Disclaimer: I'm not CLAMP therefore I do not own Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle

A/N: A little OOC, I admit. Perhaps a bit rushed, as well. But, sigh, I have a knack for one-shots.

Conjuring Up a Smile

"Hi, Syaoran-kun!" called eight-year-old Princess Sakura. "You've finally come back from your dig! How was it? Did you find any new artifacts?"

Sakura ran excitedly down the cobblestone steps, purely delighted at the fact her best friend, Syaoran, was back. It had been ages! Well, actually, weeks. But it seemed so long since she had last seen him. Syaoran looked curiously up at the small, energetic figure gliding down the flight of stairs.

Syaoran blinked curiously, and waved, but didn't smile. After all, they had only met a few months ago. And she had proclaimed him her best friend. It was strange…. But Syaoran had never had a friend before. In fact, he'd never heard the word until his father, Fujitaka, mentioned it.

He noticed Sakura's face dropped a little, realizing he didn't look at all happy to see her. He wanted to smile…. But it just wouldn't come. So instead, he squeezed her hands for an instant, to show he was happy to see her. She smiled graciously, but it didn't seem she had gotten the message the right way. Perhaps she thought he was just trying to help her down the stairs, like any other palace servant.

"Um, Syaoran-kun," Sakura nervously began, "a-are you happy to see m—I mean, are you happy to be back?"

"I'm glad I've returned, Your Highness," Syaoran replied in the bland, servant-like fashion.

Sakura's eyebrows slanted downward in guilt and disappointment. Syaoran didn't know what to do. Had he offended the princess? Why was she feeling so sad? Was it because of him?

"I'm sorry!" they both cried in unison to each other. They looked up at each other.

"You're sorry?" Sakura blurted. "What are you sorry for?"

"Your Highness," Syaoran replied, "is any thing wrong? What are you sorry about?"

"Um!" they both stammered again. After that, they made gestures meaning "you go first" and "no, you go first".

"W-Well, I'll go first, then," Sakura suggested. "Um…Syaoran-kun, I'm really sorry. It's just that, um, well, you seemed really tired right now. And I disturbed you in all by visiting. And, um, when I looked all unhappy, I can't help but think that you started to look unhappy too."

"Your Highness," Syaoran began, "I'm really not tired, and I'm sorry for worrying you. You really don't have to worry about me."

"But, Syaoran-kun, you're my best friend!"

At this, Syaoran felt a strange sensation flowing through his body. He felt his face turn a little warmer, and his mouth turning up at the ends. He felt really great—even better than he did when he found a new artifact.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Syaoran said, smiling. Sakura gasped in happiness and threw her arms around him.

"You smiled! You smiled!"

Fin.