Disclaimer: Card Captor Sakura belongs to CLAMP.
Incapable of Falling
The sky was spinning with tufts of white clouds, fluffy and heavenly – unimaginable to the world below. The streets were busy with crowds of people and two gorgeous looking women were seen walking, gracing the people with their presence. Sakura breathed in a sigh of relief as she exited the enormous building towering over her head. Tomoyo glanced at her for a moment and then resumed to walking at Sakura's pace.
"Kura, why do you torture yourself so much?" Tomoyo inquired frustratedly, kicking the few pebbles in her path. "I mean, it's great that you've started a booming career in the medical field! You've even saved the president's"
"Moyo, I appreciate your concern about my being, but I'm fine! Really! When was the last time you saw me smile like this?" Sakura smiled what seemed like a genuine smile to Tomoyo and her heart dropped, once again. "Anyways, where's that handsome hubby of yours? Shouldn't you guys be having lunch together?" Tomoyo took a look at her diamond-encrusted watch and shrieked.
"Kura, I'm sorry to cut this walk short, but"—
"Go, go! Moyo, don't give me that look! Just go! Have fun!" Sakura slowed down as Tomoyo disappeared behind the rush of people going off for lunch. She stared at the young couple in front of her, the old couple sitting on the fountain, and even the birds! 'Syaoran…ha…so much for being together forever…only to have you taken away by my best friend…' Tears silently rolled down her porcelain face as she took quiet sobs. 'As soon as that happened, I focused all of my energy into my studies and now, look at me…a 23 year old single woman owning the nationwide Kinomoto Hospitals and heading the main hospital in Tokyo, Japan. What would mother think of me now? Would you be proud mother? Would you be proud of me now?' Coming to a stop as she turned the corner, she spied a man and a woman holding hands; the woman giggling as the man whispered loving words into her ear, tickling it with his soft breath. The couple started toward her direction and the man seemed to glance ahead, seeing her for a split second before Sakura ran as fast as her feet could take her any direction but there.
'Hmm, was that Sakura I saw? That certainly looked like her… but if that was her, I wonder why she ran away. ' He took another glance at the path before him and the woman before the woman glared at him for not paying attention to her. "Syaoran Li! I expect you to pay attention to me when I speak to you! Hello! This is your wife speaking to you! Fine! Be that"— She was silenced as the man kissed her deeply. Whatever she had in mind to say was forgotten and forever lost. The couple sighed in their embrace as the world around them was soon just a mixture of colours and sound.
"Nakuru! I insist! I am quite alright! …Yes, yes…I'm sure! No! Ye-No! You are NOT going to set me up again! No! No blind dates! Do you even remember the last one…you know, the one LAST NIGHT, which ended up in a disaster! 'Oh Eriol! Aren't you quite the entrepreneur! How much money was it that you make again? 100 million a year… with or without endorsements?' NAKURU – if you do NOT let it go, I will be forced to tell Hiroshi about the…yes, yes, I knew you'd see it my way…I love you too!" A masculine voice was heard arguing dramatically with a squealing feminine voice on the other line.
A sigh was heard resounding throughout the spacious room as the man turned to sit on the velvet-coloured reclining chair. He sank deeply and put his right index finger up to his chin in a pondering motion. 'I wonder…what she could be doing…? I haven't seen her in so long. In fact, the last time I had seen her was at Tomoyo and my cute little descendant's wedding…Ha, cute little descendant…he broke her heart! And Tomoyo, I would have never expected you to betray your very best friend…but then again, time changes all, and I should know plenty about that…Nevertheless, the cherry blossom – once a blossoming flower – wilts yet again…I must see her! Her powers have grown immensely! I even heard that she is the leading surgeon in her field – cardio vascular studies. I suppose without Syaoran and Tomoyo to distract her or keep her company, she focused straight into her studies, graduating high school at the age of 15, taking both night school and summer school… Hmm, what did she do then? Oh yes! Then, speeding past her Bachelor's, Master's, and surprisingly, her Doctorate Degree in a matter of six years! Whew! Oh Kura, I miss you…' A sigh identical to the first sigh was heard yet again as the man clutched a picture frame with a photo of a handsome young man with royal blue eyes and glasses embracing a gorgeous young woman with sparkling emerald eyes.
"Miss Kinomoto, there is a call for you on Line 3, the speaker says that the matter is very urgent!" The receptionist spoke to the auburn haired woman that was walking with a commanding presence down the halls, dressed in a doctor's attire: the pure white lab coat. Sakura sighed deeply as she turned to face the receptionist with innocent blue eyes.
"Thank you Ms. Kiochi. I'll be taking the call in my office. Please do not let anyone disturb me until I am finished."
"Of course, Miss. K"
"Oh, and Ms. Kiochi! Just call me Sakura! We've known each other for almost a year now. I think that we are close friends now, don't you? Just call me Sakura!"
"Only if you call me Ria!" Sakura gave a brilliant smile with her emerald eyes sparkling. These emerald eyes that hid the pain the owner felt; the loneliness, the pain, the suffering of heartbreak. The receptionist, now known as Ms. Ria Kiochi just stared at Sakura in admiration, for Sakura was the only one who had treated her as if she were an equal. 'She's amazing…just holding all that pain in. The pain that no one else can see…'
Sakura walked briskly past everyone who either bowed or waved to her. She was soon followed by a man with blond hair and blue eyes, a man three years her senior. A man that tried too hard. A man that she would never think of falling in love with. A man that constantly pestered her into dating him. A man that stopped her yet again.
"Sakura! Sakura! I was looking all over the hospital for you! I was wondering if you had wanted to go out for dinner with me?" The nameless man asked her, shamelessly grinning while catching the eyes of the other females in the hallway. He was towering over her height of 5'7, which was pretty tall for an Asian female with his 6'0. The female that was two steps ahead of him stopped abruptly and turned around sharply.
"Futamiya, it is not appropriate to call associates by each other's first names, is it not? And I am quite sorry. I am going to be staying late at the hospital tonight. Now, would you excuse me? I have to be taking a call. Thank you." Sakura inwardly grimaced as she walked away from him as if he had the plague. In doing so, she did not notice the smile Futamiya had as he stared her figure walking away hard as if he could peer into her soul.
"Sakura, is it not appropriate to call friends who have known each other for almost two years by their first names and not people who are not of the same status? Hmm, Sakura? So, I do not understand why we do not call each other by the other's first name?" He grinned wolfishly as he knew she was trapped. Sakura had almost turned the corner when she heard the words he had spoken and the hidden meaning behind them. He was warning her of her rejections. He was threatening her. She did not even turn around as she spoke.
"Futamiya, who said we were even friends?" She had to smile as laughter was heard from the hallway she had just left. She mused, 'of course there would be a crowd there. There's always a crowd.'
She had finally reached her office. Sakura opened the door and took off her white lab coat. She sat in her comfy black leather chair and relaxed as she stood to make herself a cup of hot chocolate. Then, she remembered the phone call that was waiting for her. 'Darn it! Ugh, if that's Touya calling again, I swear I am going to choke him the next time I see him!' She picked up her phone and pressed the red button that said Line 3.
"Touya?" Sakura spoke softly, waiting for the moment her brother was going to speak. Then, and only then, she was going to pounce on him like a tiger waiting patiently for her prey.
"Sakura?" A masculine voice hesitantly inquired as he nervously gripped the phone, so hard that his fingers were turning white. Sakura was still for a moment. This voice sounded familiar, and yet, she could not place his voice. 'This voice, it sounds so familiar…'
"Yes, this is she… may I ask who is calling?" She spoke again, this time clearer and sounding sure of herself. She was doodling with her favourite pen on the note paper she should have been using for notes. She only did this on the phone when she was anxious, a habit that she had never been able to rid herself of. She smiled cutely as she was caught up in her memories of the moment Eriol-chan had given her this pen, her favourite pen. It was an exquisite pen, decorated in a pattern of cherry blossoms, engraved with 'Cherry Blossom'. The edges of the pen were 18 kt white gold and definitely custom made, a fact that Tomoyo had told her. She was brought back into reality as the voice on the other side of the phone chuckled.
"Ah, Sakura … it seems as if you do not remember me. Do you remember me?" A pause was heard as Sakura absorbed the information given. A puzzling and mysterious voice that had sounded familiar. A man that likes to make others play his game and guess. A man that was…
"Oh my gosh! Eriol! Is that you! Please tell me it's you! Oh my gosh!" Sakura had dropped her pen and gripped the phone with both hands, shaking. The man was silent as her closed his eyes. His cherry blossom had called him Eriol. Soft laughter was heard on the other side of the phone as the man answered.
"It almost seemed as though your memory was failing you Sakura! I'm glad you remembered me though. I was just calling to see how you were doing…" Sakura smiled as she took in his joke. Both people talking on the phone were more relaxed and the tension was gone. The man and the woman both took a hold of a photo frame. The woman traced her slender fingers delicately over the man's face tenderly. The man had deep blue eyes that twinkled like sapphires behind his glasses and a mysterious looking grin that had women falling at his feet. This man had his arms wrapped lovingly around a beautiful woman with sparkling emerald eyes and soft wavy auburn hair. Eriol too, was looking at a photo. This photo was of the same man and woman, but in a different time. The woman was overtop the man's left shoulder, begging to be let down as the man continued to carry her. They both had so much fun. Friends had been teasing Sakura of her many admirers. Sakura denied this fully, until a man she had never seen in her life came up to her and asked her out on a date because of her 'cute lettuce coloured eyes'. Eriol had snatched her in his arms and flipped her over his shoulder to tell the man to back off. This was a memory that he'd never forget.
"Wow! The amazing Eriol cracking a joke! And Eriol! Call me Sakura! Or Kura! Wow! Wow! Wow! I cannot believe that I'm talking to you after all this time! I'm doing great! How are you?" Sakura asked, still in wonderment that he had called her up. Eriol ran his fingers through his midnight blue hair as he sighed.
"I am doing well. In fact, I have just closed up another deal with Taeko Electronics." Sakura frowned a little at the answer but spoke.
"Eri, you don't mind me calling you Eri right?"
"No! Of course not! You can call me anything you'd like!" Both people were blushing, the woman more so than the man. 'My Sakura… Eri. Wow… I'm so lucky to have met someone like her in my life. I would have just continued being a quiet boy.' Memories of a younger-looking Sakura greeting him with a hug as she introduced him to all her friends with a happy smile.
"Thanks! Eri, that's amazing! Taeko Electronics is that multi-billion dollar corporation, is it not? I was reading an article about the merging! …But, I was asking how you were… how's life? Are you content? Are you single? Are you happy with your success?" Sakura slapped her head repeatedly as she groaned mentally. She had not meant to ask about his relationship status. 'Stupid stupid stupid stupid! How STUPID can you get Kinomoto! Aiieee! Now he'll never open up!'
"Actually, I am… not as happy as people see me to be. I mean, sure, I have the money, the success, the career… but I am still single. I still have not found the person I am meant to be with." The truth was, that he had not tried even dating women. The only person that he had truly loved and still loved was… but she would never notice him… she had her career to think about, and what if she was still in love with him. Sakura listened to his doubts and troubles.
"I know what you mean. You have everything you had ever wanted… yet, if you could exchange this for the person you loved, you would in a heartbeat. You think that the person is far out of reach and that he –I mean she would never think of loving you." She whispered as she sank back in her chair. Eriol, on the other hand, sat forward, more alert than ever. 'Could she still be in love with my descendant? Please please…don't let her be.'
"Kura," her heart skipped a beat, "Are you…by any chance…still in love with Syaoran?" His heart was twisted into so many knots that he couldn't breathe. He had crossed his fingers in hope and anxiousness as he awaited her response.
"I don't…know. I mean I know it's been five years since they've gotten together. I thought that I was over him… but I saw him and her …" She broke down in tears as she recalled them kissing each other passionately as if they had no care in the world. 'I thought I was over you Syaoran! I thought I was over you! And yet, you can still put tears to my eyes.' Eriol's heart dropped as he heard this. His heart had been hoping, only hoping that she had gotten over Syaoran. But then again, they had been together for eight years and apart for five. His broken heart however, soared when he took her next words to heart.
"But Eri, I think-no I know that I'm over Syaoran… it's just the fact that they're happy and so content! Like they have no care for anything but each other! I wish…I just wish that I had a man who could love me for me, and not because of my status or wealth." Eriol listened with a feeling of joy. His heart felt like it could explode or even dance! He spoke with more vigour as he spoke his words confidently, but enough room for her to feel comfortable.
"I was thinking Kura… I was wondering if you would like to come visit me in England. Wait! Don't say anything yet. Just listen to me first. I thought about this for a long time. We are both so busy and caught up with our careers and our jobs that we haven't even considered anything else! I know how you work Kura, you're exactly like me! You need a break and I do too. We haven't seen each other in a long time. I know you have your job, but I just want to see you so much! I really miss you Kura … I want you to come here and we can catch up on old times! Just for a couple of weeks or months! Only a couple!" He held his breath as a long pause was in motion. Sakura's head was whirling as she sucked her breath in, hearing his proposal. At first, she was adamant that she was going to say no. That her job was more important. But then she realized that she had missed him…too much. And then, she came to a revelation that she did need a break. A vacation was in order. She smiled as she heard him breathe again as she said her next sentences.
"Eri, you know… I am sorry to say, but this has to be said. I'll see you soon!" Eriol grinned from ear to ear as he heard her news. He thought she would out rightly refuse and never talk to him again for even considering thinking about leaving her job.
"Awesome Kura! I can't wait to see you! A ticket's been booked for you… in two days. Everything will be sent to you by my travel agent sometime today at your house. I'll be picking you up at the airport when you arrive! I'll see you soon!" Eriol shouted with glee as he hung up. His face shone with happiness as he picked up his briefcase and left his office, whistling. Everyone looked at their boss in amazement as to who could have made their serious and solemn boss so happy.
In Asia, Tokyo, Japan to be specific, a woman with the name Kinomoto Sakura stared at her phone in shock and zoned out completely before snapping back. "Arghh! You knew that I would say yes, didn't you, Eri? Haha… England, here I come!" Sakura smiled to herself before leaving her office to make arrangements as to who would run the hospital while she was away. And she had one perfect person in mind.
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Platinumwish: Hey everyone! This is my first fanfic in the Card Captor Sakura series… I was previously known as platinumstar, but my account got messed up. Check both accounts out! Please review with full honesty. As you've already guessed, yes, this is an Eriol x Sakura pairing. Yes yes, I know that it should be Syaoran x Sakura together forever, and yes, I LOVE that pairing, but it's time for a change! - Please review my story! I'll try to continue to write this one! Thanks! Much love