Author's Note: Kon'nichi wa, mina-san. ^^ Hello, people. I dunno...I felt like using Japanese today. I speak many different languages(A little of each, excluding English of course)so you shall NEVER know my TRUE nationality! (MWAHAHAHAHA!) Well, anyway, here's chapter 7.

Disclaimer: I hate this thing. Me no own Card Captor Sakura.

I Choose Sakura

By: Wings of Jade

Chapter 7: It Can't Be Syaoran

"What?" The king's eyes narrowed. "Both of you?"

"Both of you?" asked Yelan. "You both spilled the secret?"

"No," Sakura blurted out. "I did. Syaoran had nothing to do with it."

"It's the other way around," replied Syaoran quietly, his dark eyes shimmering. "Sakura has nothing to do with it. I told the village. I realize it's a really big mistake. I didn't think Yuki would tell." Sakura had never heard of a 'Yuki' before, even though she knew it was a common name. He's covering for me, Sakura realized. He's trying to get me out of trouble.

"Syaoran!" cried Sakura sharply. "What are you doing?"

"You told Yuki?"

"Yes," answered Syaoran, his eyes averted.

"Yuki who?"

"Takahashi Yuki," replied Syaoran, thinking of the first name that came to his mind. He fervently hoped there wasn't anybody named Takahashi Yuki in the kingdom. If there was, he'd be intensely sorry for getting her head detached from her shoulders.

"Takahashi Yuki," repeated King Li thoughtfully. "Takahashi..." Yelan put a finger to her lips and motioned for Syaoran to continue.

"I didn't know..." began Syaoran

"Didn't know what?" interrupted King Li angrily all of a sudden. "You know the rules perfectly, Syaoran. The bride is not to be revealed until the Prince's wedding day. Why did you break it, miscreant?"

"I'm sorry, father," said Syaoran at once. "I am sorry I violated the law. I know I should not have told Yuki, but she had promised to keep her secret. I didn't mean to let it spread to the whole village. Please forgive me." Syaoran dropped to his knees.

Sakura could only watch helplessly. King Li was intent on listening to Syaoran, and she would most likely be punished for interrupted the Prince. Why was he risking his own life for her? The question hung in the air. Yelan noticed Sakura's troubled expression.

"Is there something you would like to say, Sakura?" she asked. "You seem as if you want to say something." Sakura paused.

"I guess so," she answered hesitantly. King Li's attention snapped to her.

"What is it?" he demanded. "Anything else to add?"

"I did it," Sakura said immediately, dropping to her knees. "I told three girls in the village and they spread the rumour around the place. It's my fault. Syaoran is innocent; he has nothing to do with it."

"I...see," said King Li slowly. He raised an eyebrow, surveying each of the two in turn.

"No," insisted Syaoran. "I did it. Sakura has nothing to do with it. Don't blame it on Sakura. She is innocent. I am guilty."

"But--"

"Silence!" roared King Li. His eyes flashed at Sakura. "You have no authority to be talking right now." Sakura fell silent.

"Syaoran, I am greatly disappointed in you," thundered King Li, his eyes blazing. "You know the law. You know what you are supposed to do, and what not to do. You know that it is custom that for any person that breaks the law to be punished, or beheaded." Syaoran bowed his head. Sakura's green eyes widened. Beheaded? Syaoran? All because of her?

"Your Highness--"

"NO!" shouted King Li viciously. "Do you not know your manners? You are a Lady, for goodness' sake!" Sakura bit back the words she wanted to cry out for Syaoran. Syaoran did not look at her.

"Syaoran, Syaoran," sighed the King. "How could you do such a stupid thing? This will get you and Sakura into trouble."

"Sakura didn't do anything though."

"How do you know?" challenged his father. "How do you know, boy?" Syaoran stared intensely at the ground, grinding his teeth together.

"You know what breaking the law will cost you."

"I know."

"A life. Your life."

"No!" Sakura shrieked. "No!" Syaoran averted his gaze and looked steadily at his father.

"I know."

~*~

This cannot be happening. This is just a dream, a dream, a dream, a dream, a dream, a dream...I'll wake up and have no recollection of what happened, I will wake up and King Li has just told me I am free to go, I will wake up and everything's going to be okay, Syaoran'll be beside me, he'll be beside me, beside me...SYAORAN!

He showed no sign of fear. Not a muscle in his face moved. Sakura was going crazy. Syaoran, no! NO! NO!

"King Li! You can't just kill your own son!" burst out Sakura, ignoring King Li's earlier commands. "He's your only heir to the throne! You're not going to be around forever! You need someone you know to continue the rule! He's innocent! He's trying to cover for me! I'm stupid and I talk too much and I got myself into this mess, I should be beheaded, my life should be on the edge, I should be killed, I..." Sakura hardly knew what she was saying, but she had one thing in mind: Save Syaoran.

"After all Queen Yelan went through to have Syaoran and you're just going to kill him, it's not fair, it's cruel, it's completely--you can't--he's--he's your own flesh and blood, for God's sake!" screamed Sakura. King Li's swiveled towards her. Angry tears clouded Sakura's vision. Angry at herself, angry at King Li, angry at Syaoran for trying to save her...

"You never let me finish, Sakura." Those words hit Sakura hard...and suddenly, she was back to her old, meek, self. Let him talk. Then scream.

"This will cost you your life, Syaoran, but..." King Li ran his tongue over his lips. "You are my only heir, and you never meant to do this mistake." King Li sounded tired. "Just never do something like this again, okay?"

"I won't, Father," replied Syaoran quickly.

"I hope not." He looked at Sakura, who was turning pink, yet crying silently with relief. "You and Princess Sakura are dismissed." Syaoran jumped off onto his feet and escorted Sakura out of the room. Yelan watched them go.

"If you were going to shout at them like that, why did you let them go unscathed?" King Li sighed again.

"I don't know." Yelan shook her head, but she was smiling.

"Oh, you," she said, the barest hint of humour in her voice.

~*~

"Thank you...for saving my life." Syaoran shrugged.

"It's okay. I kind of knew he wouldn't punish me, anyway." Sakura was silent for a few moments.

"You didn't have to."

"Yes I did," mumbled Syaoran. Sakura blinked.

"You did?"

"Yes."

"What do you..."

"Mean?" Syaoran shrugged again, averting his eyes so that they wouldn't meet Sakura's intense green ones. "I dunno." A strange expression crossed Sakura's face. She observed him.

"Would you allow me to die?" she asked suddenly. Syaoran hesitated. Should he tell her? No, was his immediate thought.

Then he shook his head.

"If I did get beheaded, would you be able to take it?"

He shook his head again. Sakura swallowed.

"Oh, that's all right then," said Sakura casually. They reached her room. Sakura opened the door.

"See you," she told Syaoran, and closed the door.

~*~

Once inside her room, Sakura wanted to scream.

Would you allow me to die?

Syaoran had shaken his head no.

If I did die, would you be able to take it?

He had shaken his head no at that, too.

Sakura leaned against the open window, letting the wind caress her round cheeks. A knock sounded at the door.

"Princess Sakura? It's Kyoko. Um...it's time for your wedding gown fittings." Sakura didn't want to leave.

"Can't it wait?"

"Why?"

"I don't want to have my wedding gown fittings. Tomorrow."

"Miss Sakura..."

"I said tomorrow."

"Yes, Princess." Sakura heard her leave, and she breathed out a sigh. A jumbled bunch of thoughts swam around her brain.

Did this mean Syaoran cared about her? Sakura didn't want to flatter herself or anything, but she didn't stray from the thought. Why else would he tell King Li that he told the whole village? She felt a surge of gratitude and emotion at that thought. Syaoran took the blame. For me! Then she frowned again. Then she smiled. Maybe I shouldn't be worrying so much about this; he did save my skin, after all, and it's over, too. Maybe this means he doesn't hate me after all. Maybe this means that we might have a chance.

Knock, knock.

"Miss Sakura?"

"Yes, Kyoko?"

"The tailor said no." Sakura ran a hand through her hair, feeling happier now that she had sorted out her thoughts. Syaoran cares!

"Okay, then," said Sakura, and waltzed out the room.

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

Okay, that was chapter seven done. Don't you think it's longer than my other chapters? Well, anyway, REVIEW!