Eyes of Mist

Card Captor Sakura

Chapter Twenty

*starjade*

The Parting

" WHAT??"

Syaoran sighed. " Yes, Eriol. She's safe now, so don't worry-"

" Damn straight I'm worrying!! I'm coming home right now-"

" Eriol, don't worry! I've got everything under control-"

" Syaoran, if Sakura's hurt, I'm COMING HOME and that's final-"

Syaoran growled, " Fine! Bring Tomoyo along too, though. She hasn't got a ride."

A definite smacking sound came through the receiver. " Damn. She's having so much fun though, I can't just tell her to leave.."

Syaoran sighed. " Just have fun for ten more minutes and then you come home, alright? You okay with that?"

Eriol mumbled something, and Syaoran smiled slightly. " Okay. See you later, Eriol." And he clicked the phone off.

Running a hand through his hair, Syaoran turned back to Sakura who was wrapped in a quilt in front of a blazing fire, drinking a cup of hot chocolate. It wasn't even Winter, but she was shivering hard.

" Sakura? Sakura...you okay?" Syaoran stumbled over his words, trying to make his rough voice sound concerned.


Sakura seemed to jump a bit at his voice and turned to him, her emerald eyes darkened by the flickering of the flames. " Oh...yah, yah, I'm okay. Just a bit shaken, but I'm alright."

Silence stretched between them awkwardly and Syaoran coughed and was about to ask her if she wanted any more hot chocolate when Sakura spoke softly.

" I'm sorry if I ruined your fun. I didn't mean to...I'm stupid, I know. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't come and saved me. And you had to leave the party because of me."

Syaoran's amber eyes grew pained. " No, no, I wanted to leave the party. It was really boring and I couldn't stand the closeness of it.."

Sakura smiled gently at him and Syaoran felt his heart beat trip. " Really?"

Syaoran cleared his throat and looked away. " Yah. Really."

Sakura smiled to herself an turned back to the fire, letting the quilt fall. She had changed out of her dress into pyjamas that made her look quite small and vulnerable. Syaoran had to restrain himself from hugging her, from just wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight-

Syaoran coughed again. " Well...your pretty lucky to have a guy like Eriol in your life. He's really worried about you and he's coming home."

Sakura looked up, startled. " Oh no, you should've have told him I was here! Now they're all going to have to leave the party because of me. You shouldn't have!"

Syaoran shrugged. " He's your fiancee, Sakura. He's worried about you and there's nothing in my power to stop him from coming. And besides, his my best friend so of course I'm going to say something if his wife to be is in trouble."

Syaoran could've smacked himself. He kept on saying things like, fiancee or wife or husband to be...he just couldn't help it. More like, he needed the reminder himself. He just couldn't face the thought of Sakura belonging to someone else...and more so, he couldn't stand the thought that Sakura, the only girl he had ever loved belonged to his only friend, his best friend.

Syaoran shook his head, trying to clear the jumbled thoughts in his mind.

Sakura suddenly let out a gasp, and Syaoran jerked at the sound.

" Syaoran!" she cried. " Your bleeding really badly!"

Syaoran stared at her and then down at his arm. He had taken off his suit jacket and the shirt he was wearing was soaked with blood from the cut. Before he could stop her, Sakura had gotten up and headed to the kitchen. Moments later, she came back, arms full with a long strip of cloth and gauze as well as warm water and a towel.

Syaoran protested, " It's not a big thing, Sakura, it's just a little cut-"

Sakura put a finger to his lips and said firmly, " Shut up, Syaoran and don't say a word!"

Syaoran was pretty much shocked into silence as Sakura went to work, rolling up his sleeve, and washing the cut with water. She tried not to look into his eyes as she worked.

" This is going to hurt a bit..." she warned as she dabbed his cut with anaesthetic.

Syaoran caught his breath as she wrapped his arm in the long strip of cloth and tied it firmly. Finally, she was done and she looked up into his eyes, smiling cheerfully.

" Did I do a good job?" Sakura asked, grinning.

Syaoran felt his heart pound and nodded, slowly, not trusting his voice. He was captivated by her eyes, the emerald colour that melted his heart. He felt his body tingle and he suddenly was aware of their surroundings, of her. The fire crackling in the fireplace the closeness between them, the darkness of the room.

Sakura's expression had changed too, and Syaoran allowed himself a flicker of hope. Maybe she...maybe she felt the same....the same for him? Not for Little Wolf, but for Syaoran Li?

They were leaning closer to each other , now, their faces inches apart. His heartbeat was pounding painfully against his chest and he felt her lips brush against his and his conscience and his brain turned to mush. His whole body had turned into liquid all because of that touch, that touch...He wanted more and before either of them could think, he had pressed his lips against hers. Warmth flooded through his veins and he pulled her closer. He couldn't think, he couldn't even form a sentence, all there was in his head was Sakura...

The door cracked open. " Sakura?? Sakura, we came home as fast as we can!!"

Both of them leapt apart and Sakura stared at him with wide emerald eyes and Syaoran felt his heart drown in despair. It was all his fault of course. He had let himself go, he hadn't restrained himself. Sakura didn't feel the same way for him, she probably hated him now...

Eriol bounded into the room and without a thought, grabbed Sakura and enveloped her in his arms, holding her tightly.

"I was so worried.." He mumbled into her shoulder as he held her close. Tomoyo walked into the room as well, and her eyes first looked for Sakura, and finding her in Eriol's arms, her calculating eyes drifted to Syaoran.

Syaoran met her gaze and then looked away. He couldn't take that look right now. He knew exactly what she was saying with her gaze, but he couldn't. He couldn't tell Sakura how he felt...because Eriol had been Syaoran's best friend since they were babies. They had grew up together and Syaoran trusted Eriol with his life. And he wasn't about to ruin Eriol's life either.

**********

" What happened down there?"

Tomoyo's voice jerked through her thoughts and she quickly turned around and hid the box behind her back quickly. Tomoyo was standing at her doorway, staring at her curiously.

" Sakura?"

Sakura laughed, a bit nervously. " Oh, hey...Tomoyo, I didn't see you there.."

Tomoyo walked in with not one by your leave and settled on her bed. She noticed the box behind her hands and sighed.

" Sakura, I've seen it."

Sakura let out her breath. " Damn."

Tomoyo smiled a bit as Sakura brought the box out from behind her back. The box was something Tomoyo had seen many times, but not as much as Sakura had seen it. That box was sort of like a hidden dream for Sakura, a chance, a little trickle of what could've been....and in Sakura's thoughts, what should've been.

" Sakura, are you still....still hanging onto the memory of Little Wolf? He's gone, Sakura. He's gone, he hasn't mailed you in a long time, your getting married soon, and you've got your whole life ahead of you."

Sakura opened the box carefully. " I know, Tomoyo. I've reminded myself over and over that I'm getting married. But too many things are happening."

Tomoyo rose an eyebrow. " Care to tell your best friend?"

Sakura felt tears rise to her eyes. " Tomoyo....when I kissed Syaoran the first time, it was nothing like I experienced ever. The merest touch makes me shiver. His face, his touch is all I think about, all I dream about. And then Little Wolf is always, always there, the purest love, the kind that I never thought existed. Then there's Eriol, who makes me smile and always cheers me up. Yet....yet, I don't love him. And I'm getting married to him."

Tears began to fall down her cheeks and she touched one of the letters and smiled softly. " Three guys, Sakura. Three people that have strung my heart along, that make me cry and laugh and shiver and love...I don't know what to do. I just want to leave this all behind. I just want everything to be simple again. Simple.."

Tomoyo felt her own heart tighten at Sakura's tears and knelt, wrapping her best friend in her arms. " You've just got to figure out who......who really loves you. Don't pay attention to responsibilities, bonds, anything! Just look deep in your heart and find the person who you love. Who you can't live without."

Sakura cried, " I know! I have! I know who I love! Little Wolf is who I love. But I also have this strong feeling for Syaoran and I know I can't live without Syaoran either. When I saw his face, my whole body came alive. That's why I'm confused, Tomoyo. I'm confused."

Tomoyo sighed. " Don't worry, Sakura. I'll help you. I'll help you through this."

Sakura leaned her head against her friend's shoulder and picked up the teddy bear that Little Wolf had given her. " I'm so confused..."

********

Tomoyo crept down the stairs, carefully stepping through the house as to not disturb any sleepers. A light was on in the kitchen and Tomoyo made her way into the kitchen.

Just as she suspected, Syaoran was there, his head on the kitchen table, his shoulders sagging in exhaustion.

" Syaoran?" she said softly.

Syaoran jerked and rose his head, his eyelids drooping, tiredly. " Oh...hey, Tomoyo."

Tomoyo sat beside Syaoran and watched him carefully. She smiled softly and said, " You should go get some sleep."

Syaoran ran his hand through his hair. " Yah....yah, I should."

Tomoyo coughed. " Something happened, right? Something happened between you and Sakura."

Syaoran flinched. " N-Nothing happened."

Tomoyo rose one eyebrow. " Uh huh."

Syaoran groaned. " I have no idea what your talking about, Tomoyo."

Tomoyo blinked at him. " Yes you do....you love Sakura and your holding back because of Eriol. It's a noble deed alright, but your going to suffer a lot."

Syaoran shifted. " I'll get over her..."

Tomoyo laughed. " You'll live but you'll never get over her, Syaoran. Never."

Syaoran looked up into Tomoyo's eyes and saw the truth there. He groaned again and dropped his head onto the table. " Don't make me feel worse, alright? I'm already betraying my best friend by kissing Sakura behind his back. I feel like an absolute fool."

Tomoyo shook her head sadly and then got up suddenly, making her way to her backpack that sat on the family room couch. Syaoran didn't notice her leave and when she came back, she dropped something onto the table.

Syaoran looked up, startled and then gasped.

It was the catalogue for Tomoyo's clothesline.

But it was Sakura's laughing emerald eyes that peered at him.

" Y-You put Sakura on the cover.." He breathed. She was wearing that white wedding dress and holding a rose, smiling at him. Roses were all over and he smiled softly. She was absolutely beautiful.

" Yah, Syaoran. Look at her. You know who's she's smiling at? You. You know who she loves right now? You."

Syaoran looked up at her, his eyes wide. " No she doesn't. She loves that mysterious letter writing guy."

Tomoyo sighed. " Think what you will, Syaoran. Just remember, chances like these don't come often. Take the chance while you can. Tell her how you feel...before you lose her forever."

Syaoran stared down at the cover of the catalogue as Tomoyo's words echoed in his mind long after she had left. Before you lose her forever....

*********

Sakura and Eriol walked into the house, laughing as they returned from the park. Eriol had suddenly felt this urge to exercise and had dragged Sakura a long with him. They had raced all the way home and Sakura had of course, beaten him.

" I can't believe I got beaten in running by a girl!" Eriol moaned.

Sakura punched him in the arm. " So what if I am a girl? You run slower than a turtle."

Eriol grew dot eyed. " Turtles don't run.."

Sakura laughed and they went into the kitchen. Tomoyo burst into the room, her eyes wide.

" Sakura! Eriol! Your back!" Tomoyo cried, her voice panicked.

Sakura and Eriol turned around, their eyes wide. " What happened?" Eriol asked, concerned.

Tomoyo was breathing hard. " Sy-Syaoran...he left."

Sakura gasped and Eriol froze. " What?"

Tomoyo took a deep breath. " He left. He went to China or Japan, I don't know, that's the most logical places. He could be heading anywhere right now. He's packed his luggage and he left. He wrote a note saying he's got this job offer somewhere and needed to go and he wanted to say he was sorry, but he'll be back in time for your wedding."

Eriol shouted, " What the hell?? How could he do that? Where's Yelan?"

He stormed out of the room, yelling for Yelan. Sakura was still frozen, her body numb.

" Syaoran's....gone?" She whispered, her voice cracking.

Tomoyo looked at Sakura, and her expression softened. " Oh, god, Sakura, I'm sorry. He just left...I don't know why, maybe it was because of what happened last night, but....I'm sorry."

Sakura whispered, " No....no, he can't leave, he can't!!"

She turned to Tomoyo desperately. " He didn't leave, he couldn't just leave me!! We're....we're friends, I-I-"

Tomoyo hugged her. " I know, Sakura. I know."

Tears ran faster down Sakura's cheeks. " He can't leave, Tomoyo....he can't leave me."

Tomoyo took a deep breath. " Sakura...that's not all. A letter arrived for you...."

Sakura felt a familiar flutter grow in her chest as Tomoyo took out a green envelope. " Oh my god..." Sakura gasped, her heart pounding against her chest. It couldn't be! She was dreaming! That green envelope...the same ones that had made her whole body tingle with happiness just a few months ago.

With trembling fingers, Sakura reached out and took the envelope. She glanced at Tomoyo who urged her to open it. Imagining the worst, Sakura opened the envelope and took out a necklace. It was silver and it had an emerald jewel that gleamed in the light. She gasped.

" A necklace.." Tomoyo murmured. " What does it mean?"

Sakura could only gape at it. She looked down at the envelope again and then took out the letter.

Only two sentences were written, in the centre of the page.

I'm sorry Cherry Blossom. Please forget about me.

Little Wolf

Sakura gaped at the letter and she couldn't take it anymore. She slid down to the floor and her hands trembled as she shook her head.

" I can't take it anymore, Tomoyo....Syaoran's left me and Little Wolf's left me. That's all people do in my life. They leave me...."

a/n: HI! I rather think this is a quick update...for me at least! lol! I try to write faster, but it's summer!! You know...summer!! I get lazy...lol! How are you guys liking the angst and the drama of this fic so far? Lol! I swear, I would probably have gone insane if I was in any of their positions!

REVEIW everyone! The fic is almost over!! (yes, I'll be ending this one reeeally soon!!) so show me your suppourt!! REVIEW!

Lol, see ya latez

*starjade*