Disclaimer: Characters in this fiction, except for Tanako Kyoichi, all belong to CLAMP. Tanako Kyoichi belongs to the author.
Dedication: To all those who continue reading my fiction. Thanks for putting up with the grammar and spelling errors, and for putting up with the almost plot less series. One day I'll be able to present you with a National Bestseller. *wink wink*
Beyond All Words
Chapter Eight Conversations
hitokiri_tomoe
"Kinomoto-san, where are your parents?" Syaoran asked. It was one of his now frequent visits to the piano room, and as usual, Sakura and Syaoran were seated on couches opposite each other, he talking, she listening and scribbling.
Sakura's ever present smile suddenly disappeared and the life went out of her radiant green eyes.
They're dead. She had scribbled slowly on a piece of paper.
"Gomennasai... I didn't know..."
I'm sorry, too. Of course you wouldn't know. I never told you. It was a long time ago that I can't even clearly remember.
But he knew she was lying. He can still see the deep hurt in her eyes. He felt guilty, as if he had caused the pain. On impulse, he hugged a rigid Sakura, holding her close.
"I'm sorry, princess, I really am," he whispered in her ear.
Abruptly, she pulled away, her face hard.
Let's talk about something else.
Syaoran just shrugged, but a million questions flooded his head.
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
"Matane, Kinomoto-san," Syaoran said and closed the door. He turned and saw that Yukito was waiting.
"Can we talk?" he asked quietly. Syaoran nodded and he led the younger guy to a garden near the music hall.
"Have you ever asked her about our parents, Li-san?" he asked suddenly, as if they have been talking about this for a long time now.
Syaoran nodded, unsure where this was leading to. Yukito saw the look in the boy's eyes and sighed.
"Well, I might as well tell you since she won't."
He looked at Syaoran for a moment before continuing. "Our parents died. Five years ago. My imouto was only 13."
"Why are you telling me this?" Syaoran didn't now why, but there was panic swelling up in his chest and it showed in his voice.
Yukito stopped and looked up at the sky for awhile. The sun was almost setting, painting the sky with its rich orange color.
"Because... I think, no, I believe that you can help her. Five years has passed, and not a word has passed her lips. All because of what happened. It was that night, Sakura-chan didn't--"
"I don't want to know." Syaoran said, abruptly, his face an expressionless mask.
Yukito looked at him with an incredulous expression for a minute, and then smiled. It was not a cheerful smile, and remorse clearly showed in his eyes.
"Suit yourself. Mata ne, Li-san."
Syaoran ran away from him, as if he were being chased by a pack of wild dogs. He looked after him, feeling as if he had lost a battle.
"And I had so much faith in you..."
---------- ---------- ---------
The phone rang loudly in the Li Mansion. Syaoran picked it up, since he was near an extension.
"Li Residence."
"Li-kun! Is Meilin-chan there?"
"Oy! Tomoyo-chan! Hai, she's here." He pushed a button. A few moments later someone picked up an extension.
"Moshi moshi."
"Meilin-chan"
"Tomoyo-chan..."
"Talk to you later, Li-kun," Tomoyo said, and Syaoran hung up. He paced around the living room for awhile, not understanding his behavior with Yukito. He sighed several times. He thought it over for a quarter of an hour, but still could find no answer. Suddenly, the buzzer rang, jarring his nerves. He picked up the phone.
"Moshi moshi."
"Li-kun! I wanted to talk to you!"
"Just finished talking with my cousin?"
"Hai."
"Don't you girls ever think of the phone bill?"
"Very funny, Li-kun. We weren't talking that long. You might just be... distracted."
Syaoran flinched. It's as if this girl knew what he was feeling. "So what did you want to talk to me about?"
There was an uncomfortable silence at the other end of the line.
"Tomoyo-chan? Are you there?"
"Hai," Silence again. "Li-kun?"
"Nani?"
"Is--is everything alright between you and Meilin-chan?'
"Iie. But it's nothing new, and you know that. We've always been this way."
"Hai," Tomoyo sounded unconvinced.
"Doushite?"
"It's just that--" he heard Tomoyo take a deep breath before continuing. "Well, Meilin-chan told me about the girl in the cafe You do remember her, don't you?"
He was silent. He heard Tomoyo breathe a sigh of relief.
"I guess Meilin-chan's jealousy isn't serious, if you can't even remember. Well, I guess I better go now. Ja--"
"Tomoyo-chan?"
"Hai?"
"That girl," he paused, wondering if he should continue, "That girl."
"Hai?"
"That girl was... Kinomoto... Sakura."
Tomoyo gasped. "The mute girl?"
"Hai."
"Li-kun, I-I don't know what to say..."
"What's this all about, Tomoyo-chan?"
"I--I told you. Meilin's jealous. Very jealous," she paused, then suddenly blurted out, "Do you love Kinomoto Sakura, Li-kun?"
Syaoran blushed madly. "N--nani?"
But Tomoyo was dead serious. "Do you love Kinomoto Sakura?"
"I--aah..."
"Well?"
"She's, aah, a very special girl."
"But do you love her?"
"I--I don't know! Why ask me this?"
"Tomoyo ignored the question. "Do you love Meilin-chan?"
The blush on his face instantly disappeared. He sighed and said, "You know I do. But I love her as I love an imouto, not--"
"Then break the engagement!"
"Nani?!"
"It's the only way, Li-kun. You have to release her from this madness!!"
"But--but I can't!!!"
"Doushite?!"
"I... I can't tell you, but I just can't... Onegai, Tomoyo-chan, don't ask me to do that, it is beyond my control."
"Oh, damn your pride, Li Syaoran!!!"
He sighed. "Oyasuminasai, Tomoyo-chan."
She clicked off.
---------- ---------- ---------
To be continued...
Author's Notes: Tomoyo' may be a bit OOC, but I am, at least trying to, bring a new life to these characters. If you've been reading this particular series, the story has nothing to do with the original storyline of Card Captor Sakura. There is no mention here of Kero-chan or any sort of mahou. In a way, this story just borrows Card Captor Sakura Characters, Tomoeda, and weaves another tale.