"Have a cup of tea."
"Thank you." After sipping, he almost dropped the cup. "Yue! Don't do this to me. Warn me in advance before you change into Yue next time."
"Pardon me Li-kun. Now you want to talk?"
"Yeah. It's about..."
"About Mistress you say." He kept quiet for a while. "Yukito is awfully annoyed with you."
"Why didn't he tell me face to face?"
"Well, he is afraid that if he did, he will misuse my powers and shoot an arrow into your heart." He replied, in a matter-of-a-fact way.
"Oh." He lowered his head. "I am sorry Yukito-san."
"He knows. If not you will be here today."
"Sakura, will I win her heart if I try?" Syaoran cut to the chase and asked.
"I am not in a position to answer. But I think you need to tell her the truth."
"Yue?"
"Yes?"
"Why didn't you remove his memory?"
"It hurts Sakura to know that someone knows about the humiliation she suffered under his hands. Yet, she was still kind enough not to hate him. So the best option for me was to remove his memory instead, hoping she will no longer be reminded of it." He shook his head. "I misjudged her there."
"Why not hers as well?"
"Fear."
"Fear of?"
"She feared that she will forget you if I do so." With that, it hit Syaoran how important he was to Sakura. He however, successfully broke her trust, twice.
"I am such a,"
"No I understand that was how you handle, guilt, a weakness normal human beings longs to escape. The three of you experienced it."
"Three?"
"You, Sakura and Touya. You blame yourself for not replying her letters, even though your decision was because to ensure her safety. Touya was haunted by the fact that he approved Naruko to be her boyfriend. For Sakura, she blamed herself because she hurt other people because of her selfish wish to find the lost love she longed for when you were gone."
"It was not her fault!" Syaoran banged the table, causing the cups to clatter.
"Assure her that, and you will most probably win her back."
"Sure?"
"Promise." Yue nodded his head, confident at the way things are going.
A knock on the door forced him to stop whatever he was doing and answered it.
"Am I welcome?"
"Sure, come on in." Syaoran entered and faced Eriol.
"I need this house for a while."
"For?"
"Everyone is coming here."
"You are not kidding are you? I am busy baking cake and now I have to stop..."
"Ask Ruby to do it. I need you present." With that, he explained his plan, with Eriol looking pleased as he was informed about it.
"Quit dragging. CD?" Eriol took the CD and looked at the track. "Good choice. Now, go to the dining room and carry it out. I will prepare a feast for you."
"Thanks Eriol."
"No problem." He walked out. "And hey,"
"Hmm?"
"Don't you dare screw it up again!"
"Don't screw it up again?" He snorted. "Yeah, after going through Yue and Tomoyo, you are asking me not to screw up. Right! I won't!" He recalled trying to go through the tigress and boy, he was so roasted by the time it was done.
---Flashback---
"You hated her. Remember?" Tomoyo huffed and turned away.
"Tomoyo help me."
"Well, you were pissed that she found a new boyfriend to replace you. Your ego just couldn't take it eh?" She spat at the ground (sounds so unrefined. However, I can't figure anything else that will show how furious she was! Trust me, she is not that unrefined all the time)
"NO! I HATED MYSELF!" He yelled out. Yet, the simple admission melted her strong resolution not to help him. Like a mother, she ran and hug him.
"Silly boy. You shouldn't. Sakura never blamed anyone." She muttered softly. "Only herself."
"YING FA?" He exclaimed. He was afraid that she will reappear.
"Nope. She didn't come back. Sakura just merged both of her personalities together. She will be cheerful, smiling and everything. But sometimes, when she thinks of you, she will cry or just shut herself out for a moment."
'Sakura, will she be alone?"
"Not a chance. She is constantly with us. We refuse to allow her to slip into any form of depression. That includes becoming Ying Fa." She winked.
"Thank you."
"You should."
"Then help me. Please? So that I can take care of Sakura."
---End of Flashback---
"The music is set." Eriol entered the room. "Lunch eh? For how many people?"
"Let's see. Sakura, Tomoyo, Yue cum Yukito, Touya plus you and me. Make that six!"
"Alright then, but are you sure about Touya?" Eriol questioned. "He will murder you when he sees you."
"That's why your house is the ideal condition. He respects Clow Reed, for giving him a friend like Yukito. Tomoyo would love to come over to your house, maybe to spend a night together." Syaoran said slyly, causing Eriol to blush. "Sakura will never imagine me being involve in this 'lunch date' and for Yukito. I think Yue would love to have a sparing match with Ruby Moon."
"Evil Syaoran, while doing this time, you are going to correct that mistake eh?"
"Hope so." He said without much confidence.
"What do you mean by hope so! You better!!" Eriol loomed over Syaoran, with the evil glint in his blue eyes. As Syaoran began to feel a little uncomfortable over the sudden change in Eriol, Ruby entered the room.
"Master. You have a guest, Tomoyo is here."
"One moment." Eriol bid for time and returned his attention to Syaoran. "You don't screw it up!"
"Fine! That is like the second time you tell me. Now, quick! Tomoyo will not be pleased if you go and keep her waiting."
"She won't be angry with me." He walked out of the room, "My cute little descendent."
Eriol could only laughed as he heard the curse before sobering. "You really cannot screw it up now."
"Yukito-san. What's the occasion?" Sakura asked as she approached the huge mansion.
"A gathering party for everyone." Yukito just smiled as he led the two siblings towards the house full of memories, for Yue.
"Then what does it have to do with me?" Touya grumbled.
"Now, you want to see the legendary chair that Clow Reed used to occupy right?"
"Whatever!"
"Now is your chance." Yukito grinned, while Touya could just shake his head and sighed. "You owe me big time Yukito."
"That makes it two!" Touya stared at him. "One today, the other during the visit to the hospital. Now then, let's see whether the rest have arrived." Yukito said as he knocked the door.
"Who are they?" Sakura asked.
"Well, you, me, your brother, Tomoyo, Eriol." He paused for a while. "Syaoran will be there."
"WHAT!" The two of them chorused together. "I am out of here."
"Not so fast!" Eriol opened the door, grabbing hold on Sakura while Yukito had a firm grip on Touya's collar.
"Now." Yukito continued as Eriol bolted the door and heaved in relief. "We will be having a lunch date and then we will be most honoured to have a tour around the house by Eriol-san himself."
"Sakura-chan? Are you alright?" Eriol stared at Sakura as she fainted on the floor. "SAKURA-CHAN!"
"Kaijuu, if you don't wake up. I swear you will be cooking dinner for us for the next two weeks." When Sakura didn't respond, he hit her head, "I MEAN IT!" forcing her to sit up.
"BAKA!" Sakura fumed and whacked her brother. "I want to go home!"
"You have to face your face, even if it is Syaoran." Touya shook his head. "No buts! However, if he does something again, it's my pleasure to give him something that is long overdue." He ended it by cracking his hands and fisting it up, hitting it against the other hand.
"Now, as I said. No fighting Touya." Yukito mumbled.
"A feast is ready for your consumption." Eriol interrupted the quibbling and led them to the dinning room. Everyone had their eyes on them.
"I am sorry. Did we keep you waiting?" Yukito apologize to the rest of them. Touya was however, ignoring everyone, including Ruby Moon, who annoyed him to bits in school. Sakura was wearily eying Syaoran, who was enjoying the food that was led on the table.
"Ruby. I heard that you are a horrible housekeeper. However, I have to compliment your fine cooking." Syaoran smiled, earning a deadly glare from Eriol while Ruby cast a look on Eriol. "Thank you Li-san. However, I can't imagine who dares to complain about my housekeeping skills when HE himself doesn't do it!"
The whole table laughed while they were unaware of the tension radiating from Sakura.
"Sakura. Eat more." Yukito tried to ease her discomfort by filling up her plate. "The beef steak is simply mouthwatering."
"I am sure it is." Sakura agreed. "Ruby! I hope you cook enough. Yukito will finish everything on this table and still be hungry."
"Don't worry Sakura-chan." Ruby winked. "After I heard Yukito is coming, I especially cook extra portion to satisfy his appetite!"
The conversation flowed freely throughout lunch. However, Syaoran couldn't enjoy the company. 'How on earth am I going to convince Sakura that I love her still, after breaking her heart twice.'
"Now, I am sure everyone is feeling full." Eriol beamed. "Please, follow me as I give you a tour around this house." He smiled at Touya. "You will be amazed by the history this house have."
"Entertain me." He challeneged Eriol.
As the rest followed Eriol, Syaoran tapped Sakura's shoulder. "Stay here please."
"Why? To hurt me again? Two times isn't enough for you?"
"No. It's a third time I am trying to get things right."
"Bleah! Unless you give me a good reason why you refuse to answer my letters for five years, and then breeze into my life telling me that I cannot love someone else, who promised to give love to me, then I might just consider staying here."
"How about that I am trying to protect you?"
"From what? Ghost?"
"From my family!"
"Your mother knows me."
"Not my elders!"
"Why?"
"They don't want you to be in my life! Anymore!"
A/N: Happy endings? It remains to be seen. AnimeObsessionFantasy, the name is not inspired by Inuyaha at all. I just made it up. Maybe because of Fushigi Yuugi, the character there, that to me, have a similar spelling to Naruko. But then again, it's just a name to a character, so there is no link to any of the anime mentioned above.
There was a sad twist to the story because I didn't want to make it that simple for the both of them. So, I apologize, but this is definitely the final stages of the story. Most probably the explanations on Syaoran's part and then the epilogue. That is what I plan. So cheers! And keep the reviews coming!
Once again, thank you everyone for your reviews!!! Love all of it! :D hopefully Syaoran doesn't mess up again. ;)
I need to apologise in advance. The next chapter might be short. But it is the ending of the story of Smile! Enjoy!