A/N : Thank you for allllllllll those reviews! I feel so loved! Thank you very very very very very (etc.) much! Here's chapter seven!!!!
Chapter Seven
"You're going to wear the scarf?" Sakura asked curiously, as Li wrapped the scarf around his neck, while driving towards his mansion.
Li nodded, but his face remained expressionless.... at least it was trying to remain expressionless...
Sakura smiled. "So....that means you like the scarf...right?" she asked happily.
Li forced her a glare. "Of course not! I hate it.... but I'm cold...."
Sakura eyed him suspiciously... "Really.... but your neck's already wearing a scarf."
Li blushed. "I uh....my neck is very.... sensitive... I um... need more than one scarf...."
Sakura smirked. "O really? How come you didn't come prepared with two scarves? You wouldn't have known that I was making you a scarf for Christmas." she reasoned with an intelligent tone.
Li growled. "I lost my other scarves, ok?"
Sakura smiled at him, enjoying the fact that her questions were irritating him. She stared at the rode, and then at Li's serious face.
"We're almost there..." Li murmured.
Sakura looked up from her seat, and peered out the window. She gasped. "Big....it's so pretty!!!!"
Li secretly smiled at her. "So you like it..."
Sakura nodded excitedly. "It looks so enchanting and bright!!!" she beamed.
The huge mansion glowed warmly through the night. It's glow matched the ones of the twinkling stars above. There was laughter and commotion coming from the massive home, and the air around it seemed exuberantly welcoming.
"Welcome home, Master Li...." A man greeted at the door.
Sakura glanced at the man curiously.
Li nodded sternly at the man, and allowed him to take off his coat.
"Thank you, Wei..." Li replied in his usual strict tone.
Wei smiled at him and nodded. He began to make his way towards Sakura, and help take the jacket off her.
"Um... it's ok.... I have hands, I can take it off myself...unlike some people..." Sakura replied and glared at Li.
Li growled, and muttered, "Stupid..."
Sakura heard and glared harder at him, while taking of the coat and handing it to Wei politely.
Finally, they stepped into the ballroom.... which was filled only with people of finery. Sakura hesitated to step in, and watched as Li walked in before her. He stopped when he realized she was standing at the entrance of the room, looking shy and small at the same time. Li couldn't help but smile at her.
"Your first time at a party like this?" He asked her softly.
Sakura nodded. "These people.... look.... very...."
"Fancy.... rich...and snobby.... all a bunch of idiots.... one of the reasons why I hate attending mother's parties is because of the people she invites...." Li concluded coldly.
Sakura gave a soft laugh. Li grinned when he heard her laugh. "You ready to enter the ballroom?"
Sakura nodded. She watched as Li took hold of her small petite hands and led her into the ballroom. Again, Sakura felt the familiar warmth he had always given her when his hands held hers, and the feeling would sent smiles upon her lips like it did now.
"Li Syoaran..." A cold voice called.
Li turned around, with Sakura besides him... still holding her hand....
Sakura came face to face with a woman, who held the same serious face Li had. She had a sense of pride in her eyes, and nobility in her features. Sakura stared in awe. She knew who she was immediately.
"Li...." her cold voice called again.
"Yes... mother...?" Li murmured.
The woman approached her son with graceful, yet staid strides.
"Why on earth are you wearing two scarves! One with holes!" She snapped.
Sakura blushed radically at her comment. Li also blushed. "I uh...."
The women stared at both their reaction, and frowned. "Who might you be?"
"Sa...Sa...."
"Sakura Kinomoto..." Li responded for her.
"I wasn't asking you, Li...." her cold voice shot.
Li frowned at her mother and held Sakura hand's tighter, to give her a good luck kind of grasp.
Sakura smiled at his motions. She took a deep breath and.... "I'm Sakura Kinomoto, age 17.... born in Tomeoda Japan ...I like to eat, play, sleep, watch TV, hangout with friends, and help people in need.... but hate arrogant women like you...."
Li turned quickly and faced Sakura with shock.
The women, glared at Sakura. Her cold eyes, met Sakura brilliantly innocent ones. Her eyes were unreadable, but Sakura's easily represented courage. Then, all of a sudden, the woman gave a small smile and walked away, while replying "Take off the scarves.... you look ridiculous in them, dear.... and show the young lady around..."
Li smiled at Sakura.... "You're good...."
Sakura laughed happily and walked towards the food stand. "I'm hungry...."
Li smirked. "This is like an all you can eat buffet.... so eat away!"
Sakura beamed and replied "Kero would have loved to be here..."
"Your mental brother?" Li asked curiously.
Sakura dropped the spoon she was holding and the clattering noise erupted through the room. She chuckled softly and blushed. She nodded and mumbled, "Yes.... my brother...."
Li's eyebrow rose, and wondered why she acted so weird.
"LI SYOARAN!!!!!!" A new voice bellowed.
Li groaned. "No!! Please, God! Don't do this to me...." he mumbled with desperation.
Sakura stared at Li strangely and then to the source of the voice. It was the girl she had met on the day she went to school. Her eyes widen.
"Nooooo!! Come on, lets go!" Li hissed and grabbed Sakura's hand. He quickly led her through the crowded audiences, and up the main staircase....they dashed through rooms and rooms, until they reached another staircase, and up that one. Finally... they stopped when they couldn't hear the girl's voice anymore. They walked into the closest room, panting and breathing heavily with exasperation.
"Who was she?" Sakura gasped. and settled down on a couch provided.
"Leila.....A idiot who happens to one of my mother's friend's daughters. She apparently finds me a fascinating subject, and stalks me whenever she has time. She scares the hell out of me. I catch her staring at me every single second in class... god, I can't believe she asked her mother to change her schedule so it'll match mine perfectly. She whines, complains, gossips, and she thinks I'm interested in her!!!!" Li yelled breathlessly with bulging eyes.
Sakura smirked. "So are you?"
"What?" Li mumbled still trying to catch his breath.
"Interested in her..." Sakura asked with a smile.
Li stared at her with a disgusted look upon his face. "Hell no! The only one I'm interested right now is......(Li quickly stopped himself from blurting out the name) never-mind...." he mumbled.
Sakura stared at him curiously, but decided not to question him this time. She traveled her eyes around the room. "This must be your library...." she breathed wistfully, admiring the large shelves of literature.
Li nodded.
Sakura slowly stood up from the couch and walked towards one of the cases. Each case was labeled for whatever genre they consisted of. "Fairy-tales...." she read aloud. She grinned.
"Hey, Li?"
"Hm...?" Li stood up from his seat and walked next to her.
"Do you have a favorite classic fairy-tale that you love?" Sakura asked with a hopeful beam.
Li shook his head. "I hate those stories.... all a bunch of stupid events they claim to be the cause of magic. Pathetic...." he muttered crossly.
Sakura grinned again. "They're not pathetic... you just lack imagination....."
Li stared at her curiously. "What kind of fairytales do you like? The one with the dwarfs?"
Sakura laughed and shook her head. "Nope, I like Cinderella!" she exclaimed with happiness.
Li made a face. "Ew! The one with the dancing mice? That's the gayest one of all fairytales!" Li mocked playfully.
Sakura smiled at him. "Well, I love it. It's so sweet.... Li, do you believe that magical things can happen at midnight....?"
"You mean....like what happened in the story?"
Sakura nodded.
Li shook his head. "I don't think so.... why.... you do?"
Sakura nodded again. "Yep! I think midnight is the most special part of a day. I think magical things do happen at that time...."
Li scoffed. "Why?...Is the marking of another day soooo magical?" he replied with a smirk.
Sakura gave him a playful glare, and then smiled. She walked towards the large window, and gave it a small push to reveal a large balcony. She breathed in the fresh air and sighed. Li edged closer to her, and smiled. "Step out..."
Sakura gave him a surprised look, and then did as he suggested. She stepped into the open, and stared at the full moon high above the dark sky......standing alongside the vigorous stars.
"This is my favorite place to be...." Li muttered quietly.
Sakura glanced at him. "You're lucky.... not many people get to experience such a view."
Li smirked. "Not really... it gets depressing when you have no one to share it with....unlike now....."
Sakura smiled at him. For a moment, their eyes were locked together.... and neither could say anything..... except to stare at each other and smile....
Suddenly, the music from the ballroom seemed to increase it's volume...and a blast of soft music erupted the library.
Li smiled brightly at Sakura.....a smile that had never been on his face before.....and was probably a smile that he only allowed her to see.... "May I have this dance with you...?" he asked..... this time, it wasn't him who blushed.....it was Sakura.
Sakura's POV
I must have been deaf.... because I thought he'd just asked me to dance....but I couldn't have heard him wrong...because he was holding out his hand.....he looked so cute....and silly....he was still wearing my scarf....
Finally, I held out my hand, and he took it gently. Once again, I felt myself drowning in warmth again...... his captivating eyes trapped mines....and I could only stare deeper and deeper into it.... all along, he was smirking.... something he's hardly ever done....then again.... he had been smiling a whole lot....well more than usual at least.... and for some reason....I felt happier tonight.....
He held me tenderly.... and guided me thoroughly.... I had never felt so vulnerable yet cared for in my life..... he kept me strangely safe....and I felt like this was a dream......
Without knowing..... the music stopped.....Li's pure amber eyes continued to hold onto mine..........Soon he was beginning to...... lean towards me slowly.... my heart pounded...
I can't believe what I'm doing..... I'm nervous... and I'm not even refusing! What's wrong with me...... !!
Suddenly....
Normal POV
"LI SYOARAN!"
Li and Sakura jumped. It was Leila's voice. Li took Sakura's arms, and led her to the corner of the door way..... they watched as Leila's slim figure passed the library while stomping her feet in a snobby fashion.
Then, Li carefully slid the door open and pulled Sakura out gently. They rushed down the stairs, and out into another door.... the back door apparently. They ran, for god knows how long, until they had ran out of breath once again.
"Wow... there's no escaping her...." Sakura breathed.
"You see what I mean! God, I needed this Christmas break! Away from her!!!" Li exclaimed.
Sakura gave a soft giggle. "She's just in love with you."
"No, she's just hysterically nuts and dreams about me every night, but it's not what you call love." Li muttered and continued to pant loudly.
Sakura smirked. "Really.... then what is?"
Li shrug carelessly. "I don't know...but I know I'll never love her...."
Sakura chuckled. She stared at where she was now. "Where will this be?"
"My garden...." Li mumbled, and quickly loosened his tie.
Sakura gazed at his movements.... He looked so..... strangely...cute when he did that. She shook those thoughts away and continued to stare at her surroundings. "A fountain too..." she replied impressively.
Li smiled. "Yea.... this is a peaceful rest stop..." he whispered.
Sakura nodded and smiled fondly at him.
They walked towards the garden and settled at the edge of the fountain. Sakura observed the fishes swimming within the clear waters. Li smiled. "Wanna join them?"
Sakura smirked. "After you...." she replied with a clever tone.
Li chuckled. They sat together for a long time, and did nothing but listen to the comforting silence, and terse sounds of the soft music coming from the ballroom. Both were secretly smiling, and enjoying each other's company......
"Did you have a good time?" Li asked, breaking the silence.
Sakura turned and faced his charming face once again. She nodded happily at him. "I did.... but how about you?"
Li smirked. "It was ok.... it would have been better....without u...." he teased.
Sakura nodded with a grin. "Yea... I wonder why you were smiling so much tonight..."
Li's smiling expression dropped. He blushed.... she was right.... he had smiled a whole lot tonight.... he had probably smiled more tonight than all the other smiles he had made his whole entire life......
Sakura giggled. "You have a habit of blushing...."
Li glared at her.... "I'm just hot!"
Sakura laughed. "Hot in the winter.... that's a new one."
Li continued to glare at her....but stopped when she turned away from him. The snow which was pouring continued to fall.... little flakes gently began to perch on Sakura's wispy soft hair....the moon once again traveled to her face...and made her glow like an angel.... she looked so special.... almost to special to be near..... but for some reason, he had the urge to hold her....and not just for now...but for eternity....
*Ding* *Ding* *Ding*
Sakura looked up at the clock tower, that was apparently part of Li's mansion.
"It's midnight....." Sakura breathed. She smiled with warmth and fondness. "Merry Christmas, Li." she replied softly, and turned around to face him.....
At the final moment...when she had completed her 90 degree turn.....she was taken back by a surprise...yet...enchanting gift.....Li was giving her....her first kiss.... it wasn't a long one.....but it was sweet....and it was filled with love.... Sakura felt dizzy and vulnerable... but she didn't know what to do.....or better yet...she didn't want to part.... it was somewhat weird and new....but it was also something special....and something Sakura would remember forever.....
As Li broke away...he gave her a childish smirk and whispered slyly, "You were right...Sakura, ..... magical things do happen at midnight...."
A/N: Sorri... lolz, ...that's the end of chapter seven...... hehe...well....chapter eight will be up sometime soon...hopefully...and you'll see how Sakura reacts! =) Hope you enjoyed this chapter though!
