Past and Present
Disclaimer: I do not own CardCaptor Sakura, and I am not profiting from this, either.
One: How the Mighty Have Fallen
(damnit I should've brought an umbrella)As the young girl wiped her damp hair from her forehead, she could feel it burning. She squinted her eyes to see who the figure approaching her was when she felt her knees go weak. Struggling as much as possible to wait for him to reach her, she trembled before the sidewalk kissed her face roughly.
---
(o how the mighty have fallen)
Syaoran ran to the lump that was on the sidewalk. Placing his palm on her forehead, he felt the fever almost burn his fingers. Snapping his hand back quickly, he picked her up, marveling at how light she was. Oddly enough, he felt some sort of attachment with her, something that made him protectively cradle her, pressing her head against his chest, securely holding onto her. He walked quickly to his home, rivulets from the rain soaking them to the bone.
"Wei, I'm home," he cried out as he worked the knob and pushed himself in. "Make some soup, please?" He laid the girl down on the couch, feeling uncomfortable in his wet clothing and knowing that she was feeling worse.
"Welcome back home, Master Li. Is there anything else?" Wei looked at the wet girl and didn't say anything.
"Yes," Syaoran replied, still staring at the girl, "send Meiling in."
Wei nodded, leaving the room. Meiling walked into the room, looking at him expectantly."Yes, Syaoran?" She wrapped a strand of hair around her finger, her lips curled back into a slight sneer at the girl he was adoring.
"Do you…" Meiling raised an eyebrow as Syaoran fumbled for his words. "We need to change her out of these clothing and get her dry," he finally said firmly.
"And I suppose you want me to do that?" Syaoran glanced at her briefly before nodding.
"If you don't mind."
She grimaced at the clipped tone he used with her. "As you wish," she said, bowing with a flourish. As she walked to her room, she clenched and unclenched her fingers, gritting her teeth. She counted to five (yi er san si wu) breathing deeply. By the time she reached her drawers, she felt mildly at peace. She grabbed a large t-shirt and a bra from her clothing before deciding that she would go to Syaoran's room to get a pair of boxers for the drenched girl. Also grabbing a towel, the anger began to flush back into her system as she began praying to the Goddess of Mercy.
(kinomoto sakura so we meet again)
Bouncing back down the stairs, Meiling stopped as she heard a voice whisper haggardly. Running down the stairs to the room, she saw only a single tear run down her ex-fiancé's cheek.
---
As Meiling trudged up the stairs, Syaoran pushed some auburn tendrils out of the girl's face.
(her eyes her eyes her eyes)
Syaoran felt a warm tingle go through his body as he felt the skin underneath. It felt remarkably familiarly, as if the softness of a –
(cherry blossom cherry blossom)
He felt a flush rise from his neck as he accidentally brushed past her breast. He pulled his hand away quickly, ignoring the way it puckered even at the slightest touch from him. He gritted his teeth to prevent from placing his hand against it; to knead softly; to let his fingers trail…
When Syaoran opened his eyes after his heavy concentration, he realized his hand had somehow placed itself on her stomach. His palm rose and fell with her breathing, his fingers splayed.
The girl woke up, putting one hand over Syaoran's, staring dazedly into his eyes."Oh, Syaoran-kun…I'm sorry…" The girl shook her head slowly before settling back into her sleep.
A tear fell down Syaoran Li's cheek. A lone tear slipped as he heard the haggard whisper.
(oh gods sakura how could you do this?)
