The Princess and the Slave

Thanks for reading this far! So without further ado,

Chapter 16

The trio entered the bustling market place.

"Wow! It's even livelier then I remembered!" Sakura exclaimed. Kondo and Syaoran followed a few paces after her. She stopped when she reached a street with stalls of weaponry.

"Syaoran-kun, Kondo-san, may we stop here? I would like to look at some of the weapons they have to offer." When the two males nodded, Sakura bounded on ahead of them.

"Syaoran, I'm going to go to Niquwa's weaponry." Kondo said, motioning to a large stall a few yards away. "I'll still be keeping an eye on the princess though," added Kondo as an after thought. Syaoran nodded and followed Sakura.

Sakura was looking at thin senbon needles, ones that could be put in your hair. Some had elaborate designs on them that would make great hairpieces, let alone weapons.

"They're so pretty." Sakura sighed. She felt the crowd shift beside her. She turned to her right, only to be greeted by a grinning face. The young man picked up the hairpiece that she was inspecting earlier, "Pretty indeed." He ten addressed the shopkeeper, "Wrap it up for this pretty lady here." The shopkeeper bowed and hurried off with the hairpiece.

"What was that for?" Sakura asked.

"Can't I get a gift for my fiancée?" Was the man's only response. Sakura looked the male over and realized it was the man she saw in the castle yesterday. The two looked at each other.

When the shopkeeper came back with the wrapped hairpiece, Sakura ignored it and stormed off, Syaoran and Kondo following in her wake. Syaoran glanced at the man they left behind before turning to look back at where he was going.

Sakura stormed into her room and slammed the door. Kondo had left to visit the guards when they arrived back at the castle, and Syaoran stopped following her when they passed the kitchens.

"ARGGGGGGG!" Sakura yelled at the top of her lungs. When she collapsed on her bed, she looked at the ceiling. Sakura started to mumble something about stupid parents before drifting off into a peaceful slumber.

When Sakura woke up, it was dark out. She got up, her bare feet brushing the cold stone floor. When her stomach grumbled, Sakura pushed open the door, hoping to see no one up and about. Much to her dismay, she saw a figure in the hallway heading towards her.

From the direction of the figure, she could smell a feast. Her stomach growled in complaint and she had half a mind to jump the fellow and steal their food. When the figure got closer, she realized that she wouldn't have to jump him.

"Syaoran-kun, by any chance is that food for me?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yea, it is." He mumbled.

"Wow, thank you for bringing it to me! It certainly saved me a trip down to the kitchens. You're so thoughtful." Sakura said with a smile.

"They forced me to," Mumbled Syaoran to himself. Fortunately, Sakura didn't hear him.

When she finished eating, she thanked him.

"You're welcome," He responded as he headed towards the door.

"Syaoran-kun, stay a while." Sakura said, noticing his move to the door. Syaoran sat down on a chair. The two sat in silence for a while. The silence soothed Sakura and after a few minutes, she spoke.

"I'm sorry I ran at the markets. I should have stayed and given you some time to look at the goods and show me around some."

"We can try again tomorrow." Syaoran replied. Sakura nodded her head vigorously.

"I would like that." She said. "I think I've had enough talk for one night, I think I'd like to sleep now." Sakura murmured sleepily as she lied down on her bed. Syaoran exited her room without looking back and closed the door behind him.

Sakura closed her eyes, entering into darkness.

When Sakura woke up feeling refreshed, despite only having five hours of sleep. She took a quick bath and then went down to the dining hall.

When she arrived, guards opened the massive doors for her. She thanked them and entered the dining hall. She noticed that her parents were there, along with representatives she didn't know.

Sakura took her place next to her parents, watching the others cautiously. The door opened, only to reveal the young man she saw at the market yesterday.

"I'm sorry, Father, Mother. I got lost, this castle is not like the one we have at home." The young man took his seat next to his own parents.

Sakura's father cleared his throat. "Naozumi of Dreamland, meet my daughter Sakura of Cherry blossom."

Naozumi took Sakura's out stretched hand and kissed it. "Hello Sakura-hime, this is for you." Naozumi extracted a flower from behind his back and presented to Sakura.

"Um… Thank you, Naozumi." She said as she accepted the flower.

"You may call me Nao, hime" Was his only response.

"Mother, father, If you may excuse me, I have matters to attend to." Sakura said as she stood.

"Of course Sakura, you may go now." Her father said.

When she left, Sakura's father turned to Naozumi, "What do you think?"

"She's lovely." He said, delighted about being her fiancée.

Sakura's footsteps could be heard echoing through the stone halls. She wasn't running, but her footsteps were frantic, as if she were searching for something.

She didn't stop until she reached her room.

Sakura sunk down until she was sitting. She looked around her room, noting that it was simple. Not elegant like her parents, yet not drab like some of the maids.

Why couldn't she have her one whim answered? Sakura sat there through dinner. A maid knocked at her door, but Sakura told her to leave.

Sakura stayed there until the stars came out. She looked out her window from where she was and she reached out, hoping to catch a star. Sakura leaned her head back on the door and sighed. If only she could be free, free like a bird.

She didn't awake until she felt the vibrations on her back. Sakura stretched, trying to get the kinks out of her neck. He back was sore and her neck hurt.

"Sakura, it's me, Tomoyo."

"Tomoyo-chan, hold on." Sakura replied. As soon as she entered the bathroom, Tomoyo walked into her room.

"Your bath isn't prepared yet, I couldn't get the door open. Was something wrong?"

Sakura had emerged from the bathroom and Tomoyo noticed the change in her facial expression.

"What is it Sakura?" Tomoyo rushed to her side.

"Naozumi. He's someone else my parents picked for me."

"Oh, Sakura. Just ignore him. You didn't let the other ones get to you. It will be alright, Sakura. Just don't give up." Sakura looked up at Tomoyo with a new fire in her eyes.

"Thank you Tomoyo. You're a good friend."

Sakura walked down to the gardens, not really looking for someone, but hoping to see Naozumi.

She wasn't disappointed when she saw him gazing at the flowers with love.

"Naozumi." Sakura said stiffly, curtsying at him.

"Sakura-chan." He replied with a bow.

He grabbed her arm gently, guiding them deeper into the gardens.

"I never knew the gardens here were so extensive. Back home, the gardens are so small. I'll have to show you sometime."

"You like flowers?" Sakura questioned him.

"Like? I absolutely adore flowers. They are so pretty and so fascinating." He pointed to a flower. "That there, a carnation. They are beautiful, yet one must be careful." He plucked one gently and tucked it behind her hair. "Beautiful" He murmured.

Sakura looked at the flowers, not really embarrassed about what he just did.

"I think flowers should be cherished. They shouldn't be sheltered, they should be free."

Sakura looked at him as he looked at the sky, imagining the freedom that lied beyond the walls.

"They way you describe flowers, you talk like you know them well."

Naozumi nodded, "Some people don't see how much flowers are like humans." He looked at her. "Some humans are meant to live free." Sakura looked into his eyes. The two held each other's gaze, none dared to blink.

Naozumi was the first to give in; he blinked and turned away, a slight pink tint on his cheeks. "But I only speak with observation, I don't know if it's true or not."

Sakura nodded and the two finished their walk in silence. When they went to part ways, Naozumi spoke.

"I'm sorry if what I said earlier sounded, strange."

"It's alright, Naozumi. I don't mind, it sounded sincere."

Naozumi nodded. "It was." He turned and walked a few steps and then turned, "Call me Nao, please. Naozumi reminds me too much of life."

"Alright, Nao." The two parted ways for now.

Notes: Did you like it? No mention of Syaoran majorly this chapter. Next chapter.

Nao is also an OC, so I've got rights. I hope you like it so far…. I really have nothing to say…

Read and review please. I enjoy reading your reviews.

LWB