Void
A/N: Don't hate me for this. That's all I have to say : )
Chapter Three: Replaced
He'd been so busy staring off into space – contemplating how he was going to tell her what he knew and find a non-suspicious way of offering to help – that she somehow managed to sneak up on him.
"Here," Sakura said with a smile, placing a mug of hot chocolate on the table in front of him. "I figured you could use a break from the caffeine. And you look like a chocolate person."
He looked at her, then at the mug, then back at her again. "I didn't order that."
"I know," she replied, blushing slightly as she fumbled with her apron. "Consider it a … highly inadequate thank you. For what you did yesterday."
"For taking those pastries and making your boss yell at you?" he asked incredulously.
"Well yeah. Except that …" She paused, finally able to look him in the eye. "You didn't take them, did you?"
As he stared at her blankly, she thought for a split second that she'd got it wrong – that he had been telling the truth yesterday and that the ridiculous idea of him coming to her rescue had been all in her head. Then a fierce blush spread over his face, and he started to stammer.
"I – I don't … I mean I …"
Sakura giggled – she'd caught him. "You're so shy. I was so surprised when you came over and you were all …"
"Mean?" he suggested.
"Assertive," she corrected with a smile, unable to associate the word mean with the man in front of her.
"I can be … assertive. When I have to be."
Sakura sighed dreamily. "I guess you must, seeing what you do for a living. It must be so cool, being a CEO and have everyone listen to you."
"It's … okay, I guess," he mumbled vaguely, not wanting to tell her that it was the most boring and stifling job in the world.
"I wish I could be like that," she said. "I can barely run this place without creating a disaster!"
"You're in charge again?" he asked curiously.
"My boss is sick – I think he got what Shiori-chan had …" She trailed off, tilting her head and staring at him closely. "You know, if it wasn't for you, he never would have trusted me with the store again. He adores it; it's his life."
Syaoran flushed again. "I – I didn't do anything, I …"
"You covered for me," she insisted firmly.
"I really didn't," he protested, hating how her face and voice and everything about her completely eradicated his ability to think straight.
"You're so sweet," Sakura giggled. "So modest … you know, you must be one of the few genuinely nice guys out there."
His blush increased ten-fold. How could she be so trusting of him? She didn't even know him, or what his motives were the other day … but then, that was her. Pure, blind faith. In anyone else it would be irritating. In her, it was captivating.
She suddenly pressed a hand to her mouth, as if aware she was becoming too forward. "Um … sorry, I just … you have no idea how much I appreciate what you did."
"It was nothing," he insisted gently. "Anyone else would have done the same."
"No, they wouldn't," she said, but far from being upset by that fact, she appeared to be thrilled that she had found the exception. "I'd better get back to work – but if you need anything …"
Syaoran nodded to show he understood, before slumping in his seat as she turned away. This was hard – it was so, so hard to talk to her and act like a total stranger. Maybe staying had been a mistake. How could he help her when he could barely have a conversation with her without hyperventilating?
"Um …" Suddenly she was back in front of him again, twisting her apron and refusing to meet his eyes. "Listen … I have to ask you something okay? And I know it's gonna sound a little weird, but … just bear with me, ne?"
He looked up curiously, watching as she psyched herself up for whatever she was about to say.
"Yesterday, when the basket disappeared … did you see what happened?"
Syaoran frowned. "You mean, did I see who took it?"
"No."
It was one word – one little word, and he knew exactly what the real question she was asking was: did you see that basket disappear into thin air?
He couldn't have asked for a better opening.
"Look, about yesterday … I saw –"
"Sakura-chan!"
Syaoran abruptly shut his mouth as he heard the new voice – ten years may have passed, but the high-pitched squeal that Daidouji Tomoyo adopted when addressing her best friend was still the same as ever.
"We're here, Sakura-chan!" the girl cried happily, skipping over to Sakura and dragging a poor, dark-haired boy behind her. "I'm so proud of you, working so hard! You're picking the restaurant, okay? My treat!"
"T-Tomoyo-chan …" Sakura stammered bashfully. "You don't have to …"
"Don't be silly," Tomoyo said, dismissing her protests with a wave of a hand. "I said I was treating you to lunch and I am. Nothing but …"
She trailed off, and Syaoran knew without looking at her that Tomoyo had seen him.
"Tomoyo-chan?" Sakura asked anxiously.
Syaoran gathered his courage and looked up at Tomoyo. The poor girl had gone ashen – she looked like she had seen a ghost. Something inside Syaoran broke. It had never been clearer to him that he no longer belonged in Japan.
"Li-kun …?" she breathed in shock.
He met her eyes, silently begging her not to say anything that might give him away, or worse, confuse and upset her best friend.
"Daidouji-san?" the dark-haired boy asked, peering at her curiously. "Are you okay?"
Please, Daidouji … you're worrying them, just say something!
As though she'd read his mind, Tomoyo snapped her mouth shut, stood up straight, and beamed at her friends. "I'm fine!" she announced happily, looking for all the world as if nothing was wrong with her.
Sakura eyed her friend worriedly. "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely positive!" Tomoyo smiled. "You'd better get your bag so we can get going!"
"O-Okay," Sakura agreed slowly, looking between Syaoran and Tomoyo for several seconds before curiosity got the better of her. "Tomoyo-chan? Do you two know each other?"
Syaoran winced – after the way Tomoyo had acted, there was no denying it. Not that he blamed her. The first time he'd seen Sakura he acted like a total space case.
"We met a while back," Tomoyo said slowly, and Syaoran could see from the way her eyes were darting from side to side that she was desperately trying to think of something that wouldn't involve lying to or breaking her best friend. Eventually, she had to settle for the lesser of two evils. "One – uh – one of Li-kun's companies did a deal with Daidouji Corporations …"
"Daidouji Sonomi introduced us," Syaoran cut in, seeing as Tomoyo looked like she was about to cry. "It's good to see you again, Daidouji."
Tomoyo looked at him, and for a moment, beneath the tears in her eyes, he could see a glimmer of relief and welcome and happiness, all directed at him. "You too, Li-kun."
The boy peered at them, apparently non-plussed as to what all the fuss was about. "So … can we go?"
Tomoyo's head whipped round, and she looked at him in horror as if she'd forgotten he was there.
"I'll get my purse," Sakura announced, completely missing that anything was off. Sometimes, Syaoran thanked God that she was dense.
As she headed towards the staffroom door, the boy caught her by the wrist. "Hey. Don't I get a hello kiss?"
"Sorry!" she smiled bashfully, before leaning forward and pecking him on the lips.
It was a cliché, he knew. But Syaoran felt as though his heart had just been ripped out of his chest and stamped on.
"I'll be two seconds!" Sakura cried, skipping off to the staffroom with a pretty blush on her cheeks.
Tomoyo and the boy – he refused to say Sakura's boyfriend – sat down at his table. The boy smiled at him, inclining his head slightly. "My name's Motomiya Tai – it's a pleasure to meet you."
Syaoran knew it was irrational, but right now he wanted to punch the guy in front of him for taking what was his.
Except she wasn't his … she never really was before, and certainly not now, not after what happened…
Seeing that Syaoran wasn't about to reply, Tomoyo attempted to salvage the conversation. "Um, this is Li Syaoran. He's from Hong Kong, he's just here … well, I don't know why he's here …"
He didn't bother offering an explanation.
"So, did you two meet at a business meeting or something?" Tai ventured, wondering why both the people in front of him looked like they were about to be sick.
"No, we just … crossed paths," Tomoyo replied, sounding a little faint. She desperately tried to catch Syaoran's eye, wanting to tell him that it was nothing, Tai was nothing compared to him.
Syaoran's eyes remained focused on Tai.
He had a million questions he wanted to ask. What makes you think you're good enough for her? Do you take care of her? Do you watch over her? Is she your reason for living? Do you love her with everything you have? Would you die for her?
"So … what do you do, Motomiya?"
Tai beamed kindly at him. "Call me Tai."
"Motomiya's fine."
He looked more than a little taken aback, but attempted to keep the conversation friendly. "I'm a journalist, actually."
Syaoran nodded mechanically.
Tomoyo looked anxiously between the two of them, almost crying in relief when Sakura reappeared. "Oh, there you are!"
"Tomoyo-chan, I was only a minute!" Sakura smiled. "I just had to leave Hana-chan the keys … are you ready?"
Tomoyo got to her feet, but then her eyes fell on Syaoran. She turned to the other two as Tai was gallantly holding out Sakura's coat for her to put on. "You know what? I'm going to take a rain check."
"What?" Sakura cried, looking devastated. "But Tomoyo-chan …"
"I think you and Tai-kun should go alone," Tomoyo replied. "After all, you've not had much time together lately, what with all the over-time you've both been putting in at work."
"But I've barely seen you either!" Sakura protested.
"We'll do something another time – a girly night in, or out, or something," she promised her. "But we do live together – you and Tai should go now, just the two of you."
"Are you sure?" Sakura asked.
"Of course!" Tomoyo nodded emphatically. "After all, it'll give Li-kun and I a chance to catch up."
Sakura looked much happier at that – as long as Tomoyo wasn't going to spend her lunchtime alone, she was all right. "Well okay. Thank you!"
"Go have fun!" Tomoyo told her, waving as the two left the store, hand in hand.
The wide smile fell off Tomoyo's face as she abruptly fell into the chair opposite Syaoran.
As the shock of meeting Tai wore off, Syaoran vaguely realised that he owed Tomoyo some kind of explanation. "Look, Daidouji –"
She held a hand up in the air to stop him, then used that same hand to signal over a waitress. "An espresso and a slice of chocolate fudge cake, please," she ordered, before letting her head fall to the table with a thunk. "I'm gonna need sustenance for this."
They sat in silence for a while, before Syaoran attempted to salvage his pride. "I'm not here to get her back, Daidouji."
Tomoyo looked almost disappointed. "You're not?"
"No."
"But then why – you're still in love with her, it's written all over your face!" she cried in frustration.
"That doesn't matter! Of course I …" Syaoran stopped, consciously lowering his voice. "Look, I didn't mean to bump into her. I really am here on business, it just … happened."
"But you have to – Li-kun, don't you see you two were meant to be together?"
He sighed heavily – that was the last thing he needed to hear right now. "Daidouji, don't do this …"
"Do what? Listen – listen to me, Li-kun!" she demanded. "Tai-kun and her, it's only been going on for a month! He's her first boyfriend and she's trying really hard but I know it doesn't feel right for her because she's still in love with you!"
Syaoran screwed up his eyes, desperately trying to block out her words. She was giving him false hope, and he couldn't deal with that. "She can't be in love with me," he denied firmly.
"She cries out your name in her sleep, did you know that?" Tomoyo asked, becoming almost frantic as she desperately tried to right the massive wrong in her friend's life. "She's never had a boyfriend before because she feels like she's cheating, although she doesn't know why. She cries sometimes for no reason at all –"
"I can't fix that, Daidouji!" he yelled, devastated to hear how the sacrifice had hurt her. It wasn't supposed to be like that, not for her. "I mean nothing to her any more –"
"Here's your espresso, miss, and the cake," the waitress interrupted, placing Tomoyo's order on the table. She shot a look at Syaoran, who was red in the face and scowling furiously after his outburst. "Is everything all right?" she asked Tomoyo worriedly.
"Everything's fine. Thank you," Tomoyo replied woodenly.
Silence fell once again, as Tomoyo sipped her coffee and Syaoran tried to get himself under control. Finally, he looked up at Tomoyo and asked quietly, "Is he a good guy?"
"He's not you. But I guess she can't have you, so he's …" She paused, sighing sadly. "The next best thing." Tomoyo looked at him appraisingly for several seconds. "You broke her heart."
"I didn't mean to!"
"And she broke yours."
"Daidouji," Syaoran sighed heavily, knowing they were going around in circles. He needed to get to the point. "I need you to listen to me –"
"If you're not here for her, then why are you still in Japan?" she asked.
"Because …" He seized his chance to steer the conversation in the right direction. "Daidouji … have you noticed anything strange going on with Sakura?"
Tomoyo frowned. "Not particularly. Why?"
"Something went missing from the store yesterday, this basket thing literally vanished into thin air –" He stopped abruptly, seeing the way she was looking at him. "What?"
"That's been happening to her for a while," she said slowly. "Silly things – tops, bags … she said she was being forgetful."
"It was magic, I'm sure of it," Syaoran said firmly. "Maybe even the Void Card – the magical signature felt like before … but it can't be …"
She frowned anxiously. "You think something's up?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "But I'm sticking around until I'm sure either way."
"Well, you know you can count on me," Tomoyo sighed, smiling at him for the first time that afternoon.
"You want to help?" he asked.
"Of course!" she cried. "Both with the magic and with you and her – I know you say you don't want it, but I know you two are meant to be together. I'd go to the ends of the earth for Sakura-chan. Surely you know that by now?"
Syaoran smiled – he did know that. Some things never changed.
Except that his Sakura – his beautiful, perfect Sakura – was with someone else. Someone else now got to walk her home and buy her lunch and protect her. That used to be his job, even before he'd fallen in love with her. That had been his job, his place. And now Tai, as nice as he seemed, had replaced him.
It doesn't matter, he told himself firmly. It doesn't matter, as long as she's happy … she's all that matters …
Syaoran picked up his mug to take a sip of hot chocolate. It had gone cold.
A/N: I'm sorry! Please don't be mad. I promise I'll fix it … eventually. -grins-
Sorry about the long wait. I only have the usual excuses – end-of-semester exams and essay deadlines really took it out of me, plus I've been doing a lot of overtime because our supervisor quit. End of grumble. The good news is, I have nearly two weeks off and I've coached it all the way home – meaning no distractions and lots of time to write! Yay!