Story Name: Portrait of a Cherry Blossom
Author: CCSakura
Other: I think this story is actually getting pretty popular! This is all thanks to you wonderful reviewers! Thanks so much! … Right, you probably want to read the story, not my stupid comments… -.- *
Chapter Seven: Journal Entry"Syaoran, you've got to help me plan out the wedding dress." Meiling began displaying ones she favored. "Besides, it'll be how you see me." Tomoyo carefully hanged back up the ones she didn't like. Syaoran silently sighed and rose to see how Meiling was doing.
"I think you look fine. Don't worry… You'll be fine no matter what." Meiling stared, shocked, into his eyes. "Fine? Not wonderful? Or beautiful? Just FINE?" Syaoran gulped, realizing his mistake too late. "Well, aren't I supposed to save those comments until after we're married?" he stammered. Meiling thought for a while. "I suppose you're right…"
Tomoyo breathed out a relieved sigh. Good thing Master Syaoran can think fast…
-- Later --
"Sakura, I've got to warn you. As the wedding day draws closer and closer, Meiling will grow more demanding and fierce. It is just her nature, so please be careful. Especially about what you couldn't tell me." Sakura grinned and nodded. "Don't worry, Tomoyo. I've got everything under control. I think."
"All right. But please watch out. I've got a nasty feeling that something bad is on the way…" Tomoyo grit her teeth and hurried off to make Meiling's bedroom. Expressionless, Sakura stared after her. If it's discovered…Tomoyo has no idea how right she is…
Hurriedly, she picked up her bucket and hurried back into the maid's quarters.
-- Evening --
"Sakura, it's your turn." Determined not to show how she really felt, Sakura entered the studio. A wisp of Syaoran's presence passed her. She didn't need to see where exactly he was next to her. She could sense it.
Staring out the window, she could feel that he was cleaning up his utensils. She could paint a visual picture of him stooping over his work and artistically pack everything away. Sighing, she glanced at him. What am I thinking? He's about to be married…
Meanwhile, Syaoran himself was aware of the observation that was taking place. I can't see anything…but this strange…sensation tells me that she's watching me. And…I can't shake off this feeling. It's still there. My…my heart is beating…like in a dream…
The two continued, as they would ordinarily have. Sakura waited patiently and Syaoran meticulously washed and hung his brushes. But the both of them knew that there was something else. And it was growing with every day.
-- The Next Day --
Thank you for your work, Sakura. It was most pleasing." Syaoran kept his voice under control. Lowering her head, Sakura nodded and plastered her gaze onto the ground. And only when his footsteps faded into the hallway did she breath again.
Entering his studio was a relief. The sun burst through the glass and Sakura sat in its light for a moment. The heat warmed her skin and she smiled. There's something about the sun…that just feels so wonderful.
Sighing, she stood and hurried to clean up around the room. But there was really nothing to do. The room consisted of two windows, a stool, and an easel. There seemed to be nothing else. Picking up the broom, she began collecting the dust in a heap.
In a corner, she began swabbing off the spider webs that she hadn't noticed before. And the sweep of the broom unearthed something that she wasn't expecting. A wad of paper.
Curious, she bent down and smoothed out the wrinkles in the paper. Though she didn't realize it at first, it was the smooth and gliding handwriting of her master: Syaoran. Her eyes trailed the paper and noticed with a shock that her name was mentioned several times. Gathering her breath, she started at the top and slowly read the diary entry.
[A/N]: Heh, heh…I have been getting reviews from people who haven't quite gotten what I wanted them to see. In chapter six, Syaoran wrote about his wish for true love…and Sakura. So what Sakura found was "a wad of paper" with Syaoran's handwriting that had been ripped, compressed into a wad of paper, and thrown into the corner. And her name was mentioned several times. Does anything click?