Chapter Title: Motokano

A/N: I know it took forever to update. I've been busy with a lot of things. I will try to update this on weekly basis. This chapter is longer than the others chapters, but it's not very...deep...I'm not sure...it's a necessary chatper though...

EDIT: There was a mix up previously. i fixed it, so the chapter should make mroe sense

The first thing Syaoran noticed was that Sakura seemed too pale, and too tired, and too worse for wear. He suspected the anxiety on meeting his mother was daunting.

"It'll be fine, don't worry." He squeezed her hand.

She gave him the tiniest of smiles but looked sick.

At Narita International, they stood together, watching, waiting for the woman to arrive.

Li Ye Lan came in wearing a long red kimono, surprising her son, who believed she would have been less accepting of Japanese traditions. Two airport staff members were bringing in her luggage.

He pulled his fiancée gently up to greet her future mother-in-law, when he stopped dead in his tracks.

Li Mei Lin came striding behind his mother in a blue Cheongsam, wearing an unfathomable expression. Sakura tensed up near him and placed a hand to her belly.

"Mother," he hissed in Mandarin. "What is Mei Lin doing here?"

Ye Lan glared at Sakura, who furthered attached herself to Syaoran's body looked down. Syaoran took notice.

"While you're here, I must ask you to respect my wife." He bowed tersely. Ye Lan smiled.

"You're not married, yet. But you need not worry, my son. I will give her the respect she deserves."

The tall and beautiful woman smiled kindly to Sakura, yet Sakura felt chills.

"Hello, Sakura-san. I am Li Ye Lan." She bowed very respectfully. Sakura bowed as well.

"It's an honor to meet you," she spoke in her tiny voice.

Ye Lan walked past them, with Mei Lin following suit, carrying one bag. Mei Lin stopped briefly to look at Syaoran, then scoffed under her breath.

Syaoran sighed heavily, then picked up his mother's luggage. Sakura stood there, both hands on her stomach still.

"Don't worry. Nothing will change."

"That woman…who is she?"

"Mei Lin? She is my cousin…and my ex-girlfriend." He spoke with a bit of an embarrassing undertone that Sakura caught.

"Ex-girlfriend…"

"Don't worry, Sakura. It's only for three days. Then they'll be gone and it'll be just you and me again. Just us two."

"Us two?"

"Always."

He walked forward with Sakura's near quiet footsteps trailing behind. He thought he heard a small sniff coming from her, but he must have imagined it.

The nicest thing that Ye Lan did was to wait for Sakura-who retired early to bed right after dinner, before unleashing her anger fueled by disappointment.

"A web cam girl? You are planning to seriously marry a web cam girl?"

"Former web cam girl!" he hissed. A protective instinct burned inside him; he did not wish to wake Sakura and have her hear their voices. She may not have understood Mandarin Chinese, but she could decipher his mother's frustration, and his anger. He kept his voice low. "What does it matter, her past?"

"Isn't this a bit too convenient for her? A poor, little, orphan girl finds a rich clan heir; it's almost like a fairy tale, no?"

"I'm the one who found her!"

Ye Lan looked more livid. "How dare you lower your standards for some gold-digger!"

"Sakura is not like that! We love each other, mother! That is enough for us!"

"Is it enough for her? She seems to be very unenthusiastic, and impassionate; do you even know if she feels as strongly for you as you claim?"

"You don't know her! You don't know what she's been through, how she is! She's trying!"

"Mei Lin has already been approved by the clan-she is a perfect bride-!"

"I'm sorry, Mei Lin, for any dishonor I have given you," Syaoran apologized sincerely, bowing his head. Mei Lin sighed.

"Auntie Ye Lan, I'm fine." Mei Lin spoke with a rough gentleness that was always her manner. Ye Lan huffed.

"Xiao Lang, think clearly. Thing carefully. You're my only son, the gem of our family. Kinomoto Sakura is not good enough for this family, for you, and she will not be accepted."

"Then it seems that the clan will have to reject me as they will her." Syaoran stood up firmly. Ye Lan stepped back.

"Don't be stupid! The clan cannot just disown the only heir-!"

"Then it seems we have reach an impasse."

The Li family members stood in silence. Syaoran, who never once went against anything that the clan stood for, anything that his mother stood for, was passionately defending one significant girl.

"I am tired. I will retire now."

The moment she left to the guest room Syaoran had prepared, he fell into his sofa, looking like man who just came home from war. Mei Lin cleared her throat.

"Ah, Mei Lin."

"For the record, I don't have anything against Sakura-san."

Syaoran smiled. "Thank you."

"Auntie is just worried. She worries about you a lot."

"I know. But Sakura is important to me. And she's under a lot of stress recently; I don't want to add any more to her."

Mei Lin's eyes went to the table. Sakura's plate was near full. "Your fiancée has little appetite."

Syaoran followed her gaze and frowned. "She's been feeling ill lately. She has an exhibit soon. She's anxious for that."

"Is that the only reason for her stress?"

He did not like her question. It could not have been their upcoming marriage.

"What else could she be stressed about?"

Mei Lin continues to look at Sakura's plate, her face frowning in concern.

"Syaoran, do keep a closer eye on her, then."

"Like I wouldn't?"

"I know." Mei Lin smiled at him. "You would, but-it'd do her some good to know you are open for new things."

He looked at her in confusion, but nodded, nonetheless.

"You look tired. I will clean up."

"You're a guest." He stood up and walked to the kitchen. "It's rude for you to clean up after the host."

"No, you really should sleep." After turning on the water, Mei Lin placed the places in the sink. She paused, then looked at him.

"Are you happy?"

He almost laughed. "It's hard, loving a girl like her. But I wouldn't change her. I am happy." He looked rejuvenated. Shaking out of his stupor, Syaoran looked concerned as well. "Mei Lin, are you happy?"

She sighed. "I am. I know we broke off quickly and did not settle things…but I learned to move on. I learned I can stand on my own. I have no regrets. It's a nice feeling-I really am happy."

"Good."

"And Xiao Lang?"

"Yes?"

"Congratulations. I wish you all happiness."

"Thank you, Mei Lin."

Quickly changing and climbing in bed, he felt Sakura's hand look for him. His own hands squeezed her, and her green eyes peeked open. She turned on her back and his arms wrapped around her, bringing her closer to him.

"Is everything ok?"

"Don't worry, Sakura. It's fine."

"Syaoran…there's something…I've…wanted to…say…"

Mei Lin's warning was fresh in his mind. "Yes?"

"Well…I…I wanted to say…"

"Don't rush thing, if it's hard."

Sakura sighed and sniffed. "I…love you."

Syaoran released the breath he did not realize he was holding. "I love you, too."

Sakura grabbed his hands and moved them toward her stomach, keeping them there all night.