Love for Royalty

Chapter XI Feelings interwined

Already three weeks had passed since Yelan's last announcement. Syaoran still had one last week to decide who his bride would be. If he didn't choose soon, he would have to marry Jennifer. And neither one of them wanted that future for themselves. One evening, Syaoran sat in the living room drinking a glass of whiskey when Jennifer came in wearing her night gown.

Jennifer sat in the love seat closest to Syaoran and looked at him. "What are we to do Syaoran?"

"I don't know. I don't… I don't want to get married. And no offense, I'm sure you're a sweet girl and all…but…" Syaoran answered looking defeated.

"You love Sakura" Jennifer told him. This made Syaoran blush and surprised. He never thought he would actually love Sakura. He didn't even know right now if that was what he felt. He got up and went to the fireplace. His heart was beating fast. And memories started flooding in his mind. He spent so much time with the girl. They actually became friends. Syaoran's first plan was to conquer her heart, make her fall for him. But did his plan backfire? When? How?

He remembered the days when he and Sakura went horse back riding. When they went mall shopping or only to the supermarket. He remembered when they sat late at night in the porch and told each other stories and laughed at jokes. Her smile, her confidence, her laugh, everything about her made him feel something warm in his chest. But at the end of the day, she went to her room and shared her bed with Shen. Just thinking about it made him angry. He didn't hate his brother, but just imagining his hands touching Sakura made him want to pummel the guy. Now he understood that feeling. Why in his last day of high school that guy kicked the hell out of him. But Syaoran had to accept reality as it was. Sakura was engaged to Shen.

Early the next day Syaoran presented Sakura with a pair of tickets to go to the zoo. He remembered that Sakura loved going to see the Panda bears ever since she was little. But she never really had the chance, so, as a present he gave her the tickets. Sakura jumped out of her chair and went to hug him. She was smiling so much. It made his heart skip a beat and he blushed for no reason.

Later, in the intimacy of their own room, Shen sat in his desk and faced Sakura with a stern look. "Would you mind telling me what the hell is going on?" he asked his bride to be.

Sakura was looking for something to wear from the room closet. "What do you mean?"

Tired of playing games, Shen went to her and gave a look filled with anger. Sakura couldn't understand where his frustration came from. "Since when are you so close to my brother?" Shen asked in a cold tone.

"Close? We're friends for the love of God Shen! Nothing more! I am getting tired of this! We fight almost every day! I swear. I've never seen you so upset before. Tell me, why am I not allowed to have a good time? After all, it was your idea to come here in the first place!" Sakura shouted. Her voice could even be heard downstairs and in any nearby bedroom.

"I wanted you to meet my mother! Not to start flirting with my brother!"

Now Sakura's blood was beginning to rise, and tears started falling from her eyes. She couldn't believe her ears. "Flirting?! That's what you think I'm doing?!" now she laughed sarcastically. "I can't believe you would think I would stoop so low! That I would cheat on you. Who do you think I am? Now that I realize it, if you can come to a conclusion like that. You don't know me at all Shen"

Shen tried apologizing and putting his hand in her bare shoulder but Sakura pushed him away, still crying in anger. But now her voice was calm. "The only reason why I spend so much time with Syaoran is because he seems like the only person who at least tries to pay attention to me. You have been so inmersed in your work, barely even noticing my existence…"

Here Shen had to argue. "It's my work Sakura! How can you complain about that?"

"I'm not complaining! I am stating a fact. I have respected your time. I've never distracted you in any way. But answer me something. If you had a choice, a single choice. Between your work or me. What would it be?"

Shen was about to answer but something stopped him. He couldn't say it. He had worked so hard to get to where he was. He studied day and night, preparing himself for every test. He was so close to getting the CEO position. How could Sakura ask him to choose?

Sakura didn't need to wait. Shen's silence spoke for itself. And she already knew the answer anyways. She was only scared to admit it. With a heavy heart, she took the engagement ring from her finger and gave it to Shen. Then without saying another word, she left the room.

Sakura walked to Tomoyo's room and asked her friend to join her in the courtyard. Once alone in the tranquility of the exterior space, Sakura fell to her knees and wept in Tomoyo's legs. Sakura didn't have to say anything. Just by listening to her friend's wailing, Tomoyo knew what happened. And she wasn't happy about it. It seemed that Jennifer was right all along. Shen was still the same person he was four years ago. Syaoran didn't have to do anything to separate the happy couple. Shen dug up his own grave all by himself. After about two hours of crying and pacing here and there, Sakura calmed herself. As an advice from Tomoyo, she decided to go to the zoo with Syaoran. After all, he did pay a considerable amount of money for the tickets. They couldn't go to waste. And besides, it was a gift. She couldn't turn down a gift. It would be rude to do so.

But even so, Syaoran wasn't all that pleased. Something inside of him made him feel sick and nervous. During the whole ride, Sakura didn't speak a word, not a single thing. She just looked out the window. Judging by the shouting from her room, Syaoran could tell the girl fought with her fiance because of him. Somehow, this was supposed to make him feel good. After all, he had won, finally. But he didn't. He actually felt bad. As if he regretted ever going after Sakura in the first place. Surprisingly, he started to feel guilty. If this competition between him and his brother was going to hurt Sakura in any way, he didn't want to be part of it any longer. He had become quite fond of the girl.

Damn it! Syaoran had to admit it now. He already knew this feeling. He lived it once before. He now knew he was in love with Sakura. He didn't plan on falling for the girl. Hell, his only goal was to separate her from Shen. That was it. No feelings involved. And the whole friendship thing was only a rouse, she was the one who was supposed to fall in love! But she was so difficult at times. Even after Shen treated her like dirt, she still cried for him and forgave him for everything. Those two seemed to be attached by some strong glue that he couldn't dissolve. It drove him mad! And now looking at Sakura's expression. Seeing her so hurt. All he wanted then and there was to comfort her. And he planned on doing just so.

Even though Sakura was feeling terribly ill and depressed, she tried her best to smile. She didn't want to worry Syaoran. He had planned this afternoon for her. She couldn't be ungrateful and keep on crying. But somehow, she felt lost. She didn't feel as if she were there at all. As if her existence wasn't real. And she felt empty. Something was missing. She could feel it. But then a hand touched her shoulder and woke her from her trance. She looked to her right and saw Syaoran smiling at her.

They were just entering the zoo when Syaoran suddenly grabs Sakura by the shoulders and turns her around to face him. Looking at his intense eyes, Sakura started to cry. Guilt started filling her empty heart. "Sorry…sorry Syaoran…I…I try so hard…I just can't"

"Kinomoto! I'm not asking you to smile for me. If you want to cry go ahead. Nothing is stopping you. I understand why you might be hurt and even sad. And I want to help you. I once trusted my deepest secret to you, you were there for me. You comforted me. Now let me do the same for you. Let me wash away your tears, please" he begged Sakura and hugged her tight.

He might not be able to have her, but she's his friend. If he can do anything at all to help her. To cure her wounds, he would undoubtedly do it. He wanted to see that smile of hers once more.

Grabbing Sakura's hand, Syaoran led her to where the panda bears were. She may not have recovered yet, but at least she smiled when she saw the little cub with his mother. Afterwards, they went to see the penguins. He took her to see all of the animals, one by one. When it became somewhat late, they decided to stop at a nearby café and eat lunch. Syaoran wasn't at all surprised to see that Sakura wasn't that hungry. He remembered how he felt when Sayuri left him. He lost his apetite then. So he didn't say a word when Sakura left most of her plate untouched.

As he got up from the table, something made Sakura laugh. It made him smile but at the same time wonder. Then he saw what she was pointing at. He had a stain in his pant; ketchup. He sat back down and sighed. After a while Sakura stopped laughing and apologized.

"It was refreshing to hear your laugh. And you were right to laugh. I should have been more careful. Not many guys stain their pants with ketchup" he told her with a warm smile. Sakura blushed and felt her heart skip a beat. Sometimes, words like those made her nervous. She wondered wether he was flirting or just being honest. But his attitude spoke for itself. He was being honest.

After eating Syaoran went to the nearest ice cream booth and bought them cones. They sat in a bench and ate their cones in silence. After Syaoran was done with his, he cleaned his mouth with a napkin and threw it in a trash can. Sakura was about to do the same after finishing hers, but then she saw an ice cream spot in Syaoran's nose and cleaned it for him. Sakura couldn't avoid laughing again. He was such a clutz. After cleaning his nose, watching Syaoran's smile, Sakura blushed again. Syaoran got up and took her hand again.

Suddenly a though washed over Sakura. This day. This moment. She felt as if she were on a date. But she couldn't be. She had spent countless of moments alone with Syaoran. But it was in the limits of friendship. He even said so himself. But still, loking at other couples holding hands, she couldn't help feeling that she was in the same position with Syaoran. Maybe Shen was right. Maybe she was leading Syaoran astray. She was going to stop Syaoran and say something but then she saw where they were headed. Syaoran was taking her to the ferris wheel.

Syaoran gave the conductor some money and they were on the next cart. Sakura sat in silence. Something was bothering her, Syaoran knew it. He could tell. So he grabbed her hand firmly and spoke with the softest voice. "Is something wrong Kinomoto?"

Tears started falling from Sakura's eyes as she spoke and her gaze was firmly on the floor. "I'm sorry Syaoran…I just…I'm sorry…"

"What happened? I thought you were having a great time"

"I was! I…" Sakura was muttering but Syaoran drowned her words by putting his lips over hers. At firt she was reluctant to kiss him. He was afraid she would slap him like previous occasions. But after a few seconds her mouth opened and let his tongue enter. They kissed until the ride was over. Then Sakura climbed down and ran away from him. Her eyes were filled with terror. She felt numb.

"What was that?! Why?!" she screamed at Syaoran. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Memories from her fight with Shen came soaring to her mind and she felt sick.

"Kinomoto…I..." Syaoran tried to say but Sakuran ran before he could even finish. She went to Syaoran's car and waited for him there. When he finally arrived he tried to tell her something but she wouldn't listen. They drove back home in utter silence.

Once home, Sakura ran to her bedroom before Syaoran could stop her. But before she even opened the door, she heard moaning coming from the room. Sakura felt as if she were going to throw up and her heart was hurting so much. It was even hard to turn the handle; her hand was shaking so much. When she mastered the courage to open the door what she saw inside made her existence all the more unbearable. For a split second she was frozen in place.

There in her bed was Shen. But he wasn't alone. Under him was someone she once considered a friend but now she didn't know what to think. It was Jennifer. They were both naked and under the covers. When Shen noticed Sakura was watching them it was too late, she had already ran from the room.

Sorry if I'm going a bit too fast. But I have to finish this story fast!

I'll maybe write 15 chapters approx.

Hope you liked this one.

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