Disclaimer: Other than Kinjiro Hansuke, all other characters belong to CLAMP.
Chapter 3: Anguish
"RRRRIIINNNGGG!!!!"
"ARGH!!!!"
Slipping a blouse over her head, Sakura rushed downstairs for breakfast. Discharged from the hospital just a few days before, the boredom of hospital life made her determined to catch up what she had missed. However, she was late for work again!
" Ohaiyo, Tomoyo!" Sakura said and start wolfing down the omelette before her. Hanging up her apron, Tomoyo smiled. It was good to see her usual self again. But still, Sakura did not remember Syaoran. Why is Fate so cruel to the both of them?
" There's no need to hurry, Sakura." She handed her a glass of water which Sakura gratefully took. " I'll drive you there." Swallowing the last bite, Sakura answered. " Won't you be late for the meeting at Meritius?" " Not, really. They do not dare to upset the President of Daijouji Group unless they have no wishes to cooperate anymore." Tomoyo laughed, clearing the table. Both girls left the house shortly.
A yellow figure drifted lazily down the stairs to the kitchen. Opening the refrighterater, it took out a large bar of chocolate. Turning the way it came, he continued to fly with its eyes shut.
"BBAAMM!!!!"
Upon hitting the wall, the chocolate slipped from its hands and broke into pieces.
" My chocolate!!!! My beautiful chocolate!!!!" Ignoring the pain on its head, Kero cried. " My chocolate!!!!" After wailing like this for a few minutes, Kero decided to mourn for the chocolate 'debris' on the floor. Then, a rustle in the bushes attracted its attention.
" Who are you?" roared Kero, now in its true form, wings and all, pinning the intruder down with its paws. Taking a careful look, it got off him. " It's you, brat." It said amusingly. " The front door is over there, don't you know?" Kero waved its paw vaguely at a direction.
Syaoran got up and did not reply. Glancing sadly at the house, he started to leave. Kero refused to move away, blocking his exit. " It's not like you to be silent after that nickname." He remained silent. " What's wrong? Did you have a tiff with Sakura?" A talisman of fire later saw Syaoran disappeared and Kero coughing.
" That brat!" Returning to the form of a doll, it flew to Sakura's bedroom to play video games. It did not notice the plastic container at the door, with an envelope on top.
In his apartment, everything was in a mess. Newspapers laid as they were read and dirty pots waited patiently in the sink for a good wash. He did not have the mood to unpack after the accident. " Did she get the chicken soup?" Syaoran wondered. He did not dare to meet Sakura face to face, afraid that the incident in the hospital will happen again.
Getting up from the chair, he picked up the yellowing newspapers and threw them into the wastepaper basket. Unpacking his luggage, Syaoran decided to make his house more fit for human inhabitation. Grabbing a broom, he started by sweeping the dusty floor. Hours flew by when the door bell rang. After a quick splash of water, Syaoran answered the door.
" Tomoyo!"
" I see you have doing house keeping." Dressed in a yellow turtleneck and jeans, Tomoyo looked as lovely as always. " Can I come in?"
" Sure, why not?" Stunned to see her, he recovered and stepped aside.
Sitting on the sofa, Tomoyo's expression was unreadable. Her eyes stared into space for a while before she spoke.
" I found your soup and Kero told me of your visit." She stopped for a moment. " I know you are anxious about Sakura, Syaoran. But her amnesia seems to be permanent." Biting her lips, she continued. " Every moment, memory with you… she do not remember. To her right now, you are just a stranger, an unwelcome intruder into her life."
His world shattered like glass at Tomoyo's words.
Me, an unwelcome intruder into her life?
" It can't be. It's impossible!" Syaoran yelled. He refused to accept this cruel fact. How could he be unwelcome in Sakura's life? They were lovers, not enemies nor strangers. They captured the clow cards together and passed the test by Hope. They overcame the obstacles to be together and he was ostracized just like that?
" You have to accept the truth, Syaoran." Her violet eyes pleaded. " At the very mention of your name, Sakura feels dizzy and frightened. She doesn't even know I am here to visit you or she will try to do anything to stop me coming." She added, avoiding Syaoran's furious stare. Tomoyo left a few minutes later, leaving Syaoran to ponder.
The pain which he had tried to suppress seem to increase. His heart, already ridden with holes, started to bled. The sudden wind ruffled his messy chestnut hair, making him look more forlorn. His shadow in the fading orange light was long and sad.
" Sakura…" Murmuring her name, his despaired eyes closed in the last rays of the dying sun.
Thalia: Sorry for being 'updateless' so long. I was simply too lazy and too occupied to finish this chapter. :P But the next chapter won't be so long!!!! Arigato gozaimasu for those who reviewed!!!!