Twin Strangers
Written by: Ciuline Ihmenjo
Cardcaptor Sakura does not belong to me. The characters in Cardcaptor Sakura do not belong to me. CLAMP owns CCS. Besides, even if you do try and sue me, I have no money.
This story seems to update faster than my others no? Anywho, that's just me running with a great idea. I'll finish this one up and have room to branch off it! Stay on the look out 'cause this will finish up soon! And thank you everyone who has reviewed my fiction "Fallen" and for giving me those wonderful 120 reviews! I love you guys!
Italicized words are thoughts; Bold words are emphasis; CAPS WORDS are shouting;
= = Six More Months = =
Good god… I can't seem to figure out what is happening, so I repeat myself in a louder tone. "MY SISTER IS WHAT?" I rise from my seat, one hand still grasping a trembling cup of tea. It soon finds solace in the table so the liquid inside of it doesn't find the floor.
Syaoran starts to speak, but he is cut off once again. Sakura holds up one hand and stops him. "I'm pregnant," she repeats, this time, her voice softer.
I am still too dazed to hear her. And I do the one thing any overprotective brother would probably do: I haul the brat out of his seat by the collar of his shirt.
"Let me get this straight," I say as calmly as I can – which, of course, is not very calm at all. "You got Sakura pregnant?"
"That's correct." He grabs my clenches hands. "Now, if you don't mind, please let go of my shirt." I do and he falls unceremoniously to the ground. The whole room stops moving, for just a moment, as time seems to dilate. We all need time for the previous conversation to sink into our individual brains. I finally snap out of my daze and time goes back to normal.
"What were you thinking?" I mutter.
"He wasn't," both you and Sakura pipe up. They both look at each other and then go back to their food.
"They're right you know." He finally rises off the floor.
"How," I choke, the words catching in my throat, "how long has it been?"
Sakura swallows audibly. "We've known for about three months."
"How can you stand it?" you ask my sister.
"Hoe?" My sister uses her famous 'phrase of unknowing.'
"The lack of sex," you utter sarcastically. The next sound is that of my palm colliding with my forehead. "I mean it," you say to me. "I can't figure out how these two," you rack your brain for the correct words and once again you say the first thing that comes to mind, "rabbits can go on like this."
Syaoran laughs and your comment serves its purpose: to ease the tension. "Well, its because we're – as you so affectionately put it – rabbits in the first place that we're in this mess to begin with." He sighs and falls back into his chair. It groans in protest. I remind myself of the need for new kitchen furniture.
I sputter helplessly until you put a hand on my shoulder. "Well it looks like you're going to be an uncle." I turn to glare at you and you giggle.
"You're not helping too much."
"What? Did you want me to say that you're going to be an aunt?" Once again, you diffuse the situation.
"Okay, I give." I turn to Syaoran. "You'd better take care of her. Because if you screw up…" I let my words hang as a threat, one that is far from idle.
"I'm not going to screw up," he thinks about this for a moment and then adds, "much."
Sakura, caught in the middle of everything, sighs. I hear her as she scoots her chair back and rises. We all turn toward the noise. Her eyes widen for a brief moment and she sighs. "Well, that's it." Both bowls are empty. She gets up and places them into the sink. "I'm going up to my room to sleep."
"I'll be up in a second," Syaoran says. He rushes over to his plate and puts it in the sink as well. Turning on the faucet, he runs the dishes under the water for a moment. "Meilin?" he asks.
The full question never comes out because you already have an answer awaiting him. "I'm not washing dishes for you."
"But Sakura and I…"
"You need to talk?" You cross your arms over your chest. "Well, she's pregnant, you're not. That means that you aren't getting off cleaning duty so easily." You get up and rinse your bowls out. "Besides, I have this dumb feeling that you two aren't going to just be talking."
His blush is clearly visible through his glare. "Fine, I'll clean." He begins to wash out his bowl and dries it before placing it on a drying rack by the sink.
"Well," you say to me, "what do you think about all of this?"
"I'm pissed off at your gaki cousin," I say casually.
"Hey!" he calls from the sink.
"You're not part of this conversation unless you want me to ban you from seeing her until the wedding." I can hear the loud gulp from his direction and the water shuts off.
"I'm going to go and talk to her now," he says.
"You are?" I ask.
"Yes, I am."
I haul him back, using the back of his shirt collar. "No, you're staying here and talking to me."
You shoot me a look saying that you would rather not be part of this argument. "Listen, the only reason I'm going to stay here," you say, "is so that you two don't end up killing each other." She sighs and takes a seat on the only chair in the den.
I take a seat and try to collect my thoughts. "Listen kid…"
"I'm not a kid."
"Well you are in my eyes, so just shut up and listen." I shut my eyes for a moment. "Sakura, she's all that I have left." I hear you make a rude noise, but I choose to ignore it. "I don't want to see her hurt or anything like that. It was enough when Yukito went to England with Nakuru," I continue, using the names of the moon guardians' temporary forms, "and it was bad when I lost touch with the world for that little while. She's in a bad state right now and she needs some time to figure out her place in this world."
"That's what she's been telling me." He crosses his arms from where he's leaning against the wall.
"So that means lighten up for a little while. She needs some time alone." His eyes narrow. "Okay, that means that I would like you to give her some time alone. She still has her job to worry about and in addition to that, she still has to deal with the wedding plans and school."
"Oh, that's taken care of," he says.
"What's taken care of?"
"Tomoyo volunteered." It is all that needs to be said.
"She… That's good." I did not really want to drag Tomoyo into this – after all she is family – but she seems to take on the task extremely willingly.
"And quite frankly, I am still trying to deal with the fact that I'm going to loose her forever." I massaged my forehead with a palm. "And I'm still trying to figure out how she ended up with a gaki like you."
He makes an even ruder noise than you had uttered, and like yours, his is ignored as well. "Is that all?"
"That's all for now."
"I can leave."
"Yes, I want to spend some personal time with my love to you know." Your smile is fully of mischief as he turns his head toward the stairs.
"So that means you two are going to get married?" he asks suddenly.
I don't even get the chance to open my mouth before you answer. "Yes, we are getting married Li."
"And he hasn't broken your heart?"
"No, he most certainly has not." Your cheeks are taking on a slightly reddish tint but not from embarrassment. "Li, damn it, he's my fiancée. He's different."
"That's what you said about the other two," he counters.
"Well, they were stuck up pricks."
I try and get in between the two of them, but quickly reconsider my option.
"Listen," he says, "you may not be my fiancée anymore, but you are still family." He sighs and I can tell that he put himself into a difficult position. "That means I'm still going to watch over you."
"Li, I didn't know you cared," you say in a sarcastic tone.
"Well I do," he says in all seriousness. He turns to me, "Listen Kinomoto, you'll kill me if I ever break Sakura's heart?"
I nod.
"That will pale in comparison to what I do to you if you break Meilin's heart."
I smile. So the gaki at least cares for you…
You only watch his retreating figure before pouncing on me. "What do you mean 'she's all I have left'?" You kiss me fiercely on the lips. "You have me."
"But that wouldn't have quite the effect I was looking for on Syaoran."
You sit back on my lap and cross your arms. "I don't care. I can't believe you!" You sigh. "I can't stay mad at you. You're not fair."
"Why? Because you can't stay mad at me?"
"Yes… no… ah… damn…" you fling your arms in the air, almost slamming one into my face, "I don't know!" You sigh and turn around so your back is resting against my chest. I wrap my arms protectively around you. And we just sit like this for a while.
"Well," I say finally, "how does it feel to know you're getting married?"
"Wonderful?" you try.
"Not quite what I was looking for, but it'll have to do."
"Perfect? Like a dream come true?" you tease.
I smile and give you a quick peck on the cheek.
"That wasn't very romantic," you mutter.
"It wasn't supposed to be." I gather you up in my arms and carry you up the stairs. "Now this is supposed to be."
"I still don't think it is," you chuckle.
"Well then you'll just have to deal with it." I reach my door and flop down on the bed. I can hear the start of a scream from you, but I silence it with my mouth.
You roll off me and so you're lying next to me. I get up and take my shirt off. It ends up in my laundry bin. I throw on an over-large shirt and strip off the uniform pants. After checking to make sure I have an extra uniform for tomorrow, I return to the bed. In that time, you've managed to strip almost completely and rolled over onto your stomach. I raise an eyebrow.
"If you think that's going to get you laid, you're wrong."
"Actually, I was just going to sleep. I have to go to work early tomorrow." I close my eyes.
"Hey, you're not supposed to do that."
I open one eye, "Do what?"
"You're not supposed to just go to sleep!" you wail. You have a pout on your face.
"So you were just trying to get me to say yes?"
"Of course."
"Well, I'm too tired," I roll over, "good night."
"Touya!"
"Sleeping," I murmur.
You repeat my name a few more times with growing urgency. "Fine." I can hear you shift so you are closer to me. "Then I'll just wake you up earlier so we can do it then."
"Whatever floats your boat."
You crawl over the top of my body – much to my discomfort – and settle against me again. "Hey Touya?"
"I'm trying to sleep."
"Thanks."
I open my eyes. "For what?"
"Being there for me."
"I'll always be there for you." I yawn. "Now go to sleep, I have work tomorrow."
You close your eyes and I can still smell the jasmine in your hair. It fans out around you and seems to glow in the moonlight shining through the blinds. You shift slightly and murmur something incoherent. A content smile graces your face. I put a protective arm around you and close my eyes. I take on last glance at you before and to let my thoughts settle on only you…
= = Closing remarks? = =
Two more chapters at most, but I'll probably only write one. Don't worry though, I'll still keep writing continuations of this fiction if and only if I get more reader response. And thank you for giving me 19 reviews at the least. Just want more, 'cause I'm still suffering from a case of "lack of reader response." Well, that'll be all for now see you in about two weeks or so!
If you have any suggestions/wishes for a story, please submit them to me at CiulineIhmenjoyahoo.com or KrauseSWcadet.com (the one that I check more often at the current time…)
Ja ne Ciuline Ihmenjo