Happy Birthday to Me?
AN: I do not own Card Captor Sakura
Chapter 14
Sakura's P.O.V.
Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh!
I took deep breaths as I watched myself in the mirror. More deep breaths. And again. Oh my gosh! I am going to breathe myself to death. Breathe Sakura. Okay, stop breathing. Breathe again. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…
Okay, this seriously not working.
I need some outlet. Something to do, something to read. Yes, reading would help. That always clams me. But what? I looked around the room. Nothing. I can see nothing to read. I pulled open the drawers and found nothing. I looked under the bed. Nothing. I looked in the cupboard and found yet again nothing.
"Tomoyo! I need something to read!" I yelled down the hallway in vain hope that she would hear me and at least grant me this one wish before I had to go face all those people. No answer came. I sighed. Great. Well then, I am going to get it myself. I just cannot sit in that room any longer. I know what I look like damn it. And I know what my dress looks like.
I peeked out the door. The coast is clear. Tomoyo must have disappeared with the Li-sisters to goodness knows where. That means that I can make a dash for the library and back again without her knowing and without someone seeing me. Okay, one, two… Run. I lifted my dress and ran down the hallway to the library.
No one there. Great! So far so good. I walked to the shelf I had identified only a few days ago as the one I would be the most interested in and pulled a book from it. It was old. The pages even started to look yellow and felt brittle when I touched it. I read the title. Well, it is as good as any other and it is only to calm my nerves.
I turned at a noise. If Tomoyo catches me out of that room I am seriously dead. Whether it is my wedding day or not. But the doorway was empty and when I looked down the hallway it was empty as well. It must have been my imagination. I am just stressed out a bit. Sighing again I made a dash down the hallway and closed my door behind me.
I pulled my dress up under me as I sank down onto the bed and opened the book on my lap. One hour to go. Only one hour left before my life changes forever. Along with my name.
Mrs Sakura Li.
It has an odd, but good sound to it.
Syaoran's P.O.V.
I looked myself in the mirror. It is a suit. There is absolutely nothing special about it, except that it cost a lot more than anything else I have ever bought. Tomoyo claims that one can see the difference between it and a normal suit from miles away. I can't even spot it from two millimetres away. The only difference is in the feel, it is more comfortable though.
I adjusted my collar. Tomoyo said Sakura doesn't want any ties. Ties are for work and bow ties are for the occasions you have to look like a penguin, and she wants none of that. Whatever Sakura wants, Sakura gets. So am dressed up in the fanciest suit I have ever owned and I am wearing no tie of any kind with it.
Sighing I sat myself down on the edge of the bed. Eriol disappeared off to hell only knows where and now I am stuck with only time to kill. A door opened somewhere. "Tomoyo! I need something to read!" I laughed at the girl's voice. That sounds like Sakura alright. I didn't hear the door close again, instead I heard the sound of naked feet running down the hallway.
Curious I opened my own door and saw the girl's back before she slipped into the library. I licked my lips as I followed her path silently. She was standing in front of a shelf, the fantasy one, with her back turned to me. Soft white material cascaded down to the floor only to leave a small trail behind her. Her back was open and I watched her muscles move as she reached up to remove a book from a shelf.
Her hair was pulled up and small white roses winked at me with a slight glitter in them. I frowned as I looked at her open back again. I was right, I did see something glitter. A long string of diamonds, probably diamante, fell down the middle of her back. It was soft and beautiful to see the cold stones against her warm skin. I so badly wanted to touch her.
I looked at her reflection in the window. Although it was faint I could see every detail of her beautiful face. Soft strands of her wild hair just framed her face, her lips were glossy and full… Her cheeks flushed and her eyes…
I jumped when I realised I had knocked my shoulder against the door. I quickly retreated to the room I had emerged from earlier and only moments later I heard the girl run past and shut her door.
I had never seen her looking so…
She is going to be mine.
She is going to be only mine.
-----
I looked at all the people sitting and waiting patiently for the girl, my bride, to arrive. My sisters and brothers-in-law and my cousins and their families, they were all there. My mother sitting in the front row, and smiling from ear to ear as she talked quietly with my sister, Feimei.
Sakura's family, although a lot smaller that mine, where all there as well. Her brother, Toya, and his husband, Yukito. Her great grandfather. And all her friends. Yamazaki, with a pregnant woman I assumed to be his wife Chihiru, Tomoyo's mother, Mrs Daidouji, a man with a young woman I heard the girl once talk of as Tedra and Rika.
Everyone came to the wedding. The girl said that everyone accepted the invitations and that everyone will be here. And although her everyone is not as many people as mine, I am glad to see that her everyone did show for one of the most important days of her life.
Eriol's heavy hand landed on my shoulder and I turned to look at him. He had that same smile I grew up with, the one that said that he will be there with me through everything. The one that read that this was going to be a blast for both of us and a day we will never forget. I love that smile. "Relax, she will be here."
"I know."
"And she will stay at your side no matter what. She's like you, stubborn. You don't quit no matter what, and neither does she."
"I've seen her."
"Where?"
"The library. She… I have never seen anyone so beautiful in my life."
"She's your girl mate. And you're one lucky bastard." I grinned at him and he at me. "Here comes Tomoyo."
The wedding march started and I held my breath as I watched the girl walk down the isle arm in arm with her father. She looked even more beautiful than I remember seeing her only hours earlier. Small white roses shimmered in her hair. Soft curls fell down to her face. Her lips were full and glossy and pulled into a small smile and her cheeks rosy as she blushed at the winks her friends gave her.
They stopped in front of me and I looked at the elderly man. "I give you my daughter. Take care of her, son." I smile at Mr Kinomoto.
"Yes sir."
"I love you."
"I love you too, daddy." He kissed her brow and stepped aside. The girl looked up at me and I felt my breath disappearing from my chest. Her eyes were big and open. All the secrets she once kept hidden where open and exposed for me to see. Her green pools drew me into her soul and I knew that my life would be perfect from this moment on.
Her eyes were filled with love, something I have not seen yet. They were open and frank. She no longer hid behind her walls and curtains. She finally knocked and pushed them all away for me to see her, the real her. The girl I fell in love with the moment I saw her hiding away in a dark corner at her loud twenty-first birthday party.
In her eyes I could see every emotion we've been through together. Her hurt and pain, her confusion and desperation, her realisation and determination, her love and compassion, her devotion to me…
I held out my arm to her and together we turned to the priest to start our future together.
Mrs Sakura Li.
How perfect her name will sound.
Sakura's P.O.V.
I watched the shops and people go buy as I sat in the car. This time Mr Wei was driving and I was sitting in the back. People stopped and stared, some waved, everyone looked. They knew I was on my way to get married, it was quite obvious, but it was as if some people just knew that I am on my way to marry Li. The way some women waved with tears in my eyes… It was strange.
Mr Wei's kind eyes looked at me in the mirror. They were dark and the corners wrinkled from age and laughter. "It is not too late miss, I can still turn around. I can take you to any place you want to go. Just say the word."
"Thank you Mr Wei, but I did not come all this way just to turn back." I took a deep breath. Was what I said true? Do I want to spend the rest of my life with Li? It's not too late, Mr Wei can still take me some place else, some place that's not the church.
But then I will never see him again. I will never hear his laugher, a deep chuckle that escapes his lips whenever I do or say something stupid. I will never see his kind eyes again, those deep dark eyes with their mesmerising golden glow. And I will never be able to wake up next to him again. To watch him sleep, his hair in a mess and the stubble from the night clear on his jaw while his face is peaceful and content.
No, I need to be able to wake up next to him. I need to be able to hear him laugh and I need to be able to see his eyes everyday. And if not for those reasons, I need him to kiss me everyday. Just a peck on the cheek to say he loves me. I need that. I really do.
"Very well miss." The church came into view and I held my breath as I looked at it. I have been here before so many times with my planning and discussions with the priest, but it looks different now. It looks welcoming, more so than at other times. I closed my eyes as the car came to a stop and the door opened.
"Sakura…" I looked up at my friend, her hand held out to me and her kind blue eyes smiling down at me. "You can still turn back." I shook my head and took her hand.
"Thank you Tomoyo."
"For what?"
"Putting up with me."
"We put up with each other. Your fiancé is waiting." I took my father's arm. The wedding march started as Tomoyo walked down first. All my friends were there, every single one of them where there to cheer me on. Chihiru with a very pregnant stomach, Yamazaki with his camera, Rika and Tedra, Toya, Yukito and Mrs Daidouji and so many more. Even great grandfather.
And there in front Li stood waiting for me. He was smiling at me. A warm caring smile I would never forget. His eyes burned gold. A bright gold I haven't seen yet. My father gave me to him and I looked up at the man I was about to marry.
His dark eyes searched my soul and I let him. I opened all my doors and he in turn did the same. There stood the man who, with patience and love and caring, slowly stole my heart and made me believe that being there is one of the best things that ever happened to him.
And me.
-----
I held onto Li as he led me across the dance floor. His big hand held onto mine, while his other hand rested on the small of my back, his fingers stroking my skin every so often. I smiled as the song ended and he led me into another one and another. I let my head rest against his shoulder. I smiled when I could make out the faint, fast rhythm of his heart beat. He was as excited as me.
But he kept dancing with me. Even through my continuous clumsiness and stepping on his toes he kept dancing with me. Even when I suggested that we should stop so could stop treading on his toes and stop feeling guilty about it, he simply smiles at me and told me not to worry. And we continued dancing.
He must really love me if he is willing to put up with a girl with two left feet and still insist that her dancing is good. He must love me. There is no other way of explaining why he would have put up with all my nonsense all this time and there after spend the rest of his life with me. "You are fortunate, Sakura Kinomoto." My best friend had said to me. "That man loves you more than you will ever know."
I glanced up at him. His eyes were closed, but I could feel his fingers gently stroking my exposed back as we continued to dance. The corners of his lips were turned up in a small smile, as smile I haven't seen before. He seemed really happy and I hoped with all my heart that he was indeed really happy. What a childish wish to make, but one I wish with all my heart. "Do you want to stop?"
"No." I giggled at the song that started. It was one I listened to quite a lot as a teenager, when I still hoped for prince charming and his white steed. I found prince charming, and although he does not have a white steed his metallic black car is not too bad. "I wanna see you down on one knee, marry me today… Guess I'm wishing my life away…"
"These things you'll never say."
"You know it?" He grinned at me. His dark eyes turned down to me and I could see a mischievous glint in them. "You weren't a teenager at that stage."
"Nope."
"Then…?"
"Seifie is a fan, believe it or not."
"Hmm…" Some how I could not see his sister listening to a 'skater girl' singing nonsense teenage lyrics, with a punk-rock sound. But hey, I've been surprised before by this weird and wonderful family. Why should choice in music be any different?
Though, I don't mind a couple of surprises. And his has been the most pleasant of all. Especially his kisses. They are always soft, sweet, caring and so loving.
Just listen to me! If Tomoyo was to hear about it I would never hear the end of it. Never before have I been the mushy kind, never. Yet when I am around him I cannot help but swoon and think of all the times we've spent together and the kind things he's done for me.
The bug bit me. It bit me bad.
The love bug, that is.
"Sakura, Tomoyo is trying to get your attention." I turned to look at my friend who motioned for me to go over to her. I knew what was coming and I wasn't too keen on it. The flower toss and then the garter toss.
"Ladies, gather around. We have to see who will be the next one to marry and then the gentlemen can gather for Li. All unmarried of course." I sighed at Tomoyo. She likes this kind of thing. I wanted to give it a pass, but my dear friend insisted on it. "Sakura, on the chair." So I got on the chair, took my flowers in my hand and tossed it. Very undramatic, but still effective.
When I turned around a very confused and stunned Tomoyo stood with the flowers, roses and daisies, in her hands. "You're not supposed to aim at your best friend!" Everyone laughed and I could see Eriol blushing next to Li. Did he have something planned already? I do hope so, because even between all the fights they are still good for each other. Oh no, I'm starting to sound like Tomoyo. "Li, you're up."
I frowned at this. Great, now I am going to get it. As soon as this dress lifts Tomoyo is going to be on my case, and so bad it is not even going to be funny. I looked down at Li as he looked up at me. "Did you have time?"
"No."
"Face the music then."
"Oh yes, the caring husband already." He shook his head at me and started to lift my dress. I swear he did it deliberately slow, but oh, the touch of this strong warm hands sliding up my leg.
"Sakura Kinomoto! I mean Li! Where are your shoes?" I held on to Li's shoulders as I glanced at Tomoyo. Her hands were on her hips and she looked very much like our one high school teacher we used to laugh at.
"Under the table." People laughed, especially my friends and family. My track record with fancy clothes and shoes is famous. Or infamous, however you want to see it. "They were hurting, and I can't dance with them."
She waved me off. "As long as I do not see a sneaker I am happy." I sighed. Li patted my leg and then his hands started to climb higher. Now that I am not distracted by my lack of shoes, I could feel his every touch. Damn it. My cheeks burned and Chihiru teased me about it. Why is he taking so long?
Finally he slid the thing off and tossed it, leaving me free to jump off the chair while Takashi, Li's Takashi, stood dumbfounded with the garter in his hand. "Enjoyed feeling me up?"
Li grinned at me. "You have no idea." I shook my head at him and he bent down, his lips close to my ear. "Wait until you and I are alone. I feel you up, all over." I could really feel my cheeks burning and his laughing did not help.
Syaoran's P.O.V.
We were into the early hours of the morning when the girl went missing. It is only Sakura who will be able to turn up missing at her own wedding. Thunder was roaring loudly outside, while lightning made a clear and obvious demonstration of its power. Rain poured down on to the earth in a loud over bearing shower, and I was starting to get worried.
I finally found Tomoyo standing at the door begging someone to come in before he or she got sick. When I looked out side I found the girl with her eyes closed and her face turned up to the heaven as the rain poured down on her. Her dress and hair clung to her body, but she refused to come in where it was dry. I should have known.
"Sakura, get inside."
"Come out Xiao-lang, the rain is fantastic." She smiled at me and her eyes blinked every so often from the rain. "You have to feel this."
"Oh Sakura! Rain is rain, why can't you stay out of it. The same thing happened at prom." Tomoyo complained next to me. Smiling I pulled off my jacket and threw it on a table before stepping out in the storm. "Li, not you too."
I touched the girl's cheek and she turned her attention towards me. Her small roses were starting to fall out and one slipped down her hair, to her shoulder. "No one told me I was going to marry a rain princess."
"You never asked."
"So I always have to ask?"
"Dance with me." I smiled as I let my hands slip to her back and she wrapped her arms around my neck. She rested her head on my shoulder as we danced to the faint music coming from inside the reception hall, but mostly we danced to the rhythm of the rain and thunder. And although dancing in the rain is a little odd, I would have thought it much stranger if the girl hadn't insisted on it.
"I love you Sakura." She looked up at me and the flash of lightning lit up her green eyes. Every emotion I ever wanted to read was clear in them. She did not even have to say it. I leaned down and kissed the girl. And as I kissed her I knew that for the rest of our lives together she will kiss me with all the love and devotion she carries now in her heart, and that I would do the same for her.
As long as rain keeps falling down to the earth for her to run away and dance in, and as long as fairy tales are being told and twenty-first birthdays are being held, I will love this girl in my arms. I will keep her close and treasure her as she treasures those worn out sneakers of hers, and even after she has thrown them away and bought another pair I will keep her by my side.
Now I can say she is mine. My Cinderella, my rain princess, my girl, my wife… My fairy tale, come true.
Now we can live happily ever after.
AN: Hey guys! This is the chapter you have all been waiting for. A nice romantic mush for all you guys who are in the pink and red hearts spirit, aka Valentines Day. I hope I made you say –'Ah!' Other wise I did a crappy job. Ha ha!
Thank you so much for your great reviews! And even to those of you who didn't review, but read my story, thanks. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. The Little Mermaid is up, but I am planning a new story, the question is only when will it be up. I'm still at the planning faze. Other wise you will just have to read my old stuff (if you are willing to risk bad writing) or find another writer to keep you occupied.
Thanks for the support and making this story such a huge success, I never expected it to be so popular when I started writing it. Hope to see you again!
Lovies
Tella