Standard disclaimers apply.
EYES OF SILVER
By: Ryuuen
Chapter One
The chilly night wind blew, sending frail, soft, rosy petals into the air. It was nearly the end of spring and the lone cherry tree at Ueno Park was starting to shed its blossoms, providing a wonderful sight to anyone and everyone who would happen upon it. Their fragrance filled the surrounding area as the blossoms floated down as though upon the wings of the angel of autumn, all the while beckoning to one of their kind who, unlike them, was grieving at the moment. Kinomoto Sakura would have welcomed such a wondrous display of nature's beauty any other time. But not now, not here, not when the memories hurt too much to remember. She couldn't believe that Syaoran had gone, had left her.
Li Syaoran – a name that had brought her such unknown bliss during the years they were together; a name, just by its mere mention, made her heart beat faster, made her feel secure, safe, loved. The very same name that she now repeats, as the familiar sparkle of tears envelops her eyes. A name she never knew why she still evoked even if its owner was the one who caused her such sorrow. The conversation they had that fateful day reverberated through her mind, an echo that will haunt her for the rest of her life. Her heart was broken. Her world ended that day.
"Gomen nasai, Sakura-chan. I-I don't think we should see each other anymore," he had told her then, the almost desperate manner by which he clung to her the antithesis of his words. And then he pulled back, the moonlight shining down on his face making it seem more mature, much wiser than the young man her brother, Touya, had called "the brat."
"Nandato, Syao-chan?" She was confused, wondering whether she had heard right or not.
"Sakura-chan…" He sighed and, putting his hands on her shoulders, pushed her lightly away from him, forcing emerald green eyes to look into the swirling depths of crimson ones. "Listen to me. I-I do not like the idea myself… but, you see… in a week's time… I'm leaving for Hong Kong…" He trailed of, as though there was something important he had to say but just didn't have the courage to. He released her.
"Syao-chan," his cherry blossom began, trying to keep the hurt away from her voice at being pushed back. "You know that wouldn't matter much to me... not at all. I could always…"
She was so sweet, so caring, so understanding and he…
"That's not it, Sakura! That's not it, at all!" He interrupted, surprising them both at the ferocity of his tone. He sighed and calmed himself down, willing himself not to look into pain-filled green orbs. "I am going back to China… to Hong Kong… and… to Meilin…"
Silence. A very uncomfortable silence during which neither dared to look up. However, it was Sakura who broke the silence and, when she spoke, something akin to anger sounded with every word, spoken softly, though resonating louder than any shout ever could.
"Why? Were you lying to me when you said that you and Meilin were over? Have you been lying to me all these years, deceiving me, making me believe that you loved me?"
A heartbroken sob.
"Was I such a fool to give you my heart?"
Syaoran could not bear to hear such bitter words coming from the mouth that he had kissed so often in the past so he tried to gather her into his arms. She resisted and pulled away.
"No, Syaoran."
And with that, she walked away. Then, it came…
"Sakura-chan. Gomen nasai."
Sakura turned around as the almost inaudible whisper reached her ears.
"Don't be, Syao-chan. I'm not." Hesitantly. "I shall see you off for your flight next week. Ja ne." And with another glance at the cherry tree that had served as their special heaven for the past years, she bade the only love she had ever known farewell.
She smiled sadly. He had promised her forever once, in that very same spot. Or was it just a dream? For it was under the same cherry tree that he had spoken the words that served as poison to her fragile heart. Still, the same tree she found herself weeping against after one year, knees drawn to her chest, arms covering her eyes. She was finally drifting off into an uneasy slumber when she felt an aura – a presence she had not felt for quite some time yet was very familiar. And then a whispered word…
"Mistress…"
TBC…