Hey everyone.
I got one review saying that this stuff isn't taken THAT serious. It's a fanfic. You're allowed to make things a little less realistic. It's just for entertainment purposes.
Disclaimer. I DON"T OWN THEM. I wish I did but it will never happen. :Sigh:
***
'I feel like a duck' Sakura complained in her mind.
'You look like one too.' Her mind chirped. She had one week left until she could get rid of this thing. The teacher had told her she had to wear it for the entire week. When the watch went off she'd need to go pick up the baby. No matter WHERE she was.
'Oh shut up. I don't have time for you.' She snapped at her inner self.
'Moody aren't we?'
'Not now.'
"Hey Sakura are you ok?" Tomoyo asked as they walked around the large park.
"Yeah. I'm just so tired. This thing better be over soon." She complained. She hadn't seen her feet all week. Her back ached and her moods were up and down because of it.
"It's ok Sakura. Only two more days." Her friend reassured. It had been fun having Sakura 'pregnant' She'd been able to make her clothes and was now working on clothes for the 'baby'
"You know I wouldn't mind if this was real. I'd get a reward at the end, but this is an assignment and I'll have to give everything back." She whined. It was true. All this suffering was just for a grade.
"Well it will be over soon." Tomoyo said. (Yeah right) Sakura nodded and sighed. This whole deal was getting to be too complicated for her taste.
"Hey at least you never had to loose your figure for this assignment." Tomoyo teased. Sakura grinned and giggled. It was true. She'd heard of women gaining a lot of weight after a baby.
"Yeah."
"Well listen don't worry about the assignment so much ok. Hey Li's birthday is coming up right."
"What about it?"
"You don't know what's going to happen there do you?"
"No I don't."
"Li has to choose his wife."
"WHAT? How did you know?"
"One simple word. Eriol."
"So you're saying he needs to choose his wife there. In front of everyone?"
"Yeah Sakura. Come on you want to marry him don't you?" Tomoyo asked her best friend.
"Of course I do." She exclaimed. "I love him."
"Exactly. Which is why I think you should do something special for him." Tomoyo started to whisper in her ear the plan she'd set out.
"Tomoyo, I don't think I can do that." Sakura said once she finished explaining her plan.
"Sure you can Sakura. Come on we better get going. People are starting to stare at you." It was true. People were staring at the pregnant teenager who sat in the park. Probably thinking 'poor girl'
"I feel so bloated." Yuki had taken her to the maternity ward two days ago. Tomoyo had gone as well. It had been interesting to see all the babies and how everything worked.
One of the nurses had added water to the devise Sakura was wearing. It did make her look nine months pregnant. This had excited Tomoyo immensely and she started to design some maternity clothes.
^Flashback^
"Tomoyo you really shouldn't. I mean I'm not going to use all this after." Sakura complained as Tomoyo helped her into a dress after she'd looked about ready to give birth.
"Nonsense Sakura. Look you can keep it for when you have the real deal." Sakura blushed as Yuki and Tomoyo laughed.
"I look like a great blue whale," She whimpered. She did look pretty big.
"You look the part though. You know you are going to make a great mother some day." Yuki exclaimed as she helped Tomoyo. The two girls got along very much and it was obvious to sakura that they had a similar aura about them.
"Hoe."
"Hey Sakura, are we going straight home or can we stop at the ice-cream parlor on the way back." Tomoyo asked when she finished adjusting the dress.
"Well we could go for some ice-cream." She admitted. She and Tomoyo were staying at Syaoran's until the assignment was over. The reason behind this was one Fujitaka was on a dig for the next three weeks and Touya would come close to bursting into tears every time he saw his little sister.
"I think Touya's afraid that this is a glimpse into the future." Yuki said. The married couples had been spending their weekends together to talk about their conditions. Another of the girls had been announced pregnant but she was in her first week.
"Yeah. He's just scared that I'm growing up." She agreed.
"Lets go."
^End of flashback^
"Just two more days." Sakura exclaimed as they drove off. She was too big to be behind the wheel so Tomoyo had to drive. Something suddenly occurred to Sakura.
"Tomoyo why is everyone suddenly trying to convince me to have a baby for real?"
She tensed up a bit at the question and pondered whether to tell her or not. She decided to tell her the truth.
"You see Sakura. The elders have been talking to Eriol lately and well, they're worried that the cards will be taken away from you. If they are under the protection of the clan then they'll be safe."
"What do you mean?"
"Eriol said that the cards would be passed on to your descendent. It wouldn't fall into the wrong hands. He says that the cards belong to a blood line and that bloodline includes you. No one can hold those cards except YOUR direct family."
"So Syaoran can't use them?"
"Not until you and he, well you know." Tomoyo smiled. "Besides it would be so kawaii to see a miniature version of you and Li."
"Ok I understand now but that doesn't mean I have to, you know, now. I can wait till I'm married." She protested.
"Yeah. Though it would be cute to have a little baby around. I mean with me and Eriol moving here so he can be closer to his 'family'"
"Sighs. Ok now I just got a headache."
"Don't worry Sakura. You got a lot of time to think about what you want." Tomoyo reassured.
'I don't know about that.'
'Shut up.'
'Oh come on you know something is going to happen and you know what your body wants and needs.'
'Shut up already.'
'Temper, temper.'
'SHUT UP!'
***
"Xiao Lang we need to finalize the list for your birthday banquet next month." Yelen told her son. (Think that's bad. My birthday list is already under way and my birthday is in March.)
"Yes mama." He mumbled. He wasn't feeling himself today. He'd just spoken to the elders and they were being very insistent on who he would choose as his wife. That was probably the stupidest question they'd ever asked him.
"What's wrong my son?"
"Nothing." He said and walked out of the room. Yelen sighed. He'd been pressured all week. Everyone wanted to know what he was going to do. Worse, once they knew who he would pick. An obvious choice they'd already started talking about bearing children.
'My poor little wolf.'
Syaoran walked up the stairs to his room. He was stressed. Not only because of his family but because of the assignment too. The baby would be here in two days and Sakura was nervous. He was worse. His mind hadn't stopped torturing him and it was driving him nuts.
"Hey kid what's up?" Kero said when he saw the Li warrior walking up to his room.
"Nothing."
"Come on kid it can't be that bad can it?"
"Guess again."
"That bad."
"Worse." He sighed. "What's with everyone lately?"
"Uh what you mean?"
"Everyone's been on my back. I should have a child by the time I'm twenty. I need to get married soon. I have to produce an heir so that the clan can go on."
"Oh that. Well kid let's talk in your room. I'll explain some stuff."
They got to his room and Kero sat on his bed. They never spoke but Kero decided it was time to explain some of the mysteries behind his clan.
"Ok. So stuffed animal what you got to say?"
"One, don't call me a stuffed animal. Well see in the old days it was necessary to have heirs. You're lucky kid. Back then boys no older than sixteen were already fathers."
"Yeah but that's all changed now. I can wait."
"No it hasn't changed. Your clan is very powerful but there are still forces out there that can cause problems. The cards are the main reason everyone's been so jumpy about your marriage assignment."
"Why?" He was getting frustrated.
"You hold Clow Reeds blood in you but you aren't the card master. Sakura is. There are a lot of forces out there that want to get their hands on both her and the cards. The elders are worried that something will happen if she isn't in the family."
"What does that have to do with me having a child with her?" He asked sitting down on the bed.
"It's life kid. You having a child with her would seal the claim. The cards and her would be under your protection and no other could take that away." (This is actually true. Some cultures said that a woman didn't belong to a man until she bore his child.)
"Why now?"
"Well you are kind of overdue. Law was changed from sixteen to eighteen. On your birthday you have to choose your wife and you get married when the astrology signs say. You have a kid as soon as possible or Sakura can be taken away."
"Yeah. Damn this is so hard. Who thought an assignment could make things so complicated." He sighed. The little guardian beast gave him a sympathetic look.
"Life's not easy. Though it's not that bad. I mean you are going to choose Sakura?"
"Of course I'm going to choose Sakura."
"Just checking. Look kid I know that we've had our disagreements in the past and we will continue to have them in the future but Sakura loves you. If she's happy then I'm happy and if she's happy with you then I guess I'll have to get used to you."
"Yeah I guess. Truce?" He stuck out his hand. Kero nodded
"Truce. Though I still get to name call you."
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
***
"Why hasn't this thing beeped yet?" Sakura wailed as she sat on one of the benches. It was Friday afternoon and she was expecting the watch to go off. She'd expected it to go off that morning but nothing. She'd had to sit there in class the whole day wondering whether or not it would go off.
"Sakura it's not that bad." Ah Kum said. They were in gym class.
"I'd like you try this."
"She will." Lien said. Ah Kum was expecting now. Everyone had laughed at that prospect Even her.
Everyone giggled. Ah Kum had been so excited about it that she jumped up in class and had screamed out YES.
"You need to relax Sakura. It will make the whole deal less dramatic. Though Xiao Lang has been on edge all day."
Sakura burst into laughter at hearing that. She thought she was paranoid. He was worse. Someone's watch had gone off and he'd jumped up in panic and turned to sakura. That had been the highlight of her day.
"Come on lets go. We got some time to…" Lien was stopped by the loud beeping from Sakura's watch. She jumped up and screamed out.
"YES IT'S OVER!" She cried out. Syaoran had run over to her in a state of complete panic and had lifted her up and dragged her away to the teacher.
"He's into it." Miki said and they all laughed.
"Syaoran put me down. I can walk you know." Sakura said giggling. They were at the classroom and he hadn't put her down yet.
"Um yeah ok."
She giggled and he put her down. 'Just a few more minutes.'
"Ah miss Kinomoto. Mr. Li. I see the watch has gone off. Congratulations." She gave them another box. Sakura sighed in relief and before anyone could say anything grabbed her bag and raced to the bathroom as best she could.
"She's not comfortable." He explained. The teacher smiled.
"It's ok. Women know what that's like. At least no pain was involved."
He walked out of the room and stood outside the girls bathroom. It was now lunch and Sakura was getting changed.
'I wonder.' He said and he was about to open the box when a slim Sakura walked out of the bathroom.
"Don't you dare open that box without me. I've been carrying this weight for the last week and I want to see first." She said dragging a bag behind her. He was sitting in front of some of the lockers so she just sat next to him.
"Gomen." He muttered. She sighed and took the box from him. She opened the box and gasped in surprise. "What is it?"
"It's so cute." She cooed as she lifted a little baby doll from the large box. It had light brown hairs and dark brown eyes. It was no bigger than a new born baby and it looked very realistic.
Syaoran smiled at her outburst. He had to admit it was cute. He watched as Sakura cradled their new, wait they didn't know what it was.
"Um, Sakura. What is it?"
"Oh yeah." She gently lifted its diaper and checked. She giggled and looked at her 'husband' "You have a son."
"We have a son." He corrected and gently kissed her.
She smiled and cradled her new baby boy. He was so small and cute. Tomoyo would have a field day. Syaoran grabbed the box from her and looked through it.
It was filled with things they needed to do for the baby. A blanket to wrap it with and some other things. There was even a set of diapers and a bottle.
"He looks so real." She exclaimed. He chuckled at her. She was definitely enjoying this.
He found two medical bracelets with keys on it. The key had a number on it.
"I guess we have to wear these." He said as he handed her one of the tags.
"Yeah."
She handed her son to Syaoran and put on the tag. The key was to be slotted into the baby's back every time it cried.
She turned to take him back when he saw her boyfriend starting at the baby carefully. He had a little smile on his face and it made Sakura's heart melt.
'He'll make a good father one day.'
'Definitely.' Her mind agreed.
'Oh we agree on something?'
'Don't get used to it.'
"What are we going to call him?" She asked. He turned his head to look at her.
"I have no idea, but we'll think of something." He handed the baby back to Sakura and leaned back against the lockers.
"Well we need one. I want to show everyone but I want him to have a name." She insisted. She started to coo at the little doll in her arms. "He's so cute and handsome."
Syaoran pondered for a moment and smiled at what she'd just said.
"Yan Tao." He finally said. She looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"What?"
"The baby. Yan Tao. It means handsome in Chinese." He explained. He had to admit. The baby was cute. For a doll.
"Li Yan Tao. I like it." She said with a smile. He returned it and he got up and helped her get up with the baby in her arms. People were coming and going and they needed to get their lunch.
"Well let's go meet up with the others. I know this afternoon Tomoyo will be ecstatic." He said while helping his 'wife' with her bags.
***
"Look at his little face." Far Ran exclaimed.
"Look at his little eyes." Fei Mei squealed.
"He's so tiny." Fuutie cooed.
"He looks so much like little brother." Xie Fa said.
"He looks like both of them." Tomoyo exclaimed from behind her video camera.
Everyone else watched as the group of girls looked at the little bundle in Sakura's arms. They were all excited about her coming home that day and had even waited at the gates. They were now in the front foyer cooing and almost worshiping the little baby.
They touché his little hands and admired at how handsome he was.
"What's his name?" Eriol asked from his place at the door.
"Yan Tao." Sakura said. The four Li sisters squealed at the name.
"Very appropriate." Eriol answered.
Xiao Lang stood to the side and watched his family fuss of his 'son'. His sisters had gone crazy and so had Tomoyo. Eriol looked just about ready to burst and Kero hadn't seen him yet.
"Li Yan Tao. So cute." The girls all cried out. Sakura sweatdroped and adjusted her hold on the little doll.
She was taking this very well. He would have probably yelled at the girls, but what example would that be?
So caught up in his thoughts he didn't notice when Sakura came up to him. He snapped out of his thoughts when she coughed.
"Hu?"
"Could you hold him while I go get changed?"
"Yeah. Sure."
He held out his hands and took the baby from Sakura's arms. He heard a few kawaii's and aw's from his sisters and Tomoyo as Sakura walked up the stairs to get changed. He cradled the baby in his arms and Eriol couldn't resist going up to him.
"He looks so real." He commented. The doll did look real. It had real hair. (You know the ones they put on certain dolls instead of the drawn on hair.) His eyes fluttered open and shut and its cheeks moved ever so slightly. (I loved those dolls. They looked so real. I had like three when I was little)
"Yeah he does." He agreed. He moved his arms carefully so he was holding the back of his head. If he let go the baby would start to cry and it would be recorded as mistreatment.
"You know. The girls are right. He does look strikingly like you." Eriol commented looking at the baby then back at Syaoran. The warrior in question blushed a little and looked down at the sleeping infant.
The baby's hair was messy like Syaoran's. It was a honey color like Sakura's. His eyes resembled his own and his skin complexion was a mix of both Syaoran's and Sakura's. Taking a good look at the doll Syaoran had to admit. He did look an awful lot like himself and Sakura.
"Coincidence." He mumbled but then took a look at Eriol. He had that evil glint in his eyes plus that smile that said 'I'm so evil but I act so blameless'. "Or did you have something to do with it?"
"What ever do you mean?" He asked innocently. That just furthered Syaoran's suspicions.
"I know that look. What did you do?" He glared at the blue haired sorcerer. Eriol chuckled and sighed.
"Ok you caught me. I did a little spell. When you opened the box I made it so that the baby would resemble its 'parents'"
"So you made him look like us?" Syaoran asked a little puzzled. Why on earth would Eriol do that?
"Yeah."
"Here's the question. Why?"
"Hmm. I don't know. Just thought it would be a good idea."
Syaoran rolled his eyes and walked passed the giggling girls with Yan in his arms. His mother gave him a smile and he returned it. He walked into the dining room and sat down on his seat. Everyone followed and watched as he sat there with his son in his arms.
This was what Sakura saw when she came down the stairs with Kero. She'd been telling him about her son and he was curious to see what all the commotion was about. Suppi floated behind.
His sisters surrounded him With Tomoyo aiming her weapon of choice at him. Her camera. Filming every moment.
Kero chuckled at all the attention Syaoran was getting and floated over to look at the 'infant.'
"Hey cute." Kero said. The little doll was still doing its sucking motion as it slept.
"Isn't he?" Tomoyo said with stars in her eyes. "It's amazing how much he looks like the both of you. How did you choose it?"
"Ask Eriol." Syaoran said smugly.
Everyone turned their attention to Eriol who simply said 'magic' That seemed to explain a whole lot to everyone.
Sakura smiled and took the baby from its father's arms. He looked a little reluctant but she ignored the feeling.
At that moment Yan Tao decided to cry. Sakura took her key and placed it into the baby's back. He stopped crying instantly.
"Not too hard." She said as she took her seat next to Syaoran.
"Wait till he wakes up in the middle of the night." Meilin said. Her baby had cried most of the night.
"Don't forget Touya. He'll need to meet his nephew and when your dad gets back he'll get to meet his grandson. Yes he will." Tomoyo said in her own 'baby talk' voice.
"Ugh. Don't remind me about Touya. I can't believe he would burst into tears each time he saw me with the round tummy."
"He's just protective that's all. Don't worry about him though." Eriol assured. She smiled and looked back at her son. Their food was bought in and she was having trouble eating and holding Yan properly
"Oh we should get the crib Xiao Lang had out. That would make it so much easier on you." Xie Fa said and walked out of the room. She came back ten minutes later with one of the servants carrying a wooden crib that had little wolves on the sides.
"It's so kawaii!" Tomoyo squealed as Sakura placed the baby in the crib. She had to admit it was pretty cute.
Syaoran blushed furiously when they said it. He used the crib till he was three. His father had made it for him.
"Was it really yours?" Sakura whispered as they all began to eat. He nodded his head and chewed some of his food. "Who made it?"
"I'll tell you later." He muttered. She gave him a quizzical look but didn't pry for answers.
The rest of the dinner was uneventful.
***
"So tell me. Who made your crib?" Sakura asked. They were walking in the gardens after they had finished their homework and spent some time with their friends.
"My father." He said softly. He didn't remember much of him. Only small things.
"Oh. Xiao Lang. What was he like?" She queried as she held Yan Tao in her arms.
"I don't remember much. I just remember certain things. Like his eyes. They looked a lot like mine. He was a strong man. Always serious but you wanted to be around him."
"Do you miss him?"
He stayed quiet for a moment pondering the question. He had a lot of father figures in his life. Did he ever miss HIS father?
"Yeah. I guess I do."
"I miss my mom." She whispered as they passed the larger trees. She wrapped the blanked tightly around the baby so it wouldn't get cold.
"Do you remember her?"
"I was really little but yeah. Sometimes I can remember her voice. The way she smelled. I remember she used to sing to me." She took a deep breath. "I remember that she would take me to the park and we'd sit on the swings and she'd just talk to me."
"What about?"
"I don't remember. I just remember that she always smiled."
"You miss her a lot?"
"Yeah I do. I never really had a mother figure. So I don't know what it's like to have that comfort." She held back a sob. "I grew up without her. I mean I know she's always watching over me. When the illusion card happened. I felt something grab me when I fell and I know it was her."
"You never told me what happened that day." He said. They came to a cherry blossom tree.
"The illusion card made an image of my mother and I fell off the cliff." She said. He winced at the thought. "Something grabbed me and then Yukito caught me."
"Your mom?" She nodded and they stayed silent for a few minutes.
"What do you miss most about her?" Syaoran said breaking the silence. Sakura thought about it for a few minutes and turned to look at him
"I miss her being there to talk to. So much has happened over my life that I wish I could tell her face to face. Like the clow cards. I know she would have understood, and…"
Her voice trailed off and she blushed slightly.
"And our relationship?" He asked with a small smile. She nodded and sighed.
"At first when we met we didn't get along. Then we became good friends. Then when you left no one understood how I felt. I wanted to tell someone. Tomoyo would have been there but she still wouldn't have completely understood. My mom would have."
"I'm sorry." He took a deep breath. "About everything. Your mom, my actions towards you when I met you. The way I treated you. For leaving you."
"It's ok." She smiled at him. "It's all in the past now. We have each other now and I know my Okaa-san is watching us. I think she'd be proud about the choices I made. What about you? What do you miss about your dad?"
"Honestly. Having someone who understood me. You do I know but I mean a man. Eriol tries but I still got my issues with him. I miss having him there to train with. He was an amazing swordsman. His magical abilities too. I guess I miss someone to give me advice."
"For what?" He stayed quiet. As if to ponder his next move. He fidgeted with his pockets.
"Sakura. My birthday is coming up and..."
"You have to choose your wife." She said before he could tell her.
"Who…"
"Tomoyo."
"Oh." He took another deep breath. "Sakura. I guess I could ask this you now though it's not really romantic and I want you to know that I love you with all my heart and soul."
"I know that."
"Sakura would you marry me?" He asked getting on his knee in front of her.
She looked at him with shock as he bought out a velvet box with a gold ring with a diamond in the middle.
Gasping Sakura looked at the ring without noticing how the scenery seemed to change slightly. It took her a moment to hear the soft music surrounding them. She looked around to see everything glowing in a soft green and pink.
She looked back at her boyfriend and her mind was made up. She had tears in her eyes and a smile appeared on her face.
"Of course." She whispered and let him put he ring on her. He hugged her as best he could with Yan in her arms and she cried on his shoulder.
"Don't cry Sakura. There's no reason to." He said softly as the tears ran down her face.
"Ashiteru." She said looking into his eyes.
"Wo Ai No." He whispered back as she leaned forward and kissed him passionately.
They continued to kiss until Yan started to cry. With a giggle Sakura stuck the key into his back and he stopped.
"I guess you'll have to ask me again on your birthday." She said.
"No. On my birthday I can introduce you formally as my fiancée. For real." He said smiling. She returned the smile and leaned her head against his shoulder.
"You said it wouldn't be romantic and you have music and the whole clearing is glowing green and pink. I think that's very romantic."
"I didn't do it though." He said with a frown. He had a pretty good idea who did though.
"Eriol?"
"Eriol." He confirmed.
A loud chorus of 'kawaii's' was heard from further off in the gardens and Sakura couldn't help but giggle.
"How long did you have this planned?"
"Oh I only thought about asking you last week after the 'talk' Then some other stuff came up and I thought more about it. Got the ring while you were out. Told Eriol. Though I wanted to ask you after you got the baby."
"That's why you've been so jumpy?"
"Yeah."
"Tomoyo is right. You are kawaii." She cooed.
"There goes my reputation." He mocked
She slapped him playfully and she leaned back against him. He wrapped his arm around her and they watched as the colors changed around them.
***
Did you like it? I liked the end. I don't see enough fic that talk about Sakura's mom or Syaoran's dad. I thought I'd bring it up.
Well remember to review. Oh chapter 17 of forever in one moment is up. FINALLY
Ja ne minna
Kang
I got one review saying that this stuff isn't taken THAT serious. It's a fanfic. You're allowed to make things a little less realistic. It's just for entertainment purposes.
Disclaimer. I DON"T OWN THEM. I wish I did but it will never happen. :Sigh:
***
'I feel like a duck' Sakura complained in her mind.
'You look like one too.' Her mind chirped. She had one week left until she could get rid of this thing. The teacher had told her she had to wear it for the entire week. When the watch went off she'd need to go pick up the baby. No matter WHERE she was.
'Oh shut up. I don't have time for you.' She snapped at her inner self.
'Moody aren't we?'
'Not now.'
"Hey Sakura are you ok?" Tomoyo asked as they walked around the large park.
"Yeah. I'm just so tired. This thing better be over soon." She complained. She hadn't seen her feet all week. Her back ached and her moods were up and down because of it.
"It's ok Sakura. Only two more days." Her friend reassured. It had been fun having Sakura 'pregnant' She'd been able to make her clothes and was now working on clothes for the 'baby'
"You know I wouldn't mind if this was real. I'd get a reward at the end, but this is an assignment and I'll have to give everything back." She whined. It was true. All this suffering was just for a grade.
"Well it will be over soon." Tomoyo said. (Yeah right) Sakura nodded and sighed. This whole deal was getting to be too complicated for her taste.
"Hey at least you never had to loose your figure for this assignment." Tomoyo teased. Sakura grinned and giggled. It was true. She'd heard of women gaining a lot of weight after a baby.
"Yeah."
"Well listen don't worry about the assignment so much ok. Hey Li's birthday is coming up right."
"What about it?"
"You don't know what's going to happen there do you?"
"No I don't."
"Li has to choose his wife."
"WHAT? How did you know?"
"One simple word. Eriol."
"So you're saying he needs to choose his wife there. In front of everyone?"
"Yeah Sakura. Come on you want to marry him don't you?" Tomoyo asked her best friend.
"Of course I do." She exclaimed. "I love him."
"Exactly. Which is why I think you should do something special for him." Tomoyo started to whisper in her ear the plan she'd set out.
"Tomoyo, I don't think I can do that." Sakura said once she finished explaining her plan.
"Sure you can Sakura. Come on we better get going. People are starting to stare at you." It was true. People were staring at the pregnant teenager who sat in the park. Probably thinking 'poor girl'
"I feel so bloated." Yuki had taken her to the maternity ward two days ago. Tomoyo had gone as well. It had been interesting to see all the babies and how everything worked.
One of the nurses had added water to the devise Sakura was wearing. It did make her look nine months pregnant. This had excited Tomoyo immensely and she started to design some maternity clothes.
^Flashback^
"Tomoyo you really shouldn't. I mean I'm not going to use all this after." Sakura complained as Tomoyo helped her into a dress after she'd looked about ready to give birth.
"Nonsense Sakura. Look you can keep it for when you have the real deal." Sakura blushed as Yuki and Tomoyo laughed.
"I look like a great blue whale," She whimpered. She did look pretty big.
"You look the part though. You know you are going to make a great mother some day." Yuki exclaimed as she helped Tomoyo. The two girls got along very much and it was obvious to sakura that they had a similar aura about them.
"Hoe."
"Hey Sakura, are we going straight home or can we stop at the ice-cream parlor on the way back." Tomoyo asked when she finished adjusting the dress.
"Well we could go for some ice-cream." She admitted. She and Tomoyo were staying at Syaoran's until the assignment was over. The reason behind this was one Fujitaka was on a dig for the next three weeks and Touya would come close to bursting into tears every time he saw his little sister.
"I think Touya's afraid that this is a glimpse into the future." Yuki said. The married couples had been spending their weekends together to talk about their conditions. Another of the girls had been announced pregnant but she was in her first week.
"Yeah. He's just scared that I'm growing up." She agreed.
"Lets go."
^End of flashback^
"Just two more days." Sakura exclaimed as they drove off. She was too big to be behind the wheel so Tomoyo had to drive. Something suddenly occurred to Sakura.
"Tomoyo why is everyone suddenly trying to convince me to have a baby for real?"
She tensed up a bit at the question and pondered whether to tell her or not. She decided to tell her the truth.
"You see Sakura. The elders have been talking to Eriol lately and well, they're worried that the cards will be taken away from you. If they are under the protection of the clan then they'll be safe."
"What do you mean?"
"Eriol said that the cards would be passed on to your descendent. It wouldn't fall into the wrong hands. He says that the cards belong to a blood line and that bloodline includes you. No one can hold those cards except YOUR direct family."
"So Syaoran can't use them?"
"Not until you and he, well you know." Tomoyo smiled. "Besides it would be so kawaii to see a miniature version of you and Li."
"Ok I understand now but that doesn't mean I have to, you know, now. I can wait till I'm married." She protested.
"Yeah. Though it would be cute to have a little baby around. I mean with me and Eriol moving here so he can be closer to his 'family'"
"Sighs. Ok now I just got a headache."
"Don't worry Sakura. You got a lot of time to think about what you want." Tomoyo reassured.
'I don't know about that.'
'Shut up.'
'Oh come on you know something is going to happen and you know what your body wants and needs.'
'Shut up already.'
'Temper, temper.'
'SHUT UP!'
***
"Xiao Lang we need to finalize the list for your birthday banquet next month." Yelen told her son. (Think that's bad. My birthday list is already under way and my birthday is in March.)
"Yes mama." He mumbled. He wasn't feeling himself today. He'd just spoken to the elders and they were being very insistent on who he would choose as his wife. That was probably the stupidest question they'd ever asked him.
"What's wrong my son?"
"Nothing." He said and walked out of the room. Yelen sighed. He'd been pressured all week. Everyone wanted to know what he was going to do. Worse, once they knew who he would pick. An obvious choice they'd already started talking about bearing children.
'My poor little wolf.'
Syaoran walked up the stairs to his room. He was stressed. Not only because of his family but because of the assignment too. The baby would be here in two days and Sakura was nervous. He was worse. His mind hadn't stopped torturing him and it was driving him nuts.
"Hey kid what's up?" Kero said when he saw the Li warrior walking up to his room.
"Nothing."
"Come on kid it can't be that bad can it?"
"Guess again."
"That bad."
"Worse." He sighed. "What's with everyone lately?"
"Uh what you mean?"
"Everyone's been on my back. I should have a child by the time I'm twenty. I need to get married soon. I have to produce an heir so that the clan can go on."
"Oh that. Well kid let's talk in your room. I'll explain some stuff."
They got to his room and Kero sat on his bed. They never spoke but Kero decided it was time to explain some of the mysteries behind his clan.
"Ok. So stuffed animal what you got to say?"
"One, don't call me a stuffed animal. Well see in the old days it was necessary to have heirs. You're lucky kid. Back then boys no older than sixteen were already fathers."
"Yeah but that's all changed now. I can wait."
"No it hasn't changed. Your clan is very powerful but there are still forces out there that can cause problems. The cards are the main reason everyone's been so jumpy about your marriage assignment."
"Why?" He was getting frustrated.
"You hold Clow Reeds blood in you but you aren't the card master. Sakura is. There are a lot of forces out there that want to get their hands on both her and the cards. The elders are worried that something will happen if she isn't in the family."
"What does that have to do with me having a child with her?" He asked sitting down on the bed.
"It's life kid. You having a child with her would seal the claim. The cards and her would be under your protection and no other could take that away." (This is actually true. Some cultures said that a woman didn't belong to a man until she bore his child.)
"Why now?"
"Well you are kind of overdue. Law was changed from sixteen to eighteen. On your birthday you have to choose your wife and you get married when the astrology signs say. You have a kid as soon as possible or Sakura can be taken away."
"Yeah. Damn this is so hard. Who thought an assignment could make things so complicated." He sighed. The little guardian beast gave him a sympathetic look.
"Life's not easy. Though it's not that bad. I mean you are going to choose Sakura?"
"Of course I'm going to choose Sakura."
"Just checking. Look kid I know that we've had our disagreements in the past and we will continue to have them in the future but Sakura loves you. If she's happy then I'm happy and if she's happy with you then I guess I'll have to get used to you."
"Yeah I guess. Truce?" He stuck out his hand. Kero nodded
"Truce. Though I still get to name call you."
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
***
"Why hasn't this thing beeped yet?" Sakura wailed as she sat on one of the benches. It was Friday afternoon and she was expecting the watch to go off. She'd expected it to go off that morning but nothing. She'd had to sit there in class the whole day wondering whether or not it would go off.
"Sakura it's not that bad." Ah Kum said. They were in gym class.
"I'd like you try this."
"She will." Lien said. Ah Kum was expecting now. Everyone had laughed at that prospect Even her.
Everyone giggled. Ah Kum had been so excited about it that she jumped up in class and had screamed out YES.
"You need to relax Sakura. It will make the whole deal less dramatic. Though Xiao Lang has been on edge all day."
Sakura burst into laughter at hearing that. She thought she was paranoid. He was worse. Someone's watch had gone off and he'd jumped up in panic and turned to sakura. That had been the highlight of her day.
"Come on lets go. We got some time to…" Lien was stopped by the loud beeping from Sakura's watch. She jumped up and screamed out.
"YES IT'S OVER!" She cried out. Syaoran had run over to her in a state of complete panic and had lifted her up and dragged her away to the teacher.
"He's into it." Miki said and they all laughed.
"Syaoran put me down. I can walk you know." Sakura said giggling. They were at the classroom and he hadn't put her down yet.
"Um yeah ok."
She giggled and he put her down. 'Just a few more minutes.'
"Ah miss Kinomoto. Mr. Li. I see the watch has gone off. Congratulations." She gave them another box. Sakura sighed in relief and before anyone could say anything grabbed her bag and raced to the bathroom as best she could.
"She's not comfortable." He explained. The teacher smiled.
"It's ok. Women know what that's like. At least no pain was involved."
He walked out of the room and stood outside the girls bathroom. It was now lunch and Sakura was getting changed.
'I wonder.' He said and he was about to open the box when a slim Sakura walked out of the bathroom.
"Don't you dare open that box without me. I've been carrying this weight for the last week and I want to see first." She said dragging a bag behind her. He was sitting in front of some of the lockers so she just sat next to him.
"Gomen." He muttered. She sighed and took the box from him. She opened the box and gasped in surprise. "What is it?"
"It's so cute." She cooed as she lifted a little baby doll from the large box. It had light brown hairs and dark brown eyes. It was no bigger than a new born baby and it looked very realistic.
Syaoran smiled at her outburst. He had to admit it was cute. He watched as Sakura cradled their new, wait they didn't know what it was.
"Um, Sakura. What is it?"
"Oh yeah." She gently lifted its diaper and checked. She giggled and looked at her 'husband' "You have a son."
"We have a son." He corrected and gently kissed her.
She smiled and cradled her new baby boy. He was so small and cute. Tomoyo would have a field day. Syaoran grabbed the box from her and looked through it.
It was filled with things they needed to do for the baby. A blanket to wrap it with and some other things. There was even a set of diapers and a bottle.
"He looks so real." She exclaimed. He chuckled at her. She was definitely enjoying this.
He found two medical bracelets with keys on it. The key had a number on it.
"I guess we have to wear these." He said as he handed her one of the tags.
"Yeah."
She handed her son to Syaoran and put on the tag. The key was to be slotted into the baby's back every time it cried.
She turned to take him back when he saw her boyfriend starting at the baby carefully. He had a little smile on his face and it made Sakura's heart melt.
'He'll make a good father one day.'
'Definitely.' Her mind agreed.
'Oh we agree on something?'
'Don't get used to it.'
"What are we going to call him?" She asked. He turned his head to look at her.
"I have no idea, but we'll think of something." He handed the baby back to Sakura and leaned back against the lockers.
"Well we need one. I want to show everyone but I want him to have a name." She insisted. She started to coo at the little doll in her arms. "He's so cute and handsome."
Syaoran pondered for a moment and smiled at what she'd just said.
"Yan Tao." He finally said. She looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"What?"
"The baby. Yan Tao. It means handsome in Chinese." He explained. He had to admit. The baby was cute. For a doll.
"Li Yan Tao. I like it." She said with a smile. He returned it and he got up and helped her get up with the baby in her arms. People were coming and going and they needed to get their lunch.
"Well let's go meet up with the others. I know this afternoon Tomoyo will be ecstatic." He said while helping his 'wife' with her bags.
***
"Look at his little face." Far Ran exclaimed.
"Look at his little eyes." Fei Mei squealed.
"He's so tiny." Fuutie cooed.
"He looks so much like little brother." Xie Fa said.
"He looks like both of them." Tomoyo exclaimed from behind her video camera.
Everyone else watched as the group of girls looked at the little bundle in Sakura's arms. They were all excited about her coming home that day and had even waited at the gates. They were now in the front foyer cooing and almost worshiping the little baby.
They touché his little hands and admired at how handsome he was.
"What's his name?" Eriol asked from his place at the door.
"Yan Tao." Sakura said. The four Li sisters squealed at the name.
"Very appropriate." Eriol answered.
Xiao Lang stood to the side and watched his family fuss of his 'son'. His sisters had gone crazy and so had Tomoyo. Eriol looked just about ready to burst and Kero hadn't seen him yet.
"Li Yan Tao. So cute." The girls all cried out. Sakura sweatdroped and adjusted her hold on the little doll.
She was taking this very well. He would have probably yelled at the girls, but what example would that be?
So caught up in his thoughts he didn't notice when Sakura came up to him. He snapped out of his thoughts when she coughed.
"Hu?"
"Could you hold him while I go get changed?"
"Yeah. Sure."
He held out his hands and took the baby from Sakura's arms. He heard a few kawaii's and aw's from his sisters and Tomoyo as Sakura walked up the stairs to get changed. He cradled the baby in his arms and Eriol couldn't resist going up to him.
"He looks so real." He commented. The doll did look real. It had real hair. (You know the ones they put on certain dolls instead of the drawn on hair.) His eyes fluttered open and shut and its cheeks moved ever so slightly. (I loved those dolls. They looked so real. I had like three when I was little)
"Yeah he does." He agreed. He moved his arms carefully so he was holding the back of his head. If he let go the baby would start to cry and it would be recorded as mistreatment.
"You know. The girls are right. He does look strikingly like you." Eriol commented looking at the baby then back at Syaoran. The warrior in question blushed a little and looked down at the sleeping infant.
The baby's hair was messy like Syaoran's. It was a honey color like Sakura's. His eyes resembled his own and his skin complexion was a mix of both Syaoran's and Sakura's. Taking a good look at the doll Syaoran had to admit. He did look an awful lot like himself and Sakura.
"Coincidence." He mumbled but then took a look at Eriol. He had that evil glint in his eyes plus that smile that said 'I'm so evil but I act so blameless'. "Or did you have something to do with it?"
"What ever do you mean?" He asked innocently. That just furthered Syaoran's suspicions.
"I know that look. What did you do?" He glared at the blue haired sorcerer. Eriol chuckled and sighed.
"Ok you caught me. I did a little spell. When you opened the box I made it so that the baby would resemble its 'parents'"
"So you made him look like us?" Syaoran asked a little puzzled. Why on earth would Eriol do that?
"Yeah."
"Here's the question. Why?"
"Hmm. I don't know. Just thought it would be a good idea."
Syaoran rolled his eyes and walked passed the giggling girls with Yan in his arms. His mother gave him a smile and he returned it. He walked into the dining room and sat down on his seat. Everyone followed and watched as he sat there with his son in his arms.
This was what Sakura saw when she came down the stairs with Kero. She'd been telling him about her son and he was curious to see what all the commotion was about. Suppi floated behind.
His sisters surrounded him With Tomoyo aiming her weapon of choice at him. Her camera. Filming every moment.
Kero chuckled at all the attention Syaoran was getting and floated over to look at the 'infant.'
"Hey cute." Kero said. The little doll was still doing its sucking motion as it slept.
"Isn't he?" Tomoyo said with stars in her eyes. "It's amazing how much he looks like the both of you. How did you choose it?"
"Ask Eriol." Syaoran said smugly.
Everyone turned their attention to Eriol who simply said 'magic' That seemed to explain a whole lot to everyone.
Sakura smiled and took the baby from its father's arms. He looked a little reluctant but she ignored the feeling.
At that moment Yan Tao decided to cry. Sakura took her key and placed it into the baby's back. He stopped crying instantly.
"Not too hard." She said as she took her seat next to Syaoran.
"Wait till he wakes up in the middle of the night." Meilin said. Her baby had cried most of the night.
"Don't forget Touya. He'll need to meet his nephew and when your dad gets back he'll get to meet his grandson. Yes he will." Tomoyo said in her own 'baby talk' voice.
"Ugh. Don't remind me about Touya. I can't believe he would burst into tears each time he saw me with the round tummy."
"He's just protective that's all. Don't worry about him though." Eriol assured. She smiled and looked back at her son. Their food was bought in and she was having trouble eating and holding Yan properly
"Oh we should get the crib Xiao Lang had out. That would make it so much easier on you." Xie Fa said and walked out of the room. She came back ten minutes later with one of the servants carrying a wooden crib that had little wolves on the sides.
"It's so kawaii!" Tomoyo squealed as Sakura placed the baby in the crib. She had to admit it was pretty cute.
Syaoran blushed furiously when they said it. He used the crib till he was three. His father had made it for him.
"Was it really yours?" Sakura whispered as they all began to eat. He nodded his head and chewed some of his food. "Who made it?"
"I'll tell you later." He muttered. She gave him a quizzical look but didn't pry for answers.
The rest of the dinner was uneventful.
***
"So tell me. Who made your crib?" Sakura asked. They were walking in the gardens after they had finished their homework and spent some time with their friends.
"My father." He said softly. He didn't remember much of him. Only small things.
"Oh. Xiao Lang. What was he like?" She queried as she held Yan Tao in her arms.
"I don't remember much. I just remember certain things. Like his eyes. They looked a lot like mine. He was a strong man. Always serious but you wanted to be around him."
"Do you miss him?"
He stayed quiet for a moment pondering the question. He had a lot of father figures in his life. Did he ever miss HIS father?
"Yeah. I guess I do."
"I miss my mom." She whispered as they passed the larger trees. She wrapped the blanked tightly around the baby so it wouldn't get cold.
"Do you remember her?"
"I was really little but yeah. Sometimes I can remember her voice. The way she smelled. I remember she used to sing to me." She took a deep breath. "I remember that she would take me to the park and we'd sit on the swings and she'd just talk to me."
"What about?"
"I don't remember. I just remember that she always smiled."
"You miss her a lot?"
"Yeah I do. I never really had a mother figure. So I don't know what it's like to have that comfort." She held back a sob. "I grew up without her. I mean I know she's always watching over me. When the illusion card happened. I felt something grab me when I fell and I know it was her."
"You never told me what happened that day." He said. They came to a cherry blossom tree.
"The illusion card made an image of my mother and I fell off the cliff." She said. He winced at the thought. "Something grabbed me and then Yukito caught me."
"Your mom?" She nodded and they stayed silent for a few minutes.
"What do you miss most about her?" Syaoran said breaking the silence. Sakura thought about it for a few minutes and turned to look at him
"I miss her being there to talk to. So much has happened over my life that I wish I could tell her face to face. Like the clow cards. I know she would have understood, and…"
Her voice trailed off and she blushed slightly.
"And our relationship?" He asked with a small smile. She nodded and sighed.
"At first when we met we didn't get along. Then we became good friends. Then when you left no one understood how I felt. I wanted to tell someone. Tomoyo would have been there but she still wouldn't have completely understood. My mom would have."
"I'm sorry." He took a deep breath. "About everything. Your mom, my actions towards you when I met you. The way I treated you. For leaving you."
"It's ok." She smiled at him. "It's all in the past now. We have each other now and I know my Okaa-san is watching us. I think she'd be proud about the choices I made. What about you? What do you miss about your dad?"
"Honestly. Having someone who understood me. You do I know but I mean a man. Eriol tries but I still got my issues with him. I miss having him there to train with. He was an amazing swordsman. His magical abilities too. I guess I miss someone to give me advice."
"For what?" He stayed quiet. As if to ponder his next move. He fidgeted with his pockets.
"Sakura. My birthday is coming up and..."
"You have to choose your wife." She said before he could tell her.
"Who…"
"Tomoyo."
"Oh." He took another deep breath. "Sakura. I guess I could ask this you now though it's not really romantic and I want you to know that I love you with all my heart and soul."
"I know that."
"Sakura would you marry me?" He asked getting on his knee in front of her.
She looked at him with shock as he bought out a velvet box with a gold ring with a diamond in the middle.
Gasping Sakura looked at the ring without noticing how the scenery seemed to change slightly. It took her a moment to hear the soft music surrounding them. She looked around to see everything glowing in a soft green and pink.
She looked back at her boyfriend and her mind was made up. She had tears in her eyes and a smile appeared on her face.
"Of course." She whispered and let him put he ring on her. He hugged her as best he could with Yan in her arms and she cried on his shoulder.
"Don't cry Sakura. There's no reason to." He said softly as the tears ran down her face.
"Ashiteru." She said looking into his eyes.
"Wo Ai No." He whispered back as she leaned forward and kissed him passionately.
They continued to kiss until Yan started to cry. With a giggle Sakura stuck the key into his back and he stopped.
"I guess you'll have to ask me again on your birthday." She said.
"No. On my birthday I can introduce you formally as my fiancée. For real." He said smiling. She returned the smile and leaned her head against his shoulder.
"You said it wouldn't be romantic and you have music and the whole clearing is glowing green and pink. I think that's very romantic."
"I didn't do it though." He said with a frown. He had a pretty good idea who did though.
"Eriol?"
"Eriol." He confirmed.
A loud chorus of 'kawaii's' was heard from further off in the gardens and Sakura couldn't help but giggle.
"How long did you have this planned?"
"Oh I only thought about asking you last week after the 'talk' Then some other stuff came up and I thought more about it. Got the ring while you were out. Told Eriol. Though I wanted to ask you after you got the baby."
"That's why you've been so jumpy?"
"Yeah."
"Tomoyo is right. You are kawaii." She cooed.
"There goes my reputation." He mocked
She slapped him playfully and she leaned back against him. He wrapped his arm around her and they watched as the colors changed around them.
***
Did you like it? I liked the end. I don't see enough fic that talk about Sakura's mom or Syaoran's dad. I thought I'd bring it up.
Well remember to review. Oh chapter 17 of forever in one moment is up. FINALLY
Ja ne minna
Kang