Chapter 10: Fly Me to the Moon

The ride to Syaoran's house in Hong Kong took forever, or so it seemed to Sakura. She got stuck riding a limo with Syaoran, all by themselves. Apparently, newlyweds deserve as much time alone as possible. They finally got out of the car. When Sakura stepped out, she was utterly amazed at how huge Syaoran's mom's house was. Actually, it was more like a mansion! Palace to be exact! She noticed the limos were coming from another entryway than the gates that led straight to the house. She noticed a crowd of screaming people; most of them looked like crying girls. She wondered who they were. Then as if in instinct, she looked up seeing Syaoran look at her; both giving each other reassuring smiles. Then, she turned her attention to everyone who was entering the house and followed closely with Syaoran in fear she might get lost already.

"Syao-kun! I didn't know you were the romantic type! Eloping! There's nothing more romantic!" One squealed.

"Well, little brother. I hope you know that just because you got secretly married doesn't mean we're not planning another 'official' wedding for you and Sakura with family and friends there this time, here at the mansion." One of the girls stated.

Nothing much was said after that comment. Syaoran led Sakura straight to his room. He closed the door behind him.

"Sakura, I know, we have to talk this through a little bit..." He was interrupted.

"Little bit? Are you kidding me? An actual wedding? How are we--- How did they know?" Sakura couldn't really finish her sentences. She was trembling.

"Please, Sakura. My mom and my sisters have connections. They have radar with every move I make. Well, not technically, but you get it." Sakura gave him a despaired look. "Ok. Ok. OK. We'll act like a couple in love and go through the wedding, and later…" She stopped him.

"Wait, Syaoran, you can't ask me to marry you ... Again. I just can't go through with it… SOBER this time. I just can't. You can't just ask me something like that." She was hysterical.

"But Sakura, listen, my family's expecting me to settle down by now anyway. If they find out about how this was a big mistake, " he sighed. "Who knows what they might do? And besides, they like you, a lot. And we can get an annulment a couple months after that ok?"

"A couple of months?! Are you kidding me!?"

"Come on, Sakura. Please, please, please! I don't want to disappoint my family again. I mean, this is the first thing I've actually done something right for once, despite the fact that I got drunk and then got married, but that's beside the point. At least, I didn't get you pregnant," Sakura gave him the wildest look.

"Pregnant?! So, is that why a guy like you would marry a girl like me because I might have been pregnant, huh? Syaoran Li! Now I see, you---"

"NO! Please, Sakura. I didn't mean it like that! I'm begging you. By this time next year, you'll be single again, never seeing or remembering me or this whole thing. I'll never bother you again if you go through this." It was tempting. She had never seen Syaoran so desperate and she thought he was desperate when he constantly asked her out, but this takes the cake.

"And why should I believe you?"

"Because, for the first time in my life, my family's actually not disappointed in me for a decision I made. Well, ha." He smiled to himself."I didn't make this alone, there was you, me, and one too many alcoholic beverages, but that's beside the point. They think I made a right choice marrying you." She caved.

"Ok." She said. "I'll do it. But it's for your family, not for you, because they're all so nice to me and I don't want to disappoint them either." He put his hands together and thanked her silently. "On three conditions."

"Name them."

"We only act like a couple around your family. Keep your hands to yourself. And, lastly, you can't fall in love with me anymore; it'll just be too painful for us to separate later."

"First one, I can do. It's a maybe on the second one. And the third one, already done." He smiled. His last comment sort of stung her in a way she's never felt before but she brushed it off.

"Ok, then. The deal is on." She turned around to purposely not face him and headed for her things.

"So, a honeymoon is way off the question, huh?" She disgustingly grunted. He chuckled and headed for his things.

This was going to be a long vacation.

A week had passed by and Sakura had been introduced to all Syaoran's older sisters and their families. She grew fond of them as much as they had grown fond of her. The wedding was set two Sundays from that day. All of Syaoran's sisters couldn't wait. Their 'engagement party' was scheduled for tomorrow.

Before the Engagement Party

Sakura continued to gaze at the woman standing before her in the mirror. She could not believe that woman was her. She'd never dream she'd wear a cocktail dress as fancy as this one. She glanced at the dark green hems that dangled just above her knees. It fascinated her how this dress had fit perfectly around her body and made very attractive v-neck. She used her hands to spread the bottom of the dress across at both sides. She turned a little to see the back of her dress which had elegantly trailed her spine. She spun around to feel her dress twirl around she as well. Her hair was curled at the bottom. She was at a complete daze. Why was she doing this?

"You look very beautiful tonight." A voice from behind her said. She turned around and when she saw who it was, she gave a small smile and turned back to the mirror. "Of course, you always do." Sakura's smile became a little bit bigger.

"Thank you, Wei." She sighed.

"What's wrong, madam?" He leaned out of the shadows of the door.

"Oh, Wei. I've been here for almost a week and everyone's so nice to me…"

"Well, madam. It is only the proper thing to do; after all, you ARE the young master's wife." She sighed again.

"I know. But it's like you're the only one I've befriended. Everyone else seems like they're forced to like me. Not even 'like me' moreover 'tolerate me.'" Wei chuckles.

"Over time, you will get use to them and eventually, they will see that you are just as beautiful in the inside as you are on the outside." She smiled and hugged him.

"Oh, thank you, Wei. You are just the friend I needed, especially during this chaos. You're like grandfather I never met. No offense, Wei." He chuckled softly.

"It's ok, my dear. You are like a granddaughter I've always wished I had too." He smiled. "Now, miss. You must ready yourself for in less than an hour; you will enter that ballroom as Mrs. Syaoran Li."

"I so look forward to it, Wei." She said, sarcastically. He laughed.

"I'll let you in on something." He began. "I believe, the young master is just as frightened as you are. He's just a little timid, that's all. I'm almost positive; he's never met a girl quite like you. Might I suggest making the first move instead of waiting for him to make it?" He smiled. "You'll end up running around circles at the rate both of you are going. It's just a suggest miss." She smiled to herself.

"Wei?" He stopped before closing the door. He looked up, curiously. "Thank you." She smiled, looking away from him. He smiled.

"It's all in a day's work, miss. Good luck, tonight." As he closed the door, he looked straight ahead.

"Why don't you see her now, young master? I believe, she'd much appreciate your presence, young master." Wei walks away towards the end of the hall. He disappears at the corner of the intersecting hall. Syaoran comes out of the shadows of the balcony. He looks towards the place of Wei's exit, in shock. Had he not gone unnoticed so well? Was he too anxious to realize his aura had revealed his whereabouts? He sighed and headed for the door. HE knocked and heard Sakura stirring from the other side of the door.

"Who is it? Come in." Syaoran smiled to himself. He noticed how so welcoming Sakura is, even to people she may not know.

"Hi." He said.

"Hi." Sakura responded, softly as she turned. She faced him. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be down there with the guests?"

"As are you, but I don't see you down there either." He leaned closer to see her face in the light of the fireplace.

"Well, I'm not very much used to this sort of attention." She slowly walked towards him, not looking up.

"Are you sure? Because it seems to me for these couple of days, you thrive for 'this sort of attention.'" She looked up into his eyes.

"Really? But you can't just say things like that. You haven't even spent one hour with me these past few days."

"See? See what I'm saying?" He automatically wrapped his arms around her, suddenly hoping she wouldn't get mad at the gesture. "YOU want me to pay attention."

"Maybe if you did, we wouldn't be discussing this, now would we?" He chuckled as she giggled. He smiled.

"What was that sound?" She turned to the window when she heard noises from the outside. She involuntarily unwrapped herself from Syaoran and curiously walked toward the shadows of the window. He felt a quick moment of emptiness, watching her walk only a couple of steps away from him. Nevertheless, Syaoran made a quick look down, he saw and he needed to distract her.

"Look! It's a Full Moon, Sakura." He gently buried his chin on her soft shoulders, looking up.

"Wow. It's so beautiful." She fell for it, he was relieved. She didn't notice the paparazzi near the gates. She sighed and looked to her side.

"What's wrong?" Two words he never thought he'd ask a girl.

"Nothing." He was in for it.

"Oh, come on. There ought to be something wrong, you're not acting yourself. What's bothering you?" She sighed and looked up at him. Her express was so sincere and genuine, he was caught off guard.

"Would you----" She took a deep breath.

"Would I what?"

"Would you like to accompany me tomorrow evening?" She asked looking up. Biting her lip, she looked at him with a slight smile and a nervous look on her face.

"I'd love to." He couldn't help but smile. She sighed.

"Ok, I was getting worried you'd say 'no.'" He chuckled.

"Well, you're my wife. I can't deny my own wife, now can I? You have that power over me, you know?" He said.

"I like the sound of that." Both of them laughed. "You're really funny. Too bad this won't last long enough to put your words into actions." He realized the meaning of her words. He remembered he was to break their marriage up in a coupled of months as promised. He began to regret ever making such a foolish promise.

"I think, we should be heading down stairs." Feeling like she had said the wrong thing, she nodded her head and silently followed him out the door.

Feeling the intense silence, right before entering the double doors of the ballroom where everyone was anticipating their arrival, he held onto her hand ever so gently. With all her might, she tried but failed to surpass the cutest blush Syaoran has ever seen on a girl with such beauty.

They were announced and entered the room as Mrs. And Mr. Syaoran Li.

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A.N. . . . . OK, I lied. I'm not done with Chapter 11 yet. It's on its way. hehe. Writer's block, is all. And the fact that I'm trying real hard not to miz up this story with the other one I'm working on, Remember When. Have you read it? You should. hehe. Promoting a story in another story, how deseprate am I for readers? VERY, I suppose. haha. . . ANYWAYZ. . . I just realized, if you had me as an 'Author Alert' (which not very many has but still I am very honored) you must have gotten 9 emails in a row on the same story! Please, accept my deepest apologies. Apparently, I'm automatically my own Author Alert. hahah.

Thanks for Reading!