Disclaimer: I don't own CCS, Clamp does. But I do own this story.
Just so you know this chapter is shorter than the last one but I still hope you'll like it. And after you guys read this chapter, you have to read my author's note at the end of this page…it's important that you do. You'll find out as you read along.
Anyways, do read on!
Chapter Eleven
"True Feelings"
"Where is she?" Syaoran shouted looking at his sisters who were seated on a sofa.
It had only been a few minutes since the quads got to the hospital with Sakura and already their little brother appeared fully dressed with the rest of their friends.
"That was fast" Fuutie muttered, making her sisters grin.
"Don't worry Syaoran, the doctor just came out here a minute ago and told us that Sakura is all right. They're just setting the machines in there so they can transfer her to a private room" Xiefia said, pointing at the double doors that had the label 'E.R.' at the top of it.
Syaoran nodded and the quads saw as the group noticeably relaxed.
"So, when is she waking up?" Naoko asked nervously, looking at Sakura's peaceful form on the bed.
"The doctor said she'll be awake in a few minutes" Fiemie announced as she entered the room after talking thoroughly with one of the doctors.
Group all nodded and relaxed on the sofas in the room. It was quiet in the room, but that was until Eriol's cell phone gone off.
"Hello?"
"Eriol honey" came a woman's voice in a rich English accent.
This caught Tomoyo's attention. She was sitting right beside him and she raised a brow at her fiancé.
Eriol merely grinned at her and the rest of the group who were also now looking at him; apparently, they heard the voice as well.
"Hello mother" he replied, back to his old accent again, making the guys in the room smirk at him and the girls giggle. "Any news you wanna tell me?"
"Oh you are always so serious with me. Just because I'm part of the senate doesn't mean you have to be so serious with me you know. I am your mother after all"
"Yes mother, I know. I just wanna know if you have any news for me that's all" he said; sweat dropping at her mother's reply. She never actually acted serious when she spoke to him; she was only serious when she handled stuff for the government, being a senator and all.
"Oh well, yes I do have some news. Dr. McKinley said he'd be happy to help you and Sakura dear. He also said he'll be there as soon as he can" she said in a happy tone.
"Thank you mother, you've been of great help"
"Anything for my favorite of all sons"
"I'm your only son. I'm your only child for that matter" he pointed out.
"Exactly! Now, I have to go back to work. Take care of yourself and say hi to dear Tomoyo for me. Love you dear"
"I will, and I'll tell her" he said, grinning at Tomoyo who was smiling at him. "Love you too, bye"
Eriol sighed as he pocketed his cell phone.
"I never knew your mother was a senator" Mei Lin spoke up, obviously hearing the entire conversation because of how quiet the room was.
"Yeah, well…I try not to spread that piece of information around" Eriol said. "Anyways Syaoran, as you already heard, Dr. McKinley, one of the best doctors in England said he'll come by soon and help with Sakura"
Syaoran nodded at him and smiled, glad that they were going to help him with this. Before he could speak, someone else spoke for him.
"Thank you Eriol" said a very soft voice. They wouldn't have heard it but since the room was still as silent as ever, they did and they all turned to look at her.
"Sakura!"
Sakura winced as they all screamed her name in unison.
"Sorry" they all said in a softer voice, making her smile.
"It's okay…and…and thanks for helping me Eriol…everyone"
They all smiled at her before they started to file out of the room…except for Syaoran.
"Are you all right?" he asked worriedly.
She nodded slightly and smiled at him.
"What happened?"
"I-I dunno…I just had these flashes of the girls telling me that I can do it, that I can surely dive with no problem. But…it was kinda different, they all looked so young…a-and I-" Sakura stopped short and gripped her head with a pained expression on her face.
Syaoran smiled at her before taking her other hand in his, making her look at him.
"It's okay…you don't have to tell me everything. Try to get some more rest. I have to go talk to the others for a while, okay?"
Sakura nodded at him and rested back on the bed, her eyes now closed.
"And…Sakura?" he said, stopping in front of the door. Sakura opened her eyes again but he was facing the door, so she couldn't see his face. "Those flashes you saw…were during Rika's 14th birthday party. She invited us for a pool party and you girls were diving from the high board that day"
"Oh" she whispered.
"Get some rest…I'll see you when you wake up"
"So what are we gonna do about this?" Jay asked.
They were all gathered outside Sakura's room, standing around by the hallway.
"We can't risk it though" Naoko pointed out. "Sakura almost got seriously hurt because she remembered something. She can't regain her memories this way, it's too risky"
"Naoko's right. This could've turned out differently…even worse" Rika said.
"So, what do we do?"
This was the main question that no one has an answer to.
After a few minutes of silence and brainstorming…
"I have an idea" Tomoyo spoke out, making everyone look at her. "But it's not an assured one so…"
"I'll think of something…just give me time" Syaoran said silently with a serious face before walking down the hallway, leaving the group.
Sakura was released the afternoon of the next day and a week after her release, most of the requested specialists have arrived…not that they were of any help. They knew more about Sakura's condition than the average person but when it came to doing something for her, it was practically impossible. Syaoran always got the chance to shout at them for hurting Sakura because of their technique in regaining her memories. He wanted her to remember but not if the process hurts her and it usually did so the specialists never got the chance to do anything major to help her.
"Syaoran, this has to stop…you can't just go shouting at them, they're also trying to help her" Eriol said after he and Jay pulled him out the room where Sakura and the doctors were.
"Then they better find another way of regaining her memories. Can't you see that what they're doing is hurting her?"
"Syaoran" Jay said, trying to calm him. "We were in there with you, we saw that Sakura was hurt but think about it. She only has to endure minor headaches and after that it'll be worth it for everyone, for you and it will mostly be worth it for her"
"Don't you want her to remember? If you do, you have to let them help her. We already talked to Sakura and she's okay with it. She said she'll do anything to remember everything…everyone…especially you"
"Fine" he eventually said in a voice of defeat. "I'll be in my room"
Eriol and Jay sighed and shook their heads, watching him walk down the hall until he disappeared around the corner.
Syaoran dropped himself onto his bed, exhaling deeply and closing his eyes. He honestly had no idea what else to do…then a soft knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in" he called out.
He already knew who it was.
"You okay?" she asked softly as she closed the door behind her.
"Same as usual" he muttered in disappointment.
She gave him a look of pity and regret but immediately covered it as she made her way towards him and sat at the edge of the bed.
"Syaoran, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I found out something that you should know"
Syaoran opened his eyes sat up to look at her.
"What is Chyou?"
"It's about Ms. Kinomoto"
"Did something happen to Sakura?" he asked, instantly standing up. "Is she all right? D-"
"She's fine" Chyou interrupted, grabbing his wrist to calm him down and pulled him back to sit back down. She never saw him like this; it only proved that he truly did care for the girl.
"What is it then?"
"Well, I found out something you have to know about that she's been keeping from you"
"Yelan! So good to see you dear!" said a woman who looked to be in her early 50's as she gave her a hug. "I'm sorry we're late, I never knew Hong Kong to be in heavy traffic at night. How have you been?"
Yelan smiled at her before walking with one of her long time friends to the back gardens where dinner was held by the Lis for their closest friends and alliances.
"It's perfectly fine, your only a few minutes late. The traffic tends to turn up because of the teenagers these days, always up and about at night" she said with a shake of her head. "And I've been well, the others are waiting outside…we must join them now"
"All right then…and where is that son of yours? I have to meet the future King you know"
"He'll be joining the rest of us shortly" she said with a smile, then looked ahead where lights shined brightly.
There were three long tables in the center and they were connected to form the shape of a U. They were already equipped with the necessary utensils needed for dinner and there were several floral centerpieces and candles to give a calm effect.
"Absolutely lovely!" she said, seeing the view before her. A lot of the guests were already there and chatting to one another but away from the tables. She smiled as she made her way to a few familiar faces, leaving Yelan who was then joined by her husband.
"Xiao Lang's ready" Yuan whispered to his wife.
Yelan smiled before turning to the number of people before them. She clapped her hands lightly until the chatter lessened until she got their full attention.
"Everyone," she said in a loud and clear voice. "As you all know, this is a feast dedicated to our son, Xiao Lang. As you may notice, this is not a formal banquet, but a simple gathering to recognize my son- the future king of China- just amongst friends and close allies. We all hope you will enjoy tonight's feast and have a pleasant evening"
Everyone in the gardens clapped their hands and waited for the arrival of the said future king. They all knew Yuan and Yelan had a son and that his name was Xiao Lang. They saw him through pictures, videos and other documents about him but they never met him before. They were hoping to personally know him and fins out what his intentions were amongst close friends and allies
Just before they could start talking to one another, the double doors behind Yelan and Yuan opened, revealing a young man, looking emotionless as ever.
"Good evening to you all" Syaoran said in a loud and almost strict voice. "Thank you for coming tonight. I already know most of you who are gathered here but never properly introduced to, and I doubt even half of you know me at all. My name is Li Xiao Lang, only son of Yuan and Yelan Li" he gestured to his parents beside him. "I am the heir to the throne of China and I intend to know my family's and country's friends and allies. I hope that we will all be acquainted tonight but first…let us eat"
Syaoran clapped his hand once and one of the doors not too far from them opened and waiter after waiter came out with huge silver trays in their hands.
The guests looked impressively at Syaoran before making their way to their designated seats.
Syaoran had been meaning to talk to Sakura about what Chyou had told him two days ago. He's been thinking about it more than he should be and it's been bugging him all this time. He had wanted to ask Sakura but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Seeing Sakura leave the crowd a while ago, he knew she was heading towards the pond. As not to raise curiosity to everyone present, he decided to follow her minutes later.
Excusing himself to the small group gathered with him at the moment, he slowly and quietly made his way to where Sakura had headed. He immediately saw her over the hedges; she was sitting on the ledge and was playing with the water. As he made his way towards her, he heard that she was talking to herself and before he was able to say anything, he stopped when he heard her voice course through the air…she was singing.
Sakura sat on the ledge of the huge pond. There was a fountain in the middle with lights and also lights underwater that she could see the fishes swimming underwater.
She could still hear the people talking from the dinner tables from where she was but couldn't see them since the pond was surrounded by hedges formed around it in a square.
Sighing, she bent a bit and dipped her forefinger and lazily made designs on the surface of the water. As much as she wanted to meet and talk to many of the very important people gathered in the other side of the gardens, she didn't for she felt an urge to just sit down and feel the cold evening breeze on her face…which was what she was doing right now.
Sakura shivered a bit but smiled all the same, then started to hum a tune…which eventually turned into a song.
"Totemo ureshikatta yo, kimi ga warai kakede ta
Subete o tokasu chou emi de…"
Syaoran remained silent and stood still just a few meters behind Sakura, watching her as she stopped running her finger through the water when she sighed, closing her eyes.
"Haru wa mada tookute, tsumetai tsuchi no naka de
Me fuku toki o matte ta 'n da…
"Tatoeba kurushii kyou da to shite mo
Kinou no kizu o nokoshite ite mo
Shinjitai, kokoro hodo ite yukere to
"Umare kawaru koto wa dekinai yo
Dakedo kawatte wa ikeru kara
Let's stay together itsumo…
"Boku dake ni waratte, sono yubi de, nee sawatte
Nozomi bakari ga hateshinaku…
"Yasashiku shitai yo, mou kuyanu you ni
Nageki no umi mo koete ikou…
"Tatoe kurushii kyou da to shite mo
Itsu ka atatakana omoide ni naru
Kokoro goto subete nage daseta nara…
"Koko ni ikiteru imi ga wakaru yo
Umare ochita yorokobi o shiru
Let's stay together itsumo…
"Tatoeba kurushii kyou da to shite mo
Itsu ka atatakana omoide ni naru
Kokoro goto subete nage daseta nara…
Syaoran's brows creased hearing the lyrics to the song she was singing. He hasn't heard the song before and he had the feeling Sakura wrote it up or maybe it really was a real song with the lyrics coincidentally somehow relating to her life and her feelings.
"Koko ni ikiteru imi ga wakaru yo
Umare ochita yorokobi o shiru
Let's stay together itsumo…"
Sakura sighed as a stray tear ran down her cheek.
"Let's stay together…itsumo…" she repeated slowly and silently.
More tears ran down her cheeks. Thinking about the lyrics to the song she had just sang. So far her time here in Hong Kong was okay. She was having fun and felt really grateful that a lot of people are trying hard to help her regain her memories, but she also felt guilty about everything. Almost everyone is helping her and she couldn't even help herself. Sometimes she even thought about giving up and not bother with remembering since all she did now was take up Syaoran and the other's time. He was even supposed to be married to Chyou and all she did was break them up when she arrived.
Her head then shot up when she heard someone walk behind her. She immediately stood up and turned around to see Syaoran who had a distant look on his face.
"What are you doing here all alone?" he asked softly before looking at her. His eyebrows creased seeing her tears. "Are you all right?"
Sakura blinked for a while before hastily wiping her tears with the back of her palm.
"S-Sorry…yeah, I-I'm fine. How long have you been standing there?"
"Only for awhile" he said before resting his hand on her cheek and wiping the rest of her tears with his thumb.
"Oh" she whispered, looking down.
"Sakura" she hesitantly looked up at him. "Someone told me that you're engaged…is it true?" he asked all this without looking at her.
Sakura stared at him for awhile.
"Who told you?"
"Just someone…is it true?"
"Y-Yeah" she whispered. His eyes looked up and looked into hers. "The guy who saved me proposed to me. I said yes to him coz I didn't know anything about myself or anyone else. Then Tomoyo and the others came to their house and picked me up then brought me here. I-I haven't seen him since…I didn't even tell him. Are you mad?"
He stared at her a while more before smiling a bit. "No…and I'm glad you left him for me"
Sakura sighed. She thought he might blow up and tell her off for getting herself into a far-in relationship to someone she hardly knew.
"Thank you" she whispered and hugged him.
Syaoran pulled away from her and raised her head with a finger under her chin. Seeing him slowly lean into her, Sakura closed her eyes, not knowing what to do or how to act if he were to kiss her…then he came.
His lips on hers felt so right that she could've literally melted in his arms. She immediately tightened her grip on his arms when she felt her legs give away. Feeling his arms slowly snake around her waist, she instinctively ran her hands up and around his neck, bringing him closer to her as did so too by tightening his grip around her.
They both knew that they had to breathe sometime soon so they reluctantly broke apart from their kiss. Sakura immediately blushed when she realized what had just happened.
"I-I-I…I was…I-"
Syaoran leaned in and gave her another kiss, but shorter than the last one.
"I love you" he whispered into her ear.
Sakura felt chills run up her back when he said this as she felt his hot breath against her skin. She relaxed then slowly rested her head on his shoulder.
"I-I don't really remember my feelings for you…but…I'm sure I loved you too…and now…I-…though I'm not sure about most my feelings right now…I think and I feel that I…" she stopped and sighed deeply. "I love you too" she finally said in a whisper, breathing against the crook of his neck and taking in his intoxicating scent.
Author's Note:
Well, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. And if you're wondering about the song that Sakura sang…it was the opening theme song of Fruits Basket another fun-to-watch anime. If you haven't heard of the song yet try searching for it, it's titled "For Fruits Basket". It's a slow and very relaxing song…the first time I heard it, I almost fell asleep. Lol. Anyway, try hearing it for yourself and imagine Sakura singing it within that scene I wrote for this chapter.
Oh and if you're wondering what the meaning (-which I'm sure you are) of the song was, here are the lyrics n English…
I was so happy, you were laughing
With a smile that melts everything away
Spring is still far away, inside the cold earth,
Waiting for the time to sprout
For instance, even if today is painful
And yesterday's wounds remain
I want to believe that I can free my heart and go on
I cannot be reborn
But I can change as I go on, so
Let's stay together always…
Smile only at me and touch me with those fingers
This simple desire is everlasting
I want things to be simple
Let's finally get across this sea of mournful sorrow
For instance, even if today is painful
Someday it will become a warm memory
If you leave everything up to your heart
I understand the meaning our living here
It is to know the joy of having been born
Let's stay together always…
For instance, even if today is painful
Someday it will become a warm memory
If you leave everything up to your heart
I understand the meaning our living here
It is to know the joy of having been born
Let's stay together always…
That's it for now. Ja ne!
Raeny