Here's the next chappy! A bit of a drama though. So watch out. Sorry for taking so long. So read up before I keep blabbering. And by the ways, I want to thank everyone for reviewing me and even e-mailing me. I'm really sorry for the delay, I know some of you were a bit impatient. But I had some serious writer's block. So yeah…bear with me please.
Disclaimer: You know it…I OWE CCS…not really.
Open Up My HeartChapter 15
Memories
"Don't worry…he told us everything…so try and calm your hot head"
"What do you mean everything? What did he tell you?"
Tomoyo finally plopped herself on the couch, "That he kissed you"
A sudden surge of anger suddenly blew in Sakura's chest. Couldn't he keep anything a secret?!
"And what else?!" she urged gritting her jaw.
"That he's really sorry"
But at that she angrily dumped the two teacups in the sink, "What did he tell you Tomoyo?"
Rolling her amethyst eyes, she frowned, "He said that he kissed you on an urge and he's really sorry! Alright! That's what he said! He said he forced it on you! Why can't you give that guy a break?!"
Whirling around on her heels, she glared at her so-called best friend, "Because he kissed me that's why! He wasn't supposed to do that! Especially what I was drunk!"
Tomoyo was immediately on her feet, "He likes you Sakura! Why can't you see that!? What's so wrong in kissing?! Huh? You tell me!"
"Shut up! Okay! Just freaking shut up! I'm getting sick of this!"
But Tomoyo didn't.
"You can't treat every guy like this Sakura! So what if you've learned to move on! You can't just live alone for the rest of your lives! You need a man in your life!"
Emerald eyes only flashed angrily, "Will you stop telling me how to handle my life! If I need to have a man in my life! Then don't I have the right to choose this man! You can't just shove some random guy in my face and ask him to marry me! Alright! I've been hurt once! And I don't want to be hurt again! And you haven't! So don't talk like you know everything!"
Tomoyo tightly pressed her lips together, "Well then, excuse me for trying to help you out! I knew you've been hurt by a bastard! But Syaoran's not a bastard! You don't even know him!"
"I don't! And I don't want to! Why can't you just stop bringing me guys like they were on sale!"
"Because god dammit! You're alone! All you do is work! Work! Work!"
Sakura angrily banged the dinning table that separated her and her friend, "Well guess what!? I don't have a job at the moment! And now god knows what Ben is gonna go around saying when I go around to find a job, so I can feed myself! You think life is easy! It maybe for you! You can talk! But I can't! You have a job! I don't! You've Eriol! And me? I don't have anyone! No one! So be happy! Okay?! Just be happy, and stop telling me what to do! Because my life is all ready freakin' ruined!"
And as she had finished, the one thing between them was silence.
Dull silence.
"I'm…sorry" came the small whisper that escaped Tomoyo's lips.
Sakura shook her head frustrated, as watched her eyes well up with tears.
"Tomoyo…come on…To—,"
"I'm sorry!" she yelled this time, as she once again threw herself on the couch, making Sakura hurry to her side.
"God! Don't cry" she said kneeling in front of her cousin.
"I just thought he was the right guy for you," she cried holding her hands to her face, "I so sorry!"
"Tomoyo!" Sakura pulled away her hands, greeted with free flowing tears, "It's not your fault!"
"Don't say that! It is! It always has! We're supposed to be friends! And I just keep ruining everything for you! Everything"
"No…you haven't! You haven't ruined anything! Tomoyo! Look at me! Come on! At me! Look at me!"
And grudgingly that's exactly what she did.
"If there's anyone who's ruined me. It's me! Not anyone! Not you! Not Kai! Not Syaoran or Ben or Aurora or dad, but me! Okay! It's me!"
"Sa—,"
"Listen! I'm just lucky! Lucky to have gotten second chances. Lucky to be having friends like you to care so much about me. And if it hadn't been for you…I wouldn't here talking to you like this. I wouldn't have gotten up from my hellhole. I wouldn't have gotten over Kai"
Tomoyo's eyes looked wretched, "But you wouldn't have met him if you were with Eriol! I just had to come along and fall in love with him! You guys were like the perfect couple! Eriol and you! And I just came along and ruined it! And because of that you met Kai! You just wanted someone!"
Sakura shook her head repeatedly, "No. Kai was just a mistake. Falling in love with him was my mistake! Not yours! You and Eriol are meant for each other!"
"No! We're not! I have to cancel the wedding before—,"
"No!" Sakura yelled, "You dare not cancel your wedding Tomoyo!"
"I have to!"
"God! Why can't you see?! Eriol and I were never meant to be! Kai and I weren't either! They're my past! Alright! Maybe I'm not supposed to be married! Maybe that's how I'm supposed to die! But I'm not alone! I'm not miserable as you think I am! I have you! I have Eriol! Aunt Sonomi! And Touya!" she screamed holding out the necklace around her neck, "and mom" she said looking up, "I not alone Tomoyo…I'll never be alone"
And as a few tears escaped, Tomoyo happily jumped and hugged her fiercely.
"I'm sorry"
"There's no need to be" Sakura solemnly answered, as she hugged her friend back, "There'll never be a reason for you to say sorry to me Tomoyo. I owe you more than my life"
"No" Tomoyo pulled apart, "You owe yourself. Because if you hadn't believed in yourself…then you wouldn't have gotten up from your hellhole. But…"
"But what?" Sakura asked as she rubbed away her tears with her wrists.
"You may have gotten over Kai. But not over Eriol…have you?"
A heartbreaking look suddenly appeared in the endless depths of her emerald eyes. Wringing her arms away, she turned away, "I have…"
"Liar" came Tomoyo's whisper, "And I thought best-friends didn't lie"
Sakura turned back to her, her eyes boring into Tomoyo's ones, "If this lie is enough to make you happy, then so be it"
"Sakura…"
"But I'm trying…I'm trying to forget everything…but it'll take the time"
Tomoyo reached a arm forward and held her face like as if she were a little girl, "You have all the time Sakura…I can post-pone the we—,"
"I'm over Eriol! Over him! For good" Sakura said firmly, but Tomoyo's gaze didn't waver.
"Sure…that's why you have your photo hidden in the frames" Violet eyes teared, as they motioned towards the row of photo frames above the TV, especially at the one that had Eriol and Tomoyo together, with his one arm missing.
"I'm trying!" Sakura cried, her head hung down, "But it's hard! I've been with him for a year and a half! And it just fell apart! Everything! Then Touya died! I…I…"
Feeling a warm hand on her face again, she looked up to meet Tomoyo's smiling face, "It's alright. Things like falling in love are hard to forget. I understand Sakura. There's no use to think of that again. What's past is the past. You need to look around at what's happening now. That's the only way you can make a difference! You have to be selfish once in a while Sakura! Life isn't just about peace and being kind. There's more to it. You have to fight for the things you want. If you think it's yours then you have to…fight for it"
Letting a smile lift her lips, Sakura brushed away a strand of hair in her eyes, "Then…I know what I want…and that's for you and Eriol to be a happy family"
As Tomoyo gasped for air, she let her arm fall to her side.
"And I mean it Tomoyo. I'm over Eriol. We weren't meant to be. We're just friends. But you. You are special to him, like he's to you. And there's nothing more I want that to see you both happy…together. That's what I want. So will you let me fight for that? Huh?"
Tomoyo laughed.
Tears fell, but she laughed, "Alrighty then"
And once again, the two friends hugged.
This time, they both knew what they wanted.
So when they pulled apart, there was only one question on the tip of Sakura's tongue, "Now, do I get to choose your wedding dress?"
# * # * # * # * #
"But Coach!"
"No talking! You've only done twenty three!"
The man in front of the burly continued, continued to do seven more push ups, then stood up on his feet, his heels jumping, "Now?!"
"Fine!" the Coach grumbled. And as his player ran past him, he got a light punch on his shoulders.
"Thanks for letting me off early again!" Eisen yelled as he ran.
"That boy…" the Coach stood up muttering, "Will have to grow up one day"
"Eisen?" Syaoran jogged towards the man, "He'll never grow"
The Coach only sat back down clearly happy to have another player he could boss, "Well well…look who's grown up"
Syaoran laughed as he continued to wipe the sweat of his body with a white towel, "I'm 28 man!"
Coach rolled his eyes, "Yah yah. Save the age talk for some other time. Give me forty on the spot"
"What!?" a surprised Syaoran yelped as the towel in his hands dropped to the restroom floor, "Are you kidding?! I've to go and meet—,"
"I said save the talk age talk kiddo!" Coach grinned evilly.
"Aw man!" Syaoran groaned as he took of his wet singlet, and feel to the floor on his fours, "I'm gonna be late to that party!"
"Oh! Now is that why you all are running away from me?" the Coach demanded leaning back towards the lockers, and plopping his legs on Syaoran's working and sweating back, as he continued his press-ups.
"Well…yes" Syaoran answered in between tired breaths.
"And why am I not invited to this…party?" the old man asked liking the way he was giving his player so much trouble with the push ups.
"Well one…when you get drunk…you really get drunk…two…you always seem to crash all parties at the end"
"So? I like parties!"
"Go tell Doi that…and can you get your legs off! Your shoes are hitting my bones!"
But his coach only shushed him, "It's called as exercise Syaoran. And with you being the captain…you need more lectures"
"And why is that?"
"Because it seems like you're having problems"
Syaoran stopped at that, a drop of sweat trickling from forehead hitting the floor. But he kept on going as he received a kick from his coach on the back.
"Syaoran…I know something happened between you and that girl. But you can't waste your time thinking about her when there are much important things to do"
"Right" came Syaoran's answer.
"Syaoran. I'm not asking you to forget and let her go. By all means drag her. But you have a responsibility as the team leader of Dragons . The team leader of China's one of the best teams, and I don't want anything to disturb you from that position. Because if you fall into wonderland, you are forgetting about the rest of your team. You can't let them slack. You guys have come so far…because of your standards. And I don't want those standards because of a girl who you can't get"
"You don't understand Coach!" Syaoran suddenly stopped and stood up, his coach's legs falling off, "She…she's…different!"
"And how do you know that?"
"Because! I know! She's really different! From the rest I've met. She's just…really really unique"
"And you think she's the woman for you. Am I right?"
Syaoran hesitated at that question. He rubbed his sweaty forehead irritably, "I…I don't know…but…I want her to be"
Coach shook his head, "I really don't understand it now. We've been her like for what? Only over two weeks. And you've already fallen for her. I don't know what you see in her?"
"That is it Coach. You haven't talked to her like I have. You have looked at her and seen her cry like I have. You haven't…kissed her like I have"
"Ugh! Can we move on please…if you guys have already kissed and been blessed…then why this? Why did she have to come banging on you're the day before yesterday, like some mad woman?"
"Because…we got off on the wrong foot. And we haven't been blessed. Everything she thought of me is just the opposite for her now. You know? She doesn't even want to see me!"
"Well…you can be a bit cocky at times…"
"Coach! It's not that! It's…difficult to say. She doesn't believe me…she doesn't want anything to do with me!"
"Tell me then…did you sleep with her?"
"What! Offcourse not!"
"Then what's wrong?"
This time Syaoran rolled his eyes, "It's complicated"
"Then do you at least know her side of the story?"
Syaoran gave him a sharp look, "Yeah"
"Here's a relationship tip alright. Go and apologise"
"No way! I've said sorry like how many times!"
"But that's what women want! They need to know how much power they have over their man! If he's cheating on her, then he'll keep fighting for his pride, if he's not then he surrenders"
"Well…I'm not that kind of a man then. And she's not that kind of a woman either. She wants something more. Something more that an apology"
The Coach stood up, short next to his player, "I'm telling you…sleeping with her will always work. Now if you'll excuse me I'm need outside on the field. Those boys need someone to strengthen then up," he said joyfully as he turned around and left.
"No…" Syaoran said in a tight whisper, "That won't work. I need to tell her…show her…that all her experiences can't count up a final decision. All men are different. Especially this one"
# * # * # * # * #
"It's not fair! I had asked you first! You can't just let someone else do it!" Sakura cried as the information Tomoyo had given her.
"But she did ask me first!"
"It's not fair!" she yelled again.
"But you can choose the dress!"
"That's good! Because I will"
"Ok!"
"Ok!"
"Alright then!"
"Alright!"
"Do you want to meet her or tell her on the phone"
Sakura rolled her eyes, "I can't tell her over the phone stupid. When can I meet her?"
"Uh…" Tomoyo grabbed her purse at that, went through it's contents, then immerged with a black business card in her hands, "Here…you can go whenever you want to…or we can go now"
"We'll go now…" Sakura grinned, then as she glanced at the card in her hands, her smile fell off, "Meiling Li…fashion designer. This is THE Meiling Li?"
"There is only one Meiling Li in the world stupid"
"The Li that we used to bring videos of 'how to become a model' when we were in high school?"
"Yes…except that was her mom. She's died now…and she's taken over her mom's business"
"Oh god. Then no way!" Sakura shoved the card back into Tomoyo's hands.
"What no way?"
"Tomoyo…she's a designer! I can't tell her! She—,"
"But I want you to do my dress!"
"It's Meiling Li here! She's a fashion designer…and I used love her mom's works. You can't tell her that I've decided to make your dress!"
"Yes I can"
"But she's professional! And there's no way I can—,"
"Sakura. We're going…" Tomoyo frowned as she grabbed her friend's arms and dragged her to the door.
"Where? I'm not even dressed!"
"To Meiling. And you look fine in that!"
"Can I at least get my jacket!"
"It's over 20 degrees outside!"
"But—,"
But before she had a chance to say anything, the main door had closed, and all you could hear was their arguments and their shoots hitting the stairs as they went down the apartment.
And just seconds later, the telephone started ringing, which called upon Sakura's recorded voice, that later followed the caller's.
"Sakura…" came the heavy voice of Syaoran's, "This is like the hundredth time that I've called. Can I at least talk to you? Over the phone? If you're there…call me back please…and if you're not…then call me anyways. Do that for me please? I really need to talk to you"
And that was it.
# * # * # * # * #
"Tomoyo!" a dark haired woman ran and hugged her friend, "You finally decided to meet me face to face!"
"It's been a long time hasn't it?" Tomoyo laughed.
"You bet it has!" Meiling Li laughed back, showing off her perfect teeth, "You look the same! Even with that haircut!"
Tomoyo shook her head, "I should be telling you that!"
Meiling shrugged her straight black ponytail agreeing with her.
"Oh and Meiling…this is my cousin and my very close friend…Sakura Kinomoto"
Meiling smiled sincerely, and shook her hands with the pale hands that were extended forward.
"Wow!" Meiling suddenly cried, "I love your complexion!" she suddenly forgot all about space and went around the confused Sakura inspecting her.
"Your hair colour's beautiful! Is it natural!?"
She only got a nod.
"Your eyes are superb! And their not even lenses! Long eyelashes! Flat stomach! Nice firm bust and long legs! Man! You have a perfect figure! Do you work out? Do you have a personal tutor? Or do you go to the gym? It's hard to find such slim arms! And the tone's perfect! Maybe I could take a couple of shots of you?! Would you do that for me? Huh? Your cheekbones are so well positioned! And you have the most perfect shoulders! Look at them Tomoyo! Tomoyo?! Look at them!"
But all Tomoyo did was laugh, while Sakura miserably tried to explain.
"Meiling. I haven't brought her as your model!"
"What!?" Meiling screamed, "Can I please have her!? I'm begging you! She's perfect! Especially for that new Passion magazine! Please!? I need her!"
"Meiling! She's hear to discuss with you about my wedding dress!" Tomoyo suddenly broke her perfect reverie.
"Wha…wha…oh…heh…um…well" she stood up straight, her dreams falling to the well polished almost marble floor, "So sorry" she gave an apologetic look at Sakura, "I thought Tomoyo here…would keep her promise on bringing me a Japanese woman" she said giving Tomoyo a playful glare.
While the awkwardness between Meiling and Sakura, Meiling graciously smiled, "Anyways…let's sit down!" she cried out happily, as if nothing had happened.
As she went to ask another woman to bring some tea, Sakura gave Tomoyo a nervous glance, but she only got back a 'calm down will you' look.
"So!" Meiling once again chirped as the three of them were seated in hot light seats, with people roaming around behind them in the studio they were in, "What was it about the wedding dress again?"
Tomoyo smiled, "I brought Sakura to help you choose out my wedding dress, since she's really eager to do it"
"Cool!" Meiling clapped her hand looking at Sakura, "Can we start on it now?! I'm free like a bird here!"
To Sakura she looked a bit over hyper, but nevertheless she nodded her head, "Alright"
Letting the two ladies follow her, Meiling flipped out a speaker, "Maria. Hana. Josie. Meet me in the centre room alright? Yes. It's the wedding dress…alright…bring everything needed…yeah…even the fabric"
After she was finished, she turned to them, "I've all the fabric needed. We just need the measurements and choose the dress style"
And as they reached the centre room, which was brightly lit up and smelled like lavender, Meiling added, "By the ways. Tomoyo? You can't see your wedding dress until your wedding day remember?"
"Yeah yeah" Tomoyo grumbled.
"Now…" she said, "I need to borrow Sakura for a while. Maria will take your measurements"
And with that Sakura found herself being dragged away by Meiling, to a desk in the corner of the room.
"Okay. What'll be perfect? Strapless? Off-shoulders? Spaghetti-strap? Or halter neck?" she asked as rushed to a pile of papers.
"Uh…off-shoulder" Sakura answered without needing to think.
"Perfect. Exactly what I was thinking" Meiling enthusiastically replied, "What about the veil? Short? Medium or Long?"
"Um…dunno…short will be good…but medium looks the best"
Meiling looked at her for a second, as if studying her, "You know what? We'll see that for the last? Tell me how we should do her hairstyle?"
And so it went on.
As the two talk…what they didn't see coming was a long strong friendship that would get bonded to them forever. So as they went over each part of the dress, Tomoyo was watching from the middle of the room, a smile evident on her face. It was clear to her that Meiling and Sakura would be great friends.
But did Sakura really have to know that she was Syaoran's close cousin?
Nah.
It wasn't really that necessary.
She could find it out in time.
# * # * # * # * #
"Where were you man?! The party was perfect!" a half-drunk Eriol entered the hotel room, looking at the fed-up looking man who was lying shirtless on his bed.
"She won't pick up the damn phone!"
Groaning Eriol sat down on the near by couch, "Please tell me that instead of coming to the party you decided to crash yourself and have a hell of a time calling some one who has a caller ID.
"Maybe she's no there at the apartment?"
"Maybe" Eriol answered grinning madly, letting the liquor take its effects, "Or maybe she's out on a date"
Syaoran's face hardened at that, then he looked at his friend, "There is no man you moron. She told me that herself"
"What?" Eriol looked offended, "Can't even let me joke?"
Syaoran stood up moodily, "What you need is to go to sleep…in your bed"
"Yeah yeah yeah" Eriol stood up groggily, then he looked back at Syaoran, "Did you by any chance invite Coach to the party?"
"I didn't invite him…but he said he would come. Why?" he asked as he walked him to the door.
"He came. And like always he crashed it. But this time it was fun!" Eriol laughed remembering events, as he walked out of the room to his own.
Syaoran closed the door and walked back to his bed, falling on his back again.
What did he have to do to get near to that girl?
He couldn't call her. She'd ignore.
He couldn't go to her house. She'd probably slam the door in his face.
He couldn't ask Tomoyo to calm her down. Because he had already asked…and it hadn't worked.
He couldn't make her get jealous of some other girl. She probably wouldn't give a damn.
He couldn't force her on. She would just get madder.
He couldn't…what else?
He grumpily rolled over on his bed. This was getting him nowhere. How was he to show a girl he was in love with that…he was in love with her?
Just then a little voice in his head answered his question.
"Meiling! That's it!" he cried out jumping from his bed.
Sakura: Meiling.
Wants to be a model: Designer
Victim: Helper
"Oh yeah!" he did a little victory dance, as he dashed towards the shower. He had a little convincing to do with his lil' cousin.
"Wish me luck god"
# * # * # * # * #
"Suppliance. No. Part-time Mc Donald's. No. Assistance in Wedding Cakes. No. Car Painting. No. Bar staff. No. Service Electricians. No. Plumbers. No. Showgirls Dancers. No. Computer Analysers. Right! They even analyse computers! Babysitter…huh?" the forefinger over the black and white box immediately stopped. She slowly read what it said.
"Baby-sitting…for two 4-year-old and 6-year-old. Must be gentle…honest…and energetic with children. For an appointed interview with us on 26 Yashiwaru North anytime after six please call 753 987 217"
Smiling at the newspaper in front of her, Sakura dashed out of the kitchen and into the living room. Grabbing the phone sitting next to her on the couch, she punched in the numbers she had just read out aloud.
And after a few rings a woman took the call.
"Hello. This is Matsunawa residence. How may I help you?" came her soft voice.
"Uh…hi…I'm Sakura Kinomoto…and I'm just calling about the ad you put in the paper about the babysitter"
"Oh! Gosh! I finally get a call! And I thought no one would even read our ad. Hello dear…would you mind if we took a small interview. You know how it's hard to find a suitable babysitter who is—,"
"Um yeah. When can I come?"
"Uh…how about now…or—,"
"I'll be there"
"Oh. Ok" came the woman's surprised voice, "We'll be waiting!"
And with that singsong voice the lady put the phone down.
The smile on Sakura's face instantly widened.
"Wooo-hooo!" she cried running to her bedroom, pulling off the skirt she was wearing at the same time.
But what she didn't notice in all the excitement was the red blinking light on the phone showing that there was a recorded message waiting for her.
It was ten in the morning, and the breeze against her face felt wonderful, as she drove her old model BMW down the road of Yashiwaru North. It was the first car she'd ever had.
She could still remember the day, when she had emptied all her allowance money for this.
But not caring how old it was, she loved it! It was her baby!
Getting out of her car in front of house 26, she immediately straightened the flowery skirt she had on. She loved children…so she had to love this job. Even if it meant that she could earn a few bucks out of it.
Knocking on the door of the huge two-storey house, she stood there waiting, until a fine-built man opened the door for her.
"Hello. You must be Sakura Kinomoto. The baby-sitter. Come in" he said graciously, inviting her in, his large blue eye twinkling.
Smiling a sincere thanks, she entered and let herself almost get knocked over a large German shepherd, who instantly knocked her on her back.
"Ahh!" she cried as her head made a violent contact against the floor.
"Shugo! Off! Get off her!" the man cried pulling back the dog.
But the German shepherd just wouldn't stop licking her face out, with its ragged tongue.
"Shugo! Down boy! Get off her now!" came the man's instant yells, but the dog just wouldn't budge or stop yapping.
"Oh my!" came a woman's cry, "Shugo!"
And with that one fierce command, the dog was off her in jiffy, and running back over the stairs, with his large tail in between his legs.
"Oh my god. We are so sorry!" Mrs Matsunawa was immediately at her help, as she led her towards a bathroom, and let a dizzy Sakura wash her face of.
Splashing the cold water on her face quickly revived her, and as she rubbed her wet face off a fluffy towel, she was immediately greeted by heart-felt apologies by the husband and wife.
"I hope you are not hurt dear" the woman inspected her face, "Shugo didn't mean any harm!"
"He just loves new people you see" Mr Matsunawa explained, "Since he hardly gets to see any in the house"
"Oh that's alright" Sakura smiled feebly, "I don't mind dogs"
But before the parents could say anything else, a small laugh was heard from the doorway.
"Yuki! That was not funny"
But the little boy would not stop laughing, "But 'kaa-san…"
"Yuki! No!" the mother glared at her son, then looked back apologetically at Sakura, "Say sorry to her and introduce yourself"
"Sorry" came the boy's soft reply, "I'm Yuki Matsuwana…and Hina. She's still asleep"
"That's alright Yuki" Sakura giggled, "It was quite funny"
And as she said that the three only looked at her in amazement.
After apologising for the 'slight' mishap again, the four of them were finally seated in the living room, Mrs Matsunawa courteously starting the interview, "We just want someone who'll look after the children when we're at work. You see, my grandmother…who used to look after the children till last week has just recently passed away"
"Oh…" Sakura looked at her sadly, "I'm sorry"
The mother shook away her tears as her husband patted her shoulders, "And we're quite busy parents…we can't stay home…and we don't have any other relatives who are willing to look after them. So we decided it was high-time we had a baby-sitter for our children"
"We've always had one" Yuki muttered dangling his little legs over the edge of the sofa.
"Grandma wasn't a babysitter Yuki" Mr Matsunawa scolded him gently.
"So…um Miss Kinomoto…"
"Please call me Sakura"
"Alright Sakura…" Mr Matsunawa started, "Are you working anywhere at the moment?"
"Um no…"
The wife gently punched her husband on the chest, "Why would she be here then Heero?"
"Oh yeah" the man scratched his forehead, "Alright…um…have you even had any experience in baby-sitting"
"Um not exactly…but I love little kids"
"Hey I'm not little kid!" the little boy cried indignantly.
"Offcourse not!" Sakura grinned, "I as talking about your little sister"
"Then don't you like big kids like me?" Yuki asked curiously.
"Oh yes I do" she shook her head at his childishness, "But with age comes responsibility and understanding—,"
"But I'm responsible! I took care of Hina once for a whole day! I even made us lunch! And I played with her—,"
"Yuki…" came his mother's warning, but Sakura shook her head, and said it was all right, and asked him to go on.
"I tied her shoes! I told her stories! I made her cry! And I even brushed her hair!" he finished proudly looking at Sakura squarely in the eye.
And as he finished Sakura couldn't help but think that these were the exact same things her brother used to do for her. Ties her shoes. Brush her hair. Make her cry and tell ghost stories even though she used to be scared of them.
"Sakura?" came Mrs Matsuwana's soft call making her fall off her daydream.
"Oh yes! Sorry about that" she blinked her eyes, and hid back her mournful face.
"Um…are you all right?"
"Sure! Yes! I'm all right. And your Yuki seems like the perfect brother!"
Yuki looked at her parent proudly as she said that, but his big smile faltered as his mother gave him a smile, "Oh…but you haven't seen them fight have you?"
Sakura laughed, "Brothers and sisters always fight Mrs Matsuwana. They always do"
"Do you have a brother Sakura?" asked Yuki.
Sakura smiled at the little boy, "Yes…I used to once"
"What do you mean?" he asked confused.
"He's—," but before she could answer Mr Matsuwana interrupted her.
"Yuki! You can't ask questions like that!? That's rude"
"It's alright" Sakura said, then turned to Yuki, "What I mean…is that brother died a few years ago"
The boy face immediately softened, "Oh…sorry"
"Don't worry! If he's dead doesn't me he'll stop harassing me!" she cried laughing at the same time.
The small boy laughed with her too, but the couple stayed silent as they noticed the little tears that were forming at her eyelids.
"Uh Sakura?" the wife interrupted as Sakura turned to her, "You're hired!"
"I am?…oh hehe…I am. Thank you"
"No…thank you…and I'm sure we can depend on you. Come on. I'll show you around…I still have to give you the key to the locked pantry. I have ti warn you before-hand Yuki has a very sweet tooth" Mrs Matsuwana said, as she stood up and walked away with Sakura, the groaning little boy and his father right behind her.
# * # * # * # * #
Walking out of the steamy shower she just had, she quickly put on her white robe, and stepped out into the living room, fixing herself some soup.
Settling herself down on the couch, Sakura plopped herself on the couch.
It was Saturday, and the Matsuwana's had said that she could start her baby-sitting job from Monday.
Going through the letters she had, she quickly ripped open one, "Oh shit!" she almost spewed her soup, as she stared at her electricity and water bill.
"Oh god!" she groaned her eyes horror-struck.
"Dammit!" she cried once again, grabbing the letter and chucking them against the wall, "How am I gonna pay that by tomorrow!? Oh shit! Shit! Shit!"
Falling on her knees she stared at the digit of money to be payed. Then as another letter caught her eye, she ripped it apart too.
"What!?" she stared at her rent bill, "Increased by 25%!?! What the hell is going on!?!"
So with that she crashed all the letters in her hand, and ran to her bedroom throwing herself on her bed.
"God! Where am I going to get all that money!?!" she cried to herself, "I don't even have 100 yens in my account! Oh god!!" she screamed.
This was horrible!
Really horrible!
She hadn't even started her part-time job for god's sake!
How the hell was she gonna pay all these bills when she was broke!?!?
# * # * # * # * #
Tomoyo calmly leaned forward on the massaging bed, "Ah…that feels so nice!" she moaned as she let the woman rub her back muscles.
"Seriously! I am not wearing a yellow tie!" Eriol cried from her seat as he looked at his wedding arrangements, "I hate yellow!"
"Honey…" Tomoyo gooed from her bench bed, "You need to get one of these massages…it'll settle all your tense muscles"
Eriol looked at his fiancée for a second, then frowned, "But there's no way I'm wearing a yellow tie! It'll look hideous!"
"Eriol…relax. Meiling knows what she's doing. But haha shame! Sakura's helping her with my wedding dress!" she teased her soon-to-be husband.
"Shut up will you?" he scowled, "Yellow tie. I can't even imagine myself in a yellow tie! She's supposed to be a designer! Not a groom wrecker!"
"But Eriol! Yellow will look nice! Especially when we're having the wedding in the gardens"
"Sure! Make me Mr Sunshine!"
"Awww!" Tomoyo giggled at the expression Eriol had on, "Well…I could talk to Meiling about it…"
"You bet you will!" he cried, "Or you're gonna see me in the alter without a shirt!"
Tomoyo laughed at him, "Wow! That'll be even better! Thank god we're not marrying a church! The priest would probably faint!"
"Hey! I'm not going naked alright!"
"Yellow tie might just suit you then!"
Eriol stood up at that, then looked at the woman who was massaging Tomoyo, "Will you please excuse us Miss?" he looked at the lady apologetically. But the lady just smiled and took off.
"Eriol!" Tomoyo warned him grimly, "What are you doing?!" she demanded as she felt his finger trail around her bare back.
"Massaging you my dear," he grinned from his standing position, as he worked on his shoulders.
"Ahh! Hey! You're good at this! Now I'm really glad I'm marrying you!" she joked.
"Now now, don't you get any ideas please"
Tomoyo laughed, then stopped to think, "Eriol?"
"Yeah?"
"I talked to Sakura yesterday…about us"
Eriol suddenly stopped, then shook his head, and continued on, "And?"
Frowning, she pulled the white sheets over her back, then turned around, wrapping it around her, "I talked to her about us" she repeated herself, her eyes sad.
Eriol stood where he was, "Us. As in you and I"
"Yes. And she said she was okay with us…being together"
Eriol scowled for a second, "Offcourse she is. She's always been"
Tomoyo frowned at him, "Eriol. Shut up and listen alright? She was your girlfriend before…so I think you should go talk to her about it. You know…to settle it. Because…she's my best friend…and I don't want anything else to hurt her"
"She doesn't like me anymore Tomoyo!"
"I know she doesn't! But…just for the sake of it…I want you to tell her…that you'll always be there for her"
Eriol took a step back at her words, "Offcourse I'll be there for her! I care about her Tomoyo…but I love you"
Tomoyo smiled, "I know. And I love you too. But I just want you to tell her…like I did. That she's always our responsibility"
Eriol hung his head for a second then looked away distantly, "Tomoyo…I've never talked to her about this…ever since we broke up…and I don't want to…she's…weak"
"And I don't want her to be weak! I want her to be strong! I talked to her about it Eriol. And you have to too! It's your responsibility! She's like my sister Eriol! And I want her to be strong!"
"She's my sister too alright! And I know what her heart is like!"
"If you know what her heart is like…then you must know how much she was hurt when you broke up with her for…me"
Eriol shook his head irritably, "Okay, Tomoyo! Why are we having this conversation again?!" he demanded.
Tomoyo looked back at his fiercely, "Because we're gonna be married in a few weeks, and I don't want any loose ends kept! That's why! I love you and Sakura! And I want us to be happy!"
"We are! She's over me! I'm over her! There's nothing more we can talk about! Our relationship was over when I fell in love with you!"
"But she loved you!"
Eriol stood there for second hanging by the words that had just left her lips.
"She used to even talk to me about you on the phone! You know? Go on and on about how sweet and handsome you were! How you used to kiss her! How you used to hold her! How you could fight back against Touya! How just everything! She was really in love with you! And then we betrayed her! You know? We fell in love! How's that for a best-friend and a boyfriend!"
"We did not betray her Tomoyo!" Eriol fired back. He sick of having this conversation. It made him bring back old memories, "I told her! That I was in love with you! We did not do anything behind her back! She said she understood!"
"And you believed her?! She's sick! She fell unconscious! And the doctor said that she has problems! She's not over all that with happened with Kai! And she's seriously not over her abortion! She loved that baby! She even had a name for it! Even if she didn't what sex it was! She loved Kai! With all her heart! She thought he was the one she would die with! But what was that bastard up to? Her money! The money that was saved in her account for her future! And what does he do as a freaking father?! He gives permission to abort his own child! When Sakura was asleep with cramps! He aborted his own child! You have no idea how mad she was! She had gone mental!"
"I know that okay!" Eriol snapped not wanting hear anymore "I know all that! I was with her!"
"I know you do! But Eriol! Please go and just have a small talk with her! Please! Please!"
Eriol sighed as he looked into her teary eyes, then finally rubbed her tears away, "Okay. I'll go"
"Today?" she looked up at him, as he pulled her down against him.
"Yeah. I'll go today"
"Right after you kiss me?" she asked as she tied the sheets firmly around herself, and took off his glasses.
Eriol smiled at her, "Alright! But it better be good! Or I'll be taking you to bed again"
"Oh. It'll be good alright" she grinned as she leaned up to kiss him passionately.
# * # * # * # * #
"Delete!" she pressed the button, listening to next recorded message.
And to her anger it was the same voice again, "Sakura. Please! Call me! I really need to talk to you!"
"Delete!"
Pressing for the next one, she could feel her blood boil at the heat, "Sakura…" came the heavy voice of Syaoran's, "This is like the hundredth time that I've called. Can I at least talk to you? Over the phone? If you're there…call me back please…and if you're not…then call me anyways. Do that for me please? I really need to talk to you"
"Delete!"
Next, "Hey! Sakura it's Eriol here. If you're not taking up to phone because of Syaoran, tell me at least if Tomoyo is there or not. By the ways, do you what colour my wedding tie is?"
Sakura laughed at this, but she knew she couldn't call him back. These were messages of yesterday.
Next, "Sakura? This is Meiling here. You're obviously not here at the moment, but this close cousin of mine has just given me a great idea. I have a conference next week, but I'm off on Monday to go to Hong Kong. My family is having a bit of a reunion. So…I was hoping you would let me have a shot of you just for a few covers. He said you liked modelling. And said you were perfect. This is the first time we thought the same. So I thought I could grab you before Tomoyo did" A laugh was suddenly heard, "Jokes. But just let me know alright? Because I really want a few shots of you. Call me by Sunday please! I won't be here for about a month! And then maybe we could get photo shoots of you a month later. Call me! You know my number"
And then she was greeted by the beeping silence of the phone.
She fell back on her couch deep in thought.
"Meiling…" she murmured, "Meiling Li…Syaoran Li…Li…Li…oh god! He's her cousin!" she slapped her forehead, "I swear I soooo stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" She groaned.
And to top it off, he had told her she liked modelling. She couldn't even remember telling him that. But she would have said almost anything and everything on their date.
Oh god! Arrrr! That moron! Not only doesn't he ruin her! But he wants her life!
Clenching her fists, she dialled in the number she almost had memorized. And to her surprise it was on the recording machine.
"Look here Syaoran Li!" she growled after the beep, "I don't know what you're trying to do, but stop! I've had enough of you! And I don't know what I told you on our date. But I'm sure I didn't ask you to go around telling everyone about me wanting to be bloody model! Because I don't! And stop calling me! I already told you what I thought of you. There are lines of women after you. Go after them! I'm sure they are better kissers than me. So leave me alone dammit!" she screamed into the phone, but before she could even slam the phone down, she heard a chuckle as he took the phone up.
"No can do darlin'" came Syaoran's laughing masculine voice, "There's no better kisser in this world than you. And besides…Meiling agreed with me…you're perfect for her…and me offcourse. So there's no way I'm gonna leave your back…not until you understand"
"Understand what!? That you're an asshole?! No thanks! Because I already know that!"
"No…you don't know me well enough"
"Yeah well…hear this. I know you well enough…and I don't want to know you anymore!"
"Sure you don't. You're not exactly my fan"
"Listen good Li! I don't want to have anything to do with you! So stop calling or I'm gonna press charges against you for calling me so many times!"
A silence was heard on the other line, she let out a smirk.
"Cat got your tongue Mr Li?"
"Actually…I was just wondering what I would say when I'll be bailing you out…and is that you meowing?"
"Don't bet with me Li…" she said in a warning tone.
She could hear him chuckle at that, "Sure. Whatever happened to that sweet Sakura?"
"She's on a trip. And she's let her twin take care of her unfinished business"
"Well then…I can't wait until she gets back. She's some sweet talker unlike you when she's drunk. And a beautiful kisser I must tell you"
Letting out her most frustrated shrieks, she hung up on him. Slammed the phone.
"Arhhhh!!! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, not being able to push away the red blush away that had reached her face. Holding her head in her hands, she let all the curses she knew in every language escape her lips, while mentally throwing darts on the vision of Syaoran Li.
He seriously had some guts to talk to her like that!
And why wouldn't he? He had nothing to loose…while she had her whole life.
Hello again! Hope you like this. Review please! It'll keep me happy! o^-^o
