Happy Birthday to Me?

AN: I do not own Card Captor Sakura

Chapter 11

Syaoran's P.O.V.

They did not stop talking. Not even for one minute. Constant chattering about this and that. Constant discussions about things that are irrelevant. Constant, constant, constant! It was driving me up the walls!

Where the hell did the girl suddenly find her vocal cords? I have never heard her talk this much in all the time I have known her. Come to think of it, I think this is the most talk I have had from her (or rather her friend has had) than all the times I talked to her combined!

So what has been on the list so far? First the flight, followed by some random discussion on manicures and facials, followed by Tomoyo's range, followed by her store opening in England, followed by a random discussion on wine, followed by Sakura telling Tomoyo that she got their favourite wine for the wedding (and I was not told about this because?), followed about the menu and what to eat, followed about what will be eaten at the wedding and now we are currently discussing lingerie.

How the hell we moved from food to underwear is beyond me, but I was not minding this conversation all that much. "So have you shown Li my gift yet?" My attention snapped to the young business woman as she raised a suggestive brow at the girl.

"Unintentionally, yes. And I do not appreciate Moulin Rouge themed night gear, thank you very much."

"What did you think about my gift, Li?"

"It was quite nice. Just a shame it wasn't on her." I ducked as a hand came flying to my head and my name was cried in shame and outrage, while Tomoyo doubled with laughter in her seat. "What?"

"Have you no shame?"

"Yes. But I would have appreciated it more if it was on you and not just in a box. Can't a man be honest?"

"NO/ YES!" The two answers came at once. The girls sat glaring at each other for a moment.

"Oh, come now Sakura. The man is only speaking his mind. What is wrong with him wanting you in that way? You are going to married for heavens sake. The physical attraction might as well start here. At least I know I will be an aunt at some stage."

"Tomoyo!" Frowning I pushed a hand through my hair. Complete and utter opposites. That is exactly how to classify the Tomoyo and Sakura phenomenon in front of me. "Well, you could at least have some decency about it."

"I did and I have! I didn't say it bad."

"Oh, like you could have said it any worse?"

"Sakura, I wouldn't…" I was cut off by Tomoyo.

"Okay, I will. I want you guys to get down and dirty as soon as possible so I can be an aunt and spoil the bundle of joy. In other words: Sexual intercourse."

"That's it woman! You are no godmother of my not even existing child anymore. You can take your perversions and dirty mind to some other kid, preferably your own."

"What is that suppose to mean?"

"You can't get laid and now you are trying to take it out on me."

"Okay, ladies! Shall we move on?" I raised my voice above their hissing argument. "I am sure that Tomoyo still has a lot of unpacking to do and would like some rest before tomorrow evening."

"She's right. Sakura is always right!" There is the largest statement of the century, but hey, I am not about to argue with a seemingly sexually deprived woman. It is scary to say the least. "I haven't had a good man in months. I feel miserable. And now my best friend got herself the catch of the century. And what am I stuck with? Me. Only little me."

"Yeah, I wouldn't go around calling Li that." What the hell is that suppose to mean? I glared at the girl. So I'm not good enough? Is that what it is? "But you'll find someone. You know, some tall dark stranger with dreamy eyes you can look into. Or something."

"Yes, you're right. I'm tiered."

"I'll take you to my mother's."

-----

I glared at the girl. She frowned at me. I glared some more. She frowned some more. "Could you stop glaring at me! What the hell did I do wrong in any case?"

"So now I'm not good enough for you?"

"Where the hell did you…"

"I am not the man you want to be with? The man you would like to spend the rest of your life with?"

"No Li, you are not!" She screamed at me. Her knees were on the couch as she tried to level up to me as I sat looking at her. "You are not and you never will be!" I glared. My heart burned in my chest. So it was just all a game. Just a game. "You are more than what I ever wanted! You are more than what I ever dreamed of! You are more than what I ever deserve!"

I watched her get to her feet and make her way to her bedroom. "I love you, you fucking jerk!" BAM! I cringed when she slammed the door. Well, I asked for it. I asked for the screaming and I longed for the confession. It is what I have wanted to hear for so long. This is just not the way I expected to hear it.

Sighing I got up and knocked on the door. "Sakura, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to… I… I'm sorry, okay? I love you too, it's just…" The door flew open and the last thing I could remember before drowning in her sweet kiss was something like 'Shut the hell up'.

Sakura's P.O.V.

The idiot.

I smiled at the man with his back turned to me. His level of breathing was deep and steady, betraying his sleeping state. I, on the other hand, was lying on my back looking at the roof like some idiot.

I had fallen asleep earlier the afternoon after my visit to Mrs Li and Tomoyo. I was exhausted to say the least when I got home and just fell on the bed ready to sleep up a storm. When I woke up he was next to me, sleeping peacefully. He must have come home earlier to take a nap before the function tonight and did not want to disturb me.

Such and idiot. He acted like such an idiot. Did he honestly think that I did not want to marry him? He must have. Idiot.

I closed my eyes and he moved beside me, when I opened them again he was looking down at me with a smile on his face. "How long have you been awake?" I turned my head to look at the alarm. Quarter to five.

"Not so long." The corner of his lips twitched in amusement before he planted a soft kiss on my lips. "I suppose we have to get ready if we want to be there early."

"You suppose right, my love. No get your butt off this bed and into the shower. I'll make you some tea in the meantime."

"Who do you think you are? Ordering me around like some common servant… I'll have you know sire, that this girl does not obey orders, not even those from the king himself."

His rich laughter filled the apartment and I had to force back my smile in order to look as serious as possible. "Because you are the sneaker wearing rebel princess who obeys no one else's rules but her own."

"You've got that straight."

"And what if a dashing young prince is to come along and change the way the princess feels? Will she at least listen to his requests?"

"It depends on the nature of the prince and how the princess feels."

"And how does the princess feel?"

"Positively elevated! She will honour the prince's request and make haste to the washroom so they may arrive at the royal ball on time. After all, it would be rude to leave the guests waiting for such and anticipated event."

"You read too much."

"You started it."

"And I will finish it too. Go get that hot body of yours into the shower and into your clothes. No sneakers." I watched him leave the room. His neat shirt crumpled and hanging out from the sleep, his feet bare and his hair a mess. Shaking my head I got up and made my way to the bathroom.

"I didn't give you permission to look at my body!" I yelled down the hallway. The shower water felt pleasant on my skin and I was glad to wash the dirt of the day out of my hair and off my body. Turning off the water I opened the door and found a grinning Li. "LI!" I shut the door again. "Get out!"

"Why?"

"Because!"

"Not a good enough reason."

"Come on! I need to dry off and get dressed. You are going to make us late."

"So?"

"Stop playing your silly games. Just hand me my towel."

"Come and get it."

I poked my head out behind the door and glared at him. "Li, this is not funny. Give my towel."

"Or else?"

"Or else… You… You… How desperate are you?"

"Pretty desperate."

"No shit." Why he was playing this little game of his was beyond me, but I was getting tired of it. Taking a deep breath I opened the door, marched straight to him, snatched my towel out of his hands and walked out of the bathroom. All the while my heart was beating like mad and I could feel my cheeks burn.

When I was in my room I dressed as quickly as I could, doing my best not to ruin the new tailored suit he gave me. The shirt was in the end the most impressive to me. The soft material felt amazing against my hot skin and the dark wine red colour really complimented the suit. I pulled my hair back in a black tooth-pin and put two small black pins with small fake diamonds in behind my one ear for the finishing touch.

Pleased with my make-up and clothes and after I actually managed to put the shoes on my feet I felt confident enough to leave my room and face that man. I took a deep breath, gathered my purse and jacket and walked with my head held high out of the room to the living area where I knew he would be waiting. "I'm ready, we can leave."

"Enter stage right, the princess dressed in her party dress."

"Crossing the stage, the perverted prince in his party clothes."

"How harsh."

"How true. What is with you?" I smacked him on the shoulder with my purse. "Are you mad or did you get some hormone decease? You acted like a stupid teenager!"

"There is nothing wrong with me."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, really."

"It didn't seem that way thirty minutes ago. I do not appreciate it."

"I enjoyed it immensely."

"I should imagine." I let him open the car door for me, but he grabbed my wrist and turned me around before I could climb in.

"You are incredibly sexy. Even in your sneakers." And before I could respond he pressed his lips against mine, leaving me to forget everything else I wanted to yell at him. "Thank you for playing along."

Rolling my eyes I climbed in the car. "Just don't expect a repeat performance. Next time I stay in the shower."

Syaoran's P.O.V.

The party was roaring success. My lovely fiancé was, however, the star of the evening. Her bright smile and beautiful face seemed to attract all attention toward her. The press was driven to the point of madness when they were able to get a snap shot of her, while she tried to avoid them as far as possible without looking obvious.

Every time an invited reporter made their way towards us she would disappear and go talk to either Tomoyo or my mother. Until a reporter cornered her and Tomoyo, leaving the girl unable to escape and Tomoyo to take full advantage of the publicity. Then she disappeared.

When I found her an hour later to take her home, she was hiding away in an empty conference room with her feet on the desk, her body leaned back in the chair and her head on the desk behind her. Her arms were stretched out, resting on the backrests of the chairs beside her. Her eyes were closed and a small smile was playing on her lips.

"It smells like my father's classroom. A little bit like my mother. Her sent still clings to him… After all this time I can still smell her on him. Soft nadesikos… Soft petals filled with a soothing sent. Blossoms dancing in the wind… Toya, Sakura and Nadesiko… Their favourite flowers."

I sat down next to her and she leaned her head on my shoulder. "I think you and I would have been great friends if we had met at school or university."

"Maybe."

"Not maybe, I know. You would have been the popular guy that all the girls wanted and all the guys wanted to befriend and I would have been your friend. The girl in the corner cheering you on at soccer matches in silence."

"I would have liked that. But I prefer this arrangement more."

"Why?"

"Because, I would have dated the most popular girl and have missed the perfect girl standing beside me. You. No, what we have now is more to my satisfaction."

"Especially since you can steal my towel and see me naked when it pleases you."

"That is one of the reasons. Seeing you run out of your room without your shirt on is quite the sight, as well. I really like that black bra."

"Hey, there was a cockroach in my room and keep your grubby hands off my favourite bra."

"Favourite, hey? Are you wearing it now?"

"I'm not answering that."

"I'll take it as yes then."

"Pervert."

"I'll get my hands on you soon enough, my pretty. And your little dog too." Her laughter echoed through the room and her body shook slightly next to me. I looked her in the eye. Hers were pulled in slits from the laughter and the little laugh lines in the corners crinkled at her skin.

"Until I throw some water over you."

"I'm melting, melting… No, this is the new century. Wizards and witches don't melt."

"No, they burn at the stake."

"Ah! I'd rather avoid that if you don't mind. I'll wait until we are married and you are willing. It makes it much more fun."

"Xiao-lang!"

"What? You have thought about it, haven't you?"

"Maybe."

"Yes. One day we are going to end up in bed together, and I would love to have children."

"Two, at the most."

"Yes dear."

"And after we have been married for a couple of years. There is enough strain between us as is. I don't want any honeymoon babies."

"Then we should…"

"I'm on the pill."

"Oh. So…"

"No, you don't have to."

"Have you ever…?"

"No, you'll be the first. You?"

"No. I'm not such a player as you think."

"No, I suppose not. But you are still too flirty for your own good at times." I laughed at the girl and she smiled at me. "Let's go home."

Sakura's P.O.V.

I cursed the ringing of my cell phone. I glared at it as it flashed a white light and vibrated on the bedside table making everything on it vibrate with it. "Hello." I grumbled.

"Sakura!"

"Tomoyo? What's wrong?"

"I am not sitting next to that arrogant bastard at your wedding. I refuse! I absolutely refuse! Never before in my life have I been so insulted and I am not going to put up with it at my best friend's wedding, even if he is the best man!"

I frowned. The best man? "Eriol? What did he do?"

"He insulted me."

"What did he say?"

"Several things."

"Can you be specific?" I shook my head at Li when he lifted a questioning brow at me. This is not my morning. I listened to Tomoyo ramble on about how Eriol 'insulted' her. "So he made a move on you and you like him, but you just don't want to admit it."

"Exactly. Wait! NO! That is not it!"

"And you call me the slow one. Listen Tomoyo, I can't change the table arrangements now. You will just have to suck it up and sit with him. Toya and Yukito will be at your table, so you won't be alone. You can talk to them and ignore Eriol if it will make you feel better. You two, and especially you, will act civil towards each other tomorrow night, or else."

"Sakura!"

"Do not 'Sakura' me. You always do this. Listen, I'll talk with you later on when we do the fitting. Now I want to sleep and I do not want to hear about how 'bad' Eriol is. He is a nice enough person and you just have to get along with him for the time being. Think of it as a favour for me. I'll pay you back some how. Goodbye."

"Sakura!"I pressed the little red phone and sighed. That stupid girl. She can be so… A phone rang. Not mine, thank goodness.

"Hello?" Came Li's tired voice next me. "Eriol?" I looked at him and he shrugged. What the heck? Why must I be the one caught in a love thingy when I have my own problems to deal with in that area? I listened to Li talk with Eriol with half an ear and half asleep, when he finally hung up he too let out a huge sigh.

"Let me guess, he likes her."

"Yes."

"Oh boy."

AN: Hey guys! You actually get a chapter in November. Count your lucky stars I wrote this in October and could update. Good luck with exams by the way! I know some of you are as stressed out as I am. Just our luck.

Okay, we have a new side to Li and a new 'saga' within the saga. How will the Eriol and Tomoyo affair turn out? You will just have to wait and see for yourself.

Thank you for all the reviews!

Tella