Past Incarnation
by Ella
Chapter 2: Reunion
JAPAN
Sakura slowly skated next to her father. They were talking about the lecture and Fujitaka's plans for the future of Japan while heading toward home. They continued in this manner – Sakura's hand resting gently on her father's arm – until they were half way home. They had turned to take a path through a park without really noticing – it was Fujitaka's favorite place to relax.
Suddenly, Sakura let go of her father's arm and whipped around behind him. "Who are you and what do you want with my father?" she almost shouted at a young man about her age. She glared at him, willing him to answer to her liking yet daring him not to. She was ready for a fight. 'The nerve of him: following my father and I like that. Really, you'd think people would have a little more respect and just show themselves instead of sneaking up on others.' There was no way Sakura was going to let this young man hurt her father and she made sure he knew it.
After a couple long seconds a woman spoke up with just a hint of laughter in her voice, "Well done Ying Fa. I see your training has served you well." The woman had noted Sakura's roller blades and was impressed that the girl managed to stop so quickly when she turned with such force. Then again, her son had told her that the girl standing before them had been roller blading since she was little. "Very few people can sense my son when he is trying not to be noticed."
"Li Yelan?" Sakura asked. The woman nodded. A smile spread across Sakura's face as she bowed to the Decision Maker. "It is a pleasure to see you again. But, if you don't mind my asking, why are you here? Should you not be in Hong Kong right now?"
"We came for a social visit." Yelan replied, smiling at Sakura in return. "Although we may be staying longer then expected if my son continues to stand there with his jaw hanging open. Something tells me he did not expect you to notice his presence before he wanted you to," a small chuckle escaped from Yelan's lips as Sakura returned her attention to the young man in front of her.
"Li-kun?" Sakura noted that he did look rather shocked but, at the mention of his name, he snapped out of it and his eyes actually focused on the woman in front of him. "You're so much taller than the last time I saw you, I didn't recognize you. Then again, your hair should have given you away." Sakura giggled with her last line, remembering all the times she had teased her friend about his rather unruly hair.
"Yes it's me. And I'm not the only one who's grown…" the young man replied and then frowned. "But tell me, were we not friends before I left? I thought we were." He looked almost hurt.
Sakura tilted her head just a little, as if in thought. She was trying to determine the best way to answer his question. "Of course we were Syaoran-kun! I just didn't want to offend you. You are, after all, a member of the great Li clan and the son of a very wise Decision Maker. I am just – "
"Just? Sakura-san have you forgotten that you are a very powerful sorceress and the daughter of a well-respected Decision Maker?" For some reason, Syaoran couldn't stand hearing Sakura say that she was unimportant - it just seemed wrong.
Sakura was about to respond when Yelan cut in, "Children, please stop. If this continues much further, your parents will be blushing from all the flattery you are throwing their way." At this reprimand, both youths turned away with a slight rose tinge on their cheeks.
Fujitaka, who – to this point – had taken everything in stride, finally decided it was his turn to speak. "Well, if we are through with the delays, we should be on our way. I am sure Tomoyo-san will be waiting for us at the house. Would you care to join us for dinner?" he asked Yelan as he offered her his arm.
The lady nodded. "We would be honored to share a meal with you and your family." Having said that, Yelan took Fujitaka's offered arm and the two adults headed through the park to Fujitaka's home.
The two twenty-one-year-olds watched their parents in amazement, then shook off their wonder before looking at each other.
"Shall we?" Syaoran asked offering his arm.
"Of course," Sakura replied, smiling as she gracefully took his arm.
They both felt a little jolt as they touched. It was as though something familiar was trying to return but they both ignored it and started to discuss the nine years that had passed.
They were still following their parents – who were taking a very indirect route to the Kinomoto residence. Sakura, wanting to get a better look at the young man who had been a childhood friend, had started to skate backwards in front of him while they talked. 'He really did grow up quite handsome,' she thought as she automatically turned to cross a street, not really noticing the traffic.
Suddenly, Syaoran reached out, grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him. The force of the motion (which met with less friction because of Sakura's skates) caused her to crash into him and in her struggle to catch her balance, her arms wrapped around his neck. For a brief second, their lips met and they both felt the little jolt again.
As soon as Sakura regained her balance, she let go of Syaoran and turned around. To her astonishment, she saw a large truck passing by exactly where she would have been if Syaoran hadn't saved her. She turned to her savior, her wide green eyes filled with fear. "Thank you, Syaoran," she managed to say before tears overcame her.
Syaoran couldn't stand seeing Sakura looking so scared and her tears were enough to melt anyone's cold exterior. He gently wrapped his arms around her while quietly saying, "It's okay Sakura. I would never let anything hurt you. You're too important." He paused, wondering where that last comment had some from but shrugged it off. Then he made her look at him, "Everything will be okay Sakura, just please stop crying."
She gave him a watery smile and thanked him again as he wiped the tears from her face, hoping that he would see her smile happily again soon.
Neither teen noticed the two adults standing on the other side of the street, both deep in thought.
Fujitaka was thinking about how precious life is: especially that of his daughter who reminded him so much of his late wife. He was sinking into a world of 'what if?' where his only daughter was just hit by a truck. He saw despair wherever he looked. Life would become miserable for him and his son: there would be no joy or sunshine anymore. Just as he thought this, something pulled him out of his thoughts before his despair deepend so much that he would get stuck in them. He wondered how it happened and then, for just a fleeting moment, he could feel his wife's presence. He felt that she was telling him never to do that again. He smiled, knowing his wife was correct. Everything would be just fine. After all, his daughter was still alive thanks to the young man who had saved her life so many times before when they were younger.
Yelan noted her son's behavior with interest. In China, he was generally reserved, but here in Japan, he becaome a completely different person. He actually tried to sneak up on a friend in order to scare her. That was something he never did at home; he didn't even pull pranks on his older sisters as a child. He smiled earlier today and just now he had shown both embarrasment and compassion. Yelan chuckled, remembering the brief second when Sakura's lips had touched her son's. They were both too preoccupied to even notice, yet the astute mother could tell that Syaoran had felt something. She wouldn't be surprised if Sakura had felt something as well. 'Maybe staying in Japan for a while is exactly what he needs to bring out his sensitive side,' she thought as the two youths crossed the street.
Sakura raced to hug her father after she finally made it to the other side of the street. She had gone slowly and made Syaoran stick close to her the whole time, but now, she needed her father to know that she was still in one piece.
As Fujitaka held his daughter, Yelan asked, "Are you okay Sakura-san?"
Sakura smiled shakily and replied, "I'm not hurt, but I am a little shaken. Thank you for asking."
"Anyone would be shaken after that, child. We really should get you home so you can rest." She turned to her son and ordered, "Syaoran, hold her up and this time make sure she doesn't even come close to being in danger."
Syaoran winced at his mother's words, feeling the full meaning of what she said. It was his fault, he wasn't paying attention. Nevertheless, he meekly followed his mother's orders, hoping that Fujitaka wouldn't hate him for almost letting his daughter come to harm.
The rest of the walk to the Kinomoto home was quick and eventless, much to everyone's relief. The latecomers were greeted by a frantic Tomoyo who looked like she was about to jump out of her skin.
"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura greeted her friend cheerfully.
"Sakura-chan! Are you okay? Where have you been? You should have been home ages ago! I was so worried! Are you sure you're okay? Touya-san is almost out of his mind with worry AND he says that you've probably ruined dinner since it was ready before I got here. Kero-chan is about to burst - he's so hungry and he was afraid something had happened to you! Are you really sure you're okay? I thought something bad had happened. You know, I was just about to call the police and tell them that you and your father had gone missing!" Tomoyo finally stopped to take a breath.
"Well, we are here now and we brought guests," Fujitaka said, brishing off Tomoyo's outburst. She had started worrying more over since he had been offered the Decision Maker position. As far as Fujitaka could tell, it was because he and his family refused bodyguards or any other type of protection every time someone suggested it. Fujitaka trusted his people, even if others occasionally thought there might be a threat. Sakura thought it might have more to do with the visions Tomoyo started have about five years ago. 'Did Tomoyo-chan see my colse call? Is that why she's so worried?'
"Guests?" Tomoyo finally started to notice the two people with Sakura and her father. "Li-kun! elcome back!" she exclaimed as she ran over to hug him - a response he hadn't expected. Tomoyo looked at the woman behind Syaoran and turned red. She released the boy - who was now gasping for breath - from her death grip and turned to his mother. "Li Yelan, what an honor to have you visit," she said bowing. "I must go tell Touya-san we have guests." With that, Tomoyo entered the house with a twinkle in her eyes.
As the four weary and bewildered people entered the house they could hear a bellow from the kitchen. "Guests! Why didn't you tell me earlier? I would have cooked more!"
"Because I just found out," was Tomoyo's simple response to her friend's older brother.
Touya walked into the sitting room where his eyes immediately fell on Syaoran. "Gaki! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Hong Kong bothering other people's sisters?" Touya started to glare at Syaoran but was shocked out of his rude behavior by the boy's response.
"My mother thought she would pay a visit to your father and for some reason, she brought me with her. Trust me, I don't want to be in your presence any more than you want to be in mine, but your father invited us to eat with his family. Unfortunately, that includes you."
Touya's eyes shifted to the other unexpected guest in the house and he quickly bowed saying, "I'm so sorry, I'll just go back to the kitchen and finish making dinner." He retreated to the kitchen where he found Tomoyo working miracles. "You could have told me who it was."
"I know," Tomoyo smiled. "But your little scene was far more fun than it would have been if I had told you."
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Dinner passed rather uneventfully, likely due to the presence of Li Yelan. Touya and Syaoran did not dare glare at each other in the presence of the formidable Decision Maker. At least Touya did not dare. Syaoran felt that Sakura and Tomoyo would never forgive him if he ruined the little 'reunion' they were having. He also knew that his mother would not approve of such childish behavior.
As dinner drew to an end, Touya's friend Yukito rose to excuse himself, "If you will excuse me, I have a few errands to run before I go home tonight." He turned to Touya as everyone wished a pleasent evening, "Try not to kill anyone," he looked at Syaoran, "before you go home tonight." Yukito then crossed the room, wishing everyone a good night, and left.
Touya frowned at his friend's back as the door closed behind the silver haired man. 'I should kill the gaki,' he thought to himself. 'Really, he's caused nothing but trouble for us and he's always so mean to Sakura.' Touya hadn't noticed that Syaoran had protected his sister when they were younger. He hadn't wanted to notice that the boy he blamed for all Sakura's troubles was actually one of her best friends. He didn't pay attention enough or else he would have seen Syaoran being very polite to Sakura, Touya would have known how nice Syaoran was to his sister.
Sakura giggled at Yukito's warning, "So you are going home tonight?" she asked. As if her own question reminded her of something else, she turned to Yelan and asked her another question before Touya had time to answer her first. "May I ask? Where are you and Syaoran-kun staying tonight?"
Yelan smiled, "Actually Sakura-san, we had not thought about where we were staying tonight before we came."
Syaoran's head snapped at this. He was sure his mother had made reservations at some hotel or another before they came. It was not like her to leave details to chance. He glanced at his mother, but she seemed unwilling to look back at him.
"I had reserved rooms for the rest of the week, but I had not expected to be in Japan before tomorrow. We managed to catch an earlier flight due to cancellations." She hoped her son would not catch her in the obvious lie. She had already sent someone to check into the hotel for them so they would not lose their rooms. She wanted more time to observe Syaoran with his friends. She really needed him to be near his friends in order to do so.
Sakura looked at her father hopefully, "Perhaps they could stay here for the night? We have an extra room that Li Yelan can stay in since Touya doesn't live here anymore."
"And just where do you propose the gaki sleep?" Touya's voice showed how close he was to yelling at his younger sister.
Sakura glared at her brother for a second before she responded. "Syaoran-kun can stay in my room a-"
"WHAT!?" Touya really did yell this time. He did not like his sister's idea at all.
"...and Tomoyo-chan and I will sleep in the office. That is if you don't mind?" Sakura finished her sentence and turned to her father. "She was going to stay the night anyway. We'll have more room if we set up a couple cots to sleep on downstairs than if we both try to sleep in my room."
"If our guests don't have a problem with those arrangements, I don't see any reason why I should," Fujitaka replied to his daughter's questioning offer. "And neither should you," the man told his son who looked like he was going to explode with anger or frustration...maybe both.
'No one ever listens to me around here. He just shouldn't be in her room at all.' Touya knew it was pointless to argue so he admitted defeat by excusing himself and leaving for the night.
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Sakura collected the clothes she would need for the night and left her room saying goodnight to Syaoran. On her way down to the office she remembered she wanted to ask Tomoyo why she was so worried. As she stepped in the room her best friend took one look at her and started to speak.
"Yes Sakura-chan, I did see you almost getting hit by a truck today. I was on my way to your house after my errands when it happened. I was very worried because you weren't home when I get here. Touya-san had no idea where you were and Kero-chan felt something wrong so I started to panic."
"Well, I'm fine. Besides, Syaoran-kun saved me, just like he always does when I'm in trouble."
"You know Sakura-chan, nothing would have happened if you hadn't been staring at him instead of paying attention to where you were going." Tomoyo lectured her friend knowing full well that it wouldn't make a difference.
Sakura's eyes widened, "You saw that too? I-I just wanted to get a better look at him. I haven't seen him for years, I wanted to see how much he had changed..." Sakura drifted off, lost in her thoughts.
"You could have waited until you were home," Tomoyo forgave her friend, knowing that Sakura was uncomfortable. "Anyway, it's time you got some sleep; you have to get up for training tomorrow morning."
Sakura went to sleep wondering what it would be like
to train with Syaoran the next morning.