Winter Loverland
Chapter 2 What a Shock
I'm back, everyone is 16, and I don't own any of the characters, they all belong to CLAMP. I just wrote the story.
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Sakura
I watched out the window as the rain poured down onto the concrete of the driveway. I usually loved the sound it made when it hit my window, the soft patter that sounded like a little kid trying to play the piano. But not then. At that time, I hated the sound, it drove me insane. I wanted to smash my hand through that window and capture all the rain, which I would deposit on another planet. But I was a realistic person, and I knew that I would never be able to do that. So I just sat on my bed, hugging my pillow against my chest.
And then it hit me. I wasn't as dumb as a blonde, my color wasn't natural. Li could not have already left for Hong Kong, it just wasn't possible. I changed into a pair of tight jeans and a long sleeve shirt covered in red and white candy canes. I pulled on my boots and grabbed the car keys, which Tori had left on my dresser when he had taken my car to college earlier that day. It was better that he had left me with the Nissan, since is was raining.
I hurried down the stairs. Before I left, I noticed a note of the counter from my father saying that he wouldn't be home until tomorrow afternoon because of some extra research he had to do for work. That didn't bother me like it would have most nights. I grabbed my coat off the coat rack in the foyer and pulled it on. Out of the pocket I pulled Li's apartment address and number. Then I turned off the inside lights and turned on the porch light before closing the door and making a quick dash through the rain to the car.
Li
The fire was lit and I was sitting on the couch in front of it, but it was still not enough to heat my apartment. It wasn't the right conditions for snow, but it was sure cold and since the heat and air conditioner had broken, I wasn't left with much comfort. I sipped my hot chocolate that I had made in high spirits. But the truth was that my high spirits had disappeared. I had already finished packing, but I wasn't sure that I wanted to go. I knew in my heart that there wasn't a way in the world that I was going to be able to stay, but it made me feel so much better to pretend that I might choose to stay.
I wanted to be with Sakura. I didn't want to sound like a love sick teenager with twice the normal hormones, but I wanted to kiss her and hold her, although I'd never admit it out loud to anyone, not even Sakura. I had spent three and a half years fighting the feelings I had for her, but I had finally given in and told her, and I didn't want anything to screw up what we had together. I wanted to stay with her for winter break. I didn't want to admit it, but I didn't really care about my mother at that point. That was what scared me the most, that Sakura meant more to me than my own mother.
A soft tapping noise interrupted my thoughts. I set my mug down on the coffee table and made my way down the front hall to the door. I looked through the eye piece and saw a soaking wet figure standing just under the awning. I quickly pulled open the door, "Oh God, Sakura," I muttered, grabbing her arm and pulling her inside quickly. "Stay here," I commanded, grabbing two dry towels out of the bathroom closet. I wrapped one around her body and the other around her head.
"What the hell were you thinking?" I demanded to know.
Sakura shivered and looked up at me from under her heavy eyelashes, "I was thinking that I needed to see you before you left me to go to Hong Kong."
I chuckled, "You could have waited until it stopped raining. Why don't you go sit on the rug in front of the fireplace and start to dry off while I fix you a mug of hot chocolate?" I suggested. Sakura nodded and walked into the living room, leaving a trail of water that I decided I would mop up later. I poured some steaming water and chocolate powder into a clean mug and carried it over to her.
Sakura took a sip and then set it down on the table, grabbing my hand before I could walk away. She pulled me down next to her and placed the towels closer to the fire so that they would dry. "I just couldn't let you leave without telling you how I feel," she explained.
"Oh yeah?" I questioned, pulling her closer to me. "Well, how do you feel?"
Sakura ran a hand through my hair, "I feel upset that you're leaving. And I'm jealous that you have a mother to go home to. But most of all I'm scared," she paused for a moment. "I'm scared that you might not come back. What if the surprise your mother has in store for you is permanent? I wouldn't be able to face it if you went to spend two weeks in Hong Kong and then never came back."
"Oh, baby, you don't have to worry about that," I whispered, bringing my lips down on hers. I needed to feel her mouth against mine. I couldn't leave without one last time kissing her. I had spent the last six months trying to have some privacy, where it was just the two of us. I finally had that chance and I wasn't going to past it up. I needed Sakura more than ever.
As soon as my tongue found hers, Sakura let out a soft moan that edged me to deepen the kiss even further. Sakura wrapped her free arm around my waist and let it travel up the back, under my undershirt. Goosebumps covered every millimeter of skin that she touched. My hands found a mind of their own and started traveling slowly up the front of her shirt.
Sakura pulled her mouth away from mine for a moment, "Can we take this into the bedroom?" she asked softly, as if she was afraid someone might overhear her. I nodded and pulled her up to her feet. Without letting go of each other, we slowly made out way into my bedroom, Sakura walking forward and me walking backward.
Sakura
I woke up to complete darkness. The only light was coming from the numbers on the digital clock, which was on an odd nightstand I had never seen before. I was confused by my surroundings until I turned onto my other side and managed to see the outline of a sleeping figure in the bed next to me. A mad grin broke out across my face as I let reality sink in. My head began to sink as well, but it sank further and further into the soft pillows.
Before too long, I realized I was naked. Making sure Li was asleep, I slipped out of the bed and pulled on my underwear. Then I found one of Li's large t-shirts that I pulled over my head and decided to use it as a nightgown. I slipped back into the bed, where I was greeted by a soft grunt.
"What?" I asked softly.
"I said 'what the hell are you doing'?" Li repeated. I smiled and snuggled up closer to him. It was early in the morning, only five o'clock, and the weather had only gotten colder overnight. I shivered slightly until Li kissed my neck and grunted something I wasn't able to hear.
"What?" I asked again.
Li sighed and kissed my forehead, "I don't know how you have so much energy," he told me, "I am totally drained. I've got to be on a plane by 10:30, so can I please get back to sleeping?" he asked me.
I shrugged, wrapping my legs around and between his until they were like a pretzel, "I guess you could if you really wanted to," I purred, kissing the edge of his chin while I ran my hands down his chest, loving the way his wash board abs felt under my fingers.
"Sakura, please don't," he moaned. "I really need to sleep. Last night was more than enough more me." Li pulled me flush up against him and kissed the tip of my nose. "I love you, Sakura, but I'm afraid I am not a morning person," he admitted. "I need to get some sleep."
"But you can sleep the whole plane ride. I, however, only have a few more hours with you until you have to be on your way to Hong Kong. Now, can you think of anything better to do than sleep?" I asked, trying to sound innocent, but I had already begun to pull his undershirt up.
"Well, maybe," he answered finally. "Fancy a shower?"
Madison
I wanted to cry out in frustration when there was a knock on my door. I quickly pulled my bathrobe around myself tighter and pitter pattered to the door in my bedroom slippers. My eyes were puffy red from crying and my hair was tousled from all the shifting on the couch. I opened the door an inch and groaned when I saw Eli standing there.
"What do you want, Eli?" I asked, trying not to cry. "Did you have enough fun for one day? Or do you need to yell at me some more? God!" I shouted at him before he could say a word.
"Madison…" he started, but then he leaned against the doorframe and peered into my house, "A rich little girl home all alone, crying?" he asked in a soft voice.
I sniffed a little, "I wasn't crying," I insisted. "And my mother is never home during my vacations. She's never home at all. I might as well not have her in my life, I haven't seen her in a year almost." I paused for a moment and then glanced back at Eli. "What are you doing here, anyways? Come to share your closing argument?"
Eli sighed and placed his hand on the door handle. He tapped his long fingers on them for a minute before he finally looked back up at me. "I don't understand why you always make things so complicated between us. You always act like I'm here to pick a fight with you, Madison, and I hate to break it to you and hurt your feelings, but I'm not. I didn't come all this way just to argue with you and I'm almost hurt that you would think that, but I guess I can see why you think that."
I sighed and leaned against the wall, "I need to apologize to you, I understand that. But I don't think I'm quite ready to yet," I admitted.
"And why would that be?" he asked, crossing her arms over his chest. "Do you have too much pride to apologize to little old me?"
I felt a slap to my face, mentally though, not physically, "Maybe it wasn't a good idea for you to come here right now," I told him, reaching for the door handle. "I have a lot on my mind as it is, and I don't want to worry about whatever I need to do with you." I closed the door quickly before he could get another word in. Groaning, I placed my head against the door and closed the door. What was I so afraid of? I didn't really know. Maybe I was scared that I might actually tell Eli how I felt and he wouldn't feel the same way. But why would he? I had just slammed the door in his face when he came all the way to see me. I didn't know what to do anymore. My heart hurt and I was starting to obtain a headache from obsessive thinking.
Li
I wrapped a towel around my waist and waited for Sakura to cover herself. By the time I turned back around, Sakura had tied her towel around her, just above her chest. God, I couldn't help but thinking, she is so sexy in a towel. Sakura smiled at me as she attempted to dry her hair with the other white towel that matched the one she was using as clothing. She pushed the towel up and down her head several times until she paused for a moment to flip her hair back behind her head. And it looked like a wreck, but no matter how bad her hair looked, she was still beautiful.
I stepped close to her and took the towel out of her hands. I threw it onto the floor before I took her face between my hands and kissed her gently. Sakura moaned and pressed her body against mine, "Li," she murmured, "we really shouldn't. You need to catch that flight of yours."
"Well I was thinking that I might just skip that little trip and stay right here with you," I told her, kissing her cheek and then her neck. I heard her sigh before she stepped back away from me. "Please don't do this to me," she begged. "I know you're getting on that plane in three hours and you know it too, so it sucks to have you pretend that you're going to stay. It makes it so much harder to let you leave!"
I pulled her into a tight hug, taking in her wonderful scent, "I know," I whispered. I couldn't manage anything else.
"Do you need to pack or anything?" Sakura asked me, lifting up her head to gaze into my eyes. I shook my head, "I packed last night before you came over," I muttered, kissing her softly.
Sakura smiled and slid her arms around my neck, "So you don't really have anything to do for two hours?" she teased, giggling softly.
I smiled back at her, "No, I don't. Unless," I added, lifting her up by her waist and started to walk into the bedroom, "you have another plans," I finished, dropping her down on the bed on her back, quickly covering her mouth with mine while she pulled my towel off.
Sakura
"What time is it?" I asked as Li pulled away from me slowly. I laid under him, breathing in quick, sharp breaths. He shifted his weight to the left as he glanced at the clock quickly before facing me again. The look in his eyes had changed, and I knew that it wasn't a good sign. "It's 9:30," he answered before rolling over on his back next to me in the bed. I turned to my side and rested my head against his arm, "I guess we'd better get up, right?" I asked. "Your flight boards at 10:20. We wouldn't want you to miss your flight."
"Oh no, we would never want that to happen. I would just die," he retorted, a note of sarcasm in his voice.
I rolled my eyes and kissed his shoulder, "Be a doll and get me a bathrobe, would you?" I asked. He looked at me angrily and I knew it was because I had called him a doll. I should have know better than to try to call him a pet name like that. But nevertheless, he got out of the bed and walked into the bathroom. I turned my head sideways so I wouldn't be able to see his naked form. A blue bathrobe came flying out of the direction of the bathroom and landed next to me on top of the comforter. I snatched it and pulled it on before I pulled myself out from under the covers.
Li came back into the room with a pair of boxers and an undershirt on. "You know what I don't get?" he asked, rummaging through his closet before tossing a striped shirt with a collar onto the bed and a pair of black slacks. "What?" I asked, before joining him over by the closet. He handed me a plain white t-shirt and a pair of old jeans. "What I don't get is way you'll take a shower with me, but you have to have a bathrobe to get out of my bed. Those clothes should fit you. I don't really have any female clothes because I don't usually need them." He kissed my forehead and I knew I was blushing, "You get dressed in here while I quickly make a small batch of pancakes for us to eat before I have to get going."
Li left the room and closed the door while he did. I found my bra on the floor and pulled it on and then my underwear, which were still on the bathroom floor next to Li's large shirt. I pulled on the jeans, which were a little to wide in the waist and a little too long in the legs, and then the t-shirt, which was just a little loose. I picked up my jeans and candy cane shirt, which were still a little damp from the rain. I walked into the living room and set them down on the couch next to my car keys and my boots.
A wonderful smell filled the air and the aroma itself was enough to make me hungry. I set down on one of the barstools that were in front of the side bar that attached to the kitchen counters. "I love this apartment of yours," I commented while Li set down a plate in front of me that had three large pancakes. He looked through the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of syrup and a container of butter and placed those down next to my plate. Li put the sliver ware on the bar when he sat down with his own plate. "I like being here with you," I told him and took a bite of my pancakes. "These are really good," I told him.
"We'd better hurry and finish eating," was all he said back.
I nodded, more to myself than to Li, and ate my pancakes quickly. "I should probably drop you off at your house before I head to the airport," he told me as he finished his breakfast and cleaned his plate. I took my plate to him at the sink. "I drove my car here, I can drive myself home," I told him. "But I would like to watch your plane take off."
"That's just not a good idea, Sakura," he snapped, drying the two plates and putting them away in the cabinet. I put my hand on his arm softly, "I don't see why not. Last night, it was magical. And this morning was great too. But now, you just seem so distant. I didn't do anything wrong, did I?" I asked him softly.
"Sakura, this is hard for me, you know? Last night was amazing, and now I have to fly across a sea and not see you for two weeks. I don't think I'll be able to get on that plane if you're there with me," he told me, looking down at his feet.
"So we'll just say our good-byes here," I said. Li pulled me into his arms, "I can't say good-bye to you. If I say good-bye, it seems as if I'll never see you again and it will only be two weeks. So let's not say good-bye." I nodded and kissed him one more time. "I'm going to miss you, Li."
I went back to his couch and picked up my shirt, jeans and keys and pulled on my boots. Li grabbed his suitcase and keys as well. He opened the door and turned off the apartment lights before locking the door. We walked out to our cars, which were parked next to each other. I put my shirt and jeans in while Li put his suitcase in. I hugged him one more time, "I'll see you soon," I told him. He kissed my forehead and sighed, "I know," he answered. We got into our separate cars and drove in different directions, me to my house and Li to the airport.
Madison
I woke up to a fresh new start. The sun was shining, with a soft, delicate layer of frost lining the windows and the grass in the front lawn. I stretched out under my comforter and let the morning sink in. There was a soft tap at my bedroom door and our maid, Marissa, opened it slowly. "Miss Taylor, a certain Eli Moon left an urgent message in which he requested to have lunch with you at his mansion at precisely noon this afternoon." She paused for a moment. "Should I tell him never to call again? You've turned him down every time before now, I just figured he would have given up by now, but I wasn't sure if something had developed between the two of you since he was trying again, so I decided I would do my duties and ask."
"Thank you Marissa," I answered, sitting up. "Please call Mr. Moon back and tell him that I have other plans for the afternoon. Today would not be a good time."
"But Miss Taylor, you do not have any other plans for the today. I checked before I came up to you," Marissa answered, slightly confused.
"Of course I don't," I snapped. "But I want him to think I do until he has enough guts to come here and request my presence for lunch in person. Otherwise, the men will anyways think that the women are always going to accept their invitation, and I for one will not."
Marissa nodded and left my room, closing the door behind her. I sighed as I sunk back down into the warmth of my covers. Why didn't Eli ever get the hint when I told him that I had other plans? Why wasn't he smart enough to realize that I was lying and that all he had to do to ensure a lunch date was to come over to my house and ask? I didn't understand why guys had to act the way they were. If they would just take a hint once and a while, it would make the whole dating process so much easier and faster.
Sakura
When I pulled into the driveway, my father's Jeep and my sports car were already in the driveway. I knew right then that is was going to be hard to explain to Tori and Dad why I was home so late, unless they didn't know I had spent the night away from home. Tori would know something was up, and I had a feeling that he would know what I had done. However, Dad was rarely ever home to realize those types of things, so maybe I would be okay. It wasn't like I had spent the night out before. I could just stay that I had spent the night as Madison's.
I parked the car behind the Jeep and pulled the keys out of the ignition. I flipped open a mirror I had in my purse and gave myself a quick glance over. My hair had dried, but it was a little puffy because while it dried, I hadn't exactly stood still. I sighed and leaned back against the car seat, closing my eyes and remembering the night before. I wanted to cry knowing that I wouldn't see Li again for two whole weeks. But I grabbed my clothes out of the passenger's seat and locked the car, hearing the beep of the car alarm turning on. I quickly walked up to the front door and opened it because it had been left unlocked. Not wanting to alarm my father, I called out, "I'm home," before running up the stairs and quickly changing into some of my own clothes. I decided on a pair of black jeans and a plain white long sleeve t-shirt. I peeled off my boots and then walked back downstairs to find Tori and my Dad.
"Where is everyone?" I called out once I had made my way to the kitchen. Tori and Dad were no where in sight, but Kero's little body popped out from behind the refrigerator door. "Hey Sakura!" he smiled cheerfully before shoving a whole cupcake into his mouth. Once he swallowed, he continued, "Your father and Tori are in the den arguing over something I didn't understand."
I nodded and went through the dining room and into the hall, then to the back of the house and into the den. Before I even opened the door, I could hear Tori's angry shouts. Once I had presented myself to my family, all noises stopped. My father got out of his chair. "Where the hell have you been, Sakura? Tori called me this morning to tell me that you weren't home and that your bed had not been slept in. I called Madison, and she said she hadn't heard from you since school ended."
I took a deep breath. There went my alibi. "Dad, some friends from school and I went to a winter break party and it ran pretty late. I fell asleep on the couch at the house and came home as soon as I could. I'm really sorry I didn't leave a note, but I was so excited to finally be out of school for a while and I was pretty upset about Li, so I decided that a party would cheer me up a little. I didn't think you would be mad. You two weren't arguing about me were you?" I asked. After I said this, I noticed for the first time a brunette woman, maybe in her early twenties, sitting in one of my Dad's lounge chairs. "Tori, aren't you going to introduce me to your girlfriend?" I asked.
Tori coughed loudly and glared at Dad. I was getting a little confused and I didn't like the feeling. "Sakura," my father said, resting his hands on the woman's shoulders. "This is Kari. I met her through my work and we've become friends. Very close friends." I almost gagged on the news.
I stared at Kari and then turned to face Tori, "You actually let him bring this hoe into our house? Are you smoking weed or something?" I shouted. I turned back to face Kari, anger filling me, "Get out of my house! You don't belong here. You're younger than my brother!"
"Oh Sakura, that's not the worst part," Tori informed me, "they're engaged."
I gasped and my face turned red and hot. I couldn't take this. And I was going to tell them just that. "I can't handle this right now! The anniversary of Mom's death is coming up, Li is leaving me to visit his mother in Hong Kong, and my father is getting married to a twenty-one year old slut! My brother's gay and my best friend won't tell the guy she likes that she likes him, so she's all pissed off at me. Does anyone know what I think?" I shouted. "Do you? Well, I'll tell you. I lost my virginity last night, so now I think I'm going to go to the airport and buy myself a one way ticket to Hong Kong so I can sleep with Li again!" I screamed. Tears were streaming down my face like twin waterfalls. Tori was pale because I had babbled his secret to Dad. Kari was pale because I had called her a slut. My Dad was red in the face because he was extremely mad at me. My whole head was pounding in an extremely painful way and I wanted to kill myself for telling them that I had slept with Li. But one part of that terrible experience was helpful. I realized what I had to do for winter break. I had to get away from my family and spend the holidays with Li in Hong Kong.
Li
I got off the plane, after what seemed like hours. I was so glad to finally be off the crazy flying machine. I walked down the long airport hallway, heading for baggage claim with my hands in my pocket. I hadn't been able to sleep a wink because every time I finally drifted off, the memory of Sakura and me entangled under the covers of my bed woke me right up again. I realized after about two hours of trying that this trip was going to wear me out.
I found my way to the baggage claim of the Hong Kong International Airport and grabbed my one luggage bag and is passed by on the revolving baggage chains. I walked slowly toward the front of the airport, where my mother was sitting, reading the newspaper with her glasses on. I walked up to her and set my suitcase down on the floor. "I'm home," I said meekly. My mother peered over her newspaper until she saw me. She tossed the newspaper aside and pulled me into her arms, "Oh Li, welcome home. My only son has finally come home, for Christmas."
"Hi, Mother," was all I said in return. The truth was, I didn't really know what to say to my mother. I had spoken to her a few times over the phone, but I hadn't seen her face to face since I had moved to Reedington to help Sakura capture the Clow Cards. My mother smiled at me. "Your sisters told me to wish you a happy holidays and they wanted to say hello. I was so disappointed when they told me they weren't going to be able to visit this year. But they are have their own families now, you know. Sarah has her husband and twin boys, Amy is the newly wed, and Kristy is married with four children. You're running a little behind, Li. Tell me you have met someone worth our family clan. You know that once I die, the Showron clan will belong to you and your mistress."
"I don't understand why my partner will be a mistress, while my sisters' partners are husbands," I answered, dogging the question. We started walking toward the elevators, which would take us down to the parking garage were Mother had parked the car.
"Li, that answer is obvious. The Showron males have always married for pleasure, not for love, Li. Or they have married because they are promised. Your partner will not be your wife, but simply the woman that bares your children."
As we got on the elevator, I sighed, "Just because that was what you were to my father doesn't mean that is how I will treat my wife. I will find someone I love and I will marry her, when the time is right, of course."
"Li, don't figure these things out by yourself. The truth is, you don't know who the right wife will be for you. That is where your surprise comes in, my son," my mother said as the doors slid open and we walked to our car.
I froze in step as I noticed a pretty female girl, my age or a year younger, standing by the passenger side of my mother's car. Her black hair was tied up in a bun, signaling that she was engaged. "Oh God, Mother, tell me you didn't," I prayed. My mind was screaming that this could not have been happening.
"Li, I want you to met Han. She is to be your wife," my mother told me excitedly, introducing me to the stranger by my car.
Madison
At 11:57, I walked up the steep steps to the front door of Eli's mansion. I didn't know what I was doing there to begin with. I had reassured myself a hundred times that Eli had to make the first move by asking my out properly, by showing up at my house. But as the minutes had ticked away and it had become closer and closer to noon, I decided to screw my reason. Sakura and Li were happy together, and I wanted want Sakura had with Li with Eli. I took in a deep breath, praying for the best, before reaching for the door knocker, with was shaped like a crescent moon, and knocking it as hard as I could against the huge wooden door. The sound it made was almost deafening, but within a minute, the door opened slowly, and Eli smiled out of the shadows of his home at me, "Well look who decided to show up for lunch. I assume that is what you are here for, am I correct?" he asked, opening the door a little wider, as if inviting me in.
I shrugged, "My earlier appointment canceled at the last minute, and I remembered how often you have called for a lunch date, so I decided I might just take you up on your offer this time, since I am finally able to," I told him. Eli smirked at me and pushed he head outside, close to mine, "Don't lie to me, Madison. I know there wasn't any other appoint you had to make. You haven't fooled me one bit. There never were any other appoints that you had to make. You were afraid or nervous or something, that I haven't figured out. Just don't lie to me, I'm too good for that."
I frowned, "Well, at least you have such high regards for yourself. I'm sure everyone loves a man who loves himself."
"Oh, don't even give me that bullshit, Madison!" he snapped. "You don't have to insult me because you aren't confident yourself!"
I gasped in amazement. Had he really just said that to me? I was pretty sure he had, "You know what, Eli? I don't know why I even bothered showing up today. I always had a reason to decline your offer, because you weren't enough of a man to come ask me yourself, in person. Get over yourself Eli, because until you do, no one else will ever care for you!" I shouted to him.
"Oh shut up, Madison. You know that's not true," He retorted. "And do you want to know why?" he asked me. "Because you care for me."
I swallowed slowly, "Maybe I thought I did, Eli, and maybe that's why I came today, but not now, not after hearing what you have to say. Now I'm sorry that I even wasted my time thinking that it was even a possibility because now I know that it isn't." I turned around and hurried down the steps, thinking about Eli standing there, shocked out of his mind by his front door and thinking of me, walking away from one of my few chances of happiness.
Chapter 2 What a Shock
I'm back, everyone is 16, and I don't own any of the characters, they all belong to CLAMP. I just wrote the story.
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Sakura
I watched out the window as the rain poured down onto the concrete of the driveway. I usually loved the sound it made when it hit my window, the soft patter that sounded like a little kid trying to play the piano. But not then. At that time, I hated the sound, it drove me insane. I wanted to smash my hand through that window and capture all the rain, which I would deposit on another planet. But I was a realistic person, and I knew that I would never be able to do that. So I just sat on my bed, hugging my pillow against my chest.
And then it hit me. I wasn't as dumb as a blonde, my color wasn't natural. Li could not have already left for Hong Kong, it just wasn't possible. I changed into a pair of tight jeans and a long sleeve shirt covered in red and white candy canes. I pulled on my boots and grabbed the car keys, which Tori had left on my dresser when he had taken my car to college earlier that day. It was better that he had left me with the Nissan, since is was raining.
I hurried down the stairs. Before I left, I noticed a note of the counter from my father saying that he wouldn't be home until tomorrow afternoon because of some extra research he had to do for work. That didn't bother me like it would have most nights. I grabbed my coat off the coat rack in the foyer and pulled it on. Out of the pocket I pulled Li's apartment address and number. Then I turned off the inside lights and turned on the porch light before closing the door and making a quick dash through the rain to the car.
Li
The fire was lit and I was sitting on the couch in front of it, but it was still not enough to heat my apartment. It wasn't the right conditions for snow, but it was sure cold and since the heat and air conditioner had broken, I wasn't left with much comfort. I sipped my hot chocolate that I had made in high spirits. But the truth was that my high spirits had disappeared. I had already finished packing, but I wasn't sure that I wanted to go. I knew in my heart that there wasn't a way in the world that I was going to be able to stay, but it made me feel so much better to pretend that I might choose to stay.
I wanted to be with Sakura. I didn't want to sound like a love sick teenager with twice the normal hormones, but I wanted to kiss her and hold her, although I'd never admit it out loud to anyone, not even Sakura. I had spent three and a half years fighting the feelings I had for her, but I had finally given in and told her, and I didn't want anything to screw up what we had together. I wanted to stay with her for winter break. I didn't want to admit it, but I didn't really care about my mother at that point. That was what scared me the most, that Sakura meant more to me than my own mother.
A soft tapping noise interrupted my thoughts. I set my mug down on the coffee table and made my way down the front hall to the door. I looked through the eye piece and saw a soaking wet figure standing just under the awning. I quickly pulled open the door, "Oh God, Sakura," I muttered, grabbing her arm and pulling her inside quickly. "Stay here," I commanded, grabbing two dry towels out of the bathroom closet. I wrapped one around her body and the other around her head.
"What the hell were you thinking?" I demanded to know.
Sakura shivered and looked up at me from under her heavy eyelashes, "I was thinking that I needed to see you before you left me to go to Hong Kong."
I chuckled, "You could have waited until it stopped raining. Why don't you go sit on the rug in front of the fireplace and start to dry off while I fix you a mug of hot chocolate?" I suggested. Sakura nodded and walked into the living room, leaving a trail of water that I decided I would mop up later. I poured some steaming water and chocolate powder into a clean mug and carried it over to her.
Sakura took a sip and then set it down on the table, grabbing my hand before I could walk away. She pulled me down next to her and placed the towels closer to the fire so that they would dry. "I just couldn't let you leave without telling you how I feel," she explained.
"Oh yeah?" I questioned, pulling her closer to me. "Well, how do you feel?"
Sakura ran a hand through my hair, "I feel upset that you're leaving. And I'm jealous that you have a mother to go home to. But most of all I'm scared," she paused for a moment. "I'm scared that you might not come back. What if the surprise your mother has in store for you is permanent? I wouldn't be able to face it if you went to spend two weeks in Hong Kong and then never came back."
"Oh, baby, you don't have to worry about that," I whispered, bringing my lips down on hers. I needed to feel her mouth against mine. I couldn't leave without one last time kissing her. I had spent the last six months trying to have some privacy, where it was just the two of us. I finally had that chance and I wasn't going to past it up. I needed Sakura more than ever.
As soon as my tongue found hers, Sakura let out a soft moan that edged me to deepen the kiss even further. Sakura wrapped her free arm around my waist and let it travel up the back, under my undershirt. Goosebumps covered every millimeter of skin that she touched. My hands found a mind of their own and started traveling slowly up the front of her shirt.
Sakura pulled her mouth away from mine for a moment, "Can we take this into the bedroom?" she asked softly, as if she was afraid someone might overhear her. I nodded and pulled her up to her feet. Without letting go of each other, we slowly made out way into my bedroom, Sakura walking forward and me walking backward.
Sakura
I woke up to complete darkness. The only light was coming from the numbers on the digital clock, which was on an odd nightstand I had never seen before. I was confused by my surroundings until I turned onto my other side and managed to see the outline of a sleeping figure in the bed next to me. A mad grin broke out across my face as I let reality sink in. My head began to sink as well, but it sank further and further into the soft pillows.
Before too long, I realized I was naked. Making sure Li was asleep, I slipped out of the bed and pulled on my underwear. Then I found one of Li's large t-shirts that I pulled over my head and decided to use it as a nightgown. I slipped back into the bed, where I was greeted by a soft grunt.
"What?" I asked softly.
"I said 'what the hell are you doing'?" Li repeated. I smiled and snuggled up closer to him. It was early in the morning, only five o'clock, and the weather had only gotten colder overnight. I shivered slightly until Li kissed my neck and grunted something I wasn't able to hear.
"What?" I asked again.
Li sighed and kissed my forehead, "I don't know how you have so much energy," he told me, "I am totally drained. I've got to be on a plane by 10:30, so can I please get back to sleeping?" he asked me.
I shrugged, wrapping my legs around and between his until they were like a pretzel, "I guess you could if you really wanted to," I purred, kissing the edge of his chin while I ran my hands down his chest, loving the way his wash board abs felt under my fingers.
"Sakura, please don't," he moaned. "I really need to sleep. Last night was more than enough more me." Li pulled me flush up against him and kissed the tip of my nose. "I love you, Sakura, but I'm afraid I am not a morning person," he admitted. "I need to get some sleep."
"But you can sleep the whole plane ride. I, however, only have a few more hours with you until you have to be on your way to Hong Kong. Now, can you think of anything better to do than sleep?" I asked, trying to sound innocent, but I had already begun to pull his undershirt up.
"Well, maybe," he answered finally. "Fancy a shower?"
Madison
I wanted to cry out in frustration when there was a knock on my door. I quickly pulled my bathrobe around myself tighter and pitter pattered to the door in my bedroom slippers. My eyes were puffy red from crying and my hair was tousled from all the shifting on the couch. I opened the door an inch and groaned when I saw Eli standing there.
"What do you want, Eli?" I asked, trying not to cry. "Did you have enough fun for one day? Or do you need to yell at me some more? God!" I shouted at him before he could say a word.
"Madison…" he started, but then he leaned against the doorframe and peered into my house, "A rich little girl home all alone, crying?" he asked in a soft voice.
I sniffed a little, "I wasn't crying," I insisted. "And my mother is never home during my vacations. She's never home at all. I might as well not have her in my life, I haven't seen her in a year almost." I paused for a moment and then glanced back at Eli. "What are you doing here, anyways? Come to share your closing argument?"
Eli sighed and placed his hand on the door handle. He tapped his long fingers on them for a minute before he finally looked back up at me. "I don't understand why you always make things so complicated between us. You always act like I'm here to pick a fight with you, Madison, and I hate to break it to you and hurt your feelings, but I'm not. I didn't come all this way just to argue with you and I'm almost hurt that you would think that, but I guess I can see why you think that."
I sighed and leaned against the wall, "I need to apologize to you, I understand that. But I don't think I'm quite ready to yet," I admitted.
"And why would that be?" he asked, crossing her arms over his chest. "Do you have too much pride to apologize to little old me?"
I felt a slap to my face, mentally though, not physically, "Maybe it wasn't a good idea for you to come here right now," I told him, reaching for the door handle. "I have a lot on my mind as it is, and I don't want to worry about whatever I need to do with you." I closed the door quickly before he could get another word in. Groaning, I placed my head against the door and closed the door. What was I so afraid of? I didn't really know. Maybe I was scared that I might actually tell Eli how I felt and he wouldn't feel the same way. But why would he? I had just slammed the door in his face when he came all the way to see me. I didn't know what to do anymore. My heart hurt and I was starting to obtain a headache from obsessive thinking.
Li
I wrapped a towel around my waist and waited for Sakura to cover herself. By the time I turned back around, Sakura had tied her towel around her, just above her chest. God, I couldn't help but thinking, she is so sexy in a towel. Sakura smiled at me as she attempted to dry her hair with the other white towel that matched the one she was using as clothing. She pushed the towel up and down her head several times until she paused for a moment to flip her hair back behind her head. And it looked like a wreck, but no matter how bad her hair looked, she was still beautiful.
I stepped close to her and took the towel out of her hands. I threw it onto the floor before I took her face between my hands and kissed her gently. Sakura moaned and pressed her body against mine, "Li," she murmured, "we really shouldn't. You need to catch that flight of yours."
"Well I was thinking that I might just skip that little trip and stay right here with you," I told her, kissing her cheek and then her neck. I heard her sigh before she stepped back away from me. "Please don't do this to me," she begged. "I know you're getting on that plane in three hours and you know it too, so it sucks to have you pretend that you're going to stay. It makes it so much harder to let you leave!"
I pulled her into a tight hug, taking in her wonderful scent, "I know," I whispered. I couldn't manage anything else.
"Do you need to pack or anything?" Sakura asked me, lifting up her head to gaze into my eyes. I shook my head, "I packed last night before you came over," I muttered, kissing her softly.
Sakura smiled and slid her arms around my neck, "So you don't really have anything to do for two hours?" she teased, giggling softly.
I smiled back at her, "No, I don't. Unless," I added, lifting her up by her waist and started to walk into the bedroom, "you have another plans," I finished, dropping her down on the bed on her back, quickly covering her mouth with mine while she pulled my towel off.
Sakura
"What time is it?" I asked as Li pulled away from me slowly. I laid under him, breathing in quick, sharp breaths. He shifted his weight to the left as he glanced at the clock quickly before facing me again. The look in his eyes had changed, and I knew that it wasn't a good sign. "It's 9:30," he answered before rolling over on his back next to me in the bed. I turned to my side and rested my head against his arm, "I guess we'd better get up, right?" I asked. "Your flight boards at 10:20. We wouldn't want you to miss your flight."
"Oh no, we would never want that to happen. I would just die," he retorted, a note of sarcasm in his voice.
I rolled my eyes and kissed his shoulder, "Be a doll and get me a bathrobe, would you?" I asked. He looked at me angrily and I knew it was because I had called him a doll. I should have know better than to try to call him a pet name like that. But nevertheless, he got out of the bed and walked into the bathroom. I turned my head sideways so I wouldn't be able to see his naked form. A blue bathrobe came flying out of the direction of the bathroom and landed next to me on top of the comforter. I snatched it and pulled it on before I pulled myself out from under the covers.
Li came back into the room with a pair of boxers and an undershirt on. "You know what I don't get?" he asked, rummaging through his closet before tossing a striped shirt with a collar onto the bed and a pair of black slacks. "What?" I asked, before joining him over by the closet. He handed me a plain white t-shirt and a pair of old jeans. "What I don't get is way you'll take a shower with me, but you have to have a bathrobe to get out of my bed. Those clothes should fit you. I don't really have any female clothes because I don't usually need them." He kissed my forehead and I knew I was blushing, "You get dressed in here while I quickly make a small batch of pancakes for us to eat before I have to get going."
Li left the room and closed the door while he did. I found my bra on the floor and pulled it on and then my underwear, which were still on the bathroom floor next to Li's large shirt. I pulled on the jeans, which were a little to wide in the waist and a little too long in the legs, and then the t-shirt, which was just a little loose. I picked up my jeans and candy cane shirt, which were still a little damp from the rain. I walked into the living room and set them down on the couch next to my car keys and my boots.
A wonderful smell filled the air and the aroma itself was enough to make me hungry. I set down on one of the barstools that were in front of the side bar that attached to the kitchen counters. "I love this apartment of yours," I commented while Li set down a plate in front of me that had three large pancakes. He looked through the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of syrup and a container of butter and placed those down next to my plate. Li put the sliver ware on the bar when he sat down with his own plate. "I like being here with you," I told him and took a bite of my pancakes. "These are really good," I told him.
"We'd better hurry and finish eating," was all he said back.
I nodded, more to myself than to Li, and ate my pancakes quickly. "I should probably drop you off at your house before I head to the airport," he told me as he finished his breakfast and cleaned his plate. I took my plate to him at the sink. "I drove my car here, I can drive myself home," I told him. "But I would like to watch your plane take off."
"That's just not a good idea, Sakura," he snapped, drying the two plates and putting them away in the cabinet. I put my hand on his arm softly, "I don't see why not. Last night, it was magical. And this morning was great too. But now, you just seem so distant. I didn't do anything wrong, did I?" I asked him softly.
"Sakura, this is hard for me, you know? Last night was amazing, and now I have to fly across a sea and not see you for two weeks. I don't think I'll be able to get on that plane if you're there with me," he told me, looking down at his feet.
"So we'll just say our good-byes here," I said. Li pulled me into his arms, "I can't say good-bye to you. If I say good-bye, it seems as if I'll never see you again and it will only be two weeks. So let's not say good-bye." I nodded and kissed him one more time. "I'm going to miss you, Li."
I went back to his couch and picked up my shirt, jeans and keys and pulled on my boots. Li grabbed his suitcase and keys as well. He opened the door and turned off the apartment lights before locking the door. We walked out to our cars, which were parked next to each other. I put my shirt and jeans in while Li put his suitcase in. I hugged him one more time, "I'll see you soon," I told him. He kissed my forehead and sighed, "I know," he answered. We got into our separate cars and drove in different directions, me to my house and Li to the airport.
Madison
I woke up to a fresh new start. The sun was shining, with a soft, delicate layer of frost lining the windows and the grass in the front lawn. I stretched out under my comforter and let the morning sink in. There was a soft tap at my bedroom door and our maid, Marissa, opened it slowly. "Miss Taylor, a certain Eli Moon left an urgent message in which he requested to have lunch with you at his mansion at precisely noon this afternoon." She paused for a moment. "Should I tell him never to call again? You've turned him down every time before now, I just figured he would have given up by now, but I wasn't sure if something had developed between the two of you since he was trying again, so I decided I would do my duties and ask."
"Thank you Marissa," I answered, sitting up. "Please call Mr. Moon back and tell him that I have other plans for the afternoon. Today would not be a good time."
"But Miss Taylor, you do not have any other plans for the today. I checked before I came up to you," Marissa answered, slightly confused.
"Of course I don't," I snapped. "But I want him to think I do until he has enough guts to come here and request my presence for lunch in person. Otherwise, the men will anyways think that the women are always going to accept their invitation, and I for one will not."
Marissa nodded and left my room, closing the door behind her. I sighed as I sunk back down into the warmth of my covers. Why didn't Eli ever get the hint when I told him that I had other plans? Why wasn't he smart enough to realize that I was lying and that all he had to do to ensure a lunch date was to come over to my house and ask? I didn't understand why guys had to act the way they were. If they would just take a hint once and a while, it would make the whole dating process so much easier and faster.
Sakura
When I pulled into the driveway, my father's Jeep and my sports car were already in the driveway. I knew right then that is was going to be hard to explain to Tori and Dad why I was home so late, unless they didn't know I had spent the night away from home. Tori would know something was up, and I had a feeling that he would know what I had done. However, Dad was rarely ever home to realize those types of things, so maybe I would be okay. It wasn't like I had spent the night out before. I could just stay that I had spent the night as Madison's.
I parked the car behind the Jeep and pulled the keys out of the ignition. I flipped open a mirror I had in my purse and gave myself a quick glance over. My hair had dried, but it was a little puffy because while it dried, I hadn't exactly stood still. I sighed and leaned back against the car seat, closing my eyes and remembering the night before. I wanted to cry knowing that I wouldn't see Li again for two whole weeks. But I grabbed my clothes out of the passenger's seat and locked the car, hearing the beep of the car alarm turning on. I quickly walked up to the front door and opened it because it had been left unlocked. Not wanting to alarm my father, I called out, "I'm home," before running up the stairs and quickly changing into some of my own clothes. I decided on a pair of black jeans and a plain white long sleeve t-shirt. I peeled off my boots and then walked back downstairs to find Tori and my Dad.
"Where is everyone?" I called out once I had made my way to the kitchen. Tori and Dad were no where in sight, but Kero's little body popped out from behind the refrigerator door. "Hey Sakura!" he smiled cheerfully before shoving a whole cupcake into his mouth. Once he swallowed, he continued, "Your father and Tori are in the den arguing over something I didn't understand."
I nodded and went through the dining room and into the hall, then to the back of the house and into the den. Before I even opened the door, I could hear Tori's angry shouts. Once I had presented myself to my family, all noises stopped. My father got out of his chair. "Where the hell have you been, Sakura? Tori called me this morning to tell me that you weren't home and that your bed had not been slept in. I called Madison, and she said she hadn't heard from you since school ended."
I took a deep breath. There went my alibi. "Dad, some friends from school and I went to a winter break party and it ran pretty late. I fell asleep on the couch at the house and came home as soon as I could. I'm really sorry I didn't leave a note, but I was so excited to finally be out of school for a while and I was pretty upset about Li, so I decided that a party would cheer me up a little. I didn't think you would be mad. You two weren't arguing about me were you?" I asked. After I said this, I noticed for the first time a brunette woman, maybe in her early twenties, sitting in one of my Dad's lounge chairs. "Tori, aren't you going to introduce me to your girlfriend?" I asked.
Tori coughed loudly and glared at Dad. I was getting a little confused and I didn't like the feeling. "Sakura," my father said, resting his hands on the woman's shoulders. "This is Kari. I met her through my work and we've become friends. Very close friends." I almost gagged on the news.
I stared at Kari and then turned to face Tori, "You actually let him bring this hoe into our house? Are you smoking weed or something?" I shouted. I turned back to face Kari, anger filling me, "Get out of my house! You don't belong here. You're younger than my brother!"
"Oh Sakura, that's not the worst part," Tori informed me, "they're engaged."
I gasped and my face turned red and hot. I couldn't take this. And I was going to tell them just that. "I can't handle this right now! The anniversary of Mom's death is coming up, Li is leaving me to visit his mother in Hong Kong, and my father is getting married to a twenty-one year old slut! My brother's gay and my best friend won't tell the guy she likes that she likes him, so she's all pissed off at me. Does anyone know what I think?" I shouted. "Do you? Well, I'll tell you. I lost my virginity last night, so now I think I'm going to go to the airport and buy myself a one way ticket to Hong Kong so I can sleep with Li again!" I screamed. Tears were streaming down my face like twin waterfalls. Tori was pale because I had babbled his secret to Dad. Kari was pale because I had called her a slut. My Dad was red in the face because he was extremely mad at me. My whole head was pounding in an extremely painful way and I wanted to kill myself for telling them that I had slept with Li. But one part of that terrible experience was helpful. I realized what I had to do for winter break. I had to get away from my family and spend the holidays with Li in Hong Kong.
Li
I got off the plane, after what seemed like hours. I was so glad to finally be off the crazy flying machine. I walked down the long airport hallway, heading for baggage claim with my hands in my pocket. I hadn't been able to sleep a wink because every time I finally drifted off, the memory of Sakura and me entangled under the covers of my bed woke me right up again. I realized after about two hours of trying that this trip was going to wear me out.
I found my way to the baggage claim of the Hong Kong International Airport and grabbed my one luggage bag and is passed by on the revolving baggage chains. I walked slowly toward the front of the airport, where my mother was sitting, reading the newspaper with her glasses on. I walked up to her and set my suitcase down on the floor. "I'm home," I said meekly. My mother peered over her newspaper until she saw me. She tossed the newspaper aside and pulled me into her arms, "Oh Li, welcome home. My only son has finally come home, for Christmas."
"Hi, Mother," was all I said in return. The truth was, I didn't really know what to say to my mother. I had spoken to her a few times over the phone, but I hadn't seen her face to face since I had moved to Reedington to help Sakura capture the Clow Cards. My mother smiled at me. "Your sisters told me to wish you a happy holidays and they wanted to say hello. I was so disappointed when they told me they weren't going to be able to visit this year. But they are have their own families now, you know. Sarah has her husband and twin boys, Amy is the newly wed, and Kristy is married with four children. You're running a little behind, Li. Tell me you have met someone worth our family clan. You know that once I die, the Showron clan will belong to you and your mistress."
"I don't understand why my partner will be a mistress, while my sisters' partners are husbands," I answered, dogging the question. We started walking toward the elevators, which would take us down to the parking garage were Mother had parked the car.
"Li, that answer is obvious. The Showron males have always married for pleasure, not for love, Li. Or they have married because they are promised. Your partner will not be your wife, but simply the woman that bares your children."
As we got on the elevator, I sighed, "Just because that was what you were to my father doesn't mean that is how I will treat my wife. I will find someone I love and I will marry her, when the time is right, of course."
"Li, don't figure these things out by yourself. The truth is, you don't know who the right wife will be for you. That is where your surprise comes in, my son," my mother said as the doors slid open and we walked to our car.
I froze in step as I noticed a pretty female girl, my age or a year younger, standing by the passenger side of my mother's car. Her black hair was tied up in a bun, signaling that she was engaged. "Oh God, Mother, tell me you didn't," I prayed. My mind was screaming that this could not have been happening.
"Li, I want you to met Han. She is to be your wife," my mother told me excitedly, introducing me to the stranger by my car.
Madison
At 11:57, I walked up the steep steps to the front door of Eli's mansion. I didn't know what I was doing there to begin with. I had reassured myself a hundred times that Eli had to make the first move by asking my out properly, by showing up at my house. But as the minutes had ticked away and it had become closer and closer to noon, I decided to screw my reason. Sakura and Li were happy together, and I wanted want Sakura had with Li with Eli. I took in a deep breath, praying for the best, before reaching for the door knocker, with was shaped like a crescent moon, and knocking it as hard as I could against the huge wooden door. The sound it made was almost deafening, but within a minute, the door opened slowly, and Eli smiled out of the shadows of his home at me, "Well look who decided to show up for lunch. I assume that is what you are here for, am I correct?" he asked, opening the door a little wider, as if inviting me in.
I shrugged, "My earlier appointment canceled at the last minute, and I remembered how often you have called for a lunch date, so I decided I might just take you up on your offer this time, since I am finally able to," I told him. Eli smirked at me and pushed he head outside, close to mine, "Don't lie to me, Madison. I know there wasn't any other appoint you had to make. You haven't fooled me one bit. There never were any other appoints that you had to make. You were afraid or nervous or something, that I haven't figured out. Just don't lie to me, I'm too good for that."
I frowned, "Well, at least you have such high regards for yourself. I'm sure everyone loves a man who loves himself."
"Oh, don't even give me that bullshit, Madison!" he snapped. "You don't have to insult me because you aren't confident yourself!"
I gasped in amazement. Had he really just said that to me? I was pretty sure he had, "You know what, Eli? I don't know why I even bothered showing up today. I always had a reason to decline your offer, because you weren't enough of a man to come ask me yourself, in person. Get over yourself Eli, because until you do, no one else will ever care for you!" I shouted to him.
"Oh shut up, Madison. You know that's not true," He retorted. "And do you want to know why?" he asked me. "Because you care for me."
I swallowed slowly, "Maybe I thought I did, Eli, and maybe that's why I came today, but not now, not after hearing what you have to say. Now I'm sorry that I even wasted my time thinking that it was even a possibility because now I know that it isn't." I turned around and hurried down the steps, thinking about Eli standing there, shocked out of his mind by his front door and thinking of me, walking away from one of my few chances of happiness.