Disclaimer: CLAMP owns cardcaptors

Chapter 5: Promise

Sakura's Room…

"Princess Sakura, you look fabulous," her maid commented as she helped her mistress into an ivory silk spaghetti strap dress that went to the floor. The dress was tight like a corset at the top and slowly flared out at the bottom. At the side for the whole length of the dress there was a cherry blossom pattern in pink and green.

'I can't do this. Syaoran and Meiling are getting married. I can't just ruin their wedding and marry Syaoran. That'll break Meiling's heart. Meiling's never had a very happy life and now she finally finds someone she loves. I can't just take him away.' Sakura stood there deep in thought while another maid clasped a silver chain with a single pink gem onto her neck.

"Sakura, come here and let me do your hair like old time," Tomoyo said suddenly knocking Sakura out of her thoughts. Sakura walked over to the chair Tomoyo pulled out for her and sat down on the velvet cushion staring into the mirror.

Tomoyo then started doing her hair, "Sakura I heard you and Li out in the garden. You do know that you should fight for what you want but at the same time be careful and don't get hurt."

"Thanks Tomoyo. I'll remember that," Sakura reassured her friend while glancing up into the mirror. Staring back at her with large emerald eyes was a beautiful young woman with a diamond tiara on her head lodged into her honey brown hair.

"Lets head down now Sakura…Eriol is waiting down there for me."

Syaoran's Room…

'I'll tell Sakura's dad tonight that I want to marry Sakura and if he doesn't agree then I take Sakura with me back to my kingdom and if mama doesn't welcome us either then we'll run away and live on our own." Syaoran thought as he put on his forest green cloak.

"Still getting dressed? My dear little cousin," Syaoran heard a voice ring out.

"Eriol, nice to see you but please don't call me your dear little cousin," Syaoran growled back.

"Onto serious matters now I heard your conversation with Sakura in the garden. My advice to you is: don't hurt her. She has a delicate heart," Eriol stated solemnly.

"I would never hurt her Eriol. I love her as much as you love her best friend, Tomoyo Daidouji." Syaoran replied.

"If you say so Syaoran"

The two cousins then headed to down to the great hall where the betrothal celebration was soon going to begin.

Meiling's Room…

'I will marry Syaoran. Just wait Sakura and I'll show you who the best is. You always get what you want so now it's my turn.' Meiling vowed as she got dressed in her sleek red dress that went to the ground and stuck two chopstick hair ornaments into her hair. Then she slowly walked down to the great hall where the ceremonies were about to begin.

Great Hall…

"We are all gathered here today to celebrate the betrothal of my second daughter Meiling and the prince of the Li Kingdom so let the feasting begin," Fujitaka Kinomoto announced to the guests.

The guests proceeded to be seated along the various long oak wood tables. Fujitaka sat at the head of the head table while Touya sat beside him on his left side. He motioned for Meiling to occupy the seat on his right. Sakura's eyes widened at that because she was the one who always sat on her father's right side. Then Fujitaka made Syaoran sit right next to Meiling and told Sakura to sit next to Touya across from Syaoran. Tomoyo and Eriol were beside Sakura and other important guests and family members occupied the rest of the table.

As Syaoran gazed at the women across him his jaw dropped. She was the most beautiful women he's ever seen. He loved everything about her and the dress she wore really brought out her features and curves more. But he noticed a tint of sadness in her usual bright and cheerful eyes. It pained his heart so see his love so sad. The she suddenly looked up and found him staring at her. She let out a small smile and looked down at her lap again.

From the corner of her eyes Meiling saw her fiancé staring at her sister and anger boiled inside her. 'Why does he like her so much? How come he can't see the fact that I'm in love with him too and I'm beautiful and everything she is. Just wait Sakura, Syaoran will be mine." Meiling thought while she started to engage Syaoran in some conversation breaking him from his trance, "Syaoran, honey have some chicken. It's great you know. Are you enjoying the feast? Daddy certainly went through great lengths to prepare this. C'mon eat up."

Syaoran obediently ate everything Meiling put onto his plate and he tried to be polite to her during their conversations. "Syaoran I'm so glad we're getting married. When we do we can have many children and a big warm family. I love you so much," Meiling said with a big smile. Syaoran replied with a grunt.

Meanwhile Sakura was trying her best to prevent the threatening tears from falling. Meiling and Syaoran looked so happy together like they were meant for each other. And when Meiling declared her love for him Syaoran didn't even have one word of protest.

Tomoyo glanced across at her friend worried. She was certain that her best friend would be hurt from the relationship she, Syaoran, and Meiling shared.

Meiling also saw that Sakura was struggling to not cry and the corners of her mouth twitched into a smirk. How she loved seeing her half sister suffer.

Finally the feasting was done and soon it was time to dance the night away. "Now my gracious guests the betrothed couple with start off the first dance tonight. Meiling, Syaoran go on," Fujitaka urged.

Reluctantly Syaoran led Meiling to the dance floor. He placed his arms around her waist while she eagerly flung hers around his neck. The orchestra started to play as the couple waltzed across the dance floor.

Sakura's heart pained at the site of the two, one her sister and the other her lover on the dance floor together so close together. How she wished it were her in Syaoran's arms and not Meiling. She silently slipped out to the balcony as two tear drops fell and splattered on the ground.

Soon may other pairs joined the betrothed on the marble floor. Everyone was dancing the night away happily.

"Why dearest Tomoyo would you care to join me in a dance?" Eriol charmingly asked his wife.

"Why of course darling," Tomoyo smiled as she reached out for her husband's outstretched hand. Eriol took her hand and brought it up to his lips where they met in a gentle kiss. Tomoyo let out a giggle as she was led to the dance floor.

Syaoran's eyes followed Sakura to the balcony where he saw her crying. He instantly broke away from Meiling's embrace and hurried to Sakura.

"Syaoran, what are you doing?" Meiling hissed. Then she followed him to the balcony.

On the Balcony…

Sakura wept silently but she didn't hear the gentle footsteps approaching her. "Sakura what are you doing here so sad?" a man with silver hair and blue eyes inquired.

"Yukito! When did you get here?" Sakura cried giving him a hug. Yukito Tsukishiro, king of the Tsukishiro Kingdom, cousin of King Chan of the Chan Kingdom, was the Kinomoto family's friend.

The two didn't know of two figures hiding behind the door watching them. One with amber eyes and the other with ruby coloured eyes.

"I got here just as the feast was ending. Such a shame I didn't get to taste the wonderful foods."

"Well I'm sure Touya having the cooks prepare some more for you right now. I'm assuming you've paid him and father a visit already."

"Oh course I have. My next stop after you is Meiling. Now would you tell me why you were crying?"

Sakura hesitated trying to decide whether or not she should tell him about her relationship with Syaoran or not. Finally she decided to take her chances lying, "It was nothing Yukito. I was just sad the Meiling was going to go away soon. I'm sorry to have you worried."

Yukito didn't believe her one bit for he knew she had feeling for Syaoran since they were children just like he had feelings for Meiling but he simple nodded and replied, "I understand. It must be really hard for you."

Yukito reached out and patted Sakura on the shoulder and left her there to sort out her feelings. As he passed through the doorway he saw an envious Syaoran glaring at him. He grinned back and continued walking until he found a pair of ruby eyes staring at him.

Sakura turned around decided to head into the ballroom and gasped in surprise, "Syaoran! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be dancing with Meiling?"

Syaoran completely ignored Sakura and grabbed her wrist and dragged her through the hall and out the side door to the garden.

In the garden…

"What are you doing? Let go of me Syaoran. You're hurting me." Sakura cried as Syaoran gripped tighter onto her wrist.

Finally, when the got to the pavilion he let go of her. Sakura looked at the man she loved and discovered that his face was red with anger and envy was written all over. Then it all clicked and she started to explain, "It's not what you think Syaoran. We're just friends. We were friends since childhood. Seriously nothing is going on between us. It was all friendly gestures nothing more."

"Sakura do you love me?" Syaoran suddenly asked.

"Of course I do."

"You know that ring that I gave to you when we were children? Do you still have it?"

"It's right here. Look, Syaoran"

Syaoran looked at where she was pointing to her finger where the sliver ring with the amber jewel entwined was. He smiled and showed her his owned ring that she gave him years ago.

"These will be our promise rings Sakura. They will ensure that we will wed someday. They will represent our love for one another. So as long as you wear that ring it will symbolize that you still love me regardless of what happens," Syaoran declared.

"Pinky swear?" Sakura asked.

"Pinky swear," Syaoran replied as he hooked his pinky with Sakura's and they slowly embraced into a hug. After a few minutes Syaoran broke the embrace and slowly tilted Sakura's chin upwards and gazed into her emerald eyes. They leaned closer and closer together until their lips met in a gentle kiss.

On the balcony overlooking the garden…

Ruby eyes blazed with anger as she watched the couple's embrace from above.

"Meiling why are you doing this to them? I know you know they're in love. Why are breaking them apart and marrying Syaoran," Yukito demanded.

"Why do you care Yukito? It's not like you're Sakura's lover or something. Why do you care what happens to them and what I'm doing," Meiling spat back.

"You'll get hurt Meiling. Love always prevails and what you are doing is just hurting more people. You should just back out and leave them to be. I don't want you to get hurt afterwards."

"Pathetic. Syaoran will be mine no matter what happens."

'Why is she like this? How come I fell in love with her? Why does she have to fall in love with Syaoran? Why can't she see that I'm in love with her? She'd be so happy if I were her lover. I could give her all the love she wants and needs.' Yukito thought, "Very well then Meiling. Since you have decided I'll support you till the end."

"Thank you Yukito. I have a task for you to do," Meiling motioned for him to come closer as she whispered into his ear.

In the Garden…

"Syaoran, how much do you love me?" Sakura whispered.

"More than life it self, sweetheart. You give my life meaning. I won't be able to live without you. I'd do anything you ask and…"

"Well well dear sister I see you have kept my fiancé occupied while I was gone. Now Syaoran we must go in," Meiling grabbed Syaoran's hand and led him into the great hall.

Sakura watched as her lover was dragged away from her by her sister and tears started to fall.

In the Great Hall…

"King Kinomoto," Syaoran began, "I am much honored that you let Meiling become me wife but…"

"Why Syaoran, my future son in law, how glad I am that Meiling has finally fallen in love and with a fine young man too that loves her back so," Fujitaka commented.

The words Fujitaka said hit Syaoran hard. He closed his mouth and decided not to finish his words for he didn't want to break Fujitaka out of his happy state. He decided to wait until the next day.

Little did he know that it would be too late.

Sorry for the late update. I hope you enjoyed the story so far. Please don't hesitate to point out any mistake I might have made. I'll be glad to change them.

-CherryJava