Misty Dreams

Card Captor Sakura

Chapter Ten

*starjade*

A Fire

Sakura felt as if the whole court was watching for her reaction, rather gleefully. Only Tomoyo was by her side as she watched Lady Rita run into Syaoran's arms.

Why was everyone watching her? Its not like she liked Prince Syaoran that way! She hardly cared who was getting married to him and who wasn't!

Yes you do, a little voice inside her whispered. Why do you feel as if your hearts about to break if you didn't?

Sakura ignored the little voice and tried to control her breathing as she forced a smile onto her face as Syaoran stood there, frozen, as Lady Rita fawned over him.

" Your so handsome! Even more than when I saw you last time! I heard that you got injured!! Oh my poor baby!" Lady Rita was exclaiming.

Yelan was standing behind Prince Syaoran and Lady Rita, a grim smile on her face. She looked rather satisfied, as Syaoran tried to release himself from her hold.

" Lady...Rita....please....let go of me..." Syaoran choked out.

Lady Rita gasped and let go of him, blue eyes wide with innocence. " Syaoran? Are you okay?"

" Yeah, I'm okay..." He was about to say something more, but he stopped and looked around the room, where the room's occupants were staring at the couple, eagerly.

" WILL YOU GET LOST?" He yelled at the top of his lungs. Everyone jumped, including Sakura and they all hurried out of the room.

Sakura, so confused, tried to follow everyone, but ended up being the last person leaving the room and Syaoran cut in, " Keili, wait."

" I wonder who gave her that name," Lady Rita said softly, looking at Syaoran. She looked back at Sakura and her observing eyes took in all she needed to her and she gathered her skirts in both hands and curtsied to Syaoran.

" Your royal highness, Prince Syaoran. I will take my leave....and I eagerly wait the day where we will be joined together as one, husband and wife, King and Queen." Rita said forwardly.

Syaoran nodded stiffly and she walked away, her hips swaying, her hair gloriously taking in the shine of sunlight from the windows, her soft silk slippers making absolutely no sound as she glided out of the room.

Sakura looked down at her dirty, ripped shoes, ashamed. Is that why Syaoran liked Rita so much? Because Rita was so beautiful, so gorgeous, so lady like-

" Keili?"

Sakura looked up, her eyes surprised as they met Syaoran's amber ones. Her heart gave a funny jolt and she attempted to smile at him.

" Look, Keili....I didn't want to be engaged to her but-" Syaoran started.

Sakura shrugged, and motioned, You are Prince. You marry. No explanation.

Syaoran looked pained for some reason and took a step forward. " Keili-" He stopped and he shuddered, turning away from her. " I wish I knew your real name..." he murmured so low that Sakura could hardly hear it.

With that quiet sentence, he walked out of the room without a goodbye or a farewell. Sakura was left alone, in the finest room of the royal palace, dressed like the lowest servant. Maybe that's all she would be....until she broke the curse.

Sakura looked down at her swollen hands and a tear fell from her eyes.

She wanted to experience all that she was missing out on....love, marriage, children.....but she probably never could. No one would want her....ugly as she was, as wretched as she was....and that caused more pain in her heart than she thought it ever would.

*************

Sakura walked to the courtyard where all the other woman were to be sewing and knitting for the upcoming marriage.

Yet when she got there, all the woman had gathered around excitedly at one of the walls protecting the courtyard from the training field.

Sakura walked over to Tomoyo, who was rocking her baby Taryk, and singing to it.

" Hey, Keili," Tomoyo said cheerfully. When she saw Sakura's questioning gaze, Tomoyo giggled.

" If you want to see what they're all looking at, why don't you go see for yourself?" Tomoyo said slyly.

Sakura rose an eyebrow confusedly and decided to go see for herself. She walked over to the wall, standing a few feet away from the other woman and peeked over.

All she saw was men fighting.

Then she saw WHO was fighting. It was Syaoran. All the woman were sighing after him for he stood bare chested in the middle of a fight with another man.

Sakura felt her heart beat race and she blinked at him. He looks very handsome, she thought to herself and peeked over at the other woman who had their hands on their hearts, some of them fluttering themselves and winking any time Syaoran looked over at them.

It was rather sickening.

Sakura turned her attention back to the fight. Syaoran was winning, sweat pouring from his chestnut bangs down his face and down his chiselled chest. She watched him as he avoided the other man's blows, delivering his own to the man's midriff. He swung around the other man and grabbed him around his neck, flipping him over.


All the woman swooned and squealed and Sakura winced. Just as she was turning back to Tomoyo, she heard a sharp intake of breath that was probably not heard by many, except her hearing was quite good and she whirled around.


Syaoran was sweating even more, and his face was pained as he touched his leg. Sakura growled. He had to take his stitches out today and he was putting so much pressure on his leg that the wound would probably open again and-

Sakura didn't think. She ran out the gate into the training yard and all the way up to Syaoran. Everyone gasped, shocked as the Kinomoto girl ran up to Syaoran and started to motion frantically to his leg.

" Wha-Keili, what the heck are you doing here-my leg?" Syaoran stumbled, his face red for some reason. The women were glaring at her, some of them openly pointing at her and shouting " Witch! Seductress!" at her. Tomoyo was watching her with a rather knowing grin and all the men were staring, open jawed at the two.

" Oh....my leg.....you have to take the stitches out, don't you?" Syaoran finally said.

Sakura put her hands on her hips and pushed him angrily. Syaoran's mouth quirked at the corners. " Oh come on. Let me off, I need to train!"

Sakura shook her head, furiously. You Hurt!

Syaoran watched her push him again, as if that would hurt him and then he smiled, broadly at her. Another gasp went through the courtyard, for Syaoran smiling was one rare thing to see. He chuckled softly and said, " Why don't we leave now and you can take the stitches out?"

Sakura nodded, still angry and began to push him out. " I need my shirt!" Syaoran protested.

Sakura finally then realised the enormity of what she had done. She, the wretched Kinomoto enemy, had just ran out into a men's only training session, ordered Prince Syaoran around without any words, pushed him while he was half naked...

God, she knew that her reputation had lowered....if it was even possible.

Sakura looked cautiously at the group of woman who were gaping at her. Some of them were openly glaring and sneering at her and one of them spit at her and they all snickered. Tomoyo was watching her too, with a slight smile on her face, nodding as Sakura looked at her.

Sakura sighed. Why didn't she ever think before she acted?

" Ready, Keili?" Syaoran asked.

Sakura nodded and then glared at him. No training. I say so, then train.

Syaoran chuckled again and Sakura felt a strange feeling deep in her chest and her heartbeat doubled in speed. " Alright! Alright! I don't know what you'll do if I don't obey you!"

Sakura grinned but as she was turning to walk into the castle, she saw Lady Rita, standing near the group of woman, her eyes on her. Sakura tried to smile at her, but Lady Rita just watched her, emotionlessly, as Sakura walked into the castle after Syaoran.

**********

" OWWWWWWW!"

Sakura looked up at him concerned and he glared at her. " Watch it, will you?"

No hurt, Sakura motioned. You hurt when take out knife.

Syaoran winced. " Well, that was my manly time. This is, OW, the time that, OW, I can finally, OW, say that this, OWWWW, kills!"

Sakura rolled her eyes. as she took out the last of his stitches. Syaoran was howling and Sakura put her hands on her hips and looked at him with raised eyebrows.

Syaoran, who was still flinching in pain, looked at her with almost a sheepish expression. " What??"

Sakura shook her head, a slight smile on her face as she grabbed some soothing lotion she had made from her herbal garden and spread it over his leg, massaging it in.

There was silence as she worked and when she was finally satisfied, she pulled down his pant leg and grinned up at him. Syaoran was watching her with a funny expression and Sakura rose an eyebrow at him. He looked at her, and as if he was jolted out of some sort of reverie, he coughed, his face red. " Yeah...thanks, Keili."

Sakura smiled and patted his head, grinning broadly. Syaoran glared. " What, am I Kero now? Some dog you can pet around?"

Sakura smiled even more broadly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. Syaoran smiled too and Sakura's heart fluttered. Syaoran's smile slipped off his face and he frowned.

" Keili....don't you ever miss laughing?" Syaoran asked, his voice deep. " Don't you ever miss laughing, crying....just talking to people?"

Sakura's heart froze and she stared at him as he looked at her. " Who did this to you? Who made you stop speaking? What happened?" He asked softly. When Sakura didn't answer, he swallowed. " Does this have anything to do with Meiling?"

Of course. Syaoran was not concerned about her. He thought that something bad had happened to Meiling because something bad had happened to Sakura. Sakura turned away and shook her head. She wiped her hands off on a towel and made her way out the door, ignoring Syaoran's calls after her.

Why did it hurt her so much? The fact that she was only here because of Syaoran's need of information....the only reason Syaoran was being so nice to hr was the fact that her mother had put a spell on him....and the fact that Syaoran was engaged to another woman....it all made her chest ache with a deep hurt she couldn't define.

She couldn't be falling for Prince Li....could she?

That was preposterous! Prince Li...she spent her whole life hating him! Hating his people, hating his name, hating his family, his ancestors, his land-

And here she was......falling for him.

**********

Lady Rita made her way through the hallways, her eyes intent on one person. Tomoyo was sewing a little baby shirt, a slight smile on her face as she looked at her baby which lay, sleeping in a rocker.

Lady Rita gathered her skirts up and sat down beside Tomoyo, who looked up startled.

" Oh...Princess Rita!" Tomoyo stumbled, red cheeked as she got to her feet awkwardly. Rita smiled, warmly.

" It's alright Tomoyo. I just wanted to talk to you for a few minutes." Lady Rita said kindly.

Tomoyo looked Rita up and down suspiciously and sat down, warily. " Alright then...."

Lady Rita looked at the sleeping baby. " Such a sweet baby. Looks like his father. Where is Eriol, by the way?"

" Syaoran sent him out to look for information about Meiling," Tomoyo said slowly. " Why do you care?"

Lady Rita's cerulean blue eyes looked surprised. " What ever do you mean, Lady Tomoyo?"

Tomoyo let out a hiss, her eyes narrowing. " You know exactly what I mean, Lady Rita. Why are you trying to act pure and innocent? I still remember when you tried to sabotage every single meeting from any princess who came to meet Syaoran."

Lady Rita laughed, a musical sound. " Oh, that was when I was immature and blinded with my love for Syaoran. Now that we're engaged....I know I have no enemies." Rita's blue eyes glinted with an icy look for a second, before softening and looking back at Tomoyo.

" I just wanted to tell you that I apologize for not being here for little Taryk's birth. I was caught up with my land's affairs-"

" Yah, well, save it." Tomoyo said huffily. Her fingers were gentle as they touched little Taryk's hands. " If it wasn't for Keili..."

" Keili, yes...I was wondering about her," Lady Rita cut in smoothly.

Tomoyo's eyes narrowed in suspicion as Lady Rita continued, " I've been hearing many rumours about her. A witch, some say. A seductress. She is a Kinomoto-"

" God, will any of us loose the notion that all Kinomotos are evil?" Tomoyo burst out. " Keili is not a witch or a seductress! She is an innocent girl caught up in something too big for her to handle...if only I knew what it was, I would help her!"

Lady Rita rose her eyebrows. " I've never seen Syaoran so....caring before. If someone helps him, then a few coins would do. Why did he bring her back to the Kingdom? You know how Syaoran is. You must admit, the idea is far fetched. Yet it happened....do you not think....magical forces may be involved?"


She rose an eyebrow at Tomoyo and anger filled Tomoyo like a wave.

" Lady Rita, please do not ask me anymore questions and leave my room immediately," Tomoyo said through gritted teeth, forgetting that Lady Rita could be the next Queen of the Li Kingdom. Rita just got up and walked towards the door.

" I mean no offence," Lady Rita said softly. " I am just looking at the facts. You should too, Tomoyo. You are a Li...."

She trailed off and looked at her pointedly, before leaving the room. Tomoyo growled furiously and went to the door, slamming it shut. All she knew was that Sakura was a young, innocent girl who needed a friend. And she was never a person to betray a friend in need.

*****************


Sakura could hardly keep the smile off her face. The Duke was leaving today and even though he would come back for the wedding, he wouldn't be around anymore to leer at her or smirk and remark about her filthy Kinomoto blood.

She stood at the gateways with the rest of the Li people as they all waved goodbye to the Duke. The Duke was grinning, his blood red eyes alight.

" I will miss you all," He said imperiously. " But I will come back for my dear Prince Xiao-Lang's wedding. It will be a celebration of all the Li people as the Li Kingdom finally gets a new king!"

The people all around her cheered as the Duke waved goodbye and got onto his horse. But before he left, he winked at Sakura and saluted her. Sakura glared at him, wondering why he looked so triumphant.

What had he done?

As the horses rode away and the Li people began to disperse, Sakura went back into the castle slowly. Even though the Duke was gone, Lady Rita was still here. Lady Rita was kind and gentle, even though she watched Sakura like a hawk sometimes. Especially when Sakura was around Syaoran.

She wondered if Syaoran loved Rita a lot. She wondered if he dreamed about their marriage, their honeymoon and the kids they'd raise. Her heart lowered as she thought about the wonderful couple. They looked so good together. Lady Rita was the perfect queen and Syaoran was the perfect husband.

So Sakura had developed a little, foolish crush on Syaoran. So what? It was nothing big. Besides, if it did develop into something more and god forbid, Syaoran felt the same way ( which was highly impossible) what sort of queen would she make? A scrawny Kinomoto, washed up on the shore to be the Queen of the Li people.

Besides...she was a Kinomoto princess. She had been forgetting that lately. When people treated you like dirt...sometimes, you began to feel like it. She was loyal to the Kinomoto people and would never let them down. She knew she would never reign over the Li people..

Where were her thoughts taking her? Sakura let out a small giggle. It was only a crush. Why was she thinking about this? Lady Rita and Syaoran were getting married in a month. End of story. By the end of the year, the shirts will be finished, the curse lifted and she could go back home.

That was it...that was it....

Suddenly a scream went through the castle and Sakura was jolted out of her thoughts.

" FIRE!" Someone yelled. " FIRE IN THE CASTLE!"

Sakura jumped as people began to scream and panic, rushing back and forth. Sakura could smell smoke and she began to get worried. The fire wasn't in Tomoyo's room, was it? Taryk was in there, if the fire was in there-

Sakura began to run, following the crowd to the fire. People rushed past her with pails of water and they ran into a room and began to pour it over the fire. The fire was big, but after many pails, it fizzed out, leaving the room blackened and scorched.

Sakura then realized, it was her room.

With a gasp, she raced to the front of the crowd and stumbled into her room. Everything was blackened and she looked around desperately. She went to her bed where two of the four shirts were laying as well as her supply of starwort..

And all that was left was a pile of dust.

Her eyes were wide and she backed away slowly. No, this couldn't be happening! Her shirts...no, no, no! She fell to her knees and touched the dust with her fingers, letting the burned needles run through her fingers.

She could hear fighting voices coming near her room.

" It was the Duke! I swear it was!"

" Xiao-Lang, it was an accident. A maid probably knocked down a candle, its a common occurrence."

The reached her room and stopped as they watched Sakura surrounded by a blackened, scorched room, on her knees and staring at a pile of dust.

" Oh, Keili," Syaoran started.

Sakura started to cry. Huge gulping sobs racked through her body but she could only shake silently with tears racing down her face. She would never finish the shirts....and her brothers....stuck in a swan shape forever...

a/n: Aw, thats sad. Thanks so much for the reviews! Some of u read a lot of versions of the six swans, and mine takes most of those stories and a few twists added in...just because I want to. And the fact it makes the story more interesting.

Alright, ppl, REVIEW. I know you all desperately want to tell me whether my story is great or my story sucks like hell, so review and have ur say. Even if u say update now...but I warn you, I have a severe disorder in which I can only obey the first word in a demand, so I will update, but if the 'now' is when I finish the next chapter, then yes, I will update 'now'

lol, aight, ppl, READ and REVIEW!

See ya latez,

~starjade~