Out of the Water and Into the Flames

By Jesus Freak

Disclaimer: Hey! How're you all doing? I was working on Blind Dates (last chapter is gonna be good!) but I decided that it would be good to work on a chapter of this. So many ideas! So many characters to torture!

I guess I fainted or something because I woke up in my big fluffy bed with Tomoyo, the Queen and King, err… my parents, Meiling, and Syaoran, who didn't look very happy, staring at me.

"Uh, hi. I guess I fainted," I told them, sitting up. Then I remember what made me faint and lay back down. "Having a bethrothed or whatever it is wasn't mentioned when I came over here! You knew that I wouldn't like that and that I probably wouldn't agree to come!" I shouted at them, glaring accusingly.

"Now, love, Princesses don't use the word "whatever" and it's betrothed, please remember that. And also, it was mentioned in the contract. Only the lawyers saw the contracts," The Queen, I mean, my mother, told me.

"So then you payed the lawyers not to tell us! I demand to go back! The contract also allowed me to go home within a year of coming here if I didn't like it, then the former princess would reclaim my place as the real one!"

"There was some bribery used but that is beside the point. I am also very sorry to inform you that there was a problem at the airports. There is a computer here that connects to all the airports and there was a problem with that and it will take six to eight weeks to be put back up," Father said.

Isn't that convenient? I thought.

"Now, why don't you take some time to get to know Syaoran? Have fun," Mother commanded cheerfully.

Everyone but Syaoran exited and I glared at their backs. "How convenient is it that the computer is down," I muttered to myself.

I turned to find Syaoran glaring at me. "Hey, don't be glaring at me. I'm not the one who arranged this and I don't want this!" I snapped. His face softened a fraction of an inch.

I got up and wandered over to the window, enjoying the view of the lush greenery surrounding the palace. In the distance, you could see a city, probably the capital. Then I spotted the gardens. Beautiful was the only word in the English language that could describe them. Turning back to Syaoran, with my best set of puppy eyes on, I pleaded,

"Will you take me out to the garden? Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease?"

"No."

"Please? I'll leave you alone if it's within my power until I can get back to America."

"You do know that I'm getting the better end of the deal, right?" Seeing my nod, he continued, "Sure."

Syaoran got up and strode quickly to the big set of stairs at the end of the hallway. I had to run to keep up. "Not many people can get into the gardens. The entrance was sealed two years ago and was going to become overgrown. But I found a side entrance that wasn't sealed and I've been fixing it up. Your room has the only view of it."

That was the most I've ever heard him talk before. Probably the most he had talked in months.

"Wow. That was noble of you."

"No, the fools here at the Kinomoto Palace are too stupid to realize the true beauty of a garden."

I pondered that for a while. Why was he here if he thought we were all fools? Okay, that was a brain fart. Duh, he's here because he's engadged to me and he probably didn't have any say in the matter.

He strode confidently through the kitchens, to a little door in the far corner past all the machinery used for the cooking.

Pulling a key out of his pocket, he opened the door. And stepped into a wonderland.

It was obvious that he put a lot of work into this garden. Everywhere you looked, there was beauty. It wasn't overdone, but it was tasteful.

"Wow," I breathed, and for a moment, I thought that I saw a flicker of pride in his eyes before they returned to their cold amber.

The sky rumbled threateningly but I payed no heed. Exploring every inch of the garden was fun. It was enclosed by a huge wooden wall. With Syaoran commenting on all of the flowers and plants made it even more enjoyable. It must have been a big step for him to show me his secret sanctuary.

My favorite sight has to be a big weeping willow tree surrounded by burning bushes that were in full "burn".

With another threatening growl, the sky broke loose. Rain pounded down all around us and Syaoran instantly ran to the cover of the weeping willow.

I stuck out my arms and started to twirl around. It seconds I was soaked. Spontaneously, I grabbed Syaoran and started to dance. His hair was plastered to his head and he look like a drowned rat, as I probably did.

Then he laughed. Laughed. Syaoran Li laughed. And he had the biggest grin on his face known to man.

He whooped loudly and continued to dance.

I was scared. But I savored the moment anyway because I doubted that I would see him like this ever again.

I wondered what his parents had done to him to make him the emotionless boy he pretended to be. And I felt a small amount of pity for him.

I will change him. I'm going to teach him happiness and love. All the things he's missing right now.

I won't rest until I do.

Now, how was that? I know that it's really short but it's just to hold you off for a while. I'm gonna finish Blind Dates before I do anymore of this. Review please! Jesus Freak, signing out!