Chapter Eighteen

Card Captor Sakura

Crystal Tears

~starjade~

Surprises

" Sakura?" a voice spoke , drifting across the cherry blossoms that flew delicately through the wind. It swirled around the figure , and rushed past him , drifting across the trees never to be seen again. The river churned quietly lapping over the smooth rocks and the river floors, sweeping past a girl who sat silently on a rock , staring out at the river.

The girl heard the voice and quickly wiped away any lingering tears. She fought her expression for a cheerful smile , but it turned into an expression of sadness. The girl hung her head and turned to the emotion that hid beneath all the denial and sadness. Anger.

" Sakura? I thought I'd find you here," a male voice shouted , relieved. His footsteps came closer , pounding in Sakura's ears. Sakura winced , as he ran up to the rock where she sat and stared at her. She still refused to look at him.

" Sakura?" Syaoran asked , confused at her rigid form. He settled himself next to her , and stared out at the river as well , before turning to her, Sakura took a deep breath , fighting off the longing feeling and quickly stood up , walking closer to the river trying to put some distance between her and Syaoran.

Syaoran sat bewildered. Finally he just brushed her strange behaviour away , and looked down.

" Sakura , I know what happened lately must hurt you. It's hurting me too...you have no idea. You must understand , however , that I never knew anything about this engagement..." Here he went closer to her and tried to hold her hand.

Sakura stared at him from underneath her lashes , before wrenching her hand away. Syaoran stood dumbfounded. What was going on , he thought to himself and stared into her emerald eyes. It had a glassy look , and a familiar look of anger barred his way from her heart. He stumbled back , surprised.

" Look , Li. I don't really want to talk about it."

Syaoran felt her clipped words strike at his heart , but he kept a mask of indifference on his face. Inside he was churning with emotions and suspicions. Sakura looked at him , only once , before staring off into the distance.

" Sakura what is wrong-"

" Nothing is wrong , Li!" Sakura interjected , smiling. The smile didn't reach her eyes , though and Syaoran inhaled sharply. This was worse than all those times she had acted cold to hi...

" Sakura , please tell me why you won't talk about it! Why are you acting so cold?"

Sakura shook her head , staring at the glistening water. The waves reminded her of herself. The waves broke free from the water , individual , happy , only to be sucked right back again. She sighed , a heartfelt sigh. Why did this have to happen to me?

She whipped her head back at Syaoran and spoke through gritted teeth , " Why didn't you tell me , Syaoran? Why couldn't you just tell me?"

Syaoran stared at her , blinking hard as she walked off , her shoulders set.

Once she was out of his sight , her shoulders sagged painfully and she leaned against a tree for support. Everything came rushing at her , holding her down as she peered through the clusters of trees back at Syaoran. he was staring at the water , once again , his amber eyes cold. She felt the strong compulsion to run back to him , and it took all of her strength to push it down.

She let out a quiet sob , as she ran back to the castle.

I can't take it anymore. I love you , Syaoran. I'm just so...hurt.

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

Ruby red curtains fluttered in the wind and a scent of wildflowers flooded the room in great tendrils of fragrances. The wind swirled into the room , enveloping the girl who stood by the window , her hands clenching the window sill so hard , her knuckles whitened visibly. Her heart sagged as she watched an auburn haired girl run from the forest to the castle.

Sakura Kinomoto , she thought. The girl who was supposed to marry Syaoran...

The girl ran , her skirts tripping her , but she paid no attention to how mud caked the hems of her dress , or how she was running blindly. Meiling peered closer and stepped back surprised. She looked so sad , it almost looked like she was going to cry....

Meiling watched as she burst thorough the doors. Meiling was confused . Why was that girl so sad?

She looked back at the forest and a lone figure emerged. Meiling's heart soared then dropped. It was Syaoran Li...and was he going to cry too? Meiling couldn't tell , but his shoulders drooped , and Meiling knew that he was sad.

Sad?

Meiling felt the need to console him , but she knew that he would just brush her off once more. Well , when they were married , Syaoran would learn that she would always be there for him and would learn to love her and allow Meiling to console him...

Meiling gathered her skirts and prepared to go out , pushing back the nagging idea that bothered her day in and day out.

Would Syaoran actually be happy with her?

Meiling stepped out of the doors , smiling cheerfully. She walked down the stairs , quietly , smiling at everyone who walked past. Once she hit the bottom step , she quickly wiped away the tears that had gathered in her ruby red eyes and took a deep breath.

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

Sakura ran into the front parlour , her whole body shaking. Pain was ripping at her heart , and she wanted to break down and sob.

Yet she had been doing that too much lately...she was a stupid cry-baby. Always freakin' crying and crying! What was wrong with her! She bet that Meiling didn't cry that much!

Sakura felt herself fall to her knees hard , as she fought back the tears that threatened to spill. She didn't want to show everyone how vulnerable she was...she heard the doors open behind her and she quickly got up , trying to calm her trembling.

She didn't want to reveal her vulnerability...especially to Syaoran. She finally mastered a mask void of emotion and prepared herself to meet Syaoran.

She turned around and met his sparking amber eyes.

Scratch that. She didn't master anything!

" Sakura-" he started , taking a step toward her. Sakura felt the mask slip slightly and then heard someone coming down the stairs. Thank gods , she thought to herself and whirled around to meet whoever it was thanking them mentally for breaking another sob session before it started.

What met her eyes shocked her to the core.

" Meiling?" she gasped at the same time Syaoran did. It didn't surprise her that Meiling was there...just that Sakura was absolutely sure that Meiling had been crying. \

Crying??

What did Meiling Li have to cry about? She got Syaoran , she had everything she wanted. Everything....that should've belonged to Sakura.
Sakura felt the familiar filling of misery and desolation rise and once more she fought the bubbling urge to cry.

She lifted her shoulders and shifted so that she was staring right at Meiling. Meiling took a step back , but pretended she hadn't , and stared right back into Sakura's eyes.

Syaoran spoke , " Meiling , get away from her! Sakura , please come with me!"

But Meiling just rose her hand to Syaoran and looked at him. Surprisingly , her look didn't have any of that disgusting sweetness and pining she usually had when ever she looked at Syaoran. She just looked...normal. Not lovesick , or revolting , or even furious. Just....neutral. Like the Meiling he knew when she left.

Meiling looked back at Sakura and Sakura nodded slightly to her. She knew. It was their fight. Only their fight and no one else. Meiling and Sakura had never met but instantly they fought like wildcats over Syaoran. Syaoran was helpless and looked at the girl he loved and the girl he was engaged to marry. It wasn't fair. Not at all.

Finally Meiling broke the silence. " Hello , Sakura."

Her voice wasn't of scorn or disgust. It was ordinary , almost as if Meiling was meeting a stranger. Which was pretty much what she was doing.

Sakura didn't smile , but just looked back into Meiling's ruby red eyes , evenly. " Hello , Meiling." Her voice matched Meiling's exactly.

The two girls were pretty much the same height , their appearances contrasting wildly , yet their eyes held the same emotions. Hurt. Anger. Confusion. Longing. Distraught. Each girl recognised the same emotions in each other's eyes , but still didn't smile or make any sign of emotions or recognition.

Syaoran began to feel apprehension as the girls studied each other's motives. How was he supposed to just stay on the sidelines? He was torn deeply , especially at Sakura's words earlier. It slashed at his heart , and he nearly was in tears at the coldness in her eyes. He took a deep breath and prepared himself to interrupt the girl's staring contest. However Sakura spoke before he could say a word.

" Meiling Li. I've never met you , yet we act as if we're born rivals." She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders." Even though I've been hating you for the past days , I-"

Suddenly the doors crashed open before Sakura could get whatever she was going to say out. All three of them whirled around and Tomoyo , Eriol , Yelan and Nadeshiko hurried out to the scene as a figure stood at the doorway.

Sakura blinked hard and cried , incredulous , " Father?"

Nadeshiko put her hand to her heart and cried , " Fujitaka? What are you doing here-"

Sakura's yell of delight interrupted her as Sakura's face brightened for what seemed the only time in the last few days. She yelled , " Father! Your here! I missed you so much!" and raced across the room , jumping into Fujitaka arms.

Fujitaka let out a chuckle and hugged his daughter, tears glistening at the ends of his eyes. " I've missed you too , daughter. Most of all , I worried about you. I heard about....the latest events."

Here he let go of Sakura gently , and strode into the middle of the front parlour , and scowled at all the Li Residents.

" I've heard about the pain and suffering my child went through. How dare...How dare you , Queen Yelan! You purposely ignored the marriage contract already signing your child off , and yet you organized another contract with my daughter! How foolish we were , blindly going into this arrangement , because we trusted you , Yelan! We had complete trust in you , yet you betrayed our trust."

Queen Yelan's face paled and she opened her mouth to defend herself , but Fujitaka had raises his hand , and boomed out to the castle , " I am taking my daughter back to the Kinomoto Kingdom! For I have broke this contract off! Sakura will no longer be married to the Li Heir for she will be engaged to Prince Melikon!"

The announcement rung in the hallway , and people stopped shocked at the statement. Syaoran paled and looked like he was going to burst. Tomoyo shook her head , eyes wide holding onto Eriol for dear life. Eriol looked desperate as he stared at Fujitaka. Nadeshiko turned red at her husband's announcement and Sakura....Sakura stared at her father and looked around herself. Her world was crashing before her very eyes...

a/n: I know , this story may seem hopeless , but S&S will prevail! Have total trust in me , alwright? I have to tell ya'll a lil secret...I'm a big sucker for happy endings....what? What? I know , I know , I can stand sad endings , but I'd rather have a happy ending. But if ya'll like sad endings...who knows?

Thank you all for the great reviews! I luv your reviews , and one day I'll tell all my grandchildren I had a story that got over 400 reviews...okay, I'm joking , but I am really happy about it!

But I'll be happier it you review more? Alwright? Alwright? Alwright