Entering Eternity
Time: 12 yrs post Xiaolang's leaving according to the manga, go figure
Disclaimer: CCS will never ever belong to me as much as I dream of it.
I'm a fairly new author to the world of fanfictions and I aim to write to please myself and not the readers so if my writing or plots offend any of you, I can only apologise and ask you to bear with me. Feedbacks are more than welcome; I'm open for comments.
Chapter one: The beginning of it all
Warm sunlight streaked past the curtains flapping aimlessly around the window. A gentle yet mischievous breeze played with anything it could lay its hands on. Birds chirped cheerfully outside the window welcoming the beginning of a new spring day. The overwhelming yet somehow aromatic scent of fresh flowers just newly in bloom wafted through the curtains and filled the room.
The room.
It was tastefully decorated in different shades of green, emerald green, leaf green, sea green... you name it and you will find it in here. They blended in gracefully with each other giving the room a rather warm presence. The room was messed up by the piles of worksheets and notes left scattered around the room after their owners decided to disband their studies and instead surrender to the sweet temptations of sleep. In the middle of the room, the only spot not messed up was the huge and elegant king sized bed with canopies touching the ceiling.
The finely chiseled head poking out of the sheets sleepily turned itself towards the window. The light reflected off his fine cheekbones, creating a spectacular portrait of the said head to anyone who would have the privilege of being in the room and witnessing the exquisite features sculptured onto the head. The man's eyes slowly and reluctantly opened his amber eyes filled with the passion for life to take in the morning sights of his room and cursed silently under his breath something to do with the phregging sun and how it hurt his eyes. He turned away from the light and glanced at the clock standing on the bedside table and groaned wearily. A woman's head appeared from beneath the jade green covers smiling sweetly to her bedfellow. Her eyes were set off to the right shade of green, with the similar passion for life reflected in them. She grinned mischievously while asking, " What's the matter Xiaolang?"
"You know perfectly well what's the matter," grumbled Xiaolang. "Its Monday morning that equals to another annoying school day which equals to torture around Eriol and Tomoyo." He ran his hand through his heavily tousled hair in annoyance and sighed, "Well, good morning to you too dear."
"My, my, somebody really doesn't like his blood relations too much does he?" replied the woman in mock surprise. "Good morning to you too Mr. Grumpy," as she gave him a silent peck on the cheek, "We had better get ready for school, don't want to be late again do we?"
"You mean YOU don't want to be late again," laughed Xiaolang as she smacked him playfully on the chest, "Although I am nearly dying of shock that you could drag your pretty little ass out of bed so early in the morning Sakura. I must have died during my sleep or else I'm still in lala land." He yawned and stretched as he prepared for school.
"You know what? I think you are hanging around onii-chan too much. He is starting to rub off on you. Well, you had better get a move for the bathroom before this pretty little ass gets it before you."
All this, which was once considered impossible by both parties, had now become a regular morning routine and part of their everyday life. Sakura leapt out of bed and made a pose as though she was running for the bathroom. Xiaolang got up hurriedly and dashed to the bathroom first. He knew what would happen if she got there first, he would have to dream of using the toilet until many eons later. Sakura grinned to herself and started on the seemingly impossible task of making the king sized bed.
The minute Xiaolang closed the bathroom door behind him, his whole facade changed. His legs seemed unable to support him; grief and despair tore through him like a million knives. He sank to the floor feeling helpless, the memory of his father's death still haunted him after all these years. He knew that there had to be some explanation to why these nightmares were suddenly plaguing him again. He grimaced and shook his head violently to clear his mind of all thoughts of the nightmare.
Sakura's head jerked up suddenly from where she was picking up all the pieces of paper on the floor. Despair, grief, anger flowed through to her from Xiaolang. There was nothing he felt that could be concealed from her unless he wanted her to not know and vice versa. They shared a special bond made stronger by their immense love for each other, no one else could intrude on their bond, and no one else shared the bond they had. It was their final linkage to each other. Sakura shook her head, wondering how she could have sensed such emotions; even through Xiaolang she knew it could not be, for he was always happy now. Wasn't he?
Are you alright? She thought. Concerned filled her side of the bond.
Yeah, I'm fine, he replied, sending waves of reassurances to her and hiding his nightmarish visions or whatever they were behind an impeccable mental shield that no one could break.
You had better hurry up if you don't want to be late Sakura.
Well, I would hurry up if it wasn't for a certain vain man hogging the bathroom desperately trying to tame his untamable hair. Take my advice and leave it alone. It's hopeless to fight with it. You'll only get more teeth stuck in it.
Oops, thought Xiaolang sheepishly, well sorry, you do know how hard it is to comb my hair.
He came out of the bathroom door looking rather guilty and jerked his head towards the clock in an action that would have made many women swoon.
"School starts in about an hours time. Care to speed up milady?" He asked sarcastically.
"Well, my handsome prince, I will be changed and down in five. So lets say you go down first and prepare us some scrumptious and filling breakfast?"
Xiaolang grudgingly agreed to her terms. Down in five? He thought, where had I heard that before?
He closed the door behind him as musical girlish giggles filled his mind while he went down the stairs to tell the cook to prepare breakfast in preparation for the upcoming day of torture in school.
Alone in the kitchen while waiting for Sakura and breakfast, he carefully enforced his mental shielding, ensuring that it was strong enough to keep Sakura from knowing what he was thinking about yet weak enough for them to communicate should the need arise. He allowed his thoughts to wander all over the place as he drooled over the oncoming golden-brown pancakes with honey syrup and orange juice, Sakura's favourite breakfast. It never failed to lift her spirits up even when the day faced was predicted to be stormy and gloomy.
Xiaolang's thoughts finally landed on the nightmares or visions that he had been having the past few weeks that were echoes of his fearful past. He had never failed to wake up in cold sweat in the middle of the night every time he dreamt that nightmare. Sometimes he would even wake up screaming bloody murder. The one he had the last night was quite mild compared to the more violent ones he had over the years. His nerves were only sedated at the sight of HIS Sakura lying dead to the world but always ready to defend herself should the need arise. He had scooted closer to her and the smell of her comforting scent and the feeling of their auras' dancing around them mixing together had soothed him like they always do. He had felt like he was in paradise or close to it at least. However, now he felt very troubled, worried over what the sudden surge in his nightmares might mean. The future clan leader does not have dreams without meanings. Although Sakura was more powerful in dreams of prophecy and visions, he felt, he knew that these dreams were targeted towards him and only he was meant to receive it. He knew, knew that it was possible that his father may his soul rest in peace, was somehow trying to communicate with him. But how and why he did not know, he did not even know if it WAS his father trying to tell him something. He banged his forehead with the back of his hand in frustration.
He suddenly felt concern from Sakura, realising that his mental shields were still up, and had been for quite long, Xiaolang quickly lifted up his shields and told her, Nothing is wrong, don't worry about me.
"Are you sure? It's very unlike you to be preoccupied with something else than the present. Is there anything that you want to share with me? Does this recent state of losing consciousness have anything to do with the nightmares you have been having almost every night? Do I have to force you to tell me everything or are you going to tell me voluntarily?"
"Oooooo, I'm so scared," he taunted," Try me."
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
Sakura leaned over and quickly located her target. His one weakness, his ticklish spot. Mercilessly she tickled him until both youths were on the floor rolling about trying to evade each other's attacks. Finally he caught her disadvantaged and grabbing hold of her wrists in a grasp tight enough to ensure that she would not be able to escape yet loose enough to not cause any harm to her, he leaned over and asked, "Give up yet?"
She stopped struggling for a moment and replied with a grin that reeked of slyness, "Never." As fast as lightning, she had him flipped over and straddled him on his tummy. " Now I've got you," she crowed triumphantly.
Xiaolang surrendered to her, he knew, they both knew what would happen if their "fight" continued. Sakura leaned in closer to him until their noses were almost touching, whispering huskily, "Are you ready to tell me what is bothering you now?"
He looked up at her sparkling jade green eyes and smiled genuinely, a smile full of true love, "I will tell you later and you know I could never keep anything from you. For now, we had better focus on school."
Damn, is she breathtaking, he thought. I know, came the candid reply. Xiaolang smirked before kissing her lightly on the lips. Pulling both of them up, he motioned for her to sit down and eat quickly. They were going to be late soon if they did not hurry up.
5 minutes, a gorged breakfast and much confusions later, both of them were ready to go to the university. Being rich meant that they did not have the need to live on campus as Xiaolang had easily obtained a bungalow close enough the university to accommodate them. However, they were usually late for school. Sakura had begged and pleaded but Xiaolang had remained adamant, she was not allowed to use the cards except in real emergencies, it was not deemed fit that she should waste her energy using the cards in trivial matters. Nothing that she had done short of threatening to blow up the house could move him to change his stubborn mind. He remained firm in his decision on this matter.
Time check, 10 more minutes till lecture starts, he thought, better make like the wind and dash fast. Race you there. With that, he speeded off, his fast pace enhanced by his many years of training and magical powers, leaving in his wake a trail of dust. Sakura was momentarily stunned but within a nanosecond she pulled herself together and raced off after him.
You lousy cheating bastard, just for that you are so going to suffer tonight, Sakura though indignantly.
Hey, it wasn't my fault that you weren't paying much attention. Xiaolang laughed it off as they raced to school, their competitive spirits refusing to lose to the other.
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