All is Fair in Love and War

All is Fair in Love and War

Chapter Seven:

Masked Ball

Part One

Sakura looked at dawn's sunrise. The dark yet exquisite night sky was slowly turning into a lovely morning. Sakura had never been one to rise so every but today so could not help it. Her mind kept telling that tonight, was to be a ball in which she should have to should for the one she would be with. She turned her bed in which she had placed her gown for the ball early that morning.

It was a long and light cherry color. It was imperial design. It had no sleeves but at her shoulders was layers of light pink lace. The top of her dress was silk with tiny embroider cherry blossoms and the base of it. The bottom was layer of layer of light pick lace at the swing like a bell when she walked. Her gloves were a lighter pink and the same king of petite cherry blossoms embroider at the opening. The back of her dress was open back with silk ribbons falling from top to base of her dress. It was a beautiful dress; Tomoyo had made it for her. Tomoyo loved making dress for her, at first so would not accept them because she felt that Tomoyo should wear the lovely dress every time Tomoyo would make a face and should could say no.

She had even made the necklace and the pins she would wear and her hair. The necklace was pink cherry blossom lace with tiny pink gems and the center of every little flower. Her pins were giant cherry blossoms with silk ribbons flowing for the bottom. Tomoyo even made her mask. It was her father's adviser who suggested that it be a masked ball. That way her suitors who not know who I was and if any one them would curt her, they would be honest of something like that, but she felt that he had something but his sleeves and so did Touya. But the one thing Tomoyo had not made was the brooch she would wear. It was a crystal cherry blossom with pink gems in the center it was very beautiful. He mother had given it to her before she died, she had, had it made for just for her. Sakura treasured the brooch with her life.

It was going to be a long night. She would have to dance with every gentleman who courted her. She hated formal balls, there were so boring. She sighed and looked up at the mirror that faced her. In the background of her reflection the bright light of the sunrise made an object in the distance shine a light flash. She quickly turned around to find where to flash came from. Her sight landed at the castle in the distance. She smiled and blushed. She knew it was Prince Xiaolang, she didn't know how she knew but she knew it was he.

"If only he could come to the ball," Sakura sighed.

"If only who could come to the ball, Sakura?" Kero asked causing Sakura to jump. She did not know Kero was awake.

"I did not know you were awake, Kero?" Sakura asked trying to avoid the questions.

"I really do not know, I just did, but you did not answer my question," Kero quickly stated. Then he saw the flash of light from her window. He quickly flew by her side. The he grinned.

"Ah, young Prince Xiaolang is up as well, is he the one you wish to come to the ball?" Kero asked.

Sakura blushed and turned to face the castle.

"I take that as a yes," Kero stated as he sat down on the window's ledge. He sat in silence, looking at the castle with his tail, swinging left to right as if he was in deep concentration. Then the flash again, he smiled and looked up at Sakura who was farther confused. He turned back to the castle and said," He is practicing his magic, Yue is teaching and Eriol is watching."

"How do you know?" Sakura asked.

"I sense their auras. Eriol has a familiar aura; it has Clow Reed's strength and his knowledge. Yue's aura is unlike any others, he is cold in exterior but is gentle and warm inside, am sure Xiaolang knows that because in all of the time I have know Yue, he has never been so gentle to any one. As for Xiaolang's aura I have never sense anything like it. He is full of power, strength, skill a great warrior is all I can say, but at the same time is as gentle as you," Kero stated.

"A gentle warrior, does such a person excite?" Sakura asked.

"It does in him?" Kero answered.

"What is he doing?" she asked.

"Close your eyes and concentrate, on him if you haven't all ready?" Kero grinned. She narrowed her eyes and did as she was told. The image of Xiaolang appeared in her vision and she smiled. Kero saw it his cue and told her to open her eyes. She did as she was told…

In the Li Clan castle…

Xiaolang was by the window his eyes closed and his hand stretched out in front of him with a little golden paper in his hand. Yue was standing or rather floating to his left and Eriol as on his bed watching his cousin learn. Then that flash again, followed by the golden paper burning up in his hands and turning into a small dancing flame. He opened his eyes and smiled. He narrowed his eyes and the flame looked like it was stretching and taking space then in turn into a small wolf of fire. Yue nodded his head in approval and Eriol smiled. He had learned to control his power over magic quickly.

"It seems, the third time is the charm," Eriol stated.

Xiaolang all to happy of his accomplishment noticed something or someone. It was Sakura but where? He turned to the window and walked to it. Yue and Eriol followed him.

"She is looking at us," Xiaolang stated.

"Who? Sakura?" Eriol asked.

"Ah, she knows the powers of the second sight," Yue stated.

The flame wolf in Xiaolang's hands disappeared and he quickly pulled out another golden paper and closed his eyes in concentration. Yue and Eriol watched rather curious of what his was to do. The wind picked up and the cherry blossom trees became to dance and swing. Sakuras flew in the air and created a beauty aroma filled the air around them. A single lovely cherry blossom landed in the palm of Xiaolang's hand. He opened his eyes and then he gently blew the sakura flower from his hand and by magic the cherry blossom kept in the air and flew all of the way to the Kinomoto kingdom. Sakura snapped out of her trance when Xiaolang smiled and waved his hand in greeting form. By that time, the cherry blossom had landed on the palm of her hand causing her to blush lightly.

"The Prince is a charmer as well," Kero chucked.

"Kero," Sakura sighed.

There was a knock at the door it was Touya. He greeted her with a smile and walked up to her and gave her a hug.

"How are you?" Touya asked.

"Fine why do you ask?" Sakura countered.

"Because you are up so early it isn't like you at all," Touya teased.

"Touya!!" Sakura shouted.

"Okay, I sense it," Touya stated.

"I don't want to go to the ball," Sakura sighed.

"I know I don't want to go either, Father is hopeful that I will find someone there, too," Touya stated.

"Come now, father wants to talk to us," Touya continued.

They walked out of the room and left Kero by himself. He looked out of the window and grinned.

"I know what will make her happy," Kero thought out aloud.

Author's Note: Sorry I have taken so long. I'm making these chapter two parts, so be patience.