Hehe! February's here, a new month, New Year, let's all do our best to improve on whatever we want to improve and start our year happy, healthy, and willing to try new things! Thanks so much for the reviews, everyone. I'm very happy, so many dedicated readers! I can't believe you actually like my story (tear)!I'm ahead of schedule with my other fic, I'llTurnTo You Now, so I'm concentrating hard on this now.So here you go everyone. Hope you like.
Special thanks to all my reviewers for helping me out. I really appreciated your constructive criticism. It's helped me a lot.
Dedication: to all my faithful reviewers.
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
This chapter will be MOSTLY in Syaoran's POV. The next chapter will be in Sakura's POV.
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Perfect Situation
A Fanfic by Starfire Star
Chapter 3: Their Relationship
One day, when Sakura and I were having a cup of coffee at the local coffee shop and talking about wedding plans (I was trying his best to talk about other things), I was shocked to find out that Sakura hadn't told her family yet.
"Sakura, you told me. You told Tomoyo. You told practically every one of our officemates, but you didn't tell your dad? Or Touya?" I practically yelled in shock.
The truth was if she told me she was getting married a year ago, I wouldn't have cared less if she told her brother, Touya. It wasn't exactly a secret that Touya Kinomoto hated me. When I was younger, he wouldn't exactly show his hate, but through my teens we were constantly fighting (the times we saw each other; we always tried to avoid each other as much as possible), mostly, about the little things. It was hard to avoid him since our families were so close; we had get-togethers at least once a month, practically. But when Saku and I went to University, his hate for me lifted up, little by little. I guess it was because he left his family's house and started a family of his own, and probably because we barely saw each other. Just 6 months ago he had told me he didn't hate me anymore. I guess he decided to tell me because I had offered Sakura a job position at my accounting office. He didn't know when Sakura would find work again.
"I didn't know when the time was right!" Sakura protested softly. "Besides, they've never met Eriol, so I wasn't sure if they'd support my decision!"
"Never met Hiiragizawa?" I said, in more shock. Sakura had been dating Eriol for, how long again (not too long?)? Her family would be utterly surprised. Smart move, Sakura.
"No!" Sakura said, trying to hold off talking by taking a long sip of coffee.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Come on; let's go tell your family!" I jumped up. I couldn't believe I actually wanted Sakura's family to know…
Sakura grabbed my arm and pulled me back down to sit again.
"I'm not sure if I'm ready," Sakura whispered. "You know… Touya probably isn't at my Dad's house, Dad is probably busy…"
"You never know, Sakura," I told her. "It's your situation, your choice."
Sakura stared blankly out the window and took another sip of coffee. I sipped my coffee, too, my eyes never leaving her gorgeous face, awaiting her decision.
I smiled, remembering how her hair was the first day I met her. It was red— not carrot-top red, but a light red, cut short, and tied up in pigtails with two green hair ties. Now, as I looked at her, her hair was a deep auburn, and still pretty. It just rested on her shoulders.
I took another sip of coffee, and as the dark brown liquid made its way down my throat, I thought of my own chocolate brown hair. When I was a kid I had a messy hair cut, my sisters, mom, and dad gave up trying to tame it. I swallowed hard when I thought of my dad. It was hard to think of him, after all these years.
Finally, Sakura sighed and nodded. "Fine. Let's go." She grabbed her purse.
"Really?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "You know, if you don't want to…"
Sakura stood up and firmly said, "I want to. I'm sure."
I felt like saying, "You sure you don't want Hiiragizawa to be with you?" but I didn't want them to be together. But I also didn't want to be there when she would tell them she was getting engaged to him.
Sakura shook her head. "He's busy."
I was her friend. Her best friend. She was my best friend. And supporting her was my duty, whether I liked what I was supporting or not, and even though I loved her more than a best friend.
-()-()-
As we were driving in the car, another thought came into my head: my mom. Surely my mom would find out if Sakura and I were in the neighborhood. And we would have to tell her about Sakura and Hiiragizawa.
My mom knew about how I felt about Sakura. No, I am not a mama's boy; she's not my best friend. I didn't confide in her about my feelings of Sakura— she just knew. Of course, the pictures of me and Sakura on my bedroom door might've given something away, I don't know. But my mom knew… that's why one day she confronted me.
-()-
Sakura and I approached our houses. She gave me one of her heart-melting smiles and said, "See you tomorrow, Syaoran!" the day she started me calling that (meaning my name without the honorific), my sisters nearly fainted. They never dreamed she would earn that kind of intimacy. But they half suspected we didn't know much about honorifics, seeing that we were only 6 when she started calling me Syaoran (without the honorific).
We were 15 years old. I guess my mom knew this whole time, but only confronted me when she knew I truly understood how I felt. As Sakura walked up the stairs of her porch, I continued on to my house; the house next door.
My mom watched us from the window; I guess she came home early. She worked as and anchorwoman for the local Tomoeda Network— she did the news. So we were well known in our small town. As I came in the front door and put down my bag. I wanted to avoid speaking to her, but I felt guilty. I asked her, "Mom? What are you doing here?"
My mom, Yelan Li, just smiled at me. She asked me to sit down with her at the table. I raised my eyebrow. I tried to avoid these small-talks as much as possible. God knows it was embarrassing when my mom had tried to give me the sex-talk when I was 14.
I sat down at the table. I glanced at her expectantly, wanting to get this talk, or whatever it was, over with so I could get changed for soccer practice. Sakura was going to walk with me, as she had cheerleading practice.
"Syaoran," my mom began, with a little sigh. "I hope you don't mind me saying this, but… you're in love with Sakura, aren't you?"
I froze. This was embarrassing. My mom knew I was in love with her! Damn. My sisters must've gotten into my IM conversations. I hadn't told many people, just a few of my closest friends, but they claimed everyone already knew, suspected it, or could tell. What should I do? Deny it? Tell the truth?
I decided to tell the truth. I had to keep up my reputation as a mature guy. Besides, it was the right thing to do. The last thing I wanted was my mom dragging this conversation on longer than necessary.
"Yes," I replied, waiting for my mom's unpredictable reaction. "Wait, I don't know. Yes."
"I see," said my mom, trying to keep a straight, emotionless face. I could tell she was trying not to smile, though. My mom smiled at anything to do with Sakura. I wondered if she was happy and already planning a wedding, like my sisters would do if they found out.
"How did you find out?" I asked quickly, trying to hurry. I wanted to know, but I also didn't want to lose my position as soccer captain.
"Well, I could tell," my mom said, showing her smile now. I couldn't quite believe her, but I knew the last thing my mom would do was lie. Especially since what happened to my dad. "You may go now, Xiao Lang."
I stood up. I didn't want to quite believe my mom knew about this. I hope she wouldn't tell Sakura.
-()-
We reached our houses. I pulled into the driveway of her house, which was neatly shoveled and Christmas lights were put up. I stopped the car and glanced at Sakura, who was taking deep breaths.
"You okay?" I smiled at her, the same smile that she claims, 'calms me down and makes me ever so happy!'
Sakura took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and then opened them. "I'm fine. Thanks, Syaoran."
I smiled at her and shrugged. "I'm always here for you." And I said those words with true meaning. And I know Sakura knew it.
-()-
We knocked on the door. Sakura, with a worried expression on her face, kept glancing down then up at me. I was extremely tall next to her petite size.
The door opened. Fujitaka Kinomoto, Sakura's dear father, opened the door. He smiled warmly at us and said, "Hello, Sakura, Syaoran. Come on in."
I took off my coat and put it on a coat hanger while Sakura gave her dad a hug. I didn't see why she needed to. She had seen her father just five days before, after all.
Fujitaka poured tea into three cups while Sakura and I settled on the couch.
As soon as we started sipping our cups of tea, Fujitaka smiled at us expectantly. "I can tell you have some special news," he said, nodding at us and giving me a wondering look.
I sighed. Fujitaka must've thought I was involved in this whole thing. Well, I was. But not in the way he thought. And I feared he thought the thing that was certainly not true: We were together.
Sakura gave me a sideways glance, looked at her father and said, "Dad… I have some good news."
I swallowed. I felt like I was being hit with a bulldozer. I didn't want her to tell Fujitaka.
I guess it's because it wasn't exactly a secret (to everyone except Sakura, who was, no offence, a bit too distracted and dense to realize it) that my mom and her dad, actually, almost everyone in our families, wanted us to be together. I think after my mother found out I loved Sakura, she rushed over to Sakura's house and told Fujitaka that I liked her.
Fujitaka smiled and nodded. "Go ahead, hun," he said, then took a sip of tea.
"I'm getting married," Sakura said slowly, glancing at me then glancing at her father, awaiting his reaction.
Fujitaka blinked. He looked from me to Sakura, then to me again. I couldn't control the look on my face, and I suppose it must've looked sad and disappointed. And Fujitaka, judging from my look, probably was crushed that his little cherry blossom wasn't getting married to me.
He glanced at Sakura and smiled. "Congratulations!" He stood up and gave Sakura a hug while I sat back, looking uncomfortable and stressed.
As Fujitaka sat back down, he said, "so who's the lucky guy?" He gave me a discreet sideways glance.
Sakura said, "Eriol Hiiragizawa."
I almost scowled at that name. Oh God, it burned my ears. I hated Hiiragizawa. I hated him even more after he wanted to have the wedding at me and Sakura's cherry blossom field. Sakura sweatdropped and politely refused. Thank God for that. Who did Hiiragizawa think he was?
"I'm sorry, dad!" Sakura blurted. Her emerald eyes were glassy, kind of glazed over. "I'm sorry I never told you about him! I'm sorry I never introduced you, I—"
Fujitaka smiled, almost a sad smile, and shook his head. "Don't worry, Sakura. Just be happy."
Sakura slowly smiled. "Thanks."
"And, uh, I hate to do this," Fujitaka said, glancing at his watch. "But I'm a special guest at the Tomoeda University, doing an archaeology lecture. So I really have to go soon…"
I hesitated. After Sakura had left for University, Fujitaka had become sort of workaholic. I wasn't sure if you could call him a workaholic because he really liked what he was doing, but it was going a little overboard. I suppose Sakura didn't notice this because she was so worked up telling her dad about everything… I thought this rather bitterly. I shook my head.
"That's alright," I said, standing up as he stood up. "We can't forget that some of us are busy." I gestured to Sakura to stand up.
"I love you dad," Sakura murmured as she gave her dad a final hug while I put on my coat. "Please tell Touya the news if he drops by."
"Don't worry, I will," Fujitaka smiled as we strode out the door.
-()-
"Syaoran, I have something to tell you," Sakura said softly as I drove through the snowy streets of Tomoeda. "I really hate to do this."
I froze. Damn, I couldn't handle this. Sakura, the girl I really loved, was crushing me bit by bit. Every single thing was like a blow to the stomach.
I kept my eyes on the road as she said, "I'm sorry… but you can't be Eriol's best man."
I almost said, "I didn't like the bastard anyway", but I resisted the temptation. Instead I said, "I understand."
Sakura looked at me with apologetic eyes. "I'm sorry… I asked him if I could choose his best man and he could choose my maid of honor, but he said he didn't have any girl friends, female cousins or sisters."
"Don't worry about it," I stared hard at the road. It didn't matter to me anyway. The less I was involved with the wedding, the better it would be for my feelings. But I had a horrible feeling that I wasn't being there for her. I was always there for her.
Sakura gave me an apologetic smile and looked down at her hands in her lap. "So where are we off to?" I asked Sakura. I almost cursed that we were driving when we didn't know where we were going. I was wasting gas, and gas wasn't that cheap anymore!
"Tomoyo's place," Sakura said as she rummaged for something in her purse. "She promised to show me some gown designs and some she already made."
I groaned. I had to spend an entire afternoon looking at frilly dresses and things that were pink? Damn. A good soccer game on the sports network was going on.
Sakura laughed. "Don't worry, Syaoran, we'll be quick. And I have to finalize a couple of things with you…"
"When's the date?" I interrupted her as I took a left on Cordial Lane.
Sakura looked at me, confused. "Date?"
"Date of the wedding," I spoke, emotionless.
"Oh!" Sakura said quickly. "Well, me and Eriol decided, and we're thinking April or May."
"Sakura… isn't that a little… that's a short time to plan a wedding," I said, a bit pained. I wasn't exactly Mr. Professional Wedding Planner That Can Plan Your Wedding in 4 or 5 Months.
"I know, I know," Sakura said guiltily. "But Eriol said he wanted it as soon as possible."
"Where are you having it?" I asked Sakura, playing with the heat switch, turning it off and on.
Sakura looked distressed. "I…" I didn't know why she hesitated. "I met with Eriol's parents… and they wanted to have a backyard wedding. Eriol's backyard is huge. Enough to fit a lot of people," she added, a bit too cheerfully.
"Saku," I said, annoyed. "Tell me what's wrong. I know you don't want to have a backyard wedding."
I was shocked inside, even though I didn't show it. Sakura, in all the time that I've known her and talked to her about marriage and weddings (which was about 8 times so far), she wanted to have her wedding at a beach, or the Tomoeda Memorial Garden, where a garden was planted in memory of her mother. She always said her mother loved the gardens there.
Sakura sighed. "Syaoran…"
"Sakura."
"Syaoran…"
"Sakura."
Sakura sighed again and slumped in her seat. "Do you really want to know?"
"Yes, I do. Why do you think I'm prying like this?" I said to her, a serious expression on my face.
"Fine," she said softly, playing with the engagement ring on her finger. "The truth is… Eriol's parents wanted to have a backyard wedding. Eriol's backyard is huge, so it would easily fit more than the expected number of guests. Well, I really didn't like the plan. You know I wanted to get married at TMG, but I was afraid that Eriol's parents didn't like me…" she sighed again and closed her eyes. "So I agreed."
There was silence in the air for a while until I spoke again. "Did you talk to Hiiragizawa?"
Sakura smiled sadly. "I talked to him. He said that was just the way they were and they'd come around, and of course they like me." Sakura shrugged. "We really can't agree on a few things."
I stayed quiet. I was in no position to speak my opinions on this, or else it would come out as, "break up with that bastard".
"Don't worry Sakura, everything will be alright," I said to her quietly. I quoted the words she had said to me so many times since I was seven, now it was her turn to get good use out of it.
-()-
"Syaoran?" Sakura said softly as she slowly walked into my bedroom, where I was sitting on my bed. Her eyes grew wide as she noticed the large bandage wrapped around my knee, since I was wearing shorts. Since I was just a kid, cuts and scrapes and bruises were normal. But the cut was for a reason. I had gotten the cut, but I didn't get what I took the cut for.
I stared up at the ceiling as she sat down on my bed next to me. "Are you okay, Syaoran? Does it hurt? When did you get it? How did you get it?" she asked me a million questions. There was a silence, until I answered with a deep breath in one large sentence, "Yeah I'm okay no it doesn't hurt that much I got it this morning chasing Ryo down the sidewalk then I tripped and fell on a rock with cut my knee then Ryo went onto the street and got hit by a car." I took another breath, my amber eyes blank, with a sort of unfeeling.
I didn't need to say it. Ryo was dead. We both knew. Ryo could never stand up to a car.
Sakura's emerald eyes, on the other hand, filled with tears. Ryo, in case you didn't figure it out, was my dog. I got him shortly after Sakura and I got married. Sakura loved the dog as much as I did.
"Did you have a funeral yet?" Sakura whispered, taking my hand. I shook my head and stared up at the ceiling again. Sakura shook away her tears.
"Good. Because I want to be there," Sakura whispered again. "To hold your hand."
I was surprised, but instead of giving her the hug I wanted to give, I shrugged. "Thank you," I gave her a small smile. To my surprise, Sakura threw her arms around me. "You're welcome, Syaoran. I'm sure everything will be alright."
-()-
"Oh my gosh!" Sakura suddenly panicked. "We forgot to stop by your mom's place!" She frantically turned around in her seat.
"It's no use now," I pointed out. "We're too far. Besides, isn't Tomoyo expecting you?" I tapped the steering wheel.
"Oh, right," Sakura said, slumping down in her seat. The famous pout was coming.
"Hey, I'm not the one trying on dresses here," I said as a compromise, "so we could go back. Why don't you just call Tomoyo? She'll probably scream in protest, but nothing life-threatening."
"No," Sakura sighed. "This is important."
And at that moment, by the sound of her voice and the look on her face, I wondered exactly how important the wedding was to her.
-()-
We drove the rest of the way in silence. Sakura was pressing her face against the window, gazing up at the sky, while I fidgeted with all the switches and buttons on my car and constantly changed the radio station. Sakura didn't seem to notice.
As I pulled into the driveway, I heard a squeal (must've been pretty damn loud because I could hear it outside) and the purple-haired, energetic Tomoyo Daidouji jump onto her porch.
I groaned as I got out of the car. Had Tomoyo been overdosing on the coffee again? Sakura gave me a sheepish smile and shrug, and we walked up the porch, holding our breaths, not knowing what Tomoyo would do.
Tomoyo's smile grew bigger as we got closer. It was kind of scary- not to be mean, but she looked like the clown that scared me with a smile when I was eight.
"Syaoran! What a surprise! I didn't know Saku would be bringing you!" Tomoyo said. "Good. We have another judge on the panel!"
"I qualify as a judge?" I asked, as she ushered us into her huge house. Tomoyo, whose mom was filthy rich, had this huge house, which she only lived in for two or so years. Big screen television in every room, ten DVD players, about million rooms, crystal chandelier, a dining room table which could fit two thirds of the people in Tomoeda.
Tomoyo rolled her eyes. "You're planning the wedding, right? So of course you qualify."
I shook off my jacket and made myself comfortable on her huge leather sofa, picked up the remote control, then had it snatched away by Tomoyo.
"Syaoran! What do you think you're doing?" she hissed. "Watching TV is not part of being a judge and helping to pick out a wedding dress!"
"Hey, it's not my wedding dress," I protested. "Sakura has the right to pick out whatever she wants, without my or anyone else's criticism."
Tomoyo huffed and marched out of the room, only to return pushing a huge rack of wedding dresses and a large binder with papers sticking out.
Sakura sweatdropped as she flopped onto the couch next to me. "Tomoyo…"
Tomoyo smiled triumphantly and said, "These are the dresses I had custom made for you, and some I made myself. But I designed all of them," she added.
I said irritably, "what are you going to do with all the dresses she doesn't pick? I mean, do you expect her to have more than one husband?"
Tomoyo put on an angry face again. "Of course not. I'll sell them, obviously."
Tomoyo grabbed Sakura's hand and lead her to the rack. "Grab the first one and put it on." Sakura reluctantly went to the guest room and put on the dress. When she came out, I couldn't believe how ugly it looked.
"Hideous," I said bluntly. It had ruffles one it and those old, puffy sleeves.
Sakura sweatdropped. "It's not exactly my style, Tomoyo," she admitted. Tomoyo shoved another dress into her hands, and Sakura came out wearing a dress with bows and two huge bows on her stomach and back. She looked like the sandwich from my nightmare.
"No," I said immediately. "Never. My eyes, they burn."
Tomoyo rolled her eyes and glanced at Sakura expectantly. "Well… I have to agree with Syaoran."
As Sakura tried on a million more dresses, I found myself getting bored. Until finally, she came out looking even more beautiful than every time I've seen her.
"Wow, Sakura… you look beautiful," I whispered as she came waltzing out, swirling the dress. Tomoyo gave me a sympathetic look that said maybe I had gone too far, but she still felt bad at me. I shrugged at her.
"It is really nice," Sakura agreed. The back had criss-crosses to allow maximum fit. It was a strapless gown with a flowing long skirt. It came with a long veil. "I feel like a princess."
Tomoyo nodded, examining the dress for any flaws or tears.
"Since Syaoran really likes it, I think I'll pick it," Sakura continued.
"So whatever Syaoran likes, you're picking it?" Tomoyo said, amused.
"No, I like it too!" Sakura protested as she flounced back into the guest room to change. "It's an awesome dress. Breath taking. So I think I'll pick it."
Tomoyo shrugged and smiled. "I think it's great, but you haven't seen the rest!"
Sakura shrugged sheepishly and said, "Thanks, Tomoyo. But you know how I don't like trying on things that much."
As Sakura changed Tomoyo hissed at me, "Syaoran! Do you really want to be burdened with the task of planning you best friend and first love's wedding? Do you want me to take over?"
I shook my head. "No, Tomoyo. I'm her best friend. She asked me to do it, so I'll do it. I don't want to let her down. Whether I love her or not."
I've been saying this many times. Not to inform other people, but for my own sake. So that I could tell myself that what I was doing was right. So I could actually believe it.
Tomoyo stared at me with her arms crossed. Sakura came out looking all happy and cheerful, not seeming to notice the tension in the room. She jumped onto the couch next to me and squealed, "Let's watch a movie on Pay-Per-View!"
I gave her a look. "That's it?" I said. "So wham, you're done?" I wish I hadn't said it in such a mean voice, but it felt like this wedding meant nothing to her at all. I wish. But she seemed carefree with it, so relaxed, not like how any of my sisters were when they got married.
Sakura looked at me, alarmed. "What? What's wrong? Something changed with wedding plans?" She dropped the remote control of the television beside her.
I shook my head. "No. Nothing happened." Sakura grinned. "Then what do you want to watch?"
-NORMAL POV-
"Hello? Can you meet me?'
"Of course!"
"Does she know?"
"I don't think so."
"Great."
"We can't be like this forever. We ought to tell him sooner or later."
"I know."
"See you soon."
"I love you."
A/N: Hmm. I think this story is going to move on a little bit faster. I'm going to start moving on to the topics of what happened to Syaoran's dad and Sakura's mom, their high school lives, and maybe even the university topics in the next hmm, five or six chapters? I know the university part is going to be at least two chapters.
Would anyone like to provide me with appropriate, NON-FLAME, pleasing feedback? No garbage reviews like I got from an anonymous reviewer from another one of my fics. Please, that's all I ask. Thanks.
Star-chan (aka Cherry-chan)
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