A/N: This is a part of what's gonna be a small series of interconnected one-shots, each one focusing on one of the TRC pairs. This first one is SakuraxSyaoran. Oh and keep in mind that is going to be an AU series.
"I'm not a monster!" she stomped at her annoying brother's foot, secretly taking pride at the way he winced. Serves him right for calling her a monster. "And his name is Syaoran, not Brat!" Leaving him to hop around while clutching his injured foot, after she had stomped on it again, she twirled around, marching back to her room with an angry huff. Ignoring his angry yells as he chased after her while doing an impressive imitation of a single-footed rabbit, she shut the door to her room in his face.
Pouting slightly, she made her way over to her bed, falling back with a small sigh. She turned to her side to stare at the small stuffed toy sitting happily in the pile of her pillows. Picking up the white rabbit-like creature that resembled a meat bun more than anything else, she brought it to her face.
"Nii-san was being mean again today," she told the toy in her hands, "he called me a monster so I stomped on his foot really hard." She giggled slightly, "he makes a good rabbit when he hops around on one foot though, ne Moko-chan?" The plush toy remained silent as she brought it to her chest and hugged it.
"I'm gonna turn fourteen in a week." She smiled lying on her back once more as she stared at the roof, "I got Syaoran's letter yesterday. He says he'll arrive on my birthday. I'm going to tell him when he comes this time for sure." She declared determinedly.
"…I overheard Okaa-san and Otou-san talking last week. I'm not supposed to know about it at all, but at least it explains what is wrong with me… I'm cursed Moko-chan..." she said softly, sitting up in bed to look at the rabbit-like creature in her arms, "Okaa-san is afraid I don't have much time left. It's getting worse. But you know something Moko-chan? I'm not going to let this curse bring me down. I'm gonna be happy and enjoy what time I have with my most precious person… you know who that is, don't you?" She giggled softly, putting the toy back on her bed, "Shh… don't tell anyone though. It's gonna be our little secret. I want to tell him about it myself."
….
Gasping she jolted upright in her bed. Right hand clutching at her chest where it hurt the most, her left hand sought for the little charm Syaoran had brought for her from journey about a year back. She pressed the cool crystal to her lips, sighing in relief as it healing magic soothed the pain in her heart. Staring at the white feather embedded within the transparent rock, she held it up to the moonlight, watching as the silvery rays bent inside, making the whole thing glow in otherworldly light. Stuffing it back under her pillows, she pushed back the silk sheets covering her body. Tugging on a cloak over her night clothes, she climbed to her feet. Grabbing the stuffed toy from her bed, she made her way outside to the balcony. The cool night breeze played with her hair as she leaned over the railing, staring at the pair of towers built in the shape of wings in the distance. Her fingers tightening their grip on the toy in her hands, she closed her eyes as tears prickled her eyes. That dream was still fresh in her mind.
"No matter what, Syaoran," she whispered softly, "I'll tell you that day for sure."
….
She quickly excused herself from dinner, wincing slightly at the sharp stab of pain through her chest. She could feel their worried eyes on her back so she hurried her footsteps, breaking out into a run the minute she was out of the dining hall. Gasping for breath, she raced down the hallways, throwing herself into her room as fast as she could. Stumbling over her feet, she crawled over to her bed, pulling out the charm from under the pile of pillows. Hands trembling, she brought it to her lips. Slower than usual, the pain receded. Her heart almost skipped a beat as the taste of blood filled her mouth. Quickly grabbing the jug of water from a small table, she filled herself a cup, drinking quickly to get rid of the tangy flavor.
"I'll tell you… for sure…" she promised.
…
"Syaoran!" grinning widely, she tackled the brunette as soon as he stepped through the castle gates. Ignoring her grumbling brother, she hugged the boy some more, breathing deeply to take in the scent that was just him. Climbing off of him, she pulled him towards the twin towers, her birthday ceremony was just about to start. "There's something I want to tell you after the ceremony." She whispered a confession in his ear before following her mother and the High Priest down the stairs to the underground reservoir.
She felt another pang attack her chest just as the pure water was poured over her head and she was cocooned in her mother and the High Priest's magic. She could feel the golden threads of magic hum all around her as she collapsed to her knees, the pain making her whimper as she folded in on herself. The golden light faded to blackness just as she heard the alarmed cries of her loved ones, calling out her name as she fainted.
…
"Syaoran?" she murmured as she felt the warm weight of his head resting beside her arm, his left hand clutching her right hand in sleep. Smiling softly, she brushed the hair out of his face, stirring him awake as she did so.
"Sakura, you're awake!" he jumped to his feet, hurrying towards the door, "I'll go get your mother."
"Wait!" she cried, reaching for his hand but ending up falling out of her bed in her haste as she leaned a little too far.
"Sakura!" he was at her side in an instant, gently lifting her from the ground and helping her back into her bed.
"I'm okay, Syaoran." She smiled her brilliant smile at him, "really." The smile faltered a little at the sadness lurking in his gaze. "What's wrong?" she asked, wondering if maybe her mother had told him about the curse.
He shook his head, giving her one of his rare smiles, "I'm just worried about you."
"Syaoran is here," she told him, letting her smile turn a little shy as she remembered the promise she had made to herself, "so I'm fine now."
"I should go get your mother." He said, once again getting to his feet. The sadness in his eyes made her heart plummet. She could tell that he knew. "She said she wanted to see you once you wake up."
"You will come back with her, right?" she tightened her grip on his hand. "Right?"
"If you want me to."
"I do." She nodded, feeling breathless as her heart skipped a few beats.
"Then I will be right- Sakura!" she lurched forwards, collapsing in his arms.
…
"- her completely." Her mother was saying as she drifted back into awareness. Her lids seemed to be weighed down by lead because struggle as she might, she could not open her eyes.
"I'm so sorry." That was Syaoran.
"Don't be, Syaoran-kun," her mother replied, "You've done all you could have."
"But it wasn't enough! She's…" he trailed off.
"Sakura-chan would like it if you stayed here with her now."
"…"
"I'll go tell Touya-kun and Yukito-kun." The sound of her footsteps receded as the door shut with a gentle click.
"… I'm so sorry, Sakura." His warm fingers entwined with her own as he brought her hand to his mouth, his lips softly brushing her knuckles as he spoke. "I'm so, so sorry." She drifted back into darkness after that.
…
"Could you take me to the tower at the edge of the city?" she asked as she came to. The sun was descending across the sky. It would be sunset in half an hour. "I want to see the sunset with you."
"Of course, Sakura." She buried her face into his chest as he gathered her in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck for support.
"I promised to tell you something today." She told him once they had arrived at their destination.
"I… I have something to tell you as well." He replied as gently sat her down near the edge of the tower, facing the desert where the sun descended to meet the ground. He sat down beside her, taking her hand in his own as she leaned against him.
"Usually I'd ask you to go first but just this once," She shook her head, pain blossoming out from her chest slowly. "I'm going to tell you first." Her breaths began to grow somewhat shallow as her heart missed a beat. Staring at his face, she could tell he was on the verge of crying. He knew. He knew.
Pushing the sadness away, she took in a breath to steady her heart. "I love you, Syaoran." She confessed.
"Sakura," there were tears in his eyes as he pulled her to his chest in a crushing hug, "I love you too. I love you so much but… I don't deserve you…"
"Stop it, Syaoran." She pushed against him, wincing as sharp, invisible spikes began to press against her torso, digging into her flesh as the sun slowly sank towards the ground. "Stop blaming yourself for it. I know about the curse."
"Y-You do?"
"I've known about it for…" she winced again, biting her lip as her eyes prickled, "a while… I've been having dreams about today every night for a few weeks now... I knew… I knew I would die…"
"I'm so sorry, Sakura." His tears were flowing freely now as he stared at her with longing and regret in his eyes.
"You can see the seal, can't you?" she asked him softly, "That's why… your eyes always grew sad when you… looked at me," the spikes were almost past her ribs, "Please don't blame yourself… you did everything you could… to help me…"
"It wasn't enough." He shook his head, refusing to meet her eyes.
She shook her head, "It was more than enough." She gasped the spikes pierced her lungs. Blood slowly filled her mouth as she swayed.
"Sakura!" Syaoran cried in alarm as he caught her in her arms.
"Don't worry, Syaoran." She smiled softly, blood dribbling down her chin as she looked up at him. "I'm just going to sleep."
"No… Sakura," his tears felt so warm against her freezing skin.
"Hold me please…" she murmured, smiling softly as his grip tightened around her, "as I fall asleep Syaoran?"
"Always." He promised, burying his face in her hair, his body shaking with silent sobs.
"It doesn't hurt anymore," she told him, her own tears mingling with his as she breathed in the scent that was completely him, "Thank you…"
"I'm so glad… you showed up at the reservoir that day…" she breathed, her eyes drifting close as all feeling left her body, "I love y…"
A/N: Just so you know, the clones don't exist since Syaoran never really made the wish to turn back time. I took some liberties with how the 'Seal of Death' was going to kill Sakura on her birthday. This is probably the first time I killed Sakura in my story. I hope you guys had fun reading it. ;) Tell me what you think.
