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Chapter Ten
Undone
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-"Mom! Really, if you could just apologize, then I would get my baby back!" Sobbed Syaoran's older sister. "I'm sure he's not eating properly. What if he's not working out?! He needs to get a facial treatment at least once a week... How many weeks has it been? Japan has really cold weather right now. What if he gets pneumonia and dies? Oh my God, I have to go to him... I can't stay here."
-"Fudie, stop fuzzing!" Complained the youngest. "He should be very busy at this time of the year. Both the autumn and winter lines come out close together and the Christmas special as well."
-"See, now. Finally one of you is on my side." Sighed Yelan.
-"I'm not! I still think you should apologize to him!" Complained her youngest daughter. "I know our second father was a bit of an idiot but Syao-chan had no fault in that."
-"You think I don't know that!" Raged Yelan. "That scumbag man! Just thinking about it makes me want to punch something... He had the guts to try and sell my son in exchange for his own freedom to that evil blood-sucking family of his! I hope he lives a hundred years being the head of that family! Wuahahahaha-!"
-"Mom, you are going off the rails again." Cut her off one of her 5 daughters.
-"But what can I do? Syao-chan was being so cute! Going all drama-mama like! He is such a sensitive boy, I swear he was almost crying. I just could not help it...! Mama was so happy to be so loved!"
-"You are a serious sadist, mama..." Answered her four youngest daughters in different degrees of unconcern.
-"And my baby is paying the price of it!" Yelled the oldest daughter bursting in tears once more.
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-"Good morning, what can I serve you today?" Asked Syaoran in a chilly cheery tone of voice while dressed in a white apron behind a dinner counter.
-kachak!-
-"Eriol! Cut it out!" Yelled Syaoran, pissed at his cousin who was almost rolling on the floor laughing.
-"Sorry, sorry. I just had to see it to believe it. The pauper life is suiting you, cuz'." Said Eriol, cleaning the tears out of the corner of his eyes.
-"Thank you, but if you don't mind. I am in the middle of work so go away!" Answered Syaoran rudely.
-"Come now! I'm a regular, you know. You can't treat clients like this." Whined Eriol.
-"So would you like your coffee over your head? Sir?" Asked Syaoran in his creepy cheery voice.
-"No, just the usual for me, please." Said Eriol with a smug smile.
-"You mean the kick in the as-"
-"Is Sakura getting any better?" Cut him off Eriol.
-"She says she is but it doesn't seem like she is." Answered Syaoran, his annoyance finally settling down.
-"Well, it's just a cold so I'm sure she will get better soon enough." Said Eriol soothingly.
-"I know that!" Said Syaoran blushing at how obviously worried he was.
-"Have you spoken to Touya again?"
-"No... I guess is good enough that I'm still alive." Sighed Syaoran.
-"What exactly did you tell him?" Asked Eriol curiously.
-"It's none of your business." Replied Syaoran trying his darn hardest not to show any emotion on his face. It was bad enough that he had to talk about his feelings with Touya, he did not need to repeat the story with Eriol. "Anyways, I left you out of it so you don't have to worry."
-"But I still do. Who knew you were this much work? You always seemed so self-sufficient." Sighed Eriol. "Oh, Tomoyo called and said they are coming back next week."
-"And did dear Tomoyo had a message for me? I don't suppose you would be telling this to me pointlessly, right?"
-"She said to pack your things before she gets here. She wants to set a date for our wedding." Laughed Eriol. "But I seriously believe she was just teasing you."
-"I don't." Scowled Syaoran. "She honest to God hates my guts."
-"She does! But she still thinks that if Sakura had your babies, they would be so adorable. So she is willing to put up with you if you just stop being so darn stubborn."
-"I'm stubborn?! Who's the woman who let me in into her home and yet she intends to just-!"
-"Just... what?!" Insisted Eriol.
-"Damn it! She put you unto this, didn't she? That twisted fiancée of yours" Complained Syaoran.
-"Just give it up! Stay here and live happily ever after. You are willing to work at a diner for her, for god's sake!" Sighed Eriol.
-"I'm not working here! I'm just babysitting!" Complained Syaoran.
-"Call it what you want. She still has you twisted around her little finger." Said Eriol merrily. "Just think of how precious those babies will be. I want to be the godfather of at least one of them. I know Touya will claim the first one for sure but I can settle for the second one. I don't mind if it's a boy or a girl. It's a shame we are blood relatives though..."
-"Stop it, you are creeping me out." Sighed Syaoran. "Listen, there is no point in fantasizing about it, I'm leaving in a month."
-"What? When did you decided that?" Asked Eriol outraged.
-"I didn't. My mother did. The branch is doing great now and since you are staying permanently here then I'll just manage the England's one for now."
-"So you are still not going back home, then?" Asked Eriol in surprise.
-"No, I... decided against it. Even if She did ask for my return. There is not point in me being there when the HQ is doing just fine. The London line is on a decline right now so..."
-"Is that really the reason though?" Insisted Eriol. "She said something again, didn't she?"
-"She didn't. We don't even talk anymore." Reassured him Syaoran.
-"Then, does it mean you are still not the heir?"
-"That- She did mention something about it. But I don't think I want to be it anymore." Confessed Syaoran. "For the time being, I'm really enjoying what I do. I'm not really into designing as much as she would like me to be."
-"A-Are you catching Sakura's cold? What is happening to you?" Said Eriol, fuzzing around his cousin.
-"I'm being serious." Replied Syaoran annoyed once more. "I don't even remember why I was so centered around succeding her in the first place. I find designers to be the most annoying, childish and self-willed beings in the world."
-"You do know that you are dating an aspiring designer, right?" Asked Eriol shyly.
-"S-Sakura is different!" Replied Syaoran blushing furiously.
-"Oh really, how?" Inquired Eriol.
-"She just is! Besides, she's not a designer -yet!"
-"Well, are you gonna keep her from becoming one, then? She is pretty enough that she could still become a model if she asked but she is too clumsy so that runway high heels are impossible for her..." Pondered Eriol.
-"No, models are too scary..." Shivered Syaoran.
-"Hey!" Protested Eriol in defense of Tomoyo.
-"Sakura can be whatever she decides to be, she's always going to be just as sweet to me!" Declared Syaoran.
-"Well, that until Meiling gets to her and spills the beans." Reminded him Eriol who was sick of all the love talk.
-"Meiling... Another proof that models are a fright!" Shivered Syaoran.
-"How did you stalled her this time around?" Asked Eriol curiously.
-"I booked her for a photo shoot in Hokkaido." Smirked Syaoran. "I'm hoping she will be held there for at least two more weeks."
-"You have no heart... Is it for the Christmas special line?" Inquired Eriol.
-"Nope, I'm promoting swimming suits on the snow." Smirked Syaoran yet again.
-"She's gonna get revenge for this. You shouldn't mess with her so much, you know how evil she can be." Sighed Eriol but ended up smiling.
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The room was silent and despite the fact that the curtains were wide open, the atmosphere seemed dark and cold. Both were quiet in each other's arms. A tear slipped silently from her eyes to her lips were she hid it. Syaoran got up, clearing his throat and pinched his eyes as he usually did whenever he had a sudden headache.
-"We knew it was coming." Reminded him Sakura.
-"That's it? We had it coming?" Asked Syaoran suddenly angry at her.
-"W-what do you expect me to say- or do? This is what we agreed from the beginning. Things come to an end." Said Sakura soothingly.
-"You are right, but we are not a thing." Insisted Syaoran. "You could-"
-"Could what? I'm not the one that's leaving!" Argued Sakura.
-"You could at least pretend that I meant something in your life." Answered Syaoran before leaving.
-"Sakura!" Called Tomoyo. "Where's the one-year-fund going?"
-"Tomoyo, please." Sighed Sakura getting up. "He just went for a walk."
-"What? It's just a nickname. Is he not coming to the engagement party? He's gonna get robbed, dressed like that in a shady neighborhood like this one."
-"He'll probably meet us there and FYI this is an excellent neighborhood." Replied Sakura archly.
-"Tell that to your security video cam." Mocked her Tomoyo."Is something wrong?"
-"Not really. He just got a return date." Admitted Sakura.
-"What? That's awful! How are you feeling? He better not forget that he's Eriol's best man!" Raged on Tomoyo.
-"I'm fine. Well, I knew it was gonna happen eventually." Smiled Sakura and Tomoyo's face fell a little.
-"Sakura..."
-"What?"
-"Nothing, I just kind of understood something... " Sighed Tomoyo." You are an awful human being."
-"Wha-Why me?" Complained Sakura following her friend outside the house. Both left, locking the door behind them. Kero yawn looking out of the window as both girls got into Tomoyo's car and drove away.
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-"Where is he?!" Yelled Meiling trembling from head to toes.
-"Hi Cousinette!" Answered Eriol nervously. "Who may you be speaking of?"
-"Who do you think?" Replied Meiling menacingly. "The jerk who shipped me to alaska with a suitcase full of indecent bikinis! That's the jerk I wanna kill with my own hands! That little twerp you call family."
-"Umm... Not to be rude but Hokkaido is not nearly as far as Alaska and umm... There is nothing overly indecent about our precious line of bikinis that our dear aunt designed herself... so..." Said Eriol as carefully as possible.
-"I am going to kill him and after I kill him, I'll present his head to my dear aunt. Lead me to him, now!"
-"No need to be rash, Syao-chan is not here yet. Besides, I'm not sure his bodiless head will get through customs unnoticed." Pointed out Eriol.
-"Who said I had to get through customs to give it to my aunt?" Asked Meiling with a cruel smirk drawn on her rosy lips.
-"What do you mean?" Asked Eriol shocked by what he suspected.
-"I was severely frozen and pissed off so when our dear aunt called to announce her presence in your wedding, I did my best to convince her that it was an amazing idea, just what you and Syaoran had been hoping for." Cooed Meiling faking sweetness. "You can thank Syao-chan."
-"You didn-"
-"Sweetheart!" Came Yelan's lovely shriek.
-"God save me..." Whispered Eriol.
-"I'm Not God." Answered Meiling curtly and she left Eriol to fight their aunt's love on his own.
-"Darling, it's been too long! Why don't you ever visit?" Went on Yelan, stretching Eriol's cheeks to maximum capacity. "You look well. A little too pale for my taste and honey that haircut is just not doing it for me. You should go shorter and grow a beard. Not an old man's beard, just a shadow would do."
-"Chu argh gon to brake margh face! Stop! Aunt... Dear aunt, please don't start." Said Eriol as calmly as possible yet keeping a healthy distance between them.
-"I'm sorry, I got carried away. It's just that whenever I see those rosy cheeks... and then your teary beautiful eyes..." Yelan sighed with adoration.
-"Your SM ways have not been cured yet, I see." Sighed Eriol.
-"What can you possibly mean by that?" Replied Yelan archly. "I don't understand why you all go on about my ways. All I ask it's for you to cry a little... Syaoran, I grant you, is too proud. He would never do it, even if I ask but you have no shame! Just do as Meiling does and make it a once a month improvised play for me. It doesn't have to be real, It just has to be inspiring!"
-"I may not have a single ounce of shame in me but for the love of God, I'd rather die than encourage this outrageous hobby of yours." Replied Eriol heartlessly, still waiting for his aunt to pounce. "And aunt, If you insist on playing Syaoran, I might have to let him know. It is too much, I let it go until know because my older cousins kept it under control but lately you've just been-"
-"Been what?" Asked Yelan defensively.
-"Well, You've been vicious. I'm sorry, there is no other way to say it; You have been putting too much on his shoulders, I think he's cracking and we are talking about Syaoran here. You ought to know that he is as stubborn as you are. He is not going to cry- ever! You are just gonna make him mentally unstable."
-"That's absurd! He is as much an M as I am an S. He secretly likes it." Laughed Yelan dismissively.
-"I'm pretty sure that that's not true..." Tried to reason Eriol.
-"Don't be silly, I'm his mother. I know him better than anyone else."
-"Mother? I thought we agreed to keep it professional." Came Syaoran's disgusted voice.
-"Speaking of the devil." Chimed in Yelan turning around to take a look at her son. "You seem well."
-"It tends to happen when you are not around." Smirked Syaoran.
-"That's harsh. I'm your boss, remember?" Pouted Yelan.
-"I try not to."Admitted Syaoran. "You didn't have to travel all the way here to check up on my work. I sent the report to your new assistant, I think you should settle for this one. How many have you fired this month alone? Ten? Twenty?"
-"Twenty four and I don't see why I should settle for this one either when my favorite puppet is weeks away from coming back." Replied Yelan happily, ignoring her son's bad mood.
-"I'm getting a headache. Is this polite talk for you two or are you really fighting? I can't tell anymore." Complained Eriol.
-"Are you talking about me?" Mocked her Syaoran. "I'm sorry to disappoint but I'm not going back, I don't know how to make you understand it anymore. I'm taking over London's studio and there's nothing you can do."
-"I could fire you." Threatened Yelan but this only made Syaoran laugh.
-"Do, you'll be begging me to come back in less than a week." Replied Syaoran smoothly.
-"You want to bet?" Said Yelan feeling annoyed.
-"No need, you won't do it. Truth is, you don't have the guts." Smirked Syaoran. "It took me so long to realize that I even felt foolish for not noticing before. I was too focused on pleasing you. The problem when you focus too hard on one thing it's that you lose sight of everything else. I should have let it go a long time ago, there is no need to please you. Truth is, you work better when you are being neglected. I don't have to chase after you for you to finish a project, I ignore you and you come begging me to pay attention to you; emails, calls, sketches, you name it. That is why you can never settle for anything less than me to assist you, I can play you." Said Syaoran mockingly. Yelan seemed utterly annoyed but could not reply.
-"Did you guys just reverse the SM thing? This family is too twisted for me..." Sighed Eriol.
-"When did you become such an S?" Complained Yelan.
-"Did you really believe I would play M forever? I let it go because my sisters kept you tame but I leave and suddenly you think it's OK to play the blame game for my father's mistakes. That was low, even by your standards."
-"That's not fair Syao! Your mama only wants you to cling to her like you used to when you were a boy and sob a little maybe. You use to be so cute, asking why daddy was not around." Whined Yelan dramatically.
-"I never did!" Protested Syoran blushing against his will. "And it will never happen!"
-"When did you find out?" Asked Eriol feeling foolish and confused.
-"Of course he/I knew!" Replied Yelan and Syaoran together.
-"This woman raised me." Went on Syaoran. "I played along just like Meiling does and took the abuse so that she would work but she just became more and more difficult to manage. The only two real Ms' in this family are Fudie and you."
-"W-Wha-? That's false!" Complained Eriol shocked by the revelation.
-"You do tend to fuzz." Agreed Meiling reappearing. She had been furious but what she had overheard melt her anger away.
-"What are you doing here?!" Exclaimed Syaoran. "Why didn't you tell me that she was around?"
-"Oh, I'm sorry. It must have slip my mind while I ovERLY FUZZED!" Shouted Eriol feeling hurt.
-"Oh my! This is precious." Said Yelan admiringly.
-"Stop it, you are feeding the monster." Said Syaoran mockingly to Eriol.
-"Honey, what is going on?" Appeared Tomoyo. The small and tumultuous family group had been scaring the other guests away.
-"Nothing! Nothing, ignore this people. Let's go, I'll call security to show them out." Replied Eriol trying to push Tomoyo as far away from his aunt as possible.
-"Don't be silly, I know Syaoran and Meiling already." Said Tomoyo confused by her fiancé's attitude.
-"You do? 'Cause until today they were like strangers to me!" Replied Eriol forgetting his aunt and remembering his cousins's hidden personalities.
-"Uh, hon. It's a happy occasion. Let's leave the fuzzing for later, 'kay?" Said Tomoyo as sweetly as possible.
-"I DON'T FUZZ!" Shouted Eriol annoyed.
-"Fuzzing..." Whispered Meiling to Syaoran and they both held the laughter.
-"Is this her?" Yelan pounced on the occasion. "Oh, I like her already and I have just the perfect dress but it only works on winter so you might have to postpone the wedding till next year."
-"NO, It's a summer wedding! We are not postponing this, you are not running the show! And we already have a perfect dress, thank you." Replied Eriol losing patience.
-"But sweety, I think it's more tasteful if she's the only one in a dress. You should just wear a tux but don't you worry, I'll make it pretty for you." Chimed in Yelan.
-"I don- You won- Talk to your mother!" Complained Eriol to his cousin, feeling outraged and next to speechless.
-"Don't make him cry, it's pathetic." Resume Syaoran.
-"But I thought that's why he finally invited me." Pouted Yelan. "I was waiting, I knew he would eventually ask for my expertise."
Meiling and Tomoyo cringed, Eriol was looking more and more outraged by the minute.
-"You didn't need to send two invites by the way, I'm not that resentful." Went on Yelan oblivious of her companions' reactions.
-"I only sent it becaus- Wait, two?" Stopped Eriol taken aback by the information.
-"You sent one?" Asked Tomoyo surprised.
-"You sent one too?" Replied Eriol furious.
-"Oh-oh..." Whispered Meiling.
-"You knew about this?" Eriol turned to her.
-"W-Wha-? I... Why are you getting mad at me? She sent it!" Complained Meiling.
-"Traitor." Mocked her Syaoran.
-"Syaoran said you would never marry me if I didn't invite his mother." Said Tomoyo defensively.
-"How could you?" Exclaimed Meiling disapprovingly at Syaoran.
-"I- Ok, I kinda said that but I phrase it nicer."
-"You believed him?" Eriol asked offended.
-"You postponed the wedding a hundred times!" Replied Tomoyo now getting angry herself.
-"To be fair, It's true that you were being stubborn about this invitation thing." Said Syaoran trying to help Tomoyo out.
-"You shut up!" Said Eriol getting more and more furious.
-"Come on Eriol, at least she didn't pretend to love you so she could live in your house for a year like Syao did." Mocked him Meiling but the sound of glass shattering made them all turn around in surprise.
-"What?" Asked Sakura and the look of horror plastered in her friends' faces answered all the questions raising through her head. "You... you all? Bastard."
-"Sakura, wait!" Said Syaoran running after her.
-"Oh, genius! You are happy now?! Everyone is miserable." Eriol lashed out at Meiling.
-"Don't get snotty with me! You are the one who paired them in the first place." Said Meiling.
-"Was that true? He's only dating her for housing?" Asked Yelan confused.
-"Yes." Answered Meiling.
-"Oh, thank God. I thought he was seriously never going back home. He sounded so unlike himself last time..." Sighed Yelan.
-"It's not true! He's an idiot that's why he used such a lame excuse!" Interrupted Eriol.
-"We are talking about Syaoran here." Laughed Meiling. "He wouldn't even know how to fall in lov- OH!"
-"I knew I should have told her..." Whined Tomoyo.
-"Yeah, but you are so great at lying, aren't you?" Snapped Eriol.
-"Really? And you are so good at making excuses Eriol that you can just use this one to break up once and for all!" Replied Tomoyo hurt and she left, going after her friend and Syaoran.
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-"Sakura,wait! I can explain." Begged Syaoran.
-"Explain? EXPLAIN?! I'm an idiot! What can you explain to an- ?" Sobbed Sakura stopping yet still trying to decide between running away or punching him. "I was so stupid, I can't believe how stupid..." Deciding to escape
-"It didn't happen like you think it did. I- " Said Syaoran trying to stop her from running away.
-"How? How exactly did it happen Syaoran? You saw the house and it was love at first sight?" Sakura flared up.
-"I saw you! I lo-You just- and I... I never meant to hurt you." Sighed Syaoran, frustrated with himself.
-"So, you just asked everyone to lie to me? Is that it? Everybody just let me play the fool for a whole year but it was never your intention to hurt me, right? You just want it free housing!" Replied Sakura in a rage.
-"No, I didn't. I did agree to meet you because I was looking for a place but Eriol didn't know this and then you- you kissed the corner of my mouth and then I..." Tried to explain Syaoran when all he wanted to do was to stop himself from being incoherent.
-"So, you are blaming me?" Asked Sakura outraged.
-"No! I did, your nose- and- God, I suck!" Snapped Syaoran. "I want to explain it but I can't in words. I can't, I'm sorry..." Said Syaoran pulling her closer. Sakura tried to get away but he was faster. Syaoran kissed her knowing that this would most likely be the last time he would ever kiss her.
Sakura managed to pull back and slapped him as hard as she could.
-"Don't! I was fine without you. You could have just been a crappy boyfriend, why did you have to go and change everything?"
-"I only wanted to help..."
-"I was fine! Time was still and I was numb but you moved everything that I had pushed away and it was all for a stupid lie. Now you can leave but I- I have to come back to that house and relive everything knowing it didn't meant a thing! I hate it that I let you change me back..."
-"Sakura, sweety..." Appeared Tomoyo and covered her friend with her coat.
-"Don't touch me!" Shouted Sakura getting away from her.
-"It wasn't a lie." Managed to say Syaoran.
-"For a year, right? It was truth with an expiry date." Said sakura derisively.
-"You said it first, we knew it would happen." Replied Syaoran hurt.
-"Wait, you are being stupid. Why can't you be honest for once?" Complained Tomoyo.
-"Like you? Best friends forever, right? guess that expired too." Replied Sakura coolly.
-"Sakura..." Begged Tomoyo.
-"I'll move out tomorrow." Said Syaoran curtly while turning away.
-"You can keep the house since you like it so much. I'll stay away, I wouldn't want to get between a man and his dream house." Mocked him Sakura walking away too.
-"That's your parent's house! Are you going to avoid the whole neighborhood from now on too 'cause you are too frightened to feel something for more than a year?" Call out Syaoran.
-"It's impressing how you can make yourself believe in your own lies, too bad you can only keep it up for a year." Lashed out Sakura.
-"Tomoyo!" Call out Eriol catching up to them but Syaoran and Sakura were already out of reach. "Where are they going?"
-"I should go too, I don't know why I clung like I did for so long. I was in Paris for a whole month. All expenses covered, not a worry in the world, right? Yet, I spent all my time wondering why I managed to keep Paris at arm's length for four years but you ran back to London any chance you got. Then I remembered the first time you proposed... It was that day, only we didn't know yet."
-"That's not why- Tomoyo, I only push it away because-"
-"If it hadn't happened, we wouldn't have lasted together this long. Somewhere deep inside you, you knew this; that's why you kept making excuses." Interrupted Tomoyo fighting back tears.
-"Is that really how you feel?" Asked Eriol.
-"Isn't that how you feel?" Replied Tomoyo.
-If it hadn't happened, I would have married you in a month's time and we would be expecting our seventh child by now." Answered Eriol dead serious.
-"That's physically impossible." Laughed Tomoyo between sobs despite herself.
-"I pictured multiple twins." Laughed Eriol hugging her. "We grieved over that life, remember? You decided not to move with me right away, we blamed and forgave each other but I never once doubted that we would end up together. I only kept my aunt away because she's a control freak and I did promise you that this wedding was the one thing nobody would take away from you."
-"Idiot... I don't care if it's summer or winter. I hated wedding planning to begin with. All I wanted was to keep you next to me." Sobbed Tomoyo punching him.
-"I'm sorry." Said Eriol kissing her in the forehead.
-"You ruined Paris!" Protested Tomoyo clinging to him.
-"Then I'll put it back together on our honeymoon, promise." Whispered Eriol secretly smiling.
-"I don't have a maid of honor." Kept on sobbing Tomoyo.
-"My best man is leaving in less than a month." Sighed Eriol.
-"You are an idiot! Why am I marrying an idiot?"
-"Because I'll stalk you till the end of time if you don't" Laughed Eriol. "Don't underestimate my power of persuasion; if I got you to date me, I can teach how to get your maid of honor to forgive us."
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TO BE CONTINUED...