Disclaimer: I don't own CCS, Clamp does. But I do own this story.
Pairings: Syaoran x Sakura, Eriol x Tomoyo
*cries a river*
Thank you everyone for your wonderful reviews! I really do appreciate it. I like reading what you guys think of my story. It gives me a boost as the writer so I'm very grateful you took the time to write one (or more in some cases). I especially appreciate those who left reviews in every chapter. How awesome can you guys get?! *cries an ocean and forcefully shoves cookies down your throats*
Okay, okay... I won't make you guys wait any longer.
Onwards!
Chapter Eighteen
"Moving On"
"What the hell did you do?" Tomoyo shrieked.
"Tomoyo, calm down," Eriol said in a much calmer tone.
"Don't tell me to calm down!" she shouted even louder before turning back to the man who was still sitting behind his desk looking over some document while a stunned- and scandalized -looking Tai was standing next to him in wait.
"Uhm, sir, shall I reschedule the meeting for-"
"No need," Syaoran said before quickly writing a few things on the document and handing it back to her. "Get these organized with the necessary changes and have a copy faxed over to Fiemie's office."
"Yes sir," Tai responded quickly before heading out of the office without a glance at her boss' unexpected and uninvited visitors.
The moment she left, Eriol closed the doors behind her.
"Start talking Li!" Tomoyo shouted immediately.
"Might I remind you that I'm still technically your boss Tomoyo," Syaoran reminded with coolness in his voice.
"Well then, sir," she started again, this time more calmly though now dripped with sarcasm, "may you please tell me exactly what you have done to my best friend and colleague that forced her to quit her job and disappear without a word."
It had been six days since Sakura was supposed to be scheduled to return to her job after the two week leave she took for her honeymoon and for settling matters with regards to her apartment. When she failed to show up on the first two days, Tomoyo simply thought she must've fallen ill. On the third day, she grew worried and incessantly sent her text messages and tried to call her multiple times to no avail. And now, on the fourth day, she went to ask their boss, Hizumi, who told her that Sakura had actually sent her resignation into the office by mail over the weekend.
This completely surprised Tomoyo since after knowing Sakura for years, she knew that she hadn't planned on quitting at all. So for the last three days, she kept trying- and failing –to contact her. She knew Sakura wouldn't be in her old apartment because the unit has already been completely cleared out. She had walked pass the building manager accompanied by possible new tenants just the day previous. Racked with worry, she finally thought of calling up Eriol to ask him if he knew anything from Syaoran's end since she couldn't exactly ask Syaoran himself. She didn't have his personal phone number.
That was when Eriol told her everything he knew.
That was also when Tomoyo lost it completely.
So now here they were, in Syaoran's office after Tomoyo stormed up to see him and Eriol skipping his own duties at the hospital to rush after her before she could do anything stupid and possibly out of line.
"I haven't done anything," Syaoran said rather calmly as he glanced at Eriol before looking at the raging Tomoyo.
"If you haven't done anything, then why would Sakura just disappear like that? Eriol told me already. You found out about her father's will," at this Syaoran glared hard at her but Tomoyo wasn't affected in the slightest. "I can imagine the shock that might have put you through but that's hardly cause for concern at the moment. Now where's Sakura?"
"Tomoyo," Eriol spoke up again, this time reproachful. "I know you're concerned over Sakura but you shouldn't say something like that. Syaoran was really affected by this as well."
Tomoyo merely threw a disgusted look at her boyfriend.
"You two have no idea what she went through and the reasons why she had to do what she did to get that money!" she said with her voice and temper rising again.
She was shooting daggers at Eriol and Syaoran in turn before she decidedly fixed her furious gaze on the latter.
"Yes, from your point of view it may seem heartless for her to do that but you are purposely blinding yourself out of spite! Did you take the time to ask her? I bet you didn't, did you? Did you even at least attempt to talk to her about this? Because if you had, I'm pretty damned sure she wouldn't just up and leave like this! Just because you found out about a damned will, you refuse to see anything else and just ignore everything you personally knew about her! You dated her, you lived with her, you even married her! God! She even gave up her first time to you! Would a girl like Sakura do that just for money? You're a damned billionaire, she could've easily gotten that kind of cash from you but she didn't, did she? Isn't it painfully obvious that she had other reasons?! What's disgusting is that you're even neglecting the most essential thing and that's her love for you! Hasn't that been obvious all this time that you were together?! Do you think she could fake something like that?"
But she was only met with silence from Syaoran to which Tomoyo gave a sort of frustrated scream before turning to the door.
"Tomoyo, I…" But Eriol trailed away almost instantly. He didn't know what to say after everything she just said.
Indeed what she said was reasonable but the wound on Syaoran's pride- and most of all his heart –was still fresh. Syaoran loved Sakura, no, Eriol was sure that he still did at that very moment. Otherwise, he wouldn't be acting like he had been the past few days.
Ever since Sakura disappeared without a trace, Syaoran's been overworking himself as a means of distraction, and when that was over for the day, he had taken the habit of drinking the night away until sleep took him. All this came to light courtesy of his four secretaries who had immediately informed Eriol when they noticed something was off with their boss.
"If you won't go find Sakura, I will," Tomoyo added without looking at the men behind her and she sounded more composed now although her posture was still tense. "But if you already know where she is, then tell me unless you plan to do something about all this first, which in my opinion is only right. You married her Syaoran. Don't forget your vows unless those were mere words to you which don't amount to much either."
And with that, Tomoyo left, leaving behind her an almost ringing silence.
"I, Li Xiao Lang…
Promise to offer you my feet, so you may never stray from your path of goodness
Promise to offer you my legs, so you may have my strength in times where you need the most support
Promise to offer you my hands, so you may have something to hold and encourage yourself
Promise to offer you my arms, so you may always be reminded that someone is here to carry you when you falter
Promise to offer you my shoulders, so you may feel reassured that you have someone to cry on
Promise to offer you my ears, so you may know that I'm always there to listen to anything and everything that is in your mind
Promise to offer you my eyes, so you may know that someone is always watching over you to make you feel safe
Promise to offer you my lips, so you may always be showered with tender kisses
Promise to offer you my mind, so you may rest assured that someone is always thinking of you
Promise to offer you my back, so you may have a source of strong comfort
Promise to offer you my chest, so you may always have a place where you are welcome
Promise to give you my heart, as proof of my undying and never ending love
Sakura Kinomoto, I take you as my wife, and in the presence of our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in body, mind, and soul, whether in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and to respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live."
Syaoran held a deadpanned expression as he watched himself on the TV screen gaze lovingly at Sakura.
The Sakura on the screen already looked ready to cry as Syaoran slipped the wedding band into her ring finger but she didn't as she instead turned to Tomoyo for her own vows which were written in a small card much like his own which he had earlier taken from Eriol.
"I, Sakura Kinomoto…
Promise to offer you my feet, so you may always be guided to what is good and right
Promise to offer you my legs, so you may know that you have me to support the weight of your hardships when times get rough
Promise to offer you my hands, so you may know that someone is always there to lend you help when you need it
Promise to offer you my arms, so you may feel the comforts of a warm and loving embrace
Promise to offer you my shoulders, so you may have a place to lean on and rest
Promise to offer you my ears, so you may know that I'm always there to hear you out without judgment
Promise to offer you my eyes, so you may feel reassured, knowing someone is looking over you
Promise to offer you my lips, so you may have someone to sing you praises in times of insecurity, and of course, my kisses go with those too
Promise to offer you my mind, so you may know that it is filled with no other man but you
Promise to offer you my back, so you may know that you have and always will have my trust and support
Promise to offer you my chest, so you may have a place of warm solace
Promise to give you my heart, as proof of my undying and never ending love
Li Xiao Lang, I take you as my husband, and in the presence of our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in body, mind, and soul, whether in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and to respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live."
When the wedding band was securely slipped into Syaoran's ring finger, the camera zoomed out slightly as the priest proudly announced "You may kiss the bride!" to which Syaoran did most earnestly to the awaiting Sakura who raised a hand to cup his face affectionately.
Then the camera zoomed out even further just as the volume of the guests' cheering increased as did the background music that had been playing throughout the recitation of their vows.
Syaoran turned off the TV without bothering to stop the CD from playing. The finished edited video from their wedding had only just been delivered to his place and it couldn't have a worse timing. Tomoyo's words earlier that day were still lingering inside his head and the video he watched (out of pure curiosity is what he told himself earlier) only made the ache in his heart increase exponentially.
Where was Sakura now? When tomorrow came, it would officially be a week since her disappearance and he hadn't made a single attempt to find or follow her.
With a sigh, he dragged his feet as he made his way to his bedroom to change out of his work clothes. He hadn't slept in there ever since Sakura left. He would very much like to but found that he couldn't, that's why he had to result to drinking in the living room until his eyes felt too heavy to stay open and his brain was filled with nothing but an unending buzzing. That was the only time sleep would come.
After he changed, he went over to the dresser right across the room from his bed. It was clear of anything except for four items that were placed in the very middle. He didn't touch it- he never did -but simply looked at it.
Three out of four of these items gave him the happiest thoughts and memories in his entire life, while one out of four of these items gave him the worst. Four out of four of these items reminded him of Sakura.
Syaoran stared at them for a long while, a habit he had already picked up six days ago after seeing the three out of four items for the first time since it was placed there by Sakura before she abandoned them... before she abandoned him. The fourth item was something he himself put there.
But the sound of his cell phone ringing outside just then brought him back to reality.
With one last look at the engagement ring, Sakura's wedding band, his own wedding band, and the 300 million yen check which was torn in half right at the middle, he left the room.
Eriol slowly and gently ran his fingers through Tomoyo's long ashen black locks as her tears continued to run down her pretty face.
They were in her apartment, lounging on her sofa with her clinging to him while she cried. This had become an every night thing ever since Tomoyo found out of Sakura's disappearance. It had been two weeks since.
"This is the longest I've spent without hearing from her," she said in a pained voice and burying her face further against Eriol's chest.
This particular line was also an every night thing.
Eriol didn't say anything. He found it harder to say anything to her where Sakura's concerned the past few days that he's resorted to just keeping quiet and listening instead.
Tomoyo didn't seem to like his silence this night though for she pulled back to look him straight in the eye.
"You guys don't understand her at all," she accused, her face a shade of red though he didn't know why. She was still crying so the bite in her tone like that of when she was telling off Syaoran in his office that one day wasn't present. There had been more sorrow rather than spite in Tomoyo lately.
He smiled sadly at her and shook his head.
"Well it's because it's hard for Sakura to open up about herself. She had a really tough childhood!" she declared rather loudly that Eriol couldn't help wonder if she was slightly drunk.
Eriol turned to look at the kitchen and indeed, a partially empty bottle of tequila was sitting on the counter. She must've taken a couple of shots before he came over. How could he not have noticed? And Tomoyo couldn't exactly hold her liquor either. This was proven on one of the earliest parties he had invited her to where she got drunk off a cake spiked with rum.
"It's so sad Eri!" she wailed emotionally.
"Tomoyo, let's get you to bed."
"I don't want to!" And she tightened her grip around his waist and pushed him back down on the sofa. "I want to talk about Sakura!"
Nothing good could possibly come from arguing with a drunken Tomoyo… regardless of the degree of drunkenness. No good came from arguing with Tomoyo when she's had alcohol. Period. He's learned that the hard way before.
"Okay, I'll listen to you talk about Sakura."
"You see, Sakura had a really tough childhood," she repeated softly.
"How so?" he inquired lightly.
"She was often bullied."
"Huh?" That wasn't something he expected. "Bullied? Why?"
"People around her made fun of her," Tomoyo continued, ignoring his question. "That's why she left her hometown and never went back for years unless she had no other choice. That place has only bad memories for her and because it's a small town, almost everyone knows who she is."
She let out a long sad sigh before hiccuping.
"Hey Eriol, you haven't been to Sakura's apartment, right?"
"No, I haven't," he agreed. She knew this of course but he decided to go along with her without question anyway.
"Her place is so simple. That's why we always hang out here instead since there are more things to do here. She doesn't like spending money on things she thinks are unnecessary."
Eriol thought this wasn't true. Those times he had seen Sakura, she always wore branded clothing, shoes and jewelry. He didn't count those times at events though since he knew they were all provided for by Syaoran.
"I was Sakura's first true friend you know," she said rather proudly. "And now she's gone!"
Tears were streaming down her face once again.
"Where will I find her Eriol? I must find her! Maybe she went back to Tomoeda? No, I doubt it, that place will only torture her. Those damn people making fun of her and bullying her for years. So cruel! There's no way she'd go back to live there."
"What? Why make fun of her? What are you talking about Tomoyo?"
"Don't you go making fun of her too!" she scolded, her face growing redder in anger and from the alcohol.
"I'm not making fun of her," he said patiently and continued to soothingly run his hand through her hair. "Sakura may have had her faults but she is a wonderful person."
"Yes. Yes, she is, isn't she?" She was nodding quite happily as she said this.
"So why did people make fun of her and bully her for years?"
Eriol knew it was hardly fair to interrogate a drunken person for details but the chance to make a difference was right there. Tomoyo obviously knew something about Sakura that he and Syaoran didn't and if this information would change their situation, he'll take it.
"Her family was poor…"
A month.
That's how long it took for the media to finally pick up on Syaoran's abysmal love life. Although gossip magazines had brought up the topic one or two times around three weeks into Sakura's disappearance, it was only now that the media was in a flurry about it. Speculations ran from Sakura jilting him during their honeymoon to her death spanned the many newspapers, magazines, TV news and talk show channels, and- according to Genevieve -various websites on the worldwide web.
Everyone was curious as to what happened to his newly acquired bride.
Syaoran was prepared for this though. If anything, he was surprised it took them this long to notice Sakura's absence after constantly being spotted out and about with him whether to attend some event or when they went home together before their marriage.
"No, just keep them wondering."
"But sir, I-"
"Don't give them any sort of statement. Just leave them hanging," Syaoran ordered with more force.
"Y-Yes. Understood."
He sighed and replaced the receiver onto the cradle of his desk phone. Good PR was indeed important but he had already thought of the better option to deal with this. If it was between having the public kept in the dark about what happened between him and Sakura or letting them find out that he and Sakura were finished mere weeks after marriage, the former was definitely a lighter burden.
It won't have a huge blow on his reputation, at any rate.
But he also knew this couldn't last forever, which was why he finally decided on finally looking for Sakura. He only decided this the day previous though and it wasn't to make up with her either but to finally settle everything.
As much as he'd rather keep everything unsettled since it felt easier on his heart that way, his position wouldn't allow it. And as much as he wanted to deny his feelings for Sakura, he couldn't. His feelings for her were hard to erase but staying in this limbo of being with her yet not being with her wasn't doing him any good.
He had to make a move. To whatever end, he had to.
The phone on his desk rang- again.
"Yes?" he said after pressing one of the blinking buttons.
"Mr. Li, Mr. Morikawa on line two to speak to you."
"Put him through."
It didn't take long until his lawyer's voice came out of the speakers to which Syaoran picked up the receiver once again. "Morikawa," he greeted simply.
"I have the papers you asked me to write up, Mr. Li. It's all according to your instructions."
"Good. Can you deliver the documents to my office before the end of the day? The sooner I look through it, the better. I want this matter settled soon."
"Yes, I'll drop by your company after lunch so you can check them."
"Good man. Oh, and Morikawa. Again, make sure this doesn't get out."
"Of course sir. I'll be discreet."
"I'll see you this afternoon."
"Very well sir."
Just as Syaoran returned the receiver, a simple knocking came from the door.
"Yes?" he called out, wondering who in the world it was. He wasn't expecting anyone and his secretaries would usually inform him through the phone before coming in.
Eriol's head popped in.
"Yo!"
Syaoran gave him a surprised look. Eriol never did anything simply, even his knocks, so entering his office after that kind of greeting felt odd to him.
"What brings you here?"
"Oh I heard from one of your secretaries that you've finally decided to look for Sakura," he said straight out as he took his usual seat.
Syaoran didn't even bother to question which secretary had given him this piece of information. The man already had some hold on his personal staff and he only let that slide because of who Eriol was to him.
"And?" he asked. "What is it to you if I am?"
"Haven't you wondered why I haven't come by to see you for a while?"
"No wonder it's been so peaceful."
Eriol held his hands to his chest in exaggeration. "I'm hurt!"
"How's Tomoyo?" Syaoran asked in a gentler tone. He hadn't spoken to Tomoyo since she raided his office weeks ago nor did he plan to see her any time soon. For one thing, he didn't know what to talk to her about. For another, he knew she'd just bite his head off again. But that didn't mean he wasn't concerned about her. He had gotten into a more friendly relationship with Tomoyo as had Sakura with Eriol for the last few months that Syaoran also knew well enough that Tomoyo only said what she did and did so the way she had out of concern and love for her missing best friend.
Everything she had told him that day actually made a deep impression on him. For all of it was true. Unfortunately, it didn't make the situation any easier for him to handle.
"Much like you," Eriol said with a frown. "Tomoyo's developed the habit of drinking a couple of shots of tequila at night in three day intervals."
Syaoran raised a brow at this.
"Mind you, she's not an experienced drinker so it hasn't been easy to deal with. It hasn't been easy to watch either."
"Then stop her."
"I will if it gets any worse than this. At least she hasn't gone the deep end like you. Still can't sleep without getting your brain fried?"
He didn't answer this which basically meant that it was true.
"This is exactly why I'm glad when I heard that you finally decided to find Sakura," he added with a sigh before lying down across the couch with his arms behind his head. "I don't know what you're going to do when you find her, but this is progress at least."
Silence. What was Syaoran supposed to say to that anyway?
"I got some information from Tomoyo about Sakura and I thought you'd like to know."
"That's surprising. She's always so tightlipped when it came to Sakura."
"These are things I picked up whenever she was drunk."
His brows shot up. "She's going to kill you if she finds out."
Eriol shrugged at this. It didn't really matter much to him. Tomoyo hadn't been normal since Sakura left and he didn't want to live through the current Tomoyo any longer. He wanted his sweet yet feisty girlfriend back. If he had to suffer hell by her to get what he wanted, then it'll be worth it.
Syaoran felt the resolve emanating from his best friend. Even Eriol had been affected by all this after all and he couldn't help but feel bad. He sighed.
"So what did she tell you?"
Author's Note:
Okay so first off, I'm NOT married. Yes, I've been to a couple of weddings but whenever it was the time to share their vows, it was always the generic "I, blah, take you, blah, as my lawfully wedded blah. To have and to hold, from this day etc etc..."and I didn't even know that was the wedding vow until now.
Google is my friend in this case. I tried to research a couple of original wedding vows. From that, I've come across some odd ones (pirate lingo- Arr~!) to some that were just downright weird (referred the groom's face to that of a butt, I don't know. I stopped reading that particular one after reading the first line).
So... I decided to make up my own instead.
Yes, the vows you read up there in this chapter were written by moi and no, I don't know if you can count it as an actual wedding vow. I don't know the rules to wedding ceremonies so I have no idea. *sigh* At any rate, those are Syaoran and Sakura's wedding vows. I tried making it as sweet as I could and that's what came out of it.
...
Now for my own vows~
I, Raeny, take you my brain, as my naturally connected body part. To have and to live with, from this day forward- because I have no choice -for better, for worse, for richer with imagination, or poorer from writer's block, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish, 'til death or amnesia- whichever comes first -do us part.