Disclaimer: If you think I own CCS, you're probably high on candy.
Author's Note: Hey guys! I've tried to really update fast, but I don't get to go on the internet much and I had other stuff to do, so here's the next chapter. Not as progressive as the last couple, but it's still sort of fun. Don't worry about how fast everything's going, we're nowhere near over.
To the Reviewers: Oh beautiful, dearest reviewers! I cannot believe how many I got for the last chapter! It was more than my first two combined! I give you all thanks from the bottom of my heart and I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please all review again!
Chapter 4 – Plans Always go so Wrong
Sakura slammed the door shut, relaxing her back behind it and slid down to the ground. She could not handle this right now. Oh, if Meilin ever knew! The happy navy-haired woman would be floored! Gosh, how did she ever get into this in the first place? Everything had been going fine until Meilin had asked for her help.
Sakura, what did you get yourself into?
Why in the world were relationships so complicated? What did she do to deserve this? Okay… so maybe she did accidentally kiss him, but that part wasn't her fault. Sakura hadn't tried to kiss him, nor had she tried to seduce him into kissing her. So, why did she feel so guilty? She'd even stopped the kissing, no matter how much she had liked—
No, that's not why! Please tell me that's not why!
Syaoran had kissed her, and even if she was the one who stopped it, she was also the one who enjoyed it.
And it was so true. In the midst of all of it, the amber-eyed boy had admitted that he had a crush on her. Knowing this released a warm and fuzzy feeling within her, making her feel even guiltier.
Sakura's eyes were red with tears. This wasn't supposed to be happening. She was supposed to be the heroine who would set up Syaoran and Meilin, they'd go on a date, Syaoran would realize his feelings for Meilin and go off having a hot and steamy night.
But no. That wasn't going to occur anytime soon apparently. And all of this had taken place in a matter of a few days. How perfect.
Sakura was exhausted and didn't want to think about anything at the moment. She pulled the jacket she held over herself and closed her eyes. She fell into a deep sleep and dreamt she was laughing with her friends in the days before things became so very complicated.
-
When Sakura finally awoke, she felt her back paying the consequences that she took by sleeping on the floor behind the door. She groaned as she stood up shakily, her legs sore from being bent all night. Yesterday was certainly not a good idea.
"We wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!"
Sakura fervently wished she could punch the carolers outside for being so loud. Then again, she wouldn't really want to be punched by herself since the pain would be excruciating. After all, Sakura already felt like she'd been put in a little box where she would have to scrunch up into to fit inside.
Mentally scolding herself for doing such a dumb thing last night, Sakura put away her belongings and decided to take a nice bath. That would make her troubles leave and she really wasn't in the mood to deal with all the problems that would arise the next time she saw Syaoran—or worse, Meilin.
-
After her scorching hot bath, Sakura felt at least a little better about the kissing incident. It was Christmas after all and she shouldn't be feeling down on this day.
What should I do on this eh…wonderful Christmas day?
Tomoyo was with Eriol today and Meilin would be in Hokkaido with her family, apparently eating crabs and having a good time.
What to do, what to do?
Fortunately, Sakura wouldn't have to answer that question because just then, the doorbell rang loudly.
"Coming!" she called walking to the front door.
I wonder who that could be?
She peered through the peeking hole. For all she knew, there could be a guy with a gun out there—or worse!
Sadly, it was worse.
Sakura involuntarily stepped backwards. That's it! Christmas was officially ruined.
"Sakura?" the person asked. "You coming or what?"
"What are you even doing here?" she demanded to the person through the door.
"It's Christmas! Besides, I only wanted to talk!"
"Fine, but talk only or I'll shove a broom up your ass!" Sakura threatened, hesitantly undoing the lock.
"I'd rather not think about that," they replied in intimidation.
She opened the door, quite unsure of what to do next. Sakura stared at the person standing in front of her.
"Um… Come in I guess," she suggested, offering the person the warmth of her home.
"Thanks…" they murmured, coming inside, taking up her offer.
-
Settling in the living room, finally, Sakura sat next to her visitor on a couch. This was going to be so awkward.
"So, Syaoran, what brings you here in this exact and specific place?" she questioned the human next to her.
"I just… I just wanted to talk about the uh… stuff that happened yesterday, at the party…" Syaoran answered, nervously scratching the back of his neck and looking off into nowhere.
"Look, just forget about it, okay?" Sakura told him, disappointed that he'd brought up the subject. She was planning for this day to not be about it.
"But my actions were very… uh… very inappropriate, Sakura. I'm sorry I yelled and I'm sorry I…well; you know… I guess I was just kind of caught up in the moment…" he apologized sincerely.
Sakura muffled a laugh on her sweater's sleeve.
"Eh… What's so funny?" Syaoran asked her, shooting her a confused look.
"The Syaoran Li is apologizing!" Sakura broke out in laughter. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I just thought I'd never see the day!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," he grumbled, annoyed that Sakura had beat him at his own game.
"Woohoo! Score: 3-1. I'm catching up!" she exclaimed with glee.
"Right…"
"Alrighty! Merry Christmas! Now that we've sorted that out you can leave!" Sakura said as she pointed at the door.
"What? Expecting someone?" Syaoran asked, grinning that grin of his.
"No, but-"
"No? Me neither! Nobody wants to spend Christmas alone so let's spend it together, yes?"
Sakura laughed some more. Never did she think that she would be having fun with the guy with the giant ego, let alone spending Christmas with him! This was turning out to be a really strange week.
-
An hour had passed as the two passed time playing childish and stupid games. Luckily, It was pretty fun and entertaining.
"Is it pretty?" Syaoran asked.
"Yes," Sakura responded to the yes or no question.
"Is it smooth?"
"…Yes,"
"Is it my ass?"
"Syaoran!"
"What? It's a yes or no question! And it's a perfectly logical guess!"
"Well then no!"
"Then what is it? That was my twentieth question!"
"A petal!"
"How unoriginal!"
"Then you think of something!"
-
"Is it red?"
"Nope!" Syaoran replied while staring at the ceiling.
"Is it green?"
"Yep,"
"Is it my necklace? Twentieth, by the way,"
"No,"
"What is it?"
"Your eyes…"
"Are you hitting on me?" Sakura questioned her guest incredulously and at the same time was giggling.
"Just trying out the romantic thing, and that is extremely mild flirting," Syaoran explained, still staring at the ceiling.
"Well you suck at it!" she told him as she stuck out her tongue like a kid. "Let's go eat lunch now."
"Ooh! I get to feast with the stunning cherry blossom!" he called over dramatically.
"Save it womanizer," she commanded, rolling her eyes. "Where do you want to eat? You're paying!"
"I beg to differ, why not eat here? I want to see Ms. Kinomoto work the kitchen!" Syaoran announced joyfully.
"W-what? No way! I-I won't cook! Especially for you!" she retorted in uncertainty. Oh, if Syaoran ever knew, that would be the end of her. Sakura would never hear the end of it.
Syaoran looked at her thoughtfully, squinting his eyes in concentration. His hand moved to his chin in a thinking position. Sakura shifted nervously under his gaze. What in the world was this dude doing? They sat in deathly silence for almost half a minute before Syaoran's face slid into a grin.
"Ha ha! That's what you're scared of? You don't want me to know that you don't know how to cook!" he howled, falling over in hysterics.
"Shut up! Shut up!" Sakura shouted, tackling her nemesis as her close to worst nightmare was appearing before her very eyes.
"Whoa! You're heavy Kinomoto! What have you been eating?" he asked through fits of laughter.
"What the heck! Shut up Syaoran Li!" she ordered giving Syaoran a few playful punches on the arm, still using enough strength to at least hurt him a little.
"Okay, okay! I'll cook, alright?" he told her, softly pushing her off of himself.
"Why the change of heart?" Sakura inquired, cautiously retreating to her own side of the sofa.
"I just don't want you burning the house down," Syaoran answered wittily.
"Y-you!"
Before Sakura could get to him, Syaoran was already sneaking into the kitchen to find a shield.
-
Sakura lay on the sofa, lazily reading a magazine as the 'expert' chef worked his magic in the kitchen. How embarrassing. Even Syaoran knew how to cook! Talk about the end of the world! The last time Sakura had cooked instant noodles, she had boiled them to death and the water had overflowed. She honestly needed some cooking lessons.
But enough about cooking. The whole picture was scary for Sakura. Syaoran was being nice… kind of, and she was laughing at his comments. She must've been dreaming or the world would be exploding right now.
This is so not right…
But then… what's that smell?
"Yo! Sakura! Lunch is up!" a voice called from the kitchen.
"Yeah, coming," she replied, putting down the magazine which she really hadn't been reading. "Jeez, you sound like my dad."
Sakura entered the kitchen to see Syaoran putting down a plate of rice balls in the middle of the table. That was his masterpiece? She wasn't impressed.
"This is what you made?" she asked as one of her eyebrows rose. "I was expecting more."
Syaoran shrugged. "It's a simple recipe and it's a quick preparation. Not to mention very tasty."
He grabbed a rice ball and bit into it, chewing in delight.
"Yeah… rice balls are…clever…" she observed, taking one of her own edible round items.
"Yes, onigiri. There's filling in the center," Syaoran explained after swallowing, now taking another bite.
"It's good," Sakura complimented as she ate some more, "for some cheap rice balls that is…"
"Don't eat so much, or you'll get heavier."
"Syaoran!"
-
Two grown people intensely stared at the pile of cards in the middle of the table. Syaoran put down an ace of hearts. Beating the high card, Sakura threw down an ace of spades. He placed a two of clubs on top while she set the big two over his two.
"Damn," he cursed, seeing the highest card over his.
Sakura smirked. She was so close to winning what was probably their thirty-seventh game of Big Two.
"You can't beat me Syaoran," she taunted over confidently. "Just give up."
"Never, my little, pink cherry blossom!" Syaoran tossed back at her.
And that line hit her.
Sakura dropped her cards as her lower lip quivered.
Flashback"Lei!" Sakura called sweetly, running over to her boyfriend and curling up in his lap.
"There you are Sakura," he said, tenderly stroking her hair. "I was looking for you."
She giggled, hugging him closer than before. "Well here I am."
They were over at Lei's house where they could cuddle together endlessly. Sakura loved the way he would caress her hair and stayed in his lap for several minutes.
"Lei?"
"Yes Sakura?"
"You won't leave me, will you?"
"Never, my little, pink cherry blossom."
End FlashbackWhy? Why did he just have to say that? Old memories had been shut out from her mind, but why did he have to say things that would make the pain come back? Sakura knew Syaoran didn't mean to do anything, but knowing that didn't make it hurt any less.
"Sakura? You okay?" Syaoran asked in concern.
"I-I… You should leave, Syaoran," she told him, biting her lip to keep her tears from falling.
"No, seriously Sakura, what's up?" he pushed gently.
"Just…go Syaoran…" Sakura whispered, a sob impatiently waiting to get out.
He nodded, and without another word, Syaoran left.
And Sakura broke down into tears.
Author's Note: Okay, I know it's short, but writing this chapter was really hard, okay? I didn't even like it much. But, I like chapter 5 more than this one, so if you review lots, you might get it soon!
Anonymous reviewers are now allowed because I forgot to enable it when I started this account. I realized this a few seconds after updating chapter 3, so feel free to review now!
Please review!