Author's Note: Hehe…*sweatdrops* I was only kidding. Of course I'll continue the story. But you need to review…well, anyway, because of all the protests and demands, I decided to post up chapter 4 a little earlier than expected.

Disclaimer: I don't own Card Captor Sakura.

I Choose Sakura

By: Wings of Jade

Chapter 4: Getting Rid Of The Guilt

Sakura had pushed the door open gently. She stepped back so Prince Syaoran could enter the room.

For once, as Prince Syaoran walked in, Sakura got a good look at him. His expression was so firm, so serious. His hair was tousled slightly, his eyes quite solemn, but when he caught sight of Sakura standing timidly in a corner, they softened. Prince Syaoran's lips were outlined sharply, in a thin line.

"Princess Sakura," he said.

Sakura did not look at him.

"I-I was just wondering how you were doing." Syaoran wished he could sound less stupid. His voice was stony and hardly sounded like he cared at all.

Sakura fiddled with the sleeve of her gown.

"I'm fine, Prince, fine," she replied quietly.

"You don't seem to be happy here," remarked Syaoran earnestly. Sakura looked surprised.

"Really?" she said with mild interest. "Funny. I never noticed." She refused to meet his eyes and concentrated on the moonlight filtering in through her bedroom window.

"You don't look as if you wanted to come here at all." Syaoran didn't use 'marry me in the first place' because he didn't want to sound snobbish or anything of the sort.

Sakura hesitated before answering. What if she hurt Syaoran's feelings? Worse yet, what if she answered wrong and then have her head removed from her shoulders? She chose her words carefully.

"Well…you're partly right. It wasn't as if I had a choice, though."

"I'm intrigued," Syaoran told her, genuinely intrigued. Sakura still did not meet his eyes.

"Sit," she offered, gesturing to a chair.

"You too." Syaoran took a seat and waited for Sakura. "Continue." Sakura sighed.

"My best friend, Tomoyo, made a bet with Lady M—a Lady. She told her that she would enter me as a Lady in the Choosing. Then, she made a bet with Lady Mei—the Lady. If I got chosen as your wife, then Tomoyo would win the bet. If Lady M—the Lady was chosen or if some other girl was chosen, then Tomoyo would lose." Sakura tugged on a strand of hair.

"So you were forced to enter."

"Not really. I just agreed to be a Lady for Tomoyo's sake."

"And you never expected to be chosen."

"Right," mumbled Sakura.

"So you don't want to be here at all." Syaoran's gaze made Sakura uncomfortable. It was not accusing, nor sharp, but it still made Sakura think she said something wrong.

"No—it's not that—"

"I don't blame you," Prince Syaoran said gently.

~*~

Syaoran was surprised at the calmness of his voice. He was even more surprised by how sincere and kind he sounded. He almost shuddered. Imagine him actually being…nice. There's always a first time for everything, Syaoran thought wryly.

"You—You don't?"

"You expected me to?" Syaoran felt a little irritated that Princess Sakura thought that he would punish her or something. He sighed.

"Look…I'm like you. Forced to do something I don't want to do. This isn't the first choosing."

"Go on," encouraged Sakura.

"It's a type of tradition. Every prince in the Li Family has to abide by it. Two weeks before his sixteenth birthday, the prince is to choose his future wife, but randomly. You know, blindfolded and grabbing the hand of a girl he doesn't even know. I never really wanted to do it, but the temper of my father isn't one you'd—uh…like to set off. So…well, you know, I'm—not—exactly—ready," he finished jerkily. Sakura nodded.

"So we're the same."

"I suppose so." A moment of silence passed between the two.

"Maybe I should get going," Syaoran said suddenly. Sakura jerked out of her silence.

"No—it's okay…I mean, you can stay for as long as you want." Syaoran smiled at her. Sakura liked the way his eyes seem to sparkle and seem less distant and cold.

"No, you need your rest. I mean, waiting outside for half an hour so you can attend a stupid ceremony isn't exactly entertaining, is it?" If Syaoran could look at himself, he probably would have gaped at himself with his mouth open. He had just made a joke. Prince Syaoran made a joke. Interesting…

Sakura returned the smile. Her eyes lightened up, looking as if she had never been gloomy before, unlike when Syaoran first entered the room. She had looked like she had been crying.

Syaoran tossed his emerald cape over his shoulder. "See you around," he told Sakura, and closed the door behind him as he left, feeling as thought the guilt he had felt moments before had lifted.

~*~

Sakura sank into the wooden tub. A wonderful fragrance drifted around her, making her pleasantly sleepy and drowsy. Maybe Syaoran isn't that bad after all…

She didn't know what happened when they talked. It seemed more like talking about themselves than an actual conversation. Well, you need to know all about the other to actually make a conversation in the future, thought Sakura. Still, something clicked between them, something that was unspeakable. The uneasiness at first had disappeared.

The wooden tub was filled with water, and sprinkled lightly with soft rose petals. The petals gave off a beautiful aroma, even though they were separated from their stems. Sakura bathed herself, feeling the rose petals gently brush her skin. It felt so good…

After a while, Sakura thought that maybe she had spent a little too much time in the bathtub. Her skin was already wet and her fingers had wrinkles in them. But she still wanted to soak her body in the rose petals and water. Oh well, thought Sakura grimly, the water's getting colder anyway. It's better to get out then wash in freezing water. Sighing, she lifted herself out.

After draping a robe over herself and fastening it securely, she slipped on a pair of velvet slippers. She should be going to bed now. Her personal maid, Kyoko, would most likely be waiting to dress her and brush her hair or something. She reached for the doorknob and pushed the door open.

She was surprised to find the hallway empty. (A/N: Sorry to interrupt, but I'm dreadfully sorry if you expected Syaoran to swing the door open before Sakura got to it and see her in a skimpy little robe. I mean, some people like that, but I thought it was a LITTLE too dirty…anyway, on with the fic!) I wonder where everybody is? She walked to her room as quickly as possible.

Kyoko was waiting for her. "Oh, Princess," she greeted humbly. "You're as beautiful as ever." Sakura smiled at her.

"Thanks for the compliment, Kyoko, but I know I'm not beautiful." Kyoko laughed, a warm, tinkling laugh.

"Of course you are, Princess! I'm always right about these things. And you are definitely beautiful." Sakura chose to ignore her comment. Kyoko removed her robe and began to dress her.

When Kyoko was finished, Sakura had to sit down and let Kyoko proceed to comb her hair. "Why do you have to comb my hair when I'm going to mess it up anyway?" she questioned Kyoko. Kyoko shrugged.

"Oh, I don't know. If your hair was messy before you went to bed, then wouldn't it be harder to untangle the following morning because it's now extra messy?"

"True," reasoned Sakura. She let Kyoko rake a knot.

"So how are you and Prince Syaoran getting along?" Kyoko asked, tackling the back of Sakura's hair. Sakura shrugged.

"I haven't really met him yet." Kyoko laughed again.

"Oh, don't hide, Princess Sakura. I know for a fact that he came to you a few hours ago."

"You do?"

"Yes. I saw him come down the hallway in some sort of hurry. He looked kind of ashamed, if you ask me, and didn't really pay attention to anyone, not even Seiichi. Well, he's never paid any attention to Seiichi before, anyway," added Kyoko. "I saw him go into your room. You two weren't doing anything special, right?" Sakura was slightly alarmed.

"Of course not! He said he just wanted to talk." Kyoko was silent. "Please don't tell me that you don't believe me. Some people tend to believe what they want to believe."

"I do believe you," replied Kyoko. "I mean, you guys haven't talked before that anyway, so there's actually no point in believing that you guys were having something special. Of course, your stunning features might have aroused something in him…"

"Kyoko!" exclaimed Sakura. They both laughed. "You dirty girl!" Sakura mocked her. Kyoko giggled.

"I know, huh?" She raked the comb quickly through Sakura's hair one last time. "There. Your hair is all done." Sakura tried to run her fingers through her hair.

"Oh my goodness! It's so soft and sleek and shiny and separated! It's—It just runs through my fingers like water!" Kyoko looked pleased.

"I thought so. Aren't I an artist?" Sakura laughed openly. She bounced up from her chair.

"Thanks, Kyoko. I think I'll go to bed now," she told her. Kyoko smiled courteously.

"It's my job," Kyoko replied, and bowed herself out. "I hope you can Prince Syaoran can connect soon!" she called.

Later, as Sakura went to bed, she thought, Maybe this whole place isn't so bad after all…everybody seems to be so welcoming! Prince Syaoran's visage flashed into Sakura's mind. Smiling as she drifted to sleep, Sakura decided that maybe, just maybe, she could fall in love with Syaoran.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

OKAY, PEOPLE! That was the end of chapter 4. I don't know if it was disappointing, I don't know if it was satisfying or fantastic, because you NEED TO REVIEW! I know that when people see a lot of reviews for a story they tend to read the latest chapter(s) without reviewing. Which is what drives me to not update. So REVIEW!