Disclaimer: Card Captor Sakura does not belong to me. The day they do, my professors would stop giving me assignments and tests, Johnny Depp would step in front of my door and profess his undying love for me and a flying purple monkey will zoom around the city.
Read, enjoy and review if you don't mind.
Syaoran didn't even attempt to put on a show that he was at least considering her. "No."
Sakura couldn't help but gape at him. She had expected the answer but she kind of hoped that he would at least ask her why.
"You're not going to ask me for a reason?" Sakura gritted her teeth in attempt to resist the urge to yell.
"And what would that be?" Syaoran lifted an eyebrow questioningly.
Sakura paused and blinked; her irritation dissapeared. "I..don't know."
Sakura then belatedly realized she didn't have a reason to skip the negotiation. She was not being rational and she had to laugh at herself. Damion coming here must have rattled her more than she cared to admit. Syaoron tilted his head as though considering her when her bitter laughter rang through the hallway. He knelt at her feet and promptly lifted her dress. Sakura almost had a heart attack.
The Ice princess bit the urge to shriek, scramble away and shouting 'Pervert!' at the top of her lungs. She was damn near doing exactly that. The only thing that stopped her is that Syaoron lifted only high enough to uncover her ankle. All thoughts of Damion flew from her mind when she felt his calloused hand touching her skin.
Syaoran calmly unstrapped the small dagger from her shapely ankle, taking care not to accidentally nick her in the process. His hands lingered a tad too long than necessary before he stood; smirk widening when she glared at him. The approaching footsteps shifted their attention only to be made known that they belong to Touya.
"Did you find any?" Touya bit back an amused chuckle when he saw the red staining Sakura's cheek.
Syaoran tossed the dagger at the prince who caught it expertly. Touya grinned in amusement, examining the dagger.
"Remember what I told you about the first rule of meeting an enemy under truce, Sakura?" Touya teased.
Sakura shook her head stubbornly, she was clearly disgruntled.
"No stabbing." Touya answered his own question; amusement was evident in his eyes.
"I can't?" Sakura asked, wide-eyed and sweet-voiced.
"You can't." Syaoran affirmed. If he didn't know better, he would have thought her wide-eyed innocence act genuine.
"Do you have any more of these?" Touya questioned, playing with the hilt of the dagger.
Sakura shook her head. "I only have one left in my room." Sakura muttered, dropping her act.
Syaoron chuckled; she looked cute when she was disgruntled. Touya turned, and walked towards the throne room. "Our scouts had reported that the Damion procession is in sight. We better get ready." Touya informed over his shoulder.
Sakura took a single, deep, shuddering breath which Syaoran had acquainted of her preparing to have a spar during training. She was clearly dreading the meeting. Sakura smoothed down her pale cream dress absently and clasped her hand in front of her demurely, befitting of her title.
"Wish me luck." Sakura said and proceeded to follow Touya.
"You won't need any." Syaoran said; tone laced with confidence as he walked in the opposite direction.
Sakura stopped in her tracks and turned. She smiled brightly at him in gratitude and waited until he faded into the darkness before continuing on her way.
Damion the Shadow King entered the throne room; he had demanded that he was allowed to bring ten of his knights with him. Not that he would admit it but he was as skittish as a bad tempered mare despite knowing that the Ice Clan values their diplomacy until the bitter end. The presence of his best knights makes him feel somewhat protected and his strut grew more confident as they neared their destination.
He had to fight the urge to drop his jaw at the sight waiting for him. The royal blood ruling the Ice Clan was seated at the four thrones on the dais. Each one of them turned to watch him when he entered, as if they were having a personal family discussion and he had interrupted. In other words, he was as welcomed as a leper. Prince Touya was watching him lazily; he would think the heir of the clan bored if not for the small, malicious smile plastered to his face.
Touya didn't like Damion and he sure as hell will not attempt to hide it in the name of diplomacy. People who tried to hurt his family will pay and the thought of what Damion tried to make of his sister only made him angrier. He's currently occupied on finding the best methods to kill the man standing in front of them. Drowning sounds nice but it ends a bit too quickly. Burning the man on a stake does sound good.
Cutting his head off would end it faster but he would have the pleasure of seeing his head roll on the ground and the amount of blood that would accompany the action would quench whatever bloodlust he felt for the man. The sound of his father's voice broke him out of his fantasies but the sight of Damion sweating bullets and squirming helped to lift the black mood surrounding him.
Fujitaka rose from his throne, his movement showed strength and confidence. He held a hand to his queen and she rose with him, graceful and beautiful. They stepped off the dais and Touya and Sakura followed suit.
Sakura..Cold and beautiful. Cool but surely warm and soft to the touch. Damion's eyes unwillingly fixated on her despite the knowledge that it is the highest form of rudeness but he couldn't seem to tear his eyes away.
Sakura felt his slimy eyes on her but she kept her calm. God knows how much she had perfected the art. She was careful not to meet his eyes, not to give him the perverse satisfaction. 'I'm calm..I'm unattainable, untouchable, serene…' She wished she had a blunt knife for the creative dismemberment of Damion. She knew that Touya and a few hundred people who would love to join in. Maybe she could make it a public event? But even as these thoughts rushed through her head, she kept her perfect composure.
Sakura eyed Damion discreetly. He was feared and a force to reckon with simply because he had the riches. Damion had thousands of ruthless mercenaries beneath him and for that reason alone, countries fold when he wanted something. He obviously picked the wrong country to mess with this time. By the end of the war, she would make sure he knows it.
Syaoran slipped into the throne room unnoticed, his illusion doing a good job of hiding himself against prying eyes. He was definitely curious. He had managed to find out what he wanted to know and finding himself with nothing to do, he decided to drop by. Syaoran stood silently behind one of Damion's knights. They were lined against the sides of the entrance like protocol dictates and Syaoron chose a spot where he could see the table perfectly. He had to smile when he saw Sakura; she was holding herself with such dignity for a small frame. Perfect.
Fujitaka took the seat at the head first before others follow suit. He smiled politely when Damion greeted him and then his smile faded. He fixed Damion with his gaze and Damion was once again reminded that this is a king who prefers to fight next to his knights rather than sits in the castle and waits for news. It was downright intimidating.
"Speak." Fujitaka said, his voice bordering on polite and impatience; a rather impressive feat.
Damion straightened his spine, aware that every eye was on him including…hers. He knew he had an unhealthy obsession towards the princess but he couldn't find it within himself to care.
"I will cease the threat of war if you give me seventy percent of your riches every year and the hand of your daughter in marriage." He stated bluntly, he knew the Ice Clan appreciated their peace. He was hoping that they appreciated it enough to oblige him.
Sakura never felt so disgusted in her life. Riches and sex. Is that all there is to this man? She kept her voice soft. "Pardon me, my lord. What about your queen?"
Damion swallowed thickly. She had called him as her lord. He tried to put an air of nonchalance. "You do not have to fret yourself on that particular matter, Princess Sakura. She was being unfaithful to me. It pains me to admit that I have to execute her."
Touya stifled the urge to scoff. He would bet his horse that that line was scripted and by the almost invisible thinning of Sakura's lips he knew he had drawn the same conclusion. Sakura felt sick. A probably innocent woman had died because of her.
Sakura stole a glance at her father, another question demanding to be spit out. Fujitaka gave a minute nod, allowing her to proceed. She loathed asking these questions but they had to make it seem like they were considering the ridiculous offer.
"What about your harem? As you know, I am half Wild. I don't take kindly on sharing my spouse."
Damion jolted. He hadn't considered that. He was quite fond of his harem. They consisted of the most sensuous, experienced women in his country. He was not willing to part with them and he shrugged, becoming bold by her softly asked questions.
"You will have to get used to them, I suppose." Damion scratched his chin lightly. "My late queen had managed to do so."
The table grew very quiet all of a sudden but Damion hardly seem to notice, caught in his own thoughts. Sakura was careful to shield her eyes with her bangs, sure that they were flashing ice blue and her instincts were snarling at the oblivious king.
"I see." She was relieved when her fury didn't leak into her voice.
King Fujitaka cleared his throat discretely, trying to hide his amusement. That's a horribly, horribly wrong thing to say, even to a half Wild. Even his gentle queen was bristling underneath her calm exterior. Fujitaka grasped and squeezed her hand comfortingly and she immediately gave him the small smile he loved so much. Fujitaka glanced towards him, hidden so carefully in the shadows. Yes, King Damion is undeniably, regrettably doomed.
Damion finally realized the sudden tension in the room and shifted in his seat nervously.
"That's pretty generous of you, wanting to make my daughter your queen." Fujitaka stated; his voice cold. Any pretense on being a generous host was strained almost to its breaking point. Fujitaka forced himself to take a deep breath to calm his magic.
However amusing he finds Damion's position to be, the fact that he had expected him to give away his daughter as a bargaining chip was not.
"Unfortunately, my daughter's hand is not mine to give anymore." Fujitaka continued lightly, as if commenting on the weather.
Sakura's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "It's not?" Sakura winced at the shrillness of her voice, her throat suddenly dry.
Touya hid his chuckle behind a lousily executed cough; a rapidly reddening Damion is just another bonus.
"You're lying! The princess doesn't seem to know anything about this." Damion shrieked, the sound reminding Touya of a wild boar.
The temperature in the throne room dropped drastically at Damion's outburst.
Touya picked up his glass absently. He traced the droplets of water formed outside the glass threateningly, the contents frozen solid. "Did you just insult my father, Damion?"
Damion paled and started back pedaling on his words. His knights tensed but a look from Touya prevented them from drawing their weapons or using their magic. No one who had crossed Prince Touya managed to escape unscathed; that was a well known fact.
Sakura listened to Damion's stammers absently but her mind was still reeling from the news. There was only one explanation. She had been given into someone else's keeping.
The gesture was not unheard of especially in a country at war where the guardians wanted to ensure their charge would be at safe hands when they…well, when something happened to them. The million dollar question is of course who? Who now holds the key to her future and strong enough to protect her better than her father at a time of war?
"Enough." Fujitaka ordered and Touya obeyed without hesitation. The room slowly went back to its usual temperature.
"It is not your place to question my father's decision." Sakura finally said; her voice calm and clear.
"I am his daughter.." Sakura shifted her gaze to her father's soft smile. "..and was in his keeping. I therefore agree to any decision he had made regarding me. I have to suggest that my lord Damion to not question my father regarding this matter."
She watched in distaste as Damion gaped unbelievingly at her but she could understand his rage. She had just told a king to mind his own business. In more appropriate sentences, of course.
"I believe this negotiation is over." King Fujitaka declared and Damion was startled when everyone broke into huge grins.
Fujitaka stretched his arms lazily, ignoring his gaping guest. In fact, the whole royal family was openly ignoring Damion. Now the formal stuff is over, Fujitaka felt more at ease.
"A spar?" Touya offered to his father hopefully, loosening the material around his neck. The thing was ridiculously itchy but it was necessary as it was a part of the formal attire.
Fujitaka laughed, already shrugging his formal attire off his wide shoulders.
"Mind if I watch? I could take my tea in the field." Nadeshiko placed her hand daintily on her husband's offered arm.
"Of course, sweetheart." Fujitaka smiled, knowing she would eventually demand a spar of her own when she got tired of watching. Nadeshiko was really good with a spear and had nearly impaled him to a tree once. Actually, that's how they met..but that's another story altogether.
Sakura held her amusement at bay. Guess she was in charge to take out the thrash, and then perhaps she could join her family in the field. The day was far too beautiful to be spent indoors. Sakura cleared her throat softly, attracting the Shadow King's attention.
"Let me show you the way, my lord." Sakura offered graciously, glad that the ordeal was over and done with. Now, she wanted him out of her home. Out, out, out, out, out, out. She led while a bemused Damion and his equally bemused knights followed in her wake.
Fujitaka stole another glance at the dark corner, knowing he could only see him because he had allowed him to. Syaoran gave him a tiny nod of acknowledgement before disappearing altogether, no doubt to follow an oblivious princess. Fujitaka allowed himself to smile, a bit gleefully perhaps. It appears another story is starting.
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