DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but the plot.
Author's note(s): WHEW! -wipes sweat from brow- A whole week and a half of projects/exams/sickness. I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while, but. . . I have many excuses! LoL, so yea, next Wednesday is my last day of school, so I should have more time soon. And don't worry! I'm not losing interest in this story.
Thank you for SO many reviews. You guys are wonderful.
Summer Lover- you like Clue? That's one of my favorite games of all time. I can take ya. ^-^
Azi- It wasn't you who complained. I'm not mad that someone complained. I've seen other authors and the way they write so much, so fast. I understand people want more and faster. There have been many times I've been ready to scream b/c I wanted an update. ^_^
Welcome all new reviewers! Stay a while. ^-~
****
"It's rude to force people to kiss you."
The words flowed through his brain, greeted with instant relief. The relief was soon outshone with both anger and protectiveness.
"He forced himself upon you?"
Sakura whirled around to face him, eyes full of surprise. He caught her eyes.
More quietly this time, he spoke to her. "Is what you said true, Sakura?"
He watched as her eyes flickered through many emotions. Hesitant, she finally answered. "Yes."
That was all he needed. Moving forward, his arm raised, he was moments from striking when he felt a light touch. He looked down into worried emerald. She carefully raised herself to full height and whispered two words into his ear.
"Not here."
Her breath on his ear was too much. Moving away from her quickly, he dropped his arm reluctantly. With a slight gesture, guards appeared and led Lamar away. The king's glare could melt ice.
He looked around cautiously, surprised to find only a few eyes focused on their little moment. He breathed a heavy sigh.
'She was right. This is neither the place nor the time.'
His face broke into a wry grin.
'But there will be a time.'
****
Sakura watched anxiously as the guards led Lamar away.
'My little cherry blossom, I need a moment with you outside.'
The voice echoed through her head, bringing with it a headache and slight nausea. A slight bit of laughter let rang and she cursed, feeling herself losing control. She tried desperately to control her feet before finally giving in with more colorful curses. She watched numbly as she stumbled towards the balcony.
A voice greeted her.
"Do not worry, my little cherry blossom, you will return to the ball shortly if you wish."
She stayed silent, not sure of what to say.
"Why are you here, Sakura?"
"Because you brought me," she answered simply.
His answering laugh made her wince. "I was referring to the ball, my little cherry blossom."
Keeping her expression unreadable, she answered. "I was invited."
The wind picked up slightly, and she felt his anger stirring. No laughter was heard.
"You came because a man decided you should?" He was taunting her.
Blushing slightly, she answered. "I came because I wanted to come."
She felt his breath on her neck and started suddenly. He laughed. "If the little wolf had not asked you, would you have gone?"
"Of course," she answered, assuring herself.
'I would have gone. I was planning on going.'
Sekai laughed, hearing her thought. "You would have gone then because of your servant's wishes."
Carefully silent, Sakura waited, trying to ignore the truth in his statement. He continued.
"Are you so sad, my little cherry blossom, that you depend on the wishes of everyone else and not on your own?"
Sakura let his words digest for a moment before slowly speaking. "I came because I wished to."
Turning, she started back inside. She felt his laughter, growing in strength as she reached the doorway.
"Do you think the wolf loves you?" His words stopped her in her tracks. Seeing his success, he pressed onward. "Do you think he is engaged because he has to be?"
His words triggered a painful reaction inside Sakura. Sekai felt a victory close at hand. He moved in closer.
"My little cherry blossom, he will never love you. Like so many men, he is afraid of commitment. You are his excuse."
A lone tear found its way down her cheek. Without sweeping it away, she stepped through the doorway.
****
Sekai watched as she stepped away, smiling to himself.
'She is now mine,' he thought with triumph. 'I can now protect her the way she was meant to be protected.'
A short growl caught his attention. "I told you to leave her be, Sekai. I see I cannot leave you for mere moments without a problem."
"And I told you it was my own business, Aditi."
The warmth firmly grabbed him. "You are hurting her, Sekai."
He pushed away quickly. "I am helping her."
Aditi conjured the image of the lone tear. "Humans do not cry unless they are hurt."
He snorted. "She would have cried more with the wolf."
Aditi chose her next words carefully. "Your mistakes do you not have to be repeated through her, Sekai."
He was silent.
"Do not take your revenge upon her for what was done to you."
He snarled. "I am helping my beautiful cherry blossom! I see what is happening to her. I know what will happen to her. I am protecting her from the mistakes I made."
"Sekai, the little wolf is not Nikia. You do not know he will hurt her as Nikia did you."
Sekai pushed the painful name away. "He is engaged. He is not free to love her, just as mine was not free to love me."
Aditi smiled, the warmth covering Sekai. "Engagements were meant to be broken."
"As were hearts," came the short reply. The two vanished.
****
As she hurried towards her room, a hand grabbed her arm, pulling her towards a small side-room. Sakura looked up with worried eyes, catching blue ones.
"Hello wench," came the snide comment.
Sakura pulled her hand from Nireko's grasp, stumbling backwards. "What do you want?"
She stepped closer to Sakura. "I want you to leave Syaoran alone. He is mine."
"You don't have to worry about that," mumbled Sakura. Turning, she started towards the door.
"Oh, I knew I didn't. I am more than enough for him."
Sakura whirled, facing Nireko. Seething with anger, she forced herself to calm down. When her breathing had returned to normal, she plastered her smirk on. "Then why did he come to me?"
Happy to have the last word, she turned and left the gaping Nireko behind.
****
He scanned the room worriedly, desperately hoping to find emerald. Finally his eyes spotted her. Smiling, he crossed the room to intercept her. Her eyes widened in surprise as he stepped in front of her.
Pressing his luck, he bowed. "Will you dance with me, Sakura?"
Shuffling her feet, she stood for a moment, unsure, until finally pushing away from him. "No," she said.
Taken aback for a moment, he quickly regained his composure and raced after her. He finally caught up with her in an empty hallway. Grasping her elbow, he made her face him.
She averted her eyes.
"What's going on, Sakura? You haven't enjoyed one moment of this ball," he asked worriedly.
"I have to go, your highness." She said, turning away.
He grasped her waist, pulling her back to him. "But then I'll have no one to dance with," he said with his best smile.
She finally met his eyes. "So dance with your fiancé."
Taken aback for the second time that night, he released his grip for a moment, but caught her before she could try to leave again. He forced her chin upwards to make eye contact.
Firmly, he spoke. "I do not care about Nireko, Sakura. I care only about you."
Before she could react, he reached down and gently kissed her. He pulled her closer, slowly deepening the kiss.
****
Syaoran finally broke the kiss, looking down at his beautiful cherry blossom. Slowly, she looked up at him, eyes filled with worry.
"Promise me I'm not being used," she said cautiously. Syaoran was struck when he saw the pain in her eyes.
'I've hurt her too much.'
Leaning down, he kissed her once more then pulled her back into the ballroom. She looked up questioningly. He smiled and draped an arm protectively around her waist.
"I'll repeat my question in hopes of receiving a better answer," he said kindly. Bowing once more, he repeated his question. "Will you honor me with a dance?"
She smiled and nodded.
****
Striding confidently towards the center of the room, the couple caught all attention. Whispers spread throughout the room, trading information for more information, but no one knew more about the beautiful woman beyond that she was a captive of the state, and daughter of the Earl of Dubghlas.
The women wondered why his highness was dancing with the captive. It simply was not done. And yet their eyes could not help but be drawn to the perfect way the two held each other.
The men wondered why his highness was so lucky.
****
Syaoran caught a glimpse of blue eyes. Carefully he fastened his eyes on Sakura, pulling her slightly closer. She smiled up at him. He caught the slightly guarded look.
'She doesn't trust me.'
The thought stung. He chastised himself.
'Of course she doesn't trust me. Why should she?'
He smiled lovingly at his cherry blossom.
'I'll just have to give her reason to.'
****
Sakura caught the smile on his lips. She narrowed her eyes into a question. He nodded lightly, smiling again. As the dance ended, he led her off to the side.
"I must go fix something, Sakura. Will you wait for me here?"
She looked around worriedly, recognizing this balcony. Nodding, she watched as he left. He looked back once, causing her to blush.
She stood staring out into the night.
'This is all too perfect.'
****
She was searching for amber. Her eyes narrowed in concentration, she was caught unaware when a strong hand finally caught her arm. It pulled her roughly into another room.
She recognized his touch. Placing a firm smirk on her face, she turned to greet him.
"Why, your highness, you are not showing much control tonight are you?"
"Hush, Nireko. I have only one thing to say to you."
Nireko was suddenly aware of a man standing in the corner. She recognized it to be Hideaki. Her eyes widened.
"I will not marry you, Nireko."
The words hit her with full force, almost causing her to fall backwards. She stood gaping for a moment before finally forming the words.
"But you need me."
"If the price of your country's alliance is this marriage, it is too overpriced."
She growled. "You do not mean that."
"I do, Nireko. Now, you are welcome to stay for the remainder of the ball, but I expect you to leave tomorrow."
He turned and walked out.
Nireko screamed in frustration, looking around for something to throw. Hideaki moved closer to Nireko.
"You never had him, Nireko."
He turned and took his leave.
****
Sakura heard footsteps. Before she could even turn, she was caught in a giant hug.
"Monster, you are much trouble to save."
****
Author's Note: -evil laugh- Don't you wish you knew what happened next?
I like this note. I guess I'll leave it.
Author's note(s): WHEW! -wipes sweat from brow- A whole week and a half of projects/exams/sickness. I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while, but. . . I have many excuses! LoL, so yea, next Wednesday is my last day of school, so I should have more time soon. And don't worry! I'm not losing interest in this story.
Thank you for SO many reviews. You guys are wonderful.
Summer Lover- you like Clue? That's one of my favorite games of all time. I can take ya. ^-^
Azi- It wasn't you who complained. I'm not mad that someone complained. I've seen other authors and the way they write so much, so fast. I understand people want more and faster. There have been many times I've been ready to scream b/c I wanted an update. ^_^
Welcome all new reviewers! Stay a while. ^-~
****
"It's rude to force people to kiss you."
The words flowed through his brain, greeted with instant relief. The relief was soon outshone with both anger and protectiveness.
"He forced himself upon you?"
Sakura whirled around to face him, eyes full of surprise. He caught her eyes.
More quietly this time, he spoke to her. "Is what you said true, Sakura?"
He watched as her eyes flickered through many emotions. Hesitant, she finally answered. "Yes."
That was all he needed. Moving forward, his arm raised, he was moments from striking when he felt a light touch. He looked down into worried emerald. She carefully raised herself to full height and whispered two words into his ear.
"Not here."
Her breath on his ear was too much. Moving away from her quickly, he dropped his arm reluctantly. With a slight gesture, guards appeared and led Lamar away. The king's glare could melt ice.
He looked around cautiously, surprised to find only a few eyes focused on their little moment. He breathed a heavy sigh.
'She was right. This is neither the place nor the time.'
His face broke into a wry grin.
'But there will be a time.'
****
Sakura watched anxiously as the guards led Lamar away.
'My little cherry blossom, I need a moment with you outside.'
The voice echoed through her head, bringing with it a headache and slight nausea. A slight bit of laughter let rang and she cursed, feeling herself losing control. She tried desperately to control her feet before finally giving in with more colorful curses. She watched numbly as she stumbled towards the balcony.
A voice greeted her.
"Do not worry, my little cherry blossom, you will return to the ball shortly if you wish."
She stayed silent, not sure of what to say.
"Why are you here, Sakura?"
"Because you brought me," she answered simply.
His answering laugh made her wince. "I was referring to the ball, my little cherry blossom."
Keeping her expression unreadable, she answered. "I was invited."
The wind picked up slightly, and she felt his anger stirring. No laughter was heard.
"You came because a man decided you should?" He was taunting her.
Blushing slightly, she answered. "I came because I wanted to come."
She felt his breath on her neck and started suddenly. He laughed. "If the little wolf had not asked you, would you have gone?"
"Of course," she answered, assuring herself.
'I would have gone. I was planning on going.'
Sekai laughed, hearing her thought. "You would have gone then because of your servant's wishes."
Carefully silent, Sakura waited, trying to ignore the truth in his statement. He continued.
"Are you so sad, my little cherry blossom, that you depend on the wishes of everyone else and not on your own?"
Sakura let his words digest for a moment before slowly speaking. "I came because I wished to."
Turning, she started back inside. She felt his laughter, growing in strength as she reached the doorway.
"Do you think the wolf loves you?" His words stopped her in her tracks. Seeing his success, he pressed onward. "Do you think he is engaged because he has to be?"
His words triggered a painful reaction inside Sakura. Sekai felt a victory close at hand. He moved in closer.
"My little cherry blossom, he will never love you. Like so many men, he is afraid of commitment. You are his excuse."
A lone tear found its way down her cheek. Without sweeping it away, she stepped through the doorway.
****
Sekai watched as she stepped away, smiling to himself.
'She is now mine,' he thought with triumph. 'I can now protect her the way she was meant to be protected.'
A short growl caught his attention. "I told you to leave her be, Sekai. I see I cannot leave you for mere moments without a problem."
"And I told you it was my own business, Aditi."
The warmth firmly grabbed him. "You are hurting her, Sekai."
He pushed away quickly. "I am helping her."
Aditi conjured the image of the lone tear. "Humans do not cry unless they are hurt."
He snorted. "She would have cried more with the wolf."
Aditi chose her next words carefully. "Your mistakes do you not have to be repeated through her, Sekai."
He was silent.
"Do not take your revenge upon her for what was done to you."
He snarled. "I am helping my beautiful cherry blossom! I see what is happening to her. I know what will happen to her. I am protecting her from the mistakes I made."
"Sekai, the little wolf is not Nikia. You do not know he will hurt her as Nikia did you."
Sekai pushed the painful name away. "He is engaged. He is not free to love her, just as mine was not free to love me."
Aditi smiled, the warmth covering Sekai. "Engagements were meant to be broken."
"As were hearts," came the short reply. The two vanished.
****
As she hurried towards her room, a hand grabbed her arm, pulling her towards a small side-room. Sakura looked up with worried eyes, catching blue ones.
"Hello wench," came the snide comment.
Sakura pulled her hand from Nireko's grasp, stumbling backwards. "What do you want?"
She stepped closer to Sakura. "I want you to leave Syaoran alone. He is mine."
"You don't have to worry about that," mumbled Sakura. Turning, she started towards the door.
"Oh, I knew I didn't. I am more than enough for him."
Sakura whirled, facing Nireko. Seething with anger, she forced herself to calm down. When her breathing had returned to normal, she plastered her smirk on. "Then why did he come to me?"
Happy to have the last word, she turned and left the gaping Nireko behind.
****
He scanned the room worriedly, desperately hoping to find emerald. Finally his eyes spotted her. Smiling, he crossed the room to intercept her. Her eyes widened in surprise as he stepped in front of her.
Pressing his luck, he bowed. "Will you dance with me, Sakura?"
Shuffling her feet, she stood for a moment, unsure, until finally pushing away from him. "No," she said.
Taken aback for a moment, he quickly regained his composure and raced after her. He finally caught up with her in an empty hallway. Grasping her elbow, he made her face him.
She averted her eyes.
"What's going on, Sakura? You haven't enjoyed one moment of this ball," he asked worriedly.
"I have to go, your highness." She said, turning away.
He grasped her waist, pulling her back to him. "But then I'll have no one to dance with," he said with his best smile.
She finally met his eyes. "So dance with your fiancé."
Taken aback for the second time that night, he released his grip for a moment, but caught her before she could try to leave again. He forced her chin upwards to make eye contact.
Firmly, he spoke. "I do not care about Nireko, Sakura. I care only about you."
Before she could react, he reached down and gently kissed her. He pulled her closer, slowly deepening the kiss.
****
Syaoran finally broke the kiss, looking down at his beautiful cherry blossom. Slowly, she looked up at him, eyes filled with worry.
"Promise me I'm not being used," she said cautiously. Syaoran was struck when he saw the pain in her eyes.
'I've hurt her too much.'
Leaning down, he kissed her once more then pulled her back into the ballroom. She looked up questioningly. He smiled and draped an arm protectively around her waist.
"I'll repeat my question in hopes of receiving a better answer," he said kindly. Bowing once more, he repeated his question. "Will you honor me with a dance?"
She smiled and nodded.
****
Striding confidently towards the center of the room, the couple caught all attention. Whispers spread throughout the room, trading information for more information, but no one knew more about the beautiful woman beyond that she was a captive of the state, and daughter of the Earl of Dubghlas.
The women wondered why his highness was dancing with the captive. It simply was not done. And yet their eyes could not help but be drawn to the perfect way the two held each other.
The men wondered why his highness was so lucky.
****
Syaoran caught a glimpse of blue eyes. Carefully he fastened his eyes on Sakura, pulling her slightly closer. She smiled up at him. He caught the slightly guarded look.
'She doesn't trust me.'
The thought stung. He chastised himself.
'Of course she doesn't trust me. Why should she?'
He smiled lovingly at his cherry blossom.
'I'll just have to give her reason to.'
****
Sakura caught the smile on his lips. She narrowed her eyes into a question. He nodded lightly, smiling again. As the dance ended, he led her off to the side.
"I must go fix something, Sakura. Will you wait for me here?"
She looked around worriedly, recognizing this balcony. Nodding, she watched as he left. He looked back once, causing her to blush.
She stood staring out into the night.
'This is all too perfect.'
****
She was searching for amber. Her eyes narrowed in concentration, she was caught unaware when a strong hand finally caught her arm. It pulled her roughly into another room.
She recognized his touch. Placing a firm smirk on her face, she turned to greet him.
"Why, your highness, you are not showing much control tonight are you?"
"Hush, Nireko. I have only one thing to say to you."
Nireko was suddenly aware of a man standing in the corner. She recognized it to be Hideaki. Her eyes widened.
"I will not marry you, Nireko."
The words hit her with full force, almost causing her to fall backwards. She stood gaping for a moment before finally forming the words.
"But you need me."
"If the price of your country's alliance is this marriage, it is too overpriced."
She growled. "You do not mean that."
"I do, Nireko. Now, you are welcome to stay for the remainder of the ball, but I expect you to leave tomorrow."
He turned and walked out.
Nireko screamed in frustration, looking around for something to throw. Hideaki moved closer to Nireko.
"You never had him, Nireko."
He turned and took his leave.
****
Sakura heard footsteps. Before she could even turn, she was caught in a giant hug.
"Monster, you are much trouble to save."
****
Author's Note: -evil laugh- Don't you wish you knew what happened next?
I like this note. I guess I'll leave it.
