Disclaimer: CCS isn't mine.

Oh gosh. I'm really tired from camping for the whole weekend. I wasn't going to start typing this up until next week. When I went online, I saw that I already had seventeen reviews. Gee, that was so much inspiration; I opened Word to type the next chapter up.

Enjoy!

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Syaoran looked up to his ceiling in his room, "Sakura…"

If it wasn't for you, Meiling, getting sick and all, I probably would have thought Sakura was like all the other servants…lazy, unwilling to help…

Sakura's just the opposite.

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Chapter Seven

Sakura slowly and awkwardly patted Syaoran on the back, "Mistress wants you to ask Meiling…to…propose. You have to…"

Syaoran was almost to the stage of pleading Sakura to agree with him, "Sakura…mother wants me to keep the royal bloodline within the family, but…I just can't marry a girl who I treat like my own sister!"

Sakura nodded sympathetically, "I understand, but it's just that…the queen is my mistress, and I obey my mistress's rules."

Syaoran too understood that, but his feelings…

Syaoran messed up his hair with his hand. A nasty habit he shouldn't be into.

Sakura opened up a letter that Yelan had sent out to many other important people in the kingdom, "Syaoran? I think Mistress is hinting you on."

Syaoran grabbed the letter, and read it:

To Whom It May Concern,

A ball is being held at the Li Kingdom Grand Hall. We (as in I, Queen Yelan and Prince Syaoran) would greatly appreciate it if you were to come.

Regards,

Queen Yelan

Syaoran clicked his fingers, "She's hoping I would propose to Meiling at the ball."

Sakura silently hoped Syaoran wouldn't propose.

I shouldn't be that selfish. Meiling loves Syaoran, but Syaoran…doesn't return her feelings. Queen Yelan's just hoping for the bloodline to be continued…so Syaoran should really respect that and propose. Yes. That's right.

Sakura looked up at Syaoran, "You should really propose."

Sakura quickly turned away. She was lying. She didn't want Syaoran to propose. But why?

You may as well hear a pin drop at the moment. Syaoran's shoulders slumped straight away, "You think so?"

Sakura stammered, "Yes! Since Mistress is wanting to best for you. And her order is a law. Break it and you will die."

"I'm her son, Sakura."

Sakura sighed, "You'll get a family punishment?"

Syaoran thought about it, "Probably. So even you agree that I should obey mother?"

Sakura nodded.

"Alright. I'll propose to Meiling at the ball." Syaoran muttered unwillingly, "But only for my mother, and for you."

Argh. Propose to my own cousin? Now that is strange. I've only thought of Meiling as a sister until now. Great. So if she accepts, I'll have to marry her. … Is that good or bad?

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Yelan looked at Sakura, "I suppose you should go to the ball, and bring along a friend of yours. I will order your dress to be made, and…"

Sakura broke in the middle of Yelan's speech, "Mistress, I am all but just a servant."

Yelan looked at Sakura straight in the eyes, "You may think so, but Syaoran thinks otherwise."

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At the ball

Syaoran sighed as he saw Sakura, "Sakura?"

Sakura looked over, and smiled brightly, "Hello, Syaoran. Maybe I should call you Prince Syaoran in these occasions."

Syaoran smiled, "That's not needed. You look beautiful."

Sakura blushed prettily, "Of course I don't."

That was an outrageous lie. Sakura was wearing a pink dress that was so long that it dragged along the floor. However, that only made the dress more elegant and lovely. It wasn't puffy, but soft and silky and smooth.

Syaoran laughed, "Say whatever you want. You still look good."

Sakura grinned, "Oh yeah?"

Syaoran then looked around, and blushed like a tomato, "Say…may I have this dance?"

Sakura looked at Syaoran's hand, and she smiled happily, "I can't refuse, can I? You are the Prince."

And she put her hand on top of his, and Syaoran stirred her out onto the dance floor. Sakura kept looking at Syaoran and her hand, joined together. She blushed slightly. Why am I getting this feeling?

Syaoran smiled lightly, "Do you know how to dance?"

Sakura nodded slightly, "A bit. I am sure I will trip over you at some point."

Syaoran smiled mischievously, "And I shall do my best to catch you on your fall, no?"

Sakura looked at the ground, and blushed deeply.

Yelan frowned. She knew her son had fallen in love with the Kinomoto servant. Yelan buried her face with her hands. Why must fate play such a cruel act on others? Syaoran had to marry Meiling. It was by order of her father, the old king of the Li kingdom. He had demanded that Meiling must marry Syaoran, though Yelan protested that she would rather see her son marry one he loved.

"I'm sorry Xiao Lang, but this must be the way." Yelan murmured, and she looked at Sakura, "And she would have been a lovely daughter-in-law…not that Meiling wouldn't be…"

Syaoran stopped back, and he bowed deeply, "It has been a pleasure to dance with you, milady. I am sorry that I have an important task I must complete."

Sakura nodded, understandingly, "It's alright, Syaoran."

Syaoran grinned, "I'll see you round then."

Syaoran started losing his grin as soon as he left Sakura and the dance floor. Because he knew that may as well be the last time he was to dance with Sakura again.

Syaoran slowly walked up onto the grand stage, and he adjusted the microphone, "I have an announcement to make…"

That caught everyone's attention alright. Syaoran looked directly at Sakura, and pleased with all his might that she would understand and forgive him for doing so.

"Li Meiling and I are going to be married soon. As an invitation, Queen Yelan and I would like you all to come." Syaoran said, with each passing second getting softer and softer. He noticed Sakura's expression, so cheerful…and yet, he could sense an emotion of longing and sadness in her face.

Yelan looked over at Syaoran, and she drank her tea calmly. Why was her son always so obedient to the elders? Why couldn't he make his own decision?

Meiling, who was drinking a fruit juice, suddenly choked. What was Syaoran talking about? And Meiling thought Yelan had cancelled it off! Meiling knew that deep in Syaoran's heart (even though he tried not to show it), Syaoran liked Sakura Kinomoto. Meiling was glad she lost to such a kind girl. If it was any other person, Meiling wouldn't' give up so easily. Meiling knew that if they married, Sakura would be good to Syaoran.

But what was happening now? It was probably the elder's decision, and forced Syaoran into it.

Meiling turned away from the wandering eyes that looked at her. She wouldn't let Syaoran marry her. No. Not when Syaoran loved another. I want the person I love to love me more than anyone else in the world. Meiling smiled. Syaoran didn't love her. Meiling wasn't blind.

Meiling saw Sakura, standing in a dark corner of the room. She looked beautiful, with her emerald eyes dancing. But Meiling saw that the brightness in her eyes was fading, as with each word Syaoran said.

Sakura was leaning against a wall in a dark corner. She felt her happiness slipping away as she heard Syaoran announce his important task. Sakura sighed, and a tear slipped down her cheek. And she tilted her head back, and thought, it seems that sometimes I can't help but cry…

End of Chapter Seven

Argh. My internet's been down all week. In those ten minutes that the internet was up, I posted this chapter.

I'll try to post the next chapter whenever my internet's up.

Please review! It's really a great inspiration to read them.