Summary: It's a memorable White Day for Sakura, as Yukito and Syaoran both do their best to make it a special day for her…
Background: In Japan, Valentine's Day is celebrated differently than in America. Valentine's Day in Japan is a day for girls to give gifts to the boys they like. White Day is the day where the boys reciprocate, giving gifts to the girls they like.
Note: this story is the Card Captor Sakura version of a CardCaptors story I wrote, titled "Forever". I believe this is the superior version, but you're welcome to read the dub version if you like. I even included some bonus material at the end: an explanation of how the dub was created. (Or is that the other way around? I did write the dub version first, after all…)
All reviews are welcomed with open arms, including flames! Bring it on!
March 10, March 11, March 12. Thursday. That meant just two more days. Two more days until Saturday, which was cause for celebration by itself. But not just any Saturday, but a special Saturday – White Day.
For as long as she could remember, White Day had been one of her favorite days of the year. Oh, she knew what White Day was supposed to be about – a day when a man gave gifts to the woman he loved. But her family had always done things differently, and their way was so much better… a way to create and share memories with everyone you loved, and not just one person…
Take last year, for example. Her father had somehow found a way to get a day off, and spend the entire afternoon making chocolates, as well as a fancy home-cooked meal for the entire family, and of course, their special guest. Ah, the memories...
"Sakura, you're eating WAY too much chocolate. Stuffing them in your mouth like a kaijuu."
"I am NOT a kaijuu!"
"To-ya, stop picking on your sister." "These chocolates are very good, Mr. Kinomoto."
"Yeah, a lot better than the ones mother used to make, remember those?"
"TOUYA!"
"Ow! Why did you do that for?"
OK, so maybe things didn't go as smoothly as she would have liked. And it was a pain getting up for school the next day – they really ought to ban school on Saturdays. But did that matter? It had been a special day, one that would never fail to bring a smile to her face. A time to celebrate with the people she loved. Fujitaka, her dad. Touya, her mean old brother. Their special guest, Yukito; her brother's best friend – who visited so often, he was practically part of the family. There was only one person missing from the circle: Nadeshiko, her mom. But her dad assured her that she would always there in spirit, watching from heaven… and if they put a picture of her on the table, maybe that meant that she was there, also…
This year. What were they going to do? Each year, it was something different. She wondered what other people did on White Day; maybe she could get some ideas from them. Hey! Maybe Kero knew. He must have spent many White Days with his master, Clow Reed. Although, she wondered if magical creatures celebrated them the same way humans did. Well, it wouldn't hurt to ask, in any case.
"Kero!" Sakura called, as she opened the drawer.
"Not so loud. Do you want everyone to hear?" Kero whined.
"Sorry. I just wanted to ask you something. Did your master do anything special for White Day?"
Kero didn't look too pleased – waken up from his sleep, just for that? Gees. "What is that? I've never heard of it."
"Well, it's sort of like Valentine's day – except it's a little different."
"Hmm," Kero pondered as he scratched his chin, "I think I remember Valentine's day. We never did much of anything, though – "
There was knocking at the door. "Quiet! Someone's coming!" Sakura warned, as she quickly slammed the drawer shut.
"Hey, come on down. It's time for dinner." She recognized her brother's voice right away – and for once, he didn't call her kaijuu, or accuse her of talking to herself, or look through her things. For that she was glad.
Dinner was mostly uneventful. Touya seemed to be unusually nice to her, for a change. As for dad, he had his usual cheerful look, but didn't say very much, either. Well. Someone had to say something, right? So she might as well say something that had been on her mind for some time…
"Dad? Are we doing something for White Day this year?"
Wrong question. She knew it by that look. The look Touya had when something didn't go his way.
"No, Sakura. I have to work all day," Touya sighed.
That's right. He would be making deliveries for a flower shop – that was his latest part-time job. And White Day figured to be one of the worst days of the year. He wouldn't be home until close to midnight, if not later.
"Dad?"
"I'm really sorry, Sakura, but Saturday is a bad day for me. I won't be home until around 8. Tell you what. Maybe we can do something on Sunday."
"But – but… that just wouldn't be the same! It just won't be the same…" Sakura pouted, putting her chin on the table.
"Look. Yukito will be picking you up after school. Saturday's just not a good day. We'll do something on Sunday, all right?" Fujitaka's voice was a little firmer this time. But wait, an idea came to his head. Since Yukito was supposed to watch over her anyway – hmm. Maybe things would work out after all. He glanced over at Touya, who raised his eyebrows in response – that meant he approved. Good.
"Maybe we can ask Yukito to take you some place after school, if that's all right with you."
Hmm. That wouldn't be too bad. Wait a minute… this was an opportunity she had been dreaming about for some time, and all she could say was it wouldn't be too bad? How about… "YEAH! That would be great! Can I call him, please?"
"Sounds like someone had a little too much pudding. Dad? How much sugar did you put into it?"
"Touya!" She shouted, stomping her foot on the ground. Dang, she missed his foot. Grrr… she wouldn't miss next time.
"Please, knock it off, both of you," Fujitaka admonished. How did he maintain that perfect little smile on his face, anyway? "Go ahead and call him, if you want."
"Yay!" she cried, as she jumped up and ran to her room. This was going to be a White Day to remember after all… and she couldn't wait to tell Kero.
Sakura ran inside and slammed the door behind her, bending over to catch her breath. Her body was practically melting into the ground now, as she mouthed, "Yu-ki-to…"
"Yeah, what about him?" Kero asked.
"Yukito… White Day… it's going to be the best White Day ever."
Kero flew over and waved his paw in front of Sakura's face. "Sakura, get a hold of yourself. Why are you getting so worked up? It's not like it has anything to do with Clow Cards."
"Maybe you'll understand some day… Ooh!" she squealed, holding her reddening cheeks.
"I'm afraid not, Sakura. I just don't think I was created that way."
"That reminds me, though… I wonder what Li-kun is doing for White Day."
"Him?" She sure knew how to pick out a sore spot.
"It must be hard for him, being away from home."
"I wouldn't worry about him. Besides, he has that cousin of his to keep him company."
Meiling. That's right. But still… "Yes, but they're still away from family." It was partially true. Li was currently living in a small apartment with a distant relative of his, Wei, while Meiling was living in a nearby home with her mother. But, there was that sense you got, that empty feeling you had, when you were away from people that were important to you… she made up her mind. It would be a special White Day, after all – only this way, it might be a special one for four people, and not just two.
"I wonder if it's okay with Yukito. I better let him know."
"Know what?"
"I'm thinking of inviting Li-kun and Meiling-chan."
Kero didn't like that idea one bit. On the other hand, the alternative was to have her fawn over Yukito all day and make a fool out of herself. "Hmmph," Kero grunted.
That was as close to an approval she was going to get, so she picked up her phone to call Yukito. Yukito… Yu-ki-to…
Tah – tah – tah – tah – tah –
"Uh, Sakura, shouldn't you call him?" Kero pointed out.
"Oops," she blushed, and pushed the reset button on her phone before making the call.