Standard disclaimer applies.
A/n: Umm, this one is going to be short too. Sorry. My Husband's sick, so I spent most of today making sure he was okay. Not to mention this whole section is being almost 100% drastically changed, it's basically all new, so that means I'm picking my brain something hard. My brain is against this. It is going on strike.
Li paused before placing a hand on my shoulder in comfort, "What about him?"
I felt the tears rolling heavier down my cheeks. A torrent. Would I never run out of them? I shook my head, there was no way I could tell Li what I had seen, but he kept his hand there, a silent command that I tell him what was bothering me. I didn't understand these emotions waring in my chest. Why did Li suddenly give a damn how I felt?
"Sakura," He shifted so that he was kneeling in front of the swing, the hand that had been on my shoulder dropping to cover one of my own hands, his other reaching out to hold my chin up. His dark eyes seemed to pull me in, making the idea of breaking contact seem impossible. I had to say something, but what.
"I-" My eyes shining in the dim light of a nearby lamp, "I love him." I saw Li throw up a mask, hiding his expression with a carefully practiced neutral gaze. He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, prodding me into continuing. I looked away, past him, fumbling for words, "It's too late though." I jerked away from him, covering my face with my hands and sobbing as quietly as I could manage, my shoulders quaking with each ragged breath I took. He pulled me up from the swing, his arms supporting me, my own falling to clutch the material of his shirt, finally falling apart. Each gasp was worse than the last, the faintly metallic taste blood lingering inside my mouth from biting my cheek in an effort to contain myself. He rocked me gently, like we were dancing, making soothing noises in an effort to calm me.
"I understand." It was barely a whisper, his voice husky at the volume he was speaking. "Don't cry. Someone, somewhere, is waiting for you." I could hear a smile in that whisper of his, full of some secret knowledge. He pulled away for a moment, tilting my head, one hand nestled within my hair. My own hands turning white in the fabric they held so tightly, as though terrified that he would blow away, leaving me alone. His hand slid up from my chin, caressing flushed skin and collecting tears. "I know you will, Sakura, just have patience. One day you will find the one for you." I felt dizzy suddenly and began to fall forward, back into Li, who supported me with his solid body.
Through a haze of fog I wondered aloud, "Have you ever been in love before?"
My eyes closed, and I'm not sure if I was dreaming or if it really happened, but I could have sworn I heard Li's voice drifting along the wind, whispering, "I am, Sakura, I'm in love with you."
