A/N 2007: it seems like I'm always apologizing in every chapter I post…. Oh well, again: minor changes, nothing big )
A/N: Aaaaah! I'm sorry it took so long! I was planning on uploading it a week ago, but my mom threw away my chapter! I was so upset! And I had to rewrite the whole chapter 11 A/B. That's why this chapter is so short I still have a piece to write. Damn it! I hate it when she comes into my room. Now to answer a few questions:
Sakuralova - I have absolutely no idea. Though I think the end is coming soon. I've been dragging it out too long.
Sparklyaura and whatevea - I'm not sure about Syao's pov yet. I'll see what I can do.
Nadja - You are right! You're the only person who noticed, as far as I know. Kudos to you!
Jennifer - Well, rating is pg-13 and I don't think I'm going to put in any lemon. I have no trouble reading them, but writing is a whole different matter to me!
Denize - How did you figure it out? I admit it's pretty obvious but still... Go you!
And to all the others: Thank you for reviewing! I really love you guys! Keep them coming!
Oh and my editor is yet again on vacation. Dammit! I really need to find a sub for her in times like these. And if you want to be notified when I update, please say so in your review and leave an email-address I've lost track of the people I would notify, not to mention I'm a slack in the update apartment ;;
Chapter 11
Sakura was glad she could leave Tomoeda on Saturday. Last Friday was simply too much. She had a lot of work to complete next to a few meetings and wasn't finished 'till eleven p.m. Once she got home she was so tired that she went to bed immediately.
Now she was on the road driving towards the cottage, while listening to the radio.
She was in a good mood, but the mood disappeared when she arrived at the cottage and saw Syaoran standing there, as if waiting for her.
He was wearing a pair of black swimming trunks. With his tanned skin, broad shoulders and small hips he could pose for a magazine. Sakura could hit herself for drooling all over him. She tried to keep her gaze on his face but Syaoran's piercing amber eyes took her breath away. So she redirected her gaze elsewhere.
She pushed the door to her car closed with her hip, while carrying the big paper bag with groceries.
"Hi," she said.
"You're looking nice today, Sakura. Had a nice trip?"
"Yeah. What do you want Syaoran? I mean... do you want to tell me something?"
"Actually, yes. Mei Lin is out together with Tomoyo and Miyuki. She asked me to tell you she'd be back around two o'clock."
"Thanks for telling." Sakura lifted the bag of groceries in front of her like a shield. "Where's Hao?"
"He and Mamoru have become friends. Right now they're painting a few planks for me. I've just fixed the boathouse and I was on my way to fetch some drinks. Want anything?"
'Yes, you!' she thought but didn't say it out loud. "Eh... no thanks. I want to be alone for a while."
"Busy week? Why don't you go swimming? I hear it works very relaxing." he advised, "I haven't tried it myself yet, because I have to watch my painters. Go change in your bikini Sakura. I'll wait for you at the raft."
Sakura frowned. "I wasn't planning on-"
"Something happened." his face turned grim. "I need to talk to someone." And abruptly he walked away. Sakura looked at him as he walked away. What could've happened? Something with Hao maybe? No, Syaoran looked angry... drowned in her own thoughts she walked with the groceries to the cottage. Mei Lin had put some ice tea in the fridge. Sakura poured herself a big glass of it and walked to her bedroom to get changed.
While she changed into her bikini she drank her tea. A few minutes later she swam to the raft.
"Misha's mother threatened me with a lawsuit. She wants custody over Hao."
Sakura sat cross-legged on the raft and looked at Syaoran with unbelieving eyes. "Are you serious? When did you find out?"
"My lawyer called me yesterday."
Sakura scrambled up. "But why? What reasons does aunt Mitsumi have?"
Syaoran's mouth contorted into a grim line "the reason is the fact that I'm moving to Tomoeda."
"I understand that she'll miss her grandson but to have custody over him... she can't do that, can she? I mean you're Hao's father and she's just..."
"She says I'm a workaholic and that I don't make time for my child."
"What does your lawyer say? Surely he knows how to handle this? Aunt Mitsumi won't stand a chance."
"That's the thing... she isn't completely wrong. My work was everything to me a few years back." he admitted.
Sakura sensed a weird tension in him; she had the feeling he wasn't telling her everything and suddenly she didn't feel at ease anymore. She was surprised that he had neglected Hao. So what was the story behind it all?
"My lawyer warned me that I shouldn't imagine things," he continued, "it's all up to the judge. According to my lawyer there's only one thing I can keep custody."
"How? What do you have to do?" she asked curiously.
Syaoran turned away. "He advised me to look for a wife." he waved his fist in the air. "But I don't want to marry ever again!"
Sakura walked on trembling legs to the edge of the raft, as far away from Syaoran as possible and looked over the lake.
Why was life so hard? The first problem wasn't solved and already there was another.
'Syaoran must be feeling miserable.' In spite of the heat she shivered. 'If only I could help him.' She turned around. "What are you going to do?" she wanted to know.
After a while he answered: "I will find someone, I think."
"You mean... you're just going to marry someone only for Hao's sake?"
"Not 'only for' Sakura. Never. Hao deserves the best."
"I didn't mean it that way. You know that."
"I know... But if it means keeping my son, then yes. I will marry someone. But where..." his voice faltered.
While minutes passed, Sakura's mind formed an insane idea. She rejected the idea immediately. But the idea kept coming back. No, she could never do that! But she wanted to help Syaoran so badly...
There was a way out of the lawsuit, but that meant that she had to marry Syaoran. There would be no time to waste, aunt Mitsumi would try to get things done as soon as possible, Sakura knew that. Where would Syaoran get a suitable wife? Someone who wouldn't make demands?
Sakura cleared her throat. "Eh... have you already got someone in mind Syaoran?" she asked timidly. "Maybe an old high-school girlfriend?"
"I don't have any female acquaintances." he bit out. "I only maintain my friendship with my male acquaintances. Women are good for..." he fell silent, closed his eyes for a moment and apologized. "I'm sorry Sakura. The answer to your question is no."
"We're supposed to be friends," she mumbled.
He looked at her surprised. "What does that have to do with this?"
"I'm willing to do it Syaoran. Marry you, pretend I mean. To help you keep custody."
"No!" he almost shouted.
"Why not? I wouldn't demand anything. We can set up some arrangements. We have our own lives to live, but we have to live under one roof. Well until aunt Mitsumi backs off..."
"Are you deaf?" Syaoran grabbed her hard at the shoulders. "I said-"
"Dad! We're done!" Hao's yell from the shore startled them both. Syaoran abruptly let go of Sakura. Sakura lost her balance and fell in the water, causing the water to splash around her.
When she came up spluttering she saw Syaoran looking at her. His face was tensed. "I didn't mean that Sakura," he said. "Are you okay?"
Sakura kept her head above water. "Think about it," she said. "You've got till midnight." she raised one hand to wipe the water from her face. Now that she could see batter she saw that Syaoran was looking rather pale. "I'm your only option Syaoran, but remember this: I'm doing this for Hao, not his father." and with that she began to swim back to the shore. Turning around she said one last thing: Because you're the last person on earth I want to marry!"
Around two o'clock Mei Lin came home. When Sakura heard Mei Lin went to the doctor she became upset.
"To the doctor?" she cried out. "Why did you go to the doctor?"
Mei Lin wrung her hands and sat down. "Can you please get me a glass of water?"
Obediently Sakura got a glass and filled it with water. She gave the glass to Mei Lin, who took a few sips gratefully.
"Now, will you tell me what's wrong?" she asked.
Mei Lin put the glass on the table. "You know how my stomach bothered me," she started, "So I asked Tomoyo to bring me to the doctor this morning. And it seems... well... I'm pregnant." Mei Lin avoided Sakura's gaze and Sakura just gaped at her.
"P-pregnant?" she stuttered. "How? I mean..."
Mei Lin looked up at her and suddenly Sakura understood.
"Hiroshi"
Mei Lin just nodded. "I want to keep the baby." she said.
"But why didn't you call me yesterday? I could've gone to the doctor with you.
"I thought about it," Mei Lin admitted, "but then you called to say you were busy."
Sakura felt guilty. If she wasn't so set in avoiding Syaoran this wouldn't have happened.
"I'm sorry Mei Lin. If I had known..."
"I know." Mei Lin cut her off. "That's why I didn't call you. I don't want you to worry too much. I'll figure out what I'll do. Oh and there's another thing. We were supposed to go out for dinner tonight. I really don't feel like it today."
"I understand. I'll cancel our reservation at Cherry's Lodge."
"No, that won't be necessary." Mei Lin quickly replied, "I just talked to Syaoran and he agreed to take you there. He'll pick you up at seven. Don't worry about Hao. He's going to stay at Tomoyo's place." Mei Lin stood up. "I'll go take a nap now. The doctor said I shouldn't tire myself out too much."
Sakura opened her mouth to protest but Mei Lin was faster. "And I shouldn't be exciting myself, he said. Stress is not healthy for the baby." she said. And then she walked away, with a merry twinkle in her eyes.
Sakura muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like "shit" and heard giggling in the hall. Mei Lin was having a great time again. Trust her to turn shocking news into her advantage. It still amazed Sakura how she could switch moods so easily like the push of a button. And now she cooked up a plan that involved her and Syaoran to go dining together, in the hopes of getting them together.
What would she say if she found out that Sakura had proposed to marry Syaoran? And was rejected...
At exactly seven o'clock Syaoran came to pick up Sakura. She and Mei Lin were sitting outside. Mei Lin was busy putting the flowers, picked by Hao, into a vase.
"Because you're pregnant." he mumbled, blushing.
"He's a darling of a child and has much love to give. He's just waiting for the right person to give it to." Mei Lin said when they heard footsteps.
As usual Sakura was taken by surprise at the way Syaoran looked. He was wearing a navy-blue suit with a dress-shirt. His belt had a shining silver clasp, vesting her attention on his small hips. Quickly she looked away.
One look at his face told Sakura that Syaoran desired her too.
His voice, however, held a mocking tone. Smiling he shook his head and said: "What happened to the girl with the scraped knees and dirty face?"
Sakura was wearing one of Tomoyo's creations. A black evening-gown with silver threads woven in between. Whenever she moved the dress shimmered silver. She knew she rarely looked better than this but Syaorans ironic gaze made her feel immature.
"That girl?" she said dryly, "She disappeared. Only her viciousness remained. It comes in handy when you're around."
Syaoran laughed and looked at his watch. "We'd best be going now if we want to drink something before dinner. Are you ready Sakura?"
Sakura stood up and said: "Well I guess I'll be off then. Bye Mei Lin."
"Have a good time." Mei replied.
As they walked away to Syaoran's car, Mei Lin looked at them thinking.
"Well," she said to the air, "I've done my part. Let's hope it works out."
TBC
A/N: Well that's it for chapter 11. I've decided to make an entire different chapter for what was supposed to be chapter 11B. So 11B will now be known as chapter 12. And Chapter 12 will describe how the date went...and more. That's all I'll tell you! Right, now I'll write chapter 12 and continue bitching about how mom threw my chapter away!