Chap 13: Love will find a way
The long awaited ending is now here. Enjoy, its been a pleasure writing for you
Her eyes darted around the room franticly in a panic. She was all alone. Funny how even though she had forced Tomoyo to come with her, in the end she had been left alone. It was only a matter of hours now. In a matter of hours she would be walking into the wedding hall to be married to someone- someone she didn't even know! She didn't know his name, his age, his voice…
So unlike him. She knew him. His voice, his name, his likes, the way he smelt, the feel of his hand on hers, the warmth of his arms around her. She knew him. She loved him… would it be so easy to love his man she was to call her husband? When it came down to it, could she really give herself completely to this man?
There were so many doubts floating through her head, and an even greater amount flooding her heart till she felt it would burst. Tears flooded from her eyes and she crouched to the floor wrapping her arms around herself, not caring if she wrinkled her dress. "I- I don't want to. I don't… I can't… I love him. Only him. How could I? -"
She stood, wiping the tears from her cheeks heading towards the door. She would leave before anyone came in to check on her. She didn't know where she would go, hell, she didn't even know where she was, but she would get out of here. This was one path she could not walk down.
She didn't even think to change as she ran from the temple, down its steps into the city. She didn't acknowledge any of the strange looks she received, only that with every step and every turn she took, it was taking her farther away from where she had been, and that was enough.
Sakura finally stopped, out of breath and leaning against the fine iron gate that surrounded the…park? She smiled, finally, some place in this huge city where she could feel at ease. She smiled and walked further till she reached the parks entrance and walked down its gravel paths. It was flower garden of some sort. Rose bushes planted along the sides with the sole purpose of decoration, creating designs and shapes full of vibrant color for anyone who walked by it. It was down these paths that she wandered, passing the fragrant roses and various fountains till she seemed to reach a middle of sorts and sat on a cool stone bench breathing deeply.
It was quiet here. Peaceful. With just her, the butterflies and the small breeze to keep her company. Calming. Here she felt at ease for the first time since she had landed in the strange place. So relaxed was she that she hardly even noticed when the occasional person would walk by, or when one finally sat next to her.
"Wow…you're definitely the last person I'd ever expect to see here. And dressed like that no less"
Her head shot up to look to the speaker and found she could hardly say a word to his dark eyes and smiling face. Her face turned a light shade of pink as she caught herself staring, mouth agape and cleared her throat looking away in an attempt to recover.
"Like I expected to see you either. I thought you were in-"
"Hong Kong? Yeah. I am. And apparently so are you." He was still smiling at her; laughter in his eyes as he took in her flushed form.
She could hardly look at him now. It had only been a week or so, and he looked different to her, aged, mature, and yet in those eyes he was the same person as he'd always been. It was this small factor that helped calm her down, and she quickly returned to her old self. Smiling now, she poked his suit clad shoulder, "As if you should comment on my state of dress. You're the one wearing a suit. And I gotta say, you look… odd"
"Odd? I dunno, I was hoping more along the lines of Dashing, Handsome, irresistible."
"Psh, as if you could ever be any of those things. Where are you going dressed like that anyway?"
"I was- uh- invited to a wedding."
Had she had less control of herself at the moment her eyes would have been totally bugging out of her eyes the moment he said that.
When she didn't speak, and saw her dejected visage he couldn't help the hand that was placed on her shoulder. She looked up at him and attempted to smile weakly at him to which he returned the empty gesture. "So, what brings you to Hong Kong, in this park, dressed like that?"
"M- my wedding…but, I, I don't know if I can do it."
"Oh? And why's that? What happened to the Sakura that could face anything thrown at her?"
She looked in his eyes, trying her best to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. "She fell in love."
He couldn't help it, he couldn't stop the hug he pulled her into, nor could he stop the flip his heart did when she hugged him back. "But you know," he pulled back from her making sure she was looking at him, "The thing about the heart, is that even once its broken, someone amazing will come along, and mend it. Pick up the pieces and put it back together better than it was before. You have that special someone waiting for you. He's a good guy Sakura; he'll make you happy I promise. More than any man ever could."
He paused, a small smile coming to his face as he wiped the sole tear that trickled down her face and kissed the corner of that eye, catching the tear that threatened to follow. "And if he doesn't make your every wish come true, you have my permission to beat the living crap out of him and do as you please."
She couldn't help but smile at him. He was so nice to her. Always smiling, always giving her good advice; ever the gentleman, forever her friend.
"I'll always be there for you Sakura."
"Promise?"
"Haha, I Promise." He hugged her again before standing. "I'm going now. You don't have to go now, but, think about it ok?"
She nodded, "I will. Thanks Syaoran." She watched him walk away from her down a separate path from where she had come from and only looked down when she could no longer see him through the rose bushes. She sighed as she stood, calm resolve painted over her face. "I hope you're right Syaoran." And she smiled slightly as she remembered his words, "And if you're not… I may just take it upon myself to beat the living crap out of you." With that she walked down the path whence she had come and made her way back to the temple that she had left a little over an hour ago. Her hair a little more disheveled than what it had once been, her makeup a little worse for the wear, the hem of her dress a little dirtier than it was before, but even so, as she walked down the streets now to face what she had run away from, she felt better. A mite more confident and a small smile on her face; the promise of something better before her, she walked.
"Sakura! Where have you been! We've been looking all over for you! And what happened to you! Oh- never mind, it doesn't matter. That can be fixed." Tomoyo turned to the four girls behind her and immediately began giving them directions and orders. Sakura was silent through out the rest of the preparation process and she hardly even noticed anything that was going on around her till sharp ornaments were being pinned into her hair and a small ornamental crown was being placed on her head. She was directed towards the door moments later and Tomoyo stood in front of her holding both her hands.
"You look beautiful Sakura. I know you're scared, and nervous as hell, but it's going to be ok. I promise."
"Why does everyone seem so sure."
Tomoyo only smiled releasing her hands to accept the red silk veil from one of the girls that was to go over her head and face placing a kiss on her cheek before putting it in place. "Because we accept nothing but the best for our Sakura."
She could only see her hands and feet now. There was no seeing through the veil but vague shadows and she relied on Tomoyo to guide her through the halls to where her 'husband' would be waiting to take her hand and they would walk down together.
She took in all she could of him as soon as Tomoyo gave her over to him. He was taller than her from what she could tell and he gracefully took her arm in his and gave her a moment to adjust and nod farewell to Tomoyo before he too started walking. She could hardly think as they walked towards the alter. All she could think about was the man next to her. How he smelled of ceremonial incense and… spices. She watched his feet lead them down the aisle, where the bare skin disappeared into decorated and embroidered white pants of the same oriental fashion as her own. As they walked she would catch the occasional glimpse of his shirt, the dark embroidered blue green silk folds catching in the dim lights around them. Her hand slipped into his as they appeared to reach their destination and he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before they let go.
His voice was low, and she couldn't quite place it in her mind as he said the foreign words smoothly. The words much like her own except when she said them she couldn't help but hear the hesitation in them where as when he had said them, he had sounded so sure, so confident saying the words in front of the friends and family closest to them witnessing their union.
The tea ceremony that followed and the giving of the Lai See were all a blur to her. Her hands moving carefully in the way that she'd practiced so many times with the small amount that she was allowed to see. She sighed mentally at the tiresome custom that wouldn't allow the others to see her face till after the feast. As if noticing the visible sag in her shoulders she felt her new husband place his hands on her shoulders giving them a quick squeeze as he said something in the language she couldn't understand and strongly, though she didn't know what he said, she felt oddly comforted and they both proceeded to the feast.
They were about to walk into the opulent hall when she saw a woman's feet in front of them from beneath her veil stopping them.
"If you'll follow me this way to the bridal chamber miss, your husband will follow you shortly as I'm sure you are both eager to see your beloved."
The way she said it one could practically feel the smile in her voice, as Sakura was sure there was some underlying sexual meaning to the words. The warm presence that had been by her side constantly for the past few hours left her and she was surprised to feel, scared and vulnerable without him there.
She was led into the grand bridal chamber, and was seated on the bed amongst the lavishly decorated room in red in commemoration for the wedding. The door was closed as the attendant left and she couldn't help the overpowering urge to run and throw up at the same time she was so nervous.
From what she had heard, he would knock before entering and she took this time to remove her veil for the first time since that morning to look around her and crossed over to the window to get some fresh air to calm her nerves. It was nearly dark out, with only the tip of the sun peeking over the surrounding buildings that had become the horizon.
"This is it. From here, everything starts." She turned abruptly at the sound of a light knock at the door and rushed back to her place on the edge of the bed and replaced her veil over her head for him to remove.
Her hands clasped tightly in her lap she waited for him to come. She could hear his footsteps in the room as he drew closer to her. Her head bowed to him, she could only see his feet in front of her. She couldn't help the catch in her breath as he knelt in front of her taking her hands in his own, bringing them to his lips and kissing them, touched them to his forehead before placing them back in her lap.
"Y-You know, If you're not good to me, I'll total your ass. And just so you know, M-my friends wont either. One call and I can have you gone."
She heard him chuckle in front of her and her heart skipped a beat as he lifted the veil to reveal his smiling face. "I did promise after all. Didn't I?"
"S-Syaoran? W-what are… I… I don't get it."
He smiled, bringing her into his arms hugging her close to him. "You weren't supposed to. God, I never thought keeping this from you would have been so hard."
She pulled away from him, staring bewildered into his smiling eyes and punched him lightly on the shoulder. "You knew! The entire time. You knew! And you didn't tell me! How did you know in the first place! I thought the whole time neither of us were supposed to know!"
"I have my ways, although, I only knew after I came back to Hong Kong. I never dreamed that while visiting my cousin I'd meet the girl I'd be with for the rest of my life."
"Wait. Cousin? You mean… Eriol? That's… That's why Eriol left! To go to your wedding."
"Our wedding." He corrected, still holding her close, bringing a hand to her chin to meet her eyes.
"Then everything you said to me in the garden was…"
"I couldn't give up on you so easily. And I meant what I said. I love you, and I'll take care of you, better than any man ever could. I don't know what I'd do if I never saw you again." He smiled a bit through his seriousness moving closer to her, "And if I don't, than I wont stop you if you push me away, beat me up… leave."
She smiled through the tears that were now coming down her face. Her hands reaching up to cup his face, running them through his hair, making sure he was really there, that this was really real. "Silly boy. As if I could ever leave."
He chuckled, brushing a tear aside, admiring her through her smudged make up and flushed cheeks looking back into the eyes that stared into his own with the love she'd been hiding from him since she'd first realized it within her.
Wrapped in his arms she felt light, happy, and just a little silly for not recognizing him before. But he was here now, he was here, through some miracle, he was here and what everyone had been saying to her from the beginning was right. Everything was going to be fine. Everything from now on, would be perfect.
She had him, his arms around her, his love and as he leaned forward to capture her lips with his own, she finally had the kiss she had so often only thought existed in dreams. But this was no dream. This was real.
Sometimes you do get the happy ending you always hoped for. Your prince charming will come along and save you from your prison
And teach you that happily ever after,
Does exist after all.
After almost an entire year, I've finished it. I'd like to thank all of you for reading and reviewing all this time, making this my most popular fic I've written here so far. Thank you all so much.
It was so hard keeping her husbands identity a secret all this time from you all, although there were a few of you who did catch on and caught some of my subtle hints: cough: Musette Fujiwara:cough:. But for every hint, I threw in something to try to throw you off. I think her dream threw a lot of you guys off. Haha. I rationalize her daughter having black hair with that her own mom and brother have black hair, and in my mind, Youji (Syaoran's dad that I made up) has black hair, so it all works out. (Even though genetically it may not…eh..he….whatever).
The Wedding ceremony is in the traditional style of the old Chinese weddings when they used to do arranged marriages. The bride and groom really don't see each other till the night of their wedding, though the bride does meet the groom's family before the ceremony. (For anyone who's ever read or seen "The Joy Luck Club", there's a part in there where they show what its like) Plus, I didn't really think I could get away with the whole 'meet the family' thing without give it away, plus, even though I did write it, the transition was bad, and I kinda like it this way better.
So in the end, Sakura and Syaoran get their happy ending and the kiss they kept having to avoid. I'm thinking of writing an epilogue for this, maybe even a sequel if I have the time and inspiration. Something that includes more S&S than this one, cause its life after the wedding where the journey really starts. So we'll see. : )
Thank you, Thank you, and Thank you all so very much for your constant support and gentle prodding to get me to write.
Here's to you all and till next time,
Cursed-Mind out