DISCLAIMER: Owns: Nothing. Don't: Sue. Simple enough?

Author's note(s): Thanks for all the reviews. To answer your questions about the characters, no, I couldn't put in Meiling b/c. . . I wanted Nireko to be more evil, and Meiling. . . I like her. But I MIGHT decide to add in someone like Touya, and maybe her dad will make an appearance eventually.

I kno I haven't updated in a while, I've been going thru boyfriend troubles. I don't like writing when I'm upset, heh. . . but it's okay now.

Summer Lover: I like all the ideas, lol, but as for any other CCS characters, these are it. I'm weary of adding many characters just because. . . their personalities don't fit in right now. If you're interested in seeing Eriol and some other characters, check out my second story, Partners, lol. It's only on the second chapter, but. . . well. . . yea. LoL! This sounds like an advertisement. Oh well! ^_^

IMPORTANT!! Sekai does not call people by their names, he calls them by the meanings of their names, or simply by how he perceives them. It's a characteristic, and shows that he is a spirit. He can see deep, past a name and into the true meaning. . . corny, I know, but it's just how it works. So just so you know, LAMAR MEANS COWARDLY LION. (Hopefully All Caps will get attention)

****

Sakura walked in the door slowly, exhausted. Tomoyo saw who it was and jumped up, hiding the fabric behind her back.

"My lady!! I told you to stay outside." She attempted to shuffle her out of the door, but Sakura planted herself firmly.

"I'm sorry, Tomoyo. I'll leave if I must, but can you at least point me to somewhere other than the gardens?"

Tomoyo's eyebrows shot up and a worried expression took over her face. "What's happened, my lady?"

Sakura sat on the edge of the bed and slowly related the story with Lamar.

Tomoyo hugged Sakura ferociously. "You must tell the king."

Sakura stiffened suddenly. "I can't tell the king," she answered, avoiding Tomoyo's eyes.

Tomoyo looked at her quietly. "But you must do something."

Her eyes focused out the window. "I'll figure out some way to get even."

****

He laughed quietly to himself. 'Things are coming along faster than I had even dared to hope. The cowardly lion has served more of a purpose than I had first supposed. My little cherry blossom is rapidly becoming aware of human nature, and the evils contained within it.'

His laugh gets softer and more thoughtful. 'Protection from these evils can only come from avoidance. My little cherry blossom must not lose her blooms. She must always find laughter in her heart, and cheer cannot be found when surrounded by people who can hurt her. She must be removed from them.'

****

The day of the ball had finally arrived. The first face Sakura awoke to was not the sun's but rather Tomoyo's. She watched groggily as her friend dragged her from her warm bed.

She spent most of the day cleaning up; she knew every crack in the tub (and even named a few) by the time Tomoyo was content. Her hair had been brushed so much Sakura was sure half of it was in the brush. Anything and everything to ensure her beauty, Tomoyo had done.

Finally, Sakura found herself waiting anxiously in her room for Tomoyo to return with the finished dress. There was a knock on the door. Surprised at Tomoyo's speed, she flung the door open. A gasp fell from her lips.

Before she could react, the amber eyes had locked nervously on her own. He tactfully placed his foot in the door so she couldn't slam it closed. He spoke quickly.

"Would you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you to the ball?"

His gaze was too powerful for her to handle. She plastered her eyes to the floor. She watched his feet shift nervously.

"I understand if you want to go with Lord Lamar, but--" he faltered.

She looked up, making her decision through her surprise. "I'll go with you."

He flashed a rare smile and promised to meet her before the ball, then left as quickly as he had come.

As she watched his figure disappear through the halls, she mentally kicked herself.

'Why are you letting yourself do this again?! He has a fiancé!'

****

Nireko stepped out of the shadows, cursing.

'That wench's leash is far too strong. He's going to disgrace me tonight. How can he overlook her behavior with Lord Lamar?'

A sudden, violent thought pushed its way into her mind, and she gasped.

'He cannot love her, can he?'

She was snapped out of her thoughts when a purple-haired girl nearly ran into her. She was carrying a gown carefully. Nireko's eye caught the gorgeous embroidery, the small cherry blossom in the center, and the graceful cut of the dress. But what she most zeroed in on was the deep green.

'Syaoran's favorite.'

She grabbed the girl's arm, pulling the servant back to her.

"I want that dress, girl."

The girl froze for a second before trying to free herself.

"I'm sorry, my lady, but this is my lady Sakura's dress."

Nireko released the girl, watching in anger as she walked into her lady's room. She was seething.

'That girl gets everything I want. She has the perfect life; my perfect life.' A slow smile spread. 'I might not be able to stop her from getting it, but it doesn't mean I can't make it a little less perfect.'

****

Tomoyo gasped. Sakura blushed, stepping a little closer to Tomoyo so her friend could admire her own work.

She smiled and a tear fell, splattering on the floor. She rushed forward and gave Sakura a light hug, careful not to wrinkle the dress.

"You look beautiful, Sakura."

Sakura's blush deepened. "I would be very unhappy if I didn't; all day is a long time to spend trying to get ready."

Tomoyo laughed. "When are you planning to leave?"

Sakura turned and Tomoyo's curiosity rose. "What?"

Her lady turned and gave a small smile, the blush ever-present. "While you were gone, the king paid a visit," she said. Her servant gasped and clasped her hands together in front of her chest, already gone into her little happy world.

"He loves you Sakura! And you love him! And one day the two of you will be married and rule the kingdom and have your own little babies and-" Sakura cut her off with an elbow nudge.

"He already has a fiancé, Tomoyo. We will not be getting married."

The fact that Sakura did not deny her love for the king was not lost on Tomoyo. She just smiled wider.

****

The knock made Sakura jump. Laughing at her own nervousness, she stood up and checked once more to make sure it was perfect. Tomoyo gave her a smile to set her at ease and opened the door.

Sakura's eyes widened when she saw Syaoran. He was wearing a green robe that nearly matched her dress. As usual, Sakura felt herself drawn into his eyes, caught in the amber pools. His strong, handsome body was not lost on her.

'I hope this was not a mistake.'

He bowed courteously to Sakura and held out his hand. "Come with me?"

Sakura blushed. 'A strange thing to say.'

She placed her small hand in his, trying to ignore the burst of shivers it sent through her body.

"I will," she answered.

****

Tomoyo sank into her chair, still radiating from the overwhelming happiness between the two that had just left. She let out a soft sigh.

Out of nowhere came a small sound. Startled, Tomoyo jumped from the chair, and found herself staring into the eyes of the one she wanted to see.

"Yema. . ."

She ran to him and threw her arms around him.

"You're back!!"

He pulled back slightly and kissed her lightly. "I could never stay away from you, Tomoyo."

She blushed, both from the kiss and the words.

His eyes grew distant for a moment. "You know I must leave soon. I will visit you as often as I can, but. . ."

She understood.

Reaching up slowly, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his face closer to her own. "So let's make the visit worth it."

****

Yema looked down at his love lovingly. She had fallen asleep in his arms. Sighing, he stood, lifting her body and placing it on the bed. He gave her one last kiss then stepped away. Hating to take his eyes off of her, he backed up into the balcony. Finally he climbed down.

'I'll be back soon, Tomoyo.'

He started running.

****

Author's Note2: I added a scene. Aren't you happy, lol? The last scene is new. Oh well. Only 5 more chapters to edit.