Chapter Twenty

Card Captor Sakura

Crystal Tears

~starjade~

First Impressions

" Nadeshiko , I do not know why you are acting like this! Please listen to me!" Fujitaka protested , as he paced back and forth. Nadeshiko sat like stone on her bed , staring at her folded hands.

" Nadeshiko , why are you giving me this silent treatment! I want what is best for my daughter! Please understand that!" Fujitaka pleaded , dropping to his knees. Nadeshiko remained unperturbed. She could not speak to her husband. He deliberately ignored her pleads and ruined Sakura's life. She wouldn't speak.

" Look , my daughter is treating me like dust. I don't need you to be doing that , too! Nadeshiko , understand my pleas. Prince Melikon will be here in half an hour and Sakura is still not ready! She never eats her food , and locks herself up in that room of hers. What can I do for a bit of understanding here? I'm the King!" Fujitaka shouted , frustrated.

Nadeshiko finally rose her head and stared straight at him , her eyebrows raised.

" Why did you ignore me? Why did you ignore my letter?"

Fujitaka looked relieved at the sound of her voice , but his expression dropped at her question.

" Nadeshiko , honey , I know that Sakura won't be happy with a man that broke her heart. Prince Melikon is everything she needs. He's considerate , polite , handsome..."

" Rich and powerful?" Nadeshiko added , staring holes at Fujitaka. Fujitaka ran his hand through his hair and exhaled slowly.

" Look, can you please convince Sakura to at least meet Prince Melikon? Please?" Fujitaka asked.

Nadeshiko glared at him. " You barge into the Li Kingdom , demanding that all the Kinomoto residents pick up their roots and leave and you break my daughter's heart and you expect me to do you a favour?"

Fujitaka shook his head , opening his mouth to explain , but Nadeshiko rose , gathering her skirts imperially.

" No , Fujitaka. You think you are doing what is best for our daughter , but in reality you are doing the exact opposite. Why can't you open your eyes and look into hers? You'll see her longing. Her love. Her pain. How can you be so oblivious to it , all her feelings are painted right there in her eyes."

Fujitaka rose as well , and spoke quietly. " Prince Melikon is a suitable suitor for Sakura. She will marry him."

Nadeshiko went right to his face and spoke just as quietly. " Why can't you let our daughter marry for love? Like we did?"

Fujitaka was shocked at her choice of words. He stood their , dumbfounded as she picked up her skirt and swept out of the room , her words left hanging in the air between them.

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

" M-M-Meiling???? What did you just....say?" Syaoran asked , his voice full of disbelief and shock. Meiling smiled at him , wiping her wet cheeks.

" I'm breaking the engagement , Syaoran," she repeated , laughing a bit as he stared at her , amber eyes wide.

" No...No , tell me this isn't a dream!" Syaoran mumbled. Meiling giggled and grabbed his arm and peered into his arms.

" Look , Syaoran. I'm sorry. I was in love with you....for years. I idolized you. You were my perfect husband......my soul mate. Until I saw you and Sakura together. You two are.....perfect together. And I realised...." she sighed , her breath coming out in a great puff of breath. " I realised that you will never ever love me. The way I loved you. But most of all , I realised , I didn't love you. The way you love Sakura , or she loves you. It was different....."

Syaoran stood frozen in his spot , watching Meiling speak. He could not say a word. Sentences , thoughts , images raced through his mind , but none would go past his mouth.

" Xio-Lang?" Meiling asked, her voice questioning. Syaoran stared at her for a full three minutes until he jumped up into the air letting out a loud whoop.

" I'm going to go get Sakura!" he shouted in excitement as he wrapped her in a hug , before racing off into the castle , letting out yells of joy. Meiling watched the boy she used to love race off and she hugged herself , giggling softly.

She still loved him.....but not as much as he loved Sakura. That she understood. And she would do everything that was in her power to make sure he was happy.

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

Sakura laid back on the bed , staring at the ceiling in worry. For the past three days , Sakura had been silent and gaunt. She never came out of her room , and to her father , she never ate , yet Tomoyo always snuck her something everyday. She grew bored , but she wanted her father to know she was serious.

She wanted to be with Syaoran. Even if he had another wife. Even if he was a poor beggar out on the streets , she didn't care!

Yet her father stood in the way of her dreams. Just like Meiling was. Just like that stupid Prince Melikon was.

She felt a tear slide down her cheek , but she brushed it away furiously. She wouldn't let this get to her. No way in hell was she marrying a Melikon! She heard they were all handsome , pompous jerks. She was going to run away if that ever happened. Even if it meant losing her title as Princess , it wasn't much to lose.

Suddenly a knock at the door interrupted her rather grim thoughts. She yelled , " Father , do not come in .I will not speak with you."

" Sakura , it's your mother."

Sakura shot up from the bed , wiping her cheek quickly as she answered , " Come in , Mother!"

Her mother came through the door , smiling. Her eyes seemed worried and Sakura could see the lines of concern that furrowed her brow.

" Mother? Are you alright?" Sakura asked , walking up to her mother. Her mother nodded and took her hand , smiling.

" I'm alright , daughter. I just am quite pressured right now. I was talking to your father," Nadeshiko said , and sat on the bed , patting the space beside her. Sakura sat where her mother was indicating and looked at her mother curiously.

" What did he say to make you so worried?" she asked , dreading the answer.

" Sakura....as much as it hurts me to ask , you will have to meet this Prince Melikon."

Sakura shot up from her position on the bed , but Nadeshiko pulled her back. " Absolutely not , mother! I will not be forced to marry such a ill-tempered , conceited-"

" You haven't met him yet , Sakur-"

" NO , Mother. Do not force me!"

Nadeshiko sighed , running a hand through her daughter's hair in an attempt to calm her down. " I know , Sakura , how hard this must be for you. And how hard it will be in the future. But I promise you that you will not be forced to marry him. You will only be required to meet him."

Sakura crossed her arms. " I do not prefer to attend such a meeting."

Nadeshiko drew back at the formality in her words. " Sakura , please. Just meet him. No engagement. No promises. Just a meeting. Your father will be ridiculed at court , for their country outrules us by a great amount. They think they are doing us a great favor by offering the hand of their precious son to our disadvantaged daughter." Nadeshiko scoffed at the end , and Sakura looked up surprised.

" Mother?" Sakura asked , worried.

Nadeshiko smiled warmly at her daughter. " Do not worry , Sakura. You will always be my one and only cherry blossom and I will personally make sure you will marry your little wolf. Alright?"

Sakura smiled genuinely at her , the hint of childlike attitude and cheerfulness that had always been Sakura's aura appearing. " Alright."

Nadeshiko grinned and rose slowly , heading for the door. " You will come to the meeting, right?"

Sakura exhaled slowly , releasing her breath. " Yes , mother. For you........and for some stupid reason , for father."

Nadeshiko nodded , knowingly. " Thank you , Sakura. Now get ready ,alright? They'll be here in half an hour."

Sakura collapsed against the bed. " Okay , mother."

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

Night fell like a dark cape hung around the earth. Stars were dropped like twinkling diamonds on the velvety surface , shining in individual clusters. The crescent moon hung over and shone into the windows falling upon the sequins of Sakura's dress.

Sakura stood up on the stairs , her head down , bangs falling forward. She let out a deep , heartfelt sigh as girls crowded around her , squealing and chattering. She smiled to each of them , for that was what a princess was expected of. Always happy, polite and dignified. A perfect princess.....

A flash of amber eyes flew through her mind and an ache so deep , so internal it ripped her insides apart. She almost fell over gasping. It was so strong , the longing she had for him. She needed him , yet....yet he'd never be hers. The girls continued the chatter , not noticing her pain.

Suddenly a warm , comforting touch at her elbow surprised her. She turned around , and her eyes met amethyst ones. She smiled , a pleased smile as her best friends wriggled through the excited group , to stand next to her.

" Thought you might need some support , Sakura!" Tomoyo whispered. Sakura smiled at her warmly. She knew that Tomoyo would understand the pain in her heart whenever she thought of....him.

" Now we introduce Princess Sakura of the Kinomoto Kingdom!" said the announcer and Tomoyo winked at Sakura as Sakura raised her foot setting it down delicately on the first step.

Step by step , slowly and cautious , Sakura descended the stairs softly. The girls grew even more and more excited as the huge crowd of Kinomoto residents came into view. Sakura kept her eyes down , but the quick glimpse told her everything she needed to know.

The Kichari's stood by the side , standing proud and snooty at the edge of the stairs. She had caught a glance of black hair beside a King and a Queen and since it was crowned ,she knew it was

Prince Melikon Kichari. That jerk....

When Sakura's foot finally settled upon the floor and the girls behind her spread out , peeking at the Prince and giggling hysterically , did Queen Kichari speak.

" We are gathered today , to witness a most dignified event. We are accepting the Kinomoto's proposal on the offer of Princess Sakura's hand to our prosperous , handsome , thriving , successful son , Prince Melikon!"

Wow , this son is prosperous , handsome , thriving and successful by accepting my drab , unexciting hand in marriage! Wonder what words were given when he was born , or when he'll be King , Sakura thought sarcastically , shuddering.

The meeting crawled by and every minute seemed like an hour to Sakura. Queen Yelan and King Fujitaka gave their speeches and they determined that if all parties agree , the contract would be signed in a week. Blah Blah Blah. My life is about to be ruined. That's pretty much the conclusion I'm drawing here!

Suddenly the hall grew silent. Prince Melikon had said something. Suddenly Sakura was standing alone in the middle of the room and she whipped her head around , wonderingly.

Confused she watched Prince Melikon walk towards him , his back straight , his head high and regal. His red cape hung loosely around his neck , flaring behind him. She could see the girl's swooning in the crowds.

Prince Melikon smiled at her , his straight , perfect white teeth shining at her. It was a horrendous sight. He had black hair tinted with brown. His eyes were a bright sapphire blue that shined at her , maliciously. I hate him , she thought as he grinned at her , towering over her with his unbelievable height.

Suddenly he knelt on one knee so she was staring down at him. He smiled at the whole crowd and began to speak , in his low , resonate voice.

" I am grateful that you offered this proposal. I know that you will prosper when you become my wife. With you behind me , I will be a great King. You are beautiful and you deserve to be my Queen."

Behind me? Deserve to my Queen? I will be a great King?

" Sakura Kinomoto , will you extend you lovely fair hand?" he asked. Sakura glared at him , but she could feel her father's eyes at her back and so she extended her hand towards him , feeling disgusted.

He took her hand and slowly lowered his lips to it , his eyes on hers. She turned her face away , shuddering at his cold lips. Syaoran's were always warm...

Suddenly a cold touch at her ring finger shocked her. Her head swivelled to stare at her hand and entranced she watched the hugest diamond began to slide up her ring finger. She watched it and a hollow voice inside her screamed , No!

No?

NO!

" NO!" She yelled. She flung her hand away from him quickly and the ring slid off her finger , and she watched it fly away to some distance away. She saw the faces of her mother and father and the whole Kingdom. They all seemed to inhale sharply as they heard the clang of the ring as it hit the floor. Sakura gathered her skirts and spoke sharply.

" Absolutely not. I was not told we were to be engaged today. We will be engaged in a week , only if I say so. If not , then you will return to your Kingdom and find another beuatiful princess to stand behind you. I will take my leave now."

With those stinging words ringing in the air and with the satisfaction of the shocked expression on Prince Melikon's face , she swirled away , and headed for the stairs , stomping up the stairs grimly.

No one will ever put a ring on this finger , she thought , except for my little wolf.

a/n: ah , sappiness. The fruit of life. Thank ya'll for the reviews! I love em all! I swear , you guys have the best reviews! The longa , the betta , alright?

Oh and review some more. I love reviews and I get motivated to write when I have alot. Let that be a hint!

Hope you like where Crystal Tears are going! Tell me what ya think , alright?

BB! Bye Bye! Son of a diddly!

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Read my other S/S stories. Eyes of Mist , Childhood Crush and Teardrop of Twilight! Alrighty then? Alrighty then! ( BIG hint: I'm a sucker for happy endings!)