Chapter 6: It's over
Sakura got a call from Syaoran later that night but it didn't last that long. "Is there something wrong Syoaran? You haven't called or texted me back all day." Sakura lightly complained. Syaoran sighed over the phone. "Sakura, My mother was here that's why I didn't contact you back." He said. "Is everything ok?" She asked. "There's something I need to tell you." Syaoran began. Suddenly Sakura's microwave started beeping. "Oh, well hold on a second I need to get something out the microwave." She said. "Ok." He said exhaling his nervousness for that second. Just at that moment someone rang Syaoran's doorbell and Wei answered the door. For the second time that day his mother walked into the house uninvited. "Mom what are you doing back here already?" Syaoran asked covering the receiver of the phone with his hand. "I told you before. Leila will be staying with you. We went and got her things. You will give her a chance. If you don't fall in love with her I may leave you alone." She said. "What kind of deal is that mom? There's no guarantee in there and I've already told you, I'm not doing anything with that girl." He said standing his ground. Yelan was suddenly rummaging around in her purse. "Oh and is this the girl your supposedly in love with at the moment?" She asked and pulled pictures of Sakura out of her purse. Syaoran unintentionally put the phone back on the hook; hanging up on Sakura. "Mom! Why do you have pictures of Sakura! When did you take these?" He asked in disbelief. Yelan smiled. "So this is her." She said then looked at the pictures awhile. "She certainly is a pretty girl to be so plain." She said. Syaoran blushed angrily. Then Leila came in dressed casually with two huge luggage cases. "Woah! No, you can't stay here. You have to leave." Syaoran said. Leila tilted her pretty head and smiled at Syaoran. "I'm sorry but Mrs. Li told me that I must do this or lose the honor of my family." She said and walked past him. "Wei, show her to one of the guests rooms." Yelan demanded and Wei left to do so. "So you've got us both on your puppet strings. I won't allow it." Syaoran said. "And what do you think you can do exactly? Don't you see Syaoran? I'm looking out for your future. I'm making the best decisions for you to achieve the highest honor in our family. Don't you want that?" She asked trying to get her son to change his views. "I want to be happy mom. Didn't you say you wanted me to be happy too?" He said feeling his emotions rise. "Well I'm sorry. I know you don't like it now but you'll thank me later on down the line. As for your little Sakura, I've sent someone to break the news to her already. No need to make a scene." His mother said as if addressing a mess a two year old had made. Syaoran's stomach sank and his heart dropped to the floor.
When Sakura picked up the phone all she heard was dial tone. She was hurt that Syaoran had hung up on her. She had only been away for two seconds. Just as she was going to call him, the doorbell rang. Sakura fixed her light blue pajama pants, and white t-shirt as she headed for the door. She was hoping it was Syaoran but was surprised to find that a very dignified looking messenger was at her door. "Are you Sakura Kinomoto?" The messenger asked. "Yes." Sakura said not understanding why a messenger would be at her house so late. "A word from Syaoran Li. He cannot see you any longer because he's engaged. Do not come by his house or bother him until he is rightfully married. You will be invited to the wedding." The messenger said but Sakura just stood there in shock. "Shall I tell him anything in return Miss?" The messenger asked. Sakura silently shook her head no and slowly shut the door.
Syaoran was out the door as soon as silence had hit the air. He hadn't thought of getting in the car or trying to call her again he just knew that he had to get to her immediately. His heart pumped hard when he hit the third block and turned the corner. He just had one street to go before he got to Sakura's house. It didn't seem like a long distance with his relationship at stake. Once he got to her porch he didn't stop to breathe he just started banging on the door. He heard the lock click and Sakura opened it but when she saw who it was she shut it back. "Sakura!" Syaoran shouted. "No Syoaran, you aren't going to break my heart anymore. That's all you ever do to me." She said through the door. Syoaran put his head to the door and sighed while trying to catch his breath still. "Sakura I was going to tell you! I really was! I didn't know my mother would be back in town so early. She was supposed to be here six months from now." He said giving excuses through the door. "So why did you send that messenger if you were going to tell me?" She asked confused. Syaoran clenched his fist against the door. "My mother did that. What did the messenger say Sakura?" Syaoran asked trying to figure out the damage his mother had caused to his already broken relationship. "The messanger said that you were engaged and that you didn't want me to come around until the day of the wedding." Sakura said. Syaoran felt his heart ache. "Sakura, would I really say something like that to you?" He said sorrowfully through the door. "I don't know Syaoran I'm just so hurt." She said. Syoaran looked up at the sky secretly praying that he could remove the door from its hinges. "Sakura, can you open the door? This isn't something we can talk about like this. I…I need to be able to look into your eyes. I need to be able to hold you if this is hurting you so bad. I know right now I'm wrong but I'd fix anything to be with you. Please. I'll fix this too." He said. There was a moment of long silence. Then the lock clicked and the door opened slowly. Sakura was teary eyed but to Syaoran she looked so pretty in her pajama pants and t-shirt. Her pretty green eyes were casted to the ground. Syaoran felt his heart swell up and he slowly walked into her house. Sakura backed away from him to let him in but as soon as she shut the door he swept her up in his arms and held her tight.
Sakura didn't understand why she had let him in. She really had not felt like talking to him at all. For all she cared, he could go away again and she really wouldn't care but his words touched her heart. No guy had ever said anything like that to her and sounded like they meant it with all their heart. She let him hold her just because she didn't know what else to do. Syaoran quit the hug and slipped one of his arms under her legs to pick her up. The door was close to the living room so Syaoran carried Sakura to the white little couch, sat upon it and draped Sakura across himself. Her legs were over his lap and her torso was adjacent to his as she leaned against him with her hands tucked in her lap. Her head was in the crook of his neck as his arms were wrapped around her body. "I should have said something earlier. I don't mean to cause you pain Sakura." Syaoran said laying his head lovingly against the top of her head. "Maybe…we aren't meant to be together." Sakura said quietly. She felt Syaoran tense up under her. "No Sakura don't say that." He said holding her tighter. "Well, that's what it's starting to feel like to me." She said. "I can get out of this. All I have to do is denounce my family name and then all traditions fall null and void." He said. Sakura looked up into Syaoran's handsome eyes. She could tell he was serious because they were filled with determination. She put a hand on the side of his face and new tears collected in her eyes again. "Don't cry Sakura." He said then kissed her forehead in the most loving manner. "I have to. You can't give up your family for me. That would be selfish on my part. I'm pretty sure your family loves you very much. This to me seems like the last time we'll ever be this close to each other." She said now with tears spilling down her face. Syaoran's heart was broken again. "Is that what you want?" He asked. Sakura looked down and clear tears of sadness wet Syaoran's shirt. "No. But it can't be helped. Today will have to be our last day together. I'm…sure that whoever your mom has picked for you to marry is probably a wonderful person." Sakura said trying to push Syaoran away. Syaoran saw this and decided to do what Sakura asked. "This hurts me so much but I will respect what you think is best." He said looking down now too. Sakura suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you Syaoran." She said, her heart falling apart at those three words. Syaoran's eyes got wide and filled up with tears as well but he didn't let them fall. He just hugged her as close as he could get her to be and said softly back with much feeling, "I love you too."
Tomoyo was sitting with Eriol when he called Syaoran the next day. They were at Eriol's house in the kitchen cooking. A purple apron covered Tomoyo's pink sun dress that reached her knees. Eriol had on a black apron that covered his tan slacks and dark green polo shirt. "What! What do you mean you and Sakura aren't together anymore? You two had just patched things up!" Eriol exclaimed after he answered his phone and stepped away from the stove. Tomoyo looked up at Eriol in total shock from her bowl she was stirring batter in. Syaoran had obviously said something back because Eriol's demeanor had turned from surprised to very serious. "I see, so even if you had told her earlier she would have let you go for the sake of honoring your tradition. She's quite an understanding individual. I see why you care for her. So what do you plan on doing?" Eriol asked. Just as quickly as he looked serious did he start smiling and nodding. "I see. If this does work you can't possibly make fun of me and Tomoyo anymore." Eriol said. Syaoran finished up and Eriol agreed to something and then hung up the phone. "What's going on?" Tomoyo asked. "Syaoran must marry someone and didn't tell Sakura." Eriol said still smiling. Tomoyo began to look angry. "Why are you smiling? That's terrible!" She said then remembered what she and Sakura had talked about yesterday when she said Syaoran was acting weird. "Oh my gosh! I gave Sakura the wrong idea and now the love of her life has to marry someone else." Tomoyo said feeling bad and putting her bowl down on a dark blue marble counter. Eriol chuckled and hugged her close. "Don't be up set my love. Our friends are better off than you think." Eriol said then gave Tomoyo that smile that indicated that things were not as they seemed. Tomoyo had learned by now that when Eriol got that look in his eyes things turned out the way he said. "Ok but I have to go talk to Sakura." Tomoyo said.