Part I: Letters

A/N: Happy holidays everyone! I've started a threeshot in the spirit of Christmas and am really happy about it. I've had a lot of fun writing this chapter especially so hope you enjoy. :)

Disclaimer: Characters of Clamp do not belong to me.

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Dec. 9:

Dear Syaoran,

I know I just saw you off at the airport, but I'm already missing you so I decided to start writing a letter even though I just let go of you an hour ago. I'm glad you are visiting your family for the majority of winter break because it's really important, but it doesn't make missing you any easier. I know. I'm such a sap.

Perfect timing, but I found this new Christmas song shortly after coming back from the airport and thought it was perfect for the given situation. It's called 'Sending you a little Christmas' so look it up when you have time.

I've already marked my calendar so that I can physically count down to your return, something that'll make me feel better. Until then, Tomoeda and I will both miss you very, very much.

"So I'm sending you a little Christmas
wrapped up with love
a little peace, a little light
to remind you of
how I'm waiting for you, praying for you
I wanted you to see
So I'm sending you a little Christmas
'til you come home to me."

With all my love,
Sakura

—

Dec. 9:

Sakura—

I'm jotting this down really quickly while I have a moment even though I landed only a few hours ago because I don't want you to wait too long to receive a letter and, knowing you, you probably already wrote one by now.

So unsurprisingly, my sisters pounced on me the moment I stepped out of the terminal. I love Japan and being with you, but I also realized that I do miss Hong Kong in some ways. When we got outside, I took off my scarf and the first thing we ate was dim sum. I still need to teach you how to make some of the dishes, but we'll have time for that later. I forgot how warm it is here. I've really missed it, but don't get me wrong. I'd rather spend chilly winters with you for the rest of my life than be comfortably warm all by myself.

It's kind of nice to be able to write letters again like this. It forces me to practice my kanji while writing things I actually want to write.

Anyway, needless to say, I miss you already.

Love,
Syaoran

P.S. Meiling sends her regards and has apparently made a scarf for you for Christmas for me to take back. Clearly, she doesn't understand how you survive in the cold every year.

—

Dec 11:

Dear Syaoran,

Your letter made me so happy. I'm glad you also wrote to me the day you got home because you're right, I can never wait too long for a letter from you. You know me too well. And I'm sure your sisters missed little Syao-kun very much, as he is a very miss-able person. Enjoy the warmth without me while you can! And eat all the dim sum for me, too. For what you said in your letter, when you get back, I shall reward you with snuggly cuddle sessions to keep you warm for the rest of winter—oh, what? Oh, that's right. That's what we always do already. Hehe.

The last two days have been uneventful. I had to do a lot of chores. This upcoming last week of school is going to drag so badly, especially since you aren't here. Finals week always sucks. I still can't believe you took them all a week early just so you could leave for home. You're so smart, Syaoran! Which makes me feel even luckier that you decided to love me the most. :)

Tomoyo-chan and I are probably going to start some Christmas baking today, which will be fun! But I especially need the baking sessions so that I can de-stress from finals week and more importantly, practice making something really delicious for when you finally come back, and we all know Tomoyo-chan is great at that stuff. Any requests of what we should make? We will probably have more than one baking session this week. Kero-chan is going crazy with joy.

Hmm, I should go shopping for your Christmas gift sometime this week, too.

Miss you as always.

Love,
Sakura

P.S. Tell Meiling-chan I said hi, too! And I need to send her a gift in the mail!

—

Dec. 13:

Sakura—

Sorry if you had to wait a bit for this letter. I figured I should wait for your reply so that I can be more efficient and just write one giant letter.

Thanks for the compliment about me being smart, although really, I'd be dumb not to love you. And finals are just finals—you just have to get through them. Wishing you the best on yours. You'll do fine, though. Yes, even in math. I believe in you. Just remember that one shortcut I taught you and memorize all the formulas and show your work. It'll all be over soon and I'll be back before you know it.

By the way, I marked my calendar, too. I also looked up the song you mentioned and you're right. It fits perfectly. Just know that I'll be Home for Christmas soon enough. (Technically, I guess I am already home for the holidays, but let's be real, I'm not home until I'm back with you.)

Hong Kong has been good. Mother told me the schedule for the week. Apparently, I'm going to be dragged to more family gatherings than I can count on one hand. Figures. Since we're graduating by the end of this school year, I'm forced to undergo a few ceremonial traditions with my extended family, all the boring details of which I will spare you from. Other than that, I'll probably do some fun things too and I don't doubt Meiling will drag me to go shopping with her at some point.

And on the subject of baking, I've been meaning to try making macarons. Maybe you can get a head start on that because I hear it's quite difficult and time consuming to get it right. When I'm back, we can also think of ways to decorate them to make them festive-looking for Christmas. Hopefully, Daidouji already knows a few tips on them. Good luck and keep that plushie toy away for his own good. Lord knows he doesn't need anymore sugar this week.

Also, I hope you know I'm going to hold you accountable for those cuddle sessions. Wish I could redeem those now, even though it's not nearly as cold here. Damn it, I just made myself miss you even more terribly. I miss holding you and running my fingers through your hair, especially because you smell so nice. Only a week and a half left.

Love,
Syaoran

P.S. I included a recipe for the macarons that I found online.

—

Dec. 15:

Dear Syaoran,

You are the sweetest. I picked your letter up on my way to school this morning! I got a little bit sick last night so I went to bed early and totally forgot to check. I meant to tell Onii-chan to check for me but well…you know. He might burn it. You can probably imagine me rolling my eyes right here. But don't laugh. You both need to just accept the fact that you are both important men in my life and get used to each other already.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestion! And for including the recipe. (I love that you drew a bear on the corner.) I will attempt the macarons. No challenge is too great for a determined Sakura! I'll let you know how it goes. Hopefully it won't be a total disaster. The other day, Tomoyo-chan and I ended up baking a pie. It was delicious, but I feel like she did most of the work as usual. And Kero-chan did most of the eating…as usual. You're right though, I need to figure out a system to keep him away. Le sigh.

Good luck with all that ceremonial stuff. You don't have to feel like you're going to bore me, but it will probably be easier to tell me in person anyway. I'm sure it's a lot to take in so hang in there! I feel bad in a way because it feels kind of like my fault that they don't get to see enough of you. But I know, I know, you always tell me it's your choice to be in Japan ultimately and I'm very grateful for that. I really feel like the luckiest. Also, now that you mention it, I can't believe we're graduating high school so soon.

I've decided once you get back, we should go through a Christmas bucketlist on Christmas Eve to Christmas day! Here are some of my thoughts:

1. Take a walk in the snow
2. Exchange presents
3. Build a snowman
4. Go sledding on an ice block (I will enlist the help of the Ice Card)
5. Bake macarons
6. Hot chocolate cuddle session

Feel free to add your own in your next letter. :)

Also, Yamazaki-kun is telling lies again. I think, anyway.

December 15 today means eight days left before you get back. Four days left of school and the math final is my very last one. I swear they are trying to torture me on purpose! It's much harder to get through without you.

Love you lots,
Sakura

—

Dec: 17:

Sakura—

Did you write that last letter in class? Silly Sakura, can't even pay attention for the last week of school. Not that I blame you. I just think it's terribly cute.

I'm writing this at the end of an exhausting day. Meiling took me shopping and I'm so tired. But I always look forward to your letters. She claims that I wasn't trying hard enough to find you a Christmas present, but I think I did fairly okay. I think she just has a different idea of what "trying hard" means. We saw this giant stuffed animal bear in the mall and it reminded me of you. This is when missing you sucks because I see so many little things throughout the day that make me think, "if only Sakura were here."

After shopping we had dinner with some more extended family and everyone kept asking about you. It was really draining. I feel like I should be telling you more about my days since I'm on vacation, but I don't think there's anything very interesting to report back about. All my eventful days are always with you.

Also, in response to what you mentioned in the letter about how you think it's your fault my family doesn't see me: I've said it before but I'll say it again. You don't realize how precious and special you are. You know I'd move mountains to be with you and make sure you're happy so it's really my own decision that affects my family, not yours. They understand in the end, I think, but I sense that'll be a conversation for later.

I like your bucketlist. It covers basically everything I'd want to do with you for Christmas. But maybe add these, too:

7. Sight-see some Christmas lights around the neighborhood
8. Make some homemade s'mores in the fireplace

On another note, you're sick and I'm not there to take care of you. Make sure you stay warm and rest well. Hang in there, love, I'll be there soon.

Love you more,
Syaoran

—

Dec. 19:

Dear Syaoran,

For your information, I wrote that letter in class after I finished the Japanese final early. So, ha. Speaking of finals, I'm done! Yay! I don't know if I did that well in math but hopefully it went well enough. I showed my work just like you showed me how. Now all I can do is wait and pray that my score wasn't too bad.

Yukito-san came over today because he and Onii-chan finished their finals a day earlier than me and we all had a huge dinner, which he helped make. It was a lot of fun! Just like the old days. He finally convinced Onii-chan to give me a ride to the airport to pick you up, heh. I would've found a way regardless, but it was a nice gesture on his part.

Update on the macarons: it was a total disaster. Complete and utter mess. Good news: I think Kero-chan literally licked everything clean. Bad news: I think Kero-chan literally licked everything clean. He was banging off the walls. But everything is…mostly clean. So, yeah, how about we bake at your apartment when you get home so we can avoid a repeat of that.

Back to the macarons. Tomoyo-chan knew a thing or two about macarons, but she hadn't tried it before herself so things went understandably wrong. It probably takes a lot of practice but I'm sure when you're here, you'll be sensible and know what to do.

I've added your additions to the list and it reminded me that I passed a house the other day that was really beautifully decorated and I wished you were with me. You're so right. Missing someone is the worst when you experience little moments in the day and just wish they were there to experience it, too. I hope you said hello to the giant bear for me.

I can't believe I've survived this long without you. Just four more days! I'm not going to be able to sleep at all the night before you return. I'll be too excited. I keep rereading your last letter because it was so sweet. You make me the happiest. I love you. :)

The luckiest girl in the world,
Sakura

P.S. I included a little gift for Meiling-chan! And for your sisters too. You'll get yours when you're back here. :)

—

Dec. 22:

Sakura—

I'm sure you did well on your finals because it's you. Everything will be all right.

Meiling says thank you and that she'll write you a letter later too. The gift you gave my sisters was overkill. They went ballistic over how cute the customized necklaces were and I couldn't be in the same room as them for several minutes due to the ringing in my ears. All this to say, they really loved the gesture and ended up dragging me out to go shopping again yesterday so that I could help them each pick out a gift for you. So guess I'll be bringing a sack-full of gifts back to you.

Also, given the fact that you promised me all those cuddle sessions, I assumed we were going to be at my apartment for the majority of the time anyway because with your Onii-san and the stuffed animal around, peace doesn't seem to exist at your place. So we are definitely going to attempt macarons together there. Don't worry, we'll get it right this time.

I guess I'll be seeing you very soon at the airport, then, so don't bother replying to this letter. Save it all for me later. I'm coming home to you very, very soon.

Love,
Syaoran

—

-to be continued-