MT: Hey there! Just one little thing I wanted to clear up. Serenia asked me if Li's name was spelt Syaoran or Shaoran, and truth is, I didn't know for certain. But now I do, and I know it is Syaoran, so pardon my errors...*falls to knees to beg forgiveness of readers*...*looks up*...what was that? You forgive me? Really? Really, really??? Wow! Thank you so very much! You're the best!...what was that? Oh! You want me to continue with the fic? Why of course...I just have to put on a disclaimer...
Disclaimer: I forgot to put one on the first chapter, so here's a disclaimer for the entire story! I don't own Cardcaptor Sakura! CLAMP does! And though I hate it, it's the truth of the matter, and there's absolutely NOTHING!...*goes and sobs in the corner*...*still sobbing*...*regains composure and returns to the computer*...that I can do about it.
And now...*drum roll*...ON WITH THE FIC!
The Golden Rose
By: Mystress Tate
Chapter Two: If Only...
Once again, Sakura found herself surrounded by mist. She was wearing a pink sleeveless ball gown, with gloves of the palest pink. Upon her head lay a tiara, sparkling with diamonds, with her long auburn locks in a bun to hold it in place. Only a few stray pieces of hair hung down, perfectly framing her delicate features. Though she delighted in the chance to wear these fine gowns, this was not what bothered her. What bothered her was the resemblance of this place to that of her previous dream. She thought she heard music again, and only had a faint recollection that she'd heard it before when her mind was filled with fog and the music was cut out. She was disappointed with her apparent inability to think straight, but there wasn't anything she could do about it at the moment. However, she heard the music again, and began to move towards the beautiful sound of the pipes. When the music stopped once more, she continued confidently on the path she had already chosen. Now, when she heard the music for a third time, it was directly beside her. And this time, when it stopped, it wasn't because her mind had become foggy; in fact, her mind was perfectly clear.
She quickly took in her surroundings, but spun around in a flash when she heard a creaking sound from behind her. To her astonishment, it was a man that stepped out of the mists towards her. He was bedecked in a tunic of varying greens over beige pants, with black riding boots that came to below his knees. His eyes were like the purest amber, and his hair reminded her of a delicious chocolate desert that her mother made; they were called haystacks. She watched him look slowly around the clearing, taking in everything there was to see, and yet avoiding her eyes. It was then that she noticed one thing she hadn't before...his cloak. His cloak was so familiar to her...she knew she had seen it before...but where? Where might she have seen this wondrous cloak? All of a sudden, his eyes caught hers, and she became lost in the depths of his amber orbs. His eyes…his eyes seemed to show her the world, and yet, they seemed to also hide it from her. She wanted to know this man; she wanted to know him as she had never known any other. It was a rather ridiculous idea seeing as this was only a dream, but it felt so real to her. And yet...and yet, she knew she had met this man before, at some point in her short life. She felt that she had known him well...very well...but she couldn't put her finger on who he was or where she may have known him from. Then, it dawned on her…that cloak...that cloak...it was that mans! The man whose cloak had flown out the window of his carriage! Suddenly, the man started to run across the clearing towards her shouting her name as if he knew it well; "Sakura! Sakura! Sakura-chan!" She ran towards him with a smile on her face...
~***~In Sakura's bedroom at the Avalon cottage~***~
"Sakura! Sakura! Sakura-chan!" The girl sighed and leaned over to shake her best friend. "Sakura-chan! Hurry up! We're going to be late for school!" Rae Meilin had only one thing against her friend, and that was her tendency towards tardiness.
"Hold on, Xiao Lang! I'm coming!" Sakura mumbled as she rolled away from Meilin's persistent shaking.
Meilin almost laughed, that is until she thought about the words Sakura had spoken. Shaoran...Shaoran...there was only one person in the entire kingdom with that name...but no, it couldn't be. How could her little Sakura, her precious cherry blossom, know the prince? It was a ridiculous thought, and soon Meilin burst into laughter. At this sound, Sakura pulled her pillow over her head, and this only cause Meilin to laugh harder.
Finally Sakura sat up with a glare directed at Meilin. "What are YOU doing here?!" Now it was Meilin's turn to hide her face. Her friend was obviously angry, and she was NEVER angry...well, very rarely anyway.
"I-I-I'm sorry, Sakura, b-but your mother t-told me to wake you up..." Sakura flushed, but soon smiled at Meilin.
"I'm sorry Meilin. I shouldn't have yelled at you. It's just...well..." Sakura paused, unsure of whether or not she wished to tell her best friend about the dream she had just been woken from. "Well...you see, I was having the most wonderful dream! It was all misty at first, and I could just hear a little bit of music in the distance..." Sakura continued to talk to Meilin about her dream while getting dressed and ready to go to school. The only parts she skipped were descriptions of Xiao Lang and she hadn't even mentioned the cloak. She wasn't sure if she wanted Meilin to know those things yet. Meanwhile, as these thoughts flew through her head, she was finishing her story. "And then, you just HAD to wake me up RIGHT when I had just hugged him! It was as if I was meant to be held in his arms like that. I was tingling all over!" Sakura sighed dreamily, a petite smile on her face.
Meilin went starry-eyed listening to Sakura speak about her dream. "Kawaii! Absolutely kawaii! Well, are you going to tell me what this prince charming looked like? Huh?! Will you? PLEEEEEEEEEEEASE?!?!?!" Meilin used her ultimate puppy face on her best friend, knowing quite well the consequences of her actions.
Sakura sighed. It was impossible to refuse that face. "Fine, fine, I'll tell you. But just promise you won't laugh at me, okay?"
"Alright, I promise. Now, what did he look like?" Meilin sounded very eager, and Sakura just sweatdropped before continuing.
"Well, he had messy chestnut-brown hair, and a stern face." At this, Meilin went into hanyan mode.
"Kawaii!" Meilin whispered under her breath, giggling all the while.
"He was tall; just tall enough that my head fit perfectly under his chin. And his eyes...Oh, his eyes...they were like the purest amber...it was amazing." Now Meilin gasped. She was shocked at the description of the man from Sakura's dream. It sounded exactly like...but no...it couldn't be. She relaxed slightly and let Sakura continue. "And I know I know him from somewhere, but for the life of me I can't..."
Meilin cut her off. "What was his name?" she asked, shaking her friend gently, becoming more and more frantic by the second. "What was his name?!"
"His name? Oh his name! His name was..."
~***~ At the Kinomoto Kingdom~***~
"Now, really mother. I know that you don't expect me to ask you to go back and get my cloak, so I'm just asking for permission to go and get it." Syaoran told his mother before starting to walk in the direction of the stables, only to be stopped by a shrill voice.
"No, no, and no again!" Yelan dashed towards the prince and forced him to turn towards her. "How many times must you be told no before you get it through your thick skull that you can't?! You are most assuredly the most stubborn man alive!" She took a deep breath of air before opening her mouth to continue with her tirade, only to be stopped by a hand over her mouth. She struggled for a moment, before realizing her son was much stronger than she was, so she decided to let him have his say.
"Now really mother. We mustn't be hasty, must we? I'll just go get the carriage ready, and then be on my way before you can say...Jack the Ripper!" Xiao Lang smirked as he let go of his mother. As she turned towards him, there was a resigned look in her eye.
"Oh, very well then! I can see you aren't going to be put off." He started to jog off, and turned back to shout a thank you when Yelan spoke up again. "Just be sure to be back by nightfall!" she shouted after him, "We can't have you out too late else you'll be too tired to attend the ball on tomorrow's eve!" She sighed before turning towards the castle to great her hosts. She only paused for a moment when she heard her son hollering at her. She turned around, bewildered by the fact that he hadn't yet left. "What is it, m'dear? Shouldn't you be gone already?"
"Well, yes! I suppose I should! I just wanted to say thank you!" And with that he turned and tore off towards the stables.
Yelan smiled. Her son really WAS a gentleman. She shook her head quickly before resuming her trek to the Kinomoto palace.
~***~ In Sakura's bedroom at the Avalon cottage~***~
"...Xiao Lang. Yes, that was it. Xiao Lang." Sakura smiled at her friend...that is, until she noticed the expression of shock and bewilderment and fear written all over her friend's face. "W-what's wrong, Meilin?" Sakura stuttered, unsure if she truly wanted to know the answer to her question.
Meilin swallowed before gathering her courage and telling her friend something that she had discovered years ago. "Sakura-chan...you know that there is only one man in the kingdom with that name..."
"Oh?" Sakura looked a bit surprised. "Who would that be?"
Meilin looked down and began to fidget, moving her foot around in circle on the wooden floor. "Well...this will probably come as a shock to you...but the man is none other than the prince..."
~***~In the royal carriage~***~
Xiao Lang smiled as he directed the horses back the way they'd come. A smile came across his face as he thought of the girl that he'd seen the other day at the park. She had been so carefree...so happy...so unlike himself. He sighed as he thought of all the worries that lay on his head and his mother's. If only he could have the chance at a second childhood, he would in an instant choose a simpler lifestyle...or would he? He was unsure of himself, and as long as there was that doubt, he would be an unsuccessful leader. But how could he not be doubtful as long as he was to marry someone other than his Ying Fa, and have it be one of her sisters no less. He knew himself well enough that because his clan, family and kingdom required him to he would go through with the wedding, despite the fact that his heart would object every step of the way. He knew now that he loved Kinomoto Sakura...there was no doubt in his mind on that fact alone...but there was nothing for him to do. They had searched for his playmate for over 8 years now, and nothing he could think would get them more time. If only she had received the dream of confirmation he had sent her...but it was no use worrying about a wish of the past...especially one that had a high chance of never coming to pass...
~***~ In Sakura's bedroom at the Avalon cottage~***~
Sakura gasped and opened her mouth, looking like she wanted to say something, but Meilin kept talking, now babbling, trying to keep Sakura from the horror Meilin was sure her friend would feel as soon as it registered in her mind what Meilin had just finished saying. "And I know that his public name isn't Xiao Lang, but that's what his mother and his sisters call him...it's his name in the language they used to speak in this kingdom...before everyone accepted the common language, that is. It's kind of like his ceremonial name I guess you could say..." Meilin drifted off.
Sakura just stood there shocked. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. 'I can't believe this! The prince appeared to me in a dream? And...that could only mean one thing...the prince was said to appear in the dreams of the one that...the one that...he...loved! But...but, that couldn't be me...could it? No...it couldn't be...he must have made a mistake...yeah, that's it! A mistake...but...if it's a mistake, how come it felt so right? And how come he knew my name? I mean, he couldn't have really known my name unless...but no, I'm being ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. If I keep thinking like this I'll make a fool out of myself.' She looked up, only to see Meilin looking worriedly in her direction. 'Great. Just great. Now I've got Meilin worried about me too! This is just terrific. Well, I guess I'd better say something before she bursts.'
"Ano...Meilin? Does this mean...what I think it means?" Sakura stared directly into her best friend's eyes with a gaze so intense that Meilin swallowed nervously before responding. When Meilin opened her mouth to talk, Sakura quickly glanced down, afraid of what she might hear. "...Well?"
Meilin cleared her throat. "Yes. Yes, I guess it does." She paused, as if thinking whether or not her next words would be appropriate. "Yes...yes...I guess it would mean that he wishes to marry you...but how he would know of you is beyond me." Meilin looked very puzzled; she couldn't understand what the prince would want with her precious Sakura. And yet...but it couldn't be...it was impossible that there might be a connection between her dear Sakura and the Sakura who had been lost at the age of 11 all those years ago...could there? The look on Meilin's face must have been intense with worry because Sakura crouched down beside her friend as soon as she'd finished speaking.
"Meilin?" Sakura sounded quite worried. "Are you okay? Meilin?" At this, Meilin snapped out of her reverie and looked at her friend closely, afraid she might miss an important sign in her friend's face that would lead her to falsely believe that everything was alright. Thankfully she saw no pain on her friend's fragile features, and thus relaxed slightly, enough to respond.
Meilin almost sighed with relief that her friend was unharmed by her speech. "Yes...yes, Sakura, I'm okay. I was just...thinking...about a few things, that's all. It's really nothing to worry about." To Meilin's dismay, the look of worry and resignation remained on Sakura's face. "Really Sakura, I'm fine. There's absolutely nothing to worry about."
Sakura, though still unconvinced, finally relented. "Well, alright. If you say so Meilin." Sakura sighed, and looked out the window at the cherry blossom tree that sat just outside. She smiled, seeing the beautiful blossoms after which she had been named. Her only hope was that she would be able to stay with the Sakura trees as long as she lived, and that she'd never be without them, no matter where she went, because she knew she wouldn't ever be able to stand that. If only she knew what the dreams meant...maybe then she'd better be able to know what might lie ahead for her. She wished she knew what her dreams meant...she wished that she had the strength to carry out what she needed to because of those dreams. 'If only...so many wishes...' she thought longingly. "If only..." she murmured unknowingly. At this, Meilin, who had been deep in thought jerked her head up sharply hearing Sakura's words. She sighed as she felt the wind breeze through her long hair. If only...yes, Sakura was right...if only...if only...
MT: Mwa ha ha ha ha! Mwa ha ha ha ha! Mwa ha ha ha ha!
Readers: *start throwing tomatoes*
MT: Okay! Okay! I get your point! I'll quit it with the evil laughter...*motions Syaoran towards her from wings and whispers in his ear*
Syaoran: *eyes open in fright* What?! What?! No way! No way, no way, no way!
MT: Yes way, if you EVER want to see your precious Sakura again....heh heh...
Syaoran: Okay! I'll do anything! Just bring her back to me! Please!
MT: Well, well. This is certainly a change. But you must do everything that I ask of you, and then...perhaps...I'll let you meet Sakura in the next chapter...
Syaoran: Alright! *punches air*...ano...what do I have to do?
MT: Well, you'll have to wash the floors of the studio, and clean up every mess that Kero makes.
Kero: *Enters and looks at MT strangely, having heard his name*...what did...*cut off by Syaoran.
Syaoran: What?! That's ridiculous! That flying stuffed animal is a slob!
Kero: Excuse me? *taps Syaoran on the shoulder*
Syaoran: Yeah? What do you want, stuff...*cut off by Kero*
Kero: Did you just say what I thought you said?
Syaoran: *pause*...maybe...why? What's it to you?
Kero: Well, you called me a slob and a stuffed animal...that's DEFINITELY something to me! *changes to large form*...*starts chasing Kero*
Syaoran: Aaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!
Kero: I'm gonna get you sooner or later!
MT: *-_-"* Well, that's it for today! Toodles! And don't forget to review...or else no S&S lemon...mwa ha ha ha ha!
Syaoran: *pauses in flight from Kero* Yeah! What she said! Please! Review! For my sake and the sake of my love for Sakura!
Sakura: *offstage* Really, Syaoran? You love me? Awww...
Syaoran:...Sakura's here? Where? Where?!
MT: No...I think you were just hallucinating Syaoran, m'dear. Well, TTFN...ta ta for now!
Syaoran & Kero: Bye!
Syaoran: And don't forget...*cut off*
Kero: ...to not review so that S&S won't get together!
Syaoran: Noooooooooooo! I want the opposite! The opposite! Pleeeeeeeeeeeease!
MT: *cuts off Syaoran's caterwauling* And that's ALL we have time for! Tune in for Chapter Three...ano...soon! Yeah...that's it...soon...heh heh...