Disclaimer: I do not own CCS.
Phone Calls
By: rhiannon-harmonica
Chapter 1
Phone Calls
Sakura slumped down on her bed. She had just arrived home from the bus stop, riding in Touya's bike. All the while her brother attempted to engage her in a conversation but his efforts were all to no avail—Sakura was so engrossed in her own thoughts to even bother responding to him. Syaoran-kun has left. The dejected thought wouldn't leave her mind as it kept replaying over and over again. Sakura frowned. But he promised that he will come back! And I will wait for him! She attempted to cheer herself up, but still…
"Hey Sakura!" Kero said, hovering in the air above her. "What's wrong?"
She forced a smile and faced him, "Nothing, Kero-chan…I am fine…" Kero could not help but frown at the forced smile and the wistful look in her misty eyes.
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Later in the afternoon, Sakura was trying to bake a cake to while her time away and keep herself occupied. No one was there, for her father and Touya were at work. Kero was at her room, playing video games, and would only come down later when he would smell the finished cake. She was humming, concentrating on turning the knob to the right temperature and time.
"There!" Sakura exclaimed, "Now all that's left for me to do is to wait!" She started to hum again and proceeded to fold the laundry. The first shirt on the pile was Touya's, but she did not realize this fact as all she saw was its color—green. Green. Syaoran-kun's Chinese battling outfit. And I guess his favorite color. Or is it? I haven't asked. Her eyes turned misty once more as she began to remember and reminisce. Shall I even venture to the 'if only phrases'? 'If only I had realized earlier'? 'If only he had told me earlier'? She sighed. "Be brave, Sakura!" She exclaimed, trying to cheer herself up. "He asked you to wait for him! You only saw him a few hours ago! And he promised to come back, and I'm sure he will return. He will!"
RING! RING!
"The phone! Coming!" Sakura started to race to it.
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Hong Kong…
Syaoran sighed. He was now back at home. It was not that he was unhappy to return. It was just…that he left a certain someone behind. Sakura…will she be okay? After all, all of the cards were transformed. But still, it is very unfair for me to confess to her and then leave her. At least…Syaoran smiled.
flashback
"I understand my feelings! The one I love the most is you!"
end
At least she also felt what I feel. But it is so unfair—to leave after that. I could have held her, hugged her, and told her repeatedly that I loved her too, ever since…but then we have to wait. Wait. Such a difficult word. But I will handle it for you Sakura. I will do all of my duties here in Hong Kong quickly, so I can come back to you.
Yelan could not help but notice the longing look in her only son's eyes as he stared out the living room window, his suitcases still at his feet, waiting to be carried upstairs to his room. He had been that aloof ever since he arrived from Japan earlier. But it was not the cold, aloof type—it was as if he left a part of his soul in Japan, and wanted it back so badly. He had changed, she thought, for the better. And I have a good idea who influenced him to. But why does he look so forlorn?
"Son?" She said.
"Oh, mother." Syaoran acknowledged her presence with a flat tone. He nodded at her and went back to contemplating the tree branch outside the window.
Yelan sighed. She was starting to get an idea about her son's attitude. "Is there something you wanted to talk about?"
Syaoran snapped back to reality and seemed to consider something, looking at Yelan straight in the eyes before replying, "Yes."
"Well then, do sit down," she gestured to a living room couch. She noticed that as Syaoran sat, it was as if he carried a relatively large load on his shoulders.
"You are sad about something. I gather this is about a Japanese girl?" She started.
Syaoran didn't even try to refrain from looking surprised as he replied a quiet "Yes."
"Would you mind telling me what exactly happened?"
"I am sure you already know her, mother, since you have met her—the card mistress."
"Ah, the auburn-haired girl."
"Yes."
"How long have you loved her?"
"Months. Exactly how long I am not sure, since before I did not even know that the reason why I turned red and panicky around her was she herself."
Yelan nodded. "Have you told her?"
Syaoran nodded in the affirmative.
"What did she say?"
There were a few moments of silence before Syaoran spoke up. "She said she loved me too, but she told me that when I was in the bus earlier, leaving for the airport."
Yelan chuckled. Her son looked so dejected that she could not help it. Syaoran looked up at her in surprise. "Xiao-Lang, if you do love her, which I feel is the honest truth, you will not let mere miles get in your way. What has happened to the determined son I knew? Or is he only determined when it comes to battles and the complete opposite when it comes to love?" She lifted Syaoran's chin and met his eyes. "If you do love her, even if you are far away, you can still express that love, right?"
Syaoran nodded.
"And do you think that she loves you in the same way too?"
I guess. Why else would she make a bear overnight and run after a bus? Syaoran nodded.
"There you go. If that's the case miles and years will never overcome the both of you. And don't you worry about the Li clan duties since they will be over before you know it."
Syaoran smiled at his mother. Who knew that his mother could be the best comforter he would have at this time?
Yelan smiled for she had succeeded. "Well, what are you waiting for? You should go call her."
Before she could finish, Syaoran was out of the living room and into his room, bringing the cordless phone in the process, leaving his suitcases behind. Yelan chuckled once more. They are twelve years old. Young, but then no one can stop true love. She thought, smiling to herself.
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Japan…
"Hello? Kinomoto residence. Sakura speaking." Sakura could hear static first and a drawn breath from the other side of the line before the person answered.
"Sakura? Hi."
That voice… "Syaoran-kun?!"
"Yes, its me."
Her voice began to falter as tears began to form from the corners of her eyes. "It really is you!" She began to sob.
"Yes…Sakura? Sakura? Are you okay?"
"Yes I am okay. I just couldn't believe that it has only been a few hours and you're already calling me! I bet you just arrived, ne? And that you still haven't unpacked your things, and you're already calling me!" She sobbed into the phone.
Syaoran got confused. Is she mad at me? Because I called her first before unpacking? He was about to ask her that when she blurted out, "But I don't care! I missed you!"
Syaoran breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "I missed you too, very badly."
Sakura giggled amid fresh tears. "And it has only been a few hours! How will we survive?"
Syaoran laughed.
"Its nice to hear you laugh."
Syaoran knew that she was smiling into the phone, "And it's nice to know you're smiling."
It was her turn to laugh. "How did you know?"
"I just knew, that's all." He smiled. "Well, what was your brother's reaction?"
"Well, I haven't told him yet, but I think he does know, since he was the one who brought me to the bus stop earlier. How about your mom?
"She was perfectly okay with it. In fact, she knew that I was wearing a long face because of you. You know, you really should tell your father and your brother…or, perhaps, just your father. Your brother tends to get a little too violent."
Sakura laughed. "So now you're afraid of him?"
"Nah, I'm just trying to get in his good side. You know, because I have to get his approval and everything." Syaoran said.
"Approval for what?" came Sakura's reply.
Uh-oh. Sometimes I forget Sakura could be dense, Syaoran thought. "Well, you know, approval, because the two of us are now, are now…" Syaoran began to sweat, despite his room's air-conditioning.
"The two of us are now what?" Sakura's voice was puzzled.
Syaoran slapped his forehead—a bit too hard. "OOWWW!!!" He shouted into the phone.
"Syaoran are you alright?" concern was etched along the lines in Sakura's forehead.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Anyway, as long as we were on that subject, well…well…what I wanted to ask you was…well…" he could not quite finish his sentence.
"Well what?"
Syaoran took a deep breath as his face started to turn red. "Well since I have told you I love you and since you have told me you loved me too but I was not able to ask you this because of that stupid bus and the other stupid fact that I had to leave but I am going to ask you now even if we are only twelve will you be my girlfriend?" he expelled all of this in one breath.
"What?!"
Calm down, Syaoran! She loves you too, mind you! He took deep breaths first before saying simply, "Sakura, even if we are only twelve years old will you be my girlfriend?" He held his breath as he heard silence at the other end of the line. But what if that changed because I left her with such a hasty goodbye? But she promised to wait! But what if—
His thoughts were cut off by a giggle from her. "Yes I will! You didn't have to ask!" Sakura told him, blushing and twirling the phone cord.
He sounded disbelieving. "Even if we're only twelve? Even if we're a thousand and eighty miles away? Even if it will take me long here? Even if your brother will kill me when he finds out? Even if—"
"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!" She laughed.
"I guess I can breathe normally now."
Her laughter rang like bells in his ears.
He sighed.
"What's the matter?" she inquired.
"I'm just happy I guess, and I can't help grinning." He told her.
She smiled, "Me too." Then Sakura smelled something burning. "Oh! My cake!"
"Cake?"
"Yes, Syaoran-kun, don't hang up! I'll just get it!"
"Okay." Syaoran leaned his head on the foot of his bed as he waited for her. He grinned. He was happy—that was true. Now if only he could just see her and hold her…
"Hey, Syaoran-kun I'm back. Sorry about that."
He sat up straighter and said, "You know, you could drop the kun after my name. After all, we're…boyfriend-girlfriend." Blushing.
"Oh…ummm, okay, Syaoran-ku—Syaoran." Sakura was also blushing.
Silence ensued, but not of the uncomfortable type as both blushed and smiled into the phone.
"We should always do this." Sakura said, "You know, phone calls."
"Yeah, and we should exchange letters too."
"That's right!" Sakura clapped enthusiastically, the phone was cradled between her head and right shoulder and she was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall. She heard the door slam and Touya call out, "Kaijuu, what is that burning smell? Where are you?"
"Oh! It's oniichan!" She said to Syaoran. To Touya she called out, "I'm on the phone, Oniichan! And stop calling me kaijuu!"
"You're on the phone before cleaning up the mess you did in the kitchen? Who is that? Tomoyo?"
"It's Syaoran-kun!"
Silence. Syaoran felt himself begin to perspire as he waited for the explosion to come.
And it did.
"WHAT?! You're on the phone with that GAKI?!?!"
"ONIICHAN!" With that Sakura left the phone to stomp on Touya's feet. "I'm so sorry about that, Syaoran!" Sakura said when she came back to the phone. In the background Syaoran could hear Touya saying "on the phone…didn't even bother with the mess…with that stupid gaki…am going to kill him…"
Syaoran began to perspire once again. "Are you sure it is safe to talk? I mean, with your brother…"
"Ah, don't mind him."
"Don't mind me?! I'm the one who is cleaning up your mess right now and I was the one who let you ride on my bike earlier and besides you should sleep!" Touya's voice could be heard from the kitchen. According to Syaoran's hearing it was dangerously coming closer and closer, until—
"Hey, Chinese gaki! You should let her sleep after she spent all night and morning making that teddy bear for you!" Touya had taken the phone away from Sakura's hand and had spoken to him.
"What? Sakura did not sleep?!" Was Syaoran's aghast answer.
"Yes! Because of you!"
"ONIICHAN! You should not barge in on my PRIVATE phone calls!" Sakura said, and pushed him away.
"I am so sorry again, Syaoran!" It was now Sakura on the phone.
"What? You did not sleep at all last night because of the bear?!" Syaoran felt numb. "Because of me?"
"Oh, Syaoran do not believe Oniichan! What he said was—"
"The complete truth!" Touya cut in.
"Sakura, I think you should go to sleep now," Syaoran said firmly.
He could hear Sakura sigh and Touya saying something like, "The gaki's right, you should! Even if he is a gaki he's correct this time, only this one time… (mumble mumble mumble)…"
"Well, fine, but a few more minutes! Please!" She was pleading both to Syaoran and to Touya.
"Fine." Syaoran said, and Touya must have nodded because after Sakura had shouted "And don't ever bother me when I'm in my private phone calls, Oniichan!" she returned to him, saying, "Syaoran I am really really sorry!"
"Its okay, you know, but you shouldn't have really stayed up all night to make the bear. You should've just told me that…that you loved me and then all would've been okay." He told her.
"Then it wouldn't be the same…"
He could almost see her pouting. He smiled. "Fine, fine. But you have to get off now, because you have to sleep."
"Fine. But you have to unpack too."
"Yeah, I will. Okay, now?"
"Yes, I'm okay!" She smiled.
"Love you." He hesitated, before whispering, blushing.
"Love you, too." She also whispered back.
At the same time that Touya called out rather menacingly, "Oi! I heard that! And I don't want to hear that ever again!" Syaoran and Sakura heard four girls' voices giggling and saying over the phone extensions, "Oh, little brother, the both of you are so cute!" "Xiao-Lang is now so grown-up!" "Little brother has a girlfriend!" "She sounds so cute! Do you have a picture, Xiao-Lang?"
The two of them began to sweat profusely and hastily said, "Bye! Call you next time! Write!" to each other, before going to their respective siblings and beating the daylights out of them.
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And that's how their first phone call went. Because that was very embarrassing, both decided to talk over their portable phones. Letters were also more discreet, even if these were slower. But they were still talking over the phone at least once every two days.
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When the phone bills arrived a month later…
Japan…
"What?!?!" For once, Fujitaka could be heard exclaiming. Touya and Sakura rushed over to see the bill clutched in his hand. Touya's "WHAT?!?!" was even louder, and all Sakura could do was smile sheepishly.
Hong Kong…
In the Li's living room the five siblings' heads shot up from their respective reading materials when they heard a faint gasp from their mother. Yelan was very white, and could only utter two words while pointing at a piece of paper she was holding, "Phone bill." Syaoran took a deep breath and prepared himself to be called for a lecture.
---fini---
AN: Yey! Another ccs oneshot…smilesmile! Shall I continue or shall I not? Please do tell me in a review! Yey, thanks! –Rhia
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I have edited this. It is no longer a one-shot (duh) as I have stated before (see above). Thanks for reading!-rhia