Crystal Tears

Star Jade

Chapter Three

Green Eyes

High pitched voices carried across the hallways , glasses of wine were clinked together , and servants quickly exchanged gossip. It was a normal day for the Li Kingdom , except the gossip was now of the Li Kingdom's prince. The prince was heard to be meeting his almost-betrothed princess from the Kinomoto Kingdom. No one had ever heard of such exciting news. They were soon to have a King again!

The only person not happy in the Li Kingdom (except of course for Meilin!) was the prince. He sat restlessly on his chair , comforted only by his daydreams of never having to marry and of course , becoming a card captor. But , as usual , reality took it's place in Syaoran's mind and he knew that he'd have to face the truth.

But he didn't want to! He tried to relapse back into his daydreams , but voices cut him off.

" This must be the most exciting day! We will meet our future Queen!"

" I heard she is exceptionally pretty!"

" I'm just happy the Li Kingdom will finally have a King!"

" I'm sure the prince will love his wife!"

The voices carried on , until Syaoran could not take it anymore.

" WOULD YOU ALL SHUT UP!" he yelled , furiously. The whole hallway quieted , as if someone had turned a the volume switch off. But who could blame them? Syaoran stood there shaking with anger and frustration. Instantly he felt guilty, and said quietly.

" Please...Just talk about it somewhere else."

He sat down again , and heard the steps of scared servants scurry away. Ugh. What did you do , Syaoran!

But the truth was ugly enough.

" Today , of all days , I will be meeting another one of those perky , self-absorbed princesses that just want money and wealth. Today. I will be expected to act courteous,"

he stretched this word out painfully , " and polite , and pretend I love them , and want them to be my Queen. Today."

He groaned , beating the arm of his chair furiously. This was not fair. Maybe...if he ran away....Wait. That won't work. He couldn't leave his mother. He also wanted to be King.

He remembered how happy his mother was when the announcement came that the Kinomoto Kingdom had accepted the arrangement and were sending over the daughter. She had that little bounce in her step , that glow to her face that he had seen so rarely in all his life. He felt , well , guilty if he had refused the princess. That would mean upsetting his mother...

God , what could he do to get out of this! Suddenly an idea occurred to him , and he stood up quickly.

But of course. He could just act so mean and disgusting to the Kinomoto princess so that she'd feel so bad as to cancel the arrangement. That way , he hadn't done anything at all!

Syaoran stood up energized . That was the way to do it!

He walked to his room to get dressed for the princess's arrival. This was going to be fun.

~*~

Sakura sat in a cushioned seat in the carriage , that wobbled to and fro. Great , she thought. I am being forced to marry a egotistical jerk , that probably rolls around in his money ,and is just marrying me so he could be King. What a great way to live my life!

She stared out the window despondently.


" Sakura , what's wrong?" said a comforting voice beside her. Sakura sighed , and smiled up at her best friend. Tomoyo smiled back at her , but a worried expression was present her eyes.

" Don't worry Tomoyo. I'm just , well , confused. This is not how I want to live my life. I want to fall in love with a man of my dreams , not marry a Prince that I haven't met yet , and probably will hate my guts!"

Tomoyo laughed.

" Sakura , your exaggerating. Of course your not being forced to marry. You can back out any time-"

Sakura interrupted , " Then I want to back out now. Let me go home!!"

"-After you've met the Li prince and got to know him. Come on , Sakura , it wont be that bad!"

Sakura looked up at her.

" Well , at least your here." Sakura looked back at the other carriage that was following them. " And my mother."

Sakura remembered just before she had gone , she had begged her mother to let Tomoyo come too. It was no need , because her mother had already allowed Tomoyo to go , but Sakura hadn't known that. She pleaded , and her mother laughed. Tomoyo had come walking down the stairs , her clothes packed , and had said , " So , when do we leave for the Li Kingdom."

Sakura had screamed for joy. She did not want to be alone , and face the prince and his family. She had heard they were quite a strict , traditional family. Great. All the things she wasn't. She was really going to fit in.

Suddenly her senses prickled dangerously. All the hairs on her arm rose , and her eyes scrunched up in concentration. All her senses told her....

CLOW CARD! Here? Of all places! Sakura got up quickly , and yelled for the driver to stop. She rummaged through her bags , ignoring Tomoyo as she asked her what was wrong. Sakura continued to rift through her bag until suddenly an outfit appeared before her.

" TOMOYO!" cried Sakura , and Tomoyo chuckled.

" Hey , you still need your outfit , Sakura. I'm not going to let you go without it on."

Sakura smiled , but strain was present in her eyes.

" Okay."

~*~

Syaoran paced back and forth , stiff in his dress clothes. The knot in his stomach had grown bigger and bigger. What if the princess turned out all giggly , and nice , and perfect! What if his mother liked her , and he didn't? Would he have the heart to turn her down. What if-

Suddenly the room swirled ,as Syaoran sensed the presence of something familiar. A card...Clow card! It was here!

Syaoran jumped up , and grabbed his sword hurriedly. There was a card near , and he was going to capture it!

Sakura jumped out of the carriage dressed in a white skirt and top , with pink lines running along the seams. Gloves of white reached to her elbows , and a hat of pink straw and white ribbon adorned her head. There was a hill in front of her , and Sakura sprinted up it , thanking God that she was healthy. She stood at the top of the hill , looking around her , her senses screaming. Clow Card..

Wind whipped around her and the air crackled. Sakura looked above her and saw the sky darken. Tall grass from around her feet swished against her legs ,and suspicion and a git of fear began to trickle down her veins. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled.

The thunder card!

~*~

Syaoran raced across the land , cursing to himself. Why the hell is it so far? He thought to himself , as he jumped over yet another obstacle. Finally , he senses told him that he was near. he looked around him , and saw dark clouds gather above him. A rumbling echoed through the sky , and he felt it to his bones. The thunder card! He prepared himself to fight but suddenly -

A girl swooped above him , flying. He saw her , wearing quite an odd costume , quite short and abnormal for anyone of his day. She held a staff in one hand , and was flying towards the darkening clouds.

A card captor!

Syaoran felt himself grow weak. The card captor was right there! And it was a girl! He felt the swirl of confusion whirl around in his head , as he saw the girl call upon her cards , and fight the thunder card. He felt disappointment , jealously , wonder and awe.

He watched , stricken , as she shouted , "Return to your true form!"

"Clow Card!!"

Syaoran observed her as she struck the clow card with her staff. It was quite interesting to watch. Who was this girl?? This was all so sudden! Somebody , here , capturing cards? He thought there wasn't a card captor in the Li Kingdom! Where did she come from?

Syaoran held his head in his hands , feeling overwhelmed. He glanced up through his bangs and saw the girl began to fly back towards the hill. For some reason , Syaoran wanted to know her badly. He wanted to know her name , where she came from...everything! He ran up the hill , trying to reach her as she settled back on the ground and began to descent.

He shouted , " Wait! I want to talk to you!"

The girl looked back at him for one moment , and in that moment he felt emotions he had never felt before. Her green eyes seemed to peer into his soul , and he felt himself freeze. She ran down the hill , he auburn hair flying after her , and Syaoran felt himself feel faint. Who was that girl?

" Who are you? Wait!"

He raced up the hill , in hopes to see the girl again. But instead he saw three carriages coming rolling over a bend into his sight. Wait a minute...those were Kinomoto carriages. They're already here!

Syaoran sprinted back to the castle , knowing he was never going to make it before them. His mind was clouded and swept with confusion. But all he remembered was those big green eyes blinking at him , emptying his soul into her hands. It warmed his heart.

a/n: Oh god , I luv all of you! You guys are da best! Next chapter I'm gonna do , I'm gonna give a shout out to all of you. Watch for your name in the next chapter.

Oh , and please don't flame me for not explaining the fight. I know , I know , but I don't wanna get to into the Card Captor thing. If you want me to , review , and I will add a bit of story of Card Captors in it , but if you want me to just stick to romance tell me.

KAY?

BB!

~starjade~