DISCLAIMER: As everyone before me has stated, Sakura and Syaoran belong to CLAMP, and not me. All other characters, however, are of my own creation and belong to me.

Author's note: I'm American, and cannot speak Japanese (I wish!!), but my friend is a hard-core fan of Card Captor Sakura, and she let me borrow tapes with the subtitles. I fell in love with it! It's such a sweet story. but because I'm not accustomed to the Japanese/Chinese culture, please forgive my mistakes with names and such. ^-^;; If you find anything that needs corrects, please post it in your review. ^-~ Thanks!! Enjoy.

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The sun carefully spread its rays atop Sakura's sleeping body. A sleepy smile took form upon her lips. Slowly she pushed herself from the bed, forgetting where she was, and walked to the open balcony.

She took in the beautiful scenery. The crystal sea seemed to glisten just a little bit more, the green leaves on the trees seemed just a little bit healthier, and the flowers seemed to be standing extra tall this morning. The colors appeared pure and heavenly to her eyes.

There was a light knock on the door, bringing Sakura back from her staring. She mumbled a light beckoning, and entered a woman with pretty purple hair, and bright eyes. She dropped into a low curtsey before approaching Sakura slowly, carrying a tray loaded with food.

"I am Daidouji Tomoyo. But you can just call me Tomoyo. I am to be your servant." She ended her simple speech with a charming smile.

Before Sakura knew it, she found herself mirroring the smile. She looked over the tray Tomoyo had set on the table.

"It looks delicious," she said kindly.

Tomoyo beamed. "Our cook is pretty good. You should try some. But first, let's get you dressed."

Sakura looked down and blushed when she realized she was still wearing the gown from the night before. It was covered in mud and very wrinkled.

Tomoyo beckoned for her mistress to follow her, and she led her down the hall. Tomoyo entered one room and headed straight for a door inside the room. She pulled the door upon, revealing many beautiful gowns, each surpassing the last in beauty.

"Pick your favorites," said Tomoyo, smiling at the obvious pleasure on Sakura's face, "His highness will have custom-made gowns for you soon, but until your measurements can be taken, you will have to make do with these."

Sakura moved forward, touching each separately. She had seen gowns this beautiful, but they were those of her deceased mother, and she dared not wear those. Slowly, she chose five of her favorites.

One was a deep pink with white cherry blossoms spread over the cloth, an obvious choice. Another was a light, cheerful yellow with lots of trim. The third was a deep blue with designs in the breast, and light trim around the sleeves. The fourth was a lighter shade, with a very simple cut. Her fifth and favorite was also green, but a darker emerald color. There was a small cherry blossom in the middle of the dress.

Tomoyo cooed at her choices, breathing her love for all five. The two walked back to Sakura's room, talking companionably and sharing breakfast. Sakura sighed contently.

'Maybe this isn't so bad'.

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Tomoyo had just left when Sakura decided to take a nap. Her thoughts were drifting back to her family's castle when she was awakened by a familiar voice in her ear.

"Well, my little cherry blossom, I see did not obey me when I told you to be careful of the king's temper. You were doing just fine until you had to push it. Be fearful of him. He may have appeared in control last night, but he is an awful man." There was scorn, but also a sense of lightheartedness. It was enjoying her failure.

Sakura's headache returned when the creature began speaking. "What are you? And why must you keep talking to me?"

Laughter filled the room, flowing freely, bouncing off the walls. It was too high pitched to be human laughter.

"I am a spirit. And I speak to you because I can," it answered. The laughter continued, though it gradually become louder, echoing more fiercely. Sakura's headache intensified and she shoved her hands over her ears.

The spirit noticed this and made his laughter louder, concentrating it into her ear. Sakura screamed and threw herself from her bed. Ignoring the curious looks from the nobles in the hallway, she rushed down the staircase.

She pumped her legs as hard as they would go, determined to lose the laughter. She watched as her surroundings breezed by, not caring that she did not know where she was. She heard heavy footsteps behind her, but did not turn. All she could think of was the awful laughter that got louder ever as she ran.

She met with a heavy door leading to the gardens. Struggling under the weight, she pushed it roughly and breathed in the fresh evening air. She had no time to enjoy it, for a strange need to run took over her. She ran again, with her lungs about to burst. Her tears were scattered behind her as she tried to make her legs stop. The laughter was overpowering as was the need to run, and she finally let it sink into her.

Her face met with something hard. She was sent sprawling. Suddenly her mind was free. The laughter had died down.

"I will see you soon, my little cherry blossom. . . " and even the spirit was gone. She looked up to see what she had run into, but soon changed it to who she had run into. She was greeted by two chocolate eyes widened in surprise.

Before a word could be spoken between the two, the heavy footsteps caught up. There were five soldiers behind her, reaching for her, pulling her roughly from the ground. The soldiers were breathing heavy, muttering apologies to the king, but he merely raised his hand, gesturing for silence. He made another gesture and the soldiers left.

Sakura was once again overpowered with the feeling of being alone with the king. When he didn't start speaking, she braced herself for his anger.

"Why would Sekai have chosen you?" he muttered.

"Sekai?"

"The spirit of laughter. Why would he clasp onto you? We have not seen him for many centuries. Why would a spirit like him choose you to protect?" The king seemed to be thinking aloud.

"That was his idea of protecting me?" Sakura asked, incredulous. "If that is what he calls protecting me, he can go away. I don't need that sort of protection."

The king's eyes twinkled for a brief moment. "He is protecting you. He has ways of getting what he wants. He will protect his host, but he also enjoys toying with them." He added quietly, "Though what he is protecting you from is still a mystery."

"He wanted me to run through the halls like a madwoman?" The smirk had crawled onto her lips once again.

"He wanted you to bump into me," corrected the king without emotion.

Sakura's smirk became almost too heavy to bear. "Great, the laughter spirit is playing matchmaker." She stood and walked away. She had gone ten yards before realizing she had no idea where she was. She turned sheepishly and faced the king.

He quickly averted his eyes. Sakura raised her eyebrows questioningly. He had been watching her.

"I don't know the way back to my room. Could you clap and make a servant appear or something?"

The king's eyes hardened and he slowly walked toward Sakura. "I'll take you."

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Author's Note: Second edition! I added a bit of foreshadowing, nothing big. Mmm, as far as the matchmaker comment-that's definitely irony. She couldn't be more wrong.