Simply Plain and Simple
14. Soft Fingers
Sakura nodded quietly as Meiling enthusiastically asked if she was making her crown of roses correctly. The two girls were sitting across from each other in the grass, smiling and laughing.
"Yelan is too kind, buying that dress for me," Sakura conversed amiably.
"Like she said, she'd buy anything for her future daughter."
"Hey!" A new voice pealed into their midst. "Didn't I tell you to stay away from my cousin?"
Syaoran walked towards them, a furious glower taking over his face. He took long powerful strides toward the two ladies.
Meiling was in too great a mood to even let Syaoran's temper keep her from talking. "Sakura's teaching me how to make garlands!" She announced cheerfully as she stood. Strong Meiling pushed her cousin down.
At the same time, Sakura stood to bow respectfully to her fiancé. Meiling started babbling about how stupid Syaoran was as she seized a garland of roses in her pile. "There! A crown of roses for King of the Stupid."
Sakura shot her hands out and took the crown off. "No, Meiling. There are thorns!" She turned back to Syaoran and slowly placed her crown of columbines over his head.
Syaoran sat breathless, as he studied her flawless face. The urge to touch her beat his arrogance and he reached out a tentative hand to stroke her soft skin. A short gasp and a half grin came from her. She leaned in to get closer to him. "What kind of flowers do you like?" She whispered the question like it was a secret. She watched him carefully, afraid he would refuse her.
"Peonies…" He murmured demurely back.
"Ummm… Can you two get a room? It's getting intensely awkward for the single girl over here," Meiling interrupted them.
"Oh!" Sakura stood, blushing gently. In the process her finger pricked a thorn of the crown of roses in her hand. She yelped and clutched at her finger in utter shock. Syaoran on his knees, reached for her injured finger and was surprised to see so many drops of blood coming out of the tiny cut.
"Proposing, Syaoran?" Meiling jokingly asked. The position they were in suggested it.
"Syaoran ignored Meiling and pushed himself up. He ushered Sakura inside, still gently clutching her injured hand. "Come on, You." He nudged Sakura so softly Meiling thought she was dreaming. Syaoran had never treated anyone so gently in all her life that she knew him. How did a plain girl get this new side of Syaoran to appear? It was unbelievable…
"That Meiling," Syaoran said, shaking his head. "Always causing trouble."
"It wasn't her fault. I was a bit careless. I'm really fine," Sakura rambled.
"Shut up and get inside," he ordered, opening the door to his bedroom. She stepped inside and stood waiting, while Syaoran disappeared through his private bathroom door. He reappeared with clean wrappings.
He waved her to his bed. She obediently sat on the edge of the bed and stared at him with her wide, brilliant green eyes. Without making eye contact, he pulled a chair next to her and beckoned for her hand. At first he worked silently. For Sakura, it was hard to believe that she was in his room alone with him and on his bed. Her heart was beating rapidly. She thought it was going to burst right out of her chest.
"You are impeccably quiet around everyone else, but your brother," he stated, annoyed and not once glancing up at her.
"You-you told me to shut up, My Lord."
"That's definitely a mechanical answer," he grunted as he started tying the wrappings.
"If that is what you believe," Sakura squeaked, quivering ever so slightly.
Syaoran dropped her hand abruptly in her lap when he finished.
"We're done here. Leave," he said coldly as he turned away from her and started rearranging things on his nightstand.
Sakura scrambled up and thanked him. He nodded in response not trusting his own voice.
After he heard the click of his door closing, his tense shoulders slumped. He recalled how she reacted to his touch. She had seemed mortified and he got angry at her for it. At the moment, he was also annoyed with the fact that he wanted to touch her face again when he knew he couldn't and shouldn't think that way.
Syaoran left his room to clear his confused head. As he neared the lobby, Meiling burst from the parlor.
"Syaoran guess who came to see you?!"
"I'm not in the mood, Meiling."
"Not in the mood to see me, Little Cousin?" A rich, velvety voice spoke. "I'm choking on something called awe."
"You!" Syaoran cried, as he swung his body to face the one who stood by the parlor entry.
"Me," Eriol mimicked in a pleasant tone. His spectacles gleamed evilly. "Nice flowers," he commented, pointing outward to indicate Syaoran's head.
Syaoran ripped the piece of nature on him and screamed, "Hell!"
Everyone at the convention knew each other. This was because they were young noble ladies and men. The young ladies especially, knew of a few bachelors and elaborately adorned themselves for just the occasion. Many of them wept at the news that the handsome Syaoran Li was now reserved to some mysterious girl. Any girl that was to be Syaoran's wife had to be gorgeous and well-mannered, but how truly wrong were they? The girl had yet to show up to any high-class parties.
When Syaoran entered the convention hall, there was a high uproar. Girls swarmed around him just to touch the clean, black sleeve of his tuxedo.
"Freaks" a girl grunted as she tipped her head towards them. She stood off to the side, wearing an irritated expression.
""I think it's rather nice for Syaoran to get that kind of attention. That way he has to open up," was Sakura's opinion.
"Freak! That's your husband they're touching!" Meiling screeched as she swung her head around, pigtails flying around her head in a circle. "I would pummel them or pummel him!"
"Pum-mel?" Sakura asked hesitantly.
"Never mind. I'm going to show you off to some of the men. Let Syaoran catch you chatting and 'boom!'" Meiling stopped and let out an evil cackle.
"No, I have no intention of making anything go 'boom!'" Sakura protested.
"Don't be shy," Meiling urged. She took Sakura's hand and started tugging her, but Sakura remained bolted to the floor.
"No," Sakura pleaded, tears suddenly springing to her eyes. Easily, Sakura won Meiling over.
Meiling sighed as she deflated, sympathy rushing out of her like a release of wind. "Oh, alright. Let's just stand around and I'll point them out to you. Maybe you can approach the ones you're attracted to on your own without me dragging you around. That would be too attention-grabbing in the first place. Syaoran would obviously pick up the scent of fish you know?"
Sakura smiled softly as Meiling gave her a quick squeeze of the hand.
"That is Sir Odrid, son of the shopkeeper. Loves to travel and enjoys a good book," Meiling said.
"Over by the corner, standing with the lady in blue is Merchant Floyd. His father recently passed away."
Sakura's eyes stopped glowing and the corners of her mouth drooped.
"Eh… There's the philandering Peter, son of widowed Lady Jewel. Rumor has it that she poisoned her own husband to be with Larry, the owner of Happy Pub. Larry is only four years older than Peter. Larry is the one by the food. Her son, Peter, is said to have two girls at a time. Occasionally, he could balance more on his shoulders without being caught."
"By the door are two wonderful gentlemen, brothers in fact, who go by…"
"Pardon me," A voice of momentous power uttered between Meiling's speech.
Sakura felt the speaker's warm touch upon her bare shoulder.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I couldn't help, but notice this incredibly beautiful creature standing beside you, Meiling," he spoke.
Sakura turned to meet this stranger who apparently knew Meiling. Her eyes met navy eyes protected by shinning spectacles. He gave Meiling a nod, commenting, "lovely in red, Meiling. No surprise." Meiling laughed heartily.
"Sakura, this is the notorious Eriol Hiragazawa, King of every girl's heart."
"Mayor's son," Sakura sliced in. With a smile she curtsied, "How do you do, Sir?"
"Syaoran's cousin—" Meiling started, but once again was cut off. This time by Eriol.
"So you are the bride that Syaoran has chosen," Eriol stated thoughtfully.
"Syaoran and Eriol kind of grew up together," Meiling whispered to Sakura, pulling the girl aside. "They are life long rivals, at least in Syaoran's perspective. The twist is Syaoran has never beaten him at anything. Eriol is faster on a horse, a better shot with the arrow, and a class 'A' swordsman…"
"Meiling…" Eriol started eerily. "Are you talking about me behind my back?"
Meiling pulled her head away briefly to tell Eriol off, but the man remained in place, adorning a placid grin.
Turning back to Sakura she whispered more quickly, "Syaoran's going to be so angry if he sees you talking to Eriol. I'm thinking maybe this is over the top."
"If Eriol is family I want to get to know him. Since Syaoran is going to be my husband, I want to be a part of his family," Sakura explained gently as if to calm Meiling's nerves.
"You don't get it, Sakura. Syaoran will kill Eriol."
"That's over the top," Sakura sighed oblivious to the truth in Meiling's words. Sakura turned to Eriol, who surprised her as he was hovering by her elbow the whole time.
She gave him a watery smile, "Any cousin of Syaoran is no stranger to me."
Eriol leaned forward as he smiled down at Sakura,
"Your smile blooms like a rose under the bright sun. When I see it, I wilt with the other flowers at your feet, Pretty Sakura."
"Eriol," Meiling's voice was high with worry, "You know what's going to happen if he sees you…"
Eriol raised his eyebrow at her. "So?"
"That's the spirit," Sakura laughed. Meiling was shocked to hear such a timid girl speak in such a fashion. She almost fainted from the shock.
"Would you care to dance?" Eriol suddenly asked.
"I've never in my life…"
"Let me be the first to show you," he spoke, grasping her hand and leading her out to the dance floor.
He pulled her close and took one of her dainty hands, laying it gently on his shoulder. The other hand he twined around his fingers with care. He moved his head nearer to hers and put his mouth next to her ear whispering, "Just follow my lead, Sakura."
Sakura smile as she followed his steps.
"You're a natural," he murmured into her ear. For minutes they danced this close. Sakura did not seem to mind as the man's presence became more and more comforting.
"You know," his warm breath tickled her ear. "I think I like little Syaoran's bride. Maybe he should take better care of you."
"I like Syaoran's cousin very much as well. He has such a kind heart…"
Syaoran found Meiling decked in ruby red, her favorite color of course. She was fiddling with the lace at her waist as he approached her.
"Where is my wife?" He asked or pretty much demanded, seeing right through her fake innocent gestures.
"Hey, you were the one who said my presence was corrupt," Meiling argued.
Syaoran drew his eyebrows together suspiciously. "Where is she?"
Meiling let out a shaky breath. "Wow! How did you manage to shake all those fine ladies off? My! What wonders! I think they multiply by the month. Wouldn't you agree, my-happy- tempered-cousin?"
Syaoran was not stupid. He knew she was hiding something. His eyes scanned the dance floor. His amber, gold eyes flared intensely as they slashed across the couples until they finally found what he was looking for, but not expecting.
There, in the middle of the dance floor was his bride looking lovely and innocent in Sakura pink. The material seemed to hug her, so that her curves were accented. Her pale, exposed shoulders however were too much to bear. What was worse? His worst enemy had her in his wicked clutch. His head placed near hers as he whispered sweet nothings to her.
Anger raged up his mind, but something remained in the deep part of his chest. There was a small, sharp tug to his heart as he watched Sakura smile at Eriol.
Rage reddened, Syaoran pushed past the couples and pulled Eriol to the side.
"Syaoran?" He heard Sakura squeak in surprise.
Then, without warning Syaoran threw a punch aimed at Eriol's face, but the taller man, only by three inches, ducked with ease.
"Syaoran!" Sakura shouted, blocking him from assaulting his cousin by standing in front of him. "Stop!"
"Well, what a welcoming party!" Eriol cheered. "It's good to see you, too, cousin."
"Stay away from her," he growled in contempt.
The hall was completely silent except for the vigorous, upbeat music going on in the background. The orchestra, good-humoredly decided to pick-up the tempo to match the situation. Everyone knew what was breaking out by now since all of them stopped to stare and gawk.
"Sakura doesn't mind… Do you mind, my dear."
Sakura turned pleading eyes to Eriol. Why did Eriol have to provoke him some more?
"Back off, Worm."
"Now, now, Syaoran. Name calling is not the way to express ourselves."
"Go to hell." Again Syaoran launched himself at Eriol almost knocking Sakura, the human shield, off her feel. Amazingly, the girl seemed strong and intent to keep Syaoran back. One of Syaoran's buttons popped out and his jacket fell open. She gripped the white satin of his dress shirt between her tiny clenched fists. He held her by the shoulders as he backed up from her forceful shove. Staring into her bright green eyes, his anger mellowed and his face relaxed as her warm breath tickled the flesh of his neck. His heart started to race at the sight of the disappointment that shifted in her eyes. "My Lord, please don't make a mess of things," she whispered. When he no longer struggled against her, she slowly drew him to her as her arms circled his tight neck. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her thin waist. Their bodies were in complete unity.
"Oh my my," said the regal Li Matriarch. "We have contact."
Nadeshiko shivered in delight beside her friend.
Midnight, Sakura was walking to her room while Syaoran kept up behind her.
"You will not be talking to Hirigazawa anymore," he said coldly, "I don't want to see you anywhere near him.
Sakura stopped walking and without turning around, murmured, "I-I don't think I can-can agree to that." She let out some air, irritated at herself for being such a coward and stammering her feelings out.
"Excuse me?"
Silence met his ears.
"Turn around," he ordered, the venom in his words leaking out of every syllable.
"When she did not heed him he forced her to turn. "You will not wear this dress again." His face glanced down her figure before it landed on her face again.
"You're mother picked it! She said it looked flattering and that you would like it," fear gone, she cried out. She was so close to tears, her teeth were chattering.
"I don't," he muttered, glaring down at her. What he really meant to say was, "the dress is beyond flattering. It had caught Eriol's attention and that is all the reason to burn it.'
"No," Sakura whimpered as she turned her head away.
"What did you say just now?" His voice was low, dark, and menacing.
"I—" She couldn't speak up for herself around him. He loomed over her like a beast, ready to strike.
"I'm expecting compliance from my wife…"
Something snapped as she remembered all the things he ever said to her. It snapped when she thought of the things Toya said about Syaoran. It snapped as she recalled Meiling's advice in their talks. Everything they said about Syaoran was true and with that something snapped.
So, Sakura straightened her back, turned her face away and spoke with a boldness that was not akin to her. "As I do recall I am only engaged to you, not married. If I am not your wife yet, I can do whatever I want. I may see Meiling or Eriol when so ever I please."
"What…"
"At least Meiling is fun and Eriol is kind. Eriol does not ask much of me. He does not call me stupid or mechanical and he by far has never been hostile towards anyone as long as I've known him."
Syaoran took a prolonged step forward that shook Sakura's core and had her stumbling backward. Steadily his gaze grew fiercer. In seconds, Sakura felt the wall pressing at her back side. She sucked in the needed air and braced herself from the fury that Syaoran was about to unleash.
"As long as this contract exists you are my wife!"
"But not a slave!"
"What makes you suddenly so bold to talk to me in such a way?" His face was completely red and positioned mere inches above her face.
"I shall go wherever I please with Eriol. He is good company and I—"
Her statement was cut in half; the last half forgotten. Syaoran had her in his grip, pushing her cleanly against the wall. Possessiveness gripped him the moment his lips met hers in an urgent telling of whose boss. His hands worked to pin her hard against the wall even though she did not even struggle under his grasp.
She was completely lost at that point. He smoldered her and asphyxiated her all at the same time. She opened her mouth slightly, even though he was still on top of her the way he was, just to intake some of his air if necessary. That was when he took advantage of her and delved deeper into her, trying harder to take and keep what was his.
They parted, his mouth hovering over hers. His eyes glinted in appreciation at the passionate look she returned with the lift of her lashes. Sweltering brown met hazy green.
Both of them breathed deeply, but it was between breaths that Syaoran spoke to her. "Remember, you are mine. Nothing you do can change that." Another kiss to her mouth and then another to her bare shoulder almost brought Sakura down on her knees. Taking a step back and away from her, Syaoran wore a devilish smirk.
What had he just done? He did more than just harass her this time. He nearly jumped her in the middle of the hallway! Syaoran made a run for it. 'Idiot!' He screamed to himself. What felt like he was running looked differently in Sakura's point of view. He seemed unfazed by everything that had happened just minutes ago and walked with strong, heavy strides. He was angry! And for what? Stealing kisses from her?!
Sakura watched him flee. When he was gone around the corner and she could no longer see him, she slowly slipped to her haunches. "What-what was that?" She questioned the air. Her breath hitched and she shivered as she suddenly realized that she was cold without him.
AN: MAAAANNN… You people are probably thinking what I'm thinking. What the heck is she thinking? Turning this into PG 13 because she can't help herself? She loves to put power and aggression into Syaoran because he's just not Syaoran any other way. DARN, the chauvinistic, possessive, egotistical man. Someone should just sock him and believe me, if I saw someone doing that to my buddy, boy would I! AHEM! On the contrary, Syaoran is my dream guy, so I'll let this slide.
No, I'm not going crazy, talking about the characters as if I didn't write about them the way I did. Just giving some of the reviewers out there a driving force to your reviews, so go for it! Smash that button and review! Don't mind my violent way of putting things and flame Syaoran! Don't dilly dally any longer.