The Past and Present
Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Two: Don't Even Know
Sakura Kinomoto instinctively began to purr while stretching out on the cotton sheets. Sunlight streamed from the blinds making the room welcoming, bathed in yellow light. Yet, she began to realize discrepancies as her eyes opened. The room she was in was a light green (hers was blue) and the sheets she was currently wrapped in were the same color. The thought that the person whose room she was rather boring was pushed quickly aside when déjà vu hit her quickly. She knew whose bedroom this was.
(this cannot be happening)
"Syaoran-kun…" Sakura let out the air that had caught in her throat. Her breathing became shallow as she sat, shocked and dizzy.
"I'm glad you're awake. Hungry?" Syaoran came in, a tray with a bowl of soup in his hands. Sakura looked at him, wondering if he would remember. It didn't seem like it, and she nodded demurely, shifting her glance to the wall behind him.
(NO! STOP IT!)
Syaoran handed her the bowl of soup. He watched as she brought the spoon up to her cracked pale lips. If he used a bit more imagination, he would be able to see those lips suddenly bloomed into red, full, voluptuous lips that would smile teasingly at him before bringing them to his lips. He mentally shook the thought out of his mind; how could he even think of romance with a stranger?
(calm down syaoran)
Ah, but she seemed so familiar. His brow furrowed as he struggled to think why it seemed like they had already met. It was at the vestiges of his memory, he knew; it was the same feeling a person had when they know a name of something but he can't remember the name for the life of him. On the tip of the tongue, as they say.
Sakura had greedily lapped the whole bowl up, leaving no traces of a soup ever being there. Syaoran raised an eyebrow at her, unto which she licked her lips coyly. "It was very good," she whispered to him.
"I'm glad you think so. Would you like more?" Syaoran whispered back.
(why am I whispering to her)
Just as he was about to leave, he turned back to face the girl. "Please don't try to move…I promise I'll be right back." Déjà vu again for her, and she wondered if he had that same feeling.
"I-ok," she whispered, defeated.
(syaoran-kun!)
Her inner self tried to pry into that cool demeanor Sakura had set up for people. And now seeing her koibito in the flesh, his tousled mane, his soft brown eyes, inside dared to try to break through. Oh, but she fought hard and long at her inner self, taunting it mercilessly for years.
(i'm so scaredscared)
Sakura grabbed her head and furrowed her face into a furious scrunch. Her lips quivered, her eyes threatening to produce the salty mixture. She only thanked the gods that her Syaoran was out of the room. Her Syaoran. Yes, she still called him that after the-
(!!SAY IT!!)
incident.
"Masaka, I won't cry!" She forced out through clenched teeth. Pulling her knees up to her chin, the final mental image of the "incident" flashed through her mind. She felt herself crying before she even realized it, the terrible dream she had had once so many years ago becoming reality.
---
"Syaoran-kun, stop it!" Sakura giggled against her koibito's chest. Hearing and feeling the ragged breathing, Sakura turned to face her Syaoran. But when she looked up, there was no face. It was so full of blood, so full of pity, pain, remorse, the cruel sense of betrayal.
"No…" Sakura's eyes widened, her mouth dropping into a horrified gasp. Fear shook her breath. Closing her eyes, she repeated the single word she could say: "Time time time time time time time…"
-
The auburn-haired girl lying in the bed opened her eyes quickly to see the tear-stricken woman in front of her.
"Mom?" Sakura's eyes began to well up, but suddenly the woman's tears splattered onto her face. With the tears coming down, Sakura closed her eyes, and her mother's hand enveloped over her eyes.
"I'm sorry, my Sakura…" she continued to weep, "but I can only help with one thing…" Soon the apparition of Sakura's mother began to fade, but one word continued to echo the mysterious resonance.
"Time…"
-
Sakura jumped from the bed. The was having the same dream – no, nightmare – for the past couple of weeks. She didn't know what they meant which wasn't unusual. She never knew what they meant, anyway. All of a sudden, something flew towards her.
She grabbed her sheets and yelped. The yellow "thing" stopped in its tracks and before it could say a word, Sakura answered, "I know, I know, I'm late. Thanks, Kero!" As she continued to bustle around for everything, Kero continued to float.
After she was about to run out the door, Kero ahem-ed. Sakura sighed. "Yes, Kero-chan?" As Sakura began to think of what food course he'd want, she almost missed what he had said entirely.
"…a job?" Kero finished.
She adjusted her pants in front of her mirror before tucking her hair behind her ears nervously. "What about a job, Kero-chan? Today is my interview, and I have to make sure that it goes well. I'm entering the work-force." She paused, looking into her eyes, "I need to help my family." She rested her hand on the knob of the door.
Kero sighed. Although she had captured all of the Clow cards, he chose to stay with the lovable Sakura. Besides, she was a great cook, so why not enjoy before sleeping for an eternity, ne?
"Sakura, you've grown so much. The Clow cards have all been captured, and you've past the Final Judgement. Your cooking has surpassed all expectations," Kero's stomach rumbled but he continued, "and you also saved the Chinese brat." This he began to mumble something, and catching Sakura's death glare, he continued, "So, basically, it's been four-ok, maybe three-and-a-half years since the cards have been captured. I've watched you grow all these years…"
"Uh-huh. Are you finished, Kero-chan?"
Sakura looked at the watch Yukito -- the Yukito she knew before he turned into Yue -- had given her when she was ten. She didn't mean to sound curt, but Kero-chan should realize that she had to be on time for her interview.
"Sakura, have you been feeling all right?"
The question made Sakura pause for a second. She debated whether or not to tell him of her dream but decided not to at that moment. She told herself that she would tell him later, and they could think of the meaning together.
(no…)
"Ode to Joy" began to play from her cell phone, and she checked for the caller.
(tomoyo)
She waved goodbye to Kero as she opened her mouth in a greeting. "Moshi moshi."
"Hey, Sakura, can you come out to Penguin Park? I know you have an interview, but just for five minutes. Actually," Tomoyo's dreamy voice crackled, "give me a call when you're done."
Sakura agreed, and as she walked downstairs, she ran into Touya.
"Hey, squirt." He sounded tired, and she looked at him, wondering where the years had gone. He was her older brother, someone she could depend on, family, but now, she felt like she also had to be there for him as well, the same way he was there for her. She felt guilty for all those times she had goofed around on him. Saying good morning to him, she promised herself that she would make it up to him.
"I'm going to my interview now," she grabbed her jacket from the coat rack. "I'll be home in a few hours." He lifted one side of his lips up, nodding. He wished her luck.
(we both need it)
Walking out of the building where the interview had been held, she walked slowly to Penguin Park. So many memories she remembered; they were almost as fresh as they were on the day they had happened. She had called Tomoyo earlier, and she saw the raven hair blowing in the wind. They hugged before Sakura also noticed Syaoran.
She felt her heart speed up.
He said, "You remember what today is?"
Sakura nodded shyly, casting her eyes downward for a couple seconds before meeting his steady gaze. Tomoyo grinned and told them that she was going to meet with Eriol on the other side of the park. Sakura smiled at her gratefully before continuing her study of Syaoran. He was wearing a dark leather jacket, his hair blowing in the wind, his dark brown eyes burning with intensity. Sakura felt a flush beginning to rise as she saw him looking at her carefully. She had picked her most professional clothing.
Syaoran tried hard to only look at her face, she could tell, but she enjoyed the attention she was getting from him. He held out his hand, and she let hers rest on top of his. He brought it up to his lips, handing her the flowers, before brushing his lips against her cheek. They began walking out of Penguin Park with her resting her head on his shoulder.
Tomoyo continued to peer through her video lenses while recording Syaoran and Sakura's dynamics. Honestly, she would say, I feel inspired when I see them together. They have an old romance, she would say. Yet, even though she had a very steady hand, she felt so tired. Her eyelids felt so heavy, and they closed before she even realized she had passed out.
Syaoran stopped walking and pulled his hand away from hers, cupping her face in both of his hands. Sakura smiled, bringing her lips up to his. They had been talking of various things and had reached his place.
He leaned down and brought his lips to hers, tentatively. She opened her mouth a little in response and closed her eyes. The kiss was brief, but not their last. They backed away, letting their eyes come in contact, then he grabbed her hands and placed them on the back of his neck. He placed his hands on her waist and leaned in to kiss her again.
He nuzzled her neck as they parted and asked her if she would like to enter. She felt like she couldn't say anything, her throat parched, and she licked her lips. They went up to his bedroom, and she laid there like an angel against his sheets, and Syaoran felt pure. As he stared at her and kissed every inch of her skin, he felt safe and glorious. As they held each other near the end, they felt this could have lasted forever.
-
Sakura was dreaming again, shifting continuously against his sheets. It was time…it was now…this was the Time –
---
"Excuse me?" Syaoran spoke to the girl that had covered her ears. She was sitting on the bed, and tears seemed to be running down her cheeks. He heard a sudden intake of air and saw her hurriedly grab the sheets up to her cheeks and wipe the moisture off.
She smiled at him, her lips finally back to the red color he envisioned. She didn't say anything but eyed the bowl he carried in his hands. Her eyes were rimmed with tears, but he pretended not to notice.
"More soup…" he offered her and watched her eat. "Are you feeling better?"
She nodded her head. "Yes, I do think so. I'm sorry to have imposed…" She fiddled with the spoon in the empty bowl.
"I – I hope it was good soup. My name is Syaoran, by the way." He continued to stand by the bed rather than sit down on it with her.
Sakura was about to say I know, but she replied, "My name is Kinomoto-"
"Sakura," he whispered. Her eyes widened and she began to cough. "That is your name, isn't it?"
Sakura continued to stare at him. (no…he's not supposed to remember…Syaoran-kun…) She took his hand and pressed her fingers against his palm. Her fingers were icy against his warm skin. "Yes," she confirmed. Narrowing her eyes, she asked him, "Syaoran…do you remember?"
"Syaoran…" she breathed again, and he looked at her. His brow was furrowed, and she knew he was attempting to figure out what she was speaking about. He wasn't supposed to know anything, however. Oh, she remembered those stipulations. She brought her other hand up to his face, and it was shaking. It hovered slightly next to his skin, but she didn't allow herself to touch him. More firmly this time, she said, "Do you remember?"
Syaoran stopped. Did he remember her? Did he remember her? No…yes…no…yes! No! He didn't know!
"Sakura…"