Disclaimer: CLAMP owns cardcaptors.
Chapter 3: Betrothal
Chan Kingdom Dungeon...
"Your...you're not Sakura are you?" Syaoran's voice quivered.
"No I'm indeed not Sakura. I am Meiling, Sakura's half sister, also princess of the Kinomoto Kingdom," Meiling answered boldly 'And I thought that someone would actually come and rescue me. Well I guess it's all wrong. Why does everything in my life have to be Sakura this and Sakura that or Meiling why can't you be more like your sister Sakura!'
"Well regardless of who you are we need to get you out of here and home right this moment," Syaoran tried to sound cheerful.
"I'm sorry I'm not my sister but I still thank you for rescuing me," Meiling replied 'Well at least he's trying his best to be nice. And boy is he one handsome man. Wow! Gorgeous amber eyes, messy chestnut hair, and a well built body. I wonder who he is.'
The Li soldiers hurried and opened the door to Meiling's cell and they all slipped quietly into the dark of the night. Once they were aboard the ship the anchor was silently lifted and the boat was out at sea in no time.
"Try and get some rest...uh...Princess Kinomoto. We will be at the Kinomoto Kingdom tomorrow near noon. I doubt you have slept or eaten well these past few days," Syaoran instructed the ruby eyed, black haired women in front of him 'When did Sakura have a sister? I never knew. All well at least once we get to the Kinomoto Kingdom I'll be able to see her. I wonder if she still remembers me.'
"Thank you once again uh..."
"Prince Syaoran Li of the Li Kingdom."
"Thank you Prince Li for once again for rescuing me. I really appreciate it. Meanwhile I will take your advice and get some rest," Meiling said courteously 'Wow he is so nice. When I get home I'll ask father to reward him with something. Whoever marries him will be so lucky. I wish I were the one. Ahh my savior even though he was probably looking for my damned half sister Sakura he has tried to be nice.'
The waves gently lapped the sides of the wooden ship. The wind whispered sweetly and the moon peeked out it's face from beneath the clouds as Meiling fell asleep in a soft bed already prepared for her below deck. For the first time in days she felt safe and her dreams were all filled with marrying Prince Li.
Chan Kingdom...Morning
"What are you talking about? Princess Kinomoto escaped yesterday with the Li Prince. That is impossible! What happened to the guards? You fools! How dare you tell me this!" King Chan banged his fists on the table.
"I'm very sorry your highness but the guards were knocked unconscious and the keys were stolen," a guard managed to squeak out.
"You useless bunch of junk! Just wait Prince Li. I'll get back at you twice as worst as you have gotten me. Just watch."
Sun shone into a homey room with pale pink drapes, a cream and pink cherry blossom embroidered canopy bed, and a creamy pink dresser.
"Princess Sakura! Time to wake up and go down for breakfast...Princess Sakura...Princess Sakura...PRINCESS SAKURA!"
"Ahhh! What did you say? Who's hurt? Meiling? Where is she? Is she OK? Tell me. Hurry up and tell me!" Sakura bolted up from her bed.
"Princess Sakura I told you to wake up and go down for breakfast," The maid chuckled slightly.
"You could have said so before," replied Sakura pushing her covers aside and getting out of bed. She got dressed and headed down for the great dining hall where her father, brother, Tomoyo, and Eriol were already waiting for her.
"Slept in again monster?" Touya teased his little sister as she helped herself to a blueberry scone.
"I am not a monster! How many times do I have to tell you that," answered a frustrated Sakura.
"Touya that is enough," Fujitaka stopped the argument between the two siblings.
Suddenly a messenger opened the tall oak doors of the dining hall and approached Fujitaka.
"My king the prince of the Li Kingdom is now docking in the harbour," he reported.
"Well then we must go welcome him to the Kinomoto Kingdom of course," Fujitaka smiled 'Well I wonder what little Syaoran's grown up to be. I can still remember when he and Sakura played together.'
Kinomoto Kingdom Harbour...
Trumpets blared in the welcoming of the Li Prince and his soldiers as their ship docked in the Kinomoto harbour. As the people on the ship came to view Sakura's emerald eyes widened at the sight of her half sister.
"Meiling!" she cried as she ran aboard the ship to hug her sister. But she lost her balance and fell. Sakura closed her eyes waiting for the fall onto the wooden floors. But just then Syaoran jumped out and caught her by the waist.
Sakura looked up and stared into the most intense amber eyes. "Syaoran? Is it really you?" Sakura whispered.
"Yes Sakura it's me. Remember your little wolf?" Syaoran chuckled. Finally he got to see Sakura the one he had been waiting for all these years. He had turned down many marriage offers because of this emerald eyed beauty that he could never forget since he was 7. His eyes then drifted down to the ring on her hands. It was the one he gave her years ago!
"I missed you so much Syaoran. How come you never came back. There wasn't anyone to protect me without you here. You are so mean," tears started falling down her cheeks.
"Don't cry Sakura. I'll be here for you. Now and forever. I promise," Syaoran gently wiped away her tears.
"Pinky swear?" Sakura asked.
"Yup," Syaoran laughed.
"Sakura! Are you alright?" Meiling cried as she ran over to her sister and Syaoran 'How dare she do this to me. Syaoran is mine. What is she doing in his arms? Just wait sis Syaoran will marry me.'
"Meiling! Are you alright! How have you been these days. Have you eaten properly. Slept well?" Sakura rushed to her sister and gave her a tight hug.
"Stop it sis! You're choking me," Meiling coughed.
"I'm so sorry."
Syaoran chuckled at the sister's reunion. Sakura was just like the one he remembered playing with 15 years ago when they were children. She hadn't grown up a bit. Although she was now quite the beauty with honey brown locks, shinny emerald eyes and perfect figure.
"So I see Prince Li that you have rescued my daughter and safely returned her home. You will get your reward of Meiling's hand in marriage," Fujitaka announced.
"What?" Syaoran choked 'Meiling's hand in marriage? I don't want to marry her. The only person I've always wanted to marry was Sakura, my best friend.'
"Yes that is your reward. Is it not enough?" King Fujitaka seemed confused.
"Uh...no sir. I don't need any reward in rescuing the princess. Seeing her happily back with her family is enough. I mean Princess Meiling probably doesn't want to marry me either," Syaoran tried to explain.
"Meiling is that true? Do you not want to marry this man?" Fujitaka asked his daughter.
"Father how can you say that? Of course I want to marry him. He rescued me and he's all I've ever wanted," Meiling replied surely glancing at her sister Sakura who was biting her trembling lips, tears threatening to spill from her eyes as her gaze steadily lied on Syaoran.
'How could this happen?' Sakura thought 'I waited for him all these years and now finally I get to meet him but only to hear that he will be marrying my sister. All well I should let Meiling have him. I don't even know if Syaoran likes me or not. All I know is I fell in love with him ever since we were children and I have refused to marry all the suitors that have come. Well congrats Meiling, my sister, I hope you all the best.'
"Then all is well. We will celebrate my daughter's betrothal to Prince Syaoran Li of the Li Kingdom," Fujitaka ordered.
In a corner tears began flowing out of a pair of emerald eyes.
Well I hope this chapter was OK.
Now to answer some questions...
This will not be a Meiling/Syaoran fic.
Meiling won't be evil. She will only be someone who is jealous of her older sister. A foolish girl in love.
Thanks for the reviews!
-CherryJava