Disclaimer: Don't own CCS. Clamp does. Don't sue!
Thanks to my illness and my pain, I have got the end of SFTH. I hate to say it people but I think this is the second last chapter besides the epilogue.
Oh, to the reviewer who was asking about Sally, um she wasn't incarnated. Sorry if you wanted her to. I'll put in another girl.
But I still want thank all the reviewers cause if you didn't review then I probably would have given up a long time ago. But when you all pushed me, I persevered and got this story down.
Sung From The Heart
Chapter 19: Race To The Altar
He didn't care what they were going to do with him anymore. Hah, he would always love Sakura Kinomoto.
He was kneeling in front of the Elders, those stern old men, powerful in magic and knowledge, dull and boring.
"Li Xiao Lang, for not returning the Card Mistress back to the Li Clan, you have failed. For your punishment, you will be married off tomorrow, to an eligible young mistress named Wui Yuseke, and you will regain leadership of the Clan at 20. You have failed the Clan. Under any circumstances, you should have been able to pursue the Card Mistress to return with you. Hopefully as your future bride. But you come with nothing, not even an equal leadership of the Clow Cards as the first Xiao Lang had. We are all deeply ashamed."
They spoke as one, deep and impending, always used to commanding and ruling over the Li family. Syaoran scowled. But he hid it under his stone face as he was taught to. Emotions showed weakness, believed the Elders.
In a corner of the dim, incense filled ballroom, a girl of 18, (Remember, by now Syaoran himself is 18 because he's two years older then Sakura. It's been a bit more then a month since her birthday, so now it's June.) Stood. Her grey eyes framed a pale face, determined. To do what, none knew. But Yuseke Wui was determined to win.
-=-=-=-
Slumped across the single bed, Sakura was silent, until that is Tomoyo who was looking around, grabbed the keys and announced that they were going shopping.
She groaned.
"Sakura! You can't go looking like you're an ordinary person when you go to Syaoran! You have to make a good impression!"
As Sakura hauled herself to the mall with Tomoyo, she was exhausted as they had gone through the flight, barely got a room and she had barely understood the language.
Tomoyo who had been studying the map, knew Mandarin, and could speak it quite fluently, found directions.
The city was in a bustle, and for some reason, Tomoyo knew it was normal. Sure every city had to be busy with folk going to and fro but for it to be crammed full of strangers talking to strangers, then she didn't know what big event seemed to be going on.
"Have you heard? There's going to be a big *whisper* for *whisper* and *whisper*. They say that the Li head doesn't *whisper* to get *whisper* to her."
Overhearing the word Li, she knew something was up.
"Excuse me� why is everyone such in a rush today? And what's all the big excitement?" she asked a shopkeeper in clean Mandarin.
"Don't you know? It's been all over the city, the Li Clan has just announced a wedding. And it's not just a wedding. It's their leader's. Li Xiao Lang. he's going to get married to Yuseke Wui, one of the city's richest bachelorettes. The city is having a big celebration. It will be in old tradition too." Answered the old woman, a happy grin on her wrinkled old face.
Tomoyo masked her horror. Quickly thanking the old woman, she and Sakura headed for the clothing stores. (Remember, Sakura doesn't understand any Mandarin except for thankyou. Which is 'xie xie ni' if you didn't know.)
This was a call for drastic measures.
-=-=-=-
Sorrow flooded him, and tears would not come to him. He was a son of the Clan and it was for the Clan good that he was suffering for. For didn't all good leaders bears the scars of his people? Wasn't it them that wept for every man who had died and remembered all who passed before him? Weren't they the ones that had to sacrifice all for they're good?
He was sick of trying to fight it. What use was fighting against a spell when he had no will to pit against it? It was making him forget his love for his Ying Hua. He burned it with his power. It retreated for the moment as his heart came into play.
Who were they to choose who he married? Why was he even allowing this to happen? All who were there saw him beating himself up mentally and his anguish.
He was at the altar. And next to him was his concealed bride, the beautiful Wui Yuseke, soon to be Li Yuseke.
She was dressed in the traditional red robes that were worn by the Chinese. Her face was veiled so he could not see her. His senses told him that her grey aura was trying to surround his, like Sakura's would except Sakura's would cling softly unlike Yuseke's which sought to suffocate his.
The priest and his novice brought the plate towards them. One it was two sugar roosters and a goblet of rich red wine.
It was a private ritual, for only the Clan and the family of the bride's. In an open temple, where outside in the streets of Hong Kong, celebrations were paraded, none except the invited intruded into the ceremony.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let this happen," said a voice, softly but firmly.
No one spoke and few dared to move. The Elders who were there to witness the wedding, stood up.
"Who dares intrude of the joyous unification of Li Xiao Lang and Wui Yuseke? Show yourself!" they hollered as one voice.
"Okay! I'll show myself�" came the sweet voice again.
And that note of laughter in the voice broke the spell hold over Syaoran.
"Sakura!"
"Yes?" Came the elusive voice without a body.
"Where are you? What are you doing here?" he asked to the air.
"Whoops, forgot to show myself�" the air behind him shimmered, and took a form.
Out of the shape came Sakura, in a pink kimono of cherry blossoms and a hint of heather and honey. Nearby, another shape was coming out too. Then a familiar cry.
"Ohohohohohhoho!"
On Sakura's head was a mighty big sweat drop as she looked around. Blank faces all around, except Syaoran's, which was surprised, and the Elders', which were stony.
"Hoeeee�" she sweat dropped even more, but visibly calmed down when familiar warm arms wrapped around her.
"What are you doing, miss?" a cold voice resonated around the crowd, as sounded with a hint of venom in it.
Two flashing grey eyes met scared but determined emerald ones. The bride-to-be had lifted her veil to see better and was coldly staring at Sakura.
"I've come to stop this wedding. I'm sorry but he'll never love you as much as he loves me. As much as I love him�" came Sakura's saddened look at the cold Yuseke.
"So you think to take my future husband away from me? I have waited many years for this day and you dare to ruin it for me?" threatened Yuseke, her grey eyes sparking dangerously.
"Card Mistress Of The Cards. You have postponed this wedding. Do you have a well-earned reason? Speak now or the wedding will continue!" The Elders commanded the attention.
"We are destined to share our lives together. History has proved this alone. Will you deny us our rightful claim? Or will you challenge fate and change the ending of a lifetime?" asked Sakura, her eyes shining brightly, as Syaoran stared at her.
His Ying Hua. Sweet, caring, stubborn, smart and all his. His arms tightened around her, cradling her in their comforting warmth.
The Elders had paused, whispering quietly so none heard what they said.
"Destiny has brought you two together. If we were wrong as to separate you two, we would be greatly punished. We relent. The wedding is off." Said the eldest Elder.
A cry rang out. The grey-eyed Yuseke had sunk to the ground. She was weeping profusely.
"I have spent my whole life waiting for this day� and it seems to always be denied from me�"
The end is here... Chapter 20...
Author's Notes: Was that good? It's almost the end. I think at least. The epilogue is coming next� I think. Oh well. Hopefully ur all happy with this chapter. Though it's rather brief. Anywayz, later.
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