A CCS Fanfic By Card Captor Schlueter (a.k.a. Syaoran-kun)
Memo From The Legal Dept.
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Chapter Six: A Walk In The Park.The snow was drifting down all around me as I walked down the shoveled paths of the park. My breath came out in small clouds. Christmas was coming and all around me people were in awe of the winter wonderland all around them. But I was deep in thought.
I was wearing the heavy black trench coat and gray and black plaid scarf that had arrived at my door this morning. They were a gift from Tomoyo who claimed they were repayment for letting her video tape my captures and wearing that stupid costume. She also asked if I would show up at her house at five this afternoon to try on the newest one. I knew full well what Tomoyo's hidden agenda was. She wanted me to show up because Sakura would be there.
The coat and scarf were, of course, expensive. The coat had a silk lining in it that I thought was kind of extravagant. Well, that's Tomoyo for you.
I was still, however, plagued about what to do about Sakura. It was driving me nuts, just sitting around waiting for the ax to fall. So I decided to take a walk in the park and try to sort out in my mind what I should do.
"Li-kun?"
The sudden interruption scared the hell out of me. I turned to see Sakura's friend, Rika who was bundled up in a red coat and scarf.
I let out a sigh. "Oh. It's you, Sasaki-san. You startled me." I must have been really lost in thought for her to sneak up on me like that.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Li-kun." she replied. "I just couldn't help but notice that you were all alone. I saw you and wanted to say 'hello'." She smiled. I managed to smile back.
"I see you're feeling better." she said.
"Hmm? Oh. Yes! Um. I am, thank you." I replied.
"It must be awfully sad for you to be spending Christmas alone." Rika said as she walked alongside me. I found it a little odd talking to her since we had never spoken to each other before. But, it was nice to just talk, I guess.
"It is, I guess. I miss Meiling sometimes." I couldn't believe I'd said that. But I did miss Meiling some days. "I've gotten used to it, I guess."
"But, why would you want to?" Rika asked.
I smiled. "It's not like I want to. It's just the way things are."
"You must be a lot stronger than me, Li-kun." said Rika. "I don't think I could stand being alone. Especially at Christmas." She paused for a moment. "You know, Sakura-Chan was very worried about you. "
"Oh." I replied. Certainly, Sakura didn't believe that flu excuse, did she?
"You should probably let her know you're all right."
"I will, Sasaki-san." I said.
Just then, someone else interrupted, the last person on Earth I would expect to come looking for me. "Mind if I cut in?" It was Nakuru. She was standing a few feet ahead of us wearing a long black coat and beret. She looked elegant and sophisticated as always.
"Akizuki-san!" I said.
"If you'll excuse me, Saskaki-san, I have something I want to talk about with Li-kun." Nakuru said politely. I was certain she was here because of what I had done to Touya, or for calling her a pink-haired twit. Or… well, it could be a lot of things.
"Oh." said Rika. "Well, it was nice talking to you, Li-kun, and Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas to you too, Sasaki-san." I replied. After Rika left I turned toward Nakuru with a certain amount of building dread.
"Oh, relax, Li-kun." she said. "I'm not going to beat you up. It is Christmas."
I relaxed slightly. "And what do you want?"
"I just want to talk, Li-kun" Nakuru replied. "I know you and I don't always get along."
I nodded. "I guess."
"Lord knows, you won't give Eriol the time of day."
I glowered just at the mention of Eriol's name.
"You shouldn't be so hard on him, you know."
"Why not?" I growled.
"Look. Like it or not, we're stuck with each other, you and me and Eriol and Sakura and Kero and Suppi. Even Tomoyo. We're like a very weird family. It's only in that little circle of people that we can talk to openly about anything." Nakuru explained.
"I suppose." I replied quietly.
"Why don't we call a truce then, ne?" She held out her hand to me. I paused and then I shook hands with her.
"Agreed." I said.
"I'm guessing that you're worried about Sakura, hm?"
I handed her Tomoyo's note. Nakuru read it. "It is pretty obvious, isn't it?"
I nodded. "What am I going to do, Akizuki-san? The suspence is killing me but…"
"But, you're afraid she'll say that she doesn't love you." Nakuru finished.
She was right on with that one. I could picture it in my head. Sakura would tell me, being as polite and nice about as possible. I would smile and say that was okay and act like it was no big deal. But it would be a big deal. I would smile to hide the pain
"You're thinking of what happened with Sakura and Yukito, right?" said Nakuru.
I nodded.
"And, you're thinking about what Touya said about you." she finished. "I heard about it from Kero-Chan."
I let out a long sigh. What was I going to do?
"Look, Li-kun. You can't hide forever. As far as you know she does love you and you're hiding for nothing."
"You really think so, Akizuki-san?" I asked.
"Believe me. If she didn't at least like you she wouldn't have bothered making friends with you, or being worried about you, or… Well, you get the idea."
"I guess." I replied weakly. Somehow Nakuru didn't seem to notice that her pep talk was more insult than pep. Or maybe she did and just didn't care.
"Just have some faith in yourself." said Nakuru.
After a moment, I smiled. "Thanks, Akizuki-san."
"Just one more thing." she said. "If you ever hurt my Touya again or call me a pink-haired twit, I'll break every bone in you're body, okay?" She smiled brightly.
"I'll keep that in mind." I replied.
**
So, there I stood, like an idiot, just outside of Tomoyo's house, listening to the sound of my heart thumping so loudly I could swear everyone in a mile's radius could hear it.
Maybe Sakura wouldn't be there.
Maybe Tomoyo really did just want me to try on her latest battle costume.
Maybe Sakura just wanted to rip my heart out now so she could get on with planning her Christmas.
Nah. That didn't sound like Sakura, did it? She wouldn't do that at Christmas would she? Merry Christmas, Li-kun, and by the way I don't love you. Sorry.
Nope. Didn't fit.
Not that logic helped calm me any. As you may have guessed, I am not an optimistic person. I have my reasons for thinking things will go wrong for me, namely because they usually do.
Boy, I am cynical.
I know that people think I'm a fool for worrying about this, but somehow when everything in your life could be shattered, well, that's generally a good cause for worry. I still heard Touya's words resonating in my head. I couldn't get that jerk's voice to shut up. I started trying to focus on what Nakuru had said.
That wasn't much help either. I had to do something. I was starting to freeze and in a few minutes I'd just be a Syaoran-shaped pile of snow. So I did something.
I took my life in my hands and rang the doorbell.
**
"You know, Li-kun," said Tomoyo as she helped brush the snow off of me. "You could've rang the bell sooner. It's not like I anyone here is going to bite you."
Well, that meant Touya wasn't around. "Yes, but there is someone who wants to dress me up in ridiculous costumes." I replied.
She knew full well that wasn't the reason I was standing out there. She smiled a smile that conveyed the message of "Oh, really, Li-kun? Am I the one you're nervous about? I don't think so."
Tomoyo can be very observant some times.
"Trust me, Li-kun." Tomoyo said smiling mischievously. "You're going to like this one."
God help me, I'm doomed.
**
"Tomoyo-Chan…." I sighed.
"You look great, Li-kun." Tomoyo replied.
"I fail to see the humor." I said.
"What makes you think I'm trying to be funny?" she asked.
"Call it a shot in the dark." I replied.
Tomoyo's latest creation was truly humiliating. It was a replica of the Prince's costume that Sakura had worn for the school play (Thankfully, minus the ridiculous hat). It was done in white with gold buttons and trim and a whit cape with the cresent moon on it. I didn't like the outfit that much then and I wasn't too fond of it now. Mostly, it was because it reminded me of the humiliation of being in that play.
"Correct casting is everything, Li-kun." Tomoyo said cheerfully. "This is the role you should've played." She put on the finishing touches; a white beret and my sword, which she clipped to my belt. She stepped back and looked at me. "Something is still missing," she said.
I rolled my eyes. What next?
"I know!"
Perfect.
"We need a princess!"
WHAT ?
Tomoyo opened the door to the next room and standing behind it, wearing the same pink gown I had been forced to wear, was Sakura. She smiled and tilted her head slightly, causing her crown to slide a little to the left.
I shouldn't have been surprised. I know I shouldn't have. But, I was. I felt my face flush red and my voice was suddenly lost.
"S-Sa-Sakura!" I took a couple of steps backward and ended up tripping on my cape causing me to fall backwards.
"Are you all right, Li-kun?" asked Sakura.
"Um… I think so." I replied as I got back to my feet.
"You know, we weren't sure that you'd show up." Sakura said. "It was all Kero-Chan's idea."
Uh-oh. That wasn't a good sign.
"Um, about… what you said… in the park…" began Sakura.
"Yes..." I said getting very, very nervous.
"Did you… Did you mean it?" she asked.
This was my opportunity to back out, to avoid humiliation. But, I decided not to take it. "Yes." I said with all the confidence of a man hanging from a cliff. "Um, yes, I did." I was stumbling over my words and my face was a bright shade of red. At this point, I was also staring at my feet. "I… I really wish I could've said it some other way…"
"Why don't you say it now?" asked Sakura as she tried to meet my eyes, which was not an easy task.
I took a deep breath and looked into Sakura's eyes, those same green eyes that I had looked into a thousand times before and lost my voice. This was the moment of truth.
"Sakura," I said after what felt like an eternity but must have only been two seconds. "I… I love you."
I was almost knocked over when Sakura hugged me, which was a surprise, and I was even more surprised at what she said next.
"I love you too, Li-kun."
There was a long silence.
"Li-kun?" said Sakura.
Further silence.
"Li-kun?"
"You'd better give him a moment, Sakura." Tomoyo giggled. She had the camcorder out again. "I think you broke his mind."
I managed to snap myself out of it. I looked into Sakura's eyes again. She smiled. I smiled back, blushing profusely yet again. (I know this is sappy, but hang in there.)
"Li-kun, why didn't you just tell me sooner?" asked Sakura.
Further blushing. "I wanted to. I really did but… somehow I always though that… well, you wouldn't love me back."
"I thought you never believed anything my brother told you?" Sakura replied as she rested her head against my shoulder.
"What? How did you know about that?" I asked.
"Kero-Chan told me." Sakura replied. That dumb stuffed toy, he never could keep his mouth shut.
"Okay," said Tomoyo. "Enough chit-chat. It's time for the royal couple to share the first dance." She turned on the CD player, which started playing a waltz. I won't say much about the dance except that I had to let Sakura lead because I was clueless about dancing.
"I keep expecting to wake up." I said. "This seems to good to be true."
"Christmas is a time for miracles, Li-kun." she replied, smiling as always. I couldn't help but notice she was still calling me 'Li-kun'. I wondered how long it would take before she could call me by my first name.
As the waltz came to an end, a thought came to me. "You know," I said. "Touya isn't going to like this."
"That's his problem." Sakura replied and then she kissed me. I blushed, Tomoyo giggled and outside the snow continued to fall. It seemed that this Christmas all my dreams were coming true.
"Merry Christmas, Li-kun." Sakura said resting her head on my shoulder again.
"Merry Christmas, Sakura." I replied.
Next: It's New Year's Eve at the Daidouji house and everyone's invited! Li's plans to carry out the midnight kiss tradition will be interrupted, however, by a bunch of Clow cards. See Li run, see Li hide, See Li seal the cards, See Li run again as Touya tries to capture and kill him.
All of this and much more in: Chapter Seven: I Don't Get No Kick From Champagne