Chapter 26: Wonderful Tonight

XOXO

Love sought is good, but given unsought, is better.

-William Shakespeare

XOXO

Love.

Sakura had never paid much attention to the word. She never needed to, before. I mean, she would enjoy a decent chick-flick as much as the next girl, but she never went out of her way to pick up a good romance novel. Frankly, she always thought that Romeo and Juliet were too over-the-top and Catherine and Heathcliff did more harm than good. She could argue for hours, how Romeo was more in love with the idea of love than with Juliet herself. And to put all your faith and depend on another being so entirely to the point of not being able to live without them, Sakura believed to be quite pathetic and weak.

Or maybe her parent's divorce had just turned her bitter.

Either way, to Sakura, 'love' had always been just a mere word, stored away for sometime in the distant future. Even while her feelings for Syaoran grew and developed, the question had always been that of infatuation or affection… 'love' had never been in her vocabulary. It had never –even fleetingly- crossed her mind.

And yet, the moment the words left her lips, she knew them to be true.

Did you intend to make me love you… only to break my heart?

And it only made it hurt that much more.

XOXO

The next day, Sakura told her mother that she was feeling sick. Her only comfort, was that it was technically not a lie, since the thought of going to school actually did make her queasy.

"I'm fine, Tomoyo-chan." Sakura sighed, repeating that for what felt like the twentieth time, "I got to go, my mum's calling me for dinner. I'll see you at school tomorrow, ok? Good night!"

As Sakura sluggishly climbed down the stairs for dinner, she pondered what excuse she could come up with to avoid school again the next day, but only half-heartedly as she knew she couldn't avoid him forever. Though that seemed like an appealing option.

Even when the doorbell rang, Sakura took her sweet time getting down the stairs, up to the point where Nadeshiko actually had to call out for her to go answer it. She swung the door open to find Jake shuffling his feet on her doorstep. Sakura actually had to do a double take before she really believed he was there.

They looked at each other for a short moment before,

"I'm sorry—"

"I am so sorry—" They blurted out in unison, before smiling shyly at each other by the fluke.

Again, Sakura had to do a double take. "Wait, what are you sorry for?" She asked him, confused.

Jake hung his head. "Yesterday, at the caf… I was so mad and I know that's no excuse, but arrgh I was just so angry…"

"I don't understand—"

"…and so when you fell and people started laughing, my anger got the best of me, and I just kept on looking at you without doing anything to help and by the time my conscience went 'Jake, what the hell are you doing gawking like an idiot, go help her up!' you had already run off and I was going to follow you, really I was, but then I saw Li-kun go after you and decided to give you guys your privacy considering—" He rambled until Sakura held out a hand to stop him, choking back a strangled half laugh, half cry.

"Jake-kun, please, you're making me feel worse than I already do." She told him, "After what I did, I wouldn't have blamed you if you laughed along with the rest of them. Please, no apologies needed."

"Sashimi-chan, if you really expected me to laugh at you then I don't know what kind of friend I've been to you this past month, because I expect much better from myself, and I've been feeling awful about it all day, as I should, if I am half the person I thought I was."

His eyes were sincere, and so her eyes softened. "Jake-kun, you are an incredible friend, and an incredible human being who is going to do great things one day, I know it." She smiled her first genuine smile in days. "And it's Sakura-chan."

"Right," he smiled sheepishly, "I've got to get used to that. Call it even?" He held out a hand.

"Far from. You deserve more." But she took his hand anyway.

They shook hands, the wide grins formed on their lips spoiling the formalness of the setting, before he pulled her into a hug. The smell of his aftershave was pleasant on her nose, but she somehow found herself craving for the scent of cinnamon and peonies.

"Are you going to school tomorrow?" Jake interrupted her nostalgia, lightly adding "It might be better for some if you did as Li-kun looked as if he had a knife stabbed into his gut all day today without you." Not aware of Sakura stiffening in his arms, he continued, "If I was feeling bad all day, I can't even begin to imagine how he must be feeling, being the one to trip you and all."

Sakura pulled away, too sharply to escape Jake's notice again. His brow furrowed in concern. "What's wrong?"

Sakura tried to smile, but it came out more like a grimace. "I just don't… I'm not quite ready to joke about that just yet."

It seemed that that comment only further confused him, as the lines on his forehead sunk deeper into themselves, before they cleared in understanding.

"Wa-wait," he spluttered out, "You think he tripped you on--on purpose?!"

For the third time in minutes, Sakura was completely taken aback. "Well—wait—what—you mean—he DIDN'T?!"

"No!" Jake exclaimed, "He didn't even see you, you came from behind him, remember?"

"No, I'm pretty sure he was facing me, and he stuck his foot out to trip me!"

"No! I saw the whole thing!" Jake insisted hotly, "His back was to you. Yumiko-san was facing you, which is how she ended up accessorizing carrots and celery for the rest of the day! Li-kun was just about to get out from the table when you came barreling past him, falling over his feet along the way."

"But I remem--" the words died on her lips, as a flash of unbidden memory suddenly entered her mind: –she turned to the person whose foot it had been—

–she turned to the person—

–she turned—

'Turning to face him implies—' "Oh my god! He didn't mean to trip me did he?!" She clasped her hands over her mouth at the realization, and the horror of what it meant.

"No!" Jake repeated exasperatedly, "That's what I've been trying to tell you! You didn't say anything to him, did you?"

Sakura's answered him by looking up with her anguished eyes. But as a thought struck her, she let them harden again.

"It doesn't make that much of a difference. Just because he didn't trip me on purpose, it doesn't mean anything. He still went and told everything to everyone, which is his prerogative, but surely that means he never cared for me in the slightest."

Jake opened his mouth, seemingly to argue, but Sakura would never know what was to come out of his mouth if he had been given the chance, as it was at that moment, when Touya chose to fling open the front door.

"Dinners on the table squirt." He eyed Jake, "Is your… friend planning to join us?" It was clear which answer Touya preferred.

Sakura looked towards Jake, who shook his head. "My mother's cooking dinner, so I got to be heading back. Maybe some other time?"

Sakura smiled, "Definitely."

They both looked towards Touya for a moment, who just smiled back innocently.

"Okay, well, I better get inside." Sakura muttered.

"Okay, see you later… Sakura-chan." He gave a sort of salute to Touya.

Sakura watched him go, before following Touya inside.

"So, that's the boy you've been spending so much time with." Touya grumbled as he closed the door, his face scrunching up at the word 'boy' as if it gave him an acidic aftertaste.

"Not exactly." Sakura mumbled under her breath, too quiet for Touya's ears.

"Who was at the door, Sakura?" Nadeshiko asked, as they sat down.

"Just a friend." Sakura told her casually, helping herself to some rice.

"Yeah, a boy friend." Touya threw in.

"But not a boyfriend, just a friend who happens to be a boy." Sakura quickly corrected.

"Oh speaking of your friends Sakura, I bumped into one of them the other day at the supermarket. I've been meaning to tell you, but I guess it slipped my mind."

"It must've been Tomoyo-chan." Sakura said indifferently.

"No, no, it wasn't her." Nadeshiko replied, shaking her head slightly. "It was –oh what was her name?- the one who was over at the house the other day. The one you were doing a project with? Yi… Yin-chan?"

"Yang-san!" Sakura cried out, in horror. "What did you say to her?"

"Oh nothing. I didn't tell her any embarrassing baby stories of you if that's what you're worried about. No, I just directed her to the sashimi section."

"The sashimi section?" Sakura repeated dumbly.

"Yeah, she's a little strange if you ask me. She kept asking me, 'where's sashimi?' and I told her 'you just have to go to the end of the market and tell the people there what type of sashimi you want and they'll give it to you,' but she just couldn't seem to understand me. She looked at me as if I was the crazy one, isn't that funny?"

Sakura was suddenly feeling ill again, and it wasn't the food. "Wha--what else did you say to her?"

Nadeshiko looked thoughtful. "Well, she did ask when you were coming back to Tomoeda, and I said 'what are you talking about? Sakura never left!' I'm telling you, that girl is a little odd in the hea-- Sakura, honey, are you okay?"

Sakura abruptly stood up from the table. "May I be excused?"

"Of course, but--"

Sakura was already out the door and running. It was drizzling slightly, but Sakura ignored it, and with a reason but without a purpose, set off in the direction of Syaoran's house.

By the time she got there, she was soaked right through. Her hair hung limply on her head, her clothes wet and dragging. She could only hope that her peach top was not totally see-through.

For awhile –she didn't know how long- she stood outside his adorning gates, peering through a screen of rain at his darkened mansion.

Only when she was completely numbed over, did she turn around and leave, her drenched trainers squelching with every step.

XOXO

"Sakura-chaaaan!" Tomoyo bounded up to Sakura –who was at her locker, and shoved a flier in her face. Before Sakura could even catch a word, Tomoyo withdrew it and thrust a finger at the big bold title:

FORMAL NIGHT

2008

"You're going right? Of course, you're going, that's not even an option. Oh it's in a weeks time! That's hardly enough time to even design two dresses, let alone make them! Can't this school give us more notice? They really should give us more notice --Sakura-chan, are you even listening?"

Sakura nodded, retrieving some books from her bag and transferring them to her locker to buy her some time. Then she said slowly and carefully, "Tomoyo-chan, I don't know if I'm going to go."

Tomoyo sighed, leaning against the locker besides Sakura's. "Sakura it's been like three weeks since the whole Sashimi thing… everyone's forgotten about it."

"I know. But it's not just that. Formals, social events… they've never really been my thing. I can't dance to save my life, you know that! I always just stayed at home and watched re-runs of Friends and Human Tetris."

"Is that the game show with the life sized cardboard cutouts where people had to fit themselves through or fall into the water?"

"Yup, it's very entertaining."

"Hmm, I'll try and catch it one day. What channel-- anyway that's besides the point!" Tomoyo grabbed each of Sakura's hand and held them in her own. Her eyes widened as she pleaded, "Please come Sakura-chan. You went to the last dance."

"Aww Tomoyo-chan don't do that to me. And that was different, I went as Sashimi."

"You, Jake-kun and I can all go together. The three musketeers."

"Oh great, so now I'm third-wheeling on your guys's date? No thank you."

"It's not a date!" Tomoyo objected indignantly. "We're going as friends."

"Oh Jake-kun said that when he asked you, did he?"

"As a matter of fact he--" she broke off, flustered. Sakura smirked knowingly. "—at least I think he-- he must've…"

Sakura patted Tomoyo lightly on the arm. "Like I said, I don't want to be the pathetic third-wheel on your date."

"So sitting at home alone, while everyone else is having a blast at the formal, is less pathetic?"

"In my opinion, yes. In fact, I like to think of it as taking a stand."

Tomoyo snorted. "Taking a stand against what? Having fun? Boy, we need to get you a life. "

Sakura protested, "Hey, watching the Human Tetris is my fun!"

"My point exactly."

Sakura slammed her locker in response, the sound being drowned out by the first bell.

"Anyway, could you tell Mizuki-sensei I may be late for registration? I need to speak with my choir teacher."

Sakura replied with a grunt, and Tomoyo bounded off.

As Sakura headed towards her classroom, grumbling all the way along the lines of "I do have a life", she didn't see the person who was coming out of the door just as she was heading in. As a results, she found herself on the floor, books scattered about her.

"I'm sorry." She heard a familiar deep voice mumbling, as Syaoran got down on his knees to help her retrieve her fallen books.

She slowly raised her head to his. "No, it was my fault, really."

They gathered the rest of the books in silence. It was only then that Sakura realized the hallways were empty of life. "Thanks." Sakura murmured quietly, hauling up the books in both arms, as they stood up.

"Oh wait, don't forget your…" Syaoran bent down and picked up her glasses. She tried to take them, but her hands were already occupied.

"Here." He whispered as he leaned in and gently placed them over her ears. He lingered slightly near her, before moving back. "…you clumsy idiot."

It was so unexpected, Sakura's looked at him questionably. The corner of his lips twitched slightly.

"Inconsiderate bastard." The words left her lips before she could even comprehend them. The same corner on his lips lifted higher. He then let out a sort of sad sigh, before walking off.

XOXO

Nadeshiko burst into tears. "My little girl is growing up so fast!"

Touya took a deep breath. "Kaiiju, I never thought I'd say this, but you look… beautiful."

Sakura smiled down at them, shyly tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks, but it was all Tomoyo-chan's doing, really."

At that moment, Tomoyo came down the stairs, clucking like a mother hen. "Nonsense. I didn't have to do much at all. Sakura-chan is just being modest."

Nadeshiko clapped a hand over her own mouth to stifle her squeal. Tears still in her eyes, she exclaimed, "Tomoyo-chan, you look lovely, as always."

Tomoyo beamed back, "Thank you."

"Jake-kun is here!" Sakura cried out, as she heard a car pull up on their driveway. She and Tomoyo rushed to the door, but Touya beat them to it. He flung open the door, startling Jake on the other side, who was just reaching for the doorbell.

"May I help you?" Touya asked him curtly.

"Err… yes. I'm here to pick up Tomoyo-chan and Sakura-chan." Jake answered nervously.

"There is no one here under those names."

Concealed by Touya from Jake's line of sight, Sakura rolled her eyes while Tomoyo let out a giggle. Jake looked at Touya incredulously. "I was just here last month. I know you're Sakura-chan's brother."

With a completely straight face, Touya continued, "You must have met my twin."

"But then you'd still be Sakura-chan's brother." Jake pointed out, half exasperated, half amused.

Sakura pushed the grumbling Touya out of the way. I'm sorry, she mouthed to Jake apologetically.

He waved it off, before going into a small bow. "You ladies are looking stunning tonight. I think I may be the envy of the ball."

"You're not looking so bad yourself." Tomoyo replied playfully.

"Okay, okay. Before you go, I need to get a picture of the three of you." Nadeshiko told them, fumbling with her camera. "Stand right there… you need to lean in closer to get into the frame, Jake-kun won't bite—not you Sakura, I just meant Tomoyo-chan… that's it, okay now hold it… hold it…"

-SNAP-

Jake stands in the middle, looking smart with a bow-tie tux and a girl on either arm. Tomoyo is on his right, her ebony locks flowing over her shoulders like a waterfall, wearing a strapless, cocktail, A-line gown, the colour of the sky during nighttime. Sakura stands on his left, her hair up in an arranged messy bun, wearing a white empire waist gown with a sweetheart neckline. A forest green bow is tied below the bust, and the hem lightly floats just above the ground and was the sort that would whirl as you spun. Jake grins from ear to ear while Sakura laughs and Tomoyo smiles embarrassedly.

XOXO

Sakura smiled warmly from afar at the sight of her two best friends dancing so happily in each other's arms.

Two girls obstructed her view when they walked past snickering and looking at her. Sakura ignored them, 'It's been a month. Don't they have better things to talk about?'

As they moved past –giving Sakura pointed looks along the way- Sakura actually managed to shoot them a small smile, which they seemed bewildered by, as they continued on, noses in the air. Smiling a little to herself, Sakura's wandering eyes absentmindedly skimmed across the decorated room, until they landed on one person. He was wearing a classic tuxedo, accompanied by a white tie, his hair in a messy array as usual. He leaned casually against a wall, conversing with Yoko, who was smiling cheerfully as she tossed her hair.

Sakura tried to disregard the pang in her heart, but to no avail. She quickly directed her eyes away, before anyone could catch her staring. She didn't need to give them any more reasons to gossip.

Sakura only took notice of a change in song, when a breathless Tomoyo plopped down on the seat beside her, fanning herself lightly with her hand. "Isn't it hot in here, Sakura-chan?"

"Well, you appear to think so, what with your pink cheeks and all." Sakura teased.

At that, more blood seemed to rush to Tomoyo's cheeks. "I have no idea what you're talking about." She told her, offhandedly.

"Where's Jake-kun?" Sakura asked, her eyes gleaming.

"Off to get some drinks." Tomoyo looked off into the distance for a moment, before spinning to face Sakura. "Oh Sakura-chan, do you really think Jake-kun likes me?"

Sakura paused as if to consider it, before letting a grin break out on her face. "Without a doubt." She told her firmly. "Look, he's already on his way here to ask for another dance."

Tomoyo peered out of the corner of her eye, and immediately tensed when she realized it was indeed true. She hurriedly smoothed down her dress and tried to appear casual.

"In older times, a fourth dance meant marriage." Sakura whispered laughingly, giving Tomoyo a small wink.

Jake reached them just as the lights were slowly dimming, and the previous upbeat song faded. Wonderful Tonight, by Eric Clapton came drifting languidly from the speakers, wounding itself around every table, every couple.

"Sakura-chan, would you mind terribly if I borrowed Tomoyo for another dance?"

Sakura shook her head lightly. "Not at all. You two have fun." She watched as they glided to the dance floor and blended into all the other couples.

Finding herself alone once again, her eyes unconsciously sought out Syaoran, but was disappointed when he was not standing in his usual corner. 'He must be on the dance floor with Yang-san or someone,' she realized sadly, her heart constricting in her chest at the thought. Beforehand, she couldn't help but take note of the fact that even by the sixth song, he had yet to ask anyone to dance, and her hopes –although only slightly- was raised by the thought. Now, it all came crashing down in an instant.

She stood up, ready to tell Tomoyo and Jake that she was going to head home, when a shadow fell upon her. She looked up only to be caught by a pair of amber eyes.

Syaoran wore a lopsided grin on his face that appeared calm and nervous all at the same time. "I think you owe me a dance."

"I can't dance." Sakura automatically blurted out.

"Well, I already prepared the ambulance, so you're out of excuses." He held out an arm, but she only eyed it anxiously. "Come on. One dance. What could it hurt?"

"With my dancing? A lot." Sakura laughed uneasily.

Although his grin did not falter, his eyes became more serious, "Well, it's a chance I'm willing to take."

She hesitantly reached out her hand and took his, her heart running a marathon in the meantime. His smile grew softer as he led her to the dance floor. Sakura glanced around at the couples around her and whispered to him worriedly, "Li-kun, when I said I couldn't dance, I wasn't being overdramatic. I, literally, don't know how to dance." She looked down at their feet and added as an afterthought, "Especially in heels."

But Syaoran just looked at her, outwardly amused at her reservations. "Okay, first of all, take a deep breath." He waited for her to do so before continuing. "Secondly, take off your shoes."

"Wait, what?" Sakura hissed at him.

His amusement just seemed to grow. "Well, you said you couldn't dance in heels right? So, take them off."

"No, I said I couldn't dance at all." Sakura corrected, "The heels just make my dancing skills go from a zero to a minus."

"Well we can't have that now, can we?" Syaoran teased. "Listen Sakura, just do it."

"But--"

"No 'buts'!" Syaoran quickly cut across her, placing a finger over her lips. "Listen to me. You think too much. Just do."

After a moment's indecision, Sakura stepped out of her heels, onto the cold floor.

"Good. Now place your feet on top of mine." Syaoran told her.

This time, Sakura just gave him a funny look, before obediently stepping onto his shoes. Her arms swiftly came up and wrapped around his neck to keep herself balanced. Her breath hitched in her throat as she felt his hands move to hold her waist.

"Okay," His voice was slightly hoarse, and he hastily cleared his throat. "Good. Now just follow my lead, and let your feet move with mine."

Sakura looked down at their feet intently, trying to ensure her feet remained moving on top with his, but somehow her movements looked clumsy and awkward next to his graceful steps. "Li-kun, I'm sorry, I just--" Syaoran interjected by lifted her chin so that she was gazing up at him instead of their feet. "Stop thinking." He whispered, "Just do."

Sakura took a deep breath and just tried to clear her mind of the steps, and the dancing, and her abandoned shoes.

"Thirdly…" Syaoran began softly.

"There's a thirdly?"

"Yes, there is a thirdly." He paused, "Please stop calling me 'Li-kun'."

Sakura blushed prettily, and looked away. But now, unable to look down, she didn't know where to place her eyes. She turned to look at the other dancing people around her, and was surprised to find that some of them were gaping back at her. Not at her, at them.

"Syaoran-kun," she muttered under her breath, "people are staring."

"So?" He murmured back softly, "Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?"

Sakura's blush deepened. "No, I just thought…"

"Thought…?"

Sakura became flustered, "I just thought that… I don't—never mind."

"You just thought that I would be shallow enough to care." He voiced out, slowly and carefully. Sakura's silence spoke volumes.

Syaoran took a deep breath. "Sakura, I am so--"

"Listen, Li-kun, I'm sorry. I jumped to conclusions... again, and--"

"Only because god knows I've given you enough reasons to jump to those conclusions. Four years worth, in fact--"

"No but, I didn't know you then--"

"Which is absolutely no excuse for being a complete--"

"And last week, I just went off at you when you were faultless--"

"That's the thing, I wasn't faultless. I've treated you--"

Sakura stopped him. She looked him square in the eye. "Water under the bridge." And in that moment, she knew she truly meant it. She had gotten past it all. Not only her history with Syaoran, but with her father, Yoko, Eriol, and just highschool in general.

Her smile was radiant as she looked up at Syaoran, who smiled down affectionately in return. He reached out, and gently tucked the loose strands of hair behind her ear.

"Crème brulee." Sakura whispered.

"Excuse me?" Syaoran quirked an eyebrow.

"Your eyes." Sakura laughed. "I always called them amber, but that never quite fit. They're a shade darker than… crème brulee."

"Hmm, I've never heard that one before. Crème brulee. I like it."

Syaoran pulled her closer, as they continued to sway to the music, completely in tune with one another.

And then I tell her

As I turn out the light

"Your heart is beating really fast." Syaoran whispered huskily.

"Yeah? So is yours." Sakura murmured, resting her head on his chest, and letting her eyes flutter close.

I say my darling, you were wonderful tonight

Syaoran softly hummed the closing lines to the song. He leaned forward so that his lips lightly touched her ear, and sung the last lines,

"Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight."

XOXO

Authors Note: It's done. It's really, really done. The story I've been with almost three whole years is finished. I don't know if I've been so sad and happy at the same time. Happy, because I've really wanted to finish this story, the pressure of updating getting to me, and new ideas that I haven't managed to get down as a consequence. Also, I was always not entirely sure whether I liked this story, but overall, I am extremely happy with the end result. Sad, because I'm going to miss all you guys of course. I loved writing that last scene, and I don't think all the flamers or cliché/corny/fluff haters in the world can ruin it for me. Although, of course, I really hope that you did enjoy it. I didn't include any kisses, any 'I love you's, but I hope that got across all the same.

Thank you so much for sticking with the story through to the end. Through the old (sucky) version and the new (less sucky) version, through the long updates and unedited chapters. I know you've heard it a thousand times from me and many other authors, but it doesn't make it any less true: I don't think this story would've been the story it is today without all your encouraging reviews for me to push on, and critical reviews on what I need to improve. I don't think I would've had the will to finish the story, as I am a very fickle person who gets bored and distracted quite easily, but all your lovely reviews just made me determined with this story. So thank you.

Disclaimer: 'Wonderful Tonight' -as much as I love it- belongs completely to Eric Clapton. And CCS belongs to CLAMP.

Only the epilogue to go.

XOXO