Disclaimer: I don't own CCS

ChiChi's Note: I'm happy today! No school muhahaha - I hope you like this chappie, and I don't care if you don't like it! (I sound so carefree huh?) Enjoy!

Chapter 4

The Pre-war

Tomoyo opened her eyes and felt his arm around her waist. She turned over and saw him sleeping peacefully. She removed his glasses and pushed the hair out of his eyes. She placed his glasses on the pillow beside him and got off the bed. She was surprised that he didn't touch her after she fell asleep. Just as she was about to leave, Tomoyo notice a glint of gold hanging from his neck. She got down on her knees and examined the necklace. "What is that?" Tomoyo asked herself.

Eriol turned over. Tomoyo rolled her eyes and left the room.

…Li Kingdom…

Sakura woke up on the library's table. She had finished reading the diary, but she couldn't activate her bracelet until Syaoran returned. It was late afternoon, and she must have stayed up until early morning reading. The man who wrote that diary spoke of his son, but he never mentioned a name. She had also learnt much about Odelette and Meilin. Odelette had started to train when she was seven and right now she was at least 15 years old. She found it amazing that a girl so young could become a head arms woman. Sakura was nine when the diary was written and she received her orb when she was ten. Meilin was the same age as her, and was a performer in king Syaoran's court. The book spoke of someone named queen Yelan. Meilin was queen Yelan's favourite performer, and she performed every night.

Sakura looked out of the window and saw Syaoran's carriage approaching the village. 'That was fast,' Sakura thought. She heard voices coming from outside, "Quick! We have to find those element orbs before the king returns."

"Just take the orbs. Kill the little girlies," another voice ordered.

Sakura gulped then the door broke down. A man that resembled a rat, and a woman that looked like a pigeon barged in. "Is she not beautiful Etana?" the man asked.

"Look! She has the earth orb Dima," the Etana laughed.

They came closer to Sakura, forcing her to back into a bookshelf. "Hand it over missy and we promise to make your death as painless as possible," Dima chortled.

Sakura shook her head, "There's no way that you are getting this orb."

"Fine then we'll kill you," Etana retorted.

"You wouldn't want to do that," Sakura started to gain confidence in herself, "Because you need me to activate the orb, and if king Syaoran ever found out the you took the element orb, then he would cut your heads off before you could even take a step out of this palace."

"You speak highly of him. Is he your master?" Etana enquired.

Sakura did not respond. Syaoran technically was her master now, and that gave her an idea for activating her bracelet. "I think you are just filled with lies. King Syaoran is only a kid. He has no ability to defeat grown people like us," Dima sneered.

Etana pressed a dagger to Sakura's wrist, "Don't move or I slice your hand right off."

Dima worked on unhooking the bracelet, "Isn't Syaoran the kid of that stupid queen that our mob killed?"

Sakura looked straight ahead and saw Syaoran at the door. "Shut it and get the orb. Don't you know how to remove jewlery?" Etana shouted.

Syaoran drew his sword and targeted the two felons. Sakura was surprised at the fact that she was relieved that he was here. Dima pulled at the bracelet and the chain scratched her. Sakura yanked her arm away from Dima and Etana place a cut across her palm. Sakura let out a cry of pain, and Etana and Dima began to laugh. Their laughs were annoying, like crows, but the laughing stopped for one of them. They both stared dumbfounded by the blade through Etana's stomach. "Hey Etana… Did you know you're bleeding?" Dima asked.

"Idiot," Syaoran mumbled and stabbed him as well.

Sakura blocked the images of their bodies by looking at her hand. The wound stung immensely and blood rushed out of it. Syaoran took out a handkerchief and tied it over the wound. "Thank you," Sakura murmured.

Syaoran simply frowned in response and brought her out of the library. "How do you expect to defeat Chikara? They have the strongest army in the land," Sakura started conversation.

"Yes, but I have three of the element orbs already, and there is a prophecy which states that when the Chikara and Li Kingdoms go to war, all the elements shall be unleashed. I have three of the strongest powers; they have an army filled with pitiful white magic. Do the math," Syaoran explained.

Sakura stopped, "Why must you go to war?"

Syaoran did not respond and let go of her arm. The expression on his face was filled with pain, and she could see that he wanted to let it all out, but he kept it locked inside of him. This was her chance, if she could encourage him or make him a bit happier, she would be able to soften his heart, and activate her bracelet soon. "I'll try my best to activate my orb for you," Sakura curtsied, "And I will not leave your side until I do… master."

She looked up at him with a smile. He was completely stunned by her actions. Sakura felt a strange power surrounding her wrist; the bracelet was pulsing. She would just worm her way into his heart.

…Chikara…

Nakuru and Tomoyo were training, once again, in the garden. "So tell me, why did you leave Chikara?" Tomoyo asked.

"Well, Adrien's wife got angry because I was training her sister relentlessly, and she also thought that I was having an affair with Adrien," Nakuru panted, getting tired from training, "Well I wasn't having an affair with him. I was his head arms woman before he married that stupid lady, but then she said that her sister would make an excellent warrior to replace me. Well one day, I met Yukito while the Kinomoto Kingdom was signing a peace treaty, and I left Chikara with him."

"I have not met the queen yet," Tomoyo remarked.

"That's because she's dead," Nakuru shook her head, "When I left, Odelette (her sister), became head arms woman and got kidnapped during an attack on Chikara. Some assassins killed the queen and that's the story. What happened to your kingdom?"

The question caught Tomoyo off guard. She stumbled and almost got cut by Nakuru's sword. "My kingdom was destroyed a long time ago by the Li Kingdom, but it stands somewhere else, and it ceases to be a kingdom until I return as their queen," Tomoyo felt anger burning inside of her, "The Li Kingdom destroyed both of my homes," she swung her sword harder and harder, "They killed my mother."

Nakuru began to fall under her blade, "Tomoyo?"

Her anger bursted out into flames, "And they took Sakura."

"Tomoyo!"

"And the worst part is, that I'm in love with the kingdom's advisor!"

A flash of light came from her bracelet and Tomoyo fell unconscious. "Tomoyo!" Nakuru screamed.

That was the strength kept inside of Tomoyo, just thinking about all the bad things that happened to her. But why did she faint? Was this advisor the one person who could bring her down?

…Li Kingdom…

Syaoran tried with all of his might not to think about the little birdie locked up in the birdcage, but she remained in his mind. And I will not leave your side until I do…master. That girl completely loathed him, but she called him her master. Syaoran frowned.

Eriol entered the room with a similar frown on his face. "Next time, would you mind taking those whom you've slaughtered out of the library? It reeks in there," Eriol calmly commented.

Syaoran smiled, which was rather rare for him. Eriol was baffled by Syaoran's actions today, "Did I miss something?"

Syaoran returned to his regular glowering, "Did you figure out who the fourth girl is?"

"No, I've been rather distracted lately," Eriol sighed.

Syaoran chuckled; "By the way," he snapped his fingers and a soldier brought a long white fabric to him, "One of our guards found a piece of clothing while emptying your chambers in Chikara."

Syaoran bunch it up into a ball and threw it at Eriol, "No more sleeping with the enemy."

…Chikara…

Tomoyo felt a cool breeze softly blow on her cheek. She felt a throbbing pain in her wrist. Her eyes opened and saw that her bracelet had burnt her skin, but it wasn't a fresh burn. It had healed a bit. Tomoyo felt a difference inside of her. It felt like the warrior within had been unleashed. She got off of her bed and went to the throne room. Inside were king Adrien and Nakuru. "What's going on?" Tomoyo questioned.

The two of them glanced at her. "TOMOYO!" Nakuru gave her a hug, "I thought you'd never awaken! You were asleep for two weeks!"

"We're preparing for what we call a pre-war," king Adrien smiled, "You should prepare as well. I saw you fighting just before you fainted… You're just as good as Nakuru."

Tomoyo managed to escape Nakuru's grasp, "What is pre-war?"

"We go out to war and attack their village without warning," Nakuru sighed, "It's rather disheartening."

Tomoyo thought about it for a couple of minutes, "It's iniquitous. I refuse to go."

"Fine, then I'll find someone else to dispose of that thick Hiiragizawa. You do know that he was the one who led the attack on the Kinomoto Kingdom," Adrien added.

"WHAT!" Tomoyo yelled.

Tomoyo stormed out of the room. "Your persuasiveness is impressive," Nakuru stood in awe.

…Li Kingdom…

Sakura tried loosening the shackle around her neck, but it was no use. "I hate this place," Sakura and Meilin said in unison.

"I figured out how to activate my orb," Sakura smiled.

"I know 'ow to also, but iteez impossible to do eet!" Odelette frowned, "Eef only I 'ad my sworrrd."

"I have no idea how to activate mine," Meilin frowned, "If only I weren't stuck in this ridiculous-"

They all went silent. Syaoran entered the room and looked at all three of them. "King Syaoran," all three of the bowed their heads.

He unlocked their shackles, but only let Sakura out of the cage. He brought her to the roof of the castle where they were completely alone. "Who is Tomoyo?" Syaoran asked.

"She was my cousin and the other princess of my kingdom, master," Sakura decided to use that word every chance that she got, "Lord Hiiragizawa saw to it that she was slaughtered."

"Her name sounds so familiar, yet I cannot remember who she is," Syaoran stared out across his land.

It was time for Sakura to ask the questions, "Who is queen Yelan? I read about her in books about the Li Kingdom."

Syaoran raised his hand to strike her. "Who is she master?" Sakura asked again.

He lowered his hand, "You remember those two maggots that tried to steal your orb?" Sakura nodded her head, "They were actually from the outskirts of Chikara."

"But they weren't speaking with a French accent, nor did they have blonde hair or wear white clothes."

"They disguised themselves to look like ordinary thieves. Those two were ordered by king Adrien to find the element orbs, but they did not know that they were supposed to keep you alive."

"What does this have to do with queen Yelan?"

"Queen Yelan was my mother. One day I playing hide-and-seek with her, and while I was hiding, a bunch of people from Chikara including them, barged in and made her die a slow and painful death."

"What do you mean?"

"It's the most sickening way to die. They start by cutting off your fingers, then your hands, then your arms, and everything keeps getting cut off until your completely diced."

Sakura gasped. She thought that it was terrible not to see your parents die, but to watch every horrid moment of their death was just as bad. "And that is why I must go to war with Chikara."

…Chikara…

Tomoyo stood among the many soldiers of Chikara. They were all dressed in cloaks like her. She mounted her white horse and took her place beside Nakuru. "You have your sword?" Nakuru asked.

Tomoyo nodded.

"Element orb?" she continued.

Tomoyo nodded.

Nakuru smiled, "Are you nervous?"

Tomoyo placed her hood over her head, "Not a chance."

ChiChi's Note: Personally, I don't really like this chapter, but that's okay cause my next one will hopefully be better! Review!