She Writes His Heart Chapter 4: Story Conferences and Setups
Twilight Kisses should be named co-plotter (?) of this story as she is helping shape direction, character, everything! Thank you!
No, we don't own CCS—or the CLAMP women, whose names are referenced below; just kidding, folks!
Small warning: if you don't like gay relationships, skip over the Touya/Yukito part. But if you like that pairing, enjoy the fluff!
Also, some parts originally meant for this chapter will now appear in the next due to going over the length limit we set ourselves—namely the part where Sakura catches Syaoran buying a copy of Kawaii magazine; my bad! – nara-chan
Thank you so much for the reviews, and we hope you can drop us a little review to let us know how we're doing, or to encourage us! (hugs reviewers)
Syaoran helped Sakura bring Yukito to his small apartment. Once there, Syaoran carried the older man upstairs and laid him on the bed; Sakura then tucked him in.
"You'll stay?" He confirmed with Sakura.
She nodded, looking somewhat distracted. Syaoran wanted to touch her, to reassure her, but he felt he would be intruding, so he quietly bid her goodbye and was about to let himself out when he heard her call softly, "Syaoran-kun?"
He crept back quietly, keeping a respectful distance, his heart feeling like lead in his chest. Syaoran could see Sakura sitting by Yukito's bedside, holding his hand.
She really loves him, Syaoran thought despondently. Then he was surprised when she let go of Yukito then reached out for his hand; he came closer and offered it, and she gripped his hand tightly.
He rather liked it, to be honest.
"Could Yue-san…" Her voice faltered and she cleared her throat nervously, then started again, "His life… Kero-chan—I mean, Cerberus—said something about false forms when he first woke up. He mentioned that unlike his 'brother' Yue, his powers were independent." She took a deep breath, then continued, "When you… when you talked to Yue, did he say anything about false forms?"
"No," Syaoran said thoughtfully. "I had no idea who he was. But a false form is a disguise. In terms of magical energy usage, it would be like, uh, running a marathon, I suppose, based on what I do know about magic. What I know isn't much," he cautioned—without adding that he'd learned that from reading 'Captors'—"but I think Cerberus and Yue need to feed off something to live. In this case, the magical energy of their master or mistress."
His thoughts whirled. In the manga of 'Captors,' the Sun Guardian drew his power from the sun, but the Moon Guardian's life force was directly linked to the Reed Card Mistress' magical energies, as the light of the moon was not enough to sustain him. If that were the case, Syaoran was scared; the series hadn't yet resolved that particular dilemma. In the last chapter in "Kawaii," in fact, Moon Guardian had begun fading and was in danger of disappearing completely.
Also, how much magical energy could Sakura have if she had just started collecting and capturing the Cards? Not much, likely.
No, he could not, would not tell Sakura that, not until he was sure. He did not want to have to be the one to break her heart with the knowledge that she might lose Yukito. Instead Syaoran resolved to find a way to share his powers with her so that they could stave off Yue's fading. Instead Syaoran squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"We'll find a way to make it all right," was all he could say so that he would not wind up lying to her.
"I was wondering what ill effects his magical state could have on his real body," Sakura said. Syaoran nearly jumped; it was what he had been thinking.
"I… I wish I knew. I'll find out what I can," Syaoran promised. His mind raced ahead of him, though; if Yukito was a false form, did that mean he would disappear if Sakura caught all the Cards? She would no longer need a Guardian for her partner, would she? No, wait… in 'Captors' Xiao Long did not have a Guardian. What of Yue then? Where did he draw magical energy? If he was reverting to his true form now, he would be tired and hungry all the time…
Oh shit.
Syaoran realized that Sakura often joked that it took ten food trucks and several barrels to feed Yukito when he was hungry—which was often. And that Yukito had chosen to run a flower shop cum book shop because he needed to sleep a lot. He'd heard Yukito joke that the shop was located in the market district so that he would have easy access to food.
But if all that was true then that meant…
No, Syaoran shook his head. I won't think of that. Not until I find out the truth.
Oddly Sakura's thoughts mirrored Syaoran's. Did this mean that Yukito, whom she'd loved for so long, wasn't real? But which was real and which was not?
She was grateful for Syaoran's presence; he was calm and knew when not to say things that might upset her. She hadn't let go of his hand yet, and he let her hold it.
Syaoran could feel Sakura's fear and confusion. He wanted to touch her, hold her in his arms, and tell her everything would be all right, but lying would make her feel worse. And he remembered something Cerberus and Yue had discussed in the park as Sakura had been off flying with her staff; in hushed tones they had mentioned "the disaster of the world" happening if she failed to capture and seal all the Cards she had released in a timely manner.
What was that? Syaoran frowned, making a mental note to ask the two Guardians about it as soon as he could. So many problems arising in so few days; he wished he could spare Sakura the worst of it, because he felt she did not deserve to have to worry so much about something she had not even asked for. In line with that, he probably would have to find out more about his lineage and hers. There might be clues in their family histories; he knew his family was old and distinguished, and a few magical skeletons in the closet wouldn't surprise him.
Come to think of it, his family had dropped off the radar; why was that?
"I'm sorry. I'm keeping you up," she said.
"It's okay," Syaoran said, squeezing her hand again. She smiled at him gratefully.
"No, my bad. I'll stay with Yukito-san. You go home and rest. We don't know when another Card might appear," Sakura said sadly.
Syaoran desperately wanted to stay, but he knew it would just be a case of him forcing his feelings on her, and so he nodded, let her hand go reluctantly, and quietly slipped out of the small apartment.
To his surprise, he'd gone a few blocks when his phone beeped. It was a text message from Sakura. "Text me when you're safely home. Take care, Syaoran-kun, my friend," it read.
He smiled. Best male friend, he could accept.
Maybe.
"Are none of you worried that one of them might realize that we're manipulating them, throwing them into situations where love can blossom?" the Editor In Chief asked the room.
The four members of Lamplight, creators, writers, and artists for the series "Captors," looked at each other. Two of them giggled. All of the four pretty women had dark brown hair, styled different ways: one had a pageboy, another had long hair that flowed past her waist, one had a short bob, and the last had shoulder-length hair. Their eyes were in various jewel tones: amber, emerald, sapphire, and onyx.
Their two visitors—one of whom was a beautiful pale woman with long dark hair that flowed past her waist and large lavender eyes, and the other a tall handsome young man with glasses that did not hide his midnight blue eyes—looked at each other.
"It's a possibility I have always considered, and I thank you for raising that concern," the young man began.
"Pish posh," the Lamplight writer and chief plotter who went by the name Nana Owaka said. "Xiao Lang, or shall we say Syaoran, and Ying Fa—I mean, Sakura, in real life, are rather dense when it comes to emotions. Ne?" And she nodded at their pretty visitor, who giggled and nodded back.
"Hey, by the way, did two you post up that fanfic chapter in which Fa Ying confesses to Yuki Kitushiro?" the lead artist, who went by the single name Monoka, asked.
"We did," the pretty visitor replied. "I added the double date there as well."
"Over my objections," the man added. "Too many complications. How am I supposed to manipulate real life events if too many variants are introduced? Adding a non-magical civilian introduces an element of chaos, and magic tends to run away when chaos is present."
"As if you aren't powerful enough to fix things anyway," his companion giggled.
He rolled his eyes in exasperation but said nothing.
Staring at her huge Mac screen, where she had logged on to the fanfiction site, the one who called herself Tsukiko Neko grumbled, "Should have placed the double date after Fa Ying's confession to Moon Guardian."
"Might have worked better that way," agreed the girl who called herself Satsukiko.
"Ladies, please," the Editor said as she held up a hand. "May I remind you that these are real lives here? Syaoran may be dense and trusting, but he is smart enough to figure this out, and when he does—not if, mind you—it may destroy his confidence in his relationship with Sakura."
"You worry too much," Nana grinned.
"All the same," the long-haired visitor said, "I shall guide our Sakura-chan in my position as her best friend. Plus, my boutique is ready with the costumes I want her to wear from now on, based on the collaborative sketches Monoka and I did. I simply have to show her the video I got of them catching Fly, and then they will have to take me along whenever possible. I'll make sure of it! Oh-ho-ho-ho!"
"Let me see!" Tsukiko reached for the sketches, and she and the two other Lamplighters squealed when they saw the costumes.
The Editor frowned. "Goodness, this one is… Isn't it a bit sexy?" She pointed at a slinky body-hugging black catsuit, complete with perky cat ears.
The raven-haired girl laughed. "Of course. Sakura-chan has a nice little body that she never shows off, and who better to appreciate it than Li-kun? Better yet," and she pointed at a plain pink swimsuit with ruffles at the high neckline and the waist, "is this one."
"Boring," Satsukiko complained. "It's very conservative. How is Syaoran-kun supposed to get turned on by this?"
"But wait," the raven-haired girl said. "Once wet, the fabric becomes transparent."
"Ooohhh!" The Lamplighters laughed, the Editor rolled her eyes, and the bespectacled young man sighed impatiently.
"Now that you're done molesting your own best friend in sketches, what of Syaoran-san's clothes?" he asked.
"Who said I forgot about him? Oh-ho-ho-ho…" She pulled out another sketchbook and the Lamplighters grinned at each other; Syaoran was scheduled to wear them right before they appeared in their chapters. They were regal and designed to flatter his flat abs, sturdy legs, and strong arms.
"How did you get his measurements?" Tsukiko asked.
"I am the queen of measuring from a distance," the girl bragged. "I have everything under control!"
"What of your friend, the one Kinomoto-chan said she wanted to set up with Syaoran-kun?" Satsukiko asked.
"Naoko-chan? She will cooperate. And after our reincarnated friend here… ahh… lends her the Card they're set to capture next, I hope to push Sakura in the right direction. Syaoran is too honorable to make a move, especially since he thinks Tsukishiro-san is in the picture romantically, and so it will have to be her when it comes to moving that relationship forward. Especially now that I know she intends to confess to Tsukishiro-san. She's been mulling it for years despite knowing that Yukito-san is not in love with her."
"Then why do you think Kinomoto-chan hangs on?" Monoka asked.
"Habit. Security. Meeting a new guy is always a little scary, and Sakura-chan has loved Yukito-san for so long, she can't think of any others. However, I notice that she may be beginning to like Li-kun," the raven-haired beauty grinned.
"How are you sure she likes him?" Nana asked curiously.
"Sakura-chan spends almost all her office time with Syaoran, even lunch breaks, and mentions him to me a lot. She stops to text him when we're together, and thinks he's the best guy friend she's ever had. She can't stop talking about the time he took her to that Khao Pad Thai resto in Tokyo when she was depressed. She also," and the woman leaned conspiratorially across the table, "says he's one of the most gorgeous guys she's ever met."
The four Lamplighters giggled. "That Syaoran is," Tsukiko giggled.
"My friend is dense. Another woman would realize that she was getting interested in him, but well, this adds a delightful complication to our scenario, don't you think? Then one day she'll knock herself on the head and ask me why she never realized it!"
"It would be wonderful to see those two together. So, so cute," Monoka said. Then, grinning, she turned her notepad towards the others; on it she had doodled a chibi Fa Ying and Xiao Long kissing, their eyes closed and little hearts in the air. Everyone but the Editor in Chief and the bespectacled man squealed in adoration.
"Be it all on your heads," the bespectacled man said as he threw up his arms. "I rue the day you ladies caught me practicing magic."
"No you don't," his raven-haired partner giggled. "Why, if my plans for Watery are any indication… poor Li-kun is going to lose half the blood in his body via nosebleed once Sakura-chan gets her bathing suit wet—and loses the top half of it. Oh-ho-ho-ho!"
He ignored her manic laughter. "Moving on, it is settled then: once Sakura-san asks Syaoran-san and Tsukishiro-san and Yanagisawa-san out on that double date, I shall release Sword card via the other young lady. We shall also be moving into their company; it is time for Watery to appear at the first convenient company outing or team building exercise which we shall make sure takes place near a body of water. You ladies of Lamplight Comics shall resolve the question of where the Moon Guardian gets magic to sustain himself in the next chapter, giving our pair ideas on what to do… assuming they realize who it is that Tsukishiro-san truly loves."
The Editor, the Lamplighters, and his raven-haired partner all nodded.
"Then, ladies, this meeting is adjourned, and I shall take my leave. Good night."
"Make sure you check on Sakura and Yue, okay?" Monoka said.
"I shall." Chuckling to himself, the true reincarnation of Clow Reed, part of the inspiration for the Captors series, took his partner by the hand, and as they left the building, he turned to her and said, "Now things will begin to move."
"Remember your promise for the Last Judgment," she said, grinning evilly.
"No doubt you already have a costume prepared."
"For myself, yes. You fit yours next month; I've still got to finish your robes."
"Sakura-san is lucky to have a friend like you."
"Are you joking?" The lovely raven-haired girl put her hands on her hips. "I am lucky I have her for a friend! She models for me willingly, is magical and pretty and sweet, and she opened the door for me to have adventures too!"
He looked at her, let out a tiny sigh, then, "All right then. Let's go back to my apartment and work on the next chapter by SkyPhenomena, shall we?"
She nodded. "You're slow. Why don't you just use magic and fly us there?"
"Aren't you even the tiniest bit worried I'll take advantage of you?" he asked.
"As if you would. You're too much the gentleman for that."
"You ought to be worried. I do have a dark side, you know. It's not for nothing that my Key banks on the powers of the dark," he teased.
"Maybe I should store clothes and toiletries at your apartment," she said, pretending not to be listening to him. "That way you don't have to take me home when we work late."
He sighed. "Fine. You practically live in my spare room anyway." She grinned at him and climbed into his arms as he held them out for her to get into; once she had her arms around his neck, he called his large Staff and cast a spell to carry them to his apartment.
"Oh… shit," Syaoran whispered.
He'd gotten an alert on his email when he'd gotten home and checked his mail. It was for SkyPhenomena's story, and with a mixture of trepidation and eagerness, he'd clicked on the link.
In the chapter, the Moon Guardian had been forced out of his true form into his Yuki Kitushiro false form in front of Xiao Long and Fa Ying.
Just like what had happened to them earlier
Scanning the chapter quickly, he was appalled to read that the perpetually dense Fa Ying had arranged for a double date with her, Yuki, Xiao Long, and Fa Ying's friend Nao.
"No, it's not possible," he chided himself. Surely Sakura wouldn't… would she?
In the chapter, after a rather funny and awkward dinner, during which Fa Ying's older brother Yoya turned up as a waiter at the restaurant (he was keeping an eye on his younger sister because he didn't trust Xiao Long), Nao playfully hinted that she knew what Xiao Long felt for Fa Ying. Fa Ying invited everyone to the newly opened planetarium, and went on to confess her love to Yuki Kitushiro. She was gently rejected, with Yuki comparing her feelings for him to the love she had for her father. Poor Fa Ying, confused and hurt, turned to Xiao Long for comfort.
He took her home, seeing she could not make it home on her own, and let her cry on his shoulder. As Fa Ying was unwilling for him to leave her alone, he stayed and made her hot chocolate, not knowing it was the drink that comforted her best. Snuggled together like kittens on her bed, Fa Ying fell asleep, and Xiao Long eventually drifted off himself. They woke up that morning in each other's arms… just as her brother Yoya walked in.
That scene made Syaoran smile. Fluffy and sweet, it wasn't likely to happen to them… or was it?
"Hah!" Syaoran laughed as he chided himself mentally. No way was that happening. It was just a coincidence. He was just being paranoid about the whole thing, and he was projecting his hopes onto the fanfic. Plus the brother walking in was just too convenient; it had come at the point where Xiao Long, in a rare burst of courage, had been about to kiss Fa Ying.
But it was funny, he had to admit, although he did not want to be caught in poor Xiao Long's shoes after that cliffhanger. Yoya had caught them entangled in the sheets, Xiao Long's hands on Fa Ying's cheeks, and their lips mere millimeters away.
But just in case… He clicked on SkyPhenomena's profile, and was surprised to see nothing there except the listing of the story he or she had written. No private messaging, no homepage, no email… nothing. No way to contact the person.
Uneasily, Syaoran logged off without leaving a review. Something was not right, but he decided he was just sleepy. He shut his laptop down, and went to sleep.
Across town, someone at another laptop began to giggle. "We have a very interesting hit to our profile page," she called out.
"Did you track it?" answered a voice from the kitchen, where a bespectacled man was baking oatmeal and raisin cookies.
"Yes, and the IP address locates it across town, to a bill sent to Li Syaoran, Apartment 9-17, Tokyo Garden High Rises, Ginza-cho. Nice address for the rich boy," she giggled. "I hear you need at least ten million yen, cash, just to reserve the rights to buy an apartment there."
"Never mind that. So now he knows he can't contact us. I wonder what he will do?"
"Probably keep it to himself for now," the woman replied. "I'm done with my part of the next chapter, want to look?"
"Give me a second," he said. He pulled the cookie sheet out of the oven and placed it on a rack to cool, then pulled off his kitchen mitts and went to his living room, where his partner had printed out the new chapter. He scanned the pages quickly; speed reading was but one of his many talents—and he began to laugh.
"My dear partner in crime, don't you think it's a tad too much?" He raised an eyebrow. "Fa Ying loses her bikini top in the water and Xiao Long has to cover her, then they fall on the shore, he lands on top of her, and her breasts… Goodness, we're talking your best friend here!"
"In Li-kun's case, never underestimate the power of suggestion. As for Sakura-chan, a little sexiness in her life won't hurt her. Oh-ho-ho-ho!"
"Neither will it you. You need a life, and I mean that in every insulting way possible," he taunted.
"Sticks and stones," she sing-songed. "Now get over here and write your part of the chapter! You know I can't write magic stuff!"
He sighed and sat down as his partner went to the kitchen, placed all the cookies in a large crystal bowl, then brought out some milk to go with it.
"I could date you myself, you know, Tomoyo-san," he sassed as she arrived with the cookies. "Seeing how desperate you are and all."
"Only when I feel like scraping the bottom of the barrel, Eriol-san," she answered back. Their cheerful banter continued as they worked with each other, finishing the next chapter of the fic Syaoran would soon come to dread reading.
"A double date?" Touya Kinomoto let out a small laugh. "And who is Sakura setting up this time? Is she still laboring under the impression that she can be a Cupid substitute?"
"Honestly, I think the young man she's setting up with her friend Naoko-chan likes her," Yukito smiled as he washed the dishes; they'd eaten at Touya's place in Tokyo as they always did when they were both free. Best friends since high school, they had become lovers in college. "He seems like a nice boy; he's always shy and polite when we meet. In fact Sakura-chan tells me he helped carry me home the other day, when I passed out. Hmm, must remember to thank him. And I think they should start dating."
Instantly annoyed, Touya asked, "Does he look like a pervert? I don't think I like him. Sakura is too young to be dating!"
"Sakura-chan is twenty two, Touya," Yukito said gently. "She is no longer a child."
"I still don't like it," Touya said. "What's this guy's name? I ought to Google and Facebook him… see if he has a record of some kind. What's his full name again?"
"Remember our promise?" Yukito said patiently. "I was willing to take Sakura-chan out until she could find her own dates, and I approved of the boy. I think it's time to let go of her now that a nice guy is available."
"No it's not!" Touya slammed a hand on the kitchen counter for emphasis.
"It never will be, will it?" Yukito sighed, then took Touya's hand in his own. "Touya, she deserves to fall in love, have her heart broken if it happens, fall again, laugh about things with Tomoyo-chan. Do you really think it's fair to make me keep leading her on like this when my heart belongs to someone else? I think it's time to let her go. You promised that if I liked the young man then you would trust my judgment. Don't break that promise."
Touya huffed, but mindful of his promise, he backed down. "So why are you still going on that date?"
"I'm still her 'guardian', you know," Yukito smiled. "I want to make sure the date goes the way I want it to. And I'd like to see how Li-kun handles an awkward situation—like a test for him."
"Li? That's a Chinese name!" Touya's voice raised again.
Laughing, Yukito said, "Come on! You're just predisposed to hate him because of Sakura-chan."
"Fine, fine… So tell me about this Li brat."
Yukito began putting dishes in the dryer as he thought of Syaoran. "He's polite and shy, even though he seems rather arrogant at first glance; he blushes a lot when Sakura is around. He's never said anything to her about his feelings, I can tell; he always makes sure she's comfortable or happy. He's jealous of me…"
"Ha!" Touya snorted triumphantly.
"… but he keeps it in because he seems to not want Sakura to be upset. Oh and he's rather handsome; his eyes are like amber and rather expressive, he's got thick hair, and a good body. He's as tall as you, by the way."
"You sound like you like him!" Touya accused.
"I do," Yukito smiled as he straightened up to face his taller lover. "But I love you. You've known this since high school, so don't be ridiculous." He pecked Touya's lips gently. "Now walk me to the station? I'm going home."
Touya placed a hand on his shoulder. "You could stay, you know. Live here. With me."
"Have you told Sakura-chan the truth about us yet?"
"I… well… that's… no." Touya sighed.
"You'd be surprised at what she can understand, you know." Yukito smiled again, then kissed Touya. "I'll see you the night after the double date, okay?"
"Do you guys know where you're having dinner?" Touya asked.
"No, not yet; I'll let the group decide."
"Well, you can suggest Suzukin in Ikebukuro. It's got great food," Touya said innocently. "I know the owner, and I think I can get you guys a discount."
Yukito almost laughed. "No… you wouldn't!" He realized what Touya was up to quickly.
"I would," Touya said grimly.
"Okay, fine, but if they don't agree, don't blame me," Yukito laughed. "Good night, and sleep well." They walked in a companionable silence to the station; seeing no one around, they kissed again, and Yuki took his leave.
Touya could have sworn Yukito faded somewhat as he entered the nearly empty train compartment, but he blinked, and there was Yukito, waving happily at him. He decided he was sleepy, and walked quietly home.
"D-d-date?" Syaoran stammered.
He pinched himself; was he dreaming? Sakura had come up to him and asked, "Would you like to go out on a date?"
Hell yes he would!
"Yeah!" Sakura grinned. "You, me, Yukito-san, and my friend Naoko. Here," and she showed him a photo of a pretty girl with dark hair in a shoulder-length pageboy style and glasses, "she loves horror movies, writes very well, and is single, like you! "
Oh. A setup. Syaoran's ego deflated, and he sighed. Sakura, oblivious to his disappointment, grinned.
"It will be great, ne? This Friday, after work! It'll be fun!"
It was Thursday. Syaoran sighed again, but seeing Sakura's expectant face right in front of his, he reluctantly nodded.
"Uh… F-fine. I'll go."
"Yatta!" Sakura patted Syaoran's shoulder.
"But… about the other night… Tsukishiro… is he all right?" Syaoran asked.
"Yeah," she said, but her demeanor seemed a little less cheerful.
"What about you?" he asked.
"I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?" Sakura asked curiously.
"N-nothing." His hand lifted to brush a stray tendril of her auburn hair out of her eyes. "It's just… I thought last night maybe he should have been your Guardian, not mine."
"Thanks for worrying about me," Sakura smiled as she took Syaoran's hand in her own and patted it; he liked her warm little hands on his own. "I have to admit it was a shock, finding out who he was, but then in a way I'm glad we already know the truth."
Syaoran nodded. "Just… don't forget to call me if anything happens and we're not together… I mean, I can help. Don't worry about bothering me, okay?" He hadn't let go of her hand yet.
"Oh, thanks, Syaoran-kun. That's so nice of you." Sakura smiled; she liked it when Syaoran was unconsciously affectionate. Everything about him was nice, in truth, and she wished he would find a nice girl soon.
"It was nothing," he shrugged.
He was completely unprepared when Sakura kissed his cheek. "You're such a great guy, Syaoran-kun. Thank you. I'll go check on the IT guy who's supposed to come in and join us, along with the marketing girl."
Not trusting himself to speak, Syaoran nodded.
Just then, the door to their part of the office opened; Syaoran jumped and released Sakura's hand just as two people opened the door.
"That should be them!" Sakura stood up to greet their new teammates. Then…
"Tomoyo-chan?" she said incredulously.
"Hiiragizawa?" Syaoran blurted.
"We're reporting for work today!" Tomoyo waved cheerily at both of them. "I've already met Hiiragizawa-kun, so let's do our best!"
"You four had better," a stern voice sounded from the door; it was Meilin, and she had four folders in her hands. "Now here are your assignments for the next six working days!"
To be continued in chapter 5.
Next chapter: The double date, finally!
Just to clarify, yes, Meilin—who is married to Kurogane of Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles—is their boss. She hired Eriol and Tomoyo personally… wonder why? And yes, guess who are writing the SkyPhenomena fanfic?
And note how we're trying to hew to how Sakura gets closer to Syaoran in both the manga and the anime. Awww.