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The Price of Peace
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Cardcaptor Sakura Themed Story
Chapter 1: Betrothed
(by cami_calzone, added on 2006-11-15 14:07:02 AEST) [Discussion Topic]

Heyo, this is camicalzone. I wanna write something new to what I usually write, so here we go.

I'm taking a crack at crossover CCS fanfic. Hope you like it! (Crossover characters from CCS and my previous fanfic, The Tournament)

Summary: She was the princess. He was the bodyguard. She fell in love, and he would protect her with his life. But now, her country is on the brink of war, and the only way of achieving peace is to marry the prince of the other country. Will our favorite couple be able to admit their feelings? And, will Sakura escape an engagement to another man? Will peace ever happen between Kinomoto country and their neighbor, the country of Jarrat? SxS

-Standard Disclaimer Applies-

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Sakura could barely sleep. She knew she was safe, there was no doubt in that. She could hear Syaoran talking to Raiku and Hana outside the door softly. But she had been having strange dreams for over two weeks, and she did not like sleeping anymore. Which was really saying something, because usually you couldn't wake her up in the morning.

She turned over in her bed for the hundredth time that night. After around two hours, it was a bit useless to try and sleep again. She sighed and rolled herself to the edge of her bed and put on her tiny silken slippers, which were getting too small, and quietly walked to the door. She was immediately greeted by the people standing outside.

"Princess Sakura," they all bowed, and she smiled.

"Please, you have to stop doing that." She said with a light laugh.

"Is something wrong?" Hana asked the princess, who was still smiling.

"No, I just can't sleep. I'm thinking of going for a walk." She waved away her guards worried expressions. "I would not like company, for I am only walking through the gardens." When she said this, they knew she meant not everyone could come. It was strictly forbidden to have her walk alone.

"Would you like me to wake up your ladies-in-waiting?" Raiku asked her, and she shook her head.

"It's far too late. I don't want to disturb them." She grabbed a coat from a nearby hanger and put it on. "I think the Northern garden is brightly lit, so it will be safest there." She told them. They knew it meant she only wanted one to come, since that garden was secure.

She began walking away from the three guards, and two stayed. Those three of the Royal Guard were the most favored by Sakura, even though she had many others that were assigned to her. Raiku was a very loyal and funny guard, and Sakura loved his company, especially on horse rides. Hana had been with Sakura for the longest and protected her mother. But Syaoran was by far Sakura's favorite.

Syaoran came to the castle when he was only three years old. He was abandoned by his poor family inside a small hut in the forest, and was found by a merchant. The man was not interested in raising him, and so he was brought to the castle. He immediately showed promise as a skilled fighter, and Sakura liked him on sight. As a birthday present, he was assigned to be her playmate, and as he got older to be in her Royal Guard. He was only seventeen and he had already replaced the former leader of the Guard. He led Princess Sakura's protectors and had been doing so for a year now. He only knew of only one family member, and she was named Meiling Li. She lived in the castle as one of Sakura's ladies-in-waiting.

Syaoran followed Sakura outside to the Northern Garden. She loved this place, since it was the closest she had ever gotten to the castle walls for over ten years. Ever since her mother was killed, Sakura has not been allowed outside the safety of her lifelong home. She does not know exactly who or why, but a group of men killed her mother when she was on her way to another country for peace talks. They have been at war on and off with the neighboring country, called Jarrat, ever since.

"Syaoran-kun," she called out, and he stepped forward.

"Yes Princess?" He said with a formal tone. She scoffed.

"You know how annoying that is, right?" She giggled a little to show she was only half serious.

"I'm sorry." Was all he could say. No one was allowed to call her by her first name only, unless they were related to her.

She sighed. "You can't help it. It's silly. I can't even go past this garden without permission."

"It's for your protection, Princess." He said, trying to make her feel better. She was not buying it.

"Can you call me something else? Not Sakura, since it's forbidden, but anything else?" She asked. "It's not like we don't know each other. You probably know me best in this entire country." She smiled, and he smiled back.

"I'm worried about you." He told her flatly. She smiled broader.

"Because I can't sleep? It's nothing." She tried reassuring him.

"I am right outside your door all the time," he told her. "I can hear you." She knew what he meant. She had been talking and sometimes even screaming in her sleep. Sakura sighed and sat on a rock, lightly brushing her fingers on the top of a pond.

"Nightmares. That's all they are, really. I dream about war, and about my mother." She told him quietly. "But it would be worse if you weren't outside my door." She smiled again.

"Princess, can I help in some way?"

"Yes," she grinned sneakily, "you can stop calling me that." He laughed at her pouting face.

"What should I call you then?" He asked her happily. She thought for a moment before replying.

"Saiai." She told him. It was from the old language, and it meant 'beloved'.

"Okay. But is there anything else I can do?" He said jokingly, and she laughed a little.

"No. You do enough." She nearly whispered. "Do you remember what it looks like outside these walls?"

"Barely. I get out just as much as you." He reminded her, and she nodded.

"It sucks, huh?" Syaoran laughed as she said it. "No, it really does! I don't know why I can't go out. Isn't it better for me to see my people?" She asked.

"It is. But it is not longer safe to do that." He explained. She was silent for a little, and the only sound was the light swish of the water at her fingertips.

"It's because of my mother, isn't it?" She asked with a suddenly grave tone.

"What happened was tragic. I don't think your father wants to lose anyone else." He said. He walked up and sat on a rock beside her.

"That's why you're here, right?" She said in her normally cheerful voice.

"Yup." Syaoran replied.

"Then I guess it's not so bad." Sakura whispered as a koi fish swam near to her fingers. It was silent for a little bit after that, until Syaoran heard Sakura yawn a little.

"Come on Princess, you have to go to sleep." He told her, and she stayed put. He laughed. "Okay, sorry. Come on, Saiai." She smiled and bounced up from the place she was sitting and walked into the castle, towards her room.

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"What are you planning on doing?" Prince Toya asked his tired and kind father.

"There is only way out of this mess. We need to make peace. Their army is twice our size, and if we don't do something, they will completely tear us apart." King Fujitaka told his fuming son.

"What do you propose?" Toya asked, and Fujitaka sighed.

"I have only one idea. It's risky, but the only thing we can do." He said with a grave expression. "Prince Karim of the Jarrat country is yet to be married. I am sending a messenger as we speak to Jarrat. Princess Sakura will marry him."

"NANI? YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!" Toya exploded, and Fujitaka put a hand up to silence him. Toya immediately settled down.

"This is the only way. The king and queen are not interested in treaties, and their army is monolithic. Luckily, the prince still has sense in him. He is known for mercy, therefore the best thing we can do is go through with a betrothal. Hopefully, the king and queen of Jarrat will want to marry him off to Sakura, ensuring our country's safety."

"We've been having talks! We are no longer at war!"

"Not officially. But you know their armies have been sabotaging our trade routes, and fights are starting on the borders. It won't be long until they declare war again." Fujitaka looked awful, like someone was torturing him.

"But Sakura... she doesn't deserve this." Toya said with anger.

"No, she doesn't. But the Royal Guard will still accompany her, and it is the best chance we have at finally achieving peace." He told his fuming son, who marched out of the room. Toya knew it was the end of the discussion.

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"Goodnight, Syaoran-kun," Sakura smiled reassuringly. "I promise I'll go to sleep."

"I'll be right outside." He told her, and she smiled again even bigger. She didn't close the door, and he laughed. "Goodnight, Saiai."

After she closed the door, Hana walked up. "Saiai?"

"Yup. Saiai." He told her, and she giggled.

"I know what that means, Syaoran. You better be careful." She said, still smiling but nevertheless serious. "She is still the princess. Our princess."

"I know that." He leaned on the wall and sunk onto the floor. He was terribly tired, which was no surprise. He had barely slept recently.

"Go. I'll watch over her." Hana motioned her hand down the hallway, but Syaoran shook his head.

"I told her I'd be right outside. I'll stay here." He told her, and Hana sighed.

"Suit yourself. But you honestly need sleep. How are you expected to do anything when you haven't slept in 25 hours?"

"Stay here with me. I can sleep, but still keep my promise." He proposed, and Hana nodded. She sank to the wall and Syaoran fell asleep shortly after.

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Sakura found it hard to sleep despite her promise. She tossed and turned, but the thought of sleeping scared her. She was so tired, but it wasn't worth another screaming nightmare. She tried very hard to keep her eyes closed, but the threat of seeing another battle kept her wide awake.

Okay, Sakura. Let's think of sheep. One, two, three, four... Not working. Someone keeps shooting the sheep with arrows. Why do I see everything so violently? She said to herself. She racked her brain for things to think about.

Well, I learned the Latin alphabet this week. Yeah, that'll work. Alpha, beta, um... I already forgot. What else to think of, how about... She blushed a little. Syaoran-kun is outside. He is protecting me. Even from scary dreams. Yeah, that's right, he can scare the nightmares away with his gorgeous smile, and his beautiful eyes...

She nearly swooned. When she was fourteen, she was practicing archery with her ladies-in-waiting and one of them was terrified of shooting an arrow. She was so scared that she made the mistake of closing her eyes as she aimed. Syaoran saw it coming and stepped in front of Sakura, taking the arrow for her. It hit right at the spot where the shoulder meets the chest, and Sakura remembered it perfectly. It was the first time she ever saw how brave he was. Ever since then, she couldn't help but admire him. It was embarrassing, she had to admit, and she had never told a soul.

She would never tell Syaoran she loved him. It would mess up everything. He was her bodyguard, and he would do anything for her, but it was asking too much of him to love her back. It was forbidden, just like calling her by her first name. Silly laws, but they were written in stone. And she knew he cared for her, and loved her, but she doubted it was anything more than fondness.

Still, it helped her relax to think of her protector. She found herself dozing off in a matter of minutes.

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"Hey." Hana shook Syaoran awake. "I am going to go wake up the rest. It's five in the morning now, she'll wake up in a bit." She explained to the groggy Syaoran. He immediately jerked himself up and began pacing to keep awake. He was fully conscious in less than ten seconds.

Hana walked down the hall, a blade strapped to her side. All the Royal Guard were armed at all times, but when inside the castle, the weapons they carried were locked inside their sheaths. Syaoran put a hand on his own sword. It was so attached to him, it felt like a third limb.

When he was fully awake, he leaned on the wall, putting one foot up and his head on the cold, painted wood. He listened to the peaceful silence of the castle, and it was extremely relaxing. He gave himself a slap in the face, determined to stay conscious, at least until Hana got back. He sighed as a bird chirped outside. Leaning on the wall, he heard a strange sound, and put his ear to the door of the princess's room. A series of sobs and cries poured out from the room.

"Princess?" He said as he opened the door. He looked to her bed and his jaw fell to the floor.

She was floating. And glowing golden. She muttered frantically as tears rolled down her face, and she looked scared. Syaoran walked over to her bed and stepped on it. She was high into the air, and he knew he wouldn't be able to reach her even if he tried.

"Princess?" He said loudly, but she didn't wake up. "Saiai?" He said, and she groggily opened her eyes. Immediately after she woke up, she stopped glowing and fell to the floor with a crash.

"HOEE!" She landed with a thunk on her bed, her eyes shut as she fell. She opened them to see a pair of amber eyes looking back at her, and she realized what had happened.

She was on top of Syaoran, who was still too shocked to move. Her leg was intertwined with his, while her hand was on his shoulder, pushing her up just a little. Neither of them moved, but both of them blushed furiously. Syaoran's arms were slightly around her waist, since he had attempted catching her, although he wasn't quick enough. Syaoran suddenly became very aware of how warm her skin was, and how her eyes were the brightest and most beautiful green he had ever seen. Sakura was blushing mostly because of how embarrassed she was as she thought how it felt right.

"Princess, what---" Raiku walked in, and immediately regretted it. Sakura jumped off Syaoran and could not form any words. "Um..." Raiku stuttered. He stood awkwardly in the doorway as Hana sprinted down the hallway.

"Is there trouble?" She asked, and Syaoran shook his head.

"N-No, I just woke up the princess." He said shakily as he rose up from the bed. Raiku stared nervously. Hana did not see what Raiku did, but seeing Syaoran get up from lying on the bed was enough for her to start getting uncomfortable.

"I'm going to have breakfast!" Sakura uttered quickly, grabbing a robe and sprinting out the door, her Royal Guard at her heels.

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"Good morning Princess!" Sakura's ladies-in-waiting chimed in unison as the blushing and embarrassed Sakura walked in.

"What will you be having today, Princess?" Lady Tomoyo asked, and Sakura smiled a little.

"Um, I don't know." She said with a nervous voice. Tomoyo looked worried.

"Is something wrong? You look flushed." She asked her princess as the Guards ran in. Sakura could run very fast when she wanted to.

"N-No, not at all!" Sakura laughed awkwardly and blushed even more as Syaoran walked in. He looked just as red as she was.

He looks so adorable when he blushes... no, Sakura, bad! It already caused enough trouble!

"Okay... Have some breakfast!" Meiling Li, Syaoran's cousin, chimed. Sakura gladly took anything handed to her, happy that she had an excuse to stop speaking.

"Excuse me, Princess?" A young boy asked as he walked up to the table. Sakura swallowed and turned to him.

"Yes?" She said cheerfully.

"Your father has requested an audience with you." He told her, and she nodded.

"Is it urgent?" She asked, and he nodded. "Okay. Thank you. Um, I don't have anything..." She said, searching her robe pockets.

"I'll tip him." Syaoran said, stepping forward with a few coins.

Oh, how nice. He's so sweet. No, stop it Sakura!

"Thank you." She said, and he nodded before backing up again. Sakura got up after only a moment or two of breakfast.

"Are you going to get ready, Princess?" Her other lady-in-waiting, Chiharu, asked. She nodded.

"We'll help you get dressed." Tomoyo said as they all got up. Sakura was suddenly glad getting dressed took so much help, because it meant she wouldn't have to walk back alone with her guards.

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"Princess Sakura of Kinomoto country." A the young boy announced, and King Fujitaka nodded thankfully. She walked in and smiled.

"Hello Papa!" She said, and he smiled.

"Hello Sakura. Sorry I haven't called you earlier, but there is a lot to do." He told her, and she smiled broadly.

"I know, it's okay. I'm happy you're back. How were the peace talks?" She asked, and he sighed and put a hand to his forehead.

"That's what I'm here to talk to you about. We are having troubles with the Jarrat country again, and I only see one way to solve things."

"What is it?" Sakura asked. She was excited that there was some way to end the awful fighting.

"It's not easy for me to do this. I hope you know that." He sighed, and she looked at him confusedly.

"What?" She asked after a few moments.

"The only way to finally ensure peace is for you to become engaged to Prince Karim of Jarrat." He told her, and her eyes widened.

"I'm... betrothed?" She breathed. Fujitaka took her hand sadly.

"It's the only way to save our country." He explained gravely, and she nodded and smiled despite the tears forming in her eyes.

"Yes, of course. I will do what needs to be done for the country." She declared, but her father knew she was devastated.

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The Royal Guard waited outside the king's chambers patiently. Syaoran knew it would be another ordinary day: following Sakura in her daily routines, sitting to the side as her tutors taught, and watching as she ate or practiced archery. It was not like Syaoran did not like his position, but it was the same thing day after day. He tiredly closed his eyes, sighing and breathing deeply. He knew he needed some sleep.

Sakura deprived him of that as she slammed out of the king's chambers, crying and trying to keep her grace at the same time.

"What happened?" Syaoran asked her, and she lost it as she looked into his eyes. He was the only one with her at the moment, since this area of the castle required the least amount of security.

"I'm... getting... married." She said between sobs, and Syaoran thought he heard her wrong.

"What?" He asked, and she nodded.

"You heard me!" She said loudly in frantic tears. "I'm... engaged."

Syaoran was just as devastated as her as they walked back to her apartments. He did not know why he was, since he understood the reasoning in the match. But imagining Sakura at her wedding with someone she did not know made Syaoran feel angry. Actually, the more he thought about it, anyone marrying Sakura made him angry.

Am I... jealous? He asked himself as they quietly walked down the halls.

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Okay, that was first chappy. Tell me how I did. This story is actually finished, so with a review or so, I will quickly add the chaps on!

I am going to add them quick anyways, but still.
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