By Kawaii Sakura-chan
All rights reserved by Clamp
Chapter Ten: Sakura's Birthday Surprise
It was a quite a few months later since the whole incident with Whitney. The ordeal was the last thing on their minds. This was not to say that they had forgotten it entirely. It still haunted their dreams and at time would wake up in a cold sweat or even wake up screaming. But the whole ordeal was not on their minds today as it was April 1st and Sakura was going to be 15. Sakura had just come down for breakfast. It was a nice, bright sunny day.
"Good morning everyone!" said Sakura happily.
"Oh hi Sakura," said Tomoyo, "you seem very happy today."
"I am, today is my special day," said Sakura.
"Oh, what day is it?" asked Eriol.
"You don't know?" asked Sakura frowning.
"No, why don't you tell us?" asked Syaoran.
"Are you all telling me that you don't know what's so special about April 1st?" asked Sakura.
"OH!" they all said, "We know."
"Then what day is it?" asked Sakura.
"It's April fool's day. I had completely forgotten," said Syaoran.
"Hey Sakura," said Meiling who had just come in.
"ARRRGGG," said Sakura stomping off.
"Hehe," said Tomoyo.
"What's wrong with Sakura?" asked Meiling.
"We were pretending we didn't know it was her birthday," said Tomoyo.
"Oh it's today?" said Meiling, "right, we're having that surprise birthday for her."
"Yeah it's today. She thinks we've all forgotten," said Tomoyo.
"Oh it'll be fun," said Meiling.
"I'm hoping, that is, if she's not too mad at as," said Tomoyo.
"Why would she be mad?" asked Meiling.
"Everything is just going over your head today Meiling," said Syaoran.
"What's going over her head?" asked Tyler who had just sat down.
"Everything," said Syaoran.
"Meaning?" asked Tyler.
"Never mind," said Syaoran.
"Alright then, so what are we talking about?" asked Tyler.
"Sakura's birthday," said Syaoran.
"Oh right," said Tyler, "that's today."
"Anyways, who's going to bring her to the restaurant?" asked Syaoran.
"That would be you," said Tomoyo.
"Alright, so I pick her up at seven and bring her to the restaurant," said Syaoran, "gotcha."
"And we'll all be there," said Eriol.
"Boy is she going to be surprised," said Meiling.
"You had better go talk to her," said Tomoyo, "she's probably pretty mad at you right now."
"Why?" asked Syaoran.
"You forgot her birthday!" said Tomoyo.
"Technically I didn't forget her birthday," said Syaoran.
"Go," said Tomoyo.
"I'm going," said Syaoran.
Syaoran walked down the hall. He went up the stairs to her floor and knocked on the door.
"Sakura? Are you in there?" asked Syaoran.
"I'm not talking to you," said Sakura.
"I'm sorry, I was just playing around. I know what day it is," said Syaoran.
"Then what day is it?" asked Sakura.
"It's your birthday," said Syaoran.
Sakura slowly opened the door.
"That wasn't a very funny joke," said Sakura.
"Did you think I'd really forget your birthday?" asked Syaoran.
"Yes?" said Sakura.
"Well, I didn't," said Syaoran, "so can I take you out for dinner for your birthday?"
"What time?" asked Sakura.
"Seven," said Syaoran.
"Alright," said Sakura, "see you later, I have math in about ten minutes."
"Love you," said Syaoran give her a peck on the cheek.
"See you later," said Sakura closing the door.
Syaoran walked back down the hall.
=Everything is falling nicely into place= thought Syaoran.
Syaoran walked back into the cafeteria to talk to the others.
"Everything is great, she's not mad at me and dinner is on. I have to run and get my things for science now so I will see you all later," said Syaoran running off.
"We have to go too," said Meiling, "Tyler and I have the same P.E block. See you later!"
Then Meiling and Tyler ran off as well. All that was left was Tomoyo and Eriol. Tomoyo had a spare block and Eriol already had his books.
"Tomoyo," said Eriol, "Is everything all right? You look worried."
"Not worried, just I have this feeling that something big is going to happen today. It's not bad, but it's not good, it's very very surprising," said Tomoyo.
"Do you have magic?" asked Eriol.
"Not that I know of," said Tomoyo flicking her hair out of her face.
"What's that on your wrist?" asked Eriol.
"Do you mean this?" asked Tomoyo pointing to her bracelet.
"Yes," said Eriol, "are those charms?"
"Yes," said Tomoyo, "I got this bracelet when I was born, I've just in the few years been able to wear it since it was so big. Everything single charm tells me something I think. I've been getting one every year and I think they all mean something."
"Really," said Eriol, "How many are there and what do you think they mean?"
"Well there are 14, one for each year of my life. I've found one in a small velvet box by my bed every year on Sakura's Birthday. I know that there are no more that I need because there aren't any more spaces left on my bracelet. But these are the charms and these are what I think they mean. After all that has happened lately, they all make sense," said Tomoyo
"I think that,
1. A Cherry Blossom - Sakura
2.A peony - Syaoran and I think that these are the first two because they're supposed to be together.
3. A microphone - for me.
4. A Piano - I uh… think this one is about the one I…love most and I think it means that we are supposed to be together too," said Tomoyo blushing.
Eriol smiled sweetly at her. 'I love you' he mouthed. She mouthed 'I love you' back.
"So after the piano what do the rest mean?" asked Eriol.
"the rest are,
5. The sun - Ke- Well I don't know," said Tomoyo, "I don't know as many as I thought I did."
"You're keeping something aren't you Tomoyo," said Eriol.
"Is it that obvious?" said Tomoyo guiltily.
"You know you can trust me," said Eriol.
"I know, but its Sakura's secret, not mine," said Tomoyo.
"Fine then," said Eriol, "but you will tell me someday right?"
"Hai (yes)," said Tomoyo.
"So what other charms do you know?" asked Eriol.
"6. A moon - no clue (Yue)
7. A key - no clue (sakura's key)
8. A star - no clue (sakura's star and new key)
9. a dove - peace, no problems or conflicts
10. a rattle snake - I think it means trouble ahead, like Whitney
11. A red cross - I think it's for the hospital, the square Red Cross
12. an X - For Sakura's scar
13. A heart - for the love between Sakura and Syaoran and You and I
14. A cloud - I don't know what this means," said Tomoyo.
15. A crown - I don't know what this one means either," said Tomoyo.
"It seem that your bracelet predicted the future," said Eriol.
"Yes and this cloud, not knowing what it means, it worries me," said Tomoyo.
"Don't be worried," said Eriol, "I have a feeling everything will be fine."
"So what are you going to do now?" asked Tomoyo, "you've missed 10 minutes of your class."
"I think that I will go hide out somewhere in the school," said Eriol.
"How about we go out for a walk around the estate?" asked Tomoyo.
"Sounds good to me," said Eriol.
Tomoyo leaned in and gave Eriol a kiss.
=I will tell you someday= thought Tomoyo.
The day quickly passed. The classes seemed to go faster than usual and almost everyone had plans for after school. It was 6:00pm and Sakura still hadn't figured out what to wear yet.
*KNOCK KNOCK*
"Coming!" said Sakura walking from the bathroom to her dorm door.
"Hi Sakura," said Tomoyo.
"Hi Tomoyo," said Sakura.
"I have something for you," said Tomoyo handing her a box.
"Don't think a gift is going to get you out of my bad books," said Sakura jokingly. She had known that Tomoyo was kidding but when everyone didn't know, it made her a bit mad and she had over dramatized the whole thing.
"I know, it's just I had some extra time and I wanted to make something for your birthday," said Tomoyo.
Sakura opened the box. It was a beautiful silk dress. It was a light shade of pink and with no sleeves. In the box included a pair of elbow length gloves the same colour. The dress itself went down to the floor.
"Tomoyo," said Sakura, "this is beautiful. You really didn't need to do this. This is like the type of dress a princess wears."
"I wanted you to look nice for your birthday," said Tomoyo, "Wait, let me rephrase that. I wanted you to look beautiful for your birthday."
"Thank you Tomoyo," said Sakura giving her a hug.
"No problem," said Tomoyo.
"So what are you doing tonight?" asked Sakura.
"Oh nothing much. I will probably just sit in my dorm. Or perhaps I'll go see a movie with Eriol," said Tomoyo, "I don't know, I'll just take it as it comes."
"Good way to be," said Sakura, "Take life as it hits you. You never know what might come up."
"Hai(yes), Anyways, you get dressed and everything for you date with Syaoran and I'll see you when you get home," said Tomoyo.
"Bye Tomoyo, thank you so much for the dress," said Sakura.
"Your welcome," said Tomoyo giving Sakura a hug.
"Best Friends for life?" said Sakura.
"Best friend for life," said Tomoyo smiling and walking out the door closing it softly behind her.
Sakura sighed. She was going to celebrate her birthday with her boyfriend of whom she loved very much.
Sakura rushed around. She ran to the washroom and had a shower. Then she blow-dried her hair. She curled in tight golden brown curls. She added light pink eye shadow and wore a shiny lip gloss. Upon having her hair and make finished, she walked over to the bed where the box sat and took out the beautiful dress. She put in on and looked herself over in the mirror. She looked over herself and saw her mother in her.
"Wish you were here mom," said Sakura.
*KNOCK KNOCK*
Sakura walked to her dorm door unaware of the time.
"Wow," said a voice.
Sakura smiled, "Thanks."
"No problem," said Syaoran who had one hand behind his back.
"What's behind your back?" asked Sakura.
"These," said Syaoran handing her a bouquet of light pink roses, "One for every year my precious cherry blossom has been alive."
"Syaoran," said Sakura, "these are beautiful."
"Only the best for my Cherry Blossom," said Syaoran.
"Thank you," said Sakura hugging him.
"So are you ready?" asked Syaoran.
"Yes. Where are we going?" asked Sakura.
"It's a surprise," said Syaoran.
"Oh give me a hint please," said Sakura.
"Nope," said Syaoran, "After you?"
He motioned to a waiting limousine outside the front of the school. Sakura smiled and climbed in.
"So no hints eh?" said Sakura.
"Not even one," said Syaoran.
"Fine then," said Sakura turning away
"Hmm?" said Syaoran.
"Don't tell me, hurt my feelings, break my heart," said Sakura all dramatically.
"Sakura," said Syaoran.
"What?" said Sakura.
"I love you," said Syaoran.
"You think that's gonna work?" asked Sakura.
"I guy can try can't he?" asked Syaoran.
"Uh huh," said Sakura.
"We're almost there so don't worry," said Syaoran, "so just sit tight."
Sakura sighed and continued to look out the window at the scenery quickly passed by. She started to become curious. As she looked out the window she could see grass and trees for a far as the eye could see.
=What is he up to?= thought Sakura.
"We're here," said Syaoran.
The driver opened the door and Syaoran climbed out and held his hand out to help Sakura out. Sakura took his hand and slowly climbed out as she marvelled at what she saw before her eyes. A huge mansion surrounded by well kept bushes with magnificent gardens filled with rare and beautiful flowers.
Syaoran got out of the car and held out his hand to help Sakura out of the limo.
"Beautiful," she said softly, "Where are we?"
"This," answer Syaoran, "is my great grandfather's mansion. He lived here for many years with my grandmother and both of them spent their last days here. We've kept it up over the years and we use it for celebrations."
"It's only my birthday," said Sakura meekly.
"And what better use for it than that?" asked Syaoran.
Sakura giggled.
"Shall we go in?" asked Syaoran holding out his arm.
"We shall," said Sakura as she smiled and linked arms with him.
They walked through the big doors. The place was like a mansion in a fairy tale. Beautiful staircases that led to an assortment of room all furnished with only the best furniture.
Syaoran led Sakura to the right of the grand staircase. He opened a door it was pitch black.
"Uh Syaoran," said Sakura holding him a bit tighter.
"SURPRISE!" yelled a whole bunch of people as the lights flickered on.
Sakura screamed and clapped her free hand to her mouth.
"Oh my gosh!" said Sakura as she saw all her friends and family sitting at a long table. There was her father, her brother, Tomoyo, Eriol, Meiling and friends from school and some of her good friends from Canada.
"Happy Birthday," said Syaoran smiling at her.
"This is the best Birthday ever," said Sakura, "Thank you Syaoran."
"Only the best for the one I truly love," said Syaoran.
Sakura kissed him on the cheek.
"I love you too," she whispered in his ear.
"How about we sit down and eat now?" asked Syaoran.
"Good Idea," said Sakura.
Everyone talked and ate and had lots of fun. They all caught up with each other on what had been going on in their lives. They laughed and smiled and everyone agreed that Sakura looked truly beautiful.
Suddenly Sakura had a strange feeling. She felt like something was calling to her.
"I have to go to the washroom," said Sakura, "I'll be right back. Tomoyo could you show me?"
"Uh yeah, sure," said Tomoyo.
The two stood up and quietly exited.
"It's right up those stairs," said Tomoyo.
"We're not going to the washroom," said Sakura.
"I know," said Tomoyo, "you are."
"No, that's not what I meant," said Sakura, "I feel something and you need to be with me. Don't ask me why but it's just a feeling. Let's go through this door."
Sakura pointed to a door next to the dining room door.
"Why do we need to go in there?" asked Tomoyo.
"We just do," said Sakura, "I can feel power drawing me to it."
They opened the door quietly and looked inside. It was all empty and completely dark except for a marble table in the middle with a light shining on it.
Sakura and Tomoyo walked up to it. There was something engraved in it but neither one could read it.
"What is this?" asked Tomoyo.
"Look, there are imprints here. Like something is meant to be put over it," said Sakura.
"There are," said Tomoyo, "that one looks like you key. It even looks like it has a place for the string your key hangs on."
"That one looks just like your bracelet," said Sakura, "it has the chain and all 15 spaces for the charms."
Sakura took off her key and placed in the imprint. It fit perfectly. Tomoyo wondering if hers would do that same, took off her bracelet and laid it out long on the table. As she neatly fit the last charm into the imprint a gust of wind filled the room and beam of light from the ceiling engulfed the whole room.
Syaoran felt a surge of power and quickly excused himself saying to everyone he would be alright and that he figured that Sakura had gotten lost in the huge house. He quickly and quietly closed the door and looked in on the next room. Sakura and Tomoyo were standing wide-eyed. There was a huge group of people standing in the room now.
"Mother?!" said Sakura.
Author's Note: End of the chapter. Sorry for such a long wait and short chapter. Anyways new chapter up soon I hope. Please Review.
Kawaii Sakura-Chan
