A/N: Thank you for all the awesome reviews! I am so happy you all like my story! Makes me feel like writing more often when I get nice reviews! ^_^;;; I am absolutely ecstatic that you liked it! Eeee! I was kind of nervous because it's sort of different from what I'm used to writing…I was afraid it wouldn't be that popular among you readers, but I guess I guessed wrong! Thank you so much! Enjoy the next chapter!
Strangers
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: Don't own Card Captor Sakura…you know, Syaoran and Sakura. I did make up Mayla, the general, Ned, Ed, the queen, the king (though those two don't have names), and any other characters not from the show…which is all of them except Sakura and Syaoran and…Kero comes in a little bit later. Okay, enough sneak peaks. Read it. ^_^;;;
The princess looked around her room. Most people would have loved to have a room like hers. With the beautiful decorations and the stunning scent of roses that filled your nostrils every time you walked passed the room. It was like you could smell the beauty. Some people would have killed to inhabit a room like that.
It was likewise for Sakura. The roses made her sick. The decorations were hideous in her mind. She wanted to tear them down and rip them to shreds with her bare hands.
She wasn't a violent person. She just felt imprisoned. Behind those castle walls was nothing. Nothing and nothing. Besides her parents and Mayla, there was nothing.
She sat down on her bed. She wanted so much more than this. She wanted to be free. She wanted to explore beyond the castle walls. There was so much she could give to the world, but she couldn't if she was locked behind the towering walls of the castle.
She suddenly stood up. She had to get out. Just for a little while…
She quickly scampered past her bed and out the door.
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"Look, I'm sorry Mother. You know I didn't have a chance with her. I'm not exactly king material here." Syaoran sat beside his hysterical mother, working as hard as he could to calm her.
"I just can't believe you didn't even try!" She fell back into a fit of tears.
Syaoran growled in frustration. "In case you haven't heard me the last 20 times, I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE WITH HER!" He stood up and walked towards the front door.
"Syaoran! Don't talk to your mother that way!" His father sat up in his seat, his eyes showing anger and boredom all in one (Or is it two? Lol.).
"Just leave me alone!" He opened and slammed the door, shaking the house violently.
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Sakura ran as fast as she could through the forest. The front guards were chasing her, as she had tricked them in order to pass. She laughed sourly as she could hear the two heavy men panting madly. When she was far enough ahead of them, she took a nosedive into a bush.
Still panting, Ned and Ed slowed down to a walking speed, barely differing from their previous waddling speed.
"Hey, Ned. I think we lost her."
"Yeah. Yeah, I think we did." Ned leaned against a tree, trying to catch his breath.
The princess in the bushes (A/N: Sounds like an opera, lol.) almost giggled, but cupped her hand over her mouth to hold it in.
"C'mon, Ed, we'd better get back to the palace. Will let the boss handle this one." Ned said, turning around. Sakura knew 'the boss' was the nasty general who always treated her as a pain in his side. It was like he had something against her.
"Right." Ed waddled over to catch up to his partner.
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Syaoran sat on a rock, right where the forest began and slowly winded its way up to the castle. He rested his head on his hands and sighed. He did some of his best thinking here. He was currently thinking about the girl that he met last night. He rubbed his brow.
Why do I keep thinking about her? I can't get her out of my mind! He sighed again in frustration.
All he could think about was the beautiful girl he had met at the ball. Suddenly, he heard a rustling sound from the bushes. He quickly stood up and prepared himself to come face to face with a wild animal. Instead, he heard giggling.
"That was hilarious!" A feminine voice laughed.
Syaoran watched, his eyes wide, as a young beauty skipped her way out into the open. He smiled when he saw it was the girl he had met last night…What was her name again? Oh, right. Sakura.
Of course, she didn't have the same reaction when she finally noticed him standing there, smiling at her.
She screamed, running backwards into a tree and, toppling over, tumbled down a hill, her dresses flying about wildly.
He chuckled to himself and walked down the hill. He walked to where she lay in a jumbled mess, and bent down. He grinned down at her.
"Poor thing. You went and knocked yourself out cold." He shook his head and carefully lifted her into his arms. Standing up, he brought her over to a more shaded and comfortable place at the foot of a gnarled old tree.
He slowly stood up and looked at her peaceful face. "I'll be right back." He whispered as he took off towards the house.
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Syaoran dashed inside the door. He grabbed a dishtowel and hurried outside where he soaked the towel in the stream. He stood and walked to Sakura, who was quietly stirring. He placed the towel over her eyes.
Sakura raised a hand to her forehead. Syaoran watched in amusement as she ran her fingers over the cool dishtowel over her eyes. Her fingers pulled at it and lifted it up. She looked at her surroundings and then up at Syaoran.
"You?" Her eyes glinted with confusion.
"Syaoran." He smiled at her.
"Yes. What am I doing here? What happened?"
"I'm assuming you were startled to see me, so you ran into a tree, and rolled down a hill, knocking yourself out cold." He shrugged.
"Oh my."
"Yes, quite painful, I'm sure, judging the size of the bump on your head." He placed his hand behind her head and gently rubbed the large bump that had formed. She winced slightly.
"Ouch! That hurt!" Sakura slapped his hand away from the back of her head. Syaoran laughed, causing a small growl to escape her throat.
"May I ask what's so funny?" She crossed her arms, still lying on the ground.
"It's nothing." He stopped laughing and put a hand behind his head. He scratched his scalp.
Sakura made a face. "Ugh…" She sat up. "What, do you have fleas or something?"
"Possibly. Want some?" He joked.
"No, actually, I'm quite fine." She grimaced.
"Are you sure? I don't mind sharing."
"Ew. Just…get away from me!" She pushed him away. He looked at the ground, pretending to be hurt. She looked back up at him and let out a sigh. "Oh, come on. You can't be serious!"
He smiled. "No, I'm not."
She giggled. "So, I guess that day came sooner than we thought it would."
Syaoran looked down at her in confusion. "Excuse me?"
"Yesterday you told me you will be forever waiting for the day we meet again to come. Well, Syaoran, that day has come. You can stop 'forever waiting' now." She said, smugly. He sighed and shook his head.
"You are going to hold everything I say against me, aren't you?"
She flushed a light pink. "Of course."
He stood up. "I guess I'd better learn to keep my mouth shut." He held a hand out to her. She took it. After she had steadied herself, she smoothed her dresses out.
"I'm sure I look dreadful."
"I wouldn't say that." He smiled down at her, the light pink tinting her cheeks turning a shade of red. She let out a small giggle.
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"YOU LET HER GET AWAY!?" The general was roaring with anger.
"We're very sorry, sir. She was too quick to catch." The trembling Ned replied.
"EXCUSES! EXCUSES! THAT'S ALL I EVER HEAR AROUND HERE! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR EXCUSES!" The general screamed, pounding his fist on the table with every word.
"Y-yes, sir. She got away." Ed quietly fidgeted.
"I KNOW THAT!" The general steamed. He calmed himself down and turned around so that his back was facing the two guards. "It seems nothing can be done right if I don't do it myself, so I'll just have to find that wretched girl myself!" With that he stomped out of the room in search of the princess.
"Woah. Didn't think we'd get out of that one so easily." Ed sighed with relief.
"Yeah. Hey, want a pastry?" Ned walked over to the table where some pastries were laying out on a plate.
"Nah, I'm watching my weight…" Ed turned down the offer.
"No kidding? Well, how about one for the road?"
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Just take one, you old fool!"
"You callin' me an old fool?"
"Isn't that what I just said?"
"You can't call me an old fool!"
"And why not?"
"Because you're the same age I am!"
"Oh, right." Ned munched on a pastry.
"Oh, just give me one of those things." Ed grabbed a jelly-filled something and shoved it down his throat.
"So much for watching your weight."
"Shut up."
^^^^^^^
"So, Sakura, what are doing down here?" Syaoran picked a leaf off the tree they were standing under and stroked it with his fingers.
"I just had to get out."
"Out of what?" Syaoran asked with growing curiosity.
"Just…out." Sakura replied sheepishly.
"Um…okay…" Syaoran didn't quite understand, but he left it at that.
"So…" Sakura's eyes darted back and forth, studying their surroundings. "You live…there?" She asked, pointing to a small cottage in the distance.
Syaoran grimaced. "Yes, I do." He shrugged. "It's home, I guess."
"Yes, well, home isn't always where the heart lies." Sakura closed her eyes and sighed, soaking up the fresh air.
Syaoran stared at her with fascination, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You're…right."
Sakura opened her eyes and turned her head to face him. "Of course I am, silly!"
Syaoran almost fell back. He wasn't used to being called 'silly'. Especially not by a young woman! He blushed fiercely and leaned up against a tree. "W-what did you say?"
"Um, I said of course I am, silly?" Sakura backed away, thinking she had unintentionally said something wrong. Syaoran noticed this and shook his head.
"No! No, it's fine! I'm just…not used to being called 'silly', I guess."
"Oh!" Sakura giggled. "I'm sorry!" She continued giggling until she noticed he was staring at her. "Oh, um, is there something wrong?"
Syaoran came out of the trance and shook his head. "Sorry, I just couldn't help noticing your lovely eyes." He took a step forward, his eyes locked with hers. He couldn't help but notice the way her eyes reflected truth and innocence.
She felt his intense gaze burn into her. It was like he was searching for something in her emerald-green eyes. She felt herself breathing uneasily. Her palms began to sweat. Her stomach felt strange. Like there were hundreds of little butterflies. Her eyes wandered the depths of his. She could see the courageousness and peacefulness in his eyes.
"Syaoran, I…" She felt a finger pressed against her lips.
"Shh. No talking." He moved himself closer to her. She let out a small gasp as his lips almost made their way to hers.
"Princess Sakura!" The general stomped in her direction. Sakura and Syaoran backed away quickly. She turned to see the hideous general standing in front of her. "You are in a lot of trouble, young lady. Sneaking off without permission. I'm going to have to report this to the king and queen."
"Oh, no! Please, don't!" Sakura knew it was asking too much, but it was worth a try.
"You brought it upon yourself." He harshly took hold of the girl's hand, dragging her away. She struggled.
"No! Stop it! Let me go!" She screamed. "Syaoran, help!"
Syaoran raced after her. "Hey! Stop that! What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm taking her back to the palace, fool!" The general grabbed the struggling princess by the waist and threw her over his shoulder. She pounded on his back with her fists.
"The palace? Why would you want to do that?!" Syaoran asked, confused.
"Princesses do live in palaces." The general growled.
"Y-you're the princess? You're one of the Kinomoto's?!" Syaoran asked her.
Sakura looked back at him from over the general's shoulder, nodding sadly.
"You lied to me? Sakura…how could you?" He was horrified. She seemed so truthful. He felt like he could trust her, and now that trust was shattered.
"Please, Syaoran, you have to understand!" Sakura called out to him, still struggling to break free of the general's hold.
"Understand? I've been…I've been with a princess this entire time…and I had absolutely no clue! Do you realize…how much trouble you could have gotten me into? I mean, I almost kissed you!"
The general came to an abrupt halt. Sakura gasped and put a hand over her mouth. Syaoran did the same.
"You almost did what, young man?" The general turned around slowly.
"I-I…" Syaoran fumbled for words, knowing he would be in more trouble than he could ever imagine if he admitted to almost kissing her.
"I almost kissed him." The general set her back down on the ground. Syaoran stared at her in disbelief.
"You WHAT?" The general screamed.
"I tried to kiss him. He turned down my offer." Sakura stood like a stone, though Syaoran could see from behind her that her hands were trembling slightly.
"This is an outrage! You've disgraced the entire Kinomoto family! How could you do this to us?! How could you be so stupid?!" The general was in an uproar.
"Hey! She's not stupid!" Syaoran clenched his fists and walked up to him.
"Shut up, boy!" The general smacked him to the ground. Sakura gasped.
"Syaoran! No!" Sakura struggled against the firm grip the general had on her hands, but was not strong enough to free herself. The general dragged her into the forest, leaving Syaoran behind. Syaoran lay there, listening to her cries in the distance.
He wasn't sure what to do.
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La la la…oh? You're done reading? Well, finally! Sheesh…you need to boost your readin' speed! Hooked on Phonics, maybe? It werkd fer mee! LOL Just kidding. What'd you think? Like it? Love it? Hate it? Well, whatever the case, keep your eyes peeled for the next chapter! (Review please!)
~Chip
P.S. – The story is completed! All it needs is a little editing! ^_^;;