Thank you for all your comments! It is a pleasure reading them. Yes, some might figure out who is the one giving Sakura the jigsaw puzzle, but please, don't blurt it out. Thanks. Hope you all enjoy this chapter.
It's easier to let go when there is something to look forward to- Cifu (My Church Pastor)
Sakura stared at the puzzle in front of her. After working diligently for so long, she is just short of a few more pieces.
The picture was beautiful. The person managed to capture the scenery really well. Of course, it did bother her that the lady in white cotton dress, draped with an oversized red jacket sitting on the swing looking at the stars was her. But then she was more interested regarding the man behind her with his hands on her shoulders. Both of them were staring at the stars in the sky.
She looked up and saw the vase of roses that she collected throughout the weeks. Bright red roses faithfully appeared on alternate days together with the puzzles. She took in a deep breath and sighed.
It reminded her so much of the times that she shared with Syaoran. She pushed the thought aside. Now it isn't the time to daydream about Syaoran. She glanced at the clock. She had fifteen minutes to prepare and go together with Kaho and Tomoyo to inspect for a wedding venue.
"Unbelievable!" Tomoyo gasped as she ran down the open field. "Are we having the wedding out here?"
"Are you pleased with the arrangement?" Eriol asked.
"Pleased? I am overjoyed!" Tomoyo hugged him and allowed him to spin her around. "It's my dream wedding! To be wed in an open field with flowers and everything under the setting sun!" Tomoyo kissed him firmly on his lips. "Thank you Eriol! Thank you for letting me marry you again with Touya and Kaho."
"My pleasure!" Eriol returned the kiss before laughing. "Kaho, I guess she is happy with the arrangement." He shouted over to the other side of the field, where the rest of them stood.
Kaho smiled. "That is good."
"You know, I wonder was it a good idea to be married in the field." Touya slipped his hand around her waist. "Now, judging by the smiles on Tomoyo's face as well as yours, I am glad that I gave in."
"That was really generous of you to give in to our whims!" Kaho poked him at his stomach.
"Yes I am." He smoothly caught her hands in his and brought it up to his cheek and rubbed them against his skin. "I can't wait for the day."
"I know." Kaho sighed.
"Get a life!" Sakura pretended to gag with Syaoran to support her.
"Shut up Kaijuu!" Touya growled, earning a laugh from Kaho.
Sakura looked up at him and her eyes narrowed. "For the last time, I am not…"
"Sakura! Look up there!" Tomoyo yelled.
When she looked at the direction where Tomoyo pointed, she squealed. "My gosh!"
A black spaniel ran towards the middle of the field, filling the air with its barks. Sakura studied it enviously. The long shiny coat and the way it ran down towards them made her suddenly long for a permanent location called home with a dog lying at her foot during the evening. She gave herself a mental shake. That was impossible. She needed to model. She can't throw her dreams and Tomoyo's just for some fancy four-legged creature. But gosh, the dog was a beauty.
"Spinal, wait up!" A familiar voice ringed through the field. Sakura cringed at the sound of it, praying hard that the dog didn't belong to him. She tensed as Yukito appeared in her sight and whistled. The spaniel paused for a moment, torn between running towards the group in the field or to run back to its owner. Finally obedience won and the dog turned towards Yuktio and ran back to him. When it finally reached him, it leapt up and gave Yuktio a huge lick on the face.
Yukito laughed. "Good boy!" He glanced up to see the Kinomotos, Eriol, Tomoyo and Syaoran staring at him weirdly. He grinned and walked towards them, with Spinal at his heels. When he reached them, he turned his attention to Spinal.
"Sit." He commanded. When Spinal obeyed, he rewarded the dog with a biscuit.
"Shake hands." He told Spinal and then turned to the group. "This is Spinal, my dog." He motioned them to start shaking hands with him.
The six of them exchanged looks before doing it. Spinal licked the hands of each of them as they took his paw and shook it. When Sakura, who was the last one, shook his paw, he stood up and moved into Sakura's embrace.
"Spinal!" Yukito looked at him, horrified by his actions.
"It's okay." Sakura turned to Yukito and gave a warm smile. "Nice dog you have."
"Yes. We found it at the dog pound and couldn't leave the place without him." Yukito returned the smile.
"Hey, let's leave them alone." Kaho whispered to Touya, who in turned nodded and stared at Syaoran. He had gotten the message and pulled Eriol and Tomoyo to leave them alone.
"Spinal, you are really lucky you caught Yukito's eyes." Sakura crooned over him, unaware that she was alone with Yuktio and the dog. "You have such a loving owner and you will be safe with him."
"He knows. Naruku made it a point to tell him every single day." Yuktio laughed. "Spinal, you better get off the bed, if not I will send you back to the pound and you will not get to enjoy all the food and luxuries we have been providing for you!" He mimicked her tone, causing Sakura to laugh.
"You shouldn't do that to your wife." Sakura scolded him before realizing what she just said. Yukito has a wife and it is not her.
Yukito noticed the sudden change in her mood and decided not to beat around the bush. "Why didn't you come for the wedding?"
Sakura frowned. "I was busy."
Yukito laughed, sounding empty to Sakura's ears. "No, Tomoyo managed to come down and witness the event. If Tomoyo could set time aside, you could too."
"Tomoyo did?" Sakura closed her eyes, recalling how excited Tomoyo was on that fateful day and laughing, telling her how beautiful the bride was and how loving the bridegroom was. So it was Yukito's wedding. She thought. That double crosser.
"You know Sakura; I never knew you were the type who would run away from trouble." Yukito stood up. "Well or at least the girl I knew doesn't."
"Shut up!" Sakura stood up. "Don't try and tell me that I had no right to miss your wedding."
"No, but at least, for someone I thought to be the closest thing I had for a sister would set aside time for the two of us." He replied curtly. "You know how much it hurt Naruku when you didn't turn up."
"Yes, you and your Naruku!" Sakura spat.
"Now you shut up and listen!" Yukito took a step forward towards her until he was eye to eye with her. "It not only hurt Naruku, it hurt Touya and me. Go figure. Which brother won't be ashamed that his sister couldn't come to his best friend wedding? Who won't feel betrayed that the little girl he showered affections and treated her as his own sister didn't want to attend the wedding because of her pettiness?"
"You know, I don't need to listen to you." Sakura turned her back at him and walked off.
Yukito stared at her retreating figure. "I know, and I think you are doing what you know best- run away and behave like a coward who can't accept reality and rejection." When he saw her stopped dead in her tracks, he continued. "People who cannot pick themselves up after falling down are people who most likely can't accept rejection. People who cannot face the storm are the ones who cannot accept reality. Sakura, I believe you are more than that. Don't throw away your future because of personal decisions."
Sakura kept quiet for a while. "I worshiped someone for like, ten years of my life and you are telling me not to feel betrayed that I was only a sister to him." She turned around and gave him an angry look. "What other future do I have if I cannot love him because he belongs to someone else?"
Yukito just returned the stare. "You foolish girl! Look in front of you. There is a reason why you are living today. You are important to your friends and family. Don't throw it away because I am in love with Naruku and treat you as a sister."
"Stop saying that. You don't even love me. The sister thing is just a lame excuse."
"Excuse?" Yukito rolled his eyes. "Alright, let me give in. Yes, it was an excuse for me to protect you against the wrath of your brother. It was an excuse to accompany you to go shopping because you needed someone to follow you to buy Syaoran's present during his fifteen birthday. It was an excuse to let you down gently and tell you I only love you as a sister even though I know you might be furious."
"Shut up!"
Yukito broke eye contact, turning away from her and whistled for the dog. Spinal went over to Sakura and licked her hand before running towards his owner. "Spinal loves you. But he belongs to me. Are you going to deny him that simple affection because of me?"
"No, he is a dog! A beauty." Sakura answered.
"Then why don't you do yourself a favour? Stop punishing everyone for something as insignificant as this." Yukito walked away, leaving Sakura standing alone in the open field.
Yukito's words continue to ring in her mind, even though she tried her hardest to push it out of her memory.
'I never knew you were the type who would run away from trouble. Well or at least the girl I knew doesn't.'
'Run away and behave like a coward who can't accept reality and rejection.'
'Do yourself a favour. Stop punishing everyone for something as insignificant as this.'
Stupid Yukito. She was the one suffering. Not him. Of course it was easier to condemn her. She was the one feeling betrayed. Not him.
When she reached her house, she spied a rose at the door. Suddenly feeling excited, she ran to the door, only to see a note attached to it. No jigsaw pieces, nothing, only a note. She picked it up and read the note.
'Meet Wolf at Memory's Café at 1900hr tomorrow'
"So now I have to meet Wolf." Sakura opened the door, muttering to herself. Is it safe? She wondered. Should she be cautious or should she give in to curiosity?
Finally, she decided. Curiosity won. She is definitely meeting Wolf tomorrow.
Finally, the story is moving on. Sakura, Yukito, Syaoran. Syaoran? He isn't in here. Hmm... Ignore that thought and just bring on the reviews and you will definitely get a dosage of Syaoran later. Thanks! Take care and God Bless.
Joyful-x