Author's Note: FF was down whenever I tried to upload this chapter, which was two days, so I just got home and I wanted to post it! So please don't mind the grammar and nonsense, I hope it's okay. As a side note, the reason behind my madness (rushing everything between them in chapters 1 thru 6) was because it's going to come to a stop. This chapter was humorous and a little difficult to write. I had trouble writing about Syaoran was thinking about. Keep in mind this chapter is more dedicated, once again, to the past that we are all (even me) so anxious to learn about. Please excuse the no dreaming sequence, that happens for a reason too! Hope you enjoy. More on the bottom.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own CLAMP's Card Captor Sakura characters.
I Knew I Loved You Before We Met.
By: SakuraLover
Chapter Seven: Within His World: Fourish & Chocolate.
Why did he do it?
He just had to say it, didn't he?
Syaoran sighed, looking up from his massive mounds of paperwork on his desk.
It had been exactly three days since he had rushed to Sakura's house in the middle of the night and told her that he wanted her to meet his mother.
Three days.
Work kept Sakura busy, thankfully, and for Syaoran it was never a problem to find more work to do.
Getting ahead never hurt anyone.
But he still couldn't stop thinking about it.
He didn't exactly know what came over him. Why he wanted his mother to meet Sakura.
Maybe it was because he wanted to bring joy back into her and his older sister's lives…
Or maybe it was because he himself needed the reassurance that he had finally moved on.
He groaned, loudly. Why would he think, out of all reasons, that?
Goodness, he just didn't know what to think anymore.
He jumped a bit, feeling a strong vibration within his vest.
Oh right…his phone.
What time was it anyways? He had seen enough papers for the week already.
"Hai…" he scribbled some more words on the paper he was working on.
"Syaoran-kun?" Her sweet voice made his pen drop to the floor. "Are you busy?"
"Iie--!" He felt around the carpet, trying to find the pen. "I'm just—well…kinda?"
A giggle entered his ear, making him smile.
"Eriol-kun tells me you've been working non-stop! Syaoran-kun, you need to rest! I'm getting worried."
With one mention of that name, his expression turned grim.
"Yes well…I can't believe you trust Eriol that much."
"Hoe? I shouldn't trust your best friend?"
Syaoran bolted up his chair. Best friend?! The blue eyed…glasses wearing…freak?!
Well…
"Syaoran-kun?"
He cleared his throat and sat back down, not bothering to get that pen anymore.
"Etto…I'm really excited to go to Hong Kong with you Syaoran-kun…Tomoyo-chan insists on me taking three suitcases, but I think it's too many! Don't you think so?"
"It is not!" He heard Tomoyo's voice booming in the background.
"We'll only be there for a couple of days blossom…"
"Hoe! I thought you said two weeks?"
His eyes widened. "Two weeks?!"
Now what in the world would he be doing there for two whole entire weeks?
"Syaoran-kun…" Sakura's voice cooed. "I've never been to Hong Kong before…"
"Blossom…"
Now he could have sworn he heard Tomoyo's giggles.
Well, if Sakura thought…no, thinks, that this is one that she will win…
"I can't build a good relationship with your family in a couple of days Syaoran-kun! Please? I thought you said they would be happy to see me?"
True…
"But…"
"And I want you to show me everywhere! We can go shopping!"
Tomoyo squealed. Very loudly. "Yes! Bring me something!"
Syaoran frowned. He didn't expect Sakura to be so excited about this whole situation. In fact, shouldn't she be nervous that she was going to meet his family? Wasn't that normal?
"Please Syaoran-kun? For me—no! For your family?"
He was sure that his three sisters would have a blast pinching their cheeks and giggling to no end, and perhaps his mother would be pleased…but two whole weeks? Wasn't that a little bit too much?
"Syaoran-kun…"
How long had it even been that he was in Hong Kong? He shuddered at the thought.
Too long.
So long that he was sure he didn't remember how to get to the Li Estate anymore. It had been so long that he had lost contact with his mother and older sisters. How worried could they be? Would they be mad at him? Once he brought Sakura over, that would probably be a thing in the past…but…
Two weeks in that place. With nothing but haunting, repeating memories lingering over him…
Whether or not it was two weeks or less, he had no choice but to go now. He had made his decision about Sakura meeting his mother and family…and now that he finally told Sakura and she agreed…would be back out? How foolish he would look! Especially with Sakura overly eager to go as soon as possible…
What was he supposed to do damnit?
He nearly banged his head against his desk in his frustration, but heard the ultimate deciding factor.
"Eriol-kun won't be there either…"
"Can we leave tomorrow?"
Sakura and Tomoyo high fived, exchanging wide smiles.
"Syaoran-kun! You're here!" Sakura jumped into his arms happily as soon as she opened the door.
Syaoran chuckled and held on to his favorite cherry blossom and the bouquet of her favorite flowers as he entered the house.
"Tomoyo-chan is staying over with Eriol-kun tonight…so…"
Oohh…
"Arigatou, they're beautiful." Sakura kissed his cheek, taking the bouquet from him as he set her down.
"You're very welcome."
"I'll go put them in water, okay? Go into the living room, I'll be in there in a bit!" she waved, rushing into the kitchen.
Syaoran let out a sigh of relief before putting on a pair of house slippers and walking towards the large living room. He really should consider taking some sort of class, honestly. He was tired of not getting what he wanted because he refused to say anything.
Li Syaoran wasn't an open book. Many, hundreds, maybe even thousands of people knew that. Not that he cared, but coming off as an work-aholic, silent dust catcher wasn't a description that he needed from the press, especially now that he was dating Sakura. What if his mother and sisters had paid attention to the news media? Well, he was sure that they would not be too surprised.
With Sakura came serious change. Ever since their meeting in their dreams, she brought forth a light…a special light, that had always made him feel warm, different. He wanted to change. He wanted to do so much because of it, her. And he knew he could, but the question was…did he want to?
Sakura returned with tea and a chocolate cake, making Syaoran turn immediately.
"Mou…I think I should have saved this until after dinner."
After dinner he planned to have more than just dessert.
Syaoran quickly cleared his throat of that unconscious thinking. To his defense, it had been a very long while and Sakura was surely looking better than any chocolate cake. Besides, he had to be satisfied with chocolate cake for much too long now.
"Say 'ah'!" Sakura giggled, feeding her overgrown baby.
"Sakura…"
"Ah!"
Syaoran sighed again and opened his mouth, trying not to smile.
Sakura fed him his chocolate cake, smiling as he nodded his head in great approval. "Do you like it?"
"I love it. I think it might be my favorite chocolate cake."
"Hontou? I put something special in it…"
"Oh?" He tried to savor the taste, trying to figure what the secret ingredient was. As mentioned, he had more than his fair share of chocolate cakes.
Sakura fiddled with her fingers as Syaoran was still in deep thought, blushing. She began to think it wasn't so normal to be feeling this way whenever he was around her.
"I don't…I guess I can't tell what it is…wait!...No…" he glanced down at her, where she only smiled to him.
"You really can't figure it out? I thought you said you were an expert with chocolate cakes," she teased him, making him frown. He wasn't lying, he really became an expert with tasting the different types of chocolates in his chocolate cakes…
Wow. He was an expert on chocolate cakes. What an accomplishment.
Before he mentally cursed himself, and maybe did even more damage…as in, talking outloud once again…Sakura pounced on him, making his eyes widen in surprise.
"Sa—Sakura!" He couldn't help it! He was taken completely off guard. Not to mention that she had a low cut...
He still couldn't believe he had become that obsessed with chocolate cakes. Really.
Really? Why would anyone in their right mind decide to learn so much about chocolate?
He could probably submit himself in the World Records Books for being the most incredibly stupid…
"Syaoran-kun!" Sakura quickly got off of him, crossing her arms.
"Nan—nani?" Oh—oh!
Now he would definitely be recorded in history.
"No—sweetheart!"
Sakura turned away from him. "Do you…do you really not want me?"
Goodness no! If only she had known how much pain he had been before her! Even now!
…which would explain the whole…his weirdo chocolate cake, chocolate, obsession…
With all of these thoughts roaming in his head, he didn't even hear Sakura start to cry again.
Well now he did it.
"Of course I want you cherry blossom…" his strong hand felt her back, making her skin tingle.
"Then why don't you pay attention to me?" Sakura sniffed, wiping her tears.
"I just…I got side-tracked…"
Side tracked thinking about chocolate. Wonderful.
Sakura felt content as soon as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Gomen ne…I'm just…worried…"
"Worried? Why would you ever be worried?"
She leaned back onto his chest and looked up at him. "Worried that another woman will give you what you want."
He had to laugh. Had to.
Just how exactly did she know—let alone anyone else know what he wanted?
Sakura frowned, hearing him laugh louder.
He wanted a lot of things, Sakura topping the list, and chocolate in between, but nonetheless…
"And just…" he placed kisses on her exposed shoulder. "…how are you so sure on what I want?"
"Well…Eriol-kun told me that…you know…"
His eyes narrowed. "No. I don't know. Please, enlighten me."
"Okay…well…he said…" Now Sakura cleared her throat, trying her hardest not to look at him. "That when two people go out for a long time…and they don't have sex…well the guy…he…suffers."
He couldn't believe his ears.
First. Why the hell would Sakura believe that idiot about anything?
Secondly. Why the hell would Sakura believe that idiot about anything?
And lastly. Why in all of God's green Earth was Eriol always in behind everything new that Sakura learned?
Maybe the trip to Hong Kong should be changed to tomorrow. To avoid that pest any further. He more he filled his sweet, innocent cherry blossom with nothing but lies…the harder it would be for him not to break his glasses, or better yet…his…ha.
Sakura tried to catch her breath, as Syaoran pulled away from one very heated kiss.
"Cherry blossom, you shouldn't believe him. Don't believe what he says."
"Eriol-kun…Eriol-kun told me you would say that…"
He cringed. Why that…
"None of what he said is true. Nothing is true. He makes up these imaginary stories, and they're all lies!"
"Demo…Syaoran-kun…"
"No but's. Promise me that you won't believe him from now on cherry blossom, promise me."
She hesitated. Her best friend's boyfriend, or her own boyfriend. Syaoran would never lie to her, and Tomoyo did giggle whenever Eriol would tell her something. Maybe Eriol was just trying to help her break the ice with her nerves about this whole situation. Thankfully, it was working! She could finally say the s word!
"Okay…I promise Syaoran-kun…" she pecked his lips before the two stood up.
"Blossom?"
Sakura smiled, turning to him. "Hai, Syaoran-kun?"
He crept up close to her ear, making her emerald orbs widen as he whispered something to her.
He winked to her before walking ahead to the kitchen, leaving her shocked beyond words.
"Eriol-kun, you're Syaoran-kun's best friend…how long has it been since he's been to Hong Kong?"
Eriol sat down, laughing. "Correction, my love. I'm Syaoran's only friend. There's a big difference."
"Eriol-kun!" she playfully smacked his arm.
"Okay…okay…well…now that you mention it, I'd say some fourish years?"
Tomoyo gasped. "Four years! Doesn't he have a family?!"
"Yes. His mother, auntie, and his three older sisters."
"Doesn't he keep in touch with them?"
"Not that I know of…" Eriol touched his chin, trying to remember any instances of Syaoran telling him he had called his family back in Hong Kong.
"Is it that, he just doesn't want to be reminded of that place?"
He nodded, wrapping an arm around the now sitting Tomoyo. "I don't even know everything that he's been through MoMo. I don't blame him."
"But now he has Sakura-chan!"
"I'm sure his family, especially his sisters will be extremely pleased when Sakura and him arrive."
Tomoyo squealed, kissing her boyfriend's cheek. "I'm sure that they will! I can't wait to see pictures! Are you sure we can't tag along too?"
Eriol shook his head. "If Sakura-chan insisted, I'm sure my cousin would allow us to go…but…it would be most uncomfortable, you understand sweetcakes?"
Tomoyo only nodded. "Going back to a place where so many horrible things had happened to him…yes, you're right. It's better if he takes it one step at a time. Maybe next time we can all go on vacation!"
He agreed, still in thought. Some fourish years ago, he had suggested to Syaoran to go seek help, a therapist, a listener, whatever. Fourish years ago, Syaoran made him a promise—no, he swore to him, that if he would ever return to this quote on quote "intoxicated" place, he would do so with the woman that he intended on being with for the rest of his days.
He smiled, remembering the honest words that his cousin spoke that day. It seemed so long ago now. Fourish years ago, he thought the only thing he would be doing in Japan would be complaining in how long they would have to stay. Not too long afterwards, he set his eyes on the beautiful woman besides him, which made living in Japan very pleasant. Now that he thought about it, returning to Hong Kong would be extremely awkward. He told his auntie and cousins that he wouldn't stand it in Japan, and that he would be back in a month, tops. Now he had his dearest…and that was another story.
Tomoyo, attentively paying attention to his expressions as she always did, smiled and leaned over to kiss him.
"I love you Eriol-kun."
"I love you too, sweetheart."
"Promise never to let me go?"
"I swear to you."
She beamed and wrapped her arms around him happily. "Arigatou!"
Sakura tried to look at him, she really did, but it was much more difficult than ever.
"Blossom?" Syaoran finally spoke, wiping his mouth. "Are you okay? You haven't spoken ever since I told you--"
"Ha—hai!" Sakura quickly interrupted him, nodding hurridly. "Of course I'm fine."
"I thought you wanted to know what I wanted."
Her face flushed, immediately looking down.
Syaoran smiled and took her hand in his, making her calm down a bit.
"Arigatou…"
"Do you mind..." He watched her eyes blink. "…if I stay over tonight?"
She wanted to giggle, or jump on him all over him, but contemplated by leaning over and kissing him sweetly, emitting a chuckle from him.
"I find your bed much more comfortable than mine."
"That's not what you say when I stay over."
Too true.
"I meant…I find any bed much more comfortable as long as you're with me."
Sakura felt her cheeks warm up but paid no attention. "Syaoran-kun, will you tell me more about your family?"
He nodded. "What do you want to know?"
"How does your mother and sisters look like? Do you have a picture of them?"
Did he? He didn't even know if he bothered to take the time to pack a picture of his family. At the time, fourish years ago, he could only stuff the new clothes that his sisters insisted on him taking with him into a suitcase and heading off to the airport. Nothing more.
"It won't be a surprise if I tell you everything about them. Then what will you talk about when we get there?"
Sakura thought about it before slowly agreeing. She couldn't wait to see his sisters, she was sure that they were very beautiful…and his mother! That would be an honor to her. She wondered why she was so excited about meeting Syaoran's family. Maybe it was because it was the family that someday, she truly hoped, she would also be apart of. Or maybe because they were the people that Syaoran loved very much. Either way, she couldn't be happier. Being together with Syaoran, in Hong Kong, for two weeks.
Her emerald orbs trailed back to Syaoran, who was busy eating more of the chocolate cake, instead of finishing his dinner.
"Syaoran-kun…" Sakura moved the chocolate cake platter away from him.
"Hey...." he frowned, trying to get it back.
"Syaoran-kun, I'm really starting to think you're obsessed with chocolate cake, and chocolate in general!"
"That's not true!"
Didn't he just have this talk with himself a couple of minutes ago?
Wasn't he supposed to be over this whole chocolate obsession…already?!
Sakura sighed, seeing him eat another bite of the cake happily. "Syaoran-kun…"
"Mmm…you put walnuts in it…I love it with walnuts…"
"Syaoran-kun…"
"I think you even put some cinnamon…or hazelnut…"
She glanced at the clock. She could think of other things to be doing with her boyfriend that didn't include talking about chocolate cakes.
"Syaoran-kun…"
"Chocolate crème filling?! Too good to be true!"
"Syaoran-kun!"
"Huh! What!" Syaoran dropped his fork, his gaze shooting upwards at her.
"You are paying more attention to that chocolate cake than me!"
"That's not true!"
Sakura's eyes glared. "I finally get it! You're obsessed with chocolate!"
"What?! I am not!"
"Then prove it! Stop eating the cake!"
His mouth opened. His eyes stared at the remaining delicious, sweet, sweet pieces of cake that were still left.
God. What was wrong with him? Had he really scooped down this low? Craving chocolate?! Shouldn't he be craving something else?
That answered his question.
Sakura squealed as Syaoran picked her up in his arms and headed out of the kitchen, towards the stairs.
"I don't think I'll be craving chocolate for a long time now blossom…"
Their lips melded together, and Sakura smiled, wrapping her arms around him.
"I love you," they mouthed to each other before kissing again.
Yep. He finally discovered the cure.
Now the chocolately obsession was the thing in the past.
He hoped.
A/N's: I thought this chapter was extremely cute. At first I had no intention of making it how it turned out, but I figured…it's only Chapter Seven…and there's no way I could possibly magically reveal all of Syaoran's past in this chapter. That would be one long chapter!
My biggest inspiration for writing this chapter was BoA's (my favorite singer in the whole wide WORLD) new single-永遠 (Eien), very touching. I apologize for being a week late, but I had major homework due for Uni…and tests as well…when I have school ahead of me, I can only think about completing what I have to do and THEN think about writing. So sad! I didn't have much work tonight, so I decided to sit and type out this chapter.
Next chapter I want to focus on Sakura. Too much Syaoran already! (Yeah right!) Don't worry, dreaming sequences to the max. Don't y'all want to learn how the dreams started in the first place? Hahaha…I think I kinda spoiled it…oh well!
I promise to update within one month! Please review and hope you all are doing well.
-SakuraLover.
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