Chapter 16

The next morning, Sakura was the first one up. It had always been difficult for her to sleep well on the first night away from home. It was just past six, but she stood in the kitchen, thinking of what to cook for breakfast.

Half an hour later, Syaoran came down the stairs and caught her in the middle of whisking pancake batter and frying eggs. Still half asleep, he walked over and joined her.

"Morning."

She glanced up at the raspy voice. His head of hair was disheveled and going in all sorts of directions.

Her heart doing a little bump, she smiled at him. "Morning."

"When'd you wake up?"

"Maybe half an hour ago. I couldn't sleep well."

"You need help?" He went to the fridge and took out a dozen oranges in a bag. "I can make fresh orange juice."

"Yes, please!"

Ten minutes later, Syaoran had all the oranges peeled and lined up to throw in the blender. He set up a dozen glasses on the counter then sat lazily on a stool. He watched her quietly for a while. It was almost hard to believe she was here in Hong Kong with him. How many mornings had he spent thinking of her since coming here? When another wave of sleepiness came over him, he yawned.

She laughed softly, looking over her shoulder. "I feel like we switched bodies this morning."

He met her eyes, caught the smile in them, and felt an inexplicable urge to hug her. Six weeks without seeing her had been pretty bad. Not caring about anything or anyone, he got up. Walking over to the stove, he wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her from behind.

Her heart leapt to her throat. The pancake she was holding in between two cooking utensils fell on the pan. "W-what?"

He shook his head against her hair.

She swallowed and put down the utensils gingerly. "Syaoran, you're… what are you…"

"If you say you didn't miss me, I'd say you're a liar." He threw back lightly.

The aching, fluttering feelings started bouncing around in her, like when she was seventeen again. Whatever possessed him to do this, she didn't know. But she bit back every other thought of trying to stop herself, closed her eyes, and turned her body around in his arms and hugged him tightly.

"Of course I missed you, baka," she spoke, muffled against his shirt.

He smiled. Tightening his hug, he closed his eyes too. Whatever he was feeling, he couldn't understand, but he didn't care. All he wanted was to hold her like this.

Then he walked back to the island counter without another word. Sakura stood still for another second before she could recover.

Her face the color of a tomato, she kept her back facing him. Of course she missed him. Six weeks without him didn't make the feelings go away. Nothing would make the feelings go away. Not even an engagement to someone else, she thought wryly.

"Morning," came the sleepy greeting from Naoko.

Sakura blinked. "Good morning."

"Do you need a hand there Sakura?"

"Hey guys," came another greeting from behind Naoko.

Syaoran and Sakura's eyes met then. Just as quickly as it came, the moment was over. They were back to being childhood friends again. But Sakura couldn't explain it. There was an unusual kind of peace that settled, like all the feelings kept in over the last six weeks between them had somehow come out. And from the way he looked at her, she somehow knew he felt the same.

:::

At half past four in the afternoon, Syaoran plopped down on a bench, exhausted and hot. Having walked around for almost six hours and only having had half an hour to sit down for lunch, his legs felt like lead. The navy-haired man sitting behind him felt the same way. After touring around Hong Kong for the day, the two men were done.

Syaoran wiped at the side of his face. It was ridiculously hot and humid that day too. Even in nothing but a shirt and shorts, he was still sweating everywhere. Eriol didn't look any better.

"I don't get how the rest of them have any energy to look at souvenirs right now," Eriol said lifelessly. "I want to go back to your house, turn on the air conditioner, and take a nice, long nap."

"Yeah."

Takashi came out a minute later and sat on the other side of Syaoran. "Oh man. The air conditioner inside the store just died."

"How much longer are they gonna shop?" Eriol whined.

"They don't look tired to me," Takashi answered with a shrug. "You two look like you could use a drink. I'll go find some."

"Thanks man," Syaoran said, wrapping his head with a towel. "I have no energy even to talk. You talk."

"Talk about what?"

Syaoran shrugged.

"Why do we have to talk about anything?"

"I haven't seen you in six weeks."

"Good point." Eriol rested back against the bench and stretched out his legs. "Nothing much has been going on. Tomoyo and I are still together and I'm pretty sure she loves me. So." Eriol smiled then. "I haven't told her yet, but I want to sometime soon."

"Do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Love her?"

"Yeah. I might bring her to meet my grandma after this trip," he mused. "I mentioned it once and she got excited at the idea. That means she loves me too right?"

Syaoran chuckled then. "It's a good sign."

"What about you?"

"Hm?"

"Any development between you and Sakura?"

"Ah…nothing yet."

Takashi came back with three cold drinks in hand. "Here you go, boys. What are we talking about?"

"Sakura," Eriol replied.

"Yeah, I've been meaning to ask about that! Are you two together or not?"

"Not."

"So… what…are you two?" Taka asked innocently. "Just friends?"

Just then, Sakura walked past the store windows facing the men. She glanced out and caught them all looking back at her. She laughed, waved, and kept on shopping.

Despite the exhaustion, the sight of her looking all happy and enjoying herself made it somehow worth it. He sighed. "Don't think we're just friends anymore."

At the admittance, Eriol felt joy rising inside. These last six weeks were a blessing in disguise after all, he mused.

Taka patted his shoulder. "Sounds complicated, Li. But I support you two 100%."

"Thanks." He raised his cold drink and the two men followed. "Kanpai!"

Touching their bottles to each other's, the men replied, "Kanpai!"

:::

Sakura stepped out to the balcony on the second floor. Everyone was downstairs, playing games with the whole family. Wanting a bit of a breather, she figured it was the best place for it. It gave a beautiful view of the city and ocean below.

The weather was dry and warm. From this spot, she could see a few stars twinkle in the night sky. The last few days had been so good. Refreshing. And though she didn't get much time alone with Syaoran, it was more than enough. Without him around, life back in Japan had been lonely.

That sudden, yet awfully sweet way he'd hugged her that morning still resonated in her mind. Where it had come from, she didn't know, but it was… her heart sighed, definitely a moment she would always remember.

"Sakuchin?" Tomoyo called from inside the house.

"I'm just here," she called back.

Tomoyo found her and joined her at the balcony. Resting her elbows on the railing and chin on her hand, she copied Sakura's pose. "What are you looking at?" She asked softly.

"Nothing in particular. Just thinking of how glad I am we came here."

"Me too. I'm glad we did it. Syaoran's got a really great family."

"Mm, I know. Auntie Yelan's an amazing mother, that's why."

Tomoyo then looked over at her. "How are you and Syaoran?"

At that, Sakura met her gaze and then looked away with a small smile. "Nothing new. He's my best friend and always will be. I'm so happy to see him again, Tomo," she confessed, touching her cheeks bashfully. "I really missed him. I don't like the idea of going back home without him."

"Ah Sakuchin, you're so cute when you're in love." Tomoyo put an arm over her shoulders. "He'll only be here for another two weeks then he'll be back."

"Yes, that's true." Sakura laughed then. "In high school all we talked about were boys and here we are again."

Tomoyo laughed.

"Did you have fun?"

"Definitely! I might want to come back and see more of Hong Kong some other time. Two days isn't enough to see everything. I'm a little bummed to be going home already tomorrow, but work awaits."

"Yeah…"

"But the important thing is we came, right?" At that, she straightened up and pushed off of the railing. "I'm going to go back down. You coming?"

"I might stay for a bit more."

"Okay."

As Tomoyo walked back down, she met Syaoran at the stairwell.

"Hey, have you seen Sakura?"

Tomoyo pointed her thumb to the balcony. With a wink, she added, "I bet she's thinking about you right now."

He chuckled. He glanced through the balcony doors and caught sight of her resting against the railing, staring off into space. Watching her for some time, he noticed the pretty way the moonlight made a halo on her hair.

Quietly, he walked over and stepped out. When she still didn't notice, he stood right beside her, intentionally touching her shoulder with his.

She gasped. "Oh you scared me!"

He grinned.

Laughing, she looked away and said, "You're such a kid."

He laughed in return.

Then sobering a little, she added, "Thanks for everything, Sho."

"Nah, I didn't do anything. You guys planned it."

"Your family accommodated all of us for two nights," she argued lightly.

"That's not me. Those were my folks," he pointed out.

"Well, you took the time to show us around Hong Kong on your day off. I know how exhausted you and Eriol were."

He shrugged. "It's what you do for your friends, that's all."

She tapped the top of his head with a fist. "Just let me say thank you okay?"

He laughed. "Fine, fine. You're welcome. Did I make you happy then?"

At the question, she rested back against the railing and avoided his gaze. "Of course. You made us all happy."

"You made me happy too," he replied.

Her stomach fluttering, she said offhandedly, "Obviously! You must've been lonely without us for the last six weeks."

He was quiet for a while. She rested her chin on her hand again, wondering what was on his mind. The idea of going back without him really did bother her. But as Tomoyo said, it would only be for another two weeks anyway.

"In two weeks when I come home," he began, interrupting her thoughts.

Funny they were both thinking the same thing, she thought absently.

"You're going to keep your promise and let me take you out on a date. Right?" He turned and looked directly into her eyes.

A bit stunned, she couldn't find her voice. And feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, she shoved him back. "You're making me uncomfortable. Let's change the subject."

Refusing to budge, he grabbed the hand shoving him back and said, "Why? I just want to make sure you didn't forget it."

She frowned. "Let go."

"No. Why are you so uncomfortable anyway? It's just me."

"I know it's just you. It is just you," she repeated to herself stubbornly. "But my heart's pounding really hard and it only does that when I'm uncomfortable and scared. Okay?" She tried again to free her hand out of his grip, but to no avail. "Syaoran, come on."

"Shut up for a second."

In silence, they stood against the railing, staring at each other. Like that moment in the bridal shop, they were back in a timeless moment of complete unawareness of their surroundings. Just the two of them in the world. Sakura broke the gaze first. She looked away, back to the view before them. There were tears in the corner of her eyes. Why she was tearing up, she didn't really know.

But just as soon as she felt Syaoran let go, he pulled her right against him. He wrapped his arms around her small body and held. Tightly.

"I don't know what's going on. I don't see you the way I used to anymore and that's a little scary. So just… let me hold you for a second."

Stunned into silence, she stopped resisting and stood there. He… did he just say that? It almost sounded like he was starting to…

Before the thought could fully form, the part of her heart that had been hurt many times over stopped it. How many times had she hoped and hoped only to be disappointed?

When he settled down himself, he let go. "Sorry. And thanks. It does feel reassuring that you're just as scared as I am."

She still didn't let go of his shirt. Her hands were shaking. "Sho."

He looked down at her bowed head. Realizing then that she was probably crying, he raised her head with a thumb on her chin. "Why are you crying again?"

She was trying to keep from crying like a baby, but the tears were waiting to spill over. She shut her eyes tightly, briefly, then opened them and stared up at him. "No matter what happens between us," she said as the tears filled her eyes, "we'll always be friends, right? You'll always be there, right? I don't think I could live with myself if you…if you walked away because of-"

At this, he laughed, lending his shirt sleeve so she could wipe her face with it. "This feels like elementary school all over again. Me wiping away your waterfall tears."

"Stop kidding around."

"I told you before, no matter what, I'll be here. You were gonna marry someone else and I still stayed around. Haven't I proven it already to you that I'm never leaving?"

She nodded like a little kid, then buried her face in his chest again.

He rubbed her back affectionately, trying to calm her down.

Not exactly knowing what he was feeling himself, he rested his chin on the top of her head and stared off at the view in front of them. He loved her. He knew that. But he was beginning to wonder exactly what kind of love this was now.

::::::

At the airport, the twin boys accompanied Syaoran to see the group off. While everyone was standing around by the security gates, Hiro and the twins were still playing around and enjoying their last little time together. In a span of three days, the three had become best friends. Syaoran reached for Tomoyo first.

"Thanks again for everything," Tomoyo said as she hugged him. "I had so much fun!"

"My pleasure. I'm glad you enjoyed it. You've gone around the world now, haven't you Tomo?" he teased.

She laughed. "I do feel more internationally exposed now."

Naoko hugged him afterwards. "I had a great time, Syaoran! I already told your mom that I might come back, so please tell her not to forget me," she added cheekily.

He laughed. "All right. Don't eat everything they gave you all at once," he warned.

Takashi then gave him a half-hug, half-handshake. "Thanks for showing us around, Li."

"I didn't do much. You did all the planning."

"We'll see you in two weeks?"

"That's the plan."

Eriol then put an arm over Syaoran's shoulders. "Thanks, man. I had a great time. Take care of yourself. I'll keep an eye on Sakura until you get back," he said the last bit just between them.

"Thanks. Stop inviting her to all your dates, would you? She'll just get jealous and depressed."

"Fine, fine."

Then Syaoran walked over to the end of the line where Sakura stood, but just as he was about to bend down to hug her, Hiro stepped in between them and took the hug.

"I missed you, Li. Thanks for letting us stay at your place. I love your family. I might even come back to take these kids away. But I miss you buddy. Let's play soccer when you go home."

Touched, Syaoran laughed and patted Hiro's back. "For sure, we'll do that. I'll ask Feimei to bring the kids over to Japan once in a while."

Hiro pulled away with stars in his eyes. "Really!? You guys hear that?! This isn't the end!" He announced to the kids.

When Hiro stepped away, Sakura was back in front of him. She stood there with a smile, her arms open and waiting for him. He suddenly took her into a bear hug and lifted her a foot above the floor.

She gasped. "Put me down! Right now!" When he had enough of squeezing her, he did so laughing. She punched him. "Stop playing around. I want to say goodbye properly!"

He looked back at her with a grin. "I just don't want you to cry again, that's all."

"I already cried plenty yesterday because of you. I have no more tears to shed. Anyway. Don't work too hard, okay? You need to rest too. And call me whenever you're free. And text me! Don't just text Eriol," she instructed.

"Okay Mom."

She reached up and ruffled his hair, messing it up. "I'll see you in two weeks, Sho."

He nodded. "See you in two weeks, Sakuchin."

With that, the group entered the security line-up. The twins were starting to cry and both buried their faces on Syaoran's pants.

"You'll see Uncle Hiro again guys, don't worry," he consoled them. "Wave goodbye." At that, the two wiped their tears and snot on their arms and waved vigorously with Syaoran.

A/N: Aww... =)