By Crystallord
(Hm…now that I think about it, did Syaoran really think he could get away with Sakura's cards? Oh god! Well, I kind of knew it from the start, but it's not really changing much. Sakura's pissed at him, what else is there to know?)
Strong arms enveloped her soul like a dreamy blanket around her body. "It's OK," Toya said. "I'm just glad you're back."
"I'm sorry, Yukito," Sakura added to the boy standing behind Toya, smiling. "Oni-chan…please come home. I already apologized to Oto-san. I miss you."
"Yeah, go home, Toya. You've turned my house into the most God-awful pigsty the world has ever seen," Yukito said.
"Shaddup." Toya grinned. "Okay, shrimp. Let's go home."
*
Sakura went back to school, and apologized to Rika and Chiharu. They offered to replay Syaoran's story for her, but the shouting directed towards him. Sakura thought that was a good idea, but she didn't want to have it done.
"Is it because you hugged in front of the school?" Rika said slyly.
Sakura scowled. "Don't remind me about that! I actually believe I was the Princess of the Cl--" she remembered that Rika and Chiharu were there, and sank into her chair with a groan.
The bell rang, and all of the students sat down. Mr. Terada came in and began discussing some of the plans for the day, how they were going to have an outdoor assembly in the afternoon. The door opened, and everyone looked to see who was late.
Syaoran entered and placed his late slip on Mr. Terada's desk. Then he walked quietly to the back. He paused before Sakura's desk, looking at her, but she acknowledged his presence with a steady gaze out the window.
As he sat down, he heard a word spoken in a very, very low and soft whisper. "Scum."
The day progressed normally, but with Sakura's spiteful comments piercing through the ordinary life like a dagger. During Art she accidentally (on purposely) bumped into Syaoran while he was holding a pot of ink. "Hey!" he shouted as the ink splashed over his hands and shirt.
"I'm so sorry!" Sakura cried. But she lowered her voice so that only Syaoran could hear, "I'm so sorry, Ouji-sama. Will you ever forgive me?"
Syaoran clenched his teeth. "We're going to talk later, Sakura," he murmured under his breath.
"What's there to talk about? And I want my Cards back!" Sakura hissed.
"Whatever. Come for them later."
The assembly finally arrived, and everyone was instructed to go out to the outdoor field. As Sakura and Tomoyo were walking towards the field, a hand wrapped around Sakura's wrist and pulled her away.
Syaoran pulled Sakura towards the circle of trees behind the gym. Sakura crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. "So what do you want to tell me?"
"Sakura, playing that trick on you was the stupidest thing I've ever done--"
"DAMN RIGHT!" Sakura pushed herself off the wall and stood in front of Syaoran. "You not only hurt me, you hurt everyone else that I loved! Oni-chan, my father, Rika and Chiharu! I'm glad you didn't get to Tomoyo, because if you did, you wouldn't be standing here. You would be in the hospital, going through what I had gone through." Her crutch was gone, but sometimes her ankle still throbbed. And some wounds still remained.
"Syaoran, I can remember everything! How you supposedly comforted me, but told me everyone hated me! I trusted you, but I admit that I was stupid. Princess of the Clow Cards? That's really dumb. I'm an idiot to fall for that!"
Syaoran stared at her. "No, you're not an idiot," he said hoarsely. "I am."
"So self-pity's the game now? Syaoran, this sounds really moronic, but I thought you were the only one who cared about me! I thought you liked it when I held your hand! And when you kissed me, I liked it! Then I open my eyes and you've gone, and the past events of the last few months hit me, flashing before my eyes, and I realized what a dirtbag you were."
"I did like it when you held my hand! That's why I brought you here! To say I'm sorry!" Syaoran dropped into the lowest bow he could manage while still talking. "When I was young, and training with magic, they took my memory away accidentally. No one helped me. They placed me in a tiny room, all by myself, waiting for my memory to come back. I don't know which is worse; having someone remake your life, or ready to go insane."
Sakura stopped.
"It's not self-pity I'm asking for; it's forgiveness. I'm a jerk, I know, but I've realized that I was cruel to have done that to you. And I like you. When I kissed you, I regretted it, because I thought you wouldn't…remember."
Sakura stared at him, and her shoulders drooped, like they'd drooped when she'd seen the school. Then they became straight again, and sent a stinging slap across Syaoran's face. "I'm coming for my Cards this afternoon," she said coolly. "Get them ready. Including The Mirror. The whole deck."
She ran off, and Syaoran didn't chase her.
*
Syaoran's doorbell rang in the late afternoon. It was raining heavily, but he knew Sakura would get through storm and hail to get her Cards. He picked up the deck and went downstairs.
Sakura was drenched and shivering. He reached out and grabbed her arm, pulled her in, and locked the door after her. "I won't let you out again in that rain," he told her. "Hang your raincoat over there and come upstairs. I'll get you a towel."
Sakura didn't resist. The raincoat was muddy and sticky, and she hung it on the rack and, after leaving her shoes by the front, ran upstairs after him.
The towel was nice and soft, and before using it she buried her face in it. Syaoran brought up cocoa, and sat silently on his bed.
"Thanks," Sakura said. She towel-dried her hair and looked at her drenched clothes. "Is there any place I can wring them out?" she asked.
Syaoran disappeared, and came back holding a beautiful silk Chinese dress. Sakura's face turned red. "Nuh-uh. I can't wear that," she said. "It's too delicate. I'm going to rip it."
"It belongs to my cousin, Mei Ling," he said. "You're just her size. Besides, this is a casual gown, if it gets ripped, it's easy to replace." I think, he thought uneasily, thinking of Mei Ling's strict orders in taking care of it.
Sakura took the gown. "Uhm…could you…?"
Syaoran blushed and left the room, closing the door. He could hear the shuffles of wet clothes being removed, and his face turned even redder.
"You can come in," Sakura's muffled voice came through the thick door. He opened it, and nearly shut it again, wondering if he'd disturbed the presence of a goddess or something.
He opened it again, and entered. Sakura reminded him of--well, no one. She was Sakura, reminding him of home, but still Sakura in Japan. And she was beautiful. She looked a bit uncomfortable, and Syaoran's gaze worsened it.
As she sipped the cocoa, the warmness traveling through her body and settling her goosebumps, Syaoran looked out the window, wondering when the rain was going to stop.
"Syaoran," Sakura said suddenly.
"Eh?"
"It was a mistake, manipulating me like that. But I want to put that past us. It's not too late to fix this. I just want to know…"
Syaoran turned his gaze towards her.
"What do you think of me now?"
Syaoran blinked a few times, then laughed dryly. "It should be me asking that question. As always, I think you're beautiful, smart, the basics of a perfect girl, you know them. But you're also pure and innocent--too innocent to be played with like that."
Sakura was silent, fingering the flowers on the dress. Then she spoke. "I'll tell you what I think of you." Syaoran tensed.
"I think you're really cute, but a bit withdrawn. I knew you had something against me from the start, but I wondered what. But when you were taking care of me, I began to start liking you. Something tells me your eyes weren't fake. And neither was your kiss. But--" a smile spread across her face. "That seems to be the one thing that I've forgotten. Not the casual ones on the cheek, but…" her voice trailed off.
Syaoran turned red, but he stood up and began to walk towards Sakura. He faced her, noses almost touching. Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck, and he leaned forward.
This time it was more than a quick kiss. It was a kiss that two people responded too, not eagerly or quickly, but slowly, softly, sweetly, knowing that they had all the time in the world, knowing nothing was going to stop them. Syaoran hesitantly wondered if he should hold her, but Sakura answered him by impulsively placed his arms around her waist. He held her tightly while her hands returned to the familiar position around his neck. Sometimes when their faces stood just a centimeter apart, she would murmur his name softly until their lips touched again.
When they finally stepped away from each other, Sakura rested her head on his shoulder. "It felt like that, only better," was all she said.
Syaoran couldn't care less about anything anymore. Sakura had forgiven him, and she was in his arms.
The Mirror peered out at them from one of her helpers, which was located on Syaoran's wall, and grinned slightly to itself. Syaoran had learned, but he had accepted it and had been rewarded.
And he seemed to like it.
At the moment, Syaoran didn't care if anything came up and zapped his memory away.
Just as long as he woke up to find her sticking with him, like the way he'd done for her. But this time, it would be genuine, like the kiss they'd shared.
(Hoeee, that's done. Yay! Thanks to all those who read the fic! I'm always writing drama tho! I want to try something else, like…angst or something. (oh that's different). Anyway, once again, thanks, and luv ya lots! Oh yeah, and did you notice 3 of my 5 chapter names are from songs? "Erase and Rewind" and "Changing My Mind" are both lines from "Erase and Rewind." Then "Forgiven, not Forgotten." Hey, I'm addicted to my stereo, what can I say?)