DISCLAIMER: I don't own any CCS characters, they belong to CLAMP.

a/n: Ok, I take back what I said in Chapter 4. My goal for updating is at least a chapter a week. But I'm in such a good mood that I'm putting this one up today (hehehe I just got some CCS manga.) and I'll post again this weekend.

Friends

"All right then, Sakura. You're to be my teacher. You'll need a place to stay. I won't have you staying in one of those itsy-bitsy little rooms tutors are usually given, no, hmmm, where can we put you?" Nakuru mused out loud. Then she giggled, "Most of the others will hate me for this, but too bad," She continued in an innocent tone, "gee, you know what? I do believe the 'only unoccupied room' we have is in the East wing, where the royals are roomed. I guess I'll just have to put you in that room Sakura."

Sakura laughed. Nakuru was nothing more than an over grown child. "Nakuru, how old are you?"

"Eighteen. Why? How old are you?"

"Nineteen." Sakura had not expected to be asked that question and was about to say her real age when she caught herself.

Nakuru called some guards over to carry Sakura's trunks and to put her horse and cart away. As they walked in silence through the palace, Nakuru thought, "Gosh darn it, if only I could remember why her face is connected to love in my mind!"

Sakura's mind was also occupied during the walk. "Nakuru knows my face, but she isn't making the obvious connection. The Fates must really be on my side."

"Oh my gosh, we've passed your room Sakura. Let's turn around. It's that door over there," Nakuru said cheerfully.

One of the guards grunted, "dear Gods this is heavy, mi lady."

Sakura smiled apologetically at the guard. Nakuru led them into Sakura's rooms and dismissed the guards. Turning to Sakura, she said, "Make yourself at home. I'll check in on you later. I'm right across the hall from you. The only other person on this floor is my brother."

"The king? Yue?"

"None other but my brother. I'll be back later." Nakuru left.

Sakura took in her new surroundings. There was a bedroom, a bathroom, and a sitting room too. If I had known I was going to end up like this, I would have chosen a better wardrobe, but no matter," she thought as she hung up her clothes. She really didn't have many possessions to put away so when she was finished, she sat, trying to remember her parents and the rest of her childhood. Sakura was soon asleep.

When Nakuru came in again, she found Sakura lying on her bed, sleeping. Nakuru shook her gently. Sakura woke up, so startled that she caught Nakuru's arm and twisted it, "Ka-" she started, but seeing it was only Nakuru, she hastily apologized.

Nakuru, however, was delighted. "Can you teach me that too?" she queried.

Sakura agreed and Nakuru said, "Ok, so it's almost time for dinner now, we have about two hours. You should probably change into something a little more fancy she said, eyeing Sakura's plain green dress.

"What do you mean 'more fancy'?" Sakura asked.

"Here, where are your clothes, I'll show you," offered Nakuru. She was appaled at the lack of choices Sakura had though and she called in one of her ladies-in-waiting. "Sakura, this is Tomoyo. She's one of my ladies, but she also makes all my clothes. Tomoyo, look at Sakura's wardrobe, I think you would agree with me when I say she needs new clothes. No offense meant, Sakura, your clothes are wonderful for normal everyday wear, but you need some that you can wear for more formal occasions. Tomoyo here can work wonders with anybody's clothes and she's fast, and she's good."

"Don't listen to Nakuru, my lady, she exaggerates," said Tomoyo blushing.

"Don't listen to her Sakura, she's being too modest," countered Nakuru.

"Please, call me Sakura, Tomoyo," Sakura said.

Tomoyo sighed and feigned sadness, "I'm afraid Nakuru was right, my lady."

"Sakura, please, call me Sakura."

"All right then Sakura, Nakuru was right, your wardrobe needs to be redone." Tomoyo immediately got starry-eyed and enthusiastic, "but never fear, Tomoyo is here! Sakura, when I'm through with you, you'll have a gorgeous wardrobe that everyone will be envious of. I can just picture it now!"

Sakura nervously watched Tomoyo. "Does she always get like this when she talks about clothes?"

Nakuru nodded, amused.

"Since we only have two hours before dinner, I'll have to make do with your current clothes, but," Tomoyo cried grabbing Sakura's hands, "You must promise me that you'll let me make you a whole new wardrobe!"

"errr, ok," said a nervous Sakura.

"Yipee!" Tomoyo jumped up and danced a little jig. She got straight to work after that and two hours later, Sakura was dressed in the same dress she came in, but it was cut and hemmed and redone in such a way that know one would know that it was the same dress, unless they had seen Tomoyo work her magic.

"Wow, Tomoyo, I really must say, you are gifted at this," Sakura commented.

Nakuru came over and gave Sakura the elevator look. "I think you should put up your hair."

"Yes, but didn't you say two hours ago that we had two hours before dinner?" asked Sakura.

"We don't want to be late for dinner," added Tomoyo.

Nakuru sighed and called to her other lady-in-waiting, Megumi. "You're right. Let's walk." As they walked through the halls to the dining room, Nakuru explained how seating at dinner worked. "There's three tables in the shape of a U. My brother and I sit at the middle one. There's other people there too, but those are just advisors. When Yue and I were younger, when our parents were still alive, it was family who sat up there. But, anyway, Tomoyo and Megumi sit at which ever side table is closest to me. Just follow Tomoyo and you'll be fine. Well, here we are, the dining hall."

Nakuru threw open the doors and Sakura gasped. The Dining hall was the hugest room she had ever seen, and being a goddess, she had been to many places and seen many large rooms. There were dozens of chandeliers and candles casting light in every direction. The ornate tapestries on the wall contributed to the general atmosphere of stateliness and grace. The roaring fire on one end of the room managed to heat to whole room and the table settings were gorgeous.

Tomoyo led Sakura to a seat and they sat down. "What happens next?" Sakura asked.

"Well, the kitchen boys roll out the food, which is covered, so it's always a surprise. Then the King makes a short speech. Usually no more than a sentence and after he's done, they kitchen boys start serving. Oh, look, here comes his majesty now."

King Yue had made his entrance. He was dressed in light blue and was quite tall. His stern expression could easily be mistaken for anger if one wasn't looking to closely. From where Sakura was sitting, she couldn't see any more detail, but she did send a cursory thought out to him. "He's terribly sad about something. It's almost as if he's lost something very close to him, I wonder what." This made Sakura remember Gareth and the way he looked when she left to become a goddess.

Reaching his seat, Yue remained standing and clapped his hands twice. Immediately, a stream of waiters and carts came out and lined themselves up between the two tables. "I hate making speeches," said the King. He sat down and the serving boys started serving.

Through out the meal, Sakura caught herself staring at the King, wondering what was making him so sad. Tomoyo noticed this. "Sakura, why do you keep looking at the King?"

Sakura was about to tell the truth again, but that would have given away who she was, "oh, no reason. I just can't help but notice how different he seems from Nakuru. Does that man ever smile?"

"Huh? I never noticed that before."

"Well, I did."

Yue felt someone watching him. He looked up and noticed a green-eyed woman with auburn hair staring at him, frowning slightly. "I've never seen her before. Who is she?" he thought. Time and time again, he would feel like he was being watched and would look up, only to see the same woman watching, always with a slight frown. He was annoyed that someone should be scrutinizing him like an animal for sale, but at the same time, he felt drawn to this mysterious beauty. Who was she? Why had he not noticed her before? and What the heck was he doing thinking about a woman he didn't even know?

Nakuru also noticed something strange.

She didn't see Sakura watching her brother, but she did see her brother constantly watching Sakura. She also noticed how cute they would look together. Smiling to herself, she thought, "heh heh heh. I've found myself a new mission, getting Sakura and my dear, dear brother to notice each other and get to know each other better, lots better. I'd better wait to see what Sakura thinks of my brother...then again, he'll probably act on his own if I just tease him a little...we'll see...we'll see."

Nakuru laughed out loud. Yue gave her a funny look, "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, nothing at all Yue."

a/n: well what do you all think of Tomoyo and Nakuru? Check back on Saturday and Sunday for the next two...I just have to edit them.