Disclaimer: I do not own ccs
Lovers in Japan
Good Days vs Bad days
Syaoran left behind the crisp summer breeze and progressed to Sakura's bedroom, he could hear Sakura's voice and then her mother's voice. The second the words reached his ears he gasped. There was no way that Sakura was going to lie to convenience him anymore. He clenched his teeth then pushed the door open.
"Syaoran..." Sakura stared at him; she covered her chest trying to hide her dress. It did not make sense, for one thing she was not marrying him so it did not matter whether he saw her in the wedding dress and second she had already made it clear to her mother that she was not going to wear that dress.
They both stared at him, a veil of awkwardness in the atmosphere.
"Ahem." Nadeshiko pretended to clear her throat "I'll leave you two alone." she left the room and closed the door.
He paused in his track trying to look flabbergasted. "I'm sorry." He sounded more self-conscious than sincere. He looked at Sakura then smirked "Is that what you're wearing?" he sounded as though he was insulting her.
Her face turned bright red "Uh...no." she exhaled nosily. "It's my mother's dress." She started off in a stern tone. She did not appreciate Syaoran's reaction. "You and I do not have the same taste in fashion and besides I think this dress is beautiful."
He smiled at her, his chocolate eyes mocking her "I didn't say anything."
"You don't have to say anything, it's that smug on your face that says it all."
He simply nodded.
"Well." She said calmly. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
He chuckled, walked past her and patted her on the shoulder. "I wouldn't want to upset you."
Sakura felt embarrassed. She played with the white silky glove covering her left hand. After the adequate amount of silence was introduced to the moment, Sakura spoke.
"Syaoran, I don't know who to talk to about this...right now you're all I have." She said her voice incoherent. Her back was facing him and she looked at the wooden floor.
"Now that you've met Leslie, what do you think about him?"
Syaoran thought for a second, he had many words to describe Leslie a few of them being- a tool, dick, an asshole and a ken doll.
He muttered "He's good to you...I guess."
Sakura turned around "I know that. I mean his character."
"He's alright I guess." Syaoran was hardly smiling in his dishonesty. He bit his tongue. He took his pyjamas from the closet and started to put them on.
"I really like him."
"I can see that." He told her dryly now sounding like he did not care at all.
"I want to do something about it. I mean at first I thought my feelings for him had disappeared but then after I spoke to him it all came back. Will you be alright with that?" She flushed coyly.
"Look...your asking the wrong guy." He told her in a callous tone that went unnoticed. Maybe she was just used to him now. He was PMSed more than the average woman, according to Sakura.
"I don't want to spoil it." She told him then turned around to find a shirtless Syaoran staring back at her. She cleared her throat trying to act nonchalant. She tried to convince herself that her eyes had not seen anything...his built was somewhat difficult to ignore. Fine he was not a rugby player, but he was perfect she could even see a six pack developing.
"You won't spoil it." He smiled; he was not smiling at her but at her reaction. In spite of the tough exterior she puts out, he could see that she, like most women he had been with in the past, was impressed. He could only imagine what she was thinking.
"I'll go change in the bathroom." The words took a while to escape her lips.
His grin was wider "Alright. Just make sure your parents don't see you. We wouldn't them to find out that you are shy to undress in front of you fiancé."
She sighed. Once she was out of the door she muttered "must he always find pleasure in the most awkward of situations. What an idiot...stupid stupid....so what I peeped...no I didn't what am I saying?"
She returned to the bedroom an hour later. She assumed he was fast asleep. She pulled the sheet and slowly snuck in. Her head fell gently on the pillow and she took a deep breath.
"What took you so long?" His voice interrupted the tranquillity.
"I was watching television." She turned her head further away from him.
"I thought I scared you away."
She made a face and pulled the sheets. He restrained himself from commenting on that. It was hard to believe that earlier that day they had a moment she almost called him her "friend" a term he was unfamiliar with.
"I took off my contact lenses." She closed her eyes a bit worried of how he was going to react "I know you hate it when I wear my glasses but I promise I'll put them back on before we visit your parents."
"Wow, you really think I'm a jerk don't you?"
She was quiet.
He brushed off the comment then asked "So what were you going to tell your mother, when she asked you if you loved me?"
"I was going to tell her the truth."
"Why?"
She took a deep breath "she's my mother, I can never lie about something like that. Well, she really likes you...I don't know why but she does. She'll be so disappointed when we break up."
He smiled and said in a dorky voice "I like her too." He laughed to himself.
Sakura simply shook her head.
..............
That morning Syaoran woke up to a Sakura in large glasses and an oversized gummy bears t-shirt. He could not help but leer. Sure he thought she looked more beautiful without them but they were no longer an obstacle.
He managed a straight face "Morning."
She looked at him for a split second "Hi"
He got out of bed and she cracked the shutters open "We're having breakfast with my parents in the garden, get dressed."
He nodded "Of course."
Later that morning, Sakura was informed that Syaoran's car would be ready in the afternoon. Meanwhile, Sakura volunteered for a few chores. Syaoran followed like a lost puppy. She milked the cows, drove the tractor and fed the chicken. He could not deny that she looked sexy in her denim shorts and black wellington boots. Her hair was in messy pigtails.
She showed him how to tackle a few of the chores and to her surprise he accomplished everything.
"I've never seen so much shit in my life." He told her after they were done. He wiped the sweat from his forehead.
She laughed "Lemonade?"
"Sure."
Before they could reach the house, Leslie was standing by the drive way with his hands in his pocket. He wore a cowboy hat, and what appeared to be brand new pair of denim and a white t-shit that looked like it was going to rip off his body.
"Seriously, that's what you're into?" Syaoran did not mean to say it, the words just came out.
Sakura looked at him "He's hot."
"He's a fuck'n joke. Why is he dressed like a cowboy? This is Japan."
"You're just fuck'n jealous. Why weren't you honest the first time I asked you?"
"Sakura, you don't really care about my opinion. Wait did you just curse?"
The statement was anything but trued. His opinions meant the world to her. They could make or break her in one blow.
"Since you're being more up front, tell me what I should do?"
"Sakura..."
"Come on, please."
"Tell him how you feel about him. Don't let me be the reason why you never got an opportunity to be in love."
She took a deep breath "What if he rejects me?"
"You can move on, you're strong. Hurry up, he's waiting."
Sakura took a deep breath and strolled to his direction. She smiled and ran her hands through her hair. "Shit, it's hot." She said nervously.
"You cursed, your fiancé's bad habits are rubbing onto you." He said jokingly.
Sakura turned to look at Syaoran for a second "Ya think?"
Leslie nodded. "You're wearing your glasses too...why?"
She raised her shoulders and instantly decided to dodge the question "There is something I want to tell you." She took a deep breath "Don't laugh."
"Wait...can I be honest, it's not easy for me to say this but you're not really engaged to that guy are you?"
"What makes you say that?"
"Your body language. I took a whole course on body language at the community college. "Kiss him." Leslie said.
Sakura brushed off the statement "Listen, you don't have to be jealous. When we were in high school I had a huge crush on you and..."
"I know." He interrupted not looking at her.
"And I wanted to tell you but..."
"I hooked up with some girl." He completed her sentence.
"Yes." Sakura said surprised.
"Sakura, I'm gay. Please tell me you figured that out, everyone knew just like they all knew that you had a thing for me."
Sakura's jaw dropped.
"I only hooked up with someone else because I wanted you to fall out of love with me. It was for your own good. See, now you have hired someone to be your pretend fiancé and he's pretty hot if I do say so myself."
"You said he was scrawny." She could barely speak.
"I didn't want to look obvious."
Sakura was somewhat furious, not disappointed yet. "My fiancé is straight."
"Assuming he is your fiancé."
She laughed then called Syaoran. Syaoran walked quickly and could already see that things were not well. Sakura placed an arm around his neck and kiss him, full frontal on his lips. Syaoran closed his eyes and kissed her back. She nibbled on his lower lip and ran her hands though his shirt. Syaoran was enjoying this so much and decided to take advantage of the moment. He squeezed her ass. He expected her to pull away but she kept kissing him. Then finally they ended the kiss.
"So Leslie, we have a lot of packing to do. Goodbye."
She took Syaoran and they walked into the house.
She closed the door behind them then hit Syaoran on the shoulder "Did you have to grab my ass?"
"Ouch" he recoiled. He smiled in his disbelief "You are dirty."
Sakura was ignorant of his statement. She looked peeped out the window waiting for Leslie to leave. The minute there was no trace of his red truck she collapsed on the couch and hid her face in her hands.
"I'm such a loser. You were right."
Syaoran was confused. He sat on the floor next to the couch Sakura was lying on. "Wait, what just happened?"
"He's gay."
Syaoran was somewhat relieved "Sakura, I'm sorry." He saw that tears were falling from her eyes. "He's an asshole."
"Syaoran, that is unnecessary. You can't even give proper advice. Anyway, it's not like you've been in love. I'm crying in front of the wrong guy."
He nodded "that's true."
"You're horrible Syaoran...horrible at this."
"If I had tissue, I would have given it to you and...at least...did you tell him how you feel?"
"Not really. He could have at least let me down easily. He acted as though my feelings did not matter."
"If it makes you feel any better, I once dated a lesbian. She was only using me to get to my secretary."
Sakura laughed to herself. "You're horrible."
"You're smiling."
She wiped her eyes "We better get packing. Why settle for love when I can lie to the entire world with you on my side." She said sarcastically.
"I won't comment. Only because I know that you're heart is broken." He said a pinch of seriousness in his tone.
She smiled now trying to hide the disappointment.
"Before we leave I want to thank you. I had fun here. You're pretty cool, for a farmer's daughter. And a great kisser and I think I felt your tongue in my mouth."
"Ok." She said a little confused then laughed quietly. She averted her gaze away from him "I guess I better get ready, I wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of your parents." She pushed her glasses further above her nose.
"I don't..." he paused. What he wanted to tell her was that he did not care that she wore glasses anymore. He held back and allowed her to get away.
They bid their goodbyes to Sakura's parents and started on their journey. They had a short conversation before Sakura fell asleep. He would sometimes turn to watch her sleep. She had put so much effort in looking presentable and he appreciated it. How was it that he was able to sit next to the truth all this time and not have seen it? It was beautiful yet brought so much misery to him.
He turned on the radio and soon the night eliminated the day. Syaoran stopped by a diner next to a gas station. The minute the car came to a halt, Sakura's eyes slowly opened.
She looked outside up at the sky "its night...how long have I been asleep?"
"Not too long." He unfastened his seat belt. "Hungry?"
She nodded "I'm starving."
"Let me get the door for you, don't move."
"Why are you being so...nice?"
"I'm always nice to you." He sounded certain of himself.
Sakura chuckled "Always is a strong word."
"Not only must you learn to accept compliments but you should learn how to allow me to be kind to you."
She was quiet and he got out. He opened the door and she walked out "How come you've never done that before?"
He shrugged "Well, that's kinda hard to explain." The truth was he didn't think she deserved it because he used to find her very unattractive. He could not see the beauty in her. How shallow.
"And you're not just feeling sorry for me because of the thing with Leslie?"
He shook his head and smirked "Not a chance. I'm not that of kind of guy. Let's go; maybe you can try teaching me how to use chopsticks one more. I don't want you ever making excuses again when it comes to using chopsticks."
She smiled at him, ruffled his hair and they walked into the dinner.
....................
The next day, late in the morning they finally reached the mansion. She stuck her head out the window like an excited child. Her eyes took in the scenery and she smiled. She looked at him "It's beautiful." It looked like a building in Europe. There was a fountain, flowers...it was breathtaking.
He parked in front of the mansion, the front door opened and a crowd of people came out, the first being two little girls in a yellow swim suits. The instant Syaoran walked out, they ran into his arms almost knocking him down. Sakura was still sitting in her seat. In a way she felt intimidated when she saw all these people.
"Uncle Syaoran! You're here." The girls said. Sakura now realised that they were twins. As the rest of the family came to greet Syaoran, Sakura slowly made her way out of the car. She did not go unnoticed.
"Is this her?" A girl said. She had long brown hair and dark brown eyes.
Overwhelmed, Sakura sheepishly smiled. She was never good with crowds. Syaoran's hand somehow found hers and she felt safe. "Everyone this is Sakura." He put an arm around my waist "My Finance."
"She's so pretty." "You weren't kidding?" "Don't just stand there come in, the butler will take care of your luggage." They said their voices over lapping. Sakura saw that most of them were women.
"Alright kids, go play, your uncle will speak with you later."
They disappeared and the next thing they were sitting in the living. There were four women and the two of them.
"You must me exhausted." A woman with short blonde hair said. "Do you want anything to drink?"
"Mother, we're fine." Syaoran said.
"Let the woman speak for herself...Sakura is it?"
The other women giggled.
"I'm fine, thank you."
"You certainly are polite."
Sakura tried to appear calm. "She's the fattest girl he's ever been with...I bet you."—"Shut up." The girls whispered to each other and Sakura began to sweat.
"Can you be any ruder tai?" Syaoran sounded irritated.
The tension was so thick you could slice it with a knife. Syaoran scowled at Tai, she was the girl with the long brown hair she had noticed earlier.
"Relax, I'm just saying."
Syaoran looked at Sakura noticing how uncomfortable she was. He had refrained from telling her that his family was anything but normal. He was embarrassed, especially after meeting her family.
"I'm sorry for Tai's immaturity, she's actually my older sister."
Sakura's eyebrows shot up, she looked like a fifteen year old. The way she was dressed did not do justice to her age.
"It's fine."
"Oh, forgive me. This is my mother, Lira, Audrey and of course Tai."
"I'm happy to meet you all."
"Tai, please show Sakura around." His mother said.
Sakura's face turned pale. This rude brat was going to give her a tour? She wanted to cry. Tai stood up and Sakura followed her.
After they left, his mother sat on a chair closer to Syaoran "Have you completely lost your mind, what's your father going to say? You're only 22!"
"He'll love her."
"You just met her!" Audrey said. "Do you even love her?"
"Of course I do!"
"Syaoran you were dating once her name just a few months ago, your breakup was in every paper and now you're engaged."
"So you haven't told father?" Syaoran asked.
"I don't want him to have a heart attack."
Syaoran smiled "You're going to love her."
............
Outside--
"The kitchen..." Tai said bored.
"It's a beautiful house."
Tai leaned against the wall "Let's cut the crap, what are you after? There is no way you're this nice. Syaoran has only brought one other girl home and she was such a bitch. Soon enough she cracked."
Sakura gulped "Why would I pretend to be nice?"
"All of them pretend to be nice but you are just after his money."
Sakura was speechless. It had been so long since she had felt so insulted.
"I'd leave now if I were you. You can't just pose as his fiancé and expect to fit into this family immediately."
"Why are you so mean?" she asked in a low tone.
"I'm just looking out for Syaoran, he is always making stupid choices" she posed a fake smile "Now let me show you to your room."
She opened the door to the guest room. As she expected it was huge and very fancy. Their luggage was in the middle of the room. Without saying anything else, Tai left her alone.
Sakura closed the door and sat on the edge on the bed. She was unable to allow herself to find comfort here. Everyone was unfriendly to her, it was as though she had done something wrong to them. They were all lean and beautiful. Even his mother, the most intimidating of them all.
She shifted to the floor, hoping maybe the feeling would fade away. Instead her eyes got misty and her heart felt heavy. She did not know where this pain was coming from. She should be used to resentment by now, and it's not like she was really Syaoran's fiancé, their kindness did not have to matter to her. She kept wiping the tears away, she did not want Syaoran to catch her crying.
The door then opened. She whipped her face with the helm of her dress. "You're back." She cleared her voice.
"I'm sorry, especially about Tai. That was ruled and uncalled for."
"She's just being a good sister. My brother is like that." The truth would have been "That's true, she's such a little bitch and your mother, she couldn't even smile, I don't know if it's of all the Botox that she injected into their faces and your sisters have no manners, it's rude to whisper in front of guests."
"Are you okay, you look shaky?"
She was trying so hard to keep the tears back "I'm fine. Just a bit overwhelmed."
"Don't be. You look the same way you did the first time I ever saw you—scared." He smiled.
She said nothing, hiding behind a half-smile.
"The family is by the pool swimming, put on your swim suit. We can join them and you can see for yourself that they are not such bad people."
Sakura felt more nervous "Can I pass. I can't swim and I hate water."
"Come on, it's fun; you don't even have to go in the water. We can just have drinks by the pool."
She took a step back "Syaoran...but" she paused "nothing. I'll look for it." She hated the whole ordeal; she imagined she would be the odd one out in her cheap swim suit. She did not have time to look for a more stylish one. It was red with white polka dots. It looked childish, she thought to herself.
She changed in the bathroom and Syaoran was in the bedroom. He knocked on her door after she had been in the bathroom for ten minutes.
"Honey, are you okay in there."
The door opened. She was wearing an orange sarong around her waist. He eyed her. He knew that the reason she threw on the sarong was because she because she was insecure about her body, especially after Tai's statement.
"Come on, let's go."
She had her hands over her chest and she would constantly adjust her sarong.
In the yard, it seemed almost unrealistic. There were children playing on one side of the pool and the other side adults. The kids were screaming and playing, bring a smile on Sakura's face. The adults on the other hand were quietly talking sitting on beach chairs. Syaoran was holding her hand and they walked up to the adults. The men were trying to sort out the brai stand.
"You're not going to leave me with them?" she asked him in a near whisper.
"They don't bite" his statement was at the least comforting.
He handed her over to them. Kissed her cheek and told them to be good to her. They were all in tiny bikini's and sunglasses.
"Hi" they all said, she could tell that they were trying.
They're eyebrows rose when they took note of her bikini.
"Where did you say you were from?"One of them asked.
"Well my family owns a farm in..."
"A farmers daughter, that explains a lot."
Sakura was confused "What does that even mean."
"Your accent, you don't speak like all those other city girls." Tai said "You're not pregnant are you?"
Sakura shook her head hard, perplexed.
They were given glasses of wine by the butler, when Sakura brought up the fact that she did not drink, the laughed hysterically. "You are pregnant, there is no shame, Audrey was knocked up with the twins on her wedding day." They laughed.
"But I'm not." Sakura said defensively.
They lay back in the sun and said nothing more to her; they simply exchanged a few words amongst each other "My yoga instructor is gorgeous." "—everyone could see it was the not a designer gown." "I'm dreading this; you think I'm making the right choice, getting married?"
Since Tai was too obnoxious to be the one getting married and Audrey was already married then it must be Lira was engaged, Sakura concluded. She was too afraid to ask. "Syaoran is nothing like these people."
Later that afternoon Sakura was invited (Under Syaoran's instructions) to go help prepare for the wedding happening the next day. She would stand in the background and stare. They went to the cathedral and a few stores. By the time they returned to the mansion it was late in the afternoon.
The next thing Sakura knew, she was alone. She ambled to the pool area assuming that Syaoran would be there. He was playing in the pool with his nieces. They would climb up on his back then jump into the pool. Sakura smiled watching this. She walked closer to the edge of the pool.
"I could have never guessed that you are good with kids." He looked up and smiled at her presence.
"You're back."
She heaved a sigh "Yeah."
"Did you have fun?"
Her shoulders rose and she said nothing.
"That bad." Syaoran was now having trouble keeping his attention with Sakura. One of the twins kept pulling his hand.
"What is it?"
"Are you really getting married?"
He nodded.
"She's like a princess."
Sakura smiled "Thank you."
....................
"We didn't have lunch, they said that they are on a diet and suggested that I go on one too."
"Really?" he chuckled.
"I can't believe you think that's funny."
"It's my fault. The last woman I brought here turned out to be a horrible person, she even stole from my mother's jewellery box now my sisters have this whole thing in their heads that all the women I date are scamming gold diggers. You should tell them off."
"You know I can't do that." She shook her head "I can never get to mean girls."
"That bad? I'll talk to them."
They were taking a stroll in the garden, Syaoran had long changed into dry clothes. He was holding a bottle of bear in his hands. "You look like you need this, drink your sorrows away."
She looked at him and shook her head. She didn't think he was taking her seriously enough. "I don't drink remember."
"And you've never been kissed...but from the way you kissed me last time I can't help but wonder how true that is."
She rolled her eyes "You will never get over that."
He shook his head "Nope."
"After this weekend, most likely this whole thing will be over...right?"
He nodded. "Most likely." They were standing under a whipping tree. Syaoran took a sip of his beer "After this is over, will I see you again?"
She smiled "I don't see why not."
Syaoran started to forget the purpose of this fake engagement. He could not remember why it was that he did it. For his father's approval? Money? It didn't make sense.
"Sakura, I don't think I've ever been truly happy in my life."
"I don't understand. You have all this, I'm sure people have envied you all your life."
He looked at her and moved in closer.
"My mother died giving birth to me, one of the reasons my father despises me so much." He paused "Sorry, I don't know why I'm telling you this."
"It's okay; you can always talk to me."
He moved closer to her, a few inches separating them. Sakura was surprised by this sudden movement but she did not move. He leaned his face into hers and his nose brushed against . Suddenly her hands were on his chest and she pushed his away.
"Syaoran no...we can't."
He turned bright red "Can't do what?" he pretended to know what she was talking about. Of course he was trying to kiss her; her face looked so beautiful in the sunset he could hardly control himself. "Did it look like I was going to..." he ran his fingers through his hair "No. I wouldn't."
She was quiet; she looked at him as him her face saying 'What the hell are you thinking.'
She quickly walked past him and muttered "I have to go."
He could not explain why he acted the way he did. He had a feeling that if he had tried to kiss her she would react the way she did. After all he was a spoilt rich kid in her eyes. He held the world in his hands and had the stars under his control but it did not make him happy because he knew that he could never have Sakura Kinomoto, even if he did, he wouldn't know how to keep her.
His heart hurt so much, it was like nothing he had ever felt. For the first time he knew what it meant to be heartbroken. He was finally scared.
........................
A/N Sorry for taking so long. I've been so busy you have no idea. I tried to make this chapter a bit longer to make up for in. Thanx for all the reviews and don't forget to review this one . Hope you liked it.