Happy Birthday to Me?

AN: I do not own Card Captor Sakura

Chapter 6

Sakura's P.O.V.

I'll show him. I'll show that damn bastard just what I am capable of doing. 'You're a smart girl Sakura. Figure it out.' What ever! I don't have time to figure out his ridicules riddles. If he doesn't want to tell me, that's just peachy. Everything is just peachy with me then.

I have a wedding to plan and no damned Li is going to get in my way. I am going to get everything I want. The flowers I want, the venue I want, the food I want, the dress I want and the people I want. Everything I want will be there and Mrs. Li is going to damn well agree with it or sit on the sidewalk outside the church.

I'll show her. She's not going to boss me around anymore. I've had it with being polite to my soon-to-be-mother-in-law. Elder or not, she is going to listen to me from now on and she is going to listen to what I say. It's my wedding and I want it this way.

I lay down my pencil and looked at the drawing before me. The final piece of my wedding puzzle was finally complete. It took Mrs. Li three weeks to drag me around the city and we got no where. It took me two days and I had it down to every last detail. The guest list and flowers to be used and ways they should be arranged. Where everything will be placed in both the church and reception hall, the reception hall I want to use for the event along with the décor and menu.

The only thing not part of my planning is my wedding dress and bride's maid's dress. That's Tomoyo's baby and I already approved of the designs she mailed me a couple of days ago. If everything goes well, and knowing Tomoyo it will, I will have my dresses ready two weeks in advance.

I sighed as I packed away the last of my art supplies and filed the drawing along with the others. I have time for a shower and then I have to go to the photo shop to make copies for dear mother-in-law and cousin-in-law. I sighed once again and lifted myself from my floor. Everything ached in my body and my eyes felt heavy and burnt from the lack of sleep.

The warm water felt pleasant as it hit my body, slowly easing away the aches and tension throbbing through my muscles. I opened my eyes and saw Li's shampoo bottle curiously glancing my way.

Bastard.

He is such an arrogant bastard. He probably feels that he is on some form of power trip at the moment. Keeping things from me… I know he doesn't want to tell me. What ever it is he is not telling…

OH! This makes no sense. I make no sense. He is not some bastard messing with me and I know that he does not particularly enjoy power trips… It's just… I don't know! It's just so damn unfair I suppose. He has it all figured out already and I'm still on the sideline wondering whether the water is safe enough to jump into or not.

And I can still see confusion and uncertainty pointing their little bony fingers at me, but now they are floating away on my sneakers. My favourite shoes and they are floating away with it. They are taking my hopes and dreams and leaving me with my nightmares and worries.

Oh heavens! I was never like this. I always had a plan for my future. That's why I went to university, that's why I saved my entire life. I wanted to rent an apartment in the city and work at a trendy business and slowly build my way up. I had a dream and it was broken into ten thousand pieces I will never be able to put back together again.

My naked back slid down the cold tiled wall as I sank down to the floor. My tears had an unfamiliar cold touch as they ran down my face to mingle with the hot water beating down on me. Slowly I let my sobs escape me and I surrendered myself to the misery and confusion that had been boiling inside of me for the past two days.

I didn't stop crying when the water stopped beating down on my body and a towel was wrapped around me. I felt myself being lifted off the floor and into familiar arms. I didn't care that I had nothing on or that anyone would see me, I just buried my face in his shirt and cried.

Syaoran's P.O.V.

She was up the entire weekend working on something, I'm not sure what. Our wedding - maybe. She only left her room to do the basics or to get something to eat or drink, and during that time I found myself back to square one. She ignored me completely and only spoke when totally necessary.

I felt sick somehow. Did I become so emotionally depended on the girl? Stupid question. In one easy answer: Yes. I have become emotionally depended on her, I wanted her in every way humanly possible and now she was ignoring me all because of some stupid kiss.

A stupid kiss I would love to share with her once more. To feel her soft lips and to taste her tantalising warmth…

I frowned when the shower didn't stop beating loudly against the tiles. She should have been out by now. Cautiously I opened the door slightly to peer inside. Behind the matt glass I could see her silhouette dragged to the ground and her sobs became audible every now and again. "Sakura?"

She did not answer me and I pulled open the door to find the girl crying in a heap on the hard tiles. Her wet hair clung to her face and neck and her body shivered slightly when she sobbed.

Shit Sakura, what did I do to you?

Unable to think of anything else to do I stopped the water from beating down any further on her exhausted body and wrapped a towel around her before lifting her off the ground. She desperately clung to me and I tired to sooth her as she poured her heart and soul into her tears. "What did I do to you?"

She pulled me into a tight embrace and I gently hugged her back. I allowed myself to push her wet hair from her face and she smiled slightly at me. I frowned at her green eyes burning with confusion, searching for answers. "No crying on your own, remember?" She nodded as more tears fell from her eyes. "You're too beautiful to be crying."

She laughed weakly at me. "You're just saying that." I pulled another towel from the rack behind me and whipped the water from her face and started to dry her hair. She sat silently between my legs with her eyes locked on one of the buttons on my shirt and her hands clasping securely around the towel covering her body.

Her eyes turned to my face when I let the towel glide down to her neck and shoulders to dry the water from her skin. I smiled gently at her. Her eyes fell down to my shirt again and her hand hesitantly touched a wet mark on the material covering my torso. "I ruined your shirt."

"Nothing a little wash can't fix." I took her hand in my own.

"How can you be so sure?" I shrugged, but I understood her question perfectly. I slowly let the towel trail over her legs and she followed my gaze down her thighs to her ankles and up again. "How can you be so sure?"

I paused my actions and stared intently at her heat flushed, yet pale face. Her green gaze was averted to the floor. She seemed vulnerable sitting there. I have never seen her at the mercy of the world and me. Somehow I have never been able to imagine her in that position. She is always the strong girl I have come to know, the girl who is willing and able to take on the world.

"I don't know. I suppose it is something you have to figure out for yourself."

"How?" How? I don't know! How does anyone figure out their emotions?

"I have no idea."

-----

I could not concentrate on my work at all. My mind kept drifting off to the girl and the way she looked when I 'saved' her from the shower this morning. She was weak and vulnerable and completely left at my mercy in every way possible. The thought disgusts me somehow.

I don't want her to be at my mercy. I want her to be strong, full of life and fight… The way she was when I met her. I want my Sakura back. I want the girl form the party back. I want… no I need the girl with life burning in her eyes and attitude flowing through her veins.

I need my sneaker loving tomboy stomping around the apartment, trying to find her other shoe. I need to hear her fall down and curse under her breath while I stand in the corner amused with her daily ritual of find and conquer. What I don't need is to find her crying her heart out in the shower. I don't want her to feel miserable and alone. I don't want her to feel unsure about herself and her feelings towards… me.

This is my entire fault. Frustrated I pushed my hands through my hair and glared down at the black letters staring innocently up at me from the white paper. "Xiao-lang, are you listening?"

"No." I growled at Eriol. "I haven't heard a damn word you said, happy?"

"Not particularly."

"Funny, neither am I."

"Xiao-lang, what's bothering you man? I have known you for too long now and you have never been so spaced out." I looked up at the man sitting across from me. His blue eyes flashed something I could not pinpoint behind rimless glasses. "Troubles at home?"

"You have no idea."

"You always manage to work things out. You have in the past; I can't see why you can't do it now."

"Now!" I laughed at the irony of it all. "Now Eriol, I cannot just tell someone what or what not to do. Now I cannot just organise a large party to make people smile again. Now… "I cursed under my breath. "Now I am the one who screwed up."

"What happened?"

"I…" What happened? What the hell did happen? I have no idea really. "I'm not sure, but Sakura isn't very happy with me at the moment. And somehow I cannot blame her."

"What did you?"

"I told her to figure it out herself."

"You what?" I glared at the pale man as he rubbed his black hair in confusion.

"I told her to figure her feelings out on her own." I nearly yelled at him. How could I be so stupid? How could I allow myself to say something like that to her? To her of all people! "And I found her crying in the shower this morning."

"Well, girls get upset very easily. Look at your sisters, they cry when their favourite CSI character bites the dust."

"It's not the same Eriol, and you can't compare Sakura to my sisters. Sakura doesn't allow her emotions to rule her and she doesn't cry. I found her crying twice this weekend and it made me wonder if she cried before… Did I make her cry before and I didn't even know about it?" I forced my fingers through my hair once more. "Oh I hope not. I don't want her shedding tears over something as worthless as me."

"Xiao-lang, you are not worthless." I glanced up at the female voice and glared at Meiling. Her perfectly red painted lips were pulled in a concerned curve and her ruby eyes reflected her feelings flawlessly. Hasn't she ever heard about knocking? "And Sakura… Sakura just needs some time to figure things out. She showed her planning for the wedding to aunty and myself this morning…"

"What?" I jumped to my feet and started to gather my things. I am just going to torture myself if I don't go home to check up on her. I need to know if she is okay. "She shouldn't have left home. She couldn't even stand this morning, never mind travel."

"Xiao-lang I am sure she knows what she is doing."

"No she doesn't. She told me herself. She has no idea what to do and neither do I, but I am still going to try." I pulled open my door and told my secretary that I will be taking the rest of the day off. I paused when I noticed her standing in the middle of the hallway. A weak smile was playing on her face. Slowly she swayed on her feet before she collapsed to the ground. "Sakura!"

Gently I lifted her head form the ground and stared at her pale tired face. She had pushed her body to its limit and now she was unable to go on. I never should have left her at home. Sighing I lifted the girl in my arms and carried her to the elevator. "Xiao-lang! Where are you going?"

"Home." I glanced up from the girl to Meiling. "I'm going to take care of Sakura."

Sakura's P.O.V.

Why was I here again? I stared at my tired reflection in the elevator mirror as the metal box lifted the other occupants and me floor by floor. I could feel Newton's law playing with me every time the metal box came to an abrupt halt at every other floor and some of the other occupants stepped out.

My feet felt heavy when I stepped out onto solid ground once more and I dragged them down the hallway towards Li's office. I still couldn't remember what I wanted to discuss with Li. It must have been important if I thought it couldn't wait until he got home, but I can't remember it now.

I let my hand trace the line of the wall as I walked. My solid ground did not feel stable anymore. I pushed myself away from the wall when I neared his office. I do not want him to worry about me. I need to stand on my feet and talk to him. I stopped when I heard his voice and I saw him talking to Mrs Avis, his secretary. His things were in his hands.

I must have caught him at a bad time; he must be going to a meeting. I wanted to turn around and hide before he could see me, but I couldn't. I stood rooted on the spot staring at him. Eriol and Meiling were staring at me and I smiled slightly at them. That's when he turned around and noticed me.

I could feel my smile faltering as the floor beneath me became more unstable. Everything around me swayed a little and my world turned black. In the distance I could hear his voice, saying he is going to take care of me and I knew… I just knew I was going to be okay if he looks after me.

-----

I don't remember how I got to my room, but when I woke up I was in my bed dressed in my pyjamas. I lay there listening to two familiar voices drifting through the house. The one was Li, I recognise his gentle rumble anywhere. I closed my eyes as I listened to his soothing voice.

I couldn't hear what he was saying, but I liked the low drone of his voice. It always managed to calm me somehow. His familiar rumble ended and I found myself listening to the calm female voice. I frowned as I tried to place the woman's voice. Finding myself unable to do so, I pulled myself from my bed and silently walked down the short hallway.

I held on to the wall as I watched Li and Mrs Li talking. Mrs Li was showing him my planning for the wedding and I felt my cheeks burn at the idea of him looking at my work. "What does this 'extras to be added' mean?"

"I don't know, you will have to ask her."

"It's for you." I swallowed hard at my hoarse voice and kept my hand on the wall. "If you want to invite anyone you can add their names."

"Sakura! You shouldn't be up." I grinned sheepishly at him and made my way to the couch where I sank down to explain my designs to him. "Sakura, please get back to bed."

"I can't sleep anymore." I croaked and pointed to the list in my file. "Two of my friends, Yamazaki and Chihiru, offered to be the press at our wedding. I thought that it would be prefect, because then we wouldn't have to invite any strangers and still get publicity for the family. They are from Tokyo Daily… I have their numbers in there if you wish to speak to either of them ma'am."

"Sakura dear, do as Xiao-lang…"

"They are married, so if you contact the one the other will definitely know. I have already spoken with the caterers and they said they will be more than happy to lend us their services at the reception and Tomoyo wants to discuss a design that she made for you ma'am. She should be here in a week or two, depending on the success of her new business in London."

I blinked when my body was suddenly lifted into the air. "Put me down Li! Li! Mrs Li, tell him to put me down!"

"It's for your own good, dear. You still need to rest." I frowned at the woman over Li's shoulder as she followed us to my bedroom. "The doctor said you should stay in bed for three days, it's only been two."

"WHAT? I slept two days!"

"Yes sunshine." I groaned when my body fell on the soft mattress and Li pulled the covers over me. "It's only been two days."

"Oh Xiao-lang dear, I have another appointment." Li stood up and she motioned with her hands. "No, no sit! I shall see myself out." I could hear her walking to the living room to get her purse. Her voice filtering through the quite apartment as she went. "Get well dear!"

"Bye Mrs Li…" My voice faltered when she closed the front door with a small thud. Silence filled the apartment once more and I allowed my eyes to drift from the empty hallway up to Li's face. He seemed tired himself, there was no sign of him trying to tame his hair and the slight stubble on his face told me that he hasn't left the apartment as long as I have.

"You had me worried sick." I blinked at his voice, but his eyes did not meet mine. I bit my lip as I lowered my own gaze in shame. I had worried him over nothing. I shouldn't have over worked myself. I was just so angry and confused that I… "I thought that you wouldn't wake up, that I have lost you." What?

His fingers brushed against my cheek and I turned my head to look at him. He was gently smiling down at me and I felt guilty for what I have done. "The next time you decide to plan our wedding as accurately as you did, please don't do it in two days and work yourself to the point of exhaustion."

"You like what I have done?"

"Like is not the word to describe how proud I am of you."

"I make you proud?"

"Very." I felt a small smile curve on to my lips. He placed a gentle kiss on my cheek and I smiled up at him. "And I would be honoured to call you my wife, Sakura Kinomoto."

Syaoran's P.O.V.

I smiled when the girl snuggled closer to me. My gaze drifted from the television screen to her pretty face pressed close to my chest and I could feel her hand clinging to my shirt. I pulled her up onto my body to keep her from falling off the couch and pulled the blanket over us as she slept on.

She had recovered her strength the past week and I stayed home to ensure that I did not have a repeat performance of her going out when she was hardly able to stand on her own to feet on my hands. She moaned something about her brother being a jerk in her sleep and I held back my laughter in fear of waking her.

Amused I turned my gaze back to the television and switched through the channels. Nothing interesting caught my attention and I settled on some news channel. Smiling I turned my attention back to the girl sleeping on my chest when her hand tightened its grip on my shirt.

I let my fingers glide through her soft honey brown locks and twisted a wild curl around my finger. I love the little random and wild curls her hair twists into. They reflected her spirit: wild and stubborn. They refused to go away, not matter what she did and she was very much the same. The memory of her refused to leave you no matter what you did.

Eriol told me so much when he had first met her. A week after I introduced my beautiful fiancé to my best friend he came back to me and told me that he was unable to forget her. Her laughter and sense of humour has marked itself in his memory and he kept on thinking how she would love this joke and then that one. Somehow that is to be expected of Eriol. He remembered anyone who shares in his unique and often matchless sense of humour.

Meiling kept remembering the girl when she saw T-shirts with funky print on them. It even went so far that she bought Sakura a shirt when she heard she was awake and able to receive visitors. Even my mother seems to have been bitten by the Sakura bug, if one is able to call it that.

Who could blame them? I smiled down at the sleeping beauty. She is the most exciting thing that has happened to me. I might have been angry about this arrangement at first, but after meeting her at her party I knew that this would be bearable. Even enjoyable, and I haven't been totally off mark as of yet.

I frowned when I heard my name being mentioned by the television and I frowned at the screen. A familiar icon of an event and my company along with others were displayed on the screen and some lame image of me the press got hold of was displayed on the screen. I felt the colour drain from my face as I listened to the announcer talking. "Oh, no!"

AN: Dun – dun – dun! It's a cliff hanger! As usual. Hey, what did you come to expect? Ha ha ha! I am so evil. Now you have to wait another month for the next update! But do not despair my fine readers, you are going to absolutely adore the next chapter! Why? I'll give you a hint… think moonlight and music. What do you suppose that could mean? Well, read next month and you will know!

The winner of last month's question is: BriAnna! Congratulations Bri, you were the only one to notice that Sakura called Li, Xiao-lang for the first time. If I could I would give you a nice big chocolate bar.

Thank you so much for all of your fantastic reviews!

Tella

Ps. I put in some thingies to divide the time jumps, there were a couple of complaints from people saying that they get confused. I hope it helps guys!