Syaoran
I really, really, really, really can't stand that Princess.
I've barely even been here for a few hours and already she's a bitch. I had to lie on that cold ground for hours (Okay, like ten minutes, really, but the pain made it seem longer...) until Meiling and Eriol came by and while Eriol was busy smiling that 'I'm going to laugh at you later but I'm too polite to do so now' smile, Meiling helped me up like the wonderful cousin that she is and even joined me in plotting against the princess.
I can't IMAGINE why Mother doesn't like her.
I think the whole clinging problem she had when we were younger might have had something to do with it. And the competitiveness. And the loud, brash manner. And the way she acted more like a little boy than a young princess.
Oh well.
I spent most of my first day at Princess Sakura's castle hanging around the gardens with Meiling and pretending to be either Eriol or the Princess and pretending to die until they called us in for dinner.
A very... Eventful time, indeed.
"Please pass the potatoes, Prince Syaoran." I handed the bowl off to that girl, Tammy or something... Er... Right... Tomoyo, yeah, while shooting a sideways glance at Princess Sakura. She was making a mountain out of her potatoes. Which wasn't very odd since I'd already shaped mine into a little volcano and was just waiting for the gravy to come around so I could make it explode.
The odd thing was, she hadn't said a word.
Actually, I hadn't heard a peep from her since our argument earlier. Not that I was complaining. I liked her better when she wasn't saying anything. It was just odd, is all.
"How come you're not talking, Princess?" I said as politely as I could, but it came out sounding taunting instead. Oh well. I didn't really want to be polite to the princess anyway.
She shot me a fierce glare and flicked a pea at me. Oh, yeah, real mature. I stuck my tongue out at her and went back to my food. Not for long though. This was really bothering me. "Why AREN'T you talking?"
Another glare. Silence.
Tomoyo looked between me and Sakura, then looked down at her food. "Sakura, say something."
"You are an ass, Prince Syaoran." Was the first thing out of her mouth. Wow, I could just feel the love.
"How come you talk when she tells you to? I'm a Prince. You should listen to me." She seemed to consider this a moment before she glared again.
"I hate you. Why would I listen to you?"
"Don't you be mean to my, Syaoran-chan!" Mailing shouted, flicking a pea at Sakura. Sakura flicked the pea right back until the two were engaged in a very fierce, very mature, pea fight. Eriol was chuckling quietly and concentrating on his food. Tomoyo and I were getting showered in peas, but none were touching him. Stupid magical powers and whatnot. Some people get all the luck.
"Could you two cut it out?" I said, annoyed. "Stop!"
Sakura stopped immediately and Meiling stopped soon after, realizing that Sakura wasn't fighting back anymore. And as rude and loud as she is, she wasn't one to fight an unarmed player. Honor was something that was pounded into us at an early age.
The dinner started getting quiet again, but I was still a little put off. If she hated me, why'd she listen when I told her to stop? She was so weird. And such a hypocrite. I hated that.
Sakura finished off her dinner (With no peas I might add since they were all either in my lap or in Meiling's hair) and excused herself, disappearing out of the dining hall. I scooped what was left of my potatoes discreetly onto Eriol's plate and excused myself as well. There was something not right about that princess.
I followed her as she hurried down the hallways and out of the castle, through the gardens, down a path and towards a field. Boy did she run fast for a girl. Upon closer inspection of the field, I realized that it was full of cherry blossoms. Heh. How conceited.
The princess sat down underneath a cherry blossom tree, closing her eyes and relaxing herself. I must admit, although Meiling would probably kill me for saying it, she did look pretty. I mean, with the wind blowing through her short, light brown hair like that and the flushed tone to her skin from running... Okay, she didn't look pretty. She looked BEAUTIFUL.
Of course, just because she's beautiful didn't mean I wanted to marry her.
She must have sensed my presence because her eyes flew open and immediately narrowed when they locked on me. "Can i help you?"
"There are numerous ways you could. None of them are why I followed you." For some reason, the princess turned bright red. I mentally smirked. I can't imagine why.
"You pervert!" She screamed.
"Why princess," I said in innocence. "I was merely suggesting that you cancel the wedding. Shows what YOU have on YOUR mind, missy."
"Wh... You... Shut up!" She shouted, turning even more red than before. I smirked visibly, sitting down next to her. She was fun. And easily embarrassed. Such a great combination.
"Relax, princess. I just wanted to know where you were headed." I motioned towards the cherry blossoms. "Getting a little conceited in your old age?"
"I'm sixteen! What old age am I getting into?"
"You're avoiding the question."
"You wouldn't understand."
"Yes I would. Tell me." There was a long pause during which the princess kept wincing and rubbing her temples before she finally sighed in irritation and looked at me, looking slightly frustrated and angry.
"My mom planted these trees. I feel closer to her when I'm here, alright?" I blinked. Whatever reason I was expecting, it wasn't that. I raised and eyebrow.
"You know, you make it really hard to hate you when you say stuff like that."
"I don't care whether you hate me or not, Prince Syaoran. I'll ALWAYS hate YOU."
"Now that's not nice."
"Since when do YOU care about being nice?"
"Sheesh, princess... And you wonder why this marriage was ARRANGED."
"I have a name, you know."
"I know."
"It's Sakura."
"I know that, too."
"So why don't you just call me by name?"
"Because it signifies familiarity and in some cases, friendship. Neither of which I wish to have with you." She rolled her eyes and looked away, glaring at the ground. I vaguely wondered whether she still felt closer to her mom while I was here, then decided I didn't care. If I started caring, I might actually start liking her, and if THAT happened, all hell would break loose. Especially when Meiling found out.
"Are you always this cold?" She asked at last. Yes. Always have been, always will be. You try growing up with the leaders of the Li Clan and see if you're still all smiles, princess.
"What do you care?"
"Well you made me tell you about my Mom. I figured you owed me."
"I don't owe you anything. Leave me alone." I said, folding my arms. I raised an eyebrow as she stood up immediately and started walking away. "Hey, where are you going?!"
"You just told me to leave you alone, didn't you?" She asked, looking at me over her shoulder.
"You said earlier that you didn't listen to people you hate. Either you've decided to go back on that, or you like me now."
"You wish."
I stared at her, leaning back against the tree. "So, if I said 'Sakura, bang your head against this tree' you wouldn't do it?"
"Nope."
"How about if I said 'Sakura, stand on one foot'."
"Wouldn't do it."
"'Sakura, eat a blade of grass'?" I saw her shake her head, then saw her hand twitch. Ooookay. Something was definitely wrong here. Her hand twitched again and she started to bend down, then seemed to realize what she was doing and stood straight again. Then her hand twitched again. "Are you having a panic attack?"
"..... N..o..." She grounded out, seemingly having her teeth gritted together.
"What's wrong with you?" I was actually starting to get worried.... Whoa... Tell the papers. I got up and walked over to her, grabbing by the shoulders and staring into her very twitchy face. "Tell me what's wrong."
".... Grass.... Have to... Eat..."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Told me... To eat... Grass...."
"I did..." I said slowly, trying to figure out what the hell she was talking about. Or what kind of drug she was taking.
"Have to... Do it..."
"What do you mean you have to do it? Stop twitching!" She stopped at once... And started shaking instead. She looked like she was going to pass out.
"Let me go!" She screamed, pushing away from me and collapsing on the floor, grabbing a fistful of grass and stuffing a piece into her mouth. She stopped shaking at once, then sat up, spitting the grass out like it was poison. Which it probably was.
I meanwhile was trying to figure out what that was all about. Then something occurred to me. "Sakura..."
"What?" She asked, testily, still spitting out grass.
"Smack yourself."
"WHAT?!" But even as she shouted it, her hand was reaching up. I blinked when a loud SMACK! could be heard and she rubbed her smarting cheek.
"Why are you listening to whatever I say?"
"No reason..."
"Tell me why you're listening to whatever I say."
"Because I have to." Now that was vivid and descriptive. Nothing vague about that.
"Tell me EXACTLY why you're listening to whatever I say."
"Damn you." She said in a low voice. "It's a stupid family curse. I have to listen to any command anyone gives me."
"Any command?" I said, a smile growing on my face.
"Any command." She echoed half-heartedly. I plopped down next to her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Sakura, I have a feeling you and I are going to be great friends from now on."