Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Unappreciated Love ❯ The Announcement ( Chapter 1 )

Unappreciated Love

by Lyeza

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in Cardcaptor Sakura. They belong to Clamp.

Both Sakura and Syaoran are 20-years-old and have never met each other before. Sakura has already passed the Final Judgment and the cards have already been converted to Sakura Cards. When Yelan and the Elders found out that the cards now belong to her, they decided to force Syaoran to marry Sakura. Syaoran was of course angered and schemed to get out of this predicament. Little did he knew that he would eventually fall in love with her.

Chapter 1: The Announcement

In Hong Kong

"Syaoran, dear. There is something I have to talk to you about," Yelan said looking meaningfully at her 4 daughters who were also in the room.

"Yes, mother," Syaoran said calmly although inwardly he was groaning. After ten years of harsh training so that he could take the place as the Head of the Li Clan and after his disastrous engagement with Meiling, he thought she would get off his back by now.

"Get out the four of you and no peeping or eavesdropping," Yelan's sharp voice startled Syaoran out of his reverie. He watched with dread as his mother ushered his sisters out and locked the door. "Now, Syaoran. Remember the time when you stubbornly refused to retrieve the Clow Cards in Japan?" asked Yelan. Syaoran nodded. "The Elders and I have found out that the cards now belong to a lady named Sakura. After many discussions among ourselves, we have decided that you will be marrying her so that the cards will still belong to this family."

"What!!!" Syaoran shouted as fury overcame his apprehension.

"I already have a talk with Sakura's father, Fujitaka, and he is willing to let you marry his daughter knowing that you belong to a prosperous and well-known family in Hong Kong. She will be arriving in Hong Kong within two weeks and I trust you will make this engagement work," Yelan continued, ignoring Syaoran's outburst.

"But mother," Syaoran started to protest as he tried to come out with excuses.

"No more buts. I let you off easily when you purposely wrecked your engagement with Meiling but this time, you won't. I will be watching your every move Syaoran.....," interrupted Yelan before Syaoran could voice out an excuse. She then left the room.

Syaoran buried his head in his hands. Trust his family to make a mess out of his life. What was he going to do? No way was he going to marry a nobody from Japan who was lucky enough to gain possession of the cards. He got to think of a plan. He knew he could pull it off just like what had happened to Meiling.

In Japan

"I am going to get married," said Sakura dazedly.

__________________________Flashback______________________ ______

Sakura had just reached home after school and saw her father sitting at the living room deep in thought. She had never seen her father this serious before. She was curious to find out what was going on.

"Konnichiwa, otousan," greeted Sakura.

"Sakura," Fujitaka smiled, "Come and sit over here. There is something I have to tell you." Sakura looked at her father, concern mirroring in her eyes. She immediately sat across her father and waited for what he had to say.

"I had visitors today," Fujitaka began and paused for while.

"Is there something wrong, otousan? Maybe I can help," Sakura asked. It was rare to see her father acting this serious and it made her very anxious.

"They were members of the Li Clan from Hong Kong. You have heard about the Li Clan, don't you?" asked Fujitaka. Sakura nodded though she had no idea what her father was talking about. "They are one of the most powerful clan in China. Anyway, they wanted you to marry their leader, Li Syaoran," Fujitaka continued.

"Nani??????" Sakura shouted, shocked.

"They were rather persuasive. I must say they don't take no for an answer. I, of course, do not object to the engagement as long as you are comfortable with it. What do you think?

Sakura, who still could not overcome her shock replied, "I..... I....."

Fujitaka smiled in understanding and said, "Give yourself time to think about it, ok? I know this came as a real shock to you. Maybe after a week, you can give me your answer. If you agree to this engagement, then we will be leaving for Hong Kong in two weeks."

_______________________End of Flashback_______________________________

"Oooh! This is going to be the coolest wedding in history. Do you think Syaoran's family will let me design the wedding costume?" Tomoyo's excited voice interrupted Sakura's thought. Sakura looked at her starry-eyed friend and said nothing. She knew her best friend was very excited about it and decided not to voice out all the doubts she had in mind.

"I don't like this idea of you getting married," complained Kero. "How do you feel about all this Sakura?" he asked.

"I don't know. I'm so confused. One minute I was leading a normal life of an 20-year-old and suddenly I was told I am getting married and to a Chinese Clan leader no less. How do you think you feel if you are in my shoes?" Sakura said. Tomoyo looked at her best friend. She understood how the Card Mistress was feeling right now.

"Listen, Sakura. I know what you are going through. You are going to enter a new phase of your life. Think of it as a great opportunity that will never come again. Besides, I know that the Li Clan is a wonderful family. After all, my family happens to do business with them. They are rich and powerful yet nice and warm," advised Tomoyo.

Sakura smiled," Thanks Tomoyo."

2 weeks later,

"I have come to a decision, otousan," Sakura said. Sakura, her father and Touya were sitting in the living room. After a lot of thinking, she had decided to inform her family of her decision.

"What will it be, Sakura? Remember, whatever you choose I will accept it," Fujitaka said, knowing how much his support meant to her. Touya just stared at his sister. He was confident that Sakura would not be crazy enough to agree to this engagement.

Taking a deep breath, Sakura said, "I've decided that I am willing to try and make this engagement work."

"That's a good choice Sakura. I know you are sensible enough not to accept that........ what!!!" shouted Touya, clearly not expecting her decision. "Are you crazy? You don't know what you have gotten yourself into, kaijuu," Touya continued while pacing the hall to and fro so fast that he probably had worn out the carpet.

"First of all, I'm not a kaijuu. Second, I'm not crazy. It seems that you are the one who's overreacting right now. Thirdly, I have already think about this thoroughly and I know its an opportunity that I should not let pass. Besides, from what otousan and Tomoyo have already told me, the Li Clan is a wonderful group of people and I guess, since Syaoran Li is leader of the clan, he should not be too bad either," Sakura tried to explain, a little hurt by Touya's lack of support.

"Sakura's right, Touya. Please try not to get worked up over it. Also, if by any chance Sakura decided that she do not want to go through with the marriage when she gets to know Syaoran, she can just break the engagement and we will return to Japan immediately. Yelan Li had promised me that," Fujitaka reasoned.

Touya calmed down upon hearing this. He looked at Sakura and said, "Very well. I hope you have made the right decision. However, if that Chinese gaki does anything that will hurt you, I will personally give him a bashing he will never forget."

"Thanks, oniichan," said Sakura, smiling.

"Well then, now that you have made your choice, we better start making preparations to go to Hong Kong. Sakura, I believe you have made a good choice. I hope you will not regret it," Fujitaka said.

"I hope so...." Sakura said.

"Remember, Syaoran. Don't mess this one up," warned Yelan. For the past few days, she noticed that her son was pretty calm about this whole engagement thing when she thought he would sulk all day, throw tantrums or try to cajole her out of the engagement. She glanced at her son; tall, blessed with beautiful chestnut hair and gorgeously intense brown eyes, he was indeed every girls' dream while to him, they were his nightmare. Now, he stood quietly beside his four elder sisters as he waited for the arrival of Sakura and her family. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. She knew her son well enough to know that even though he pretended to accept it, he actually had something up his sleeve. She was not sure what he had in mind though and made a mental note to keep a close eye on him.

Syaoran allowed himself a small smile. From the corner of his eyes, he could see his mother watching him. He knew of her puzzlement and suspicions. Well she had the right to be suspicious of course; after all he did have a plan.

__________________________Flashback______________________ __________

"What makes you think I will do that for you after what you did to me?" Meiling announced in an annoying voice. Syaoran kept silent and waited when all he wanted to do was to strangle his ex-fiancé. Trust a girl to bring up the past. Seeing that Syaoran was not about to say anything, Meiling continued, "You are cruel, Syaoran. Why don't you just give her a chance? Maybe she will really make a wonderful wife for you."

"Are you willing to help me or not?" Syaoran asked, his patience almost snapped as he glared at Meiling.

Meiling cringed slightly, "I don't think so. After all, I don't owe you anything. After what you have done to me, you think I will easily forgive and forget?" Sad tears were brimming in her eyes as she remembered the hurt and disillusionment that Syaoran had caused her. There was a long uncomfortable silence.

"Come on, Meiling. We are not talking about the past now. Why don't we just let bygones be bygones? Anyway, aren't you happier now that we are not together anymore? Please, Meiling. Just this once," begged Syaoran. Even though begging was not his style, he was really desperate.

He looked at Meiling. She looked like she was struggling in her mind, trying to come up with a decision. "Please, please, please," Syaoran prayed.

"Come to think of it. I'm happier now that I'm not married to you. Thank you for what you did to me. Thank you for making me realise what a jerk you are before I get the misfortune of getting stuck with you for life," Meiling said.

" Stop flattering me, Meiling," Syaoran drawled. "Why don't you show your gratitude by agreeing to my scheme."

"Very well then. I will pretend to be your girlfriend in front of your fiancé," Meiling conceded but seeing Syaoran's triumphant smile she continued, "I'm not doing this because of you though, but because I felt sorry for the Card Mistress. I don't want any girl to be unfortunate enough to be stuck with you."

Syaoran frowned and said, "Enough already! Just do your part and do not try to make my mother suspicious."

Meiling sighed, "I'm not sure if this will work though."

"It will if you just do as I say," Syaoran said and left.

___________________________End of Flashback_______________________

Syaoran smiled again. All he had to do was acted nasty to Sakura and tried to be as wonderful to his 'girlfriend', Meiling, as possible and it would be a matter of time before Sakura decided that she could not take it anymore and cry out of the engagement.

"Sakura, I'm going to make you regret for ever agreeing to this engagement," he thought with satisfaction.

To be continued……