Okay, this is a little fic that was sitting around in my head, just gathering dust… until I decided to try and write it! Now, I think it ended up pretty well. Please, read the whole thing, don't stop halfway or you'll never really get what's going on (unless you're real, real, REAL good at guessing the ending for stories!)
The italics (like this) are conversations Sakura is remembering. All of them are with Syaoran. They're not in chronological order.
Disclaimer: If I owned CCS, the characters would've been at least 4 years older. But they're eleven in the series, so you can pretty much tell it wasn't up to me. CLAMP own CCS. Kodansha does, too. Nelvana doesn't; they own some weird 'Cardcaptors' stuff…
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The young woman stood in front of the mirror admiring the bride dress she was wearing. The reflection showed a beautiful woman in her early twenties with short auburn hair and brilliant emerald eyes. Her skin was pale, contrasting beautifully with her hair and eyes. The melancholy in her expression gave her an intense look, like a black-and-white picture. A sight escaped her lips. 'This is my wedding day,' she thought, 'I'm supposed to be crazy with joy!' She forced a smile.
"I love it when you smile!"
"Really?"
"Yes. I don't know what it is about your smile, but it's just… catchy. I don't know. Makes me want to smile too. It's beautiful."
'Syaoran'. The smile on her lips grew into a real one.
"Sakura?" The bride-to-be turned around. In the doorway stood her best friend, Tomoyo, radiant in the purple silk of her maid of honor dress.
"Yes?"
"Just came to see if you're ready to start doing your hair and make up."
"Sure. Come on in." Sakura climbed down from the little stool in front of the mirror and sat down in the chair in front of the vanity mirror.
"Okay. Now… what shall I do with your hair?" Tomoyo asked, moving her fingers through Sakura's hair. "I was kind of thinking a bun would be nice; an elegant one on top of your head…"
"What happened to your hair?"
"What about it?"
"It looks funny." He reached out and pulled on a candy curl. "All bouncy."
"You don't like it."
"Who said I didn't? It looks cute."
"Maybe I'll just let it hang loose." Tomoyo said.
"Do you think a couple of candy curls would look nice?" Sakura asked.
Tomoyo smiled. "They'll look perfect." Around half an hour later, Tomoyo stepped back. Sakura's makeup was light, making her face look pale, yet beautiful, and her hair looked silky and casual, as if it had been tousled by a light breeze.
"Oh, Sakura-chan, you looked lovely!" Sakura only sighted. "Sakura, what's the matter?" Tomoyo asked, putting the brush on the table.
"Nothing."
"Don't lie to me."
"You're a terrible liar, you know?" Syaoran told Sakura.
"I am not!"
"Yes, you are. Whenever you lie, it is written all over your face."
"It's not. You just know me too well."
"'Too well'? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
"I'm not lying." Sakura looked at the floor.
"Yes you are." said Tomoyo, kneeling in front of her. "You are quiet, depressed, very un-Sakura-chan. What is the matter?" she brushed a strand of hair away from Sakura's eyes. "This is supposed to be the happiest day of your life, yet you don't even smile."
"I… I'm fine. Really!" she added, seeing Tomoyo's disbelieving look. "I'm just nervous, that's all."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive." Sakura answered, but then seemed to think better of it. "It's just.. am I making the right choice?"
"Oh, Sakura! We all go through this!"
"You didn't."
"Are you kidding? The night before Eriol's and my wedding, I was so nervous I actually ordered a plane ticket to New York!"
"Hoe? What for?"
"In case I decided to make a run for it. But I'm glad I didn't. Trust me, everything is bliss after that first kiss as husband and wife."
"What does a kiss taste like?" Sakura asked.
"I don't know. I've never kissed anyone. Why do you ask?"
"Just curious."
"Do you think we should give it a try?"
"Wouldn't it be awkward? You know, because we're friends?"
"It's only a kiss." Both of them leaned in, and their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss.
"Syaoran?"
"Yes, Sakura?"
"Can I have another one?"
"Sure."
Sakura smiled. "If you're sure…" she trailed off.
"Trust me." Tomoyo answered. "You two will be very happy together."
"Thank you, Tomoyo-chan."
"You're welcome. Now, let's get your veil on." Tomoyo said, and began placing the veil on Sakura's head. As soon as she was finished, Tomoyo stepped back. "You look beautiful!" she exclaimed, but to Sakura, Tomoyo's voice seemed to be layered by another, one much more deeper and masculine.
"You're beautiful, Sakura."
"Thank you." Sakura whispered, although whether she was answering Tomoyo or Syaoran, she didn't know.
"Well, I have to go now." Tomoyo said, walking out the door. "Last minute stuff to take care off..." she closed the door behind her, and Sakura was once again left alone with her thoughts. Walking towards the table, she took her flower bouquet in her hands. White peonies. His favorites.
"What are you doing?" Sakura asked.
"Planting. I though the garden needed a little diversity; weeds do get boring after awhile, you know."
"What are you planting?"
"Peonies."
"I should have known; the peony is your favorite flower."
"Second favorite." He corrected.
"Oh? Which one is your favorite, then?"
"The cherry blossom."
Sakura brought the bouquet up to her face to smell it, a tear spilling from her eye all of a sudden and cruising down her cheek. "Monster? What's the matter?" Sakura turned around to see Touya standing at the door.
"It's nothing, Touya." She assured him, but the look on her face said otherwise.
"You don't want to marry that sister-stealing bastard, do you? I knew it! He doesn't deserve you!"
"Touya… In you eyes, no one will ever deserve me."
"Well, that g-" Sakura interrupted him.
"Don't start, Touya. I don't want to fight with you on my wedding day."
"But-"
"Please? Just be happy for me."
"Okay, monster. But if he ever hurts you, don't hesitate, call me and I'll go kick his-"
"Touya."
"Okay, okay." He kissed her forehead, not wanting to wrinkle her dress with a hug. "I just came to tell you that the ceremony will start in fifteen minutes. Don't be late." He joked, leaving the room.
"Sorry I'm late!"
"You're always late."
"I'm always sorry. Are you mad? "
"Why would I be?"
"You sounded mad."
"I'm sorry. I don't mind you being late"
"You don't?"
"It's part of who you are. And I wouldn't want you to change, ever."
"Sweet-talker."
Sakura sighted yet again, and sank into the small couch beside the vanity. Distractedly, she started playing with the couch's green stitching.
"Do you know what's really weird?"
"What?"
"Green and pink."
"Huh?"
"Well, Tomoyo keeps obsessing with giving us pink-and-green stuff, and she even wanted us to decorate the apartment with that scheme."
"So?"
"We'll, pink and green don't match. They look awful together."
"And you point is?"
"None. I don't mind pink and green together."
"Neither do I."
Sakura stood up. Only five minutes to go. She started pacing nervously, her hand nervously twirling her engagement ring.
"How do you now when you love someone?" Sakura asked.
"Huh?"
"I asked: 'How do you now when you love someone?' "
"Oh. I don't know I guess you just sort of know…"
"That's helpful."
"Why do you ask, anyway?"
"Because… well, I think I love you."
"I'm one step ahead of you."
"How so?"
"I know I love you."
"Sakura?" Tomoyo called from the door.
"Yes?"
"It's time." Sakura went to the table and took the bouquet. She turned to the mirror for one last look; a maiden stared back at her. A maiden gleaming in white silk and satin. A maiden who stood tall and secure. A maiden who was missing a smile. A maiden who didn't dare look into her own eyes. Turning around, she followed Tomoyo out of the room and into the hall.
All who saw her had to stop and stare at such a beautiful woman, so lovely, so calm, so sad. Yet, she ignored the stares, lost in her own thoughts. She wanted this to end, to stop the empty feeling in the pit of her stomach. Yet she did not want it to begin, because she knew that there might be no turning back. She wished she could fast forward time, find out if this had been the right choice.
"Do you think there is a happily ever after?" Sakura asked.
"I don't know. I don't think so. Why?"
"Well, I was thinking what a waste it would be to spend your life waiting for your happily ever after to begin, never ..."
"…never stopping to think about today, and how you might be happy now."
"Exactly."
"Sakura?"
"Yes?"
"Are you happy now?"
"I most definitely am."
"Good. Me too."
They arrived to the entrance chamber of the church. Her friends surrounded her, telling her how gorgeous she looked, how happy they were for her. But Sakura was deaf to their compliments, her responses coming out automatically, without her brain being involved. And suddenly, it was time, and her Father was standing beside her, taking her arm, muttering sweet and encouraging words, and her friends had all gone down the aisle.
And it was her turn. Her every step was deliberately slow; Syaoran's voice filled her head.
Be careful!
You look lovely.
Sweet dreams.
I'm sorry.
Don't worry, it'll be okay.
ACK!
No, no… you take this number and multiply it by the answer of this, then square it.
Raitei Shourai!
She was approaching the altar, she could see her husband-to-be standing, waiting anxiously for her, but the voices persisted.
Would you be my girlfriend?
How about chocolate ice cream?
Don't cry. Please, don't cry. I can't stand it.
It's not my fault; he wont stop glaring at me.
You're cute when you're confused.
I wish I could set that camera on fire.
Are you okay?
They arrived to the altar, and Sakura's Father kissed her cheek.
It's not funny.
I only smile for you.
Thunder can't hurt you.
I'm proud of you.
I'll come back.
Tell the stuffed animal to go away!
You'll never be alone.
Her Father took her hand, and placed it on top of her fiancée's.
"Take good care of her." Fujitaka said.
"I will." He answered.
You can count on me. I'll always be there.
There is always a choice.
Don't lie to me. It's no use.
Wait for me!
Don't be scared. I'm here.
Sakura stood there, in front of the priest, her hands cold.
"Dearly beloved, we are…" the priest began, as one last voice crossed Sakura's mind.
No matter what happens, you can always be sure of one thing: I love you; now and forever.
Looking up, she met the eyes of her husband-to-be. He looked back at her, blue-gray eyes filled with love for her. And Sakura realized she couldn't do it. She couldn't get married, not to this man.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, pulling her hands away from his. "I can't do this. I just can't." And before the astonished faces of her friends and family, she turned around and ran towards the exit, tears coursing down her cheeks. People stood up as she passed, everyone too surprised to go after her. In a second, she had run the length of the aisle and was at the church doors. She threw them opened, sunlight spilling into the half-light that reigned inside the church. She hurried down the steps and through the little, deserted square in front of the temple, startling the pigeons that had stood there.
And she stopped. Standing there, bathed by the sunlight, pigeons fluttering around her, church bells echoing, Sakura though:
I love you too, Syaoran. For now, for eternity.
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So… how was it? I kind of like it like this, with a sort of pending ending…. But, do you think I should do a sequel?
Oh, and if you liked it, you can go check out my other stories, 'The Legacy' (which I updated! Chapter 4 is now up!), and 'Now and Then' (which is somewhat similar to this one, flash-back wise).
Please, please, please review!!!! I'll be forever grateful.
-Kirjava-chan