Sixteen Going On Twenty-two
Chapter One: The Long-awaited Reunion
Sakura Kinomoto smiled as she awoke on the warm summer morning, golden light streaming through the gap in her pink curtains. Yawning, she sat up and stretched, pulling aside her duvet and getting up. It felt great to wake up whenever she wanted, instead of being in a rush for school.
I love weekends! She thought happily. She walked over to her wardrobe and was soon dressed in a pink t-shirt and some jeans. The sixteen year old plodded dreamily down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"Good morning, Dad!" She greeted, seeing her father up and cooking pancakes in the kitchen. Walking past the picture of her mother, she bent down and looked closer at it.
"Good morning, Mom!" Her emerald eyes opened and were bright with excitement as she straightened up and waltzed over to her seat, as her father placed a plate piled high with aromatic pancakes.
"Morning, Sakura-chan," Her father replied, before sitting down next to Sakura and smiling his friendly smile at her. "You seem very happy today."
Sakura nodded, her shoulder length honey hair bouncing as she did so.
"Yeah, today I get to see Syaoran!" She giggled, a faint blush forming over her cheeks saying his name.
Fujitaka Kinomoto smiled knowingly.
"Mmmm, this smells great, Dad!" Sakura said, absorbing the scent of the warm pancakes.
"Thanks. Ok then, dig in." He laughed, thinking Sakura's happiness must be contagious.
"I will! Thanks for the food!"
After breakfast, Sakura rushed up to her room, carrying a couple of left-over pancakes on a plate. She pushed open her door.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"
"Hoe!?" Sakura cried, as a yellow flash of light flew into her face.
"Sakura!!" It cried, "Where were you!?"
"Sorry Kero-chan." Sakura sweat dropped, "I was eating breakfast with my Dad…"
"I was so worr… hey, is that for me!?" Kero snapped out of his panic. Sakura nodded. Grabbing the plate, Kero floated over to Sakura's desk and began chomping on the golden goodness of Fujitaka's pancakes.
"So," Kero started, his mouth full of pancake, "That kid comes back today doesn't he?"
Sakura nodded again and blushed. She ran a brush though her hair nervously, straightening her honey locks.
"Ahhh, now I see…" Kero smiled, as Sakura blushed a darker shade of pink.
"I just can't wait to see him again. I mean, we've kept in contact by phone and email, but it will be so different seeing him in person. The last time I saw him was after we sealed the very last card during the festival. I bet he's grown a lot since then!" Sakura smiled dreamily.
"So, what time is this glorious reunion taking place?" Kero questioned, placing the fork on the plate and leaning back patting his full stomach.
"Syaoran arrives at 11:30. I'm going to meet him at the airport." Sakura explained.
Kero stared for a second, before scratching his head.
"Er, Sakura-chan?"
"What is it, Kero-chan?"
"You're gonna be late."
Sakura blinked. She turned and her eyes widened at the flashing of the clock.
"HOE!!!!!!!"
With the usual burst of Sakura-speed she raced around getting her stuff together and shouted her goodbyes to her father.
Sakura skated down the cherry-tree filled street, hardly taking the time to look at the pink, snow-like petals. She had to get to Tomoyo's house. She was going to take her to the airport, and, of course, film the reunion.
She stopped at the gates of Tomoyo's huge mansion, only to be met by the girl herself who was waiting, all ready for the big event.
"Morning Sakura-chan!" She greeted happily, not seeming phased by Sakura's lateness.
"Morning.. Tomoyo…chan…" Sakura said between gasps for breath. "I'm sorry I'm late" she apologized when she finally got her breath back.
"Not to worry, Sakura-chan. We still have an hour before he arrives and it won't take too long for the limo to get us to the airport."
Sakura couldn't help but sigh. Kero lied when he said she was going to be late… but at least he'd helped her out.
"I am so excited!" Tomoyo squeaked, "I can't wait to film your blushing reaction to seeing him again! It will be so cute!"
Tomoyo went on to explain about the 3 different camera angles that she was going to use to capture the couple's first meeting in four years as they got into the limo.
Tomoyo was tall with creamy-white skin and long dark hair that flowed down her back like silk. Her amethyst eyes glittered with excitement as she went into detail about the situation. Sakura zoned out. Her thoughts were drawn from the conversation to a certain amber-eyed boy who won her heart.
After Sakura had sealed the Hope Card at the Nadeshiko Festival, Syaoran had returned to Hong Kong. Before he left, he gave her his phone number and his email and postal addresses so that they could keep in touch. They emailed a couple of times a week and every 2 weeks they had a phone call usually lasting an hour. It was too expensive for them to call more regularly. The phone calls started off originally as being mostly awkward silence dotted with the odd "how are you?" and gradually worked up to more natural conversation. Their last conversation had been one she repeated to herself over and over again in her mind since it happened, one week ago.
"Sakura, there's something I need to tell you…" Syaoran said in his now deep voice.
"What is it Syaoran-kun?" Sakura suddenly grew nervous.
"Well… I know it is sudden but in a week's time I will be…" He paused, and she could hear him gulp, "I will be returning to Japan."
Sakura could hardly believe it. After four years of just hearing his voice she could finally meet up with him once more!
"Sakura?" Syaoran's nervous voice called out to the stunned-to-silent Sakura.
"I'm sorry, Syaoran. I'm just so happy I don't know what to say!"
"Say you'll be there waiting for me?" His voice was steady now. Serious.
Sakura smiled, blinking away the tears of joy brimming in her eyes.
"Of course, Syaoran-kun. I will be there."
"I love you, Sakura."
"I love you too, Syaoran-kun."
There was a slight silence for a moment as the two recovered from their love proclamations. Syaoran then cleared his throat.
"So I will be arriving next week at Narita airport. My flight will arrive at around 11.30am."
"I can't wait! I can't wait to see you after all this time!" Sakura beamed.
Syaoran chuckled.
"I can't wait either, but I know you are worth it. I can withstand anything as long as there is the chance to see you after."
Sakura blushed at the memory. He was so sweet! Now she was actually on her way to seeing him. But what if he took one look at her and decided she was too different? What if when they met up again they found out they have no chemistry?
After Tomoyo had mentioned the words "Sakura-chan" and "cute" in the same sentence a couple dozen times with no reaction, she realized that Sakura wasn't paying attention.
"Sakura-chan," Tomoyo began, cocking her head to the side slightly. Sakura snapped out of her trance and looked at her best friend. "Don't worry about this. I'll be right there beside you. Li-kun will be as wonderful as ever. He'll be more handsome as well." She winked, causing Sakura to blush.
"It's just, well, what if he doesn't like how I look?" Sakura sighed.
Tomoyo took Sakura's hand and explained that Sakura should trust in Li.
"He isn't so shallow as to be bothered by how you look. He loves you because you are you. You are the wonderfully amazing and kind Sakura. He loves everything about you. Not just the way you look, but your personality as well. That is what he is attracted to. I'm 100% certain."
Sakura smiled in thanks and hugged her best friend.
"Now, lets get you all cleaned up for your big meeting!" Tomoyo chirped, bringing out make-up and clothes. Sakura just sweat dropped.
"OK! You look amazing, Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo beamed. Sakura was now dressed in a knee length pink skirt and shin-high white suede boots. Her shirt was a flowing lace gypsy top with pink ribbon on the neck and three-quarter length sleeves. Her hair was accessorised with a pink ribbon and she wore little star shaped earrings. It was weird getting dressed in an airport bathroom, but she realized a few other people were doing the same, although she bet those people had done a lot of travelling rather than just rushing out before a date.
The airport was busy with families dragging oversized luggage around and screaming children, businessmen looking disgruntled with their cups of coffee, cell phones and briefcases and the odd foreign tourist looking a little lost.
Sakura and Tomoyo checked the arrival boards and were relieved the flight was still on schedule. Their limo trip had lasted half an hour in the heavy weekend traffic. They waited at the airport, chatting for only a few minutes before the tannoy announced that the plane from Hong Kong had arrived.
Nervously Sakura's emerald eyes darted about for a sign of her long-distance boyfriend. Her heart pounded wildly.
Suddenly a tall young man with unruly brown hair and warm amber-brown eyes emerged from the crowd, carrying his hand luggage and searching around.
Their eyes met. It was almost like an electric signal and Sakura shivered. He smiled and she blushed as he made his way over.
"Hey Sakura-chan." He said, his deep voice the same as in the phone calls. Sakura was quite amazed at how handsome he was and how much he had grown up. He was a head and a bit taller than Sakura and her petite frame. His shoulders were broad and he was well muscled, probably from his training. Sakura blushed as she looked up to his matured face. His eyes were the same as always and his hair too.
"Hi Syaoran-kun" She managed to say, turning red. "Erm, did you have a nice flight?" She asked, hoping to encourage some conversation.
"Yes thanks, but the best part is seeing you again. I missed you so much." He replied, colour rising to his cheeks as he said so.
"Too cute!" whispered Tomoyo, who was buzzing around with a camera. The couple blushed even more.
"Sakura?" Syaoran began, "Do you two want to get a coffee or something?" He said, indicating to the café near the exit of the airport. After nodding, the three left for some refreshments, Tomoyo instructing her two female bodyguards to go and wait in the limo and "be careful with those cameras!"
Sakura sighed contently, glancing at her boyfriend. He was still Syaoran. Still amazing and sweet. Still in love with her.