Thanks everyone who reviewed. Hope you enjoy this latest update! Sorry that it's kinda short.
Administrative stuff
Summary: Li Syaoran must return to Kinomoto Kingdom with the remains of his fiancée after her tragic demise. But a marriage is still required to unite the two families, and now Syaoran has his pick of the six remaining daughters of Kinomoto Fujitaka for the sake of both their kingdoms. Romance/Mystery
Ages:
Kinomoto Touya: 27yrs
Li Syaoran: 22 yrs (almost 23)
Kinomoto Sakura: 21 yrs
Kinomoto Tomoyo: 20 yrs
Kinomoto Ayame: 18 yrs (dec)
Kinomoto Meilin: 18 yrs
Kinomoto Chiharu: 17 yrs
Kinomoto Naoko: 16 yrs
Kinomoto Rika: 15 yrs
Disclaimer: I do not own Card Captor Sakura.
It's Only Love – The Reason
Kinomoto Fujitaka couldn't help but feel a little disappointed at Syaoran's choice. He had resigned himself to losing most of his daughters to marriage and custom, but given Sakura's resistance, he had hoped to always have her to see him through the twilight of his life.
"Are you sure?" he questioned, trying to hide the reluctance in his voice.
"Of course, Fujitaka-sama," Syaoran assured with a quick nod. "I have given it careful consideration and I think that Sakura-san is the best choice."
Fujitaka just nodded solemnly. In spite of his best wishes, he didn't feel like he was gaining a son, but rather losing a daughter, and he had already lost one too many.
But it was all for the greater good, that was what he assured himself, and he knew that Sakura would happily sacrifice herself for that good. His mind turned back to the beginnings of the proposition, and the first time he had encountered Li Syaoran, not as a boy, but as a king.
~ Approx. 8 months earlier:
Fujitaka was surprised by the request for private counsel that met him upon returning to Kita lands. Although he had been close to the Li's many years ago, it had been some time since they had been in contact – not since the death of Li Xenon the former ruler of Minami, and even before then it had been sparing and usually business related. The drifting apart was largely due to new alliances that rendered their former trading agreements obsolete.
Regardless, Fujitaka accepted the request, curious to see what had become of Li Syaoran, Xenon's youngest. He remembered him as a shy boy who played his cards close to his chest, and so was almost taken aback when a young man of twenty-two walked into his quarters with a confident stride. Of course it was all a front, because outside of his duties, Syaoran was still that scared little boy who would shy from the spotlight sooner than he would step into it.
"It is good to see you, Li-san," Fujitaka greeted warmly, taking the young man's hand in his own. "I was so sorry to hear about your father."
Syaoran nodded a thank you to the condolences. "He has been sorely missed," he answered, "and please call me 'Syaoran'."
"Well, then I will insist on 'Fujitaka'," the older man replied as he gestured for Syaoran to take a seat. "To what do I owe this pleasure, Syaoran-san?"
Syaoran frowned. "Sadly it is not pleasure that brings me to you, Fujitaka-sama," Syaoran replied. "I am afraid that my brother-in-law, Gensou Hiro, plans to move forces against you."
"Who has told you such a thing?" Fujitaka gaped in surprise. "How do you know?"
"I know because he has asked me to aid him," Syaoran replied reluctantly. "He relies on his marriage to my sister as binding me to do so and to deny him without good reason would bring his warmongering upon my people instead."
"But why are you telling me this, Syaoran-san?" Fujitaka questioned. "What do you expect me to do with this information?"
"I guess I hope to use it to persuade you," Syaoran responded as best he could. "Gensou is – if I can be so frank – an idiot. He feels that you have slighted him by offering asylum to the Bohemians."
"But I-" Fujitaka began in protest to his good name and diplomacy, but Syaoran cut him off.
"I do not want to be at war with you, Fujitaka-sama," he continued, his tone powerful and sincere. "You have always been good to my family and I do not wish to be pulled into a meaningless war.
"The bulk of Gensou's armies are currently on an expedition to the north, which gives us time – but only a year at most," Syaoran explained, his body language giving no clue as to his desperation. "I have spoken to my advisors, and they have suggested that we forge a superior alliance to displace Gensou's claim."
"So you wish to draw up a treaty between our two kingdoms?" Fujitaka asked, wondering why Syaoran would suggest such a sacrosanct meeting to discuss politics.
Syaoran couldn't help himself as he tried to articulate his next words – he blushed despite the years he had spent mastering his outward façade. "No, Fujitaka-sama," he replied solemnly. "Sadly it cannot be that simple. Such overt political action would not stop Gensou and probably just redirect his wrath.
"What I suggest, rather, is a marriage," he finished with brilliant red cheeks, the surety in his voice failing as it trembled in an obvious way.
Fujitaka had the decency not to comment on Syaoran's embarrassment although he did not let him get away so easily. "This is interesting, Syaoran-san," he smiled warmly, his intelligent eyes sizing up the young king before him. "My son, Touya, is already married - as I am sure you are aware - to the daughter of one of your kinsman, so I take it you are asking for the hand of one of my daughters?" He phrased it as a question, but it was clearly more of a statement. His precise words showed that he already understood what was up for negotiation.
"Yes, sir," Syaoran said weakly, bowing his head as he spoke.
Fujitaka could not hide the amusement in his eyes, and smiled at the change in Syaoran's disposition. When talking battles and politics he was confident and proud as any ruler, but bring up the subject of girls and he flushed like a schoolboy. "Did you have someone in mind?" he questioned in a nonchalant way, giving Syaoran an imploring look.
"Iie!" he said quickly, perhaps too quickly to be taken as the truth. "Ano . . . I mean, well . . . of course not. Wh-whoever you would see fit, Fujitaka-sama."
"I think it is best if you choose for yourself, Syaoran-kun," Fujitaka suggested. He elaborated when Syaoran gave him a questioning look. "Although this is not a love-match, I assume that is what you will tell your brother-in-law."
"Hai," Syaoran confirmed.
"Then I will allow you to decide – it will look more plausible that way, rather than my making a choice based on political criteria," Fujitaka explained.
As Syaoran left, Fujitaka had resigned himself then and there to the loss of his eldest daughter, only to lose the beautiful and charming Ayame instead. Although, Fujitaka would never know how close it had come at the time, or what had been sacrificed, he only knew that if he had to let his Sakura go, he was glad it was him.
"Fujitaka-sama," Syaoran cautioned, bringing Fujitaka back to the present, "I know this may seem impertinent, but I think we should bring the wedding forward."
"Syaoran-kun, surely it can wait a week," Fujitaka protested.
"I know, sir," he replied, "but there are urgent matters in my own kingdom I must attend to, and I don't like leaving them for so long."
"I understand, Syaoran-kun," the elder king nodded. "And what of Gensou? Do you have word of his plans?"
"He has not said anything, although I doubt he will continue if he does not have my support," Syaoran promised plainly. "I have spread rumours of my 'enamour' with one of the Kinomoto princesses and leaked word of a woman staying in my palace. When Gensou comes to investigate, itt should be enough to convince him that Sakura-san and I have been secretly planning our nuptials this whole time and that it is a marriage of love rather than convenience."
"And which is it?" Fujitaka asked, giving the young king a hard look he often used as a means of getting the truth out of reluctant orators.
Syaoran sighed and bowed his head. "The fact that you ask that question tells me you already know the answer," he replied, not looking up to see Fujitaka nod his assent.
"I will not question your motives, Syaoran-kun, or what changed your mind," Fujitaka said slowly. "You will have your work cut out for you. Sakura does not easily change her mind, and so you will find yourself already at a disadvantage when it comes to her."
Syaoran nodded, feeling disheartened by Fujitaka's honest words. Fujitaka came near, placing a warm hand on the shoulder of his future son-in-law. "It will not be easy," he continued, reiterating his previous words, "but it will be worth it."
Syaoran smiled half-heartedly as his features were glazed with a wistful expression.
"It already is."
~ to be continued ~
And so with another chapter completed, even more confusion is created. A couple of you already noticed Syaoran's interest in Sakura in the previous chapter. I did try to leave a few subtle hints in the way that he spoke to Sakura (he used 'san' for the other sisters but 'chan' for Sakura) and sits up straight when she enters a room. There's also a line when he's speaking with Chiharu which will make more sense two chapters from now, but it essentially amounts to a borderline declaration of his undying love for Sakura.
Hope you enjoyed and please review.
Next chapter: Two-parter. A quick detour back to Sakura and Syaoran's first meeting.
Note: You guys all know what 'no' and 'yes' are in Japanese, right? I'll assume that you've all been reading fanfics long enough that those two are self-explanatory.