CD's listened to in the process of writing this story: Card Captor Sakura The Sealed Card, Evangelion Best Collection (As if you really cared)
Valentine's Day in Tokyo: A surprise visit
Note: ( ) are thoughts
[ ] are little author's notes, observations...side notes if you will^_^
"Done!" Syaoran wiped his brow. He had been working on it for hours- a handmade Valentine for Sakura. (It's kinda-demented...) He frowned a bit. It was pretty big for a card-it was about a foot long. On the front was a lopsided picture of a sakura tree. There were glue spots around it where he glued lace around the edges. He frowned even more. (It looks like a little kid made it.) True, it did. But he was in the eighth grade already-glue and glitter? Really. He recalled the trip he made to the gift store. He had spent hours searching for a card with the right words, but none seemed to capture what he was feeling inside. It was time to reveal his true feelings, tell her she was the world to him. "Be mine" just didn't seem to cut it. He grinned a bit. (She'll like it, I'm sure. I hope.) He remembered the birthday card he had made her. She was so thrilled. 'Oh, Syaoran-kun, it's so cute!' He was surprised-it was pretty bad then, too. He never was able to draw that well. But he was so happy, too. He had worked for days, and was exhausted, but the smile on her face made it all worthwhile. That was just one of the mysterious qualities about Sakura that he adored-she always made him feel special. Her smile reached a part of him he never knew existed. A part of him that wasn't battle hardened. A part of him that was surprisingly...human. His thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell. He snapped up. (Who could that be? It's almost time for school...) He apprehensively went to the door. He had glue on his fingers and glitter in his hair [probably from his bad habit of running his hands through his hair all the time-makes it very messy] He was aware of the former, but had no idea his hair was...festive. He opened the door. "Ohayou!" Sakura said energetically said (well, almost shouted.) Syaoran was at a loss for words. He turned a nice shade of crimson. He nervously looked behind him, and saw the card on his coffee table. He blocked the doorway. "O-ohayo, Sakura." He finally stuttered. "How are-" He stopped when he saw the look on her face. She was holding in a fit of giggles. He looked around nervously. He made a mental checklist. (Shirt-on. Teeth-brushed. Pants-on. Fly-[after a quick glance] zipped. What is it?) He looked at her again quizzically. "She was still stifling a giggle. "I didn't know you liked sparkly hair, Syaoran-kun." (Huh? Sparkly-) He closed the door and dashed to the bathroom. He looked in the mirror and was horrified. His caramel colored hair was aglow with pink glitter [pink was Sakura's favorite color. This fact was stored in Syaoran's mind along with her favorite food, place, movie...] "I'll be right out!" he shouted as he frantically ran a seldom used brush through his hair. He washed away the glue and jammed the valentine into his bag. The craft supplies were haphazardly pushed on the floor and hidden under a pile of Newtype* magazines. He dashed to the door, took a deep breath, and opened it again. Sakura was still there with a smile on her face. (The best part of waking up sure ain't Folgers.) "Hi again, Syaoran-kun. I woke up early this morning 'cause Kero-chan was snoring really loud. Wanna walk to school with me?" she inquired with a smile. The smile that made Syaoran weak in the knees. The same smile that appeared in his best dreams. (You kidding?) "Well...I..." He looked at the floor and drew imaginary circles on the floor with his feet. He took another deep breath and looked up again. He smiled. "Sure, I'd love to." (More than you would ever know.) They chatted about school and such, and before he knew it, they were at school. They walked into class together. [Fate was kind enough to place them in the same class since fourth grade] Syaoran barely heard the teacher. He was too nervous. (Today's the day. No better day than Valentine's Day. How should I do this? 'Sakura, ever since that time in the Maze...'no. 'Sakura, you...') He tried over and over to prepare the perfect speech. He looked at Sakura and smiled. (Today's the day, for better or worse...) The lunch bell rang. He dashed out ahead of Sakura. He wasn't quite ready yet.
Syaoran hurried to his favorite lunch spot-the big tree. (On, not under.) He pulled out his Valentine. It was a bit crumpled. He straightened out the edges. He sighed wistfully. He looked down. The school was abuzz with excitement. Many people were exchanging valentines. He noticed Chiharu strangling Yamazaki, saying something about shared love and her chocolates weren't illegal in China? (Wierd...)Sakura was nowhere in sight. He closed his eyes and once again began preparing his speech. "Sakura-chan...no, Sakura..."
"Syaoran-kun!" A sudden voice broke his train of thought. "S-Sakura!" he exclaimed loudly. He put the valentine under his bag. He turned scarlet for the umpteenth time. Sakura giggled softly. "You love sitting in trees, don't you?" Sakura giggled again. Syaoran cleared his throat anxiously. "Well...I...can think clearly up here." He finally choked out. "May I join you?" Sakura inquired. "I always wanted to see what you liked so much about that tree." "J-Join me? Well, sure! Come right up!" He was at a loss for words. He watched her carefully climb onto the branch next to him. (Oh Kami-sama please don't let me choke it's now or never go for it!) "Kinda nice up here, Syaoran-kun...." She looked around. His heart skipped several beats. The wind gently played with her hair, making it dance in the breeze. Her emerald eyes sparkled with life as the sunlight tinted her chestnut hair with shades of red and gold. He gulped. (She's so beautiful, I don't know if I can go through with this...) He twirled a branch nervously as his cheeks began to blaze with a new blush. (No, I have to do this! Don't back out now, this is the perfect time!) "Sakura..." He began. "Nani?" she turned her head towards him. As she did, her grip on the branch slipped. So did she. "Ahhh!" She yelled as she began to fall from the tree. "Sakura!" Syaoran yelled, as he got ready to jump from the tree. But Sakura fell too fast. She fell....right into the arms of Hiiragizawa Eriol. An old anger began to spark in his head. "Sakura-san, daijoubu ka?" he asked as he gently placed her on the ground. A small crowd had begun to gather at the commotion. She blinked a few times, then blushed as she realized that Eriol was holding her hand. "H-hai, Eriol-kun..." "Yokatta, Sakura-san." He smiled gently. "It seems an angel has fallen from heaven," he said, smiling that smile of his. Sakura blushed furiously. Syaoran's anger grew to an all too familiar fire. "Eriol-kun...why are you back?" Sakura inquired, still a bit dazed. Eriol pulled a bouquet of roses from his bag. Syaoran was infuriated. He looked down at his handmade valentine. Suddenly it didn't seem so wonderful anymore. He stuffed it into his bag haphazardly and and closed it quickly. The valentine got out and stuck in a branch, but Syaoran was listening to the pair too intently to notice. He listened carefully for Eriol's response. (Why is that Hiiragizawa guy back here? I thought I was rid of him for good after the Clow Cards were turned into Sakura cards. What does he want? And why does he have flowers?) His face was red again, but this time the cause was anger. Eriol bent down next to Sakura's sitting form and handed her the flowers. Syaoran eyes widened. He grabbed a branch from the tree and began to twist it in frustration. Eriol took her hand gently and kissed it. Several girls in the crowed sighed at the romantic gestures. Syaoran frowned in disgust. The branch in his hand snapped. Eriol looked at the now blushing Sakura and smiled. "The answer is simple, Sakura-san. I am here for you." Sakura's eyes were as big as saucers, and her blushed deepened. Eriol continued. "I am here because...Sakura-san...I love you."
*Newtype is a great Japanese anime magazine. I love it!
Japanese words
Ohayou- good morning
Kami-sama-God
Nani- what
Daijoubu ka- Are you okay?
Yokatta- thank goodness/ I'm glad
*Author's notes*
Hi min'na sama! First, I'd like to thank everybody (er any one who's reading this:P) ~Hugs~ CCS has to be one of the cutest series there is_!! Season three is one of my favorites, along with Sakura's Dark Literary Fest from season 2(Shaoran in a dress-need I say more?) I am a bit disappointed with artbook three...I was kinda hoping there would be a manga story to continue book 12...sigh. At least the pictures are pretty, right? Very different from their other works- one of the only lighthearted pics in the X artbook is a very amusing picture of Kotori receiving Kamui as a Christmas gift. I love it, though! Wai! Thanks for reading my little story! Ja, min'na!
~Lisa 1/01