AN: This idea sprung into my head.....when I was sitting in social studies class and listening to my teacher blab on about medieval ages. And now this fic will appear! All thanks to social studies ^O^!! Strange isn't it? This will be written in Sakura's point of view, although the beginning isn't. If I'm going to jump out of Sakura's point of view writing, for some strange reason, I'll write a little note in the middle of the page to indicate that! Hehe, so hope you like this story, and R+R! Lots of love, Fizzalicious Cherri.
Disclaimer: Story line is mine, and all mine!! Wheee!! But characters belong to CLAMP, and so does CCS ^_^
Chapter 1: Celebrating
3rd CCS fic by Fizzalicious Cherri
~*~
We'll share the stars in the summer night,
We'll share the stars in the winter night.
One Heart. One Whole. One Love.
~*~
Birds of pure white feathers flew across the grey cold stone pathway leading to a huge magony door. Along the pathway grew peonies full of life and color, swaying gently with the spring breeze that could not knock them down. These little flowers were not a mere image to add to the beautiful front yard of the rather large mansion. They were a sign, of someone special.
Up the steps of the pathway and through the double doors, lead to a warm and cozy hallway of fine antique furnisher and glistening chandeliers.
Giggling voices and happy memories mingled in the crisp clean air of spring, and if you turn right from the entrance into the warm house you would see the living room full of plush maroon velvet chairs with little children huddled in a group. They were waiting anxiously for something to do, and holding onto their stuffed dolls and toys weren't enough for their childish pleasures.
"Mam, can we please have story time now?" One girl with wide honey eyes said pleadingly.
Another little boy with fairly messy brown hair pulled himself into a sitting position and grinned. "Yeah!! We want a stowy!!"
"Stowy!!" All the little kids shrieked in delight.
An old woman with fair silver hair and flushed cheeks full of wrinkles with age smiled at them lovingly. "Very well, what story shall we have today?"
"Oh oh oh!! The story of Princess Sakura and the courageous knight Li Syaoran!!" A girl in pigtails cried in excitement.
Everyone nodded with bright smiles.
The woman smiled softly, her eyes glassy as she sat down on one of the many maroon chairs. "Haven't we all heard of this one already?"
"But mam!! We have to hear this tale again," The girl pouted with her small chubby hands crossed.
The ancient looking woman chuckled and leaned back. "Hai hai (ok, ok). Let's all get comfy and I shall begin."
The children crossed their legs and placed their hands on their laps and stared up at her with wide eyes of eagerness, ready to listen to the words that were about to spin a tale for them. The woman took out a worn looking book that had a pinkish color to it, but it was dulled for it was as old as her. It had a lock to it, just like a diary, and neat handwriting was written across every fine yellowed page.
"Long ago...in the world where castles and knights, princesses and princes excisted, there was a kingdom...the Kinomoto Kingdom...and their beautiful daughter Sakura."
"The feast is set, and the guests are arriving! How exciting tis it not?"
"Hai!! It is our princess' sixteenth birthday! Oh my, such a delicate one is she."
I looked about through the small window next to my bed, trying to block out the sounds of the servants and maids making a fuss over my sixteenth birthday. I'm sitting here on a small stool trying to balance this diary on my lap-- it is rather a hard task I do say. I know I should be preparing for the ball tonight, but I'm just so tired from the long lecture I had with otou-san (father) about my future.
He wants me to get married, and I really don't know what to do! We've talked about it endlessly and it just doesn't seem to click into place that I don't have anyone in my eyes yet...and I will not marry someone I do not love. It is insane to marry someone you don't love! Yet it has happened to so many princesses and princes over the world, I hope I'm lucky and I'm not one of them...
I'm looking up and I see my fancy new dress layed out on the pink bedsheets of my bed. I must agree that it is a rather nice looking dress...and it was a light pink, my favorite color! The frills on it is rather a bit too frilly, but then if I told them to take the frills off, the dress would look so utterly naked from its grand entire.
"Your highness, please, we must get you ready for the ball in less then three hours sharp!"
That was my personal maid, Kaiko. Though I sometimes find her really fussy, and demanding, she's a good person and we've had our times that we felt equal. And I do take her as a friend, not as a maid. Yet since she is calling me, I have no choice but to oblige. I will write in you later to tell you of the events at the ball! Wish me luck in finding the right one for me.
Hoe!! It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! Tomoyo-chan was there to, of course, and so was her soon to be husband, Eriol! I must say they look stunning together and it's as if it's a fairy tale story come to life! They are so kawaii together, yet Tomoyo was rather disappointed when I told her I was not engaged. But other than that, I want to tell you all about tonight!
I walked into the vast bright room filled with gossiping and laughing people, yet all was silenced when I placed my pink high-heeled shoes onto the red velvet rug that led up to the thrones.
I made my way up, and smiled at otou-san, and then I turned my eyes to my onii-chan (brother). He had his usual smirk on his face at me, and I knew once I was close enough, I would hear...
"Kaijuu (monster)." He muttered.
I maintained my posture and smile until I was taking my seat next to him. "Mou! I'm not a kaijuu, onii-chan!! I'm sixteen now!"
"In the eyes of your brother, you'll always be a kaijuu," He smiled and I couldn't resist but stick my tongue out at him.
I know deep down he loves me and cares for me just like an onii-chan should do, but couldn't he show it in a different way? But it doens't matter now, for I feel unusually genki (cheerful)! I saw all eyes on me, some whispering, some smiling. Yet one thing I heard annoyed me to the ends of my auburn hair.
"I heard the princess is not engaged yet!"
"Oh my lord! That is rather upsetting!"
I blew a strand of hair that was in my emerald eyes, and frowned. One thing I didn't like about royaltly. The lack of privacy.
I will not remained unmarried, it is just that...I haven't found the right one for me yet. Otou-san has tried bringing many princes from faraway kingdoms, but none caught my eye, although they were all very nice. It just...didn't light the flame of the untouched wicker of the candle in my heart.
My otou-san, the great King Fujitaka, stood up, and I assume he's going to make a speech.
"People of the Kinomoto Kingdom, we gather here today to celebrate our beloved Princess Sakura's sixteenth birthday!" He says it with bright eyes, and I couldn't help but smile when the group abrupted into applause. "She has grown up to be a thoughful, caring, and beautiful young lady. I know she will not disappoint us in the near future, when she will reign as queen in whatever kingdom she will be married to!"
I felt my cheeks go red as everyone cheered. Touya brought me back down to earth when I heard him utter to himself, "She doesn't even have someone in mind yet."
Well, that was true, and I really didn't want to disappoint my family and my father's kingdom. But what is a girl like me to do when that special person just hasn't appeared?
"Sakura-chan!!"
I snapped out of my revere when I heard the familiar warm voice of my best friend and distant cousin, Tomoyo Daidouji. I felt myself leave the throne and down the red velvet steps to embrace my friend.
"Tomoyo-chan!! I've missed you so!" I stepped back to look over my friend, her long wavy strands of dark hair and her sparkling amethyst eyes. Nothing out of place, just like the Tomoyo I knew!
She looked excited though, as if she was about to burst. "I want you to meet someone!!" She finally squealed in delight as she picked up her skirts in one hand while taking my hand in the other.
I followed her through the crowd of dancing people and then to a little enclosed corner of the room. I saw a young man around our age, standing there with a navy blue tuxedo and a champaigne class in one hand.
When his dark eyes landed on me, he politely bowed and smiled. "Happy birthday, princess."
I curtseyed back, careful not to step on the frills of my dress. "Arigatou." I smiled.
"This is Eriol! My soon to be...husband!!" Tomoyo clapped her hands together, and I could see the stars in her eyes and the air of excitement around her.
"Hoe!!! Sugoi neh!!" I cried out in delight and smiled brightly at Eriol. "You two look so kawaii together!! You are perfect to be with each other!!"
Eriol smiled calmly and pushed his glasses up slightly. "It is my turn to thank you now princess."
"Oh please, just call me Sakura." I didn't want my best friend's betrothed to call me 'princess'! It was absurd!
Tomoyo beamed and looked questioningly at me. I blinked at her, "Hoe?"
"Well, how about you?" Tomoyo asked excitedly as if I had some news to surprise her with. Yet I had none.
"..What about me?" I felt myself sweatdrop and Tomoyo's excited face turned into a frown.
"You mean you haven't found your number one guy yet?"
I tilted my head and a small smile appeared on my lush pink lips. "Iie (no)." I replied simply.
Tomoyo shrieked so loudly that many people turned to cast their gaze upon us with confusion. I turned red in embarrassment as Tomoyo grabbed my hands. "But that's ok! Because I know you'll find him soon because you're Sakura-chan!!" Once again, stars sprung in her eyes as they glistened with hope.
"And then I'll be able to make the prettiest wedding dress for Sakura-chan!! It will be my dream come true! Oh ho ho ho!!" Tomoyo laughed.
I turned probably every shade of red before I could utter. "Tomoyo..."
"Iie! It won't be hard to make that dress!"
I looked down at my feet when the sounds of horns blowing brought me back to my senses. My father had stood up again, and the music and dancing people had stopped almost to quickly.
"Also, tonight I would like to present the new knights of honour that will be fighting for our kingdom when we are in danger, and when we are in need of protection! These knights have been trained from a very young age, and are skillful and faithful." My father waved his hand to his left and four men in armour came up the steps.
I squinted my eyes and noticed they weren't old, yet some of them seemed as young as I!
"I, Takashi Yamasaki pledge an oath of loyalty to the Kinomoto Kingdom, to serve and only serve for their purposes."
"I, Teishkay Misori pledge an oath of loyalty to the Kinomoto Kingdom, to serve and only serve for their purposes."
"I, Deushi Gihei pledge an oath of loyalty to the Kinomoto Kingdom, to serve and only serve for their purposes."
"I, Li Syaoran pledge an oath of loyalty to the Kinomoto Kingdom, to serve and only serve for their purposes."
That name caught my attention for it was different than the rest. It wasn't a japanese name, and in fact, it was chinese!
My eyes raised as I caught the figure that was supposedly Li Syaoran, and I noticed how young he looked. Untamed brown hair, with strands cascading over his intense and fierce amber eyes. I shivered slightly, he did look rather strong...yet handsome at the same time.
Now look what I'm saying!! Nonsense!! I cannot set my eyes on a knight of my kingdom! It is completely ridiculous and I will think of this Li Syaoran no more.
I think it is because I am to desperate to find my soul mate that I would dare comment on a knight. Yet now I am sitting here, on my soft bed as a sixteen year old girl, and all my brain is thinking of is the fierce cold eyes of that stranger. Li Syaoran.
AN: I would love to know how you guys think of this fic so far :) Also, this is an AU fic, so no magic involved and stuff. I think this is my first AU fic...tee hee...at least I think. Well hope you enjoyed it so far and R+R minna-san! Arigatou~!