Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Chronicles of the Ookami Realm: Legend of Li Syaoran ❯ As You Please ( Chapter 5 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Chronicles of the Ookami Realm: Legend of Li Syaoran

According to Legend, those who encounter him will see their death flash in his eyes. Will the Legend of the Ookami Realm stand true when innocent Princess Sakura accidentally ventures forth?

Chapter 5: As You Please

Nothing Less.

Sakura was wearing some unusual clothing. A cloth hung around her waist and ended just above her knees and she was told, by Kitty, that it was called a skirt. She wore a top which she found extremely awkward. There were no sleeves, moreover it just wrapped around her body and tied at the back of her neck and the back was totally open. One more set of strings tied at the back of her back.

What is this? She questioned as she stood at a balcony that she found while exploring the castle. She had to admit, the castle itself was gorgeous and the clothing style Li Syaoran had was inexplicably different and, much to Sakura's displeasure, very good looking.

Sakura sighed as she pushed herself off the balcony and pulled down this skirt as far down as possible. It was white with random pink cherry blossoms strewn over for a design and her top was simply a pale pink colour. After breakfast, Syaoran disappeared leaving Sakura to explore the castle and do what she wished so long as it didn't interfere with her being there.

“Do as you please…” he had told her and that's what she did. She raided her closet (which she found out was stocked to the brim with her regular type of clothing and what she was wearing now) to exploring the castle, the gardens, courtyard and even the training ground.

Sakura had to admit, the wolves roamed freely in and around the castle and, yes in the first few hours, it scared her to see a white snow wolf run down the hall with endless grey wolves following it, but eventually Sakura realized it was pretty normal. As Sakura stood at the rails of a balcony, a Wolf brushed up against her ankle and she glanced down, smiling slightly.

The wolf had a beautiful grey coat of fur, full and very shiny as it brushed up against Sakura's leg.

Sakura smiled down at the wolf before glancing over the balcony again. “Beautiful afternoon, isn't it?” She whispered as the wolf looked up and then between the bars of the balcony rails.

“It is,” The wolf murmured and Sakura wasn't even the least bit surprised. She figured that the wolves could talk, her suspicions coming true when she witnessed Syaoran conversing with wolves.

Sakura sighed as she kept on staring past the horizon. She kept on seeing wolves running about in the courtyard of the giant castle and Sakura had to wonder, what was the purpose of all the wolves? Despite the fact that this was the realm of the Wolves, she didn't see a purpose for all those wolves.

But Sakura had to admit, Wolves was her favourite animal of them all, and being surrounded by good wolves that wouldn't harm her was pretty much a dream come true.

Sakura looked back down at the wolf and smiled slightly. “What is your name?” She inquired, finding that the wolf beside her was the most beautiful of them yet. The wolf looked up, the eyes softening before it's jaw opened to speak.

“Zhia,” she murmured, obviously being a girl. Sakura grinned softly as she looked past over the balcony.

“I like your name,” Sakura murmured softly, “sounds mystical.”

Zhia howled before shaking her head, looking back up at Sakura. “Princess Sakura,” Zhia mused, “you and Master would look amazing together.”

Sakura frowned as she pushed off the balcony rails and looked sharply down at Zhia. “Don't talk about that, please…” She said as she turned around and started walking off, her skirt fluttering slightly. Zhia giggled in a wolfish way before running after Sakura.

Just as Sakura turned a corner, she bumped straight into Syaoran's chest, who instinctively shot his arm out and caught her around her waist, pulling her straight into his chest.

Sakura gasped as the smell of oak and musk filled her senses and almost drove her insane. She blinked several times before pushing herself out of his arms and stumbling behind Zhia.

“S-Syaoran…” She gasped and he smirked, openly checking her out. She frowned as she moved back a few steps.

“Looking very beautiful,” He smiled as he looked down at Zhia.

“You too Zhia,” He grinned as Zhia barked.

“Bite your tongue,” Zhia snorted as she briskly strode past Syaoran. Syaoran merely chuckled as Sakura raised an eyebrow.

“She's my father's Wolf,” Syaoran shook his head, “she finds herself in authority position and I let her have her fun for a while.”

Sakura merely whispered a soft oh before looking anywhere but at Syaoran. Syaoran chuckled as he crossed his arms, wearing brown rider's pants and a sleeveless white top, which Sakura found very- different.

Like the skirt thing I'm wearing. Sakura thought as she held her hand clasped behind her while staring at a velvet portrait on the wall beside her. Syaoran shook his head as he glanced outside.

“Beautiful day, isn't it?”

“Yes.”

“Amazing day to go riding, wouldn't you say?”

“Yes.”

“Would you like to join me?”

Sakura gasped as she shot her gaze directly into his eyes. He wasn't joking nor did he have any sense of untrustworthiness behind his glowing amber orbs. Syaoran was merely speaking what he would like to do.

“I'd rather… explore the castle.” She whispered as he bowed low.

“As you please.” And he walked away.

Sakura blinked several times, amazed at how he easily accepted what she wanted. Sakura glance around and saw that Syaoran merely walked away and none of the wolves were around either and she heaved a heavy sigh. This place was not for her. It was so modern, going beyond the years she had lived in and she knew nothing about anything. In her place, she merely stood in the shadow of her father and brother, letting them take control.

In this place though…

In this place, half of the Wolves and servants ask for my opinion.

Sakura walked back to the balcony she had inhabited a little while back and looked out to the riding tracks and was amazed to find Syaoran on a beautiful roan horse with a flowing mane, thrashing through the hurdles, one hand on the saddle and the other lifted in mid-air.

He doesn't look half bad… Sakura thought wildly to herself as she watched his body gracefully balance atop the horse. Sakura sighed heavily as she rested her head against the rail, feeling the cool of the stone seep into her pores. She blinked a few times before straightening herself and watched Syaoran some more.

He jumped hurdles like an expert, Sakura noted as she saw him pull the reins of the horse, causing it to buck. Syaoran's eyes averted to the window and a small smile graced his lips as he raised his hands to wave at her.

Not knowing what she was doing, Sakura raised her fingers slightly before quickly pulling her hand down. Syaoran seemingly laughed as he directed his horse to go back to the sable.

He's been nothing but nice to me. Sakura told herself as she turned around and slowly started walking back to her appointed room.

He fed me, clothed me, didn't abuse me in any way shape or form—minus when I first arrived here and he let me keep my title as Princess Sakura. Sakura blinked as she sat down in her sleeping quarters and dug her head into her hands.

Li Syaoran, the Lord of the Wolves, Ruler of the Ookami Realm. She named him silently in the privacy of her own head, has done nothing but respect me.

Sakura bowed her head even lower knowing she had disrespected him in every shape and form she could've managed. She was taught better than that. Yes, he was her captor, and yes he had taken her from her rightful home, however, he didn't hurt her physically or emotionally…yet.

It was high time Sakura respected him, give what she received and show what she acquired.

She received respect.

She acquired knowledge of a new world.

Time to put it to the test. She'd respect him as he has done her and she would use the knowledge of the Ookami realm to find a way to go back to her own.

If she couldn't beat him… might as well, join him perhaps?

“Eriol,” a loud voice boomed, “Eriol, Takashi, Mika!”

Three men stood side by side as the high commanding king, Lord Fujitaka, paced in front of them.

“Yes'sir?” All three saluted as the king whirled upon them.

“News to Touya should reach in three days.” Fujitaka said. “The three of you go, say that Sakura has been taken and return right away, understood?”

The three men nodded.

“Good, take all that is needed.”

Once again the three men nodded.

“Dismissed!”

Sakura looked up as she heard the door to her room open and saw that it was Li Syaoran who had entered her room. Instantly she stood up and looked him straight in the eyes as he leaned up against her wall.

“Evening, Princess…”

Sakura nodded. “Evening, Lord…”

“Care to join me in a bite for dinner?”

Sakura was about to retort when she remembered her promise to herself. Respect him as he does you.

“Formal or casual attire?” She asked, which took Syaoran off guard, however he quickly got over that.

“Casual is fine,” He smiled as he left her room, allowing Sakura to rummage through her closet. She came upon a light pink kimono top and white pants that men only wore in her world.

In the Ookami realm, even the servants wore pants. Sakura still found it awkward, since it was her second day in the Ookami realm, but she'd get over it, eventually. She tired her hair up into a bun and left the room, barefoot.

She had spent the entire day exploring the castle and she had it memorized like the back of her hand. Sakura could probably walk through the corridors blind folded and still find the outdoor courtyard dining area where Syaoran had had dinner prepared for them, already sitting on a white chair.

He looked up, wearing one of those sleeveless tops again, except it was black this time, and his riders pants, when Sakura walked in. He stood up and bowed and Sakura bowed back. Syaoran walked to the other chair and held it out for Sakura as she sat down.

“So,” Syaoran said as he sat down back in his chair and looked at Sakura, “how did you find the castle?”

“Beautiful,” Sakura submitted to the conversation, “much more modern than anything I've ever seen.”

Syaoran laughed. “Of course, my Realm is five hundred years in advance to your realm, however I still like to keep that bit of Ancient Japan as much as I can. The clothing you see is what people would wear five hundred years into the future.”

Sakura's mouth was a perfect o as Syaoran grinned, servants arriving with giant platters of food.

“What would you like, princess?” Syaoran raised a brow. “Shrimp, chicken, beef, veal, pork, vegetables, vegetable mix, greens, beans, soup or noodles?”

Sakura eyed all the platters before glancing back at Syaoran. “Got… shrimp noodles?”

Syaoran laughed as a short chef wadded forward, his face much like an anteater and set a large dish down in front of them.

“Lord,” he bowed, “Lady,” he bowed at Sakura who merely coughed. All of the servants walked away and Sakura stared longingly at the noodles that adorned in front of her in a bowl made of ceramic.

“Let me ask you something?” Syaoran asked as Sakura glanced up at him, her hands trembling under the table, on her lap.

“Yes?”

“Of all the things I have asked to do with you today, why is it you said yes to dinner?”

Sakura gulped as she eyed the steaming noodles. “Because,” She whispered, “I've been taught to respect. Despite capturing me you have respected me and given me nothing less of what a Princess would get.” Sakura looked at him definitely, surprised to find amusement in his eyes.

“So, therefore, I will respect you until you give me reason not to.”

Syaoran leaned back in his chair. “And what if this is all part of my ultimate scheme of making you my bride?”

Sakura sighed. “I already know you want to make me your bride and well- I guess if I'm too trusting I deserve it?”

It came out like a question.

Syaoran merely laughed. “You have the word of the Ookami Lord,” He said seriously as he looked her into her eyes. “No harm will come to you. You are, even if you do not wish to be, my future bride and you will be treaded as the Ookami Lady.”

Sakura gulped and nodded, not liking how he was already claiming her as his bride.

“I will court you,” He smirked, “you will chose to be my bride, not forced to. I have two weeks time before I must take you to meet my father, Li Syaoran…”

Sakura raised a brow. “Li Syaoran…?”

Syaoran laughed. “Have you ever heard of the Legend of Li Syaoran?”

Sakura slowly nodded. “It's written in the Chronicles of the Wolves isn't it?”

Syaoran crossed his arms and smiled softly. “Yes it is. My forefathers of fifteen years have all been named Li Syaoran because they ruled the land of the Wolves. It is said that whenever my line has a son, the first one should be named Li Syaoran.”

Sakura nodded slowly again. “Hence it being called the Legend of Li Syaoran?”

“Basically yes,” Syaoran nodded, “or else two hundred years, we can't have one Li Syaoran now can we?”

“I suppose not…” Sakura whispered as she glanced to her left to find the large courtyard untouched.

“Tomorrow,” Syaoran asked, “would you like to join me in an outing to my northern castle? I have to go there for business but I would- appreciate it if you joined me?”

Sakura looked around and stared at the castle. I can't really do anything, my magic is restricted and he's the only one who speaks to me like I'm human and not some Lady that might behead him if he misspoke with me…

Might as well. Sakura looked back at him and nodded. “Yes, I'll join you.”

Syaoran beamed. “Great,” he said as he ushered at the noodles. “Will you eat or should I have to look like a pig?”

Sakura couldn't help the giggle that came from her chest and Syaoran laughed. “You sound better when you laugh!”

Sakura couldn't contain herself and burst into peels of giggles as Syaoran smiled contentedly with her.

She seems so much more beautiful when she smiles. He thought to himself. He respected her very much for keeping a strong will so long and because of that, he had given her whatever she wanted.

That and the fact she was supposed to be his bride but Syaoran, naturally, was a good man. Despite popular beliefs.

And now, he just scored himself a date with his soon-to-be-but-not-yet-wife.

What did you think? Any comments are appreciated.

Lub,

Sakura