My Christmas was boring. Hope yours was great. Thanks for reading my story. How long do you think it'll take to get my review number up to three digits?

Tricky Princess

By Sammy

Chapter 9

Tomoyo and Eriol Meet

Tomoyo walked through the halls looking for Sakura. She opened the door to Sakura's room finding no one. She continued walking till she came to the library. She opened the door and did find somebody. But it wasn't Sakura. A blue haired boy sat at the table bent over a book. He suddenly looked up right at Tomoyo. Tomoyo blushed slightly. He was a very handsome boy with glasses.

"Oh …I'm sorry for interrupting." Tomoyo said.

"No, you didn't interrupt. Can I help you?" He asked.

"Do you know Sakura? Have you seen Sakura?" Tomoyo asked, feeling very foolish asking a stranger who probably didn't even know Sakura.

"No I didn't." He answered. Tomoyo tilted her head.

"You know Sakura?" Tomoyo asked.

"Do you know Syaoran?" He asked.

"Yes, isn't he staying here for now?" Tomoyo said.

"Yes he is, I'm his cousin. I'm Eriol." Eriol said introducing himself.

"I'm Tomoyo. Glad to meet you." Tomoyo greeted. Eriol right now was absorbed into Tomoyo's beauty. Tomoyo couldn't believe such a handsome boy was in the same palace and she didn't know. 'Wait till I tell Sakura.' Tomoyo thought.

"Have you seen Syaoran by the way?" Eriol asked.

"No I'm afraid not. Maybe Sakura and Syaoran went out together somewhere." Tomoyo suggested. 'Syaoran and another girl? No it can't be. But Syaoran just might be.' Eriol thought.

"Let's go look for them." Eriol said.

"Yes I suppose." Tomoyo said. Eriol stood up from where he was sitting. Eriol could sense Syaoran's aura nearby, and the warm pink aura.

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Sakura and Syaoran walked a few feet apart from each other. Syaoran was deep in his thoughts while Sakura was talking to Kero. Kero was sitting on her shoulder complaining about empty stomachs.

"I'm dying! Help me! I NEED FOOD!" Kero yelled. He lay on Sakura's shoulder playing dead. A complaint came from where Syaoran was.

"OW!" A voice said.

"Oh Hi Tomoyo." Sakura said. Tomoyo looked up to see Sakura. Eriol was next to her quietly laughing.

"Need a hand?" Sakura asked. Syaoran looked at her and blushed suddenly. He quickly got up.

"Guess not." Sakura said. Eriol was still laughing.

"Somebody is all cherry red!" Eriol said with a sweet smile on his face.

"Shut up." Syaoran muttered. He sulked ahead. Eriol followed him still laughing.

"Who's he?" Tomoyo asked.

"Syaoran Li." Sakura asked.

"He's cute." Tomoyo said plainly. Sakura and Tomoyo walked behind the two boys. Sakura giggled at what Tomoyo said.

"Well what about the boy you were with?" Sakura teased.

"Oh he's Eriol, Syaoran's cousin." Tomoyo said. Sakura giggled.

"You must know him really well." Sakura said. Tomoyo blushed a bright crimson color.

"Tomoyo, Sakura! Hurry up!" Eriol yelled back to them. Sakura giggled as Tomoyo blushed. Sakura and Tomoyo walked faster to catch up. Syaoran's cheeks were ruddy and Eriol and a dashing smile plastered on his face. Sakura looked at them curiously.

"Why is he red?" Sakura asked. Tomoyo started giggling. Syaoran blushed even more.

"Nothing really." Eriol said.

"Sakura can't we go home and EAT!!!?" Kero whined.

"Wait we're almost home." Sakura answered playfully.

They arrived at the palace and entered giggling and laughing. Meiling came skidding down with an excited face. See them laughing meant a good thing.

"How was everything?" Meiling asked.

"Oh everything was alright." Eriol answered. Meiling looked at Sakura and Tomoyo, they both looked satisfied.

"Well you're just in time for supper." Meiling said. They walked off to their rooms first. As Meiling waited for them, she felt a feeling she thought she had gotten over. But now it was back. She was jealous, jealous of Sakura. She often heard compliments on her beauty but Sakura's beauty was hard to beat. Sakura made Syaoran happy. Sakura never knew that Syaoran used to be her betrothed. Meiling could remember the day that her Mother and Father announced her betrothal. She was proud that she was marrying such an important person. The leader of the most powerful and wealthy family was to be her husband. She wanted to keep Syaoran to herself. She was greedy and realized that after Syaoran's many rejections. She called the marriage off. She preferred Syaoran as her cousin, especially since Syaoran rejected her. She shook the thoughts off as the others came down.

"Come Meiling, let's go eat, I'm starving." Sakura said as she grabbed Meiling. Meiling walked beside Sakura to the dining room. There, Yelan and Nadeshiko were waiting.

"…can't wait!" A phrase from their conversation came.

"Aunt Yelan and Nadeshiko." Meiling called. They looked up.

"Oh you little mice, I could barely hear you come in." Nadeshiko said, surprised. Syaoran ignored that and walked into the dining room taking his seat. The others followed him to their seats.

"Start lunch!" Nadeshiko said to the nearby servant. Syaoran barely heard that comment for he was deep in his thoughts. He felt stupid. His reaction, to Sakura's powers was stupid. Of course he knew Sakura was the cardcaptor, he just ignored it. He could feel Yelan's aura. He felt Eriol's aura. He felt Nadeshiko's aura too. So she has her powers too. Last of all he felt Sakura's pink gentle aura.

"Syaoran? Syaoran!" somebody called. He snapped up and looked at Sakura.

"Yes?" He asked.

"It's time to eat." Sakura said giggling at the state he was in before. He looked as if he was in a trance. Syaoran saw that there was a bowl of rice placed in front of him. There were other plates on the table.

"Mother, where is Touya and Father?" Sakura asked.

"They had their own business to tend to." Nadeshiko answered. Nadeshiko watched Syaoran. He didn't seem like himself today. He seemed even quieter then the other days even though he barely talked at other eating times. His aura was calmer and a little troubled. She looked past him and at the rest of his family. Yelan was the last person sitting on the left side of the table. To her right there was only Sakura. Sakura's aura was as usual, merry.

"So how was your day everyone?" Yelan asked.

"Oh it was great." Eriol answered.

"And you Meiling?" Yelan asked again.

"It was cheery." Meiling answered. Yelan noticed every magical person in the room was troubled by something. Their troubles all had to do with love. Yelan saw the advantages and the disadvantages of it. She shrugged the worry off and continued eating.

After lunch everyone retreated to his or her rooms. Yelan and Nadeshiko went to the garden where they sat around the tiny stone table on the stone round seats.

Sakura lay down on her bed going through the current events. Her kimono bothered her for some reason even though she wore it everyday. She changed into her sleeping clothes to feel better. She returned to her bed. Before she knew it she fell into her dreams sleeping easily.

Tomoyo sat on her bed looking at the room that was specially reserved for her, since she visited Sakura so much. Eriol popped into her head. She knew she was falling for the young man. His blue hair, his deep intelligent eyes, and his calm voice came into her mind as well. She let herself daydream about Eriol.

Eriol was about in the same state as Tomoyo except he thought about Tomoyo. Her long hair, with the innocent amethyst eyes, and the sweet face stayed in his mind. He couldn't believe he was falling for her. He, the reincarnated Clow Reed was falling in love. Plus she was practically family. He was Sakura's half father so Tomoyo was kind of like his niece. But who cares you would see two cousins marry. Just like Syaoran and Meiling until Meiling called it off. He too fell into his thoughts on love.

Syaoran was roaming the gardens instead. His sword was at his side. He had decided to practice. He didn't know where the others were and didn't care. His thoughts hopped to today in the market with Sakura. She had kissed him on the cheeks. Was it an accident or purposely done? He should have yelled at her for that act but he was so shocked. There was something that seemed to want to pop out and say something, a feeling that he didn't know or felt before. It bothered him a lot. He came to a perfect spot to practice. He pulled out his sword and went into a stance. He was off in a second. Slashing the air with his knife. His skill was clearly shown. It also showed the years of practice that he went through. He leaped and slashed the air. He wasn't tiring yet. He was still full of emotion he wanted to get rid of. Finally he was tired and sat down the sword still in his hand.

A man walked up to Syaoran and bowed.

"Prince Li, The great Kinomoto King and Queen wishes to see you in the main room." He said with a clear voice. Syoran sheathed his sword and followed the butler. He had his usual face, a cold look.

In the main room, Sakura, Meiling, Tomoyo, Eriol, Yelan, Fujitaka, and Nadeshiko were all there. Everyone but Yelan bowed respectfully. Syaoran bowed too.

"We have news from the Morioka kingdom. They have requested Sakura's hand in marriage."