The Garden Keeper
By Amiboshi-chan
Chapter eight
It was almost summer again, Sakura observed briefly. The garden was alive with color as all the spring flowers opened their blossoms wide to the mild warmth of the days in late May. The rose bushes were covered with little buds, colorful petals peeking out of their green wrappings as if playing hide and seek. One bush stood out, already covered with bright roses. This bush had bloomed all year, somehow thriving through the harsh cold of winter while it's companions laid dormant. And as always, a violet colored rose stood proudly amongst the pinks and whites and yellows. Summer was indeed coming.
"And Syaoran is coming back," Sakura said aloud.
Sakura was twenty-one. Her childhood relationship with Syaoran had blossomed, much like the roses. Syaoran had wanted to move to Ba Zhong Island as soon as he finished high school, but with the prodding of his mother he would desist for four more years. A college degree was important, if he was going to take over the family business someday. August would start his last year of business school, though, and next summer Syaoran would be returning to stay, Sakura hoped.
@---}----
Syaoran leaned out over the ferry, waiting for the familiar coast to appear across the water. Waiting there was his beloved Sakura. She, too, had blossomed like the flowers in her garden over the years. When Syaoran saw her last summer, she had matured into a graceful young woman, while retaining the youthful beauty of an angel.
This was the first time Syaoran had made the trip alone. His mother wasn't coming along, as Menami was moving away and selling the big Victorian. No one had bought it yet, Syaoran hoped. He wanted to buy it, make into his own vacation house. He loved the place so, and hoped to continue visiting every summer for years to come. With Sakura by his side, of course.
At his high school graduation, the graduates were asked to think of their plans for the future. It was then that Syaoran truly realized that he could not imagine his life without Sakura.
Is it not funny how when a man is in love, his every thought leads back to the same thing? There was once a time when the earth revolved around the sun, but now every star in the sky dances at night only for her sake.
The ferry landed, and Syaoran pulled his car down the ramp. It was only a short drive to the villa. Within a half an hour, Syaoran recognized the scenery and knew the house was just around the bend.
He parked in front of the old house, noticing for the first time the building's dire need of repair. The roof was covered with moss and needed to be replaced. The paint was chipping from the sides, and the gutters were filled with dead leaves and debris.
A graying woman walked slowly out onto the sagging porch. "Syaoran? Is that you? Lords, child, how have you been?"
Syaoran smiled. "Hello, Menami. It's good to see you again." He walked up the creaking steps to embrace the woman.
"How was your drive, child? Are you finished with school?"
"Long. And no, not yet. I still have one more year."
Menami chuckled. "I knew you'd be a success, child. Come, sit and have some tea with me before you run off to the gardens like you always do."
@----}----
It was a couple hours before Syaoran was able to make his way toward the gardens. He loved Menami and enjoyed her company, but the desire to see Sakura had been overwhelming. He now hurried along the well-trodden path to the Sakura's garden.
Heavens, she was a beautiful as ever, Syaoran thought. She turned as he approached, flying toward him as soon as he set foot in the garden. She threw herself into his arms, half laughing and half crying as she saw her beloved for the first time in five years.
"Syaoran, where have you been? I've waited forever and a day for you." Sakura whispered, still clinging to Syaoran's neck. She buried her nose in his russet hair, inhaling his masculine scent.
Syaoran's arms tightened around her back. "Sorry, love. I promise, we'll never be apart for that long again." Especially since he would talk to Menami about buying the house as soon as he went back up.
Syaoran told Sakura about graduation, about college life, about the classes he took. Sakura laughed and smiled, with a look of such curiosity in her eyes you'd think she'd never experienced it for herself. Syaoran told her about his roommate in the dorms last year, and how glad he was to have his own apartment his year, all to himself.
They watched the tide come in, and watched a few boats meander by on the ocean. As the sun set, Syaoran was reluctant to leave. It really had been a long time, he realized. He'd missed her a great deal. Besides, Sakura's smile was enough sunshine for him. It warmed him better than any ray of sunlight.
Eventually, Syaoran returned to the house. He heard Menami's voice as he stepped though the front door, and wondered who was visiting. He sought the source of the voice, and found her on the phone.
"Who was it?" Syaoran asked as Menami hung up.
"Oh, there you are child. That was the realtor. Someone offered to buy this old place about a week ago. It seems he's real urgent to get it. There's just a little more paperwork, and it's all settled. "
By Amiboshi-chan
Chapter eight
It was almost summer again, Sakura observed briefly. The garden was alive with color as all the spring flowers opened their blossoms wide to the mild warmth of the days in late May. The rose bushes were covered with little buds, colorful petals peeking out of their green wrappings as if playing hide and seek. One bush stood out, already covered with bright roses. This bush had bloomed all year, somehow thriving through the harsh cold of winter while it's companions laid dormant. And as always, a violet colored rose stood proudly amongst the pinks and whites and yellows. Summer was indeed coming.
"And Syaoran is coming back," Sakura said aloud.
Sakura was twenty-one. Her childhood relationship with Syaoran had blossomed, much like the roses. Syaoran had wanted to move to Ba Zhong Island as soon as he finished high school, but with the prodding of his mother he would desist for four more years. A college degree was important, if he was going to take over the family business someday. August would start his last year of business school, though, and next summer Syaoran would be returning to stay, Sakura hoped.
@---}----
Syaoran leaned out over the ferry, waiting for the familiar coast to appear across the water. Waiting there was his beloved Sakura. She, too, had blossomed like the flowers in her garden over the years. When Syaoran saw her last summer, she had matured into a graceful young woman, while retaining the youthful beauty of an angel.
This was the first time Syaoran had made the trip alone. His mother wasn't coming along, as Menami was moving away and selling the big Victorian. No one had bought it yet, Syaoran hoped. He wanted to buy it, make into his own vacation house. He loved the place so, and hoped to continue visiting every summer for years to come. With Sakura by his side, of course.
At his high school graduation, the graduates were asked to think of their plans for the future. It was then that Syaoran truly realized that he could not imagine his life without Sakura.
Is it not funny how when a man is in love, his every thought leads back to the same thing? There was once a time when the earth revolved around the sun, but now every star in the sky dances at night only for her sake.
The ferry landed, and Syaoran pulled his car down the ramp. It was only a short drive to the villa. Within a half an hour, Syaoran recognized the scenery and knew the house was just around the bend.
He parked in front of the old house, noticing for the first time the building's dire need of repair. The roof was covered with moss and needed to be replaced. The paint was chipping from the sides, and the gutters were filled with dead leaves and debris.
A graying woman walked slowly out onto the sagging porch. "Syaoran? Is that you? Lords, child, how have you been?"
Syaoran smiled. "Hello, Menami. It's good to see you again." He walked up the creaking steps to embrace the woman.
"How was your drive, child? Are you finished with school?"
"Long. And no, not yet. I still have one more year."
Menami chuckled. "I knew you'd be a success, child. Come, sit and have some tea with me before you run off to the gardens like you always do."
@----}----
It was a couple hours before Syaoran was able to make his way toward the gardens. He loved Menami and enjoyed her company, but the desire to see Sakura had been overwhelming. He now hurried along the well-trodden path to the Sakura's garden.
Heavens, she was a beautiful as ever, Syaoran thought. She turned as he approached, flying toward him as soon as he set foot in the garden. She threw herself into his arms, half laughing and half crying as she saw her beloved for the first time in five years.
"Syaoran, where have you been? I've waited forever and a day for you." Sakura whispered, still clinging to Syaoran's neck. She buried her nose in his russet hair, inhaling his masculine scent.
Syaoran's arms tightened around her back. "Sorry, love. I promise, we'll never be apart for that long again." Especially since he would talk to Menami about buying the house as soon as he went back up.
Syaoran told Sakura about graduation, about college life, about the classes he took. Sakura laughed and smiled, with a look of such curiosity in her eyes you'd think she'd never experienced it for herself. Syaoran told her about his roommate in the dorms last year, and how glad he was to have his own apartment his year, all to himself.
They watched the tide come in, and watched a few boats meander by on the ocean. As the sun set, Syaoran was reluctant to leave. It really had been a long time, he realized. He'd missed her a great deal. Besides, Sakura's smile was enough sunshine for him. It warmed him better than any ray of sunlight.
Eventually, Syaoran returned to the house. He heard Menami's voice as he stepped though the front door, and wondered who was visiting. He sought the source of the voice, and found her on the phone.
"Who was it?" Syaoran asked as Menami hung up.
"Oh, there you are child. That was the realtor. Someone offered to buy this old place about a week ago. It seems he's real urgent to get it. There's just a little more paperwork, and it's all settled. "
