GOMEN! I never meant to take this long to update again. At first I was
working on my other story so I could start posting it. But then I started
school, got a job and got really sick.all at once. Normally I'll just sit
down and write one chapter in one sitting, and all that fun. It took me
days to write this one.
Anyway, yay for the reviews. And, sorry, but this is rated PG-13.and thus will be kept to it's rating. And, again, before people ask: ages. Xiefa-30, Fuutie-27, Feimei- 25, Fanren-21, Shen-32, Liang-30, Jin Le-26. Lok is 21, Xi Wang is 19 and Zhi Ye is 18. I think that covers it.
^.^ Also this chapter is dedicated to all the people who review. Because then I can be lazy and look at your profiles and read your stories or your other favourites and don't have to hunt them down myself. Really lazy I know. But hey, gives me more time to write.
Disclaimer: I do not own CCS. But I don't own a lot of things so I'm pretty used to it.
Chapter Sixteen: The Menagerie
Something odd woke Yelan in the hours before dawn. As she woke, she recognized her son's and three additional auras in her house hold. Xiao Lang had come home. With a small smile, she drew her long robe over her nightdress and stepped from her room. Quickly she walked down the long corridor towards her son's room. She knew that he would be deeply embarrassed if he knew how often she checked on him during the night. It was a mother's prerogative to look after her children and he was the one who needed watching the most.
Yet, when she reached his room, Yelan noticed that it was empty. Frowning, she searched the mansion for her son's aura, walking in the direction it was coming from. At last she located it and when she stopped walking she found herself outside a familiar door. Smirking, she quietly opened the door and peeked in. There on the bed lay her son, his arms wrapped around Sakura in a protecting manner. The girl had her head on his chest, her own arms wrapped around him.
Suppressing the instincts to act like her four daughters, Yelan quietly withdrew from the room and closed the door silently behind her. Closing her eyes, she tried to memorize the scene. When it was fixed in her brain she giggled softly, glancing around to make sure no one heard. Later, she would display that image for Tomoyo in hopes that the duchess would record it on paper for prosperity.
Sakura slowly woke in the half hour before dawn. She felt luxurious and warm, protected. Sleepily she searched for the source of such feelings only to come across the feelings of being held against a strong body. Smiling, her eyes fluttered open and immediately met amber.
"Good morning, Syaoran," she whispered sleepily.
"Good morning, Sakura," he replied, leaning forward to kiss her forehead. "You are amazingly beautiful when you sleep."
Blushing, she shook her head. "You are just saying that. However, I must say that you look very nice like you are now. Especially since you don't have a shirt on," she muttered, blushing even more at her own temerity.
Smiling, they both fell into silence, unwilling to leave the comfortable position they found themselves in. Syaoran had actually been awake for sometime. A couple hours ago he was sure that someone had come into the room, but by the time he had opened his eyes, there was no one there, nor any sign that he hadn't just been dreaming. His mind had then turned to the exquisite girl in his arms and what she had said last night.
More than anything, now that he knew she was his, he wanted to protect her. But the situation she was in made that hard. Through the two hours he had watched her sleep, Syaoran's mind furiously went through one possibility after another. At last something clicked in his mind, something about how their enemy was acting made him suspect. Now, he just had to prevent that from happening.
"Syaoran, why are you frowning?"
"I was just thinking about something," he said, smiling once more. Quickly he rolled over and covered her mouth with his own, surprising her at first. After a moment, Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with all the love she had. A few minutes passed before Syaoran pulled back and looked her straight in the eyes.
"Marry me, Sakura."
Her green eyes widened in surprise. "W-what?"
"Marry me. I know that I'm to be the next leader of the Li clan and you are the Queen of Tomoeda, but we can get past that. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. If you don't feel the same, I understand but-"
Quickly she covered his mouth with her hand. "I do feel the same, Syaoran. But, I'm queen now! Marriage isn't the easiest thing anymore." She groaned, tears coming to her eyes. "Too bad you didn't ask me while I was still a princess."
"Shh, don't cry. We can make it work. What are the customs of marriage for a queen?" he asked.
"The engagement has to be one year long, to a man of suitable worth. Then the wedding will be a public event with grand celebrations leading up to it and then after there is a month long honeymoon to the groom's lands." She finished with a blush at the idea of a honeymoon.
"A year?" Syaoran groaned. "I don't think I can wait a year. Hey, why don't we fudge the rules a little and say that we were already engaged when you were a princess?"
Sakura giggled. "That might work. But still it would mean waiting at least until after the coronation ceremony."
"Or," he said, a mischievous glint growing in his eye, "we could do it before you went to your coronation then have a big celebration afterwards."
"But, that would mean it would have to remain an absolute secret, Syaoran!"
He shrugged, before leaning down to kiss her again. "I can keep a secret. How about you?" Sakura giggled a little, causing him to grin again. "However, you still never answered me. Will you marry me?"
"Yes, Syaoran," she replied solemnly. "I will marry you."
An two and a half, Sakura was alone in her room, finishing up her morning rituals. Tomoyo had given her a new dress the day before and she couldn't help but admire herself in the mirror. As requested, it was black satin instead of anything bright and colourful like before. But Tomoyo was Tomoyo. In addition to lengthening the sleeves from her normal pattern, she supplied a silver gauze over dress that was worn almost like a jacket but had skirts just as full as the under dress.
A knock on the door interrupted Sakura's admiration for her best friends handiwork and she turned to see Syaoran slipping quietly into the room. She grinned at him and walked towards him.
"Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah," he answered a little shakily. For some reason, no matter how many times he'd seen her, she still took his breath away every time. She was simply too beautiful. Finally, he regained his senses and beckoned her closer. "Give me your hand. No the other one."
With a small shrug, she extended her left hand to him and watched, breathlessly, as he slipped a beautiful ring on her finger. It was simple, a crescent moon cast in finest silver with a beautiful emerald nestled in the curve. But to Sakura it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
"When I was born, they cast this ring for me to give to my bride," Syaoran told her, watching delightfully at the pleasure he saw on her face.
"But, then won't everyone know? I thought you wanted to keep our marriage a secret, Syaoran."
"I want my family and our friends to know we are engaged, Sakura. We are just not going to tell them we are getting married much sooner than the year long engagement."
She giggled a little then sobered. "You still haven't told me why you want all the secrecy. What's wrong?"
"I just have a bad feeling and I want to make sure you stay safe. Now, we have to go to breakfast, there are guests." He groaned. "Though I'm pretty sure there is no reason to welcome one of them."
She looked at him curiously, but he merely shook his head. With a dainty shrug she followed him from the room and to the breakfast room. Since there were indeed guests, the whole of the family had assembled. It was still early yet for the sisters to usually be up and moving, but for this they managed. By the time Sakura and Syaoran entered the room, everyone was seated and Xiefa and Fuutie were trying their hardest to make the younger two gentlemen blush.
Yelan stood at their entrance and gestured for her three guests to do the same. "May I present Liu Lok and Xi Wang and their friend Rae Zhi Ye. Gentlemen, her majesty, Sakura Kinomoto, Queen of Tomoeda."
Sakura blushed as the three gentlemen bowed low. She nodded her head to them politely and inched towards Syaoran a little more, reaching up to hold on to his sleeve. Which turned out to be the greatest mistake of the morning.
"Oh my god!" Xiefa and Fanren exclaimed in unison.
"Little brother!" Fuutie and Feimei giggled shortly after.
Yelan's lips twitched a little before clearing her throat. "And you have already met her fiancée, my son Xiao Lang."
Sakura's eyes widened, trying to figure out what gave them away so quickly. Glancing around her eyes finally met her left hand, unhidden as it clutched onto Syaoran's upper arm. For a moment she stared at it in horror before looking up to meet his laughing eyes.
"You are real good at keeping a secret," he chuckled.
"Little brother is smiling!" his four sisters said in near unison.
Tomoyo, who had been conversing with Eriol quietly, began to squeal and jumped to her feet immediately to embrace her dearest friend. Eriol seemed a little resigned and the three guests looked varying from shocked to amused. Well, Lok actually looked as if someone had stuck a dagger in his side, but he was that kind of person.
"I'm guessing this is a new development," Xi Wang asked the room in general. Unfortunately for him, Tomoyo, still caught in the energies of her best friend being engaged to one of her other favourite people, twirled around and nearly pounced on the unsuspecting boy.
"It's the best development! I've been trying for months now to get these two together!" She giggled profusely and grinned at him.
Xi Wang couldn't help but feel a little awed by the raven haired beauty before him, filled with such energy. When he had been brought into the room earlier he had immediately been struck by her exquisite features and now was getting the opportunity to see them VERY close up.
"Tomoyo, leave the poor boy alone!" Sakura laughed. "Now, I'm hungry. Are we going to have breakfast or what?"
Finally the room settled down to breakfast. The topic of conversation never erred from the impending wedding though as Meiling and Tomoyo began to gush with Sakura about her wedding and what they wanted their own to be like. Xiefa, Feimei and Fanren joined in on this a great deal, talking about what they would have changed about theirs, while Fuutie and Yelan tried to remain curteous to their guests and discussed various things with them of a polite nature. And Syaoran, well he was being consoled by his three brothers-in-law who were promising him fervently that they wouldn't let their wives take over his nuptials
Sakura began to feel increasingly guilty as the conversation went on and was glad when breakfast was ended and she would be allowed to withdraw to her office to handle matters. When she rose to leave, however, she was stopped by Yelan.
"The Zhi Ye has expressed a wish to view our training techniques first hand, having heard that they are the best. I thought that it would be nice if you and Xiao Lang would give a small exhibition before you return to your work."
Sakura chewed on her lip and looked at Syaoran who nodded. "That would be fine. Did you wish to do this now?"
"If you don't mind. I realize it is hard to work on a full stomach, but you ate so little," Yelan said mischievously. "Why don't we all adjourn to the training room?"
As Sakura found her sword, the others settled on one side of the room, most in their usual positions. This time however, Fanren felt compelled to consol the blathering idiot, Lok, who was so sorely disappointed in his loss of what he never should have believed he could have, and sat next to him, chatting lightly. Tomoyo and Meiling sat next to the two other guests as Tomoyo set out her inks and paper.
"May I ask why you have ink and paper, your grace?" Xi Wang asked curiously.
"Oh, to take down all of Sakura's glorious actions."
"Don't mind Daidouji, she does this all the time. She has almost a full book of pictures of Kinomoto."
"Shouldn't she change her clothes?" Zhi Ye asked.
Meiling and Tomoyo exchanged a look before shrugging. "Only if she wanted to."
"I know that Li is very proficient in sword play, but why did they choose her majesty? Has she been training for years as well?"
"I don't think she trained above a week or two actually," Tomoyo answered politely.
With a resigned sigh, he leaned back into his chair. "I wanted to see a real match, not a beginner who wears a dress to fight." His voice was filled with condescension and annoyance at not being able to see a 'real' fight.
Meiling giggled then, surprising both men. "Never underestimate Kinomoto. I did to my mistake and paid the price. Now watch."
Reluctantly, Zhi Ye turned his eyes to where the two were facing off. Politely they bowed and exchanged words that only they could hear. After a moment, Xiao Lang called out so everyone could here.
"Take your bets on the winner now. I get a share in the winnings that says I win!"
"Ha!"
Then they began. And like Meiling and Tomoyo had intimated, it was a match well worth seeing. Starting off slowly, everyone in the room could admire the techniques of both opponents. But being slow wasn't in either nature and soon they were moving lightning fast. As the minutes drew by the audience couldn't help but stare in amazement. The movements were hardly visible to the untrained eye and soon became as a blur. The only truly distinguishable actions were the acrobatic leaps and swish of fabric that came from the beautiful young queen.
At last a sword was seen skidding from the duelists and the audience strove to see which it was as the actions slowed to a halt. Finally they were able to see Sakura standing with her small sword to Xiao Lang's neck, both panting heavily and grinning at each other. Then, in an action that surprised everyone, Xiao Lang quickly darted his hand out and used it to grasp the wrist that held her sword and twirl her around so her back was up against his chest.
"Cheater!" she laughed before, to the shock of the Elders and Yelan, he leaned down and captured her mouth in a firm kiss.
"Uh," Zhi Ye began, a little at a loss for words.
"Do they usually act like that?" Xi Wang picked up for him.
Meiling was staring at her cousin incredulously while Tomoyo furiously sketched the scene. "Are you kidding? He barely hugs his own mother in public. I think Kinomoto is good for him."
The couple broke apart when they heard squeals coming from the far side of the room. Having the courtesy to blush, Xiao Lang went over to retrieve his sword while Sakura replaced hers on the wall.
"How is that possible though," Zhi Ye finally asked. "You said she had only had a couple weeks of training to her and she beat Li, who is the best swordsman in practically the whole country."
Meiling shrugged. "Simple. She has Power and a great deal of it. She learns things lightning fast because of it."
He snorted. "Power? I don't put much faith in the so called Powers."
For a moment, Meiling couldn't help but stare at him in amazement. No one had ever said something like that to her before, and she would remember, being the only one in the family without Power. "You sound as if you don't believe in its existence."
"Oh, I'm not stupid enough to believe it doesn't exist. But I still don't think people should use it like they do. They will become crippled with their reliance on it. I'm glad I was born without it. Because I had to learn slowly and I had to learn the hard way I am a stronger person because of it." He broke off, feeling a little abashed. "I'm sorry. I realize everyone in your family has Power so I shouldn't be so offensive to my hosts."
"But Meiling doesn't have magic. Nor do I. Though we are the only ones in the room I'm guessing," Tomoyo stated, without looking up.
Both of the guests' eyes widened. To hear that the great Li family produced someone who didn't have the Power was shocking. "Well, then," Zhi Ye finally said, "you understand what I mean about having to strive to be truly strong from experience."
"Are you implying that Sakura is not truly strong, Rae?" Tomoyo quizzed, finally looking up from her sketch.
Zhi Ye stuttered, not wanting to insult his new queen, especially when she was obviously well liked by the people around him. He was saved from having to respond by Xi Wang who spoke up. "I'm sure that Zhi Ye believes her majesty is strong indeed. She has strength in being able to run a country at our age. However, I believe he implies that even with the Power gifted to her, her majesty should also have learned strength to fall back on if ever she were to lose her Power."
Tomoyo giggled. "Nice save, Liu. Now, Meiling, why don't you show Rae hand to hand combat now?" she asked turning to Meiling and Zhi Ye.
"I would hardly call it worthy of me to beat a girl, your grace."
"I'm quite sure that she will not be beat, Rae," Tomoyo smiled, winking at her friend.
Cerulean blue eyes stared angrily at a mirror that showed only his reflection to him. When he had looked into the mirror a little past dawn that morning, the reflection was his own instead of showing what the beautiful Card Mistress as he commanded. Since learning that she was tricking him, he had been watching her more often as he set his plans into motion. But it confused and enraged him to know they weren't even using a pretense anymore and were simply blocking him from seeing anywhere around the Li mansion.
What was she hiding that was so important it couldn't stay inside the four walls she deemed enough earlier? He had already seen her master all of the Cards and had watched in amazement as the last and most Powerful two initiated themselves rather than waiting to be called on. He already knew she was queen, who didn't after all, and he knew she was working furiously under her crown.
Sighing deeply, he waved his long fingers across the mirror, enticing it to give him a reflection of her. At last it came up with a view he had already seen, from long ago, before she ravished the purity of her long hair. Sitting back in his chair, this man gazed fixedly at the beautiful girl and pondered just how smart she was becoming. And relished the downfall he would bring her.
"I can't believe my parents still had this place. Came in handy didn't it?"
"Very, Chiharu," Naoko agreed as she poked around the large mansion they were staying in. Upon arriving at the Capitol, Rika, Chiharu and she had searched furiously for a place of residence that wouldn't doubt the credulity of them being there. When they went to the palace to give their message to Prince Touya so he could relay it, Yukito had mentioned that the Shore Mansion was still under her name, despite the fact she never used it.
"There's even a grand piano," Rika called from a few rooms away. "Really, Chiharu, you should have known about all of your land holdings before now!"
The Marchioness shrugged negligently. "It's not like I was ever planning to use them."
"I'm still hurt that you never mentioned any of this to me before," Yamazaki sighed, coming back from upstairs. "However, I guess I shall have to forgive you," he grinned. "I'm off to the palace to talk to Tsukishiro. When we were there earlier I asked him to get a list of court functions together so we could start attending. I'll be back in a few hours."
The three ladies watched him leave before two of them pounced on the other. "Really, Chiharu, you should have told us about him much sooner."
"I think we have a right to know as your closest friends," Naoko agreed.
"No body even knew where you were Naoko! Don't yell at me about that. And besides, it isn't a.formal relationship yet. I don't even know if he wants to make it permanent," she sighed resignedly.
"He adores you and it's obvious. Almost as obvious as Rika and Terada's adoration for each other."
Rika blushed and quickly changed the subject. "What do we tell people when we are asking for information? Why would we want to know about someone like that?'
"Well, it's only natural that since we've been away so long we'd want to know about everyone we've missed. We just have to be careful that we don't get to pointed in our questions."
"Why?" Rika asked.
"Don't you read horror novels at all, Rika?" Naoko asked. "When you get to curious the killer always comes after you!"
"Oh dear," the red haired girl whispered.
"Naoko you are really off your block. Anyway, why don't we go look through all those clothes Tomoyo made and see what we can wear?"
Outside the Shore mansion, a figure wearing an all enveloping cloak stared through the window at the three ladies who made their way up the stairs and out of sight. He had been in the Capitol long enough to know who these girls and was informed enough to know why they were really there. This was all valuable information.
Silently, the figure broke away from the shadows and made his way through the streets to a small tavern on the shadier side of town. Entering, he made his way straight to the counter and ordered, calmly waiting. After a couple minutes had passed, a voluptuous young girl came to him and winked coyly. Gathering her to him in the most natural of fashions he whispered into her ear.
"The three lady friends have arrived, undoubtedly to ask questions. Tell the master to guard his tracks."
The girl blushed and slapped him lightly with a giggle, as if hearing him make an improper suggestion. Then she smiled and winked at him once more before disappearing into the back rooms again. With a raffish grin, the cloaked figure finished his drink and left the tavern as quietly as he had come.
When Meiling trumped her opponent so well he could barely recall his own name, the rest of the family began to break off into their separate daily duties. Sakura and Syaoran exchanged a quiet moment before the honey haired nodded and walked over to where Tomoyo still sat with Xi Wang, who was busy taunting his returning friend too much to realize how close she had come. When realization struck they were both startled into silence and looked at her a little nervously. How did you converse with your queen?
However, they needn't have worried. Sakura was as gay as ever and smiled at them brightly, almost imperceptibly glancing over her shoulder as she heard Syaoran approach one of the Elders and ask him for a moment of their time.
"I barely caught your names at all earlier, which is truly remiss of me, and wanted to get to know both of you better," she gushed at the two dumbstruck teens. "But I have to get back to work now. However, will you join me tomorrow morning in my office?"
Both of them nodded, nearly in unison, still not speaking. Tomoyo and Meiling were exchanging looks behind their backs and were only just able to suppress the giggles that were threatening to overwhelm them.
"Yay! I love having people to talk to when I have to read through all those stuffy letters. And perhaps you can give your opinion on a few things. I love to know what everyone else is thinking since half the time I think I'm completely brainless." She giggled a little before bowing to them. "I'll see you at dinner!"
The four watched her as she seemed to float away. "Er, is she always so.buoyant?" Xi Wang asked.
"No, in fact I haven't seen her like this since her father died. It must be because of the engagement."
"But generally, Kinomoto is cheerful to the point of brainlessness."
"Uh huh," they muttered. While neither felt a romantic attraction to her, nor would they let themselves since she was far too much beyond their reach, there was something about her that made them stare at the place she had just disappeared from.
"Maybe there's something to that Power after all," Zhi Ye finally muttered. Then, catching his own words, he turned on his heel and left the room, quickly followed by his friend. Meiling and Tomoyo glanced at each other and finally let loose the giggles they had been holding back. It was always amusing to see the first reaction someone had to Sakura.
She was Sakura after all.
Night had fallen hours before and Syaoran couldn't help but feel restless in his bed. Alone. The solitude was driving him to distraction, having been spoiled by the night before. It's truly amazing how one experience can ruin someone for life. Angrily, he shifted again, pummeling his pillows a bit before settling down into stillness and meditation.
The mental exercises were just beginning to work when he heard his door open and close quietly. Silently, he rose up on one elbow to watch his beloved waft across her room. In the seductive moonlight, her jade satin nightgown and bed mussed hair made her seem like some land spirit sent to torment him. He watched her silently as she crossed the long distance to his bed and looked down at him.
"I couldn't sleep," she whispered, smiling at her foolishness. Without even waiting for an invite she crawled into the bed and slipped between the sheets beside him. Syaoran watched, a little awed at her forwardness, as she cuddled up to him, her head nestled on his bare chest, arms wrapped around his waist.
With wide eyes, he looked down into her twinkling emerald ones as they dared him to say something. Instead, Syaoran reacted on instinct born into his very soul and leaned in to kiss her. It was meant to be simple at first but the moment their lips touched, passion leapt up in the pair. Syaoran rolled over her, careful not to crush her delicate body with his heavy one. As she dug her fingers into his hair, he moved his lips from hers and made a fiery descent down her face, neck and shoulders. Raining little kisses along her collar bone he brought his hands up the length of her side, shifting her night gown up little by little.
It was exactly what Syaoran had been praying would happen, though he knew the impossibility. But the gods seemed to be looking at him favourably, he mused as he lowered his lips to kiss her breasts through the material of her gown. This was sheer bliss.
Or maybe not. Suddenly, Sakura began to squirm away from his caresses. Confused, he looked up to try and understand the reason for her sudden change of mood. But what he saw confused him even more. She looked as though she had been longing for the sensations as much as he, but still she was calling for him to desist.
"Why?" he finally managed to ask, voice hoarse.
Suddenly she started blushing bright red and looked away. He wasn't having any of that and brought himself face to face with her, making it impossible for her to look away. "What's the matter Sakura? I mean, I know you want this as much as I do. Don't you?" he asked, a little nervousness creeping into his voice.
"Oh! I do, I do," she said, rushing to reassure him. "It's just that.Syaoran I can't take the chance that we will conceive a child. There are battles to be fought and I don't want them to be fought putting one more life in danger. And I know that we could.ahem.make sure that doesn't happen but." she trailed off before taking a deep breath and looking straight into his eyes once more.
"When I make love with you, I don't want there to be any hesitation in it, no worries. Just us."
Syaoran let the words sink in, appreciating them for their merit, even if his still raging body wasn't really allowing rational thought to pass through. But he understood. With a small sigh, he rolled off her and gathered her against him into his warm embrace.
"Fine, but you have to sleep in bed with me every night anyway," he whispered, kissing her head softly.
"Harsh price," she giggled, resting her head on his chest once more, allowing her to listen to his heart beat.
"I know. I'm such a taskmaster. Now go to sleep before I change my mind."
She giggled and both settled into silence. Not long after they both lay asleep in each others arms finding peace that never before had been possible. And though they slept, both knew that such peace would never come without the other, nor did they want it to.
(A/N: And from here on in the PLOT THICKENS. Or something like that. I promise to update quicker this time. Anyway, REVIEW! I really do get inspired to write more when people review. Ja matta!)
Anyway, yay for the reviews. And, sorry, but this is rated PG-13.and thus will be kept to it's rating. And, again, before people ask: ages. Xiefa-30, Fuutie-27, Feimei- 25, Fanren-21, Shen-32, Liang-30, Jin Le-26. Lok is 21, Xi Wang is 19 and Zhi Ye is 18. I think that covers it.
^.^ Also this chapter is dedicated to all the people who review. Because then I can be lazy and look at your profiles and read your stories or your other favourites and don't have to hunt them down myself. Really lazy I know. But hey, gives me more time to write.
Disclaimer: I do not own CCS. But I don't own a lot of things so I'm pretty used to it.
Chapter Sixteen: The Menagerie
Something odd woke Yelan in the hours before dawn. As she woke, she recognized her son's and three additional auras in her house hold. Xiao Lang had come home. With a small smile, she drew her long robe over her nightdress and stepped from her room. Quickly she walked down the long corridor towards her son's room. She knew that he would be deeply embarrassed if he knew how often she checked on him during the night. It was a mother's prerogative to look after her children and he was the one who needed watching the most.
Yet, when she reached his room, Yelan noticed that it was empty. Frowning, she searched the mansion for her son's aura, walking in the direction it was coming from. At last she located it and when she stopped walking she found herself outside a familiar door. Smirking, she quietly opened the door and peeked in. There on the bed lay her son, his arms wrapped around Sakura in a protecting manner. The girl had her head on his chest, her own arms wrapped around him.
Suppressing the instincts to act like her four daughters, Yelan quietly withdrew from the room and closed the door silently behind her. Closing her eyes, she tried to memorize the scene. When it was fixed in her brain she giggled softly, glancing around to make sure no one heard. Later, she would display that image for Tomoyo in hopes that the duchess would record it on paper for prosperity.
Sakura slowly woke in the half hour before dawn. She felt luxurious and warm, protected. Sleepily she searched for the source of such feelings only to come across the feelings of being held against a strong body. Smiling, her eyes fluttered open and immediately met amber.
"Good morning, Syaoran," she whispered sleepily.
"Good morning, Sakura," he replied, leaning forward to kiss her forehead. "You are amazingly beautiful when you sleep."
Blushing, she shook her head. "You are just saying that. However, I must say that you look very nice like you are now. Especially since you don't have a shirt on," she muttered, blushing even more at her own temerity.
Smiling, they both fell into silence, unwilling to leave the comfortable position they found themselves in. Syaoran had actually been awake for sometime. A couple hours ago he was sure that someone had come into the room, but by the time he had opened his eyes, there was no one there, nor any sign that he hadn't just been dreaming. His mind had then turned to the exquisite girl in his arms and what she had said last night.
More than anything, now that he knew she was his, he wanted to protect her. But the situation she was in made that hard. Through the two hours he had watched her sleep, Syaoran's mind furiously went through one possibility after another. At last something clicked in his mind, something about how their enemy was acting made him suspect. Now, he just had to prevent that from happening.
"Syaoran, why are you frowning?"
"I was just thinking about something," he said, smiling once more. Quickly he rolled over and covered her mouth with his own, surprising her at first. After a moment, Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with all the love she had. A few minutes passed before Syaoran pulled back and looked her straight in the eyes.
"Marry me, Sakura."
Her green eyes widened in surprise. "W-what?"
"Marry me. I know that I'm to be the next leader of the Li clan and you are the Queen of Tomoeda, but we can get past that. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. If you don't feel the same, I understand but-"
Quickly she covered his mouth with her hand. "I do feel the same, Syaoran. But, I'm queen now! Marriage isn't the easiest thing anymore." She groaned, tears coming to her eyes. "Too bad you didn't ask me while I was still a princess."
"Shh, don't cry. We can make it work. What are the customs of marriage for a queen?" he asked.
"The engagement has to be one year long, to a man of suitable worth. Then the wedding will be a public event with grand celebrations leading up to it and then after there is a month long honeymoon to the groom's lands." She finished with a blush at the idea of a honeymoon.
"A year?" Syaoran groaned. "I don't think I can wait a year. Hey, why don't we fudge the rules a little and say that we were already engaged when you were a princess?"
Sakura giggled. "That might work. But still it would mean waiting at least until after the coronation ceremony."
"Or," he said, a mischievous glint growing in his eye, "we could do it before you went to your coronation then have a big celebration afterwards."
"But, that would mean it would have to remain an absolute secret, Syaoran!"
He shrugged, before leaning down to kiss her again. "I can keep a secret. How about you?" Sakura giggled a little, causing him to grin again. "However, you still never answered me. Will you marry me?"
"Yes, Syaoran," she replied solemnly. "I will marry you."
An two and a half, Sakura was alone in her room, finishing up her morning rituals. Tomoyo had given her a new dress the day before and she couldn't help but admire herself in the mirror. As requested, it was black satin instead of anything bright and colourful like before. But Tomoyo was Tomoyo. In addition to lengthening the sleeves from her normal pattern, she supplied a silver gauze over dress that was worn almost like a jacket but had skirts just as full as the under dress.
A knock on the door interrupted Sakura's admiration for her best friends handiwork and she turned to see Syaoran slipping quietly into the room. She grinned at him and walked towards him.
"Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah," he answered a little shakily. For some reason, no matter how many times he'd seen her, she still took his breath away every time. She was simply too beautiful. Finally, he regained his senses and beckoned her closer. "Give me your hand. No the other one."
With a small shrug, she extended her left hand to him and watched, breathlessly, as he slipped a beautiful ring on her finger. It was simple, a crescent moon cast in finest silver with a beautiful emerald nestled in the curve. But to Sakura it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
"When I was born, they cast this ring for me to give to my bride," Syaoran told her, watching delightfully at the pleasure he saw on her face.
"But, then won't everyone know? I thought you wanted to keep our marriage a secret, Syaoran."
"I want my family and our friends to know we are engaged, Sakura. We are just not going to tell them we are getting married much sooner than the year long engagement."
She giggled a little then sobered. "You still haven't told me why you want all the secrecy. What's wrong?"
"I just have a bad feeling and I want to make sure you stay safe. Now, we have to go to breakfast, there are guests." He groaned. "Though I'm pretty sure there is no reason to welcome one of them."
She looked at him curiously, but he merely shook his head. With a dainty shrug she followed him from the room and to the breakfast room. Since there were indeed guests, the whole of the family had assembled. It was still early yet for the sisters to usually be up and moving, but for this they managed. By the time Sakura and Syaoran entered the room, everyone was seated and Xiefa and Fuutie were trying their hardest to make the younger two gentlemen blush.
Yelan stood at their entrance and gestured for her three guests to do the same. "May I present Liu Lok and Xi Wang and their friend Rae Zhi Ye. Gentlemen, her majesty, Sakura Kinomoto, Queen of Tomoeda."
Sakura blushed as the three gentlemen bowed low. She nodded her head to them politely and inched towards Syaoran a little more, reaching up to hold on to his sleeve. Which turned out to be the greatest mistake of the morning.
"Oh my god!" Xiefa and Fanren exclaimed in unison.
"Little brother!" Fuutie and Feimei giggled shortly after.
Yelan's lips twitched a little before clearing her throat. "And you have already met her fiancée, my son Xiao Lang."
Sakura's eyes widened, trying to figure out what gave them away so quickly. Glancing around her eyes finally met her left hand, unhidden as it clutched onto Syaoran's upper arm. For a moment she stared at it in horror before looking up to meet his laughing eyes.
"You are real good at keeping a secret," he chuckled.
"Little brother is smiling!" his four sisters said in near unison.
Tomoyo, who had been conversing with Eriol quietly, began to squeal and jumped to her feet immediately to embrace her dearest friend. Eriol seemed a little resigned and the three guests looked varying from shocked to amused. Well, Lok actually looked as if someone had stuck a dagger in his side, but he was that kind of person.
"I'm guessing this is a new development," Xi Wang asked the room in general. Unfortunately for him, Tomoyo, still caught in the energies of her best friend being engaged to one of her other favourite people, twirled around and nearly pounced on the unsuspecting boy.
"It's the best development! I've been trying for months now to get these two together!" She giggled profusely and grinned at him.
Xi Wang couldn't help but feel a little awed by the raven haired beauty before him, filled with such energy. When he had been brought into the room earlier he had immediately been struck by her exquisite features and now was getting the opportunity to see them VERY close up.
"Tomoyo, leave the poor boy alone!" Sakura laughed. "Now, I'm hungry. Are we going to have breakfast or what?"
Finally the room settled down to breakfast. The topic of conversation never erred from the impending wedding though as Meiling and Tomoyo began to gush with Sakura about her wedding and what they wanted their own to be like. Xiefa, Feimei and Fanren joined in on this a great deal, talking about what they would have changed about theirs, while Fuutie and Yelan tried to remain curteous to their guests and discussed various things with them of a polite nature. And Syaoran, well he was being consoled by his three brothers-in-law who were promising him fervently that they wouldn't let their wives take over his nuptials
Sakura began to feel increasingly guilty as the conversation went on and was glad when breakfast was ended and she would be allowed to withdraw to her office to handle matters. When she rose to leave, however, she was stopped by Yelan.
"The Zhi Ye has expressed a wish to view our training techniques first hand, having heard that they are the best. I thought that it would be nice if you and Xiao Lang would give a small exhibition before you return to your work."
Sakura chewed on her lip and looked at Syaoran who nodded. "That would be fine. Did you wish to do this now?"
"If you don't mind. I realize it is hard to work on a full stomach, but you ate so little," Yelan said mischievously. "Why don't we all adjourn to the training room?"
As Sakura found her sword, the others settled on one side of the room, most in their usual positions. This time however, Fanren felt compelled to consol the blathering idiot, Lok, who was so sorely disappointed in his loss of what he never should have believed he could have, and sat next to him, chatting lightly. Tomoyo and Meiling sat next to the two other guests as Tomoyo set out her inks and paper.
"May I ask why you have ink and paper, your grace?" Xi Wang asked curiously.
"Oh, to take down all of Sakura's glorious actions."
"Don't mind Daidouji, she does this all the time. She has almost a full book of pictures of Kinomoto."
"Shouldn't she change her clothes?" Zhi Ye asked.
Meiling and Tomoyo exchanged a look before shrugging. "Only if she wanted to."
"I know that Li is very proficient in sword play, but why did they choose her majesty? Has she been training for years as well?"
"I don't think she trained above a week or two actually," Tomoyo answered politely.
With a resigned sigh, he leaned back into his chair. "I wanted to see a real match, not a beginner who wears a dress to fight." His voice was filled with condescension and annoyance at not being able to see a 'real' fight.
Meiling giggled then, surprising both men. "Never underestimate Kinomoto. I did to my mistake and paid the price. Now watch."
Reluctantly, Zhi Ye turned his eyes to where the two were facing off. Politely they bowed and exchanged words that only they could hear. After a moment, Xiao Lang called out so everyone could here.
"Take your bets on the winner now. I get a share in the winnings that says I win!"
"Ha!"
Then they began. And like Meiling and Tomoyo had intimated, it was a match well worth seeing. Starting off slowly, everyone in the room could admire the techniques of both opponents. But being slow wasn't in either nature and soon they were moving lightning fast. As the minutes drew by the audience couldn't help but stare in amazement. The movements were hardly visible to the untrained eye and soon became as a blur. The only truly distinguishable actions were the acrobatic leaps and swish of fabric that came from the beautiful young queen.
At last a sword was seen skidding from the duelists and the audience strove to see which it was as the actions slowed to a halt. Finally they were able to see Sakura standing with her small sword to Xiao Lang's neck, both panting heavily and grinning at each other. Then, in an action that surprised everyone, Xiao Lang quickly darted his hand out and used it to grasp the wrist that held her sword and twirl her around so her back was up against his chest.
"Cheater!" she laughed before, to the shock of the Elders and Yelan, he leaned down and captured her mouth in a firm kiss.
"Uh," Zhi Ye began, a little at a loss for words.
"Do they usually act like that?" Xi Wang picked up for him.
Meiling was staring at her cousin incredulously while Tomoyo furiously sketched the scene. "Are you kidding? He barely hugs his own mother in public. I think Kinomoto is good for him."
The couple broke apart when they heard squeals coming from the far side of the room. Having the courtesy to blush, Xiao Lang went over to retrieve his sword while Sakura replaced hers on the wall.
"How is that possible though," Zhi Ye finally asked. "You said she had only had a couple weeks of training to her and she beat Li, who is the best swordsman in practically the whole country."
Meiling shrugged. "Simple. She has Power and a great deal of it. She learns things lightning fast because of it."
He snorted. "Power? I don't put much faith in the so called Powers."
For a moment, Meiling couldn't help but stare at him in amazement. No one had ever said something like that to her before, and she would remember, being the only one in the family without Power. "You sound as if you don't believe in its existence."
"Oh, I'm not stupid enough to believe it doesn't exist. But I still don't think people should use it like they do. They will become crippled with their reliance on it. I'm glad I was born without it. Because I had to learn slowly and I had to learn the hard way I am a stronger person because of it." He broke off, feeling a little abashed. "I'm sorry. I realize everyone in your family has Power so I shouldn't be so offensive to my hosts."
"But Meiling doesn't have magic. Nor do I. Though we are the only ones in the room I'm guessing," Tomoyo stated, without looking up.
Both of the guests' eyes widened. To hear that the great Li family produced someone who didn't have the Power was shocking. "Well, then," Zhi Ye finally said, "you understand what I mean about having to strive to be truly strong from experience."
"Are you implying that Sakura is not truly strong, Rae?" Tomoyo quizzed, finally looking up from her sketch.
Zhi Ye stuttered, not wanting to insult his new queen, especially when she was obviously well liked by the people around him. He was saved from having to respond by Xi Wang who spoke up. "I'm sure that Zhi Ye believes her majesty is strong indeed. She has strength in being able to run a country at our age. However, I believe he implies that even with the Power gifted to her, her majesty should also have learned strength to fall back on if ever she were to lose her Power."
Tomoyo giggled. "Nice save, Liu. Now, Meiling, why don't you show Rae hand to hand combat now?" she asked turning to Meiling and Zhi Ye.
"I would hardly call it worthy of me to beat a girl, your grace."
"I'm quite sure that she will not be beat, Rae," Tomoyo smiled, winking at her friend.
Cerulean blue eyes stared angrily at a mirror that showed only his reflection to him. When he had looked into the mirror a little past dawn that morning, the reflection was his own instead of showing what the beautiful Card Mistress as he commanded. Since learning that she was tricking him, he had been watching her more often as he set his plans into motion. But it confused and enraged him to know they weren't even using a pretense anymore and were simply blocking him from seeing anywhere around the Li mansion.
What was she hiding that was so important it couldn't stay inside the four walls she deemed enough earlier? He had already seen her master all of the Cards and had watched in amazement as the last and most Powerful two initiated themselves rather than waiting to be called on. He already knew she was queen, who didn't after all, and he knew she was working furiously under her crown.
Sighing deeply, he waved his long fingers across the mirror, enticing it to give him a reflection of her. At last it came up with a view he had already seen, from long ago, before she ravished the purity of her long hair. Sitting back in his chair, this man gazed fixedly at the beautiful girl and pondered just how smart she was becoming. And relished the downfall he would bring her.
"I can't believe my parents still had this place. Came in handy didn't it?"
"Very, Chiharu," Naoko agreed as she poked around the large mansion they were staying in. Upon arriving at the Capitol, Rika, Chiharu and she had searched furiously for a place of residence that wouldn't doubt the credulity of them being there. When they went to the palace to give their message to Prince Touya so he could relay it, Yukito had mentioned that the Shore Mansion was still under her name, despite the fact she never used it.
"There's even a grand piano," Rika called from a few rooms away. "Really, Chiharu, you should have known about all of your land holdings before now!"
The Marchioness shrugged negligently. "It's not like I was ever planning to use them."
"I'm still hurt that you never mentioned any of this to me before," Yamazaki sighed, coming back from upstairs. "However, I guess I shall have to forgive you," he grinned. "I'm off to the palace to talk to Tsukishiro. When we were there earlier I asked him to get a list of court functions together so we could start attending. I'll be back in a few hours."
The three ladies watched him leave before two of them pounced on the other. "Really, Chiharu, you should have told us about him much sooner."
"I think we have a right to know as your closest friends," Naoko agreed.
"No body even knew where you were Naoko! Don't yell at me about that. And besides, it isn't a.formal relationship yet. I don't even know if he wants to make it permanent," she sighed resignedly.
"He adores you and it's obvious. Almost as obvious as Rika and Terada's adoration for each other."
Rika blushed and quickly changed the subject. "What do we tell people when we are asking for information? Why would we want to know about someone like that?'
"Well, it's only natural that since we've been away so long we'd want to know about everyone we've missed. We just have to be careful that we don't get to pointed in our questions."
"Why?" Rika asked.
"Don't you read horror novels at all, Rika?" Naoko asked. "When you get to curious the killer always comes after you!"
"Oh dear," the red haired girl whispered.
"Naoko you are really off your block. Anyway, why don't we go look through all those clothes Tomoyo made and see what we can wear?"
Outside the Shore mansion, a figure wearing an all enveloping cloak stared through the window at the three ladies who made their way up the stairs and out of sight. He had been in the Capitol long enough to know who these girls and was informed enough to know why they were really there. This was all valuable information.
Silently, the figure broke away from the shadows and made his way through the streets to a small tavern on the shadier side of town. Entering, he made his way straight to the counter and ordered, calmly waiting. After a couple minutes had passed, a voluptuous young girl came to him and winked coyly. Gathering her to him in the most natural of fashions he whispered into her ear.
"The three lady friends have arrived, undoubtedly to ask questions. Tell the master to guard his tracks."
The girl blushed and slapped him lightly with a giggle, as if hearing him make an improper suggestion. Then she smiled and winked at him once more before disappearing into the back rooms again. With a raffish grin, the cloaked figure finished his drink and left the tavern as quietly as he had come.
When Meiling trumped her opponent so well he could barely recall his own name, the rest of the family began to break off into their separate daily duties. Sakura and Syaoran exchanged a quiet moment before the honey haired nodded and walked over to where Tomoyo still sat with Xi Wang, who was busy taunting his returning friend too much to realize how close she had come. When realization struck they were both startled into silence and looked at her a little nervously. How did you converse with your queen?
However, they needn't have worried. Sakura was as gay as ever and smiled at them brightly, almost imperceptibly glancing over her shoulder as she heard Syaoran approach one of the Elders and ask him for a moment of their time.
"I barely caught your names at all earlier, which is truly remiss of me, and wanted to get to know both of you better," she gushed at the two dumbstruck teens. "But I have to get back to work now. However, will you join me tomorrow morning in my office?"
Both of them nodded, nearly in unison, still not speaking. Tomoyo and Meiling were exchanging looks behind their backs and were only just able to suppress the giggles that were threatening to overwhelm them.
"Yay! I love having people to talk to when I have to read through all those stuffy letters. And perhaps you can give your opinion on a few things. I love to know what everyone else is thinking since half the time I think I'm completely brainless." She giggled a little before bowing to them. "I'll see you at dinner!"
The four watched her as she seemed to float away. "Er, is she always so.buoyant?" Xi Wang asked.
"No, in fact I haven't seen her like this since her father died. It must be because of the engagement."
"But generally, Kinomoto is cheerful to the point of brainlessness."
"Uh huh," they muttered. While neither felt a romantic attraction to her, nor would they let themselves since she was far too much beyond their reach, there was something about her that made them stare at the place she had just disappeared from.
"Maybe there's something to that Power after all," Zhi Ye finally muttered. Then, catching his own words, he turned on his heel and left the room, quickly followed by his friend. Meiling and Tomoyo glanced at each other and finally let loose the giggles they had been holding back. It was always amusing to see the first reaction someone had to Sakura.
She was Sakura after all.
Night had fallen hours before and Syaoran couldn't help but feel restless in his bed. Alone. The solitude was driving him to distraction, having been spoiled by the night before. It's truly amazing how one experience can ruin someone for life. Angrily, he shifted again, pummeling his pillows a bit before settling down into stillness and meditation.
The mental exercises were just beginning to work when he heard his door open and close quietly. Silently, he rose up on one elbow to watch his beloved waft across her room. In the seductive moonlight, her jade satin nightgown and bed mussed hair made her seem like some land spirit sent to torment him. He watched her silently as she crossed the long distance to his bed and looked down at him.
"I couldn't sleep," she whispered, smiling at her foolishness. Without even waiting for an invite she crawled into the bed and slipped between the sheets beside him. Syaoran watched, a little awed at her forwardness, as she cuddled up to him, her head nestled on his bare chest, arms wrapped around his waist.
With wide eyes, he looked down into her twinkling emerald ones as they dared him to say something. Instead, Syaoran reacted on instinct born into his very soul and leaned in to kiss her. It was meant to be simple at first but the moment their lips touched, passion leapt up in the pair. Syaoran rolled over her, careful not to crush her delicate body with his heavy one. As she dug her fingers into his hair, he moved his lips from hers and made a fiery descent down her face, neck and shoulders. Raining little kisses along her collar bone he brought his hands up the length of her side, shifting her night gown up little by little.
It was exactly what Syaoran had been praying would happen, though he knew the impossibility. But the gods seemed to be looking at him favourably, he mused as he lowered his lips to kiss her breasts through the material of her gown. This was sheer bliss.
Or maybe not. Suddenly, Sakura began to squirm away from his caresses. Confused, he looked up to try and understand the reason for her sudden change of mood. But what he saw confused him even more. She looked as though she had been longing for the sensations as much as he, but still she was calling for him to desist.
"Why?" he finally managed to ask, voice hoarse.
Suddenly she started blushing bright red and looked away. He wasn't having any of that and brought himself face to face with her, making it impossible for her to look away. "What's the matter Sakura? I mean, I know you want this as much as I do. Don't you?" he asked, a little nervousness creeping into his voice.
"Oh! I do, I do," she said, rushing to reassure him. "It's just that.Syaoran I can't take the chance that we will conceive a child. There are battles to be fought and I don't want them to be fought putting one more life in danger. And I know that we could.ahem.make sure that doesn't happen but." she trailed off before taking a deep breath and looking straight into his eyes once more.
"When I make love with you, I don't want there to be any hesitation in it, no worries. Just us."
Syaoran let the words sink in, appreciating them for their merit, even if his still raging body wasn't really allowing rational thought to pass through. But he understood. With a small sigh, he rolled off her and gathered her against him into his warm embrace.
"Fine, but you have to sleep in bed with me every night anyway," he whispered, kissing her head softly.
"Harsh price," she giggled, resting her head on his chest once more, allowing her to listen to his heart beat.
"I know. I'm such a taskmaster. Now go to sleep before I change my mind."
She giggled and both settled into silence. Not long after they both lay asleep in each others arms finding peace that never before had been possible. And though they slept, both knew that such peace would never come without the other, nor did they want it to.
(A/N: And from here on in the PLOT THICKENS. Or something like that. I promise to update quicker this time. Anyway, REVIEW! I really do get inspired to write more when people review. Ja matta!)