(Disclaimer: ...I guess I forgot to do this all along. Anyways, if you think I really own Cardcaptor Sakura, you are, to put it simply, a stupid piehead who should go eat some fudge cake.)
3
::-::
Syaoran kept running his hands through his hair. Eriol glanced at him amusingly.
"Dear cousin, if you keep this up, half your hair will fall out by the time we reach the hospital. Sincerely, your cousin Eriol Hiiragizawa."
"Dear Eriol, I don't remember asking you opinion. If you have nothing to do except talk to your moody cousin, I suggest you play Words with Friends. Oh, wait. I forgot. You don't have any. Sincerely, Syaoran Li."
"Dear cousin, might I remind you that I am driving you in this car and am feeling free to crash it at any point in time. Thus, I would like for you to watch your words. Sincerely, Eriol Hiiragizawa."
"Dear Eriol, might I remind you that you are in the same car, and by crashing it, would probably kill yourself too. Sincerely, Syaoran Li."
Eriol could tell his cousin was beginning to relax and smiled. It was the easiest way for both of them to relax: insult or banter with each other.
"Dear cousin, I know something you don't know." This in a singsong voice.
"Dear Eriol, what would that be?"
"Something regarding a certain type of flower."
It was as if someone threw a bucket of ice water over Syaoran. He bolted upright, eyes wide. "What? About Sakura? What is it?"
"Mum's the word, my dear cousin. I'm afraid you'll just have to wait."
"Eriol Hiiragizawa!"
"It's not my fault you never check your phone or your email."
"That's why I have a manager. Heard of the word, Hiiragizawa? You should have. Because you are one."
Eriol only chuckled. "How about this: I'll tell you after you visit your mother. It's incentive for you to actually talk with her."
Syaoran only scowled and looked out the window. Hokkaido snow drifted by the glass, licking falling petals as they brushed through their course.
"Already snowing," he mumbled.
"It is Hokkaido."
"I suppose."
Fifteen more minutes passed in complete silence, broken only by two words from Eriol:
"We're here."
Syaoran slipped from the car, staring at the rundown hospital before him. How sad, that the once rich and powerful Yelan Li of X-Centre Corporations would die like this: forgotten, alone...
He walked through the door. A nurse guided him to his mother's room.
Eriol put a hand on his shoulder. "Cousin, I'm proud of you."
"You and me both," Syaoran joked weakly.
"I mean it," Eriol said, looking very serious.
Syaoran only nodded, took a deep breath, and entered the room.
::-::
Sakura adjusted the hood over her eyes as she slipped into the crowded GameSpot. She'd heard Mass Effect 4 had just been released, and Syaoran had always liked those kinds of games...
"You could have just ordered it online," whispered Tomoyo from beside her, sporting over large glasses and a fake mustache.
"No," Sakura said firmly. "I need something special done to it."
"Sakura-chan..." Tomoyo sighed tragically. "You give each other present every holiday but don't even talk to each other? Isn't that kinda... strange?"
Sakura shrugged. "I guess it is... But talking just feels uncomfortable."
"Since when?" Tomoyo nagged. "You told me you were best friends when you were younger!"
Sakura shrugged again. "He just... stopped talking with me. Just... left." She sighed. "At any rate, I'm over it now. It was in the past. I'm sure he just got bored of me."
"Sakura Kinomoto. You know that's not true."
But Sakura fixed her attention back in front of her. She was now at the desk, ready to order.
"Miss, how can I help you?" the clerk said tiredly.
"Mass Effect 4, please. And I have a special request."
"Gift wrapping, perhaps?"
Sakura shook her head. She motioned for the clerk to come closer. He did.
When Sakura relayed her request, his eyes widened until they were the size of ostrich eggs.
"M-Miss? That'll be very expensive..."
"I am aware of that." Sakura slipped her credit card over the glass counter. "Feel free to check it."
"Y-your ID, Ma'am..."
Sakura did. He saw the name on it. Tomoyo could've sworn his brain was bleeding out of his ears.
"No need to check it, Ma'am. Are you certain on this order?"
"Yes."
"V-very well." The man swiped her card and the deal was done. "Oh, and... Ms. Kinomoto? Might I have your autograph?"
::-::
The room was dark. It was choking Syaoran, but he moved forward until his eyes adjusted to the little candlelight on a desk nearby.
His mother was pale. He didn't need better light to see that. Her ribs stuck out through her hospital gown, and all color had been lost in her hair and lips. Her eyes were hazed with suffering, and for the briefest moment, Syaoran felt a surge of sympathy for his mother, who had once been a proud woman.
She squinted as he came in; from the light, or attempt to recognize him, he did not know.
"Syaoran," she said simply.
"Mrs. Li," Syaoran replied.
Yelan drew herself up. "Why did you come? How did you come?"
Syaoran said nothing.
Yelan sank back down to her cot. "Eriol put you up to this."
It wasn't a question. Syaoran only nodded curtly.
"Syaoran..." His mother's voice was soft. "I'm glad you came. I wanted... I wanted to apologize."
Syaoran only remained in stony silence.
"I love you, Syaoran. I'm sorry I did what I did. I'm sorry it drove us apart." She turned and looked him straight in the eye.
"I'm sorry for killing Sakura's mother."
(A/N: Ooh. The plot thickens. What is Yelan talking about? And what do you think Sakura's doing with Syaoran's present?
Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed this story, and please continue to do so! To be honest, I feel a little put out when I see that other stories, which don't even have correct spelling and grammar and have terrible plot, have more reviews. So... well, not to be a downer, but please review? :D)
Next chapter preview:
"Scriptreading is tomorrow at eleven," Eriol said, sensing Syaoran's good mood and seizing his chance. "Be ready by ten. Wouldn't want to be unprepared for your lover, now, would you?"
"Eriol—!"
"Er—Syaoran? That's a knife. That's a very nasty knife. Please put it away before you hurt anyone. Syaoran?"
