Chapter Seventeen

Card Captor Sakura

Crystal Tears

~starjade~

Broken Ties

a/n: Ouch , here it comes...I know I know , ya guys are whinin' NOO! Sakura and Syaoran forever! Do you honestly think I'm going to let them go?? It might be rocky in their relationship , but they are still soulmates! ( in my mind at least!)

A hush enveloped the front hall , reaching towards the ends of the hallways and swirling around the stunned crowd. Nobody moved , nobody spoke , everyone was just frozen in place.

The girl who stood at the doorway had a scowl on her face as she walked down the red carpet , her fine silk slippers making a slight tap sound in the silence. Her bright ruby red cape flowed from her shoulders down to the floor sweeping behind her in a great halo that made her anger appear greater than it actually was.

Syaoran stared at the girl , his face blank. Yet his eyes raged with confusion, anger , frustration , and most of all...dread. He knew what she had come for , he knew what she wanted.....but he was also confused. Wasn't the engagement broken off years before??

He took a quick glance at Sakura , who was staring at her with wide green eyes. Her face was clearly confused , but a suspicious look was also coming over her face. He winced as he thought of what was going to happen , and opened his mouth to shout at the girl who was going to ruin everything for him.

" Queen Yelan." The girl spoke , making him close his mouth quickly. Her voice was quiet , contradicting the rage that was clear in her ruby red eyes. " My aunt. The woman who agreed to the engagement between Syaoran and I."

The crowd gasped as Queen Yelan turned purple.

Queen Nadeshiko was clearly confused , but anger was quickly taking over as she shouted , " How dare you-"

" NO!" The girl shouted at her. Queen Nadeshiko caught her breath. No one ever dared to shout at a Queen before! It was...unheard of!

Sakura was shaking her head slowly , unbelievingly as the girl continued.

" When I was little , I used to live here. Before I was even BORN , I was promised to Syaoran Li! For TEN years , I lived here , until Queen Yelan turned me out on a stupid quest to send stupid jewels to another stupid Kingdom! But don't think I don't know what your doing! You were trying to make me fall for that loser King Herald! Well , too bad , Queen Yelan!"

"No...No...." Queen Yelan started before being interrupted as the girl flung a deadly look at her.

" Yes! I will marry Syaoran Li , whether you like it or not! Remember when my mother asked for this??" She showed everyone the heart shaped portrait. Inside was a picture of Syaoran , when he was around fourteen. Syaoran's eyes widened with horror.

" It's a promise , Aunt Yelan! It's a damn promise! I , MEILING LI AM PROMISED TO SYAORAN LI! "

Nobody moved as the girl panted , her anger causing her face to flush. Everyone was appalled , all they could do was stare. It was as if the girl was giving off an aura that made people just stand dumfounded.

It was so sudden ....A couple of minutes before the hall was full of joy as everyone gazed upon their future King and Queen happily...now they were seeing an angry woman claiming to be engaged to Syaoran! No one knew about this engagement! She must be wrong....or at least mislead!

Sakura looked like she was trying to piece together everything. Her face held the expression of denial...she didn't want to believe what she knew was true...this girl couldn't be Syaoran's fiancee , she just couldn't!

Eriol looked furious , for he knew about the engagement already. Yet this was something he never suspected...

Tomoyo looked like she was going to cry , as she gazed worriedly at Sakura who was standing on the sidelines , still waiting for everything to be alright.

Yelan walked over to the shaking girl and looked straight into her eyes. Her face revealed absolutely no emotions , as she searched the furious girl's eyes , looking for something that wasn't there.

" Yes it is true. You were promised to Syaoran Li." To hear it from their own Queen's mouth gave reality to the statement the girl kept repeating. Someone fainted in the crowds , gasps flew from all over the place and muffled whispers erupted.

Syaoran shook his head slowly. He was told that the engagement was off, that it was broken! No one told him...that the engagement was still on!

Sakura stood , trembling but her face showed no emotion. Yet if you peered closely , tears were forming in her bright emerald eyes as the Queen sighed.

" Meiling , listen. It seemed like a match that was meant to be. The bloodline would be kept pure , you were to be raised to be the best Queen that ever lived. Yet when all the elders came together , we found trouble. You two weren't meant to be. You two weren't soul mates. Meiling , listen , that is why we sent you off to find another man. We cannot find for certain your true soul mate , yet we know absolutely that Syaoran is not yours."

Meiling stood staring at Yelan , as if trying to understand her babble. Finally , her eyes roamed the crowd looking for something. Or someone , for Syaoran felt his heart drop as her eyes rested on him.

" Syaoran..." she whispered , her voice taking on a sweet cadence that wasn't there before. She gathered up her skirts , her ruby red eyes fastened on his. Syaoran froze at the girl's look....such longing he had never seen before!

Fear trickled down his spine as she began to walk towards him , pushing people aside harshly , her eyes locked on him. When she was finally just three feet away from him , Syaoran found the will to move.

" Meiling , stop! I don't love you , I'm engaged to Sak-"

" Syaoran.." she interjected , gazing at him lovingly. " You look a bit different from my picture...yet I could recognize you anywhere.."

" What are you doing here , Meiling!" he shouted , fed up with the girl's attitude. How dare she interrupt in his engagement....Meiling didn't notice his anger , she was just watching his face , as if trying to memorize every single piece of him.

" Meiling , stop.." said Queen Yelan. " He is marrying someone else. That is final."

Meiling whirled around the red hot fury erupting once again.

" Look , here AUNT YELAN! He is not marrying some wannabe bitch! He is marrying me! It's legal , he has to!"

Syaoran growled. " Don't you dare call Sakura a bitch , you-"

But he wasn't able to finish his sentence as Meiling launched herself at him. Syaoran didn't have any time to do anything but suddenly Meiling was flung aside . She stumbled aside but she recovered and whirled around quickly. A huge hush fell over the hall , as everyone turned around to see who had pushed Meiling..

Sakura?!?!

Sakura stood there , hands on her hips , her face bright red with anger. Tears were now flooding down her cheeks as she yelled , " Don't come near Syaoran again , you got that!"

Meiling stared at the girl , surprise in her bright red eyes. Finally her face began to flush too as she screamed , "What the hell are you doing? You've only known my Syaoran for what , a couple of months? I have known him all my life , and I am not going to let some small town princess put her snobby little paws all over my Syaoran!"

(a/n: A lot of swearing , I know...But they are kind of angry...^^)

Sakura shut her mouth , shocked. She glanced quickly at Queen Nadeshiko , who was furiously whispering to Queen Yelan. Queen Yelan had a look of sadness on her face.

Sakura felt hopelessness come over her as she shouted , " Mother! It can't be true , can it?"

Queen Nadeshiko gazed at her daughter , hurt, betrayal and anger clear in her eyes.

" Sakura....Queen Yelan has tried everything. The engagement to Meiling cannot be broken unless....unless Meiling breaks it herself."

Silence.

Silence was all that enveloped the hall. Queen Nadeshiko's voice echoed against the walls , against the doorways , against the ears of everyone listening.

Sakura stood frozen , absolutely in shock. Syaoran shook his head slowly, not fully understanding what was going on.

Memories flashed through Sakura's mind. The moment she saw Syaoran on the hills. The moment when she first met Syaoran as Princess Sakura. The time in the special spot. The day he saved her. Those times he sneered at her , yet had a completely different look in his eyes. The dance. The kiss. The...

"No...No..." Sakura whispered , holding her head tightly. The image of the crowded , shocked hallway blurred in her line of vision and began to rotate , spinning around painfully. Tears flooded past her eyes and she collapsed on the floor.

A wave of surprise swept the crowd as gasps flew all around. Tomoyo stepped forward , pain clear on her face. Queen Nadeshiko ran to her daughter , but Syaoran had got there first. Syaoran's face was of pure alarm, as he grabbed Sakura , holding her in his arms.

" Sakura?" Syaoran asked , but Sakura had fainted from complete exhaustion. Syaoran looked back at Meiling who appeared to be smug , but a definite look of surprise and bewilderment was clear in her ruby red eyes. Syaoran shook his head , tears also threatening to rise to his eyes.

Queen Yelan stood , shaking her head with sorrow. It was never supposed to come to this....

" Xiolang...Xiolang , listen. She's tired , she needs to rest. Give her to Tomoyo and Queen Nadeshiko , okay?" She said , staring at him her eyes taking on the familiar look of commandment.

Syaoran watched her , uncomprehending , until he let go of her , only to pick her up. He took her into his arms and glanced at everyone.

" I'll take her to her room." he said , defiantly. Queen Yelan shook her head , remorsefully.

" We need to talk.." she said , quietly.

Syaoran understood , and gently handed her over to Queen Nadeshiko , who with one bewildered glance to Queen Yelan , Meiling and Syaoran , bustled away with Tomoyo at her heels.

Queen Yelan quickly took charge and bustled the large crowd from the room. Everyone was shaking their head with remorse , confusion , anger....it was a whirlwind of feelings. Queen Yelan knew it would take time to convince the residents that everything would be alright...even though she didn't know if that was for sure.

Soon the whole hallway was emptied. The wonderful preparations hung limp from the stairway and the posts , as if reacting to the atmosphere. Queen Yelan looked down at her feet and Meiling had fastened her eyes on Syaoran. Eriol was void of emotion , but a definite expression of outrage was clear in his navy blue eyes.

Queen Yelan sighed , tiredly. " Meiling , we will give you a room until we can sort this thing out. But I warn you , you will not marry Syaoran Li."

Meiling gave her a smug smile. " Oh , but I will. The engagement cannot be cancelled unless I say so."

She looked uncertainly at Syaoran who looked like he was going to explode. Meiling took a step back , but smiled.

" Syaoran , you will fall in love with me. I promise you that. And we will be a happy couple." With those words rocking in his mind , she trotted off to go to her old room. Eriol stared after her and then stared at Queen Yelan.

" Yelan , I have to admit that I do not clearly understand this situation-"

" Wait , Eriol." Queen Yelan spoke , her eyes on Syaoran. Syaoran stood quietly , his fists clenched at his side.

" Syaoran-" She said , but Syaoran interrupted her , his eyes still on the floor.

" Mother?" His voice was quiet , almost to a whisper. " Mother , what did you do?"

a/n: Ahh , I seem to be in the habit of cliffys , now don't I? Yah , it's angsty a bit here , isn't it?? Don't worry , it's not going to be there for long! Fluff will come in somewhere. Hey , I mean it! Don't ya'll cry and moan , cause ya think Meiling is gonna get Syaoran! Cause she will! ( JOKES , JOKES) And , for all ya Meiling worshippers , I'm very very sorry. I just needed her character for the story , 'kay? In my story, she is nice and cool...just deeply mislead. Okay , okay? Does that make ya feel betta?? But its pure S&S , kids. PURE SAKURA AND SYAORAN!

Remember that thing that you do after ya read a new chapter...

REVIEW! Please , they make me feel better! I love reading all the thoughts you have about my fic, and all ya opinions ya guys give! I need them to make this story a better story! Okay , Okay? Okay!