Somewhere in Time
I have a very bad block at this time. Any encouragement would be most appreciated. I know where this is all going but I can't write it down.
07
Sakura sneezed and reached over to her bedside table for her box of tissues. She blew her nose and tossed the used tissue in the rubbish bin. Over the last two days she had been steadily filling it with the remnants of her nasty cold. She pulled the duvet up to her chin and sighed. If only it wasn't so cold... a shiver went down her spine and her mind continued to spin. Oh sleep, if only she could find herself in it's throngs again. Being awake was so physically painful.
A knock came from the door which interrupted her thoughts of self-pity about her illness. Instead of waiting for a response, the door was pushed ajar and a young man entered with a bouquet of flowers in his arms. Gestures such as this would normally elicit a jump of excitement from Sakura, but today all her energy was zapped. She did manage to pull the duvet down to show her jubilant facial reaction.
"I'm sorry you had to miss school again," He placed the vase of flowers in a patch of sunlight on her desk. For a few moments he repositioned the flowers and pulled some of the pink ones to the front for her. "I was hoping these would make you feel a little bit better," He turned around and gave her a small smile. Sakura nodded and started to pull herself more into a sitting position.
"Thank you," Always she could count on Syaoran to make her days a bit brighter. Always she could count on him to put her best interests first. "Dad said he was coming home early..." Syaoran nodded.
"I'll stay until he gets home if you want, I brought homework …." Sakura frowned, which caused Syaoran to chuckle. "...but I know you probably are too weak to study," he finished his sentence and ruffled her fringe.
"Mou... Syaoran..." She stuck her tongue out at his silly antics. In the last two years Syaoran had opened up much more to her and had exposed a softer, gentler, and often more playful side. Moments like that though were exclusively for her eyes only, never did moments like that happen in front of other prying eyes. Sakura would have it no other way, it was a sign of their closeness and his trust in her. "It's so cold in here,"
He sat himself down on the side of her bed and felt her forehead. It was a beautiful early spring day and nowhere near chilly outside. Palm placed to her forehead, she felt warm. Though he was no expert on treating illnesses, he knew that when he was young his mother had done this to check for temperatures. From his limited knowledge, it felt as though Sakura may be feverish. "You feel warm, I think you have a fever." Syaoran told Sakura. "I'm going to go run to the pharmacy, will you be alright alone again for a little bit?"
A nod from Sakura indicated her approval of his plan. Syaoran pushed his lips to her forehead. There they lingered for a few extra moments until he pushed himself away. "I'll be right back, hang tight,"
Her eyelids drooped down despite her internal protests to keep them open. Mind disconnected from her body and once more she found herself in a deep sleep.
As promised, Syaoran returned promptly. This time he failed to knock on the door and simply pushed it open. He found his Sakura in much the same position as he had left her in. Two pillows propped her head up with two blankets wrapped around her small frame. No movement came from her except for her chest moving up and down with each inhale and exhale. Syaoran took his paper bag and placed it next to the vase of flowers. He emptied it on her desk and examined everything: a fever reducer, menthol chest rub, some cough drops, and a small collection of fashion magazines. He opened the bottle of fever reducer tablets and jiggled two out.
"Sakura..." he kneeled on one knee next to her bed, "I need you to wake up and take these," Syaoran felt her forehead again, and indeed she was still pretty warm. Perhaps she was even warmer than when he had left her. Her eyelids were rather heavy and took some effort in opening them. A few flutters and they were finally open most of the way. His face was so close to hers she would have jumped had she the energy.
"Why are you... on one knee Syaochan?" Sakura spoke deliriously and not of sound mind.
"Shh," Syaoran handed her the two pills and had a cup of water ready for her to swallow. "These will make you feel better," With assurance from Syaoran, Sakura swallowed the two small tablets and closed her eyes again. She scooted herself over in bed and made room for him to lay next to her. A miniscule chuckle came from Syaoran as he noticed her passive advances at him, even in such a sickly state. "If you insist,"
It was warm outside and a bit warmer inside. Sakura had the thick layer of blankets over her due to her fever but Syaoran lifted the blankets up and scooted himself in next to her. The bed was small, there was hardly any extra room. Not that either minded though, he positioned himself on his side and wrapped both his arms around her.
"Sakurahime," Syaoran nibbled on her ear. Never would there come a time when she did not enjoy this sort of attention. Indeed her lips did pull upwards into a smile but her eyes remained shut. For the next fifteen minutes or so he stroked her forehead, kissed the side of her face and enjoyed the solitude of their moment together. After a while her breathing slowed down again, the movement of her chest bobbing up and down slowed and her face relaxed as her body slipped once more into a dream. Only when he was sure she was asleep did he speak again. But this time much more quietly to be sure he wold not disturb her again.
"I'm going to ask your dad if I can marry you. Even when you're sick with snot coming out of your nose I want to take care of you just like this. I'll learn how." When those words escaped his mouth he felt his cheeks flush with color.