A/N: Hi all!! I'm back and I've got the rest of this story figured out...
sorry I didn't update sooner, but now that it's Thanksgiving Break (no
school for a whole week!! WOO!!), get ready!
(You know what, LiL oBs3ss3r? I don't know why the graduation party only lasted for five minutes either... I didn't even notice!! Hahahaha!!)
Thank you, oh faithful reviewers, for your support!!
And for those of you who haven't reviewed, I still need all the support I can get, so type me a review. Flames are accepted.
Maybe chapter twenty, I'll post another "thankyouiloveyouforever" list!!
And now, a little "fact of life" tidbit I want to share with you:
Isn't it SO TRUE how you break up with a guy and yet you're the one who's miserable? It's like they don't give a damn!! Yes, I just broke up with my boyfriend I'd been dating for eleven months!! Can you believe I spent practically a year with a jerk (a jerk that I'm still in love with)?? And when I asked if we could work things out, he said there was "no point in trying", and then I broke up with him!! I mean, I should be glad!! He'd been ignoring me for two months!! So what's wrong with me?? If ya'll have the answer, please write me in a review or something 'cause I'm so freaking confused!!
This concludes the little "fact of life" tidbit.
And now back to our regularly scheduled story!!
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If You're Not The One
Chapter 17
Going Home
*Two Months Later*
Sakura Kinomoto rushed home from work on a Saturday evening. She parked her white Altima in the driveway and entered her house.
"Daddy, I'm home!"
"In here!" Her father's voice was heard from the dining room. Sakura entered, smiling until...
"AHHHHH!!"
"Hey kaijuu!"
"T-Touya? What are you doing here? Don't you have a filthy apartment to go back to?" Sakura crossed her arms.
"Hey! Don't forget me!" A silver-haired boy with glasses pouted playfully.
"Hi Yuki," Sakura sweatdropped. "Dad, what are they doing here?" She whispered to her father.
"We wanted to surprise you!" Yuki smiled.
"HE wanted to surprise you." Touya corrected. "I'm only staying here 'cause the landlord kicked me out of my place."
Sakura snickered. "Why does that not surprise me?"
"It didn't surprise me either," Fujitaka whispered.
"Anyway," Yuki smiled. "We heard you got accepted to UHK! Congratulations!"
Sakura blushed. "Thanks!"
"When do you leave?"
"Well, Monday I'm leaving for Hong Kong so I can find an apartment-" Sakura began.
"Let's all go out to eat!!" Touya suggested. "Before Sakura leaves!"
"Or before you starve to death!" Fujitaka smirked.
*Hong Kong*
"Syaoron, give me a hand with the dishes!" Meilin called from the kitchen. Syaoron ran downstairs and into the large kitchen.
"You rang?" Syaoron asked.
"I said help me with the dishes!" Meilin pleaded. Syaoron continued to stare blankly at her. "Hey! You're the one that eats all the food here! You should really be doing the dishes if anything!" Syaoron rolled his eyes. "WOMEN do the dishes!!" Meilin smiled. "Exactly! That's why YOU should do them!" Syaoron crossed his arms. "Fine, Meilin!" And Syaoron took a wet rag and started scrubbing the dishes. Meilin leaned against the counter. "Look, I'll wash, you dry." "Deal," Syaoron nodded. Both of them were washing the dishes until they heard a thud from upstairs. Syaoron and Meilin looked at each other. Both of them dashed up the stairs and entered a darkened room.
"Mother!"
"Yelan!"
Yelan Li lay on the floor. Syaoron lifted his mother with great ease and put her on the bed. He put the sheets over her thin body and kissed her forehead. Yelan's skeletal hand pointed at a bottle on the nightstand beside her. "Xiao Lang, I'm in pain!" She said hoarsely. Syaoron turned to Meilin. "When was the last time she took her medicine?"
"She took it about thirty minutes ago." Meilin said, looking at her watch.
"Mom, you can't take it now-"
"But I'm in pain!" The mother protested.
"- In another hour and thirty minutes or so, you can take it again. In the meantime, try and get some sleep." He said as he was leaving.
"No, Xiao Lang!! Please don't go!" Yelan said, clutching her son's hand. "Don't leave me again!"
Syaoron looked at Meilin, then his mother and sighed. "I'm only going downstairs, mom."
"If I go to sleep, you'll still be here?"
Syaoron sighed. "Yes mother."
"And when I wake up, you'll still be here?"
Syaoron nodded as he closed the door to her room. Meilin was already downstairs washing dishes. "She's doing much better, you know." She said.
"Huh?"
"Yup. The year you left, she'd cry almost every night because you'd left her."
Syaoron began drying dishes. "If you remember correctly, I left you!"
Meilin made a face. "Ha, ha! Very funny!" Meilin continued washing the dishes. "Well, that was what she thought. She thought you left her. She thought it was something she did to drive you away. That's why she's so paranoid-"
"Meilin, I'd feel a whole lot better if you just drop the subject!" Syaoron interrupted. Both of them finished the dishes in silence.
*London, England*
"It's good to have you back, Eriol."
"Thanks. Sorry I've been such a hassle."
"I'm sorry, too!"
"But you're the only family I have left."
The doors to a huge white mansion opened and Eriol entered with his suitcases in his hands. Eriol looked around. "It's like I last remembered it."
"Nothing's changed much, er, except for the fact mom's dead." A ruby-haired girl said, carrying Eriol's other two cases in her hands. "Just put your suitcases near the staircase. Charles will take them to your room."
Eriol did as he was told and looked up at Nakuru. "Charles?"
"The butler." She answered.
"What happened to Henry?" Eriol asked.
"Henry's long retired. Now, come sit down!" Eriol sat on a fluffy couch next to Nakuru. Both of them remained quiet. "So," The ruby-eyed girl said. "How's Uncle Jack?"
"Six feet under. He's been dead for two years."
"So two years after Uncle Jack took you in, he dies? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Didn't want you to come pick me up."
"You really liked it in Japan, didn't you?" Nakuru asked, but Eriol didn't respond. "Well if you like it so much, why'd you come back?"
Eriol arched his left brow. "I just wanted to spend time with my big sis!"
Nakuru stared blankly at him. "So why are you here?"
"You don't believe me?"
"Of course I don't."
Eriol sighed. "Well, if you don't mind, I think I wanna unpack." Eriol stood up and walked upstairs.
"Oh yea. You're really spending time with your big sis!" Nakuru mocked.
Eriol entered his room. It looked the same as it did four years ago, well, with the exception that dust had gathered on his shelves. Eriol sat down on his bed.
*FLASHBACK*
"You're always doing this!!" A woman with black hair yelled. "You're always leaving for work!! I'm always looking after Nakuru and Eriol."
"Mom, you don't have to look after me! I'm twelve years old!" A young Nakuru squealed as she pointed to her birthday cake. The woman smiled at her daughter and looked up at her husband sadly. "Honey, it's her birthday! Don't do this to her! She's been looking forward to this day!"
The husband shook his head as he put on his coat. "I have to go!" And he rushed out the door.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
Eriol sighed as he found himself standing in front of a shelf. He picked up a dusty picture frame of his mother and father's wedding picture. "No surprise there when they announced they were getting a divorce."
*FLASHBACK*
A fourteen-year-old Nakuru and a twelve-year-old Eriol were sitting at the large dining room table eating with their parents. "Kids, there's something I think we should tell you." The woman coughed. Nakuru put her fork down and Eriol played with his food. "You're father and I... well we're... we're separating."
"Isn't that like divorcing?" Nakuru asked angrily.
"No," The mother continued. "We'll still be married. It's just you're father has found it best that we be separated for a while. I mean absence makes the heart grow fonder!" She giggled.
No one else laughed with her.
All of them continued to eat their food until little Eriol asked, "Daddy, does that mean you don't love mommy anymore?"
The husband stuffed the rest of the steak in his mouth and answered. "Yes."
Nakuru looked at everyone around the table. She grabbed the napkin from her seat and threw it to her unfinished meal and ran to her room.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
Eriol sighed and put the picture back. He then grabbed the picture next to it. It was of him when he was fourteen and an old man. "Uncle Jack." He whispered. "If anything, you were more like a father to me." He placed the picture back where it was. "And then you took me to Japan with you. Those two years were the best years of my life! And then I met Tomoyo." Eriol plopped on his bed. "Every day after that were best days of my life." Slowly, Eriol drifted to sleep.
*...*
"Come on, Sakura!! Pick up!!"
"Hello?"
"Hey Sakura. It's me."
"Haven't heard from you in weeks! Where are you?"
The violet-haired girl driving the black Jaguar smiled. "As soon as I got your message, I had to go back home and see you! You're going to University Hong Kong! Congrats!"
"Thanks, Tomoyo!" Sakura smiled. "I can't believe you're coming home! When do you get into town?"
"I'm half an hour away."
Sakura bit her lip and lowered her voice. "I'm kinda out eating with my family and we're still waiting for a table, so this might take a while. Where will you be till I get back?"
"..."
"Tomoyo?"
"Is Eriol there?"
"'There' where?"
"In Tomoeda?"
Sakura sighed. "No. Last time I heard, he went back to England to reunite with his sister."
Tomoyo nodded. "Good." And she hung up.
"To-Tomoyo? Hello?" Sakura said, looking at her phone. Sakura sighed and put her cell phone back in her purse. She exited the ladies room and entered the waiting room. Her father, brother, and Yuki were just getting up to be directed to their table. "You ready to go, sweetie?" Fujitaka smiled. Sakura nodded. "Yea."
*Hong Kong*
Syaoron sat on the recliner in the living room. He sighed as he leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. "Sakura." He whispered.
*FLASHBACK*
"Come with me! To Hong Kong!"
"Syaoron, you know I'd love to, but you also know I can't... I'm sorry." Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Huh? Why? Why what?"
"Why do you want me to go with you?"
"Because I love you? Do I need a reason for wanting to be with you?" Syaoron asked defensively.
"No! That's not what I mean."
"Then what do you mean?"
Sakura paused, trying to find a way to rephrase her question. "Syaoron are you afraid that this is the end of our relationship?"
"Well, is it?" Syaoron asked.
"Of course not! I love you!" Sakura exclaimed. "I know I don't want it to end! Do you??"
"No! No, I don't!" Syaoron shook his head. "So why don't you come with me?"
"Syaoron! It's not that I don't want to be with you! Look, I want us to be together-"
"I want that more than anything," Syaoron said, kissing her forehead.
"-But even if we're not, knowing you love me is enough! Yes, you'll be in Hong Kong, but that's not a reason for me to break up with you! And if you think I won't wait for you, I will! I waited four years for you, already!"
"But that's just it! We shouldn't have to wait to be with each other!" Syaoron protested.
"Syaoron, this is all going to work out! This is unexpected, but we'll get through it! I promise."
*END OF FLAHSBACK*
Syaoron could remember that night as if it happened the night before. "Speaking of the night before..."
*FLASHBACK*
"Hello!"
"SAKURA!" Syaoron said, almost falling off his bed as he heard her sweet voice on the phone. "Sakura I miss you-"
"You've reached Sakura! Please leave a message after the beep!"
BEEP
"S-Sakura! It's me. Um, I know it's a little late, me calling practically two months after I left. I... I really... miss you. Please call me. I need to hear your voice." He paused. "Well, bye." And he hung up.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
He crossed his arms. "Sakura, we shouldn't have to wait to be with each other. We shouldn't."
"Syaoron?"
His eyes went wide. For a moment, he thought it was Sakura calling him. He turned around and saw her silhouette.
"Syaoron?"
"Oh, Meilin." Syaoron said dully.
"Happy to see you, too!" Meilin said playfully. She kneeled next to him. "Give her a call. I know you want to."
"I know you know I want to, but I can't."
"Why not?" Meilin stood up.
Syaoron stood up as well. "You really think she'll want to speak to me? Two months after I left her without an explanation?!"
"I still don't understand why you didn't call her-" Meilin sighed. Syaoron got up and looked at her angrily. "I did try calling her. She didn't answer and she has yet to reply to my call!" He protested. "Well," Meilin began. "How long has it been since you first tried calling her?"
"..."
"WELL??"
"Mmphastmmite!" He coughed.
"When??"
"... Okay! Last night!" Syaoron rolled his eyes, walking away from her.
Meilin nodded her head following her half-cousin. "Ooh, I know why she didn't return your call." She spun Syaoron around. "She was busy AVOIDING YOU!!"
"Well, better late than never!" Syaoron mumbled.
"Wrong! Better never than late!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Come on!" Meilin threw her hands up in the air. "Think about the position you just put her in! There she is! This beautiful girl fresh out of high school, her boyfriend leaving her without an explanation until two months later he calls. I mean, maybe she was finally realizing what a jerk you were, leaving her-"
"HEY!"
"-and all of the sudden, you come calling her up saying, 'Hi honey, I miss you! Sorry we're not together!! Gotta go!'"
Syaoron crossed his arms and muttered, "It wasn't exactly like that... I got her voicemail."
"Yea," The raven-haired girl put her hands on her hips. "And even then, you probably didn't explain what happened."
"..."
"Syaoron, you did tell her...?"
"..."
"Good grief!!" Meilin said, heading up the stairs. Syaoron followed her until she turned around in the middle of the stairway and said, "Look, if I were Sakura, and I heard that message just now, I probably would've been better off if you hadn't called." And Meilin continued up the stairs while Syaoron remained on the middle step of the staircase.
*Japan*
Sakura ate her meal quickly. Everyone at the table watched her stuff her face. Fujitaka growled at Touya and Yuki. "Ever since you two left, she's picked up on your eating habits!"
"Hey, even we're not THAT bad!" Touya protested. "Sakura, you're food's not going anywhere!"
Yuki chuckled. "Anytime you wanna come up for air, feel free!"
Sakura finished the bowl of steamed rice and went for the egg rolls. The family still watched in awe. Sakura gulped the egg rolls and made her way through the sushi and soups. Touya's jaw dropped. "It's almost like I'm proud to be her brother!" Sakura wiped her mouth with a napkin and smiled. "I'm done! Let's go!"
"Um, Sakura?" Fujitaka sweatdropped.
"Huh?" She looked around and saw their plates empty, and the buffet plates (with all the rice and sushi and egg rolls and soups) had been licked clean. "AHH!!" Sakura grabbed her stomach. "I ate all that?! By myself?!?!"
Everyone nodded.
Sakura glanced at her watch. 7:30 PM. 'Tomoyo's probably in town by now!' She thought. "WELL!" She said, getting up from her seat. "I think I'm done. My stomach kinda hurts, and because you guys haven't eaten anything, I'm gonna go home now. Thanks for the food!" And she left, the family still in shock.
*Kinomoto Residence*
Sakura stumbled into the house and crawled up the stairs. "I think I'm gonna be sick!!" She ran to her room inside the bathroom and threw up. (A/N: EWWWIE!!) She looked up from the toilet and looked around her room. She noticed her bedroom window was open. Sakura got up from the floor and wiped her mouth. She slowly entered her room and looked around. Suddenly, a pale hand found Sakura's shoulder, making Sakura scream, until another pale hand went over her mouth, muffling the sound of Sakura's scream.
"Hey! It's me!! Stop screaming!!"
Sakura bit the hand of the person behind her.
"OW!! Sakura, you wanna shut up now?"
Sakura whirled around. "T-Tomoyo?!"
*London*
Eriol awoke and found his sister sitting on a chair cattycornered against the wall. "Hey sis,"
"Good-morning little brother," Nakuru greeted.
Eriol's eyes went wide. "Morning?!?!"
"Yup. You fell asleep at six o' clock last night! You must've been tired."
"Or the whole getting used to time changes." Eriol stretched as he sat up. Nakuru watched him and said softly, "So who's 'Tomoyo'?"
"Huh?"
"Tomoyo." She said, watching his eyes go wide. "So who is she? You called her name practically all night long!"
"Oh! Did I keep you awake?" Eriol glowed with embarrassment. "How did you sleep?"
"Was that your desperate attempt to change the subject?"
Again, Eriol went red. "Hehe, yea."
"So, are you gonna tell me?" Nakuru said, getting up from the chair. "Or am I gonna have to beat it out of you?"
"Sit down!" Eriol said, pushing her back into her chair. "You can't take me!" Eriol paused. "Anyway, it's a long story!"
"Good! It gives us something to talk about over breakfast. I bet your hungry, since you didn't have anything last night. Get dressed, breakfast is waiting on the table." And Nakuru exited his room.
*Breakfast*
Eriol made his entrance in the breakfast lounge wearing a blue polo shirt and khaki pants. His sister sat at the table smiling. "I bet you missed my cooking while I was away!"
"Uh huh. You wish!"
"Hey, I've gotten better since mom passed away! Here," she said, grabbing his plate, filling it with eggs and toast and waffles. "Try some!" She handed the plate to Eriol. Eriol grabbed the plate and sat down. He stared at the food for a moment until Nakuru said, "What? They don't have this in Japan?"
"Y-Yes, they do."
"Well, what're you worried about?"
"I'm worried about who made them!" Eriol said, still staring at the assortment of food on his plate.
"Don't worry! Mary made them!" Nakuru sighed.
Eriol laughed. "Mary! She's still our cook?"
"Yes, and unfortunately, she won't let me cook for the same reason you won't eat it!"
Eriol smirked. "Well in that case..." He grabbed his fork and stuffed his mouth with scrambled eggs and toast. "Man, I missed Mary's cooking!"
"So," Nakuru said before taking a nibble of her waffles. "About this Tomoyo person. Has my baby brother found his one true love?"
"That's her," Eriol said with egg coming out of his mouth.
"Eat with your mouth closed!" Nakuru cringed.
Eriol laughed. "Yes mother!" He swallowed his food and smiled. "Yea, Tomoyo's the one, I'm sure of it!"
"So why are you here with me instead of her?" The sister asked.
"Long story."
"I've got all day."
"I hope you can handle it." Eriol said, taking a bite out of his toast.
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A/N: That's it for chapter seventeen!! Please review!! Also, I'm putting my other two stories, "The Witness" and "SheWoman ManHaters Club!" on temporary hold until I can finish this story!! Review please!!!!!!
Much luv always,
Cher!!
PS. REVIEW!! PS squared. REVIEW!! PS cubed. REVIEW SOME MORE!!
(You know what, LiL oBs3ss3r? I don't know why the graduation party only lasted for five minutes either... I didn't even notice!! Hahahaha!!)
Thank you, oh faithful reviewers, for your support!!
And for those of you who haven't reviewed, I still need all the support I can get, so type me a review. Flames are accepted.
Maybe chapter twenty, I'll post another "thankyouiloveyouforever" list!!
And now, a little "fact of life" tidbit I want to share with you:
Isn't it SO TRUE how you break up with a guy and yet you're the one who's miserable? It's like they don't give a damn!! Yes, I just broke up with my boyfriend I'd been dating for eleven months!! Can you believe I spent practically a year with a jerk (a jerk that I'm still in love with)?? And when I asked if we could work things out, he said there was "no point in trying", and then I broke up with him!! I mean, I should be glad!! He'd been ignoring me for two months!! So what's wrong with me?? If ya'll have the answer, please write me in a review or something 'cause I'm so freaking confused!!
This concludes the little "fact of life" tidbit.
And now back to our regularly scheduled story!!
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If You're Not The One
Chapter 17
Going Home
*Two Months Later*
Sakura Kinomoto rushed home from work on a Saturday evening. She parked her white Altima in the driveway and entered her house.
"Daddy, I'm home!"
"In here!" Her father's voice was heard from the dining room. Sakura entered, smiling until...
"AHHHHH!!"
"Hey kaijuu!"
"T-Touya? What are you doing here? Don't you have a filthy apartment to go back to?" Sakura crossed her arms.
"Hey! Don't forget me!" A silver-haired boy with glasses pouted playfully.
"Hi Yuki," Sakura sweatdropped. "Dad, what are they doing here?" She whispered to her father.
"We wanted to surprise you!" Yuki smiled.
"HE wanted to surprise you." Touya corrected. "I'm only staying here 'cause the landlord kicked me out of my place."
Sakura snickered. "Why does that not surprise me?"
"It didn't surprise me either," Fujitaka whispered.
"Anyway," Yuki smiled. "We heard you got accepted to UHK! Congratulations!"
Sakura blushed. "Thanks!"
"When do you leave?"
"Well, Monday I'm leaving for Hong Kong so I can find an apartment-" Sakura began.
"Let's all go out to eat!!" Touya suggested. "Before Sakura leaves!"
"Or before you starve to death!" Fujitaka smirked.
*Hong Kong*
"Syaoron, give me a hand with the dishes!" Meilin called from the kitchen. Syaoron ran downstairs and into the large kitchen.
"You rang?" Syaoron asked.
"I said help me with the dishes!" Meilin pleaded. Syaoron continued to stare blankly at her. "Hey! You're the one that eats all the food here! You should really be doing the dishes if anything!" Syaoron rolled his eyes. "WOMEN do the dishes!!" Meilin smiled. "Exactly! That's why YOU should do them!" Syaoron crossed his arms. "Fine, Meilin!" And Syaoron took a wet rag and started scrubbing the dishes. Meilin leaned against the counter. "Look, I'll wash, you dry." "Deal," Syaoron nodded. Both of them were washing the dishes until they heard a thud from upstairs. Syaoron and Meilin looked at each other. Both of them dashed up the stairs and entered a darkened room.
"Mother!"
"Yelan!"
Yelan Li lay on the floor. Syaoron lifted his mother with great ease and put her on the bed. He put the sheets over her thin body and kissed her forehead. Yelan's skeletal hand pointed at a bottle on the nightstand beside her. "Xiao Lang, I'm in pain!" She said hoarsely. Syaoron turned to Meilin. "When was the last time she took her medicine?"
"She took it about thirty minutes ago." Meilin said, looking at her watch.
"Mom, you can't take it now-"
"But I'm in pain!" The mother protested.
"- In another hour and thirty minutes or so, you can take it again. In the meantime, try and get some sleep." He said as he was leaving.
"No, Xiao Lang!! Please don't go!" Yelan said, clutching her son's hand. "Don't leave me again!"
Syaoron looked at Meilin, then his mother and sighed. "I'm only going downstairs, mom."
"If I go to sleep, you'll still be here?"
Syaoron sighed. "Yes mother."
"And when I wake up, you'll still be here?"
Syaoron nodded as he closed the door to her room. Meilin was already downstairs washing dishes. "She's doing much better, you know." She said.
"Huh?"
"Yup. The year you left, she'd cry almost every night because you'd left her."
Syaoron began drying dishes. "If you remember correctly, I left you!"
Meilin made a face. "Ha, ha! Very funny!" Meilin continued washing the dishes. "Well, that was what she thought. She thought you left her. She thought it was something she did to drive you away. That's why she's so paranoid-"
"Meilin, I'd feel a whole lot better if you just drop the subject!" Syaoron interrupted. Both of them finished the dishes in silence.
*London, England*
"It's good to have you back, Eriol."
"Thanks. Sorry I've been such a hassle."
"I'm sorry, too!"
"But you're the only family I have left."
The doors to a huge white mansion opened and Eriol entered with his suitcases in his hands. Eriol looked around. "It's like I last remembered it."
"Nothing's changed much, er, except for the fact mom's dead." A ruby-haired girl said, carrying Eriol's other two cases in her hands. "Just put your suitcases near the staircase. Charles will take them to your room."
Eriol did as he was told and looked up at Nakuru. "Charles?"
"The butler." She answered.
"What happened to Henry?" Eriol asked.
"Henry's long retired. Now, come sit down!" Eriol sat on a fluffy couch next to Nakuru. Both of them remained quiet. "So," The ruby-eyed girl said. "How's Uncle Jack?"
"Six feet under. He's been dead for two years."
"So two years after Uncle Jack took you in, he dies? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Didn't want you to come pick me up."
"You really liked it in Japan, didn't you?" Nakuru asked, but Eriol didn't respond. "Well if you like it so much, why'd you come back?"
Eriol arched his left brow. "I just wanted to spend time with my big sis!"
Nakuru stared blankly at him. "So why are you here?"
"You don't believe me?"
"Of course I don't."
Eriol sighed. "Well, if you don't mind, I think I wanna unpack." Eriol stood up and walked upstairs.
"Oh yea. You're really spending time with your big sis!" Nakuru mocked.
Eriol entered his room. It looked the same as it did four years ago, well, with the exception that dust had gathered on his shelves. Eriol sat down on his bed.
*FLASHBACK*
"You're always doing this!!" A woman with black hair yelled. "You're always leaving for work!! I'm always looking after Nakuru and Eriol."
"Mom, you don't have to look after me! I'm twelve years old!" A young Nakuru squealed as she pointed to her birthday cake. The woman smiled at her daughter and looked up at her husband sadly. "Honey, it's her birthday! Don't do this to her! She's been looking forward to this day!"
The husband shook his head as he put on his coat. "I have to go!" And he rushed out the door.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
Eriol sighed as he found himself standing in front of a shelf. He picked up a dusty picture frame of his mother and father's wedding picture. "No surprise there when they announced they were getting a divorce."
*FLASHBACK*
A fourteen-year-old Nakuru and a twelve-year-old Eriol were sitting at the large dining room table eating with their parents. "Kids, there's something I think we should tell you." The woman coughed. Nakuru put her fork down and Eriol played with his food. "You're father and I... well we're... we're separating."
"Isn't that like divorcing?" Nakuru asked angrily.
"No," The mother continued. "We'll still be married. It's just you're father has found it best that we be separated for a while. I mean absence makes the heart grow fonder!" She giggled.
No one else laughed with her.
All of them continued to eat their food until little Eriol asked, "Daddy, does that mean you don't love mommy anymore?"
The husband stuffed the rest of the steak in his mouth and answered. "Yes."
Nakuru looked at everyone around the table. She grabbed the napkin from her seat and threw it to her unfinished meal and ran to her room.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
Eriol sighed and put the picture back. He then grabbed the picture next to it. It was of him when he was fourteen and an old man. "Uncle Jack." He whispered. "If anything, you were more like a father to me." He placed the picture back where it was. "And then you took me to Japan with you. Those two years were the best years of my life! And then I met Tomoyo." Eriol plopped on his bed. "Every day after that were best days of my life." Slowly, Eriol drifted to sleep.
*...*
"Come on, Sakura!! Pick up!!"
"Hello?"
"Hey Sakura. It's me."
"Haven't heard from you in weeks! Where are you?"
The violet-haired girl driving the black Jaguar smiled. "As soon as I got your message, I had to go back home and see you! You're going to University Hong Kong! Congrats!"
"Thanks, Tomoyo!" Sakura smiled. "I can't believe you're coming home! When do you get into town?"
"I'm half an hour away."
Sakura bit her lip and lowered her voice. "I'm kinda out eating with my family and we're still waiting for a table, so this might take a while. Where will you be till I get back?"
"..."
"Tomoyo?"
"Is Eriol there?"
"'There' where?"
"In Tomoeda?"
Sakura sighed. "No. Last time I heard, he went back to England to reunite with his sister."
Tomoyo nodded. "Good." And she hung up.
"To-Tomoyo? Hello?" Sakura said, looking at her phone. Sakura sighed and put her cell phone back in her purse. She exited the ladies room and entered the waiting room. Her father, brother, and Yuki were just getting up to be directed to their table. "You ready to go, sweetie?" Fujitaka smiled. Sakura nodded. "Yea."
*Hong Kong*
Syaoron sat on the recliner in the living room. He sighed as he leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. "Sakura." He whispered.
*FLASHBACK*
"Come with me! To Hong Kong!"
"Syaoron, you know I'd love to, but you also know I can't... I'm sorry." Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Huh? Why? Why what?"
"Why do you want me to go with you?"
"Because I love you? Do I need a reason for wanting to be with you?" Syaoron asked defensively.
"No! That's not what I mean."
"Then what do you mean?"
Sakura paused, trying to find a way to rephrase her question. "Syaoron are you afraid that this is the end of our relationship?"
"Well, is it?" Syaoron asked.
"Of course not! I love you!" Sakura exclaimed. "I know I don't want it to end! Do you??"
"No! No, I don't!" Syaoron shook his head. "So why don't you come with me?"
"Syaoron! It's not that I don't want to be with you! Look, I want us to be together-"
"I want that more than anything," Syaoron said, kissing her forehead.
"-But even if we're not, knowing you love me is enough! Yes, you'll be in Hong Kong, but that's not a reason for me to break up with you! And if you think I won't wait for you, I will! I waited four years for you, already!"
"But that's just it! We shouldn't have to wait to be with each other!" Syaoron protested.
"Syaoron, this is all going to work out! This is unexpected, but we'll get through it! I promise."
*END OF FLAHSBACK*
Syaoron could remember that night as if it happened the night before. "Speaking of the night before..."
*FLASHBACK*
"Hello!"
"SAKURA!" Syaoron said, almost falling off his bed as he heard her sweet voice on the phone. "Sakura I miss you-"
"You've reached Sakura! Please leave a message after the beep!"
BEEP
"S-Sakura! It's me. Um, I know it's a little late, me calling practically two months after I left. I... I really... miss you. Please call me. I need to hear your voice." He paused. "Well, bye." And he hung up.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
He crossed his arms. "Sakura, we shouldn't have to wait to be with each other. We shouldn't."
"Syaoron?"
His eyes went wide. For a moment, he thought it was Sakura calling him. He turned around and saw her silhouette.
"Syaoron?"
"Oh, Meilin." Syaoron said dully.
"Happy to see you, too!" Meilin said playfully. She kneeled next to him. "Give her a call. I know you want to."
"I know you know I want to, but I can't."
"Why not?" Meilin stood up.
Syaoron stood up as well. "You really think she'll want to speak to me? Two months after I left her without an explanation?!"
"I still don't understand why you didn't call her-" Meilin sighed. Syaoron got up and looked at her angrily. "I did try calling her. She didn't answer and she has yet to reply to my call!" He protested. "Well," Meilin began. "How long has it been since you first tried calling her?"
"..."
"WELL??"
"Mmphastmmite!" He coughed.
"When??"
"... Okay! Last night!" Syaoron rolled his eyes, walking away from her.
Meilin nodded her head following her half-cousin. "Ooh, I know why she didn't return your call." She spun Syaoron around. "She was busy AVOIDING YOU!!"
"Well, better late than never!" Syaoron mumbled.
"Wrong! Better never than late!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Come on!" Meilin threw her hands up in the air. "Think about the position you just put her in! There she is! This beautiful girl fresh out of high school, her boyfriend leaving her without an explanation until two months later he calls. I mean, maybe she was finally realizing what a jerk you were, leaving her-"
"HEY!"
"-and all of the sudden, you come calling her up saying, 'Hi honey, I miss you! Sorry we're not together!! Gotta go!'"
Syaoron crossed his arms and muttered, "It wasn't exactly like that... I got her voicemail."
"Yea," The raven-haired girl put her hands on her hips. "And even then, you probably didn't explain what happened."
"..."
"Syaoron, you did tell her...?"
"..."
"Good grief!!" Meilin said, heading up the stairs. Syaoron followed her until she turned around in the middle of the stairway and said, "Look, if I were Sakura, and I heard that message just now, I probably would've been better off if you hadn't called." And Meilin continued up the stairs while Syaoron remained on the middle step of the staircase.
*Japan*
Sakura ate her meal quickly. Everyone at the table watched her stuff her face. Fujitaka growled at Touya and Yuki. "Ever since you two left, she's picked up on your eating habits!"
"Hey, even we're not THAT bad!" Touya protested. "Sakura, you're food's not going anywhere!"
Yuki chuckled. "Anytime you wanna come up for air, feel free!"
Sakura finished the bowl of steamed rice and went for the egg rolls. The family still watched in awe. Sakura gulped the egg rolls and made her way through the sushi and soups. Touya's jaw dropped. "It's almost like I'm proud to be her brother!" Sakura wiped her mouth with a napkin and smiled. "I'm done! Let's go!"
"Um, Sakura?" Fujitaka sweatdropped.
"Huh?" She looked around and saw their plates empty, and the buffet plates (with all the rice and sushi and egg rolls and soups) had been licked clean. "AHH!!" Sakura grabbed her stomach. "I ate all that?! By myself?!?!"
Everyone nodded.
Sakura glanced at her watch. 7:30 PM. 'Tomoyo's probably in town by now!' She thought. "WELL!" She said, getting up from her seat. "I think I'm done. My stomach kinda hurts, and because you guys haven't eaten anything, I'm gonna go home now. Thanks for the food!" And she left, the family still in shock.
*Kinomoto Residence*
Sakura stumbled into the house and crawled up the stairs. "I think I'm gonna be sick!!" She ran to her room inside the bathroom and threw up. (A/N: EWWWIE!!) She looked up from the toilet and looked around her room. She noticed her bedroom window was open. Sakura got up from the floor and wiped her mouth. She slowly entered her room and looked around. Suddenly, a pale hand found Sakura's shoulder, making Sakura scream, until another pale hand went over her mouth, muffling the sound of Sakura's scream.
"Hey! It's me!! Stop screaming!!"
Sakura bit the hand of the person behind her.
"OW!! Sakura, you wanna shut up now?"
Sakura whirled around. "T-Tomoyo?!"
*London*
Eriol awoke and found his sister sitting on a chair cattycornered against the wall. "Hey sis,"
"Good-morning little brother," Nakuru greeted.
Eriol's eyes went wide. "Morning?!?!"
"Yup. You fell asleep at six o' clock last night! You must've been tired."
"Or the whole getting used to time changes." Eriol stretched as he sat up. Nakuru watched him and said softly, "So who's 'Tomoyo'?"
"Huh?"
"Tomoyo." She said, watching his eyes go wide. "So who is she? You called her name practically all night long!"
"Oh! Did I keep you awake?" Eriol glowed with embarrassment. "How did you sleep?"
"Was that your desperate attempt to change the subject?"
Again, Eriol went red. "Hehe, yea."
"So, are you gonna tell me?" Nakuru said, getting up from the chair. "Or am I gonna have to beat it out of you?"
"Sit down!" Eriol said, pushing her back into her chair. "You can't take me!" Eriol paused. "Anyway, it's a long story!"
"Good! It gives us something to talk about over breakfast. I bet your hungry, since you didn't have anything last night. Get dressed, breakfast is waiting on the table." And Nakuru exited his room.
*Breakfast*
Eriol made his entrance in the breakfast lounge wearing a blue polo shirt and khaki pants. His sister sat at the table smiling. "I bet you missed my cooking while I was away!"
"Uh huh. You wish!"
"Hey, I've gotten better since mom passed away! Here," she said, grabbing his plate, filling it with eggs and toast and waffles. "Try some!" She handed the plate to Eriol. Eriol grabbed the plate and sat down. He stared at the food for a moment until Nakuru said, "What? They don't have this in Japan?"
"Y-Yes, they do."
"Well, what're you worried about?"
"I'm worried about who made them!" Eriol said, still staring at the assortment of food on his plate.
"Don't worry! Mary made them!" Nakuru sighed.
Eriol laughed. "Mary! She's still our cook?"
"Yes, and unfortunately, she won't let me cook for the same reason you won't eat it!"
Eriol smirked. "Well in that case..." He grabbed his fork and stuffed his mouth with scrambled eggs and toast. "Man, I missed Mary's cooking!"
"So," Nakuru said before taking a nibble of her waffles. "About this Tomoyo person. Has my baby brother found his one true love?"
"That's her," Eriol said with egg coming out of his mouth.
"Eat with your mouth closed!" Nakuru cringed.
Eriol laughed. "Yes mother!" He swallowed his food and smiled. "Yea, Tomoyo's the one, I'm sure of it!"
"So why are you here with me instead of her?" The sister asked.
"Long story."
"I've got all day."
"I hope you can handle it." Eriol said, taking a bite out of his toast.
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A/N: That's it for chapter seventeen!! Please review!! Also, I'm putting my other two stories, "The Witness" and "SheWoman ManHaters Club!" on temporary hold until I can finish this story!! Review please!!!!!!
Much luv always,
Cher!!
PS. REVIEW!! PS squared. REVIEW!! PS cubed. REVIEW SOME MORE!!