Author's Notes: Hey everyone!!! OK I have a much used and very sore excuse for this EXTREMELY late update, but I can promise you that I am not lying. All the computers (3 and a laptop) in my household had the LSASS worm, and I just was NOT able to upload this. But hey, the good side to this? I've done a lot of chapter 3 so that should come out a bit quicker
DISCLAIMER: Does anyone want to be my disclaimer presenter? Coz at the moment, I'm not in the mood to do it. So if you sent in a review and put in a 'disclaimer' quote then I'll put it in and give you the credit :. But for now, Kero's doing it for extra pudding:Sita Does Not...
Own...
ME and my friends and anything else from the series in Card Captor Sakura,
BUT she
Owns this fic
And the plot and all the original characters in it.
...Though you can have Sukiteka Hatoshi if you feel like it.Last Chapter:
Sakura was starting to have regrets. She did not like the situation she was in. But soon, she will be marrying this man. As optimistic as she is... she's finding it harder and harder to see the bright side in this scenario. But of course, our cherry blossom is a stubborn child... she promised her father and therefore, will not go back on her words... especially if it was her father's last wish.
She just hoped that things would be better soon.
On with the story...
Chapter 2: The Tree and What It Causes
Sakura was sitting in that same tree again, on that same branch. The cool night breeze blew her hair softly. A peony was sitting in her hands, so very carefully, Sakura played with the flower, careful to hurt or break it. Tomorrow is the wedding of Princess Kinomoto Sakura and Prince Li Xiao Lang... but things were not as cheerful for the bride and groom as it should be. Sakura hated her predicament, she wanted to go home badly, but now, she knew for sure that she couldn't. She must stay here, to fulfill her promise and to protect her Kingdom...
FLASHBACK
It was after the coronation ceremony; Prince Touya had finally become king of the Kinomoto kingdom. He was sitting in the throne room, talking to his sister privately.
"Sakura... What's the matter?" he asked, worried by her inability to smile since she arrived.
"Nothing's the matter onii-chan. Nothing at all. I'm just sad that I have to be leaving so soon, I'll miss you so much you know... and... I don't know when we will be seeing each other again. I miss my room, my kingdom, my family and my people..." replied Sakura in a broken tone.
"Sakura, tell me the truth, are they mistreating you in the Li Kingdom? Because if they are..." he said, leaving the sentence hanging
"No, everything is fine onii-chan. Everyone at the Li Kingdom is treating me very well. They are being the most accommodating, don't worry."
"And this fiancè of yours? He hasn't tried to make any moves on you has he? Has he hurt you in any way? What's this prince like anyway?"
Sakura flinched inwardly... as if' she thought we haven't even met yet "No onii-chan, relax, he hasn't tried anything. Nothing at all... He's a really nice person, really sweet, treats me very well. He'll be king soon as you know... your imouto-chan is going to be a queen as well," here, Sakura tried her best to smile, and it fooled Touya anyway. She continued, "I'm really happy in the Li Kingdom. I'm glad that everything is fine there, otou-san made a good choice after all, he found someone that treats me really well. You have nothing to worry about." Lied Sakura, trying to convince herself as well.
Touya sighed, "Well that's good... I was hoping that everything was going well. This will be good for the Kingdom as well"
"Hoe? What do you mean?"
"The Kinomoto defense system has dropped for a long time. And now that father has gone as well... well we're not going too well. We really needed this alliance with the Li Kingdom. They're an extremely influential and strong country... we need someone like them," But when he saw Sakura's face he added, "But then again, we won't die without them, so Sakura tell me if ANYTHING, anything at all happens there that you don't like. If your mistreated or anything like that, I will not tolerate it," said Touya seriously.
"Sakura, I love you, and I just think... it's not right that I won't be able to come to your wedding. I am so sorry... you must think that I'm the worst onii-chan... now that you don't even have father, it'll be just you over there... I promise I'll visit soon, just after everything has settled down," he said, regretfully.
END FLASHBACK
Sakura sighed. This is her life... She better make the best of it. But there was nothing to look forward to. Whenever she thought of her wedding, instead of being excited and happy, she felt dread and nervousness.
"Kami-sama..." she whispered
"My my, what do we have here, a pretty lady sitting all by herself. What are you doing up there angel?" said a sly voice from below
Sakura snapped out of her thoughts and jumped from the tree branch, dropping the peony and losing her balance. She fell from the tree and closed her eyes, expecting the contact with the hard floor.
Oomph...
Sakura still had her eyes shut tightly... wait... why hasn't she hit the floor yet? Wait... what on earth did she land on... or more like in...
She opened one eye and...
Started blushing like mad, she had fallen into the arms of a stranger... a man...
She jumped from his arms, straightening her dress and curtsied to the man, mumbled a thank you and started to run.
But before she could take her second step, someone had grabbed her around the waist painfully and swung her around.
"I do believe that that's not the way to treat your saviour. Shouldn't I at least get a thank you kiss or something?" asked the man in a tone too seductive to bear for innocent Sakura.
She tried to move out of his arms but he was too strong for her. And he was holding her close... too close for comfort.
"Who are you gorgeous? I can tell you're not from the Li Kingdom. Are you a guest like me? Hmm... Do you want to go somewhere more... private with me tonight. I ensure that you'll have a lot of fun," whispered the man against Sakura's ear.
At this point, Sakura stomped on his foot and he had to let go. Sakura turned and sprinted, she ran and ran to the other side of the garden, hiding behind a tree. Just when she thought that she was safe, she was proven wrong.
"That was not something you should have done. Now you will pay for it," said the man in an icy tone that shook her. She looked up to see that the man had cornered her, backed against a tree.
She saw the lust in the man's piercing golden eyes. He had jet black hair and a strong athletic build. Other girls might have even found him to be hot. But Sakura knew that she was someone else's fiancée and she was brought up with morals and values. Anyway, Sakura didn't even find this man appealing, more like stuck-up, obnoxious and disgusting.
But right now, Sakura was scared, this man looked hungry for her... and she was backed against a tree. The man started to bring his head down towards her. Sakura kicked and punched and it made no difference...
(AN: I am so tempted to be a bitch and stop the chapter here, but no... I'll just do a scene change, the chapter's not long enough to stop yet...)"SYAORAN! WHY DON'T YOU JUST GIVE THE POOR GIRL A CHANCE?!?" yelled Meilin
"SHUT UP! Geez... do you have to be so loud Meilin? My ears are ringing!" Syaoran glared at her making her glare back. While the two Lis were having a glaring session the servant in the room sweat dropped... it was actually quite an amusing site.
Syaoran smirked when Meilin was the first to break the glare,
"Anyway, what's up with everyone being on her side?"
"Maybe because she's not a stuck up asshole like you?" replied Meilin sardonically
Another glare
"Well I don't care what she's like. I don't want her,"
"Well there's nothing you can do about it. Aunty Yelan will definitely not let you break off the engagement. And I don't think that she will anytime soon. Only god knows why though," Meiling stated, "So live with it cousin, you're going to be a married man by tomorrow. By the way... you still haven't met her yet have you?"
"No, and I don't intend to. Even if we do get married, she'll suffer the most... it'll be an empty marriage. Why doesn't she just give up?" sighed Syaoran, exasperated. He didn't want to be so cruel himself, but if it's the only way to get her out of the place, then it will be done."
'What on earth has that poor girl gotten herself into?' thought Meilin to herself as she left the room, walking down the hallway.
She met Tomoyo and Eriol in the hall to tell them the news. She was no help either. She might as well go with them for a walk."GET AWAY FROM ME!!! Don't touch me!" screamed Sakura. The man had not succeeded in doing anything to her... yet, other than rip her right sleeve, and the hem of her dress. "Please... go away" whimpered Sakura, her body had been badly bruised being slammed into the tree many times due to her attempts to escape. Her fear had only fed the man's hunger for her... he felt more superior hearing her pleads.
He lifted her up, ready to take her to his rooms ignoring the looks the guards gave him. The guards didn't see who the struggling woman was, but they could see the man's face. This man was a guest, a very important one, and they were given strict orders to please this man and give him what he wanted.
"NO!!!" cried the girl. "LET GO OF ME! I COULD PUNISH YOU GREATLY FOR THIS!"
"Showing authority now are we? Well I'm a prince, soon to be king... try punishing me when even the royals of the Li Kingdom have to show respect to me" he replied, cutting her off.
"They show respect to you only because of your father. And you, prince, are acting way too rash for what you're worth. You will let go of the lady right now," spat an angry masculine voice in the dark.
"Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?" roared back the man, not showing any sign of letting Sakura go. But the man had loosened his grip on her slightly, so she bit him and ran towards the voice.
The clouds moved and enabled all the people involved to be shown under the moonlight.
"SAKURA!" gasped Meilin and Tomoyo, making Eriol break his glare and look at Sakura, shocked to see that it was her.
"How dare you Sukiteka?!?" yelled Meilin, letting go of Sakura, allowing Tomoyo to comfort her and hush her tears. "How dare you touch Sakura like that?!?" she repeated
"So she's called Sakura? Beautiful name... Just like her. Right angel? Oh, I think I should introduce myself. Prince Sukiteka Hatoshi, at your service... though I'd rather you be at mine," smirked Sukiteka.
Sakura just shrunk more towards Tomoyo and started shaking. Eriol had to take off his coat to wrap it around Sakura, especially since her dress was ripped and showing skin.
"Sukiteka, you have just assaulted the future queen of the Li Kingdom. Princess Kinomoto Sakura will be getting married to Prince Li Xiao Lang tomorrow, and probably because of your actions, she has missed the pre- marriage traditions that should have been performed tonight," hissed Tomoyo, disgusted by the simple presence of this man.
Even Sukiteka couldn't hide his shock. This angel had to be wasted and be married to the cold hearted beast of a prince Xiao Lang? What a pity, he had taken a liking to her. She, without even trying, had awakened passions in him that no other woman had before. And unfortunately, when he wants something, he won't stop till he gets it, in this case, he is determined to get Sakura.
"Meiling, Tomoyo, Eriol, just leave it. Can you just take me up to my room? Please? I don't want to cause any trouble. If he's an important ally, then we must be careful with what we say and do, just please, take me to my room and don't tell anyone what happened here tonight, especially prince Li, he might get the wrong ideas..." whispered Sakura, "We're getting married tomorrow, I don't want to worry him... I'm fine, I really am."
"But Sakura..."
"Please"
They all sighed and turned to leave, however, Eriol lingered behind and hissed, "Don't you dare let me see you near Sakura ever again Sukiteka, you hear me? You're lucky this time, but next time, I won't hesitate to take matters into my own hands..."
And they left for Sakura's room, Tomoyo and Meiling comforting her all the way.
'Syaoran... you have no idea what you are missing out on... Sakura really is one of a kind... she doesn't deserve this... and even... maybe you don't even deserve her'
The wedding day (AN: This is going to be a traditional style Chinese wedding, so if you don't keep up the skip it, there's no drama in this bit)
The day had come. Sakura's heart had not stopped beating at a hundred kilometers an hour since last night.
'Last night...'
Sakura shook her thoughts out of her head and continued to get ready, though there wasn't much to do anymore anyway, as the maids, Tomoyo, Meilin and her four sister-in-laws had already completed the job.
To agree with the two cultural differences, Sakura was wearing a traditional style, red wedding kimono, as she was soon to be queen, there was a golden phoenix hand embroidered onto the kimono. Her ob... (AN: shit, I am so stupid, what the hell is that sash called again? I really cant remember, please forgive) was made of pure golden Chinese silk, and the hem of her kimono was decorated with golden cherry blossoms to correspond with the bride's name.
Sakura's hair was done in a chignon like style, but with more twists, flower, decorations and all. And then she had her crown, encrusted with diamonds, emeralds and rubies.
Sakura looked at herself in the mirror and smiled slightly. She thought about her mother, father and brother, her maids, her servants, her friends and her kingdom. She missed them dearly. And today, that name of her's will be changed, there will no longer be a princess Kinomoto Sakura, but a soon to be queen Li Sakura.
A lone tear slid down her cheek as she raised her veil over her and called to her servants that she was ready to go to the carriage,
To go to the banquet room...
To go to her wedding...At the ceremony
Sakura was in a trance, all she could remember was someone leading her to kneel beside someone else. Of course, the someone else was Li Xiao Lang, her groom, her husband.
The traditional ceremony began, lasting for ages. Finally, the feast was to begin and Sakura was seated at the head of the table along with the other royals. Her veil, still securely slipped to hide her face, she began to eat. After the feast, Sakura was sent to her room to await the prince.
Hours ticked by, the moon shone brightly, and still, nobody entered the room. However, near the crack of dawn, the prince finally went in. Sakura had lied down on the bed during her waiting and was pretending to be asleep when the prince came in.
Syaoran sighed and looked at the figure on the bed. Her veil still covering her head. He walked to the bed and sat down. Sakura's heart was beating fast, she couldn't wait to meet her husband. Maybe he didn't want to meet her all this time because he was a romantic and wanted to keep it a surprise... at lest, that's what she hoped."I don't know if you're still awake, but I want to make it clear that I want nothing to do with you, Kinomoto," he said in a cold, authoritive tone. Sakura's eyes widened and she bit her lip but made no sign to show that she was awake. He continued, "I don't want things to be so bad, but I don't want your hopes up, I will not see you nor touch you. You are only my mother's daughter-in-law, but by no means, my wife. I hope I have made things clear," and he stood up and left the room.
Sakura just lied there, frozen by his harsh words. Slowly, she got up, took off her veil, her crown and looked herself in the mirror... she saw an empty being, wounded by simple words.
Great to know what life have in store for her in this place with an asshole as a husband. Great, just what she needs after losing her mother and father and her only family in a land miles away.
And she started crying, nothing could stop these tears, she had had enough.The next few days went by as a blur for Sakura, there was no honeymoon planned, nor was there any sign of her husband. Tomoyo and Meiling knew what was going on and felt for Sakura, they went and visited her often and tried to cheer her up, they hadn't seen her smile properly since she came back from her kingdom.
"Sakura!!! I made you a new dress!!" squealed Tomoyo, "You're going to look just kawaii in it!"
"Thanks Tomoyo" said Sakura with a small smile. She knew what they were doing but it wasn't working.
A fortnight has past since the wedding and still Sakura had not seen Syaoran and knew she probably won't for the rest of her life. She was fed up. In her own kingdom, she was loved and cherished, she was happy and had friends. Here, it was like hell every single day for her, having to put up an act, telling and showing everyone that she was the most happiest wife in the country. She'd had enough of this crap.
"Kimiko!" ordered Sakura in a real princess tone... something that she had never done before.
"Y-y-yes princess?" stuttered Kimiko, scared. Sakura didn't even notice her servant calling her 'princess' instead of Sakura.
"Bring me 4 sets of your clothing, and a pair of your shoes, some food which lasts, and a filled water bottle and put it in one of your bags for me, I'm going home!" she commanded
"But princess –,"
"Please Kimiko, just do it. Don't tell anyone though. Please, I'm begging you, let me go. I can't stand it any longer, I'm leaving tonight," pleaded Sakura
Kimiko sighed, she knew that her mistress was suffering, the best she could do was let her leave. "Fine, but I'm going wherever you go,"
Sakura smiled at her loyal maid, and nodded. Kimiko left the room to get ready. Sakura turned around and got a small bag which she could wear around her neck and be hidden by her clothes. She filled the bag with jewels, gold, and anything else that was hers when she brought here. She also slipped in her wedding present from Eriol and Tomoyo (a sapphire pendant) and Meiling (a ruby ring encrusted with diamonds). She wanted to remember the few friends that she had here.
Sakura looked at her crown and placed it back on the table, then she took off her ring and placed it next to the crown.
'They'll get the point'
Kimiko returned with the clothes and Sakura changed into a set of them. It was a simple cotton dress that was a light green that came to her knees, it fit nicely around her curves. She let her hair flow down from the fancy do, she just pulled it back slightly and tied it with a ribbon into a low ponytail.
"Kimiko, take these jewels and bribe the guards at the front to let us through tonight, lie all you want, just make them believe. Oh and take these as well, to prepare a carriage for us," she said, handing Kimiko the jewels that she got from the other Li royals 'I'm paying Li with Li jewels, that's alright, it's staying in his country' she thought
Kimiko turned to leave and complete her task. "Oh and Kimiko" said Sakura, making her maid turn around, "Be careful, don't let any of them touch you, if they do, then fight back and run, watch out," warned Sakura. Kimiko smiled and nodded and left the room.
Sakura left the room and went down to the gardens for one last time. She saw there was a nice breeze, blowing sakura petals from the trees, making it look like it was snowing petals. She just couldn't resist it and ran through the petals, smiling and dancing around. Her ribbon fell out and she didn't bother with it, the wind kept her hair off her face anyway. She was also oblivious to the pair of eyes that were watching her every move.
The wind died down and the petals stopped falling. Sakura smiled, it felt great dancing in the petals, it was just like old times when she was with Naoko and Rika. Sakura climbed up her tree and sat on the branch, watching the beautiful sunset. The person that was watching her before felt drawn to her. Slowly, the figure walked to the trunk of the tree and looked up to see a young woman sitting among the sakura petals Her auburn hair flowing nicely and the sunset making her face glow.
He also looked up to and noticed the branch she was sitting on was breaking slightly at the end, "If I were you, I'd get of that branch soon, it's going to snap," he said, startling the girl.
But this time, the girl hung on to the branch, no letting herself fall. She looked down to see a noble or even royal, she didn't know.
"Who are you?" she asked, tilting her head to the side
The man raised a brow, surprised she didn't know, "Li Xiao Lang" he replied shortly
The woman's eyes widened, "That means you're the prince!" 'And my heartless husband'
He nodded.
The two just stared at each other. Minutes past and the sun was nearly set. Emerald and Amber stayed locked until...
Crack... Snap
Syaoran was right, the branch really was unstable, and once again, Sakura found herself falling from the same tree. She closed her eyes, there were two possibilities, she would hit the ground and break her neck, or her husband would catch her. Fortunately for her, it was the latter.
Ooomph...
Emerald and Amber lock again...
'I really need to stop climbing up that tree'
Cheers, Sita xoxo