Chapter 3 – Didn't Expect the Unexpected
Published: Wednesday 22nd October 2008
Hello all! Well the two that I know of lol. Me again, hope you are enjoying it so far.
Thank you to MengLong, Unlove You, Twilight Kisses and Skei-Fyr. Sorry if you felt that it has been a little fast paced so far, I had originally hoped that I would only have one prologue type chapter, which would just give snap shots, but as it transpired I ended up with two. Anyway, I'm hoping it'll be a little more mellow from now on, or at least as mellow as drama gets. I was aspiring for at least fifteen chapters so if I don't slow down with the plot I'm in danger of not meeting my target, which would tick me off.
I know that Sakura shouldn't go out with Yukito just because she feels upset, but right now, I think I might be painting her as a bit insecure and not the brightest daffodil in the bunch, but that might change ;).
I've come up with a new idea, that I will only even begin considering uploading another chapter once I have two new reviews. So there is my price, I'm so cheap, I know. If I start getting more reviews I'll have to up the ante but until then, two will have to do!
Hope this one is better,
Love Sayuri xxx
Syaoran was nervous. Well not so much nervous as angsty. This was partially because he was sitting on a plane, not one of his more preferred pass times, but the majority of his angst was due to where that plane was headed.
It was October now and true to form, his mother had made a deal with his old trainer, Wei, that Syaoran could return finally to Tomoeda.
He considered Tomoeda as his home. After all; home is where the heart is. Oh great start Li, at this rate you'll turn up at school on Monday spouting forth Shakespeare's love sonnets. 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?' I rather think not. But after three long years of being away from his only true friend it was quite dizzying to think that in only two day's time he would be back at school with her, living round the corner from her and everything would be just as it had been before he left.
Surely I can't really expect that? I mean I know that I love her but she never loved me back, not that way. We were too young. Whoever expects to fall in love aged twelve? Well except Meilin apparently, bloody annoying wench.
Li Meilin Rae was Syaoran's cousin who he had only really met for the first time back in Hong Kong and not under ideal circumstances either. Not long after his arrival he had been dragged up before the council of elders. For two and a half hours they managed to drone on and on about lineage, honour, duty and all that would be expected from him. It was unbeknownst to Syaoran that he had been the sole heir to the headship Li family since his birth until that day. His mother it seemed had been waiting until he was 'old enough' to learn of his responsibilities but he noticed now that it seemed that she had almost been training him since birth. He had been tutored for as long as he could recall that he was more important than others, that it was his place to lead others, that he had to decide what was best for those who couldn't decide for themselves. Pretentious.
He would never understand the bumbling old fools on the council. Probably in the same way he would never understand his mother or the rest of his family. He had been quite adamant at the time that he wanted nothing to do with the matter. Let one of his sister's do the job, they'd be far better at it than him he was sure. When he voiced this opinion he got the first snapshot of just how close minded the elders were.
"There is a reason you are the only heir, Li Xiao Lang. You are the only male in the line of succession; if you refuse it is impossible for a woman to become the leader. We would need to find someone more willing from another branch of the family." He remembered the old man wheezing.
He had believed his opinion of the council had plummeted to an all time low at that point, misogynistic wankers! If Sakura had heard that she'd have pulled his tongue out. But thinking about Sakura only made him miss home more so he attempted to refocus his attention on the man he had mentally christened 'His Royal Highness, The Bringer of Bad News'. Syaoran had had no idea just how accurate this name had been until the same man had opened his frail papery lips to speak once again;
"It will also be necessary," wheeze "for you to marry a suitable wife. The council has decided that in your case such a wife must be selected. She is your age, intelligent, well trained and a very pretty young girl and we wish you to marry her in the year after you finish your compulsory education. You may be interested to know that your fiancée is also your cousin, Li Meilin Rae."
"Who?" the young Syaoran had boldly inquired, "I know of no cousin of that name."
"She resides here in Hong Kong, you will get to know her soon enough, she will be living in the Li house from now on and you will train and take your lessons with her until we deem you have achieved a satisfactory standard." The old man then removed his pince-nez from his large aged nose and continued, in a voice that suggested he had simply been giving the weather report moments before, "That will be all for today, we will convene again in one months to discuss your progress in training."
"Hang on a minute! I can't just marry some girl I've never met, and certainly not my cousin, that would be… wrong! And that's apart from all the other stuff." Syaoran was certainly not happy with the hand he had been dealt that day. If what these men said was true then his future had entirely changed. Would he have to break another promise to Sakura? Would he be forced to marry some prissy clan girl? Would he spend the rest of his life, like they had; giving himself airs and graces, worrying about male heirs and pride?
"We're not asking you to 'just marry her'," another man answered in a tone that indicated that he thought he was being kind and understanding while he was in fact being quite the opposite, "you will have many years to get to know her and grow fond of each other. And all your other duties will come naturally, you were born to them."
"But what if I don't grow fond of her? And who wants 'fond' anyway? What about love?" Syaoran had been getting desperate at this point. He simply couldn't marry this girl, no matter how well he got to know her, she wasn't Sakura.
"Love is all very well for the lower classes, but you are virtually royalty, love will do you no good here." The first man finished before departing the large hall.
Syaoran saw now that Meilin actually wasn't that bad. She was clingy, sure, and refused point blank to concede that they weren't engaged but she had been a satisfactory companion in the long years since he took his leave of Japan.
Now however, he just wanted to see Sakura again. When he was here he wasn't going to think about all the problems his name and the council brought. He was going to enjoy school and being with his friend again, just like any other sixteen year old boy.
"This is your captain; please could everyone return to their seats and fasten their seat belts, we are preparing to land in Tokyo. The local time is quarter to three in the afternoon; we hope you all had a pleasurable journey and choose to fly with us again soon."
Not flipping likely. Syaoran, who had never unfastened his seat belt, gave it a tug to see if it was as tight as he could get it, gripped hold of the armrests and sat back with his eyes screwed shut. I hate touchdown.
SSS
"So Sakura, you heard from Li lately? It's been, what now, another three weeks?" Kero was sitting on her bed, or more appropriately, lying on it so his legs rested against her wall and his head lolled of the side. This was not an unusual occurrence for them. Most of their friends had accepted now that despite the incredibly long amount of time Kero spent in his friend's bedroom, there was nothing going on between them. Very few people actually knew though that the reason he had first started living part-time in Sakura's house was because he didn't have much of a family at home.
"Yep." She answered, popping the 'p', "and even then it was just more of the most recent pleasantries. I don't get it Kero. If he wanted to give me the brush off why wouldn't I be getting fewer and fewer emails. The number is staying fairly constant, it's just that you'd get more intimacy on a postcard. And that's one of those cheesy postcards that just says 'wish you were here!'. What do you think it all means?"
The fine haired boy sighed in frustration, he wanted to help his friend but he wasn't the one she needed to ask "I don't know Sakura. Maybe he's going through some sort of phase, or he might have a girlfriend or something. I seem to recall you not spending too much time with us when you and Yukito started going out. Maybe that's what's up with him."
Sakura couldn't put her finger on it, but something about that statement didn't sit well with her. It left her feeling slightly nauseous and frowning.
She was promptly snapped out of it by Kero speaking again. "So you going out with Yukito tonight? How's that working out for you?"
"What's that supposed to mean? Everything's great, same way it was last week and the week before."
"Is he the one then?" Kero joked wiggling his eyebrows.
"Don't be such a baka! No he's not the one. He's just… it's nice being liked. I've never been liked before, not like that. And I have fun with him."
Kero raised one eye brow again in an unapproving manner.
"Pull faces all you like Clow Kero, I know what you think. But I fancy him, we have a great time, he fancies me, if that's not enough to build a teenage relationship on I don't know what is. It's not like I'm looking to marry him or anything."
"And what about other things Kinomoto? You're a smart girl, you know what I'm referring to. He's nineteen years old. What happens when he wants more from you? Are you going to give it to him? He has the power to hurt you Sakura. Don't let him."
"He wouldn't not like that." Her voice was trembling, what was her friend trying to tell her?
Kero sighed again "look, let's not go into it now, but just… watch out for him, okay?"
Unsure of how she should answer this peculiar request, she merely nodded.
"Good," his tone changed as if he was physically going to switch subjects "do you want to come and see 'The Duchess' with us lot later in the week?"
SSS
"There you are Mr Li." The taxi driver said obligingly in his broad accent. "Do you want me to take these through here?"
"No it's fine, I can manage now." Li said before paying the driver and bestowing his with a large tip in thanks for helping him cram all his luggage into the small elevator.
"Thank you very much sir, if ever you need anything you call us and ask for Daisuke. Hope you have a good night sir." He bowed quite unnecessarily to Syaoran and left the flat without turning his back on him.
"I wish they wouldn't do that." Syaoran thought out loud. He'd had quite enough of the bowing and how towing back in Hong Kong, and it reminded him of certain truths that he'd rather forget. He had believed before that other people's aversion to him was because of how generally unfriendly he was. It hadn't been his fault at first. His natural expression always seemed to be a frown though which could put adults and children alike off someone. Plus that and fact that he was awkward and defensive had never really made anyone want to be his friends. Except Sakura though. He was sincerely looking forward to returning to his old school that Monday. He had missed going to school nearly as much as he'd missed his friend. Not that he wasn't certain that he'd had a better education than he would have had if he'd stayed, but there was something dreadfully lonely about having one on one tutorials, no one to share jokes with, no one to talk about the work with. Well there had been Meilin, but she'd never been as clever as Syaoran and never really desired to be so taking about their work had not been her cup of tea.
He moved through to the living room and flopped down, exhausted on to the sofa. Take that mother, I'm slouching. Behind his closed eyes he could see Sakura. At least how had imagined Sakura from the recent pictures he had seen. She must be beautiful with her huge green eyes, brown-red hair and fair skin. He had regretted for months after he left that he hadn't said anything to her before he left. But once he was in China, he knew that the only way he could ever tell her would be face to face, and that was useless by that point. Now though, maybe, just maybe, the opportunity may arise, and he was certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that he did still feel the same about her. He would have to wait until Monday till he was sure however that anytime soon would be the right time.
I should go to bed. Sooner I go to sleep, the sooner it's tomorrow, the sooner it's Monday.
The exhausted young boy, lurched himself off the plush sofa and moved into the master bedroom, repeating his internal mantra over and over in his head.
SSS
Sakura had had a good weekend. Friday evening she had been to a party with Yukito and her onii-chan, which had been a blast. Yukito and Yue had come round the following day, which of course resulted in Toya and Yue sulking in the living room while Yukito and Sakura had made out on the garden terrace. By Sunday she was all socialised out and really had to knuckle down to some homework, which she now felt pride in completing.
The only thing that hadn't been positive was the outcome of the conversation Kero had started with her about Yukito. Not that Kero had started an argument, but rather that it left her feeling somehow paranoid. What reason had she to be? She was sure that Yukito cared for her as she had come to care for him, and that he would never do her any harm. He didn't have it in him. And yet she suddenly found herself overly suspicious of everything about him and their relationship. She certainly didn't want to be, the outcome could never be good and it would be her fault but swiftly she was starting to analyse everything, and that was in a bad way.
For instance, when at the party she had seen her big brother and Yukito held up in a corner, discussing something in hushed, hurried tones, she immediately began to fear the worst. Had she done something wrong? Was Toya telling Yukito off for something? Was there someone else?
Rhetorical question after rhetorical question had entered her head and marched all over her brain in a very disorganised fashion. This is not of the good. I have to stop this NOW. Sakura mentally put her foot down, showing her mind exactly who was boss and decided to repress the memory indefinitely.
Of course, I'm going mad. She again dismissed any of her queries from the weekend and grabs her roller blades, in order to journey the shortish distance to the high school, in minimal time.
SSS
Forward or to the sides? Syaoran was standing in front of the long mirror in his new bedroom, alternately brushing the front part of his hair forward and to the sides of his face, trying to make a decision. Once he had decided on trying for the sides he bent to pick up his school bag and when he came back up his fringe was over his forehead again. Fine then, forward it is if you're not going to give me any choice in the matter.
As he was leaving the block of flats he felt great big giraffe sized, iron weighted butterflies galloping round his stomach. Keep it cool. He reminded himself. You're just going to meet an old friend, nothing more.
It was virtually no time at all before he was at his new and old school gates, butterflies still present, and he would be required to take the leap and do exactly what he was so excited and nervous about: talk to Sakura.
When he entered the school grounds however, he saw something he did not expect to see. Sakura was standing to the left of the courtyard, beneath the shade of a wall, holding hands with some guy. This guy was not in school uniform and had greying hair and thick glasses. He was admittedly taller than Syaoran, but more willowy and less sturdy looking. A good gust of wind would knock him right over. Who is this guy?
Syaoran took a further look at the people the 'couple' were talking to. He knew Sakura's brother of course, and he vaguely recognised the dark haired girl that was with them. The identity of the dark haired boy who was standing so close to the dark girl, was on the other hand a mystery to him.
Just at that moment a boy of about his age with hair that reminded Syaoran of a scare-crow came over to him. "Hey are you okay? You look a little lost." The guy smiled good-naturedly.
"No, I'm fine. Actually, could you tell me who those guys with Sakura are?" He felt a little stupid for asking but he refused to believe his suspicions without solid evidence.
The likelihood of the boy actually being able to help him was slim but he quickly replied with a quirked brow "Oh you know Sakura? Well the girl is Tomoyo, Sakura's cousin, the boy in uniform is Tomoyo's boyfriend Eriol, if you know Sakura you probably know her brother and the other guy is Yukito."
Fearing the worst "Yukito?"
"Her 'boyfriend'." Was that a disapproving look he saw in the blond boy's eye? He certainly hoped so because he would be needing back up when the time came for Syaoran to slam 'Yukito's' pasty face into the ground but that time would come later. Right now Syaoran was having an internal breakdown. She has a boyfriend? An older college guy boyfriend? A boyfriend her brother APROOVES of? What did you expect you baka? That she'd be sitting here after three flipping years weighting for you? You didn't let her know how you feel. You're only a friend to her and she's beautiful and witty and sharp and… of course she got snapped up.
Syaoran was crushed.
Don't you dare ruin this for her. Look how happy she looks. Do you really want to try to take that away from her? If you love her you won't interfere.
"Hey, guys!" the blond boy bellowed.
"What? No…" Syaoran stammered, jerked out of his thoughts "No that's really not necessary…"
"Oh that's okay, they won't mind."
Thanks a bunch fluff ball, make this even more awkward.
"Hey Kero, what do you…" Sakura began to speak when they came closer but she trailed off after observing the blushing boy next to Kero. She moved closer as if she couldn't believe her eyes. "S-Syaoran? Is that you?"
Syaoran was now glad that his fringe covered so much of his face as he knew he must be crimson by now. "Yeah. Hey Sakura."
There was a brief pause when the majority of the party looked slightly non-plussed until Sakura dashed forwards and flung her arms around the now far more grown up friend of her past.
Syaoran was breathless. Both metaphorically and literally. The fact that she was squeezing hard enough to choke was inconsequential however as he self-consciously wrapped his arms about her waist to return the embrace. It had to end all too soon for Syaoran though when she, remembering herself, pulled back.
"Sorry." Came her breathless response.
"That's fine. You can hug me whenever you like." He said, a small smile tugging at his lips as he realised the rest of the group were still standing dumb-struck.
Unfortunately, Yukito seemed the quickest to recover. He moved towards Syaoran and held out his hand; "Hey there, so I guess you're the infamous Li Syaoran, Sakura talks about you a lot." There was no malice in his voice, no ulterior motive or agenda as he continued, "should I watch my step? Any more hugs like that and I might have to worry about losing my girlfriend."
The group laughed for a short while, amused by Yukito's little joke and relieved to break the tension.
Syaoran on the other hand did not particularly feel like laughing at that joke.
SSS
Sorry if it seems a bit short and stunted, it's been written in loads of different sections as I haven't been able to sit down and write properly because of homework. Hope you like this one, reviews are much appreciated as ever, it's the most fantastic thing to know that people are actually reading AND enjoying your fic. Mind boggling really.
To be continued…