By ani-chan aka Cherished Dreams
Disclaimer: CCS not mine! Though I wish it were but I gotz no money!
Dedicated: To the people out there who have had heartache to find the one they love.
Chapter Two
Sakura woke up startled and shaken. There was but little light in the room, she found these green neon lights and saw that it was just six am. She looked around and found herself in her bedroom. Eriol must have carried her there. But where was he? She stood up shaking-ly and ventured into the living room. She found it clean. Everything was in its rightful place and the vase that she had broken earlier, was in the bin. The air smelt of roses and a wonderfully mouth watering aroma filled the room. She looked around and found a plate of steaming pancakes. The daisies that Eriol had brought earlier were joined with red and white roses. She walked towards them and found a note and box just underneath the flowers. She glanced at the box and decided to open it a little later. She unfolded the note and read its contents aloud:
Dearest Sakura,
Please do not worry about yesterday. You should rest. I cleaned up your apartment and there is breakfast waiting for you on the table. If you should find time today, please visit me at my apartment. Nakuru-san and Yukito-san have come and visit. Take Care.
Love,
Eriol
Out of curiosity, Sakura opened the box next to the letter. As the little sunlight, which peered though the cracks of her curtains, hit the metallic object, a twinkle of light, hit her eyes and she found herself looking at the magnificent piece of jewelry. It was a beautiful pink-white symbol, on a beautiful 18-carat white gold chain, which slightly resembled her magical crest. She gasped as she realized that it was what Eriol's and her magical crest looked like together. She decided not to waste Eriol's hard work and ate the plate of pancakes. Her mind wondered onto yesterday's events as she fingered the necklace in her hand. It was a kind gesture but what he had said yesterday night, kept lingering into her mind.
FLASHBACK
Sakura looked into Eriol's sincere and genuine eyes. Despite many years without Clow's magic, he was still the wise and fatherly Eriol that she had known when they were ten. "I told him I wouldn't go back with him, that I'd miss this place too much. And. can you believe it Eriol?! He broke down! Right in front of me! I couldn't take it! I hurt him again, just to follow my dreams and goals. I feel so guilty Eriol!" She ended, trying her hardest not to cry.
Eriol wiped away new tears and gently lifted her head to face him. "That may be true Sakura but following your dreams has helped me find mine. Your dreams and ambition have lead you to me. You're the best thing that has happened to me and I don't want to lose you or see you cry anymore. Sakura Kinomoto. I love you." Eriol said as he looked into her eyes, red and swollen. She just looked at him tiredly and rested her head on his should as he held her tightly. He would let her rest and she knew he would be there if ever she needed him.
END FLASHBACK
Her heart suddenly fell as she remembered how sincere yet doubtful his eyes were when he told his feelings for her. She didn't want to hurt Eriol. He had been heart-broken previously, when his love, Kaho-sensei, had died in a bush fire while teaching in Australia. Over the past few months he had moved himself up on top of her list as one of the most important people in her life. She suddenly felt a longing for his warm, safe arms around her once again, as they were the night before as he tried to comfort her during one of her times in need. Sakura wrapped her arms around her upper torso in attempt to bring the feeling back, but it didn't work. Slow hot tears fell again but she wiped them away and stood up to clear the dishes.
I'm fed up with my destiny
Where's it's a place of no return
It was still very early in the morning; the sun was just rising to greet the people of Earth a brand new day. He sighed as he got up from the rock ledge where he was sitting and strolled down a little further down the pier. His mother had once told him as an infant that you could scream and yell at the ocean how ever much you wanted and it would never shout back. It would just soak it all in. Sometimes he would run away from the house if ever he had had enough. Of course, upon his return his mother would scold him and she would make him train how many hours he had been gone, twice the next day.
I think I'll take another day
And slowly watch it burn
Syaoran watched as the yachts and boats started to fill the harbour. He sighed one last time before he got into his dark green BMW and drove back to his apartment. Seeing as he knew Sakura would not return with him, he had extended his stay to be with her at least as friends before he left Paris. He could not understand that after eight long, wonderful years together, she could just leave and abandon him for her career. As he trained in his own personal room at his apartment, he wondered if she had really loved him at all. Things had been hard for him, trying to express his feelings to her back when they were just eleven.
It doesn't really matter
How the time goes by
In fact, if it were not for Tomoyo, he would not have had the courage to tell her so. All those times when he had gone out with Sakura, she had always been there to help and advise him of such things that he had needed to know. And he was very grateful for that. She had been able to gain his trust, and of all the girls in his life, she was one of those who did not fuss over him. Yet despite all this, she was still Sakura's beloved best friend and cousin. That would never change. Two hours had gone by, since he had started training and he was ready to begin the day. He remembered that he still had some errands to fulfill and with one last punch to the punching bag he left the room, thinking about his last farewell to the woman he loved most.
As I still remember you and I
And that beautiful goodbye
Eriol watched as the sun came up and the stars left the beautiful orange- red sky. He sighed and changed his clothes. It was a new day, which would be full of surprises. Having only limited powers he could sense Syaoran's aura flame and suddenly decrease. Eriol knew that he would be training. Syaoran never seized to forget his every morning, five o'clock three hour training sessions. Sakura was right; Syaoran's magical and physical power had increased immensely throughout the eight years. Finding Syaoran's aura was easy to find, yet Sakura's aura could not be found. Upon realizing this, Eriol became worried, that something might have happened to her, and decided to go to her apartment and see if she was alright. But as he left his room, he sensed her aura, pink yet weak. He sighed as a sign of relief, as he remembered Yue-san teaching her how to keep her aura low to keep her safe from evil magic.
Eriol was surprised to find his apartment filled with a soothing aroma of pancakes. Eriol walked silently towards the kitchen, only to find Nakuru at the stove. He smiled a soft evil smile and sneaked up behind her and gently wrapped his arms around the waist of his beloved guardian. She shrieked and turned around to find him grinning. "Nakuru-san, I see you haven't told me about your little buddle of joy yet?" He questioned her as he grinned at her evilly, wanting to know more about her slightly bulging stomach. After the final transformation of the Clow Cards into Sakura Cards, her hormones and skills died down and stabilized. Before Eriol left for Europe, she had asked him permission to remain in Japan. He smiled softly remembering that departure.
FLASHBACK
"Eriol-sama? Are you busy? Could I talk to you for a second?" Nakuru said as she peeked through a small crack in the doorway. Eriol had been meditating, trying to regain all the strength that he had lost from the week before when Sakura had faced her last test. He opened his eyes and smiled as he replied, "of course Nakuru-san. What is it that you would like to talk to me about?" Nakuru sat down on the soft surface of the bed mattress and nervously looked down at her hands, which were placed in her lap. "Master if you will allow it, I would like to remain in Japan." She looked at him nervously.
Eriol's eyebrows rose but he did not question her. He knew that she was now very attached to Sakura and her friends. "Of course Nakuru-san, your powers have diminished and you are on your way back to your former state. I wish you all the best for your future and please remember to keep in touch." Nakuru jumped from the bed and enveloped Eriol into a big bear hug. Eriol smiled, returning her hug but deep inside he was sad to se his best companion, besides Spinel Sun leaving him. A lone tear fell as it escaped his eyes which watched the reincarnation of Clow's moon guardian, run out of the room and jump down the stairs.
END FLASHBACK
Eriol jumped when he heard a man's voice, "Ohayo Hiiragizawa-san. Thank you for letting us stay here." Eriol smiled gently and responded, "Yukito-san please, no more formalities, Eriol will do and it's my pleasure to let you and your beautiful wife stay here for the meantime. May I ask how many months your unborn child is?" Yukito looked to the ceiling and scrunched up his nose trying to remember. "Ah! That's it she's been seven months pregnant, although it doesn't seem like it." Just then Nakuru walked into the dining room, her hands filled with mouth-watering breakfast cuisines. Yukito looked at her disapprovingly as he scolded her. "Naku! You shouldn't be carrying and stressing yourself too much. You know its bad for you and the baby."
Eriol smiled at the serious yet concerned tone that Yukito had used to scold her. It was sweet yet it was a simple show of love that indicated to Eriol that Yukito and Nakuru were really meant for each other. "Nakuru-san, you shouldn't have cooked so much." He said semi-purposely and semi- accidentally, which interrupted their sweet talk session. "If I didn't, then Yuki would have left nothing for you." Nakuru said playfully, as Yukito snuck up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Eriol smiled weakly, he had seen too much of the couple, that he apologized and excused himself from the two guardians and went out to take a walk in the park.
As Eriol walked out of the apartment complex, he sighed and inhaled the fresh morning air. He quickly strode towards the park, where Spring obviously taken place. He smiled as he saw the children playing around in the playground. Some of the children were running around and one of the smallest fell, the others did not notice, and continued playing their game. Upon seeing this, he walked over and bent down to help the young boy. He smiled and said soothingly; "don't be afraid, I'll help you with that sore. Close your eyes." The boy nodded and did as he was told. He looked around, and seeing that no-one was looking, he placed his hands over the sore and healed them. Then he took his emergency Band-Aid and placed it over the boy's leg.
Your eyes are
The windows to heaven
As Eriol was about to tell the boy that he was finished and to open his eyes, but he noticed that the boy looked very familiar. He had auburn hair, which swayed in the cool spring breeze, and a necklace, which had a sapphire pendant with a star, sun and moon. The boy opened his eyes, assuming that Eriol had finished and looked at him. Eriol was stunned to see that the boy had the same sapphire-black eyes that very much resembled the eyes he always looked at when he looked at himself in the mirror. After shaking his head and telling himself that it could not be, he helped the boy up and out of curiosity asked the boy what his name was. The boy smiled and replied before running off, "It's Eri! Arigato!" At that, Eriol's eyes enlarged and he stood there as if he saw a ghost. Those eyes, his hair, his name and that smile. Eriol had seen that smile before. And as if something were telling him something, Sakura's smiling face appeared and as quickly as it appeared it vanished.
Your smile could
Heal a million souls
Eriol turned around to talk to the boy, but he could not be found. He was not with the other children and when he asked them, they all said the same thing. 'We haven't seen anyone like that!' He finally regained his senses and stopped at the gardens where there was a tree which would always be vacant, a place of his retreat. The large oak tree had spread out its branches and the leaves had returned to their rightful places, as green as ever. The flowers just below the tree were blooming and colours brightened the atmosphere. He climbed the tree to the branch closest to the ground and sat on it as he pondered about how Sakura might be at that moment. He was hurting, and he just wanted her to be by his side.
Your love
Completes my existence
Eriol was fidgeting with his hands and was deciding whether or not to go over to her apartment and talk to her about the past days events. He was also thinking about the talk that he had had with his employer about three or so days ago. He looked into the sky, silently asking Kami-sama and Clow- sama, if they could possibly help him with his current dilemmas. He frowned when he realized that his idol and mentor Clow-sama wasn't going to help him shed some light. Instead he found himself recounting the little talk he had with his boss.
FLASHBACK
"You called for me, Mademoiselle Bliss?" Eriol said as he knocked lightly on her opened office door. The blond hair maiden, who had her head down reading some pleasing comments from some important clients, looked up, taking off her black brimmed glasses. She had beautiful creamy soft skin; naturally red lips, and soft blue eyes, blue eyes that could turn from the lightest summer blue sky to the coldest stormy waters pleased the male employees in the five star hotel. She was just simply beautiful. But Eriol had his heart set on the emerald-eyed girl, who smiled like there was no tomorrow. Sakura was beautiful to him, the most beautiful woman that he had in seen in his entire life.
"Eriol, I've been getting reports of your excellent service from our most important clients. This is very good work Eriol. And that is why I've decided to give you a promotion. My father, as you probably already know, had built another five-star hotel. I've already talk to him about this and he has agreed to let you run that hotel for us." Eriol's eyes widened, he was getting a promotion! He was already sitting down but he still felt like he was going to fall down. Suddenly their surroundings started to spin, but he quickly regained his head and listened intently as she wasn't finished.
"But I called you into my office today, not only to tell you of the promotion but also to tell you that you'll have to move to Tokyo, Japan, as that is the location of the hotel, if you were to accept this proposal." His heart stopped. He was suddenly afraid to let this opportunity pass him by but that would mean leaving Sakura. The woman that was clearly unstable, until he helped her back to the normal person he knew. He would have to think about this. "Mademoiselle Bliss, can I think about this offer? I'm not so sure if I'll take it, I have a very special friend here and she cannot come with me." He asked her, unsure of the consequences if he were to leave Sakura. "Of course you can, but Eriol I need to know within a week. The final finishes of the hotel is taking place as we talk and we need to open the hotel soon. I'm sorry if that doesn't seem long but I have no choice." Eriol stood up shaky, but managed to excuse himself and leave her office before calmly, yet panicking-ly walked to his office.
END FLASHBACK
That promotion suddenly looked much attractive than facing Sakura. He wasn't even sure of her answer, but thought anyway that Syaoran was the one whom she loved and him. He knew within his heart that she was the missing piece in his life, heart, and soul, but he would not force her. If she were to answer him, he would want a truthful response, the one that came from her heart. He wanted her to be happy with her decision, whether it was he, Syaoran, or neither. He just wanted to see her happy. A lone tear left his eyes as his heart broke, realizing his chances of winning her love. From a fair distance away, a butterfly sparkled in the sun before magically disappearing, into a hard rectangle piece of cardboard.
You're the other half that makes me whole
You're the only other half that makes me whole
A brand new Friday morning came, and Sakura went back to work. She was still a bit shaken, but she was back on her way recovering from the shock before, to be the same genki self she once was. She smiled as she walked up and down the office, she didn't want it to look like something was bothering her. She had remembered a saying and kept to it. "Never mix business with your personal life." Her new client was the famous and beautiful actress of Japan, Kayawa Rayea. As Sakura was the only associate that knew how to speak fluent Japanese, she was assigned to the work. Sakura was ecstatic. She had always hope to meet her, and never thought that she was going to be working with her. Sakura was going to be working with on creating her newest English album, which was named, The Blooming Rose. Rayea was to arrive the next day and Sakura had finished early, so she decided to go home.
By late in the afternoon, Sakura was on the phone with Tomoyo, who she had dared to call and ask her how she was doing for the past seven months since she had left Japan. She
Sakura: "Tomoyo-chan, I have this problem."
Tomoyo: "What is it Sakura? Oh yeah! Did Touya-san tell you that Syaoran- kun is visiting Paris for a while?"
Sakura: "Onii-chan told me. But he's apart of my problem Tomoyo-chan!"
Tomoyo: "What happened? Did he ask you to marry him again?"
Once Sakura had finished recounting the event that had happened a couple of days ago, Tomoyo was in silence awe. Sakura waited for a minute or so to allow her beloved friend to think over the situation. But after three minutes she got fed up and exclaimed into the phone.
Sakura: "Tomoyo-chan! Are you still there?"
Tomoyo: "Lower your voice Sakura. You're on speaker phone over here and you do know you've called me at one in the morning right?"
Sakura: "Gomen, Tomoyo-chan. It's just that I don't know what to do! Syaoran was here and Eriol-kun he. he--" She trailed off.
Tomoyo: "Sakura-chan? What did he do wrong? He did what he knew was right in his mind. He didn't do anything wrong."
Sakura: "Tomoyo-chan? How fast can you get here?"
She knew Tomoyo could get to Paris in less than ten hours but she needed her before then. She was feeling lonely without Eriol around. She had been with Eriol almost everyday the last three or four months that she soon forgot how it was without him. "Sakura, I can be there in about eight-nine hours is that alright with you? I'll call you from the airport once I arrive." Sakura replied with a soft "Hai" and put the cord less phone back in its cradle. The doorbell rang and she went to answer the door. She opened the door and found a smiling Syaoran with a bouquet of cherry blossoms in his hand. She found herself smiling back understanding what the smile on his face meant. She knew that he would no longer be a factor in her problem and she grinned. She let him in, and put the flowers in a vase with some water as they chatted about the sights that Sakura would show him while he was still in Paris.
To be continued
A/N: Hey peeps how was it? I know I'm kind of dragging the story on a bit here but hey its fun and I get to add in more little stuff that I've been planning to add in. The other chapter should be out soon but if it isn't then I'm really sorry, I haven't had much time on my hands lately and I have a minor writer's block. The songs which were in the song are in their respective orders : Beautiful Goodbye by Amanda Marshall and Make me whole by Amel Larrieux.
Okies I'll leave you to review now! That is if you'll do me a favor by doing so.
Smiles,
ani-chan
