AN: Boys and girls, cover your eyes. If you've been coerced into not doing as you're told, then, heed my words, you are naughty, naughty. Lesson number 1: don't listen to nutcases (I am not one). Lesson number 2: Don't read this author's note unless you're willing to expose yourself to brain farts. Lesson number 3: Read with your own discretion (obviously). This is as far as naughty goes for something rated T, ya' kno.


The Magic

No Best Man.

No Maid of Honor.

No Flower Girl.

No Ring Bearer.

No band.

No written vows.

There was nothing extravagant, but it was still Sakura and Syaoran's wedding.

There was the reverend, Fujitaka's close friend. There was an organ player. Lastly, there were a few guests.

It was exactly what Sakura had dreamt it to be. It was a simple, uncluttered, and tranquilly pleasant ceremony. When Syaoran took her hand he had wordlessly assured her that he was not going to jilt her. He guaranteed this wedding was going to go all the way. Sakura was glad she had a veil over her face, so that she could hide the tears of pain and happiness from all there to witness, including Syaoran Li.

At the end of the ceremony Syaoran led her to the coup that he had picked her up in the first time she tried to wed. She remembered that day vividly. His words, his clothes, and his character. Here they were again, but this time she was a real bride and he was her bridegroom. That cynical smile he gave her the first time he asked her to get in his car was replaced with a genuine smile that told her that her night with him was going to be long.

They were going to spend three nights at a resort by the ocean for their honeymoon. It was the most romantic spot in Japan and neither one of them had to pay a penny. The Li sisters and Tomoyo chipped in to make sure that the newly weds had a honeymoon. Syaoran and Sakura had been against it at first, trying to put off the honeymoon until after they had all the rooms in the house all furnished and their business taken care of. When Tomoyo heard this excuse she rallied up the family and they all said something along the lines of, "no honeymoon is the first step to a wrecked marriage." So Syaoran and Sakura went along with their plans. They needed the vacation from the crazy household they had to deal with day and night, anyway.

After the short ride from their garden wedding to their honeymoon spot, the newly weds were standing at the doorway of their suite. Syaoran Li tried his best not to make it an awkward moment for her. He offered to carry her over the threshold, but she coyly refused. He insisted until she finally agreed.

They stood around the bedroom in complete silence. "Well," Sakura said tugging at her dress, "I'm going to take this off…" Blushing for the sake of being modesty, she added, "And put something else on."

"That's a good idea. When you're done we can probably grab a bite—a snack," Syaoran replied, wearing an adoring smile for his new wife.

In the bathroom, Sakura changed with a nippy flourish; pulling off her dress hard, and stripping off the rest of her underwear with a tearing frustration. This was their one night alone together and all he wanted was food?? Why pretend to be a blushing, bashful bride when, in reality, that was not her. She wanted him to seduce her like he would seduce the type of women of his caliber. She wanted to be and feel like the women she had seen him with in all those functions and meetings. Sakura tugged hard on the belt of her robe as she wrapped herself up furiously.

Moments later, she stomped out of the bathroom, fists at her hips. Sakura was having a tough time wrapping her mind around the fact that Syaoran was very experienced with women; she was having a tougher time realizing that he was not showing her the wisdom he had gained from those experiences. "I know you lack in the field of romance, so I want you to promise me something," Sakura seriously demanded as Syaoran turned to look at her with inquisitive eyes.

"I do not lack—

"Shut up for once and let me do the talking! I'm not like the type of women you're used to."

"Sakura, you're—

"Shut up and let me finish! Why don't you give me a chance for once and promise me you won't look at another woman the way you looked at me during the ceremony."

He blinked. "How did I look at you?"

"You should know; you're you!" She cried, throwing her arms up in exasperation.

Syaoran walked towards her as he spoke, "Are you trying to start a fight before twenty-four hours as husband and wife? Gee, Sakura. Can't you just try to like me for one night?"

Sakura stomped her foot. "It's always you and what you want. You should take into consideration the things I want; you should realize that I don't want a snack."

Syaoran sighed. "Then, what do you want?"

"Sit down," she commanded.

Syaoran sat on the bed, crossing his legs and folding his arms. His eyebrows enticed her, daring her to do whatever she wanted. Like a squirrel on two, she scurried over to him and stood in front of him. She seemed hesitant and timid this whole time. Syaoran gave her a stoic expression and waited for her to say or do anything. He looked like he was braced for anything she had for him. A slap in the face, a punch in the gut… Name it…

"Close your eyes."

Syaoran quirked an eyebrow.

"Close your eyes. I don't want you staring at me."

He did.

Then, out of the blue, he felt her settling in his lap. Her fingers went up to twirl around the hairs at the nape of his neck and the familiar touch of her pliable lips against his collar sent electricity shooting up and down his body. Her small hands desperately grabbed him by the shoulders as she worked her way to his mouth. She held on to him to keep him still.

His eyes shot open and he knew his face was beet red. "Saku—

She forced possession of his mouth and he swallowed her name that had been at the tip of his tongue. With her hands still pressed to the sides of his face she came up and stared into his dark chocolate eyes. The whisper of her breath grazed his mouth. "Syaoran, I was on birth control when I was with Akira."

At the mention of his name, Syaoran forcefully pulled her down and rolled her underneath him. "How could you…" His eyes were accusing and, to her surprise, pained. "How could you mention him at a time like this?"

"I've never done this before. We've never done it before. I just started the pill because he told me to. He waited for me because I wanted to wait until we were married."

Syaoran's glare softened. "You're still a virgin." His husky voice was filled with wonder.

Scared, she nodded in response.

"Did you stop that stuff? Are you afraid?"

"Yes and yes," she whispered shakily.

"Push me away if you don't want this…" And with that said, he kissed her and dispelled her fear. Ever so slowly he unraveled her and showed her a kind of love so deep he had artfully hidden it from her for several years. Since this was her first time, she would never understand what this moment meant to him. If there was anything he wanted more in his life, it was not the gallery or the artists that made up his gallery, but her and only her. Perhaps, when he found the courage to admit to her his feelings, then maybe she would not leap to the conclusion that this marriage would likely end in divorce. He never ever lacked in romance… Really… He lacked more in the sense of verbally telling her those three words that a married woman would love to hear from her husband.

Sakura's fingers curled around his hair, tugging his head down, so she could kiss him. He brought her closer and closer to affirm she was real and in his arms. As slowly as they fell into blissful oblivion, as slowly he prayed to work up to the day he could say those three loving words that would mean the world to the both of them. Together they would take one step at a time.