Hey guys! Sorry it took so long. It's been really busy with work and
stuff. Just for that, I'll make the chapter longer. I fixed the
acceptance level on reviews. It now allows anonymous reviews. Sorry for
the trouble. And thanks again to my reviewers. Can I just say that you
rock Avelyn Lauren! Thanks for the dedication; I really appreciate it.
And sweet-captor, Sakura Angel1, and JaderOTT, I didn't forget you. Love
ya all! Hope ya enjoy, and have a great day!
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Syaoran watched as Sakura idly pushed the food around her plate. Setting his fork down, he leaned forwards on his elbows. "You know" Sakura snapped her head up as if she just noticed him. "If you don't eat something soon, I'm going to take it all." Sakura laughed while Syaoran smiled. Looking back down to her plate she moved her hand to her food, but before it could reach the destination, Syaoran stopped it. "Sakura" She looked up to his eyes as they pleaded with her "you need to eat something. Please eat."
Sakura smiled. "You worry too much Syaoran." She lowered her fork to her food jabbing through it. Syaoran let go of her hand and watched as she raised it to her lips and put it in her mouth, chewing it carefully, she attempted to smile. Swallowing she added, "Better?" Syaoran shook his head and ate his own food.
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Eriol dialed a number from his cell and waited. It rang once. Twice. Three times. And then the answering machine came on. "Where are you?" He spoke after the beep. He paused for a second as if waiting for a response. Sighing, he flipped his phone shut. Looking towards Tomoyo he smiled.
"Still nothing?" She asked quietly. "That's the fourth time you called. Give it a rest, he'll call back soon."
Eriol walked over to the bed in his hotel room and sat down on the edge. Tomoyo followed suit and placed her hand on his leg, sitting down as close as possible. "It's going to be okay." She whispered to him.
"I hope your right Tomoyo, I really hope your right." He said wrapping his arm around her back bringing her closer to him.
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4:00 pm
Syaoran took another sip from his water cup. The waiter had removed their plates and already come and gone with the bill, but Sakura didn't want to leave just yet. It wasn't too much of a problem. The place was big, and the dinner rush hadn't hit yet.
Sakura held her water glass in her hand and looked at it as if she was trying to find a flaw. When Syaoran put his glass back on the table she looked up at him with a smile. "Thanks for your help Syaoran. I'm sorry I had to drag you into this."
He frowned slightly. "Sakura, make me one promise for the duration of this 'vacation'." Sakura looked at him with a worried expression as he leaned forward on the table whispering, "don't say sorry anymore."
Sakura leaned back in her chair and sighed. "I just don't want to be a burden-"
Syaoran responded quickly. "Your not! Stop thinking that you are, cause if you don't I'll lock you in the hall tonight and I'll take the bed." He smirked at her as she made a fake shocked expression.
"Your so evil!" She slapped the side of his arm lightly, and they both laughed.
Things never stay calm for long, the waiter approached their table and Syaoran knew they had to go. He sighed and Sakura turned to see what he was looking at. She lost her smile as the waiter cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, but we are going to have to ask you to leave. We need to get cleaned up before our dinner guest's start arriving." He bowed slightly and stepped back.
"Thank you." Syaoran said as he dropped a tip down on the table and got up. Extending his hand to Sakura, he helped her up and led her out the big double doors of the restaurant back into the hotel lobby. Once there she let go of his hand and he turned to make sure everything was okay. "What's the matter?" Sakura just looked at him for a moment with her sad emerald eyes. He couldn't stand how she always looked on the brink of tears. "Sakura-"
Before he could say anything else, she smiled slightly. "Lets go for a walk. Okay?"
He paused for a moment and then nodded.
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Fujitaka sat in the chair next to Nadeshiko's hospital bed. He still held her fragile hand in his. She had fallen asleep an hour ago, but he didn't have the heart to leave the room. She was so beautiful. He skin was pale but soft as he gently rubbed his thumb on the back of her hand. He watched her face intently as a smile started up her lips. Leaning forward he kissed her forehead. "How are you feeling?"
Nadeshiko opened her eyes and looked tenderly to her husband. "Much better."
Fujitaka smiled and brushed some hair off of her forehead. "Good."
They sat there silently loving each other for a while. They didn't have to speak to communicate. They had been together long enough to just know what the other was feeling. They had a very strong bond indeed.
The door to her room was slowly opened and the doctor came inside. Closing the door behind him, he smiled gravely. "Hello my friends." Fujitaka smiled and looked to his wife as the doctor sighed. "Well, you know your options. What would you like to do?"
Nadeshiko looked to her husband and without loosing his eye contact, she replied, "I would like to be at home where it's more comfortable and private."
Fujitaka smiled at her sweetly as his eyes became moist. "Very well." Said the doctor. "I will have a nurse come and check on you in the morning and at night. You know my numbers and I will be there whenever you need me."
Fujitaka finally turned to the doctor. "Thank you. You don't know how much this means to us."
The doctor smiled, "I will have a nurse in here momentarily to start transporting you back home." With that, he nodded and left the room.
Looking at the door Fujitaka asked, "Should we call Sakura?"
"Let Syaoran call us. He will as soon as he's able, I'm sure."
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Syaoran opened his mouth to say something, but thought against it. They had found a park close by and were now walking around a beautiful lake. It had been quiet since they left the hotel. Sakura continued walking in front of him along the edge looked at the shore and watched Syaoran's reflection. He opened his mouth and then closed it again. Sakura smiled and said aloud still looking at him through the lake, "Why don't you just ask me already?" Syaoran looked stunned in her direction and Sakura gave a light laugh. He caught on quickly and looked to the lake to see her watching him.
"Now that's not fair! You've been spying on me this whole time haven't you?" He asked pretending to be offended.
"It's just a little pay back from lunch." She shrugged her shoulders and continued walking removing her gaze from the lake.
"Oh no you don't. You can't get away that easily." Syaoran whispered under his breath as he ran towards Sakura grabbing her and twisting himself in front of her as they fell to the ground. Syaoran landed on his back with Sakura facing him lying on his chest.
"You Moron!" She said angrily as she slapped his arms trying to get him to release her.
"Hahaha! I don't think so. You can never defeat me!" Syaoran held on tightly as she struggled to get up. Slowly giving up Sakura looked into his eyes. 'Such sad eyes' Syaoran thought to himself as her beauty memorized him.
Sakura watched as Syaoran lost his smile focusing on her eyes as she focused on his. 'What is this?' She questioned herself. 'I must be going mad!' As hard as she tried, she couldn't look away. Out of nowhere, her head started to move on it's own, down towards Syaoran's.
Syaoran couldn't move. Even if he could, he didn't want to. 'Is this really happening?' He was glued to her breathtaking eyes. He had missed being around her. He hadn't realized until that very moment just how much.
Sakura's head was so close that she could feel his shallow breath. Breathing out, she snapped back to reality. She jumped off of him quickly, which wasn't hard because he had loosened his grasp on her when she was - 'When I was what? What was I going to do?' She battled with herself. "I'm sorry." She whispered out and turned around towards the lake. A few tears that she couldn't explain slid down her cheek. She rubbed her arms and murmured, "I must be tired. Let's go back."
Syaoran watched her back as she spoke trying to figure out if she was crying or if she was just cold. Standing up he actually realized how cold it was getting and just how quickly.
Sakura looked to the ground laughing, "What? No lecture on saying sorry? I'm shocked!" She turned around and put on a smile, "You know for a while you were starting to sound like my father, worrying like that." She winked and turned away from him once again, immediately dropping her smile. Something was pulling at her heart and it hurt badly. She didn't know what, she just knew it was there.
"Gee thanks." Syaoran spoke regaining his composure. Putting his hands in his pockets he followed her back around the lake.
That was all that was said back to the hotel. It was getting to be too quiet for the majority of the time and it was starting to unnerve them both, but neither made an attempt to fix the situation. Walking down the hall and to their door, Sakura spoke as Syaoran put the key in the door. "I'm going to get a shower okay?"
Syaoran took the key out and pulled the door open holding it for her. "Not a problem. Feel free."
Sakura smiled at him as she walked passed and to her bag to grab her stuff.
Closing the door behind them, Syaoran walked over to the couch. Sitting down, he closed his eyes as Sakura went into the bathroom. Interrupting his thoughts, he heard an annoying beeping sound. Opening his eyes, he quickly turned to his bag rummaging through it. Retrieving what he was looking for, he pulled his cell phone out and flipped it open. Four missed calls and two voice messages. He listened to his messages praying that it wasn't bad news and sighed with both relief and frustration as he heard Eriol. His whining was getting annoying and he deleted it without finishing. The second was also from Eriol. "Where are you?" As he erased it he realized he couldn't be too angry because he hadn't told him that he was leaving in the first place. 'It's not my fault he waited till he got here to tell me he was in town' He sighed. "I'll call him in a minute." He muttered aloud to himself. There was someone else he had to call first. Going through his speed dial, he found what he was looking for. He sent it and waited for someone to pick up.
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"I'll be right back." Fujitaka said to his wife as he walked out of their bedroom and into the living to answer his cell phone. "Hello?"
"Hello sir. How are things going?"
Fujitaka smiled, "Ah, Syaoran! Everything is okay. We are back home now, but I will have my cell phone near by just in case you need me."
Syaoran lay back onto the sofa feeling somewhat better. "Glad to hear it."
Fujitaka frowned slightly 'So she hasn't told him yet' he thought before speaking again. "How's Sakura doing?"
Syaoran sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Better then this morning."
Fujitaka closed his eyes and whispered, "Good."
"Uh, sir?"
"Yes Syaoran?"
There was a short pause before Syaoran sighed and closed his eyes. "Never mind, it's nothing."
"Don't let her push you away. She needs a friend right now." Fujitaka heard a noise come from the direction of the bedroom. "I have to go. Take care of her for us and enjoy your vacation. I already called the school and there is no problem. Talk to you soon."
"Alright. Thank you sir. Bye."
Fujitaka hung up the phone and took it with him back down the hall. When he got in the room Nadeshiko wasn't there. Walking to their bathroom he saw her hanging onto the toilet. Obviously she had just gotten sick so he grabbed a washcloth and ran it under some cold water. He kneeled down to her level then took the washcloth and slowly ran it over her face.
She smiled weakly and leaned against his chest for support. He pulled her into a gentle hug and sat back against the wall taking her with him. She closed her eyes and clung to his shirt breathing shallowly. Tears started down both their cheeks as the sat quietly on the bathroom floor, with only the light from the bedroom to keep them out of the dark.
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Syaoran looked at the phone for a minute before shutting it and putting it back in his bag. 'Sakura should feel better about everything now that they are home. I'll tell her when she gets out of the shower.' Syaoran lay down on the sofa and closed his eyes. 'I'll just rest for a minute until she is done.'
Letting the water run over her face, Sakura tried to wash away her emotion as well. The water was warm and soothing and she didn't want to get out. 'I'd better though or Syaoran's going to be upset that I took all of the hot water.' The corners of her lips slowly curved up as she envisioned Syaoran getting angry. Finally turning the water off, she stepped out and dried off. Putting on her pajama's, she then brushed out her hair and left it down to dry. Shaking her head lightly, her hair fell to mid-back. She hardly ever wore it down anymore. "Not since I found out," she muttered to herself.
She stepped out of the bathroom and looked over to Syaoran who was sound asleep on the couch. She smiled and put her stuff away grabbing the remote to the TV and turning it on quietly as she lay down on the bed.
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Syaoran watched as Sakura idly pushed the food around her plate. Setting his fork down, he leaned forwards on his elbows. "You know" Sakura snapped her head up as if she just noticed him. "If you don't eat something soon, I'm going to take it all." Sakura laughed while Syaoran smiled. Looking back down to her plate she moved her hand to her food, but before it could reach the destination, Syaoran stopped it. "Sakura" She looked up to his eyes as they pleaded with her "you need to eat something. Please eat."
Sakura smiled. "You worry too much Syaoran." She lowered her fork to her food jabbing through it. Syaoran let go of her hand and watched as she raised it to her lips and put it in her mouth, chewing it carefully, she attempted to smile. Swallowing she added, "Better?" Syaoran shook his head and ate his own food.
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Eriol dialed a number from his cell and waited. It rang once. Twice. Three times. And then the answering machine came on. "Where are you?" He spoke after the beep. He paused for a second as if waiting for a response. Sighing, he flipped his phone shut. Looking towards Tomoyo he smiled.
"Still nothing?" She asked quietly. "That's the fourth time you called. Give it a rest, he'll call back soon."
Eriol walked over to the bed in his hotel room and sat down on the edge. Tomoyo followed suit and placed her hand on his leg, sitting down as close as possible. "It's going to be okay." She whispered to him.
"I hope your right Tomoyo, I really hope your right." He said wrapping his arm around her back bringing her closer to him.
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4:00 pm
Syaoran took another sip from his water cup. The waiter had removed their plates and already come and gone with the bill, but Sakura didn't want to leave just yet. It wasn't too much of a problem. The place was big, and the dinner rush hadn't hit yet.
Sakura held her water glass in her hand and looked at it as if she was trying to find a flaw. When Syaoran put his glass back on the table she looked up at him with a smile. "Thanks for your help Syaoran. I'm sorry I had to drag you into this."
He frowned slightly. "Sakura, make me one promise for the duration of this 'vacation'." Sakura looked at him with a worried expression as he leaned forward on the table whispering, "don't say sorry anymore."
Sakura leaned back in her chair and sighed. "I just don't want to be a burden-"
Syaoran responded quickly. "Your not! Stop thinking that you are, cause if you don't I'll lock you in the hall tonight and I'll take the bed." He smirked at her as she made a fake shocked expression.
"Your so evil!" She slapped the side of his arm lightly, and they both laughed.
Things never stay calm for long, the waiter approached their table and Syaoran knew they had to go. He sighed and Sakura turned to see what he was looking at. She lost her smile as the waiter cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, but we are going to have to ask you to leave. We need to get cleaned up before our dinner guest's start arriving." He bowed slightly and stepped back.
"Thank you." Syaoran said as he dropped a tip down on the table and got up. Extending his hand to Sakura, he helped her up and led her out the big double doors of the restaurant back into the hotel lobby. Once there she let go of his hand and he turned to make sure everything was okay. "What's the matter?" Sakura just looked at him for a moment with her sad emerald eyes. He couldn't stand how she always looked on the brink of tears. "Sakura-"
Before he could say anything else, she smiled slightly. "Lets go for a walk. Okay?"
He paused for a moment and then nodded.
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Fujitaka sat in the chair next to Nadeshiko's hospital bed. He still held her fragile hand in his. She had fallen asleep an hour ago, but he didn't have the heart to leave the room. She was so beautiful. He skin was pale but soft as he gently rubbed his thumb on the back of her hand. He watched her face intently as a smile started up her lips. Leaning forward he kissed her forehead. "How are you feeling?"
Nadeshiko opened her eyes and looked tenderly to her husband. "Much better."
Fujitaka smiled and brushed some hair off of her forehead. "Good."
They sat there silently loving each other for a while. They didn't have to speak to communicate. They had been together long enough to just know what the other was feeling. They had a very strong bond indeed.
The door to her room was slowly opened and the doctor came inside. Closing the door behind him, he smiled gravely. "Hello my friends." Fujitaka smiled and looked to his wife as the doctor sighed. "Well, you know your options. What would you like to do?"
Nadeshiko looked to her husband and without loosing his eye contact, she replied, "I would like to be at home where it's more comfortable and private."
Fujitaka smiled at her sweetly as his eyes became moist. "Very well." Said the doctor. "I will have a nurse come and check on you in the morning and at night. You know my numbers and I will be there whenever you need me."
Fujitaka finally turned to the doctor. "Thank you. You don't know how much this means to us."
The doctor smiled, "I will have a nurse in here momentarily to start transporting you back home." With that, he nodded and left the room.
Looking at the door Fujitaka asked, "Should we call Sakura?"
"Let Syaoran call us. He will as soon as he's able, I'm sure."
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Syaoran opened his mouth to say something, but thought against it. They had found a park close by and were now walking around a beautiful lake. It had been quiet since they left the hotel. Sakura continued walking in front of him along the edge looked at the shore and watched Syaoran's reflection. He opened his mouth and then closed it again. Sakura smiled and said aloud still looking at him through the lake, "Why don't you just ask me already?" Syaoran looked stunned in her direction and Sakura gave a light laugh. He caught on quickly and looked to the lake to see her watching him.
"Now that's not fair! You've been spying on me this whole time haven't you?" He asked pretending to be offended.
"It's just a little pay back from lunch." She shrugged her shoulders and continued walking removing her gaze from the lake.
"Oh no you don't. You can't get away that easily." Syaoran whispered under his breath as he ran towards Sakura grabbing her and twisting himself in front of her as they fell to the ground. Syaoran landed on his back with Sakura facing him lying on his chest.
"You Moron!" She said angrily as she slapped his arms trying to get him to release her.
"Hahaha! I don't think so. You can never defeat me!" Syaoran held on tightly as she struggled to get up. Slowly giving up Sakura looked into his eyes. 'Such sad eyes' Syaoran thought to himself as her beauty memorized him.
Sakura watched as Syaoran lost his smile focusing on her eyes as she focused on his. 'What is this?' She questioned herself. 'I must be going mad!' As hard as she tried, she couldn't look away. Out of nowhere, her head started to move on it's own, down towards Syaoran's.
Syaoran couldn't move. Even if he could, he didn't want to. 'Is this really happening?' He was glued to her breathtaking eyes. He had missed being around her. He hadn't realized until that very moment just how much.
Sakura's head was so close that she could feel his shallow breath. Breathing out, she snapped back to reality. She jumped off of him quickly, which wasn't hard because he had loosened his grasp on her when she was - 'When I was what? What was I going to do?' She battled with herself. "I'm sorry." She whispered out and turned around towards the lake. A few tears that she couldn't explain slid down her cheek. She rubbed her arms and murmured, "I must be tired. Let's go back."
Syaoran watched her back as she spoke trying to figure out if she was crying or if she was just cold. Standing up he actually realized how cold it was getting and just how quickly.
Sakura looked to the ground laughing, "What? No lecture on saying sorry? I'm shocked!" She turned around and put on a smile, "You know for a while you were starting to sound like my father, worrying like that." She winked and turned away from him once again, immediately dropping her smile. Something was pulling at her heart and it hurt badly. She didn't know what, she just knew it was there.
"Gee thanks." Syaoran spoke regaining his composure. Putting his hands in his pockets he followed her back around the lake.
That was all that was said back to the hotel. It was getting to be too quiet for the majority of the time and it was starting to unnerve them both, but neither made an attempt to fix the situation. Walking down the hall and to their door, Sakura spoke as Syaoran put the key in the door. "I'm going to get a shower okay?"
Syaoran took the key out and pulled the door open holding it for her. "Not a problem. Feel free."
Sakura smiled at him as she walked passed and to her bag to grab her stuff.
Closing the door behind them, Syaoran walked over to the couch. Sitting down, he closed his eyes as Sakura went into the bathroom. Interrupting his thoughts, he heard an annoying beeping sound. Opening his eyes, he quickly turned to his bag rummaging through it. Retrieving what he was looking for, he pulled his cell phone out and flipped it open. Four missed calls and two voice messages. He listened to his messages praying that it wasn't bad news and sighed with both relief and frustration as he heard Eriol. His whining was getting annoying and he deleted it without finishing. The second was also from Eriol. "Where are you?" As he erased it he realized he couldn't be too angry because he hadn't told him that he was leaving in the first place. 'It's not my fault he waited till he got here to tell me he was in town' He sighed. "I'll call him in a minute." He muttered aloud to himself. There was someone else he had to call first. Going through his speed dial, he found what he was looking for. He sent it and waited for someone to pick up.
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"I'll be right back." Fujitaka said to his wife as he walked out of their bedroom and into the living to answer his cell phone. "Hello?"
"Hello sir. How are things going?"
Fujitaka smiled, "Ah, Syaoran! Everything is okay. We are back home now, but I will have my cell phone near by just in case you need me."
Syaoran lay back onto the sofa feeling somewhat better. "Glad to hear it."
Fujitaka frowned slightly 'So she hasn't told him yet' he thought before speaking again. "How's Sakura doing?"
Syaoran sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Better then this morning."
Fujitaka closed his eyes and whispered, "Good."
"Uh, sir?"
"Yes Syaoran?"
There was a short pause before Syaoran sighed and closed his eyes. "Never mind, it's nothing."
"Don't let her push you away. She needs a friend right now." Fujitaka heard a noise come from the direction of the bedroom. "I have to go. Take care of her for us and enjoy your vacation. I already called the school and there is no problem. Talk to you soon."
"Alright. Thank you sir. Bye."
Fujitaka hung up the phone and took it with him back down the hall. When he got in the room Nadeshiko wasn't there. Walking to their bathroom he saw her hanging onto the toilet. Obviously she had just gotten sick so he grabbed a washcloth and ran it under some cold water. He kneeled down to her level then took the washcloth and slowly ran it over her face.
She smiled weakly and leaned against his chest for support. He pulled her into a gentle hug and sat back against the wall taking her with him. She closed her eyes and clung to his shirt breathing shallowly. Tears started down both their cheeks as the sat quietly on the bathroom floor, with only the light from the bedroom to keep them out of the dark.
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Syaoran looked at the phone for a minute before shutting it and putting it back in his bag. 'Sakura should feel better about everything now that they are home. I'll tell her when she gets out of the shower.' Syaoran lay down on the sofa and closed his eyes. 'I'll just rest for a minute until she is done.'
Letting the water run over her face, Sakura tried to wash away her emotion as well. The water was warm and soothing and she didn't want to get out. 'I'd better though or Syaoran's going to be upset that I took all of the hot water.' The corners of her lips slowly curved up as she envisioned Syaoran getting angry. Finally turning the water off, she stepped out and dried off. Putting on her pajama's, she then brushed out her hair and left it down to dry. Shaking her head lightly, her hair fell to mid-back. She hardly ever wore it down anymore. "Not since I found out," she muttered to herself.
She stepped out of the bathroom and looked over to Syaoran who was sound asleep on the couch. She smiled and put her stuff away grabbing the remote to the TV and turning it on quietly as she lay down on the bed.