She Writes His Heart Chapter 5
Confession and Aftermath
Thank you yet again to Twilight Kisses for her help with this chapter!
Very fluffy, fairly long chapter; I guess I overdosed on the angst as I was also working on the next chapter of Addiction! Hope you enjoy, and please leave a review! Notes at the end of the story.
It had to be the weirdest date Syaoran had ever been on. Not that he'd been on many (and that in itself embarrassed him), but still...
First of all, Sakura had set the venue at a nice Chinese restaurant called Shantung in Sunshine City in the Ikebukuro district. She said they would go to the nearby planetarium afterwards. Syaoran had the strangest feeling it would be like going on a school field trip, and briefly he was transported back to being eleven years old and a bit uncertain of where he was. He could see why Sakura would want to go to the planetarium though; the 3D graphics,
holograms, and computer-controlled lights would delight anyone with her sunny disposition.
Plus, the character Fa Ying had chosen a planetarium in the 'Captors' manga… to confess her feelings to Yuki Kitushiro, false form of her Moon Guardian. Now that made Syaoran a tad uneasy. Why were events in real life and in stories following each other? He regretted not checking for a SkyPhenomena update before leaving his condominium; could it have told him something he needed to know?
He shook his head; that was silly, right?
Then there was his date, Naoko Yanagisawa, who was a pretty girl who looked like the Nao Yan character in the series as well; she wore stylish glasses with rhinestones that accentuated her cheerful brown eyes, and she wore her hair in an edgy shoulder-length pageboy. Syaoran thought she was attractive, but his eyes kept being drawn to Sakura, always Sakura. But he made sure to pay attention to Naoko, not wishing to be rude to Sakura's friend.
Naoko, though, had other ideas. She playfully referred to the outing as 'Sakura's two dates' and she praised Syaoran's courtesy in opening doors, pulling out her chair for her at dinner, and in walking in pace with her. Naoko always made sure Sakura could hear her praising Syaoran, and it was beginning to make him wonder about Naoko's motives. It didn't help when Naoko kept dropping broad hints that were aimed at focusing Syaoran's attention on Sakura.
Just like in SkyPhenomena's fanfic. Syaoran shifted uneasily in his seat. How often were these 'coincidences' which were becoming similarities going to occur anyway? Like her saying, "Oh, Li-kun, don't you think Sakura is so beautiful tonight?" as soon as he and Nao… no, wait, Naoko… were introduced.
Syaoran resisted the urge to turn his head. Indeed, Sakura looked lovely. A gray butterfly-sleeve shirt with a v-neck set off Sakura's short bobbed hair and green eyes something lovely; her dark blue jeans and the sandals she wore completed a simple but pretty outfit. He couldn't stop staring; she was just so cute, he wanted to hug her and hold her close and keep her safe.
Then Sakura had said, "My best friend Tomoyo-chan chose it, do you like it?" to Syaoran. Her outfit was the same as in the fic, in which Xiao Lang and Fa Ying had been the first to arrive. Stuck together as they waited for their dates, Syaoran noticed that Sakura was quiet and seemed a bit uneasy about something.
"Are you all right?" In his worry about her, Syaoran didn't realize that he'd stopped stammering around Sakura.
"Oh! Uh, yeah," she giggled nervously. "I just, ah, was worried a little… about Naoko-chan. Yeah, that's it."
Syaoran looked at her; she was lying. Something else then was worrying her. But all he could do was pat her shoulder. She looked up at him gratefully, then before she could speak, they were interrupted by a cry of "Sakura-chaaan! Hi!"
Naoko had arrived, and she immediately began to try and scare Sakura with the latest urban legends on ghosts that she'd picked up over the course of her work as a reporter for "Occult," a popular paranormal magazine. Syaoran was left to greet Yukito Tsukishiro, who arrived last and seemed pensive, though he was pleasant.
A little bit later, as they arrived at Shantung, Naoko asked, "Li-kun is single? My oh my, Sakura-chan, but why haven't you noticed how gorgeous he is? Are you sure you want to set him up with me?" She placed a hand on his arm and squeezed. "Mmm, muscles!"
Syaoran turned red, but Yukito's laughter helped take the heat off him, and he glanced at the older man thankfully. Sakura looked over at Syaoran and smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes; Syaoran wondered if he was doing something wrong, as a result.
At the table they were escorted to in Shantung, Syaoran noticed a dark-haired older man in a manager's outfit glaring at him. Syaoran raised an eyebrow, and before he could say something, Sakura cried, "Onii-chan! What are you doing here? Don't you have your own work?"
"I am part-owner of this restaurant and we're short-staffed tonight," her brother said gruffly, then he glared at Syaoran.
"Mou, you're everywhere!" Sakura protested. "You'll just ruin our double-date!"
Her brother ignored her. "Oy you. Why are you here with my sister?" he growled at Syaoran.
Syaoran looked behind him, surprised. Who was the guy addressing? But there was no one else there.
"Me?" Syaoran asked.
"Oy you, Chinese brat! Why won't you answer me?"
"What is your problem?" Syaoran retorted before he could control himself.
"Now, now, Touya-kun. Leave him alone," Yukito said with a small smile.
"He's with my sister!" Touya protested.
"No, I am. Remember?" Yukito chided gently.
"You remember Naoko-chan, onii-chan? I set her up with Syaoran," Sakura said, standing between her brother and Syaoran.
"I don't like him," was the icy response.
"Leave him alone!" Sakura glared fiercely at her brother.
"What a wuss. Why are you defending him?" Touya raised a brow and sent a mocking look in Syaoran's direction.
Syaoran, bristling in annoyance, moved to stand in front of Touya. "No she's not. And like I said, what is your problem?"
"You're dating my sister, aren't you?"
"What?" Syaoran raised both eyebrows. "Weren't you listening to what she said?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure you accepted the date to be near her!"
Syaoran was about to say something rude when he caught a glimpse of Sakura's expression and decided against it. She smiled at him gratefully, then proceeded to scold her brother roundly for intruding on her personal life. Now that Syaoran enjoyed, very much; Sakura shook her finger in her brother's face, and they argued like magpies until Yukito gently separated the two.
They took their places at the table, Sakura having shooed her brother away and insisted on another waiter serving them. During the meal, Syaoran noticed that her date Yukito seemed a bit uneasy, glancing at him then at Sakura with sad eyes.
They were not the eyes of a man in love, Syaoran realized, but a man who regretted something with all his heart. Why was the false form of Yue so upset? Syaoran almost asked him about it, but decided it was none of his business.
So when Yukito suddenly turned to him after dinner, when Naoko dragged Sakura into the rest room, Syaoran was expecting it. What he wasn't expecting was what Yukito said.
"Li-kun... Do you love Sakura-chan?" the older man asked quietly.
What? Syaoran's back stiffened; why was Sakura's boyfriend—well, sort of boyfriend, he amended mentally, remembering what Sakura had told him at the office earlier about her non-romantic relationship with Yukito—and the false form of his Guardian asking her that? Had he been obvious or rude?
"Sorry, but why are you asking me something like that?" Syaoran asked carefully.
"You must know by now that I'm not really her boyfriend," Yukito said sadly.
"Eh?" Syaoran turned to stare at Yukito, who was waiting for his reply.
Yukito took off his glasses and used a small cloth to clean them. "I take care of Sakura-chan because Touya-kun, her brother—and my apologies for not introducing you, but I figured it was for the best—Touya-kun knew Sakura-chan liked me as a child. I keep other men away from her. But you know, I don't like doing it."
"Why are you telling me this?" Syaoran asked softly.
"Because Sakura deserves to love, to find her number one, the one who is truly meant for her. And I'm not that person… because I already have someone else I love."
Syaoran gaped. Dimly he remembered that this scene had not taken place in SkyPhenomena's story…
What am I thinking? he scolded himself.
So what would he say now?
"I think you at least like her very much," Yukito said. "And I wish you two could have a chance. Would you like that?"
"I… I just want her to be happy." Syaoran flushed and looked away from Yukito. "I can't take your place. I'm just… me," he finished, almost in a whisper.
Yukito suddenly chuckled. "Just me, huh? You 'just' happen to be the only heir to the magic of the Li clan in your generation. You're 'just' the most handsome young man the family has produced in decades, and you 'just' have a kind heart, even if you seem gruff and arrogant. Yes, it's 'just' you," he said softly.
"Wait… How do you know… about my family… did you say… what?"
"I know I'm a false form. I've known it for years. But my heart and Yue's are the same," Yukito smiled. "That's why I know you care for Sakura-chan. I've seen you with her both as myself and as Yue."
"I… Ah… That is…" What could he say? Syaoran turned red. "I can't tell her," he finished in a defeated tone. "She… You may not be her boyfriend but still… she loves you and I can't… I just can't intrude on that."
"And that you avoided answering my question directly answers it. I'm glad," and he smiled at Syaoran. "Even though you've been told by Yue that you were destined to love her, you don't rush in and force your feelings on her. But Sakura-chan being who she is, she won't know unless you show her and tell her. I'd do it soon." Yukito nodded.
Mercifully Syaoran was saved from having to respond when Naoko and Sakura returned to the table. Naoko had an air of mischief about her and Syaoran almost dreaded whatever it was that was making her smile so broadly.
"Let's go to the planetarium!" Sakura said, her enthusiasm bubbling over. "Ne, ne, Yukito-san! Please?" She turned to the others and said, "Let's, let's!"
"All right then, Sakura-chan," Yukito smiled at her, but Syaoran could see the sadness in his eyes.
And… Syaoran rubbed his eyes. Was Yukito… fading? Part of Yukito's shoulder suddenly became transparent, and Syaoran almost cried out; he took a step towards his guardian's false form, then stopped himself.
"Syaoran-kun?" Sakura looked at him curiously.
"Sorry. It was nothing." Syaoran waited until Sakura turned back to talk to Yukito, then quietly motioned the waiter for the bill, and pretended to go to the bathroom; along the way, he paid for it in full. He thought he'd hidden it well, so when a voice sounded in his ear, he almost jumped.
"Aww. That's so sweet of you, Li-kun!" Naoko giggled.
"Wah! I mean… uh… Yanagisawa, you startled me," Syaoran said, clutching at his heart.
Naoko laughed. "You're paying for everything, even though I didn't really date you, and Sakura's date ought to be paying for her. Tomoyo's right; you're such a nice guy."
"N-not really," Syaoran choked.
"You're turning red!" Naoko leaned forward and pinched Syaoran's cheek. "My oh my, I didn't expect this from a guy my age in this day and age! Oooh, that rhymes." She whipped out a notebook and began to scribble furiously. "This will be so great in my next story for Hana to Yume!"
"Uh…" Honestly Syaoran had had a bit too much of writers in general, and he managed a weak, "Please don't…"
"My oh my, Li-kun, you really ought to be in a story. You're just so cute," Naoko grinned. "Anyway, I told them you'd meet them at the planetarium."
"Huh? What about…" Syaoran began. "I mean... we haven't really... I..."
"I'm going home. I had fun with you, don't worry. But I think," and Naoko grinned, "you should wait for them, in case something happens. Yes?"
"What?"
"My oh my, Li-kun, you really ought to expand your vocabulary," Naoko teased. "Anyway, thanks for a nice date! Don't walk me to the subway… you should go to the planetarium now."
"But I can't just let you go off unescorted!" Syaoran protested. "Please, allow me to..."
Naoko giggled. "No, Li-kun. You better let me go, or else…" She wagged a finger in his face.
"Or else... what?" Syaoran asked, dreading her answer.
Eyes shining, Naoko grinned as she looked up at the much taller Syaoran and surprised him by snapping his photo with a small camera. "I'll use your full real name in my next story and have my artist draw you! Syaoran Li, Chinese hero in love with the beautiful, unsuspecting Sakura..."
Aghast, Syaoran gasped, "No!"
"Well then, we have an agreement." She grinned at him then skipped off merrily with a cheerful "Ja, ne!"
Syaoran was left standing in front of Shantung, puzzled by the odd girl. He sighed then trudged towards the entrance of the planetarium. If the damned SkyPhenomena fic was right, Sakura had just confessed to Yukito…
What the hell? Syaoran shook his head. Why was he thinking of that right now? Honestly, you're beginning to obsess over that fanfic, he told himself sternly, and you really...
And that was when Sakura slammed out of the planetarium's doors and straight into him.
"S-sa… Sakura?" he choked out as he steadied her in his arms.
She lifted her face to him and he was shocked to see tears brimming in her eyes. Sakura opened her mouth to try and say something but when no coherent sound came out, she gripped the front of his shirt and began to cry.
Syaoran gaped at her for a moment, then relaxed. He put his arms around her, shushing her quietly.
"Don't cry. What happened?" he asked, although he thought he knew what.
She couldn't answer, only shaking her head as she bowed her head and leaned on him. Syaoran raised her chin gently.
"Come on. You can't cry out here. Let me take you away from here." With that he put an arm over her shoulders. Sakura let herself be led away from the planetarium, hiccupping occasionally as her tears began to stop.
He led her to a small café nearby; there were few people at that hour and he chose a small corner far from the light. Syaoran guided Sakura into the seat which had its back to the rest of the café, so that no one else would see she was crying, and took the seat facing the café, glaring at anyone who glanced at them.
Sakura slouched in her seat, not looking at him, occasionally emitting a little sob which she tried to stifle. Patiently Syaoran waited for her to speak; to try and make her feel better, he signaled a waiter and ordered hot chocolate for both of them. "With mallows, please," he added.
He was surprised when Sakura suddenly said, "I like marshmallows."
"Y-you do?"
She nodded, still not looking at him.
"That's good."
They sat there quietly, then Syaoran gave in to an impulse and took the hand Sakura was resting limply on the table. It was warm, and he rather liked the feel of her small hand in his.
"If you like... if it makes you feel better... you can tell me about it," he said softly.
She gripped his hand tightly, and choked back another sob. Syaoran waited for her to speak. When she did, she spoke so softly he had to lean in to hear her. "He... when I told him... love him... said no."
He immediately understood. "You… confessed? To Tsukishiro?"
Sakura nodded, not looking at him still.
"Ah." He squeezed her hand gently and stayed quiet knowing she would pour out the story sooner or later. But still he felt disappointed. Sakura knew what Yukito felt for her, so why had she forced the issue of her feelings on him? Yet it was not his place to say anything.
I wouldn't make you cry if by some miracle, you ever told me you loved me, he told her in his mind. I like you, and more than anything else I like to see you smile.
After several minutes of silence, she told him of how she had asked Yukito to be her real boyfriend, and he'd turned her down, comparing her love for him to the love she had for her family. Then he'd told her that he loved someone else, and that someone else was her brother.
Syaoran wasn't surprised by that, and he had to wonder if it was because he knew it from instinct or because of the 'Captors' chapters he'd read.
"But then… he said I had to open my eyes because my love was just near me." Sakura sighed. "I just… I don't know!"
That would be me, Syaoran found himself thinking. If you gave me a chance, that could be me. But he couldn't bear to force his feelings on her right now, not when she was already upset.
A tiny chiming sound alerted Syaoran to the time. The café's waiters were cleaning up, and he realized they were too polite to interrupt him and Sakura. He signaled for the bill, paid it, then stood up.
"Come on. I'll take you home. You need to rest," he said.
Sakura hadn't let go of his hand at all. Now she looked up at him.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't want to go home," she said softly. "I don't want to be alone at home right now."
"You won't be," Syaoran promised. "I…" He swallowed nervously. "I won't leave until you go to sleep. Okay?"
She nodded, and together they left the café and headed for her home. And not once did Syaoran stammer, even though Sakura's hand was in his all that time. Walking together, her hand in his, was a pleasant sensation, and he thought, I could live with this.
For her part, Sakura knew why she had confessed; it was a last ditch stand, in all honesty. She had expected to be rejected, and so why did it hurt so much?
But what bothered her was that she didn't want Syaoran to leave her side. What were these feelings? He was sweet, kind, and patient… and she was being a burden, she scolded herself.
Maybe it was all the things Naoko had said. In the washroom, she'd commented on Syaoran's looks, his kindness despite looking arrogant, and dropped hints about snatching him away from an oblivious Sakura; to her surprise Sakura had felt… a little annoyed. Why was Naoko
talking about Syaoran that way? But her friend was right: he was rather handsome. Why hadn't she noticed how his tousled hair framed his strong yet gentle face, how powerful his build was, how sweet and thoughtful he was, how long and graceful his fingers were... why am I thinking of him right now? She asked herself.
And now… Without saying a word, without knowing the whole story, he had known why she was unhappy. He was comfortable to be around and she felt safe with him.
So why did she feel… so confused around him?
Yet not once did she release his hand; she fumbled with her house key with her left hand when they arrived. She led him upstairs, to her bedroom, and was shamed because she felt no sense of shame. Sakura couldn't understand her feelings, never having known a man other than Yukito, and she couldn't realize that her friendly feelings for Syaoran were beginning to break through to another level.
"I'll wait outside while you change," Syaoran said, and he stood in the hallway with his back turned. "Or I can stay downstairs while you bathe."
"Okay. Thanks."
Syaoran went downstairs. The house was small and cozy; Syaoran had grown up in a large mansion in Hong Kong, one that seemed impersonal in its grandeur. His life growing up had been mostly studying, martial arts, sports... his shyness had guaranteed that he had not had a girlfriend in high school, as the girls had assumed he was either Meilin's boyfriend already or that he was too arrogant to care about girls in school. Sakura's house welcomed him; he could almost smell the home-cooked meals in the kitchen, and the décor made him smile: homemade curtains, hand-knit pillowcases, framed childish artworks Syaoran assumed had been created by either Sakura or her brother, diplomas she, her brother, and her father had earned...
Maybe that was what he appreciated so much about Sakura: she was real. At home, Syaoran often felt uncomfortable because he thought he could feel the weight of tradition and family responsibility pressing down on him as the only boy in his family. His cousins and sisters were all female, and the birth of his eldest sister's eldest son had been the only thing to take pressure off him.
In the living room, he looked at the photos, frowning as he recognized her brother. She had her father's hair and her mother's kind eyes; Syaoran knew her mother had died when she was three, and her father was an archaeologist who lectured at Tokyo university. It felt nice, to see into a slice of her life.
And, he thought wistfully, it would be nice to belong to her and her world.
Amused at himself, he shook his head then used the guest bathroom to freshen up; as he opened the medicine cabinet in search of toiletries, small disposable towels, soaps, and toothbrushes made him smile. Seemed the Kinomotos hosted guests fairly often, so he used a toothbrush and a towel, and washed up as best he could, though he hadn't sweated or soiled his clothing.
When he came out, Sakura was standing at the top of the stairs, looking a bit wan in a fluffy pink bathrobe. He walked up to where she was, and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey. Are you okay?" Syaoran asked.
Instead of answering, she crept closer to him, then quietly laid her head on his chest.
Syaoran put his arms over her shoulders in a tentative hug, and she leaned against him, breathing in his comforting scent—masculine and clean.
Again the feeling of being safe came to Sakura, and she sighed as she placed her arms around his neck. How lucky she was to have a friend like Syaoran!
When she began to droop, Syaoran gently picked her up and carried her into her room. It was easy to figure out where it was; the door was the only pink one on the second floor and it was wide open. He placed Sakura on her bed and tucked her in, then turned to leave, flicking the room light off as he said, "I'll just be downstairs, okay?"
Her voice stopped him.
"Don't leave. Please," Sakura said softly.
She doesn't want to be alone, Syaoran realized. And since he didn't want to leave her alone, he came back and sat next to her on her bed. "You're not all alone."
Come to think of it, where was her obnoxious guardian Cerberus? Did he live elsewhere? Didn't Sakura say he lived with her?
"I am," Sakura whispered. "It's over. I don't know what to say or think. I don't want to force myself on him but… I... why..."
"Shh," Syaoran crooned as he stroked Sakura's hair. "Neither of you is at fault. It's okay."
"I can't believe I will find someone who will love me too. Ah, I'm being selfish… I…"
"It's okay to be confused," he said. "Really."
She cried for a bit, and he held her hand; she tugged gently on him, her face streaked with tears. Syaoran slipped off the house slippers he was wearing, then got into bed with Sakura to hug her, the better to comfort her.
Her warmth in his arms made his heart race. It felt like she belonged there, and he held her close as she occasionally sniffled. Syaoran yearned to give her more comfort, but he did not know how.
"T-tell me ab-about you," Sakura suddenly said.
"Me?"
She turned to look at him. "I know you, but, well, maybe a little more…?"
It would take her mind off things, he realized, and slowly, hesitantly, he began to talk. It was strange telling her about his life as they lay in each other's arms, but Sakura was a good listener, and soon Syaoran warmed up, telling her stories about growing up with four sisters and Meilin.
"It must have been tough being the youngest, huh?" Sakura giggled. "Did they bully you?"
"No, not really," Syaoran smiled. "I love my sisters, although they keep at me to get a girlfriend, and to find them boyfriends."
"What about your parents?"
"Mmm... My dad died when I was little, but he was a great person." Syaoran was warming to the topic, and it showed in how he smiled as he talked. "My mom raised me. I was… well, still am scared of her a bit, but I knew she loved me. You know, it wasn't so painful not having a dad because everyone around me made up for it: Master Wei, who taught me in martial arts, my mom, my sisters, Meilin, my relatives…"
"They must have been very good people," Sakura said.
"How do you know?"
"Because you're a nice guy, and you're happy. I mean, you don't go all gloom-and-doom when you think no one's looking at you. You're well-adjusted and calm. I wish I were like that," she said.
"Oh. Um, I think it's thanks to them, really."
"I know what you meant when you said even if your dad wasn't around, others made up for it." Sakura smiled up at him. "I don't really remember my mom either, but I know she was a wonderful person. My dad is still in love with her, and he loved me and my onii-chan for two parents."
"You must get your happy personality from that," Syaoran remarked.
"Me? Uh, not really… am I?"
"Yeah," he smiled, a tiny upturning of the corners of his mouth. "You're a nice person. And I don't say 'nice' 'cause I can't think of some other word. You really are, and it's a good thing."
"Oh… Thank you." In return, she told him about growing up with her best friend Tomoyo, about being Tomoyo's model, about her friends Rika and Naoko and Chiharu. It was nice; Syaoran could almost imagine them being lovers exchanging stories.
Stories.
He smiled. This sweet scene, just them talking, hadn't happened in the SkyPhenomena fanfic. This was real. She was in his arms, he was comforting her, and maybe, just maybe, they could get closer. This was, after all, their own story.
After a while, Sakura yawned, and Syaoran stroked her back comfortingly. "Rest. Okay?"
He wasn't prepared for her answer. "I will, but... will you... I... Stay? Please?"
"I… okay. I promise."
"Thank you." She pressed her face into his chest then giggled. "You really know how to make me feel better," she said.
"Uh… n… um…"
"You're stammering," she teased. "You do that a lot, you know? It's kind of cute."
"Am... I d-do n-not!" he said indignantly, then flushed as he'd just stammered.
"Ha!" Sakura poked his side with a finger, and Syaoran flinched; he was ticklish there.
"Aha!" Triumphant, Sakura attacked his weakness with her fingers; trying to avoid her, Syaoran rolled to the side. Laughing, she followed; gasping and protesting, he tried to avoid her. Somehow she ended up on top of him.
"Do you surrender?" Sakura asked gleefully.
"O-okay," Syaoran gasped. "I stammered. I give. Please let me up!"
Their eyes met. He was fascinated; even in the moonlight, he could see what a solid emerald green they were, and he traced the lines of her pretty face with his eyes. She was utterly lovely.
Instead of getting off him though, she looked into his eyes as if she were seeing him for the first time.
"Uh… why?"
She shook her head and was silenced when her lips came down on his, rather tentatively.
Syaoran froze, his eyes wide open. What? Why was she doing this? He'd been kissed before, sure, but this… this was her kiss. Sakura, the girl he adored, had initiated this, which he'd fantasized about for so long.
But it felt hollow, somehow.
Sakura drew away, her eyes brimming with tears, and he suddenly understood. Rebounding, in the worst way. And the pain that sliced through him was something he was unprepared for.
"Don't," he said, as she bent to kiss him again, although the word cost him everything he had. "Please... don't do that." Syaoran turned his head away, closing his eyes against the sorrow he felt.
"Am I not… Do I… I'm sorry… I'm not enough," she gasped as she collapsed next to him.
"No! That's not it," Syaoran hastened to reassure her. "But this is not the time. You're still hurting." And so am I, he thought. How could one kiss have torn his heart apart? This was the girl he liked; other guys said feelings didn't matter so long as you got the girl, so why was he feeling like he'd been cheated?
"Sorry… I'm so sorry!"
He held her close, pressing her cheek to his chest so she could cry. Syaoran was tempted to cry too. Was that all he was to Sakura, a sounding board, a nice guy she could rebound with? Why? Why couldn't she see him, and only him?
But then he had her in his arms, right? Wasn't that enough, that even for that reason he could have her, in a way? Syaoran sighed, accepting his fate. When her sobs quieted, and her breathing steadied, he realized she'd fallen asleep. He stroked her hair, and whispered a wish into her hair right before he himself fell asleep: "I wish there would come a time when you could see only me."
At the window, had Syaoran looked closely, he would have seen the tops of two heads, one covered with golden hair, the other with silver.
"If you're gonna wish that then seize your chance, dummy!" Cerberus whisper-snarled.
"Shush! You cannot expect them to just up and kiss each other and fall in love," Yue whispered back.
"They're destined for each other. We told him that already, yeah? So what's taking the brat so long?" Cerberus hissed. "I skipped the chance to eat more goodies and dessert to clear Sakura's room for nothing but this to happen?" he whined.
"Human emotions are not simple," Yue continued in a low tone. "That they're here, together, is already a big step. Have patience!"
"Yeah, gimme patience now." Cerberus rolled his eyes. "You're absolutely sure he's the Li heir? Then why is he so shy around Sakura? What a dork!"
Yue blew his bangs upwards in exasperation, then when they were sure that Sakura and Syaoran were sound asleep, they settled on the roof to wait for dawn.
As the sun rose a few hours later, Yue started. He nudged Cerberus, who was snoring beside him.
"Wake up!"
"Snff… Sakura, gimme candy… whaaa?" Cerberus said blearily.
"Wake UP!" Yue gave the golden tiger a hard shake.
"What for?" Cerberus protested.
"Trouble!"
Instantly awake, Cerberus got up and scanned their surroundings. "Where?" I see nothing… wait, Sakura's brother is coming, and there goes the newspaper boy. I sense no other auras, what's the problem?"
Yue pointed at Touya, who was letting himself into the house with his key. "That's the problem!"
Continues in Chapter 6
Author's Notes:
Shantung is not a real restaurant in Tokyo, as far as I know, but Ikebukuro is where I stayed when I went to Japan some time ago. It's a very nice place, just a few subway stops from Harajuku. The planetarium is real, and it's rather nice. It's a nod to the anime and manga, as Sakura does confess to Yukito in a makeshift planetarium. Another nod to the anime is when Syaoran sees Yukito fading. Hope you remembered those nice scenes from the original! Points to anyone who can see what other series nods are in the chapter XD
Re Syaoran's character: I know that at the beginning of CCS he was a real jerk to Sakura, but since he changes in the series as he grows up, I projected that he might be shy, awkward with girls, a bit gruff, and absolutely hot. Seriously, do check out chapters 223-225 of Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle and... If they made guys like THAT I would never rest until I got mine XD Syaoran is kind and sweet, if a bit quick to get angry when he sees unfairness or injustice, and I've maintained that here.
You probably know by now that Eriol and Tomoyo are behind "SkyPhenomena" and are arranging events to suit their nefarious plans. Don't you just love them? There will be lots of naughtiness, but the fic will stay at T, as lemons and limes are exhausting to write-and there are lots of them in my other stories anyway!
Of course you know who Yukito really loves, yes?
Hana to Yume is an actual magazine for sweet stories. You ought to see the covers, they are just adorable. Syaoran will be caught carrying its rival magazine Kawaii in a bit, haha. It makes sense for Naoko to wind up writing both romance and tabloid stuff-remember how well she and Yamazaki got along in the series over the Goldfish Alien thing?
Disposable toothbrushes, towels, mini-soaps, etc. are available real cheap at Daiso (100 yen) stores in Japan, and most middle-class Japanese homes have those in their guest toilets/washrooms. Of course not everyone has a Western-style toilet, but I don't want to have to explain how the other type works, so let's just assume Sakura has the Western-style toilet!
Chapter 6 sneaky peeky:
Syaoran quickly scanned the new chapter of SkyPhenomena's story nervously. Yup, Yoya, Fa Ying's brother, had had a fit when he'd seen Xiao Lang with Fa Ying in her bed. It didn't mention though that Yoya had practically thrown poor Xiao Lang out of the house and forbidden him to see his sister, ever.
What happened after that caused a burning sensation of fear in Syaoran's gut. Eli, Xiao Lang's friend, had joined the company Fa Ying and Xiao Lang worked for, along with Tomo, her best friend, and the two had planned a company outing.
Oh no, Syaoran thought as his eyes flew over the webpage. He had been in the middle of packing for the trip, and this was beginning to scare him a little.
In the chapter, Fa Ying and Xiao Lang went swimming, and Xiao Lang had a nosebleed when he saw how skimpy Fa Ying's swimsuit was; he could see her body very clearly once it got wet and turned transparent, and Fa Ying had been so embarrassed, she'd refused to leave the water and had hidden behind Xiao Lang all the time. But that was no good at all; her nipples had stiffened and he could feel them where she clung to him in the water. Later, a Reed card had stripped her of her bikini top and poor Xiao Lang had had to carry her to shore, her chest pressed against his... and he'd spent the night aroused and ashamed as a result.
Please God, Syaoran silently prayed, if You exist please don't let this happen to me!