Title: Once Upon A Time

Chapter: 5 - Waking Up on the Wrong Side of Bed

By: Sparkling Crystal

"Syaoran…" Sakura said as she held onto Syaoran's neck, "I had the best time of my life today! Thank you."

Syaoran smiled and hugged Sakura tightly. They stood there in deep embrace until the last palace bell rang, which meant it was eleven o'clock.

"Is it always so noisy here?"

Sakura asked as she pulled away from his clinch and rested her head in front of Syaoran's chest. Syaoran held Sakura firmly and smiled, "No, Sakura! Only when you're here do the Bells ring with joy!" Sakura laughed at the stupid comment and she grabbed Syaoran even tighter.

* * *

Dong…Dong…Dong…Dong…Dong…Dong…Dong…Dong…

The first Bell of the day woke Sakura early and loud. As usual she grabbed her pillow and held it over her head tensely. She simply HATES waking up.

"Sakura!"

She moaned…was this all…just a dream? But it seemed so real, so wonderful, so sweet… Suddenly a firm, masculine hand went around Sakura's waist and pulled her up.

"Wake up, sleepy-head!"

Syaoran's voice rang clearly in her ears. Although it wasn't just a dream, Sakura moaned again, then she looked up. Syaoran was already dressed and ready to go. She moaned again, louder this time, and covered herself with the blanket.

Syaoran laughed and wrestled it away from Sakura, "C'mon! I've planned so much for us to do today!"

Sakura whimpered and groaned, "Another minute?"

Syaoran clapped and two maids entered. Syaoran chuckled, "Prepare the shower and Princess Sakura's clothes while I try to wrestle her up." The maids hid their smiles and nodded as they went to do their job.

Sakura rolled to the other side of the bed, "Just one minute..."

Syaoran laughed and climbed on the bed as he grabbed for Sakura, "You're no match for me!" Sakura giggled and threw her pillow at him as she would have done to Wilma. Yet nothing on her mind has to do with home or anything else right now…just Syaoran.

"Ah!" Syaoran grunted, "Now you got me mad…!!" Then he dived for Sakura and his fingers made their way to Sakura's waist and started tickling her. Sakura laughed and screamed as she tried to grab free of Syaoran's hold.

Syaoran laughed too and his fingers went quicker and quicker.

"S-Syaor-hahaha-s-stop-!"

The young couple was rolling around on the bed, one laughing one screaming.

Suddenly Syaoran ceased at deadly speed. Sakura took a few deep breaths from laughing so hard and finally looked up. Her smile faded as fast as an ice cube in the melting sun. The Queen's face was at the door looking straight at them. Her hands shook and her face burned red, but all she could make out was, "S-SYAORAN!" Syaoran looked at his mother, and then at himself.

He was on top of Sakura, the pillow was on the floor, the blanket lay on the side of Sakura and him, his hands were around Sakura's waist, Sakura was in untidy pajamas and Sakura's hands were grabbing his arms. The Queen's body shook some more, her head burning with steam; and Syaoran immediately got off the bed.

"Oka-sama, it's not what you-"

"SYAORAN!" The Queen's body shook hard and her head seemed it was ready to pop off at any time.

"Oka-sama!" he quickly tried again, a bit with fear this time, "It's NOT what you think, we were just-"

"You were 'JUST'!" The Queen shouted in anger, her voice shaky and uncontrollable, "JUST!?" Syaoran looked at Sakura, who was looking at him without knowing what to say.

"I…we…" Sakura tried in her little voice.

The Queen shot a red-eyed look at Sakura, "You dirty little-!!! You purposely tried to-to to DO THIS, didn't you?! I know women like you! Steal hearts with rich princes and then-! You slut! I told you: you can have anything, just get out of here, but-but-you-!" At this time the Queen was already exploding with anger and burning with fury. Sakura looked down despite her questions and confusions.

"Oka-sama!!" Syaoran yelled on top of his lungs, but the Queen paid no attention to his scream.

"And YOU…you betrayed me! You see a pretty face and run off! And forget all these years that I've raised you, feed you, nurse you! And now you-even-even-" She spluttered and shook, all the servants went out the room in fear and panic.

Sakura looked painfully at the Queen. Is this what she meant? That I play with rich guys and then I dump them after I get bored with them? That I only care about money? Maybe even suggesting that I sleep with men so I get pleasure? That I'm actually PLAYING with Syaoran?

Sakura ran out of the room.

"Sakura!"

Syaoran yelled after her.

Should he follow…or not?

A voice suddenly rang in his heart. What about your mother? You didn't explain yet!

But what about Sakura?

If you explain to your mother the situation and after she understands she'll find out how mistaked she is and she can help you find Sakura…together!

Yet she didn't like Sakura from the start, and who knows where Sakura'll be then?

Well…

Before he could straighten out the problem the Queen was glaring at Syaoran, "Don't you dare leave! LET her go, let her leave!! I don't give a care if she tells her father and starts war on us, we will fight till the last soldier!" She paused, then manically laughed, "Who said we'd lose? Who said WE would LOSE? We shall wipe out the whole Cherossyom!"

Syaoran looked at the Queen, then in fear ran out the door as fast as he could.

Where could Sakura be? She must have had her heart torn! His heart fell pity and sorrow for her. Oh, Oka-sama shouldn't have said all that…she didn't even let me explain!

Syaoran thought as he ran down the Main Hall and looked for Sakura. The Queen's demands and screams still could be heard as he ran.

Syaoran could run way faster than Sakura, so he should be able to catch her in no time. "And besides, Sakura had no idea where the Palace Halls lead, she would get lost pretty quick," Syaoran thought confidently as he searched high and low.

* * *

Sakura had been sitting on the Rose Swings in the Royal Garden.

She curled up as she softly cried, and she had loved Syaoran so.

"Sakura! Sakura!"

A voice cried as quick footsteps drew closer to her.

Sakura looked up to find Syaoran running across the Maze and crying her name. She looked down and ignored him.

Syaoran stopped in front of her and he putted his hand on her shoulder, "Sakura!" He hated to see such a pretty face cry, "Oka-sama…she…didn't know…I tried explaining…but…it seemed so alike…and she was always …Sakura!"

Sakura clung herself into Syaoran's chest. Syaoran embraced her.

"Sakura…"

________________________________________________________________________

~*ARTHUR'S NOTE*~

^^ Before I continue on blabbering, thanks for the reviews, I really appreciate them ^.^ Most of you might find Syaoran's mother (the Queen) bit mean to Sakura; and a reminder that this is A/U so it's not actually Yelan. (And besides, Yelan doesn't wear half-moon shaped glasses or any glasses at all.)