Watch the Rain Fall, by CheeseyCraziness
Summary: Sakura appears to die in an inferno and Syaoran vows never to love again. When she wakes up in someone else's body, Sakura discovers that she can never reveal herself to those she loves, or Syaoran will die. But fate has a way of stepping in... SxS
Last Chapter:
"You know…"
Curiously she glanced at him.
"I don't mind if you say yes to any of those guys. You don't have to deprive yourself of a love life just because of this. We're not even technically engaged yet," he said gruffly.
Sakura stared at him for a moment, baffled. But then she smiled at him. "Thanks. But that's okay. I'm not interested in that. Sorry, I have to go now – Mei Ling told me not to be late, or our teacher will be really angry. Bye."
His eyes watched her as she left in confusion. It had been a smile on her face, but not of happiness. It had been a wistful smile, of understanding, of sadness, of something he couldn't quite name.
And what girl would ever pass up the opportunity her soon-to-be-fiancé had just given her?
He shook his head. The more he learned of Xing Lin, the more she interested him, and not just in one way, either.
The ringing school bell shook him out of thought. Syaoran ran to class.
.o0o. Chapter Six: Bound to You .o0o.
Sakura thoughtfully leaned against the balcony railing.
Her memory of it all was blurry and uncertain, like a dream – besides the kiss, which she refused to think about. But now, it was over, and maybe the truth of it was finally hitting her as she stared at the proof resting on her finger.
It was a ring. It meant she was now engaged to Syaoran. As always, she was torn between the happiness of being with him and the despair of never being able to feel his love again. The ring was a reminder of these. It was beautiful, and just what she'd always wanted… With a few exceptions.
The ring was silver, with many clear crystals and a blue sapphire embedded. The ring was just like her aura and her eyes in color.
Sunlight struck the sapphire, blinding her. A forbidden memory arose in her mind's eye.
"Good morning, Syaoran-kun!" greeted Sakura, opening her door. She was fifteen.
He blushed, and smiled. "Good morning. Sorry, were you reading? Did I interrupt?" he asked nervously.
Sakura blushed, and shook her head, whipping one of her hands, which was holding a magazine, behind her back. "I-I-Uh, no."
Syaoran's eyebrow rose. "Really, now?"
Grinning, he darted towards her arms. Sakura squeaked and dodged his grasp, and then yelled, "Syaoran!" as he began to run her out the door, chasing her and that silly magazine of hers. Eventually Syaoran caught up to her, and grabbed her, spinning her around.
Their faces were very close, Sakura realized. She gulped. Did she dare…?
Sakura's dilemma was solved when Syaoran snatched the magazine from her hands and calmly stepped back. She couldn't tell if she was disappointed or not. Was it pathetic that she couldn't find the courage to kiss her loving boyfriend?
"Sakura… Is this what you were looking at?"
She blushed, and nodded. His finger pointed at a picture of a beautiful ring, made of gold with crystals and a pink sapphire in the middle. "I… I really liked it," Sakura murmured, embarrassed and looking away.
Syaoran's hand tilted her chin up, her eyes meeting his again. His warm smile made her heart flutter.
"I like it, too. It's perfect. And you know what? You've just solved a problem of mine, Sakura."
"Hoe?"
"I'm going to get an engagement ring for you, someday, and it'll be this one, Sakura."
Sakura beamed at him, though still blushing. "Syaoran-kun!" She hugged him tight, smiling wide. He was so sweet...
Jolted back to reality, Sakura tried to wipe tears away from her eyes, and failed. It took her a moment to realize that the rain was beginning to fall around her, soaking her beautiful red cheongsam – traditional wear for the engagement ceremony from earlier that day. At least my tears won't be visible now, Sakura thought. She turned her head up to the sky, letting the rain soak her. It felt nice.
She had an idea, thought about it, and then nodded. She slipped the ring off her finger, looking at it. Sakura had been told to leave the ring at home, in hopes of keeping the engagement under wraps for as long as possible. But she wanted to keep it with her.
Throwing the ring up into the air, Sakura thought, Create!
A flash of silver light was the only sign that Sakura had done any magic. The ring fell back into her hand, only now a silver chain necklace had been looped through. Sakura slipped it over her neck, and smiled, pleased with her work. It was just long enough that her shirt hid the ring perfectly.
She frowned. It'd stopped raining suddenly, leaving the sun as bright as before. What strange weather…
"Well done, Sakura-chan," said a voice behind her. She jumped, startled, and turned. Yelan was standing behind her, hiding an amused smile behind one hand.
"O-Oh! Sorry!"
"What are you sorry for? I was glad to see a bit of your magic. That's the first time you've used it in the past week, correct? I'm impressed. You have been training, and now you don't need to bring out your staff, or even to say anything, to call upon the Sakura Cards."
Sakura had no idea what to say to that. It was the truth.
"You've been hiding all but a small part of it, though, haven't you? I'm curious, I admit, as to just how much your power has grown."
To the unspoken request, Sakura smiled slightly. Closing her eyes, she took off the barrier that hid her magic, letting it be seen in a silvery glow around her. She let it stay for a moment, and then let it fade back behind the barrier.
Her eyes met Yelan's sympathetic eyes.
"You're stronger than I…"
"I've been training."
"Why?"
Sakura opened her mouth, and closed it again.
"I think, if you can, Sakura, you should tell me everything. Will you?"
"Yes." Finally, there was somebody Sakura could tell. So she told.
.o0o.
While wondering what his mother was talking about with Xing Lin, he was also trying to avoid thinking of Xing Lin – which was very difficult.
One reason it was hard was obvious – whenever she was anywhere nearby, he found it hard not to think of her. How could his mind, one of a sixteen-year-old boy, possibly ignore such a sexy young woman?
The other reason was the fact that she was in so many ways reminding him of Sakura. It was torturous. Particularly during the engagement, he had noticed so many things about her…
Maybe it was just wishful thinking, when he had kissed her, that made him think she kissed like Sakura. It had been a necessary kiss, of course. How else would they seal the ceremony, but with a kiss?
One moment he was staring into the distance, wondering how he had forgotten that he had to kiss her. The next? Her lips were already on his. It was short, quick, but oh so delightful. It felt like Sakura's kiss. It felt like her lips.
If he had to compare it to fruits, he'd say Sakura's kiss had been a strawberry with powdered sugar. Xing Lin's was also a strawberry. But not with sugar. Her strawberry kiss had orange juice drizzled on top, giving it a tasty zing.
And then, it was over.
There was also the tea ceremony. Xing Lin had nearly spilled the tea on him, and afterwards, she'd said sorry in Japanese, exactly the way Sakura would.
It tore at his heart to think that.
Syaoran growled in frustration, and walked out the door. Outside, he found a spot to himself, and magically brought out his sword.
Beginning the familiar pattern of training, Syaoran cleared his mind, refusing to think of Sakura, or Xing Lin, or the ring sitting in his room any longer.
.o0o.
Somehow, Sakura wasn't surprised when Mei Ling showed up at her doorstep later that day, wearing a red halter top with a short length skirt.
Of course, being Mei Ling, she immediately commanded, "It's now a Saturday night, with perfect weather. And there is no way you're not coming with me to the amusement park to celebrate your engagement."
There was no arguing with that.
Before long, Sakura found herself being almost literally dragged away.
"So, what did you think? Did he kiss well? I swear I saw some tongue."
"W-What? Mei Ling!"
"Oh, quit it, Shinrin-chan!" (Mei Ling had taken to occasionally calling Xing Lin by her name in Japanese, for no particular reason.) "I want the details! I know you think he's sexy. Just get it over with and tell me!"
"I... How..."
"It's the way you look at him… Like he's this really yummy dessert you just want to put in your mouth," Meiling teased.
Sakura sighed. "Fine. I really liked it. Are you happy?"
"Was there tongue?"
"M-Maybe."
"Yes! Way to go, Xing Lin! Score! I knew it!"
"Mei Ling!"
"What?"
"Never mind."
"Hey, how'd your test go today anyway?"
And so their discussion continued. Sakura didn't even realize it when they were already at the amusement park.
"Hey! Jiao Long! Over here!" Mei Ling suddenly yelled.
A boy turned their way. He wore a fitted gray-blue shirt that hugged his chest and a pair of dark jeans. He was Sakura and Mei Ling's age, tall with brown hair. He looked very much like Syaoran, only a little taller, and even colder. But his eyes seemed to light up when he saw Mei Ling.
Wait, what? One of his eyes was amber, but the other was blue. Sakura looked again to see if her eyes were fooling her, but it was true.
"Hey, Mei Ling. This is Xing Lin?" Jiao Long asked. Seeing Sakura staring at his eyes, he smirked. "Colored contact. I got the idea from a manga called Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle."
"You should read it, Xing Lin! It's really good!" Mei Ling added.
From behind Jiao Long, somebody said, "Not again. It's disgusting, how much you two love that silly story."
Until that moment, Sakura hadn't even realized that Syaoran was there, in a simple green t-shirt and khakis. She looked at him in surprise, and in seeing him, had to fight off a slight blush. Why did he always have to look amazing, anyway?
She had no idea that Syaoran was thinking nearly the same thing about her.
"In other words, you read it too," Mei Ling retorted, sticking her tongue out at Syaoran. "Enough, already! Let's go have some fun! Come on, Jiao Long!"
Taking her boyfriend's hand, Mei Ling began to walk into the park. Sakura looked at Syaoran, who shrugged as if to say, "Well, she is Mei Ling."
Sakura smiled, and then followed the couple ahead of them with Syaoran calmly walking at her side.
.o0o.
Somehow, Sakura was enjoying herself. Sure, being around Syaoran made her feel sad, but she was having enough fun to forget about it all and just be herself. No worrying about her engagement to her beloved. No scrambling to cover up her past. Just going on all the rides with Mei Ling, Jiao Long, and Syaoran. The roller coaster they went on was particularly amusing, since Syaoran, as she remembered, wasn't very fond of roller coasters. When Mei Ling announced that they were going on one, she couldn't help but giggle at his paling face.
Yet in the back of her mind, it loomed – memories. Memories of a time when she was younger, when the Void card had been ruining Tomoeda piece by piece – when Sakura had finally confessed her love to Syaoran, and she had earned for her story a happily ever after.
Determined to enjoy herself, she made those memories stay in the back of her mind. But there was still one ride that she absolutely refused to go on.
"No way," she said when Mei Ling suggested it. Syaoran had said it at the same time.
"What? But you're engaged! Come on, humor me!" Mei Ling said.
"I'd rather go to the haunted house than in the Tunnel of Love." Sakura muttered.
Syaoran just glared at Mei Ling. "I refuse. I won't go on it at all."
"Please?" Mei Ling begged. "I really want to go with Jiao Long!"
Sakura considered it. "Fine," she said. It was for Mei Ling that she agreed. She could just ignore Syaoran, right? Or try to?
"Thanks, Xing Lin! Xiao Lang?"
Syaoran scowled at Mei Ling. "I said no."
"Come on. For them, at least?" Sakura asked.
He stared at her for a moment and then looked away. "Okay, I will," he said gruffly. "Get off my back."
Mei Ling nodded. "Come on!"
The line was shorter than expected. Within a few minutes, Sakura waved goodbye to Mei Ling and Jiao Long as the boat drifted off into the dark tunnel.
And then it was their turn. Sakura and Syaoran got into the boat. The door was closed, and off they went.
Sakura, who couldn't see a thing in the dark, simply tried to relax. To her surprise, Syaoran actually spoke up and said something.
"You have magic, don't you?" he asked. "I didn't want to ask earlier, but now that I can…"
She nodded, but then remembered he couldn't see her, and said, "Yes."
"It's silver."
"Yeah."
"Could I see it sometime? I'm just curious. I want to know what you can do."
"On one condition," Sakura replied. "You find out what I can do in a fight."
"A fight? With just magic, or-"
"Anything. Swords, even."
"I'll beat you."
"Try me."
"Really? Alright, then. You have a deal, Xing Lin."
Their hands found the other's, and they shook on it. For the first time, Sakura felt that maybe she didn't have to be a stranger to Syaoran – maybe she could be a friend to him. Whoever said they had to be just engaged? Maybe she couldn't hope for love from him, but friendship? She could live with that.
Sakura truly smiled for the first time in what felt like ages. The rest of the tunnel was filled with a comfortable silence.
When they landed back on the ground, Syaoran asked if Sakura saw Mei Ling anywhere.
"No… I wonder where they went."
Syaoran sighed. "Let's go find them. You go that way," he muttered, and strode off in one direction, turning his head to find them.
Amused, Sakura laughed to herself before going the other way. It didn't take her very long to search out Mei Ling. She was caught making out with Jiao Long behind another turn.
It was a bit of a shock to see them. While Sakura knew that Mei Ling was a little on the wild side, she didn't know she was this wild. Their tongues were furiously battling as Mei Ling's hands ran around Jiao Long's waist and on his bare back. One of Jiao Long's hands rested at Mei Ling's nape; the other found its place up Mei Ling's skirt. Oh, yes. They were making out, and Sakura couldn't tear her eyes away.
Before long, Jiao Long noticed her presence and stopped abruptly.
Mei Ling saw Sakura and backed away, adjusting her clothing. Jiao Long kissed Mei Ling on the nose and then grinned at Sakura. "Sorry. I don't like audiences."
"I wonder why," Sakura murmured. "I hope Xiao Lang hasn't seen you two doing that. He wouldn't exactly be pleased."
Mei Ling laughed. "But it'll be so fun to see the look on his face. Oh, you're right, fine. Come on, Shinrin-chan, I want to go on the Ferris wheel with you!"
.o0o.
A few more rides later, they were all tired out, and set to leave. Mei Ling yawned as they exited the park gates, and all were satisfied from a night well spent.
"I'll see you at school on Monday, okay?" Mei Ling said, giving Sakura a tired hug. She gave another to her cousin, who accepted it with a small scowl.
Finally, Mei Ling said farewell to Jiao Long. She kissed him, but not like before, when Sakura had caught them.
It was a slow, sweet, everlasting kiss of simple love at its best. For a moment, Sakura's eyes tricked her. Mei Ling's short black hair became Sakura's short auburn hair, and Jiao Long's features became more like Syaoran, and his hair shorter and a little lighter like his as well.
For a moment, it looked like the old Sakura and Syaoran kissing.
She shook the image away, but it was too late. The emptiness was building in her heart. Still, she bravely put on a smile, and said, "They're cute together, aren't they?"
Syaoran suddenly glared at her and then began to walk away quickly. Surprised, she walked after him and shouted, "Wait! Wait!"
"Wait, Syaoran-kun!"
And realizing what she had said, she froze. He did as well.
He turned, fixing on her an icy gaze that froze her inside out.
"You have no right to call me that," he snarled mercilessly. Sakura just stared at him, her hands clamped over her mouth in horror.
Syaoran left without another word. Sakura sank to her knees, eyes still wide in shock.
"And they tell me I'm heartless," said Jiao Long. "I'll go after him. You care for Xing Lin."
She was being pulled up by Mei Ling until she was standing again. "Shinrin-chan? Are you alright?"
Sakura shook herself out of it. "I-I will be," she said truthfully. Her voice cracked. "Please. I just want to return home."
The seed of friendship between them had been shattered with just one word. Her heart had shattered another time with it. Once more, she would have to pick up the pieces, and put them back together, and then she'd be fine.
But never could she completely recover. Never could she be anything more than just "fine." Because without Syaoran's love, Sakura could never be entirely whole again.
.o0o.
Dedicated to absolutefluffiness, who probably isn't reading this, but I just have to say, you're evil enough to earn the dedication! That last chapter was cruel!
Jiao Long is specifically dedicated to "Meiling" of the EvilClonesRSmexy team, as well. You KNOW you think he's sexy! Don't even TRY to deny it.
Thanks again to my dear beta SilentCynara, who meticulously catches everything and only complains a little bit when I mess up her eyeliner with tears. And to XxXCherryBlossomXxX, whose reactions when she half-betas half-just-read-ahead-of-time make me laugh.
Another awesome chapter! That last scene has been planned from nearly the start, so I'm glad to get it out there. So sad, ne? Aw, I just want to give Sakura a nice big hug. Sigh. Anyway, next chapter will definitely be one to look forward to – I'm going to be laughing and crying at different intervals while writing it, I'm sure. Review, please!