By ani-chan aka Cherished Dreams
A/N: yup another story! It's pretty crappy I think but then you might think otherwise. Oh heheh oh wells. Oh yeah if you don't like little things kinda pulling you away from the story this might not be your best option. Heheh some lyrics come through the middle of it but it has some relevance to the story so yeah.
Disclaimer: The CCS characters are own by CLAMP not me. heheh. and also the songs that you see in the story is not mine. you'll see who they're sung by in the end note.
Dedicated: To the people out there who have had heartache to find the one they love.
Oh, read on.
Chapter one
If there was ever a time that Sakura needed someone to support and comfort her, she needed them now. Sakura had never felt so lonely in the new town, the new world that she had ventured into. She was in the city of love, but she had no-one to spend her time there with. The people were friendly, and welcoming, the food and wonderful scenes were lavishing and distinct. These were the things that secretly made her wish that she was in Japan. But this would be the big break that she needed to boost her career.
Have you ever loved somebody
So much it makes you cry?
Rika one of her best friends was probably at home studying for her second degree in Uni. How she could study was a mystery to her but interrupting her with a call would definitely piss her off, especially at 3 in the morning. Tomoyo was on a business trip in Taiwan. She had expanded her mother's company of technology and had a music company of her own. Meiling was probably in a night club not too far away from Rika with her boyfriend, making out. Jus the thought of those two making out reminded her of that one unforgettable incident, and made her want to hurl.
FLASHBACK
"Where the hell did Meiling go to now? I thought that this was a girl's night out?" exclaimed Tomoyo. She was pacing around just outside ICE, one of the most favored and exciting hang out places for the students of the neighboring colleges. Sakura just rolled her eyes at her friend's over handling of the situation. Tomoyo just glared at her, which didn't work because of her rosy flushed cheeks and cute outfit.
Meiling was the one that drove them there and she was needed so that Sakura could drive them back to the dorms. Meiling would no less be drunk out of her wits or miraculously still standing. "Why don't we just look for her, alright?" She suggested, just wanting to curl up at home in her bed. She wandered around and decided to checkout the car at least to make sure she wasn't already there.
But as the car came into view, she was taken back at what she saw. The two were vigorously at it, heads in a fumble and joints and limbs all over the place, and the car. well just not still.
END FLASHBACK
She smiled knowing that her friends' little habits always put a smile on her face, no matter how. odd. She made a mental note to one day thank them for their memorable little antics. Still, it saddened her to be thousands of kilometers away from those three. Her lavish apartment was boring her. The company made sure that she was close to the office, within the lights and views of Paris and well furnished to accommodate herself and her visitors. Of course, there wouldn't be any visitors because of her lack of friends and family within the area.
Have you ever needed something so bad
You can't sleep at night?
Sakura softly smiled sadly as she listened to the soft tune of Have you ever? by Brandy. Deep inside she was reminded of her heated argument that she and her fiancé had before her departure. She still loved him. She had loved him with every inch of her heart. Their heated argument was mostly about their future together and her career in France. Never had they had this kind of fight before and it ended in tears and hurt.
FLASHBACK
"Look I don't want to start my married life away from my family and even if I did you'd be working even harder. I'd probably barely see you and what about that family that we were planning?" Syaoran sighed softly, and tried to comfort the unnaturally calm Sakura. But she pushed him, trying to make it seem that she wad emotionally, as well as physically, pushing him away. She stood up straight and replied "I'm sorry you feel that way. Perhaps our paths will cross again in the future." She said in a cold voice and averted her eyes. Syaoran looked at her in disbelief and with a heavy heart and eyes brimmed with tears, he walked out of the room and out of her life.
END FLASHBACK
Have you ever tried to find the words
But they don't come out right?
Tears were now steadily flowing down her pale porcelain face. God, how those words had sounded so cruel and cold. They had sounded so wrong. Her mind had told her to break it to him gently but it had sounded much different to that that she had said. She trembled slightly and just slumped down to the floor. And for the first time in her life, she broke down and fell asleep sobbing.
Have you ever?
Have you ever?
A young lady in her mid twenties with brown-auburn shoulder length hair and piercing emerald green eyes, walked into one of the most important and tallest buildings in the whole of Paris. She was greeted with bonjours and welcomes as she made her way to the elevator, to reach her personal office on the twenty second floor. Of course every one knew who and how important she was. She had worked four hard long years to earn the position and was finally sensing her importance within the company.
She walked down a long hall to her office but not before being surrounded by her secretary, personal assistant and many other important associates. She nodded to them silently and started taking them in the Monday morning news rush. She grabbed all the folders from the "swarm" of people and started to read them as she closed the door of her office, only to find a figure at the window, which overlooked the city. She started with a "Hello? I'm sorry but you'll have to leave. I have a very busy schedule to follow. But you can make an appointment with my secretary just outside my office," wanting peace within her office as she worked.
The young man turned and replied with a smile, "I'm so sorry Ms Kinomoto if I'm disturbing you." He stood in front of her with a knowing smile as she squinted her eyes, trying to remember why he seemed so familiar. His sincere-twinkling sapphire blue eyes, his wise features. "Eriol Hiiragizawa?!" She screamed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She was so happy that she forgot that he used to be her ex-fiancé's enemy. Finally! Someone that she knew. She was oblivious to the fact that he had stiffened to the shock. Slowly, he rigidly lifted his arms and put them around her, hugging her back tightly. They stood there until they were interrupted by Naoko, her associate. They broke apart and Naoko excused herself to leave the two.
Sakura broke the silence, and smiled at Eriol and asked "What are you doing here? And how did you find me?" He chuckled and replied, "An associate of mine said that there was a foxy lady named MS Kinomoto in this office. So I decided to see if she was as beautiful as they say. I guess she is." Sakura laughed assuming that it was just a joke, but Eriol's serious face said otherwise. "No seriously Sakura, he even exclaimed the little Ms in front of your name. I guess he was looking at how f-i-n-e you are."
She stopped laughing and looked down at her finger. The mark of a ring was still present and she sighed as she sat down in her executive's chair and turned her back to him. "I WAS engaged but that's in the past now. Hey I know why don't we." She said as she looked through her schedule. ".have dinner tonight? To talk and all?" He was suddenly at her side, which alarmed her, because she didn't want him to see the slow hot tears roll down her face, but he noticed anyway and handed her his handkerchief. She looked at it for a second and accepted grateful for the kind gesture. "How's seven at the Rose Garden?" She nodded her head as he excused himself from the room.
Days, then weeks went by, and soon not a day went had gone by that Sakura didn't see Eriol. He had heard her name being mentioned by his associate, Louis Jean as he passed by in the corridor, and he had decided to see if this was true. She later learnt that after high school, he finished his hospitality degree in Oxford University. He was currently employed in a five star hotel, well known for its service. He was the head concierge taking care of all the important and regular clients of the Le Serein Rivière. Many famous people came to the Le Serein Rivière, and at one time Eriol had to assist the Prime Minister of Australia. They had to laugh when he retold how the Prime Minister would only eat Australian imported lamb for his meals.
Where ever you go
What ever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
They would go see the movies, go to restaurants or just walk through the busy streets of Paris, talking about their past experiences and enjoying the bright life in the streets. One afternoon as they were walking along, they passed a street mime. Mr Mime as he was called dragged Eriol and persuaded him to follow his movements. This was very amusing and as the show closed to the end, as the final finale, Mr Mime and Eriol kneeled down, Mr Mime to another person in the crowd and Eriol to Sakura took their partner's hand and placed a flower in their palm.
What ever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
Sparkling emerald green and twinkling sapphire blue eyes met. Sakura was overjoyed and amused by the surprising entertainment yet she was still oblivious to Eriol's sincere puppy dog eyes. He stood up and bowed to the crowd before continuing his walk, with one of the most important people in his life.
I hear the laughter
And I taste the tears
But I can't get near you now
Eriol sighed as he watched Sakura' slender figure disappear into her apartment lobby. He started his walk to his own apartment as he replayed the day in his mind. He stopped at the moment where their eyes met. Large emerald green eyes shone beautifully and he felt his heart beat thump harder within his chest. Was he falling for her? He didn't know but seeing her cry from the day they had met in her office made him wish that he would never have to witness her cry again.
Oh can't you see it baby?
You've got me going crazy
One afternoon, Sakura stayed home from work. Eriol found out from Naoko, and he immediately rushed over to her apartment to see if she was alright. He knocked on her door and after a minute or two it slowly opened. She was standing there surprised to see him standing there with a bouquet of daisies, her favorite type of flower. "What are you doing here? I don't think we had something on today. Or did we? I'm so sorry if we did. Oh! Where are my manners, please come in." She added and ushered him in . "I just thought you were sick or something." he replied handing her the flowers.
"Oh. thank you umm. you didn't have to. I'm not sick. I just took a day off to pick up a friend of mine at the airport." She said as put the flowers in a vase. "Then I'll just give the flowers to my other girlfriend." He remarked as he chuckled when he saw her reaction. She looked at him and stuck her tongue out playfully at him. "Oh yes! Eriol you remember Syaoran Li right? Syaoran, Eriol." She suddenly said, as if she just remembered that Syaoran was also present in the room. The two males looked at each other and shook hands. Syaoran glared at him slightly before sitting back down on the couch again.
"So Hiiragizawa-kun. Do you work with Sakura in the office?" Syaoran started trying to make conversation whilst trying to conserve himself from actually gritting his teeth out loud. "No, actually I work in the Hotel not far away from her office. I happened to just be employed there when she arrived. I found out from my associates and I decided to visit her." He replied, seeing the tension between them all. He was about to speak when Sakura interrupted and spoke. "Eriol. don't you still have a meeting with an important client today?" Eriol raised his eyebrow slightly and nodded half in shock and half in knowingly. He took this as a little sign that Syaoran and herself needed some time to themselves. He stood up and once again shook Syaoran's hand and hugged Sakura before he left.
Later that night, Sakura called Eriol and asked him to come over. He agreed, hearing her voice weak and for the second time that day, he knocked on her door. She opened the door and trusted herself in his arms. Her neighbors were looking on curiously and concerned. An older person walked up to him and told him that she had been crying loudly and that she had heard some things being thrown around. Eriol thanked her and awkwardly walked her inside her apartment and closed the door with her still in his arms. She was sobbing and trembled in his arms.
"What happened?" He tried as he settled her on the couch and wiped her tears away. His face was open and gentle, and he tried to keep himself composed. Inside, his heart was breaking apart. He never wanted to see her cry from the incident in her office, but here she was crying, distressed and he hated himself for not being able to make her stop. He could only imagine what had happened, but nothing could piece together. Syaoran his little descendant, would never hurt Sakura, he had witnessed this long ago when they were merely children, the age of ten. Syaoran had been the one who protected her and loved Sakura even as Eriol left for America. He comforted her until she stopped and thanked him for being there for her. She took a deep breath and started her story.
"Eriol, Syaoran was my fiancé before I moved here to Paris. Before I moved here we were supposed to get married and settle down. But the company decided to promote me and with that promotion I had to move here for 24 months. I left him for my job, one of my dreams and goals in life. I never properly said goodbye to him." The beginning didn't surprise him as he knew that Syaoran would love Sakura as much as to defy his own clan. But the elders knowing that the clan had no other leader accepted this and prepared for the Mistress of the cards, which would soon join their family. She took out a small ring from her pant pocket and held it up to the little light inside the apartment. It was breathtaking; several pink diamond stones with glittering white ones in a beautiful sakura blossom shape. He merely glanced at the jewel and listened to the rest of her story.
"When you came here I was so happy because I wanted to show him that I had moved on and that I was doing fine. He was always very stubborn and over protective. So when he saw you I sensed that he was fuming deep inside. But then I remembered how much he could hurt you, if he thought something was going on between us other than friends. I didn't want you to suffer because of our problems. He's gotten stronger over the eleven years that have passed. He still wanted to marry me, despite the five months that had passed after I had left. But. I didn't want to leave. I couldn't. Paris is now my home as much as Japan is. And I'd. miss you too much." Sakura looked into Eriol's sincere and genuine eyes. Despite many years without Clow's magic, he was still the wise and fatherly Eriol that she had known when they were ten. "I told him I wouldn't go back with him, that I'd miss this place too much. And. can you believe it Eriol?! He broke down! Right in front of me! I couldn't take it! I hurt him again, just to follow my dreams and goals. I feel so guilty Eriol!" She ended, trying her hardest not to cry.
Eriol wiped away new tears and gently lifted her head to face him. "That may be true Sakura but following your dreams has helped me find mine. Your dreams and ambition have lead you to me. You're the best thing that has happened to me and I don't want to lose you or see you cry anymore. Sakura Kinomoto. I love you." Eriol said as he looked into her eyes, red and swollen. She just looked at him tiredly and rested her head on his should as he held her tightly. He would let her rest and he would be there if ever she needed him.
To be continued.
A/N: hehe sowies but I have to stop it here for now.
By the way the songs in the story are in order:
Have you ever? By Monica & I will be right here waiting for you by Monica and 112
Okies I'll leave you to review now! That if you'll do me a favor by doing so.
Smiles,
ani-chan