Hello there! This is Starfire Star, reporting live from the comfort of her own home! This fic will continue, whether I get reviews or not! But thanks to my reviewers of the first fic for even giving this fic a chance! I know some of you out there usually don't read fics unless there's more than one chapter, so I'm grateful I got reviews at all. Here's the second chapter! You all deserve it!
NOTE: I will put Syaoran's POV, or his thoughts on the recent scene, in bold. It will reflect on the past, relating to the recent scene/situation.Just his thoughts, that's all :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura. CLAMP has the right to say that they do. But I do not.
However, I DO own this plot. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If I see a fic with any resemblance to mine without me being credited whatsoever, I will make sure you suffer the consequences. Hope I didn't scare you
Perfect Situation
A CCS Fanfic by Starfire Star
Chapter Two: His Loyalty
Five Days after Christmas.
Syaoran Li was fast asleep in his bedroom of his apartment. If you could call it a bedroom. Clothes were strewn all around the room, old University of Hong Kong textbooks lying on the ground (that he ought to sell), paper work on the ground and desk, but, most importantly, the papers did not cover the various pictures of his family, friends, but many of, you guessed it, him and Sakura.
Syaoran tiredly woke up, yawning. He rolled over and swore because it was, yet again, snowing. Getting the snow off his car would be such a hassle.
He glanced at the pictures of him and Sakura on his desk. They were cute pictures, Syaoran giving Sakura a piggyback, Sakura doing bunny ears on Syaoran, Sakura and Syaoran graduating from high school, university, etc.
There was a knock at the door. Syaoran panicked. He wondered who had gotten his key. He gave one to his family, and to Sakura. Yeah, that was it. It was probably Sakura. But they had work today. Why would Sakura come to his house?
"Come in," Syaoran said weakly as he sat up in his bed and tried to fix his messy brown hair.
"O-okay…" Sakura said, cautiously peeking in the door. "Hey."
"Uh, yeah, hey Sakura, what are you doing here?" Syaoran said, standing up, yawning, and stretching.
"Hey," Sakura interrupted, pointing at a picture on my desk of her and me when we were in grade 6. "I look cute in that picture! You don't look so bad yourself!"
I could tell something was up with her. Sakura was never good at hiding anything.
"Sakura, tell me," I said to her.
"Well…" Sakura hesitated. "I was jogging outside and decided to come by." Sakura added this quickly.
Syaoran glared at her. "You were never good at lying. Tell me the real reason."
"Well, part of it is true, I walked," Sakura admitted.
"What? Why'd you walk?" Syaoran asked, taking note that she was already dressed for work.
Syaoran's Thoughts:
Countless times in High School people would tell me I was foolishly or blindly in love. Unrequited love, they'd say. Just because I would do anything for Sakura. If Sakura was sick and went to the nurse's office, I would be right there with her, asking her if she needed anything. If she sprained her ankle in gym class I would be the one walking her home. I wanted to let her know she could depend on me for anything. That was one of the signs to show you loved someone. At least, that's what many girls said. Too bad Sakura couldn't see it.
"Because… well… my car is buried by the snow," Sakura shrugged sheepishly.
"And mine isn't?" Syaoran said, leading Sakura out of his room and into the kitchen.
"Fine, fine, I'll tell you the real truth," Sakura sighed. "I realized that we've been polluting the air by using our cars when there is only one person in it, so I decided maybe we can carpool."
Carpool. The word echoed in my head. Sakura, even though she loved nature, had felt a sense of independence when she got her new car for her 20th birthday. She would take it everywhere, many would joke that she loved her car more than she loved me. I didn't find that quite funny. Actually, Sakura would never have thought that deeply about our earth. Don't get me wrong, I didn't think that she was dumb or anything, but I never knew polluting the air was one of her concerns.
"Carpool," Syaoran repeated. "Let me guess: This is Eriol's influence."
Sakura shrugged. "Yeah, partly."
"I could've picked you up," Syaoran said, making a cup of coffee. "You didn't have to walk."
"Oh. Damn. I should have thought of that," Sakura rolled her eyes. Syaoran smirked.
"I'll be back, let me just change for work," Syaoran told Sakura as Sakura sat down at the table.
"Hurry up, we have only 20 minutes to get there," Sakura told him.
"I thought secretaries had to be there earlier," Syaoran replied.
Sakura shook her head. "The boss is going to have a hangover anyway and won't be in till late."
Syaoran went to his room and quickly changed into his smart, but still pretty casual clothes.
"Syaoran," Sakura said to Syaoran with a confused look as he appeared back in the kitchen. "Where's your Christmas tree?"
"Huh? Oh, I don't have one. I don't have time to put one up, anyway," Syaoran brushed off her question as he shrugged on his coat.
"Syaoran…" Sakura drawled out his name. "Come on, put one up! Your place looks so…" she glanced around the room. "…sad without a Christmas tree!"
"Well, there's no other reason," Syaoran pointed out. "Christmas has passed. It's just New Year's we're waiting for. It's kind of… a waste?"
"Syaoran," Sakura pouted. Syaoran laughed. "I hate when you do that. Makes me give into whatever you're asking for."
"Really?" Sakura said with a smile. "Yeah. But not this time," Syaoran told her. Sakura rolled her eyes at him.
"Doesn't this feel like old times?" Sakura grinned as she and Syaoran got into his car.
"Old times? Sure," Syaoran said absentmindedly as he backed out of the driveway.
"Yeah… remember we used to walk everyday to school together?" Sakura sighed with happiness. "That was so fun!"
Syaoran felt hurt at the word together- it hurt him that times were going to change, for worse. His heart sank.
"That leads me back to when we first met," Sakura went on happily. "It was that day it was practically pouring! It was great."
-Flashback-
Yelan Li looked out the window. "Oh my. New neighbors are moving in today- out of all days. It's pouring outside! The movers must be drenched."
Chung Li looked outside the window, glanced at his wife, and summoned his 4 year-old son.
"Yes, dad?" Syaoran said uncertainly.
"Syaoran… perhaps you could go with your mother to greet the new neighbors?" Chung said.
Yelan nodded, indicating that she was fine with the arrangement.
Syaoran took one glance out the window and then looked back at his parents. "It's pouring outside, though."
"Exactly," Yelan jumped in. "It would be the perfect time to show our hospitality by helping them out."
So it was settled. Syaoran and Yelan got their coats on and Yelan got two umbrellas. Then they went out in the rain, and went next door to the new neighbors' house.
Just then, the family dashed outside, umbrellas over them. There was a man, woman, and son. And a little girl was peeking out the door.
"Mommy!" the girl cried, dashing outside.
"Sakura go back inside!" the mother scolded, trying to carry some boxes into the house. Sakura remained outside, worried expression on her face.
"Sakura! Go inside! You'll catch a cold!" the father told her as he put some boxes onto the ground.
Sakura remained outside. "I don't want to go back inside!"
Just then, the rain stopped. Or at least Sakura though so. But what really happened was there happened to be an umbrella over her head, held by a boy with deep amber eyes, who was 2 inches or so taller than her. He had a surprised look on his face, like he was surprised at his own actions. But nevertheless, she smiled warmly at him.
"Arigatou! I'm Sakura Kinomoto! I just moved here!" Sakura spoke, her words very fast, and full of energy.
Syaoran looked taken aback, but smiled and nodded back. "I-I'm Syaoran Li," he said quietly. "You're gonna catch a cold."
Sakura grinned and giggled.
Yelan stood a few meters away from her son, her eyes warm with happiness. She just knew that this girl was sent for Syaoran, whether he liked it or not.
-End Flashback-
"Anyway, Syaoran," Sakura said. "I have the wedding all planned out for you! So all you have to do is arrange everything, and boom! We have a great wedding!" She produced a thick book from inside her purse.
"W-what the hell?" Syaoran glanced at it, trying hard to laugh. "Sakura… isn't that the book you made when you were 14?"
Sakura turned red. "Shut up."
Syaoran started laughing. Sakura punched his arm.
"Okay, okay," Syaoran said, letting out the last few laughs. "Shoot."
Sakura sighed, still a little bit embarrassed. "Well, even though it is the book I made when I was 14, it's awfully similar to what I have planned now. I changed a couple of things."
Sakura opened up to the first page, and began to read, "I want my dress to be a beautiful white strapless gown and a tiara over my head with the veil attached to it."
Syaoran snorted. "Dream wedding, eh, Princess?"
Sakura ignored him and moved on, "I want my bridesmaids' dresses to be amethyst purple…"
"Because Tomoyo's eyes are amethyst purple and she's your best girl friend," Syaoran rolled his eyes.
"Syaoran! You're supposed to be an optimistic supportive planner!" Sakura protested.
"Alright, alright."
"And…" Sakura glared at Syaoran. "I made one last change. I want your outfit to be an exact replica of Ron Weasley's Dress Robes at the Yule Ball in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."
"Oh, I'm so scared!" Syaoran said sarcastically.
Sakura gave up. "Fine, I'm kidding!"
Syaoran parked into his designated Parking Spot at the accounting office where they both worked. Syaoran worked as a real accountant, but Sakura worked there as the boss's secretary, because she had just started working 6 months ago, so that's where you had to start off. And, the boss liked her. That bothered Syaoran. Sakura had worked before as a model, but when her agent left the country, she decided to quit.
Sakura got out of the car and put on her white crocheted hat with the large red flower on it. She tightly hugged her long white pea coat around her. Then Syaoran noticed her engagement ring. His heart tightened. "Damn that Hiiragizawa," he muttered under his breath.
Sakura glanced at Syaoran. "What?"
Syaoran shook his head. "Nothing."
Sakura, as if she heard, put on her white gloves, hiding the engagement ring from sight.
Syaoran glanced at his own black leather winter coat. "Smart move, there, Saku," he smirked. "White gets, uh, dirty, pretty easily."
Sakura flushed. "Oh no."
"Eh, don't worry," Syaoran said. "You look cute."
"Thanks," Sakura smiled as they walked into the building.
Syaoran and Sakura greeted the woman at the desk.
"Mornin, Syaoran, Sakura," the lady nodded.
"Kizu, is Mr. Hiroshida in?" Sakura asked the lady.
"No, no, I don't even know if the boss is coming in," she said as she took a good look at one of her perfectly manicured nails. "He was complaining about a hangover, or somethin. I told him he shouldn't have had more than two drinks on the night before a work day. I guess he couldn't keep track." Kizu smiled.
"Thanks, for the update, Kizu," Sakura bowed. Kizu winked at Syaoran.
Syaoran retreated to his cubicle where there was a giant stack of paperwork on his desk. Syaoran groaned. "Due Thursday." Was what a sticky note on top of the pile said. Syaoran glanced at his calendar. He couldn't get it in by then.
Just then his phone rang. Syaoran picked it up. "Syaoran Li speaking."
"Syaoran, there's a girl calling for you, on line one," Kizu replied.
"Thanks," Syaoran said, pressing the 1 Key.
"Like, heeeyy, Syaoran-kun!" A girl's squeaky, high, loud voice sounded. "Like, ohh mmyyy gosh it's like, Masami! You know, from like, high school!" She shrieked and giggled.
"Shit," Syaoran said. He hated this. People from University and High School kept calling him, inviting him to reunions, but really they were always trying to seduce him or go out with him. He always refused.
"Masami? Who the hell are you?" Syaoran practically yelled, judging from the looks he got from people looking over their cubicles.
"Like… just kidding, Syaoran. It's Tomoyo," Tomoyo laughed. "That was hilarious."
Syaoran glared, even though Tomoyo wasn't there to see it. "What, Daiddouji?" He said with an impatient voice.
Tomoyo ignored his impatient ness and continued on. "Last night, Sakura told me all about the engagement."
"Good to know. She knew you'd have a fit if she didn't tell you," Syaoran said, glancing at the computer screen in his cubicle.
"Well, just to let you know, I saw Eriol Hiiragizawa today. His flight landed in Tomoeda this morning," Tomoyo replied innocently.
"So?"
"So, he's heading to your office," Tomoyo said in a sing-song voice. "He wants to see Sakura. And see 'the famous Syaoran Li'.
"Tomoyo, I'm kind of busy right now, so I'm hanging up on you," Syaoran said as he placed the phone (with Tomoyo's shrieks of protest coming from it) on the receiver.
Syaoran sighed and flipped through the papers on his desk. He powered on the computer and took a sip of coffee.
After his computer got powered on and he started working, a window popped up with a PING sound. Syaoran narrowed his eyes, as the sound was very loud and IMing was against work rules. As far as Syaoran was concerned, this rule was only for him, Sakura, and the few other young employees. Just because they were quite young. But Syaoran thought he was too old for the IM crap anyway. Emails were good enough. But that didn't stop Sakura.
The message read….
Sakura says:
wolf-boy… guess who's coming here?
Even Syaoran had to laugh at that nickname. Sakura hadn't called Syaoran wolf-boy since they were six and she dumped a bucket of sand on his head.
Syaoran, glancing at the words again,sighed and quickly typed….
I don't want to know.
He sent it and waited for Sakura to reply. It said that Sakura was writing a message, but she kept stopping and then re-typing.
Finally…
Sakura says:
Why don't you want to know?
Syaoran hesitated. He didn't want to tell Sakura anything, or else it would suck him deeper into this mess and make him reveal his deepest secret. Syaoran would never admit it, but he was afraid.
Syaoran was just about to type something when a voice whispered, "boo!"
Syaoran whipped his head around and turned to face Sakura. Sakura smiled. "Syaoran, are you okay?" Sakura pushed a stack of booklets aside and sat on a part of his desk.
"Yeah, fine," Syaoran muttered. "It's just the damn work. It's almost New Year's eve, for crying out loud."
Sakura shook her head in remorse. "If I can't get a couple of days off before New Year's, I will never get Mr. Hiroshida to give us days off for wedding planning."
Syaoran felt uncomfortable. He got himself into this mess, by agreeing to plan Sakura's wedding. He could've said no, and Sakura would understand. She always understood. That was one of the important bonds in their friendship: they actually understood each other.
Sakura could sense there was something bothering Syaoran. She stared at him until his amber eyes met her emerald eyes. "Syaoran… tell me. Is something wrong?" Sakura said softly.
"No, nothing," Syaoran looked away and pretended to be very interested on what was showing on the computer screen.
"No. Syaoran, don't shut me out like this," Sakura said, her whisper stronger, and urgent. "I always confided in you, now it's your turn."
Sakura emerald eyes locked Syaoran's eyes, and she refused to look away. Syaoran noticed she had changed. If Sakura were in this position a couple of years ago, she would have shrugged it off and not cared. Syaoran wasn't sure if he liked this change or not.
"Well…" Sakura said, deciding to change the subject, finally. She didn't want to persist any farther, or their friendship would crumble. It was something they both worked hard to maintain, and she didn't want to lose him. Those words echoed in her head… she didn't want to lose him. Sakura had felt herself feel this way before. Some sort of clingy, tingly, sensation. Eh, no matter. She just brushed it off.
"… Eriol Hiiragizawa is coming. That's what I tried to tell you on MSN," Sakura smiled sheepishly. "He wanted to come see me at work."
Syaoran nodded. "Is that even allowed?"
Sakura shrugged. "I dunno. But he's coming whether they like it or not."
Syaoran looked away and began to absentmindedly skim the pile of papers on his desk. "Does he remember me?"
Sakura nodded eagerly. "He calls you the—"
"Famous Syaoran Li," Syaoran finished for her.
"How did you know?" Sakura said, surprised.
"Tomoyo," Syaoran said simply and shrugged.
"He wants to have lunch," Sakura continued. "You, me, Tomoyo, him."
Syaoran looked away. He couldn't bear to see Sakura and Eriol together. He wasn't sure if he could handle it.
"I don't know… I have all this paperwork…" Syaoran gestured to the papers on his desk.
"Come on, Syao-kun!" Sakura pleaded. Sakura felt a tinge of worry, upset, and curiosity. Normally Syaoran would blow everything off for Sakura. But now… he seemed…. different.
Syaoran sighed. She was his best friend, after all. And it was just lousy paperwork. He could get away with it… hopefully.
"Fine," Syaoran said. Sakura jumped up and flung herself into his arms. "Thanks, Syaoran."
Just then the phone rang. Sakura pulled herself away from Syaoran and sat back on the desk.
"Syaoran Li speaking," Syaoran said. He glanced at Sakura then nodded and said, "yes, she's here. Alright. Yes, I know about it. Thank you."
"What?" Sakura said eagerly. "What's up?"
Syaoran swallowed. He didn't want to tell her that he was here. But that was so selfish… he loved her to the point where he would want to break up any type of relationship between her and another man. He loved her… just then, words from his close cousin, Meiling, appeared in his head. If you love her, Syaoran… let her be happy. Isn't your love's happiness your happiness? Just let her go… those were words she told him over the phone. Syaoran couldn't help but think of them.
"That was Kizu…" Syaoran paused. "Eriol is here."
Sakura's emerald eyes grew wide, and she jumped off the desk and was practically jumping up and down. Syaoran smiled. He loved to see Sakura smile… it was like how children felt about candy. But under these circumstances, he felt sad. And his amber eyes showed just that hint of sadness.
"Come on, Syaoran!" Sakura squealed as she grabbed his arm. "I haven't seen Eriol in days…"
Sakura practically led Syaoran (or maybe dragged him) to the main foyer. Syaoran was in a daze, not sure if he wanted to see the man who had stolen his Sakura away from him.
This is where I'm dizzy and confused. When I meet some new guy in Sakura's life. I mean, they felt like a threat. A threat to me and Sakura's possible future. Tomoyo always gets mad and says, "how can you possibly think of a possible future with her if you DON'T TELL HER?" Tomoyo had always said I obsess too much over Sakura, well what can I say? I have known her my whole life, practically. I have grown to love her so much it hurt. Tomoyo always giggles when I talk about her— she always squeals, "you go all romantic when you talk about Sakura! You're always swooning! But you're still wayyy too obsessed!"
Standing in the main foyer was a tall, midnight-blue haired man wearing glasses. In Syaoran's opinion, he looked like he hadn't changed a single bit since University. But it was probably Syaoran's jealousy that caused him to think that.
"Eriol!" Sakura shrieked as she ran up to him and gave him a hug. "I missed you!"
Syaoran stood back, pretty much out of place. He had sadness burning within him and anger. He felt like he wanted to punch that Hiiragizawa's lights out.
My mouth went dry. This hurt so bad. I felt like I was back in my freshman of high school days, where I was always going after girls (the girls that didn't run after meat least)and then getting crushed when I saw them with some otherguy. But this is Sakura we're talking about. Sakura had a couple of boyfriends (if you could call them that) in HS, but nothing really serious, meaning nothing over a week. Heck, we even went to Senior Prom together… she couldn't get a date (what man didn't want her?) she liked, I didn't want a date (other than Sakura), so it was the perfect solution. My mother used to say, "Xiao Lang, you're trying to catch a fish in the air." How I felt about Sakura described what that saying meant.
Just then, the very lovely Tomoyo Daidouji opened the doors of the building. Her purple hair was pinned up with chopsticks, and she wore a black pea coat over a purple sweater and jeans.
Syaoran felt awfully suspicious. Had Tomoyo arrived by coincidence, at the same time as Eriol? Quite odd…
Tomoyo glanced at Sakura and Eriol's loving embrace, and then at Syaoran. She raised her eyebrows at Syaoran at mouthed, "Uh oh."
Syaoran nodded and mouthed, "Help."
"Hey, Sakura," Tomoyo smiled at the couple. "Is this your…" Tomoyo hesitated, taking a glance at Syaoran, trying to spare his feelings as much as possible. "… Your… Eriol?"
"Yes," Eriol broke away from Sakura and stepped forward to shake her hand. "This is him. It's nice to see you again, Miss Daidouji."
Syaoran's thoughts:
What did he mean by again? I knew Eriol and Tomoyo had talked once in University, but it felt like he was saying something different. As if they just recently saw each other. I wonder why and where…
Tomoyo smiled. Syaoran practically gagged.
Eriol turned to Syaoran. "Syaoran Li, long time no see."
"You're quite the poet, I suppose," Syaoran said, trying to make his voice sound cool, but not too cold, to please Sakura. They shook hands, Syaoran doing so rather stiffly.
Eriol, much to Tomoyo and Sakura's relief, didn't take Syaoran's remark badly. "Well, no, I'm a traveling businessman, but poetry is one thing I have grown to enjoy."
Syaoran merely nodded. Eriol continued on, "It seems like you and Sakura are closer than ever." Syaoran wasn't sure if he liked Eriol's tone or attitude. Syaoran gritted his teeth, "yes, we've always been very close."
Tomoyo, sensing tension between the two, quickly said, "Well, some of us don't have very long lunch breaks, so why don't we hurry off to lunch?"
"Yeah," Syaoran said, practically shooting daggers at Eriol. "Let's."
"Damn that son-of-a—" Syaoran muttered before interrupted by Tomoyo, who coughed loudly and said, "AHEM."
The four settled to eat at a fancy restaurant, called The Four Seasons, which Sakura picked out. Syaoran was practically fuming. Eriol had changed Sakura. Sakura was a simple, no-nonsense non-fancy girl, and she would have any day settled to eat at a small restaurant rather than eat at The Four Seasons, the fanciest restaurant in Tomoeda, costing more than she made in a month.
Syaoran's Thoughts:
Mr. Fancy-Pants. Trying to show off. Don't try to make up for your snobbishness in University. I will always think of you as a no-good-snobbish bastard!
Eriol offered to treat everyone, since he could afford this restaurant no problem. Syaoran felt worse and worse, as if he and Eriol were being compared. They settled on their orders and glanced at each other expectantly, as if they were going to say something important.
"So…" Eriol coughed, glancing at his fiancée (and by that, we do not mean Tomoyo hint hint). "Syaoran will be planning the wedding?"
"Yes!" Sakura said happily, fingering her engagement ring. "He knows me better than anyone, so he's the obvious choice."
"Have you decided on a location yet?" Eriol smiled. Syaoran raised an eyebrow. It seemed like this wasn't even Eriol's wedding. He didn't even speak or act like it was!
"No, not yet," Sakura shook her head remorsefully. "Syaoran…"
Syaoran looked up. "Yeah?"
"D-did you hear?" Sakura said sadly. "I don't know how I could've forgotten this… but yesterday..."
Tomoyo shot Sakura a concerned look. "Sakura?"
"They're… tearing down our Cherry Blossom Field!" Sakura cried out.
Syaoran's eyes opened wide. "What?"
I felt like I was being torn apart bit by bit. This whole situation was getting worse and worse.
"The place we got married at is going to be torn down!" Sakura spoke again. "I-I can't believe it… it was our special place. They said it was supposed to be torn down for houses after Tomoeda suddenly got very populated…"
Tomoyo gave Syaoran a sympathetic look. "I'm so sorry…"
"Wait. Hold on," Eriol interrupted. "This field is important to you, no?"
Sakura nodded. "It's the most important place of my life." She gave Syaoran a small smile. Syaoran smiled weakly back. Damn this. The place they had spent days together was going to be gone? It was as if their childhood memories were going to be shattered.
"Aha!" Eriol said triumphantly. "I'll buy it… we can even have our wedding there!"
Sakura's emerald eyes were as wide as snow globes. They sparkled.
Syaoran's mood turned from sad to anger. He gritted his teeth. WHO THE HELL DID HE THINK HE WAS? That was him and Sakura's place! No Eriol! Not even Tomoyo had been brought there! She was often curious, but knew how special it was to Sakura and Syaoran. SYAORAN AND SAKURA WERE MARRIED THERE! Eriol was trying to replace their memories with new ones! Screw him. DAMN HIM.
Syaoran resisted the urge to speak his mind for once. As a result, an uncomfortable, struggling face appeared.
"I'm very happy about you thinking to buy it…" Sakura said softly, with a quick glance at Syaoran, said, "but that's Me and Syaoran's place… we were married there."
To everyone's surprise, Eriol placed a hand over Sakura's and said to her, "then we'll make it our place."
Syaoran wanted to rip his head off.
A/N: Phew! I finished this chapter! I have to admit it now, I am a slow updater. Do not complain or go, "I'm not going to read your stories if you don't update sooner!" because I won't bother to read it. Do you think I have time to read silly crap like that? Don't get me wrong, I love your reviews, but I often get angry when people only say, "I love this fic. Update soon!" because it doesn't help me at all! I need your constructive criticism! I would love it if you could tell me how to improve. I now know I should also help authors out by telling them how to improve. We should all do that! Keep in mind that there is a difference between constructive criticism and flames.
Sending love your way,
A Syaoran Fan Girl (Starfire Star!)
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