Watch the Rain Fall, by CheeseyCraziness
Summary: Sakura appears to die in an inferno and Syaoran vows never to love again. When she wakes up in someone else's body, Sakura discovers that she can never reveal herself to those she loves, or Syaoran will die. But fate has a way of stepping in... SxS
Last Chapter:
Mei Ling left, after Syaoran gave her his solemn promise that he wouldn't do anything to wake or upset Xing Lin. He'd promised to keep his hands off of her.
But he couldn't help it. He hadn't seen her all day long. It was late that night, and Syaoran, though also ordered by Mei Ling to sleep on the couch, couldn't help but sneak into the bedroom.
She was sleeping peacefully, though unlike when she slept next to him, she wasn't smiling, and she looked a little cold. Syaoran pulled the blanket over her a little more, and looked at her.
Her black hair was sprawled across the pillow. Her perfect and long eyelashes decorated her closed eyes, and her soft red lips were parted slightly as she breathed – in, out, in, out. She looked so content.
And really, he couldn't resist. He lowered his lips towards hers…
.o0o. Chapter Thirteen: Undone .o0o.
This was becoming a fruitless task. All he wanted was to finish what he'd started, but nothing was turning out right for him… So he was getting tired. It was not an easy thing to shield one's magical signature for months on end. The moonlight here on the roof was helping to replenish his powers, but would it be enough?
He was running out of time. Behind him he could feel the vengeful hunters coming closer, ever closer. It was like waiting for the sword stroke to fall; the anticipation was making him nervous and stupid.
He'd looked in every street Japan. He'd searched through every last city of Britain. He'd been to every corner of the States, to every island in the seas. He'd been everywhere.
And yet she remained hidden to him.
In sudden rage, he hit his fist against the table. This could not go on much longer. He had to find her. For the sake of everything he held dear.
.o0o.
Eriol stared out into a star-filled sky. "How maudlin," he chided himself, yet he smiled when he thought of how Tomoyo's eyes sparkled. He was a tiny bit closer to finding Yukito and Yue now that he had risked more of his magic, and their auras were hopping around the world.
I have to find them, he thought. Because finding them meant seeing Sakura... He knew she had to still be alive for both Yue and Cerberus to still be bound to her.
And once he found Sakura, perhaps he would see Tomoyo smile again.
It would all be worth it. He closed his eyes, and gathered his energies for another try.
.o0o.
Tomoyo opened her eyes, gazing at the stars and the moon. How perfectly they fit together, she thought to herself. Moon and stars, always side by side in the night sky, shining brightly against the dark wherever they go… They always belong with one another.
Her mind was still on the phone call she had received just a few minutes earlier. She was still undecided. Everything was set up – all that was left was for her to agree to leave Tomoeda – only for a year, of course.
But it would also mean leaving Eriol. And if she left him, she felt that somehow, he would leave her. It scared her.
Maybe he'd chase after Kaho. Tomoyo knew that she was the only thing keeping him in Tomoeda now, just as he was the only thing for her, if not for the same reasons. Nothing was left here but memories.
But, with sudden enlightenment, Tomoyo's lips parted in a silent gasp. There really was nothing left here. If she stayed, she would continue to live a life of wishing – wishing for Sakura to return, wishing to be free of her mother's tight hold, wishing that Eriol could love her. None of these were likely.
Instead, she could make for herself a new life. One that didn't involve spending every day sighing over a boy who loved another. One where she could be on her own for once. A life without anything holding her back… Not even Sakura.
What did she have to lose?
Eriol.
But even losing him would only be losing the heartbreak that hope had caused her, and giving up on him. That wasn't so bad, right?
With firm resolve, Tomoyo made her choice. She walked back inside and pressed redial on the phone.
"I'll do it."
.o0o.
Syaoran lowered his lips towards Xing Lin's, softly brushing them, but with considerable self-restraint he quickly pulled away. His lips twitched in a hidden smile when she suddenly looked more peaceful than before.
Well, he had kept his hands off of her, technically.
Satisfied, Syaoran left the room once more.
.o0o.
"How are you?" Mei Ling asked quietly.
"Better," Sakura replied. "I think I'll go to class tomorrow. Hopefully then I can move without needing something to lean on."
Mei Ling glared at her. "You're avoiding my question."
Sakura sighed. Finally, she answered. "Mei Ling... I don't love him."
"WHAT?" Mei Ling yelled. "But - I thought - you can't fall out of love with Xiao Lang that fast, can you?"
Half smiling, Sakura replied, "I've never loved Xiao Lang, Mei Ling. Never once… It's Syaoran-kun that I love. But the thing is, I'm not marrying Syaoran."
Mei Ling frowned. "Okay... You lost me."
"I'm marrying Xiao Lang, in Syaoran-kun's body." She sighed. "I don't know why... But I think my Syaoran is gone. Maybe Syaoran died with me. And I need to stop being Sakura, holding on to who I was, cheery and always full of hope. Maybe Xing Lin can learn to love Xiao Lang... But as I am now, I'll only cause myself more heartbreak, forever pursuing somebody who I'm beginning to think no longer exists."
Mei Ling shook her head. "You didn't die; you said that yourself. You changed. But I still saw Sakura in you. I still knew it was you, just as I know that Xing Lin is just Sakura without her Syaoran. Just as Xiao Lang is Syaoran without his Sakura - an asshole. Without each other, you're entirely different. But any time he has been kind to you, did you feel like Xing Lin? Or Like Sakura?"
The girl didn't respond, looking down.
"Don't give up, Sakura," Mei Ling said softly. "Syaoran was an asshole when you first met, too, but he loved you anyway and became the Syaoran you loved. Give it time. But don't give up hope."
Sakura smiled. "Thanks."
"By the way, I can't help but be curious - how are the cards? And your magic?"
Sakura grinned. "That's right - you haven't seen them yet!" Sakura lifted a delicate palm into the air, and there materialized a small deck of cards.
She handed them to Mei Ling, who gasped. The one on top was Windy, and it was beautiful.
It was pink like the Cards she remembered, but the words were silver, and the borders around the card were also silver. It reflected the light beautifully.
"They're amazing," Mei Ling whispered, shuffling through them. But then she saw the card at the bottom.
"What's wrong with The Hope?"
Sakura winced, knowing what Mei Ling was about to say. "I know... There's no silver. I don't really know how to use it, so I haven't, really... But I think it's alright."
Mei Ling shook her head, her eyes wide. "That's not it, Sakura-chan... The card... It's turning gray."
Eyes wide, Sakura grabbed the card. Mei Ling was right. The picture of hope that she remembered was there, but altered. She was darker and no longer smiled. Her mouth was in a sad frown, and the heart she held was dark gray. The card was cold to the touch.
"Hope... Is dying..." Sakura whispered. "Like the Clow Cards before I changed them... How... But it's a Sakura Card, even without the silver..."
Mei Ling shook her head. "Wait - it's dying? I don't understand."
Almost to herself, Sakura continued. "If Hope dies... Then the Void will return. And if that happens..."
Mei Ling shuddered, and stared at Sakura. "V-Void? What?"
"The Hope card is a countdown," Sakura whispered. "We have to figure out how to revive it before its power is lost... Or..."
"Or?" Mei Ling squeaked, Sakura's panic making her just as scared.
Sakura thought, and then said with dark conviction, "It'll be the end of everything."
.o0o.
When Mei Ling left, Sakura once again took out the Hope card. How had it gotten like this? It was cold, gray, and dark… Sakura shivered to touch it. What had happened to make the sweet Hope so sad? How was it possible?
It troubled her. There had to be a way to fix Hope. There had to be something she could do.
She still continued to hope for the best about everything – school, friends, Syaoran… Wouldn't that be enough? But no, it was something else. What was she missing that would work?
Well, for now, all she could do was try to figure out why Hope was like this, and in the meantime live out her life.
.o0o.
Mei Ling left Syaoran's and Sakura's house with a mix of feelings. She hadn't wanted to bother Sakura with questions, but she was terribly curious. How had she survived? Why had the Cards changed; why had Sakura said that if she even hinted at who she was, then it would be fatal? Would she die, or would someone else? It didn't make sense. But sensing that asking Sakura would make her sad, Mei Ling would put it off until later - and definitely until her friend was all healed and better.
So, leaving Sakura with the volume of Tsubasa Mei Ling had lent her, and Syaoran to watch over her, Mei Ling was satisfied.
But if Syaoran tried anything... Well, it would NOT be good for him in the end. Mei Ling was giving him a chance at redemption, but only one.
.o0o.
Sakura was content to read the book in bed. Though it made her cry, it was also such a sweet story that she loved it. It puzzled her that the names were the same — Sakura, Syaoran, Touya, Yukito — but she ignored this and just read. Mei Ling had also lent her the second volume, so she had plenty to read.
"Why do you read this if it makes you cry?"
Snapping out of the world of Tsubasa, Sakura smiled. "It's such a sweet story. That he would give up so much for her sake... I'm a girl, aren't I allowed to indulge in romance?"
Syaoran rolled his eyes, badly covering up some other reaction to her words. "Sure."
"Sure," Sakura retorted cheerfully. He glared at her, but she only giggled.
He turned red and glared at her. "No way! I just... Ugh! I only like the action part of it."
She was acting so much like... Syaoran stopped glaring at her. He saw her wince slightly as she turned back to her reading.
In a scolding tone, Syaoran asked, "You haven't used a healing spell?"
"For all you know, I can't even make one," Sakura said.
"I could," Syaoran protested.
She waved off his offer. "Save your energy. I know you could. But don't bother. I'm fine."
He looked at her skeptically, but nodded. Who was he to go against her wishes?
"Anything else you wanted to ask?" Sakura asked, amused.
Syaoran looked at her - his intense gaze again making her feel a little lightheaded. "I'm sorry," he muttered, before turning around and heading downstairs again.
Sakura, slightly pink, went back to reading.
.o0o.
She was still reading Tsubasa when Syaoran appeared again. This time he held in his hands a small tray table carrying food on it.
"Xing Lin."
She turned his way and stared, confused.
"Here, it's yours." He gave her the tray carefully, making sure to keep it from spilling.
Despite herself, Sakura blushed. "Thank you, Xiao Lang."
Despite himself, Syaoran smiled. "You're welcome. Is-is there anything you needed?"
She was about to reply no, when her mind finally noticed. He was smiling at her. Had he even once smiled at her like this since she had become Xing Lin?
No. Never.
She lifted a hand to his cheek, cupping it in her hand. He stopped smiling suddenly, his breath coming a little faster.
"Xiao Lang," Sakura murmured, leaning towards him slowly. Instinctively, he leaned towards her as well. And slowly, so sweetly, she kissed him. He kissed back just as slowly, just as sweetly…
It was a short kiss, at least in comparison to their previous ones. After it, Syaoran gently pulled away from her. Then he simply smiled again, and left without a word.
Sakura stared after him. How had things changed? Why had he smiled; why did she kiss him? Why was he being so sweet to her?
He probably just pitied her, or was trying to apologize…
She shook the depressing thoughts away. But there were no positive thoughts to replace them. Sakura sighed, and continued to read once more.
.o0o.
Mei Ling came back after school, and had more than enough to tell Sakura.
Meng and her friends had been suitably punished, after being reported by the number of eyewitnesses to Sakura's injuries. For two weeks straight they would all be reporting to detention immediately after school. Sakura actually felt slightly bad for them – detention would be horrible for girls like them, stuck with all the delinquents. Of course, Mei Ling shook her head, and muttered, "Still the same Sakura… Showing compassion to everybody, even the ones who really don't deserve it.
Also, Mei Ling had been pestered all day – a fact for which Sakura profusely apologized – about Sakura and Syaoran. Why was neither of them at school? Sure, everybody had heard the rumors, and many had witnessed Sakura's condition the previous day, but that didn't explain why Syaoran was out. And they figured Mei Ling should know – he was known to be her cousin.
Naturally, they all really wanted to know if they weren't at school because the engagement rumors were true. But they didn't say that, of course.
Mei Ling had simply brushed off, saying that just because they were close didn't mean she knew everything about him. Syaoran's business was Syaoran's business.
Which wasn't really an answer at all. So, their suspicions were "confirmed." Sakura and Syaoran were engaged.
Wonderful.
.o0o.
That night, Syaoran came upstairs before Sakura fell asleep, with a somewhat determined look on his face.
Syaoran crawled into bed next to Xing Lin, who did not flinch this time, but smiled up at him. He had spent the day taking care of her, and he'd been so kind, she could barely believe it was him. It was like having Syaoran-kun back...and she allowed herself to hope.
"Feeling better?" he asked gently. She nodded, and he gathered her into his arms. "Won't you let me…"
"Save your energy," Sakura said softly. "Please don't worry about me."
"...I do..." he said softly, so softly she had to strain to hear him.
"Why?" Sakura turned around and met his intense amber gaze.
"...um...sorry," he choked out.
Was this Syaoran?
He saw her eyes open wide; how did she know how much it had taken out of him to say that one word? Then Xing Lin smiled. "It's okay."
"Thank you," Syaoran said. He stroked her cheeks with his free hand. "I...we...our relationship..." God why was it so hard to say it?
"We can work on it," Xing Lin said tenderly. How well she understood him! Syaoran felt a twinge of guilt--something that came often these days--how well she accepted him, tolerated him was something he could not understand but was grateful for.
Then he felt her lips on his. He looked down.
"Good night," she said softly. Her eyelids were fluttering; she was clearly sleepy.
Syaoran kissed her back tenderly. "Good night... Xing Lin."
Had Sakura been less sleepy she would have realized it was the first time he'd really called her by her new name.
Syaoran waited until her breathing became slow and regular, then raised the covers off them. Gently slipping her out of his arms, he passed his palms over Xing Lin's bruises, which began to yellow then fade. Satisfied that she would feel better in the morning (and privately proud that he hadn't peeked at her body while she was asleep), Syaoran pulled Xing Lin back into his arms again.
He cared about her, that he had come to realize. In what way, he wasn't sure; it wasn't the sweet, aching, innocent love he'd known with Sakura.
Sakura. He still loved her, and he knew a part of him always would. But he looked down at the sleeping Xing Lin. She deserved more of him than he was able to give, at least for now.
But the promise he'd made to Sakura... Would he be able to keep it? Yet he'd also, in the engagement ceremony, promised his heart and his love to Xing Lin.
He finally slid into a restless sleep, and two girls haunted him in his dream: one named after cherry blossoms, the other after thoughtful stars.
.o0o.
When she woke up, Sakura noticed Syaoran. He was still sprawled across her, one arm around her waist. He looked tired, but he smiled in his sleep.
Sakura moved forward and kissed him oh-so-lightly as she slid out of his arms--oh but that was so hard!--and went into her changing room to bathe. When she came out, he was gone; she assumed he was outside practicing, and changed into her uniform.
It was a beautiful, sunny day, and Sakura smiled as she exited the house. Syaoran was so sweet...she hugged herself happily, remembering the days when she felt all "hanyaan" over him.
"OI!"
She turned in surprise. Syaoran was running towards her, his tie askew, his white shirt not fully tucked into his trousers. He was the picture of a mess, and she gaped at him; his hair was still wet.
"You left so early...I was still in the bathroom..." he gasped as he struggled into his jacket.
Sakura laughed. "I'm so sorry! I thought...you were practicing..."
"No," he said as he tried to fix his tie. "I...walk you to school..." Not now, he thought to himself as a blush crept over his cheeks.
"Have you had breakfast?" Sakura suddenly asked.
It was just the wrong thing to say, and despite himself, Syaoran smiled a bit. "No."
"Come on. We have time. Let's pop by that cafe near school, how about it? I'd like an omelet," she said.
Syaoran's smile faded somewhat. Sakura had loved omelets too.
Stop it! His mind scolded. Just stop comparing them. It's the least you owe Xing Lin for all you put her through.
"Sounds okay," he said as he tried to tuck his shirt in properly.
Xing Lin laughed, and then finally made Syaoran pull his jacket off. "Here," she said, and she adjusted his shirt hem and tails. She fixed his tie while she was at it. The intimately sweet gesture made something hurt in Syaoran's throat; Xing Lin was such a wonderfully kind person...
...and the next thing he knew was, he'd pulled her close and kissed her.
Sakura was surprised when Syaoran reached out and kissed her. It was a sweet and gentle kiss, very affectionate, like those they had shared the other day. She did not feel the need to control the kiss this time though, and when his arms pulled her closer, she did not protest.
Syaoran broke off the kiss and to his own surprise, he smiled at Xing Lin. No words were necessary; instead, he took her hand. "Omelets?" he said. "My treat. So long as we have strawberry juice with them.
"I love strawberry juice!" Xing Lin's eyes widened, and she smiled.
Her smile. It was worth it. Syaoran smiled back slightly, and pulled her towards the cafe.
The sun was shining. It was a good morning.
.o0o.
Hugs to SilentCynara, the goddess of a beta. Sending her my thanks for not yelling at me too much for my delay…
Speaking of which – sorry for said delay. Life catches up with everybody sometimes, right? Well, it did with me. Oops. Well, here's thirteen for you anyway, so try not to maul me…
Dedicated to computers, video games, and televisions worldwide. And NOT for the reason you think, either. Feel free to ask.
G'night all. Nine hours of sleep total over the past two days… I'm out for the count, I think. See you!
P.S. A little reading between the lines in this chapter goes a long way… There's some hinting to next chapter, and to chapters far beyond it… Good luck! I know you all love hunting down my clues.
P.P.S. Sorry, Nara-chan. No lime…
Yet.