for the princess's hand. "Please be careful."

xxx

Syaoran bowed his head when he saw Tomoyo walked out from the princess's chamber. His gaze met with Tomoyo when he raised his head. Slowly, Tomoyo made her way towards him.

"This is all very strange," Tomoyo stepped closer to him, so that the others may not hear their conversation. "It feels odd to see you bowing your head to me, when it should be the other way round."

"It's all for a show," Syaoran said. "Right now, I am the princess's royal guard."

"You took your job seriously," Tomoyo smiled, but her expression was unreadable. "Is it worth it to go through all these to learn the martial art?"

Syaoran did not answer her. He couldn't answer the question. The truth was, he didn't expect that he would stay in the princess's court for long. Sometimes, Syaoran wondered what he was doing in the princess's palace. He could always give up on the martial art and be on his way, like what Yamazaki advised him to do. After all, no one besides Lady Tomoyo had heard of the martial art. So, what was he doing in her palace? Hadn't he worked so hard to escape the palace life?

Tomoyo heaved a sigh when he didn't answer. She supposed that Syaoran wouldn't want to answer. "Take care of the princess for me," she said after a long pause between them. "Pass me any message if anything happened."

Syaoran looked up to watch the lady walked off from him. "Wait. Can I ask you a something?"

Tomoyo turned. She nodded as a gesture to let him continue.

"Will you tell me why the king went missing?"

Tomoyo couldn't hide her shock at his question. "I thought you weren't interested in knowing? Why the change of mind?"

Syaoran shrugged. "I'm curious."

Tomoyo smiled in amusement. She pondered for a while whether or not if she should tell him. "I could tell you. But I think it would be better if you ask the princess directly."

"I don't think she will tell me."

"She will," Tomoyo countered. "If it was you, she will. She trusts you."

xxx

Syaoran tightened his grip on his sword and swung it. Anyone who saw him practice could tell that he has been practicing swordsmanship for years. His movements were fast and graceful. No one would have guessed how heavy the metal in his hand with how he swung his sword. He stopped suddenly, with his sword, heavy in his hand as he heard footsteps approaching towards him. Syaoran dropped his sword to his side. In an instant, his gaze met with the princess.

"Were you always practicing martial art whenever you're not on duty?"

"Your highness," he bowed down.

When Syaoran looked up, he was surprised to see that two of her maidservant and Asami were escorting her. Syaoran gave Asami a nod and returned his gaze to the princess. "What are you doing here? It's too early."

"I couldn't sleep. I decided for a walk, and before I knew it, my feet brought me to the king's palace," she breathed. "Then I heard some noise coming from here and I saw you."

Syaoran kept his sword into its sheath. He knew that the princess was scheduled to meet with the ministers later today and she was anxious. "Nevertheless, you shouldn't walk around the palace at night with just a few staffs."

"It's alright," she waved her hand. "There are lots of palace guards on patrol at the palace during the night. I should be safe."

Syaoran sighed quietly. The nighttime was even more dangerous for the princess to wander around the palace without much protection. They couldn't see clearly during the night. It would be difficult if there's any assassin waiting in the corner.

"As the person who is in charge of your safety, I must tell you not to do something like this again," Syaoran said. "At least bring along a few of the palace guards as your escort."

"I understand." The princess smiled. She walked towards one of the wooden benches and sat down. Then she lifted her hand, motioning her small entourage to withdraw just a little bit. "Will you accompany me for a walk, Syaoran?" she asked him.

Syaoran replied her with a bow. "Yes, your highness."

When he rose something fell out from his shirt. The princess immediately crouched to pick up the item. Syaoran felt a lump in his throat when the princess began to examine the item. It was a long necklace made of a black cord with a round pendant.

"It's beautiful," she said, noticing the small flower engraved within the jade pendant. She handed the amulet to Syaoran and said, "Here you go."

Syaoran hesitated to take the item. "I," he cleared his throat and extended his hand. "Thank you."

He had actually purchased the ornament during his last visit to the market. The seller told him that the amulet was believed to have the power to ward off evil spirit from the wearer. It reminded him to the princess and the non-existent ghost in her garden. He was planning to give the amulet yesterday, but decided against it when he saw her tears. He supposed he could give the amulet to the princess now, but that would be awkward with the princess's attendants not far from their eyesight.

She started walking towards the king's garden. "I hope you didn't tell anyone about what happen in my study last evening," she said after a moment of silence between them.

He knew right away that she was referring to her sudden outburst. He lowered his head. "I didn't."

The princess smiled when she noticed how his posture went rigid. "Ease up. You're always so stiff recently. I think you were more laid back when you didn't know about my identity." She took a deep breath when he didn't reply. "I'm sorry that I've been difficult to you."

He shook his head. "No. I should be the one who apologize. Forgive my audacity, your highness. It wasn't my place to say things I've said. I do not know what has gotten into me."

"No. I must thank you for setting me straight and telling me not to give up."

Syaoran felt heat creep into his face. Whenever he recalled that conversation with the princess, he was overcome with embarrass. He was supposed to stay still while the princess vented her unhappiness at him. But he went on and boldly gave her speech on how she shouldn't give up.

"You're a strange one," Sakura said. She tilted her head slightly so that she can see his face clearly. "Most people wouldn't say anything in that situation."

Syaoran brought his hand to cover his face. "I," he paused, feeling that his voice stuck in his throat. He abruptly kneeled down before her. "Please pardon my insolence."

The princess laughed at his expression. "I don't mean to say that it's bad," she gestured him to stand up. "But sometimes, I had the feeling that you're... different. From your manner and your speech, I can tell that you're no ordinary person. Are you by any chance a noble back where you're from?"

"I'm not," he told the truth. Nobel and royalty were different.

"That's true," Sakura said. "Why would a noble be here as my guard."

Syaoran heaved a sigh when the princess didn't ask him further. He followed the princess into the king's yard and headed for the study. He noticed her longing gaze as she toured around the king's quarters.

"I... I have made my decision," Sakura said. "After a long discussion with Advisor Tsukishiro, I decided to go with the minister's suggestion and announced my brother as deceased."

"They were right. I need to do anything, everything I could to protect the throne and Clow before my brother return," Sakura spoke. "I will do my best to protect the throne. I have to fight back, because this country and my people are worth fighting for." Sakura smiled weakly. "There will be a lot of difficulties after my edict. The advisor expected that the court will get a lot more hectic after this. And Commander Yue predicted that there will be an attempt after my life if I decided to fight back."

Syaoran bowed. "I'll do anything to protect you, your highness." He looked up to see the princess gaze towards the king's quarters. "I," he clenched his hand into a fist. "Can I ask you something?"

Sakura turned to meet his eyes. She shrugged. "Of course."

"Will you tell why your brother, the king went missing?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"I'm curious," Syaoran answered carefully. "No one in the palace seems to know why."

Sakura looked at her feet as she pondered over his question for seconds. Finally, she spoke, "I'm not really sure where that idiot has gone to. It's not like he told me where he was going before he disappeared," she heaved a sigh. "But after days he hasn't returned, I found out that he went out the palace because he found a few clues to his investigation," she raised her gaze to meet his. "That's when I found out from Advisor Tsukishiro that he was investigating the late king, my father's death."

Syaoran stood firm as he listened.

"My brother," Sakura continued. "He believed that someone murdered the late king."

End of Chapter 21: Tomoyo's Report

Writing a Sakura & Syaoran's scene is getting harder. Anyway, thank you for reading & reviewing ^.^