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 her Li Syaoran, but the 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.

Disclaimer: Fushigi Island is a fictitious place for the purpose of this story. :)

Chapter 6: Only a Possibility

"I must say, Syaoran, I'm really proud of you. I'd never thought I'd live to see this day," Eriol Hiiragizawa said, thumping his disgruntled cousin on his back, his fingers brushing away invisible tears.

"Well, too bad you have," Syaoran mumbled. "Now, could you please take your hands off me?"

Eriol stepped away, chuckling. "Fine, fine. Seriously though, I still can't believe you asked a lady out. You. The trampler of hearts." He sauntered across Syaoran's office and plopped himself onto the slate blue lounger sofa, his right arm hung idly over one of the removable cushions.

Fingers clacking away furiously on the keyboard, Syaoran retorted, "You can't force something that isn't meant to be. I'd be a real jerk if I led them on."

"So you think you and that tutor are meant to be?" Eriol asked, his tone slightly teasing, but his eyes were fixed and intent.

He could be insatiably inquisitive at times and that irked Syaoran to the hilt. He stopped typing and looked up from his computer. He lounged against his chair and exhaled deeply. "I don't know. All I know is… she is different from anyone I've met."

"And you like how she makes you feel in her presence," Eriol said, reflecting exactly Syaoran's sentiments which had been tarrying inside him for weeks.

Instead of his usual tart, acid response and menacing glare, his usually scrutinising brown eyes were soft and pensive as he let Eriol's words linger, letting the memories of their few encounters caress his soul. Yes, their interactions thus far were scant but they were enough to bring him into a state of pure bliss every time he allowed himself time to indulge in every word that was exchanged between them, every touch that sent delightful tingling in his spine and every minute detail of her beautiful face that made his heart race like a determined sprinter whose sole goal was to reach the finish line first. Li Syaoran had many goals set for himself, in business, in training, in everything that he needed to accomplish as the future leader of his clan. He even set goals for the dates his Mother arranged for him—how many sessions he would give each girl before he called it quits. He was very adept at planning, foreseeing problems and formulating solutions to forestall any unwanted conundrum. But with the Kinomoto girl, every skill and knowledge he had acquired in his years of intensive cognitive and physical trainings were rendered irrelevant. He could plan but chances were it would be derailed. He could foresee potential hurdles but his pragmatic foresight would likely be overshadowed by his beating organ inside his chest cavity. Instead of coming up with answers, he himself needed elucidation when it came to her. Logic could not stand when it came down to the matters of the heart.

"Have you heard from the second daughter of the Wangs?" Eriol asked, breaking his train of thoughts.

"Who?" Syaoran eyed his cousin quizzically, as if the question was out of this world.

Eriol smirked wryly. "The one whom you just dumped, not too long ago."

Syaoran blinked, as a light of recognition flickered in his eyes. "You mean Erika Wang?"

"How many second daughters does the Wang family have?" Eriol replied, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Ignoring the bespectacled man's taunting tone, Syaoran said, "I haven't heard from her since our last conversation at the hotel. Why do you ask?"

Eriol shrugged noncommittally. "I just thought with their extent of influence and insurmountable pride of their own kind, I was expecting a backlash against you. Her father is not one to contend with."

"He should be thankful I put a stop to dating his daughter. I don't think he would want her to spend the rest of her life with an empty shell."

Eriol raised his eyebrows, half amused, half sympathetic. "So you acknowledge you're one giant iceberg?"

Syaoran shot him daggers with a glare as scorching as the midday sun. Once again, he chose to snub his comment and went on, "Erika is a decent girl. She deserves someone who can truly love her the way she deserves."

Nodding his head slowly and deliberately, Eriol asked, "What if her clan threatens you into marrying her? I heard they are one formidable bunch. Besides, your family is highly sought after by many other prestigious ones. The Wangs are especially power-hungry. They will do anything to connect their lineage with yours." A genuine look of worry eclipsed his usually puckish disposition as he continued, "You cannot be too cautious when it comes to the Wang's, Xiao Lang. Tread lightly but carefully."

Eriol's unusually concerned tone took Syaoran by surprise, causing him to be uncharacteristically agreeable to his childhood nemesis. "I—I will. Thanks for the heads-up."

"Anyway, good luck with your tutor. I hope she teaches you a thing or two about how to be more approa—"

Eriol dodged a pen that was flying across the room towards him and ran for the door. Peeking his head in, he added, "You know where to find me if your luck ever runs out!"

Before Syaoran could hurl another stationery at his navy blue-haired cousin, the door clicked shut. Reclining against his leather swivel chair, his palms resting on his stomach, he mulled over what Eriol had just said. Though he could be a prick most of the time, his words could not be dismissed as without veracity.

The Wangs. He had never given much thought about their clan until just then. Eriol mentioned they were an influential family. Come to think of it, their name seemed to ring a bell but he could not quite piece it to any fragment of his memory where he had heard about them. Perhaps his mother could enlighten him. He needed to preclude even the remotest source of menace that could jeopardise the security and position of his clan. That—was his responsibility as the future leader of the Li clan.

Sakura's phone chimed. A message had come in for her. She tapped the screen lightly to unlock it. The phone flickered to life and she swiped gently to the messaging app. The name 'Li Syaoran' appeared at the top of her list of messages because she had just received a text from him. She tapped it open with her thumb.

*I'll see you at the foyer at 10am tomorrow. Dress comfortably.*

Just when Sakura was about to reply Syaoran's message, a notification popped up. It was from Hideki. Her brows furrowed as she tapped it open.

*Hey, haven't heard from you in a while. Everything ok?*

Sakura sighed irritably and slid her finger across the screen, pushing the message aside. She tapped open the conversation with Li Syaoran again and her thumbs hovered over the keyboard to type a response.

*Ok. See you tomorrow.*

It was Friday, a day before her 'date' with the Li son. She had let him decide where to bring them simply because she didn't like to make decisions. It was the same with Hideki. When they were together, she would often leave it to him to decide—be it the restaurant they were to dine in, the movie they were to watch, the park or the mall to gallivant around, stroll or lounge after a meal, everything. Sakura enjoyed letting Hideki take the lead in their relationship. Was she not fully invested in the relationship? Truth was, despite being the passive partner that she was, Sakura had always made sure to appreciate every ounce of effort her boyfriend had put in to make their dates impeccably pleasant. As often as possible and whenever appropriate, Sakura would shower him with words of affection, appreciation and admiration, and she would listen intently to everything he had to say by giving him the occasional nod of her head or her favourite verbal affirmation of 'mmhmm' which was really more than just a two-syllable sound that came out of her mouth. She would look at him with those soft, endearing eyes of hers as she hung on every word he said. Occasionally, her lips would curl into a subtle smile that conveyed both affection and understanding, as if she were silently reassuring him that she was right there with him, hanging on his every thought. With Hideki, Sakura listened more than she talked—not because she was naturally an introvert (which she really wasn't) but because she knew the way to a man's heart wasn't a loquacious girl whose words were aplenty but tiresome to the listener. She wanted to give Hideki the impression that all that he said and did mattered a great deal to her and she hoped he could sense her genuine care and love for him.

She wanted to be the perfect partner for Hideki perhaps because deep down she knew she was too average for his calibre. She wanted him to believe and know that he did not make the wrong choice of having her as his girlfriend. But she guessed all her careful treading around her boyfriend proved to be futile. He was her boyfriend, for heaven's sake. She should be able to loosen up and just be herself whenever she was with him, shouldn't she? A deeper ache came to the surface; whatever she had done or tried was just… not enough. She was not enough.

Sakura's phone chimed again. A message notification flashed on the screen—it was another message from Hideki. Sakura unlocked her phone and tapped open the message.

*Are you free now? Wanna talk?*

Talking to Hideki and hearing his voice were two things she used to look forward to ever since he moved five thousand miles across the globe, away from Japan. She would always be the one waiting, for she knew better than to get all clingy and monopolising in a relationship. She had heard enough tragic tales in which love became hate, attraction reduced to complete repulsion, words of affection succeeded by words as venomous as the taipan snake. Hence, she was prudent not to do anything that would jeopardise the harmony of their relationship. She had given all her heart to Kimura Hideki. Perhaps that was why she was so afraid of being let down. The more you invested, the greater the potential loss.

Disdain, resentment, hate—the very lethal ingredients that could corrode one's heart, devoid it of any kind of love. Had her feelings for Hideki turned to hate? How could it when she had once adored him like a puppy would its owner? That was the flip side of a love story. Horrendous, wasn't it? Love, it seemed, had a satirical humour that could diminish one's joy.

Sakura's phone chimed again. Another message notification from Hideki flashed on the screen. Sighing as though she was tasked with an unavoidable drudgery, she opened the message. It was a GIF image of two bears cuddling, their chubby faces squished against each other. The words 'I miss you' bordered at the bottom of the image. Normally, such a picture message would cause a soft, affectionate stir to ripple through her heart, making her smile childishly to herself. But now, all she felt was an iceberg of numbness that no amount of heat could dissolve. Then again, she knew she could not avoid him forever. He needed to know that she knew. There was nothing else to lose.

*Sure. Call me in five.*

After pressing the 'send' button, Sakura closed her eyes and breathed deep and intentionally. She willed her heart to be as calm as the gentle breeze that blew through her window, tickling her skin.

Exactly five minutes later, Sakura's phone rang with the custom ringtone she had set for Hideki. She thought about all the times when she had been so excited to hear that melody, and grew wistful. She took one last deep breath and answered it, "Hey."

"Hey, what's my favourite girl doing?"

Favourite? So he was covertly hinting he was seeing other girls and she, Sakura, happened to be his favourite? She swatted that thought away, mentally chastising herself for entertaining such absurdity. But there was a modicum of truth in her mockable imaginations. He was having a clandestine affair with another woman. Sakura felt her insides burn with blistering pain as she tried to focus on their conversation which she knew was not going to be one that would make either party wriggle in delight or culminate in words of endearment.

"Nothing much. I just woke up."

"I figured. You like to sleep in on your days off."

Sakura could hear a soft chuckle on the other end of the line.

"I've been meaning to call you sooner but you know, I was drowned with trainings and —"

"Seeing other girls?" Sakura cut in, her tone sharp. She could not take it anymore. She had to confront him.

There was a brief pause before Hideki said, sounding bewildered, "What? What do you mean?" The frantic in his voice was undeniable. Sakura could picture his handsome face scrunched up like a piece of crumpled paper.

"Actually, I called you after the cheerleading competition to tell you we won first place—"

"You did? Wait, let me check."

After a few seconds, Sakura heard Hideki mumble to himself, "That's strange, I don't see your name on my list of missed calls."

"That's because someone answered on your behalf," Sakura stated flatly, her voice sounding far away and hollow.

Another silence. This time, the silence was thick with tension.

"Who… answered?"

Sakura could sense the grave apprehension in his velvety voice which used to cause her to shudder with pure pleasure. Right now, it only deepened the emptiness she felt in her core.

"A woman who claimed that Kimura Hideki is someone she loves." Sakura did not bother to hide her sting of betrayal by the one on the other end of the line. "I'm pretty sure you know her name, seeing how she was at your place while you showered and even answeredyour phone for you. And she loves you. You should know her name, at least, shouldn't you?"

Hideki did not speak. But Sakura could hear his raspy breath. It sounded like… he was seething.

"Sakura, look, I—I can explain—" He sounded utterly discombobulated.

But Sakura could not find any trickle of sympathy or compassion in her for him anymore. She was overcome by a fierce, piercing rage which made her go off like a grenade.

"About how much you love her as well? About how you've been treating me like a fool all this time? Hideki, whatever you're gonna say, it's not going to explain away this woman's existence in your life. I mean — how could you? The woman loves you, for heaven's sake! And God knows what you've been doing with her behind my back!"

"Sakura, I—"

"No, Hideki. You don't need to explain anything. Because… I'm done. We're done." Sakura's voice broke at the last word.

"Can I video-call you?" Hideki asked, his tone plaintive and pleading.

"No. Don't make this any harder for me." There was a slight tremor in her voice. She needed to end the call. She needed to cry. She needed to scream.

"Sakura, please, let me—"

"Goodbye, Hideki." With these final words, Sakura ended the call.

Tossing her phone away from her sight, she rolled over onto her bed, completely frazzled, and buried her face into the pillow. She screamed and cried until her lungs were drained of any remaining sound, leaving only silence that filled the void of her soul.

It was seven minutes to ten. Sakura stood before the vanity as she made the final adjustments to her appearance. She picked up a brush and gently swept its bristles across her eyelids, adding a final hint of eyeshadow that brought out the green of her eyes and (hopefully) reduced the puffiness around her eyelids. She leaned closer to the mirror, squinting slightly as she applied a thin stroke of eyeliner, the motion precise and confident. Sakura had never really been exposed to the world of cosmetics until cheerleading. Her best friend, Daidouji Tomoyo, had given her mini lessons on makeup techniques whenever she had time. From a complete novice who did not know how to differentiate among the different types of makeup brushes and could only visualise the face of a colourfully painted clown's face whenever she saw the overwhelming array of cosmetic products and tools laid out in front of her, Sakura was now able to deftly embellish her face without looking like she was part of the Halloween cast at the annual Halloween party at the Universal Studios in Osaka.

After applying a thin layer of gloss on her rose-coloured lips, Sakura smacked her them together to even out the coating. She took a step back and checked her reflection—radiant, poised, no hint that she had been bawling her eyes out for hours the previous night. She smoothed out the hem of her white sundress that was adorned with aquamarine floral prints. The dress was a relaxed and loose fit, falling just above her knees. Sakura hoped she was dressed comfortably enough for her outing with the Li son, which brought her to wonder where he was planning to take her. He had not provided any more details other than telling her to 'dress comfortably' the previous day.

Grabbing her dusty pink satchel bag and draping it across her shoulder, she made sure she had every essential thing inside it before she left her room. Her phone had been silent since her last conversation with Hideki. So far, he had not attempted to contact her. It wouldn't make any difference, anyway. Sakura was not the sort who got caught up in what was gone and not meant to be hers. Forward was the only way in life.

After closing her bedroom door behind her, Sakura glanced at her Swarovski chronograph watch. Its rose gold minute hand indicated she was going to be late if she didn't hurry up. A sudden pang of regretful nostalgia twisted her insides as the sight of the object on her wrist unravelled a distant yet poignant memory in which a sweet, tender Hideki gifted her with a medium-sized velvety pastel pink box just last Christmas. In it sat the watch she was currently wearing on her left wrist—a luxurious rose gold case and pink, iridescent mother-of-pearl dial, with a hundred little sparkling crystals set around its face, and a pink, crocodile-patterned leather strap. It was the most exquisite timepiece Sakura had ever seen or owned. She had cherished it with all her heart and it had become second nature for her to put it on before heading out. Hence, she did not think twice when she strapped the watch around her wrist earlier on. She thought about removing it but she was running late and she didn't want to appear tardy to the Li son. Shrugging it off as just an inanimate object, Sakura trotted down the carpeted corridor and smiled at every household staff whom she walked past.

When she reached the spiral staircase that led down to the foyer, she spotted Li Syaoran seated on the graphite-coloured armchair, his long trousered legs were slightly apart and his knees were angled outwards. His elbows rested on both his knees as he typed on his smartphone. He was donned in a crisp sage green Oxford button-down, its sleeves rolled to his elbows, and a pair of light-wash straight fit jeans rolled at the hems, ending just above the indoor slippers that covered his feet. His choice of ensemble gave him a relaxed and effortless vibe without losing sophistication. His chestnut-coloured hair was slightly tousled. He looked… really handsome. Sakura didn't realise she was staring until he caught her eyes which went wide with unadulterated embarrassment. Her face could not be any redder at that moment.

Syaoran got to his feet, one of his hands still clutching his phone. "Good morning," he greeted in his deep, resonant voice that could make any girl blush.

Sakura did not realise she was gripping the wooden railing with so much strength that her knuckles had turned white. A million thoughts raced through her mind and yet she couldn't think of anything to say. No, at that moment, she had forgotten how to even utter a simple morning greeting. She was that pathetic. Her body had also forgotten how to move—it seemed that every bone and muscle had frozen to the spot. And why was that? Because Li Syaoran, in all his splendour, had greeted her in that delightfully captivating voice of his. This was his power—doing nothing but everything at the same time.

Thankfully, Sakura's feet remembered how to at least shuffle. She let them dominate her descent to the foyer, where she was supposed to be five minutes ago. Her hand sliding lightly down the wooden railing as she descended the spiral stairs, Sakura felt like she was in one of the scenes in Beauty and the Beast where Belle made her way down the grand staircase towards Beast, except of course, Li Syaoran was the transformed version. As she neared the lower landing, she almost thought he was going to walk up to her, extending a hand like a prince would his princess. That mere thought was so laughable that she nearly tripped over herself. So much for pretending to be a princess. Sakura mentally rolled her eyes at herself.

Syaoran stuffed his phone into his back pocket, his eyes fixated on his companion for the day who was approaching him with such an abashed countenance that he couldn't help but to feel a heat rising to his neck and his face. With her pink face and the way her honey-coloured hair hung fetchingly round it, he thought she looked absolutely stunning. She seemed to emit a golden glow of light, dimming everything else but the source.

When Sakura approached him with an uncertain smile on her face, Syaoran found himself grinning back like a little boy—only he did so discreetly. In that spellbinding moment, he felt he could uproot his life and give everything up if she had told him to. All he wanted to do was to drink her up, breathe her in. Nothing else mattered. Not even the email he was replying to halfway just a minute ago. He rubbed his hands together and said, "Shall we?"

"May I ask—where are we going?" Sakura asked as she tried to ignore the curious stares from passing maidservants.

Syaoran held out of one of his strong-looking hands, positioning it towards the back of the foyer, and gestured Sakura to follow him. He took a few steps in front of her and led the way to the back of the house. After many morning greetings from the household staff, opulent-looking ornaments and exclusive-looking paintings, Sakura found herself standing at what seemed to be the mansion's back patio. It was expansive and furnished with wicker chairs. Vibrant flower beds, topiary animals and evocative sculptures dotted the space. Just a few feet away, there was a sleek, circular pool accentuated by waterfalls cascading from tiered stone features, giving off a soothing, tranquil feel. Sakura had not seen this part of the Li compound until now. She wondered how many more impressive hidden spots existed within this monumental estate that the Lis called home.

A buggy rolled up towards them in a rhythmic sort of way. Wait—did she just see a buggy? Weren't those things only found in golf courses?

"It would be a fifteen- to twenty-minute walk to the helipad. A buggy would help us reach there faster," Syaoran explained in that refined tone of his, answering her unspoken question.

Just how big the entire compound was if one needed to walk that long to reach another part of it? And did he just say helipad?

"After you."

Syaoran tilted his head towards the buggy as he offered his hand to her. Sakura took it and instantly, she felt an electrifying jolt course through her entire arm. Why did he always have such an all-consuming but riveting effect on her? Chewing her lip as though trying to put a stop to her distracting thoughts, Sakura wordlessly climbed onto the cute-looking vehicle. Syaoran hopped in after her.

Within five minutes, they reached a secluded, spacious area of the property. They alighted the buggy one after the other and Sakura had to suppress a breath of surprise when she saw what was before her. She was so stunned that she forgot to thank the driver for his service. An aerial fleet was parked neatly side by side on an open area of sprawling, well-manicured land. Sakura turned to look at Syaoran with her mouth agape. "All—all these are yours?" Her eyes darted across the expansive landscape that housed vehicles that were capable of flying in the sky, as if in a daze.

Syaoran, who was typing away on his phone, replied offhandedly, "Yeah, they are shared among our family members."

"So you and your family don't really need to go to the airport when you travel abroad?" Sakura asked, her tone was one of unconcealed incredulity. She still could not believe what she was seeing. She thought she would only witness such a scene in Korean dramas.

"Not if we can help it," came Syaoran's nonchalant reply.

"I see," Sakura said, feeling rather inane. "So, erm, we're gonna take one of these?" She had just earned more points for her vacuous questions and comments.

Syaoran looked up from his phone and answered, "We are taking the helicopter today." He made it sound so casual that Sakura thought he was merely deciding on whether they should take the train or taxi to wherever they were going.

"Oh, okay. So, can you tell me now where we are headed to? In a helicopter?" Sakura inquired, trying to sound as indifferent as her burgeoning sense of astonishment would allow.

The corners of Syoaran's lips twitched upwards in a small smile. "Fushigi Island."

"Oh, I didn't know there was such an island in Japan."

"That's because I bought it just a few months ago and named it as such," Syaoran answered, shrugging. He might as well be saying he just bought a pet dog and gave it a name.

Sakura thought she could never be any more flabbergasted than she was right then.

Who in the world bought an island?

The view from the helicopter was so breathtaking that Sakura had forgotten how to breathe. Her eyes feasted avariciously on the lush landscapes and the shimmering vibrant turquoise surface of the ocean that looked almost like liquid glass with just the faintest ripples from the breeze. There was so much to take in—the vast stretch of the Earth's hydrosphere glistening splendidly under the sun, the jagged cliffs rising sharply from the shore and the distant hum of the helicopter as it hovered above a world so different from the one below. The scene felt so surreal that Sakura thought it looked like a painting brought to life. She glanced at Syaoran—he was looking out of the aircraft, the wind ruffling his hair. Could anyone get used to such an idyllic panorama of such divine creation? This was something she had never once dreamed of experiencing and for that, she was grateful to him for giving her this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Throughout the ride, Syaoran was his usual taciturn self. He didn't speak a word, seeming to be in a world of his own. Sakura wondered what he might be thinking. Or perhaps he wasn't thinking about anything in particular but admiring the scene beneath him? The admixture of the constant hum of the rotating blades above, the whirring of mechanical parts and the steady whistling of moving air filled the silence between them. Sakura tried to think of a topic to talk about but she didn't want to end up prattling or making any asinine remarks like she probably did a few nights ago at The Alley. She decided to let herself be comfortable in just the sounds of nature and machines.

"Sir, we will be descending soon," the pilot informed.

Syaoran gave a slight nod of his head in acknowledgement.

As the helicopter began its descent, the transition from flight to landing was almost seamless. The landing was nearly imperceptible and well-executed. There was no jarring motion or hard impact; just the lightest bump, as if the pilot had carefully placed the aircraft back on the ground like one would a fragile piece of antique.

"This is by far the smoothest landing I've ever experienced," remarked Sakura as she disembarked from the helicopter with the help of her companion.

"We hire the best," Syaoran stated plainly.

"Could you fly one of those?" Sakura asked, genuinely curious. For someone who owned a fleet of aircraft, she thought he was probably capable of operating them like how he could drive.

"I do have a Private Pilot Certificate," Syaoran replied matter-of-factly.

Sakura's eyes dilated. "You do?"

"You sound surprised."

"I mean, having a flying license isn't that mainstream, is it?" Sakura mused. "You're the first person I know who can fly an aircraft."

"I'm glad to know," Syaoran replied, amused.

"Why didn't you pilot the helicopter yourself, though?" Sakura asked, her inquisitiveness about the future leader of one of the most prominent clans getting the better of her.

"It's like asking why need a chauffeur when you have driver's license, isn't it?" Syaoran wisecracked.

"Right," Sakura muttered, still trying to acclimate to the grandiose way of life of people like the Lis.

The glare of the mid-morning sun made Sakura squint. She placed a hand above her eyes to help her see more clearly. There was a lot of greenery encircling the helipad. The island she was standing on didn't look any different from where she had just come from—the sky was the same azure blue, the clouds were the same fluffy white, except… the surrounding air. It was enchantingly crisp, even though it was the peak of summer. It felt as if someone had placed a gigantic air-conditioner over the island, set to an optimal temperature and level of humidity that could make one sigh in pure bliss. Unlike ordinary air that one was accustomed to breathing in, the air here felt lighter, softer, almost weightless. Amazingly, Sakura was quite certain that she could make out a delicate shimmer to the air around her, making it all vivid and mercurial. The cool, light breeze felt like it was gliding with a sense of purpose, wrapping her in an invisible embrace. It was reminiscent of the peculiar sensation she had encountered in his room before.

Then she picked up a scent that was mysteriously transitory, mildly sweet and tenuously floral. There seemed to be a trove of secrets and carefully concealed whispers of words entombed within it, waiting to be discovered by those who would tune out all pandemonium and tune in to the stillness within themselves. Sakura closed her eyes for a little while, just to immerse her entire being in this magical thrall from which she didn't want to escape. She let its wonderful warmth envelope her, causing her to shudder inwardly at the pleasure of it. She felt every heartache, every disappointment, every hurt melt away. The recent episode with Hideki seemed millions of years ago.

When Sakura blinked open her eyes, she saw Syaoran gazing at her curiously. They were still standing in the middle of the helipad.

"What do you see?"

It was a question that required an answer beyond the physical realm.

"I… see shimmers. It's like a medley of otherworldly colours. And… there's a very pleasant scent though I don't see any flowers around," Sakura said, "The air here feels… different."

"Interesting, isn't it?" Syaoran commented, his eyes locked on her.

"Mmhmm, it is. Actually, when I was in your room the other day, I had a similar feeling as now."

"Huh, interesting."

Syaoran unhooked his shades which had been casually clipped at his shirt and put them on. With one hand nestled in his pocket, he began to lead the way to the pickup point where a sleek, metallic grey car was already waiting. Upon seeing his employer, the driver hastily stepped out of the driver's seat and opened the back door of the car.

"Good morning, Li-sama," he greeted, bending at the waist in deference. Then, turning to Sakura, he added, "Good morning, Kinomoto-san."

While Syaoran gave a curt nod, signalling recognition of his driver's greeting, Sakura accorded him a bright, cheery smile. "Good morning—" Then she turned to Syaoran and said, "He is…"

"Tanaka Daichi."

"Ah. Good morning, Tanaka-san!" Sakura beamed.

Syaoran watched her smile and thought the bright sunlight that poured over them was incomparable to her entire demeanour of contagious exuberance.

Slightly taken aback by the unprecedented enthusiastic greeting, Tanaka Daichi blushed and gave a deeper bow.

Sakura climbed into the car, followed by Syaoran. Once inside, he reached across her, pulling the seatbelt across her lap. He grasped the buckle, his fingers briefly brushing hers. Sakura stiffened at the momentary contact, her body radiating more heat than what was normal. Slowly, he guided the strap and aligned the metal clip with the buckle's receiver. His hand lingered for a moment on the strap, adjusting it just enough to make sure it was snug, his expression calm and focused. "All set," he said, settling back into his own seat and buckling his seatbelt.

Sakura, her face still pink, said softly, "Thank you, Li-kun."

Once again, it was a quiet but peaceful journey. Though no words were exchanged between them, Sakura didn't feel at all uneasy or the need to make small talk to fill the gaps of non-existent conversation. She let herself soak in his comforting presence of which she still did not understand how it could make her feel so afraid and safe at the same time.

Sakura's eyes flickered to him, once again wondering what he was thinking. There was a magnetising effect about him that made her want to stay close, to fill her body, soul and spirit with his intoxicating, calming energy. With him, she found respite. But he was too dashing and too rich and too successful—he could have anything, he could have anyone he wanted. Men like him were good to look at but they were not for keeps. Sakura had learnt it the hard way. And she was not going to stumble and fall twice. It would be pure stupidity.

Sakura steeled her heart with grim resolve not to let anything or anyone break it again. No more letting it gambol about recklessly, as if it could never be maimed. Invincibility in the field of romance was nothing but a chimera. To seek true love in a man like Li Syaoran was just pure fantasy.

After alighting from the car, Syaoran and Sakura trudged along a wide, cobblestone path that serpentined towards a grand, open-air entrance with soaring columns and a vaulted ceiling. Sakura was so impressed by the infinite blue skies and sprawling rich, verdant landscape that she nearly tripped over a jutting stone on the pathway. Syaoran caught her by the arm in the nick of time and steadied her.

"Be careful. You okay?"

Embarrassed, Sakura mumbled, "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks."

"The path's pretty uneven. You need to pay attention to your feet more." Syaoran tried to hide his smirk but it was still obvious he was quite tickled by his companion's habitual clumsiness.

"R-right, I will."

Syaoran's hand did not leave her arm. Instead, he let it slide down to her hand and held it firmly. Hands interlocked, they continued their walk on the knobbly path. Sakura's heart rate trebled at his touch. His skin was so delicately warm against hers and it sent a delightful tingle up her spine. For a short, shameless moment, Sakura didn't want him to let go of her hand.

When they were just a few feet way from the house, Sakura saw how lavish the building was. A butler and two maidservants greeted them at the entrance.

"Good morning, Li-sama, Kinomoto-san," said the butler whose face was etched with age. He seemed just a few years younger than the Li's butler, Wang Wei.

"Good morning…" Sakura glanced at Syaoran questioningly.

"Nakamura Benjiro," Syaoran answered shortly, as he slipped out of his ebony grained calfskin Dior loafers and slipped into a pair of indoor slippers handed out to him by one of the maidservants.

"Nice to meet you, Nakamura-san," Sakura smiled genially.

"Your sentiments are shared, Kinomoto-san," Nakamura Benjiro responded with a small bow. "Ling here will take you to your room where you can freshen up before lunch." He gestured to the dark-haired girl on his right.

"May I take your shoes, Kinomoto-san?" Ling bent over to help Sakura remove her T-strapped chunky block heels.

"Th-thank you," Sakura said, still not entirely used to such regal treatment. She clumsily stepped into a pair of beige indoor slippers, virtually losing her balance if not for Syaoran's firm hold on her arm. He snickered covertly at her inherent but endearing maladroitness. How was it that she could leap and somersault and flip effortlessly at cheerleading yet she could not even keep her equilibrium for a few steps beyond the cheerleading arena? He could see her cheeks turn a light shade of pink as she mumbled her thanks.

"I'll see you at 12:30 at the dining room. The maidservant will bring you there." Syaoran released Sakura's arm and shoved his hands in his pants pockets.

"See you later, Li-kun." Sakura took one last glance at Syaoran who, to her discomfiture, was watching her with a gaze so intense yet so soft. It was quite unnerving because she couldn't quite figure out what he was thinking when he was looking at her like that. She had never met anyone with such a piercing stare like his. She felt like she was being x-rayed. It made her feel so… bare. Sakura sometimes speculated if he could read minds because he was always looking at her so… comprehensively, like a scientist analysing a specimen. And knowing he possessed magical prowess, she wouldn't be surprised if it included psychic powers. The thought of it was… rather disconcerting.

"Later," Syaoran nodded.

He watched as Sakura followed the maidservant named Ling into the left wing of the house.

Then he sensed it—a sweet, flowery scent that carried a hint of mascarpone, lavender and rose. And he saw it—a swirling dust of pink gold glitter that trailed behind her. So soothing, so delicate, so comforting. It was the first time he sensed her aura so vividly. That was what her presence made him feel. It was like a glimpse of heaven. And he wanted to dwell in it all the days of his life.

Li Syaoran was gradually making space in his heart for someone else. Someone who would be the most important person in his life.

The walls, mostly glass, offered unobstructed views of the shimmering ocean in every direction, and large sliding doors opened directly onto expansive wooden decks and terraces. Sakura spotted Syaoran already seated on one of the wooden chairs at the dining table which was already laden with platters of food. She could feel her stomach rumble with hunger. The spread of food looked so lip-smackingly tantalising.

Syaoran rose from his seat and hastened towards the chair nearest to Sakura. He pulled it out gently with one smooth motion and stepped back slightly, his hand still resting at the back of the chair as he waited for her to take her seat.

"Thank you, Li-kun," Sakura smiled as she lowered herself gracefully down onto the solid teak chair. She was pleasantly surprised at the airiness of it despite its sturdy, inflexible appearance. Ling, the maidservant, who was tasked to wait on her, placed a pristine white napkin over her lap. Sakura thanked her, her fingers settling tensely over the smooth fabric. She wasn't sure why she was feeling jittery; perhaps it was the fact that she was pretty much alone with the infamous Casanova (which she remembered Eriol calling him) among the ladies of every class, or perhaps because she didn't know what to expect. Syaoran had seemed pretty decent thus far, chivalrous even. Then again, she could never really know, could she? He was as readable as Morse code to a layperson.

Sakura peered at the spread of food laid out on the golden-brown wood slab dining table in awe. It was food fit for a king. Opposite her, she watched as Syaoran elegantly picked up his knife and fork and began sawing through the succulent-looking steak. Was it a signal for her to dig in as well? She glanced at Ling inquiringly, who only smiled at her. Just when Sakura was about to cleave her steak with her cutlery, Syaoran reached over and took the plate in front of her, replacing it with another one which contained perfectly cubed red-brown meat.

"Here, eat up. You must be hungry," he urged, his tone unbelievably warm and inviting. Though his expression remained stoic, his words smiled.

"Thank you," Sakura breathed gratefully. Her heart brimmed with a tenderness that seemed to overflow, threatening to spill over and envelope the man seated across her. It was a feeling of affection she was trying to evade, but it was now pushing forcefully against the door of her will. Sakura had to remind herself of how she got her heart utterly crushed by a man whom she had trusted with every ounce of her soul. She didn't want to be any more embittered than she was after knowing Hideki was seeing another woman.

Sakura bit into a piece of the steak that Syaoran had so kindly cut up for her. Her eyes widened and she let out a gasp of pleasure, "It's so good!"

Syaoran looked up from his plate and said, "Yeah?"

"Yes! It tastes nothing like any steak I've ever had in my life!" Sakura exclaimed. "It's like someone sprinkled a touch of—"

"Magic?" Syaoran smirked.

He placed his cutlery noiselessly down on either side of his plate and gazed intently at Sakura. Those amber eyes. Those fiery, intense amber eyes. How was it that one could appear so detached but so full of passion at the same time? There were so many confounding layers swaddling him like a newborn that were difficult to unpack. It was a phenomenon that would continue to befuddle Sakura for a long time to come.

"Is there really—"

"Look closely."

Sakura leaned closer to the cubes of steak, scrutinising them carefully. She didn't find anything anomalous about those pieces of russet-coloured meat.

She looked up and just stared at Syaoran blankly. "There doesn't seem to be anything exceptional about the steak…"

"What if you tried without really trying?"

"What… do you mean?" Sakura looked at him, confused.

"Sometimes, things happen when you least expect it. Expectations tend to make us uptight. When we are uptight, our senses become dulled. When we are able to expect and release at the same time, we gain the upper hand—we gain control. That's how magic works. In simpler terms, the more we try to control, dominate, the less control we have. This is your first lesson. You're welcome."

What Syaoran just said sounded esoteric to Sakura's common sense, but in the deep trenches of her soul she could make sense of what he was trying to tell—or more specifically—teach her about magic.

Nodding her head to show she understood what he was saying, Sakura drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes. As she exhaled, she slowly blinked open her eyes and fixed them gently and lightly on her plate. She felt her pulse slow down to an ease and an air of tranquility filled her insides like the cool, spring breeze. There, she caught a glimpse of golden, sparkly flecks dancing around the juicy, plump cubes of meat. It was a mesmerising sight to behold.

"It's… beautiful," Sakura whispered. "The chef you hired… he can do magic?"

Syaoran flicked his chin at the butler and maidservant standing nearest to him. "Even they know a thing or two about the arcane art of the supernatural force we call magic." He popped a piece of steak into his mouth, chewing on it with perfect grace.

Sakura tried to mask her astonishment but the squeak in her voice gave her away. "Everyone here in this house is a Harry Potter?"

Syaoran's mouth twitched in a half-smile. "You could put it that way."

"Unbelievable," Sakura muttered to herself, as she tried to regain her composure.

"Not if you do," quipped Syaoran.

Then, a shadow of agita and uncharacteristic restlessness eclipsed his typical air of complete ease and confidence. Sakura noticed a slight narrowing of his eyes, his pupils flickering rapidly from side to side. A few times, he would glance up at her and open his mouth as if to say something but would quickly close it. He seemed like he was cudgelling his brains to come up with a decision of some sort.

"A neat place you have here," Sakura began, trying to fill the silence with an air of conviviality. "Do you come here often?"

"Every once in a while," Syaoran replied, a tad distractedly.

Sakura didn't know why she needed to know but she asked anyway, "Do you usually come here alone or—"

As though he could intuit her thoughts, Syaoran quickly answered, "You're the first girl I've brought here."

He looked at her contemplatively, expectantly.

Sakura bowed her head in an attempt to conceal her flaming cheeks. She didn't know what to say. All she felt was a sense of… relief? What was she relieved about, really? What did she really want to know?

Wanting. Desire.

No, she wasn't thinking straight. It must be all the ethereal, mystical energy that surrounded the place. She needed to safeguard herself, her heart. But the next words that came out of his mouth tossed it into a pit of blazing flames.

"I want you, Kinomoto Sakura."

Li Syaoran may be a quiet, guarded man. But when he had decided on something, he would go all the way, fully and fiercely committed, ignoring any doubt or hesitation or naysayer.

That was his heart speaking. And he believed in it.

Yes, sometimes believing hurts. But there are also times when believing reaps the power to transform dreams into reality. To him, it was a risk worth taking. Kinomoto Sakura was a chance worth embracing. He was not going to let her go because of his juvenile, unfounded fears.

Sakura's heart was pounding frenziedly in her chest. What was she going to say? What could she say? What did she want to say?

There, was a man who had chosen to walk out of his fears and give his heart away.

Here, was a girl who had caved in to her cynicism about life especially the romance part of it and decided to fence hers in.

Sakura toyed with the loose strands of her auburn locks agitatedly, as she assiduously averted her eyes from the man who had just confessed his feelings for her. He was not just any typical guy; he was one who was as unreachable as the stars above. What did he see in her? She knew she was definitely out of his league. Miles away, to be precise. Sakura's entire body was suffused with so much tension that she couldn't find her voice to utter even a single syllable.

Syaoran stood up and walked over to the silent, captivating, sincere, endearingly bumbling girl whom he had been yearning for all this time. He bent over her and cradled her adorably flushed cheeks in his hands. Looking deep into her emerald eyes, he whispered, his voice husky, "Give me a chance. Give us a chance."

Sakura gazed up at him, her mind reeling in shock. "I—"

Without any warning, Syaoran leaned in and kissed her full on her lips. They were so soft, so sweet. He was relieved that she didn't resist him. To his delight, he felt her kiss him back, though in a more timid way, uncertain.

Wanting meant the possibility of losing.

But what if it didn't have to be that way?

It was only a possibility, wasn't it?