Author's Notes: OK! I'm back yet again. Again, I'm sorry for such a long period of time of no writing ficcies. But high school is just soo tuff! Lots of homework ^^; I'm coping tho ^^. Uhm Let's see, where'd we leave off? Ah yes, I'm so pleased and happy 'bout all the reviews, so thanks a bunch, you don't know how much they mean to me ^_^. And I'm sorry for leaving you off at that AWFUL cliff-hanger! Hehehe, well, that was my intention of course. Okay, anyway What else shall I say? Oh!! My cousin/rapport/sepor/best friend ^^, shortymk2, has a story of her own, and it's called Say It Isn't So, an S&S fanfic. Please give it a look-see, 'kay? It'll mean a lot to her!
Kiyone: Hey, children of God, how's everyone doing??
Kero: After our week and a half long vacation, Kiyone and I are rested up and reaaaadddy to go!
Kiyone: Yuup.
Kero: And lookie here! I bought souvenirs for everyone! *skips around and throws CCS Kero-chan Plush Toys* Don't I look handsome?
A-chan & Kiyone: _ Where'd exactly did you get the money to buy all those for everyone??
Kero: Ehehehehehe. Nooowhere.
*A-chan becomes very suspicious, takes her wallet out, and finds it empty (with a fly flying out ^^)* EEEEHHH!!??!?!!? WHAT THE--!?
Kero: *sweatdrop* I can explain!!
A-chan: Explain what?!?!?
*A & Kero-chan starts to fight*
Kiyone: *sweatdrop* OK, um Let's see, we'll just ignore them for now and go on to the important shtuff. The last question to the last chapter was why is Tomoyo's hair long? And the answer isss: Sonomi kept it long to remind her of Nadeshiko. Tomoyo does look like Nadeshiko in a lot of ways really (Manga-wise, she does, especially at times when Tomoyo's hair is curly). Thanks for answering!
CalumonMelodyEfuimon
ImMeEmmi
Ayumi Tsukimiya
mashi-maro
aika-chan1
Pauline
Kamika Farinas
Ran-chan
Kerochan
Syakura
Pink Cherry Blossom
A CCS Fan
LilyMoonStar
Final Fantasy Princess
My World Is Defined By Me
Avalon
shazaoblossom
CCS Luver
Wings of Fire
Glarie
Tamara
HanaNatsu
Joey
Kiyone: Sorry if anybody is missing from this trivia list when you should be on it. A-chan's been working really hard, so go easy on her 'kay? She'll make up for it on the next chapter, so be patient! Oh yea! Guys, remember this is NOT A THANK YOU LIST. It's a list for those who answer the fun-special trivial question at the end of every chapter! Just so you know
*A gets out of the fight, leaving Kero-chan pummeling air* Ah yes! I forgot to mention something about the title, Ai Da Ne?. Just for you readers to know, Ai Da Ne? is a Japanese title, it's not Chinese Mandarin. Ai, of course means Love, Da Ne doesn't have a significant meaning, but it's a part of the title, Isn't It?.Ok?? Enjoy the story!
Chapter Five - Promise
By, azngurL
"Syaoran-kun, you know The thing is," Sakura said, almost whispering, being reluctant to answer to him. "What should I say?" She thought as she kept on staring at the ground. She took a heavy breath, then finally took it upon herself to look at him, at his eyes. "Um, gomen. I have to go," She started to walk right pass him, but then he grabbed her arm.
"No. Don't." Syaoran said, practically gripping onto her arm.
Sakura winced in pain at the strength of his grip. "Itai (Ouch). Let go," She whispered.
"No. Not until you tell me," He said.
"So you think hurting me will get me to answer?" She snapped at him.
His eyes widened and he felt hurt at her reply, so he let go of her. "SSorry," Syaoran felt so mortified and upset at that moment, he turned away, his back facing hers. "Look, Sakura, why go on with this relationship? You won't even talk to me anymore." And with that, he ran away.
She felt her heart jump then sink, and her chest was pounding and she turned around quickly to see him running away from her. She could feel her chest pounding very hard and she was panting very lightly from anxiety. Then she could feel tears well up in her eyes. Sakura took one hand and brought it to her eye as she wiped them away. She looked at her hand and whispered, "Why am I crying?"
"Tears, Nesan?" Reiko asked while eating ice cream in the park on a bench.
"Un (Yeah)," Sakura mumbled, watching the pillars of water shoot upwards from the fountain that was in the center of the park. "What a fool I didn't even tell him I didn't tell him,"
"Nesan, you're not a fool. You were just a coward," Reiko said sarcastically.
Sakura turned her gaze quickly to her step-sister, shooting a glance of innocent anger. "Eh? What did you call me, Reiko??" She asked.
Reiko smiled playfully. "A coward," She said with such pride. Then she stuck out her tongue out of pure innocence. "Just kidding, Nesan. Just kidding,"
Sakura leaned back onto her chair, staring at the late afternoon sky. "Maybe that is what I am. A coward." She thought.
"Anyway, Nesan, are you sure it's alright for the both of us to be out here this late? Won't Okasan be mad?" Reiko asked while standing up and throwing the rest of her ice cream away in the trash bin.
"Yeah. Okasan said that I had to be hereTzuki-san, and Shiro-kun are also gonna be here too. The temple's just over there, so I figured that this was a good spot for you and me to hang out for a while," Sakura said.
Reiko smiled at her sister, and then sat down beside her, swinging her legs back and forth. "I kinda wish it was like this all the time," She thought as she turned her gaze to Sakura. She smiled, then looked back ahead because she heard the sound of her mother's voice.
Sakura and Reiko both stood up, seeing Yumi, Saki, Hiroyuki, and Shiro there. They both made their way there and out of respect, they bowed towards Saki. "Koban wa, Tsuki-san," They said in unison.
Saki smiled and bowed as well. "Koban wa."
"Okay. Let's go." Yumi said while walking towards the direction of the temple, holding Hiroyuki's hand. Saki and Reiko followed after, and Shiro waited for Sakura. "Sakura-san, so what happened?" He asked.
Still looking straight ahead, she said, "Um Nothing happened. I didn't tell him anything,"
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Oh"
"You seem so concerned,"
"I was just curious,"
They kept walking and when they got in front of the temple, both of them stopped right in front of it. They looked at it, and the both of them were tremulous. While Sakura watched the rest of them walk on, with Shiro still being there beside there, she felt her chest pounding again. "I don't wanna do this," She whispered.
Shiro looked at her with a somewhat sad expression. He put his hand to her shoulder, and she jumped at his touch. "Sakura-san?"
As she turned to face him, she was red from embarrassment. "Oh, sorry! I'm just," She turned away and looked at the ground. "Just nervous." Then she began to walk.
Shiro watched her walk ahead of him, then started to walk as well.
"Yeah that's what happened. She just I mean Oh God She looked so scared around me," Syaoran whispered on the phone in his dark apartment room. He sat against the wall next to his sliding door that led out to his balcony. With the cordless phone in his hand, he kept turning his gaze outside. "What is she hiding?" He asked.
"Who knows," The person said over the phone.
"Daidouji, you honestly don't know anything about Sakura anymore? Don't you know something?" He asked.
Tomoyo was also sitting against a wall in her dark room, twirling a strand of hair. "No. No, I don't know anything," She sighed and let go of her strand of hair, putting her hand to her face, covering one eye which was already misty-eyed. "Maybe it's all my fault," She whispered, her voice cracking.
"? No, nothing's your fault. I hate to say it, but everything's Sakura's fault," He said, almost in a whisper.
"No! No. It's not her fault. Maybe if I just stayed quiet and minded my own business, maybe if I pretended nothing was wrong with her-I could've avoided all of this. She and I could've still been best friends," She cried.
"No! Daidouji, stop! None of this is your fault! Even if you stayed best friends, it wouldn't make a difference, you would've been like how you are now! Don't blame yourself! Look. We gotta talk to Sakura about this. We gotta sit down and talk with each other about all of this,"
Tomoyo wiped her flowing tears away, though they wouldn't stop flowing. "WWould she really even talk? She won't, she won't, Li-kun. She won't 'fess up, she won't tell us anything. If she won't tell me or you, she wouldn't tell,"
"Don't be so negative. She will tell us. I know we can't force her, but she can't keep this to herself. She can't keep this secret from the world,"
"If she hasn't already exposed it to somebody,"
"What do you mean?"
"I bet she probably told Tzuki-san already, and naturally, her step-sister knows what's going on,"
"Tzuki? But why him?"
"I know that she's been hanging around him a lot lately. After her otosan died, she began talking to him more than me. That's what I noticed,"
"Argh, I can't take this anymore!!"
"Li-kun?"
"You and me and Sakura will all meet at the park, NOW."
"W-what? But what if she refuses? If you tell her that you wanna meet with her, then she'll already know what's up!"
"I don't care! She can't keep bottled emotions and secrets all to herself, and some stranger who I don't know about."
""
"I'm calling her up now. Daidouji, go meet with us in the park. Don't worry, she WILL come."
""
"Oh!! I'm so glad!! We finally got this over with! Now the marriage is final!" Tzuki Saki exclaimed; her hands clasped. "I say, since it is the weekend, that we all go out for a celebration dinner!"
"Why, that's a lovely idea!" Yumi agreed. "So let's go!"
As Saki, Yumi, Hiroyuki, and Reiko started to walk, Shiro interrupted their thoughts. "Um. Okasan, Kinomoto-san, is it alright if Sakura-san and I go out to eat by ourselves? Oh, I mean, you guys can all eat out together, but I just wanna," Shiro shot a nervous glance at Sakura, and his face said, 'play along'. "I just wanna spend time more with my future bride,"
"Aww, well isn't that nice! Of course it's alright! It's alright with you, right, Yumi-chan?" Saki asked, all excited.
"Why of course. Just be back in a reasonable hour. Shiro-kun, make sure nothing happens to my daughter, 'kay??" Yumi asked.
"Uh, uh, uh, don't worry!" Shiro exclaimed.
"Alright, have fun! Let's go, guys!" Saki said as she grabbed Hiroyuki's hand, and they all started to walk, but Reiko was lagging behind. Reiko turned to look at Sakura and Shiro, and Sakura mouthed out, 'Don't worry about me.' Reiko smiled and caught up to the rest of them.
As they both saw them leave, Sakura gave a sigh of relief, then she turned to Shiro. "So what do you wanna talk about?" She asked.
"H-Huh?" Shiro stuttered.
"You obviously kept me here for a reason," She said.
"Well obviously," He remarked. "Let's get some dessert, and just hang out for a while," He said, smiling and with a small wink.
Sakura giggled and said, "Dessert before dinner? Not good, Shiro-kun,"
"Well, dessert can be considered dinner! Come on!" Shiro said, taking her hand, and leading her across the street.
At his touch, Sakura felt her face flush and she found herself unexplainably happy.
Meanwhile in Syaoran's apartment
"Dammit, no use," Syaoran cursed as he put the phone
down on his bed. "She's not home I wonder where she
could've gone But Daidouji is already there, so I might
as well," He stood up and put on a jacket. He looked again
at the view from his balcony. "Dammit, Sakura Stop
running away."
Syaoran left his apartment, making his way to the park. With his hands in his pockets, he kept walking, staring at the ground, and around him were many couples. As he got to the park, he saw Tomoyo sitting down at a bench, and when she noticed him, she stood up. "Li-kun, where is she?" She asked.
Syaoran shook his head and said, "She wasn't at home. Either that or she knew it was me and didn't wanna answer me,"
Tomoyo smiled and said, "So what are we gonna do now? No Sakura-chan."
Syaoran smiled faintly, then sat down on the bench. Tomoyo sat down beside him, and they both were silent.
"Wow!!! This is so good!!" Sakura exclaimed while being surrounded by numbers of plates of desserts. "Thank you so much, Shiro-kun!"
"Heh-heh! No problem! I could tell you've been hungry these days. Right now, your body needs lotsa sugar. I haven't seen the your hyper side in such a while,"
"Mmm." She mumbled as she finished one of her dishes. "Well I'm full. What do you wanna do now?"
"Let's just go to the park again. There's supposed to be a show or something there at this hour,"
"Really? Then let's go!"
"Hai!"
"Maybe Sakura-chan just hates us now. Maybe her feelings turned cold or something and she doesn't want anything with us," Tomoyo whispered.
"Don't say stuff like that. Geez, Daidouji, I hate to say it but you've been so negative ever since Sakura did that to you," Syaoran said, his arm behind his head.
"I can't help it! I'm always thinking of why she hates me now then of the cool stuff we use to do together. I loved her a lot, and I can't believe I lost my most precious treasure,"
"Your most precious treasure?" He asked, looking at her.
"Un (Yeah). My most precious treasure is Sakura-chan naturally. I love her and always will. It's not like I wanted that love to be returned, as long as she was happy,"
"I see,"
Another silence occurred between them, then Syaoran suddenly said, "What if she's in love with-"
"Hey, Shiro-kun, don't run so fast!!" A voice yelled through the park.
Syaoran and Tomoyo both turned their head and saw Shiro, holding Sakura's hand, and running. "You wanna see it don't you??" Shiro yelled back.
"Yeah, but my arm feels all dis-configured now!" Sakura yelled back at him. "Come on, stop!!"
Shiro stopped and let go of her hand. "Aw you're no fun. We're gonna miss it,"
Sakura went in akimbo and said, "I bet that there's not even a show,"
"How'd you figure that out?" He asked.
She smiled and said, "I've known you for too long now y'know."
Shiro smirked and said, "Well who can blame me for taking you to one of the most beautiful parks in town? I mean come on, at night, this place really sparkles,"
"You're just being nice," Sakura said while walking up to the centered fountain and sitting on its ledge. "But you are right; this place is nice at night. I used to come here a lot, right after my otosan died. It's really quiet here,"
"Yeah" Shiro said, while leaning against the ledge, next to Sakura. "So you really didn't tell him yet?"
Sakura's mood swung from happy to sad as she turned her gaze to the ground. "Him? Syaoran-kun?"
Unknowingly to them, Syaoran and Tomoyo were eavesdropping on the other side of the fountain. "?" Syaoran thought as he was eavesdropping.
"Li-kun, what are they talking about?" Tomoyo whispered.
Syaoran didn't reply, he kept his mind and thoughts focused on Sakura and Shiro's conversation. He was intrigued, and his chest felt heavy.
"Well, these things can't be rush, so naturally you'd be scared to tell him. But, if you did, would you even tell him why?"
"'Why'? 'Why' I don't think it's a wise reason to tell somebody why,"
"It's only fair,"
Sakura jumped off the ledge and faced Shiro. "But I can't do that! Not to him! I can't tell him that we're getting married!" She exclaimed.
Syaoran's eyes widened as he heard Sakura's last statement. He stepped back, speechless and scared. "W?" He thought as cold sweat rolled down his face. "Married? You're getting married, Sakura? To Tzuki!?"
Tomoyo turned around with a melancholy expression on her face and looked at the tremulous Syaoran. "Li-kun," She whispered as she stood up. She walked up to him and put her hand on his shoulder and whispered again, "Li-kun,"
"It's gotta be a joke, it's gotta," Syaoran mumbled.
Sakura and Shiro stood silent by the fountain, and they both turned their head to the pathway where the temple was. "In only a year I'll be standing right there," Sakura whispered depressingly.
Shiro looked at her and said, "You're not fighting it?"
"Why bother. I'm already engaged to you,"
"Un," Shiro sighed, "You're not much of a fighter,"
"Who says I'm a fighter?"
"You have a strong will, Sakura-san,"
"No I don't..,"
"I admit that you don't right now. But before you did, you had lots of courage back then. That's what attracted me to you, y'know. I liked your spirited mind and the way how you stand out in the crowd, 'cause you're special,"
Sakura blushed and whispered, "Thanks. That really brought my self-esteem up,"
Shiro smiled and said, "No prob." Then Sakura started to giggle and Shiro was befuddled. "What?" He asked.
"You were attracted to me?" She asked.
Shiro blushed. "Uh, uh, uh," He stuttered.
Sakura giggled again. "Well I guess it's only natural. It's good practice for the wedding ceremony,"
All of a sudden, Syaoran came out of hiding, and Sakura and Shiro both turned their heads. Sakura's eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand. "S-Syaoran-kun!"
"Why didn't you just say it before?!?" Syaoran asked, yelling.
Sakura stood silent, and sweat rolled down her face as well.
"Why didn't you just say, 'I don't love you anymore, I got Shiro now'!! Why didn't you tell me?!? I didn't have to waste all my time flying from Hong Kong if you only told me sooner that you have a frickin' fiancée! God!!" Syaoran yelled.
"S-Syaoran-kun, no, it's not like that. You see-"
"No I don't see!!" Syaoran interrupted. "You've changed so much, Sakura!! I just don't get you anymore!! You break your friendship off with Daidouji, and now you kept it from the world that you have a fiancée!"
"Syaoran-kun, please let me explain!!!" Sakura cried.
Syaoran turned his back to her. "Why bother?! I know enough already!"
"HEY!" Shiro suddenly yelled. He walked up to Syaoran and yelled, "Stop it! Stop yelling at her, this is NOT what she needs right now!"
Syaoran turned to him and screamed, "What the hell do you want with me?! You have NO right to speak with me!"
"Oh just shut up already!! Geez, acting like a big-shot, when Sakura-san is trying to tell her all her reasons for acting the way she is acting! But no! You won't give her the time of day!" Shiro exclaimed.
"Shiro-kun, please stop. Don't yell anymore, please," Sakura whispered while wiping away spilled tears.
Shiro turned around and saw Sakura crying. "Sakura-san?"
"Look, Syaoran-kun. I'm very sorry, so very sorry but, things didn't use to be this way. My otosan diedand then my okasan took over. It's kinda a hard change. I do admit that I'm engaged to Shiro-kun, but--" Sakura started.
At that moment, Syaoran ran off, and left them there. Sakura stood there crying and Shiro confronted her. "Sakura-san, don't cry," He whispered to her.
"I gotta go after him," She said, her tears temporarily stopping.
"Then go after him," Tomoyo said as she came out of hiding.
Sakura's shot wide open and she stammered, "T-Tomoyo,"
"If you have a real good reason for all of this, then you should go after him," Tomoyo whispered with a smile.
Sakura smiled weakly and said, "But I don't think my reasons are even worthy of a listening,"
"If you love him that much,"
" You're right," She looked at Tomoyo and said, "Thank you so much," Then she ran off.
"Sakura-chan,"
Shiro looked at the running Sakura, then at Tomoyo.
"Syaoran-kun! Syaoran-kun!! Stop!!!!" Sakura yelled as she was running after Syaoran. "Please!! Let me talk to you!!" Eventually, Syaoran stopped, and they were in the middle of a special bamboo forest. A running creek was nearby, and its sounds echoed throughout the forest area. He stood still and Sakura caught up to him. Panting, she said, "Skun,"
Not facing her, he said, "This is your chance to tell me everything,"
Sakura became silent and sighed. Looking up at the midnight blue sky, she could feel her tremulous heart. "I can't tell you much, because this is for your own good, but I will tell you this-I love you, Syaoran-kun, you're the one and only one I will love the most If you won't accept anymore, then you don't have to, it'll be fine with me," She sighed again, then started to whisper. "Like I said before, I do admit that Shiro-kun is my fiancée, but that was decided against my own free will,"
Syaoran's eyes shot open and he turned around swiftly to look at her. Sakura had her hands clasped up to her face, and he could see tears forming in her eyes, but not allowing them to fall. "Decided against you own will? What's that supposed to mean!?" He asked.
"What do you think it means? I have an arranged marriage with Shiro-kun. My Okasan and his okasan both planned it out over two weeks ago I think. It was all so sudden, but," Sakura paused, trying not to let her tears fall. "You know You'll be the only one. I don't care if you don't believe me, but just remember that you had someone who loved you so much that-"
Syaoran couldn't help himself
but throw his arms around Sakura, his head against her soft hair.
He held her like he didn't want to let go, like he wanted to live
in that moment for all his life. ""
Sakura just stood still, not saying anything. And then, one slow
tear came rolling down her face.
A: OK! Well, chapter 5's taken care of, now I must write chapter 6! Thanks to those who has been patient with me for this long period of time! I only get to write fanfics on the weekends ya know, so bare with me (too much homework & tests). Lessee Ah yes, the chapter trivial question! Let's see, Who does Eriol-kun remind Sakura-chan of? Might be a toughie This refers to the manga, but I trust you guys to figure it out (If you don't that's okay ^_^). What else Ah yes, no preview for chapter 6 as it has not been written yet, so I'm sorry! Please review!
Questions/Comments? Review
or email me!