Story Key:
" " = Speech
' ' = Thoughts
* * = Noise/Sounds
italicsBig Scene change/Notations
A/N = Author's Note
A King and a Card mistress >> Syaoran and the runaway

Syaoran stepped out of the gigantic Li palace. Now at 14, he was already the ruler of the Li clan and slowly taking over China and Japan.

"Master Li, you haven't had your break-" Syaoran merely waved his hand slightly behind him at the butler. He walked down the path to the gate. And into the limo, which was waiting for him.

"Good morning, Sir. Li!" A man greeted him with wide arms. Syaoran ignored them.

"Calm down, Mr. Tankko." Mr. Tankko put down his arms, his smile faded. He pulled a briefcase out.

"Sir. Li, I have the office papers. I think that we should discuss them now befor-" Syaoran interrupted.

"Why such a rush, Tankko? Hold on to those for when we settle down." Syaoran sat back, putting his hands to his eyes. The sun was particularly bright that day.

'Today is another sunny day, yet I am here, on my way to work once again. I have never seemed to be able to concentrate on my work every since...it...happened. She was the greatest thing that ever could happen to me... And now it's gone. Why did I have to leave? I was happy for once in my life. That cheerful smile... Her eyes... She made me be someone I never knew I could be, but now I just shut everyone out as much as possible. But it's important. Soon, I will become a king if I play my cards right. I wish I could see her again. But I only have one picture of her, and it's so blurry. It's been so long, I don't even remember her name! I guess I've been too into work.'

At approximately 9:00 p.m., the doorbell rang at the Li palace.

"Ah, Master Li is home! Welcome back from work, master!" Syaoran, taking no notice of the maid, walked straight to his room. He opened his top drawer. A secret box sprang out. Syaoran took the box. Inside was a picture. Ever so gently, Syaoran picked up the photo. Carefully, carefully. A girl was standing under a cherry blossom tree, the winds sweeping her hair. Her auburn brown hair and ivory-cream skin stood out, but Syaoran liked the girl's bright emerald eyes the best. Green was his favorite colour, sure, but the eyes were so lovely because Syaoran could see an innocence in them. His eyes watered. A tear rolled down his cheek. Quickly, Syaoran whipped his hand out in front of the picture, so that the tears wouldn't get on it, but he was too late. The photo was damaged forever. Shocked, Syaoran put the image away... Into the box and into the drawer... And never dared to take it out again.

3 years later...

Syaoran entered a huge room. Everybody fell silent. Because he was the King. No one dared to make him mad. This silent King. (A/N: Well, it says silent, but it just means that he doesn't talk a lot. He's not totally silent, k? =/ ) He sat down on the red throne in the middle back of the room.

"What business is there today?" He asked one man, near the throne. The man said nothing, but clapped his hands twice. Another man come rushing in.

"Sir. Li, we have caught a Japanese girl around the areas and have brought her in. She is ready for examinations at anytime; we think that she will be a good addition to your slaves."

Syaoran winced at the mention of 'his slaves'. But it must be done. After all, he hadn't worked years just to become the king. It was one year after he was named king.

"Bring her in, then! Don't just stand there!" Syaoran yelled. The man nodded.

"Yes, sir!" He turned around. "Bring in the new slave!" he called. Several people came in with a struggling girl of about 16. Her dirty brown/black hair swept across her face down to her shoulders. Her fierce eyes were a dark green colour, and body was scratched and bruised all over. A woman nearly screamed when the girl tried to bite her. Syaoran got off the throne. This girl was from Japan, had brown hair and green eyes, though the color was a bit off. Maybe it was just him.

"Girl! What is your name?" He yelled. The girl scowled.

"Why should I tell you, you monster? Thanks to you, my family and I were driven out of our home, with our friends! You are lucky I am held back, or I would be up there, and you would not be so calm!" Syaoran stood back, a bit shocked.

"I am asking you NICELY," Syaoran said, annoyed at the girl's rude-ness, "WHAT is your name?" The girl scowled again.

"I am Tomahura Suzuhara. My friends call me Tomi-chan, but YOU," she said, eyeing Syaoran with a furious look in her eye, "will call me Suzuhara, and Suzuhara, ONLY!" Syaoran simply said,

"I will call you, dear servant girl, whatever I desire, but out of respect of your courage to talk back to me, I will call you Suzuhara-chan. Men, take her away. I will discuss this later."

The people that were restraining her, shoved her into a door on the side of the wall. Syaoran ordered the head of the slaves to come forward.

"Yes, that new girl, she is perfect for the job of a slave. Her work shall start early tomorrow... Her work load will be..." he trailed off. "Her work load," he started again, "will be Load D. No buts! She is a young, healthy girl, by the looks of it, and she can handle it, judging by her attitude." The woman obeyed.

"Yes, sir." she trembled. Syaoran walked off.

"I'll leave you to your duty."

'That girl... She was not who I thought it would be at first. Oh, well. There was only a slight chance, after all. Work load D should teach her a lesson about talking that way to a king. Hmmph. Normally, I would have given someone like her a load C or even B, but she just irritated me so much. At least it should make her tame.'

{End of Chapter 1} Yes, yes. I changed Chapter 1 a bit, but only because I accidentally deleted it and had to re-write it all over@.@;; But it's mostly the same. *whew* so please review! I haven't gotten enough reviews to make a sequel yet, so I might not...I just hope that you enjoy the story, arigato for reading! Ja!