Author's Note: It's good to be back with chapter 9. Sorry to keep you guys waiting for so long. Here it is! BTW, some of the other characters come in as well.

Disclaimer: Don't own Card Captor Sakura, and never will.

I Choose Sakura

By: Wings of Jade

Chapter 9: Practice Makes Perfect: Part 1

"Syaoran, can I speak to you, please?" Syaoran groaned. Not that old fool again. What is wrong with this man? "Syaoran?"

"Coming," said Syaoran irritably. Seiichi shrunk back a little.

"Er...His Highness...I mean, his Majesty...he...um...he...wants you to come because you need to know the details of your wedding preparations."

"WHAT?" Syaoran threw his chair aside. It was still a week away!

"Please...look, Master Syaoran, it's not my fault..."

"No," rumbled a voice, "It is not." King Li stood majestically in Syaoran's door frame, looking very reproachful. "Seiichi, you are dismissed." Seiichi looked relieved.

"Thank you, Your Highness." He bowed and tottered away.

"Syaoran!"

"What?" muttered the prince.

"Get up! I know you know what to do!" Syaoran did not move.

"GET UP! It's enough for me to come here personally!" Syaoran rolled his eyes.

"I forgot. Of course it is." Syaoran wasn't usually that rude. It was just that what Eriol said had bothered him...confess. He was stuck up in his room, pondering stupidly about his words. Should I? No. Should I? Yes. Should I? No. Should I? Yes. Should I? Yesno. Shut up...He wasn't ready yet.

"SYAORAN!"

"FINE!" Syaoran shouted. He rose jerkily, and stormed out of the room, before realizing he didn't know where to go.

"Where am I supposed to go?" he demanded.

"Where else?" King Li calmly replied. "The meeting room." Syaoran made claws with his fingers and stomped up the stairs, only to bump into...

"Sakura?" he said, trying to be casual. His anger still boiled inside of him. Sakura smiled at him. How her smile made his stomach do flip flops! His anger melted away.

"Are you going to the meeting room too? Come with me!"

They entered the meeting room, a prim and proper Lady sitting at the very front, with some others. Her dark curly hair was tied up, quite unusual for her, and shone. Her eyes were of a hawk's; sharp and shining. She wore a red Chinese dress.

"Ah," she said briskly, "So Prince Syaoran and Princess Sakura are here at last." She cleared her throat. "I think we can begin now. My name is Rika. I will be one of your wedding planners."

Rika cleared her throat again. "Well...the wedding is to take place seven days from today. Sakura, you will be with your bridesmaids, and Syaoran, you will stay with the King and Queen. The Walking is to be walked at precisely eleven fifty-seven, no excuses." Then Rika's lips curled. "I believe the Queen has scheduled a 'practice session' for our bride and groom."

"WHAT?" bellowed Sakura and Syaoran. "PRACTICE SESSIONS?" Their voices were practically in perfect unison.

"They can't! I know how to Walk!" protested Sakura.

"I am not going to parade around like a fool!" declared Syaoran. No offense to Sakura, though, he thought.

She wasn't offended.

"This is outrageous!" exclaimed Sakura. Rika coughed.

"It is not my power to change these rules, Princess. Please be reminded that you are a Lady." She coughed again.
"A Lady." She coughed again. "A Lady." Cough. "LADY." Cough. "LA - "

"I get the point," mumbled Sakura. Rika seemed pleased with herself.

"Now then," she continued primly, "The details of your practice sessions..." Sakura felt herself slip into the wonderful kingdom of dreams.

She glanced at Syaoran. He, too, seemed unaware of what Rika was saying. His eyes were glazed, and he was staring off into a beyond. He had saved my life...Everything came back to her.

He looked over casually, and their eyes met. Sakura felt a painful pang in her chest and looked away quickly, a faint tinge appearing in her cheeks. I feel so stupid. Why can't I just look at him normally?

"King Li..." Rika began again, unaware of her sleepy guests. A jolt awoke in Sakura. King Li...he had almost beheaded Syaoran! And he had risked his own life...for me! For me! She stole a glance at Syaoran again. All she could think about was what he had done. She felt a strange feeling in her stomach...a surge of pride? A surge of love and affection? She slapped herself. It's been less than two weeks and you're already feeling affection? Well, come on, so he's good-looking and everything, and he risked his life for me and everything, and now he actually cares about me and everything, and...

"Princess Sakura!"

"Wha'?" Sakura jerked. Rika and some others breathed a sigh of relief.

"For a moment there, I thought you were an ice cube!" They laughed daintily. Sakura smiled faintly. Rika ploughed on...

Sakura's eyes softened as she gazed at Syaoran. Thank you. Thank you so much.

I love you...

~*~

Syaoran desperately searched through his feelings. Eriol reckoned he fancied Sakura, but...what if it wasn't true? What if all this was just something else? Syaoran needed Eriol again. He wished he hadn't left so abruptly. He traced his memories back to a meeting before...

"So...what do you reckon love is?" asked Syaoran lazily, catching a blossom from under a tree as it fell. He was half-sitting, half-lying down on a blanket. Eriol, however, was standing up and looking dreamy.

"Love...you wouldn't understand it. It's not something that I can explain clearly."

Syaoran snorted. "I thought you were one of the wisest men in the village."

"No," replied Eriol. "I'm not a man yet. When I am sixteen."

"Well...answer my question."

Eriol sighed. "Look...love...it's a strange thing. It can be meant to be, or it could just come naturally. Without it, we wouldn't be where we are today. It can move a mountain, cease a baby's cries, and--" Syaoran snorted again.

"If it's natural, then how come I haven't found love yet?"

"You will later, if not sooner."

"BORING," said Syaoran loudly. Eriol scowled.

"This is exactly why I hate trying to explain something wise to somebody like you!" he shouted. "You refuse to look beyond what I say! If you want to ask me a question, at least listen to the answer!" Eriol shook blossoms out of his hair and stormed off. Before he left though, he turned around and told Syaoran:

"Watch, Syaoran. You'll know exactly what I've been trying to explain to you in a few years, maybe even in a few months. I bet you'll fall in love with some girl. Then you'll know." With that, he left.

Syaoran traced his tongue over his lips. You'll know exactly what I've been trying to explain to you in a few years, maybe even in a few months. I bet you'll fall in love with some girl. He thought about it. Will Sakura be that 'some girl'?

No, answered a small voice. Syaoran was slightly disappointed. I'm not finished yet, Syaoran! She will not be that 'some girl'.

Why?

Because she already is.

~*~

"Princess Sakura," said Kyoko, sweeping into a curtsy. Sakura hadn't seen her in a long time, so she had to think for a moment to register the maid.

"Kyoko," returned Sakura wearily. She had been thinking so much her head hurt. Her eyes were closed. Kyoko curtsied again.

"Miss--I mean, Princess, your wedding gown is finished."

"Good for me," replied Sakura.

"And--well--it is time for your first practice session, Princess." Sakura's eyes shot open.

"WHAT?"

~*~

"Your Highness Prince Syaoran is invited to the Hall," said Seiichi, bowing. Prince Syaoran yawned.

"Whatever."

"It is for an important meeting that concerns your wedding with Princess Sakura." At the sound of 'Sakura', Syaoran's stomach did a back flip.

"What about it?" he asked. Seiichi's lip curled.

"It is--well--it is time for your first practice session, Prince." Prince Syaoran knocked over a chair as he shot up.

"WHAT?"

~*~

In less than ten minutes Sakura and Syaoran were dressed in their wedding gowns; Syaoran an emerald green tunic with various designs plus a cape; Sakura a glorious white gown, similar to a Chinese dress, with the exception of the bottom of the dress reaching the floor trailing two feet behind her. A crown glittered on her head. Syaoran couldn't stop stealing glances at her. She's so...beautiful. A couple of bridesmaids giggled. Sakura looked embarrassed. I can't believe I have to take Walking lessons! AUGH!

Rika was waiting for them, her smile barely hidden. "Now," she said, unable to control the laughter in her voice, "I will ask Sakura to come with me. Syaoran...um, pair up with Eriol." Syaoran spun around at once.

"Eriol?" Eriol was hidden in the shadows, a broad grin on his face.

"Yup, you are with me," he laughed. Syaoran clenched his teeth.

"Walking lessons," he muttered. "As if I don't know how to Walk. I know exactly how to move my legs, thank you very much. I don't need any--"

"Now then," said Eriol loudly, "We will start. And if you do not listen to me, you will be very sorry you didn't. Now observe." Eriol held out his arm to an invisible bride, taking gallant steps. "Your turn."

"You can't boss me around!" Eriol grinned. He jerked a thumb at a figure standing by the door.

His father.

"Your turn, Syaoran," repeated Eriol.

Syaoran wished he had never been born.

~*~

"That's it, one step at a time," said Rika. Sakura was having a bit of trouble walking, as the gown, though gorgeous, was extremely tight around the knees and flared out at the bottom.

"Can--this--thing--loosen up--a bit?" Sakura complained through gritted teeth. Rika shook her head.

"Sorry, Princess, but that would take a lot more time. You see, everything would have to be redesigned, and then we would have to practice Walking all over again. Besides, Princess, you look absolutely stunning in that dress." Sakura grumbled. Stunning. Who cares? This--stupid--TORTURE DEVICE!

Sakura took a wobbly step. Rika frowned. "Straighten your back." Sakura squared her shoulders. "Hold your head up higher." She did so. "Take tiny steps." And then Walking suddenly became easier. Rika was pleased. "Observe me now." She linked her hand through an invisible groom and Walked, taking tiny steps. Her head was held up high. Sakura imitated her actions, taking tinier steps than before. Rika kept her face straight, thinking for a moment, then nodded.

"Good. I think you're ready now."

Sakura glanced at Syaoran and Eriol arguing and Walking. Syaoran looked so cute! But by the way he was fighting with Eriol...and how he was refusing to move...and how he was making her stomach flutter...

"No, I don't know if I'm ready, Rika."

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

That's another chapter done...it's mostly about them falling in love and junk, so not much practice is included, but there will be practice in the next chapter! That's why this is part one. No, next chapter won't be the last one, I promise! REVIEW!