Dun dun dun... Chapter 8!!! Yay!
Disclaimer: I don't own any character or place in this story except for the ones that I make up.
Cherry Blossoms 101.8 FM
Chapter Eight: Happily Ever After... Right?
By: Enchanted Pink Jade
*~*~*~*~*
At the park. Starts where last chapter left off.
It was a beautiful night. The cloudless, indigo sky was sprinkled with twinkling stars. The moon shone brighter than ever. Syaoran stood on a hill in the park. It was the place where they had talked with each other, on their first day alone with each other. The same day that Tomoyo had left them. He was looking towards the horizon. On the outside, he looked quite calm and peaceful. Just someone who was enjoying the luscious scenery that nature provided. But in the inside, chaos reigned. He was in a million pieces, and he didn't know what to do.
Will she come? Was she even listening? Oh God. I hope that I don't regret this. Man oh man. What have you gotten yourself into now? All this over a girl!!! All these crazy things.... Well, they do say that love makes people do crazy things. But I'm not just any ordinary person... I wonder what the elders would say about this. Syaoran laughed silently to himself. My ancestors must be spinning in their graves, Syaoran thought with chagrin. He consulted his watch. She should be arriving here any moment now... If she decided to come...
*~*~*~*~*
Same place.
Sakura parked her car and practically jumped out of the driver seat and closed the door. She ran towards that one, small hill that they always seem to end up on. It was where they had been that first day. The place where they had first kissed. It was their special place. She knew that it was the place that Syaoran was talking about. Sakura then stopped running when she spotted him on the hill.
As if she had called out to him, he turned his head and looked in her direction. His eyes lit up, but then they lost it's shine the next instant. This is it, he thought. Rejection or acceptance.
"Hi," She said, when she was only three feet away from him.
"Hi," Syaoran said, but he wasn't looking at her. Instead he was looking down at his shoes, wondering to himself when had they suddenly become so interesting.
Sakura knew that this was going no where, so she decided to talk first. "I heard." Syaoran didn't have to ask what she had heard. "Do you mean it?" He heard her ask next.
Syaoran looked straight into her eyes. "Every single word."
"And do you really.... really love me?"
"With all my heart and soul," he said passionately.
"What about me being the Cards Mistress?"
"It doesn't matter. I only came here to get away from my family's elders, and so that I wouldn't always feel them breathing down my neck" Syaoran said quietly, then he looked away.
The silence that followed was pure torture for him. He wanted to so badly to know what was going on inside her mind, what she was thinking, what she felt...for him. When he looked back at her, he saw tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong? I-" Syaoran was rendered speechless as Sakura closed the remaining, pitiful gap between them and threw her arms around his neck. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and cried happily.
"I love you, too. Syaoran. I'm sorry that I didn't listen before. I was just so mad, and angry. I felt so deceived." Sakura sobbed. And at that moment, Syaoran knew that no one in the world could be as happy as he was. He wrapped his arms around her possessively, and hugged her fiercely. "I want to tell you that-"
Sakura didn't get to finish her sentence. His mouth bore down on hers in a sweet kiss, cutting out her words.
"What did you want to tell me?" Syaoran drawled, when the finally separated from lack of air. Sakura was just to speechless to say anything at all, so she just shook her head and hugged him tightly again.
*~*~*~*~*
Behind trees and tall bushes.
Tomoyo was videotaping Sakura and Syaoran while she was swooning at the sweetness of it all. She was hidden behind a tree and some tall bushes. There was just a small enough gap between the bushes for her camera to get great footage.
Eriol stood on the other side of the tree, unaware that he had company, as he watched Syaoran and Sakura.
Tomoyo was still taping their two retreating backs as they walk hand in hand, their destination unknown. Tomoyo decided not to follow them this time, even though the temptation was great. I have enough now to make a little movie film of those two! This is going to be great! Tomoyo thought happily. She turned off her camera and walked towards Eriol's side.
At that same time, Eriol walked her way.
So they crashed into each other.
"What the-" Eriol said, but then he saw who he had bumped into. "Tomoyo?"
Tomoyo's head shot up as she heard her name. "Who-? Eriol? What are you doing here?"
Eriol smiled impishly as he eyed the camera in her hands. "I can ask you the same thing."
Tomoyo blushed slightly. "So you came here for the same thing that I did, huh?"
He nodded. "Pretty much."
"Finally those two are together. I didn't need to play the part of the match-maker." Tomoyo smiled up at him, and Eriol's heart did summersaults in his chest. Oh. My. God. This is just my luck. I bump into HER, of all people here. I should have known that she was going to be here. A golden opportunity to record..... Eriol thought. He watched, entranced as she brushed her hair away from her face. He longed to run his hands through her hair to see if it felt as silky as it looked.
Although Tomoyo didn't show it, she was just as nervous as he was. All she thought was, Eriol. Eriol. Eriol. He's here. In front of me, and we're talking. Well, we WERE, talking. He's not saying anything now. Oh! He's so cute!
They looked anywhere and everywhere, but at each other. The trees, the leaves, the lush green grass, the bushes that surrounded them. Tomoyo started to grow uncomfortable with the silence that followed. So she decided to just talk.
"So, um, Eriol, what do you think about those two getting together? You and Syaoran are good friends, right?"
"Yeah, we've known each other for a couple of years, now. I know him pretty well. But I never thought that he would go this far to get a girl's attention." Eriol chuckled.
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Do you have a girlfriend?" Tomoyo asked. She wanted to know badly. She just had to know.
Eriol shook his head. "No. At the moment, I'm single. And what about you? Have any ex-boyfriends wishing that they had never let you go?"
Tomoyo laughed. It sounded like music to Eriol's ears. "No, I'm afraid not. I'm still looking out for that perfect someone."
Then their eyes connected and locked. It was as if there was some sort of force that held them that way. Drawing them together. They inched closer and closer.
"Have you found that perfect someone yet?" Eriol asked huskily.
"Eriol......" Tomoyo was going to say something, but when their lips met, all sensible thoughts were banished from her mind. All she knew was Eriol wrapping his arms around her, bringing them impossibly closer, and how sweet everything was. The first time she had ever seen him was at the library. That was when she ever had a good look at him. It was also the first time they had ever exchanged words with each other. Even though it was short, Tomoyo thought about it that night, and just couldn't stop thinking about him. It kept her awake almost all night. Who is he? What's his name? How long has he been going to that school? Where does he live? What's his phone number? Would I ever see him again? When? The questions that filled her mind that night were endless. From that day on, they always were trying to find excuses to be with each other, talk to one another, or to walk the other to their class. A few times, Tomoyo found flowers in her homeroom class, at her desk. It was really sweet, and flattering. She knew that he was the one for her.
Eriol brought his hands up to her hair and stroked it. He loved the soft silkiness of it, the way it just slid from his fingers. He loved the way she looked. He loved the way she smelled. He loved the way she tasted. He loved everything about her. When he first saw her, he knew that it was love at first sight. But he NEVER, ever before in his double-life, believed in that. So for the first few weeks, since he saw her the year before, he'd tried to look for flaws that she might have had. She might have been a dope, doing drugs. Or her looks were fake. She could have been wearing a wig. Maybe she was stupid, or that maybe her beauty was only skin deep, and only stopped there. She could have been cruel. For weeks, he looked for any flaws that she might have....
But he found none.
She was perfect. And the more he found out about her, the more he liked her. Until that "liking" soon turned into love. And when he finally got a chance to talk to her, and spend time with her, he had no doubt that she was the one that he wanted to devote his entire self to.
After what seemed like endless centuries, they finally separated.
"Does some late, night-time sweets at Forever Sweets sound good?" Eriol asked.
"Yeah, sure. Why not?" Tomoyo smiled
Then they both walked off into the night.
*~*~*~*~*
The next day, Sunday. 7 o'clock in the morning.
*knock*knock*
Sakura was still sleeping.
*knock*knock*
Finally, Sakura heard this annoying knock on her window. Go away! she thought. She opened one of her eyes and looked at her window. What she saw made her jump out of bed, and rush to the window to open it.
"Oh my gosh. Syaoran! What are you doing here?" Sakura said as she stepped back and gave Syaoran some room to jump inside. I'm so lucky that I decided to wear pajamas last night, she thought. Syaoran was wearing a white sweater and a pair of slacks.
Syaoran was smiling at her. "Good morning to you, too." He then produced a pastel pink rose from his back and handed it to her.
She took it. I must be dreaming, she thought. And just to make sure that she wasn't, she pinched herself.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Making sure that this isn't some sort of dream," Sakura said.
"This is definitely no dream, " he said, as he pulled her into his embrace and gave her a "good morning kiss" that left Sakura breathless. "Could a dream ever be this good?" he asked.
"No. Never, " Sakura said. Then she stepped back. "But what are you doing here, THIS early in the morning?" Sakura said. She loved the fact that he was there, but still, she wondered....
Syaoran grinned mysteriously. "Get dressed. I'm going to meet you outside your front door."
"But-" Sakura said. But before she could say anything more, we was already out of her window, and down the tree.
Sakura sighed heavily as she started to do her morning routine a little earlier than usual. She went to the bathroom and took a quick shower to fully wake herself up. She thought that it still must be a dream. She walked back to her room, still in a daze, to get dressed.
As she was doing her hair, a drawer in her desk shot open, and a little round head popped out. "What the......" Kero said. His eyes landed on Sakura. "Oh, good morning, Sakura."
"Good morning, Kero."
Kero flew up and out of his little home/drawer, and rubbed his eyes. He looked at the time, and his beady, little eyes widened. "Oh my god! I can't believe it! Sakura! I can't believe it. Oh. My. God. What happened?"
"What? What's wrong? What's the matter? And what do you mean what happened? Nothing happened," Sakura said, who was now alarmed by Kero's outburst.
"What's wrong? What's the matter?" Kero mimicked Sakura. "Of course nothing's wrong."
"Then what got you so excited?" Sakura asked. This wasn't the usual greeting from Kero. In the morning, it was usually, "So, Sakura, what's for breakfast?" But this was entirely different.
"You finally woke up early. BEFORE 7:30 AM. Hallelujah!" Kero said as he danced in the air.
Sakura just fell off her seat. "Is that all?" she said, as she got up, and resumed what she was doing before Kero woke up.
Kero now stopped dancing. "How did you do it?"
"I didn't wake up on my own."
"You mean.... Awww man! I thought that.... I was so waiting for the day you would. I've been waiting for it for years and years... What woke you up then?"
A blush tinged her cheeks, and Kero looked at her suspiciously. "Well, um... Syaoran came and woke me up. I think that we're going to go somewhere... I don't know where, though."
"I see..." Kero was still wary of Syaoran, especially when he found out that he was part of the Li Clan. Kero hadn't really met him yet, but he still didn't trust him. After all, he WAS a Li. But Kero knew that he shouldn't voice his opinion about him, definitely not in front of Sakura. He remembered what state Sakura was in when she came back last night. Her eyes were glazed over and she had the smallest smile on her face. Her mood was....... Kero didn't know how to describe it really. Though he can tell that she was really happy. She looked like she was on cloud nine.
Sakura then stood up and spun around. "Well? What do you think?" She was wearing a light pink shirt with white overalls. She had a white jacket over it all that read "Princess" on the front, and pink sandals adorned her feet.
"You look splendid, but I don't know why you even go through the trouble for HIM. I mean, how well do you know him? How really well do you know him, Sakura? I'm just looking out for you. Be careful around him, okay? He might not be able to hurt you physically or magically because of your skills and your cards- You do keep them with you always, right? So that if you might need them, you can just pull them out?"
"That's an absurd question, Kero. Of course I do. And what of it?" Sakura said, a frown slowly formed on her features. She didn't like where this conversation was going.
"Nothing, nothing. I just want you to be careful, that's all."
Sakura smiled again. "I'm always careful, Kero. Well, I gotta go! See ya later!" And with that she was out her bedroom door. She headed towards the kitchen to grab something to go.
"Ohayo!" Sakura greeted her brother, Toya, and her Father.
"Oh. My. God. Sakura is up this early? It MUST be a miracle!" Toya said rudely. Kero had almost the same reaction.... Why don't they think that I can wake up early on my own? Sakura thought. She decided to ignore him, and not say anything to him.
"Good morning, Sakura. What would you like for breakfast?" her father, Fujitaka, said.
"Oh, um, don't bother dad. I think that I'll just eat toasted bread. I'm kind of in a hurry right now. I'm gonna meet a friend somewhere."
"Which friend? Tomoyo?" Toya asked.
"No. He's someone you've never met before," Sakura said
"He? It's a guy? Does he go to your school?" her father wanted to know, as he gave her the toasted bread that she wanted.
"Yes to all questions. I'll be on my way now. Bye!" Sakura said. She was already finished with her breakfast. She's gotten pretty fast at eating her breakfast. She's had practice from all those times when she had to catch up with her brother, just so that she can be with his friend, Yukito, whom she used to have a huge crush on. Even for just a little while. It was still worth it. But she got older, and she grew out of that crush. She also found out that he was her second guardian later on, too.
Touya had followed his sister out of the kitchen. "When do I get the pleasure of meeting this friend of yours?" he asked.
Sakura opened the door. There stood Syaoran with his back to the porch, waiting patiently for Sakura to come out. When Sakura opened the door, he turned around. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah, but first, I would like you to meet my brother, Toya. Toya, This is Syaoran, my friend. Syaoran, this is Toya."
"Hi," Syaoran said. Toya just nodded his greeting, eyeing Syaoran. Sizing him up. Syaoran did the same.
"Well, let's go, Syaoran," Sakura said, as she made her way past them both.
They were still facing each other, until Toya spoke up. "If she's harmed in any way...." he said, the threat left hanging in the air
Syaoran shook his head. "No harm will come to her. I promise."
"Syaoran!" Sakura was calling him now, from the sidewalk. Syaoran joined her there after he assured her brother nothing will happen to her.
"What was that all about?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing. He was just being a protective brother, that's all."
"Oh. So, will you tell me where we're going?"
"It's going to be a surprise."
"A surprise? What kind?" She asked excitedly. They were walking towards his car. It was parked about two houses away.
"If I tell you, it wouldn't be a surprise," he said. Then he took out a handkerchief out of his pocket.
"What's that for?"
"For your lovely emerald eyes. I'm going to blindfold you," he said. He opened the door to the passenger's side for Sakura to get in. When he turned back to her, she was pouting. He chuckled to himself as he put the blindfold on. "No peeking." He got into the driver's seat and drove them to the park.
"We're here."
"Can I take it off now?"
"Nope. I'll take it off when we get there. We have to walk a little."
"Hmph."
Syaoran kissed her adorably pouting lips and got out of the car. He came over to her side and opened her door. He led her to some place, she didn't know where. She could hear the birds singing their morning songs. Also, some leaves rustle.
"Stop," he told her suddenly. Then with his hands he made her face her right. He came up behind her and removed the blindfold. When Sakura opened her eyes, she gave a small, almost inaudible gasp. "That's what a sunrise looks like," he whispered into her ear. Sakura leaned the back of her head against his chest and he hugged her from behind. The sky was colored with different shades of oranges and yellows, reflected from the sun, that faded into light blue. There were still a few morning stars left. "Remember? I promised you that I would
wake you up early one morning. And that we could watch it together."
"It's beautiful. I knew that it would be. I've just never seen it before....."
"Hm. Thank you so much. You're just so good to me... You're not false, like other people are. Some guys just wanted to go out with me because I'm a cheerleader, or because of my looks. They don't go right out and tell me, I just know... "
"And did you ever go out with anyone of them jerks? You know, you can point them right out to me and I'll beat them to a bloody pulp. They'd be walking wrong for the rest of their lives," Syaoran said, with a tinge of jealousy. He couldn't bear the thought of someone else holding her, or being with her.
"No... No. I said no to all. I just didn't like them. I don't know... I guess they just weren't my type," Sakura said.
"And I am?" Syaoran said. He put on a mock hope expression on his face, and Sakura laughed.
"Don't get cocky," Sakura said. And then no one said anything for awhile.
They just liked the fact that they were with each other. "This place has really become our special place, hasn't it?"
"Mmm hmm," he said. He just couldn't think of anything much right now. Her hair, her own essence was invading his senses. It was like some sort of drug. It was addicting. "Let's go back. I just want to go around. We don't have to go somewhere in particular... Just around."
"Okay."
They headed towards the car, where another surprise was waiting for them. A surprise that neither of them were counting on. Totally unsuspected.
When they were closer, they could see this girl with long, black hair that was just loose around her shoulders. (AN: Isn't that a dead give away as to who it is? =P) She was wearing Chinese clothes, with intricate designs. When she looked up and saw Syaoran, her face brightened. She ran towards him with surprising agility. She flung her arms around him and kissed him soundly on the lips, with Sakura just a little off to the side, ignored. She was dumbfounded.
"Meilin! What are you doing here?" Syaoran said, just as surprised. Syaoran knows this girl? Sakura thought.
"I came to see you, of course! I missed you so very, very much while you were away to try and get the Clow Cards from that person who calls themselves the master of the cards. Could be the wench. I'm right to say that you were successful?" Meilin said. She still had her arms around his shoulders. He was trying to get out of her grip, but it was no use. Meilin finally noticed Sakura.
"Who are you?" Sakura asked.
"I'm Meilin, Syaoran's fiancée. And who might you be? Hired help?" Meilin asked.
Syaoran's fiancé. Those two words rang in her ears. Getting louder every time.
"No one of importance," Sakura whispered. She ran away. She didn't want any of them to see the tears in her eyes. Sakura could hear him calling out to her. But she ignored him. She just kept on running. His fiancé! Hired help indeed! How can he do this to me? And why am I now suddenly "the wench." This is... This is just too much, she thought. For the second time in her life, Sakura was heartbroken, by the same person. She then remembered an old saying that goes, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." And right now, Sakura felt ashamed. And yet, even with the knowledge that Syaoran was already taken, why did her heart still yearn for him?
AN: Well? What did you think? Eriol and Tomoyo are together now. But Sakura and Syaoran still aren't really.... What's up with that? Hehehe. I know, I know. This is turning out bad, but I just had to put Meilin in there. And for those Meilin fans out there. No, I don't hate her. I like her. She's been a big help to Sakura in the Animé series. But anyways, there's just one thing after another that keeps getting in between Sakura and Syaoran, isn't there? I guess that's my fault. I AM the author..... When will they ever be together?
Well R+R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tell me what you think and be honest!
~Enchanted Pink Jade
E-mail: Lyricalaznangel@aol.com
