War and Family

Elements of Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles are in this story. That doesn't belong to me. Cardcaptor Sakura doesn't belong to me either.

War was horrible, filled with death. There was no good or bad in war, for the soldiers on each side fought for something they believed in. There were only pointless deaths.

King Fujitaka of Clow Kingdom was tired. His beloved wife had died years ago, leaving him to raise a boy and girl all on his own, as well as a war to fight.

King Fei Wong of Reed Kingdom was a cruel man, and Fujitaka had endured all the silent taunts until his wife was murdered. That had been the last straw.

Queen Nadeshiko had been loved by all of Clow Kingdom, and once word reached their ears that their beloved Queen had been murdered and their King was ready to go to war, they jumped into the bandwagon without a second thought. It would teach the Reed Kingdom not to mess with them.

Princess Sakura Kinomoto had grown up without a mother and her father was far too busy with matters of his kingdom. All she had was her brother, no matter how annoyingly protective he may be. But when he was sent to the frontlines of the war, she was all alone.

"-Father."

Fujitaka Kinomoto's eyes shifted from his War Council to the tiny form at the doors. His daughter. The one he hadn't seen in weeks. The one with Nadeshiko's beautiful green eyes.

"What do you request of me, Daughter?"

"I wish to join the Council."

There were protests immediately, but mostly for her sake. Cerberus, one of his chief generals, often played with Sakura, and couldn't bear to think of her in danger. Even the stoic Yue would smile at the kind girl.

"You are but a child, Sakura. I could never let you join the Council."

"Father. Listen to me."

Ahh, her eyes. Nadeshiko's eyes. Glaring at him, her mouth telling him to listen. He would gladly do anything to keep his beautiful daughter away from the matters of war, but she was far too intelligent for her own good. Especially for an eight-year-old.

"I am not as naïve as you believe. I have seen men go to war, I have seen the effects of war, I know that there is blood shed. I can help the Council, and you can this war as quickly as possible if you'd just let me help. You cannot keep me innocent forever, Father."

Fujitaka wouldn't be surprised at all if his little girl did know some strategies they'd never thought of. She was intelligent, beautiful, kind, and pure. And he loved her. So why wouldn't she let him protect her?

"Sakura. We shall speak of this later."

His daughter regarded him with sad green eyes, green the shade of the forests Clow Kingdom were famous for, and left.

~:~*~:~

"Sakura. What are you thinking?"

"Father. You know perfectly well that I am an intelligent child, that you cannot keep me away from the cruelty of war forever. I can accept the blood shed upon each battlefield. I can help you win."

Fujitaka buried his face in his hands, his eyes feeling tired and heavy from lack of sleep.

"You need to rest, Father," Sakura's voice said in a softer, gentler tone than her normal neutral one.

"…Very well, Sakura. Just don't expect me to like it, nor any of the other generals."

"Thank you, Father."

He looked up just in time to see her auburn hair swinging as she hugged him tightly before scurrying away.

His thoughts wandered as his eyes softened. When was the last time she hugged me?

Will probably add more random sequels to this. ^_^