H o n e y M e l o n , For The Gooey Tea Addict
Now meet Syaoran; heir to the Li Corporation, Pop Idol, and the new guy at Tomoeda Uni.
Love can come from the strangest places, starting with a honey-melon bubble tea... SS ET CT TN
Notes: AU, no magic stuff. Meiling and Syaoran are not related. So, Syaoran's name is Li Syaoran, and Meiling's name is Yang Meiling.
Ages: Sakura, 20. Syaoran, 20. Eriol, 21. Tomoyo, 20. Toya, 24. Yukito, 24. Nakuru, 23. Takashi, 21. Chiharu, 19. Naoko, 19. Naoko, 20. Meiling, 21.
Chapter 4 Disclaimer: I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura or it's characters. I also do not own MSN Messenger. I do not own bounce by Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake and Missy Elliot. I also do not own the song, "Little Turtle," sung by Nicholas Teo from the Smiling Pasta OST. I am using his lyrics, which are slightly edited. I don't own Tekken 5, either.
Authors Note:
Hey guys I'm back. Sorry this update took longer than the others - I had a playoff game on Friday, and a test on Thursday, so I was utterly bored and busy. We lost in the quarter finals -sad look-. We went into triple overtime - can you believe that?! They made me play for all three of them, too…
BTW, Sakura's room is similar to the one in the anime but this time she has a balcony. (:
PLEASE NOTE THAT I GAVE THE WRONG PREVIEW LAST CHAPTER. THAT'S A PREVIEW FOR CHAPTER FIVE, AND IT WASN'T EDITED. RIKA ISN'T EVEN IN THE NEXT FEW CHAPTERS. I WROTE A NEW PREVIEW, IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT.
Anon. Reviews:
S. Mercury: Squeeaa! Thank you for your great, great review! It made me feel so… OMG HAPPY! Hehe. Well, half of the chapter was done late at night, and the rest is after school (and after studying…), so hopefully it's good for you. And just call me Yukiie.
Chapter 4: Nadeshiko
When dawn bothered to break, so did Syaoran's eyes. They cracked open quickly, alert, his heart rate managing to stay at a normal level. He scanned the surroundings - it was Sakura's room. He lifted his head gently too look straight ahead, where he found himself looking out at two glass doors that were opened, the long white, almost translucent curtains fluttering in the wind, sunshine pouring in the dark room.
It was barely dawn - the sun was breaking slowly today.
A small head of auburn hair moved slightly under in the area between his arm and his chest. What the hell, Syaoran thought. When did we get this close last night? It was true. He had fallen asleep holding her hand, but now both his arms were wrapped around the middle of her stomach. They were still in their street clothes - but Sakura's black Diesel shirt had ridden up to reveal the flat of her stomach. Sakura's arms were bent upwards, her left hand curled against his side.
He flushed at her unveiled stomach. He'd seen it at the beach, but this little unintentional showing of her bare body made him blush. Slowly, he reached up to the bottom of the cotton shirt and pulled it down. Syaoran looked at Sakura, and found she was still asleep.
Using all his training for the Li Clan and applying it here, he slipped his left arm from underneath her quickly and quietly, without her waking up, like oil slicking some metal. Then, he gently lifted up her head and placed it onto the pillow, then got up. He took one last look at the still-sleeping Sakura before stripping off his dark t-shirt, which was stuck to his back from sleeping, leaving him in his loose dark blue jeans.
He walked over to the balcony and stepped through the open glass doors, the feathery, light curtains grazing his bare, muscular arms. The rain had long dried, but it still felt a little chilly. Syaoran inhaled the fresh scent of rain that lingered in the air, and was already sucked in. Sakura had a great view - the other houses that stood tall and happy, and although it was a good mile or two away, he could see the ocean stretching out towards South Korea. Leaning against the railing, he grinned to himself.
He'd just spent the night holding Sakura in his arms.
A feeling of apprehension filled his body. The words Li, and Clan, kept repeating over and over in his head. I'm just looking for trouble, aren't I? He thought with a sad smile.
"Syaoran?" came a meek voice behind him. He turned slowly to see Sakura - but not in her street clothes anymore. She instead wore a long white silk tank top, the ends of her silk shorts only extending out a few inches. The dawn's light rays fell upon her, her light skin glimmering, the white reflecting the light and into Syaoran's eyes.
Syaoran's head almost fell off. "Why are you wearing that?"
"I'm going to go back to sleep soon - it's 6am." Sakura explained.
"You…" Syaoran's throat felt dry. "Look celestial." he managed to smile softly at her without drooling.
An instant blush heated up on Sakura's light face. "Th-thank you…"
Sakura nodded with a smile, then went inside, closing the door as the curtains fluttered to a stop. Syaoran stared on after her, then gazed back out towards the ocean.
I've only known her for like five days. How can I even think like this?
Syaoran shook his head slowly, both upset and angry. He bit back a curse at the Li Clan. He knew he had so much to be thankful for - his wealth, his skills, but sometimes he wanted to be regular. A person with no burdens on their shoulders.
Syaoran didn't know how long he stayed out there. He guessed for an hour, because the sun was a little higher in the sky and a few people were up and walking around. He walked the same path that Sakura did to get back into her room. She had the blankets piled over her slim body and was snoring softly. Syaoran smiled gently, slipped on his shirt, then scanned room for a computer. Just as he expected, a flat screen monitor sat on a light desk. He walked over and found it on standby, so he started it again.
Sitting in the black office desk chair, Syaoran logged on to his email account to check his mail. He was already grimacing when he saw who the fourth one was from. Clicking it warily, he read the email.
From: Li Yelan ( )
To: Li Xiaolang ( )
Sent: Thursday, June 5, 2008 06:27:07
Xiao Lang,
I will not ask where you were last night, but it is regrettable that I could not say goodbye to you. I've left for Hong Kong again with Sheifa, Fanran, Feimei and Fuutie. Wei is the only one at the mansion to help you, I expect that will be sufficient. You've been gone much too long. I realize you have gone to Tomoeda to study, but China's universities are elite. I don't understand why you wanted to go to visit your friend Eriol. I cannot force you to come back soon, but realize by your twenty-first birthday you will take over the Li Clan. I ask you come to Hong Kong by July 1st, 12 days before your birthday. If you fail to meet this, I will have to force you to return to Hong Kong.
Sincerely,
Li Yelan
Syaoran, for once, felt like crying. Although he never did, he often felt it. He was taught to be stronger than that. He felt no love from his mother. What mother signs her name as sincerely? Shouldn't it have been love?Shaking it off, he signed off his Liclan account and signed on to his school account.
From: Toki Takazawa ( )
To: Syaoran Li ( )
Sent:Thursday, June 5, 2008 06:32:07
This is a notice to all University of Tomoeda students. The following classes are cancelled for today, June 5, 2008: Yang-sensei's Chinese Language Art's classes, Tanakawa-sensei's Journalism classes, Terada sensei's sociology classes, Miss. Lawton's English classes, Haruka-sensei's law classes, Maki-sensei's drama classes, and Harada-sensei's Greek History classes.
Also, the following days we will have no school: June 6, 9, and 10th.
Have a great long weekend everyone.
Sincerely,
Student Rep. Toki Takazawa
Syaoran blinked once then managed a smile. He had a five day long weekend! So did Sakura, and most likely, the rest of the gang. With a newfound excitement, he got up and grabbed his cell phone from the bedside table to call Takashi or Eriol, but instead found two texts.
Text Message #0189:
Yumi Takaha
Yo! No classes today, Li! Just wanted to make sure you knew before you went to school and found your class was not there!
Text Message #0190:
Closed Eyed Guy TY
Hey loser, we don't have classes for the next five days, neither do you and Sakura-chan, right? Meet at Tomoyo's house at 10. Bring overnight clothes for the next three days. We're going down to this cabin at a lake. I'll explain it later.
Sakura stirred on the bed. Syaoran inhaled a little sharply, hoping he hadn't woken her up. She looked really tired, and it was only 8:30. She tossed over a little, then pulled the blanket higher over her shoulders. Syaoran smiled then walked back to the computer, this time signing on to MSN. He immediately got a message.
ehirigizawa, plum : ) says:
you get takashi's message?
SyaoranLi. honeymelon the god. says:
yeah, I woke up a little while ago.
ehirigizawa, plum : ) says:
kk. naoko and rika aren't coming though. where are you?
SyaoranLi. honeymelon the god. says:
somewhere…
ehirigizawa, plum : ) says:
seriously, it started raining and thundering hard when you left. what happened?
SyaoranLi. honeymelon the god. says:
car got flat tire. currently at sakura's house. took shelter here last night.
ehirigizawa, plum : ) says:
ROFL wow are you serious? what happened -wiggles eyebrows-
SyaoranLi. honeymelon the god. says:
nothing happened you fag.
ehirigizawa, plum : ) says:
-evil grin- if you say so bro. ne way, where your car break down? i'll go pick it up and change the tire on my way with takashi.
SyaoranLi. honeymelon the god. says:
'bout three blocks east from sakura's house. on 88 street. where's kero?
ehirigizawa, plum : ) says:
being taken care of by tomoyo's servants, no worries. kk, imma go pack then head out. ill be at sakura's in ten minutes.
SyaoranLi. honeymelon the god. says:
wait.
ehirigizawa, plum : ) says:
what is it?
SyaoranLi. honeymelon the god. says:
uh… where are we going?
ehirigizawa, plum : ) says:
i'll explain later. sakura will probably know. oh, speaking of sakura, go wake her up. see you at tomoyo's.
- ehirigizawa, plum : ) has signed off -
With a sigh, Syaoran signed off and shut the computer off. He walked over to the bed and shook Sakura awake gently.
"Kaa-san… I'm tired, can I sleep a little longer?" she mumbled slowly, digging her head deeper into the pillow.
Syaoran's mouth made a little 'o', and didn't know what to say. She really did miss her mother, so much. He shook her a little more. Sakura finally turned over and looked up at Syaoran with a groggy look.
"Oh, what time is it?" she managed once she saw him.
"It's quarter to nine. We need to pack. Eriol and Takashi messaged me about a lake or something, and to meet at Tomoyo's house at ten." he explain, lifting the blankets off her.
"Oh," she smiled brightly. "We're going to Spinel Lake. How many days?" she asked, getting up and reaching underneath her bed for a larger black bag.
"Three," Syaoran replied. Then he paused. "Hurry and pack, Takashi and Eriol are coming right now. They're bringing my car, so I'll go home and pack then meet you at Tomoyo's."
Sakura nodded then packed one pink tee shirt, a sweater, one pair of jeans and one pair of tracks. She added in two bikinis, socks, and - Syaoran didn't see - some panties. He raised his eyebrow a little.
"Don't you need more clothes than that?" he asked, eyeing her small bag.
Sakura stifled a laugh. "Not even. Not when your best friend is Tomoyo-chan!"
Syaoran gave a little smile.
"I'll go have a quick shower. I'll meet you at Tomoyo's okay?" she smiled lightly, then, quick as a grasshopper jumps, she wrapped her arms around his body, then pulled away and skipped into the shower. Syaoran smiled a little, then put on his sweater and walked down the stairs. He pulled open the door, and Eriol and Takashi were standing there, looking at their cell phones.
"Yo," Eriol greeted with a smile. "You look like shit."
Syaoran nodded. "Thanks, wanna smell my breath, too?"
Eriol rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Oh hell no. I don't wanna die on the way."
"Okay, well, Sakura's showering. You guys go with Sakura, and I'll take my car to my house then meet you at Tomoyo's later."
Takashi opened his eyes slightly. "Did you know that having three people in a car at the same time-"
Eriol covered Takashi's mouth. "I'll tell Chiharu about this."
Takashi laughed. "S - N - I - T - C - H!"
The two walked into the house with a wave to Syaoran then shut the door. Syaoran sighed and walked down to his beautiful Gallardo. Somehow, these rides were lonelier without Sakura singing in the passenger seat.
Sakura arrived at Tomoyo's house with Eriol and Takashi before Syaoran made it. Chiharu was already there, as was Meiling. Tomoyo nearly jumped her. "SAKURA-CHAN COME TRY ON THESE OUTFITS I MADE FOR YOU!"
Chiharu and Meiling clapped excitedly from behind her. "B-but we'll only be there for three days."
"More like four. Tomoyo's cabin just got renovated." Meiling explained to her. Chiharu skipped behind Sakura in her mid-thigh cut shorts and t-shirt, then pushed her towards Tomoyo's room, leaving the boys to follow.
Tomoyo practically shoved the first outfit at Sakura, and pushed her towards the bathroom. Sakura stepped onto the tile, then stepped out of the slippers. One look at the outfit made Sakura smile. Tomoyo had been making her clothes for the longest time, but the outfits were nicer now - no more feathers, ribbons, wings, and the sort. The outfit was a white hoodie with the letters sK on the left arm printed in green letters, and loose black shorts that were slightly longer than Chiharu's. She pulled the hoodie over her head, pushing the sleeves up to her elbows, and slipped on the shorts, revealing her long, lotioned legs that seemed like they lived to tease. She had backcombed her hair slightly, so when she pulled it into a semi-high ponytail, it looked messy but beautiful.
She stepped out and smiled at Tomoyo. "Thanks, Tomoyo-chan, but why all this if we're just going to stay in a car all day?"
"An SUV." Chiharu corrected.
"Meaning," Meiling grinned. "Tomoyo has more for you. But you'll see at the cabin."
Eriol and Takashi just grinned at Sakura, who smiled nervously. Tomoyo smiled evilly. "We'll be in the SUV until like six, so why don't you go put on some jeans, I guess?"
"Whoa, when'd a super-model get here?"
Everyone turned towards the familiar voice - Syaoran - who was standing there half-gawking at Sakura. Sakura flushed and the others laughed, wiggling their eyebrows. Syaoran's hair was wet from a shower, dressed in his usual: dark jeans, black shirt, black sweater. Slung over his shoulder was a dark green bag stuffed with clothes.
Sakura, still blushing, turned to the washroom to change her jeans.
"Uh… okaaaay…?" Syaoran took a seat at the end of Tomoyo's bed. "Okay, so tell me about Spinel Lake, would you?"
"It's a good eight hour drive." Eriol summarized the road trip there.
"…Who's driving?" Syaoran asked lazily, looking at his key ring.
"Me!" Takashi exclaimed, raising his hand. "We're taking an ESSS - YOOOU - VEEEE!" he said excitedly.
"An SUV?" Syaoran replied slowly. "You? How do you drive… with your eyes closed?"
Chiharu closed her eyes and shook her head. "He's the best driver here. I don't think you want to know how he does it."
Syaoran chuckled to himself.
"Then what are we doing here?" Sakura asked from the bathroom door, clad in her hoodie and jeans. "Let's get on that road and go!"
The gang cheered in agreement and followed Takashi - who led then with closed eyes - to the SUV that waited out front.
The huge gas guzzler seated just enough people - three in the back, two in the middle, and two in the front. Everyone hauled their bags into the very back, and around the aisles of the seats. Takashi jumped into the front, Chiharu in the passenger side. Takashi stuck the key in the ignition and turned it once, then revved the engine. "Are we ready, kids?" he asked with a happy smile.
"Not yet!" Eriol called from the back. He ushered Tomoyo to sit in the furthest back seat, with Eriol following. Next to them sat Meiling.
"Hurry up, guys!" Takashi yelled louder over the revving of the engine.
Syaoran smirked as he sat next to the left window and Sakura next to him. Syaoran shut the large black door and felt the air conditioning flow through his clothes and hug his body. "Alright Tak, head out!" Syaoran called. "Stop revving the damn engine, man!"
Takashi turned back and grinned. "We're missing something." he held out his hand and opened his palm.
Sakura leaned over to grab a smaller, blue and white bag, and zipped it open. "You mean, music, correct?" she asked with a small grin. Takashi nodded knowingly.
She pulled out seven ipods. Three thin, black ones. Two iPod touches, one white iPod video, and one sharp green one. Sakura laughed. "Which one?"
Takashi debated this. "Let's go with Syaoran's sick music taste."
Sakura pulled the headphones out of the green iPod and tossed it to Takashi, who plugged it into the car's expensive, top of the line stereo. He pressed play and cranked it up a bit, a soft Chinese song floating around the car.
"Yao ni yong yuan shi wo de xiao Ying Fa, wo ai ni… mei yi tian …"
Sakura's first thought was, was that the song I heard in his room? but realized it definitely was not. She strained to hear the soft voice that sang without the company of any instruments.
Syaoran almost hit Sakura in the face when he leapt up to switch the song, an upbeat Korean song pumping the bass. Takashi hadn't pressed his foot down on the pedal yet, but he nearly had a heart attack.
"What the hell?" Eriol asked from the back.
"Nothing, it's a work in progress. Let's go, man, I wanna see Spinel Lake as soon as we can!" Syaoran replied with a grin. His voice was strained - Sakura could tell - but he fooled the rest.
"I want you to… something, something… yong yuan? Forever? Something about love forever? …Blossom?" Sakura tried decipher the words. "God, it was like listening to Arabian or something!"
Syaoran glared at her lightly. "You have it totally wrong. How are you passing Mandarin?"
"I don't have it wrong! Unless you sung different tones, but then it would make NO sense whatsoever." Sakura retorted.
"Well maybe I pieced together random words, how about that?" He glared harder.
"Guys, stop it! Tak, let's go!" Meiling yelled from the back, temporarily stopping their feud.
Takashi nodded then pressed down on the pedal, speeding down the path.
Takashi had been driving for an hour down the highway. Syaoran was already bored - that had another, what, seven hours to go? Eriol, Tomoyo and Meiling were in the back talking about random things, and Sakura was sitting reading a book entitled City Of Bones. Syaoran took one look at the topless man on the front and nearly barfed.
Sakura sighed heavily from Syaoran's side. She slapped the book together. "I can't believe it! Jace and Clary are siblings!" she moaned. "This is so not right!"
Syaoran raised his eyebrows but chose not to answer.
"Let me see them big titties, don't be actin' saddity you not pretty," Sakura half-sang and half-rapped. "Break bread if you wanna get wit' me, all I wanna do is dig off in them kidneys."
Chiharu picked up right away as Takashi cranked the song. "Tell ya boyfriend he better mind his business, 'fore he end up in the trunk of my Bentley!"
"I am still a boss, he can't hit me, he ain't got enough paper to deal wit' me," Eriol rapped from behind. Wow, Syaoran thought. Who knew Eriol could rap or sing period? "Baby girl wanna two step wit' me, turn around rub that ass up against me." Eriol nudged Tomoyo suggestively, who laughed and whacked him on the arm.
"Whoa, lil' mama done got tipsy, hit it tonight, tomorrow you're history!" Meiling sang a little off-beat. She loved this; singing with everyone.
"All you haters wit' that hoe shit miss me, I stay strapped security don't frisk me. Set it off 'til this muthafucka empty, I turn around do the same shit next week, come on," Takashi sang - and drove - with his eyes closed.
Syaoran smirked. "Bounce, like ya ass had the hiccups!" he sang. The others joined him.
"Bounce, like we was ridin' in my pickup. Bounce, why you lookin' so sad? Baby girl you need to cheer up. Bounce I got the remedy, it's you on me and me on you, and you on me and me on you and you on her, then her on me and her on you and y'all on me, Then me on y'all and y'all on me!"
Everyone was half singing and half screaming. When the song ended, everyone collapsed in hearty, loud laughs.
"We need this SUV to start bouncing," Chiharu giggled. "That would make this moment so memorable."
Sakura shook her head with a mischievous grin and pulled a thin black camera from her bag. "All moments can be memorable," she told them. "Every moment, is a Kodak Moment." -wink wink-
Tomoyo burst out laughing. "That dinky camera is nothing to my awesome video camera!"
Sakura began to capture picture after picture, capturing every moment, while Tomoyo began to tape everything.
"Syaoran! Where are the chips?! If I don't have chips on this ride I'll freak out and get all weird!" Meiling yelled, jumpiness embedding her voice.
"I ate them..." Syaoran replied quietly, scratching his arm. He gazed away from Meiling's evil eye.
"OH MY GOD! OH HELL NO. Takashi, stop the car!" she screeched, nearly jumping out of her seat.
Takashi took one look through the rear-view mirror. "WHAT? NO."
"Go to the closest seven eleven!"
"What's a seven eleven?"
Chiharu shook her head. "...this is some road trip..."
"Augh!" Meiling let out an audible groan as she stepped out onto the grass and her knees buckled. "Eight hours of sitting WITH NO CHIPS will do that to you."
Sakura followed Meiling out the door and stared at the huge wooden cabin that loomed over her. To the left of the cabin was a path through the trees that lead to the lake.
"Tomoyo, this is a cabin?" Syaoran asked, holding both his bags and Sakura's.
"Yes, yes it is." she smiled with stars in her eyes. She raced for the cabin doors, shoved a key in it and turned the doorknob, revealing the inside. Quickly, everyone ran inside, slamming the SUV's doors shut.
The cabin was more like a big house. It was heated and air conditioned, with running showers and toilets. The living room had two couches and a tv, but nothing extravagant. The cabin was equipped with one, very big, bedroom, where six beds lay, adjacent from each other.
"I call this bed," Takashi grinned, tossing his bag onto the bed by the window. "But someone won't get a bed."
Sakura raised her hand. "I'll sleep on the couch." she volunteered. The others could tell by the look on her face, that even if someone argued with her, she wouldn't let anyone not sleep on their beds. The others nodded appreciatively, then tossed their bags on to random beds.
"I don't think we'll be able to do anything," Eriol told them. "It's getting dark already."
Syaoran, who had never been to Spinel Lake, looked confused. In Tomoeda, there would have been another four, maybe five hours of sunlight left. Sakura shrugged at him. "Spinel Lake is like that."
"Then why don't we rest, tonight," Meiling suggested. "Then go down to the lake tomorrow afternoon and a bonfire tomorrow night?"
Everyone nodded vigorously, except Takashi, who's life revolved around food. "What about dinner?"
Chiharu stifled a laugh. "I'll take care of that," she said.
Every agreed, then Eriol pulled out a small, rectangular box, that shone in the dim light that came from the window. With an evil smile, he announced, "I challenge Takashi and Syaoran to the ultimate game of Halo 3," he grinned. Takashi rubbed his hands together and Syaoran smirked. "TO THE XBOX 360!"
They charged out of the room together, arguing about who the 'God of Halo' was. Sakura rolled her eyes, then reached into her bag. "Oh no," she muttered to herself. "Where are my pjs…"
Tomoyo tapped her shoulder. "No worries!" she assured Sakura. She reached into her own bag with her free hand and pulled out folded pink and white plaid shorts and a pale blue pyjama shirt. "Here you go!"
Sakura gave Tomoyo a knowing smile, and thanked her. With waves, Meiling, Chiharu and Tomoyo left the room to make dinner. Sakura shut the door without locking it, and stripped down to her bra and panties.
She looked down at the black bra. "This won't do," she said to herself. "My shirt is blue." Sakura turned to her bag, which was right at the foot of her door, and grabbed a white bra. She smiled and then reached around to unhook her black bra, then unhooked it from around her shoulders and tossed it at her bag.
Sakura had bad aim. It went a little too high, and would have hit the door …
"Hey, I just need to gra-"
…if it hadn't hit Li Syaoran's face.
Sakura's eyes widened and Syaoran's mouth dropped as he stared at her, the right bra strap dangling from his ear.
She screamed.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! FUCKING WOLF, GET OUT!!" she shrieked, covering her exposed breasts with one arm and knocking Syaoran out of the room - via his face with the her free hand. Sakura slammed the door and locked it, leaning against the door, panting.
OH MY GOD HE SAW MY…
Sakura slung her bra on and slipped the shorts and big shirt on then walked to the washroom. Washing her face, she made the blush go away. Then, she walked boldly over to the door and swung it open. Walking down the hall, she saw Syaoran seemingly preoccupied with Halo 3, with the other guys. She then ran down the hall into the kitchen, where Tomoyo, Meiling, and Chiharu stared at her.
"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo cried. "What's wrong? You were screaming! Did you see a ghost?"
Meiling looked at her worriedly. "Yeah, the scream was really loud."
Sakura shoot her head. "Oh no," she managed a smile. "I tripped and fell."
"Oh, Sakura-chan," Tomoyo said gently, taking her best friend into her arms. "You're so clumsy!"
"Yup!" Sakura agreed. "That's me."
Tomoyo smiled back at Sakura, then pulled a small wooden frame from her bag. I brought another picture of Auntie Nadeshiko for the house," she explained with a concerned look. "Is that okay?"
Sakura took one look into her mother's deep green-gray eyes and nodded slowly.
"Yeah." she said to them. "It's fine."
Although the awkwardness between Syaoran and Sakura at dinner was covered by their friends' chatter, Sakura kept quiet not because of that one reason. And Syaoran saw that.
Two hours after dinner, while everyone went to the living room to play Tekken 5, to decide who the master was, Syaoran noticed one missing person in the fray. "Where's Sakura?" he asked Tomoyo, looking around.
Tomoyo blinked. "I don't know. I thought she went for a nap." Syaoran nodded and went to the bedroom and knocked lightly on the door. Receiving no answer, he pushed open the door and on Tomoyo's bed were the pyjamas Sakura had been wearing, as well as a note.
Everyone!
It's, hm… eight o'clock. Not too dark yet! I went out for a walk! I shouldn't be back late, my head just felt a LITTLE stuffy in the cabin. If I'm not back by dark, then a bear ate me! -evil laugh-
- Sakura-chan!
Syaoran narrowed his eyes and walked out of the room, charging into the living room with the note with him.
"She went out for a walk," he said, tossing the note at them. They stopped to read it. "But it's dark already."
Grinding his teeth together, Syaoran collapsed in an arm chair. Then he got up. "I'm going out to look for her." he announced, then grabbed his sweater and reached for the door. Eriol came between him and the only way for Syaoran to go looking for Sakura.
"No," Eriol said sternly. "Not without us. We have to be smart. We need flashlights and someone to operate a fire outside the cabin so we can make our ways back if we go in the forest. Syaoran - you don't know these woods. If you go too deep, you might not find your way out. Not in the dark."
Takashi and Chiharu grabbed their jackets and reached into a drawer filled with flashlights. Takashi tossed one to him. "Here," he said. "Don't be idiotic."
Tomoyo nodded. "You really don't know these woods. Someone died out here from starvation. They got lost. Deep in the forest, it's almost always dark. Not as dark as night, but the shade from the trees…" She slipped on her jacket and lead Meiling by the hand towards the door. Tomoyo squeezed it tightly as a prayer to Sakura.
"Alright. Who'll stay behind? And let's go in group of twos." Eriol practically commanded. Although Eriol was commanding, it felt natural.
Takashi took a hold of his girlfriends' small hands. "I'm going with Chiharu. No doubts." Chiharu looked into his opened gray eyes and nodded.
Eriol opened his mouth next. "Then I'm going with Tomoyo." he said, passing a flashlight to Tomoyo. Syaoran looked around to Meiling.
"Meiling, stay here and operate the fire, okay? I know you're good with fire." he managed to speak without biting his tongue from worry.
"What about you?" she asked with concern.
"I'll be just fine." he said firmly. Meiling nodded uncertainly.
"If you say so…"
"Wait," Syaoran said, just as everyone was going to head out. "Cell phones?"
Tomoyo shook her head. "No reception out here. We're eight hours away from Tomoeda, you think they'd work?"
Syaoran growled. "Alright. How do we notify each other when one of us has found Sakura, then?"
Eriol pressed his lips together in a thin grim line. "We can't."
"T-this isn't a good idea," Chiharu peeped quietly. Takashi wrapped his right arm around her tightly. "What if one of US gets lost out there? With no communication…?"
Tomoyo ran into the house without a word a returned a moment later with a small box. "Here. It's for emergencies like this."
Everyone peered into the box. There was about a dozen walkie-talkies. Everyone smiled slightly with relief. Holding out the box, everyone took out a walkie-talkie. Takashi took one, Eriol took one, and Syaoran took one.
"No," Meiling said, taking out three more walkie-talkies. "If you get separated, you'll need one." The others nodded as she passed one more out to Chiharu and Tomoyo, who had put the box down. She kept one to herself.
Syaoran nodded without a word and started down to the far end of the forest. A hand caught his wrist. It was Eriol.
"Syaoran," Eriol said with powerful eyes. "It's 9:30 now. If we can't find her by 11:30 - half an hour before the darkest point in the night - we're going to call everyone back and we'll search in the morning. Sakura's a strong girl, she can …"
"She can what?" Syaoran challenged. "Freeze to death? It's cold at night and more so in the forest."
Eriol looked down. "Syaoran…"
But he was already gone.
"Sakura!"
"Sakura!"
"Sakura!!"
The others' loud cries could still be heard, echoing through the forest. Syaoran shone his flashlight back and forth, looking for signs of the cherry blossom.
"STRABERRY!" he yelled, his eyes searching in the dark. Although it was near pitch dark, Syaoran could still see clearly. "STRAWBERRY-GIRL!"
"Sakura!"
"Sakura!!"
"Sakura-chaaaan!!"
Syaoran's face began to turn red from frustration. "S-strawberry!" he screamed louder this time. "WHERE ARE YOU?!"
He panted from yelling at the top of his lungs, then stopped for a moment to look where he was. At some sort of conjunction in the middle of the forest. He chose to keep going forward, hoping it was the right choice.
"Sakura…!"
"Sakura…!"
"Sakura…!"
The shouts of Syaoran's friends began to quiet down. He mentally swore. They were spreading out.
W-where is Sakura… She's been gone for so long! Could… something have happened to her?
Syaoran thought bitterly to his self.
"SAKURA!!"
Where was she? She couldn't tell. How long had she been gone? She didn't know.
Sakura and her mother had come to Spinel Lake a lot when her mother was still alive. They had a special spot, right in the heart of the forest, where there was a small body of water - not as large as a lake, but not so small they could call it a pond. She had set out to find it before it turned dark, but as she got deeper and deeper into the forest, it got darker and darker.
She was using the dim light of her cell phone screen - no service - to navigate herself around, avoiding trees.
"Mom! Mom!" she yelled. "Mom? Help me! Mommy!"
"Sakura!" Syaoran screamed again. He ran through the forest, his heavy footsteps the only noise he could hear.
Wait.
The only noise?
Fuck. He swore to himself. I must be far. Very far from the others.
He fished his cell phone out of his front pocket. 11:16. A beeping came from the back pocket of his Guess jeans. He pulled the walkie-talkie out of the pocket and clicked the button. "What is it?" he asked impatiently.
"Anyone found her yet?" Eriol's static voice came from the speakers.
"Of course not, I or Syaoran would have contacted you." Chiharu replied with a heavy sigh. "We travelled west from the cabin halfway around the lake. Where are you guys?"
Eriol's voice tried coming through the speaker, but came as static.
"Guys! Guys, I can't hear you, I -" Syaoran started.
Eriol spoke again. "You -- hear us -- far -- did you -- go --"
"I can't hear you!" worry broke out in Syaoran's voice.
"Syao -- s -- mov -- co -- back --" This time it was Takashi.
"-- ran! -- come -- you -- far --"
The line went dead.
"FUCK!" Syaoran yelled, throwing the walkie-talkie into the soft ground. Sighing, he picked it up again and shoved it into his pocket. He was obviously too far from the others for the walkie-talkie to work, and thus, had no ways of communication with the group. That, and he was lost.
"Sakura…" he whispered. "SAKURA!"
"Mom! Mommy! Mommy, where are you?! I want to go to our sanctuary!" Sakura shouted, running around aimlessly.
This won't do me any good.
She stopped.
"Mommy. Mommy," she whispered. "Mommy, please help me find my way!"
Syaoran was kneeling in a spot. His jeans were no doubt greened from the grass. He had tried looking up at the stars to navigate back - but what stars were there, past the giant trees' looming branches flocking with leaves, and past the dark gray clouds and covered half the moon?
It was cold, too. The cold seeped through Syaoran's protective sweater and onto his skin.
Then, he heard it:
"Mommy… Mommy! Mommy… please help me find my way!"
He got up quickly and followed the voice, this time controlling his feet so he'd be able to hear her.
"Mommy," she said. "Mommy!"
He ran now.
"SAKURA!"
"…Syaoran?!"
"SAKURA!"
She screamed his name over and over. Over, and over. He followed her voice, usually lyrical but now yearning to go home. He waved the flash light around, when he finally stopped at her.
Sakura. Standing alone, terrified, in the middle of the pathway, clad in nothing protective but a t-shirt.
"Sakura," it came out as a tight whisper.
Then he was running. He ran to her, and she flung herself and him. "Syaoran!" she whimpered.
"Sakura…" he whispered gently. He wrapped his arms around her tightly. "Sakura." Syaoran traced the line from her shoulders to her hands, and grabbed them gently, as if to reassure himself she was actually there.
"You silly girl!" he said with firm eyes. "Don't run off again!"
She nodded grimly at him. "W-what now?"
Syaoran reached for the walkie-talkie and tried to signal Eriol with one hand. "Eriol! Eriol!" he yelled, trying to get his voice to cross.
Static. Nothing.
The tiny form shivered in Syaoran's arms. "We have to try and find our way out of here." Syaoran stripped off his sweater and draped it over Sakura's shoulders. Nodding gratefully, she shrugged her arms into the too-big sweater and took Syaoran's outstretched hand. "Let's go."
They turned around and tried walked the way Syaoran had come. But even after an hour of searching - Syaoran checked his phone - he couldn't find the cabin. He'd tried seven times to contact Eriol, Takashi or Meiling, but got nothing.
Sakura's hand had grown paler and about ten degrees colder since they started. Her face was paler than usual - almost a ghost white.
"Sakura, Sakura…" he called, squeezing her hand tighter. "Hold on."
She nodded and followed him.
Syaoran noticed the trees began to break from it's line to make way for something - a building or statue or fountain, perhaps? - and he shone the light on it.
He found himself staring at a large pond and a small, rickety cabin. Sakura's face automatically brightened, if only a tiny bit. "S-sanctuary…" she whispered, reaching into her pocket. Her knees buckled before she could present Syaoran with whatever she had been retrieving, her eyes snapped shut, and she fell to the ground.
Syaoran caught her with alarm and picked her up. Her temperature was decreasing slowly but surely. Running with her held tightly in his arms, he went towards the old cabin and tried twisted the locked door. Panic shed in his body as he tried it again, but then looked at Sakura's hand, which gripped a shiny metal key.
A shed of hope. He took the key and stuck it in the door, twisting it open. Jackpot.
The cabin looked long abandoned. It was cold inside - obviously not heated - and was dusty. He tired the light switch by the door, which flickered on some lights overhead. The light gave him a better view of the cabin. Although it appeared rickety from the outside, it seemed sturdy inside. There was no heat, no fire place, none of the kitchen appliances worked, and neither did the bathroom, but he did find a bunk against the side wall.
The top bunk had a hole in it, a hole that would have fit a five year old. The hole had a tear that extended to the railing, too. The bottom bunk, however, was intact, with a dusty blanket covering it.
Syaoran set Sakura down lightly on the rug and walked over to the blanket, which he picked up and shook free of the pounds of dust. Then, he picked up Sakura, and placed her in the bed, placing the blanket over her.
Leaning over on the bed, he watched as she paled. She wasn't warming up, and Syaoran could feel it. Her hands became colder as the night moved forward. Syaoran paled too, thinking of what he had to do next.
He folded the blanket downwards to reveal Sakura's shirt and Syaoran-sweater clad body. He leaned her forward, and peeled the sweater off, then, her shirt. He unbuttoned her jeans and slid them off, then hesitated, looking at her panties and bra dressed body.
Stop it. Don't be a pussy. Syaoran shook himself. She'll die unless you do this.
Syaoran unhooked the bra and gently pulled it off, revealing the same thing he had seen earlier, earning him a hot blush on his cheeks. Then, he slid off her black bikini panties.
He turned away from her naked body quickly, then quickly undressed himself. Stopping at his boxers, he turned back and pulled the blanket up to cover Sakura's paling body. Then, yanking off his boxers, he stepped out of them and laid on the bed, inching closer to Sakura. He turned her body so she'd be facing him, pressed up against his naked body, and wrapped his arms around her cold body.
"Sakura…" he whispered, digging his head into her shoulder. She turned her head to him a little.
"Mom…" Syaoran looked at her, alarmed, but found her eyes closed, and cold body warming slightly.
Sakura, you need to warm up. Syaoran said to himself, wrapping his self around her more, sending all his infrared waved of heat to her. The blanket that sheltered them did nothing.
"Keep her warm, Li Syaoran," said a gentle voice. "Keep my angel alive."
Syaoran's blood ran colder than Sakura's body as he looked up into gray-green eyes and a soft, pale face that was framed by wavy locks that were gray, not from age. She smiled a tiny smile at him.
"Please keep my angel warm and safe," she said. Syaoran watched eerily as her lips didn't move an inch as the words were spoken. "Keep her alive. Sakura is still not grieving. She needs to move on, move on but not forget. Help her, and she will help you. Your troubles will fade away."
Syaoran leaned up forward, and stared at her. Her tall, lean body covered with a long, pale green dress, did not touch the ground, instead floating with the help of her wings. She floated over top of them, hovering over Sakura's face.
"I love you, Cherry Blossom." the voice came in a whisper. The woman leaned down, closing her eyes, and placed a feather light kiss on Sakura's forehead. Then she looked up at Syaoran with pleading, yet sweet eyes that shined even in the darkness. "Thank you, Li Syaoran."
And she was gone.
Preview of Chapter 5:
"Why is she still unconscious?"
"Syaoran…what happened?"
"There's no time to tell you right now. Help me get her into a bed!"
"She needs a doctor!"
"She won't be able to handle that much movement."
"Then…what will happen to Sakura?"
Almost 8000 words. Hehe. Okay, go read and review, please. Hope you liked this chapter. -wink wink- Sorry about the long wait update. Like I said, I wait for the reviews.
- Yukiie Jun Duong
03.11.08: Update, sort of. I felt I wanted to reply to a chapter FOUR (this chapter) review:
SailorCSH: Before you review, and review ANONYMOUSLY, please, PLEASE make sure you know what you are talking about.
1. What tea? WHAT TEA? I am SO confused.
2. I was taught this is what you are to do when you're freezing.
3. "Syaoran noticed the trees began to break from it's line to make way for something - a building or statue or fountain, perhaps? - and he shone the light on it." Yes, he does have a flashlight. IT SAYS RIGHT THERE What are you talking about.
4. Yes, well it's fiction. It's weird, so what? It's a MADE-UP story. And Sakura is seriously clumsy and dense, it's not her fault. Syaoran is making sure she stays alive, is that OKAY?
I'm not saying your review was bad, but you didn't really say anything nice, which is okay, but you didn't really give me any advice on how to improve, instead asking questions (that were already answered in the chapter...). Please read carefully before blurting out your questions. Starting your review with the er... most likely means you knew the review wouldn't be nice or it was not MEANT to be.
Is that why it's signed anonymously?
PS. I HATE ANONYMOUS REVIEWS THAT ARE POINTLESS OR ANONYMOUS FLAMES. Thanks.