Hello readers! First of all I want to thank my reviewers especially to if not for you I wouldn't have gone this far, so thank you very much. This chapter is dedicated to review lord.(thanks for the idea I did a number of revising though but the most important thing is till there!)
Disclaimer: I don't own CCS blah… blah… sometimes I'm just tempted to write in so that I won't have to write disclaimers!
Title: Remember me?
Author: sapphire-Lady-of-the-night
Chapter 11: The Incident
The sun shone brightly on the clear blue sky, an exact opposite to the emotions of an auburn haired girl sitting in the cherry blossom park. It was a weekend, no classes.
Sakura sat on a bench, her hands fumbling on her lap, her violin left untouched on her side. Kari had asked her to meet her. Yesterday she was waiting outside the room of Sakura's last class. Sakura was startled when she approached and told her to meet her in the cherry blossom park. She left immediately saying she still had a class.
Sakura breathed deeply. Why would Kari want a conversation with me? And what about? Why does it have to be here and without Syaoran for that? Does she know about our past? Syaoran's past? But she can't, how would she know if Syaoran doesn't know himself? Does this have anything with Syaoran's behavior the other day? He looked really troubled about something.
So many questions went on Sakura's mind that she didn't notice that Kari had already arrived.
"You must be wondering why I asked you to meet me here" Kari's calm voice brought Sakura back to the present. Instantly Sakura straightened on her seat.
"Yes" Sakura answered facing Kari. She was surprised to find a slightly painful and sad look on the girl's face.
"Is something wrong?" Sakura asked immediately.
"Yes… something is greatly wrong and I meant to get it right." She answered with calm determination.
"What does it have to do with me?" Sakura asked confused.
"It has everything to do with you" Kari answered.
"Miyuki-san I'm afraid I don't get what you are saying." Sakura said.
"No?" Kari raised her eyebrows. Then she looked upward to the sky. "Remember what I told you in the café?"
"Yes… you told me that sometimes it's alright to worry only about yourself. But I still don't see what you mean?"
"You will…" Kari suddenly looked at her straight in the eyes. "Take care of Syaoran for me…"
"Huh?" Sakura was very confused.
"That's all what I came for" Kari answered. Then she stood up and walked away.
"You know what I don't understand you!" Sakura shouted at her.
"As I told you, you will" Kari said then started walking again because she had stopped when Sakura shouted at her.
Sakura remained seated still confused. Kari doesn't make any sense! She was still sitting there when her least expected person sat beside her. Sakura turned and met the amber gaze of Syaoran Li.
"Ohayo Li" Sakura managed to smile.
"Ohayo" He answered.
"Listen about yesterday…" He shifted. Sakura could tell he was uneasy. He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I liked the rose" Sakura said when he didn't continue.
Syaoran smiled. "I'm glad you did."
"I liked white roses the best among all the other roses. How… I mean did you know that?" Sakura asked hesitantly.
"You know what? This sounds funny but when I passed by a flower shop I saw white roses and somehow…" Syaoran looked deeply into her eyes. "I remembered you."
Sakura gasped. Are his memories coming back already?
"Honto ni?" Sakura managed a smile. (honto ni- truly)
"I thought I heard you play your violin yesterday." Syaoran changed the subject. He was uncomfortable with the previous one. Somehow remembering someone with something totally unrelated to her was weird!
Sakura smiled. "How would you know it was me?"
"I… don't know… I can just tell" Syaoran said. Great! Now she'll think I'm nuts. Remembering her with a rose, knowing it was her playing the violin without seeing with my own eyes. To his bafflement Kinomoto even smiled broadly. He liked that smile, that cherry smile.
He studied her. She was even more beautiful with her smile. Her warm emerald eyes looked back at him with only a bit tinge of longing. It was still there, the longing was never absent in her eyes. What could she be longing for? But even though with the longing present she still looked warm like a sunny day and God help him he want to bask in her warmth. She was different from Kari. Kari was more like… a calm sea, cool— what am I doing? Why am I comparing them?
You know you like Kinomoto a little voice said in his head.
You know you prefer her to Kari… Hey where did that come from?
"Are you alright Li?" Kinomoto's voice brought him back from his taunting mind.
"You look troubled." She said.
"Uh… this is nothing." He answered.
She looked hard on him for a moment then she smiled. "You know you can tell me your problems… or just anything you want to let out"
Syaoran looked deep into her sincere eyes. Somehow he wanted to drown there. There was an unexplainable feeling surfacing on him. Somehow he felt so right beside her. It felt so right so good to sit beside her. Unconsciously like it was an old habit he took her hand and held it as if he didn't…as if he never wanted to let go.
He saw her gasp and blushed prettily.
"Ano Li… "
"Everyone is hiding secrets from me you know" Syaoran said looking down on his feet.
"They think I don't know it but I do… They treat like I'm sort of stupid… I feel stupid!"
She didn't say anything. He could feel her gaze on him. She squeezed his hand and he squeezed back.
"I'm so tired of being the last one to know! I'm so tired of being so clueless!" He looked up to see her face. He was so surprised to see her eyes glistening with tears.
"Hey" His angry eyes turned tender when he saw her face. He reached out and brushed off the tears that managed to escape from her eyes.
"Li… I… I… I've… I've got som—" Sakura's words were cut off by the sudden ringing of the Syaoran's phone.
"Excuse me…." Syaoran gave her an apologetic smile and answered his phone.
Sakura fumbled with her hands. Her heart was slamming against her chest. Her hands had gone cold and were slightly shaking.
I almost told him!
You should! Didn't you hear him? He's tired of this whole secret thing!
I'm tired too… but
But what? What are you afraid of?
"Uh Kinomoto I've got to go. It was nice talking to you" Syaoran smiled.
Now tell him! Ask him just a minute!
"It was nice talking to you too!" Sakura gave him a close eyed smile.
What are you doing? Tell him!
"See ya!"
Sakura just nodded and didn't even look at him. She heard his footsteps looking at him. She bit back a sob, not wanting to attract his attention. Silent tears slid down her cheeks.
Syaoran walked briskly towards his car. Kari just called wanting to see him urgently. There was something in her voice that told him it was something important. What could have happened?
Kari was standing there in the drive way outside the house that she was staying waiting for him. Syaoran got out of the car and went towards her. He moved to embrace her but she backed away.
"What's the matter?" Syaoran asked frowning.
"Syaoran… I… I … good bye Syaoran!" She backed another step. Syaoran could see she was trembling.
"What?" Syaoran looked at her confused.
"I- I want t-to end our re-relationship" Kari stammered.
"You don't mean that!" Syaoran grabbed her shoulders.
"Let me go" Kari whispered. "Onegai" (onegai-please)
"No, not until you explain yourself?" Syaoran scowled at her. What the hell was wrong with his girlfriend?
"I c-can't pr-pretend anymore!" She looked up at him and he could see the anguish in her eyes.
"Pretend? What do you mean?" Cold crept up his spine.
"I can't go on pretending. I'm tired living everyday with fear that… that…"
"That what Kari? What do you fear?" Syaoran shook her. "Are you just pretending to love me? Is that it?"
"I'm tired living everyday dreading every minute that you'll find out." She whispered not answering Syaoran's other question.
"Find what out?" Syaoran asked angrily.
"We are not for each other Syaoran. I've got to be honest with myself. You'll never be mine wholly and I can't live with that!" She looked deep into his eyes.
"You're not answering my question." Syaoran said with a steely note in his voice.
"As I've told you before it's not my place to tell—"
"Why!" Syaoran raged. "You know what I'm tired too! I'm tired knowing nothing!"
"Gomene Syaoran… Gomene…" Kari said softly closing her eyes. "But I've got to let you go. I'm not the girl for you…" (Gomene- sorry)
"Why are you doing this to me Kari?"
"Because it's the right thing!" With sudden determination she broke away from Syaoran. She ran towards the house. Syaoran didn't chase her. He just stood there unmoving. His heart felt frosty… he felt cold. Slowly he got inside his car and drove home he was so tired.
Sakura sat on the porch of her house. The episode in the park kept replaying over and over again. She almost told him. Almost. Should she tell him now? As if on cue Syaoran's car arrived. She watched him go out. She gasped when she saw his face. Anger, sorrow, confusion and frustration were all mixed there. Their eyes locked. Then he stumbled towards her and dropped himself beside her.
"Is it alright if I ask what happened?" Sakura asked softly.
"Kari broke up with me." He said lifelessly staring at nothing.
"Yes… something is greatly wrong and I meant to get it right." Sakura remembered her words in the park. So that was what she meant. 'Take care of Syaoran for me…'
"I won't say I'm sorry because I know it will do nothing to appease you." Sakura said calmly.
"You experienced this pain too, didn't you?" Syaoran asked her.
"Yes… it almost ripped my heart out." Sakura answered.
"I see it in your eyes… did he also break up with you?" Syaoran asked looking at her. She stared back. There was a strange look in her eyes and the longing intensified.
"No… he forgot about me." She smiled ironically. "He had an accident and that was the end of it."
"And you didn't do something about it?" Syaoran frowned.
"Put it this way… what will you think if I tell you, you are that boy?" Sakura asked him seriously.
" What?" Syaoran gasped.
"See you won't believe and think I'm kyoki no" (kyoki no- insane)
"But I'm sure you have evidence like pictures or something." He raised an eyebrow.
"His mother forbade me." Sakura said with an icy edge.
"Why?"
"She said it might harm his state of mind if I forced the memory. She said that if we were really destined then he'll remember."
Syaoran sniffed. "Destiny is for losers. It's just an excuse for the things that happened. You make things happen you make your own destiny."
Sakura was silent. Syaoran is still so fresh from hurt. If she tells him now… he'll never understand. She understands what he was feeling now and to say the things he's not ready yet would only make things worse. You're a coward Sakura…
"What are you afraid of Sakura?" Syaoran asked as if reading her mind.
"Huh?" Sakura gasped.
"Kari was afraid of something and she wouldn't tell me."
"So you're asking me instead?" Sakura looked down at her hands.
"She was scared that I'd find out. I don't even know what to find out! She won't tell me!" Syaoran said angrily.
Sakura was silent for a while. It must have been so hard for Kari. It was very brave of her to let this much out and very hurtful to let go. She's done her part though not completely.
"Well to answer your question… the scariest, the most painful thing is to be hated by the person you truly love." Sakura whispered.
"Are you afraid he'll hate you if you tell him?" Syaoran asked.
Sakura smiled though her lips trembled.
"Sorry I shouldn't have asked it was wrong of me to bring back your past." He said standing up. "I'll see you tomorroe." He walked away before Sakura could stop him.
"How was your weekend Sakura?" Tomoyo asked smiling. They just got in the school gate. They were walking towards the school building.
"I'm a coward Tomoyo." Sakura answered sadly.
Tomoyo's smile slid off her face. "You're not Sakura. Don't say that!"
"But I am. I had all the opportunity but I still couldn't say it to him."
"A person once told me that true courage is facing life's reality and not wishing the thorns will just disappear…" Tomoyo smiled encouragingly. "You told me that Sakura. That's what you believe in. You're not a coward you faced the pain you're just brave enough to follow your instincts."
Sakura looked at Tomoyo, her knowing friend.
"How did you know?" Sakura asked.
"You're eyes tell me. You're just looking for the right opportunity these things need to have right timing."
Sakura smiled gratefully at Tomoyo. Tomoyo smiled back.
"Hello ladies!" Both of them turned their heads it was Eriol.
"Hello Eriol!" Sakura smiled. Tomoyo looked down biting her lips her heart thudding erratically.
"Ah… Daidouji may I talk to you?" Eriol asked.
Tomoyo looked up as calmly as she can. The man she dreaded was standing in front of her. The man she was starting to fall for… she can't deny it anymore. Avoiding would do nothing. She'll just have to face everything even if pain could be the aftermath. True courage after all means facing life's reality and not wishing the thorns will just disappear…
She nodded.
"I'll just give the both of you some privacy" Sakura grinned then walked ahead bowing her head. As soon as she turned her back her grin sled off. She sighed heavily. Luck Tomoyo!
She looked up again and her heart constricted painfully. Syaoran and Kari were arguing ahead. Syaoran really looked angry. Suddenly Kari kissed him on the lips. Sakura turned her back on them and started to run the opposite direction.
She passed Eriol and Tomoyo but she didn't see them. She was not paying attention towards where she was running to.
"Sakura!" Tomoyo called her. But Sakura didn't hear her she just continued running however Syaoran heard her.
Syaoran pulled away from Kari when he heard Tomoyo. He didn't know why. He turned and saw Sakura running straight towards the street. His legs started to carry him towards Sakura. Perhaps it was the sight of her running away or running straight into danger.
Then he heard small voices. They were voices of children.
"I'll protect you then"
His legs were carrying him towards Sakura faster now.
"honto?" (honto- really, truly)
She was nearing the gate. Syaoran ran faster.
"Arigato! Does this mean we're friends already?" (Arigato- Thank you)
She just got out of the gate and a car was coming her way.
"If you like".
He reached her just in time and grabbed her. Sakura felt the pull and she lost her balance and toppled back.
It seemed to happen in slow motion.Sakura's sudden weight against him also caused him to loose his balance.
"Oh I would love very much to be your friend!"
He fell on the ground and hit his head on the rock and fell unconscious then all went black.
He was in the cherry blossom park. He didn't know how he got there. He was walking towards a special place. He didn't know why it was special he just feel it so. He realized it was the cherry blossom circle. There was a clearing encircled by Cherry Blossom trees. There two young people were standing in the middle.
"Aisheteru" He heard them say. (Aisheteru- I love you)
It was a young couple. He walked towards them they were vaguely familiar. The girl had auburn hair while the boy had chocolate brown. He walked closer to see their face but they started to fade. The park itself was starting to fade.
"Syaoran!" He heard someone calling him.
"Syaoran!" It came again stronger this time. Someone was shaking him.
He woke up and met the tearful emerald eyes of the girl he ran after. It was only a dream.
"Who were they?" He muttered.
A.N. Thanks for the idea review lord! See your effort wasn't wasted! Ok people Review! I know the first part sucks! Don't hate me please! I know Sakura should have told him but… but that would spoil my plan! If you've read chapter 10 then you already know the children he heard while chasing Sakura. If you have suggestions don't hesitate to give them, okies?