Author's note: Okay, this is meant as an 'easy-read', fluff-tastic and slightly mysterious ficcie, so all I can say for now is: read and enjoy! ^_^
Chapter One"Hello?"
Sakura peered around the door with wide eyes. It looked like the room was empty. She flopped into a nearby chair with a very un-Sakura-like sigh. She let her eyes fall shut. What a day. She felt like she'd just done an algebra test while running a marathon. It had been more tiring than she'd thought it would be, getting here and getting started.
The chair was nice and comfortable, the fire in the hearth was creating a warm and cosy glow throughout the room, nighttime was deepening outside the windows and Sakura felt herself beginning to get drowsy. She let her thoughts range far and wide, and started remembering the evening's events.
They had all been sat at dinner, gathered in tall chairs around a formidably long, highly polished table. Sakura had been smiling to see all of her friends wearing such posh clothes: but it had all been part of the holiday, and part of the game. Sakura herself had been dressed in something closely resembling an evening gown.
She was still wearing it, and smoothed a hand over the full skirt absently as she thought, letting her eyes stay closed, not caring if she fell asleep as and where she was.
They had all been talking so cheerily over the gorgeous food, all excited about the fun and mystery to come. Tomoyo, seeing to the serving of the meal, flitting about from guest to guest, had been smiling even more prettily than usual, though that could just have easily had been because of Eriol's presence: they hadn't seen each other in a while, and though Sakura didn't usually pick up on things like that very easily, she was pretty sure something was up in that area.
Mei-ling had been her usual ultra-confident self, boasting that she'd solve everything in a matter of hours. She'd kept nudging Syaoran's arm, saying, 'Ne, Syaoran, ne, ne? I'll do it all by myself!" until Touya, in his role as the Lord of the mansion, had raised an eyebrow in the most questioning way, and asked sternly, "What exactly is there that requires solving, my lady?"
Sakura has tried not to giggle at Touya's in-role manner of reminding Mei-Ling of the game they were playing. She'd calmed down a little after that, her resolution coming through in her effort to portray her role perfectly.
It made Sakura so happy to see Mei-ling being so sure of her own ability: the feisty dark-haired girl would never have admitted it, but not so long ago she had been rather dependent on Syaoran and the team they had made. Sakura was glad she was so independent now.
As for Syaoran… Well, he'd been Syaoran. Pretty quiet, good-naturedly taking all the badgering from Mei-ling, occasionally catching Sakura's eye only to look away with a slightly red face… A sweet little smile spread over Sakura's face. He was so cute the way he got embarrassed so easily.
Touya had been sitting regally at the head of the table, an imperious look on his face the whole time. Sakura would normally have glared at him for that, but this time it made her wriggle in excitement: Touya was completely in character. This holiday was going to be so much fun!
Sakura squirmed again, and let a little exclamation of delight escape her lips.
"Oh, hey, Sakura."
Sakura opened her eyes and looked up. Syaoran was stood in front of her. She almost jumped out of her seat. She'd thought the room was empty.
"Good evening, Syaoran," she smiled at him, recovering quickly, though feeling a little groggy with sleepiness.
A little smile caught at the edges of his mouth. His eyes were glowing softly. "I didn't even notice you come in: I was reading," he explained.
He was only partly making that up: he had been leafing through the rulebook just one more time before heading off to bed. He'd crept into this lovely old library for some peace and quiet, but when Sakura had come in, and almost fell into her chair without seeing him, he'd subconsciously let the book lower into his lap, and ended up watching her as she sat and thought to herself. She'd just looked so pretty, her auburn hair shining in the firelight, her dress spilling to the floor, her hands folded peacefully in her lap. He hadn't wanted to spoil the perfect picture.
Finally, as she'd started looking all excited, he'd been unable to resist approaching her: he was always fascinated by her near-constant happiness, and loved to share those moods she had.
She looked up at him with her sparkling green eyes, a drowsy look on her face. She looked cuter than she ever had, and Syaoran had to stop himself from outright cuddling her there and then. As Sakura tilted her head at him, he looked away, blushing furiously. He'd been staring at her again.
"Syaoran…" she said quietly. He looked back at her. She was looking down, an increasingly sleepy look on her face. Her eyes fluttered slightly.
He knelt down and looked up into her face. "Yes?"
She smiled fuzzily, and abruptly sank forward to land awkwardly in his arms. He looked down in surprise. She was already fast asleep.
He stared a moment in puzzlement, then his eyes softened with a smile and he lifted her in his arms. He stood holding her, the embers of the sinking fire outlining them in a warm red glow.
He lowered his face into her silky hair, and breathed deeply. She smelled of flowers and summer. He closed his eyes, and let himself enjoy the feeling of holding her for a moment, before shifting her into a more secure position in his arms, and carrying her to her room.
He laid her down on her bed gently, and leaned over her to blow out the candle on the bedside table.
He hovered at the door a moment, and, assured that she was still breathing peacefully, he closed the door as quietly as possible.
Bed awaited him as well. He padded down the hallway to his own room. The hallway was left in silence for the night.