Tattooed

Summary: "I've lost everything to drugs, do you know that?" Sakura told him with tears in her eyes. "The funny thing is I've never even touched a drug in my life and yet it destroyed me. It took everything." She turned to face him then. "Please, don't let it take you away from me. I won't be able to handle it, not this time, not again." S x S.

Author's Note: Fashion Fairy 26, petiteTRINH, deadflo, teru21: It was a passing thought, really, to write about addicts and their effects on others. Who knew it would get 162 reviews and over 10,000 views?

My first love and I are still hanging on. Thought you'd all want to know. First love is some kind of witchcraft, isn't it?

Thank you, to everyone who read the summary and thought this story was worth reading till here. Thank you.

Disclaimer: Not mine.

xxix.

I wanna take a lifetime to
memorize your face
Wanna hold you closer, kiss you longer
Wanna hear your heartbeat...
stronger and stronger

- (Wanna Get to Know You) That Good!/Shania Twain

"Just... lay still Sakura." Syaoran told her as he tried to draw a rough sketch.

"It's difficult to lie down without moving when you're not a dead body, Syaoran."

"Why so snappy?" Syaoran smirked.

"I'm snappy because I want to get back to grading my quiz papers."

Syaoran put down his notebook and stood from his stool. He walked over to Sakura and leaned over her, simply rubbing his nose against her jaw.

"You'd rather grade papers than be here with me?" Syaoran asked hoarsely. The feel of soft skin was always so hypnotic. Her scent... it was as though nothing as good had ever been before. Just the smell of Sakura was so enticing.

Around his hips went her legs as they kissed. How long had it been since they last kissed? Barely two days, maybe, and yet was the feel of her against him as they tasted each other unexplainable. So very comforting, and at the same time arousing, was the feel, the touch, the taste, the smell. Everything, every little thing made her so very close to him.

Hands wandered as they fit together and brought every part against the other. For some time, they could pretend to be one as they moaned in each others' arms, now nibbling at any skin available.

Syaoran then held her legs distant by gripping under her knees and holding them apart, so grateful she came to him directly after work. It was because she wore skirts to work. Oh so beautiful and extremely tempting were the skirts that revealed flawless legs.

"Oh God," Sakura moaned, making him want to touch her, feel her wet and warm on his fingers. Just thinking of her screams from the last time they did this made him reach under the skirt and plunge deep.

It was barely moments later that his ideas came true. Screaming his name, she came.

"Maybe now you'll lie down still," Syaoran whispered as he kissed her.

"Hmm,"

Still and quiet like the world at night, to be precise, was Sakura as Syaoran sketched her after that.

It had been a wonderful night.

*.*

Syaoran's first one-on-one session with Kaho was grueling. It was a mandatory procedure to keep tabs on the ex-addicts and depending on the level of addiction, Syaoran learnt, the APAA made meetings for evaluations. Once a month was all Syaoran was required to fulfill, thankfully. Unlike sponsors, here group leaders took responsibility for every group member and made sure to keep long accounts of everyone's personal life. It wasn't something Syaoran was used to, sharing and the sort.

One-on-one was far worse than group, though.

"How much do you think about using?" Kaho shot at him. Syaoran blinked.

"Rarely, very rarely, actually."

"Could you rate the urge when you do feel it, on a scale of one to ten?"

"Uh, two. Maybe four," Syaoran wondered if he was even doing it right.

"How close are you and your girlfriend?" was her next question. Syaoran exhaled.

"How is that any of your business?"

"It isn't. You are." Kaho reminded him.

"I'm still getting to know her better," Syaoran started hesitantly. "I don't want to lose her."

Kaho nodded. "Would you say you love her?"

"She is everything."

Pause.

"Tell me about your family?" Kaho asked next.

"I have four sisters, a close cousin, and an uncle. That's pretty much it." Syaoran calculated. It was sad; never having met grandparents.

"Would you say you're close to them?"

"We are," Syaoran affirmed.

"Have you started therapy for their sake?" Kaho questioned.

"Well, yeah. They found out and here I am."

Kaho wrote in her notebook before shutting it and focusing her attention on Syaoran. Somehow he already knew that the next question was going to be a loaded one.

"What do you love to do?" Kaho asked. Syaoran sighed in relief.

"I love to paint,"

"When did you start?"

"I can't tell you exactly when I knew I wanted painting to be my life, but it is. Painting is everything to me."

"What's your favourite painting?"

Syaoran smiled. Nobody had asked him that in years.

"Starry Night by Van Gogh," Syaoran answered swiftly.

"Ah, Van Gogh's work is magnificent. My favourite has to be the Carnival Evening by Rousseau," Kaho told him. His eyes went wide.

"Are you a painter?"

"I have a keen interest in art, though I can't say I'm much of a painter. Are you showcasing your work anywhere?" Kaho asked as they stood and ventured into the corridors of APAA.

"I am, actually. I will be showcasing seven paintings at the Exhibit at the end of the year."

"I'm happy for you," Kaho told him.

"Would you like to come?" he asked her. "You can auction on the paintings you like,"

"I would be honoured."

Syaoran reached inside his bag for an invitation and felt a strange while handing it over. Suddenly it came to him.

How could he forget something so important?

"I have to go," he told Kaho. A wave and he was gone.

*.*

On the eve of Touya's and Fanren's departure, Kero's barking was over the top, and for good reason.

Mei Ling, Tomoyo, Fanren, Touya and Sakura sat around Sakura's dining table as dinner was served. Kero had to be locked away in Sakura's room, his barks still loud and clear. They decided to order out for Chinese food and have Sakura's homemade chocolate tarts for dessert.

"Okay, guys," Syaoran came back with envelopes in hand as he tried to quieten everyone down. Sakura had to laugh a little. This was the most excited she'd seen him.

"I completely forgot to give you guys this," Syaoran stated as he handed out the invitations. Sakura got one last.

"This is thanks to all of you," Syaoran told everyone as he finally met her eyes. She smiled. Wrapped in the envelope was a simple thick paper of invite to the Exhibit, Syaoran's showcasing debut.

"We are so proud, brother," Fanren told him with a hug. "We know how much you've worked for this day, and it is here. I am so happy to see you this happy. I can leave in peace, now." She patted his back for a long while before finally letting go. Sakura didn't expect to see any tears. Fanren was the oldest, and the strongest, she had come to learn.

"Congrats again!" Tomoyo told him. Mei Ling followed up with another hug. Sakura kissed his cheek and watched Touya stand up from his seat. She took a deep breath as they shook hands.

"Congratulations." Touya told Syaoran. Her love simply nodded with a smile.

"Let's go let Kero out, Sakura." Tomoyo nudged Sakura to her bedroom door.

When the two went to let the dog out, Tomoyo shut the door behind him after he ran out.

"Finally!" she exclaimed as she sat on the bed. "I haven't had a moment alone with you in a month now,"

"What's up?" Sakura asked.

"How're things with Syaoran?" Tomoyo asked. Sakura shrugged with a small smile.

"Good," was all she offered her best friend. Tomoyo didn't need extravagant confessions of love to understand what went on in Sakura's head. Their friendship was old, and easy.

"I'm glad. Is he taking the group therapy well?"

"He is," Sakura said with several nods. "He doesn't miss even one."

"I'm really glad, Sakura." Tomoyo said as she hugged Sakura. "I'm so glad this is working out for you."

"Me too, Tomoyo,"

"I mean, I know how much—" Tomoyo had been cut short by pounding on the door.

"What the hell are you guys doing in there?" Mei Ling's voice roared after incessant pounding. "You'd better be keeping your paws to yourself, Kinomoto!"

Tomoyo laughed.

Sakura snorted as she pulled away from the hug to see Tomoyo's wet eyes.

"Why are you..."

"I'm just so happy," Tomoyo told her. "And scared. Terrified, actually. For you, for me."

Sakura wanted to cry then too.

"Tomoyo!" Mei Ling's scream echoed.

"Better get out there," Sakura said as she wiped Tomoyo's tears. Tomoyo nodded.

"I'm here for you," Tomoyo told her. "I know we've been busy with our significant others but I'm still here for you, always."

Sakura nodded. "Right back at you, bestie," she told her with a pinch to her cheek.

Tomoyo had always been there, no matter the circumstance. From the day they met in kindergarten to the day Syaoran gave them invitations to his Exhibit, Tomoyo had been there. Sakura didn't doubt her best friend's loyalty even for a second. Nothing changed their relationship, not ex-boyfriends, not lovers, not even family.

Theirs was a friendship that was beyond everything. Nothing could change that.

Wanna know you all over
Till I know you by heart
Gotta know you with all that I got

QUESTION: Where is your best friend right now? Tell me about her/him.

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