Tied By Fate
By: pnaixrose
Disclaimer: I don't own, so please don't sue!
Chapter 8: A Surprise Smile
The boy got up slowly, holding his head with a hand. He sat upright on his bed, the sheets scattered about messily. He hadn't slept well. Not at all.
Remembering it was a school day, he glanced at his digital clock. 5:00AM. Who in their right minds would wake up at 5:00 in the morning? It was way too early to be up. But he didn't want to go back to sleep. If he did, he knew that there would be nightmares, so why bother? Damn those nightmares. They were the same scene over and over again. But of course, we all know what that scene is...
He lay back in his bed, his weary amber orbs slightly open. He was dead tired. Not only had he had all those terrifying nightmares, but all day yesterday, he had been cleaning up his brand new apartment. It hadn't taken long at all to unpack since he didn't really have that much stuff, but he had to dust and wash the place. For some reason, he couldn't stand dirty places. Besides, it gave him something to do after Eriol, Tomoyo, and Sakura left yesterday. But thinking about his apartment only made him think about how alone he was now...literally.
It was for the best though. Why would he want to burden other people with his misery anyway?
But of course, thinking about burdens led him to thinking about her. Sakura. Just the name seems to do something to him. But whatever...it's not his fault that she felt his pain and misery. He hadn't asked for it, just like he definitely hadn't asked for her to use the Return Card to bring them back to the day his father died.
But he knew that whatever he did, he'd feel guilty. Since she had used the Card, it had drained her energy and she had fainted. Not only that, but she had to witness that horrible scene...
Syaoran slapped his forehead with a hand. "Damn...Why'd I let her use the Card! Sh-She's too innocent to see anything like that..."
Of course, he beat himself inside because of that. He wished he could take all of yesterday back. But he had just been curious! That's all! He couldn't help but wonder if fate had really wanted that event to happen. After all, he hadn't been able to do anything to save him.
Was fate really that cruel?
He sighed in frustration. Why'd he have to think so much? He knew he should just let it all go. But still...if he had been stronger when it happened...then maybe...
Irritated, he sat up quickly and threw the covers off him as he stood up. It was still early, but he didn't want to just dwell here and think about all this. He had to get out...now.
Picking up a towel and his school uniform, he exited his room and walked towards his new bathroom.
Maybe living alone didn't bury your problems after all...
...in fact, maybe it just burns even more through your mind...
The small guardian heard his master rustling about with his superb hearing due to his huge cat-like ears. Opening a sleepy eye, he saw Eriol standing in front of his bed, already dressed in his uniform and rustling about through his school bag to make sure everything was in place.
"Eriol?" came Suppi's sleepy mutter.
Eriol turned and put on his glasses. After he was done adjusting the glasses, he smiled. "Ohayo Spinel."
Tiredly, Spinel sat up from his "bed" on a cushion and gave a huge yawn. Glancing at the clock he was suddenly curious as Eriol grabbed something from his desk for school.
"Isn't it a bit early, Eriol?" Suppi asked.
Still smiling blandly, Eriol nodded, not turning to face him. "I guess."
"You're an early riser, but you don't get up this early," Spinel said.
"Couldn't sleep," came the simple reply.
"Why?"
Eriol stopped shifting his stuff in the school bag and just stood there for a second staring in the air without blinking. Spinel was wondering if he had heard him and he began to ask the question again when Eriol interrupted.
"He's restless. His aura is deeply trouble. Only confusion and loneliness fills his mind."
Spinel was silent. He knew whom his master was talking about. The young Li Clan leader.
Then without another word, Eriol turned, snatching the bag and walked towards the door silently.
"E-Eriol? Where are you going?"
"I'm going to class. I'll go and help the person who has morning clean up duty..."
"But–"
But Eriol was already out the door.
Suppi blinked as he heard Nakuru, another early riser, chirping away at Eriol asking him why he was early, if he wanted breakfast, and where he was going. He heard Eriol's curt reply, and another slam of the door was heard.
Syaoran walked silently through the streets of the small town. It was 5:30 in the morning and rest of the town seemed to have finally gotten up. But there was still that tranquility in the air, as if everything and everyone was relaxing just one more minute before returning to the work day.
Keeping his thoughts to himself as he roamed the streets, he wondered what he should do now. He knew that the high school was probably open to the early students, but he didn't want to go there yet. He had two and a half hours to kill before going to that dreaded school. As he turned the corner, he realized that the street looked familiar. Looking around while still walking, he felt a very familiar aura drawing close and knew immediately that this was Sakura's street. Then, trying to remember which house hers was, he looked around trying to sense where her aura was exactly coming from. He came to a very modest, nice looking house that was between the color of yellow and peach. He stood in front of the front steps, not knowing why he had wanted to come here anyway. It was still pretty early. Maybe she wasn't awake yet. Then without thinking, he started to think about how she looked like in her pajamas and sleeping peacefully on her bed.
Picturing a cute, perfect sleeping figure of Sakura in his mind, he shook his head to rid the thought. Then looking up at the house, wondered why he was feeling all this. Why was the girl often on his mind?
Then he thought about how he looked like a fool standing out here just staring at the house, he started to turn around when a noise came to his ears. He saw a tall man with Sakura's honey brown hair and glasses covering his light brown eyes come into view carrying a full trashcan towards him. He was already dressed in a business suit and looked like he was struggling with the trashcan which held two full bags of garbage inside.
Before he knew it, he had hurried to him and helped him carry the trashcan to the front sidewalk.
He seemed to be doing a lot without thinking these days.
After placing the can there, Fujitaka sighed and turned to Syaoran who was standing there nervously. Why was Yelan's boy here? Did he want something? Did something happen? Even though he was still quite upset how the boy had acted and fought with his children when he had first gotten here, he had just helped him with the trash after all so Fujitaka gave him a small smile.
"Ah! Li-kun! This is a surprise," the father said.
Syaoran meekly nodded. He didn't know why but he felt oddly nervous around the man even though he hadn't been when they first met. He felt like...he was on trial or something and that Sakura's father was watching his every move. Why did he feel this way? Then when he remembered how he had acted so arrogantly the night they met and that Fujitaka wasn't particularly happy with how he fought with Touya and insulted Sakura, he inwardly cringed. This hadn't happened before. He hadn't felt this self-conscious in awhile. It was a weird feeling. As if...he wanted to impress Sakura's dad.
"Li-kun?" came Fujitaka's confused voice as the boy wasn't saying anything at all.
"Eh? Oh! G-Gomen. O-Ohayo, Kinomoto-san..." Syoran said nervously, bowing a bit.
Fujitaka's eyebrow rose in surprise. Was this the same boy who he had met a couple of weeks ago and was so rude? Was this the same boy who had a special "connection" with his daughter? His smile widened as he stared down at the boy who was fidgeting nervously under his gaze.
"Li-kun, you seem...different somehow," Fujitaka said.
Syaoran shrugged. "I feel different somehow...when I'm near–"
He stopped himself quickly before he could say his daughter's name. Wouldn't that be pretty odd if he said that he's been feeling different when he's around Sakura to her father? Fujitaka wouldn't know what to think.
Fujitaka stared at him a couple of seconds more before he smiled again. "Ah! How rude of me! Have you come to see Sakura-san, Li-kun? Or did you just happen to pass by?"
At the sound of the girl's voice a thin tint of blush rose to his cheeks. "O-Oh no! Th-This just happens t-to be on my way t-to school! I-I'm not here to see S-Sakura or anything!" he said quickly.
But at this, Fujitaka's smile widened greatly.
Syaoran blinked in confusion. "Umm...Kinomoto-san? I-Is there something wrong?"
The man shook his head, the wide grin still on his lips. "It just sounds like you and Sakura got pretty close, that's all. You even say her first name now."
Syaoran flushed. "W-Well, she's not that bad...I...umm..."
Fujitaka chuckled. "Relax, Li-kun. Would you like to come in? I'm just about to leave for work but Sakura-san isn't awake yet. She usually wakes up at 7:15 though."
The boy's amber eyes widened. " 7:15! That only leaves her fifteen minutes to get to school!"
Fujitaka chuckled. "Yeah, I know. Sakura-san's not really the 'on-time' person. Well, come in, come in! I'll make you some tea."
Sakura's father turned around, walking towards the house as Syaoran stood there for a second. He sighed. He couldn't just leave now. He had to be polite after all. Oh, why had he come here! Slowly, he followed the man into the house.
Eriol entered his empty homeroom classroom and set his things on a desk. Looking around, he saw that no one was here. Where was the morning cleaner? He racked his brains to try to figure out who had morning duty today but he had totally forgotten. Oh well, might as well help out a bit. Walking towards the chalkboard he took the erasers and brought them over towards the window. He clapped them, his arms outside the open window, causing chalk dust to smoke out.
But he didn't even notice as the chalk covered part of his cheek. He was in a daze. All night last night, he had felt Syaoran's restless aura trying to get some sleep. He figured that it had something to do with the Return Card. Eriol knew that Syaoran had tried to change what had happened in the past. That would've worked if the event he was trying to change wasn't by fate. But he couldn't change it. So does that mean...Syaoran's father's death was by fate? Fate wanted all this to happen? It wanted Syaoran to suffer that much? Eriol sighed. Why would fate want to do that to a boy, to make him watch his father die in front of him? Actually now, Syaoran had had to watch the scene two times now. The first time had been when he was eight, and the second had been just yesterday. No wonder Syaoran's aura was restless. In fact, he could feel it now except it was more nervous than restless now.
Eriol was wondering why Syaoran's aura could be nervous so early in the morning as this when a tap on his shoulder wakened him from his musings.
"Eriol!" The worried voice was distinctly familiar.
He turned around and saw Tomoyo standing in front of him holding a bucket of water.
"T-Tomoyo!" Eriol exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here so early in the morning?"
She set the bucket down and pouted. "I'm on morning duty! The real question is why are you here so early? You don't have morning duty today."
Eriol sighed as he clapped the erasers in his hands some more. "Woke up too early. I had to get out of there."
Tomoyo's face softened. She knew that he had been worried sick about Li. "Eriol, I'm sure Li-kun alright," she said, trying to be encouraging.
Eriol nodded slightly. "You're probably right. He's strong after all...most of the time."
Tomoyo smiled and gave him a quick, cheerful hug that made his knees grow weak. "That's my Eriol! Oh and Eriol?" she said as she parted from him.
"Hmm?"
Silently, Tomoyo lifted her finger to his cheek and rubbed it softly. At the touch of her finger, Eriol felt some tingles going up his spine. A blush went to the usually calm boy's face and he wondered if she noticed.
Tomoyo giggled, a flush deepening on her face. "You had some chalk dust there," she said sheepishly.
Eriol nodded awkwardly and turned to clap the erasers that were still in his hands and also to hide his blush from her.
He heard her giggle again. "Eriol, you should really stop clapping those two erasers. I think they're done by now..."
He chuckled as he saw that no more chalk dust emitting from it anymore and grabbed another two. "Thanks..." Never before had he stumbled or became nervous...it must have something to do with Tomoyo.
"Arigato..." Syaoran said as Fujitaka handed him a warm cup of tea.
Syaoran was seated on the large couch while the man sat across from him on a smaller one.
Fujitaka chuckled as he saw the teen nervously sipping his tea, looking around cautiously. "Shall I wake Sakura-san?" he asked.
Syaoran shook his head. "No, no...let her sleep."
Fujitaka nodded. "She's been really tired since yesterday. In fact, Daidouji-san had to carry her home and she's been sleeping ever since."
Syaoran nodded solemnly. He knew exactly why she was so tired...
"I-I felt her use some magic yesterday," Fujitaka said although he wasn't really used to talking about his daughter's abilities so openly. "She probably just used a powerful Card. No need to worry about her though."
But Syaoran knew that Fujitaka was worried about his daughter. Who wouldn't be worried about their daughter who uses very strong magic? It wasn't hard to believe that half of Clow Reed's reincarnation was sitting in front of him. Clow Reed was caring and kind, and always worried about other people, especially those who were close to him. But of course Clow Reed was also sly, shifty, and loved to plan schemes...that's probably why Eriol was the other half. Clow Reed was probably split into those two personalities or something.
But still, Syaoran felt really guilty for some reason. Maybe it was because her father was out here worrying his butt off about her using strong Cards, when Syaoran was the one who let her do it.
Suddenly, feeling the guilty rush over him, he stood up quickly and bowed. "I'm sorry!"
Fujitaka blinked from behind his cup of tea. "Whatever are you sorry for?"
"I'm the one who let her use that strong Card! Gomen!"
Fujitaka smiled. Wow, this kid was sure changing fast. "Oh Li-kun, it's all right. Besides, Sakura-san was the one who probably wanted to use that Card. I just have to learn to except that she – and I for that matter – have magical abilities even though I worry sometimes. Don't worry so much, Li-kun. You sound too much like your mother."
Syaoran blinked. His mother? He acted like his mother? He never knew that they had anything in common at all.
"Yelan was always worried about Nadeshiko – Sakura's and Touya's mother – during the high school days. She was one of the only people that knew we were together besides Sonomi Daidouji," he chuckled a bit. "Yelan was always fretting about what the school would do if they found out that I, a teacher, and Nadeshiko, a student, were together."
Syaoran sat back down on the couch after the story. "Seems like you know more about my mother than I do," he mumbled.
Fujitaka looked at the boy sadly watching him look down into his tea. He had been through too much. Much more than a kid should handle. "Your mother does love you, Li-kun. You're her son no matter what. She doesn't blame you for what happened. She's just scared that you're blaming yourself for what happened," he said softly.
His words struck through Syaoran and he sat there quietly. His mother is scared that he was blaming himself? Really? He had always thought that she was the one who blamed him for her beloved husband's death.
Suddenly they heard the clock chime ringing through the house and Fujitaka practically jumped from his seat. "Oh gosh, it's six o'clock! I'm going to be late!" He grabbed his suitcase and turned to Syaoran quickly with a smile on his face. "You may stay if you like. After all, I doubt that you want to be two hours early for school." Rushing to the door, he turned around one more time. "Oh, and if you do stay, can you please wake Sakura up? Her room is upstairs, the last door all the way at the end of the hallway. Let her be early for school at least one time this year," he said cheerfully. Then he was out the door.
Syaoran sat there on the couch staring at the closed door. Kinomoto-san trusted him alone in the house with his daughter while she was sleeping! Syaoran shook his head. Wait, what was he thinking? Trusted! He wasn't going to do anything! Right...? He pictured an innocently sleeping Sakura dressed in her pajamas with a small smile on her pink, luscious, soft lips. He practically dropped his tea as a blush spread on his face. Why was he thinking this way! Shaking his head, he drank the rest of the tea and stood. He might as well stay. Where else would he go? He didn't want to go back to his apartment. It was a waste. Besides, he would rather stay here where Sakura was...even though she wasn't awake.
He placed the cups in the kitchen sink and washed them carefully. The least he could do was wash the cups after Fujitaka let him in the house. And he wanted to stall before he went to Sakura's room to wake her. Just the thought of him going into a girl's room made him flush. It's not like he was going to do anything to her! He was just going to wake her up! Grumbling under his breath, he wondered if Tomoeda had some kind of girl-obsessing drug in the air. After all, he hadn't felt this way about girls. He groaned. He was turning into a perverted teenager!
Sighing, he saw that he had finished washing the cups and his heart beat faster at the thought of going upstairs to her room. But as he glanced at the empty breakfast table, he decided to make some breakfast for her. After all, she'll be hungry when she wakes up. With that excuse, he looked through the cupboards and saw some pancake mix and decided to get to work.
The girl under the blanket groaned as she woke, feeling her sleepiness wear away. But she wanted to sleep! She wanted to stay under the comfy blanket and rest her head. After a couple of more minutes she sighed and sat up. She was just not sleepy anymore even though she was comfy. Glancing at the clock she saw that it was 6:16 in the morning. Wow, when was the last time she had gotten up this early? Not even Kero was awake yet! She could still hear his snoring from his little room in the drawer. Wow...she was actually early!
Then a familiar scent came to her nose. It was...pancakes! Her favorite! But hadn't her father said that he wouldn't be able to make any breakfast for her because he had to go to work extra early today? She shrugged, sure that it was nothing to worry about. Then, testing her foot before she stood, she saw that her ankle was all better! Wow, that long sleep helped her ankle a lot! Then she grabbed her towel and bounded out her bedroom door, towards the bathroom which was the door next to hers. She breathed in the scent of pancakes in the air and walked into the bathroom, turning on the shower.
Syaoran was almost about done with the pancakes and after a minute more, he placed the last one on a plate. Placing the plate in the middle of the breakfast table, he also concluded to set up the table too. He was just about to place the last thing on the table when he heard someone coming from the stairs and he froze in place. Uh-oh...
"Otou-san?" came a feminine voice. "I thought you were–"
Sakura, already done with the shower and dressing up, stopped in mid-sentence at the sight of Syaoran standing over the breakfast table. W-Was she dreaming! Why on Earth would he be here out of all places?
"O-Ohayo, S-Sakura..." Syaoran said softly as he placed the thing on the table.
"Syaoran?" Sakura said blinking. "What are you doing here?'
Syaoran flushed. "Well, I was walking by your house and your dad let me in...but then he left for work so...
Walking towards him, she looked at the pancakes. "But he said yesterday that he had to leave at six o'clock. Surely you haven't been sure before six right?"
Syaoran smiled sheepishly. "Uh.."
Sakura's eyes widened. "Hoeee! You've been here for that long and you didn't wake me up? This is so embarrassing..." she said, an embarrassed flush covering her cheeks. "What kind of host am I?"
Syaoran shook his head. "No, no. It's not your fault. I'm the one who came early. Now sit. I made pancakes for you."
Sakura nodded as she sat down. She smiled brightly at him. "Pancakes are my favorite! Arigato!"
Watching her popping pancakes in her mouth, he chuckled softly. "You look like a pig eating like that!"
Sakura frowned. "Oh be quiet. I LOVE pancakes. Hey, want some?"
Syaoran nodded awkwardly, hearing his stomach grumble. He hadn't had breakfast yet. Sitting across from her, they ate in silence and in no time, they were already done.
Sakura sat back and sighed. "Pancakes are so good..."
Syaoran nodded again and started to gather the plates when she stopped him. "I'll gather them, Syaoran! I already feel bad enough!" Without his consent, she gathered the plates up and placed them in the sink.
"So should we head to school now?" Sakura asked, grabbing her school bag.
Syaoran nodded. "S-Sure..."
The two teens walked down the street silently towards their school with their own thoughts. Syaoran of course was still feeling really guilty.
"Sakura..." Syaoran said quietly.
"Yeah?"
"Are you...okay...?"
Sakura turned to him and plastered a smile on her face. She knew that he was worried about her. She knew that he was feeling really guilty. She could feel the guilt burning a hole through her. "I'm fine Syaoran! Stop being a worry wart!"
"I know you're faking that smile," Syaoran whispered.
Sakura shrugged as the smile faded. "Syaoran, it's really okay though. I-It wasn't such a nice scene to watch but–"
Syaoran stopped walking which caused Sakura to stop too. "I-I'm sorry...for making you see that...y-you shouldn't have to watch something like that..."
Sakura frowned. "Syaoran! Don't beat yourself for it! I'm fine...really. I'm just worried about you..."
Syaoran blinked. "Me?" Why was she worried about him?
"You had to watch it twice, Syaoran! And it was your father who...who..." Sakura instantly felt a painful twinge at her heart and immediately felt guilty. "I-I'm sorry..."
"Don't be. It's not your fault..." he said as he started walking again.
Sakura followed, feeling bad for her new friend. How could she cheer him up? How could she make him know that she was so worried about him? Syaoran was lonely. She could feel it. He needed a friend and she wanted to be that friend. Then she realized a way. "Hey, Syaoran?"
"Hmm?"
She fished the tickets for the amusement park from her pocket and showed him. "Wanna go to the amusement park? I was going to invite Eriol and Tomoyo but I needed another person so..."
Syaoran looked ahead silently. "Y-You...wanted to invite me?"
Sakura nodded, a smile on her lips once more. "Yeah! Why not? C'mon, we'll go today after school. I'll have to tell Eriol and Tomoyo still though. So, you wanna come?"
"Why me?" Syaoran said miserably. He was sure that she just pitied him...and he hated when people pitied him and thought of him as the 'poor, little boy who had to watch his father die'.
"Well, why wouldn't I invite my newest best friend? Besides, it's gonna be fun! Roller coasters, loops, ice cream, cotton candy, the ferris wheel, games, and–"
"Okay, okay," Syaoran said with a chuckle. "Fine I'll come." He couldn't help but to laugh a bit. Maybe it was from her excitement but it was probably because she said he was her 'newest best friend.' When she said that, he felt something inside that made him want to laugh, to cry out for joy. He had...a friend. A best friend. Wow...he never had that before. Being lost in his thoughts, he just realized that Sakura had stopped walking and turned around in confusion. "Sakura?"
She walked towards him, shock written on her face and just stood there staring up at him with the same expression.
Syaoran chuckled again. Wow...that really felt weird. "Sakura? Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost," he said, stressing the ghost part.
But Sakura ignored him and then suddenly she threw herself into his arms for a hug.
Syaoran almost fell in surprise. Why the sudden hug? But he must admit to himself...he didn't mind at all. Immediately at the thought of a girl in his arms, he blushed. "Sakura?"
Sakura pulled away with a huge grin on her face. "Syaoran...you're smiling!"
Syaoran's eye's widened as he realized that he was smiling. But he couldn't stop. It was addictive. In fact, all he had to do was look at Sakura's happy face and he could feel a tug on his lips.
He looking away in embarrassment, still grinning. "N-No I'm not...:
Sakura shook her head. "Yeah you are! You still are! Oh Syaoran! I'm so happy!"
He turned to her, a grin still evident on his lips. "Fine...just don't tell anyone..."
Sakura faked a pout. "Aww! Why not? You look so handsome when you smile!"
His amber orbs widened and his heart grew wild at her words. "Wh-What?"
A grin on her face, she repeated herself enthusiastically. "YOU...LOOK...HANDSOME...WHEN...YOU...SMILE!" she said slowly so that Syaoran would catch every word.
Syaoran definitely felt a blush on his cheeks as he looked at her in confusion. "N-No..."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Oh stop it! You look really handsome, Syaoran. I bet all the girls will swarm after you with that smile of yours. Really, you should smile more often." Then grabbing his arm she started to drag him slowly towards the school. "C'mon! And don't you dare stop smiling! Eriol and Tomoyo have to see the hot Syaoran that smiles!"
She wasn't lying either. He did look cute...extremely cute. He looked pretty cute before, but with a genuine smile on his face, she saw a major difference...a good difference. She couldn't help but think that every girl in school would want her new best friend. Aww! Imagine! Syaoran and a girl! That's so cute! But she had to admit, she'd feel at least a bit jealous. But that wasn't weird...right?
Syaoran was in a daze. This girl...something was up with her. How could such a small girl affect him so? How could she be able to make him smile when no one else couldn't? What was wrong with him? Why did his heart beat faster when he was near her? Wasn't it just a few weeks ago he had hated her and teased her? But now...after yesterday's events and being so worried...there was something odd. He couldn't let her know this! What would happen if she did! He'd think up a way later to hide his feelings from her. Maybe he can use some magic to cover it up or something.
Then he realized with widened eyes.
During this whole time...he hadn't felt it. He hadn't felt that aching feeling in his heart or the heavy guilt on his shoulders. Nor did he care about the Li Leader responsibilities.
This whole time...he hadn't thought a single lonely thought.