A/N: Sorry for the long delay. Soap opera message boards are so
addictive... ^_^ I'm back again, and I've got tons of ideas! Anyway,
everyone's age in this story is twenty-five.
Foreword: To read this chapter, you must read Cherry Blossom and Little Wolf first, because the connections are crucial.
~*~*~*~*~
Disclaimer: CCS belongs to CLAMP
~*~*~*~*~
Thanks For The Memories
By Amethyst Beloved
Chapter 1: S&S
~*~*~*~*~
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
* Flashback *
~*~(Next scene)~*~
~*~*~*~*~
"Are you finished yet?"
"Hold on Syaoran! There's only one more box left!"
Sakura Kinomoto looked at the empty space encased in the four green walls of what use to be her room. So much has happened here. Discussions with Kero, feeling floaty after taking to Yukito back then when she had a crush on him, all those times she left her summer homework until the last minute, and conversations with Syaoran and Tomoyo about the Cards.
"If only these walls could talk," she murmured to herself as she made her way to the box filled with trinkets from the past, which was patiently waiting on the other side of the room.
"Anytime today would be just fine," a voice teased behind her.
Sakura turned around and faced her fiancé with a grin. After a six-month engagement, all the details for the wedding were finally covered, and they would to be wed in Hong Kong within the week.
"I know, I know," replied Sakura as she wrapped her arms comfortably around his neck. "It's just going to be hard to move away from all these memories."
Syaoran leaned forward to lightly kiss her soft lips before embracing her in a warm hug.
"Don't worry, love," he soothed. "Memories as precious as yours will never be forgotten. And we'll also be making new memories of own as soon as we start the next chapter of our lives together. Now, what's in the box?"
"Curiosity got the best of you?" Sakura giggled as she poked his side, and watched him squirm. "It's a whole bunch of mementos that I collected when I was a kid. Nothing fancy... just significant.
Syaoran knelt down on the floor to get a better look.
"Let's see... we have an inflated red water yo-yo... oh yeah, Yukito gave that to you at the fair when we were ten. "Oh look, here's the watch that Yukito gave you for Christmas," continued Syaoran. "Hmm... I think I should be jealous since you're keeping all of these tokens of affection!"
Sakura giggled at his silliness as she crouched down beside him to root through the box. Digging in the corners, she grasped at an object.
"Oh!" she exclaimed when she saw what it was.
"What is it..." Syaoran trailed off when he saw the object.
Sakura smiled softly at the item in her hand as the vague memories of her third birthday replayed in her head.
"This was the last thing my mother gave me before she passed away," she told Syaoran quietly.
The object of discussion was no other than a simple cherry blossom hair clip. Once vibrant pink, the petals were now pale rose due to wear and age, but it was still a beautiful accessory that held an important meaning.
"She told me that she'll always love me no matter what happens," Sakura continued as tears glistened in her emerald eyes, magnifying them like never before. "And I told her not to go away."
Syaoran held his love in his arms as he whispered sweet nothings in her ear to comfort her. In the back of her mind, Sakura felt that there was something more to be added, but she let herself be comforted by Syaoran first. All though she couldn't remember much about Nadeshiko, she still loved her with all her heart.
While soothing Sakura's sadness, Syaoran started packing the keepsakes back in the box. All though he felt that he should be remembering something, time was on the essence, and the privet jet en route to China was supposed to leave in an hour.
"Thanks for everything, Syaoran," said Sakura as she detangled herself from Syaoran's arms to close the box.
"Anytime, my cherry blossom," he replied with a grin.
"Love you, my little wolf," Sakura answered instantly before pausing to reflect. But didn't she have something related to "little wolf"?
"Coming Sakura?" asked Syaoran with the box in his arms.
"What?" she asked as she snapped out of her daze. "Oh sure, I'm right behind you."
There were still a few wedding arrangements that had to be finalized. Her thoughts would have to wait until later.
~*~(Hong Kong)~*~
As the couple stepped out of the jet, the Lis were already waiting to greet them. After being welcomed by Syaoran's honorable mother and his four exuberant sisters, they managed to escape to his room with all of Sakura's belongings in one piece. Syaoran was out of breath as he leaned against his door to relax.
"You'd think that because they have their own husbands and children to coddle, they'd stop fussing over me!"
"No matter how large their families grow, you'll always be their little brother," Sakura giggled. "Now tell me, where can I leave these boxes?"
"Beside the bed is just fine," he assured. "Sakura, the Elders need to see me for a while. Is it okay if I meet you on the grounds later? This won't take me more than half an hour."
"Sure, go ahead," said Sakura. "I need some time to stretch my legs anyway."
After placing the last box in the pile, she was ready to leave. However, a wooden container peaking out from under Syaoran's bed caught her eye. She couldn't help but investigate as she gently picked up the box. Gingerly opening it, she smiled at its contents.
The scarf that she had made for him when they were kids, the handkerchief he let her use when she cried on his shoulder after learning that Yukito loved her brother, ticket stubs from the movies they've seen together every time he visited Japan, and matchbooks from every single restaurant they've went to.
"And I thought I was the sentimental one!" she smirked as she absentmindedly shifted though the reminders. Suddenly, something brushed against her fingers that felt familiar to her touch. Underneath all the knickknacks there laid a girl's hair clip... that was identical to the one her mother gave to her.
"How could this be?" Sakura asked herself as she plunged in to her own memory box to find its mate.
Of course there were several differences. One's color was intact due to the fact it looked as if it never seen the light of day, while the other was so sun kissed that rose seemed its original color. In her haste while collecting the second clip, Sakura didn't notice that another item fell out of the box until her hand brushed against its silky smooth material.
"What's this?"
Holding it at arms length, she examined the object dangling from the sturdy string. She deducted that it was some sort of pendant that was covered with a type of animal fur. All though she could not place the necklace with its memory, she felt that it had a significant meaning, and it was somehow linked o the hair clips. But what was the connection?
Looking at the time, Sakura decided that it had to wait for later. She was already running late. She left Syaoran's room to meet him on the grounds, but not before carefully tucking both clips and the necklace in her pockets. Maybe Syaoran could help her figure it out.
~*~(Li grounds)~*~
No matter how vast the Li estate is, Syaoran's favourite place has always been right under the trees.
"Hullo!" chirped Sakura as she popped up beside him. For a moment, Syaoran's mind conjured up the image of a girl with emerald eyes and auburn hair, but she was only four years of age. However, the picture fleeted just as fast as it entered his mind in the first place.
"What's the matter? Cat's got your tongue?" she teased as she sat beside him. All of a sudden, she couldn't help but think about a little boy with sad amber eyes. Why did he seem so familiar?
"Oh, nothing's wrong," began Syaoran. "It's just that I'm remembering all these little bits and pieces of things, but I can't put it them together."
"You too?" she asked in disbelief. "Oh wait, I want to show you what I found. I found a box poking out from under your bed, and I hope you don't mind that I looked through it."
"No, not at all," Syaoran stuttered with a blush on his face. He was glad that Sakura found it because he would have been too shy to show it to her on his own.
"That's good to hear," sighed Sakura in relief. "Okay, tell me what you think of these."
Syaoran looked at the two hair clips in Sakura's hands.
"Oh, I didn't know you have another one," commented Syaoran as he observed the two pieces that were identical in shape a size.
"I don't," Sakura stated. " I found the newer looking one in your memory box."
"How... how can that be..." he trailed off as he cradled his clip in his hands. "Is there something I'm forgetting?"
While Syaoran racked through his memories, Sakura took the necklace out from her pockets, and started rubbing the silky fur,
"What have you got there?" asked Syaoran when he noticed his fiancée had something in her hands.
"To tell you the truth, I have no idea," began Sakura. "But it has to belong to me the same way that clip belongs to you, because I found it with my other memories."
"That's weird..."
The two adults were so deep in thought that they did not realize the presence of the Li Clan matriarch until the lady was right beside them.
"What are the two of you doing here when there are so many last minute arrangements to take care of?" asked Yelan in a stern voice.
"Sorry mother!" cried out Syaoran as he jumped up and stood tall. No matter how old he was the high stature woman would always intimidate him.
"No need to apologize if you finish all of your tasks," answered Yelan with a soft smile. "First we need to call the caterers to confirm the... confirm the..."
The matriarch was speechless as she stared at Sakura's hands.
"Mother?" asked a concerned Syaoran. "What's the matter? Is anything wrong?"
"That... that necklace... " Yelan stuttered as she cupped Sakura's hands in her own. "Use to belong to my husband..."
Two jaws dropped simultaneously, and silence followed.
'What does this mean?' Sakura thought to herself. 'This doesn't make any sense.'
"It is tradition that on his death bed, the Li Clan leader must give his son an object to represent his name sake. Then the son would have to give that same object to the person they would like to spend their future with," explained Yelan. "In Syaoran's case, he was given a necklace with a pendant that was covered in fur that came from a wolf cub, and it was assumed that Meilin would be the owner of the necklace."
"Little Wolf!" exclaimed Syaoran. "I remember father calling me by that name and telling me that I had to give the necklace to someone that I cared about."
"Then why do I have it?" questioned Sakura.
"Have you been to China before you won that contest, which brought you here?" asked Yelan.
"Umm... I don't think so..." pondered the emerald eyed beauty. "Oh wait! Touya once told me that we went to one of Dad's archeological digs when he was eleven. So that means I was... four"
"That's how old I was when Father died!" added Syaoran.
"Then the both of you must think back to when you were four," instructed the woman. "Because it was during a time rather long ago, the both of you must focus."
Both Syaoran and Sakura closed their eyes to remember an event that occurred so long ago.
'I was under the trees, looking at the necklace that my father gave me.'
'There was a little boy dressed in black who seemed so sad.'
'A girl with auburn hair and emerald eyes came to see me.'
'His hair was brown and his eyes were a stunning shade of amber.'
'She asked if she cold sit with me, and she asked what was wrong.'
'He told me that his father died and I told him my mother passed away as well. He was afraid that he would be alone, but I told him that my mother will always be with me.'
'I was so happy because I realized that my father will always be with me as well. She gave me her hair clip because it meant that she would always be with me too.'
'He was so happy that he gave me a hug.'
'She smelt like the sweetest fragrance of cherry blossoms.'
'He smelt like the freshest scent of sandalwood.'
'I gave her the necklace in return for doing so much for me.'
'Touya was calling so I had to leave. But not before kissing his cheek.'
'When she left, I called her Ying Fa because I didn't know her name.'
Finally opening their eyes, Syaoran and Sakura gazed at each other before either one of them spoke.
"So you're the mysterious girl that said my father will always be with me," stated Syaoran.
"And you're the first boy who I admitted to liking," answered Sakura.
"The fates made it be that the two of you were to meet before the Cards escaped," began Yelan, who kept quiet during their revelations. "Syaoran needed his special person, and you were there to aid him."
I... I don't know what to say," said Sakura with a hand over her rapidly beating heart.
"You don't have to say anything," answered Syaoran as he wrapped his arms around her waist, and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "When I think we can't be any more perfect for each other, something happens, and once again I am bowled over.
Sakura giggled as she rubbed her head against his neck in a kittenish snuggle.
"That's the beauty of our relationship, my love," she murmured. "We compliment each other perfectly."
"And that's yet another reason why it's great we're getting married," replied Syaoran. "Now come on. We can't leave those last minute details waiting!"
"I love you, my little wolf," Sakura said with a giggle.
"And I love you too, my cherry blossom," answered Syaoran as he draped his arms over her shoulders, and guided her back to the mansion. "There's still a lot of work to do before the big day."
To be continued...
~*~*~*~*~ A/N: Well there it is: my sequel to my S&S prequel! I really hope it came somewhat close to what everybody expected. Chapter two is going to be the wedding, but it's going to focus on Takashi and Chiharu as they reminisce about their own wedding day... and the people who suddenly popped back in to their lives. Will the new adjustments be for the better or for the worse? Well, I'll do my best to get it out next week!
Foreword: To read this chapter, you must read Cherry Blossom and Little Wolf first, because the connections are crucial.
~*~*~*~*~
Disclaimer: CCS belongs to CLAMP
~*~*~*~*~
Thanks For The Memories
By Amethyst Beloved
Chapter 1: S&S
~*~*~*~*~
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
* Flashback *
~*~(Next scene)~*~
~*~*~*~*~
"Are you finished yet?"
"Hold on Syaoran! There's only one more box left!"
Sakura Kinomoto looked at the empty space encased in the four green walls of what use to be her room. So much has happened here. Discussions with Kero, feeling floaty after taking to Yukito back then when she had a crush on him, all those times she left her summer homework until the last minute, and conversations with Syaoran and Tomoyo about the Cards.
"If only these walls could talk," she murmured to herself as she made her way to the box filled with trinkets from the past, which was patiently waiting on the other side of the room.
"Anytime today would be just fine," a voice teased behind her.
Sakura turned around and faced her fiancé with a grin. After a six-month engagement, all the details for the wedding were finally covered, and they would to be wed in Hong Kong within the week.
"I know, I know," replied Sakura as she wrapped her arms comfortably around his neck. "It's just going to be hard to move away from all these memories."
Syaoran leaned forward to lightly kiss her soft lips before embracing her in a warm hug.
"Don't worry, love," he soothed. "Memories as precious as yours will never be forgotten. And we'll also be making new memories of own as soon as we start the next chapter of our lives together. Now, what's in the box?"
"Curiosity got the best of you?" Sakura giggled as she poked his side, and watched him squirm. "It's a whole bunch of mementos that I collected when I was a kid. Nothing fancy... just significant.
Syaoran knelt down on the floor to get a better look.
"Let's see... we have an inflated red water yo-yo... oh yeah, Yukito gave that to you at the fair when we were ten. "Oh look, here's the watch that Yukito gave you for Christmas," continued Syaoran. "Hmm... I think I should be jealous since you're keeping all of these tokens of affection!"
Sakura giggled at his silliness as she crouched down beside him to root through the box. Digging in the corners, she grasped at an object.
"Oh!" she exclaimed when she saw what it was.
"What is it..." Syaoran trailed off when he saw the object.
Sakura smiled softly at the item in her hand as the vague memories of her third birthday replayed in her head.
"This was the last thing my mother gave me before she passed away," she told Syaoran quietly.
The object of discussion was no other than a simple cherry blossom hair clip. Once vibrant pink, the petals were now pale rose due to wear and age, but it was still a beautiful accessory that held an important meaning.
"She told me that she'll always love me no matter what happens," Sakura continued as tears glistened in her emerald eyes, magnifying them like never before. "And I told her not to go away."
Syaoran held his love in his arms as he whispered sweet nothings in her ear to comfort her. In the back of her mind, Sakura felt that there was something more to be added, but she let herself be comforted by Syaoran first. All though she couldn't remember much about Nadeshiko, she still loved her with all her heart.
While soothing Sakura's sadness, Syaoran started packing the keepsakes back in the box. All though he felt that he should be remembering something, time was on the essence, and the privet jet en route to China was supposed to leave in an hour.
"Thanks for everything, Syaoran," said Sakura as she detangled herself from Syaoran's arms to close the box.
"Anytime, my cherry blossom," he replied with a grin.
"Love you, my little wolf," Sakura answered instantly before pausing to reflect. But didn't she have something related to "little wolf"?
"Coming Sakura?" asked Syaoran with the box in his arms.
"What?" she asked as she snapped out of her daze. "Oh sure, I'm right behind you."
There were still a few wedding arrangements that had to be finalized. Her thoughts would have to wait until later.
~*~(Hong Kong)~*~
As the couple stepped out of the jet, the Lis were already waiting to greet them. After being welcomed by Syaoran's honorable mother and his four exuberant sisters, they managed to escape to his room with all of Sakura's belongings in one piece. Syaoran was out of breath as he leaned against his door to relax.
"You'd think that because they have their own husbands and children to coddle, they'd stop fussing over me!"
"No matter how large their families grow, you'll always be their little brother," Sakura giggled. "Now tell me, where can I leave these boxes?"
"Beside the bed is just fine," he assured. "Sakura, the Elders need to see me for a while. Is it okay if I meet you on the grounds later? This won't take me more than half an hour."
"Sure, go ahead," said Sakura. "I need some time to stretch my legs anyway."
After placing the last box in the pile, she was ready to leave. However, a wooden container peaking out from under Syaoran's bed caught her eye. She couldn't help but investigate as she gently picked up the box. Gingerly opening it, she smiled at its contents.
The scarf that she had made for him when they were kids, the handkerchief he let her use when she cried on his shoulder after learning that Yukito loved her brother, ticket stubs from the movies they've seen together every time he visited Japan, and matchbooks from every single restaurant they've went to.
"And I thought I was the sentimental one!" she smirked as she absentmindedly shifted though the reminders. Suddenly, something brushed against her fingers that felt familiar to her touch. Underneath all the knickknacks there laid a girl's hair clip... that was identical to the one her mother gave to her.
"How could this be?" Sakura asked herself as she plunged in to her own memory box to find its mate.
Of course there were several differences. One's color was intact due to the fact it looked as if it never seen the light of day, while the other was so sun kissed that rose seemed its original color. In her haste while collecting the second clip, Sakura didn't notice that another item fell out of the box until her hand brushed against its silky smooth material.
"What's this?"
Holding it at arms length, she examined the object dangling from the sturdy string. She deducted that it was some sort of pendant that was covered with a type of animal fur. All though she could not place the necklace with its memory, she felt that it had a significant meaning, and it was somehow linked o the hair clips. But what was the connection?
Looking at the time, Sakura decided that it had to wait for later. She was already running late. She left Syaoran's room to meet him on the grounds, but not before carefully tucking both clips and the necklace in her pockets. Maybe Syaoran could help her figure it out.
~*~(Li grounds)~*~
No matter how vast the Li estate is, Syaoran's favourite place has always been right under the trees.
"Hullo!" chirped Sakura as she popped up beside him. For a moment, Syaoran's mind conjured up the image of a girl with emerald eyes and auburn hair, but she was only four years of age. However, the picture fleeted just as fast as it entered his mind in the first place.
"What's the matter? Cat's got your tongue?" she teased as she sat beside him. All of a sudden, she couldn't help but think about a little boy with sad amber eyes. Why did he seem so familiar?
"Oh, nothing's wrong," began Syaoran. "It's just that I'm remembering all these little bits and pieces of things, but I can't put it them together."
"You too?" she asked in disbelief. "Oh wait, I want to show you what I found. I found a box poking out from under your bed, and I hope you don't mind that I looked through it."
"No, not at all," Syaoran stuttered with a blush on his face. He was glad that Sakura found it because he would have been too shy to show it to her on his own.
"That's good to hear," sighed Sakura in relief. "Okay, tell me what you think of these."
Syaoran looked at the two hair clips in Sakura's hands.
"Oh, I didn't know you have another one," commented Syaoran as he observed the two pieces that were identical in shape a size.
"I don't," Sakura stated. " I found the newer looking one in your memory box."
"How... how can that be..." he trailed off as he cradled his clip in his hands. "Is there something I'm forgetting?"
While Syaoran racked through his memories, Sakura took the necklace out from her pockets, and started rubbing the silky fur,
"What have you got there?" asked Syaoran when he noticed his fiancée had something in her hands.
"To tell you the truth, I have no idea," began Sakura. "But it has to belong to me the same way that clip belongs to you, because I found it with my other memories."
"That's weird..."
The two adults were so deep in thought that they did not realize the presence of the Li Clan matriarch until the lady was right beside them.
"What are the two of you doing here when there are so many last minute arrangements to take care of?" asked Yelan in a stern voice.
"Sorry mother!" cried out Syaoran as he jumped up and stood tall. No matter how old he was the high stature woman would always intimidate him.
"No need to apologize if you finish all of your tasks," answered Yelan with a soft smile. "First we need to call the caterers to confirm the... confirm the..."
The matriarch was speechless as she stared at Sakura's hands.
"Mother?" asked a concerned Syaoran. "What's the matter? Is anything wrong?"
"That... that necklace... " Yelan stuttered as she cupped Sakura's hands in her own. "Use to belong to my husband..."
Two jaws dropped simultaneously, and silence followed.
'What does this mean?' Sakura thought to herself. 'This doesn't make any sense.'
"It is tradition that on his death bed, the Li Clan leader must give his son an object to represent his name sake. Then the son would have to give that same object to the person they would like to spend their future with," explained Yelan. "In Syaoran's case, he was given a necklace with a pendant that was covered in fur that came from a wolf cub, and it was assumed that Meilin would be the owner of the necklace."
"Little Wolf!" exclaimed Syaoran. "I remember father calling me by that name and telling me that I had to give the necklace to someone that I cared about."
"Then why do I have it?" questioned Sakura.
"Have you been to China before you won that contest, which brought you here?" asked Yelan.
"Umm... I don't think so..." pondered the emerald eyed beauty. "Oh wait! Touya once told me that we went to one of Dad's archeological digs when he was eleven. So that means I was... four"
"That's how old I was when Father died!" added Syaoran.
"Then the both of you must think back to when you were four," instructed the woman. "Because it was during a time rather long ago, the both of you must focus."
Both Syaoran and Sakura closed their eyes to remember an event that occurred so long ago.
'I was under the trees, looking at the necklace that my father gave me.'
'There was a little boy dressed in black who seemed so sad.'
'A girl with auburn hair and emerald eyes came to see me.'
'His hair was brown and his eyes were a stunning shade of amber.'
'She asked if she cold sit with me, and she asked what was wrong.'
'He told me that his father died and I told him my mother passed away as well. He was afraid that he would be alone, but I told him that my mother will always be with me.'
'I was so happy because I realized that my father will always be with me as well. She gave me her hair clip because it meant that she would always be with me too.'
'He was so happy that he gave me a hug.'
'She smelt like the sweetest fragrance of cherry blossoms.'
'He smelt like the freshest scent of sandalwood.'
'I gave her the necklace in return for doing so much for me.'
'Touya was calling so I had to leave. But not before kissing his cheek.'
'When she left, I called her Ying Fa because I didn't know her name.'
Finally opening their eyes, Syaoran and Sakura gazed at each other before either one of them spoke.
"So you're the mysterious girl that said my father will always be with me," stated Syaoran.
"And you're the first boy who I admitted to liking," answered Sakura.
"The fates made it be that the two of you were to meet before the Cards escaped," began Yelan, who kept quiet during their revelations. "Syaoran needed his special person, and you were there to aid him."
I... I don't know what to say," said Sakura with a hand over her rapidly beating heart.
"You don't have to say anything," answered Syaoran as he wrapped his arms around her waist, and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "When I think we can't be any more perfect for each other, something happens, and once again I am bowled over.
Sakura giggled as she rubbed her head against his neck in a kittenish snuggle.
"That's the beauty of our relationship, my love," she murmured. "We compliment each other perfectly."
"And that's yet another reason why it's great we're getting married," replied Syaoran. "Now come on. We can't leave those last minute details waiting!"
"I love you, my little wolf," Sakura said with a giggle.
"And I love you too, my cherry blossom," answered Syaoran as he draped his arms over her shoulders, and guided her back to the mansion. "There's still a lot of work to do before the big day."
To be continued...
~*~*~*~*~ A/N: Well there it is: my sequel to my S&S prequel! I really hope it came somewhat close to what everybody expected. Chapter two is going to be the wedding, but it's going to focus on Takashi and Chiharu as they reminisce about their own wedding day... and the people who suddenly popped back in to their lives. Will the new adjustments be for the better or for the worse? Well, I'll do my best to get it out next week!