Hello peeps! I have at last finished my first fluffy chapter! It's a long at that too! 22 pages! Gah! Enjoy it! The next chapter might take a bit longer, since I've to finish writing the next chapters to Not Everything Is Easy and Take My Breath Away.
Thanks to everyone who updated last chappy, and even to those who sent me e-mails! YOU GUYS ARE DA BEST!
Disclaimer: I do not owe CCS, but I do owe my own characters!
Open Up My Heart
Chapter: 12
By: Shinsei-Kokoro (Previously known as Pinklover-sama)
Tomoyo was right…this guy certainly was very different. He was risking leaving this party only to drop her home? Even though he was her date…it still didn't feel right.
At that same moment Syaoran tuned around when he was eight cars away.
"Do I really look that handsome?" he yelled out to her, making her straighten herself up, and walk to him.
It was funny, but it felt right. This man really was a good choice…but they can all be deceiving when they reach to the point of what they want. She had experienced one herself…and to do it again, would just be like killing your own favourite pet.
Sakura readily smiled to herself, as she heard the familiar Lexus beep a ring.
After all she was getting a ride from the famous Syaoran Li. The Captain of the democratising Dragons. So why not enjoy it while it lasts?
On With Da StoryWhen she had finally reached the black all-too-familiar Lexus, she was taken as he held out the car for her.
Nodding a thanks to him politely, she took the seat in the front, next to the driver's.
Grinning at her, he jogged behind the car, and jerked open the car for himself.
As the two put on their seat belts simultaneously, Syaoran put the key into the ignition and smiled as he felt his engine purr.
The just before he took the car on a reverse, he took out a beanie from the side, and slid it down his head.
It was a straightedge black and light grey Ignite Skull beanie.
Checking himself in the rear-view mirror, he noticed Sakura's curious glance on him.
"Sorry…but it's hard to get away when people notice me waltzing down" he said as he pulled the break and made a correct L turn, and soon the car was roaming through the car park.
As the Lexus soon pushed its way onto the main road, Syaoran groaned as he saw the traffic up ahead.
Sakura only sighed and slumped back on the seat, pressing her head against the seat.
"You okay?" Syaoran asked her as he side-glanced at her, and pushed his feet on the accelerator and on the break.
"Me? Oh yeah" Sakura answered, then she suddenly sat up straight, and moaned.
"What?"
"I…I left my jacket at the party…and my purse!" she sighed again, making Syaoran chuckle.
"Silly"
She made a frustrated noise, the leaned her arm against the window, "Oh well"
"We can go back if you like?"
But Sakura shook her head, "No, no. It's okay" she protested noticing that he had his black jacket on over his white shirt. It would be impossible to go back, with Aurora's threatening on her face.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. It doesn't get that cold until late at night…" she looked out of the window, not being able to look at him.
"Fine" he answered as the whole lane stayed still, waiting for the signal to turned green.
He slowly pulled his beanie below his ear, and pushed the bangs that were falling in front of his eyes inside. An idea suddenly formed in his mind, and he could help but smile a little.
On impulse, Sakura couldn't help but staring at him through the corner of her eyes.
'Oh god…' she muttered in her mind as she forced her eyes to look back on the road. As she gulped, she felt Goosebumps along her rams and on her legs 'Am I actually checking him out?'
A few minutes of silence passed by.
Pulling herself near, and crossing her arms tight, she quickly took out a hair-tie, which she had on her wrist, and tied her hair up in a straight pony.
"Why do you always tie your hair up?" Syaoran asked inquisitively. Wasn't it a girl thing that you looked much more pretty with your hair left down?
"It was getting in my way," she answered smoothly, not even turning to look at him. Why did he even bother with how her hair looked?
He nodded, and thought that it was time to take process with his plan.
"Sakura?" At the same time he murmured her name, the lights turned green, and he let go of the break, and pulled his feet off the accelerator a bit.
She didn't seem to answer him back, but he went along with the question anyways.
"What are you gonna do when you get back home?" he asked, noticing her flinch. But he kept his eyes on the road.
"What do you mean?" she retorted giving him her full attention.
"I mean, what are you gonna do when you get to your apartment?"
Sakura looked confused for a moment then shrugged, "I'm a woman Li, I can cook. And after I cook, I'll do what normal beings do, and that is go to sleep"
"I thought I asked you to call me Syaoran"
"Well then Syaoran. You should know by now that a woman's most important purpose is not only to cook," she said indignantly.
Syaoran only laughed, "I know, I know. But I mean it Sakura" he side-glanced at her.
"Huh?"
By now they had already reached the road adjoining to St Pablo, and she slipping on her sandals.
He looked at her grinning, "Since you didn't have anything to do tonight, gave it away by coming to this party and then ended up coming back with your date, but without dinner, don't you think you owe me something?"
"Look Syaoran. I told you. You can go back—,"
"Without a date?" he interrupted her.
Sakura looked at him with a frustrating sign, "You don't exactly need me do you? I mean you were dancing with some girl and—,"
"That was Yaki, the daughter of one of the Coach's friends"
"Whatever. Why can't you ask her to be your date?"
At that moment Syaoran stopped the car and parked it on the side of a road. Sakura noticed that they hadn't reached her apartment yet.
"She already has a date"
Sakura only frowned at him, "So? You are a celeb Syaoran, you can get any girl. Why do you need to inspect each and everyone? When you know you can have any girl, then why are you after one who can't even match up to your standards?"
At this Syaoran looked at her slightly surprised.
But Sakura only continued, "You're a really nice guy and all that Syaoran, but have you ever looked wider?! Have you ever seen where you are and where I am? I've always wanted to ask you this Syaoran! Ever since you asked me out" she almost shouted, her voice filled with irritancy, "Tell me this? Why did you ask me out? Tell me!"
Syaoran shook his head laughing, "Sakura—,"
"No! Just tell me! And I'll leave you alone!"
"You promise you'll leave me alone?"
"Yes, I promise!"
"You promise you won't ask me this again?"
"I promise!"
"You promise you won't run away?"
"Bloody hell, yes! I promise!"
"You promise you'll have dinner with me tonight"
"Dammit Syaoran! Yes! I promise—hey!" she immediately jerked and opened her mouth to yell, "You tricked me!"
The man was instantly laughing "Can't change it! You just promised!"
Sakura only looked at him flabbergasted; "N-no!" she forced the word out of her mouth, not believing what she had just said.
"Uh-uh-uh" Syaoran wagged his forefinger teasingly, "Breaking promises will bring you bad luck"
Sakura shot him a hard glare, and crossed her arms in front of her chest again, and looked at the still road in front of her with furious eyes.
"Shut up Syaoran, you still haven't told me!"
The smile on his face immediately wiped off, as he looked at her serious, "Why are you always so angry?"
"Angry?! I asked you a question first! You answer that, and I'll tell you why I always get angry"
"Fair enough" he muttered under his breath, as he looked out his window, noticing that hardly a car had passed, after he stopped.
"Sakura. I want you to know this" he sighed, "I don't look at people and underestimate them, by how they speak and what they wear. I don't think off them like they're from some other world if their standards don't match up to mine" he stopped for a second and studied her face. But it still remained stoic.
"I don't know what you have against me Sakura. But every time I talk to you, you are the one ignoring me. Acting like you hardly want to be seen around with me, where there are women out there dying to even look at me. And I'm not trying to brag or anything. I'm only stating a truth. You just asked me to look widely, didn't you? Well then, here you go. I'm looking widely. I don't think of people different than me like you do. You want to know why I asked you out? I asked you out because off how you looked at me. I know you don't like what I do for a living, so I thought fine. I'll let her look at me through a different eye. And then maybe she'll look at me at how I'm off field. But what I didn't expect was, that she'll go thinking about how our worlds are so different! So far! I don't want you matching up to my standards Sakura. I know it may sound weird. I know it's a bit stupid talking to a person who you've only seen on T.V. But give me a break…I like you just the way you are"
Sakura instantly opened her scrunched eyes, and looked at him.
"Yes. You heard me right. But don't forget your promises. You said you'll leave me alone…" he watched her looked at him with sorrowful eyes, "…you promised me that you won't ask me this again, that you won't run away, and offcourse…that you'll have dinner with me"
There was something in those piercing emerald eyes that he wasn't allowed to see. It was like a thick wall.
She never said anything, but just sat back again looking up at the inner roof of the car.
Syaoran looked at the road ahead and sighed inwardly. He didn't know what to do anymore.
But his thoughts were only interrupted by Sakura's annoyed voice.
"Well??"
He looked at her questioningly.
"Are we going or not?"
At that, he knew he didn't need to be reminded twice. Flashing her an intense smile, the car was instantly back on the main road once again!
"So, since you know this place better than I do, I'll let you choose the restaurant!"
Sakura turned to him and made a face, "I'm a homey Syaoran. I don't go out much"
"That's fine!" then he looked thoughtful for a second and his face lifted, "I know the perfect place. You'll like it" he smiled to himself.
"Whatever you say," she mumbled as she leaned her head on the glass window.
"Don't fall asleep," he warned her, just as she closed her eyes.
"I won't…" she murmured, her brows furrowed.
Syaoran only smiled. This was one woman he couldn't let go. And knowing that she probably wouldn't talk for their rest pf the way, to the restaurant, he pushed play, on the C.D that was already inside.
Sakura looked out of the window, and sighed mentally. Then she closed her eyes again, as the words of the song began to sink into her. 'He said he likes me the way I am…why did he say that?'
I've the strength to say no
Even if my heart is crying inside
See the people I know
Even if I only want to see him
Got to hold on- stop the poison
Got to move on- change horizon
Never surrender
I'll keep on searching for a....
Syaoran glanced at her again, and then back on the road. For the first time he felt as if he had a date, who had asked him out.
New love
After the rain is gone
After the wave will wash the shore
I'm gonna wait for someone incredible
New love
Takin' my heart brand new
Takin' my love but caring too
I know my dream is not unbelievable
New love...
Sakura readily shifted uncomfortably on her seat, and pulled her arms tight to her.
She had to admit, she had some pretty crazy things to him and vice-versa, but right now all that was on her mind was the conversation she had had with Aurora.
Oh, how she wished she could have never even come that stupid party! And here she was…agreed to go on a dinner date with him…alone.
Hear his voice on the phone
Ancient memories and old emotions
I can live on my own
I am strong enough to face the future
Syaoran slightly frowned as he noticed a cloud of sadness pass her slender features.
New love
After the rain is gone
After the wave will wash the shore
I'm gonna wait for someone incredible
New love
Taken' my heart brand new
Taken' my love but caring too
I know my dream is not unbelievable
New love...
'New love?' she asked herself, 'I bet this singer hasn't had experiences like I have'
New love....
Got to hold on- stop the poison
Got to move on- change horizon
Never surrender
I'll keep on searching for a....
Syaoran smiled as he saw her tapping her heel against the bottom of the car.
At least she was enjoying herself.
New love
After the rain is gone
After the wave will wash the shore
I'm gonna wait for someone incredible
New love
Taken' my heart brand new
Taken' my love but caring too
I know my dream is not unbelievable
New love...
'Well the tunes good, but bad choice in words' Sakura mused, as she tapped her knuckles against the window. Turning to her right, she noticed Syaoran's stare.
"What?"
New love.....
"New Love"
"What?" she asked again, as the C.D went blank. Apparently it was the last song.
"A cousin of mine used to love this song"
"…"
"She said that she fell in love with the first man she saw after hearing this song"
"…"
"They've been going steady for about a year and a half now"
"…"
"That girl's stupid. I mean this is like the second time I've heard this song, and I haven't even fallen in love yet"
"Things don't always work the same Li"
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me Syaoran?"
"How many ever, until I get used to calling you Syaoran"
Syaoran laughed. Was it him, or had he just been laughing a lot lately?
Turning his attention back to the road again, he thought of what everyone would say back at the party, when they would notice where the couple had seem to disappear.
Laughing to himself, he could just imagine them, filling him with questions, but he had a lot of things planned ahead. As he looked up at the car's digital clock, he looked back on the road.
10:45. Lots of time.
# * # * # * # * #
"That's it!" the Coach frowned, "I've had enough of you guys!"
Eisen rolled his eyes and laid a hand on the Coach's shoulder, "He's just enjoying his girl. Loosen up!"
Iwao just couldn't stop grinning, "Yeah. He'll probably stay at another hotel, and then come back tomorrow saying nothing happened. That guy's just too free!"
Hero only kept his eyes on the women who were now dancing, "Can't you guys understand? This is our chance. With him around, do you know how hard it's to catch a good girl from the lake? Let's fish out!" he smirked as he walked away from the group where some of his teammates, were already there.
Kan, who had been busy mixing Vodka and Whiskey together, took the large glass of water, and dipped dome in his glass, until it was full till the brim, "Yeah! He took off with only one, but the poor guy doesn't know what he's left us with"
Eriol and Tomoyo who were both sitting down on chairs, were looking really worried.
"How do you know he took off with her?" Eriol asked them.
Iwao laughed as he snatched the drink form Kan, and took a wise drink, "Saw them go out of the door"
"Both of them?" Tomoyo quirked up.
He only nodded, making Tomoyo look back at Eriol, "Maybe they have"
"Maybe" Eriol echoed.
The Coach who had his arms leaned down on the table, tried his best to keep his eyes open. Apparently he had drunk too much.
The ESPN board of trustees had already left, just minutes before. They had waited a bit for Syaoran, but since he wasn't even around they had thought it was best that they left.
For now, till twelve, it was just the guests and the Dragons.
Yamazaki and Chiharu, a girl who called herself his cousin, were on the dance floor, taking each other's breath away.
Rika was in Joe's arms, swaying around laughing.
Everything seemed to be great.
Just great.
# * # * # * # * #
Syaoran took in a deep breath, as he rolled down the window on his side. The sky had had gone tint dark, and you could see dark grey clouds hovering over.
Looking over a not too large restaurant, the crashing waves of the ocean suddenly hit his ears, making him grin.
As he looked around, he noticed that there weren't many cars in the car park. But nevertheless, he pulled down his beanie, and parked the car neatly in a free space.
Just as the same moment, a green van suddenly made its way, to the free space next to the Lexus. Pressing his head to the seat instantly he held in his breath, and pulled out the key in the ignition. Out of the car, only came a young couple, and a small child, which the man held in his arms.
"I', telling you, this is the quietest place!" the man laughed as his wife slid her arm around his waist.
"Whatever you say dear. But why is it so empty?" she asked, as the two walked away from their car, along with the baby's laugh trailing behind them.
"What were you so freaked out about?" Sakura broke through the silence, as she opened the car and shut it behind her.
Doing the same, Syaoran pocketed his keys, and soon found his way next to her.
"Wow"
The man only glanced at her satisfied face, and smiled.
"I'll take it that you like it already"
Sakura only walked away from the car, and looked beyond the restaurant that stood below wide and large concrete steps.
"I never knew there was a restaurant around here?" she mused, as she stared straight at the beach yards away from her. It was just beautiful. One could actually see the black sky beyond the mourning clouds.
The powerful waves could be seen swishing about loud, and gracefully in the night wind. The large, bright full moon was almost wholly eaten by the clouds, and looked as though it were trying it's best to lighten up the night.
"Let's go in, we've come here to eat, not to turn you into a nature girl" he said walking ahead of her.
She only threw his back a dirty look. Making a face, she decided that the best choice. She followed him.
When they finally reached the restaurant, Syaoran immediately caught hold of her hand.
"Hey—!"
But Syaoran only dragged her away from the doorway, where the doorman was standing still, wide-eyed.
"Li!" she looked at him like he had gone nuts, "What happened?!"
Syaoran dropped her hand, but still didn't stop pushing her forward by her shoulders.
"Shhhh! We need to get to the back entrance without being noticed!" he said as they walked along the dark sides quickly.
Sakura looked confused, "Why?"
"Disguise isn't the only thing you need to hide yourself"
Sakura looked over her back, and accidentally felt his fingers brush past her cheeks.
"You think you can disguise yourself with that things on your head?" she retorted ignoring his hands that were still pushing her shoulders.
"It does the job"
"You sound like an assassin"
"Do I? Assassins don't run"
"Yeah I know. They blend in"
"Mm-hm. They don't show faces of assassins on T.V. that make fans of the assassin gather around him, like a crazy bunch of madmen"
Sakura hid back a small smile; "You're calling your fans mad?"
"Fine. To get your acceptance in my matter of speech I shall call the people who hate my carrier mad"
Sakura nodded, but it took her more than a second to notice what he had just meant by that.
"Hey!" she cried as she turned around.
"Okay, okay" he gave up, still pushing her rigidly by her shoulders, "Your just a little mad"
By the time the two had reached the back entrance they were still fighting. To Syaoran's surprise Sakura was the first one to back off.
"Are we gonna hide away again, if anyone sees you here?" she asked almost frustrated.
"Might…" Syaoran whispered as he let go of her shoulders, "…and might not"
Sakura frowned for the thousandth time that day, "You really irritate me. Can't you speak in properly??"
Syaoran grinned as they walked through a back gate, "It'll take you years to master my language. So far no one has even come near"
"A madman's language" she muttered as they entered through the backdoor of the restaurant.
Instantly a surprised look crossed her face.
"Aren't kitchens supposed to be at the end of a restaurant?"
Before Syaoran could ever open her mouth, a man immediately came out of the next door.
"Li-san!" he looked up surprised, "It's a pleasure to see you again!"
Sakura frowned as her looked at the man who seemed to look like a waiter. He wasn't hovering over Syaoran one bit.
"Hello" Syaoran greeted with a smile, "A table for two outside, and private"
"Private?" Sakura frowned.
The man nodded enthusiastically, "Yes" then he turned around, and went through the door with Syaoran following him.
Sakura could only stand there, "Outside?" she echoed.
Deciding to follow him whatsoever, she soon found herself, smelling the salty air of the sea. As they walked down stairs, she noticed the opening they had come into. Down the huge wide pavement, seemed to be a large stage that was lifted up by stairs. And upon the stage was a round table with two chairs on either side.
When they were down the stairs, the waiter halted to a stop, and turned to Syaoran, "What would you like?"
"Your best"
Then he turned to Sakura, who was looking around dazed at the beauty of the garden that was around the pathway.
"And you…uh…miss?"
"Huh?" she turned to him in confusion, "Oh! Uh…I'll have the same as him"
The waiter looked a bit sceptical then asked, "Whiskey?"
Before Sakura could speak, Syaoran answered for her, "Juice for her please"
The waiter laughed, "Li-san still doesn't want his dates getting drunk!"
Sakura immediately frowned, "Getting drunk?"
Syaoran held her by her arm, and pulled her up the stairs, "It was nothing. You'll have juice right?"
The woman looked deep in thought for a second, and then eyed Syaoran smugly, and turned around to the waiter, "I'll have a glass of vodka please"
The waiter only nodded, grinning, and left.
"Sakura…"
"What?!" she turned around to him, when the two were alone again, "You think I'm a newbie in drinking?"
"I know women Sakura. Once they start drinking they won't stop until, they get really drunk!"
Sakura scowled, and poked him on his chest, "Well then hear this! There are women out there, who have different tastes!"
"I didn't say anything about your taste"
"Then stop being sexist!"
"Whoa! Look here Miss Hypocrite, I love women!"
"You love women? Yeah right. No wonder they don't like you"
"Are you crazy!? Women love me more than I love them!"
"Yuk! I hate you"
Syaoran didn't seem a bit taken back, "Just because you hate me, doesn't mean you can choose for the rest of the women"
"We women know what each other like Li!"
Syaoran didn't say anything next, but Sakura just stood still expecting something trash to come from the lips, which he was fidgeting with.
Just then she noticed that he was looking her over.
To her surprise, she could feel a chill pass her brain, as their eyes met.
"Sakura, you don't even come close to knowing what other women like"
"What?!"
"Come on! Look at you!"
Sakura immediately felt the hint that she was being insulted. But she had heard these comments heaps of times before.
She only lifted her chin up to him and looked defiant, "You don't like the woman in front of you? Fine! Does it look like I care?!"
"You wear no make-up"
"I don't like make-up!"
"No jewellery"
"I'm not interested in jewellery"
"Your dress is plain"
"I like plain dresses!"
"Your sandals are dirty"
"I don't care. Besides you are the one who made me walk around this stupid restaurant!" she glared hard at him, dazed.
"You don't flirt"
"I hate flirting!"
"You can't smile"
"Excuse me for not being Mrs Sunshine!"
"You can't wink"
"I so can!"
"Old fashioned"
"I am not!"
"Plain hairstyle"
"I hate being funky"
"Only stud earrings"
"I like them!"
"Forgot your purse"
"Not my fault"
"Long neck"
"Are you calling me a swan?!"
"Too angst"
"This is how I've always been"
"Small lips"
"Urk. Sorry but unlike you I haven't been kissing"
"Very stubborn"
"So are you!"
"Big ego"
"I object that!"
"Unrevealable"
"I like to be kept closed!"
"Small hips"
"Most women have that!"
"Bags under eyes"
"I didn't sleep well last night!"
"Moody"
"You're stupid!"
"Dum"
"I aced every subject in college!"
"Pale skin"
"I hate looking tanned!"
"Boring"
"Then why did you ask me out?!"
"Crazy"
"I'm not a banshee"
"Ditz"
"No way!"
"Cry-baby"
"You haven't even seen me cry!"
"Can't cook"
"I can!"
"Can't drive"
"Hello! How do I get to work then?"
"Limp hair"
"I like it like that!"
"Small nose"
"Women do have small noses ya'know"
"Green eyes"
"Haven't you ever seen green eyes before?"
"Too proud"
"So are you!"
"Too blurry"
"So are you"
"Anorexic"
"I am not that skinny!"
"Curly hair"
"First you say it's plain, then limp, and now curly!?"
"Small chin"
"I don't study my face that well"
"Low cheek bones"
"So?!"
"No sense of humour"
"So what?"
"You smell like flowers"
"There are other women who smell like flowers too!"
"Small butt"
"Excuse me, but I'd like to keep a few things private!"
"Too idle"
"I do more work than you do!"
"Very blunt"
"So are you!"
"Always single"
"…"
"Cat got your tongue?"
"I have been on dates!"
"Never been kissed"
"How can you tell that?!"
"Very hot"
"So are you—damn! You tricked me again!" she shrieked out loud, but Syaoran only clamped her mouth shut.
"Did I forget to mention how loud you shout?" he murmured his hands still over her lips, "Don't frown, because you never know who's falling in love with your smile"
But Sakura was fast in struggling away from him, and she stood erect, with two glaring eyes
"You are such a jerk Syaoran! Even for a man who has no life, he couldn't stoop this low! And I can frown whenever I like!"
"What did I do?" he asked acting defensive.
"You just insulted me!"
"Whatever. Does you smelling like flowers sound like an insult?"
"There are flowers that smell bad!"
"I never said good or bad"
"It was a rhetorical statement!"
"No, it wasn't"
"Yes! It was!"
"You're just crazy"
"I? You're calling me crazy?!" she asked looking terribly frustrated, with her palm just below her neck, "Look who's talking!"
"I am"
"That was a rhetorical question too!"
"Are we just gonna keep on fighting or are we gonna have dinner?"
"The food hasn't arrived yet, so don't try to change the subject!"
"There is no subject!"
"Arrggghh!" she cried as she threw her hands up in the air, and she turned
around, immediately taken back by the scene in front of her.
Seconds past, and she just stood straight, looking at the beautiful scenery of the sea that was just yards away.
"Wow…" a word escaped from her lips.
Syaoran walked forward, and just as she was by her, she took a step and leaned her arms down on the railing that was next to the table.
"This is great…"
In seconds Syaoran was next to her, "That is why I chose this place…only two people, open air, and…private. But here you are making up a battle scene for no reason"
Sakura glanced at him and gave him a gag, which made him laugh.
"That was so corny" he said between his laughs.
She only rolled her eyes, "Not as corny as you acting like a sick and a pathetic love-sick lunatic"
"Very good adjectives. I'm impressed, you are so good at making people feel better"
At that Sakura laughed. She could do nothing but laugh. It sounding nothing but amazing and hilarious coming from him.
"I'm glad I could help you," she said dryly as her laugh died away, and her eyes closed letting the vibrating aura of the sea fill into her.
Syaoran took a glimpse of her through the corner of his eyes. Was it just him or had her mood changed?
Her tied up hair, was swishing backwards, due to the gentle wind, and she felt in total bliss as the cool air ran against her face.
A smile lifted her lips, and she took a step back.
"I'm back to my normal mood, so I'll give up the thought of strangling you"
Syaoran only couched, "You strangling me?"
Sakura pulled out the chair from the table, and sat down, hugging her arms. It wasn't that cold…yet.
"I could have hung you up from the ceiling, or probably pushed you over a skyscraper…but I'm not that of a foolish woman"
As Syaoran himself sat down on the chair opposite, he murmured something that caught her ears immediately: "I doubt that"
"I'll let you go again" Sakura cleared her throat, and hung her head down, "But you are the one who's really crazy"
Syaoran tapped his knuckles on the table and chuckled, "So now we're fighting again"
"I'm not fighting with you"
"And I'm not either. I'm just trying to knock some sense into your small head"
"Okay, that's it! Now I'm fighting with you!"
"Woman…what does it take you to relax?" he joked, but Sakura didn't say anything, because there were three waiters already coming their way.
The waiter, who had led them here, was the one in the front, and as he laid out the bowl of small pieces of boneless roasted chicken, and another bowl, he bowed at them, and turned away. The next one placed down a whole tray, that had three more different dishes, and as he set them on the table, the last one set out the plates, and glasses. From a leather receptacle, he took out a large whiskey bottle, and a small vodka one. Pouring out a little whiskey, he poured in with water, and the second glass with little vodka.
Turning to Sakura, he said: "I'll leave the bottle down here" as he put down the bottle of vodka on the corner side of her, and poured in some juice into her glass.
Giving him a thankful smile, she glanced at Syaoran who had a smile on his, as the beautiful aroma of the cooked food reached to his nose.
"Time to dig in"
As the three waiters left, the two were left on their own once again, savouring the food they had just been served. It was truly delicious.
As a few minutes went untouched, Syaoran took a sip of his whisky and laid it back down gingerly.
"So Sakura, why don't you tell me something about yourself"
Sakura looked up at him, and then dropped the spoon she was holding.
"What do you want to know?"
Syaoran only shrugged, "Anything. What do you work as, in Trésor?"
The woman immediately looked up at he spoke their question. For about six seconds, she was in a uncomfortable silence then spoke.
"I resigned from there"
Syaoran looked up, chewing the chicken piece in his mouth, and topped for a second, "Why?" he managed to ask.
Sakura averted his gaze, and picked her spoon again, "Just things"
Syaoran nodded slowly, then poked his fork into another small piece of chicken, "How about you tell me something about your childhood…maybe from the starting?"
Sakura took in a deep breath then looked past him, "Well. My parents somehow met by a very minor accident, and they fell in love"
"Very sweet"
She shot him a strange look then continued, "Even though her father, that's my grandfather opposed against their marriage, they ran away together and got married"
"Very romantic"
"Hey you were the one who wanted to hear my childhood from the starting"
"It's not my fault that you sound like a priest in a funeral"
"Shut up Syaoran, or I'm gonna shut up"
"Okay fine. Go on"
"Why do you wanna know this?" she asked a bit curious.
"Is there a problem?"
"You hardly know me Li"
"My name's Syaoran. Do I have feed that name into your mouth? And besides, you're right I hardly know you, so this is the time to get to know you"
Sakura frowned, "And why is this?"
The man laughed, "You sound like your hiding a terrible DARK secret!"
"I might be"
At that he glanced at her serious face, and put on a straight face, "Okay then. Don't tell me the secret, but tell me everything else"
"Each second?"
"Whatever you like"
"Well…" she sighed again wondering off from where she left, "…after they got married they came back after a month. It was all awkward for them. My granddad didn't even bother looking at my father's face until after a week of my mom's begging and all that. They never really got along even then. But then after finishing her schooling—,"
"Wait a second" Syaoran interrupted her, "Schooling?"
"Forgot to mention. My mom was 16 and my father 23 something, when they got married"
"Young age for your mom"
"I know…" she looked to he right at the sea ruefully, "So after finishing college, and after my dad had enough money to look after a family they were expecting, they decided to settle down…somewhere where people wouldn't pry onto them. So they came to Tomoeda"
"Where's that?"
"In Tokyo. It's the most beautiful place. I spent all my childhood there"
"Did something go wrong in this Tomoeda?"
"My mom, started taking courses, and soon she got what she had been dreaming from ever since"
Syaoran could hear the glisten and happiness in her voice, "And what was that?"
Sakura turned to him, surprising him with tears in her eyes, "She was a model at last!"
"A model?!"
"Yeah" she laughed, "Do you know how great it felt to have a mother as a model? She was so beautiful and so gentle…and I can still imagine…her laugh…her smile" she looked down at the food, and let a tear drop fall, which Syaoran didn't notice.
"I'm guessing that something bad happened"
Clearing out her tear, she gave a wry laugh, "Happy things always come to an end one time or the other. My mom was so famous and known out, and my dad had helped her in each and every way he could. And since my dad was just an ordinary archaeologist, there were so many asking her, why she had even married him.
But even though through trash talks, my mom and my dad were still very much in love. And while she was going for her first international shoot to Canada…" Sakura stopped for a second and started giggling, "…she fell sick, and was admitted to the hospital. And guess what? Once the doctor had checked her up, she got the most wonderful news!" she couldn't stop laughing
"Let me guess…" Syaoran grinned as he dropped his fork to listen to her story, "She was pregnant, right?"
"Yes! She was pregnant!" Sakura cried out her face filled with happiness, as if she had been there all along, "Mom deliberately missed the photo shoot, and took the next direct plane, to go back to Tokyo and tell my father the news. He was so happy! And after a few months of taking shoots here and there, mom finally settle down in Tomoeda, and after nine months my brother was born"
"Your younger brother right?"
"No stupid. Touya. Touya's…I mean was my elder brother"
"Then why are you telling a story where you don't even exist?"
"I thought you wanted to know everything"
"Only your childhood silly"
"Hmh!" Sakura crossed her arms around her chest, and poked out a hand to take big sip of her vodka, and found that the whole glass was finished
"Hey! Easy with the drink! I don't want to have you drunk and doing anything stupid"
Scowling at him, she deliberately reached forward, and snatched his glass of whisky before he could even blink.
"Sakura!" he cried as he watched her drink the whole liquid in seconds.
"What!" she snapped at him, as she set the glass down, right in front of him.
Staring hard at the empty glass, he then looked forward at her, "You fool…what did you do that for?"
"Stop fretting Syaoran" she waved a hand as she jumped up slightly due to the amount of alcohol she had just drank in a swing, "There's more in the bottle"
Giving the bottle a quick look, he instantly grabbed both the whiskey and the vodka bottles away.
"Hey! Not my bottle! That vodka's mine!"
Syaoran cave her an incredulous look, "Are you crazy?! You're not taking anything more!" he scolded.
For a second she didn't say anything, then shook her head, "The story…" she swayed a bit, "Let me continue with the story" she said back in her serious voice as she pushed her plate away.
"Where was I…Touya right?"
Syaoran only nodded, still staring hard at the bottles in his hand.
Then she let out another laugh. It sounded forced out.
"Touya…that guy…man, I miss him"
Syaoran looked confused, "Did he…did he pass away?"
Sakura once more looked at the ocean her eyes strong and fizzy, "Yeah…after mom died due to an accident…everything…changed.
Sixteen years after my birth, the car she was travelling in with a friend of hers got smashed against a lorry. She was killed right on spot, and she and the others in the car were smashed.
My father was half dead. Touya was 23 at that time…and he had a hard time handling dad, while I couldn't do anything"
Syaoran noticed the wrenched face she had on, "We don't have to talk about this…"
Sakura looked up, and forced on a smile, "Dum-ass, this was years ago. My dad died soon after that…because…of…uh…a problem"
"What problem?"
"A problem, okay?"
The man nodded again, confused by her sudden mood change. Maybe she didn't want to tell him.
"And what about Touya?"
"Touya? Yeah. After father died. It was quiet hard for him to support us both. He was still studying. He wanted to become a doctor, but he cut his coarse short for me. Hear that? Only for me.
All of mom's money was gone. Her stupid photographers and designers and assistants stole it away, and all we were left was with father's money. Touya didn't want to use that. He thought that it might come in use for later on. Like my college and all. Without a proper qualification, he had to work in odd places. Restaurants, clubs, takeaways, you name it" Unconsciously she fingered the necklace around her neck.
"This…" she pointed pulling it from her top, as she squinted down to look at the anchor shaped pendant, "See this? This was given by my mum on my sweet sixteenth birthday" she said proudly.
After he had taken a good look at the necklace, he peered at her face, and it was clear that she looked a bit drunk.
Thank goodness…
But as he got caught in studying her face, he couldn't tear his gaze away. And then as she looked up, he snapped his eyes shut.
"Oh yeah. I get it. First you insult me. And now you're staring at me" she declared her face pouting.
Syaoran grinned nevertheless the remorseful story she was telling, "Staring—I was. But insulting you? Why would I do such a sin?"
"Sure sure"
"Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt. Go on." He urged.
Sakura looked at him for a moment, and then sighed, "Well. Touya always went to the club at night…to work as a bartender. He had a girlfriend. Her name was Kaho…Kaho Mitzuki. She was beautiful and really sweet. She used to always stay at the club with him, until his hours were over. You know, so that he wouldn't feel bored. But once Touya some how found this gang of guys harassing her. And he couldn't control his anger at all. That idiot didn't even think twice, he just jumped into the fight.
No one even helped. These seven huge guys, and him. And apparently they were drunk, and had weapons.
And somehow…Touya ended up getting stabbed. By the time some fool had at last phoned the police, Touya was unconscious. He was taken to the hospital. Kaho had died somehow, getting stabbed too. I was called to the hospital. I can still remember that pale face he had, when he had smiled at me"
Syaoran watched her clench her fists in anger, and wouldn't dare interrupt.
"He was coughing, saying that he wanted to get out of there. He wanted to go home. He was asking for Kaho, but stupid me said that she was already dead. You should have seen the stunned face he had on. I thought he was dead already. And then you know what? He started to cry. That guy—my brother who had always been so brave—he started to cry! I had never seen him cry, not since mom's death! I could tell already…he was heart broken. And the worst thing…he didn't know that that he wouldn't last any longer. I was only eighteen Syaoran! Everyone had left me!" By now the woman had her face hidden in her hands, "First my mom! Then my dad! And then…my brother…they all left me alone. All alone! I can still remember the way he held on to my hand. The way he said that in a few hours we could go home and have Italian takeaway for dinner. But Syaoran, I never did! I never did have dinner with him! He died right then and there! He just closed his eyes, and he never opened them again. Never! He had promised me! He had once promised me that he would take me around the world…but he never had the chance to. He wanted to marry Kaho…but he never did. She was dead, he was heartbroken. I wish I had never told him! Maybe he would have lived a bit longer!" Hot tears trailed down from in between her fingers. She was shaking violently, and she couldn't breath because of her stuffy nose. Her throat hurt, and she felt like just throwing herself off a cliff.
Suddenly she felt something warm around her. Looking up into the light, she felt her eyes pain, and she noticed that she had a long arm around her. And Syaoran was standing by her, crouched down.
"I understand…" he murmured looking into her teary red eyes.
Still crying she shook her head, "No…you don't. You don't understand. No one can! I was alone! They had all left me! Before mom died, we had had an argument! Before dad died, we both were mad at each other. And Touya, before he died, I was going out with this guy, who he had asked me to stay away from! Do you know how much pain I've been through?! I just want to change it! I want to make up with mom! I want to be held in my dad's arms! The way he used to, when I would go to sleep! I want to apologise to my brother!! Even though I broke up with that guy, the next day, Touya never knew! I wish I could change that!! I so wish that Syaoran!!" and yet, once again, she turned around, and broke into tears, as she leaned onto the wall for support.
Syaoran just stayed there in his crouched form. This was terrible. No wonder, she was always self-centred. And he couldn't bear listening to her cries! He hated tears! And it was driving him nuts as he watched her muffle sharply.
"Sakura…"
"And that's not it! Even after that! Even after all that! I was a direct priority! And I hated it! I hated getting pity! For years I lived under Tomoyo's roof! Do you know how it feels like to be a burden?! Even though everyone was all-nice to me I hated it! I hated those people who kept on treating me like a miserable little orphan! Damn their empathy!! And then there was Kaii! That bloody bastard! He ruined my life forever!! He—," But she suddenly stopped. Her mouth clamped shut, and she looked up immediately meeting Syaoran's frowning eyes.
"Go on…"
"N-no…"
"Come on…what about the bastard?"
"N-nothing…it's nothing"
"Sakura…tell me…what did he do to you?
"Nothing…it's none of your business anyway" she turned around, her breath almost caught from the secret she was about to reveal.
For a moment he didn't know what to say, then nodded. But she kept on crying, and he didn't make any effort to stop her.
Then she got up from her chair, unable to believe what she had almost spilled out.
"Can we please…leave?" she asked suddenly making him stand up in surprise
"Already?" he mumbled. It was obvious. He didn't want to leave. Not already.
"Yeah. I have a really bad headache," she breathed in as she hastily rubbed away her tears, and straightened her dress up.
Syaoran looked a bit uneasy, then sighed, "Can we stay a little longer? I mean it's hardly been twenty minutes since we came here"
"I—,"
"You don't have to say anything else about your past"
"But—"
"I promise I won't force anything out of you!"
"You—,"
"You can have the vodka bottle back!"
"It's not—,"
"You promised me"
"I'm—,"
"Please?"
At the last Sakura let out a sigh, then laughed through her painful eyes.
"You seriously irritate me Syaoran"
Laughing along with her, he pulled out the chair for her, "And I'm glad I do" He was glad she was laughing. Her past was truly horrible, but unknown to him, she hadn't let out all the truth.
Sitting back down on the chair, and shook her head, "But I don't think I'll be able to eat anything more"
"That's fine with me. We can just talk"
"Not about me anymore" she gave him a warning look as he got seated opposite her.
"No…I promise"
"Then can you pass me that Vodka?"
Syaoran gave her a you-will-not-drink-that-all-in-a-swing look, and then hesitantly settled it in front of her.
"Stop acting like a mother chicken Syaoran" she rolled her eyes, as she snapped the bottle open, and poured the whole glass up with its contents.
Syaoran eyed the glass carefully, and then at her, "You aren't drinking that all at once right?"
"Offcourse not"
"Good then…" he said as he poked his fork once again into the fried chicken, "You must try this chicken. It's really nice. It'll get your mind of crying like a crybaby"
"Is it?" she asked as she watched him nearly put the fork into his mouth. But she was just in time to grasp it away from him.
"Hey!" he cried as he watched her eat the piece of chicken with a thoughtful look on her face.
"Hmm…" she mused, "Not bad"
And with that she forked out a piece of chicken for herself, knowing that she would settle down soon.
"Go get another fork" she laughed at him through the chicken she was eating.
Syaoran only made face, then poured himself some whisky, then mixed in some water to distil it.
"Fork stealer" he murmured as he took a sip of his drink, "Now, don't you dare steal my drink"
"I won't" and to his surprise she stuck her tongue out at him, making him grin.
"I could cut that off, right here and now" he joked, making her take a sip of her own drink.
"Let's see you try that. I bet the only thing you can do is dribble," she giggled obviously taken to sway by her drink.
"You're so gonna get drunk!"
"I am not! I can sustain myself! And unlike you, I can handle little glasses like these" she said proudly lifting up her glass.
"Yeah right. You'll probably fall when you stand up"
"Shut up Syaoran," she growled taking another swing, but a longer and larger one.
"I'm a world wide celeb dear"
"More like a world wide web"
"Your too funny"
"It's a pleasure getting a remark like that from you" she yawned silently as she leaned her arms forward, "Are you gonna eat more?"
"No" he remarked finishing of the last of the chicken pieces with the same fork.
"Then let's take it back inside"
"What?" he looked confused as he watched her get up, with her plate, and her vodka glass, which was still filled.
As she went down the stairs, and turned back from there, he knew she had lost it.
"C'mon Syaoran! Take your plate! You're too lazy!" she giggled as she swayed slightly sipping her drink at the same time.
Oh god…here we go. Now he didn't only have the things Sakura had said on his mind, but had to handle a drunken woman until he would drop her home.
Standing up, he collected a few dished on top of the other, deciding to play along with what ever she was doing. Somehow, she had forgotten that she was in a restaurant. And this was one of the effects of getting drunk.
As he came down the small flight of stairs, she was busy doing a little dance, which Syaoran found very amusing.
"Shut that laugh Soccer Boy. There's not much difference in dancing and playing soccer"
As he reached next to herm, he chuckled, "Where do you want to take these again?"
"To the kitchen silly. Where else do you wash your dishes?" she roared with laughed going down the pathway, with a silent Syaoran following behind.
What the heck was she doing?
Once they were inside the wide and large restaurant again, a waiter suddenly caught eye of them, and came running to them horrified.
"Li-san!" he almost choked as he took the plates and a bowl away from Syaoran, "Where's your waiter?!" he cried out his eyes large and in fright.
But Sakura was just in time to answer it for him.
"Take a chill pill man. We're just taking these dishes to the kitchen, nothing else" she smiled childishly taking another sip of her drink, as she leaned back against the wall for support.
But another waiter was instantly in front of her, taking the dishes from her hands.
"You shouldn't be doing this Miss" the waiter remarked, "This is our work" he said turning around with the dishes.
Sakura only frowned, "We must all be doing work. Take me for example. I can't just go around doing nothing now can I?" she argued wanting to follow the two of them into the kitchen, but Syaoran was just in time to pull her back.
"Let's go back Sakura," he said as he clutched her back as she tried following them.
"But—,"
"Shhh" he scolded as he placed a finger on her soft lips, which he found really tantalising.
"Fine!" she threw her hands up in the air, and took another swing of the vodka, and went back to the outside clearing, where their private table was.
Syaoran followed behind her closely, and watched her walk almost swaying from a side to the other. At one time, he had to almost catch her before she fell, along with her glass.
"You've drunk too much Sakura"
"No way! This is only my third one!"
"Your fourth " he reminded her, as she balanced her walk, but putting a hand over his shoulder
"Well…my third vodka"
"Don't forget the first whisky. You drank the whole thing in a sip"
"You're too fussy Syaoran" she scowled, as she let herself walk on her own.
But just when she was going down a step, she felt her feet fall into air, and expected to fall straight down on her face.
However, Syaoran was just in time to hold her back by her waist.
"See!" he pointed out, holding her tight to him, and walked her down the two stairs slowly.
But instead he found her laughing hard, leaning her head against his shoulder.
"Cut the crap! I just tripped by mistake"
"Yeah right" he rolled his eyes, as they walked up to their private table. Once up on the stage Sakura placed her glass down on the table that had been cleared out by now, and stood leaning against the wall, that let them see the wide ocean.
"This is so nice!" she moaned closing her eyes, and taking in a deep breath as a light wind brushed past her features.
Syaoran noticed that his drink and the bottle of whisky and vodka were still left there untouched.
"Don't lean down like that Sakura…you'll fall off"
Sakura indeed was still leaned down wanting to see what was there below the balcony she was standing on. It was very dark, and before she lean down anymore, she felt an arm wrap around her once again.
"I just want to see what's down there and I won't fall. I'm not one but twenty-one!" she whined, not struggling but leaning back against him. Somehow, she felt at ease, knowing that he had his arms loosely around her stomach.
For a moment, they stayed like that. None of them moved. Like they wanted too.
Unconsciously he pulled her tighter against him, and she felt his chin brush past the top of her head. She instantly giggled, making him lean down next to her cheek.
"What's so funny?" he asked letting himself take in the scent of her hair.
"You are!" she laughed giddily.
Syaoran smiled. Almost sadly. He knew that they wouldn't be in this position if the woman in his arms were in her right mind. But at the moment she was drunk and didn't know what she was doing.
That was okay, as long as they didn't do anything but stand this way.
She giggled once again…at nothing. The two stared off into the night, watching the waves splash around playing games. The sky was dark, and it was sure to rain, but Syaoran didn't want to move at all.
"What are you looking at Syaoran?" she suddenly asked her voice soft and hazy.
"Nothing. Just watching the sea," he answered as he watched her turn around facing him, just inches away. He let her go, and felt his arms fall down.
"Do you like watching the sea?" she asked acting almost sober.
"Yes. It's quite peaceful"
"Even when there's a storm?"
At that he laughed, making a small smile appear on her lips. What he would do to kiss her…
"Why do you always laugh?"
"I don't laugh always," he asked as he studied her face yet once again.
"Yes you do" she insisted, "Every time"
"Do you have anything against it?" his eyes watched her eyes, then roamed to her lips that she had just licked.
"Nope! Just asking…maybe you can teach me, since I've forgotten" she grinned cheekily looking up at him in the eyes, noticing that they were very near to be bumping against.
He was nearly a head taller that her, but that didn't matter.
"Tell me. Why are you always angry?"
She giggled at that, "Didn't I tell you. I'm always like that"
"Always?"
"Yup. I feel better that way. No one can get in my way."
"In what way?" he asked as he leaned down and let his eyes roam around her beautifully carved face. He had known it all along. This woman was truly weak from inside. But why was she masking such beauty.?
Sakura didn't reply but instead asked, "Are…are you…gonna…kiss me?" she let her hand raise up to his buttoned shirt, scrunched it in into her fist, and held on tight.
Her face looked so innocent, that he couldn't help but give her nose a quick bump. Was it right to be doing this? She was drunk and he wasn't…it would be like going against her will. But still…just one small kiss…and that's all. After all, it wouldn't hurt.
"You are so damn gorgeous. Did anyone ever tell you that?" he countered against her question as he felt her light breath on his lips.
"Many" she answered making him grin as she let out a small hiccup. Her question was obviously answered with that.
"And exactly how many?" he whispered their lips just inches away.
"More than twenty…I think…" she said back in her lowest voice as she stared at his slightly parted lips.
"Wow…I would be the twenty first then right?" he said as their lips slightly brushed past each others, making him gulp back his shudder. Her lips felt so fragile against his. Very unusual.
But just as he went for another try, he felt a finger suddenly poke him in his stomach, and he was forced to take a step back with fright.
Sakura was immediately in peels of laughter, her forefinger pointed to him.
"Oh my god! You…should have seen that…look on your face!! It was so funny!!" she cried in between her laughs that just couldn't waver away.
But before she could open her eyes from the hefty laugh, she was suddenly pulled forward by her finger, and crushed into the arms of Syaoran Li.
And before she could even stop the laugh from her widely parted lips, she felt them completely flattened against his. This time he didn't let go. He wasn't very gentle, and he certainly wasn't calm. His tongue immediately pried her lips open. He held on tight to her arms, and kissed her callously and passionately as he leaned her against the edge of the table.
Her eyes immediately widened, but as she saw his ardent face, she closed them decisively and let him slide his arms down tightly around her waist. Unknown to him, she was humming with joy, and could hear her own heart racing faster.
Who knew that he would fall into such an obsession, for only wanting to kiss a girl…but offcourse, she certainly was out of the ordinary.
A small drop of water suddenly fell on her hair.
His lips were just so warm and tender, that she felt herself lean against him, and twined her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her, making her less visible in his embrace.
Oh god!
Did he feel like he was in heaven!
Another drop of water fell but they didn't notice it.
As he played with the buttons of her dress for the second time that day, he could taste the sour vodka that she had just drunk.
It felt just so different. Totally different from any other women he had ever kissed. He felt like he was on the top of the world, with the goddess of beauty and desire wrapped in his arms.
And as he felt her shudder, he pulled his black jacket around her from both sides so they fell in closer. At that she clutched the front of his shirt once again gladly taking in his warmth.
Just then they both pulled away, and were left staring into each other's eyes breathless and wondering just how amazing the last few seconds were.
As he looked into her eyes, he noticed her red cheeks, and rubbed his thumb against them, making her lean her face against his palms.
Sakura gave him a slow smile, and once again reached forward, and kissed him softly on his lips. She felt almost uneasy without his lip contact.
And she felt warm. Just then another drop of water fell, this time on her nose.
Syaoran chuckled, his voice sending shivers down her body.
Then to her disappointment, he let her go, and was left staring at him hurt. Syaoran took off his jacket, and suddenly put it around her shoulders.
"Here. Put this on, your shivering"
Without hesitating, she put on the jacket she was given, and felt her hands search for his. And when she did find them, he clamped it tight making her smile widely.
But by the time they had noticed the outside world, it was staring to rain slightly.
Syaoran immediately let go off her and grabbed their two glasses.
"Get the bottles, quick!" he yanked her arm.
And soon the two found themselves, sitting under the shelter of the restaurant on the steps, staring out at the rain that hit the pavement's cement mercilessly.
Syaoran who had his beanie a bit wet, glanced at Sakura who was shivering head to toe.
As he pulled her up to her feet, the two went inside, and sat down at a table.
"Gah! It wasn't supposed to rain!" Syaoran groaned as he took a sip of his whisky.
Sakura only laughed, seriously drunk as she took a direct swing from her vodka bottle.
"Sakura!"
"What?" she asked looking at him innocently as the rain outside thundered.
The two were sitting by a window in a room quite small, but elegant. The curtains were thick and carmine, and Sakura took out her sandals leaning her head forward, looking at him with defiant eyes.
Somehow he couldn't stand looking at her annoyed anymore.
"You're drunk" he said simply, "You know that right?"
Sakura didn't answer except laugh more and finger her glass that had a little more vodka left in it. She had found their kiss quite interesting, and couldn't wait to be pulled in his arms again.
"Sakura! Are you listening to me?" he frowned setting his glass down, and taking her hands in his making her look at him.
"Yes, yes" she answered, but he knew she was lying. Because her eyes were only on his lips, "You kiss absolutely fantastic Syaoran" she laughed her head feeling light.
Syaoran would have taken this statement nothing else but as a compliment, but the state of the woman in front of him was enough to shock him. She was just really drunk! Unknown to whatever that was happening! Not understanding anything that she was saying! And probably going to forget everything by tomorrow…
Syaoran rubbed her cold hands repeatedly, and saw her pull one hand away and take another swing of her vodka, finishing it off.
"Sakura…"
This time he snatched the bottle away from her.
"My vodka!" she moaned getting up to get it from his hands, but since the table was quite small, he pushed her against her chest, making her fall back into the chair.
"No way! You are not drinking anymore!"
"But Syaoran!" she looked at him with teary eyes.
"No!" he said firmly making her shut up.
As her eyes almost closed, she crossed her arms around her chest, and looked away frowning, "Fine then…I won't—," before she could say anything more she hiccupped, "—talk to you!" she completed looking wound up.
Syaoran made a face, "Too much is not good Sakura! And I let you drink a lot!"
"Why did you then?"
"Because I wanted you to stay!" he blurted.
She only laughed at him answer, making her lean back in his chair.
"You're too stupid Syaoran…you could have just asked me to stay…and I would have" she hiccupped again, almost jumping in her chair.
Just before Syaoran could tell her a piece of his mind, the waiter, who came to them with an apologetic look on his face, interrupted them.
"Sincerely sorry for the wea—," he suddenly stopped short as he glanced at Sakura who had had the jacket off, and was completely wet. Her wavy hair was let down, and her cheeks were red, showing that she was well drunk. Her milky white arms, and long slender legs, that were left uncovered glistened with the water droplets on them.
Surprised by her state, he forced his gaze to Syaoran who was fitting on his beanie.
"Uh…is everything okay sir?"
Syaoran nodded sighing, "Yeah"
"Would there be anything else I could get you?"
"No. But—,"
"Some popcorn please!" Sakura suddenly shouted, making the waiter turn to her.
"Popcorn?" his voice echoed.
"Yeah! I always eat popcorn when it rains!" she smiled bubbly, then cocked her head cutely, "Do you want me to show you how to make it?" she asked eagerly.
The waiter immediately went red, "Uh…no! Um…I'll get the popcorn. Is…uh…is there anything else you would want?"
"Cheese balls! Can we get some cheese balls too Syaoran? Huh?" she looked up at the man who was in a state of surprise. He was suddenly woken up from his shock as she called out his name again.
"Syaoran? Please?! I love cheese balls!"
"Uh…okay, okay. Fine. Whatever you want"
"Yay!"
The waiter immediately turned around, "Cheese balls and some popcorn coming up!" he laughed hesitantly as he walked out of the room muttering words about how women get childish when drunk.
"Oi Soccer boy! What are you looking at me like that for?" Sakura suddenly laughed.
"Nothing" Syaoran answered as he reached out for her hand that was laid on the table.
"I have to admit…" he started, "I don't like the name Soccer boy very much"
Sakura giggled again as he tangled her fingers with his, "Why do you play soccer by the way?" she asked rocking back and forth.
"I like it. It's my profession, and it's what I'm best at" he said softly.
"You know what?" Sakura suddenly broke into another peels, "The first time we met, remember?"
Syaoran thought back a little, "On the road?"
"Yeah! When you were talking to me from your car, I didn't even recognise you! I thought you were just some looser trying to hit on me!"
Syaoran glanced at her with a smile, and then started playing with her fingers, "A looser huh?"
"Yup! A pretty nut case looser!" she once again laughed showing the front row of her perfect white teeth.
"And what about now?"
"Now?"
"What do you think of me now?"
Sakura leaned back on her chair, the smile still on her face, and her drunken eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Why do you want to know?" she asked dizzily.
"Your opinion is important"
But Sakura let out a wry laugh, "I'm no one important Syaoran. I'm just an ordinary woman who's still in search for her ideal life"
"You are not ordinary, that's for sure"
"There are many who say that, but I know what lurks deep inside"
Syaoran stared at her for a while. That had to be the first sensible and confusing thing she had said ever since she had got herself drunk.
"So your saying that I'm only joking around with you"
Sakura once again laughed, but this time it scared him a bit, "No silly!" she giggled running her hand through her long and wavy hair.
Syaoran let her hand go, and took a sip of his own whisky. No, he wasn't drunk at all. Infact he was most wondering who this Kaii was. Her ex-boyfriend?
The thought of him made him wanna…do what?
Somehow by the way Sakura had addressed him as a bastard, made it clear that he had done something bad to her. If he had then why was he getting so upset by it? It was none of his business. Just like she had put it. Her past had been horrible, probably worst than his. He had so many more questions to ask her, but he couldn't probe into people's matters, especially of a girl's whose lips tasted like heaven. And he certainly didn't want to see her cry again.
Mentally shaking his head, he found that he was spacing out, and was getting a curious look from Sakura, who then burst giggles again.
It was quite surprising to hear her laugh so much. He had always met her as the serious and angst type, and here she was laughing merrily like she was a free bird, away from its cage.
He knew that her being in her present would be quite a trouble to take care of, and was all his fault for letting her drink, but it felt nice to have a change in personality in her. A whole new Sakura Kinomoto.
She wouldn't remember any of this tomorrow. So even if he kissed her again and again he wouldn't have to dream of her slapping him the next day.
A few minutes past, and they stayed silent. Sakura had her eyes closed, but he knew that she wasn't asleep, because he could feel her fingers roaming about in his.
Soon enough, the waiter was back again, with two big bowls in his hands. One with cheese balls and one with popcorns as Sakura had insisted.
The woman had immediately dug onto them, and had given a very well mannered thank you to the waiter, who left blushing of the embarrassing statement she had just made: "You have a nice body. Try wearing some sleeveless shirts!" she had insisted.
Syaoran couldn't help but study her all over. True, her life had been a mess, and she had been holding out for so long, but still…who the heck was Kaii?!
"Syaoran?" she asked as she pulled on his hand, snapping him back to reality.
"Hm?"
"Can we go down that beach?"
"No!" he immediately claimed, knowing that somehow he would end up swimming into the sea saving her from drowning.
"Fine" she sulked, and let a moan escape her lips.
"Tell me why you left Trésor?" he suddenly asked knowing that she would be spilling the answers in this state.
But she was immediately up on her feet, and she stood wobbly, making Syaoran spring up in surprise.
"Argghhh!" she screamed getting hold of the curtain beside her, "I don't want to ever hear that name! That damn place is cursed, along with their bloody boss!!" she cried balancing herself on both her feet. Her shrill voice was so loud that it made him cringe.
"Sakura! Relax!"
"No!! Do you know what kind of a bastard he is?!"
"Who!"
"Ben Rogers and his blasted pie Aurora!!"
Syaoran immediately stood alert as he heard the familiar names, "What are you talking about?"
"I hate them like hell! I could grab a sword and stab them until every one of their organs are dead!!"
"Sakura, calm down!"
"Have you ever heard that bitch insult someone!?" she asked almost incredulously.
Syaoran didn't know what to say. Especially when Aurora was the mother of one of his team member…Jack…Jack Aurora.
"No…"
"Then you have no idea what she's like. They…they…insisted that I was the one who killed my father!!" she almost screamed making Syaoran's eyes widen.
"Murder?" he whispered hoarsely.
"Yes!" she shrieked, "They call me a murderer!!! And a bitch! And a low-life! And god knows what more!" she cried out finally slapping her arms on to the table, and grabbing a few cheese balls and throwing them into her mouth.
Syaoran stood still looking dazed, "But you didn't…right?"
"No" she sighed sitting back down, making him sit too, "And can we please not talk about this anymore?" she asked her head in her hands, "I think I'm sick" Her head was rolling about at the moment, and it felt like a lightning had just struck in there.
Syaoran suddenly picked up the change in the subject, "Offcourse your gonna feel sick! You've drunk more than seven glasses!"
"It's only vodka"
"It's alcoholic"
And abruptly, she broke into a laugh, "Shut up Syaoran"
"What?"
"You kiss nice"
Syaoran raised a brow at her sentence, "Your first?"
"No dweeb. My…" she immediately stuck out her hand, "Not my first, not second…had my third…Roy was fourth and fifth and sixth and seventh…YuZhen was eight till…fifteen I think. And then was Peter…sixteenth, and seventeenth. This unknown guy my nineteenth and twentieth. And then there was—,"
"I get it Sakura!" Syaoran immediately interrupted before she could go on anymore.
She only giggled her cheeks read, and her neck rolling, "I'm irritating you aren't I?" she asked cutely, then adding a: "Your so jealous"
"No way!" he laughed, "What should I be jealous of?"
"That you only kissed me once…and each of my other dates, have kissed me more than twice"
Syaoran only leaned back in his chair, "You'll be surprised to know that I can't stop kissing once I'm on a woman's lips"
"You talk from experience" she smiled.
"Oh yeah…lots" he winked, watching her pop a both popcorn and cheese balls into her mouth at the same time.
What a child…a beautiful one at that, he murmured.
"Syaoran?"
"Hm?"
"Aren't you gonna have some?" she pointed at the half finished cheese balls bowl, and a three-forth finished pop corn bowl.
"You eat"
"Syaoran?"
"Hm?"
"Do you think I'm a baby?"
Syaoran instantly locked his eyes with hers, "As in?"
Sakura slowly crunched on a cheese ball, and looked out of the window thoughtful, then let out a small laugh, "Do I cry a lot?"
"No"
"Syaoran?"
"What?" he shook his head.
"What would you do when the only person who can make you stop crying, makes you cry?"
Syaoran studied her over for a moment, "What is that supposed to mean?"
Sakura lazily popped another popcorn into her mouth, and brushed away a lock of hair that fell on her face, "Can I teach you something?"
Confused, he nodded. What on earth was she talking about?
"My mom taught me this. She said that I needed to remember this if there was ever a time in my life, that my love would hurt me"
Still not know what she was talking about, he motioned her to explain. But offcourse she was drunk. Instead she kept on talking.
"I'll tell you a every-day-life one first…" she said hiccuping through her sentence as her eyes peered through his without any focus, "If all my friend's were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them. Tell me why?"
"So this is some kind of a riddle right?" he grinned.
"Answer me!" Her gaze didn't waver.
"Uh…you wouldn't want to waste your life because you could do something else better?"
"No silly. I'd be there at the bottom to catch them!"
At that Syaoran shook his head laughing, "So your mum taught you riddles?"
"It's a saying. Like…a man who makes you cry isn't worth your tears and the one who is won't make you cry!" she smiled happily.
Syaoran chuckled again, "So if I was the one who made you cry, you would never talk to me?"
Sakura shook her head like a little child, the waves of her hair roaming about,"Nope! And here's another one…A million words would not bring you back, I know because I've tried. Neither will a million tears, I know because I've cried"
"Is that a saying too?"
But Sakura only ignored him, "Let me see if I can think of a good one…aha! They say loving you is my biggest mistake, but how can it be so wrong if it feels so right? If I ever made a mistake, it's not that I love you, it's thinking that someday, you'll love me too"
Syaoran raised his brows at that, and sat in thought of the words. They felt so weird…coming out of her mouth. Something just didn't feel right.
Sakura laughed at his expression, "Did you know what I had always wanted to be? A model…just like my mother!"
"A model?" and this time he truly sounded surprised, "Why didn't you try?"
"Syaoran!" she laughed again, "Those dreams were old"
"So you don't want to be a model anymore?"
Sakura only gathered a few popcorns in her hand, and threw one at Syaoran, "I do"
Syaoran gave her a playful warning look, but as she threw another right at his face, he dug his hands into the bowl, and threw three at once at her.
Giggling, she threw the rest of the popcorns in her fist at him. And as he caught one in his mouth, he winked at her chuckling.
As Sakura grabbed the cheese-balls bowl, and he the popcorn, there were little orange and white balls flying all around.
The little room in the restaurant was soon filled with laughter of the two, as they each tried dodging the other's attack. It was still raining hard outside, but that didn't matter to them, since they never seem to notice the rain slamming against the windows.
It certainly had been their day.
Even though Syaoran knew that tomorrow all this would only seem like a dream, there was still that little crazy though in his mind, wondering if it was better for her to remember this moment or not.
Just because he had enjoyed her company…her laugh…her jokes…and her kiss…wouldn't mean that she would too…would it?
Syaoran soon found himself, running to his car, with a woman in his arms, while everything around him thundered, and thrashed around with the forceful rain, that seemed to have turned into a mini storm.
As he opened the back door to the Lexus, he immediately placed her inside, knowing that he was completely wet by now. But as he pulled away, her hand suddenly clenched the front of his shirt.
"Not yet…please?"
Without another word, he got in at the back seat, and slammed the door close. Giving out a large sigh, he turned his head to her, "You okay?"
Sakura only breathed heavily, and held her head tight, "Yeah…my head's just hurting a lot"
As he watched her take out his jacket again, he leaned his head back, "What's with this rain?" he mumbled mostly to himself.
Surprising him a bit, he felt her lean her head against his shoulders.
"Your seat…" she murmured his lips brushing past his shirt as she spoke, "…is gonna be soaked"
"Doesn't matter"
A few seconds went by, and the two closed their eyes, letting their ears listen to the rain that was still slapping outside.
Suddenly she let out a giggle, and he opened her eyes, feeling the urge to put an arm around her waist, as she snuggled closer to him.
"What?" he asked as he felt her hair tickle his neck.
She never said anything, except scratch her forehead, "You are so great Syaoran" she replied after a while, almost lazily.
Syaoran readily chuckled, "Well…I kinda knew that"
Hearing her laugh again, he somehow, got hold of her hands.
"You're exactly how Tomoyo described you. I'm telling you…exactly"
As he raised a brow, he let his cheek brush a little past her head, "And what exactly did she say about me?"
At that Sakura sat up straight and looked at him with half closed eyes. "She said your funny, friendly, rich. You're kind. You're romantic. And your extremely hot!" she giggled her eyes sparkling, as Syaoran looked at her with an amused expression.
"And what do you think?" he asked as his eyes roamed around her figure. The blue dress she had worn looked quite dark under the shadow, and he could hardly see her face properly.
"Me? Well you're funny. You're friendly. You're kind. I don't care if you're rich, and I'll have to agree that you're extremely hot!"
Syaoran laughed, and suddenly pushed back the urge of running his finger through her long hair, "What about romantic?"
"Well…kinda" she grinned at him, as he made up a hurtful expression.
Suddenly as one strap of her dress flapped down her shoulder, he gingerly put it back up, and smiled at her longing expression.
As she leaned back against the seat too, she licked her dry lips and suddenly shivered.
"Put my jacket on Sakura. How many times do I have to tell you that? You're gonna get a flu"
"But its not that cold" she insisted looking in his direction.
But this time as their eyes met, Syaoran felt a prickly expression behind his neck. And his head seemed to go cold as her eyes bored into his.
Her head then leaned a little towards his, and his vision met her inviting lips again. Suddenly a thought hit him. He couldn't do this! She was not thinking right! And neither was he!
He quickly looked away. As he groaned mentally, he didn't notice the mournful look Sakura had on.
'Oh man!' he slapped himself inwardly, 'I'm so go end up wide with her! But I can't do it…she's just drunk…'
Without thinking once more, he raised his hand to the side to open the door. Maybe once he would drop her home, he could get out of her net.
However, her hands instantly grabbed his folded up sleeve before he could open the door, and she was looking at him with a sorrowful face, "You don't like me…do you?" she asked directly, making his eyes widen.
"Sakura…"
"I know I haven't kissed a man for years" she whispered hoarsely.
"It's not tha—,"
"I know I'm not that rich as you are! I know!"
"I—,"
This time she snapped at him, as she let him go, "You were just playing with me, weren't you?!" she remarked indignantly.
At this comment, he however couldn't stand it any longer.
Without a warning, he whirled around at her, and grabbed her roughly by her shoulders.
"You think all this time I've been playing around with you?!" he held her tight almost incredulously. For the first time his eyes were flashing with anger and he couldn't even bear to think what she had just thought of him, "You think I'm a man who just throws away women when he's done with them?! I'm not Sakura! I'm not like that! You're drunk! For god's sake why can't you get it through your head! You're drunk, and I don't want to take advantage of you!!" he yelled, his golden brown eyes sparkling.
But Sakura didn't avert her gaze.
"You don't know anything about me! You have no idea how I've been keeping myself away from you all this time!"
His hands slowly left her shoulders, and cupped her face. He tried reading her face for answers, but it seemed as though she hadn't even listen one word of it.
"I like you Sakura…" he finally murmured, "I really like you"
At this she lifted her chin up and looked him in the eyes, "Prove it to me then"
That was it!
Just enough!
The last straw!
And he knew that nothing would hold him back any longer!
Before she knew it, his lips came crashing down towards hers, knocking her over completely! Instantly he pried her lips open, and kissed her hungrily and desperately, overpowering her whole body with his. And she didn't hesitate. She reached her arms around his neck, and pulled herself neared to him.
He didn't mind at all, instead he increased the exhilaration in their kiss, and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.
Oh god! This was so much better than last time's!
Sakura didn't waste time in sliding off his beanie to the side, and soon enough she found herself running her fingers through his soft hair.
Rubbing her waist fervently, he made sure there was no space left between them, and pushed her against the window, loving the feel of her fingers through his hair. Letting go for a second for air, they once more found themselves in a fevering kiss.
His hands suddenly found themselves around her soft milky white neck, and soon slid off her shoulders, and ran up and down her arms.
As she let out a soft moan, he smirked against her lips, and pushed her down, letting his tongue dance around.
In a few seconds he quietly pulled away, and both were left staring at each other moist faces.
Her lips were now bright red and wet. Her face was flushed, and he brushed his cheek past her arm, noticing that strands of his hair were still held on between her fingers.
"Can we go for kiss number3?" she whispered against his face, as he ran his fingers through her wavy hair.
"Sure…" he mumbled huskily, "Whatever you want"
And sure enough that was what they did.
While the wind outside swayed, and rained heavily, it was pretty much ignore by the two couples inside the car, who were still in their wonderland.
It was past twelve. Past the stage where Syaoran though he would never go with this woman, except holding her hand and laughing with her. He was practically smothering her with kisses. But that didn't matter…as long as she enjoyed it. Besides, they were only kissing. Nothing more harmful.
Nothing that she would be able to remember the next morning.
She was his…just for now.
To be continued…# * # * # * # * # * #
Phew!!! I am so tired!!!! This has been my longest chapter ever!!!! Man that was exhausting! You guys were so tempted to read more on Sakura and Syaoran that I finally broke down. I hope you guys enjoyed it!! I don't think I'll ever be able to write a chapter this long again. And sorry it took so long. School started two weeks ago, and I already have an assignment. Waaaahhhh!!! So long guys! Gotta go!
Don't forget to R&R!!!
Peace!
