The Little Mermaid

AN: I do not own Card Captor Sakura or The Little Mermaid

Chapter 7

I hold onto the Li as the people all stare up at us. Merpeople, old and young, gathered from all over the seven oceans to come and see the daughter of the mighty King Fujitika on trial. The counsel overruled my father and said that he is too emotional, the people is to decide what is to happen to me and my human prince.

Li have his arms wrapped around my body as we stand together. Around us comments are voiced. Children are amazed by the fact that we have legs, grown ups are repulsed by it. Young women cry tales of romantic love and passion. Young men cry angry words of hate and disgust towards us. All have something to say about us, it is just our voices that are lost.

You shouldn't have come Li. I let my head rest against his chest. He shouldn't have come. Because of me his mother will be left without a son and his kingdom and people without a ruler. The world can go on without me, but without him… He has so much that he had left behind.

"I'll stay with you, no matter what." I look at him and shake my head. He shouldn't be here. This is my crime. I am the one who has to pay for it, not him. "It's what lovers do." He smiles gently at me and kiss my brow.

"People of Tomoeda. You were called here to witness and judge our princess." The place quiet down and everyone looked up at the senior counsel man. The old man never liked me. Ever since I accidentally broke his little magic toy. "We the counsel, charge Sakura Kinomoto of desertion and of mingling with humans." Roars of outrage filled the air and I let my gaze fall down to the sand.

"And to make matters worse, she brought a human to out realm." That is not true, I did not bring him here. He came out of his own accord, he came to help me. What is the use? No one will listen, and no one cares. Even if they could hear my voice. "She stole the forbidden potion from her own father's cabinet, drank it and went to live on land."

Scandal. Outrage. How could she? All comments echoing in the air form the people. "There she deceived and tricked this human into loving her." That is not true. "But he is not any human, he is a human prince." I didn't trick him. I didn't force him. "Is there anyone who will speak in their defence?"

"I will." I jumped at the voice and looked up to see Kaho. But she wasn't human, she was a mermaid. A beautiful young mermaid.

"The witch?"

"I will speak on their behalf. Sakura came to me to learn. I taught her and you chased her away. In her time in the human city she earned her way as a normal working human girl. She did not beg, she did not use magic nor did she trick people. She worked hard and honestly. I do not know where the prince met her, but she surely did not trick him."

"I found her." I look up at Li as he speaks and then let my gaze drop to the ground again. "She would not talk to me. That is when I learned she could not speak." A rushed whisper. My people do not know that I can't speak. The counsel kept it a secret. "She was weak and tired, she refused my help as well as my offer of a home. She was too proud, too scared to even consider it."

It was foolish of me to accept his hospitality in the end. I should have walked away like I planned, but he kept me there. "But she was too weak and I took care of her. Later she got ill again and I nearly lost her." Gasps filled the air. I nearly died, it is true. Perhaps it would have been better if I did.

"You lie! The princess is too strong to have fallen ill!" I glare at the old man.

"Why do you care in anyway? You ignored me for thirteen years and suddenly decided that I am worth something to you when I was no longer around." I clasp my hand over my mouth. The words echo over the people. Was that my voice? No, it is my mind, my thoughts aloud.

"Your highness…"

"No one can love a mute princess, you said. But I proved you wrong. My father and brother love me and so does Xiao-lang. You can't shove me away anymore. All my life you treated me like I was worth nothing, just because I lost my voice."

AN: Ohh! Getting interesting.

Thank you for the great reviews!

Tella