Chapter 20

Eriol was slightly out of breath. Though breathing hard, Syaoran still kept juggling the soccer ball with his feet. Takashi was splayed out on the grass, drenched in sweat, and Hiro was drinking his third bottle of water.

"I think this is the first time since high school that I played soccer again," Eriol remarked, wiping his face with a sports towel. "I still hate it."

"Yeah. Let's play basketball next time and see how you two goofs survive it," Taka called out from the ground.

"Aw that was so much fun," Syaoran said, holding the ball against his waist.

Hiro nodded, breathing exhaustedly. "Yeah it was. But I'm so out of shape. How are you not exhausted, Syaoran?"

"I love soccer," he said with a grin.

"More than Sakura?" Taka asked slyly.

At that, he laughed. "Ooh that's a hard question."

Then Hiro made a frustrated sound. "Man, I want a girlfriend! You have to introduce me to somebody," Hiro said firmly.

"Why don't you ask Naoko out? Didn't you like her back in high school?" Eriol suggested.

"No, man, that ended back in high school. Besides, she always talks about how good the single life is."

"Ask Sakura," Taka suggested.

Syaoran's head shot up. "Uh…"

"No, no," he said quickly, "I mean, ask Sakura to introduce you to somebody," he finished.

"Yeah that's true. Ask Sakura and Tomoyo to introduce you to somebody. They must know a lot of women."

"It's been so long since I've been in a relationship…I don't even remember what it's like to go on a date anymore."

"You stopped going to goukons, Hiro?"

"Yeah. It's not fun anymore. Just sad," he sighed.

"Relationships aren't worth it," Taka said then, sitting up. "I'm tired of trying."

"You just had a bad breakup, that's all," Eriol reasoned.

"Yeah. Anyone up for another game?" Syaoran interrupted.

Taka lied back down on the ground. "Pass."

"I'll play," Hiro got up. "One-on-one?"

Syaoran grinned. "You're on. First one to 5 wins."

"What's the bet?"

"Dinner."

"Fine."

::::::

"Hello?" Sakura called from Syaoran's apartment doorway. "Anyone home?"

"Living room!" He called back.

She took off her shoes and made her way through the small hallway. With multiple ice bags resting against different parts of his body, Syaoran was sprawled all over the couch, his face far beyond exhausted.

"What happened to you?" She asked, putting down her bag on the floor.

"We played soccer for two hours last night," he started, groaning. "And I played too hard. I haven't played soccer in a long time. My whole body is screaming in pain."

"You do look really awful. What can I do for you?"

"First," he started, trying to get up. At the first shift, his abdomen muscles complained. "Yeah no. I can't even get up."

"Just stay still," she responded, quickly making her way to his side. "I took the day off to be your nurse, so I'm here to do whatever you need me to do. Did you eat breakfast yet?"

"Did you really take the day off?"

"Yes."

Syaoran smiled. "You're the best best-friend-girlfriend I've ever had."

She chuckled, organizing the scattered things around his living room. "It's been a while since I've visited your place."

"You don't have to clean up," he said then, shifting his head around, following her movements. "Breakfast. That's the first request."

She laughed. "Fine. Do you need to go to the bathroom?"

"I'm all right for now."

Then, she stared at him with amusement. "Honestly, Sho, this is probably the first time in the 25 years we've known each other that you're entirely dependent on me. It's a very interesting experience."

With a sour face, he said, "I don't share the same opinion."

"Mm. I'll be right back," she said, smiling as she made her way to his kitchen.

Ten minutes later, Syaoran managed to sit himself upright on the couch. It had taken a lot of breath intakes and teeth-gritting to get it done. Once he was sitting upright, he leaned his head back against the spine of the couch in utter exhaustion. Why he played with the energy of a sixteen-year-old, he didn't know. But his 26-year-old body was sorely paying for it now.

In a pink apron, Sakura came walking back into the living room. At the sight of her, his eyes brightened. "Look at you, looking all cute and pink."

"Wow! You managed to move all by yourself." When he said nothing more, she laughed. "Breakfast will be ready in a couple of minutes. I just wanted to check up on you."

Thankful that soccer required no use of arms, he reached for her hand easily and took hold of it. "Come here for a second."

"Hm?"

Then suddenly, he tugged and she stumbled and fell against his chest. Eye to eye, they stared into each other's eyes. And with no warning, he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. Her green eyes, only inches from his, widened in milliseconds. Then, immediately after, she jumped back, falling on her bum.

He chuckled. "Well how about that for our first kiss."

"D…did…did that just happen," she asked in shock. "You kissed me."

"I've been wanting to for a while. Actually since that night you said sorry that we haven't kissed yet."

"That night I was half-drunk?"

"Yeah."

Sakura blinked. "Wait, I said sorry? I don't remember that. No, never mind." Then she frowned as she got up. "You should have warned me. Then I would have been more prepared. The first kiss is important!"

"It is," he agreed, then sent her a questioning glance. "Was that a bad first kiss?"

"No," she argued back. "Just unexpected. I…" Finding it hard to describe exactly why she was slightly irked, Sakura frowned again. "Wait. Let me get your food first."

He'd been thinking about kissing her for a good week now, wondering when would be the right time to, what it would be like. Then he figured there was no point stressing about it. If he kept trying to plan the moment ahead of time, it made him more nervous and anxious and admittedly a little afraid. Then he decided he would go for one that would easily break the ice and make every other kiss easier to do.

She brought in a tray of pancakes and bacon and a glass of juice. After setting it on his lap, she sat beside him on the couch.

"That was really selfish of you," she stated.

He nodded in understanding.

At that, she slapped his arm. "I have liked you way longer than you've liked me. I should have been the one to kiss you first."

"Your argument's moot. I like you now just as much as you like me. Maybe more," he added, then shoved a piece of bacon in his mouth.

Her annoyance was really only because she'd dreamt of their first kiss for so many years and suddenly, quickly, it happened and then it was over. And she wasn't fully aware that it was happening while it was happening and that annoyed her. She couldn't exactly remember how it felt, because she was too occupied with the fact that his pretty amber brown eyes had been too close, staring back at her.

"It happened too quickly," she mumbled, crossing her arms.

He leaned his ear closer to her. "Huh?"

Embarrassed, she shook her head. "Nothing."

He hid back a chuckle. "Where's your breakfast?"

"I already ate before I came here. That was really dumb of you by the way."

"What, kissing you?"

"Playing soccer for two hours," she retorted. "Now look at you," she pointed to the ice packs all over him.

"I missed it, what can I say? And I got too competitive. You should see Hiro! He was in a worse shape than I was by the time we got home."

"You're both stupid."

Fifteen minutes later, when he finished his breakfast and drank all his juice, Sakura kindly took it from him and washed the dishes in the kitchen. She took off her apron when she finished cleaning up, then walked back to the living room.

"Aww," he said, slightly disappointed. "What happened to the cute apron?"

"Unless you need me to do something else in the kitchen, the apron's staying off," she remarked.

"Fine. Just stay here beside me then," he said, patting the seat next to him.

When she settled comfortably beside him on the couch, she snuggled a little against his body, feeling his warmth. He rested his arm on the spine of the couch behind her shoulders, feeling a strange sense of contentment. Like if he spent the whole day like this, he would be completely happy. He had never felt it before with any other woman. Maybe because it was Sakura?

"Sakuchin."

"Hmm?"

When he didn't reply, she glanced up. He looked into her eyes, a small smile on his face, then he lowered his head. Realizing what he was about to do she closed her eyes instinctively. And he rested his lips against hers.

When they pulled away, Sakura murmured, "This should feel weird, but it doesn't."

He kissed her forehead then, feeling dangerously close to the proverbial cliff. How did it happen, he wondered. He'd seen her strictly and only as a friend his whole life. But this felt so natural and right and there was no way of stopping it.

::: 2 months later :::

Nadeshiko Kinomoto watched her daughter cook their family dinner. It had been a long time since she last watched her daughter like this.

After Sakura finished high school, she'd gone off to university. Of course, at that time, Touya had been gone for over a few years, living in Kyushu with his family. With their empty nest being too big for the both of them, Nadeshiko and Fujitaka decided to move to a smaller home in the Tohoku region, a few hours' drive north of Tokyo. It was a quieter town, less hustle and bustle, and more conducive to retired parents.

With the cold winter rolling in, it was a surprise that Sakura had shown up at their front door that afternoon. Tohoku's winter was a few degrees colder than in Tokyo after all.

"So are you finally ready to tell me what's brought you all the way out here? You never come and visit," Nadeshiko chided.

"No particular reason. I just missed you and Dad all of a sudden."

"Hmm…I don't know why I don't buy that. Did you and Syaoran have a fight?"

"No, I don't think neither of us know how to be in a fight. We just bicker a lot."

"Are you and Syaoran doing all right?"

"Yes, we're fine," she repeated with a laugh. "Honestly, Mom I just really missed you and Dad. Sho wanted to come, but he's all tied up at work. Next time, he said."

"Hmm…all right. I guess I'll have to accept that then." Nadeshiko came over to her, put an arm over her shoulders and kissed her on the side of her forehead. "I've missed you too honey."

Cuddling to her mom, Sakura hugged back and sniffed the familiar perfume that warmed her heart. "You smell nice, Mom."

She laughed. "Of course I do. I'm your mother!"

When they were seated on the table and enjoying a glass of wine with the dinner Sakura had prepared, Fujitaka came through the door with white snowflakes all over his hair and shoulders. "Tadaima," he announced while shivering a little.

"Dad!" Sakura cried, getting to her feet quickly. She made her way through the living room and threw herself on her favorite man in the entire world. "I missed you," she said, hugging him tightly.

He laughed in delight. "What are you doing here?" He asked in surprise, hugging him back.

Watching the sight happily, Nadeshiko remained seated at the dining room. "Did it start snowing already?"

"Unfortunately. Early this year," he replied. "It's nice to see my baby girl again. What brings you here?"

"I just missed you two a lot. Like…a lot, a lot. More than usual. I don't know why." She pulled away and beamed up at her father. "All your hair's turned grey."

He laughed. "I am almost 65 you know." He took off his coat. "Where's Syaoran? You didn't bring him with you? We haven't even seen you two together since you two got…together!"

"He's too busy at work. He couldn't take the weekend off."

When they got back to the dining table, Fujitaka bent down and kissed his wife on the cheek. "When did she get here?" He whispered.

She laughed. "Just a few hours ago. She cooked all this for us. I don't know what's gotten into her either!"

Once Sakura's dad had changed into comfortable clothes, he joined them at the dinner table, and the family enjoyed dinner. Cherishing this rare moment, Sakura slowly ate.

It wasn't entirely out of random why she'd taken the train all the way to Tohoku just to see them. The main reason was, as she had said, she missed them a lot. Another reason was simply that it had taken her too long to find the courage to face them again after cancelling the wedding like that.

"I don't think I properly said sorry to the two of you," she began then, placing her rice bowl on the table. "For…everything that happened with cancelling the wedding and the reservations and…"

"It's been six months, honey," Nadeshiko said softly, grabbing her hand from across the table. "What do you have to apologize for?"

"You wasted so much money on me," she said, shaking her head. "It's not right Mom. I…want to pay you back—"

"Sakura, since you and Touya have gone on to live on your own, your mother and I haven't done anything for you, so don't worry about this. It wasn't much anyway," Fujitaka calmly replied. "Besides, I'm glad you made that decision before the wedding. Things would have been a much bigger mess if you continued with it."

"Your dad makes a very good point."

"I know." Sakura's shoulders fell. "I didn't even see it coming to be honest."

"Since I met Kohei, I was a fan of him," Nadeshiko admitted with a sad smile. "He genuinely took care of you and he was always such a gentleman. But…I could tell in your eyes from the beginning, that everything wasn't exactly right."

"Really? What do you mean?" She asked, inching forward curiously.

"Even before you admitted to me that you were in love with your best friend, I could tell from your eyes, from your actuations, from the way you talked about him. You're different when you're in love, Sakura. And well…with Kohei, you seemed like you were forcing it half the time."

"But I did love him," she argued quietly then bit into her carrot.

"I'm not saying you didn't," her mother replied right away. "Just a different kind of love. You know?"

"How about now? How do you feel?" Fujitaka asked gently.

Sakura's gaze rose to meet her father's.

"I never in a million years expected you two to fall for each other," he said then with a smile. "We raised you two like you were siblings."

"I did," Nadeshiko chimed in. "It started with a very innocent question from Sakura herself, actually. I didn't pick it up until then. Remember honey? When you asked me about falling in love with best friends?"

Sakura gasped. "Oh yeah."

"That was probably when you were dying to tell him the most, wasn't it?"

Feeling nostalgic at the memory, Sakura murmured, "Yeah I think so. I was tired of the fact that he just never noticed me. I didn't do anything to make him think I liked him, but… anyway…you asked me how I feel about it," she said then, turning back to her dad. Her cheeks warmed. "Dad, I never felt this way with Kohei."

"Oh honey…I'm so happy for you. Will we be hearing wedding bells soon-"

"Ooh that's, that's going too fast," she interrupted. "I'm still a little spooked about weddings and marriages and…" Sakura shook her head. "Yeah, no, I don't… imagine… I don't even think Syaoran has even thought that far ahead. We're still really new at this, like two months new at this." She let out a breath. "Ok talking about this is freaking me out. Let's change the subject."

Fujitaka patted her hand comfortingly. "Calm down. Your mom was just joking."

It took her a moment to stop and say, "Yeah."

After dinner, Fujitaka left the women alone in the living room and washed the dishes himself. Sharing a cake and drinking a cup of tea together, mom and daughter faced each other on the big couch, their legs tucked in under the pillows.

"Have you and Kohei seen each other since you broke up?" Her mother asked after sipping her earl grey.

Sakura shook his head. "He left for Osaka soon after."

"I can't believe it's already been six months."

"Yeah I know. Time goes fast. So many things happened in that span of time that…I don't know, it's just hit me now. I seem so heartless."

"Why do you say that?"

"It didn't take me long to find another boyfriend, did it?"

Nadeshiko slid her hand under Sakura's chin and lifted her daughter's face up. "Oh my darling. When it comes to matters of the heart, no one can ever tell what will happen next. Just because your father and I have been married for over 30 years doesn't mean we don't work at it every day."

Sakura rested her head against the couch.

"Tell me the truth. How is it going with Syaoran?"

"I'm really happy, Mom."

Her mother pulled her into her arms. "That's great. Tell me something you learned about him since you started going out."

"Hmm…" Burying herself in her mother's arms, Sakura said, "He takes care of me a lot. I never knew that side of him when we were just friends. He picks me up almost every morning so we can go to work together. And he calls just to say goodnight every night. Little things. But when we're together, it's the same. We've been friends for so long that we know too much about each other, but it's good because I know what bugs him and he knows what bugs me so we give each other space that way."

"You sound like a perfect match."

"I always thought so," Sakura said with a light laugh. "It took him long enough to figure it out."

"I wish he came along this weekend."

"Me too. He did too. He says he misses you guys. Next time."

::::::

In the middle of a dream, Sakura felt someone playing with her hair. She flung her hand around to get rid of the pest. For a moment, it stopped, but then it started again. She moaned, rolled over and pulled the blanket over her head. Then she felt someone tickling her feet. She kicked. It stopped for a moment, but then started again. She growled and curled into a ball in the blanket. Suddenly, the room became freezing cold. Her eyes shot open.

Standing by the door, holding the blanket, Syaoran grinned. "Good morning!"

Sakura blinked. She'd just been dreaming of him. How could he be here? "Huh?"

"Hey sleepyhead."

"Are you really here?"

He laughed. "Yeah. Where's my good morning kiss?"

She rubbed her hair lightly, confused. "You seem like a dream," she muttered. When he put the blanket down on the bed, she got to her feet. "Why are you here?"

He kissed her cheek first. "Morning." Then he pulled her into his arms. "Mm, you're nice and warm."

She bonked him on the head. "Morning. Why are you here?" She repeated. "I thought you couldn't get away from work this weekend."

"I worked all night so I could drive in this morning."

She pulled away swiftly. "You drove?!"

"It's no big deal. People do it all the time."

"Sho! After working all night? You must be tired!"

"Nah, I'm ok. I wanted to see your folks again. They're just having breakfast now. I got permission to wake you up."

She laughed. "Ok. Put your jacket here. As sorry as I feel that you drove all the way here, I'm glad you did anyway." She came back to him then. "Thank you. That probably impressed my parents a lot."

"Good! It's the first time to see them since we got together. It's weird. Weirder than getting together with you. I'm a little nervous," he admitted.

She burst into laughter again. "Are you really? I've never seen you nervous. Except maybe when you were down a point at the last period of a soccer game."

He grinned. "Nice. Anyway…" he pulled her to him again. "Good morning." With ease, he leaned down and kissed her.

A/N: Two months is a big jump, but hope you're following well. =)