May I have you're attention - I've almost finished writing this fic (only a few chapters left to be posted) and before I do I'd like your opinion on whether or not you would like an epilogue. No need to answer straight away, although it is clearly something you might want to keep in mind when you read the final chapter which will definitely be up by mid march.
DISCLAIMER: I totally don't own like CCS.
Not What You Think - Feeling Sentimental
Sakura smiled as the words 'You've Got Mail' chorused harmoniously through her apartment.
It was certainly the most beautiful sound she had ever heard; without a doubt. In fact, she could hardly remember hating the dastardly machine as much as she had profusely sworn in the not too distant past. Those three small words had never been as sweet as they were now proclaiming a new message from Xiao Lang.
Sakura raced across the room to her computer, dropping her bags and coat to the floor as she went, not wanting to waste a precious second ensuring that these things were put in their proper place. She opened her inbox, pleasantly surprised to find four emails awaiting her attention, a couple of them perhaps more urgent that the latest message. But in spite of this urgency - without giving a thought to any of the others - her curser waved across Syaoran's email with nervous anticipation.
She was filled with a warm glow as she read his name, as she read her named typed by his fingers. She giggled as she read his words, smiling to herself the whole time.
His sisters (although, thankfully, only two of them this time) had been trying to set him up again. Fanren's sister-in-law's best friend's cousin had been invited to a 'casual' dinner party "to make up the numbers", and then spent the whole night trying to touch him inappropriately.
Sakura cringed inwardly as she was overcome by an incredible feeling of jealousy at the thought of anyone other than her touching him in anyway shape of from. But that was quickly overcome by another feeling – envy.
Sakura Kinomoto was actually envious of Fanren's sister-in-law's best friend's cousin. She wished she could be her instead. She wished she could be invited to parties where Syaoran was forced to sit next to her, so she could hold his hand and play with his hair. Or maybe just being in the same room would be enough.
She just wanted to be near him and right now it felt like they were on opposite sides of the world. They were antipodeans in a terrible way.
'This is getting insane,' Sakura thought to herself. 'I'm starting to plan my day around an email. And now I'm fantasizing about holding hands and having long walks in the rain with a guy I haven't even met.'
Sakura sighed quietly to herself. 'But I bet he has really warm hands.'
An obnoxious trill from the computer interrupted her train of thought, saving her from other such revelations.
"Good evening – or whatever time of day it happens to be where you are (time zones confuse me) -" the message blinked flirtatiously like the saucy little message tone that it was. "Fancy seeing you in these parts."
Sakura blushed as the source of her ever so confusing thoughts appeared online, then bowed her head to try and cover her blush as though he could somehow tell from his computer screen miles away that she was blushing. (A/N: I know that he could tell if they did a video chat and stuff, but them not doing video chat may be vital for the plot – haven't made up my mind yet where this is going so I'm just not putting it in for now in order to keep my options open).
"Hi," Sakura typed awkwardly, tentatively finishing with a cleverly designed smiley face. ":)".
"And how are we?" Syaoran asked, pressing on, somewhat bemused by her sudden economy of language considering the way she wrote her emails. But on the other hand, there was a certain preciseness about her emails, as though every word had been laboured over for hours to convey a particular purpose.
"We are good," Sakura replied. "And you?"
If Times New Roman had been able to convey any sense of the feelings Sakura was wrestling with as she wrote those five short words, it would probably look something like this:
#We&aRego-ODAnd%yoU?
If the two had been engaged in a face to face conversation her voice and mannerisms would have betrayed her nerves. Her voice alone would have given it all away; all strangled and sharp, going up in all the wrong places.
As things are instead the way they are and not such as described above, the text betrayed nothing except for the inference that might be made from the words alone.
"This is a bit awkward, isn't it?" Syaoran deduced expertly.
"A little," Sakura typed back, breathing a sigh of relief. "It's just so strange to be having an actual conversation with you in real time. I'm still getting over the shock."
"Well perhaps we should sort of just ease into it with inane conversation," Syaoran suggested wisely. He paused while he thought of a suitable ice breaker before sending the next message line. "So, how about that crazy weather?"
Sakura answered thoughtfully. "Your weather or my weather?"
"Good point."
"Actually there's something I've been meaning to ask you about," Syaoran began as a thought came to mind. "I feel like we've just been dancing around this for weeks, not mentioning it, but I think it needs to be mentioned and I need you to be honest about it."
'Oh no,' Sakura thought to herself. 'He can't have worked it out. He can't know.'
"I just have to ask you . . . what is it about Sleeping Beauty?"
Well here it is. I know I'm not usually the kind to get in on this sort of thing, but I figure seeing as I've received almost twelve of these crazy thingees that there is obviously some kind of demand out there for my answers and it is only fair that I give them to you. So here you go.
TELL US ABOUT YOU
What time is it? It's about 7 am and this thing better not take longer than twenty minutes. I've got an appointment to get my hair done at 8 across town and I'm not sure how to use the email on my blackberry when Luke isn't around to explain it to me.
*Name*: Meilin Rae-Walker
*Nicknames*: Mei and that's it ok.
*Parent's Names*: Does Meilin even have parents?
*Siblings*: Not technically, but me and Syaoran have grown up so close together that we're practically twins. You should have seen us growing up doing the martial arts competitions together. We were unbeatable.
*Number of candles that appeared on your last birthday cake*: 20, although of course there weren't really twenty of them, but obviously the question isn't intended to be literal. I can't believe that I'm the baby of the group.
*Date that you regularly blow them out (birthday):* March 25 which isn't that far away and is very important as I'm turning 21 and I fully expect all of you to wish me happy birthday when I come to visit you closer to the time. And you all better be getting me presents. Especially you Eriol after the stunt you tried to pull. And no, I will not being having twenty one candles, especially if Eriol is going to be around.
*Pets*: I've got a black cat called Spinel Sun who I kind of inherited from Eriol. Do not ask me why I have his cat, but I do and I've never really thought about it until now why I ended up with his cat. I suspect this may have something to do with Tomoyo's dogs.
*Height*: 5'7". Score. That makes me the tallest. I'm taller than both of you.
*Eye colour*: Like reddish brownish. Ruby if you insist (and by you I mean Tomoyo and by insist I mean verbally assualt me until I agree).
*Piercing*: I've got four in my ears (all in the lobes) and my tongue. Almost all of them stemming from my rebellious youth, but I'm technically still a youth so there's no harm in keeping them.
HAVE YOU EVER...?
*Had the drink Calypso Breeze*? I suspect that I have, the problem being that I was probably already too drunk at the time to remember. It seems like the kind of thing you would drink when you were drunk.
*Been in love*? There's always my wonderful Luke. At the very least I love his ability to programme the VCR and other more complicated devices like the washing machine – apparently its smart sensing or something but I still haven't worked it out.
*Been toilet-papering*? Do I need to mention my rebellious youth again? And by the way Tomoyo, I really am sorry about that time with the shaving cream, although I thought we were older at the time.
THE FUTURE:
*School*: not applicable.
*Where You Want To Live*: if I could pick any place in the world I'd want my own private island in the Caribbean, where I could be queen of the land and boss everybody around. I'd call it something imposing just to make sure nobody visited uninvited, but it would otherwise be the most perfect place to be.
*How Many Kids You Want*: Don't get me started on kids. I've always maintained that I never wanted children, but I've been feeling very cluckish of late. Do you think that means something?
*Girl names*: Like I said, I've actually been thinking about this lately and I've come up with two names that I adore. The first is Calliope (which is appropriately Luke's grandmother's name) and Adelaida.
*Boy names*: I don't think I want boys.
*What Kind Of Job You Want*: When I was little I was going to be an acrobat and join the circus when I grew up. Someday's I still long for the circus life, but I'm not sure I was ever cut out for it.
*You Want To Get Married*: completely unnecessary question.
WHO:
*Makes you laugh The Most*: I agree with Tomoyo on this one. Saku is positively hilarious.
*Do You Go To For Advice or to talk About Things*: Saku most of the time, although she is responsible for some of the worst advice I have gotten in my life which makes me wonder why I still rely on her words of wisdom. I will never forget that god awful perm you talked me into getting. It was the worst week of my life.
*Who Do You Hate*: the hairdresser involved in the above mentioned incident. And people who mistreat animals for the purpose of entertainment, but that's technically part of my job description.
*Knows the Most about You*: All those reading this thingee. I feel that it has enlightened you all equally to the inner workings of my mind.
*Is Your Best Friend*: Tomoyo and Sakura.
*Has It Easier, Guys or Girls*: Girls.
WHICH ONE?
*Croutons or Bacon Bits*: croutons, as I suspect that vegetarianism is also worked into my job description. Although I haven't been able to eat pigs since that class trip we had to the farm.
*2 doors or 4 (on a car)*: Four doors. It's just so much more convenient.
Mr. Pibb or Dr. Pepper*: Neither.
*Coffee or Ice-cream*: coffee.
*Shampoo or Conditioner*: This question does not make sense. You can't have conditioner without shampoo, and most people just use both anyway. How can you have a preference here?
*Bridges or Tunnels*: Bridges. They just seem more logical to me.
*One pillow or two*: Two. I think I used to be a one pillow kind of girl, but once you go for two it's just like one won't satisfy you anymore.
*Adidas or Nike*: Adidas, but it has nothing to do with that before you start with the innuendo.
*Nike or Reebok*: Reebok, I guess. Hmmm . . . never realised before that I didn't like Nike.
*Adidas or Reebok*: Adidas . . .
WORD ASSOCIATION (FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND)
*Rock*: a stone wall.
*Green*: Ocean
*Wet*: Rain.
*Cry*: Albrecht Durrer. Don't ask.
*Peanut Butter*: Nutter.
FAVORITES:
*Salad Dressing*: Balsamic vinegar. It's nice and simple.
*Colour of socks*: Do people seriously have a favourite sock colour? I mean, most of the time I wear tights anyway, but when I do wear socks, I'm usually the only one who can see them so the colour never really struck me as being important.
*Memory*: My first visit to Japan. I thought you guys were completely insane. And I still maintain that my first impression of you guys was correct. Especially you Eriol and your psycho cat, which is currently begging for doggy treats and can't seem to make up its mind as to what kind of creature it is from day to day.
*Toothpaste*: the one with those tiny breath freshening strips.
*Food*: Spinach and feta filo cases. I got the recipe from Top Chef and they are seriously to die for.
*Song at the moment*: Linkin Parks 'Bleed it Out', although I felt the video was a little tired. I mean, they've had some pretty cool video's in the past like the 'Breaking the Habit' video with the anime stuff and even the 'One Step Closer' one which way too Kornish for my tastes but still quite 'avant-garde ' and imaginative, and the 'In the End' which I quite liked and is probably one of my favourite songs of all time. But the point is that I was kind of disappointed with the video for this, I think they really could have done something more with it.
*TV show*: America's Next Top (Heroine Addicted) Model. There's nothing quite like a good cat fight.
*Toothbrush*: the sonic ones. Toothbrushes are so technical these days.
*Subject in School*: I think my favourites were always Music and PE, probably because I was so darn good at it.
*Flower*: the Lotus flower.
*Colour*: red.
*NON-ALOHOLIC DRINK*: A virgin screw driver, and in case anyone was wondering, that is OJ.
*Sport to Watch*: Poker. Hey it's on ESPN so that makes it a sport (even if it is ESPN 2).
*Country Song*: 'Achy Breaky Heart'
*Sesame Street Character*: Grover.
*Disney Character*: Zazu from 'The Lion King'. I do love Rowan Atkinson. If you've ever seen the 'Hell' skit, you'll know why.
*Warner Brothers*: Brain from 'Pinky and the Brain'. Looking at this I seem to have a thing for the evil 'lets take over the world' characters. Strange.
RANDOM QUESTIONS
*When was your last hospital check in*: like a year ago I think. You'll have to check with my health care professional.
*Do You Drink*: whenever possible ;)
*How many times did you fail your permit and Drivers License Test?*: Never thank you very much.
*Where do you see yourself in 10 years?*: I'll tell you when I get there.
*Who is the last person that you got mail from before this one*? Notification from FaceBook. Apparently I have four new friend invites, ten new applications and three nudges waiting me. OoOo . . . someone sent me a PinaColada. Will have to send them back something nice.
*Have you ever been convicted of a crime*? Never convicted but I'm sure I've committed my fair share.
*Which single store would you choose to max your credit card*? A shoe store.
*What type of car you drive now*? This big giant one called a train. Yes I have my licence, but everyone I know drives like a complete moron so there's no way I'm getting on the road with those lunatics around. I've almost been hit by a car twice on the pavement!
*What do you do most often when you are bored*? FaceBook. *nudge*
*Name the person that you are friends with that lives the farthest away from you*: Everyone!
*Are You in A Gang or Club*: Totally. I'm so hard. I just joined a new group on Facebook called PAPETA. Very educational.
*What Is Your Favourite Kind Of Clothes*: Shoes. Shoes are clothes. Sort of.
*Are you Close Minded*: Maybe just a tad, but some times you have to be.
*Are You Open Minded*: On occasion.
*Are You A Player*: Hell yeah! ;)
*Can u be in love with 2 people at the same time*? I don't think you can be in love with two people at the same time, but I'm not one of those people who believe you can only love one person in your life. I'm a strong believer in transference in a zero-sum kind of way.
*Humiliating Moment*: Don't know, haven't really thought about it.
*Who do you think will respond to this fastest*? As far as I know I'm the last of them so I guess this is it.
*Who is the person you sent this to that is least likely to send back*?
*what time is it now*: it is 7:21 therefore I am now slightly late and have no time to be quippy.
*who's most likely not going to read this*: None of you because I can just tell you're all sitting on the edge of your seats awaiting my reply.
*goals for this year*: to overcome my shoe addiction or alternatively, buy more shoes.
~ to be continued ~
I couldn't help myself - I had to marry Meilin off. I just find her so much more likable when she isn't competing with Sakura for Syaoran's affection (I suspect that is probably also why Yukito is absent from pretty much all of my fics unless he is somehow vital to the story itself) and so by hooking her off with some random (Luke (Sky) Walker because I felt like being ironic) I was better able to include her. I still suspect that this comes under the 'Die For Our Ship' category but I'm not too big a fan on competition.
Right, only one more THINGE to go. I have got one written for Touya, but it's used in another fic by way of epilogue and therefore more a device for letting you know that things turned out happily ever after than anything satirical (it's in Three Small Words if you're interested, but it is a T+N fic with only the tiniest little hint at S+S so I'll forgive you if you're not). If anyone is interested in making THIINGE's for any of the other characters please do send them to me and I'll throw them in.
With that said, please review. The more reviews I get, the sooner I'll update . . .