Yeah right, I wish...
Chapter 3: Sun
By: The Can-Can Group
"What's for dinner?" Suzo asked as Sakura start to search the newly restocked cabinets for something to eat for dinner.
"How does chicken and mash potatoes sound?"
Suzo shrugged.
Sakura got to work on preparing the chicken and and placing it in the oven, allowing it to bake.
"So, how was preschool today?" Sakura started to mash the potatoes.
"It was okay, I got into another fight with Tinamori again." She began to fondle the hem of her skirt out of nervousness.
"So I heard, the preschool called me today and explained to me what had happened." Sakura gave her daughter a stern look. "You know that I don't approve of fighting. If you fight again, I'll have to ground you."
Suzo blinks, "What does ground mean?"
"It means that I take away something that you enjoy for a certain length of time."
"Aw, aren't you being too harsh on the poor girl?"
Sakura jumped and turned around (she' at the counter top next to the stove.). Syaoran was standing there, leaning against the kitchen table, his usual smirk was on his lips.
Sakura frowned at him, "Why do you always scare me like that?"
He shrugged nonchantly, "I'm making it my life's mission to score you."
Sakura growled as she turned her attention to the bowl on the counter top, where she's making the instant gravy.
"Mr. Li," Syaoran looked down at the little red headed girl, "How was your day today?"
"Aw, I'm touched, someone who actually cares." He puts a hand over his heart to add emphasis to his statement.
Suzo laughed.
He shrugged, "It was okay, I managed to get some buyers and other boring stuff like that."
The oven buzzer went off. Sakura took the chicken out and placed it on the table. Kero came in with, nose stuck up in the air, following the aroma of the chicken. Drool started to form at the side of his mouth.
"Kero, no..." Sakura said firmly, she was watching him from the corner of her eye, making sure that he didn't get too close to the table, "Go back to the living room." Her pointer finger was poised towards the living room.
He did as he was told; tail drooping lowly, followed by a whine of hunger.
Suzo and Syaoran put the dishes on the table as Sakura quartered the chicken.
They seated at the table and begun to dine.
(Two weeks later, at the park...)
It's been two weeks since Syaoran to live with them. Its been okay, they mostly stay out of each others ways, he leaves early in the morning for work and Sakura got another job, so now was juggling between the two jobs.
She had gotten another one a few days ago since she has another mouth to feed. Syaoran has offered to pay for the food, but Sakura's pride and hostpitalityness, got in the way.
Sakura is sitting on a bench and was reading a romance novel as the cooling breeze played with her blue knitted scarf.
The sun was starting to set; she placed the book into her bag. She got up, drawing her coat to a close, slung the bag over her shoulder, and walked out of the park.
She walked past people, trying to not bring attention to herself, least a pervert is looking for a victim or someone looking for someone to steal from.
Sakura spotted someone slumped against a wall outside of a bar. Curiosity got the better of her judgment as she took a closer look. "Mr. Li?" Sakura wondered, seeing the seemingly familiar disheveled chestnut hair.
He looked up, a crazed, drunken look was apparent in his amber orbs. "Do...you," His speech was slurred, "Know, how much...I-I had? I think..." He put up some fingers to count, "Twenty..."
His eyes started to droop as he welcomed sleep.
"Wake up!" Sakura knelt down to shake him.
His eyes opened lazily, "...Yes?"
She sighed and got up, dragging him along the way.
They started to walk, Syaoran stumbling, and Sakura giving him support.
Syaoran looked at her with another lazy look, "... You know, ...you look...pretty."
"Mr. Li, are you okay?"
"I bet..." He said in a hushed voice, making it seem like what he was about to say was some huge secret that no one else should know about, "...you'd be more p-pretty... if you'd smile."
A blush crept up Sakura's face.
Syaoran got a confused look, "Wh-w-where are... you taking... me?"
"To the hospital." Sakura answered, being thankful for something to take her mind off of what the drunken Syaoran had just said.
Syaoran yawned, "... I'm sleepy... I think I'll... go to sleep...now." He leaned against Sakura, adding more weight on her.
"No, Mr. Li, you've got to stay awake." She stumbled under the added weight. "Please, wake up."
"Why... wh-why do you use... Mr. Li?" He suddenly asked, eyes still closed.
"You never told me that I could call you by your first name."
He gave off a drunken laugh. "Well... now... I give you... permission t-to call me... Syaoran."
Sakura's eyes widen, "B-But, Mr. Li, I-I-I-I can't it's not..."
"That's bull... and you...know it." He slowly started to welcome sleep again.
Sakura became frantic, they were just yards away from the hospital, but with Syaoran falling asleep on her, it seemed farther away. She quickened her pace, trying to make it to her goal.
It was about ten minutes later when they made it to the front desk of the hospital. The nurse gave a questioning glance towards them, as they got closer to the desk.
"My friend here," Sakura indicated the sleeping mass, "Went binge drinking and I'm worried that he might get alcohol poisoning."
The nurse nodded and lead the motley crew down the corridor to the left of the front desk, to an overnight observatory room, "Well, keep him here and watch over him."
She helped Sakura place Syaoran onto the bed and put him in a position so that if he throws up, he won't die from choking and suffocating on the bile.
The young nurse turns to Sakura, "Are you going home or staying here?"
Sakura gives Syaoran a worried glance, "I think I'll stay. I just need to call someone first."
The nurse nods in understanding and leaves. Sakura gives Syaoran one more look before heading outside to call Tomoyo.
(Outside of the hospital...)
Sakura presses a few of the well-known buttons on the cell phone and puts it up to her ears. She waits, someone on the other line picks up.
"Hello Tomoyo." She waits for a response. "Yea I'm fine, Mr. Li is in the hospital." She waits for Tomoyo to finish up her inquire. "No, nothing serious, he went binge drinking and I was afraid he might of gotten alcohol poisoning."
She blushes as she hears her friend's statement. "That was a perverted comment. I don't lie and I would never do that in public, much less in private." She hears laughter on the other line. "Shut up, I need you to stay with Suzo longer for me, for the night."
She smiles, "You will? Thanks, bye!" She closed the phone and headed back in.
(Morning...)
Syaoran slowly opened his eyes. He blinked a few times to get everything in focus. The world came into a better view and he realized that the wall across from him wasn't his own. He raised a tentative hand up to his throbbing forehead. "Ouch, my head hurts."
The door opens; Sakura walks in, carrying a bowl of something, some pills and water. "Oh, you're awake." She comes to his bedside and hands him the water and the Aleve. "I suspect that you have a headache by now, Mr. Li."
He nodded, before he drank the water, he threw up into the trashcan that was located next to his bed. Then, he swallowed the pill and washed it down with the water, while Sakura went to take care of the trashcan. He felt his headache start to clear up as Sakura came back.
"Where are we?"
"In the hospital."
"Oh?"
A nod, "Hm hm... you went binge drinking and I found you outside of a bar. I was afraid that you'd get alcohol poisoning and end up dying in your sleep, so I took you here."
Flashes of what happened the night before came through out his memory.
He frowned, "Wait, I though I said that you could stop calling me by my last name."
Sakura got a nervous look, "Um... well, I was hoping that you would of forgotten that."
"Oddly, enough, that was the only thing that I remembered." He started to laugh.
"But still, I don't feel comfortable to... call... you..." She began to get even more nervous.
Syaoran noticed this, "Hey, its okay, you don't have to if you don't want to Kinomoto." He grinned.
Sakura gave a sigh of relief and handed him the bowl. He looked at the contents, "Fruit Loops?"
She shrugged, "It was the only thing they had."
Syaoran accepted the explanation and started to eat the sugary, soggy, cereal.
A few minutes later a nurse came in, asking if the man was okay, did a few check ups and released him. As they were walking down the corridor, passing young male doctors and male nurses winked at Sakura. She shifted uncomfortably and unintentionally got closer to Syaoran.
They made it outside and headed towards the apartment.
(Apartment...)
Sakura and Syaoran entered into the small apartment. "Anyone home?" Sakura called put as they put their coats in the closet. Kero came in, sniffed them, growled at Syaoran, and head off to his sleeping corner.
"In here." Tomoyo popped her head out from the kitchen.
Sakura and Syaoran entered into the kitchen. Tomoyo was standing at the stove, cooking something and a sleepy Suzo is sitting at the table, eating her breakfast.
"Morning Suzo."
The little girl looks up at the sound of her mother's voice, "Morning mommy." She gives a yawn and blinks, "What's that smell?"
Syaoran sniffs himself, "Me, I need to take a shower and get ready for work." He goes to his bedroom to gather things for his morning rituals.
Tomoyo starts to fix Sakura a plate of pancakes and bacon. She hands the plate to her friend, "So, what really happened last night?" She looks intently at Sakura, whom is starting to eat the pancakes at the table.
"Exactly what I told you."
"Do you really expect me to believe that? For all I know, you could have been at a dirty motel," Tomoyo paused to look for a term to replace what she about to say, since Suzo is sitting there, "Inserting bananas into donuts."
Sakura thought about what her friend had said. Inserting bananas into... oh! She blushes upon realizing that it was a metaphor for something else. "Tomoyo! We aren't like that! Besides, you know that I don't trust men, so why would I do that?" Sakura yelled, trying to cover her embarrassed blush.
"I don't get it." Suzo said with a tinge of confusion.
Sakura turns her eyes towards her, "Don't worry, this is an adult conversation, and Tomoyo is being weird."
Tomoyo huffed and put on a hurt expression, "Now I see how it is, see if I ever baby sit for you while you're out and inserting bananas into donuts."
Sakura blushed again and continued to eat the breakfast that Tomoyo had made.
"I'm done," Suzo announced as she scooted away from the table, "Time to get ready for preschool." She runs to her room to collect things for preschool. She returns after a few minutes (she was already dressed when Sakura and Syaoran returned), her little pink back bag was slugged over her shoulders.
She grabbed a lunch box off of the counter top. Sakura sends a questioning glance towards Tomoyo, who shrugged, "I got bored."
Sakura shakes her head and makes a move towards the living room closet, but was stopped by Tomoyo, "I'll take her in today, the preschool is along the way."
"Thanks."
"No problem. Go get your coat." Tomoyo commands to Suzo.
Suzo does as she's told and within the next few moments, the apartment becomes seemingly quiet and empty.
Sakura starts to work on the dishes. She could hear the sound of the shower being turned off, followed by the sound of the opening and closing of two doors.
She begun to hum a song, one that her mother use to sing to her before she died. Sakura didn't remember much about her mother, only the song that she use to sing to her every night. Sometimes, she thought that she never had a mother and that she was a dream. She might have continued this, if her father had never put photographs of her all over the place.
She had her mother's eyes. Her father said that when he looked at Sakura, he would see Nadeshiko, in not only her emerald eyes, but in her personality. Not anymore. She thought wistfully.
"Are you okay?" Sakura shook her head to shake out her thoughts, "I've been standing here for the past few minutes and you haven't glared at me."
She turned around with a glare, "Will you leave me alone?"
He took a step closer, "Why? Do I make you nervous?" He asked huskily, while raising one of his eyebrows.
Syaoran was right; he does make her nervous, and the beads of sweat that are starting to form prove this. If she acts cold towards a guy, he normally leaves her alone. Not Syaoran, though, he lives with her 24/7 and he tends to be unpredictable.
Sakura gulps, the fact that beads of water falling off of his wet hair and his husky voice, making him seem sexier, isn't helping out much.
"I think that I do." He said, getting closer to her so that there are only a few inches between them.
She started to quiver in fear.
Syaoran placed a calloused hand underneath her jaw line and caressed her cheek, using his thumb, causing tremors to go throughout her spine and body.
She looked into his amber orbs, seeing a playful glint. He's teasing me! Anger started to seethe through her. She smacked away his hand away. "How dare you." Sakura says in a low and dangerous tone.
Syaoran started to laugh as he took a step backwards. She continues to glare at him.
"You're just so fun and easy to tease."
"Don't you have someplace to be?"
"You're right." Before Sakura could protest, he gave her a quick peck on the cheek and left the apartment, laughing, leaving Sakura dumbfound.
Syaoran had almost broke through her carefully made defenses, one that took the past few years to make, the one that blocked her off from males and most other people, and it only took him a few minutes to do it. But, she wasn't going to tell him this.
"So, this is what happens when we're not around." Sakura's eyes widen as Tomoyo and Suzo entered into view from around a corner.
"How much did you see?" Sakura asked, fearing the worst.
"Hm..." Tomoyo pretended to think, "Just about... all of it."
Sakura's eye twitched, as she tried to recompose herself. "Why are you still here?"
Suzo laughed, "I forgot my shoes. I got them now though." She raised the hand with two small blue shoes dangling from it.
"Bye bye." The two left, their laughter bouncing off the concrete walls of the hallway.
(Retail store...)
"Then he actually had the gull to kiss me." Sakura complained as she hangs some clothes onto a clothes rack.
The person beside her laughed.
Her eyebrows knitted into confusion and anger, "What's so funny Brianna?"
"Sounds like he likes you."
Brianna Jones is one of Sakura's other friends. She goes to the local art college and is and is studying abroad from America. She works part time at the retail store to help pay for food and other stuff. Brianna is kind of quiet, much like Sakura, and shy, and that's why they hit it off so well.
"Yea right, he's so self-centered, I bet he doesn't even go to work, he probably goes to a whore house each day."
Shock went through Brianna's brown eyes. "Wow, that was mean, even for you."
"Shut up and leave me alone." Sakura grumbled.
Brianna shrugged and continued to work on putting the price stickers on the tags, "so how's Suzo?"
"She's doing fine, seems to be having a little problem with preschool and likes Mr. Li. Also, she is turning into a mini-Tomoyo." She sighed.
"Well that's good."
"You've got to be kidding me! Do you think its good that Suzo's turning into a mini-Tomoyo?"
Brianna somehow managed to stiffle a laugh.
(Hiirigizawa Enterprises Building...)
Syaoran sneezed.
"Bless you." His azure haired cousin whispered.
Syaoran nodded in thanks.
He began to drum his pen on the huge table again. One of the spokespersons from the marketing department was having a meeting today. He could of done something to make this less boring. He sighed.
The speaker looked at his watch, "Well, it seems like its time for lunch. We'll continue later."
All the happy employees that were listening on this meeting got up, relieved to be finally free (even if it's only for an hour).
Syaoran and Eriol got up and left the meeting room. "So, how was the date with Miss Tankai?" Eriol asked as they stepped onto the elevator.
Syaoran shrugged in his usual nonchalant way, "It was okay, we went to a bar, had a drinking contest and blacked out afterwards."
Eriol shook his head, "Such a shame, do you know what happened to her?"
"Most likely screwing with another guy. Oh well, I was going to dump her last night anyway."
The elevator doors opened and they got off.
"So, how are Sakura and Miss Suzo doing?" They walked towards the main entrance.
"Suzo's a cute kid and Sakura's very defensive, that makes her fun to tease."
Eriol stopped walking, Syaoran turned to see what was wrong.
"Don't hurt her, if you do, there will be a lot of people after you. And if Toya gets wind of this, you'll be in a world of hurt." He warned.
They continued walking, making their way to the outside world.
"Who's Toya?" The amber-eyed man asked, "Is he an ex?"
Eriol shook his head as he silently laughed. "He's her older brother, very protective, I met him once," He laughed at the memory, "He's as friendly as a lion protecting his territory."
Syaoran shook his head in disbelief as they entered into a Cheeseburger Paradise restaurant.
(Suzo's preschool...)
Suzo sat on the swings, waiting patiently for her mother to come and get her. School had just let out and instead of waiting inside, like everyone else, she opted to be outside, where the sun was shinning and she could be by herself.
"You know what you are?"
Suzo brought her head up. Another preschool girl was standing there. Her blond hair was put into two swinging french braids that rolled down her back. Her red eyes gave Suzo a creepy feeling; they made her seem like a she-demon.
She sighed, "Not today Tinamori, mommy says that if I fight again I'll be grounded."
The other girl, Tinamori, ignored her pleadings for no fights. "You're a bastard child and do you know what that is?"
"No, I don't, why don't you tell me, Miss know-it-all." Suzo frowned in frustration.
"Daddy told me that a bastard child is a kid whose mother had a fling." She pause, pondering, "I'm not sure what that means, daddy didn't tell me what it meant, anyway, with a guy and got pre-pra-prege- um... got a baby put inside and grew up with only one parent. The daddy normally hates the baby and leaves them out on the streets. There's no love at all."
Suzo hadn't realized how much those words had stung until she fell wetness on her clenched hands. She looked up; it wasn't raining, much less cloudy.
My tears...
Tina continued to laugh and taunt her.
Mommy says that she has more love for me then someone who has two parents. She has enough love for me that we don't need a daddy.
"My mommy loves me." Suzo is trying so hard to not lash out on the other girl.
Tinamori stopped laughing and got a serious tone, "Are you sure about that, you bastard child?"
That was the last straw for Suzo. She got up and pushed Tinamori, who had landed on her butt with a surprised look. She scrambled to get up.
Tears rolled down Suzo's face, "You be quiet, you know nothing about me and my family."
Tinamory sneered, "You bet? You bastard child?" She charged towards Suzo. They got into a physical fight and somehow, within the next few moments, Tinamori's braids got stuck into the chains of the swings. She cried out in pain and anguish as Suzo grabbed her back bag, which was lying next to the swings, and ran from the preschool play yard.
Suzo ran through the city, bumping into people as she pushed past them. She almost plowed into two men as they were walking out of a restaurant.
She would of continued to run, if one of the men hadn't stopped her, "Let me go!" She yelled as she struggled to get out of their grasps, fresh tears started to fall.
"Suzo?"
She looked up. Syaoran and Eriol were standing there. Syaoran was the one who had stopped her.
"Why aren't you at preschool?" Eriol asked confusion etched on his face.
Syaoran saw the tears, "What's wrong?" He kneeled down.
"I want my mommy!"
He gathered her into his arms, "Do you know where Kinomoto works?" Eriol nodded and lead them to Sakura's workplace.
Syaoran went in first, still carrying a crying Suzo, and Eriol followed. One of the other workers passed by and Syaoran stopped her, "Can you tell me where Kinomoto is?"
The woman gave a curious nod, "Sure." She went to the registers and spotted Sakura, "Sakura.'' The auburn haired woman in question looked up, "What is it Brianna?"
"There's a man here looking for you, and he has Suzo with him."
Sakura blinked and had Brianna lead her to them. Suzo jumped out of Syaoran's arms after seeing her mother.
"Mommy!" Sakura embraced her.
"What's wrong Suzo? Why aren't you at school?" She knelt down.
"Tinamori was being mean to mean!" She wailed and sobbed, "She called me a name and I pushed her, and you're going to ground me!"
Sakura hugged Suzo, "Hush, calm down."
They stayed in that position, ignoring the stares of spectators.
"Mommy?"
Sakura looked at her, "Yes?"
"Am I really a bastard child, do you hate me?" Tears threaten to fall again.
Sakura got a pained and sympathetic look, "No sweetie, I've got enough love for you that you don't need a father. I've told you that before, and I don't ever want to hear you say that word again, cause it doesn't relate to you."
Suzo sniffed, "Are you going to ground me for getting into a fight again?"
Sakura smiled, "No, I'm not. I'll have a talk with Tinamori's parents and the principle." The mother gathered the daughter into her arms and stood up.
She turned towards Brianna, "Tell Mrs. Sanjuco that I'm leaving early today." Brianna nodded and went off.
Sakura got out her cell phone and called the other place where she worked at and told them that she was taking a sick leave. She placed the cell phone into her pocket, "Let's go and get some ice cream." Suzo nodded in agreement.
They left, followed by a quiet Eriol and an even quieter Syaoran.
Authoress's Notie:
Any who, I bet several of you are wondering why I had them go to the hospital, well..., let's just say that I pay way too much in Health class. We watched a video a while ago, and some teens were binge drinking (excessive drinking in one period of time) and all they know was to turn the sleeping drunk person over so that they don't choke on puke if they throw up while they sleep.
Also, I was tired of people in other people's stories getting drunk and 'sleep it off', you can't sleep it off, it's still going to be there. So, don't underage binge drink, it's not cool nor is it safe, and you can get alcohol poisoning and die in your sleep.
Okay that was my rant for the day.
Thank you for those you who read and reviewed! My butt hurts, I'm tired, and now messa's going to bed... --zzzzzzz
