I got replies/ reviews and I am rather pleased. I would have been sad to
sac this story. I think it's beginning to grow on me. I love Eriol and
Sakura and Syaoran and Tomoyo so much. But who to put with who? *evil grin*
You'll have to read til the end of the fic and stick with me however long
it ends up being...to find out!!!! So anyways, much thanks for those
reviews. They mean a lot to me.
DISCLAIMER: NO OWN CLAMP'S WORK...BECAUSE IT IS CLAMP'S. Ne? ^_^
I already know there are about a trillion S&S fans out there. Only know of a few S&E fans. And sorry to tell you all I am STILL not certain as to who will be with who. For now it's heading in the direction of E&S for the plot's sake. After all, IF E&S turns into S&S it'll be a whole lot more interesting as a foreshadowing method to see a bit of Syaoran's reactions during, before and after, ne? After all, this story is humor-induced you know. Aside from that though, remember that at the moment, Eriol isn't even sure Sakura is a girl because he saw her in her "disguise" as a random and normal teen. And, most importantly, she and Syaoran haven't even met...so don't worry. I'll get where this story is going but it's gonna take some development which means all sorts of twists and turns and jolly good fun for all of us I hope...as long as you review. ^_^
Anyways, on with it and by the by, if anyone was wondering, those songs are copyrighted. Know by who? Me. Yeah, I sing and they're mine [the songs] all of them used and to come. I hope you like them.
Please continue to review. Remember, the more reviews, the more chapters. It's simple. You do the math. It was never my favorite subject. ^_~
Sing for Me: Chapter Two: Those Words
Eriol was in the Coffee Shop, early as was customary for him. After all, it was his and Syaoran's business. Not that anyone knew. As far as most people were concerned or aware, a large and affluent company no one ever put a name to owned it. Of course if anyone had bothered to research it, they might have found that that was actually the Li Industries. But no one did.
He started the machines, did a little sweeping, began heating some pastries in the small oven, and rearranged some of the chairs idly. Lost in early morning grogginess [the shop opened at an unforgiving six in the morning] he hardly noticed when someone came up to the door and stuffed a flyer in the handle, except that the small bell rung a bit.
Glancing up, his eyes scanned the area, missing the distributor but catching sight of the flyer, as it was bright pink. Curious, he unlocked the door and turned the CLOSED sign to the OPEN side and retrieved the flyer. It was indeed a bright pink, the richer tone of Cherry Blossoms and it was quite appropriate as this is what it read:
Pop Sensation Sakura, transliterated as Cherry, performing live tonight in outdoor amphitheatre concert. Tickets can still be bought. Come see the rising sensation sing her heart out with a new song, written as always, by Sakura herself, sporting clothes and costuming courtesy of Daidouji Enterprises.
Hmm, Eriol thought as he folded the flyer and stuffed it wordlessly into his back pocket, forgetting it temporarily as several early business customers strolled in, each groggier than the next. Smiling to himself, Eriol thought: I can sympathize with these people. Next time, Syaoran's doing early shift.
A few hours later, a ways away from the little Coffee Shop, say ten, Sakura walked beside Tomoyo, chatting amiably about that night's upcoming concert. Tomoyo, as could be expected, was verbally pondering about Sakura's possible costumes.
"You should wear your signature colors as normal. But what outfit?" Tomoyo sighed happily. Ever since they were children, she and Sakura had played dress-up...more like Tomoyo had played dress-up with Sakura...but anyway...it was never any less fun than the first time when they were ten. Now they were both eighteen and ravishing in their own personal styles.
Tomoyo, ever the unique fashion plate, designing all her own clothes with a sleek and chic appearance normally donned a suit as her mother Sonomi had done.
Sakura on the other hand, when not sporting one of Tomoyo's latest creations, while stylish, was more personified by her personality and overall happy air.
Both seemed equally attractive though.
So it was only natural that when the two went out, together, stares would take place, blatantly too and while Sakura might have been oblivious to it, Tomoyo was not.
"Sakura-chan, how about the fold-collar one with the goldenrod lining and the pleated skirt with the black leggings?" Tomoyo suggested; nothing too revealing and nothing too conservative, just perfect for her little Cherry Blossom.
"Hai, hai, anything you like Tomoyo-chan. Say, will you actually be able to make it to my concert tonight?" Sakura asked hopefully. Even as her manager, Tomoyo had Daidouji Enterprises to run as well and often as a consequence, her best friend had not enough time to join her at the things she organized. To her great delight however, Tomoyo shot her a wide and dazzling grin.
"I wouldn't miss it my dear. Not the debut of that special new song you wrote. Speaking of which, what inspired you exactly...? I mean, you normally are a genius anyway of course, but spurts like these are not very often, ne?" Tomoyo asked, hinting at something that had Sakura registered the hint, would have had the little Cherry Blossom blushing madly. Instead though...
"Hoe?" And Tomoyo laughed good-naturedly.
Yes, that was the sweet Cherry she knew. She rephrased her question.
"Er, I mean, what made you think to write it Sakura-chan?"
"I'm not sure really Tomoyo-chan," Sakura said aloud, and then thought deeper into her mind's reservoir as deep blue eyes started to surface and a handsome outline. And then the vision in her head was gone and she could only recall the color of blue, turbulent but mysterious like the waves before a storm. Shaking her head, Sakura changed her mind.
"I felt inspired...by beautiful words," Sakura whispered.
To this Tomoyo could only give a sidelong glance and reserve that in her mind for later pondering. They were at the amphitheatre and it was time to begin to set up and rehearse.
"Sakura-chan!" a voice called and Sakura grinned as a silver haired young man swung her around in a warm embrace; her childhood crush, Yukito. With laughing nearly golden eyes and an ethereal way about him, Sakura found it amazing she no longer fancied him romantically. Then again, maybe it wasn't so amazing. He himself had helped point out to her that what she felt for him was more of a family-love than intimate. And she had been equally startled to find that he was right.
It probably helped that she knew Yukito and her evil brother were together...but she still couldn't figure out how an uncouth, loud, mean, annoying...
"Kaiju!" Ah, there he is. A tall, slightly tanned young man with blackish hair and dark brown eyes surfaced from backstage and gave a smirk before crossing his arms and standing in front of her like the evil brother she knew him to be: Touya.
"I'm not a kaiju!" was her response.
"Tch. You must not look in the mirror everyday." This came from Touya of course and Yukito and Tomoyo merely shook their heads at the siblings and their antics. It was normal quite frankly and both parties waited until the two were finished...for the time being.
"So, anyways, what's this new song you're adding to the show, messing the whole thing up and... Itai!" Touya yelped as he felt a familiar pain in his shin and looked down to see a brightly smiling Cherry Blossom and scowled. Yep, that was his little sister, sweet and deadly, in his opinion. At first he thought she was considering her answer. When she stuck out her tongue like a five year-old and taunted him, he changed his mind.
As they walked, talked and argued, Yukito struck up a conversation with Tomoyo, half listening to what Sakura and Touya were saying.
"How have you been Tomoyo?" he asked, smiling.
"Very well thanks Yukito-san," she replied cheerily and added, "It's good that you two could make it today."
"Yes. Touya was very stubborn but I knew he wanted to come see his little kaiju very much. It was all a matter of persuasion and it didn't take long to convince him," Yukito trailed off, reminiscing on exactly how he had convinced Touya, having the grace to blush slightly and Tomoyo, being a very good judge of character and conversation, left it up to the wind's reasoning exactly what kind of persuasion Yukito had been referring to.
Both Tomoyo and Yukito heard a yell and a splash and looked up ahead where it was apparent who the victor was of that rather lengthy sibling squabble. Sakura was doubled over, laughing her infectious laugh as her brother sat, up to his neck in clear fountain water in the fountain at the front of the stage. His scowl deepened as Yukito began to chuckle, then Tomoyo, until finally they were all mercilessly laughing at the thoroughly perturbed and soaked Touya...who felt he was somewhat outnumbered until Yuki helped him out, absently moving strands of his wet hair out of his eyes, lips twitched upward in his ever-constant Yukito-grin.
Soon after that incident, or rather hours later, set up was complete and it was decided that Sakura would perform on the edge of the fountain, free to walk the rim. With several tiers, it was a grand water sculpture and entirely made of an off-whitish stone, solid and stylistically designed. Tomoyo had changed her mind about Sakura's costume for what seemed like the fiftieth time and by then, Sakura was so busy practicing her new song with the band that she quite forgot about costuming at all for the time being.
.......
Eriol frowned and removed his spectacles, slightly rubbing them clean again with the edge of his cotton shirt, sighing. Syaoran hadn't come in all day. He was starting to wonder if he was going to show up at all, not that he was working that day, but still...
The bell on the door rang and Eriol grinned as the little wolf sauntered in, two women clinging to his side-very nearly anyways. Refraining from shaking his head as they approached the counter, Eriol played the perfect and professional cashier very well, and he should; he was one after all.
"How may I help you today?" he asked, smiling politely, blue eyes throwing a quick questioning look to Syaoran who threw a flippant one back, both going unnoticed by the two females who were now, though still hanging onto Syaoran, showing interest in the new specimen.
"Two mocha frappuccinos and a bottle of water please," Syaoran said smoothly, his voice regaining him his fan club of a currently minimal two.
"Coming right up. Sit down. I'll bring your orders to you. We're not very busy this time of day." And with that Eriol went to work, asking them if they wanted whipped cream, et cetera and when no one else came in, he found himself sitting with Syaoran and the two girls who-it seemed-couldn't stop giggling.
"Syaoran, I was wondering, you doing anything tonight?" one of them asked. Eriol suppressed a derisive chuckle.
"No my sweet, but if you've got plans then I'm your guy am I now?" Syaoran ran his lines as easily as a well-oiled machine, playing with the girl's stray strands of hair as an extra side of flirtatiousness that Eriol found all too amusing, the most humorous part being that the girl took it all in. Didn't they see his friend with another girl every week? Why would they bother? And then Eriol tsked himself mentally. Of course, why else did anyone find his friend or him interesting he asked himself bitterly in his mind. Because they were attractive and polite.
One of the things that had so inspired him to write and sing the way he did was that very thing. Would anyone ever love him for him? He wondered.
"Well, I was thinking, you wanna go with me and Mira to the Cherry Concert tonight? You know, the Sakura everyone's talking about? I've got another ticket for your friend if he wants to be Mira's date," she added, hinting strongly. Eriol stopped himself from wincing in distaste only by pasting on a complacent smile that said to Syaoran: "If we do, you owe me."
"Of course my sweet, whatever your wish is, it is my command," Syaoran answered and kissed her hand, only half mockingly in gentlemanly fashion. There was more giggling after this and ten minutes later, the next worker came in and Eriol Hirigizawa left to change for the concert, which was in less than an hour.
He would meet his ahem, date, with Syaoran and his, ahem, date, at the amphitheatre. Until then though, he was free to himself and that was how he liked it.
............
It was dark outside and the stars were burning fiercely in the sky, as though they could feel Sakura's heart beat as it was, it seemed, all the way up in her throat. Tomoyo, seeing this, patted her comfortingly on the shoulder.
"It'll be fine Ch...Sakura-chan." Tomoyo decidedly refrained from using her friend's stage name and smiled reassuringly. Sakura could only nod. She looked a vision in a white sleeveless long ensemble that flowed out at the hips, turning translucent around her creamy legs, tempting but classy. The top part was a corset style, but with silver lacing and tied lightly, more for the design than its original purpose, allowing Sakura's natural curves to show, not blatantly displaying them though. As said before, it was an ethereal example of class, nothing less could be expected of Tomoyo though. The neckline was a smooth scoop and Sakura wore a white ribbon around her neck, Silver Star earrings and very light shimmering eye shadow that brought out the depth in her green eyes. Tomoyo couldn't see how anyone could not love this vision. She was breathtaking. Tomoyo gave herself a small mental pat on the back and grinned at Sakura. Sakura barely noticed when her brother and Yukito squeezed her shoulder affectionately as support and then hurried off to their seats. Tomoyo decided it was time for a brief reiteration:
"I said it'll be fine," Tomoyo whispered as the announcer called for silence and announced her name, then added "Go get 'em!" And Sakura walked out on stage to stand on the rim of the fountain. No one could see her yet for the lights were all out, but she knew her way around the stage like her own bedroom after spending all day rehearsing on it.
Apprehensively she waited for the lights to go on.
In the crowd, Eriol and Syaoran sat next to their so-called dates, Syaoran using his sweet talk and Eriol simply being polite as they waited for the infamous Cherry to show herself.
Eriol had the faintest feeling of recognition when the lights slowly lifted up, revealing a beauty in white, backed by a sparkling fountain. Even more amazing though, was when the Angel, for to him she could only be an Angel, began to sing:
"I couldn't tell you what I thought
The day I saw your dreams
It was like staring into a soul
Through the moon's forgiving beams
My heart it felt like it was beating
For the very first time in years
Strange, because it was our first time meeting
But I could sense all your sadness and fears
My one and only
My dream and knight in shining armor
I don't need a spell to tell me
You're the one I've been waiting for
My one and only
My earth-bound Angel
Tell me this is forevermore...
Sifting through these open gates
The ones all gilded in riches and gold
The imperious air is intimidating
And the feeling is familiar and old
Into these gardens I'm going for you
And only for you would I travel
This far into the unknown world
At the risk of having my dreams unravel
My one and only
My dream and knight in shining armor
I don't need a spell to tell me
You're the one I've been waiting for
My one and only
My earth-bound Angel
Tell me this is forevermore...
If ever I was not there
Perhaps you felt betrayed
I'm letting you know the truth my love
The penance has been paid
Those days I spent without your eyes
Without you to be my loving counter-role
My heart was heavier than clouds before a storm
The gods were surely playing with my soul
My one and only
My dream and knight in shining armor
I don't need a spell to tell me
You're the one I've been waiting for
My one and only
My earth-bound Angel
Tell me this is forevermore...
So tell me this is forevermore.
[yeah, yeah]
Say it,
Pray it,
And may it always be,
'Cause I love you more than life
I hope that's something you can finally see...
I hope that's something you can finally see."
She let her voice fade and then whispered the last words, searching she knew not what for in her audience:
"So tell me my one and only, is this forevermore?"
And her eyes locked with a familiar set of blue, oblivious to the amber set that were openly amazed momentarily at the beauty before them.
It seemed like forever that she looked into those deep blue depths.
And then the crowd stood in thunderous applause and those eyes once more were lost in a sea of people.
But even as Eriol exited the concert stadium area with Syaoran and the two girls -what were their names again?-he couldn't help but realize how awed he was by those words, that song, that Angel.
Those words.
They seemed to be taken right out from his heart and he wondered if this person, this artist named Cherry, had felt that way when she sang it so emotionally, so sincerely, so...
He couldn't describe it...
Those words.
---------
So there you are you wonderful reviewers. Like I said, more reviews equals more chapters. I know it's evil but as a writer I need some kind of encouragement. ^_~ Oh Sakura! She STILL doesn't know Eriol personally but now both he and Syaoran have seen her! Fun stuff. And don't forget, Eriol is still pondering his feelings for the mystery person who left his Coffee Shop performance, not knowing it was Sakura...how will it all unfold? Review and you'll find out. ^_^ -Kaji
DISCLAIMER: NO OWN CLAMP'S WORK...BECAUSE IT IS CLAMP'S. Ne? ^_^
I already know there are about a trillion S&S fans out there. Only know of a few S&E fans. And sorry to tell you all I am STILL not certain as to who will be with who. For now it's heading in the direction of E&S for the plot's sake. After all, IF E&S turns into S&S it'll be a whole lot more interesting as a foreshadowing method to see a bit of Syaoran's reactions during, before and after, ne? After all, this story is humor-induced you know. Aside from that though, remember that at the moment, Eriol isn't even sure Sakura is a girl because he saw her in her "disguise" as a random and normal teen. And, most importantly, she and Syaoran haven't even met...so don't worry. I'll get where this story is going but it's gonna take some development which means all sorts of twists and turns and jolly good fun for all of us I hope...as long as you review. ^_^
Anyways, on with it and by the by, if anyone was wondering, those songs are copyrighted. Know by who? Me. Yeah, I sing and they're mine [the songs] all of them used and to come. I hope you like them.
Please continue to review. Remember, the more reviews, the more chapters. It's simple. You do the math. It was never my favorite subject. ^_~
Sing for Me: Chapter Two: Those Words
Eriol was in the Coffee Shop, early as was customary for him. After all, it was his and Syaoran's business. Not that anyone knew. As far as most people were concerned or aware, a large and affluent company no one ever put a name to owned it. Of course if anyone had bothered to research it, they might have found that that was actually the Li Industries. But no one did.
He started the machines, did a little sweeping, began heating some pastries in the small oven, and rearranged some of the chairs idly. Lost in early morning grogginess [the shop opened at an unforgiving six in the morning] he hardly noticed when someone came up to the door and stuffed a flyer in the handle, except that the small bell rung a bit.
Glancing up, his eyes scanned the area, missing the distributor but catching sight of the flyer, as it was bright pink. Curious, he unlocked the door and turned the CLOSED sign to the OPEN side and retrieved the flyer. It was indeed a bright pink, the richer tone of Cherry Blossoms and it was quite appropriate as this is what it read:
Pop Sensation Sakura, transliterated as Cherry, performing live tonight in outdoor amphitheatre concert. Tickets can still be bought. Come see the rising sensation sing her heart out with a new song, written as always, by Sakura herself, sporting clothes and costuming courtesy of Daidouji Enterprises.
Hmm, Eriol thought as he folded the flyer and stuffed it wordlessly into his back pocket, forgetting it temporarily as several early business customers strolled in, each groggier than the next. Smiling to himself, Eriol thought: I can sympathize with these people. Next time, Syaoran's doing early shift.
A few hours later, a ways away from the little Coffee Shop, say ten, Sakura walked beside Tomoyo, chatting amiably about that night's upcoming concert. Tomoyo, as could be expected, was verbally pondering about Sakura's possible costumes.
"You should wear your signature colors as normal. But what outfit?" Tomoyo sighed happily. Ever since they were children, she and Sakura had played dress-up...more like Tomoyo had played dress-up with Sakura...but anyway...it was never any less fun than the first time when they were ten. Now they were both eighteen and ravishing in their own personal styles.
Tomoyo, ever the unique fashion plate, designing all her own clothes with a sleek and chic appearance normally donned a suit as her mother Sonomi had done.
Sakura on the other hand, when not sporting one of Tomoyo's latest creations, while stylish, was more personified by her personality and overall happy air.
Both seemed equally attractive though.
So it was only natural that when the two went out, together, stares would take place, blatantly too and while Sakura might have been oblivious to it, Tomoyo was not.
"Sakura-chan, how about the fold-collar one with the goldenrod lining and the pleated skirt with the black leggings?" Tomoyo suggested; nothing too revealing and nothing too conservative, just perfect for her little Cherry Blossom.
"Hai, hai, anything you like Tomoyo-chan. Say, will you actually be able to make it to my concert tonight?" Sakura asked hopefully. Even as her manager, Tomoyo had Daidouji Enterprises to run as well and often as a consequence, her best friend had not enough time to join her at the things she organized. To her great delight however, Tomoyo shot her a wide and dazzling grin.
"I wouldn't miss it my dear. Not the debut of that special new song you wrote. Speaking of which, what inspired you exactly...? I mean, you normally are a genius anyway of course, but spurts like these are not very often, ne?" Tomoyo asked, hinting at something that had Sakura registered the hint, would have had the little Cherry Blossom blushing madly. Instead though...
"Hoe?" And Tomoyo laughed good-naturedly.
Yes, that was the sweet Cherry she knew. She rephrased her question.
"Er, I mean, what made you think to write it Sakura-chan?"
"I'm not sure really Tomoyo-chan," Sakura said aloud, and then thought deeper into her mind's reservoir as deep blue eyes started to surface and a handsome outline. And then the vision in her head was gone and she could only recall the color of blue, turbulent but mysterious like the waves before a storm. Shaking her head, Sakura changed her mind.
"I felt inspired...by beautiful words," Sakura whispered.
To this Tomoyo could only give a sidelong glance and reserve that in her mind for later pondering. They were at the amphitheatre and it was time to begin to set up and rehearse.
"Sakura-chan!" a voice called and Sakura grinned as a silver haired young man swung her around in a warm embrace; her childhood crush, Yukito. With laughing nearly golden eyes and an ethereal way about him, Sakura found it amazing she no longer fancied him romantically. Then again, maybe it wasn't so amazing. He himself had helped point out to her that what she felt for him was more of a family-love than intimate. And she had been equally startled to find that he was right.
It probably helped that she knew Yukito and her evil brother were together...but she still couldn't figure out how an uncouth, loud, mean, annoying...
"Kaiju!" Ah, there he is. A tall, slightly tanned young man with blackish hair and dark brown eyes surfaced from backstage and gave a smirk before crossing his arms and standing in front of her like the evil brother she knew him to be: Touya.
"I'm not a kaiju!" was her response.
"Tch. You must not look in the mirror everyday." This came from Touya of course and Yukito and Tomoyo merely shook their heads at the siblings and their antics. It was normal quite frankly and both parties waited until the two were finished...for the time being.
"So, anyways, what's this new song you're adding to the show, messing the whole thing up and... Itai!" Touya yelped as he felt a familiar pain in his shin and looked down to see a brightly smiling Cherry Blossom and scowled. Yep, that was his little sister, sweet and deadly, in his opinion. At first he thought she was considering her answer. When she stuck out her tongue like a five year-old and taunted him, he changed his mind.
As they walked, talked and argued, Yukito struck up a conversation with Tomoyo, half listening to what Sakura and Touya were saying.
"How have you been Tomoyo?" he asked, smiling.
"Very well thanks Yukito-san," she replied cheerily and added, "It's good that you two could make it today."
"Yes. Touya was very stubborn but I knew he wanted to come see his little kaiju very much. It was all a matter of persuasion and it didn't take long to convince him," Yukito trailed off, reminiscing on exactly how he had convinced Touya, having the grace to blush slightly and Tomoyo, being a very good judge of character and conversation, left it up to the wind's reasoning exactly what kind of persuasion Yukito had been referring to.
Both Tomoyo and Yukito heard a yell and a splash and looked up ahead where it was apparent who the victor was of that rather lengthy sibling squabble. Sakura was doubled over, laughing her infectious laugh as her brother sat, up to his neck in clear fountain water in the fountain at the front of the stage. His scowl deepened as Yukito began to chuckle, then Tomoyo, until finally they were all mercilessly laughing at the thoroughly perturbed and soaked Touya...who felt he was somewhat outnumbered until Yuki helped him out, absently moving strands of his wet hair out of his eyes, lips twitched upward in his ever-constant Yukito-grin.
Soon after that incident, or rather hours later, set up was complete and it was decided that Sakura would perform on the edge of the fountain, free to walk the rim. With several tiers, it was a grand water sculpture and entirely made of an off-whitish stone, solid and stylistically designed. Tomoyo had changed her mind about Sakura's costume for what seemed like the fiftieth time and by then, Sakura was so busy practicing her new song with the band that she quite forgot about costuming at all for the time being.
.......
Eriol frowned and removed his spectacles, slightly rubbing them clean again with the edge of his cotton shirt, sighing. Syaoran hadn't come in all day. He was starting to wonder if he was going to show up at all, not that he was working that day, but still...
The bell on the door rang and Eriol grinned as the little wolf sauntered in, two women clinging to his side-very nearly anyways. Refraining from shaking his head as they approached the counter, Eriol played the perfect and professional cashier very well, and he should; he was one after all.
"How may I help you today?" he asked, smiling politely, blue eyes throwing a quick questioning look to Syaoran who threw a flippant one back, both going unnoticed by the two females who were now, though still hanging onto Syaoran, showing interest in the new specimen.
"Two mocha frappuccinos and a bottle of water please," Syaoran said smoothly, his voice regaining him his fan club of a currently minimal two.
"Coming right up. Sit down. I'll bring your orders to you. We're not very busy this time of day." And with that Eriol went to work, asking them if they wanted whipped cream, et cetera and when no one else came in, he found himself sitting with Syaoran and the two girls who-it seemed-couldn't stop giggling.
"Syaoran, I was wondering, you doing anything tonight?" one of them asked. Eriol suppressed a derisive chuckle.
"No my sweet, but if you've got plans then I'm your guy am I now?" Syaoran ran his lines as easily as a well-oiled machine, playing with the girl's stray strands of hair as an extra side of flirtatiousness that Eriol found all too amusing, the most humorous part being that the girl took it all in. Didn't they see his friend with another girl every week? Why would they bother? And then Eriol tsked himself mentally. Of course, why else did anyone find his friend or him interesting he asked himself bitterly in his mind. Because they were attractive and polite.
One of the things that had so inspired him to write and sing the way he did was that very thing. Would anyone ever love him for him? He wondered.
"Well, I was thinking, you wanna go with me and Mira to the Cherry Concert tonight? You know, the Sakura everyone's talking about? I've got another ticket for your friend if he wants to be Mira's date," she added, hinting strongly. Eriol stopped himself from wincing in distaste only by pasting on a complacent smile that said to Syaoran: "If we do, you owe me."
"Of course my sweet, whatever your wish is, it is my command," Syaoran answered and kissed her hand, only half mockingly in gentlemanly fashion. There was more giggling after this and ten minutes later, the next worker came in and Eriol Hirigizawa left to change for the concert, which was in less than an hour.
He would meet his ahem, date, with Syaoran and his, ahem, date, at the amphitheatre. Until then though, he was free to himself and that was how he liked it.
............
It was dark outside and the stars were burning fiercely in the sky, as though they could feel Sakura's heart beat as it was, it seemed, all the way up in her throat. Tomoyo, seeing this, patted her comfortingly on the shoulder.
"It'll be fine Ch...Sakura-chan." Tomoyo decidedly refrained from using her friend's stage name and smiled reassuringly. Sakura could only nod. She looked a vision in a white sleeveless long ensemble that flowed out at the hips, turning translucent around her creamy legs, tempting but classy. The top part was a corset style, but with silver lacing and tied lightly, more for the design than its original purpose, allowing Sakura's natural curves to show, not blatantly displaying them though. As said before, it was an ethereal example of class, nothing less could be expected of Tomoyo though. The neckline was a smooth scoop and Sakura wore a white ribbon around her neck, Silver Star earrings and very light shimmering eye shadow that brought out the depth in her green eyes. Tomoyo couldn't see how anyone could not love this vision. She was breathtaking. Tomoyo gave herself a small mental pat on the back and grinned at Sakura. Sakura barely noticed when her brother and Yukito squeezed her shoulder affectionately as support and then hurried off to their seats. Tomoyo decided it was time for a brief reiteration:
"I said it'll be fine," Tomoyo whispered as the announcer called for silence and announced her name, then added "Go get 'em!" And Sakura walked out on stage to stand on the rim of the fountain. No one could see her yet for the lights were all out, but she knew her way around the stage like her own bedroom after spending all day rehearsing on it.
Apprehensively she waited for the lights to go on.
In the crowd, Eriol and Syaoran sat next to their so-called dates, Syaoran using his sweet talk and Eriol simply being polite as they waited for the infamous Cherry to show herself.
Eriol had the faintest feeling of recognition when the lights slowly lifted up, revealing a beauty in white, backed by a sparkling fountain. Even more amazing though, was when the Angel, for to him she could only be an Angel, began to sing:
"I couldn't tell you what I thought
The day I saw your dreams
It was like staring into a soul
Through the moon's forgiving beams
My heart it felt like it was beating
For the very first time in years
Strange, because it was our first time meeting
But I could sense all your sadness and fears
My one and only
My dream and knight in shining armor
I don't need a spell to tell me
You're the one I've been waiting for
My one and only
My earth-bound Angel
Tell me this is forevermore...
Sifting through these open gates
The ones all gilded in riches and gold
The imperious air is intimidating
And the feeling is familiar and old
Into these gardens I'm going for you
And only for you would I travel
This far into the unknown world
At the risk of having my dreams unravel
My one and only
My dream and knight in shining armor
I don't need a spell to tell me
You're the one I've been waiting for
My one and only
My earth-bound Angel
Tell me this is forevermore...
If ever I was not there
Perhaps you felt betrayed
I'm letting you know the truth my love
The penance has been paid
Those days I spent without your eyes
Without you to be my loving counter-role
My heart was heavier than clouds before a storm
The gods were surely playing with my soul
My one and only
My dream and knight in shining armor
I don't need a spell to tell me
You're the one I've been waiting for
My one and only
My earth-bound Angel
Tell me this is forevermore...
So tell me this is forevermore.
[yeah, yeah]
Say it,
Pray it,
And may it always be,
'Cause I love you more than life
I hope that's something you can finally see...
I hope that's something you can finally see."
She let her voice fade and then whispered the last words, searching she knew not what for in her audience:
"So tell me my one and only, is this forevermore?"
And her eyes locked with a familiar set of blue, oblivious to the amber set that were openly amazed momentarily at the beauty before them.
It seemed like forever that she looked into those deep blue depths.
And then the crowd stood in thunderous applause and those eyes once more were lost in a sea of people.
But even as Eriol exited the concert stadium area with Syaoran and the two girls -what were their names again?-he couldn't help but realize how awed he was by those words, that song, that Angel.
Those words.
They seemed to be taken right out from his heart and he wondered if this person, this artist named Cherry, had felt that way when she sang it so emotionally, so sincerely, so...
He couldn't describe it...
Those words.
---------
So there you are you wonderful reviewers. Like I said, more reviews equals more chapters. I know it's evil but as a writer I need some kind of encouragement. ^_~ Oh Sakura! She STILL doesn't know Eriol personally but now both he and Syaoran have seen her! Fun stuff. And don't forget, Eriol is still pondering his feelings for the mystery person who left his Coffee Shop performance, not knowing it was Sakura...how will it all unfold? Review and you'll find out. ^_^ -Kaji