Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Night's Heart ❯ The Announcement of Arrival ( Chapter 8 )

ForeverDestiny: DON'T SKIP AUTHOR'S NOTES TODAY, PLEASE! I'm back! ^-^ I'm alternating chapter writing and since I just completed Chapter 2 of TSF(CKN), *notice the shameless self-promoting* it is Night's Heart time! Hehe, I'm just a BIT hyper right now! O.O Yay! ^^ But I would like to warn you, with a character death in the following chapters, this fic is going to get a bit darker. The death is important to the story-line and I cannot edit it out. I don't know if I should change the rating of the fic yet, though. I'm not going to be graphic or anything, someone's just going to die, and they're going to know what killed them. If you think I should change the rating, please tell me. Thanks everyone, (or, judging by my reviewers, Sakura-san and Usagi-chan who is known under a variety of aliases)! ^^

Disclaimer: I don't own CCS. CLAMP the kind does.

Night's Heart

Chapter 8

The Announcement of Arrival

The messenger ran into the throne room, skidding on the stone floor. He gasped for breath. The King stared down at him, nervous and expecting the worst. Finally, the messenger caught his breath and smiled at the King.

"She's coming, King. She's coming."

The King smiled, edging slightly on derangement.

"Good, good. This solves everything."

~***~

Takashi Yamazaki ran towards the four friends sitting on the grass. They looked up, alarmed, at his gasping face. Worried, Sakura quickly asked if Chiharu was all right. He nodded, then looked grimly at the royals seated before him. Grimacing, he repeated his orders.

"The King requests your presence in the throne room right at this minute."

They nodded slowly, wondering why Yamazaki was so nervous. It was only a summons. As they walked by, Yamazaki leaned in to whisper to Sakura `I'm sorry.' Worried, the four quickly made their way to the throne room. The King was waiting.

"Father, why did you summon us?"

The King grinned at them, the smile making them edge back. The smile was almost one of a madman. He took a second to smile in glee at Syaoran, almost taunting. Syaoran was unnerved.

"I summoned you here to inform you that-"

"Father, what is it?"

They all turned as Prince Touya walked into the room. He looked a bit surprised to see his sister and three friends in the throne room, then shook it off, reasoning that it must just be something that affected all of them.

"Ah, Touya. So glad you could join us. I was just about to tell the happy news. Sakura and Syaoran are no longer betrothed!"

The four gasped. Tomoyo and Eriol quickly glanced at their two best friends. Sakura and Syaoran were shell-shocked. Slowly, they turned to each other, full of sadness, and asked with their eyes if the other had requested this. Once again, their eyes answered each other with a `no'. Eriol turned to the King.

"Sire, may I ask why?"

"Why, my `dear' Lord Eriol, friend of the Orithi pig, we are no longer in need of the Orithianian's `talents'. You see, I've come up with a new solution to our problem."

"But, Sire!"

"Silence, Lord Eriol! You will be quiet when I speak! As I was saying, I've come up with a new solution. We will go to battle! I see that expression, `Lord Eriol'. I have planned this out. Prince Touya will not go to battle with the troops. He will stay behind and be King in my stead."

"Father, I cannot rule. I have no wife."

"That has been taken care of, son. Fair Princess Kyoko of the Otonashi Kingdom will arrive tomorrow along with her bodyguard/servant Yusaku `Chris' Godai." (FD: I know, these are names from Maison Ikkoku but its not a crossover. It's just me expressing my feelings of love for the manga. ^^ Oh, and Chris? Usagi-chan's crush. Did I say that out loud? Oops! ^^ Don't kill me Usagi-chan! No one at school knows your nickname so Chris'll never find out! ^^)

"WHAT?!?!?!?!?!"

Touya, after failing to find words to argue, fled the room, leaving it silent. Finally, Syaoran got up the nerve to speak.

"S-s-sire?"

"What is it, Orithi?" He spoke the words with such venom.

"I would like to a-a-ask for your d-daughter's h-h-hand in m-m-marriage."

Everyone turned to look at him. Tomoyo and Eriol, with shock and joy. King Fujitaka with shock and rage. Sakura with shock and unbelievable happiness she never thought she could feel. She was about to embrace him when she remembered her father's presence and utter disgust of him. She turned slowly and saw the King's face contorted with rage and disgust.

"HOW DARE YOU! How DARE you ask for MY daughter's hand in MARRIAGE! You Orithi SCUM! NO! NEVER! GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"

He snapped his fingers as two guards jumped out from the sides of the throne. Reluctantly, they manhandled Syaoran into a slave's position. Syaoran, in great despair and hurt by the names called of him, let them. He didn't even try to fight back. The guards dragged him from the room. Syaoran, head dangling down, allowed them. The King smiled, victorious.

"See, daughter? Now you don't have to marry that……piece of filth. You can have a decent prince."

Sakura's eyes watered and mouth twisted into a violent frown. She looked at the man in front of her, her father, who she had once loved more than anyone and now hated more than she thought was possible.

"HOW COULD YOU?!?!"

With that, she ran from the throne room, sobbing. The King, hurt and confused, turned to Tomoyo.

"What did I do?"

Tomoyo just shook her head sadly and left the room, after Sakura. All that were left were Eriol and Fujitaka.

"Sire, might I suggest?"

"Leave, you friend of Orithi slime!"

Eriol walked from the throne room but as he neared the door, he turned.

"Sire, you have just lost your daughter in more ways than one."

With that he walked out, leaving a confused and saddened King Fujitaka in his wake.

To Be Continued….

FD: Wow, I totally turned the plot around, ne? That's what I do. ^^ It should be much more interesting with a crazy King and a new princess and bodyguard. I hope Usagi-chan doesn't kill me tomorrow. ^^0 Well, this will get much darker next chapter, and lots more Syaoran bashing, not that I enjoy it. I love my Syao-kun! Well, that's enough for tonight. For now, this is your authoress, ForeverDestiny, saying `Goodbye and have a pleasant tomorrow.' Ja ne!