Chapter Fourteen: (Hidden)
"...I love you Sakura!"
The young girl stood motionless with the expensive kimono still in her arms. She wanted to reply... say something... anything... but he had said so much, and it was such an extensive amount of information that she had to take in. What could she possibly say? To her, this guy whose back her eyes were transfixed on, had only walked into her life yesterday and whisked her away from the only life she knew to this luxurious mansion. Now he was telling her that she had been here before and he had led her to starve herself into a breakdown but he was sorry and he loved her.
"Love me? But you don't even know me?"
He walked away from the window and moved to sit on the bed the whole time that he moved he made sure that his eyes didn't meet hers.
"I know this must be hard for you to take in, but I do know you. The memory you had before was when my parents brought you from the teahouse for my birthday. I know that sounds bad, but really I had nothing to do with it. I don't want to own you I just want to be near you."
"So, let me get this straight, I lived her before as your geisha?"
"Well, yes, that was why you arrived here, but it was different from that..."
"Did I love you?"
Syaoran's head jerked up quickly and he looked squarely at Sakura, letting her see that his face was glowing red. His mind started searching for an answer.
Did she love me? I... I think so. Maybe I was wrong.
"I'm not sure" He managed to mumble. With that he stood up, straightened his jacket and regained his powerful posture that she had witnessed when he had first changed into the suit.
"I'm sorry, but I have to go, before mother comes looking for me. I'm sorry I brought all this up – it all must be very confusing for you. Please try not to work yourself up over it though, it doesn't matter that you don't remember yet, give it time. I will be back later on this evening. Try and get some rest, and do not under any circumstances leave this room. People can't see you, ok? I'll explain that later."
Without further ado, Syaoran opened the door to the main house and quickly slipped out.
Sakura spend the whole morning thinking over all that had been said. She had even laid out the kimono on the bed and kept returning to it, thinking it may bring back some more memories. It hadn't. The only thing brought on by all her hard work trying to remember was a very painful migraine. Deciding to give her mind a rest and headed for the shower.
Stepping into the warm running water, Sakura let all her thoughts pour out of her mind and merge with free flowing liquid that eventually vanished down the plug hole. It was a great relief to wash away her failed attempts at remembering what has passed and finally turn her attentions to another matter.
Closing her eyes, Sakura gave into a daydream that had been manifesting itself since seeing Syaoran dripping wet from his shower. At the time she had tried to let the thought pass, but now it was back vividly in her thoughts and was not going to be pushed to the back of her mind without a fight. As the lather from the soap slowly ran down her body, it sent shivers across her skin as she imagined the soft touch to be his hands gently touching the base of her back.
She wanted his arms around her, holding her, and she had no idea why. Just knowing he was there would be enough, standing behind her, arms giving her support for her now wobbly legs caused by the feeling of his warm breath on her neck. That then turned into soft warm kisses that trailed from the top of her back so the sides of her neck, before his lips came to rest planting small teasing kisses by her ear. As her fantasy raced steadily on in her mind, Sakura's breathing had got a lot heavier and she was searching for breath a lot faster than usual.
Suddenly the water ran cold, a harsh way of bringing Sakura back to reality.
What am I thinking!? She cursed herself for having such thoughts. Why would I think such things?
Quickly turning the facets to stop the now freezing water surging from the shower head, Sakura stepped out and wrapped herself in a soft fluffy towel. Her first instinct was stay how she was, with her body being caressed by such soft material, but she knew she had to get dressed in case Syaoran came back. Slipping on a simple pale green cotton kimono, she headed back to the main part of the bedroom.
However, upon slightly opening the door, Sakura was greeted by voices. Scared she might be found and cause trouble for Syaoran, she went to close the door again but hesitated when she heard what they were talking about and tried to position her head to see what was going on.
An old yet elegant looking maid, smartly dressed in a black kimono, had picked up the kimono Sakura had left on the bed, while another one, slightly shorter and a bit more plump made her way round the bed and was straightening the sheets and puffing the pillows.
"Looks like Master Li was thinking about that girl again. Recently I keep finding more and more of her clothes making their way to his closet." The old of the two maids carefully placed the kimono on a hanger and replaced it hanging up with the other items she was talking about.
"Poor girl, do you think her memory will ever come back? From what I've heard everyone around her took a liking to her, I just wish I could have met her."
"Oh yes, she was the sweetest girl you'll ever meet. It was so sad when she stopped eating. We all tried to help her but she put on such a brave face. Maybe one day she'll be back, I know that would please Master Li. Then again, maybe it would cause more pain for him if she returned. Maybe he needs to move on and take an interest in the girls suggested by M' Lady."
"I know. It must be horrid to live under such rules and regulations. I've heard it's common for men to fall for their Geisha's but most often they are the greedy type that are quite happy to have them as a mistress while taking a wife as well."
"Master Li is not like that. He's very serious about who he gets close to, not just anyone will do. Even when he was younger it took him months to accept me as his nanny. Plus, rumours say that he is still refusing to even meet with the young ladies that his mother proposes. I think he'll..."
The sentence faded as the conversation continued outside the room as the maids carried on with their rounds. Taking it as an all clear, Sakura entered the bedroom, heaving a sigh of relief that she was not found.
That woman seemed to have known me as well. Why can't I remember any of this?
It seemed that she had been a bit pre-emptive in giving herself the go- ahead as she only had only just made it back to the windows when the bedroom door opened once again. The figure that entered was tall and slim. His slender framed glasses gave him an air of intelligence which also seemed endorsed by his general style. His overall appearance reminded Sakura of customers she had meet over the past few months with all the parties she had attended, ones that boosted to having had a good education and were now in high paying and extremely intellectual jobs.
His facial expression showed only the slightest twitch at the shock of finding someone in Syaoran's room, even though, unbeknownst to Sakura, he knew exactly who she was, it was one of the last sights he had expected to see. This expression was short lived as he rapidly regained his calm and collected composure. His gaze did not move off of Sakura who now seemed to resemble a deer caught in a car's headlights as she silently cursed herself for being found.
After what seemed like an eternity, Eriol opened his mouth to speak.
"Would you care to explain?"
"...I love you Sakura!"
The young girl stood motionless with the expensive kimono still in her arms. She wanted to reply... say something... anything... but he had said so much, and it was such an extensive amount of information that she had to take in. What could she possibly say? To her, this guy whose back her eyes were transfixed on, had only walked into her life yesterday and whisked her away from the only life she knew to this luxurious mansion. Now he was telling her that she had been here before and he had led her to starve herself into a breakdown but he was sorry and he loved her.
"Love me? But you don't even know me?"
He walked away from the window and moved to sit on the bed the whole time that he moved he made sure that his eyes didn't meet hers.
"I know this must be hard for you to take in, but I do know you. The memory you had before was when my parents brought you from the teahouse for my birthday. I know that sounds bad, but really I had nothing to do with it. I don't want to own you I just want to be near you."
"So, let me get this straight, I lived her before as your geisha?"
"Well, yes, that was why you arrived here, but it was different from that..."
"Did I love you?"
Syaoran's head jerked up quickly and he looked squarely at Sakura, letting her see that his face was glowing red. His mind started searching for an answer.
Did she love me? I... I think so. Maybe I was wrong.
"I'm not sure" He managed to mumble. With that he stood up, straightened his jacket and regained his powerful posture that she had witnessed when he had first changed into the suit.
"I'm sorry, but I have to go, before mother comes looking for me. I'm sorry I brought all this up – it all must be very confusing for you. Please try not to work yourself up over it though, it doesn't matter that you don't remember yet, give it time. I will be back later on this evening. Try and get some rest, and do not under any circumstances leave this room. People can't see you, ok? I'll explain that later."
Without further ado, Syaoran opened the door to the main house and quickly slipped out.
Sakura spend the whole morning thinking over all that had been said. She had even laid out the kimono on the bed and kept returning to it, thinking it may bring back some more memories. It hadn't. The only thing brought on by all her hard work trying to remember was a very painful migraine. Deciding to give her mind a rest and headed for the shower.
Stepping into the warm running water, Sakura let all her thoughts pour out of her mind and merge with free flowing liquid that eventually vanished down the plug hole. It was a great relief to wash away her failed attempts at remembering what has passed and finally turn her attentions to another matter.
Closing her eyes, Sakura gave into a daydream that had been manifesting itself since seeing Syaoran dripping wet from his shower. At the time she had tried to let the thought pass, but now it was back vividly in her thoughts and was not going to be pushed to the back of her mind without a fight. As the lather from the soap slowly ran down her body, it sent shivers across her skin as she imagined the soft touch to be his hands gently touching the base of her back.
She wanted his arms around her, holding her, and she had no idea why. Just knowing he was there would be enough, standing behind her, arms giving her support for her now wobbly legs caused by the feeling of his warm breath on her neck. That then turned into soft warm kisses that trailed from the top of her back so the sides of her neck, before his lips came to rest planting small teasing kisses by her ear. As her fantasy raced steadily on in her mind, Sakura's breathing had got a lot heavier and she was searching for breath a lot faster than usual.
Suddenly the water ran cold, a harsh way of bringing Sakura back to reality.
What am I thinking!? She cursed herself for having such thoughts. Why would I think such things?
Quickly turning the facets to stop the now freezing water surging from the shower head, Sakura stepped out and wrapped herself in a soft fluffy towel. Her first instinct was stay how she was, with her body being caressed by such soft material, but she knew she had to get dressed in case Syaoran came back. Slipping on a simple pale green cotton kimono, she headed back to the main part of the bedroom.
However, upon slightly opening the door, Sakura was greeted by voices. Scared she might be found and cause trouble for Syaoran, she went to close the door again but hesitated when she heard what they were talking about and tried to position her head to see what was going on.
An old yet elegant looking maid, smartly dressed in a black kimono, had picked up the kimono Sakura had left on the bed, while another one, slightly shorter and a bit more plump made her way round the bed and was straightening the sheets and puffing the pillows.
"Looks like Master Li was thinking about that girl again. Recently I keep finding more and more of her clothes making their way to his closet." The old of the two maids carefully placed the kimono on a hanger and replaced it hanging up with the other items she was talking about.
"Poor girl, do you think her memory will ever come back? From what I've heard everyone around her took a liking to her, I just wish I could have met her."
"Oh yes, she was the sweetest girl you'll ever meet. It was so sad when she stopped eating. We all tried to help her but she put on such a brave face. Maybe one day she'll be back, I know that would please Master Li. Then again, maybe it would cause more pain for him if she returned. Maybe he needs to move on and take an interest in the girls suggested by M' Lady."
"I know. It must be horrid to live under such rules and regulations. I've heard it's common for men to fall for their Geisha's but most often they are the greedy type that are quite happy to have them as a mistress while taking a wife as well."
"Master Li is not like that. He's very serious about who he gets close to, not just anyone will do. Even when he was younger it took him months to accept me as his nanny. Plus, rumours say that he is still refusing to even meet with the young ladies that his mother proposes. I think he'll..."
The sentence faded as the conversation continued outside the room as the maids carried on with their rounds. Taking it as an all clear, Sakura entered the bedroom, heaving a sigh of relief that she was not found.
That woman seemed to have known me as well. Why can't I remember any of this?
It seemed that she had been a bit pre-emptive in giving herself the go- ahead as she only had only just made it back to the windows when the bedroom door opened once again. The figure that entered was tall and slim. His slender framed glasses gave him an air of intelligence which also seemed endorsed by his general style. His overall appearance reminded Sakura of customers she had meet over the past few months with all the parties she had attended, ones that boosted to having had a good education and were now in high paying and extremely intellectual jobs.
His facial expression showed only the slightest twitch at the shock of finding someone in Syaoran's room, even though, unbeknownst to Sakura, he knew exactly who she was, it was one of the last sights he had expected to see. This expression was short lived as he rapidly regained his calm and collected composure. His gaze did not move off of Sakura who now seemed to resemble a deer caught in a car's headlights as she silently cursed herself for being found.
After what seemed like an eternity, Eriol opened his mouth to speak.
"Would you care to explain?"