A/N: I do not own CardCaptor Sakura... I said that in the first chapter.


Chapter Seven- Mystery Princess

Syaoran studied the girl's appearance with approving glances. He must admit; she was quite beautiful. Long, lengthy hair was pulled into an intricate Chinese manner as the rest of her smooth hair cascaded down her back. Her enchanting eyes were like red rubies. A red dress, made with silk adorned her body. It looked strikingly simple as if a divinity had made it, but it glowed on her body.

"My name is Princess Rae Meilin." Her voice sang, bowing slightly, and smiling brightly as she rose.

"Nice to meet you," Syaoran said, leaning over the railing of the balcony, looking out in the quiet scenery. Several minutes had passed as the two stared out at nature's landscape.

Finally, Meilin spoke up, "You hear that sound?" She cooed, eyes closed, mind listening to what she had heard.

Confused, Syaoran asked, "What sound? I don't hear anything."

She smiled, "Listen harder... to the music. Doesn't it sound beautiful?" She breathed, fluttering his heart with her flawless features.

"I guess so..." Syaoran said, quite unsure.

"Come on, let's dance!" she excitedly cried.

"N-No... I c-can't..."

Ignoring his pleas, she grabbed his hands and placed it upon her dainty waist. He blushed furiously. She had both her hands on his broad shoulders. "I'll teach you how to dance," she whispered, taking her first step.

Syaoran was caught off guard, for he never danced before. He had always thought dancing was for high-spirited people who like to enjoy themselves. He saw them as weak and defenseless.

And at this point, he found himself being one of them because he was actually enjoying this moment with this mystifying girl. From this moment, he felt a soft tingle inside him. It felt warm. It felt nice. After some time, the prince and princess were now swaying and gliding over the ceramic ground of the balcony, following the melodic music playing in the background in precise harmony.

As the music faded, the two stood, still in dancing position. Meilin's head was resting against Syaoran's shoulder, taking in the moment's delight.

"The music is over," Syaoran whispered. She looked up, smiling joyously as she leaned forward, up to his face.

Startled by her action, he pushed her back, causing her to frown in disappointment. "I'm sorry," he apologized, not knowing what she had intended to do.

Was she trying to kiss him?

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to move too fast." She looked down ashamed, also realizing what she almost did. A warm hand was placed on her delicate shoulder and she looked up curiously.

"It was nice meeting you though," Syaoran simply stated.

Suddenly, a voice from inside the ball room called out into the balcony, "Meilin! Meilin Rae!"

The girl released Syaoran's grasp from her shoulder and whispered, "I have to go! My mother is calling me... I hope to see you again soon!" She then began her way back inside the castle.

-

The next day...

Sakura was in the main halls, dusting away. While dusting, she took a glimpse outside the window to see what time of day it was. Astonishment filled her when she saw a princess out by the garden, admiring the flowers that she always tended to.

From another side of the garden, she saw the huge, metal doors open noisily as a boy with messy chestnut hair came strolling out. She raised an eyebrow as she saw him jump back, stunned to see the raven haired girl, pouncing the garden on her own leisure.

"Meilin?" Syaoran bursted.

The girl turned around, with a fragile blossom between her fingers. "Syaoran... good morning!"

"What are you doing here?" He asked confused; he was sure Meilin doesn't live here and he was sure that the party ended yesterday night.

The girl pouted, "You don't want me here?"

He smiled, shaking his head a bit. "No, I do... I was just surprised, that's all."

She smiled back. "My mother went away on a week meeting with her advisors. She figured that I should stay in your castle since Yelen is her best friend." Finishing off her sentence, she ran to Syaoran for a hug.

The boy grinned sheepishly as he embraced her back.

From the window, Sakura turned her head away, closing the curtains swiftly before she fell onto her knees. 'Syaoran... Why is he so different?' She had witnessed him hugging that girl. Was she his girlfriend?

Her heart felt like it was going to rip apart from a blend of anger and sadness. A couple drops of tears fell from her emerald eyes. It was quite obvious that she was hurting and having slight feelings of jealousy.

Ignoring her broken heart, She got back up and went back to dusting the furniture. After she finished, she went into the main halls to clean up the mess from the party the other night. Other servants had already started cleaning before her.

She began to walk her way down the opposite end of the hallway to broom the floor when she heard a feminine laughter echoing down the hall. She heard a charming, male voice telling some kind of joke. Strangely, Sakura felt herself drawing towards the rich, deep voice. She was walking absentmindedly through the corridors, following the nice tone until she bumped into the walls, falling onto her knees as the broom came after her.

She spotted Syaoran and the princess crossing her path.

"Hello young servant," Meilin greeted, addressing a very embarrassed Sakura. The princess giggled, pulling Syaoran's arm closer to her so that she could lean her head onto his shoulder. From the ground, Sakura caught Syaoran glaring bluntly down at her before he walked away with the princess.

She felt humiliated and so hurt. She got up and silently walked back to the main halls so that she could begin brooming, glad that the mess wasn't that huge to clean up.

-

Four days had passed and Sakura couldn't stand Syaoran and Meilin being together. As the days progressed, they grew closer. Sakura just found it sickening. She felt like she was going to die!

She closed her curtain, having tired herself at staring at the princess snuggling within Syaoran's arms.

'I thought Syaoran was cold that he cares for no one... But I guess I was wrong. He seems really happy... I should be happy for him too. Maybe with Meilin around, he'll drop the punishment... I really want to talk to Tomoyo and Eriol and I can't stand being shunned anymore! I feel so sad... that Syaoran is with... Mei– I shouldn't be thinking about this! I am a mere servant and can never be with him and he wouldn't want me anyhow..." Sakura thought sadly.

-Syaoran's Pov-

"Syaoran... do you love me?" Meilin asked, burying her head into my chest.

I didn't know what to say to her because I'm not sure of my own feelings. Sure, she was beautiful and she warmed my heart every time I saw her but it doesn't mean I love her.

"Syaoran?" she asked.

"Ugh... of course I do..."

Meilin placed two fingers on my jaw line and pushed my face so that I faced her. "I love you Syaoran. If you love me... then say 'I love you'."

My mouth was half open. Was I sure of myself? I finally made up my mind and whispered to her. "I...ugh... I love you too." It sounded rather strange, but maybe I should get used to it before I jumped to conclusion.

-Sakura's Pov-

"I... ugh... I love you too."

From those words that Syaoran uttered to the girl, I felt my whole body shattered into fragments of glass.

'No! He can't love her!' I thought frantically as threatening tears squeezed through the corner of my eyes. I was being ripped apart!

I tried wiping away at my tears when I heard the door open as Tomoyo entered, looking down at me sympathetically.

"Tomoyo..." I murmured, afraid of her turning her head on me, but she didn't. Tomoyo wasn't aware of Sakura's tears; she was still thinking about what happened earlier. She blushed as the scene revisited her.

-

In a dimly lit room, Eriol sat on armchair, intelligent features and wise, azure eyes watching a girl enter his chambers. She came over and sat on an armchair, sitting in front of him. As of every day she comes to visit, he would place a book in front of her. She had always love reading his elegant poems.

"In this black landscape, raise the grand, old moon,

-Shining high above on this dark, foggy night.

A young maiden with sadness imprinted all over her,

-Takes in the grand moon's shape in pure delight.

Always remembering the boy she lost long ago,

-She drowns herself in the moon's milky light.

So that someday, in the moon's interior,

-She and her lost companion will soon unite."

She put the book down, a bit confused, of course; she wasn't very educated the way Eriol was being a servant girl she was. Eriol was staring at her with tender-like eyes. She blushed, seeing him leaning into her to plant a passionate kiss and Tomoyo willingly parted her lips to invite him more contact. While kissing her, he wrapped his arms around her.

As he broke the kiss, he whispered breathlessly, "I love you Tomoyo-chan." It held so much emotion that Tomoyo felt like she could cry... from all this happiness.

"I love you too," she cried.

-

She blushed again, remembering what happened after that. Finally snapping out of her thoughts, she heard soft sobs.

"Sakura?" She ran to her friend whom she neglected those few days ago, and pulled the weak, frail girl onto her lap.

Rocking her back and forth, she whispered soothingly, "Don't worry Sakura, I am here. I won't be ignoring you anymore."

Sakura didn't take notice that Tomoyo was holding her. She was too dizzy from all this crying. "I love you... Syao..." Her voice trailed off as she fell into deep slumber.

Tomoyo picked her up, with much difficulty and placed her on her bed, tucking Sakura in and wiping the dried tears away from Sakura's face with a white handkerchief.

She sighed tiredly, "Soon, everything will be all right. Just wait Sakura."

tbc...