A/N: Yes, I made my December deadline!!! Hehehe… Btw, I'm hoping that by next year I can update this on a 2 weeks basis… I guess you can say that I wanna finish this a.s.a.p. coz I really really really want to concentrate on Perfect NOT which is giving me a hell of a headache… btw, I need your guys help… do you think I should delete two of my fics, Comfort(Yami no) and Opposites Attract(Yu-Gi-Oh) or give it a chance? It's just that I can't seem to think of where Comfort is going and Opposites Attract, well let's just say I have no inspiration to write it anymore… SetoxSerenity fics just don't click with me…
Before I forget, I wanna specially thank and dedicate this to my aunt who helped me with this chappie which takes places in the States and well, I haven't set a single foot anywhere near U.S. yet so there… Btw, reply to my reviews:
Shinoa Yuuki: I guess you can say my muse is finally starting to forgive me from always overworking her… lol
Crazy-Silly-Me: hahaha I like the song!!! Poor Sanzo though…
Cheerful-angel57: I still owe you a heck lot of reviews!!!
EviL Punk Not: Oops… oh yeah I forgot it was spelled that way… yeah laro uli tayo! Lalo na sa science! Boring c shrek eh!!!
Cherrysinger: I'm so touched… Btw, thanks for pointing that out to me… I'll be sure to change it… thanks again!
Disclaimer: Standard… and btw, don't own Perky Piranha and the Clarion Hotel
Unexpected Meeting
By: dreameaterishungry(for reviews that is…)
"Passengers for flight 501, heading for the United States… please proceed to terminal 4b" the intercom cackled.
Syaoran carried his luggage and headed to the said terminal. "Well," he said to himself, "this is it."
--
"Seat L8, seat L8…" Syaoran mumbled to himself, glancing at the seat labels now and then.
"May I help you sir," a stewardess asked, a cheerful smile on her face.
'Doesn't she ever stop smiling?" Syaoran wondered. "Um, yeah, I was wondering if you would kindly direct me to my seat," Syaoran answered politely.
"May I see you ticket sir?" she asked.
Syaoran handed her his ticket. "Over here, sir," she said, motioning her to a window seat a few rows behind.
Syaoran gave her his thanks and headed to his seat. Once seated, he took out a piece of napkin with something written on it from his pocket.
FLASHBACK
Suddenly, Tomoyo opened her shoulder bag and was fishing for something inside. She took out a pen and began scribbling something at a piece of napkin. After she was done, she handed this to me. Syaoran looked at her questioningly. She just smiled.
"I think what you really need right now, is a relaxing vacation, don't you think? I hear it's pretty nice in the States this time of year... I have a friend over there… I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you drop by and visit… Tell her I said hi, okay?" she said.
END OF FLASHBACK.
He read the address again:
Sakura Kinomoto
#595 Cherry St.
cor. East 6th street
Chattanooga, TN, U.S. 1
'Cherry street, huh?' Syaoran thought, a smirk playing on my lips, 'how ironic…'
Suddenly, the movement of the plane jolted him out of his thoughts. 'I'm finally leaving…' I mused, taking another glance at the piece of napkin in my hands.
'Thank you Tomoyo…' he thought, "I really appreciate this…" And with that, he stared out the window, taking one last look at Tomoeda before again, leaving home.
Syaoran's POV
It had been I-don't-know-for-how-long since the plane had left Tomoeda. I must've fallen asleep for I had heard from a nearby passenger telling him companion that we're almost there. I groaned, rubbing my stiff neck. I looked out the plane window and silently gasped, awed at the sight outside.
America was nothing like I'd ever imagined before. It was full of tall buildings, skyscrapers they call it. It actually looked like Hong Kong, except well, there're more buildings and heavy traffic.
'Passengers, please put on your seatbelts. We are about to land.'
I buckled on my seatbelt, preparing for the slight impact of the landing. After a few minutes, having finally landed on American soil, I got ready to leave the plane.
As I walked out the tunnel connecting the plane and the airport, I was greeted by an attendant. "Welcome to Hartsfield International Airport2, sir" she greeted with a cheerful smile.
I just nodded my head in acknowledgement, giving her a small smile. After collecting my luggage and passed through the customs with much difficulty because of the huge crowd and long lines, I headed outside to hail a taxi, exhausted to the bone.
I sighed. You can do this Syaoran. Just another 1 ½ drive and you're finally in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Fortunately, though the airport was very crowded, there were lots of taxis already waiting for passengers outside, making it easy for me to hail one.
I climbed in the backseat after putting away my luggage in the trunk. The driver looked at me through the rearview mirror. "Where to, sir?" he asked, his voice gruff.
"The Clarion Hotel in Chestnut Street, Chattanooga3," I replied.
"Yes sir," he answered. "You better get comfortable sir," he added.
I looked at him, puzzled by his statement. "And why is that?" I asked.
"Because it'll take us an hour and a half to get to Chattanooga," he said.
Inwardly, I groaned. "I see…" I replied, a hint of exasperation in my voice.
The 1 ½ hour drive seemed to drag on. It seemed like an eternity before I reached Chattanooga, but I finally did.
'Finally… Wait for me, Sakura…'
Sakura's POV
I shut my eyes, trying to block the peering rays of sunlight shining through my window. Failing to do so, I throw my blanket over my head. I've never really been a morning person. I peeked out of the covers to look at the time, 10: 30 a.m. Here it comes…
'Three… two… one…'
"Sakura! Wake up you, monster!" came Touya's voice, or should I say my wake up call, from the kitchen.
I groaned. I hated it when he called her that. It was still tolerable when we were younger but I'm 17 now, for Pete's sake! I'm not a kid anymore. I guess it's true what they say, some habits just die hard.
"Don't call me that!" I retorted, reluctantly climbing out of bed.
After taking a steaming shower and getting dressed, I headed downstairs for breakfast. "Good morning…" I said, yawning in the process.
"Morning…" Touya replied. "Here…" he said, placing a plate of omelet on the table.
"Omelet! My favorite! Thanks Onii-chan!" I exclaimed, slipping in my seat.
"Where's dad?" I asked Touya in between bites.
"He's out and don't talk with your mouth full…"
Silence.
"So will you be staying home today, Sakura?"
"Nah, I got a date"
"Does dad know?"
"Yeah… I asked him a few nights ago…"
"So what time will Kyle pick you up?"
"11 p.m."
"You better hurry then…"
I looked at him, puzzled. He then, pointed to the wall clock. I glanced at it, double taking when I saw the time. "Yikes, it's already 10:45! He'll be here any minute!" I exclaimed, stuffing the last of the omelet and washing it down with a glass of orange juice. I placed my plate and glass in the sink and hurried back upstairs to get dressed.
"Don't worry, if he comes early, I'll stall," Touya exclaimed.
"Thanks!" I yelled from my room.
I threw open my closet, trying to decide on what to wear. After much deliberation, I settled for a yellow sundress, a pair of high heeled open-toed sandals whose straps are to be wound around one's ankles, a light brown choker and a small sunflower clip to top it all of. As I modeled my outfit in front of the mirror, I heard a knock from the door.
"Come in..."
"Sakura," Touya said, stepping in my room, "Kyle's here…"
"Okay," I replied, checking my reflection on more time before heading down to meet up with Kyle.
I rushed down the stairs. Kyle was seated in the living room, a bouquet of flowers in hand.
"Hey Kyle!" I greeted cheerfully.
He stood up from the couch. "Sakura, hey. You look wonderful…" he whispered, handing me the bouquet of flowers.
I smiled. "Thanks. Ummm… let me just find a vase for this… I swear Kyle… we've been having a serious shortage of vases recently…"
He laughed. "So I take you got the last bouquet I sent you a few days ago?"
"Yes, they were absolutely beautiful…"
"Just like my girl…" he said softly, his hand brushing against my cheek.
"Here, let me get that for you Sakura," Touya interrupted, taking the flowers, "you guys go ahead, have fun okay? And be home by dinner, Sakura!"
"Yeah… Bye, Touya!" I said, before heading out the door.
For a while, no words were exchanged between the two of us. "He's changed, you know…" Kyle said, "Touya, I mean… He isn't giving me those mean and suspicious glares anymore like he used to when we started dating"
"I guess he's starting to trust you…" I replied, "he can get a little overprotective you know… he just doesn't show it very much anymore… You should've seen him when we were still living in Japan. Boy was I in his short leash. Every time, Syaoran… "
Suddenly, it was as if I've lost my voice. I stopped walking. I felt my chest tighten up and tears were threatening to fall from eyes any minute now. Kyle looked at me, worry written all over his face. "Sakura, are you alright?" he asked, obviously concerned, "Is there something wrong? Maybe we should just cancel today…"
I gulped down my tears and forced a smile. I shook my head. "No… I'm fine…It's nothing to worry about…" I reassured him.
He seemed to have bought it. "Okay, but if you feel sick or anything..," his voice trailed of.
I let out a small giggle. "You worry too much Kyle…" I remarked.
He smiled sheepishly. "I can't help it… Anyway, where do you want to go?"
"I'm a little hungry"
He let out a small chuckle. "How about we grab some ice cream and maybe some coffee?"
I beamed at this and nodded at his suggestion. Soon we found ourselves outside the quaint café of Perky Piranha Cafe4. Kyle pushed open the door and soon, our nostrils were filled with the sweet scent of coffee. We picked a table near the window. Kyle, as usual, pulled a chair for me to sit in.
"Thanks…" I said, giving him a smile.
"No problem," he replied, "I'll be right back, okay?"
I nodded in reply. While waiting for Kyle to come back with our food, I stared out the window and before I knew it, I was lost in my thoughts.
Syaoran's POV
I paid the driver and stepped out of the cab, my behind sore from all the sitting. I grabbed my luggage and made my way into the Clarion Hotel. After checking in, I stepped into the elevator and headed to my room. I casually placed my luggage on the bed. My footsteps muffled on the soft carpeted floor as I made my way to the window. I drew the curtains and what I saw made me gasp. Chattanooga was beautiful.
Without a moment's hesitation, I left the room and boarded the elevator. As I pushed the heavy glass doors of the hotel, I felt as I have suddenly stepped into a modern Garden of Eden. I breathed, letting the fresh smell of Chattanooga fill my lungs. With a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips, I started walking along the streets of Chattanooga, enjoying the Scenic City5.
After walking for quite a while, I decided to grab a bite to eat. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a little café.
"Perky Piranha Café" I read. As I crossed the street, I suddenly noticed a familiar face inside the café.
'Sakura…'
Sakura's POV
I was fiddling with the tablecloth, anxious for Kyle to return. I looked at the counter and saw that he was already ordering. I turned my gaze back to the window, and suddenly, it seemed that time stopped. The restaurant seemed to have disappeared completely, leaving only me, sitting on a chair and the object or rather, the person that caught my attention, standing a few feet away from me.
'I don't believe my eyes. It can't be…' I thought to myself, rubbing my eyes. I pinched myself to make sure I was not just dreaming but this only brought about a small reddening spot on my arm.
"Syaoran…" I whispered, standing up.
Kyle approached me, carrying a tray with a slice of cake and two cups of coffee. 'Sakura, what's wrong?" he asked, following my gaze to see what could've caught my attention like that.
But I didn't notice any of this. Wasting no time, I ran out of the café to meet Syaoran. "Syaoran!" I exclaimed, snapping him out of his trance. I ran towards him and into his arms.
"Sakura…" he whispered, surprised by my sudden action. But he didn't seem to mind for the next thing I knew, I felt two powerful arms hugging me back.
I buried my face into his chest, careful to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. At that moment, I have forgotten everything. It was perfect, it was like a dream come true.
"Syaoran… I missed you so much…" I whispered into his chest.
I felt him stroking my hair. "I missed you too… Sakura…" he said softly, his voice filled with care, gentleness and love.
"Sakura!" I heard someone exclaim, ruining the moment. Turning to the owner of the voice, my eyes widened.
'Oh no! I forgot about Kyle!' I thought, panicked.
"Sakura, who's this?" Syaoran asked, a hint of irritation in his voice.
"Maybe I should be the one asking you that," Kyle replied, his voice unusually cold.
"Who are you anyway? A friend of Sakura's" Syaoran spat, his expression reflecting that of anger.
"Oh, we're more than that…" Kyle answered casually, a smirk on his face. "In case Sakura hasn't informed you yet, I'm her boyfriend…" he added, grabbing Sakura by her arm.
T.B.C.
1 This is just a random address… though it really exists! I just don't know who lives there…
2 Its an airport in Atlanta, Georgia.
3 This is a real hotel. It's a five star or so my sources claimed. It's located on Chestnut Street, Chattanooga a few streets west from Cherry Street.
4 Real coffee shop located in Chestnut Street.
5 It's the nickname of Chattanooga
A/N: Whew! That was pretty long… well that's all for now, people… I hope you enjoy! Oh, just a little note. The information there with the airport is true and I got someone to help me with that. The only things I'm not sure is the travel time between Japan and the States so I did not state it there; about the tunnel thing which I only added since Singapore, Australia and our country has that so I figured the States would also have that and lastly the taxis outside the airport. Usually there are, but I don't know for the States. If anything else there is wrong or something, please just inform me. And btw, sorry for the many notes thingies, you know the number's. Thanks.