Synopsis:

Sakura fell in love with a man she knew was out of her league. He had an incredibly long line of suitors waiting to enchant him and become his wife. What would he see in her that the other women did not have? As fate would have it, they cared for each other deeply. Their love blossomed over time. But one fateful day, he disappeared. She was told he was dead. But she held on to the belief he was still alive. Alas, he reappeared, but not as a her Li Syaoran, but a fiancé of the daughter of the Wang clan. He did not know Kinomoto Sakura existed, let alone a certain little boy who carried his surname.


Chapter 4: Unveiling

"Good evening, Uncle!" the two vibrant children of the Li household chorused in unison, as their gleeful eyes spotted their favourite uncle saunter into the dining hall.

Grinning, Syaoran ruffled their hair playfully before taking a seat next to them. "How have you two little monkeys been?"

"Never better!" they exclaimed collectively.

As soon as they noticed they had their uncle's full attention, they started flooding him with their day-to-day events, their eyes shining with excitement as they recounted every detail, from the smallest victories to amusing encounters with friends. Syaoran listened with rapt attention, feeling himself being rejuvenated by the friskiness of his niece and nephew. It had been two weeks since he last had dinner at home.

A typically taciturn individual, Syaoran enjoyed listening more than talking. This characteristic that framed him as a person grew with age and the experiences he had been dealt with. His juvenile introversion spiralled into an irrevocable reticence that barricaded him from unnecessary human interactions. He kept to himself most of the time, choosing solitude over company. The only fellow earthlings he did not scuttle away from were his nieces and nephews, two of whom were currently residing in Hong Kong with his second sister and brother-in-law. Perhaps their innocence and simplicity made him feel somewhat safe and rooted. Being with them was like being offered a respite from the drudgery of his duties as the successor to his clan's headship. Syaoran did not hate his obligations that his ostensibly prestigious position involved. To him, it was something he was born to do – an unavoidable lifelong task. He had long accepted his fate and he knew he could never escape from it as long as his father's blood ran in his veins.

When his sister, Fuutie, unceremoniously interrupted her children's fervent babbling to remind them that their plates were still untouched in the last thirty minutes, their excitement evidently fizzled as they gave a long face and a sulky pout before diving into their rice. Chuckling at their instant disappointment because they were forced to utter not a single word until they were done with their food, Syaoran assured them they could continue with their stories afterwards.

Turning to his own array of rice and dishes, Syaoran noticed that the Kinomoto girl was nowhere in sight. The one and only time he had seen her at dinner time was her first day in the mansion. After that, he had not seen her at the dining hall at all. Was she on some kind of a diet? Intermittent fasting? She didn't look like she needed any, though.

After their rather evasive (more from his end) but epiphanic conversation a short while ago, Syaoran was left pining for more. He still vividly remembered every detail of it – of her. As much as he wanted to repudiate this unprecedented sentiment that was slowly eroding his senses to a pulp, his mind kept drifting back to her unembellished but alluring face highlighted by soft butterscotch locks. The smooth cadence of her voice and the sincerity in her spoken words could melt the coldest, hardest heart. For once, he was truly gratified to see how the foreign language classes that his mother mandated him to take had proved beneficial (the Japanese language in particular, though he should have experienced its utility at least once in his nineteen years in Japan).

When his eyes had met hers in those few short encounters which had left him ruminative and bizarrely light-hearted, he thought he was being pulled into another dimension where he almost believed he could just be… himself. The boy who had been hidden away all these years, compelled to mature and shoulder a vast commitment beyond his years. The boy who longed to be released from the prison of his unspoken grief and suppressed anger. Grief at the loss of his respected father whom he had loved and trusted with all his heart, at having to relinquish his own happiness and desires for the sake of his clan, at the need to guard his heart at all costs. At all costs. Because failure to do so would drag him into a state of emotional precipice which he vowed to himself never to go into ever again.

It was a harrowing experience to go through life without his father who had been a larruping prominent figure in his growing years. To experience such hefty loss proved too much for him to bear. He had given all of himself to love and receive love, albeit in his own subtle ways. He had never regarded love as a menace until the untimely death of his father. He was appalled at how love could actually… hurt – cause immense pain to every fibre of his being. Tear streaks stained his gaunt face daily, his shoulders hunched over in mourning for a loss so great he thought he would be crushed under its weight. The light had gone out of his usually bright, sharp eyes, his entire demeanour was clouded over with despair. In his desperation and profound sorrow, he beseeched his mother, the Li Elders, anyone, to get him out of the dastardly pit he was in.

"Steel your heart, Xiao Lang. To be a great leader, you need to guard your heart well. Let the past stay where it should and trudge forward. The road ahead will be tough, but you need to grit your teeth and pull through it. You need to be strong. You must be – for the sake of our clan. And your father's," one of the Elders had urged.

"Xiao Lang, we are all as heartbroken as you are. But you must be strong. You are our future. You can grieve, but don't take too long. Your father wouldn't want that. You recall his last words to you, don't you?" his mother had said through a trembling voice as she attempted to repress her emotions.

She was skilled at it – cloaking her affective emotions under a veneer of tenacity and discipline,. As a standing mistress of the Li clan, she could not afford to be a stumbling block to those who looked up to her. After all, she was the clan's pillar at the moment, before Syaoran officially stepped up as its rightful leader.

His father's last words still rang loud and clear in his mind, a constant reminder of who he was, what he needed to do.

"Lead… us… well."

Three simple words that were interwoven into what could be rightfully interpreted as his father's last expectation of his only son. It hadn't dawned on him as such until he was perpetually reminded by the Elders and his mother that it was what his father wanted him to do – to carry on where he had left and to greater heights.

You need to be strong.

You cannot fail.

You cannot let them down.

You cannot let Father down.

Love is painful. Too painful.

He had lost himself in a sea of expectations from his family, his clan and even himself. Their expectations had become his expectations that he needed to live up to. And those expectations did not allow any room for episodes of vulnerability. His aversion from opening up his heart was a reflection of his innermost fear – fear of being let down, of dealing with anguish, of losing what mattered to him.

"Grandmother, is Kinomoto-sensei at her cheerleading practice now?" Haitian piped up.

Cheerleading practice? So that's what she has been up to in the evenings? Syaoran thought to himself, curious.

"Yes, Haitian," Yelan answered before taking a sip from her soup bowl.

"I wish I could see her practise her moves!" chirped Haitang.

"Yeah! Kinomoto-sensei would look so cool!" Haitian chimed in enthusiastically.

"Sakura-chan is really capable, isn't she? Juggling between work and cheerleading. And she told me she's captain of the team!" Fuutie remarked admiringly.

Yelan smiled at the comments before casting her son a meaningful glance. Syaoran sensed it but he continued to send food into his mouth with his chopsticks, looking anywhere else but his mother. He knew what she was thinking. And he didn't want to encourage whatever plan she had up her sleeve. Not without his consent, anyway.

"Mummy, do you know when Kinomoto-sensei's competition is?" Haitang inquired through a mouthful of rice and fish.

Fuutie turned to Yelan who replied, "13 July, 2pm. At the National Stadium. She has sought my approval to take leave on that day."

"Oh! Can we go? Please?" Haitang asked, her eyes dilated in an earnest plea.

Her younger brother mirrored her and with his hands clasped together in front of his chest, he entreated, "Please, please, pretty please?"

"How's your schedule like for that day, Xiao Lang?" Yelan queried as she dipped her broccoli in a smattering of soy sauce in a small, shallow dish, calm and poised as always.

He could read between those lines. He knew what she wanted him to do.

"Possible to free up that day to bring the kids to watch Sakura's cheerleading performance?"

I knew it! Before Syaoran could open his mouth to speak, she added, "You should take the day off since it's your birthday."

Since when had birthdays become a legitimate excuse for taking the day off in the Li household? Syaoran eyed his mother suspiciously. She is definitely up to something. Whatever it was did not bode well with him. "I –

"That settles it then. Haitang, Haitian, your Uncle Xiao Lang will be your chaperone to the National Stadium to watch your sensei's performance," Yelan broke in, her tone crisp and final.

Syaoran knew there was no space for any sort of rebuttal or questions. Her decision was made. It was irrevocable. But this time, he didn't experience that usual nimbus of defiance that would brew and rise up inside him when it came to attending to matters that involved the fairer sex. Anyway, this wasn't a date. Not at all. He was only a chaperone for the kids. Nothing more than that. Although his impassioned logic tried to dissuade him from giving in to his mother's request, it was simply not strong enough to rule over his desire. His heart's desire. He wanted to see her, know more about her. She was like a page-turner – once you opened it, it was impossible to put it down.

That Kinomoto girl was one of a kind. The mere thought of her was able to warp his carefully cultivated sense of logic, now overtaken by this strong feeling that was puzzling, petrifying and stimulating all at the same time.

He, Li Syaoran, wanted Kinomoto Sakura. This searing desire felt foreign, but right to the bone.

Forest green sparks flew.

A metallic, melodious resonance resounded.

The bell fluttering outside the house had morphed into a metal piece of astounding shine.

Even if everything seemed illogical, the heart supported it. And that was all mattered, wasn't it?


She was on tenterhooks all morning and all through lunch. In fact, she had lost all appetite and had only managed to stomach a plate of omelette which was nibbled half-heartedly. Most of the delicious-smelling cooked egg with an assortment of vegetables was left untouched when she and her team left for the National Stadium.

They were less than an hour away from the commencement of the Annual Spring Cheerleading Competition. They gathered at the side section of the competition floor and started with warm-ups and stretches before performing one final run-through of their routine. Then, their coach gave them a pep talk to charge them up, reminding them to stay confident and give their best shot. After that, the girls double-checked their appearances, adjusting their ribbons in their hair, making sure their uniforms were in perfect condition and securing any loose strands of hair.

"Next up, we have the Sparkling Stars from the city of Tokyo!" a booming voice resonated through the stadium.

Sakura and her team huddled together, linking arms. They took a few deep breaths to calm any last-minute jitters. With a final cheer, they jogged towards the competition floor, putting on their brightest thousand-watt smiles.


Folding his arms and leaning back against one of the blue plastic adjoined chairs, and looking blasé, Syaoran watched the sprightly specks of females donned in uniforms jump, leap, tumble and do other jaw-dropping stunts which he kept reminding his excited niece and nephew never to try without adult supervision. Haitiang and Haitian watched the performance with eyes of tremendous wonder and slack-jawed faces. They were hypnotised by the dynamic, high-energy moves of the performers, letting out whoops of joy when they witnessed the breathtaking, transcendental toss stunts.

"Next up, we have the Sparkling Stars from the city of Tokyo!" a booming voice resonated through the stadium.

At the announcement, Syaoran sat up straight and his eyes started scanning the specks of human beings below. If only they had arrived earlier and got better seats, he would get a better, unobstructed view. He wasn't too bothered by the abysmal angle he was watching the performance from at first but at this juncture, he was annoyed that his vision was blocked by the sea of heads in front of him. He leaned forward, trying to spot a certain caramel head.

There. He saw her. She took her position in the centre of the formation. To his amazement, her movements were sharp, precise and full of vigour. She carried out the stunts effortlessly and seamlessly, her body seemed to be tailored for each of those challenging, intricate moves. Her stage presence was so powerful that it commanded the attention of even the apathetic laymen, such as himself. His eyes were stuck to her like superglue. He was completely and hopelessly entranced by her remarkable sense of control and her lithe body that flipped and twisted with such astounding ease and grace.

Thunderous applause resounded throughout the stadium as the cheerleaders of Sparkling Stars bowed, signalling the end of their competition showcase. They waved at their spectators as they filed out in a neat single line. Two young spectators seated on each side of their uncle jumped up to their feet and cheered, their voices shrill with excitement and their little fists waving wildly in the air as a sign of victory.

"Wasn't Kinomoto-sensei simply amazing?" Haitang enthused, still wide-eyed and grinning, catching her breath from all the whooping and hollering.

"Kinomoto-sensei was so, so cool!" exclaimed Haitian, bouncing up and down on his feet.

"I'm gonna get her to teach me some of the moves!" Haitang announced with an immense eagerness in her voice.

"Don't forget she's your tutor for Japanese and Mathematics, not gymnastics," Syaoran reminded, giving his niece a stern look which lasted for only a few seconds.

At her uncle's reminder, Haitang only grinned wider. "I know, Uncle. I know."

Syaoran could not help but to harbour a wee bit of suspicion that she was conjuring some kind of elaborate plan in that little head of hers. He chuckled to himself and turned his attention to the centre of the National Stadium which was now occupied by another cheerleading team.

"Shall we go find Kinomoto-sensei?" Haitian suggested, echoing exactly what Syaoran was wrestling inside his head. He felt his heart curl into a ball of nerves as he considered his nephew's innocent suggestion. What would he say to her? How should he present himself? Did he look presentable enough? Feeling self-conscious all of a sudden, he glanced down at his outfit - a cerulean short-sleeved button-down, a pair of white shorts and navy slip-ons. He didn't think he looked too sloppy in those. He believed he looked decent enough for her. Wait - since when did he care about how he looked? Never once had he bothered about how others would think about his outward appearance or the clothes he wore, not even on those dates he was coerced into going. But the thought of possibly meeting that Kinomoto girl sent him into a flurry of uncharacteristic nervousness about such a triviality. What would the Elders and his clan think if they knew their future leader was scrambling back and forth like a mouse in mortal peril because of a woman?

"Uncle?" Haitian called, he and Haitang peering up at him, perplexed at his contorted facial features. "Shall we go?" he asked again.

Snapped out of his internal monologue, Syaoran answered, "Sure, let's go."

"Yay! We'll lead the way! Kinomoto-sensei told us they will be at the field outside the stadium before they come back in to receive the results of the competition," Haitang said animatedly.

"Lead away, princess," Syaoran teased. Haitang was really a replica of her mother in both her physical features and mannerisms. It made him smile in spite of his swirling stomach and thudding heart.


"Good job, ladies! Know that whatever the outcome, you all did spectacularly! It was the performance of a lifetime!" Coach Hana commended glowingly. She was labelled as Cruella of Tokyo owing to her unwavering, sometimes villainous way of drilling and conditioning her squad members. But beneath her combative and forceful disposition, Coach Hana was one of the most compassionate and supportive coaches a cheerleading team could ever ask for.

"Captain, you have any words of encouragement for your teammates?" Coach Hana added as her eyes rested on Sakura.

Positioning herself in front of her teammates and coach, she started, "Like what Coach just said, no matter the result, we have given our best and that's all that matters. Words alone cannot express how grateful and blessed I am to be on the same team as all of you. Our hard toil may not necessarily culminate in the results we hope for but it's the journey that matters. Your dedication and tenacity have not gone unnoticed. Win or lose, what we've accomplished is huge and it's something be proud of. Thank you all for giving your best and for lifting each other up, not just today, but every step of the way. We pushed through every challenge as a team and kept our energy strong. That's what makes us unstoppable! This isn't the end - it's just another step in our journey together. I'm honoured to be your captain and to cheer alongside you all. Let's celebrate this moment, knowing that we've given our all. Go Sparkling Stars!"

Following Sakura's inspiring and uplifting speech, the rest of the team, including Coach Hana, erupted in cheers and applause. From the corner of her eye, she spotted two familiar short figures next to a taller frame standing a few metres away from her team. After excusing herself, she jogged towards them, waving happily.

"Thank you for coming!" Sakura panted as she neared her two students and their uncle.

Haitang and Haitian grinned from ear to ear, bounding with excitement. "You were amazing, Kinomoto-sensei!" they exclaimed in unison.

Returning their grin with her own, Sakura replied, "Thank you, you two!" She ruffled their hair playfully after giving them each a hug. When she withdrew herself from the siblings, she pivoted to face their uncle. For some unknown reason, her heart skipped a beat and again, she felt her face warming up reflexively.

Emerald fixed on amber.

For a split second, Sakura was wordless as she gawked at him - at his rugged good looks. She could feel the temperature of her cheeks rise a few notches as she realised what she was doing. She was ogling at the man in front of her. A really handsome one, to be exact.

"Still skittish from earlier?" Syaoran razzed.

Sakura blinked. "Yeah – I mean – no –"

Syaoran raised his eyebrows. This girl never failed to amuse him.

Collecting herself, Sakura managed a strained smile, an attempt to conceal the conflicting thoughts raging inside her. "Thank you for coming, Li-san."

Syaoran shrugged, as he stuck his hands into his pants' pockets. "No problem. I had fun. It was eye-opening."

"I'm glad you didn't find it boring," Sakura said in relief, her voice soft and her gaze timid before the future leader of the most pivotal and powerful clan in Asia.

"Far from it. Your team's performance was electrifying, by the way."

"R-really?" Sakura's heart swelled with elation. The Li heir's approval was like a dopamine-inducing drug - it made her ecstatic and it was addictive.

"I hope your team wins."

"Us too!" Haitang and Haitian chorused.

"Thank you." Sakura beamed at them.

"Sakura-chan! We need to head in now!" one of her teammates, Chiharu called.

"Coming!" Turning to the trio before her, Sakura said, "I gotta go. Thanks again for coming to support us."

"Today is Uncle's birthday! We are going for some cake later. Would you like to join us, Kinomoto-sensei?" Haitang asked, her eyes expectant.

"Oh! I didn't know… Sure, I'd love to! I'll catch y'all after they announce the results." Sakura caught Syaoran's eyes and added, "Happy birthday, Li-san."

Slightly taken aback, Syaoran replied sheepishly, "Thank you." That simple birthday wish had somehow made him feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. Her words, her voice, her presence - he felt as though he had a glimpse of heaven.

As he watched her trot back to her team, he found himself feeling a tinge of excitement simmering in the crevices of his heart. Ever so slowly and gently, Li Syaoran saw himself walk out of his invisible inner sanctum he had drawn around himself in all those years of desolation.

Happy birthday, Li-san.

It was unbelievable how, in that moment, her words seemed like her own arms wrapping him in a tender embrace.

It felt… nice.


"Order anything you want, okay? My treat!" Sakura announced cheerfully.

"I can't let – "

"I insist, Li-san. No one pays on their birthday, alright? Besides, you've all taken time out to come support me and my team today. It's the least I can do to thank the three of you." Turning to her two students who were studying the menu with every ounce of concentration they could gather in their little heads, Sakura asked, "Have the both of you decided what you want?"

"Hmm… we still can't decide. Everything looks so good on the menu!" Haitang murmured, her eyes still glued to the enticing photos of cakes and the myriad of sweet treats that the cafe offered.

"I would recommend their strawberry shortcake and chocolate crepe cake. They are the bestsellers here. Their matcha adzuki bean swiss roll is pretty delightful too if you're not a huge fan of sweet things," Sakura suggested.

"We love sweets!" Haitian exclaimed sunnily.

"Alright then, I'll get the both of you the strawberry shortcake and chocolate crepe cake! What about you, Li-san? What would you like?"

"Actually, I'm not really a dessert person-"

"Yeah, Uncle's favourite food is dim sum!" Haitian declared.

"Oh! I didn't know. Mm… I know there's a restaurant around the corner that serves really decent dim sum-"

"No, it's alright. I'll have the matcha roll," Syaoran cut in. When he saw Sakura's look of hesitance, he emphasised, "Really. I don't mind matcha."

"Are you sure? We can always-"

"Yes, I'm sure. Don't worry about it. Matcha's good," assured Syaoran.

"Alright then." Sakura smiled and headed for the counter to place order for the cakes.

"Could I have a candle for the matcha adzuki swiss roll?" Sakura requested in a low voice.

"Sure thing! We will deliver your cakes in a jiffy!" the cafe staff behind the counter chirped.

"Thanks!"

After informing her companions that she would be visiting the washroom for a bit, Sakura scrolled through her contacts and pressed Hideki's name. She had been bursting to share with him the news of her team winning the championship at the Annual Spring Cheerleading Competition. She had tried calling him earlier but there was no response. She figured he must be busy with training. She checked her watch again. It showed 4.38pm, so it meant it was now 11.38pm in California. Hideki should be back in his apartment after his training. Sakura drummed her fingers on her other arm anxiously as she listened to the steady ring, hoping that he would pick up soon.

There was a quick click on the other end of the line.

"Hello?" It was not Hideki. It was the voice of a woman.

"Erm… hi, this is Kimura Hideki's phone, is that correct?" Sakura inquired, feeling an unease creeping up her stomach.

"Yes, who's this?" the woman drawled.

"I'm Kinomoto Sakura. I'm Hideki's-"

"Ah… Hideki's girlfriend from Japan."

"Y-yes. And you are…"

"I'm Kairi Adams. I believe… we share a common love interest." There was a hint of derision in her words, which made Sakura's chest tighten and her breath shorter than the last.

"What – what do you mean?" Sakura's voice wavered, dropping in pitch. Her stomach started to twist as a sense of foreboding engulfed her entire being.

Sakura's question was followed by a snigger. "Well, if you want me to put it across point-blank… Kimura Hideki is someone I love."

Kimura Hideki is someone I love. Love.

Sakura's head started to spin. What did she just hear? Surely, there must be some kind of misunderstanding. Surely…

"Hello? You still there?" came the voice that Sakura had grown to loathe in those brief minutes. She had never known hate. But right now, she could feel herself seething with… jealousy? Indignation? She didn't know. She didn't want to know.

"Hideki is in the shower at the moment. Would you like him to call you back?" Again, that derision in her words that made Sakura feel dim-witted. She felt downright foolish. Not wanting to humiliate herself further, she disconnected the call.


Smirking at Hideki's phone which had returned to the home screen, Kairi swiped away the incoming call notification from Kinomoto Sakura, erasing it like it never happened. He didn't need to know she had called. She, Kairi Adams, was never known to share her man with anyone. Kimura Hideki was hers and hers alone. And she was not prepared to let anything - anyone - scupper the relationship she had with him.


"Are you alright, Kinomoto-sensei? You were away for quite a while," asked a concerned Haitang.

Sakura gave her a tight-lipped smile. "I'm alright." Seeing the cakes on the table, she added, "Let's sing a birthday song to your uncle, shall we?"

"It's really not necess –"

Ignoring Syaoran's protest, Sakura gestured to the waitress. "Could you help us light up the candle, please?"

"Sure thing, dear!"

In a nanosecond, the waitress came back with a lighter. She clicked it and set the candle alight. After thanking the waitress, Sakura and the siblings sang the birthday song in hushed voices. She had to stifle a giggle upon seeing how awkward the Li heir looked.

"Make a wish," Sakura coaxed.

Reluctantly, Syaoran closed his eyes and a moment of silence followed. Opening his eyes once more, he blew out the candle.

"Happy birthday, Uncle! We love you!" Haitang and Haitian chirruped, as they gave Syaoran a tight hug.

"Happy birthday, Li-san. I wish you all the happiness in the world. You deserve it," Sakura wished, grinning at him.

"Thanks." Syaoran's lips curved into a small, appreciative smile.

Noticing that the Kinomoto girl was unusually quiet and distracted when the siblings tried to engage her in their banter, Syaoran asked, his voice low, "Is everything alright? You were gone for quite a long while earlier on. Do you feel unwell?"

Sakura smiled. "Everything's alright. Thanks for asking, Li-san." She broke his graze abruptly and continued picking on her strawberry shortcake, not really focusing on what she was doing. Though she was all smiles outwardly, Syaoran could sense that something was troubling her. And he did not like the notion of her crumbling helplessly on the inside, all alone. He wished there was something he could do.

"So, erm, where are you celebrating with your team later on? Winning championship in a national event is huge after all," Syaoran started, his voice a tad uncertain. He was not used to making small talk.

Still toying with her cake, Sakura answered dismissively, "The girls suggested one of the nightclubs in Shibuya." She tried to smile but it turned out half-hearted.

Nightclubs. Shibuya. It was an all too familiar scene that Syaoran had found himself in in his youth. He used to frequent these places though not of his own volition. He was assigned the task of protecting the well-being of his cousin, Meiling, by his mother while she gallivanted around late into the night. He had never enjoyed the night scene in Shibuya. It was too wild, too bright, too loud. But he felt a need to ensure she was safe. She was like a little sister to him. And he knew night clubs housed men who were not all innocent and pure, and drunkards were not an uncommon sight.

"Ah, I see."

Somehow, the thought of the Kinomoto girl in a nightclub with a pack of leering, predatory men did not sit well with him. But there was nothing he could do, was there? They were barely acquainted and it really wasn't his business to encroach on her social life. And if she would be accompanied by her teammates like what was implied from her earlier response, he guessed it was unlikely she would be in any sort of danger.

Still, he wished he could give her a long spiel about why girls like her should not visit a nightclub.

He wished. And that wish would remain nothing but a mirage.


"Ugh, Hiiragizawa, I can't believe you brought me here. You know how I -"

"Relax, cousin," Eriol reassured. "You're gonna have fun. You look you like you need some." Taking his annoyed cousin by the arm, Eriol pulled him from the busy, well-lit streets of Shibuya into the darkened walkway that led to the interior of The Alley, one of the most popular night spots in the district. "I've invited Yamazaki and the boys too. It's only once when a young man turns twenty-six, no?" Eriol continued to lug his protesting cousin through the tunnel-like walkway into the main area where the club's patronisers were already gyrating to loud, bass-heavy music, further energised by neon lights that strobed across the dance floor, while some hung out at the bar imbibing clear or bright-coloured conscience-thwarting liquids.

Just when Syaoran was about to retort with profanities, he caught sight of a familiar head of honey-coloured hair in the middle of the brightly lit dance floor. She was dancing, moving with perfect rhythm. Her hips swayed to the beat, and her arms raised gracefully above her head, catching the flashes of coloured lights that bounced around the room. Her eyes were closed, as though lost in the music. There was a slight smile on her lips as she moved with confidence and freedom. Her hair swung with each turn, catching the furiously dancing lights, and she glowed with a passion that seemed to draw others' attention without even trying. Soon, she was surrounded by hungry-looking men waiting to devour their prey. But she remained oblivious to them all.

"Sakura-chan seems to be having the time of her life, huh." Syaoran overheard one of her friends' comment.

"Yeah, she does. One of the beautiful, profound effects of alcohol, isn't it?" another one of her friends mused.

"She looked a little out of sorts just now, though. I suspect it has something to do with Kimura-kun." The brown-haired girl's eyes darkened as she seemed to be mulling over her own spoken suspicion.

"What about?"

"I'm not sure. When I asked her if she had told Kimura-kun that we won first place, she only shook her head and did not elaborate further. And… she looked kind of… broken. Her eyes were watery when I mentioned Kimura-kun's name. You know, like how people would look when they break up?"

Break up? Kimura? So the Kinomoto girl has a boyfriend? And for whatever reason, they aren't exactly on good terms now, Syaoran thought to himself as he tried to piece the bits of information he got from… wait. What was he doing, eavesdropping on other people's conversation?

Whether he was snooping or not was not pertinent to what he was concerned about in that moment. All he knew was that she had still gone through all the trouble of celebrating his birthday and keeping her spirits up when she was probably dealing with a host of unpleasant emotions that must have arisen from some relationship woes with that Kimura guy he had overheard her friend mention.

He felt… he didn't know what he should feel. All he knew was that he wanted to make sure she was alright. Whatever she was dealing with had no authority to erode her happiness, her joy. Much to Eriol's perplexity, Syaoran marched towards the chaotic dance floor and squeezed through the warm, sweaty bodies, sidestepping a couple of girls who overtly shot him sensual looks as they attempted to rub their bodies against his. After a few curse words being hurled at him by some of the guys who wanted to press themselves up against the green-eyed dancing sensation and many unwanted touches by random girls who each wanted a piece of him, Syaoran found himself right behind his target. She did not notice him until he grabbed her by her arm and pulled her with him, away from the dance floor. He could feel her trying to break free from his firm grasp on her arm.

"What are you doing?" she protested, her words slightly slurred.

She reeked of alcohol, a smell that did not fit her sweet, unassuming personality. She did not belong here. He wanted to take her away, as far as he could from this place. With the sub-conscious Sakura in tow, Syaoran meandered through the crowd until they were free from the ardently charged clusters of club patronisers. Then, he released his grip on her.

"You're drunk, Kinomoto," Syaoran said dryly.

Sakura flashed him a simpering smile. "What are you doing here, future leader of the Li clan?"

"I… my cousin brought me here," Syaoran said, his voice trailing off.

"I see," she acknowledged, giggling like a schoolgirl. "You're here to pick up some chicks, huh." She nodded her head towards the dance floor. She staggered unsteadily as she struggled to balance herself.

"Look, I'll bring you home. Let's go," Syaoran stated firmly, holding her by her shoulders to steady her.

Sakura shrugged his hands off. "Leave me alone. I'm fine."

"You're not. You are drunk."

"Better than being sober," Sakura muttered, her body swaying like the tree branches on a windy day.

"I'll go get you some water." Syaoran was about to turn on his heels and head for the bar when he felt a clammy hand grasp his own.

"Stay."

Syaoran swivelled to face her. Her eyes were a shade darker, a longing pouring from her intense gaze.

Emerald fixed on amber.

Every cell in his body froze as she edged closer, her face just an inch from the crook of his neck. He could hear her breath, slow and deep.

"You smell like bergamot," she breathed, her nose tickling his skin. Then, she tilted her head upwards to meet his gaze. Cupping his face, her hold surprisingly tender and careful in her intoxicated state, she whispered, "You're handsome. Really… handsome." Her eyes… when she looked at him like that, with so much fondness, so much desire, it made him utterly helpless.

Syaoran stood rooted to the ground, transfixed, as he let her fingers trace the contours of his face. He had never allowed anyone to touch him like that - she had pushed past his boundaries, toppling over every invisible fence that surrounded his heart. She had unapologetically and brazenly intruded his zone. And he did not want to stop her. He watched her searching eyes trace every part of him that she could land them on, holding his breath with great trepidation. What would become of him if he continued to allow her to explore him, to seek him, to touch him, the way she was doing now?

Syaoran stiffened as he felt her head rest against his chest, her hands doing the same. His heart was hammering so loudly that it could easily drown out the blaring music from the dance floor. His arms hung stiffly at his sides as he heard her let out a soft sigh.

"You're cuddly, like my teddy bear," she mumbled, her eyes closed in contentment. "But you're handsome. Handsome men can't be trusted."

Although he knew Sakura was not in her most levelheaded state and she was probably only prattling, he could not help but to feel the need to defend himself. "I don't consider myself handsome," he stated, his tone solemn, "And no one has ever told me I – "

"But you're very cuddly. And warm. Being so close to you… makes me feel at home," she sighed, burying her head deeper into his shirt.

Syaoran wondered how much of this night she would remember when she woke from her tipsy trance, but he figured it didn't really matter. All it mattered was this very moment that he was having with her. It all felt so surreal yet tangible as the soothing heat of her body spread across his own. Although her breath was heavy with the smell of liquor, she exuded the sweet scent of strawberries and vanilla. He didn't want to rouse from this sublime reverie…

"You're a jerk, a despicable, deceitful jerk," Sakura blurted.

"Wha-"

"How could you lie to my face and say you love me when you're in the arms of another woman?"

She balled up her hands into fists, but her eyes were still closed. "Did I… Did I mean anything to you?" Tears streamed down her eyes.

"I'm afraid… you do, Kinomoto," Syaoran muttered into her hair. He fought the urge to circle his arms around her, to hold her tight against him. He didn't want to run away from himself anymore. He was tired of living like a hermit, tired of always trying to live up to others' expectations of him, tired of all his apprehensions about exposing himself to trivialities.

And who said the small things didn't matter? If they didn't, the world wouldn't exist, would it? Atoms, molecules, particles, cells – they are the small things that make up the big things in the universe.

He was a human being with a beating heart, not a robot assembled mechanically. And humans are meant to feel. Humans are created out of love to love and be loved. Where love is, fear cannot exist.

After an endless mental turmoil, Syaoran tuned out every voice of disapproval and gently, ever so gently, wrapped his arms around the girl whom he was going to learn about love all over again, inhaling strawberries and vanilla – a scent that was so untainted, so comforting.

For once, he prayed that whatever his mother's plan was, it would all work out seamlessly.

He scooped her sleeping frame up in one graceful sweep and made his way out of The Alley, leaving Eriol and his friends behind wondering where in the world the birthday boy had gone to.


SummerSensations: Thank you for reading till the end! :)