To Walk Down the Aisle
Shinrai
Disclaimer: I do not own CCS. I am poor. I am penniless. I refuse to be sued.
A.N.: I feel sad. Sorry if I have to drag everyone else who reads this in my misery. But angst is a good thing every now and then. I actually find it healthy.
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Chapter I: When it Feels Too Good to Be True – It's too Good to Be True.
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Clasping Sakura's hands within his, Syaoran thinks life couldn't be better. Having her here beside him was even better. Knowing she loves him…well, that'll forever be the best.
He racked his brain again and wondered for the nth time what in God's name has he done. He shrugged inwardly as he looked at Sakura beside him. Whatever it was, it must have been good that Kami-sama decided to bless him with her.
He looked back at the past three years and sighed. He had spent the last three years in Hong Kong and had only been back last month. He was called by the elders to move back. It was expected. He knew he had to return to Hong Kong when he turns twenty. He was obliged to since it was the age when he would officially become the Clan Leader. But he had to leave Sakura behind. They weren't engaged yet so he couldn't ask her to leave Japan for him. And imagine Touya's reaction if he even dared ask. He'd probably skin him alive.
The three years he spent away from her was the longest three years in his whole life. He tried to talk to her at least five times in a week. At least. And that was hard to keep with his chaotic schedule. It was pure bliss for him to hear her voice. Unfortunately, not once during those three years was he able to return to Japan to visit. The elders forbade him to leave without having completed the first three crucial years of his term. And he had no choice but to obey protocol. It was another blessing that Sakura understood. She never reprimanded him for not being there with her. She only understood. That was why as soon as those first three years was done, he took the first flight back to Tomoeda.
But there was still a problem. The elders allowed him six months to stay in Japan, but he was told that he had to do everything he needed to do within those six months. Because after six months, he had to return to Hong Kong and fulfill his duties as Clan Leader. He had a clan to think about now. And the future of his family now lies in his hands. And he still has his relationship with Sakura to think of. The bad part was the fact that no two were in the same place. One was in Hong Kong, and the other in Japan. And there was only one solution he could think of so could have the best of both worlds. Marry her. Which isn't surprising, really. It was the next best thing to do. He just didn't know if he was good enough for her.
He looked back at Sakura again. Here was his life. All he had to was take her with him.
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Touya watched the dark liquid in his mug spinning in motion with his teaspoon. For the last two years, this was his comfort. Him and a mug brimming with hot coffee. He couldn't remember how he started getting addicted to caffeine. Probably from the vendo machines that sells scalding hot coffees in Styrofoam cups. All he knew was when he was drinking coffee, he was less agitated. Ironic since coffee is supposed to be non-depressant[1]. At least his vice was better than alcohol. Caffeine had driven him to the brink of delirium, but never to the brink of death.
He heard the front gate open and muffled voices uttering sweet shenanigans. He checked the clock. Eight-oh-five. Normally, he would have barged through the door, lifted the gaki clean off his feet and demanded their whereabouts. He still has the unfaltering urge to do that, but he made a promise to Sakura.. his grip on the mug visibly tightened, but he controlled himself. The gaki wasn't his problem.
He waited for the front door to close before he called out to his sister, "Sakura?"
Sakura appeared on the kitchen floor with a soft smile playing on her lips, "I knew you'd be here."
"How are you?" he asked.
"I'm okay." She took the seat opposite his, "You worry too much, Oniichan."
He didn't say anything. He really didn't like being told that he was sweet or affectionate or sentimental. But he appreciated it when Sakura mentions it. At least she knew she mattered. It was important that she knew that.
He switched topic, "have you told him?"
Her shoulders heaved adding a shadow on her tired face, "not yet."
He took another sip from the mug. He didn't want to do this. It wasn't his issue. He took a deep breath as he looked into his sister's emerald eyes. Only one woman has those eyes other than Sakura, and he could still remember her. "I'm not affectionate about the gaki. But you have to be honest with him. There's no use hiding it from him," he had thought about this conversation for a long time already. And he knew he was dong the gaki and her a favor, "that's the best you can do for him. Besides, he needs to know."
Sakura was quiet. He could almost see the thoughts weighing in her mind. She sighed deeply and looked at him with a sad smile, "You're right," she bit on her lower lip obviously wounded by the thought, "I'll tell him tomorrow."
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Syaoran sat on the edge of his bed smiling. Today was perfect. His life was perfect. And it was only going to get better. He could hardly believe it. It was almost too good to be true.
He stood and walked towards his night table and opened the drawer beneath. Inside lay a small velvet box. He had hand-carried this box with him from Hong Kong. He took the box and opened the lid carefully. Inside lay a ring. This was the same ring his mother wore through her whole engagement with his father. A diamond solitaire set on platinum[2]. He had the clan's blessing to offer this heirloom to the woman he loves.
He had always believed that what he wanted was to be the Clan Leader his family expected him to be. Strong, powerful, dominant, and respected. Funny, now that he has achieved all of that and more, he realizes it wasn't what he really wanted. And if it isn't such an irony, what he wanted was just a simple life. A life shared with Sakura. Just that. Nothing more.
He stared at the ring lying on a soft bed of silk. Tomorrow, he'll ask her for that life.
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Hand in hand, Syaoran and Sakura walked through the flower-strewn dirt-path in the Tsukimine Shrine.
"Where exactly does this road lead to?" he asked her brushing a lock of hair off her face.
"To a lake."
"I didn't know there was a lake in this part of the shrine," he said trying to concoct a plan to propose to her.
"Not too many people go there. But there's a legend about that lake."
"Tell me about it."
She looked at him as if weighing how much she'd tell, "Well, they used to say lovers go there to make vows to each other."
He was a lucky guy. It was just the timing he needed, "what kind of vows?"
"Vows of love, I suppose," she replied the wind tinting her cheeks, "people said that those lovers lead lives of undying love for the one they made a promise to.
Syaoran smiled. 'Perfect.'
They reached the lake and stood by the bank admiring the view of the sparkling waters and the mountain peaks behind it. The world was absolutely beautiful in spring.
He turned to her, "you said people make vows here?"
She nodded.
"I'd like to make a vow here too."
She turned to him with an amused look.
He stared into her handsome emerald eyes, "I promise to love, care, protect, adore, make you happy, and spoil you rotten for the rest of your life."
She laughed, a soft tinkering of bells, "Thank you," she sighed looking back at him with a look that showed love, "I wish I could make you happy."
His eyes began to light up slowly, "do you want to know what would make me happy?"
"What?"
he took her hands in his with a euphoric smile that masked anxiety, "to walk down the aisle with the woman I love in my arms," he reached inside his coat and took out the small velvet box, "and I spend my life taking care of her," with great care, he opened the box and revealed the exquisite piece of jewelry he had carried over the sea for her. And looking into her with no mask of inhibition or pretenses, just love, he asked, "Can you share your life with me?"
Sakura's eyes were wide, looking down at the diamond solitaire ring. 'He loves me more than I think he does.' She sighed deeply before looking back into the eyes of the only man she has ever truly loved, "I can't."
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Footnotes:
[1] Non-depressant doesn't literally mean it's not depressing. It's a term used for drugs or any element that doesn't make you drowsy.
[2] I saw one some time ago. The thing was absolutely divine. That's a lot cominf from someone who doesn't bother much about jewelry.
A.N.: I'm good at procrastinating. And I'll procrastinate more if I don't get reviews. Sorry if I sound like a brat. But I'm already miserable and I need uplifting. If I get good reviews, I swear I'll update sooner. I'm open to critism and suggestions. But it doesn't matter, this story's plot is already outlined. If you like irony, I think you'll like this.