I Think I'm In Love with My Bestfriend's Boyfriend
Author's Notes: Alright…many sorries for the cliffhanger that I left you all! It must have been terrible having to wait. Still, gratitude to all my readers, especially my reviewers. Please do not hesitate to criticize or compliment on anything.
Hope that this chapter'll be okay for you all. Without further ado…
Disclaimer: All characters and places are property of the manga-ka CLAMP and companies related to it. Only the plot and story is my intellectual product.
Chapter Eight: Confrontation
In his hand was one of the things he most dreaded to face.
'Good thing no one saw this…or else I'd be dead,' he thought, slightly relieved. But then…there was a strange gut feeling that told Syaoran that things weren't as perfect that. That the blame did not rest on the wind alone.
Running down the stairs, Sakura was panting heavily. What had she done? 'If I respected his privacy, I wouldn't be in this doubting and shock. But hopefully I could find it just lying on the ground…'
Sakura almost collided into Tomoyo as the latter was going up the stairs, the precious video camera nearly falling to the ground. Luckily its fate was not sealed as a broken piece of junk on the Li Mansion stairs.
Hopes were being raised when she was in the Syaoran-less garden, so she began looking for the letter. Here, there, up, down…till…
"Sakura."
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"Excuse me, do you know the directions to the Li residence?" Eriol asked a few people along the way. Most of them just shook their heads in return, but one particular elderly couple gave results.
"Just cross by the corner, down the street, turn right, then right again. Round the curve to the left and it'll be the big house there." Said the aged man and his equally ancient wife.
Thanking them lots for their information, he proceeded with the directions that he had. Straight, right, right, left…and finally he saw the large white house that belonged to Syaoran and his well-to-do family.
"Here is where the road begins to separate."
Indeed, Eriol was correct.
…………………………………………………………
Syaoran Li looked heavenly in the mix of sun and shade under the trees: that is, except for the criticizing, questioning sharpness to his darkened eyes. Sakura froze immediately, recognizing the piece of paper…but as their gazes met neither could utter a word nor move the slightest bit.
For a moment all time seemed to pause…there was nothing in the world but the two teenagers and the old, yellowed letter. The stones and ornaments in the grass…the nervous notes of the songbirds…the cloudless, neon blue sky…nothing but distractions.
Till…the ice of the seconds finally thawed.
"Sakura -- What might bring you here?" Was the indifferent, but slightly chilled inquiry from one. For once Syaoran did not blush, quiver, hesitate or attempt to cover during such a situation: at this time he was sure.
"Admiring the garden," came the false reply.
"Is that all?" Syaoran demanded, losing his usually long patience.
Yet Sakura was not one to lie or betray. "Look, Syaoran, I can explain-" she tried to say, taking a few steps towards him. But this was not a simple thing to handle. "Explain what?" Syaoran half-yelled, this time moving forward. "Explain why you were admiring the garden?"
"No, the letter…" Sakura answered, unaware of the quiet, observing, unbelieving eyes that were looking upon them both.
Syaoran's comeback was cut abruptly short. Whatever plan he had of keeping a strong and hard façade was washed away. The letter…all momentum of response was abandoned and once again silence reigned. A silence that gave each a chance to comprehend…and decide.
"What letter?" Syaoran asked weakly, clinging desperately to the hope that she might have been talking about some other item…but these hopes were cruelly crushed with the guilty, confused expression on Sakura's face.
"Syaoran…"
"Look here, Sakura. You saw and see for yourself that this letter belongs in the past…years and years ago. You of all people know how close Tomoyo and I are-"
"Syaoran…"
Still he continued, a part of his heart breaking with every forced word. "I must have thought I loved you long ago, but now I know it was nothing more than an adolescent crush."
"Syaoran…" Sakura tried to interrupt, her control faltering with each passing syllable.
"I'm confusing myself with all these feelings I have, but I see that they are nothing but nostalgic strands from before! You're really a great person, Sakura, but Tomoyo has found a place in my heart that can not be-"
"Syaoran…I love you."
…………………………………………………………
Tomoyo was in a state of true shock. Was she dreaming? Was she hallucinating? Was she deaf to the ear? Was she---
…was she prepared for such a flustering event?
Syaoran and Sakura were so surprised by the present that they almost: almost didn't hear the high-pitched shriek of alarm that came from the door. Unfortunately, they did.
"Tomoyo!" they said simultaneously.
"Syaoran…Sakura…" she said, clueless of what to do. Tomoyo was warmed by Syaoran's denial…overwhelmed by such an unexpected confession - and still unaware of the 'letter' of which they spoke of. "What is all this?"
…………………………………………………………
Eriol was leisurely walking down the lane towards the large Li Mansion, taking his time to make sure of his plans: which included a well-thought out explanation to Sakura and preparation for a meeting with his long-lost.
That is, until he heard an air-piercing yell from the inside of the large house. "That voice…I know it: Tomoyo!" he exclaimed, sure that not too many people could reach such a potentially glass-breaking tone. He broke into a high-velocity sprint, unaware of the dramatic scene playing out in the garden.
…………………………………………………………
"Tomoyo," Sakura called, searching for a way to salvage the whole thing, "there is a reason behind all of this!" Syaoran stepped to the side, dropping the aged letter as if no more important than a piece of litter. He dashed to Tomoyo's side, hoping to find a solution to supply to her. As a result, Sakura could feel her own soul dropping to the earth as the paper did.
Hugging her close, Syaoran whispered in her ear, "Tomoyo-chan, please. Let me and Sakura explain everything, you see, we knew each other once long ago remember? Back then," started the recollection, until all three heard a loud gasp from the entrance to the garden.
"Eriol!" Sakura shouted, gathering the shattered shards of her soul as much as she could before moving off to the new arrival.
Tomoyo was blank for a moment or two, till her memories finally redeemed themselves. That name was unforgettable…and was as shocking as Sakura's declaration.
"Hiiragizawa Eriol?" she asked to them, her eyes quickly shifting from Syaoran's disturbed face to the direction of the noise. There she saw a stunned Englishman, and an equally such best friend.
Eriol had prepared for everything, from the confrontation with Sakura, any admission he would have to inform Tomoyo about, even the precaution about any upset parents or overprotective guardians…
…but he had forgotten about the most dangerous threat of all: a rival.
Sakura finally ended the friendly embrace…only to find the rest of her heart and soul blown across oblivion by the naughty, trouble-making wind. Following his line of sight: past the statues, through the foliage and branches, beyond the hedges and then stopping-
-on Tomoyo.
A rapidly saddening Sakura was looking at Eriol.
So was a baffled Syaoran.
But most of all…so was a vaguely glad Tomoyo.
Releasing her arms from him from astonishment and depression, Sakura fumbled with her feet a few steps back. Though falling clumsily to the ground on her arms in her hurry and feeling the coldness of the dewy blades of green, her eyes did not leave the theatric picture.
"Daidouji…Tomoyo?"
"Hiiragizawa…Eriol."
And so was the second meeting of two separated hearts.
And so was the breaking of another two separated hearts.
Tomoyo had somehow forgotten Syaoran in all renewed virtue. Pulling herself from Syaoran's loose hold and throwing his hands away from her, she ran the last few meters to him and fell into his arms.
In turn, both men were dumbfounded. One of them just underwent a life-changing revelation and a new, unknown arrival…the other had his long-lost dream in his arms.
In turn, both women were dumbfounded. One of them just underwent a life-changing revelation and an unexpected, welcome arrival…the other had her long-lost dream in her grasp.
"Tomoyo-san…" Eriol asked, near speechless, "why?"
She glanced up. What did that unreadable tone of voice mean? "Eriol-san…it's just that…I think I still like you from before…" Tomoyo said shyly, seeking the easiest and most casual way to say such a thing. For a moment there was a hollow doubt and inner struggle: after all, 'It would be impossible for him to love me back after just a day…'
But her wondering was of no need. Instead of a rejecting comment…there was a simple, tender arm around her.
They both smiled, oblivious to the almost tangible waves of sorrow emanating from the other pair.
Sakura was slowly recovering from her initial tsunami of feelings. It wasn't too good to see another of her 'chances' slip away into her same best friend's arms once again, but it did her a small comfort that Eriol finally found his princess. 'They were talking about each other…' she realized.
On the other hand, Syaoran was close to devastated. His past fondness for Sakura Kinomoto had been cruelly stirred up by an almost unthinkable way…his gradually tightening attachment to Tomoyo Daidouji was gone in one unlikely manner - this 'Eriol'.
Before, he felt like he lost Sakura before they even began.
But now, he felt like he lost Tomoyo after they already began.
The latter was twice as much pain to the heart…incurable by time alone.
So then…there was Sakura.
Quavering legs struggled to stand up, then remain upright. Crossing the distance bit by bit, small step by small step. Syaoran was so absorbed in all his self-pity that he didn't notice the soft noise that sounded beside him - didn't notice the concerned and compassionate eyes that rested on him - didn't notice the muted whispers of empathetic worry that were brought up.
He almost didn't notice the comforting hand that had somehow found its way to his own. He almost didn't notice their fingers clasping comfortingly…but…he did.
Syaoran quickly turned his head towards the warmth…and saw Sakura.
Despite her own mixed feelings, the latter was able to muster up a smile. "Syaoran…I think we better leave them alone. Shall we go inside?" she suggested, grinning widely.
Choking back a sob, Syaoran nodded weakly then looked towards the reunited two. They appeared extremely happy; this made his heart even more heavier than before.
Sakura stood up hastily, then asking for Syaoran's hand, pulled him upright. But when she looked at him, there were held tears beginning to stream down those paled cheeks.
"Syaoran…I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I shouldn't have violated your privacy and all-"
"Sakura."
"And then I admit that I was trying to get your attention and steal you from Tomoyo. I knew that you two were really meant to be…"
"Sakura,"
"I met Eriol and told him all about us…I shouldn't have done that either, because if Eriol and I never met, then you and Tomoyo wouldn't have had been like this-"
"Sakura…"
"…and then I thought that I could replace you with Eriol. When I found out that you and Tomoyo were-"
"Sakura…I…I love you too."