Chapter Eleven:
Syaoran lifted his head, peering towards the windows. That had been the bell, he was sure of it. But who knew he was home? He wasn't expecting visitors. He sat up slowly, rubbing at his eyes. No sleep had come to him but that was all right. He was so jumpy he probably couldn't have slept even if he had wanted to.
Wei was already walking by the doorway on his way to the front door. Syaoran let him get it, head falling forward as he inhaled wearily. Why was he so tired?
"Ah, Miss Sakura, how are you?"
"Good, Wei-san. Yourself?" she asked politely from the hallway.
Syaoran lifted his head, frowning. Sakura? What was she doing here? She was supposed to be getting some sleep-
"Syaoran-sama is in the living room." He said and he dismissed himself, walking back passed the doorway. A moment later Sakura entered the living room, paler than a ghost.
"Sakura? Daijobu?" he asked, rising to his feet and taking a step toward her.
She stopped him, taking something out of her backpack. "What's this, Syaoran?" she asked in a shaky voice, eyes shimmering.
Syaoran looked at the tape in confusion. "A videotape? I don't know, Sakura. Why?" he stared at her again, feeling as if he could burn a hole into her.
A tear fell from her eye, mouth tightening. "A bet, Syaoran?" she asked, faint as a breath. "I'm a bet?"
Syaoran stared at her as the world spun around him briefly. "N…Nani…?" he uttered hoarsely.
"I'm a bet?!" she cried and she flung the tape at him, body stiffening. "A bet??"
Syaoran caught the tape against his chest, gazing at her trembling figure before looking down at the tape's black surface. It seemed so innocent, so simple. One little tape.
One little tape that had just destroyed his life.
Sakura shook her head at him, ignoring the tears streaming down her face. "What happened? What were you thinking? How could you do it?" she demanded. And she blinked, confused with herself. "I can't even talk straight, I'm so mad!"
He looked at her again, lips parted, and he shook his head. "It isn't what you think, Sakura-" he began quickly. If he could get a word in, a sentence, and explain it, it would be fine. He could fix it.
"It's exactly what I think, Syaoran!" she shouted and she pointed at the tape. "I saw it, the whole thing! Your feelings. Everything! And that's what hurts the most!"
Syaoran swallowed painfully. "My…feelings?" he uttered thoughtlessly.
Sakura tilted her head and gazed at him. The expression on her face made him feel lower than slime. "I told you everything, Syaoran. About Yukito. And I never knew I hurt you in doing that. But you…" she motioned at the tape. "You knew exactly what you were doing. I can see that with my own eyes."
"But it isn't like that-" he took a step toward her, dropping the videotape beside him on the couch. "You don't understand-"
Sakura turned away, zipping up her backpack.
"Sakura! Matte!" he called after her and he closed the space between them, taking hold of her elbow.
Sakura tried to yank her arm away but he held on tightly, forcing her to face him.
"Listen to me, for just one second." He pleaded with her. "For one second."
She struggled with him for all of a moment. "I can't hear this now, Syaoran. I can't," she said, trying to free herself.
"I am in love with you!" he cried, finally managing to take hold of both her arms as she faced him. He gazed at her from inches away, brown eyes wide. "I am in love with you! Do you understand that?"
She gazed back at him, forearms bent against her chest because he wasn't letting go of her arms. And the expression on her face…it was worse than death.
"I am in love with you…" he echoed himself, grip loosening the slightest bit.
And then he released her, lifting his hands to cup her face and he kissed her, a painfully frantic kiss with his entire soul behind it.
Sakura stilled in his embrace, hands having unconsciously wrapped around his wrists. It felt so good. So right, to be here with him, to have him hold her like this. She wanted to stay like this forever, would have given her soul for it. To have his breath against her cheek, his lips pressed to hers this way, with so much emotion behind it. His arms holding her close, fingers caressing her face. She wanted it all, wanted it to last forever.
And she felt her tears slide down her face, knew he tasted them upon his lips. He pulled away from her, only his mouth but he pressed his cheek to hers, hands still clasping her face. She inhaled his scent shakily, felt his breath rapid against her skin.
Aishiteru.
Her expression crumbled as she thought it, as she said those words to him with her heart. But not aloud. She released his wrists, turning her face away from him and he didn't fight her as she clasped her backpack to her chest and fled, the door slamming shut behind her. He stayed where he stood, head bowed, his own tears mingling with hers upon his skin and his lips.
Aishiteru…