Author's Notes: Sorry this took so long

Author's Notes: Sorry this took so long. I couldn't get onto the site when I finished this chapter. Other than that, there's not much to say.

*~*

Disclaimer: I, uh, forgot to put one on the other chapter. So what. If I didn't own CCS then, why would I own it now?

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*~* Chapter Ten *~*

The Second Ball

Sakura wiggled into her gown, this one a deep blue. She sighed as Xiefa clamped jewelry onto her neck, wrists and ears. Maybe I should have stayed at the mansion today instead of going out with Syaoran. She was aching all over and she was sleepy. But face it girl, you wouldn't have wanted to miss that day for the world.

"All right, Sakura, let's go."

They hurried down stairs and, like the night before, proceeded in. Once again, all eyes turned to Sakura and Xiefa.

Xiefa searched the ballroom, but couldn't find Syaoran. "Where is he? I want you to dance with him."

Sakura noticed that Mei-lin and her mother were doing the same. "I don't know."

"Well, lets ask!"

They headed over to where Sanori and the Elders were standing.

"Mother, have you seen Syaoran?" Xiefa asked.

"He's attending to some business. He should be back soon." Sanori turned to Sakura. "You look very nice tonight, as always."

Sakura was surprised and so was Xiefa. "Oh, thank you. You look beautiful too."

One of the Elders spoke up. "So you must be the beautiful Kinomoto Sakura that everyone's talking about. My name is Li Sunni." He took her hand and gently kissed it.

Sakura flushed. Li Sunni was very young. She'd naturally thought all of the Elders were going to be old. "You're too kind."

"Now, now, Sunni, this girl is taken." The man who Sakura saw speaking with Sanori earlier winked at her. "No use flirting."

Dio (A/N: Remember her from 'The First Ball-Part One?) frowned. "Please tell me- what exactly do you plan to accomplish here, Miss Kinomoto?" She'd heard Mei-lin's accusations and worried that she'd been correct about the girl.

Sakura turned to her. "Excuse me?"

"Well, you just pop up out of no where, claiming that you're here just as a friend of Syaoran, here to see his initiation. Out of concern for the future leader of this family, I think I have a right to know."

Sakura glared at the woman. She hared the hostility dripping from Dio's words. So she must be a supporter of Mei-lin. And this sounds like Mei-lin and I are in some sort of political race! Well I'll tell this arrogant loser exactly what's on my mind!

"I don't like your attitude, Ms. Whoever-you-are. But I'll give you a straight and true answer." She stepped up to Dio, looking her straight in the eyes. "I plan to marry Syaoran." She saw the look of triumph on Dio's face. "But not because of his money or last name, but because I honestly care for him with all of my heart and soul! Now what do you think of that?!"

The group was silent. A lot of people were staring at her.

Way to go Sakura! thought Xiefa.

"You clearly don't have any manners. If you did, then you'd know that you shouldn't talk to people older than you like that," sneered Dio. Some of the Elders nodded in agreement, eyeing her in disgust.

"I think she's got some courage, Dio," stated Xiefa. "You can be quite rude at times, you know."

Dio flustered. "We're on to you, girl." With that, she walked away.

Sanori eyed Sakura. Had she been telling the truth when she said that she honestly cared for Syaoran? She was starting to see Sakura in a new light . . .

Minoa stepped up to Sanori with Mei-lin at her side. "What's going on here, Sanori?"

She smiled. "Nothing. We're just having an . . . enlightening discussion. Yes, very informative."

Minoa eyed Sanori. "Right. Well, where's that son of yours. He needs to dance with his FUTURE FIANCEE." She said, putting emphasis on future fiancée, looking at her daughter.

Xiefa snickered. "Then he'd be dancing with Sakura."

"Oh, mother, there he is!" Mei-lin squealed.

"Straighten your gown and hair, dear," whispered Minoa.

Sakura rolled her eyes.

Syaoran, looking very handsome (as always ^_~), came up to the group of women. "Good afternoon ladies."

Mei-lin smiled and grabbed his arm. "Come dance with me, hunny bunch!"

Syaoran sighed and looked apologetically (weird word) at Sakura.

Sakura watched them go onto the dance floor. You will be mine, Syaoran. No matter what.

"Sakura, let me introduce you to some of the other Li's, okay?" Xiefa pulled her away.

*~*

Once the two girls had left, Minoa turned to Sanori. "Just what are you trying to pull?" hissed Minoa. "Have you forgotten that we've discussed this merger for eighteen years?"

"Is that all it is to you, Minoa?" Klein asked. "Don't you care about the boy's happiness?"

"I care about my daughter's happiness. She's my first concern!"

Sanori sighed. "I know that. I'll have to think about all of this carefully, Minoa."

"Do you want your son to put his faith in this girl, only to find out that she's some gold digger? How would he feel then?" barked Mei-lin's mother.

"If she was a gold digger," stated Sunni, "then she could certainly have her pick of any man in the room. She's pretty enough and she's got spirit, too. Any man would be happy to have her for his wife."

"Are you trying to say that my daughter is not all that that Sakura girl is and more? Mei-lin has a lot to offer, too."

"Certainly not in the personality section."

Everyone turned around to see Alan standing there with a grin on his face.

"Oh, shut up!" Minoa said. "What do you know? You're blinded by that girl's charms too. We all know that."

Klein held back a burst of laughter. "No, no, the boy's got a point. She is lacking in that area."

She chose to ignore that statement. "Why don't you take her off of our hands, Alan? You've got a lot of money. She'll be happy with you."

Alan shook his head. "There are certain . . . obstacles in the way. But soon, everything will be in order."

Sanori, who'd been silent the whole time, glared suspiciously at Alan. I don't trust him . . .

"Exactly what do you have planned?" she asked.

"Don't worry, Auntie. Everything will be the way it should have been. The way it should be . . ."

*~*

Sakura was tired of meeting the Li Clan, particularly the ones who weren't too fond of her. She stepped out of the ballroom and into the hallway. 

She took in a deep breath of air. All she wanted to do was spend the night in Syaoran's arms, dancing with him. But Mei-lin had been occupying his time, dancing every single dance with him.

Sakura slowly walked down the empty hall. Gee, it's quiet. She rubbed her arms, looking around. And sort of spooky . . . oh, I need to go back. What if this place is haunted?

"Of course it's haunted," said someone form behind her.

Sakura jumped and let out a tiny shriek. She saw the man . . . the same one from before standing there.

"I didn't mean to frighten you," he whispered.

"Get away from me, you creep." Sakura began to back away from him.

"I won't hurt you. Last night was an accident, love. You were never supposed to be in any danger."

"Well, I got hurt," she sneered. "Just leave me alone!"

The man grabbed her arm. "Never! You WILL be mine, sweetheart. In time, you will be."

Sakura tried to jerk her arm out of his grasp. "LET ME GO!"

He clamped a hand roughly over her mouth and pressed her into a wall. "We wouldn't want you to draw any attention, now would we?"

Sakura's eyes widened with fright. Oh, God, where are you Syaoran? HELP ME!!

*~*

Oh, God, where are you Syaoran? HELP ME!!

Syaoran instantly pulled out of Mei-lin's arms, his eyes narrowing. Sakura's in trouble. He took off out of the ballroom, not caring that every one was staring at him.

*~*

The man laughed. "He won't come to you, darling. He can't read minds like me. He's so pathetic. I can't understand why you'd want to be with a weakling like him."

He's more of a man than you'll ever be, you bastard!

The man brought his hand back and slapped her hard. "Don't you ever call me that! Or any other name, for that matter." He took Sakura's chin in his hands. "I won't tolerate any insubordination from you."

I won't go easily you-

Her thoughts were cut off when the man's lips fell upon hers. He roughly ground his lips against hers, running his hands up and down her body.

So beautiful and soft. And mine!

"GET AWAY FROM HER!"

The man let Sakura go and she weakly fell to the floor.

"You again? Why won't you leave us alone?"

Syaoran lowered his body into a fighting position. "I'm not going to let her go with you. I will fight you to the death, if I have to."

"Oh, in due time, boy, in due time!"

Behind Syaoran, a voice rang out. "DON'T FIGHT HIM, SYAORAN!!"

Half of the party guests stood in the hallway, watching in horror.

"Please," called out Sanori. "Please don't!"

Syaoran kept his eyes on his enemy. "If he wants Sakura, he'll have to get to me first."

"I would be glad to, but not here, not now. But she WILL BE MINE. You can count on that!" With a flash of light, he was gone.

Syaoran rushed over to Sakura who sat dazed on the floor. "Hey, you okay?"

"I-I think so. I'm just a bit tired and stuff."

Syaoran frowned. She did look pale. "Let me take you up to your room." He helped her onto her feet.

*~*

Once upstairs, Syaoran sat on Sakura's bed while she put on a nightgown in the bathroom. Kero's face was filled with worry.

"Poor girl. Second ball ruined again by that creep," muttered Kero, shaking his head.

"Hopefully tomorrow night's will be better. I'll make it up to her."

Sakura emerged form the bathroom, smiling weakly. Syaoran helped her into the bed and tucked her in.

"Syaoran?"

"Hmm?"

"How did you know I was in trouble?"

Syaoran paused. "I heard you call out for help. I came right away."

"Thank you. You're always there when I need you."

"I plan to always be there, Sakura."

She stared at him.

Syaoran smiled. Get some sleep, Sakura. You need it." She called out as he walked away.

"Wait!"

Syaoran turned back. "Yes?"

"I-I can't go to sleep. Can you sing me something?"

Syaoran had never sung privately for anyone. He nodded, sitting on the bed. He softly began to sing a Chinese lullaby, one that his father used to sing to him before he died.

When Syaoran was done, Sakura was fast asleep. He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, my love."

Author's Notes: Not much to say. Please R+R!