Okay, I have to admit...that Characters aren't mine and the plot line isn't really mine either. I was listening to the radio and I heard this lovely song that gave me the idea. The song was written by Rupert Holmes (I think) but as of right now I'm not going to tell you any more. I don't want to ruin the story line!!!!
Chapter 2
When Sakura woke the next morning and looked over at Syaoran, she had to smile. He always slept in a sort of half circle as if he wanted to protect something even in his sleep. It looked so cute, his brown hair curling just so across his forehead and hand resting casually over her side. She felt so safe wrapped in those arms.
And with that thought, Sakura rose from the 'safe' cocoon without disturbing her—boyfriend? He always slept at least an hour later then she.
Pulling on a cute navy blue skirt and white turtleneck, she thought about that title. Boyfriend. It implied so many things, security, love, dependability, someone to cry on, a person to listen to the horrible things and make them better. So many girls loved using that term, delighted in the connection that went with it. Sakura pulled back her hair in a pony tail and put her shoes on. But those girls had limited dreams and pathetic hopes. Once that term is put into use so many privileges were lost. It had been nearly a year since Sakura had introduced Syaoran using that word. In fact she hardly ever thought of him as a boyfriend. Even stranger, she rarely thought of him.
Sakura let out a little giggle. In all her life she could never really leave Syaoran, so ingrained in her was he.
Speaking of ingrained, Sakura walked into the kitchen and automatically reached into the second draw on the left, pulled out the smallest spoon, and paced over to the coffee pot. She cocked her head and looked at the pot as it bubbled and churned, almost done. Just like every other morning, she pulled down the carnation creamer, put two little spoonfuls of it into an empty cup, and waited.
Talk about routine. While the coffee finished brewing, she thought about just skipping down to the nearest Starbucks and grabbing a cappuccino. She'd never done that before, but it sounded like such a good idea and for several minutes Sakura could almost taste her fantasy.
Shaking her head, she poured the coffee in the cup and stirred it twice with the little spoon. Sipping from the mug, Sakura giggled softly with one last thought about the cappuccino. Maybe some other day.
Syaoran did indeed wake an hour later and he too went through the morning routine without thought. Wearing a pair of blue jeans and a green polo shirt for casual Friday, he ambled down to the bus stop.
Ah, the bus station, the only good way to travel in a real city. With so many people congesting the roads, only the subway and bus remained reliable. Besides all those ugly, over-priced cars spent more time polluting the air then moving. Syaoran preferred good old reliable public transportation. At least, that was the argument that Syaoran used when confronted by Eriol who loved his car second only to his wife.
Preferring to stand rather than sit on the cold stone bench, Syaoran watched the number two bus go rumbling past. For some reason it always came before the number seven bus, the one he wanted. Two other men joined him during the wait.
"Best damn architect out there, but has he ever heard of matching his ties?"
"Or wearing them in the right season. Valentine's Day isn't for another month and yesterday he had a bunch of chubby cupids."
"And that's not the worst part. I know for a fact they're real ties, not any stupid clip on's!"
"Maybe he wears them for his wife. A guy'll do crazy things for his wife."
"You forget, I work with Crazy Joe and I know he's not married."
"But who in their right mind would wear such a thing?"
The bus pulled up.
"Crazy Joe." The first guy said as he boarded.
Syaoran climbed in last of all the passengers, also contemplating Crazy Joe. Joe didn't get on for another tow stops and so Syaoran had plenty of time to think. When Joe first started ridding about six months ago, Syaoran had thought him the biggest (for lack of a better word) geek ever. But then it started to dawn on him, that maybe Joe wore those ties as a way to do something different every day, a way to escape the monotony of the ordinary.
So while the others mocked and jeered him behind hands and in whispered voices Syaoran silently idolized the man. Crazy Joe had the gall to do something spontaneous. How many people could say they went out of their way every day to break up the sameness? Certainly not Syaoran.
When Crazy Joe got on, two stops later, Syaoran smiled at the man's shinny red tie with two toucans and three pineapples on it. That smile disappeared as soon as he realized the only empty seat was next to him. Of course, Crazy Joe made a bee line for that seat. And he was notorious for his bus seat chats.
"Ate at Joe's Crab Shack this morning and man will that stuff not settle right in the stomach. But the crab sausage is absolutely to die for. You ever eaten there?"
Syaoran shook his head, never had and never had intentions on it either.
"Well, you're missing out man. You can get a full fish breakfast, salmon pancakes, crab sausage, briskets and clam gravy. Good stuff. Course, that's probably why I'm not on the lean side. Eat there every morning you know. But you don't look like you eat too much." Crazy Joe poked him in the ribs. "No sir, not a once of fat on you."
Syaoran took pride in the fact that he worked out three times a week and weighed just over two hundred. No way would he spoil that figure for a fattening, nasty sounding meal.
Did he sound like Sakura?
Friday night, the best time of the work week in Syaoran's opinion. And spending that time in a new club sounded just as good. Of course Tomoyo, Eriol, Sakura, and a few other choice friends would join him as well. And that unfortunately meant good behavior all night for Syaoran.
He and Sakura sat on opposite sides of a table near the door, each sipping a merlot. Around them the rap music careened in deafening tones, but neither paid any mind to it. Syaoran was currently watching a luscious red head and her friends out on the dance floor. Sakura looked at everything without actually seeing any of it. Her mind remained locked on some unknown topic and refused to budge for the slightest thing.
After a few minutes she rose and whispered in Syaoran's ear "I see Tomoyo by the door. I'll be back soon."
"Take your time!" He called after her.
Once she disappeared around the corner, Syaoran rose and decided to ask the red head for a dance. Draining his glass with a smile, he strolled out onto the floor. Perhaps he could get away with something tonight.
Sakura had much the same idea, a distraction from the world around her, but not the same luck. On the way over to her chosen diversion, Tomoyo did in fact waylay her. So close to the bar that Sakura could practically smell it, but not close enough.
"Hey, Tomoyo!" She said, deciding to be happy. "Where's Eriol?"
"Getting some drinks. And Syaoran?"
But Sakura's words were lost as a new song started and Tomoyo didn't get a chance to ask again. Eriol appeared at her side and pushed a strawberry daiquiri into her hand first.
Sakura sighed inaudibly at the sight of the drink. Perhaps tonight wasn't the night to get a little drunk after all. "So Eriol, how're the kids?"
"Well, we just started a unit in myths and fairytales and their really getting into it. Of course, third graders are a lot more fun then freshmen."
"Aren't you glad I suggested it?" Tomoyo playfully punched him. "Besides, now I don't have to put up with him threatening horrible things on disobedient students. The third graders actually think he'll follow through with the threats where as the freshmen would laugh in his face and continue on."
"Ah yes," Eriol sighed blissfully looking off into the distance. "Now if only I could have one of my own creation." He began to inspect Tomoyo as if he hadn't looked at her before. "You look like a worthy assistant in this scheme. Perhaps we could go locate the janitors closet?"
"Eriol!" Tomoyo sounded slightly horrified but looked absolutely willing to help.
"Excuse me Sakura, I'm taking my wife to a more quiet place." Eriol grabbed Tomoyo's hand and began leading her away.
"I'm sure it won't remain that way for long!" Sakura called after them before once again perusing the bar.
Syaoran sauntered over before she could actually move her feet. "So, have a nice chat with Tomoyo? I was hoping to catch a moment with Eriol."
"You just missed him." Sakura smiled. "He and Tomoyo just left to go reminisce over high school."
"I wonder where they'll find a janitors closet." Syaoran stifled a laugh.
Sakura smiled and shook her head. Eriol always could find a way to surprise everyone, even if they were suspecting. So she didn't find it hard to still see the romance between Tomoyo and him. But with the happy couple gone and the topic talked out, it left Syaoran and Sakura with a rather boring moment.
Nearly an hour later, Tomoyo watched Syaoran approached a startling red-head and lead her out onto the dance floor. She stared in utter confusion because Sakura also saw him, but did nothing. And it wasn't some casual little dance either. The whole situation baffled Tomoyo and caused her stomach to spin horribly. How could Sakura stand such a sight?
The longer she watched, the more frustrated Tomoyo became. After all, she wouldn't let another woman touch Eriol, let alone dance with him. Only one logical reason for Sakura and Syaoran' odd behavior registered with Tomoyo. They must have fallen out of love! And try as she might, Tomoyo could see not trace of passion between them.
That left only one option for her. "I'll make them fall back in love with each other!" She vowed.
Tomoyo sat at her desk late into the night, consulting books and thinking through plots. It had to be the perfect plan, one that could be executed flawlessly. Eriol had taught her a few things about scheming during their relationship. Although she couldn't plan one like him, Tomoyo did have a mean streak.
Tossing aside a romance novel for its redundancy, Tomoyo paced the study. She needed something original. Sakura would see right through a cliché and Syaoran would consider it a gift from someone else. If this had been a cartoon, Tomoyo would have paced a lovely moat in the floor by now.
And then she had an idea. Syaoran wasn't creative enough to come up with an original idea and so he would probably use the biggest cliché ever and Sakura would send him something romantic and probably written. That meant two things, roses and a love poem.
With that settled on, Tomoyo felt ready to retire. Unbeknownst to her, Eriol saw the wicked smile on her face as she climbed into bed. Something in that smile scared him and Eriol desperately hoped she wasn't planning anything for him. And he feared for the poor soul she had decided to turn her attention upon.
The usual Monday morning blues hit Sakura as she opened the door to her office. Sure, she loved her job and the people she worked with, but Monday just had a way of depressing even the happiest of people. After opening the door, she quickly shut it again without entering. The sight that office sent shivers down her spine.
When she dared to open it again, Sakura found herself almost knocked out by the smell of roses. Every surface and most of the floor had been covered with dozens and dozens of red roses. Over come by curiosity, Sakura began a search for a card.
Tomoyo knocked on her office door. "Oh my goodness, Sakura, who sent you all these roses?"
The cheeriness in Tomoyo's voice sent an odd tingling through Sakura's, even stranger then seeing all the roses. "I don't know. I haven't found a card yet." She continued rooting through the flowers, trying to ignore the little voice in the back of her head.
"Here it is!" Tomoyo called, delicately plucking the small square from its place by the door. "Awww, that's so sweet!" she squealed. "It says, from Your True Love. That's so cute!"
Sakura quickly snatched the card from Tomoyo's hand and quickly scanned the contents, all four words. Who could that mean? Certainly not Syaoran. He would never use the "L" word and he knew how cliché she thought it. Besides, it just didn't sound like his style. Perhaps...
A secret little smile curved upon Sakura's face and that happy little glow appeared on her cheeks. Tomoyo could just see her plot taking shape. It would work.
Meanwhile, Syaoran sat before his desk cursing the horror known as Monday. Along with Mondays he decided to curse his boss, co- workers, and that damn awful coffee machine that everyone else loved. God did he hate his work. The only thing he did like about it was that someone almost always had a paper he could borrow.
"Hey, Yamazaki, can I see your paper?"
"Sure, but I need the financial section right now."
"That's all right." Syaoran took the paper and opened it to the personal ads, not even bothering to hide it.
Right there in the middle of the page, he spotted His Ad and quickly scanned the words. At least if she was still running it that meant no one suitable had responded. He let out his breath and gave the paper back. Syaoran had another day to admire his adventurous crush.
Switching on his computer, the stupid machine announced to him and the rest of the world that he had mail. "Probably work updates." He muttered.
But mixed in with all of that crap he saw an e-mail from Sakura. Curious as to why she would send him an e-mail he quickly skimmed the contents.
Your words soothe me
My hurts dry up
A smile and a giggle peep out
With a brightened mood, I laugh
My hurts and tears dry up
Questions of my purpose disappear
With a brightened mood, I laugh
You have changed my day
Questions of my purpose disappear
While happiness to live consumes
You have changed my day
Now everything is different
While happiness to live consumes
You have changed my day
Now everything is different
A smile and a giggle peep out
I love you, Sakura
The poem sounded oddly familiar. But Sakura had certainly never written it; she hated sappy love poems. Besides, she would never send something unoriginal and she had not written it. So who had sent it? And why did they sign it with Sakura's name? But a better question, did he really care?
"It's for work Tomoyo. It's not a date!" Sakura yelled through the door. "Why did you come here today anyway?"
"It doesn't matter. The point is you have a dinner date with a male co-worker tonight. What would Syaoran say? I highly doubt he would approve."
"Why on earth did I give Tomoyo a house key? Sakura moaned as she did every time Tomoyo popped over unannounced.
"What would I say about what?" Syaoran asked, having just entered the apartment and caught the last words of Tomoyo's argument.
Sakura stepped out of the bedroom on a short green skirt, white tank top, and green swayed jacket. "I have a meeting with a co-worker tonight for dinner."
"A male co-worker." Tomoyo added.
"Okay then," Syaoran shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I'm on my own for dinner. Have fun, be productive."
Sakura smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks." She whispered while glaring at Tomoyo. "I'm on my way then. Bye."And she stepped outside.
Tomoyo looked at Syaoran, flabbergasted. "Umm, Sakura asked me to bring some books over for her. I'll just leave them here." She said hesitantly before also leaving.
"Since when has she needed an excuse to come here?" Syaoran shook his head and walked into the kitchen. "At least she's gone now." A whole evening just to himself lay ahead and he knew just what to do with it.
Popping a TV dinner in the microwave, Syaoran skipped over to his laptop, accidentally knocking the pile of books Tomoyo had brought over.
Sighing he began to straighten them up. "The Idiots Guide to Sex? Love Poems?" He continued to look through them. "Why on Earth would Sakura want these?"
The microwave beeped in the background but Syaoran sat on the floor and contemplated the books. Wait a minute, Tomoyo brought them over. And then it clicked. The e-mail. Tomoyo knew Sakura's e-mail address and password, she wrote the poem a couple of months ago for Eriol for their anniversary, and she brought the books by.
"Well, isn't she just a little nosy." He mumbled. Obviously Tomoyo thought something was wrong between him and Sakura and she wanted to fix it. "That's just great."
Grabbing the TV dinner, Syaoran sat in front of his laptop determined not to think about Tomoyo or Sakura. Taking a bite of the rice he started to type an e-mail of his own.
"Yes I like Pina Coladas, And getting caught in the rain, I'm not much into health food, I am into champagne, I've got to meet you by tomorrow noon, And cut through all this red tape, At a bar called O'Malley's, Where we'll plan out escape."
Pressing the send button, another message popped up on the screen. "It may take up to twenty-four hours for this message to be received and another twenty-four hours to be printed in the paper. Thank you for your patience."
Now all he had to do was wait.
OH NO! They've caught onto Tomoyo's PLAN!!!!!! What will happen now? Tomoyo may have just gotten in over her head. Will anyone bail her out? And what about that Ad Syaoran keeps obsessing over? Will he met the girl? What do you think?