Chapter 12
Which is Which?
My thanks to the ECRS team for beta-ing this!
Previously: Sakura and Syaoran declare their love for each other in dramatic fashion: onstage during a class play! As can be expected, Toya is NOT happy about it.
It took some time for girls in Seijyu to stop coming up to Sakura in the hallway and squealing over Syaoran's and her romantic declaration of love to each other, and for boys to stop slapping Syaoran on the back and congratulating him for landing one of the cutest girls in school. To Syaoran's horror, a "Sakura and Syaoran Kawaii!" fan club sprang up, and when he learned that the members were searching for their own "Syaorans" and "Sakuras" it did not alleviate his misgivings one bit. How were he and Sakura supposed to hide their magic if they had fanboys and fangirls watching them?
"I think it's cute," Tomoyo grinned, when Syaoran told her of his misgivings.
"I know it's harmless," Syaoran sighed. "But it's ridiculous. I mean, what's the purpose for this?"
"People need to be able to admire things, Li-kun," Tomoyo smiled. "Just let it be."
In the meantime, though, he had even worse problems to deal with: the talk with Sakura's brother Toya, Sakura's birthday, and the horror of going home to Hong Kong.
It was a long time before he recovered from the first and the third, although the second was one of the sweetest things he would remember all his life.
Syaoran Talking to Touya Equals Trauma
Syaoran arrived early for his appointment with Toya at the front gates of Seijyu High on the morning of Sakura's birthday—the day after the play and their dramatic declaration of love in front of the whole school. He was dressed in a plain red shirt and jeans, and he eyed Sakura's brother warily. Toya glared at Syaoran, who rolled his eyes prior to lowering them.
"You summoned me. I'm here," Syaoran said.
"Brat," Toya began.
"I really would appreciate it if you called me by my name," Syaoran bristled, but kept his tone as polite as he could. "It's Li."
Toya ignored him. "How much do you love my sister?"
Syaoran looked up. "I love Sakura more than anything or anyone else in my life," he said quietly, without hesitation. "I can't imagine loving anyone else."
Toya was taken aback. he'd expected hesitation, stammering...not this quiet, passionate response. Which boded even worse, as far as he was concerned.
"And what do you plan to do when you both go off to college?"
"We'll both work to get into a good university together, then I..." He faltered a bit, but decided that honesty was the best thing at this point, "I will propose to marry her once we have jobs." Syaoran looked Toya straight in the eye when he said this.
He was somehow not surprised when Toya grabbed his shirt front and slammed him into the wall. "No. I know. You two are getting married very soon. You're taking her away from me."
Syaoran's eyes widened. "N...No! I have no plans of..."
"You have no plans. You. But I know...your family has other plans for you two." Toya was glaring at Syaoran angrily as he spoke. "She's just a girl! Sakura should be enjoying her girlhood--going out, rollerblading, playing with makeup, going to the mall...not married to a boy who needs to lead his clan!"
"WHAT?" Syaoran struggled. "That's not possible. I am not going to lead my clan...my cousin is...and how..."
"I have premonitions," Toya said. He abruptly released Syaoran, who barely prevented himself from toppling to the floor. He shot a glare at Toya...and stopped when he saw how unhappy the older man looked. "I know what I saw."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Syaoran said as he bravely came closer to Toya. "But please...I do not want to take her away from those she loves, and I certainly am not planning to take her girlhood away from her."
"I see a baby," Toya sighed. "She is carrying the baby and she's happy...even if she's just a baby herself."
"I would never..." And a horrible thought occurred to Syaoran. "What does the baby look like?"
Toya raised a halfhearted glare at Syaoran. "You. The baby looks like you."
Syaoran sank to his haunches. "I can't...I don't...I...Please, you have to believe me! I won't do anything to her of that sort...and I'm not old enough!" the last being said almost in a whisper.
Toya looked at the boy beside him. From what he knew the brat was merely sixteen...a few months younger than Sakura. And the look on the brat's face...against his will, Toya believed him.
"I hate you," Toya said flatly, and Syaoran flinched. "I will never like you. Nothing personal, understand...it's just that I swore to protect my sister, and I can't even help as she runs around gathering those stupid cards...and now I see that you're going to marry her and...I hate you because you're going to take her away from us so early. I hate you even if my mother likes you. And I hate you because she loves you. "
Syaoran looked up at the sky. What was there to say to something like that?
"And...hands off her until you're married."
"What?" Syaoran's head snapped back to Toya.
"You heard me. You so much as kiss anything other than her mouth, I'll break that part on YOUR body," Toya growled.
Syaoran stammered and blushed. "I...n...I would NEVER!" he got out.
Toya watched the boy's reaction with much satisfaction. Obviously he hadn't gone beyond kissing Sakura then; the brat was so childishly easy to read.
"But...you're a teen. You have hormones. If you really really can't suppress the urge then by God here..." And Toya handed a Responsible Lovers handbook to Syaoran without looking at the boy.
Syaoran dropped it; he was so red in the face. "I..n...b...uh..." He was shaking his head furiously.
"You won't be needing it yet, I hope, but I don't want my sister pregnant anytime within the next five years! Or," and Toya advanced threateningly on Syaoran, "I make you pay. Got it?"
Dying sounded good right now to Syaoran; he was fighting the urge to summon his sword and impale himself right then and there. Or maybe Toya himself.
"You can hold her hand. You two can kiss. I just don't want to see you necking at home. She can hang out at your house if Tomoyo is there. No more overnights without Tomoyo."
"F...fine," Syaoran agreed. He was willing to do anything to get away from Toya at this point, even if it meant chewing on broken glass. Toya's words...Syaoran had never even thought about those things with Sakura!
Toya looked down at Syaoran from his advantage of a few inches. He was dismayed to realize the brat would overtake him in height soon.
"And if you break her heart..."
"Never." Syaoran stood his ground even when Toya balled a fist. "She can break mine but I would never break hers."
Toya stared into Syaoran's blazing brown eyes. There was no lie in Syaoran's eyes, nor in his tone. The last thing he expected was for Syaoran to continue. "I need your help though."
Toya raised an eyebrow. "And why should I help you?"
"Because I want to make Sakura happy today..." then Syaoran looked away and smiled, his cheeks going slightly pink, "well, not just today, but everyday, but today is special."
"Fine. Tell me what you want and then I might say yes and I might say no."
Syaoran grinned up at Toya. "Two things, actually."
And when Toya actually agreed, Syaoran felt like floating home on air. Until Toya burst his bubble by saying, "Oi! You forgot your book! That's required reading, and you better!"
Boyfriends and Birthdays
Sakura was awoken when Kero screamed, "Happy birthday!" in her ear. With a cry of "Hoee!" she opened her eyes to find Tomoyo waiting patiently.
"Why aren't you filming?" Kero asked.
"All in good time," Tomoyo grinned. "I just wanted to give Sakura-chan my presents first. Happy birthday!" She sat on the bed next to Sakura, who smiled as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.
"Good morning, Tomoyo!" she greeted happily.
"Here," Tomoyo held out a bag. "The DVD of 'Syaoran and Sakura Confess in Front of the World' is in there, along with your birthday outfit."
"Thank you," Sakura smiled weakly but she knew Tomoyo so loved doing that. "I love you, you know that?"
Tomoyo smiled. "I love you too; you're my sister."
"What's going on between you and Eriol?" Sakura asked, remembering how Tomoyo had avoided the question the other day.
A sigh. "I don't know. I..." and Tomoyo went pink. Sakura smiled. "You noticed?"
"I can't be dense forever," Sakura laughed.
"Your brother will hate that," Tomoyo laughed.
"Oh no. You're not changing the topic," Sakura said. "I'm your best friend. Come on, tell me."
Tomoyo was saved when Sakura's cell phone trilled and she answered it. Her eyes widened, and a large grin spread across her face. "Oooh, good morning. Thank you! Okay. Okay. Love you!"
"Syaoran?" Tomoyo smiled.
"He says he can't see me yet, but told me to look out the window." So Sakura and Tomoyo peered out her window. A delivery man with a large bouquet composed of two dozen red roses stood there.
Tomoyo rolled her eyes and smiled. Boys in love. Such a cliché! But she wasn't going to comment, not when Sakura looked so thrilled and happy. She changed quickly and ran downstairs to receive the flowers, and Tomoyo sat back down on the bed.
Kero snorted, making Tomoyo smile again. "How sappy that boy is!"
"He loves her, Kero-chan," Tomoyo smiled.
"Ah but how do you feel about that Eriol guy?" Kero asked slyly.
"Not you too, Kero-chan!" Tomoyo protested.
"Just be careful," Kero warned. "You saw what happened that night. The ritual nearly killed Syaoran but Eriol was able to walk away. And his aura..." Kero's voice trailed off thoughtfully.
"Why aren't you telling Sakura?" Tomoyo asked curiously.
"Because she has the Chinese boy, and he'll protect her," Kero said. "Even I can tell he would give up his life for her."
Tomoyo nodded. Syaoran...anyone could see how much he loved Sakura.
"As for you," Kero continued, "Sakura loves you, and so I love you too. I don't want you to get hurt."
"Does Eriol look like he's going to use his magic on me?" Tomoyo asked curiously.
"No. That he hasn't...that's what worries me," Kero said softly. 'Especially given how he looks at you,' he thought.
"Oh my god!" Sakura squealed as she pelted back into her room. "Look, look...aren't these the most gorgeous flowers you've seen?" Indeed, they were big and a deep shade of red.
Tomoyo smiled and rose. "They are. Let's go get vases for them." Her part in Syaoran's plans was coming up—to keep Sakura out of her house while he did his magic. "Come on. Let's go get some shopping done, okay?"
"Okay!" Sakura led Tomoyo to the kitchen, where she hugged her father when he greeted her a happy birthday. They ate breakfast, and left.
Fujitaka waved them off, then turned to the ghost of his wife. "She's so happy," he murmured.
"You might have to let her go soon," she said quietly.
"Let's not think about that for now," Fujitaka smiled.
The doorbell rang. It was Syaoran, hidden behind dozens of pink and silver balloons.
"Good morning, sir!" he greeted Fujitaka. Then he noticed Nadeshiko, who was smiling at him. "Er...good morning...?"
Nadeshiko laughed a silvery, bell-like laugh. "I am pleased to meet the boy who makes my daughter so happy," she said.
Syaoran bowed, awed by Sakura's mother's great beauty and sweet presence. "I am Li Syaoran. I..." and he blushed and smiled, "I am Sakura's boyfriend. I hope I have not caused offense, Kinomoto-san—I was only able to tell your husband about our relationship yesterday evening, when I was making arrangements for Sakura's birthday party."
"I already knew you loved her," Nadeshiko smiled, "they day you talked to Kero in the living room."
Syaoran blushed even harder. Fujitaka smiled at Syaoran; Nadeshiko had told him about it already.
"S...so you know about what she does?" Syaoran made the connection immediately.
"We do," Fujitaka said kindly. "But it's her destiny. And you're there, helping her."
"I hope I never disappoint you," Syaoran said softly.
"Don't worry. I know you meant it when you told me last night how much you loved her," Fujitaka beamed. "And have you gotten any sleep yet?"
"No, sir. I," and Syaoran laughed nervously, "I was too excited about Sakura's birthday."
Nadeshiko and Fujitaka laughed. "I hope you always are like this," Nadeshiko said. "Now, carry on!"
Syaoran bowed and began to tie the balloons in pairs of silver and pink around and outside the house. Then he festooned the house with pink and silver streamers, planted confetti bags in every room, and filled the room with pink orchids and white carnations. He was giddy with happiness; he wanted to make this Sakura's best birthday ever.
His reward came when Sakura arrived and beheld the house. She screamed, and threw herself in Syaoran's arms.
"You did all this?"
He nodded, and Sakura happily kissed him. Tomoyo nodded and said, "Not a bad job at all, Li-kun!"
Sakura stayed in Syaoran's embrace, wondering if it was possible to burst from happiness. This...all the things Syaoran did made her so happy. She looked up adoringly at his handsome face, and found him watching her with a smile.
"I love you," he said softly.
"Mmm, I love you too," she said as she raised her lips to receive another kiss.
Syaoran soon had to take his leave so he could bathe and change; he returned to help set up the food and refreshments. Classmates started coming in at six, and he received them at the door.
He soon found himself trying to fend off Yamazaki, who was insisting that chocolate cakes hid monsters in them, and the curious questions of his classmates, who wanted to know more about his relationship with Sakura.
But the worst was when Naoko asked him, "You're one of the Hong Kong Lis, aren't you?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Oooh! Then you really are a prince!" Naoko said.
"No! No, nothing like that...I mean," and Syaoran turned red. He'd been hoping to keep his family's status and wealth a secret but...given how information traveled around these days, it was a vain hope.
Before Naoko could press him for details, Sakura came down the stairs in a blush-pink dress that took Syaoran's breath away. He came to the foot of the stairs and offered his hand, making her blush when he whispered, "I wish I were a prince so I could escort my princess." Sakura melted, and Syaoran happily hugged her.
Someone in their group of friends screamed, "Kiss, kiss!" And the chant was taken up by everyone else, stunning the young lovers and making them blush. But when Sakura grinned up at Syaoran and whispered, "Let's give the audience what they want," Syaoran playfully took her in his arms, leaned her backwards in a mock romantic style, and kissed her lips briefly. The two collapsed into giggles as a result, and Yamazaki booed them jokingly. The party then commenced in earnest.
Tomoyo searched the crowd when she felt a familiar presence and saw Eriol in a blue short-sleeved polo and gray slacks watching her, a small smile on his lips. Dear God why did he have to look so good?
"So you sensed me," he said when he came closer to her.
She nodded noncommittally.
"May I ask you to come outside with me?" Eriol offered his hand. Tomoyo took it and was surprised when he entwined his fingers with hers.
"I don't know why I even came here with you," Tomoyo pouted as she came out on the Kinomoto's porch.
Eriol's hand released hers and came up to touch her cheek gently.
"I don't know why I feel this way around you. It flies in the face of everything I know, all I've been taught. So...stop me if you don't want this," he said softly.
Then his lips were on hers, gently tasting her, savoring her.
And Tomoyo would never know why she pushed him away.
The hurt look in Eriol's eyes lingered for a second, then disappeared. "As you like it, then," he smiled a small, tight smile. "My apologies."
Tomoyo watched him walk away; he turned and waved at her before disappearing into the darkness. Why had she pushed him away? She walked back into the Kinomoto household.
Eriol was halfway home, morose and regretful, when he heard footsteps running towards him. He turned and was surprised when long raven hair whipped around him and arms were flung around his neck.
"T...Tomoyo?" he asked, not daring to believe it. She looked up at him, then seized his lips with hers.
Oh my God, Eriol thought, before he was caught up in a wave of emotions. When he licked at her lips, she opened them quickly and dueled his tongue with hers. Somehow he had pinned her against the wall of a nearby house, and when she took his hands in hers, he gasped when he realized where she placed them. She nibbled on his ears, then kissed her way down his neck, not saying a word, not even making a sound as she pushed his shirt to the side then planted a fierce love bite on his shoulder.
"Tomoyo...I..." and he was silenced when she pulled his shirt off and dropped her blouse to the ground. She kissed him again, then gave him a pleading look; unable to resist, Eriol grabbed her in his arms and used his magic to bring them back to his apartment.
She was so beautiful...Eriol laid her down on the bed, and began kissing her passionately; somehow she had gotten the rest of their clothes off, and he could not believe how willing she was as he fulfilled his fantasies and began to taste and touch her.
"I love you," he said hoarsely. "Tell me you love me, Tomoyo, please!"
She could not answer for a while, then she smiled. "I love you, Master."
Through the fog of lust that had taken over him, the words penetrated. "Master?" Eriol pushed himself off who he had thought was Tomoyo and backed away. "Why did you call me that?"
She opened her arms. "Come back. Love me. Please."
"No..."Eriol backed away. "You're not Tomoyo. I know her. She..." and his heart broke a little when he realized how foolish he'd been, "she would never call me Master."
And he was shocked when the naked "Tomoyo" on his bed vanished.
"Master?" Eriol sat down and began to pull his clothes back on. This was not a good development.
Back at the Kinomoto house, once all the guests had left, Syaoran walked around, cleaning up behind them. He absolutely refused to let Sakura help him, playfully bullying her upstairs into her bedroom to rest. Using magic, he had the debris clean in minutes, and had made the place pristine again.
He sensed Sakura standing next to him, and he saw her in ordinary clothes.
"Whether you're in a princess outfit or in this," and he touched her chin gently, "you are still so beautiful," and he bent down to kiss her.
Sakura wound her arms around her wonderful boyfriend's neck. He'd been a gracious host (except for the one time he'd told Yamazaki off for telling another lie), he'd relieved her father of the burden of cooking and cleaning for the party, and now he was standing there kissing her sweetly, deliciously.
"Happy birthday, sweetheart, mei mei," Syaoran whispered in her ear. Then he produced a brightly wrapped package.
"For me?" Sakura grinned.
Syaoran nodded, and watched Sakura as she opened the present, then squealed. It was a teddy bear.
"You made this?" When Syaoran nodded, she kissed him gently. "Thank you!"
"Wo ai ni," he said.
"Hoe?"
"You're going to learn Chinese," he grinned. "Say what I just said."
Sakura frowned. "Are you sure it's not some funny joke phrase?"
His amber eyes were serious. "Don't you trust me?"
"Okay. Woh ay nee," she repeated.
"No, mei mei. Wo ai ni," Syaoran corrected her gently.
"Wo ai ni," Sakura said, feeling foolish, but her embarrassment disappeared when his eyes darkened with love, and he kissed her again.
"I love you too," Syaoran said huskily.
"Was that what it meant?"
"Yes," and Syaoran smiled.
"Oooh, wo ai ni, wo ai ni, wo ai ni!" Sakura pressed a kiss to his lips with each phrase, and the two collapsed onto the couch, laughing and kissing and loving each other fit to burst.
Nadeshiko watched them and smiled. 'Thank the gods for whoever had brought Syaoran to my daughter,' she thought.
Across town later that evening, Tomoyo awakened to feel someone kissing her. Oh but it was delicious...tiny kisses rained on her lips and nose...She opened her eyes, and Eriol smiled back at her.
"Eriol? What...how..." and she was lost when he kissed her again.
At the back of her mind, she was wondering why he was still in the same clothes he'd worn the night before. But when his tongue swirled in her mouth, she lost her breath and began to kiss him back.
Soon, though, she needed air, and pulled away from him. When she'd caught her breath, she began to apologize, "I'm so sorry I pushed you away last night...Eriol, I..." He began to kiss her again. And again, at the back of Tomoyo's mind was that strange warning sense that she couldn't understand.
When his hand reached under her sleeping gown though, she gasped. "No, Eriol!" He simply pinned her down and began to kiss her more aggressively and forcefully as he began to touch the skin under her clothes. "NO!" She pushed him away from her, angry now. "When I say no, it means no!"
They stared at each other, then they both jumped when Tomoyo's cellphone rang. She gasped; the caller ID said "Eriol."
What was going on? She answered.
"Daidouji-san, please be careful. I was visited by a card a while ago and I have reason to believe it will go for you now," Eriol's voice was hushed and worried.
And Tomoyo began to laugh a bit hysterically, to her own bewilderment and Eriol's. "Too late. It's in my bedroom right now."
"NO! Are you all right? Damn it!" Eriol cursed. He cut the line and quickly appeared in Tomoyo's room where he beheld the disheveled Tomoyo and the smirking replica of himself.
"Did it hurt you?" Eriol demanded. "Did it do anything to you?" His tone was so fierce, so worried that Tomoyo was caught by the tone of agony in it.
"Don't you recognize me, master?" the other Eriol said.
"I do now," he said grimly, moving Tomoyo behind him.
"Actually, you don't," the card said placidly. "Maybe you prefer this," and "Eriol" shifted into a naked "Tomoyo." "Seeing how you enjoyed yourself last night..."
Eriol turned panicked eyes on Tomoyo. "It's not what you think!"
"Tomoyo" smirked and shifted into a naked "Eriol," then to Eriol's horror, he repeated what Eriol had said the previous night in the exact same begging tone he had used. "I love you. Tell me you love me, Tomoyo, please!" The false Eriol laughed a cruel, cold laugh and vanished.
"What..." Tomoyo began once she recovered her wits, "what did you DO last night with that...thing?"
"I..." and Eriol was at a loss for words, for once in his life. "We..."
"You thought it was me...and..." Tomoyo gasped. "You tried to...make love to her? You asked her—no, me—to tell you she—I loved you?"
Eriol's look of shame and horror answered her question, but before Tomoyo could say anything else, he bowed his head and said quietly, "I am so sorry. And yes, I do love you. I'm sorry you had to find out this way. Goodbye."
And he vanished as well.
Coming up next: Something silly (warning-cuteness overload!) happens in Tomoeda, and Sakura has to deal with it on her own. Tomoyo and Eriol have to deal with their feelings, and Eriol is forced to seek Syaoran's advice.
absolutefluffiness says: Exams are over (YEHEY!) and since I was unable to PM anyone and thank them personally for Chapter 11 reviews (can you guys believe having to take a test on RELIGION?), I beg your indulgence and will thank them here!
Thank you for the puppy food! Please, everyone, I hope at least one little wish comes true for you very soon!
Twilight Kisses
watashiwaASTROGIRLdayo
Twilights-past
Sakura Petal Wings
Mrs. Radcliffe 13
CheeseyCraziness
sneaky08
Julia and Tania - I always am grateful for your reviews!
LittleCherrySakura
vivx
rondallagurl
lhaine07 - Thank you for the nice wishes! I agree completely!
Misunderstandings - (smiles, since smileys are hard to place here hehe)
vintageumbrella
psycho-pyro-shrink
rosedreamer101
AngelEmCuti
xXxCherryBlossomxXx - Oh that is such an evil idea!
winterkaguya
Karithinia
xSapphirexRosesxFanx
Angie-ange
