Chapter Twenty Two
Card Captor Sakura
Crystal Tears
~starjade~
Misbehaviour
a/n: What? WHAT?
* wipes away a tear* The long awaited Twenty Two Chapter. I am so proud! Read on , faithful readers. Read on!
Syaoran hurried down the stairs , his feet pounding on the stairs. His luggage was being brought down by servants and he could already see the happy faces of his two friends.
Meiling had changed his life twice. First was quite a bad change , and the other was quite a good one. Meiling had already talked to him twice , both ending in tears and asking for forgiveness. Syaoran already told her that he had forgiven her a long time ago , but she wouldn't listen.
She knew that she was the cause of this huge mess , and she wanted to set it right. And once Meiling had her mind set on something , it'd take something huge to change it.
Finally , his feet landed on the floor and he could hear the rolling wheels of the carriages pulling up on the large bend at the castle. He smiled as he thought of his quest to bring back his princess. It sounded quite cheesy , and he grimaced. Whatever. He was going to get Sakura.....
His Sakura.
That thought cheered him up so much that the voice, " Syaoran , may I speak with you?" behind him only sank his heart a couple of feet. That was an....achievement.
Syaoran slowly turned around and looked up into the face of his mother. He tried to smile at his mother , trying to seem like he wasn't going to sneak away to the Kinomoto Kingdom at 3:00 in the morning.
" Yes , mother? So early in the morning? You should really be getting your beauty sleep , these last weeks have been quite stressful on you-" Syaoran babbled , trying to delay the moment in which Yelan would order him back to his room.
" Syaoran-" Yelan started and then chuckled. She looked rather different without her long black hair sleeked back into a knot , and without the crown and face paint. She seemed less imperial and more....well more motherly.
The look was quite strange , and scared Syaoran more than he wanted to admit.
" Syaoran , stop giving me that look . I'm not going to tell you not to go get your Sakura.."
" You aren't?" Syaoran interrupted , his face breaking into a rare grin.
Queen Yelan laughed , tipping her head back. " No , No , quite the opposite. I rather like the idea of my brave son going off courageously against all odds to win back his love."
Syaoran groaned at her choice of words. " Mother , it's not like that-"
Yelan smiled at his uncomfortable expression " Yes , it is. But , this is quite a dangerous Quest. It will have mighty costs against the Li Kingdom , if you fail."
Syaoran's face expression was stony. " Believe me , I won't."
Yelan sighed. " That's also why I'm worried. Who knows what your stubbornness will get you into? Syaoran , if they refuse , Do Not Get Into a Fight. For your position in the Li Kingdom , I must order you this. If you fail to obey , you will have to face major consequences. Alright?"
Syaoran sighed inwardly. He knew he'd have to face the consequences. And he knew the consequences were quite bad. " Yes , mother. I will try to obey your orders."
Yelan scrutinized his face , and shook her head. " I will never understand why I'm letting you go. My only son.....Go , now , Syaoran , before I change my mind."
Syaoran nodded and bowed respectfully. With that , he turned around , but then halted. He couldn't leave like this...
He quickly turned around and gave his mother a hug , as quick and brief as he could. He could see the expression of shock on her face as he hugged her and ran away , yelling , " Bye mother! I promise you , I will not fail!"
He raced away and jumped into one of the carriages , his mop of chestnut hair flopping over his eyes in his haste. He jumped into the carriage next to Eriol and Meiling and the carriage began to roll away.
I'm finally going to get my Sakura...was his last thought as the gentle rumbling of the carriage's wheels lulled him to sleep.
~~~~***~~~~
" WHAT?"
The screech rang out through the castle walls , shaking the servants that were working in the castle and startling all the residents. Sakura stared at her best friend in wonder as Tomoyo winced at the volume of her friend's voice.
"Yes , Yes , Sakura , keep your voice down!" Tomoyo whispered , her voice hushed. Sakura shook her head , trying to take in the information.
" So your telling me after all that rude behaviour I gave Prince Melikon yesterday...after he deserved it of course , he STILL wants to marry me? How low is this guy?" Sakura burst out , her eyes raging.
Tomoyo shook her head. " Usually you find the good in everyone , Sakura-"
Sakura looked at her friend in remorse. " I know , I know Tomoyo. But this is getting to me , I swear. I'm being put under so much pressure...."
She collapsed against her bed. Tomoyo sat beside her friend and stroked her hair. " I know , Sakura. I understand the pain your going through. If I was to be married to someone else , instead of Eriol....who knows what I might do?"
Sakura looked at her friend and smiled. " Did you hear from Eriol yet?"
Tomoyo grinned. " In all my letters....well , in that one letter, I gave him as MUCH HINTS as I could. I want to tell him to his face that I love him....he still believes I don't love him. In his last letter , he kept on asking me if I was mad , and if I wanted to still be his friend..."
Sakura smiled. " Man , he must love you a lot."
Tomoyo blushed furiously. " Not as much as Syaoran loves you."
Sakura's eyes took on a faraway look at the mention of Syaoran. Tomoyo snapped her fingers in front of Sakura five times until Sakura jolted out of her daydream.
Tomoyo opened her mouth to tease Sakura but Sakura jumped up and paced back and forth. " I have to do something about Prince Melikon. I can't be promised to someone else , while I love another!"
Tomoyo's eyes grew wide. " What are you going to do??"
Sakura thought about it , deeply. " I'm not sure , but you can be sure that Prince Melikon is NOT going to be marrying me!"
Tomoyo's eyes grew alight with mischief. "Hey , Sakura. Just leave it to me. I'll think of the perfect plan to have Prince Melikon gone in two seconds flat."
Sakura grinned , her eyes bright and cheerful. " And then we'll go to the Li Kingdom and tell Meiling to get lost and marry Syaoran and we'll be happy forever and ever and ever-"
Tomoyo laughed. " Why do I think I'll be doing all the plans? I don't think Meiling will go because we go up to her and say , ' get lost'."
Sakura laughed and hooked arms with her best friend as they headed down the stairs for lunch. " That's true. Do you think if I say , ' Please go , because I would like to marry the man your engaged to' Meiling would leave?"
~~~~****~~~~~
At the lunch table , Sakura was unsurprisingly seated beside Prince Melikon. She pinched her nose and waved a hand under it and Tomoyo caught the expression and began to choke up with uncontrolled laughter.
Sakura began to smirk as well , but it was true. Melikon reeked of some far off perfume , and it seemed like he laid in a bath tub full of it and soaked for half an hour.
As the servants arrived with silver plates full of food , Prince Melikon turned his brilliant sapphire blue eyes toward her and smiled. He seemed to think she was going to swoon , but Sakura just stared back at him unfazed.
" Carrots?" she asked , shoving the plate underneath his nose. He jumped , startled and scowled as he passed the plate on. Apparently , his 'sexy' look did not work.
" Princess Sakura..." he drawled , trailing her name disgustingly. She shuddered, but gave him a fixed smile.
" Yes?"
Prince Melikon ran his hand through his silky black hair and leaned toward her. " I was thinking , after lunch , we could take a nice , looong romantic walk in the gardens. Maybe find a secluded spot , where you'll learn some lessons of love-"
Sakura gagged inwardly at the sap he put in his words. " Actually , I would like to digest my food after lunch and any activity that involves throwing up is not on my list of favourite pastimes."
Prince Melikon scrunched up his nose in an effort to comprehend what she had just said. She rolled her eyes , and bit into her bread.
She could feel the eyes of the Kings and Queens that sat at the table. They were watching for any misbehaviour and she smiled politely to prove them wrong. Hah , they were expecting a trouble child. Well , how about a-
Suddenly a touch at her knee disrupted her thoughts. The touch moved up her thigh , massaging slowly. She shuddered at the disgusting , unwelcome touch and shoved Melikon's hand off her thigh quickly. She didn't need his perverted hands right now.
" You know you want it.." Melikon whispered , his voice dripping. " I'll teach you how. I've done this a lot , you know , a couple of servant girls a day. You , by far , are the prettiest princess I've seen. It'll be quite enjoyable. My room is down the hall from yours-"
" Shut up," she muttered between clenched teeth. Now , she really wanted to throw up. " Don't talk to me."
Prince Melikon chuckled lowly. " No one refuses me , my girl." With that , his hand crept down to the ends of her skirt and he put his hand under her skirt and ran his hand up her leg and to her thigh-
" THAT IS IT!" she yelled , startling everyone who sat at the lunch table. Melikon quickly pulled his hand from her skirt and she leapt up from the table .
" You , Prince Melikon , are a lowly , despicable human being. I do not want to be another one of your sex toys , and do not ever lay your perverted hands on me again. If you ever mention sleeping with me , or ever touch me again , it won't be long until you boast a red handprint on your cheek!"
She spoke this all angrily and fast and she could see the shocked expression on his face. Probably not all his objects of affection have retaliated in such a way before. Oh well , might as well give him a first time experience!
" PRINCESS SAKURA!" Her father bellowed , but she ignored his words and whirled off to her bedroom.
" I won't be coming down for dinner , please send it up!" she yelled to one of the servants and they nodded , with a surprised expression on their faces. Princess Sakura never rose her voice...
Sakura wanted to barf. She could not believe that bastard had actually done what he was doing! Just wait until her brother Touya , came back from his quest at Sachari Kingdom. He'd beat the disgusting Prince to a pulp before he could say , " Help."
The thought of her brother pained her heart. She wished he was here. He'd have a say in her forced marriage. He'd stick up for her , she knew it! Underneath all that teasing , he cared for her , until he became another annoying father. But she needed him now ...
Now that her father wasn't acting like a father anymore....
Touya was coming back in two days. The thought cheered her up immensely , and she skipped the way back to her room in joyful anticipation.
~~~~****~~~~
The wheels rumbled and crashed against the earth's floor as a voice inside the carriage screamed out , " I WIN!"
The other two groaned as Meiling hopped up and down , yelling her triumphant win of 10 games in a row.
The trip had gotten quite boring and Syaoran began to sweat nervously as he thought about the complications, the risks , the fears of going to the Kinomoto Kingdom. Soon , Meiling got real tired of him going , " I can't....but I have to....but I can't...yes I can...no , no..."
She suggested they play cards. Of course , Eriol and Syaoran had no idea that she was THAT good at it.
" Ha, Syaoran , you finally get beat at something ," Eriol said , smirking. Syaoran grew red , as he glared at Eriol.
" Finally beat? They were just lucky shots , that's all!" Syaoran snapped , and Meiling guffawed.
" Lucky shots? Ten times in a row? Right , Syaoran! I beat you and you know it!" Meiling answered , her eyes glinting. Syaoran crossed his arms stubbornly.
Syaoran growled , " What? You can't beat me at all! I let you win!"
Meiling snickered. " That's why you were sweating throughout the whole game?"
Syaoran's jaw dropped in disbelief as he snapped, " I was not!"
" Was too!"
" Was NOT!"
" Was TOO!"
" Was NOT!"
" Was-"
Eriol groaned and interrupted in their quite childish fighting. " Look , people , with all your fighting and bickering , we got to the Kinomoto Kingdom. It was a wonder how you guys could've been engaged in the first place..."
Meiling laughed , and Syaoran shook his head. " I have no idea either!"
As all three of them stepped out of the carriage , they all felt the wind rush past them. They unpacked their bags , nervously and Syaoran's fingers kept on trembling. He wanted to see Sakura so bad , and it scared him....He was scared at how much he was willing to do , willing to give up for Sakura...
The carriage rolled away as all three of them stood in front of the gates. A huge bold K was engraved in the middle of the gate and the pathway led to a modest castle , encased by flowers.
Syaoran smiled faintly , staring at the castle hard. He was so near Sakura....he could feel it. She was there , somewhere....
Waiting for him.
" How are we going to get in?" Meiling complained , her hands going to her hips. " They sure aren't going to let any of the Li Family get in."
Syaoran shrugged. " We'll sneak in. What we'll do.."
Eriol smacked his forehead in frustration. " We won't be doing any of your 'brilliant' plans , Syaoran. I got my own plan , that I'm sure will work , and we won't use any magic inside the Castle. Sakura's family is also magic , and Fujitaka is the other half reincarnation of Clow Reed. Remember that , people."
Meiling sighed nosily and Syaoran nodded solemnly. " What's your plan , then?"
Eriol smirked. " A carriage is about fifteen minutes from here. We'll wait and use a bit of 'magic' to make them think we're with them. We'll get in that way , and we'll have great disguises. Syaoran, you'll just have to stay in the dark and wear a cap. Meiling you'll look different with your hair pulled back and different clothes , and I, well , I will create a well made disguise-"
" Whatever!" Meiling cried and headed for the bushes where she flopped down to wait. Syaoran and Eriol exchanged glances. Oooookay.
As Syaoran and Eriol settled themselves and the time passed , without a word , in about five minutes , Meiling got bored.
" Hey , people. Lets play a game!" she cried. Syaoran shook his head slowly.
" Not any more games with you!" Syaoran retorted.
Meiling winked slyly. " Afraid of losing?"
Syaoran huffed. " Absolutely not. Afraid of making you look bad!"
Meiling grinned. " Alrighty then. The game is called Truth or Dare. It's a commoner game. The point is that you must follow out a dare or speak the truth of any question someone else asks. It gets quite crazy."
Syaoran rolled his eyes , and Eriol chuckled. " Fine , then , Meiling. Lets play. I'll go first."
Meiling looked at Eriol surprised. " You want to go? But you never played before."
Eriol shrugged. " Hey , I learn. I'm not that oblivious to the world of commoners. Alright , Meiling. Truth or Dare."
Meiling lifted her shoulders in determination. " Dare."
Eriol's mischievous little grin grew wider. " Are you sure?"
Meiling's eyebrows narrowed as she replied , " Absolutely...."
Eriol grinned. " Alright then. I dare you to...."
As Eriol spoke on , Meiling clapped her hands against her mouth and Syaoran's eyes grew wide , as he burst out laughing. Meiling glared at both of them.
" This dare isn't very nice!" Meiling cried. Eriol grinned.
" Are you backing out?" he asked , teasingly. Meiling glared.
" Don't even think of such a thing!" As Meiling spoke , they could hear the carriage's wheels crashing toward them. She got up slowly and fixed her dress quickly , letting her hair flow down.
" I hate you..." she growled through clenched teeth that made the two boys howl with laughter. Meiling watched as the carriage pulled in , and a man get out. She lifted her shoulders and walked out into the clearing.
" Hello? Kind sir?" she cried out , in a fake high voice.
The man jumped , startled as she sashayed up to him.
" Hello , mister. I am just a lonely women , walking through the clearing. I happened to get lost..." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear , and batted her eyelashes playfully that caused little muffled laughter to spurt from the bushes behind her.
A flush grew on her cheeks as she continued , " I was hoping that such a handsome , muscular man such as yourself can give a girl some help...."
The man began to flush and she heard a voice inside the carriage go , " What is going on out there?"
Another dark haired man climbed out of the carriage , and Meiling's eyes opened wide with horror. The man stared at her as well , taking a step back in shock. She put a hand on her forehead , all traces of her femininity and flirting skills gone.
They both inhaled sharply , staring at each other in bewilderment and horror.
" M-M-Meiling?"
" T-T-Touya?"
They stared at each other in confusion for a bit more before yelling out , " WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"
a/n: Mwah ah ah ah ah. I am evil....I let you out on another cliffy! Cliffy , cliffy , cliffy! See Eriol's plan all along? Hahahahahaha , he knew exactly who was coming! And I ain't gonna tell you how Touya and Meiling know eachother...
But since I'm so obvious , you'll get it.
Hope Syaoran will get in? Hope Melikon gets eaten by a bear? Lets hope! Read and REVIEW people. Hold on let me bold that. read and REVIEW! Did I put enough emphasis on that?
REVIEW! And if you don't , don't expect chappies! So review , I'm beggin ya'll! I wrote long dis time too. So helpie!