Chapter Twenty Three

Card Captor Sakura

Crystal Tears

~starjade~

Proving

Yourself

The Kichari Queen paced the room back and forth , her fine silk slippers tapping the ground. Even though it was meant to sound delicate , it sounded like thunder to all that was present in the room.

" I do not like this , not at all!" she finally hissed , her hair flying in all directions. King Kichari backed up a bit , intimidated by the look of pure fury in her eyes. Prince Melikon just leaned back in his comfort chair , bored.

" What don't you like , Mother?" he drawled , yawning. He checked his carefully manicured nails and sighed heavily.

" This....This...WITCH that you are supposed to be getting ENGAGED to!" she screeched , her arms flailing.

The King got up slowly and put a gentle hand on his wife's shoulder. " Please , calm down , honey. We can work this out if you just sit down-"

" I WILL NOT SIT DOWN!" she yelled , her eyes wide and furious. She pulled at her hair , letting out a screech of frustration , pacing once more.

" That witch of a princess is the most opinionated , disgusting , rude person I have EVER met and with the most unruly etiquette I have EVER seen....Why are we still here?!? I want to slap them both hard , her bigoted mother and that little despicable child and storm out with a fury giving all the Kinomoto's the worst name ever in the world! This Kingdom will be ridiculed! Let us leave NOW!" She stopped her ranting and paced once more , breathing heavily.

Prince Melikon ,who was staring out the window , trying to catch a glimpse of one of the girl servants , finally spoke , sounding quite uninterested. " Actually , I'd still like to marry her."

The King and the Queen turned shocked faces toward the handsome prince. " What did you say?" the Queen asked , her whisper deadly quiet.

The Prince sighed , as his mission to peer down one of the servant girl's dresses failed. " She's a pretty lass , I must say. I will have fun with her , and then I'll drop her after a year. We can get that Jules girl , that Princess from the Kingdom of Servicia. How about that? I'd say , this a pretty interesting prospect!"

The Queen flushed and the King nodded. " That is a pretty good plan....we could set up that Princess Sakura as if she was cheating on our Melikon. Our Kingdom would get quite a lot of attention and the Kinomoto Kingdom will be shunned forever!"

The Queen nodded slowly , her thin lips curving upwards in a sly smile. " You are absolutely....brilliant!" She squealed with happiness as she raced to her son , giving a big smooch on his forehead. Melikon winced and wiped his forehead with his handkerchief as soon as she finished.

" Uck , Mother , please do not do that again!" he muttered , shuddering. The Queen just grinned and patted his shoulder.

" This is perfect!" she whispered under her breath. " My perfect way of getting back at that 'Queen Nadeshiko'"

She spat on the floor with disgust at her name and both people in the room looked at her in surprise at the very undignified action she had just done. She just crossed her arms and smiled at her reflection in the mirror.

" Soon , I'll bring her down from that high top so fast , she won't even be able to squeak out a help. That's pure revenge.....no one , can ever EVER talk to me like that again!"

The King just sighed heavily and walked back to his room , quite used to his wife's vengeful plans. But he was also worried. He knew that his wife got anything she wanted....no matter how she did it.

~~~~***~~~~

" Touya , what in all damnation are you doing HERE?" Meiling hissed angrily , her ruby red eyes ablaze.

Touya just shook his head in amazement and shock. " Do you just....follow me where ever I go? This is my home , you dense head! You should be telling me what YOUR doing here!!"

Meiling walked straight up to him and pointed a finger at his chest. " I am not answering any of your DUMB questions until you tell me why you've been following ME!"

Touya guffawed. " Following you? Right , in your dreams! Anyways your not welcome here , so BYE!"

Meiling grimaced and sneered at Touya. " Oh yeah , like your welcome here!!"

Touya rolled his eyes. " Didn't I just say this is MY home?"

Meiling opened her mouth to retort but Touya just cut her off and said cuttingly , " My name is Prince Touya of the Kinomoto Kingdom , son of Fujitaka Kinomoto and Nadeshiko Kinomoto , heir to the throne. Is that good enough for you?"

He turned away to unpack his stuff and Meiling stood there shocked. " What the heck!" she yelled. " Your a prince! And all this time , I thought you were.....a freakin' blacksmith! You are....the most...despicable..." she couldn't speak as the words got caught up in her throat in her anger.

Touya just smirked. " Look , kid , I'm a prince , your not , now go back to your maid duties and leave me alone!"

Meiling's jaw dropped. " So you think I'm a maid!"

Touya nodded , like he was teaching a dumb , slow kid. " Yes , Meiling. Since only a couple of months ago , when I met you , you were a maid!"

Meiling sputtered for a bit and she heard the bush behind her burst out laughing. Touya glanced behind her , surprised as Syaoran's hair peeked through the bushes as it shook with laughter.

Meiling sighed , heavily. " Come out now , this stupid guy has blown our cover!"

Syaoran came out , his shoulders shaking. " The Meiling? A maid! Oh, this I have to tell EVERYONE!"

Meiling grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. " You better not , or I'll-"

Eriol came out next , his spectacles flashing in the sunlight mischievously. " So you two have met once more. If I have my information correct , you two have quite a past!"

Meiling put her hands on her hips , her eyes confused and suspicious and Touya threw his hands in the air. " Who the hell are these two gakis?"

Syaoran instantly turned angry. " Who are you calling a gaki?" he asked , already putting his hand on his sword , but Eriol stopped him.

" Hey , Meiling. Would you care to explain how you know this BAKA!" Syaoran enunciated , forgetting of course , that this man in front of him was the brother to his love.
Touya glared at him , and Syaoran just glared right back. Meiling sighed loudly.

" Alright , then. When I was abroad , traveling , I stayed in a city for quite some time. There , I went under disgui- I mean , I worked as a maid. I wanted to see the whole city-"

" Right , Right and bug the shit outta me!" Touya sneered and Meiling glared at him.

" ANYWAYS ," she pronounced , shooting him a cold glance and continuing , " I met a blacksmith , who now I realize is actually a PRINCE. Great...I still can't believe that..." she shook her head and Syaoran huffed.

" Will you continue with how you know the bak-I mean , Prince Kinomoto?" he asked , while Touya glower.

Meiling nodded. " I had to rest under his house for a week because of a flood that swept the village. And let me tell you , that wasn't a pleasant experience. Then , somehow , I don't know HOW , but my manager was friends with him. HE kept on coming in the restaurant I worked at , over and over , and I couldn't say anything , or I'd get fired , and for some reason , my manager always made me and THIS PERSON OVER HERE do things together. It was like he wanted us to become friends , or something." Meiling shuddered.

Syaoran's jaw dropped. " Whoa....."

Eriol just smiled , like he knew it all along. " That's interesting to hear , Meiling. Now , Prince Touya , if you'd ever be so gracious , allow us a permit inside the Kinomoto Kingdom. We have urgent messages for the King and the Queen."

Touya narrowed his eyes , suspiciously. " Right...I believe that. What do you peasants have to say to my parents that is sooo important?"

Syaoran's hands crept to his sword once more as his eyes began to glint with determination. " Oh yeah? Would you like to say that to my fac-"

" Syaoran , stop ," Eriol interjected and Touya rose his eyebrows.

" Who are you , anyways?" Touya asked , his eyes sweeping the two boys. They were dressed too finely for peasants. Meiling , he pointedly ignored. He knew she was a peasant , and she wasn't wearing any jewellery that would pronounce wealth , or anything.

" I am Syaoran Li and this is Eriol Hiirigizawa." Syaoran stated , crossing his arms.

Touya's eyes snapped open. " Whaaaat...The Syaoran Li? The one who was supposed to be married to my sister and then broke her heart! The Syaoran Li who-"

Syaoran flushed. " I did not break her heart. She had to leave , because I was accidentally engaged to someone else, but now the engagement is off , but she left before I could tell her!"

Syaoran stopped, panting. Touya just glared at him and then glanced at Meiling.

" Who is she to you?" Touya asked, smirking. " Your personal maid , or something!"

Syaoran opened his mouth to say , " No , she's not , she's Princ-"

Meiling interrupted , " If you must know , I was the personal lady in waiting for Princess Sakura while she stayed at the Li Kingdom."

Touya whistled. " Wow , got to such high ranks in such a short period of time."

Syaoran was staring at her confusedly and Meiling shook her head. It wasn't time to tell Touya yet that she was a princess as well. Hmmm....she'd shove that fact in his face when he least expected it!

Eriol sighed now , getting quite tired of all the talk. " Look , Touya , you will take us into the Kinomoto Kingdom. Alright?" At this , he stared into Touya's eyes and Syaoran sensed a spark of magic coming from Eriol.

Touya nodded and answered in a monotone voice , " Yes. I will take you into the Kinomoto Kingdom."

With that , he marched into his carriage again , like a robot. Eriol smirked , triumphantly and Meiling shook her head.

" I can't believe it. That blacksmith I used to know , a Prince! And most of all , he just HAD to be the older son of the Kinomoto's , now didn't he?" she said underneath her breath.

Syaoran just shrugged , and got his stuff. He'd do anything to see his little cherry blossom. Eriol climbed into the carriage , followed by Syaoran. Meiling was last , and she sat lightly on the seat , opposite from Touya. She stared at him and shook her head. She just couldn't believe it.

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

Sakura was walking through the clusters of flowers that swept the courtyard , and stared dreamily at the forests beyond the castle walls. How she yearned to escape and run to the Li Kingdom. It would be such a dream if she could just see him once....

Tomoyo walked beside her , holding an umbrella that was required of Princesses in all Kingdoms. Sakura hated having to hold the umbrella , just so her skin would be as pale as milk , which was the fashion these days. It was absolutely preposterous and Sakura hardly ever listened to that rule. Her skin was tan , but Tomoyo's was pale and white.

" Sakura , girl , are you still thinking about Syaoran?" Tomoyo asked , sighing loudly.

" Noooo.." Sakura said , shaking her head hard.

Tomoyo grinned slightly. " Right. You think about him day in and day out. I swear , you are starting to get obsessed."

Sakura shrugged. " Absence makes the heart grow fonder..."

Tomoyo stared at Sakura unbelievingly and Sakura giggled nervously. " What? My mother told me that quote one day...and well , it matches my situation perfectly."

" Whatever..." Tomoyo said , shaking her head. As they turned the corner , she could hear the clashing of knives. She peeked around the corner , holding a hand to stop Sakura. Sakura shot her a curious glance as Tomoyo peered down the pathway. It was the Prince!

He was holding a sword....was he fighting?

Amazing!

" Okay , you two! Your five minutes of sparring are done! Ha ha , I have won! I told you that my representative would beat you , Sir Kancela!"

A burst of laughter bubbled at Tomoyo's throat and she squeaked as she pulled Sakura down. Sakura looked confused.

" What? What's going on?"

Tomoyo quickly whispered , giggling , " Prince Melikon is practicing at the courtyards , but he has to use a representative! Look how proud he is! It's like he's fighting his own battles! He just stands there with his sword and yawns as others do his battles!"

Sakura shook with laughter. " He is such a sissy!"

They were shaking with laughter as Sir Kancela began to speak.

" Why aren't you fighting , Prince Melikon?" Sir Kancela remarked , roughly. His eyes sparked as he spoke rapidly , " All you've been doing is standing around. I bet you can't even beat a GIRL at sparring."

Prince Melikon turned redder than a tomato as Sakura and Tomoyo snickered.

" What? Listen here , SIR KANCELA , a girl can hardly even pick up a sword , let alone beat me! Girls are only made to be bearers of children , and are slaves to men. Why should one even try to do such manly activities?"

At these words , Sakura's eyes widened. " What did that pompous jerk just say?" Sakura nearly shrieked , as she struggled against Tomoyo , trying to launch herself at him and show that Melikon what girls were really made of.

Tomoyo held her back , struggling. " Look , it won't do any good jumping in there! If you want to show him what girls are made of , think of a plan!!"

Sakura's smile widened and she squealed. " I just thought of a plan!" She jumped up and down , her emerald eyes sparkling as she ran into the castle. Moments later , she came out , dressed up in the same clothes she wore when she fought Syaoran....

" Don't tell me..." Tomoyo groaned , slapping her forehead. Sakura nodded , cheerfully.

" I am SO going to show him!" Sakura giggled , as she picked up a sword , testing it's weight and nodding. Tomoyo closed her eyes with her hands and suddenly stopped when Sakura tied her hair up in a bandanna and put black soot marks under her eyes. Tomoyo noticed that her chest was bound flat and her eyes widened in surprise.

" Wha..." Tomoyo said , confusedly.

Sakura nodded , happily. " I'm going to pretend to be a boy! That way , he can't refuse!" Tomoyo opened her mouth to protest , but Sakura was already heading down the path to where Prince Melikon was carefully filing his nails.

" Hey! Prince Melikon! Up for a bit of sparring?" Sakura asked , her voice painfully high for a boy's. Tomoyo knew that she was trying to lower her voice , but it was not working at all.

Prince Melikon looked up, shocked. " Excuse me? You are trying to challenge me , Prince Melikon of the Kichari family?"

Sakura rolled her eyes. " Duh!"

Prince Melikon stumbled back. " Well , how dare you-"

Sakura grinned. " What , are you chicken?"

Prince Melikon reared up to his full height. " I assure you that I will participate in this match and I will win!"

People all over the courtyard began to walk towards the scene and Tomoyo groaned as they began to form a circle around the two. There were people from all over the Kingdom...foreign Princes , lords , soldiers...

Uh oh ...what was Sakura getting up to??

As the voices rose , and the crowd grew larger , ( many people wanted to see a fight) , Tomoyo inched her way through the crowd , trying to see what was going on. Her sketch pad was already ready in her hands , her quills and pencils sharpened to a point!

Prince Melikon grinned into the crowds of people , as if he was getting ready for a major play , and took off his velvet jacket. Putting his hands on his waist , he stood in a ruffled blouse like shirt , and tight black trousers , striking a proud pose. Sakura smirked at his outfight. I bet he never fought with a sword in his life , she thought.

Sakura muffled a giggle.

" Alright then. Prepare to lose , Prince Melikon!"

With that , the match started. Sakura began to circle around Prince Melikon who hefted the sword into his hands and seemed surprised at it's weight. He held it wrong , with both hands clutched around the end of the sword as far apart from the blade as he possibly could. The numerous jewels on the hilt made it hard to grip.

Sakura smirked. What a rich loser this guy was. And she was supposed to marry him?

Suddenly , she lurched towards him and slashed at him with her sword. Melikon shocked , brought his sword up to clang with hers. She started to fight with him in a flurry of thrusts , all of which he only barely managed to block.

Finally she made a sweep , cut his shoulder ,drawing blood and flipping him , causing him to fall in a very undignified manner.

The crowd gasped. This was.....Prince Melikon! He was the most famous swordfighter in all of the Kingdom of Kichari! He was supposed to be....good! And he was beat by...

Sakura grinned and looked down at the flushing man. " I told you , you would lose!"

Prince Melikon growled with distaste. " Who are you!?"

Sakura laughed , and pulled off her bandanna. Her locks of auburn hair fell softly to her shoulders and the crowd gasped . Soon, whispers broke out and Tomoyo began to smile.

Smart , Sakura. Smart.

" I'm Princess Sakura of the Kinomoto Kingdom. Glad to meet you!"

She giggled at the shocked , embarrassed , disbelieving look on his face as she turned away and walked off.

She halted suddenly and turned around. " And don't you ever forget...I'm a girl!" She laughed as he flushed hard as Sir Kancela began to laugh uproariously . As she neared Tomoyo , she gave her a high five , and smiled at the forests outside the castle's walls. If only you were here , Syaoran. If only you were here....

a/n: *stares* Mwauh ah ah ah ah ah! I am zee evil writer of zee fic that is , what you call , uh , Crystal Tears. Yes , zis is it! And I vill neva update! NEVA! And dis fic will be Sakura/Prince Melikon!

Ugh. Sorry but that thought just grossed me out! I am a major sakura and syaoran shipper and don't worry , they'll be together....very soon!

And if you want them to get together faster.....you know wat to do.....

REEEEEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVVVVIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWW!

Or email. Either way. If you email , I promise I'll email you back! hehe , i am so cool....

Newayz...review , and read if you like. But most importantly REVIEW and then read.

Also , see the CONNECTION between Touya and Meiling...that should answer some questions....hehehehe....

Did I mention I also like Touya/Meiling pairings?

Oops...

Next chapter....hmm , should I tell you? How about someone decides to creep into Sakura's room at night...but not someone who is from the Kinomoto Kingdom!! And don't worry , it's someone she likes....hehehehehehe....