MS
Thank you everybody for leaving your comments and for reading the story. I'm also working on different one-shots... that might explain why I don't update so easily or readily.
Disclaimer : I do not own any of the card captor Sakura characters... everything else is mine.
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Long 9 Months
Chapter 6 : New Developments
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"Just what the hell is going on here?"
Sakura felt her boyfriend cower behind her figure. She couldn't help but laugh as he pushed her forward, while trying to keep himself hidden behind her body. She knew that it was a futile endeavor since he was at least one foot taller than her. He was also wider around the shoulders and trunk, which definitely made the chances turn to less than null.
Meiling broke into laughter as Sakura was pushed forward inch by inch. "That was good for the concerned fiancé shouting for answers, wasn't it?"
"It definitely was," Sakura came to Meiling, throwing her arms around her neck and hugging her. It had been many years since she'd been able to see her friend. They started a soft chatter, sharing greetings and hovering over the differences that had happened over the last few years.
"I love the look," Meiling pointed out the white and pink apron that covered Sakura's front. "I'm sure that fills all of Syaoran's maid fantasies."
She caught the light flush that covered her cousin's cheeks. She chortled, something going the wrong way as Syaoran's eyes scanned the room from top to bottom. "I would have been extremely disappointed if I had entered the kitchen and found Sakura in nothing else but that apron." The vision that popped into her head of seeing Sakura's whole backside unclothed, her ass for all to see sending slight shivers throughout her spine.
Sakura coughed meaningfully into her hand, Syaoran just ran a hand through his hair. "You guys are adventurous," Meiling responded, a hand to her forehead and rubbing slightly. "There's an image I didn't want in my subconscious."
"You do have an overactive imagination," Syaoran grinned as she soundly grounded her elbow against his middle section. The breath whooshed out of his body, his hand massaging to place lightly. She seemed to have improved her reflexes in the last couple of years.
"I seem to remember you announcing to all and sundry that Syaoran was your fiancé," Sakura led the 'party' toward the sofas of the sitting room so that they could get caught up with the latest news Meiling had to impart.
"Well, he was the boy I loved," she had such an expression of longing, her eyes glossing in moisture and her hands clasped before her jaw. "I had such low standards."
"Har, har," Syaoran crossed his arms over his chest, his face mocking her last comment.
"Don't worry Syaoran," Sakura patted him over the shoulder as he sat down beside her, Meiling comfortably laying over the sofa in front of them. "You're not that bad."
"Thank you for the vote of confidence." They all broke into laughter, the comfortable playing, setting the mood of familiarity.
"I know our parents then decided that we could be engaged and married because I didn't seem to care for any other girl, but I thought that was all thrown out of the window over three years ago."
"Tell that to the elders," Meiling brought out a sealed letter from the pocket of her overcoat and placed it over the table. "They're not going to change the outcome until they have some proof that I cannot be your intended."
"That's total bullshit," Sakura remained quiet as Syaoran and Meiling conversed. She didn't truly understand many of the traditions and things that Syaoran's family had, so it was a good way to gather information.
"That was my first reaction," Meiling pushed the letter to his hands, knowing that he had to be the one to break the seal. "I've spent a great part of the last two years trying to get it through their thick skulls. But, since you are the one that must present proof of the broken engagement, then I didn't actually accomplish anything."
"They're going to make me go back to Hong Kong for this, aren't they?" Syaoran opened the envelope with great force, tearing it at different places. "I have to go shout at my mother now," he stood from Sakura's side, the letter crushed beneath his fingers.
"Keep the letter whole. You need to present it with yourself when you go before the elders," Meiling warned as Syaoran moved toward the nearest phone.
"You can make something to eat while you're at it," Sakura told him. It was something else that he could concentrate on before getting into a shouting match with his mother. "You must be starving."
"Something warm would certainly hit the spot," Meiling felt her cheeks warm as her insides shifted.
Loud clattering came from the kitchen. "I've seemed to have ruined his day."
“Don’t worry about it,” Sakura stood from her seat to come next to the new arrival. “He’ll blow some steam and be a more pleasant human being for the rest of the week.”
“I hope so.”
“So, why did you decide to come here?” Sakura asked her. It was an answer she wanted to know desperately.
“I wanted to spend some time with my friends.” Meiling reached for Sakura’s hand, turning up the palm and tracing the lines and bumps it revealed. “Everyone’s going to go their separate ways after we finish this year of our school career, so there isn’t a better time than this.”
The girls turned their head toward the light cursing that came through the door. Sakura shook her head while Meiling merely looked concerned. Understanding, Sakura rushed to reassure her once again.
“He just needs to blow off some steam,” Sakura assured her once again. A silence filled the room as Meiling and Sakura mainly stared at their hands.
“I’m going to pop something in the oven,” Syaoran appeared for a second, the cordless phone pressed against his ear. “Sakura can take you to one of the rooms and you can start getting settled in.”
“That’s a great idea,” Sakura jumped at the chance. It was kind of uncomfortable to keep in a silent environment with someone you really didn’t know that well.
Sakura had met Eriol and Syaoran when they had entered the same high school. Meiling had been long gone by then. She had only seen her once when she had come to stay a week before transferring to Hong Kong for the last two years, and Sakura had merely been a new girl in their group.
Sakura helped her out with the large rolling suitcase up the stairs. They passed Syaoran’s room which connected to the main bathroom and the room next to it. Most of the furniture was full of clothing Sakura used when she stayed over during the nights.
“I think this one is perfect for you,” Sakura opened the door to the last room on the corridor. It had a personal bathroom, that while it wasn’t as large as Syaoran’s, it had all of the necessities to be her own.
Meiling followed her in, taking in the space and the furniture that already occupied the room. Her mind was already going through each little corner and the new pieces that were needed to make this a comfortable to live in the following year.
“I’m going to have to go shopping,” Meiling declared as Sakura opened the door toward the personal bathroom. The white gleaming floor and cabinets were bare of even the bare necessities.
The housekeepers had taken everything to the stock room after Syaoran’s mother and sisters had left from their visit. The thing that captured her attention though, was the inviting tub. She was sure to fall asleep when she soaked in the heavenly liquid. The water bill was going to suddenly rise unexpectedly.
“Let me help you with your things,” Sakura volunteered as they heaved the heavy bag onto the mattress.
“Thanks,” Meiling opened the suitcase and started pulling articles of clothing from it. She just placed them over the bed while her mind tried to make up her mind as to their location.
“So,” the article that usually prompted conversation was quickly uttered. “How’s your family doing?”
Sakura thought a bit before giving an answer. She tried to recall what was going on in her life the last time Meiling had been in the city.
“My brother’s in the last year of studies in forensic science,” Sakura announced proudly. “He’s already been accepted into a top police academy and will soon start working in the field.”
“I remember,” Meiling remembered the very tall dark haired man that kept eyeing Syaoran as the son of Satan when she had meet him. He was eight years their senior and didn’t let you forget it.
“Is he still trying to break all of Syaoran’s bones?” She asked as she remembered the ‘friendly fight’ they had staged on Syaoran’s training room.
Touya was clearly proficient in his martial arts as he had perfected his beginner’s black belt throughout the years. The control over his temper that it had provided clearly didn’t help matters in his feelings toward her cousin.
“Whenever he gets the chance,” Sakura couldn’t help but groan as she responded. The feud between her brother and Syaoran was currently famous throughout all of their acquaintances and friends. The hostility had clearly intensified when they had become a couple officially.
“Your brother has a sister complex.”
“Good thing is that since he’s away to school he can occupy his mind on other things besides me and Syaoran.”
“And how are things in that sphere?” Meiling opened all of the places to see where to place her things.
“Well,” Sakura stalled a bit. She truly didn’t know how to answer. “Things are going well.”
“Come on,” Meiling turned toward Sakura, a grin upon her mouth. “Everything must be going splendid.”
Sakura blushed as Meiling wiggled her eyebrows in a suggestible matter. Meiling cackled evilly as Sakura averted her gaze and pressed the article of clothing she was handling against her chest. It seemed that Sakura hadn’t changed a bit.
“I know I’m a bit brash about things,” Meiling explained as she continued to fold her clothing in the appropriate places. “But that’s just my way of dealing with others.”
“I remember,” Sakura smiled at the memory. Meiling had been decisive and blunt about her thoughts on any issue that arouse. She had known the history that had been between her and Syaoran when they had met and had been a bit afraid of the brash girl that was clearly a great part of Syaoran’s life.
Meiling had taken a few minutes to look at her and clearly announced that she was accepted into their group. Eriol had merely grinned as Syaoran had hid his face against his hands.
Still, she was her boyfriend’s fiancée. How contradictory was that statement.
“You’re going to be a great part of Syaoran’s life in the future,” Meiling told her as she knew that it had truly been love at first sight for her cousin. Sakura had managed to do what Meiling had wanted to do for the first five years she had known him.
“And since I’m not going to disappear from the picture any time soon,” she winked as she walked toward the large window and opened it to let some of the cool air dissipate and the rays of the sun could swarm in. “I suggest we get to know each other really well.”
“I don’t think there’s a lot there that you need to know about me.”
“You are an open book most of the time,” Meiling acceded as she motioned for the other girl to join her. They both leaned against the frame of the window as the warm breeze brushed against their skin.
“We couldn’t be more different if we tried,” Meiling acknowledged as she rested her body against the frame while Sakura placed her hands over the rim.
“And not just physically,” Sakura added as they both watched as far as the eye could see through the edges and the trees that littered the backyard.
“I’m boisterous; while you’re quiet. I’m straightforward; while you’re evasive. You’re sweet; while I’m a pain on the ass most of the time.” They both laughed as she continued listing their differences.
“We only seem to have one thing in common,” Sakura told her in the end.
“And it’s something that’s going to put us in full contact for the rest of our lives.” They both nodded absentmindedly as the low hums of conversation occurring in the kitchen came from the opened window.
“Syaoran must be by the door,” Sakura leaned forward and saw the object of their talk walk outside. He didn’t seem to be shouting, but he seemed to be intensely occupied in the topic.
“He still has a problem with his temper, doesn’t he?” Meiling remarked as they both decided to continue on with their previous task.
“I’ve been with him for more than two years,” Sakura pointed out. “And I can’t really get how he can be pulled into Eriol’s ruses while still blowing up at any instant provocation.”
“It’s a weird thing,” Meiling agreed readily.
“Although he has curved it a bit. He’s not as rash as he used to be to go flying off the handle.”
“Little Syaoran seems to have grown up,” they erupted into laughter.
“Don’t let him hear you,” Sakura warned before sitting upon the bed.
“He still has that ‘little’ complex?” Meiling asked surprised.
“Oh, yeah,” Sakura’s eyes twinkled before she elaborated. “It seems to be the only thing he hasn’t outgrown.”
“How has Eriol managed to stay alive?”
“I think that Sakura just brings out a picture of Eriol’s parents into his mind when that happens.”
“That would explain it.”
“Are you settled in?” Syaoran entered the room. He’d followed the voices after he’d finished his call to join them. Two of his favorite people seemed to be getting along well. But then, no one ever actually knew with Meiling in the equation.
"We're fine," Meiling sat at the edge of the bed, her feet resting over the still opened suitcase. Sakura stood from the queen sized bed and approached her boyfriend.
"What's with the food?" Sakura asked as she recalled Meiling's stomach growls. She was also a bit hungry herself.
"I'm going to drop by the store to pick something for dessert," Syaoran informed them. "But, I need to know where you put your car keys. Your car is the one on the driveway." He reminded her.
"I think I left them at the front table," Sakura placed a light kiss over his lips as he turned to go. "Don't be long."
"I'll be here in just a few minutes." He waved before slipping out of the door.
"I'm so tired," Meiling said to Sakura as she turned over to one of the sides.
"Oh," Syaoran intruded once again. "Please don't talk about me. I'm really quite bashful." He disappeared with a quick grin and a wink as both girls looked at him incredulously.
"He's such a moron," Meiling pointed out as they heard the front door slam in a fast motion.
"You gotta love him though," both girls sighed. Meiling stood from the bed. She walked toward Sakura, her hands outstretched. "This is going to be an interesting year."
"Now, let's talk some dirt," Meiling grinned mischievously, Sakura watched confused as she was lead toward the hallway and down the stairs.
"What dirt?"
"The dirt about you and my derelict cousin of course," Meiling clarified as she looked for the perfect place to bond with the very shy girl before her.
"There's nothing to say," Sakura quickly answered. Meiling refused to let herself cackle in delight when Sakura's face warmed as it grew rosier by the second.
"Your face says different," Meiling pointed out as she rummaged through the fridge for a drink to tide her over.
Sakura took the chance to inspect the food Syaoran had left simmering in the oven. Her mind raced through many different aspects of her life, as well as answers that pertained to her and her relationship with Syaoran.
"I don't want to seem like a snoop," Meiling tried to explain. She wanted Sakura to be at ease with her. "I'm just curious about you."
"Well, there's nothing really. We've been going out for quite some time but we're just taking things day by day. We haven't really talked about anything concrete."
"I understand. We're all still so young and the future seems to far off that it's not something we're truly concerned with at the moment."
"Also," Sakura took out the plates and utensils and set them on the table to occupy herself. "There are many things that I don't know about Syaoran's family and his traditions."
"Like how he's had a fiancée since he was seven years old?" Meiling threw out the most obvious concern.
"That's one."
"There are a lot of things that you have to learn." Meiling informed her, recalling most of the things she had been told and taught about her culture and familial traditions while in Hong Kong.
"I'm sure there are things that I'll never truly comprehend about his family," the picture of his sisters and the chaos they brought with them whenever in Syaoran's presence came to mind.
"I'm sure that when the time comes Syaoran will come up to scratch," both of the girls looked through the counters as Meiling tried to help and locate all the things needed to set the table. She needed to do something with her hands.
"Well, we have come as close as two people can be," the little tidbit elicited a gasp of delight from her charge. Meiling clasped her hands excitedly.
"Now that's what I want to hear," she informed Sakura.
"What?" Sakura tried desperately to understand where the conversation was going to go. This was somehow going out of hand.
"Come on," Meiling smirked as she softly nudged the girl with her elbow. Sakura blushed, completely understanding what she was referring to. She had enough problems talking to Tomoyo when she tried to extract information about her intimate relations with Syaoran.
"There's nothing to tell," she offered weakly once again. She could see a spark come alive in Meiling's eyes. It was something she desperately didn't want to happen. She prayed silently that Syaoran would truly hurry as he had said so that this could be interrupted before she was in the middle of a disaster.
"A challenge," Meiling wondered if she should have chuckled maliciously for effect. She couldn't help her lips from curling at the reaction that Sakura was portraying though, it was truly picturesque. Sakura could feel the warmth spreading all over her body as she tried to deny and dissuade Meiling from continuing with this conversation, but it would all prove to be futile in the end.
"Let the games begin," Sakura's eyes widened as she realized the deep of the hole she found herself in. Syaoran truly had to hurry if she wanted to salvage some of her privacy from the smiling girl before her. Sakura had just earned herself a new best friend.
Syaoran couldn't help but feel a sense of deja vu take over his body as he rung the bell and knocked over the spacious door on Tomoyo's mansion. He'd just been there two months before to a party that had turned to be his birthday celebration. Sakura and Meiling were beside him, lost in their own conversation. He couldn't help but feel at bit jealous.
He was more like a third wheel than a companion to them. A light buzzing conversation filtered in through the opening as the door was swung open. "You're on door duty Yahiko?" Syaoran asked as they shook hands. He was one of his friends from school. He merely narrowed his eyes at the comment before answering with a quip of his own.
"You know perfectly well that the person that's closer to the door when someone rings the bell or knocks is the one that has door duty," he looked over Syaoran's shoulder toward Sakura and Meiling.
"And who's that lovely lady?" He asked as he dismissed Syaoran over the door and sidestepped his figure to the new face.
"Meiling," she introduced herself. She couldn't help but feel amused as Yahiko took her hand in his and placed a kiss over her knuckles. He was acting like a gentleman of the highest class.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Meiling," he kept her hand in his as he felt the amusement from Sakura's form. She seemed to be holding back a laugh as Meiling tried to search for a proper response.
"Likewise," she responded. Yahiko could feel Syaoran's glare at the back of his neck so he released her hand, but not before placing a greeting kiss on Sakura's cheek. Meiling concluded rightly that he was an accomplished flirter. And one that liked to rile up her cousin it seemed.
"You're here," the low and rough tone came from the walkway. Chavela and Ryo walked side by side as they made their way through the groups that littered the hallway. The cousins made a striking team to those who saw them walking side by side. The family resemblance was there for all to see.
Meiling smiled as Chavela encased her in a quick hug and releasing her. Ryo remained by her side as they said hello. They had talked for a bit over the phone this morning. They had planned to meet each other at the party so that he could introduce her to all of her new classmates and their friends. It was a great advantage to know most of those whom she would be seeing the next day.
The group continued to exchange greetings as Yahiko turned all of his efforts toward Chavela. She simply dismissed him as she took Meiling by her hand and they walked way toward the throng of guests.
"Enjoy," Yahiko said to them before completely closing the door and joining the previous group he had been conversing with.
The couple walked through their classmates. They were greeted and saluted in return as they neared the group that encompassed their closest' friends.
Chiharu was the first to greet them, Takashi always by her side. Naoko and Rika right by their side. It seemed that the whole group was almost complete. The only ones missing were Eriol and Tomoyo.
"Where's Tomoyo?" Sakura asked as her eyes searched through the people the filled the room.
"She and Eriol seem to be in a fight," Chiharu confided as she tried to explain. "She was quietly conversing with Eriol and all of a sudden her demeanor changed. She went stiff, a cool expression set over her face and her eyes turned cold." She shivered as she recalled the picture. "It scares me when she does that."
The others quickly agreed. Tomoyo was usually an easygoing person that didn't take offense to things. But when it came to Eriol and their relationship, something seemed to snap in a way that nothing else could touch her.
"She excused herself from us and ascended the stairs while Eriol looked mad as hell and stormed out of the house." Takashi continued on with the explanations as Chiharu burrowed to his side. "He left through the kitchen, so I'm sure that he's blowing off some steam in the garden somewhere."
Syaoran and Sakura looked at one another before arriving to the same conclusion. "We have to see what's going on," Sakura took the present she had brought for Tomoyo from Syaoran's hands and pressed a light kiss over his cheek. "I'll take care of her," that meant that he was in charge of dealing with the other charge in the battery.
Syaoran nodded, understanding and watched her as she ascended the stairs. She was delayed by many of their classmates whom promptly waved to him as she pointed him out to them. She disappeared at the top as she turned toward the private wing.
"We really don't know what prompted the argument, if you could call it that," Naoko reflected as she replayed the scene in her mind. Eriol had seemed content to impart some news to Tomoyo when she in turn seemed surprise and taken aback. Eriol hadn't been careful with his own reaction to her coolness, as he'd promptly tried to get a rise out of her.
He hadn't succeeded and Tomoyo had simply left toward the sanctuary of the stairs. Eriol had been confused for several minutes as he stood, as if rooted to the ground, before he decided to 'screw it' as he put it in his own words, and left the scene.
"Hopefully it won't be anything serious," Naoko amended as Syaoran started on his way toward the kitchen. There was no one better than Syaoran whom understood Eriol's own emotions, so he would be in good hands.
Syaoran evaded the people that were wandering through the kitchen as he passed the staff and went to the back. He followed the trail that lead to a side stair railing that went all the way to the roof of the house.
If he had been told correctly, Tomoyo hadn't argued with Eriol, she had just left. That in turn painted a worst picture than anything else could. He knew that Eriol hated it when Tomoyo closed herself from him. He couldn't help but lash out to get some sort of statement from her when this sort of thing happened and it just made things worst.
Syaoran looked around from his place. He walked backwards, fixing his eyes to the roof to get some clue as to where his friend might have gone haunting to. It was one of Eriol's peeves. When he needed to unwind and clear his head, he always looked for high altitude. It seemed that the lack of oxygen and the coolness of the environment helped his temperament. It was a sure bet 99 percent of the time that Eriol would seek this comfort to deal with his troubling thoughts.
Resigned to the inevitable, Syaoran placed his hands over the iron scaffoldings and placed on of his feet on one of the lower bars. He started his ascent, the cool air of the night billowing around him as he came closer to the top.
He hoped that no one was watching him. No normal person would actually subject himself to such a height at this hour of the night if he hadn't any type of incentive. He was sure that it would be concluded that he was either drunk, or was doing this on a dare. He sent a silent prayer to god before looking over the edge.
Eriol was seated over one of the indentations of the roof. He was clearly lost in thought as his eyes looked directly to the stars and the half moon that accompanied them. Syaoran could only think of how lucky Eriol was that he had a friend like Syaoran.
Not everyone would risk their own necks for such a thing. He took in his appearance and expression before announcing himself. There were a lot of things that he could gauge from his friend's expression. It paid to be in synch with the people around you for times like these. The mood was set for preoccupied and wanderings.
"Why do you always come to this place?" Syaoran asked as he settled his hands over the last rail and propelled himself toward the roof. He staggered a bit as he slowly walked toward his friend.
"You don't have to follow me to it, you know," was Eriol's response.
Syaoran resigned himself to his friend's sourly mood and took a seat beside him. They let the silence reign as the overlooked the environment that surrounded them. The lights flickered bright as night continued to descend over their world. They lighted the neighborhood, shinning over the roofs of their expanding gaze.
No one else seemed to be on their roofs tonight, Syaoran told himself as he took in the tranquility that the world around them possessed. Eriol took a sip from a plastic bottle he had between his crossed legs.
"You're not drinking, are you?" Syaoran asked a bit concerned. Eriol was too smart to do anything stupid, but when you mixed alcohol with anything, stupid things seemed to happen with frequency.
"No," Eriol scoffed at the ludicrous idea. He might be mad, but he wasn't stupid enough to try to get his thoughts in order with alcohol. "It's water."
Syaoran sipped the offered bottle and was happy to find that it was the clear liquid. "I took it from one of the refrigerators before I came out here." He explained, finding that talking about things were certainly helping his mood.
"So, what's going on?" Syaoran asked as he reclined against the roof. He placed his hands behind his head, cushioning it against the hard material. Syaoran shivered slightly as the wind picked up for a few seconds, bringing the coming change of temperature with it.
"I told her," Eriol managed to say as the urge to hit something overtook him. He kicked the roof, his shoes resounding against the thought material that seemed to resonate as he continued the abuse. "She just looked at me with those soulless eyes and left. She didn't say anything at all."
Syaoran had an idea as to what Eriol was referring to. He was one of the few people that had been told of his plans for the next year. "It was kind of sudden though."
"It's not like I'm breaking up with her," Eriol rationalized as he turned his body and rested it against one of the chimneys that occupied the roof. This particular one led to the fireplace in his own room. "I'm not leaving tomorrow."
"I'm sure she was just surprised," Syaoran tried to reassure him. He knew that Eriol just needed to bent the thoughts that were racing inside his mind before he exploded. That was what the best friend was there for.
"I didn't want to tell her, or anyone before I actually knew I was accepted," Eriol said mostly to himself than to his friend.
"Maybe you also didn't want to open the subject until it was necessary to tell her of your plans," Syaoran hated it when Eriol winced. It implied a debt of self mockery and guilt that wasn't what you would expect from him.
"You may be right," Eriol acceded as he looked at Syaoran's figure. Syaoran was looking at the stars, their blinking stare breaking the monotonous gaze he sent upwards as his friend continued on.
"Don't you just hate it when that happens?" Syaoran asked as Eriol broke into a slight smile. He motioned for the water and took a swig of the contents. It was almost empty before he handed it back.
"It's complete torture," Eriol admitted as a comfortable silence settled. There they remained for quite a bit before Eriol commenced once again.
"I was going to ask her to marry me," he admitted as well. His fingers were enlaced with one another, his thumbs twiddling idly. Syaoran knew that it was a sign of nervousness. He tried to get over the shook of hearing his friend utter those words as he interpreted the sentence.
"Was going to?" He tried to clear up his confusion before going down a road that he would most likely want to remain un-traveled. It was one thing to deal with a fighting couple, and quite another to deal with Eriol and his hidden meanings in between words.
"I'm going to," he amended as he saw the desperation disappear from his friend's face as if by magic. There was always something about Syaoran that just couldn't help but lift his spirits. "I'm thinking of doing it in a couple of months. I'm waiting for my grandmother's engagement ring to arrive."
Syaoran still remained floored by the admission. He'd never even had an inkling that Eriol was thinking so far into the future. Or how serious he seemed to be with his plans. It was something to wonder about himself, but he had no time to think of that right now.
"You know that our family's always married young," Eriol pointed out that his parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents had married before their had reached their 20th birthdays. "We seem to find the women we want to keep early on in life."
They couldn't help but chuckle at the statement as it brought a bit of truth. All of the Hiiragizawa men had married young, and their unions had lasted well until death had torn them apart. It was reassuring to be part of a family that had such good luck in so many things.
"I'm also waiting for her to say no," Eriol's voice died out. Syaoran seated up in surprise to the disclosure. His eyes narrowed as he took in his friend's reaction to his own words. He wasn't kidding. Eriol had his eyes closed, but his mouth was set in a straight line as lines appeared over his forehead from the strain.
Syaoran's eyes narrowed as he tried to dissect that statement correctly. He didn't even know where to begin. "What do you mean?" Syaoran knew that he couldn't charge in fool heartedly and blindly without actually understanding what Eriol was getting at.
"I know I'm not what she wants," Eriol tried to explain. It was hard to let out your insecurities, especially if you always portrayed yourself as the rational and calm type to the rest of the world. "She knows that my family and I love to travel the world, attending to our businesses. But you know that she abhors it. Her father spent most of his time in his business dealings while she stayed clustered in this house. She barely saw him a total of thirty days a year in between his conferences. And then when he died, her mother took over the business. She was left to the mercy of her nannies and caretakers while she grew up. She's told me enough of how she felt during those years to not truly understand what she's really telling me."
"Hold that right there," Syaoran interrupted him before Eriol could actually start on a list of things that would bring this conversation to somber mood that wouldn't be able to be extracted in any way possible. "What are you talking about?"
Before Eriol could answer, Syaoran gave him a quelling glance. It was a rhetorical question it seemed. Eriol couldn’t help but feel amused at Syaoran's reaction to his statement.
"Why would you think she's stuck by you all this time when she knows perfectly well that as an only child you'll take over your family's businesses?" Eriol opened his mouth, amusement still present as he waited to be shushed. It didn't come, it seemed that this was a regular question to be answered.
"Because I'm great in bed?" he said the first thing that came to his mind. He also knew that it would be the most outrageous response to the question. He almost forgot all of his troubles as Syaoran remained still, his mouth open and looking at him as if he was a member of an alien species that had just beamed to the roof of the house.
"You gotta be kidding me," Syaoran rolled his eyes heavenward and shook his hands as if requesting for patience. "You think that's the reason why Tomoyo has stayed with you. Because you're good in bed?"
"Could be," Eriol shrugged, as a bit of the pressing sensation against his chest started to alleviate.
"Please," Syaoran scoffed as he resisted the urge to open the remaining of the bottle's content over his friend's clothes. He resisted the urge enough to formulate a response. "Tomoyo is a lot like Sakura. She's not going to stay in a relationship with you merely because you're 'good in bed'. She's not going to be intimate with you just because you make her feel good when you're together. If that's what she wanted, she could have had her pick of guys all over the world. She's with you because she loves you."
Syaoran tried to catch his breath as he finished his tirade. He prepared himself to continuing this monologue when he noticed Eriol's expression. He was grinning that infernal smile that turned up the corners of his mouth and drove Syaoran insane.
He could surely have tried to hit him, and hard, if it wasn't for the fact that he was sure he would fall from the roof. So, he did the next best thing as he realized his friend had been partly kidding. You never knew what was truly in his head unless he flat out told you. That was good in some spheres, but not when it came to this. The straining lines around his lips had dissipated, and his happy go lucky face shined for the whole world to see.
"You do have a way to put things into perspective," Eriol grinned as Syaoran threw the bottle at him. It was a good thing that they were both agile and had quick reflexes, or some mishap could have occurred.
"Thank you," Syaoran simply patted his friend over the shoulder as the breeze played with their running locks. Syaoran carefully noted that his friend's deep blue eyes were shining once again. It seemed that a good talk was good once in a while to change your perspective on things. Maybe he should do the same.
Eriol stood from his sitting position and gripped the square opening of the chimney. He leaned forward to ground up his back and found that voices were coming in from his room. His attention perked as the tones and voices identified themselves. "What are they doing in my room?" Syaoran stood from his own position and joined him.
Sakura walked toward Tomoyo. Her friend was currently seated in a corner of the enormous bed that was present in the room. She handed her the glass of water she had acquired from the kitchen. She'd spent the last ten minutes simply observing her friend as she cried into her shoulder. A hiccup shook the glass in Tomoyo's hands as she gulped it down drop by drop.
She'd been stuck with the problem for the past five when her eyes had stopped leaking with tears she hadn't been able to control. She had been interrupted in her breathing processes little by little, leaving her short of breath. The sensation of your lungs seizing to work when a hiccup presents itself had only aggravated the situation. Sakura had thought that she'd been hyperventilating. In a way, she had been.
Tomoyo looked desolated and beyond comfort. "He's not here," it was the only thing she managed to say before taking a sip of water from the glass. "He must really be mad at me," Tomoyo knew that in most of their squabbles, Eriol usually went to his room for a solitary comfort. But then, there were some times that he was nowhere to be found in the house. That usually followed when he was extremely mad and needed to blow off steam.
It was time for answers though. Sakura waited a few seconds to make sure that the water had the desired effect before pushing forward with the questioning. It was the only way she would be able to resolve this problem. "What happened?"
"I couldn't help myself," Tomoyo's now clear voice filled the room. "My eyes just kept running and running and as much as I tried, I couldn't get myself to stop crying."
Tomoyo took a few deep breaths before continuing. "All my ears could hear was that he was leaving," Tomoyo could feel the burning sensation start up again over her chest. She was determined to stop herself from the blubbering sensation though. She had cried enough for the past few minutes to last her the rest of the year.
"I was standing right before him when he said he'd been accepted to Oxford in England," she placed her palm against her chest and rubbed it lightly. "The room was unnaturally quiet, my vision was clouded, and my lungs seized their breathing. The image of my father getting into some limo before even saying goodbye to me as I pressed my face against the window in my room."
"Tomoyo," Sakura interrupted her, waiting until her friend had placed her whole attention back to her. "You're not five years old. It's not like you don't have the money and the intelligence to get accepted into an university in England." Sakura pointed out as she took the empty glass from Tomoyo's hands and placed it over the carpet on the floor.
"I realized that ten minutes ago," Tomoyo answered, her voice still holding that unusual tilt as she tried to clear it. "I knew that I was overreacting to what he had told me, but I couldn't help myself from just shutting down most of my rationality."
"You know that there are enough schools all over the world that are clamoring for the Daidouji's child to attend their fair facilities," Sakura continued on running with the same idea. She knew that it would be the surest way for Tomoyo to come back into herself. "There are also enough designers in that country that are looking for fresh blood to teach and accommodate into their world. You're received enough recommendations from your mother's acquaintances to not realize that getting into a program at a designing school would be a cinch."
"Believe me, I know," Tomoyo couldn't help but laugh a bit at herself. "I don't know why he puts up with me," Tomoyo said to Sakura as her friend embraced her. There they remained for a bit as they waited for the after crisis to go.
"If you tell me, I think is the world doesn't know why she puts up with you," Syaoran said to his friend, expecting some sort of reaction. He felt relieved and a bit shocked as Eriol remained tranquil and pensive. His total demeanor had changed though, he was happy once again.
"Because he loves you Tomoyo," Sakura told her friend as she rubbed in between her shoulder blades in a soothing motion. "You must also feel quite strong for him if this is how you react to the thought of him leaving you behind."
"I knew from the moment that I accepted that first date with him, that he was like my father. He takes joys in the business world and its dealings, and I knew very well that his parents spent most of their time in different countries dealing with their empire," Tomoyo giggled as she recalled how happy she'd been when he had made her laugh when she'd meet him. "I think the fact that he's also amazing in bed kind of leans the scale toward the positive in this relationship."
Eriol's eyes centered in his friend's face. It was the I told you so look from his earlier comment. He snickered as Syaoran mouthed the word ass for him to clearly see.
"He's not the only one you know," Sakura's own statement brought laughter into the room. The atmosphere had cleared completely. Her friend had returned to normal as the usual mischievous smile came over her features and her eyes widened in surprise.
"You've never volunteered information before," Tomoyo pointed out as she pressed her fingers against her face and cleaned up the remnants of tears that had remained.
"Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I've had to talk about my sex life of late," Sakura recalled the very uncomfortable conversation that had taken place the day before when she'd been cornered by Meiling. She couldn't help but smile though, as it had somewhat made her closer to the other girl.
Eriol placed a hand over his mouth to stop the bubbling laughter that wanted to escape. Syaoran's face was priceless. He could feel an elated sensation course over his body at the earlier comment though. It was good to know that he was doing something right when it came to making love. It was a good boost to his ego that was clear in all of the male species.
And even though Syaoran seemed mostly shocked by the last revelation than anything else, he was sure that he was also feeling quite good in these circumstances. If this is what girls talked about when they weren't in the room, then he had to find a way to make himself privy to their girl talk more often.
"Come on," Sakura pulled her friend from the bed to her feet. "We're in the middle of a party and everyone's wondering where the birthday girl has disappeared to. You're supposed to be the center of attention here."
"Thank you Sakura. I don't know what I would do without you," her sincerity gained a quick hug from her.
"You would swallow in misery and then bump yourself to your old self, albeit a bit slower," Sakura responded as she took the glass she had placed on the floor and they walked to the door.
"Let me fix my make up and change out of this dress," Tomoyo pointed out as the voluptuous dress swished around her. She'd worn it for the usual birthday pictures her mother took with her professional photographer every year. It wasn't the style for their party though, she needed something looser and contemporary. "Then I'll go find him and apologize."
"Eriol's probably with Syaoran in the garden. They're probably talking about us behind our backs," she placed her arm over her friend's shoulders and patted it.
"They're not so different from us in that sphere, are they?"
"Are you kidding?" they erupted into laughter and the sounds completely dissipated. The guys could hear the sound of a closing door that signaled the end of their intrusion.
"They're right you know," Syaoran pointed out as he drew the parallels of what he told Eriol about his relationship with Sakura. There were many things that you confided with your best friend that you couldn't dream of telling anyone else.
"Yeah," Eriol beamed at his response, his body revealing a calmness and security that hadn't been present a few minutes before.
"I don't think you're going to have a problem with the answer to your question."
"It seems like it." Eriol couldn't help but grin as he recalled something his father had told him. "We don't seem to have a problem finding the woman that will put up with us early in our lives." They laughed together, the truth of the statement reflected as they remembered the countless times Eriol's father had said that while his mother was present in the room.
"Your family's extremely lucky," Syaoran pointed out as he sat over the same place once again. Eriol followed suit. It was then that he realized that his friend seemed to be strained. Syaoran wasn't behaving in his usual way.
"What's wrong?" Eriol asked as he noted the flash of unrecognizable emotion that took over his friend's face. He'd just been helped out of his own wonderings, he was sure he cold provide the same.
"I've been having a bit of a problem lately."
"What kind of problem?" Eriol took in the little clues that his friend's body left while Syaoran tried to come up with an answer to what he wanted to say.
"I," Syaoran struggled over the right words to get out the troubles that were currently stuck in his throat. "I've been having a bit of a problem when Sakura and I have tried to get intimate."
That left a warning bell continuously clanging inside of Eriol's head. There was something he had forgotten, he was sure of it. "What do you mean?" he needed clarification though to fully understand what was going on here.
"The past few times that Sakura and I have tried to get intimate, I've found myself in a bit of a problem. I'm excited and aroused while we kiss and I touch her. But, then your voice shouts in my mind over and over again what you told me two months ago on my birthday and I can't get myself to stay excited long enough to," Syaoran remained quiet for a bit as he tried to find the right word to go on. "Consummate our relationship."
It was then that Eriol completely recalled what had transpired in the house those few weeks before. He'd forgotten about this little incident as he had tried to deal with his own problems. Still, he was sure that Syaoran would have already figured out that he had only said that to get his kicks. It wasn't like there weren't enough clues to figure it out. Eriol had his own 18th birthday six months before, and today was Tomoyo's own. Syaoran had found them in a compromising position that had clearly given away what they had been doing two weeks before.
He'd been a bastard. Eriol recalled the words of warning that Takashi and Ryo had given him when he'd told them what had happened. There were so many things that could go wrong in this venture. He'd thought that Syaoran would have talked to someone over this, and scream bloody murder when he found out his friend's duplicity. But that hadn't been the case. Syaoran had decided to keep all of his problems to himself, instead of seeking advice from someone that could provide it.
"First of all, that's a psychological response and not something else," he knew well enough that the male ego was quite fragile at this age and when this type of problem presented itself, it could have devastating effects on the person. He'd never intended to let it go so far. "You don't have an erectile dysfunction problem, believe me on that."
Syaoran's troubled eyes searched for the truth behind his friend's words. It was very different to accept the truth from your own thoughts instead of having someone else point it out to you. "You shouldn't worry about it. There's no reason for you to torture yourself over this," Eriol took in a deep breath as he decided to come clean. "I told..."
"Hey guys!" the rumbled calling interrupted whatever Eriol had planned to say. Takashi and Chavela both called from bellow as they peered over the edge to the ground.
"Get down here," Chavela ordered as their other friends stood impatiently beside her. The boys sweat dropped at the evil glares they received from each of the girls. "Tomoyo won't cut the cake unless her dear Eriol-kun is with her and I'm hungry."
Syaoran and Eriol gave up as they were promised bodily harm if they didn't descend from the roof at that instant. They were readily grabbed and dragged into the house and the main lobby. The huge cake that had been concocted for the celebration kept center stage as Sakura and Tomoyo walked toward their boyfriends.
Tomoyo threw herself into his arms, whispering an apology as they were pulled to the table. One of the waiter's gave her the knife, as the room applauded when she cut a small piece out for herself. Eriol took the piece into his hand and led it to her lips. The crowd whistled and catcalled as she ate the whole piece and kept one of his fingers between her lips.
"Don't worry," Syaoran said to Sakura as he embraced her from behind and rested his jaw against the crown of her hair.
"They're going to be fine," Sakura followed, turning into his embrace and placing a light kiss over his jaw line. "Now, let's dance," she pulled him into the ballroom where the DJ was currently playing the selection he had been given for this hour.
Sakura placed her arms around his waist, resting her head over his chest as he placed his own over her shoulders. It brought them close together, their bodies touching from thigh to shoulders and they settled into the slow dance.
"They're wonderful together, aren't they?" Meiling asked Chavela as she watched the new pair take on the dance floor.
"Yes," Chavela admitted as her wandering eyes rested upon the couple. "I haven't been part of their group long enough to know their dynamics, but I can see enough with my eyes to see that they're really good for one another."
They watched the pair silently from their seats, observing when Syaoran whispered something to her ear that made Sakura giggle with delight. She seemed to wriggle closer to him, as if trying to get herself into his own person. "They're so cute together," Chavela sighed deeply as they waited.
Pieces of the cake were being distributed over the room. Ryo had volunteered to get them a piece of the sweet confection, and so they waited for his return.
"What about Eriol and Tomoyo?" Meiling asked as she spotted the pair. They had stopped in the middle of the doorway. They were in their own little world, in which they were the only ones that existed. They were both looking at one another only, placing light kisses to each other's lips as they murmured sweet nothings.
"Their relationship is a bit more volatile than you would think. A week doesn't go by that they don't have a bit of a spat, but it's never serious enough to truly put a wedge between them." Chavela looked away toward Syaoran and Sakura. The little tidbit she had acquired a few weeks before present over her mind as she watched the revolving couples sway to the music.
"Is he still playing those awful tricks on people?" Meiling couldn't help but shudder as she recalled she'd been the brunt of many of those when she was younger.
"Not so much," Chavela admitted as she recalled a conversation she had with Naoko and Rika that had shed some light into the situation. Still, she knew full well that no one had any idea of what Eriol had said to Syaoran. She was also sure that Eriol hadn't told Syaoran the truth of the matter. She couldn't help herself, she continued to watch the couple. There were so many things that could go wrong with this. Syaoran wasn't the only one affected by Eriol's doing, but he seemed to not have realized it. Sakura would also receive the brunt of the problem in the end.
"Here's the reinforcements," Ryo approached the girls, a plate of food for each of them juggled in his two hands. The girls thanked him for his attention, immersing their selves onto sustaining their hungering stomachs. They laughed at some of the antics that were being played in the dance floor and conversed of little things.
"So, what's your answer?" Ryo asked as they gave their empty plates to a wandering waiter. He'd asked her about her opinion over the place. She'd told him she couldn’t truly tell him answer until she'd gotten to know her classmates before saying if she would enjoy her stay in the city.
"I'm going to like it here," there was no doubt in Meiling's mind that she had made the right choice by coming here.
"Great," Chavela smiled as she motioned toward Meiling with her head to his cousin. Ryo took the hint, knowing that he was inevitably going to ask her anyway.
"Come on, let's dance," he said to Meiling as he took her hands in his and pulled to the swaying music. Chavela watched from her little corner as her cousin drew the now shy Meiling into his arms and they danced. She almost cackled as she sported a bright blush over Meiling's face. She was sure this was going to be a rare occurrence.
"Your cousin hasn't left her side for the night," Yahiko remarked as he sat down next to her. Chavela accepted the unopened coke he placed in her hands.
"He's a bit taken with her," Chavela warned as she informed him. She knew quite well that Yahiko would go after anything in skirts to remain the center of attention. She was sure that he would be declared the most accomplished flirter of their year when the time came for those things in school.
"I noticed," he gave her a lopsided grin as he flicked a strand of her hair over her shoulder. Chavela contended herself to glaring at him as she crossed her legs. It somewhat infuriated her that while they were sitting, they were they exact same height.
"Let's dance," he announced, his hand placing her drink over one of the trays that were by her seat and pulled her up. Chavela rolled her eyes as she recognized the tactic. She knew that he knew she would have refused if he had asked.
"Yahiko, I'm three inches taller than you," she remarked as she placed her hands over her waist and glared meaningfully down at him.
"Only because you're wearing those heels," she followed his gaze toward the shoes that she had worn for this occasion. "Plus," he lead her to the edge of the floor. "I already told you that I like tall women."
Chavela scoffed at that statement. "And short women. And petite women. And statuesque women. And intelligent women. A few missing a few light bulbs as well." She almost let a smile slip as he glared at her. It was almost worth it to see this expression over his face.
The only thing that seemed to keep things in par was his long standing hair. She would never understand how someone could get their hair to stay in that position for a whole day. She also knew from the way that he was watching her, that he was waiting for the perfect moment to ask his usual question. He'd spent the last month pestering her every time they were in each other's company for a date.
Yahiko let his eyelids fall over his eyes as the music changed. A Latin rhythm predominated the speakers as the bodies of the dancers got ready for the beat. Their bodies separated, letting Chavela catch her breath from the proximity she had found herself in. Yahiko was a good looking guy with a wonderful personality. If only he wasn't so flighty about his relationships with the opposite sex, then maybe she would feel better about the fluttering in her stomach every time he smiled at her direction.
"Get ready," he warned her as he placed right hand on her waist, his fingers settling over the opening between her blouse and her skirt. The room erupting into a dancing frenzy. All the couples smiled breathless as they tried to keep up with the beating of the music and the sensual connotations it provoked.
It stopped abruptly, bringing Chavela against her partner's body. His arms enclosed around her waist, completely pulling her against him. He almost shouted in delight when he felt her breath hitch, even though her heart hammered loudly against his shoulder.
"You're not going to stop, are you?" Chavela said mostly to herself than to him.
"Never," was his swift response to her question. Chavela resigned herself to the inevitable then. There was only so much that you could say no to when you truly wanted to assent.
"Alright," she pulled away from his chest, a hand in between their bodies giving her leverage. "We'll go out on a date this Saturday," she promptly pressed her fingers to his lips. She didn't want him to do something embarrassing while they were around this many people.
"Only one date," she warned him, reflecting the seriousness of her statement with her eyes. "Then we'll see what goes on from there," her eyes still narrowed, she started to pull her hand away.
A bit of mischievousness erupted from him. He pressed his lips to the tips of her fingers, lightly kissing them. He stopped the strangling laugh that tried to come out as he took in her expression. Chavela was shocked, her hand remaining still. He took the chance to nip her middle finger with his teeth.
Chavela took her hand away, a bit of moisture from his lips burning against it. She growled, sure to let the message across from that action.
Yahiko burst into laughter, pulling her closer to him and leading her through the floor in a waltz with the other revolving couples.
The chandeliers shined brightly over the room. Their crystal hangings glittered as they shimmered with the different colors they reflected. The couples continued on, the celebration of their summer almost at an end. School would start the next day, the pleasures and events of the summer still strong in their minds.
XOXO -- end of chapter
Chapter 7 : Where’s the Party?!
Halloween is nearing and Naoko has pushed her birthday celebration to coincide with it. Out characters must prepare for a costume party that will have many revelations. Syaoran wonders just what Tomoyo is preparing for Sakura to wear. It seems to be white, and with a very long slit on the side. Eriol tries to come to scratch with Syaoran with no success, while Chavela and Meiling decide on a course of action that will either end in laughter or tears for them all.
Thank you for reading. This chapter is dedicated to all of my readers, especially with those that have remained with me since I started this story. A round of applause to you, you know who you are…
As a tease, here's the title for the 8th chapter : Where's the Bastard?! Now, who can that title be refering to I wonder ;-).
I'm close to the 100th review, I'm so happy. How about this? My 100th reviewer can tell me something he/she wants to see or happen. I'll either include it in the story, or create a one-shot just for you. Remember to sign on, or leave your e-mail so I can get in contact with you. I'm going to be in a delirious mood.
Review button is here… like it, hate it, love it, want more lemons; drop a line and it’ll most likely happen.
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