Chapter Eleven

~starjade~

Crystal Tears

Confusion

Syaoran stood in front of his mirror , studying the reflection shown back at him. He sighed , as he tried to become comfortable in his Chinese attire , that he had to wear to tonight's dinner. For some reason it was quite an important one , and his mother completely insisted on him wearing extra formal clothing.

How about me? What if I don't want to go to dinner? Why are you forcing me? he had said.

She gave him the Look and replied , you will be courteous and the very picture of a formal Li Prince. You must not let me down.

He sighed and obeyed his mother , but he was seething inside. She always , always got him! Just one time he wanted to make decisions himself. Which was why he wanted to become King. It will all be his choices , not anyone else's. He will be in charge of his own life for once...

Syaoran smiled a bit , and relaxed for what seemed the first time that day. And for what seemed the millionth time , Syaoran remembered the events of yesterday. Sakura...

All he could remember was her cheerful face ,those bright exhilarant green eyes , her pretty face , everything , EVERYTHING about her.

He wanted to scream. He wanted to hit someone , because he did not understand the new emotions rushing like torrents through his veins. They burned his skin , they boiled his blood , it made him feel like jumping out the window...

But then why was he so happy?

He had hated Sakura with all his heart when she arrived. Now , he blushed at any mention of her...

How could this have happened?

Was he sick? Was it some Kinomoto disease that Sakura brought along? It seemed Eriol was also affected from this disease , for he got all red around Tomoyo..

Yeah , that's it! He was going to talk with his mother as soon as he could! He had discovered a disease! Who knows , the whole castle might be affected by it!

Syaoran smiled at the mirror , ignoring his eyes. For if he looked deep inside the depths of his eyes , he would find out the truth. What exactly were the feelings he had. What exactly Sakura was to him.

And that scared him more than anything in the world.

~~~~****~~~~~*****

Sakura sat at the dinner table , trying to discreetly scratch her back. All evening she was itching like crazy! She was wearing an uncomfortable Chinese dress , that was quite fitted around the stomach and waist. Which caused an itch to bother her all throughout the formal dinner. She fidgeted in the wood chair that had intricate designs , beautiful to look at , but most displeasing to sit in. How could she survive?

People quietly ate their food , never falling out of place , never doing anything out of the ordinary. It was almost like they were robots , lifting their chopsticks at the same time , drinking from the tea cups in the most orderly fashion...

Sakura looked at her mother with pleading eyes , but Queen Nadeshiko never noticed. She was whispering to Queen Yelan , with dancing eyes. Sakura felt a trickle of suspicion flow through her ,but brushed it off. Queen Nadeshiko often smiled sneakily , or her eyes filled with an evil plan to bring torment to Sakura's life...that didn't mean ANYthing...

Finally Sakura could not take it. She leaned backwards to scratch her back , trying to wriggle and twist into a position that would enable her hand to reach the very position that would scratch her back the most satisfactory way..

" Princess Sakura!" announced a loud voice , startling Sakura and causing her to fall backwards. The chair began to fall , and she went down with a BANG!

Snickers flooded the dinner hall.

Sakura groaned with pain , not hearing the surprised gasps , the disapproving grumbles or the snickers that wafted through the air. She got up slowly but banged her head against the table in the process.

" OW!" she yelled , and quickly put her hand on her head , as the pain began to throb. Now the snickers turned into full out laughs and Sakura growled.

" HAH! That girl is supposed to be a Princess?"

" And the future Queen of the Li Kingdom?"

" Probably should be the future queen of Klutz Kingdom!!"

Sakura reddened as she slowly got up again.

How dare they mock her pain!

She looked around the dinner hall , her face bright with colour. She hated dinner parties and anything to do with royalty.

She looked over at her mother , and put her head down in shame. She hadn't meant to embarrass her mother but for some reason it didn't look like she embarrassed her at all. Queen Nadeshiko was hiding a smile behind her hand , and Sakura smiled a bit as Queen Yelan motioned her to sit down again.

Tomoyo sat at the other side of her , and was also trying to hide peals of giggles. Sakura elbowed her but her eyes were searching for someone else.

Her eyes fell on Syaoran , who looked back at her with his gorgeous amber eyes. Sakura was quite taken aback by the look in his eyes.

Was he actually....concerned about her??

No she must be dreaming! Yet Sakura felt herself warm a bit on the inside as his inquiring gaze fell on her. She felt herself redden again , and she scolded herself quickly.

What the heck is wrong with you? she asked herself angrily. Don't start getting feelings...he's a jerk and you know that!

But Sakura found herself questioning that statement. Didn't he save her yesterday , when he could've let her drown?

Sakura shook her head confusedly and went back to eating. But before she could , Queen Yelan stood up , causing the whole dinner hall to grow quiet.

" Thank you , ladies and gentlemen. I know you all may be wondering why I called for such a formal , important dinner together. Up to these last weeks , I have been a prosperous Queen. I have stood by my husband right up to his death , and held onto the Li Kingdom for years after. I raised my beautiful daughters , to become the intelligent leading ladies they are now. I have raised by son to be the most bravest , courageous and handsome man to ever be seen , Syaoran."

From the corner of her eye , she saw Syaoran blush and Sakura smiled.

The Queen continued to talk , about the virtues and traditions of the Li Kingdom and how it needed successors and stuff , but Sakura wasn't listening. She kept glancing at Syaoran , watching him.

That messy chestnut hair...that she wanted to pull out when she first met him. Those amber eyes that she drowned in ,that sincere , rugged look about him that kept you wondering...

" And the Li Ball is coming up , rapidly. We will need to announce Syaoran's bride-to-be at the ball , and we need to finalize the arrangements by next week. We will be holding a ball in a couple of days , sort of a practice run for the real announcement , where only the Li Kingdom will be invited of course. Yet we do need some answers from the Kinomoto kingdom. I will be expecting them the day after the ball. Thank-you."

Queen Yelan sat down revealing shocked faces from Sakura and Syaoran. They looked at each other at the same time withconfused looks on their faces. Each one was wondering ,

Why do I think marriage isn't a bad idea anymore?

~~~~****~~~~****

" Sakura , oh my god , you have to wear this new dress that I'm designing! It'll be perfect for the ball. Oooh , and I'm also designing a spectacular gown for the real ball , where you and your prince charming will finally be together. Oh , this'll be so sweet!"

Sakura sighed , as Tomoyo raced about , picking up ribbons and deciding on the pink one. She was nearly dancing with joy , filled with hyper activity.

Tomoyo had already apologized for what she had done yesterday , after a great deal of teasing. Sakura could not believe that Tomoyo actually thought that Syaoran liked her. Syaoran didn't like anyone but himself!

Though I wish he liked me , said a quiet voice at the back of her head. Sakura growled. What the hell? Of course I don't wish he liked me! That little egotistical prince who craves power and attention? Right...I really like those kind of guys..

" Sakura , are you okay?" Tomoyo asked , looking at her curiously. Tomoyo was a dear friend ,even though she was a bit misguided about the whole Syaoran and Sakura thing.

" Yah , I'm okay. I'm just sort of worried. The decision is coming up , and people are going to start hindering me with questions. I know they want me to marry Syaoran , but how can I commit myself to a loveless marriage?"

Tomoyo grinned.

" Are you sure it's loveless?"

Sakura groaned , and pushed Tomoyo , who moved away giggling.

" Seriously , though , Sakura. I do think that there is something between you two. Why can't you both just open up your eyes and see?"

Sakura retorted , " 'Cause there is nothing to see!"

Tomoyo sighed.

" You are so stubborn sometimes , Sakura. You two are meant to be together. It wasn't just a coincidence that your father chose this kingdom for the arrangement. It wasn't just a coincidence when Syaoran saved you from the water. It isn't a coincidence that Syaoran blushes every time he's around you."

Sakura was shocked. She hated it when Tomoyo brought up these issues. Couldn't she just let everything go? She was so confused...

" But Tomoyo , I don't love Syaoran. I don't have any feelings for him."

Tomoyo peered into Sakura's green eyes , searching. Sakura leaned back , scared of what Tomoyo might find in her eyes.

" You'll find out the truth soon enough. Just don't deny your feelings , Sakura. Don't deny what's deep in your heart."

Sakura stared at Tomoyo , deep in thought. Tomoyo sounded so philosophical , and her words sounded so right..

Tomoyo grinned at her friend , knowing she was finally going to give her feelings a chance.

Meanwhile..

"Sakura , come try on this fabulous dress! I need the exact fitting , to make Syaoran's head turn! Come on , pleeeeease?"

~~~*****~~~~

" Queen Yelan , I'm not so sure about Sakura. She seems to be falling for Syaoran , but she can't admit it. She keeps on denying her feelings ! I think she'll be able to admit it soon enough but to have the final agreements done in three days? We need more time!" Queen Nadeshiko exclaimed. She was quite stressed about Queen Yelan's speech. She had never told her anything about her announcement! How could her daughter admit her feelings in just three days? It was impossible! Sakura was as stubborn as Nadeshiko was back when she was Sakura's age , and probably won't say anything about her feelings.

Queen Yelan paced the conference room , like a caged tiger.

" We can't take any longer. Syaoran is reaching his eighteenth birthday soon. He has to have a wife by his side before then. I wanted my son to have a wife he loved and the future does pronounce them soul mates. But there is something in the way...We need those arrangements done quickly!"

Queen Nadeshiko was confused.

" Why must it be so quick? Syaoran's birthday is a while off."

Queen Yelan looked stressed and worried. She had meditated a couple of days ago and found something disturbing in the future that laid ahead of them.

" I will tell you when the time comes , Nadeshiko. But believe me , we need those arrangements done now. Before its too late."

Queen Nadeshiko was even more muddled up then before , but she knew better than to pry. There was something up with her , but she didn't know what.

And what if Sakura refused the marriage? It would mean so much heartbreak for her , because that would mean an arranged marriage , which will force her to be married without the luxury of getting know the groom.

She had received a letter from the King who said the exact same thing. She wanted Sakura to be married in a love marriage , to be married to her soul mate. But it was up to Sakura to make that decision.

Queen Yelan was in deep thought as well. Sakura and Syaoran's future could be messed up one heck of a lot if they weren't married. For someone was coming...

Coming to claim what was rightfully theirs.

a/n: Hehehehehehe....I know I know , nothing very interesting in this chapter. ( Interesting to me is lovey dovey stuff...hehe) But I kind of hinted the plot change in the story , which will kind of spice up the future chapters. The next chapter will be that practice ball thingy and the next after that will be the announcement. Be prepared for some fluff! And the next chapter after that will probably be a little fluff but it will also be the interesting part of the story too. hehehe....I'm so evil...

Oh yah. And this is the part where I exclaim about how much you reviewers are the best.

YOU REVIEWERS ARE THE BEST! THANK YOU SO MUCH! *sobs* I NEVER HAD THIS MANY REVIEWS BY ALL YA PEOPLE! YEAH! REVIEW!

I'm so happy! ^_^ :) :D