I've finally to revised the names, because I know I called Sakura, Linda several times. It wasn't really a mistake. I just didn't fully change the names back to the CCS characters. The thing is, when I write stories, I usually have my own names for the characters, but when I post it up at FF, I have to use their names, so I change it back to the CCS names. Sorry to confuse you guys! Hehe.

ENJOY!

Summary:

She loves her husband. No doubt. And with that never-ending burgeoning love, she is blinded. She is a woman age of twenty-five, married to an "over-worked" businessman who is sadly cheating on her. However, with his one voice, one act, one touch, she is utterly delighted. She is way too gullible of a being. Then on one night…

Charming Innocence

Chapter one: Husband and Wife

She was a woman who believed everything went fine for her. Even after their early marriage, things happened to work out very smoothly. Unexpected, sudden, but at the same time, it was moreover pleasant. And she enjoyed every moment of her life. To be exact, she loved it. She loved her life. She loved her husband. She loved her one and only three-year old daughter, Eve. Although her life seemed mundane, and everything seemed to be the same day after day, as her beloved's housewife, caring mother, and a devoted writer, everything went swell. That was of course way before she found out her one love was cheating on her. And unfortunately, that wasn't his first time. Nor was it his second. It was his third.

Now, he was supposedly an "overworked" businessman who never really had time for his one family. "I'll be home a little late today," he'd tell his wife. "It's work-related," he'd continuously lie. However, his wife would believe him. Every single time, without even much explanation, she'd reply, "Okay, honey. Be safe. Try to come home early as you can," and that would be the end of discussion.

It didn't surprise him. She was always like that ever since before marriage. Kind, sweet, and innocent. She was kind enough to help an elderly cross over the street, sweet enough to serve his friends dinner when they came to visit, and innocent enough to believe every single lie he had said. Sometimes, even he wondered. When he said he loved her, did he truly do so? Or was it also falsified? Was he even aware of his limits? Did he even have limits? Of all things to question himself, he never did ask or wonder, "Will she ever find out?"

They both awoke in the middle of the night when they heard Eve crying all the way from her room. Dreadfully exhausted, both were unable to move away from the bed of paradise. "Sakura, Eve is calling you," he said having his back faced towards her. With the blanket sheet covering her face, she replied, "Honey. Maybe she wants daddy to hold her this time."

He moved in closer towards his wife. Softly caressing her back, he whispered into her ears, "Sakura, you understand how tired I am, right?" He placed his lips gently on her forehead and lightly kissed it two times. With his mouth still placed on her warm and smooth forehead, he softly spoke, "I love you." Then she was up, already making her way to Eve's baby room.

His words never failed.

Perhaps it was because of her unconditional love for him. Perhaps that was the reason why she never objected. Perhaps she didn't care. Perhaps she didn't mind. Perhaps she understood. There were just so many perhaps. But strangely so, those perhaps were all true. It was because she loved him fully. That was why she never objected. Even when she was overly stressed from her seemingly endless day of hard work, she never complained. It was because she didn't care. She didn't mind. She understood. However, there was also that one other thing. She didn't know.

She finally reached Eve's beautifully decorated room and went closer to the crying three-year old's bed. "Sweetie, what's wrong?" Sakura said while she combed her baby's silky black hair with her fingers. Then it struck her. It had been a whole full year since he stopped combing her hair. It was a sudden flashback, but even his smallest deeds meant the world to her.

"Mama. Monster is here under Eve's bed." Sakura was interrupted by her daughter's voice. "A monster?" she questioned. Sakura already knew Eve was still scared to sleep by herself. She was only three, and for such a young child, monsters, fairies, elves, ghosts, and princesses existed in their own realm of imagination. "Eve wants mama to sleep with Eve tonight," the little girl said getting a hold of her mother's hand. "Is mama staying with Eve?"

Sakura crawled into bed next to Eve. "Of course mama will stay with Eve. Mama loves Eve very, very much." She looked down at her daughter who was tugging tightly closer to her. She had her father's eyes. Round, dark, somewhat mysterious at times, but beautiful and very appealing. She was also beautiful just like her father. Soon her eyes grew heavy and she went fast asleep, her mind entering her own dreamland once more. It was 4:00 a.m. Sakura couldn't get herself to sleep. She had a full day ahead of her, but her body was already wide-awake. So, she just lay there for another two minutes before she got up heading towards her study room.

The study room was basically comparable to a mini-sized library. There were many shelves filled with all different assortments of books. On one corner, she had her own special collection of paperbacks. Manuscripts she had written for famous soap operas and dramas all over Japan. Some were already made. Some were already in progress. Some were yet to be there. And the ones in her laptop were being continued and soon to come.

Yes. She was famous. She was famed for creating masterpieces all over Japan. Whether it'd be romance, romance comedy, or drama, she never seemed to fail her supporting fans.

As she sat herself on the cool seat, she opened her laptop that was remained on the desk, and pressed the power button, waiting for it to load. When the light turned green indicating 'ready', she opened up her Microsoft document and began typing away. It was just like any other day she typed. The only difference was she wasn't typing away her new hit. She was making a special list of something. And with this list soon to be printed, she planned to share it with her favorite friend, Tomoyo.

The following day came, and her husband already left for work. Before he left, she had asked, "You're breakfast is ready. At least eat before you leave, honey." Then he replied, "I'm already late. I'll be back for dinner." Then hurriedly made his way out the front door.

Sakura let out an exasperated sigh and got ready to clear the plates away. Then the doorbell rang.

Having hopes, she skidded across the slippery marble floor all the way to the door. She opened it expecting it to be him, but instead, it was his best friend, Eriol. He was tall and built just like her husband, with two dark blue eyes, lighter skin, and neatly cut hairstyle. He appeared clean as usual.

Looking at him, she asked rather surprised, "Good morning. Are you looking for Syaoran?"

"Yeah. He didn't tell you?" he responded politely smiling back at her. "We were planning to work out together before work."

"That's strange. He already left to work. He left just now. You didn't see him?" Sakura said pointing outside which kind of looked hilariously amusing in his point of view.

"Actually no. Well, that's strange." Eriol said rubbing his temples several times.

"Would you like some breakfast? He left without touching anything." Sakura welcomed him in with a bright smile.

"Oh. Is that okay? I'm starved."

"Of course. Of course. I was afraid thinking of all the food that was going to waste. It's a great thing you showed up." Sakura made way to the kitchen and seated him where Syaoraon usually sat. "If you want any seconds, you're always welcome."

"Thank you, Sakura. You're always very kind. Syaoran's so lucky to have you." With this, she blushed. Trying to hide her shades of pink, she turned around and let out a small chuckle. It wasn't because Eriol complimented her. She just felt flattered in some sorts. Having to be Syaoran's wife, it already felt like a dream, but for someone to say he was lucky to have her as a wife, the feeling was even more surreal. She believed she was the lucky one to have him.

Soon after when he finished with the meal, he got up, and got ready to go to work himself. "Thank you for the food, Sakura. It was very good." He told her his gratitude and also went out the front door. "Come anytime," he heard her say, and yes, he most definitely wished to. His secretive feelings for her never changed ever since the first time they met at a party. It was work related, and all the employees were to invite their partners. On that day, Syaoran brought her for the first time, and all eyes went towards the two couples.

Eriol dug into his pocket and took out his cell phone. He clumsily punched in the number dialing his friend. Syoaran picked up on the other line answering, "Yeah?"

"Hey. You already left to work?" Eriol asked already knowing the truth in his friend's story.

"Why the hell ask if you already know where I am?" Then he heard another voice say, "Who is it, baby? Just hang up. Let's have some fun."

Eriol scoffed. "Who is it this time? Same girl?"

"We'll talk later." Syaoran replied, and right before he could hang up, Eriol challenged, "Be careful. You might lose your wife this time." Then for the first time ever, he hung up himself.

It was always the other way around. Never in thirteen years of knowing Eriol, Syaoran let him hang up on him. In fact, he never really let anyone hang up on him. He was always the one who hung up first. It wasn't really because he needed to, it all just happened. However, having to be hung up by someone else, the feeling was new. And this time, he felt somewhat uneasy. He wasn't sure if he was to call back or not.

Lose his wife this time? And how so? He didn't understand. What he didn't understand more was that his friend said something like that. It was as if he was… challenging him. Why? The questions remained unanswered.

On the other hand, Sakura went from one room to another holding her portable house phone closer to her ears. She spoke with her friend, "Can you come over today? There's something I need to tell you."

"Goodness. I was planning to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." Her friend, Tomoyo whined over the phone line.

"Interesting! Shall we watch it together?" Although it sounded like nonsense to any other being, this was quite normal. Sakura was always interested in such childish things. She never really grew up from that stage. And if she watched something a bit too mature or gruesome, she'd shut her eyes as tight as she could, and cover her ears until it started hurting. In fact, she never even had sex with Syaoran. Eve was adopted.

"Are you kidding me? I was just joking. Like I'd watch something like that. I'm not you." Tomoyo said on the other line after letting out a sigh.

"So, that means a no?"

"My friend, you are an idiot."

Shortly, Tomoyo came over, and Sakura welcomed her in. She already had the list in her hands. Well, that was obviously because she needed to talk about that.

"So, what is it?" Tomoyo said seating herself on the living room couch. She made herself comfortable before listening to what her friend had to tell her.

"Tomoyo. I think Syaoran is… you know, changing. She stressed the word hoping to give it more emphasis and significance in her voice. She was concerned.

Tomoyo looked over at her friend. She remembered Sakura as the energetic one. No matter what trouble came her way, she never let it disturb her. As one could say, Sakura was the strong optimistic individual. Sakura was still the same. It wasn't like she was shedding tears or anything. Yet, something was different. So she questioned, "And how so?"

"Well, I made a list about all the things that have been not happening. The list is just growing more and more, day after day. And now I have a feeling maybe something's wrong with him. What if he's dying of a fatal disease and he can't tell me?" Sakura exclaimed worriedly with her two hands on her cheek.

"Sakura. Sometimes I really can't tell if you're being serious." Tomoyo rubbed her temples vexed by her friend's stupidity. "Let me see the list."

Sakura carefully handed it to her friend still having the thought something real bad happened to Syaoran. How could she live without him? Tomoyo snatched it, crinkling the middle part of the paper.

"Hey, be careful with that!"

"Wow. He stopped massaging your feet. Big deal." However, looking at Sakura's desperate face, she read on. "Sorry to break it to you, but sometimes, males just change. It's nothing serious. At least he's not cheating on you." Tomoyo said letting the paper slip out of her hands as if to indicate everything was okay. "But the question is, is he cheating on you?"

"Tomoyo, that's the worst joke I've ever heard. Syaoran? Cheat on me? That's absurd."

"You may not want to believe me, but sometimes, absurd things make sense." Tomoyo looked directly into her friend's eyes. "If he's cheating on you, you'd better find out now."

Without even realizing it herself, Sakura asked, "How?"

"I'll think of some plans, and I'll be back tomorrow."

After Tomoyo's take-off, Sakura waited eagerly for Syaoran's return. "I'll be back for dinner," he had told her. And she believed him. He would keep his promise. There was just no possible way he'd cheat on her. Oh, how surprised she would be.

The phone rang once. Then it rang the second time.

She quickly picked it up and answered, "Hello?"

"Sakura, I won't be home tonight. It's work-related. We'll talk later?" He didn't even take time to say hello, how are you doing, did you eat dinner, or even something simple but meaningful as I miss you.

The phone line became silent.

"You there? Hello?"

"…Sorry. Yeah. I understand. Be safe."

Once again, I hope you guys are liking it so far!

Be my fan. Be my critic. I welcome thee with a bright smile and a warm hug. Fasho'.

With endless LOVE and PASSION,
-gotnoodles