Hey I am sooo sorry for not updating for such a long time, Sammi backs away from the group of people.* I had a major writers block and still got it but hopefully it will go away quickly! Sorry again. On with the story.

Tricky Princess

centerBy Sammycenter

Chapter 11

Prince Horioka

Sakura sat in her seat, in the throne room. She tried to be patient and wait for the prince. She started to fidget. She wrung her hands. She looked at her mother who gave a begging look. Sakura sighed and relaxed…a little. Nadeshiko had made her come down 10 minutes early to wait. The ten minutes felt like forever. Sakura fidgeted in her seat. The Li family wasn't here. They went somewhere, maybe to the village.

"Announcing the Horiokas!" A guard announced. Everyone in the room, who was sitting, stood up. The Horiokas came in one after another. The handsome prince came in timidly. Sakura looked at him. He looked up at Sakura.

"Nadeshiko!" The Horioka Queen shouted to her old friend. Nadeshiko stepped down from her dais and hugged her friend.

"I haven't seen you since your wedding!" Nadeshiko said looking her friend over. The king stepped up to stand beside his wife.

"Rujiko? You've changed!" Nadeshiko exclaimed. King Rujiko smiled at hugged Nadeshiko.

"Come we'll talk in the library," Fujitaka said and led the group to the library. Sakura dropped behind of the group. Hikoshu Horioka dropped behind too.

"Ohayo Hikoshu-kun," Sakura said.

"Ohayo Sakura-chan," Hikoshu greeted.

"It's nice to see you again," Hikoshu said trying to start a conversation.

"Same here," Sakura said as happily as she can. Where is Tomoyo when you need her? Wish I didn't have to stay here!

"Was it your choice to marry?" Hikoshu asked.

"No not really," Sakura said. Sakura looked at Hikoshu's eyes and saw understanding.

"Do you want to give me a tour of the palace?" Hikoshu asked.

"Sure, if you want to," Sakura answered sweetly. They walked down the hall toward the main room. Suddenly they saw a large then spider crawling on the floor. It was thin and brown. Sakura felt Hikoshu shudder. She looked at him and found him backing away. She herself was afraid of the spider too. But Hikoshu seemed like he would faint.

"Hikoshu, could you…um.. you know shoo it away or something?" Sakura said standing there as Hikoshu continued to back off. He looked up his face etched with fright.

"You want ….m-me to get t-the s-s-spider?" He asked shakily. Sakura nodded. He shook his head energetically.

"Uhh I think I'll.. um you.. know have a detour," he said and walked off awkwardly fast. Sakura ran after him.

"Hey we can't just keep it!" Sakura yelled after him. Giggling echoed through the hall. Behind the door, were two specific girls. They were bursting with laughter.

"I can't believe he was actually scared of spiddders…." Meiling cried as she laughed. Tomoyo's delicate laugh combined with Meiling's amused laugh.

"Did you see his face when he saw the spider??" Tomoyo said to Meiling. Then she stopped laughing abruptly. Meiling stopped and looked at her with a question written all over her face.

"Uhhhhm where exactly is the spider??" Tomoyo asked, her eyes searching the floor. Meiling jumped up and looked around for the spider that was roaming, its location unknown.

~*~

Sheifa walked through the halls with Feimei behind her. They chattered on and on.

"Sakura is meeting some prince again, isn't she?" Feimei asked her sister.

"Yea isn't it some prince from Morioka or was his name Morioka," Sheifa answered.

"But Sakura looks so cute with little brother!" Feimei cried out her hands grasping each other.

"I know. Matchmaker!!" Sheifa said with an evil smile.

"But where are they?" Feimei asked looking around.

"They're walking around or in the library or in the main room." Sheifa answered her sister.

"We might as well check everywhere." Feimei groaned. They headed towards the library first. They found the Moriokas and Kinomotos in the library. So they quietly walked out of the room not wanting to disturb the conversation or meeting. Next they walked toward the main room and bumped into Sakura and another young boy besides their younger brother.

"Sakura!" Sheifa greeted.

"Sheifa, Feimei!" Sakura returned. Sakura beamed at them. Sheifa looked at the young man.

"Oh! Sheifa, Feimei this is Prince Hikoshu Morioka. Hikoshu this is Princess Feimei and Princess Sheifa of the Li Clan." Sakura introduced cheerfully. They bowed to each other respectfully.

"Where are you sisters?" Sakura asked looking around.

"Oh, most likely hanging around with your brother," Feimei said in matter of fact way.

"Are they infatuated with my brother?" Sakura gasped. Sheifa's and Feimei's eyes bulged and shook their heads energetically. Sakura giggled.

"I believe my sister is here to see your brother…um…Touya?" Hikoshu added. Sakura looked at him surprised.

"Really? Oh this should be fun!" Sakura said giggling. She turned back to the sisters. "Where are they??"

"I don't know, they're in the palace somewhere," Feimei answered.

"Soooo…Prince Hikoshu was it your idea to marry Sakura?" Sheifa asked raising an eyebrow.

"Ahh…umm… no it wasn't. It was all mother's idea. She really wanted me to marry and when she heard about the Kinomotos she really, really wanted me to marry!" Hikoshu answered.

"So you must have a girlfriend?!" Feimei asked with a large smile. Sakura looked at them strangely. 'They're acting really weird.' She thought. Hikoshu blushed suddenly.

"Uhhh…I don't think it's appropriate to tell you," he answered with a sheepish smile.

"Awww come one!! You just have to tell us!!!!!" Feimei whined. Hikoshu blushed a brighter red.

"Well…I do. She …" he trailed off avoiding their eyes.

"Well if you don't¾ " Sakura started but was cut my Sheifa.

"Please continue Prince Hikoshu,"

"She…she…her name is Kochi." Hikoshu said. Footsteps were heard. They looked around the hall and found Syaoran walking down the stairs, yawning.

"Morning Xiao Lang!!" Feimei and Sheifa said merrily. They looked at each other with gleeful eyes. Syaoran winced and stopped. He looked down at the group. 'Weird since when do girls torture a single boy in a hall? Nearly forever.' Syaoran thought to himself.

"Ohayo Syaoran. Come down and meet Hikoshu!" Sakura said in her usual cheerful voice. Syaoran's response was a groan, but he came down anyway.

"What is he doing here anyway?" Syaoran asked as he looked at the prince.

"Well our parents wants us to marry each other," Sakura said.

"Konnichiwa, I'm Morioka Hikoshu," Hikoshu said bowing to the young Li leader. Syaoran bowed stiffly.

"Li Syaoran nice to meet you," he said then walked off toward the dining room. His sisters folded their arms over their chest and gave an aggravated sigh. They ran off after their brother. Hikoshu looked at them with a raised eyebrow.

"Ignore them. Come on let's go find our parents," Sakura said and walked off.

~*~

Feimei and Sheifa walked followed Syaoran into the kitchen. He went to get some bread.

"Syaoran!!" Feimei whined and poked him in the back.

"Stop it! What do you want?" He asked giving them a famous glare then turned back to his bread.

"Don't you like Sakura??" Sheifa asked.

"We know you do!!" Feimei said. He looked at them with menacing eyes.

"I—don't—like—Sakura!!" Syaoran said emphasizing each word.

"Yeah right Xiao Lang!" Sheifa said.

"Well just to let you know. She won't be available longer. Hikoshu Morioka seems like a really nice man. Well he is nice, isn't he Sheifa?" Feimei said looking at her sister.

"Yea Syaoran. He seems to think Sakura is a alright girl too." Sheifa said poking Syaoran in the ribs. He grumbled and moved away.

"Fine let Sakura be stolen from you right in your face!" Feimei said and walked away.

"Don't even like Sakura! After that damn kiss on the cheek, she got me all confused! Argggh!!!" Syaoran muttered to himself. He picked up the slice of bread and turned around, to see a group of servants standing there look at him with weird looks. He glared at them and stomped off.