Disclaimer – I don't own CCS

Queen of my Heart – Utter His Name

Syaoran helped mount the two horses.  The horse he was using was jet-black mere called Obsidian.  The other was a gentle dapple-gray called Mercury.  He had asked the stable hand if the princess had a favorite horse, the boy replied that there wasn't one to his knowledge as he rarely saw the princess out here.  Syaoran's sisters and his cousin, Meilin, all loved dapple grays, he on the other hand found them too tame for his liking but figured it was a girl thing so that's why he chose Mercury.

Sakura arrived a few minutes later looking rather flustered, but cute, in slightly worn blue jeans with sakura blossoms sewn into the corners, and a ¾ tank top.  She smiled at him nervously as she walked into the stables.

"You ready to ride?" he asked as he passed her a helmet.

"I think so," she replied biting her lip anxiously.  "There's just one small problem."

"What's that?" he asked hoping that this wasn't just her way of blowing him off so she wouldn't have to hang out with him.  He was sure she had plenty of offers, she was after all the most breathtaking vision he had seen in his entire life even in minisculey shabby horse ridding attire, he wouldn't surprised if she had thousands of men lined up to marry her.

"Promise not to laugh?" she asked.

Syaoran smiled, slightly relieved by this proposition.  It proved she wasn't just using some excuse to get out of it.  "Cross my heart," he replied drawing a cross with his finger across his heart.

"I don't know how to ride a horse," she told him quietly.

"Really?  I'm sorry I suggested it," he said.  "I just figured all princess' knew how to ride a horse, that's what my sisters do all day.  But then I should have known, because you're nothing like other princess'."

Sakura blushed at the comment and averted her gaze to the ground beneath her suddenly interested in her shoes.  "It's alright," she shrugged.  "Why don't you teach me?" she suggested suddenly looking up into his amber eyes.

"Sure," he replied.  "It's a good thing I choose the dapple gray."

"Why?"

"They're one of the tamest breeds of horses you can find," he told her.  "I'll help you get on.  Andrew," he said turning to the stable hand, "could you take Obsidian outside while I help the princess."  The stable hand nodded and led Obsidian outside.

"Now all you need to do is put your left foot in that stirrup and haul your other leg over top," he told her.  He carefully put his hands on her waist as he lifted her slightly to help her up onto the horse.  Sakura shivered with pleasure to feel the warmth of his body brush against hers.  He helped her find the stirrup and held her as she hauled her other leg over the horses back.  "There," he said when she was in position.

"I think I'm getting the hand of this," she smiled.  "What next?"

"Wow," Sakura awed as she looked across the landscape.  "I can't believe I've never been up here before.  I've lived her my entire life and I've never once been up here.  It's so beautiful."

Syaoran nodded in agreement.

"Do we really have to go back now?" she asked.

"I guess so if we want to get back before dark," he sighed.

"I guess," she sighed.  "You know what, we should do this tomorrow."  Syaoran's smile got wider at the prospect of another date with Sakura.  "We can bring a picnic and stay out here all day until sunset."

"It sounds good," Syaoran smiled.  "We can leave early and spend hours out here."

"I'd like that," Sakura said.

"Then it's settled," he told her.  "I'll meet you at the stables at nine o'clock tomorrow.  I can't believe you've only been ridding for a few hours."

"I had a good teacher," she replied as she began to lead her horse away.

Syaoran hurried to keep Obsidian in step beside her.

"Do you need any help getting down?" Syaoran asked her.

Sakura nodded.  "I think so."

Syaoran quickly got off his own horse and went to her side.  He placed his hands on her waist and she rested her own on his shoulders to keep her balance, as he gently lifted her down from the horse.  Their eyes locked and for a long moment they just stayed like that, Syaoran's arms around Sakura's waist, Sakura's around Syaoran's neck.  Slowly their faces got closer and closer until they were mere inches apart.  Sakura's breath caught in her throat as she realized what was about to happen.  That she was about to kiss Syaoran Li, and this time he would kiss her back.

Syaoran caressed her cheek lightly as they got ever closer.  Then it happened, their lips met in the soft and meaningful kiss they had each been wishing for, ever since the first.  Everything around them began to get blurry and eventually disappeared until all that was left were the two of them and the only thing that mattered was that moment that they wished would never end.

They regrettably pulled away slowly as the kiss ended.  Syaoran looked into her eyes and finally found the courage to tell her how he felt.  To tell everything he felt inside.

"Sakura, I- I," he stuttered.  "I love you."

Sakura looked at him and smiled tears welling in her eyes.  Syaoran wiped them away with his finger.  "I love you too, Syaoran," she told him.

"You do?" he asked unable to hide his surprise.

She nodded.  "I'll see you tomorrow," she smiled as she kissed him on the cheek and skipped away.

Madison, Meilin and Ruby all looked up as Sakura danced into the room.  "I finally understand what you mean," she sighed contently to Ruby as she flopped down on the bed dreamily.

"About what?" Ruby asked. 

"About love," Sakura smiled sitting up.

"You found somebody?" Meilin asked.  "Poor Syaoran.  He's going to feeling terrible when he finds out."

"Why?" Sakura asked.  "When it's Syaoran that I love."

"It is?" Meilin asked excitedly.

"Does he know?" Madison asked.  "You have to tell us everything."

Sakura quickly explained the day's events.  "We're going to have a picnic tomorrow."

"What are you going to wear?" Madison asked frantically.

Sakura rushed to the stables at half past eight.  Her entire life, she couldn't remember a time when she was on time for something, but this was going to be different.  This was so important to her, she didn't want to be away from him, even for a second.

She looked around the stables and sat down all her thoughts preoccupied by him.  She was so busy thinking about Syaoran that she didn't even notice her attacker until it was too late.  She didn't smell the chloroform until the chemicals had already begun to take affect.  And with her last effort of consciousness she uttered the name closest to her heart.  "Syaoran."

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Yes, a cliffhanger.  I love cliffhangers so there's always one somewhere in a story.  Please review because you never know, it might just get the next chapter out the slightest bit faster.