We forgot to add the disclaimer for the first 2 chaps so here goes: we don't owe CCS :P but we love the anime/manga to pieces! Now, read on and enjoy
Chapter 3: Where it all begins..It was the annual ball in the Kinomoto Kingdom held yearly. The celebration was grand and celebrated with lots of festive spirit cause it falls on Christmas day (our fave holiday! Hint hint: presents!! ",). Balloons and silver, golden colored glittery ribbons were draped all around the palace's ballroom with a huge elaborate crystal chandelier hanging in the middle. Christmas music was played softly in the background by the palace's band. The entire palace was bustling with activity; throughout the Kinomoto kingdom people were zestful and teeming with the festive spirit.
"Sakuraaa!!! I've gotten your gown ready! Quick try it on! I want to see whether it fits!" An excited Tomoyo with stars in her eyes hollered whilst running through the hallways of the Palace's bedrooms.
"Wow! This gown is so exquisite that I can't find the words to describe it. You sure did spend a lot of time and effort into getting this gown done. Thanks a lot Tomoyo, I just love the clothes you make for me, not only is it beautiful, it is also one of a kind, I can't find another who has such a good taste for clothes or designs as good as yours." Sakura gushed as she gave Tomoyo a big bear hug and hurried on to try on the gown for the evening's ball. Syaoran will be attending it too and thus Sakura wanted to look her best – just for him. (Who wouldn't want to? He is SO CUTE!! –Grins- )
Later
"And now, we announce the arrival of the Crown Prince, Touya Kinomoto..." everyone clapped in approval and in eagerness to meet the young prince who was to be next ruler of the Kinomoto Kingdom. Prince Touya alongside with his ball partner strode down the steps of the grand stairway with elegance and poise, making a graceful bow at the end of the stairway.
"Next, the young Princess Sakura Kinomoto and her fiancée, Li Syaoran from the respected Li clan." Everyone gasped in amazement and awe of the young beauty and handsome young man that was descending the steps of the stairway, filled with elegance and grace in their every movement. Her auburn hair held to the side with 2 ribbons with the tiara on the top, dressed in a pink, slightly puffed sleeves gown that was long behind and a tad shorter in front, ballet pumps on her feet. He was dressed in a prince attire – red top, black bottom, leather shoes (sorry but I don't know how to describe it. Heh), his amber eyes shone brightly and stood out in great contrast.
"Ahem.." The announcer coughed. (He had to make a sign to the crowd that was gawking at the couple – they are supposed to clap! Heh.) The crowd started to clap and whisper amongst themselves.
"My, what a great beauty she is."
"She's really fit to be a princess, she's ravishing graceful and poised."
"They really make a wonderful pair. Just look and you'll know"
"I heard that he's the next successor of the Li-Clan, excelling in magic, martial arts and has quite a head too. Totally befitting of the princess's hand."
Everyone in the crowd nodded in acknowledgement of this pair. The king and queen smiled towards the other at this couple who were so matching in very aspect that they could only be described as a match made in heaven.
The lights in the ballroom were suddenly focused on Sakura and Syaoran.
"My princess, may I have the honor of your first dance?" Syaoran offered his hand and bowed before Sakura.
"Of course! Gladly." Sakura replied as she accepts his waiting hand with a slight blush across her face.
They were swishing and twirling across the ballroom, it seemed that they were the only two in the ballroom instead; they only had eyes for each other. Time seemed to hold on a standstill as slow music sounded in the background. Everyone was surrounding the young couple, filled with envy over this wonderful match.
"Tomoyo, you look wonderful tonight in this lavender gown that you're wearing. It accentuates your lovely eyes very well. You made it yourself I presume?
"You never change Eriol, your tongue is still as sweet as ever." Tomoyo blushed.
"May I have this first dance with you my lady?" Eriol offered his hand and bowed slightly. Tomoyo smiled sweetly and nodded in agreement.
Slowly, more couples were joining the dance floor; even the King and Queen were waltzing around!
When they've finished dancing to a total of 3 songs, Sakura dragged Syaoran out to the palace garden that was decorated with fountains and tiny light bulbs.
"You look drop dead gorgeous Sakura...I really don't know what words to use to describe a beauty such as you" (Sakura has requested to call him Syaoran instead of Li-kun and vice versa – he gets to call her Sakura instead of Princess )
"And you too, mister Syaoran look simply dashing in this suit"
"Dancing wasn't such a hard thing to master after all was it?" Sakura asked gleefully whilst elbowing Syaoran who nodded in agreement wincing in pain. She started persuading him into learning ballroom dancing since 2 months ago for tonight. He disliked dancing but eventually gave in to her (who wouldn't? she's Sakura!), he just wanted to see her happy.
"I spy with my little eye, your cousin dancing with mine, they are such a perfect match. I'm glad that they are betrothed to one another!"
"Eriol's been smitten with Tomoyo ever since they first met in the classroom. He just went on and on and on about how fascinating she was that night." Syaoran replied laughing.
They both kept quite for sometime, enjoying the cool night breeze, the atmosphere and each other's company.
"It's been 5 years since we've gotten to know one another. I'm thankful for your presence in my life Sakura. No words can describe how important you are to me; I would be a nothing if you were not there accompanying me through every moment. Even though our parents engaged us long ago since birth. I wanted to make this clear to you. I only want you to be mine and only mine alone. I want to be with you forever, so will you marry me? "
Syaoran looked into Sakura's eyes and went down bended on one knee, taking out the ring he's been fiddling with in his pocket the whole time he was speaking of his adoration for his one and only beloved Sakura.
Sakura gasped in astonishment and happiness, she wasn't expecting this from Syaoran and was touched from the bottom of her heart. And she was more then happy to accept his formal proposal. She nodded her head in agreement saying; "I want to be with you forever, more than anything else. Nothing can ever replace the love I have for you".
She flung her arms around his neck and gave him a hug, his arms found their way to her waist and he hugged her for what seemed like an eternity. Following that, he placed the ring that he had specially made, onto her finger. It was a ring with a diamond and emerald embossed in it, carved in the shape of a sakura flower. There was an engraving found on the inside of the ring saying, "Syaoran and Sakura forever". Sakura gave Syaoran a quick peck on his cheek and blushed; her head was feeling giddy with happiness.
"What a present, it was really sweet of you Syaoran. I love the ring, its simply breathtaking. Speaking of which, I've a present for you this Christmas too but you'll only get it on Christmas day itself. Hehe." Sakura said with a mysterious air hanging around her words.
"Anything from you will be the best to me, even if it's just a hug, my princess."
Soon the clock struck 12, it was Christmas and fireworks of many different colors were displayed upon the skies of the kingdom.
"Ne, Syaoran, don't you think the fireworks tonight are simply awesome and inconceivable? If only time would stop for this moment to last forever..." Sakura goes on dreamily.
She turns to face Syaoran who was gazing at her. The moment felt so right as he plants a kiss on her lips. After awhile they pulled apart with the need for oxygen. Syaoran was grinning like a cheshire cat as he asked Sakura, "So... Hmmm... Where's my present?"
"Well, I had this star locket that I'm always wearing since young right? It had this ring, which is actually the key to opening the locket, attached to the necklace. Recently I experimented with it and found out that if I'm wearing my locket and another person is wearing the ring, then both of us would be able to specifically locate each other and the people we are with. Then I told my parents about it and they told me to give it to the most important person in my life so that we will always be able to locate each other. So umm... here's your present from me. You alone is the most important person to me in my life" Sakura took a necklace with a ring with an emerald embossed in it and hung it around Syaoran's neck.
"I can't describe how assured I am to hear it from your own lips that I alone am the most important person in your life, my dear Sakura. I solemnly tell you now that you too, is the only important person in my life." Syaoran said, his usually cold eyes were replaced with tenderness and love; it was the only expression that he allowed himself to wear when he is with Sakura.
They held one another's hands and walked about the palace's gardens for awhile more before Syaoran sent Sakura back to her bedroom with a goodnight kiss.
"Ja ne! Breakfast tomorrow morning alright? Don't be late okie?"
"Haha. Look whose talking now. The habitual late comer Princess Sakura" Syaoran chuckled.
"Oyasumi!!"
On the other hand
Tomoyo was running towards the palace grounds to meet Eriol after she got his present from her room. When she was nearing the designated meeting place, she bumped into somebody. She landed on her left arm in an effort to prevent Eriol's present from being crushed.
"Itai!!! Almost ruined his present. Phews. I'm so sorry I'm so sorry"
When Tomoyo looked up to see whom she collided into, she gasps in shock.
"Eriol??"
"Uh... Tomoyo? Why were you running so fast? I seldom see you in such a frenzy. Haha. Hows your left arm, you landed on it right?"
"My arm's fine, thanks. I didn't want to be late from meeting you. Hee." Tomoyo replied as she regained her composure brushing the dirt away from her dress.
"Well, show me your arm. There's a bit of skin peeling. Gee. You must have grazed it against the floor when fell." Eriol then did a little healing spell over her arm and it looked the way it did before her fall.
"I had been running from my room in the west wing too, didn't want to be late meeting you." He winked towards Tomoyo.
"You didn't want to be late too?"
With that, the awkward air was cleared and laughter broke out from the two teenagers as they realized the irony of the situation.
As they were strolling around the palace grounds, Eriol presented Tomoyo with a magical charm bracelet.
"This charm bracelet has been left behind by my late mother. I know that you were not borne into a magical family, so your magical ability is limited. Upon wearing this charm bracelet, your magical powers will be enhanced. Then, when I'm not there in your times of need, you will be able to protect yourself too."
"Oh Eriol, this must have been really difficult for you to part with this bracelet considering the fact that you were so close with your mother before she died. I, on the other hand, only have a simple present for you. It's a light magical cloak that I wove with a little magic of mine, so that it will keep you warm when the weather is cold and cool when the weather is hot." Tomoyo replied humbled by the big sacrifice that Eriol made, to part with something that his late mother treasured must have been painful.
-Next chap coming up soon!-
-- Special thanks to sai-chan for her review!