Happy Birthday to Me?

AN: I do not own Card Captor Sakura

Chapter 7

Syaoran's P.O.V.

"I can't believe you forgot to tell me about this!" Her voice came in the form of a muffled cry of outrage as she searched for something in her room. She cursed loudly and the sound of something falling was followed by a string of other curses.

"I'm sorry okay! I'm not used to this warn-your-girlfriend-two-weeks-in-advance thing. What the hell are you doing? It sounds as if the place is going to collapse any moment now."

"Hardi-har-har Li." I jumped when her clear voice was suddenly right beside me. She ungracefully plopped herself down on the couch next to me and placed her legs over mine as she held out her high heeled sandals to me. "Please. I can't seem to manage."

I stared at her beautiful face. She seemed to be radiating beauty as she sat with her legs tossed very unlady-like over mine. Reluctantly I let my gaze drift from her beautifully made up face to the delicate white-silver sandals in her hands. "Number?"

"Three." I nodded in understanding and slipped one of the shoes onto her foot and fastened the clip in the third hole before repeating the process with the other shoe. "Thank you!" She jumped to her feet and straightened her dress before she smiled brightly at me. "So? Is this presentable? Not that you have much of a choice, this is after all the only dress I have."

My eyes drifted from the rim of the dress just touching the floor up the soft pastel blue material and her luscious curves. Slight spaghetti straps hung from slender shoulders and a soft chiffon scarf hung around her neck and down her back. I secretly smiled at the two silver necklaces adding a sense of casualness to the elegant attire – she hasn't removed them yet.

Her honey brown locks nearly seemed tamed in her sloppy bun and her layered fringe framed her pretty face. Glossy lips where pulled in a questioning curve and her bright mysterious eyes where highlighted with a perfect combination of shimmering white and dull black eye shadow. "Hello! Earth to Li!" I snapped out of my trans and smiled at her.

"Beautiful." I grinned when a blush crept onto her face.

"Yeah, whatever. Let's get going." She gracefully walked to the door leaving me to gape and stare at her. Since when did she know how to walk like that? Where did she learn how to do her makeup in such a provocative and yet sensually beautiful manner? When did she learn how to tame her wild honey brown locks into an elegant, yet Sakura-style bun? Was I even looking at the same girl I have come to know?

Stupid questions… and the answers are yes! Yes! This is the same girl I know! This is the girl I have come to adore in so many different ways. Only now… Now she was a beautiful woman walking away from me.

I jumped up and followed her. I chuckled at her small curses as she walked very elegantly down the hallway. "Now I remember why I wore my sneakers with this dress."

"This is your prom dress?"

"Yes."

-----

The ride to the event was long and silent. The girl kept her eyes on the passing buildings and people as we drove past them and I could see her lips move in silent words as she sang along to the radio every now and again. Unable to find words to say to her I turned my own attention to the passing buildings and cars on my side.

I stole a sneak glance at the girl and a small smile was playing on her lips as she sang along to the loud rock song. Some how that little action of hers seemed ironic when she was dressed as elegantly as she was now. A girl beautifully dressed in a soft feminine dress singing along to a very loud rock band I have never heard of just seemed… funny.

I held back a laugh when I remembered that she said she had worn her sneakers with her dress. What a laughable sight that must have made. A beautiful girl dressed in an chic soft dress, with her hair and make up done and sneakers on her feet, poking fun at the entire outfit. Somehow that seemed normal to me… Now that I know her.

She was a walking contradiction really. She is quiet to the world outside, but she is continuously in a conversation with the books she read and her own thoughts. She has the face of a soft graceful girl, but her clothes told of the real her hidden beneath that pretty smile. She was tough and confident. She was not nearly as vulnerable as I thought, but to see her left at the mercy of the world… I shivered involuntarily. I do not want to see her like that ever again.

I stole another glance of her lovely face. Her eyes were closed and the white eye shadow sparkled in the light along with her glossy lips. I wonder what she will look like on our wedding. Will she look as beautiful as now, as beautiful as her everyday self or will she once again find a way to astound me and force me to change my perspective of her beauty once more?

Her arm was suddenly pressed against mine and I smile at the girl as she sat gapping at the large building and excited people gathered around it. "You are such a liar Xiao-lang Li." She breathed and I grinned at her before I stepped out of the car when the driver opened the door. I watched her patiently as she gathered her nerves and gracefully stepped out of the car.

A nervous smile played on her lips as she scanned the crowd of people staring at us and bright camera flashes highlighted her green eyes every now and again. I took her hand in mine and she closed her fingers on my skin. Today the world is going to see that I was the most fortunate man in the world.

Sakura's P.O.V.

I gaped at the large crowd of people gathered in the front of an even larger building. "You are such a liar Xiao-lang Li." I breathed as the limousine came to a standstill. Li grinned at me before he stepped out onto the bright red carpet and I swallowed hard. He said that only a small number of people attended this affair. If this is his idea of a small number of people, I do not want to know what the amount of a large number of people could be.

I finally forced the lump in my throat down and stepped out of the motor car, the way Tomoyo taught me. I let a nervous smile slip onto my lips as I stared at the hundreds of eyes turned our way. Oh, Tomoyo if you could see me now… Li's hand had somehow managed to find mine and for once I was thankful I had something to hold on to, even if it was him.

Camera's flashed their bright biting lights as the photographers took photos of us slowly walking down the red carpet. I could hear loud questions about my identity and my relationship with Li being asked in the audience. "WE LOVE YOU XIAO-LANG!" I nearly jumped out of my skin at the loud declaration of love. I glared at him when he laughed slightly at me.

"You'll get use to it."

"I'm not sharing." I snapped and turned my attention to the other side. Why the hell I said that was beyond me, but I really had no intention of sharing what is mine. If they want some celebrity to marry them they can go bother Brad Pitt. I'm sure his wife or girlfriend wouldn't mind. She has fans of her own to deal with. I think.

I paused when his warm breath was suddenly on my skin. "Neither am I." I could feel the heat rise to my cheeks and I silently cursed him for embarrassing me in front of so many people.

"Hey, book-girl! Give us a pose." I turned my attention to the familiar voice and grinned at the tall man with laughing kind eyes. He waved at me and I let my hand slip from Li's grasp as I made my way to my friend. "Give us a hug book-girl." I laughed when I found my feet daggling above the ground.

"Hey Yamazaki! Where's Chihiru?"

"Pregnant."

"No way! Congratulations!" I hugged him again and he grinned sheepishly at me. "Boy or girl or is it a secret?"

"It's a secret. We want to be surprised, all we know is that the baby is healthy and on its way. You are the first to know."

"First to know what?" I smiled at Li's strong voice and elbowed him slightly. He did not look too pleased with Yamazaki.

"Li, this is Takashi Yamazaki, Yamazaki, Xiao-lang Li. Yamazaki and Chihiru are expecting their first child! It's so exciting!" I watched the two men shake hands in a formal greeting and Li wished him good luck with Chihiru's pregnancy. "How far along?"

"Two months. We only found out three days ago. So book-girl, are you going to pose for me or what?"

"Or what is what I should say."

"Come now, its tradition." I sighed in defeat and corrected my stance. "That's my book-girl." I laughed at his comment and the camera flashed its bright light blinding momentarily. "Enjoy your evening Sakura."

"Bye! Give Chihiru a hug from me. I'll call her soon!" I waved at him as Li slowly pulled me up the red carpet. I nearly stumbled when he pulled me closer to him and let his hand drop to the small of my back as he guided me up the stairs, whispering as we went.

"I have never seen you so excited."

"Yamazaki is my oldest friend, next to Tomoyo." I lifted a questioning brow at him. "Don't you like him?"

"Not when he is so friendly with you."

Syaoran's P.O.V.

Takashi Yamazaki… Takashi Yamazaki… The name bothered me right through the ceremony. Takashi Yamazaki… What is he to the girl? She said that he and a Chihiru are expecting a baby, their first child. Where have I heard that name before?

Yamazaki and Chihiru, I have heard about that combination before. They are married and they… What about them again? Oh, yes! They are going to be Sakura's guests and double as the press as well, for the Tokyo Daily if I am not mistaken. Smart move Sakura, smart move…

I glanced at the girl and she had a polite face on, but I knew she was bored out of her wits. She felt the same way I do then. These things were never really entertaining and the only reason I ever come is because it is good publicity for the company and the family.

Yamazaki… She called him by his last name, yet she said that he was her closest friend next to Tomoyo Daidouji. Then again, she still calls me Li and we are about to get married. I suppose it is her way of distancing herself form members of the opposite sex. It is her way of telling them politely and probably quite unintentionally to stay away.

Do I have to stay away then?

I heard my name being mentioned and the ceremony master told the audience about the awards my company has won. The girl let out a small 'wow' and I let my barely audible thanks stoke her skin. I grinned when she shivered involuntarily.

"And the winner is… XIAO-LANG LI!" I smiled politely as I got up and walked to the stage to receive the award in honour of the company. The words of thanks seemed to slip from my lips and I held back a grin.

You are not going to distance yourself from me anymore Sakura Kinomoto. Today the world will know that you are going to be mine and I am going to keep you by my side for eternity if the gods permit it. "And I would also like to thank my lovely fiancé, Sakura, for accompanying me…"

Sakura's P.O.V.

The entire ceremony was extremely tiring and the constant whispers about who I am and what I was doing at the event with Li were grinding my nerves to the bone. I wouldn't have paid much attention to it, but Li's comment about Yamazaki kept bothering me. What did he mean with 'Not when he is so friendly with you'? We weren't overly friendly, not more than usual.

I frowned as I took another sip of my wine. The ceremony master was on the stage once again delivering some boring speech I could really careless about. My ears did, however, perk when he mentioned Li's name and something about an award he has won for four years in a row. "Wow." I breathed as I sat back in my chair.

I jumped at the small 'thanks' he breathed into my ear and I could feel the warm sensation of a blush burning my cheeks. I hate it when he did that. It always sends shivers down my spine and it's not a feeling I particularly enjoy. "And the winner is… XIAO-LANG LI!" I snapped back to reality and applaud with the rest of the crowd as I watched him walk up to the stage.

I smiled when he accepted the glass statue and took confident strides to the microphone. "Thank you." The applause died down and he let that annoying polite smile of his play on his lips. "Thank you to every member of Li Corp, this one will be added with the rest for you to enjoy. And I would also like to thank my lovely fiancé, Sakura, for accompanying me…"

What?

I didn't really hear the rest of his speech. All I know is that my face was burning with embarrassment and I could feel all eyes, both human and mechanical, turned my way. I really wanted to sink down in my seat and cover my face from the world. Why did he have to go and tell practically the entire world about me? I would have been quite happy to have stayed the anonymous wife in the great business man's life.

Fait, however, did not seem to favour me. Or rather, one man was not too keen on allowing me to hide away in the shadows. All I could do was smile politely at the people and cameras around me and hope they would get over their current fascination, namely me, very soon.

-----

When the award ceremony was over I was somewhat relieved and other wise very puzzled to find myself being dragged through corridor upon corridor by Li. His hand was clutched securely around mine and he paid no heed to my protests. Giving up at trying to count the number of times we have twisted around one corner then the next, I turned my attention to the excited man pulling me like some toy car.

When ever we passed a mirror I could see the excitement burning in his dark eyes and when I was finally able to face him, I found that the reflecting glass did the real passion burning in them no just. "What is this about Li? Not another one of your 'wonderful' surprises is it? I wasn't impressed with the last one at all."

"This is better." He grinned down at me and I lifted a sceptical eyebrow. Better?

"There are not some media people waiting for us are there? I have had quite enough of cameras and flashes for one evening…" My words stopped dead when his finger touched my lips in a gesture to quite me down.

"Shh…" He whispered in my ear and that same strange shiver ran down my spine. "You know, for a quiet girl you talk a lot all of a sudden." I took a deep breath as his warm breath continued to play on my skin. Why was he so damn close? "Welcome, Sakura Kinomoto, to my favourite spot in this building."

He pushed the large doors open and I found myself gawking like a fish at the large ballroom. Slowly I made my way inside as I explored every inch and detail with my eyes. It was almost just like Anastasia's ballroom in the movie, only not in a cartoon. I twirled around to get the feeling of it all. It was simply awe inspiring.

Strong hands took hold of my waist and I let my gaze drop from the ceiling to his dark eyes. Slowly his feet started to move and I followed his rhythmic pattern as he led me across the great dance floor. In my mind I could hear the song I always thought to be the ultimate dance song. "What are you dancing to?"

I glanced up at him. "When the rhythm starts to play, dance with me, make me sway, like the lazy ocean hugs the shore, hold me close sway me more…" The words had slipped from my lips in a soft whisper and he grinned at me. "I don't even really know how to dance."

"Just follow me." He pulled me closer to him and the lights suddenly went off leaving us in complete darkness. My eyes drifted to the sliver moonlight drifting into the darkened room through the large glass doors leading to a magnificent balcony. I was surprised when he started to dance once more and I followed him clumsily. He spun me out and I laughed when the moonlight stroked my skin.

"This is the most peculiar dance I have ever had." He pulled me back in and I found myself in his hold, unable to escape. I watched his eyes searching mine for some form of answer to a question I do not know. Words failed me and I watched him slowly leaning closer and I let my eyes close. Just this once I want to know how it feels.

Syaoran's P.O.V.

"When the rhythm starts to play, dance with me, make me sway, like the lazy ocean hugs the shore, hold me close sway me more…" The words had slipped from her lips in a soft whisper and I could not help but grin at the sensational feeling rippling through my body at the sound of her soft voice. "I don't even really know how to dance."

I could tell, she was slightly off, but not enough to ruin the moment. "Just follow me." I found myself saying to her and I pulled her body closer to mine. The tantalising sensation of having her so close to me, was driving me mad and I loved every moment of it. The lights took a damper and we were left in the darkness.

I watched her face as she turned those mysterious eyes of hers to watch the pale moonlight filter through the glass and into the room. She was the perfection of beauty at that moment and I longed to kiss her glossy pink lips she had especially made up for this evening. I swallowed hard and pulled her slightly as I started the dance once more.

She laughed her wonderful rich laugh when I spun her out and her dress sparkled as it twirled under the silver moonlight, laminating her in a light I have never seen her before. "This is the most peculiar dance I have ever had." I heard her say in the distance, but I paid no heed to her words. She was radiant in every way possible and I reluctantly and urgently pulled her back into my hold.

I did not need the light to tell me that her cheeks were burning. The way her lips moved in embarrassment, trying to find words and the way her eyes searched mine told me everything I needed to know about her at that moment. Slowly I leaned in and I watched her eyes close in anticipation. I grinned slightly before I claimed her lips.

She was soft, tender and sweet… Better than I remembered her. I softly kissed her and she responded with shyness, but I could feel the passion burning underneath. That passion was the one thing that she was unable to hide from me. I would always taste, smell or see it in every part of her body.

The lights flickered back on and she pulled away. I watched her as she lowered her eyes to the ground in embarrassment. "We should be heading back; they might wonder where you are."

"Let them wonder."

"Li… It's rude; you cannot just leave your host's party without saying something." I watched her walk to the door. Her pale blue dress was shimmering under the romantic lights of the ballroom, accentuating her curves with every graceful step she took. I grinned as I followed her.

At least she didn't yell at me this time.

AN: Oh my goodness! What is this? A new chapter and it is not even July yet? Call it my winter gift to you guys. Well, for those of you who live in the Southern hemisphere like me. (I hate winter!) And it's my summer gift for you guys in the North. (I adore summer!)

And oh my goodness once again! What is this? Romance? Let's just say things are going to become very interesting from now on. Add a cockroach and you have one hell of a chapter coming up!

Thank you for all of your great reviews!

Tella

PS. Out of my curiosity's sake, how old are you guys? (I already know three readers, Lizaan, Hannelie and Retha are the same age as I am, 19.)

A. 12-15

B. 16-18 or

C. 18 +