Disclaimer: I do NOT own CCS, much to my dismay

Summary: At the age of six, Sakura has one of the kindest hearts out there. When she meets Syaoran, they become instant friends, giving them both their first kiss. Being the daughter of an important leader in Japan has its advantages and disadvantages. One being arranged marriages. Or is that a good thing? Little did she know, her marriage was being arranged to Syaoran, heir to the Li clan in Hong Kong. Though friends for the two weeks Sakura visited at age six, they meet again ten years later to be announced that they are to be married. Sakura and Syaoran must marry out of duty to their parents and their responsibility to the corporations. But is there more to their marriage than just duty?

Thank You to everyone who reviewed!!! mwah!
CHAPTER THREE

THE ENGAGEMENT BALL

The Next Day

Sakura's POV

"Tomoyo, I'm so nervous." I said over the phone to my best friend.

"I'm sure it'll be perfect. Anyways, you have your family and Syaoran there." She replied

"Yeah, I guess so..."

"So, what are you wearing?" asked Tomoyo excitedly over the phone.

"Well, they already picked out my dress. It's this really pretty, long, white silk dress that has one inch diamond straps on the back. And on the bottom of the back, it's longer so it drags along the floor and there are green flower designs on it. And they also got me these diamond strapped white heels that go perfectly with the dress. And do you know what else?" I asked her about to break down and cry.

"What else?" Tomoyo asked quietly

"They also got me a diamond necklace to go with everything." I said sniffling.

"That sounds wonderful, but why are you crying?"

"I'm not!" I insisted

"Sakura, I'm your best friend. You know better than to lie to me. So what's wrong?"

"The thing is, everything's beautiful and I'm thankful to them but Syaoran and I are supposed to announce our engagement to everyone! We only met today! He's a really nice guy, but I don't love him. I think I need to spend at least a few months knowing someone before I can marry them. You were lucky that you fell in love with someone first, instead of being betrothed to someone." I confessed, tears rolling down my cheek

"I was betrothed to someone. I was betrothed to Eriol. We just met early and we fell in love. Our parents wouldn't arrange a marriage that they know we'd hate. Maybe Syaoran's the one. Just give him a chance to get to know him and maybe, just maybe, you'll fall in love like Eriol and I did." Tomoyo said comfortingly

"I don't know Tomoyo. Stuff like that don't happen to me."

"They will. One day, you're going to have a fairytale ending. Just wait."

"Oh, yeah! Did you know that I'm going to go to the same school you are?" Tomoyo exclaimed

"Really? How?" I asked

"Well, I talked to my mom and she thought that I should go to your school because it's so prestigious and since you, heiress of the Kinomoto Corporation, and Syaoran, Heir to the Li Clan, are going there, they thought that Eriol and I should go too! Isn't that great?" Tomoyo yelled happily into the phone

"That's wonderful! I can't wait to go to school now!" I replied smiling excitedly

"I know! Sorry I can't go to the party." Tomoyo apologized

"That's okay. You had to go to a very important meeting."

"Yeah, but you getting engaged is bigger and more important!" she shouted

"It's okay, really. It won't be that bad." I said, not convincing myself.

"Tell me all about it okay?" She asked

"Okay, you'll be the first person I tell."

"Hahaha, okay, thanks."

After that, we hung up and I started to get ready for the party. This was an important party with a lot of important people that will be scrutinizing every movement I make. I went to go take a relaxing bath with bath beads and candles lighted all around me. After I was finished, a makeup artist and hair stylist came into my room to work on me. After working on my hair and makeup, they left so that I could get changed. I slipped into my dress and looked at myself in the mirror. The dress was gorgeous. Then I heard my door open so I turned around. I saw my dad stick his head in.

"Are you almost ready?" he asked

"Yeah, almost" I said picking up the necklace.

"Here, let me help you with that" He took the necklace and placed it around my neck.

"I hope you don't hate me for this betrothal. You know I wouldn't do this to you if I knew that you were going to be unhappy. I truly believe that you and Syaoran will be very happy together. He's a good guy." He said. That's exactly what Tomoyo told me.

"I know. And I don't hate you for it. It was just so sudden. And this just wasn't the way I thought my marriage was going to be. But it's okay. Syaoran IS a good guy and we have plenty of time to get to know each other." I replied smiling slightly

"Thank you. Syaoran will be in the library in ten minutes. Then together, you'll make an entrance to the party." He gave me a kiss on the forehead and left the room.

I put my shoes on, VERY carefully so that I don't breaking any of the diamond straps that wrapped around my lower legs. Then I looked myself over once again and headed downstairs to the library. When I opened the door, I saw Syaoran looking out the window into the dark sky. He was dressed in a black tux without a tie and with the first two buttons unbuttoned on his shirt. His hair was still wild but I could see that he tried to tame it with moose. He turned around and smiled at me. I walked in and closed the door behind me.

"I guess this is it" he said

"Yeah, I guess it is" I replied

"Come here" he said motioning over to him.

I walked over to where he was. He reached into his inside coat pocket and came out with a velvet ring box. I gasped

"If we're going to get married, I want you to have everything a real wedding should be." He said, opening the box. Inside there was a diamond cut fourteen carat diamond ring with a platinum band.

When I didn't say anything, he reached for my hand and slipped the ring on my finger.

"I don't know what to say." I whispered.

"You don't have to say anything." He replied.

"Thank you" I whispered.

"You're welcome. Come on, lets get this party rolling" he said I placed my hand on his arm and we were on our way to the ball.

"Master Li and Miss Sakura Kinomoto" said this unknown voice…. .

The doors in front of us opened and we stepped into the ballroom at the top of the stairs, as everyone faced us looking in anticipation. As we descended the stairs, I could feel the stares of people and I could hear the whispers in the crowd. I don't know whether they were good whispers or bad whispers but they WERE whispering. I guess Syaoran could feel my tenseness because he gave me a comforting squeeze on my hand I looked up at him and saw him smiling at me. I smiled back. We walked to the middle of the room and the orchestra started to play a slow song. We started off the dance and when the room was filled with dancing bodies, we walked over to our parents.

"Sakura! You look so beautiful!" Yelan exclaimed

"As do you, Mrs. Li" I replied

"So how are you two holding up?" asked Fujitaka

"It's going fine, daddy." I said smiling at him

"Oooh is that a ring I see on your finger? I didn't even think of one. Where did you get it?" Yelan asked

"Oh, um, Syaoran gave it to me, in the library right before we came out here." I replied

"That's so cute! We need to announce your engagement in a couple of minutes. Why don't we go upstairs onto the balcony that overlooks the ballroom? We'll announce it there." Yelan said.

(A/N: okay, this may sound a little confusing but in my head, I have a picture of a ball… you know… like princess diaries, how there is a staircase leading down to the dance floor, in the actual ballroom? … yeah, I've never seen princess diaries… but I've seen the commercials! That's all I wanted to say, now back to the story!!)

We nodded and followed her up the stairs to the balcony. When everyone saw that she and my father was up there, they all hushed and looked up towards them.

"As you know, this is a very important occasion. Today, we announce that Syaoran Li, heir to the Li clan, and my daughter, Sakura Kinomoto, heir to Kinomoto enterprise are to be married!" Fujitaka said

Everyone was in shock. There were some disappointed mothers and fathers that wanted their son or daughter to marry Syaoran or Sakura. Then all of a sudden, everyone was cheering.

We walked down the stairs and greeted the guests that eagerly came up to us. Syaoran and I walked to the center of the spacious ballroom and started to dance to the melodious music from the orchestra.

I glanced to the side and saw people watching us with happy expressions on their faces. If only this was a marriage of love…

After a few more dances with Syaoran and a couple of other sons of very important people, I made an excuse to go onto the terrace. I stood there, watching the cheery blossoms fall from the trees. Then I looked at the stars and I saw one star in the sky.

I closed my eyes and whispered to myself, "Starlight, star bright the first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have a wish I wish tonight…. I wish that I'll fall in love with Syaoran, and that I'll be happy" I was unaware of the amber eyed man standing in the shadows, listening to every word...

Ah! sorry that this chapter's so short... but i didn't really want to put in ALL the details on the ball... like who they danced with, who they talked to, etc...

BUT... they're going to be starting school soon.... so they won't be so POLITE all the time... and the chapters were kind of tense... so there'll be more action in the upcoming chapters rather than them just agreeing to everything...

AND... I promise to put ERIOL and TOMOYO in the next chapter!!! I feel really bad... I've kind of been neglecting them...

Please Review!!!