~I don't own Cardcaptor Sakura~

Shaoran x Tomoyo

~~~~~Chapter 16: Hibiscus~~~~~

Shaoran's POV

12:45... Sakura should be here soon. I almost wish Tomoyo was coming, too... just to see her again. I can't get her out of my mind... I guess I really *do* love her.

Heh, how sappy of me... I guess that's why Sakura's teasing was getting to me yesterday. She was right. I *was* sitting by the phone, waiting for an angel to call and make everything go away. I'm finding myself wanting a fairy-tale ending. I want to be Tomoyo's knight in shining armor. She's more beautiful to me than I had imagined any woman could possibly be.

Not that I'll ever admit to any of it. Hah, it's bad enough to have it going around in my head. If someone said something like that to me about their own feelings for someone... I'd probably throw up on their shoes or something. Yuck. Too sappy.

Guess love does strange things to people, huh.

Oh! Hey, that's ...

*not* Sakura... that's Tomoyo! What the hell is she doing here?

Do I look okay?

Wait, forget that!

What the hell am I gonna say to her?!

She hasn't noticed me yet... maybe, if I pretend I don't see her...

Wait, isn't that kind of mean?

Damn... doesn't matter, now, anyway... she's seen me. Obviously not too happy about it, either, considering she looks like a scared rabbit...

Man, I'm so sorry, Tomoyo... I never meant to fuck your life up like this... I just couldn't help falling in love with you... you're just so goddamn perfect it makes my head hurt to think about it.

"Ah... ano... hello, Shaoran-kun."

"Hey."

What should I say? What should I do?

Should I try to sound disinterested? No, then she'll think I was just messing with her feelings for the hell of it. Cheerful? Wait, how often do *I* sound cheerful? That'd be a little too obviously forced... um... casual?

How about I just try to myself from jumping her? From telling her the truth, that I'm so in love with her I can't even think straight?

Been there, tried that, made a fool of myself. Let's hope we can keep the hormones in check this time, Shaoran.

Since when did I talk to myself, anyway?

"So... what's up, Tomoyo-san? Haven't seen you in a while..."

Four days... yeah, an eternity to me, but that must have sounded ridiculous to her...

"Yes... it really has been a while... I'm here to meet Sakura-chan. How about you?"

Why is she so formal? Did I scare her that badly? Does she really hate me that much? Is this all forced pleasantry?

"Uh... Actually, I'm supposed to meet Sakura here, too."

"Really?"

Wow, she sounded surprised at that... guess she didn't know? Although, Sakura didn't tell me Tomoyo was coming, either. Damn her, this better not be some plot to get us together... after the way the last one went...

"Heh, yeah... wonder where she is..."

"Well, um... want to sit down while we wait for her?"

All right! She's gradually going back to the Tomoyo I know and love... not that I don't love this one, too, but you know what I mean. Hah, she seems almost shy though... maybe it's just my imagination... after all, what would be causing that?

"Sure! It's kinda cold, too... want me to get us some coffee?"

"Sounds great... if you don't mind, I'd like mine-"

"Black with two sugars, right?"

"Haha... you remembered?"

"Of course! I'll be right back, okay?"

"Sure! I'll be over here."

Score one for me! At least I made her smile... that's gotta be worth *something*, right?

Damn, this line is long... well, not like out-the-door long, more like 2 people in front of me... but, I mean, really! Don't they know my entire love life is depending on this coffee?

...

Well, not *really*... but it's much more dramatic that way. You know, slay a few dragons, storm a castle or two, get some coffee, and the princess will fall all over you, every time. And then we'll live happily ever after.

Oh, man... there is *seriously* something wrong with me lately.

"Hey, what's your order?"

You know, I half expected Sakura's brother to be working here... he seems to turn up just about everywhere.

"Two coffees, please... one black with two sugars, one with milk, no sugar."

"All right, one minute... Hey, is that your girlfriend?"

"Huh?"

"The girl you came in with... she's really hot!"

"It's not...WHAT?!"

"So, she isn't? Great! I get off in, like, ten minutes... guess it's okay to hit on her, then, right?"

"NO!"

"But, I thought you said..."

"Well, I guess you thought wrong... she *is* my girlfriend, and you probably don't want to make me mad... So, can I please have our coffee?"

"Sure, man... sorry, didn't mean to piss you off like that. Damn, if my girlfriend looked like *that*, I'd be possessive, too!"

"Hn."

If Tomoyo hadn't been right over there, I would have beaten the crap out of him... damn... I can't believe I'm changing this much for a girl! But, I can't upset her like that... Even if this guy *is* a creep... she's already unhappy with me, can't chance making it worse.

At least she's far enough away to have missed the whole 'she's my girlfriend' thing... that would have been bad.

"Here's your coffee, man. And, just a little advice... never let go of a girl *that* fine."

"Hn."

Kind of a crude way of putting it, but I guess he's got a point... I'd be an idiot to let Tomoyo get away without making a decent effort.

'Tomoyo... I *will* make you realize how much I love you.'

~~~~~hibiscus means 'seize this opportunity'

sorry... again, no confessions! guess i shouldnt have promised, huh... its actually the next chapter... and ive written half of it, so itll be up by the weekend ^^ sorry bout that again... just didnt want to have to put three chapters up at once... also, i still need to finish it... and its already 4 in the morning (yawn)... so! it WILL be the next chapter! ^^ sorry again .