My Husband's Wedding- Chapter Twelve

My Husband’s Wedding

Witch-Mistress-Animaru

12: The Mystery: Part III

Time passes us quickly, everything that transpired in the past year seem to be a blur.

It is the graduation rites in Tokyo U.’s University Graduation for those students who graduated with honors. All the departmental graduations happened a week before. This event is much bigger, much more important.

More on Sakura and Syaoran, they have been together for a whopping seven months, a record for Li Syaoran.

However, it is time to set aside this relationship, as the Fashion Design honor students approach the stage.

Syaoran stood in the crowd, catching attention in his business attire. He barely had time to get here, and he had no minute to spare and to change his clothing. People were staring at him, but he didn’t mind. Eriol was also beside him, looking both proud and anxious. Tomoyo was approaching the stage. The applause was deafening as the students got their diplomas. He turned to Eriol once the crowd silenced.

“Eriol, are you serious about Tomoyo?”

“Wha-? Oh, I seriously don’t know, Xiao Lang. You know I never rush things, I let destiny take course…We’re definitely still young. I mean, look at her, she only just graduated…” Eriol said wisely. “But if you’re asking me if she’s the one for me, I like to think so, and I hope she’d be my wife…someday.”

Syaoran sighed resignedly.

“Uh-huh.” He said, trying to sound nonchalant, but his tone was worried just the same. “I could say the same for Sakura. I mean, I truly love her…but…”

“…The Elders want you to marry Yang Zhen Yi.” (A/N: Sorry, can’t think of any Chinese names at the moment!) Eriol finished for him. He nodded mutely.

“That’s right, and quite immediately…But not if I can help it. And if they still persist, I’ll marry Sakura soon.”

“Syaoran,” Eriol started, sounding worried. “Don’t you dare rush things… There are more ways than that to stop the Elders in pestering you.”

Then, in the stage…

“Daidouji, Tomoyo Sai Amamiya,” the host called on. (A/N: Sorry, I wanted to add at least another name to both Sakura’s and Tomoyo’s names.)

They both focused on the stage until Tomoyo went down and got back on her seat.

An hour later, the Journalism honor students went onstage. Much as Sakura got bored with writing, it is inevitable that she got better grades than most of her class.

“I’m planning to offer her marriage on our anniversary, September 9. That’s four months from now.” Syaoran said softly, not looking at Eriol at all.

“But,” Eriol protested, “She’s only eighteen, for gosh sakes!”

“Nineteen,” he corrected grimly, not even smiling. “On April 3, she’ll turn nineteen. That’s only two weeks from now.”

“Okay, then, nineteen,” Eriol said in an exasperated and resigned voice. “But being a year over marrying age is still relatively young!”

“I can’t afford to lose her.”

Eriol didn’t know the answer to that one and he stopped talking at once. Sakura went up the stage next and Syaoran never felt more proud in his life. Even in his own graduation, he never felt this way, and he knew why.

After all, she was his. His Sakura…

---

Sakura’s Birthday

She was at home, browsing pages, looking for a job. Touya was on the other room, watching TV. He took a ‘well-deserved’ break from work, according to him. But in truth, he met some pretty girl in the neighborhood. He’d never admit it, but Sakura knew it to be true. Her father went to work, at a university in Kyoto. Keira, however, was off to summer school for getting abysmal grades.

She was actually waiting for Syaoran to arrive. He’d only been in her house twice, and she was the only one home then. Although he already met Syaoran, the latter wasn’t formally introduced as her boyfriend then, for they only met.

Keira, Sakura knew, was trying to attract Syaoran, thinking he was still only courting Sakura. She always threw furtive glances at Sakura, looking sulky and jealous all the time.

Fujitaka had forgotten her birthday. She felt a pang of jealousy towards Keira, who always received lavish gifts from him. But then, ever since she deliberately escaped him the night she answered Syaoran, he became cold and distant all the more. It felt strangely painful, but she’d rather choose it than remarks and physical pain inflicted to her.

The doorbell rang, and her thoughts were cut off. It was Syaoran, and she greeted him. She kissed him lightly on the cheek, and pulled him inside.

Touya emerged from the other room, scowling at the sight of Syaoran.

“Oniichan, you’ve met Syaoran, hasn’t you?”

“What’s this baka doing here, squirt?” He asked hotly, referring to Syaoran like a piece of ugly dirt. Syaoran’s eyes looked strangely sharp as they stared at her brother.

She strongly suspected that something unpleasant transpired between the two when she left them to get drinks the day they first met.

“Oniichan,” she said, glaring at Touya warningly, “Syaoran’s my boyfriend, For…eight months this April ninth, actually.”

“What!” Touya exclaimed, looking outraged.

“Come off it…” She said.

Touya continued to glare at her, when he suddenly turned back.

“Yeah, right. I’ll be upstairs if you need anything.” He said flatly; then he began muttering incoherently as he went up the stairs, leaving them alone.

She cooked him fettuccine, his favorite, and they spent two hours talking about nonsense and sweet-nothings.

“S-Sakura,” He stammered out, suddenly serious, “I know it’s a bit early…” Her smile was wiped off her face. Was he leaving already?

“I can’t think of any gift, any gift at all…other than this…” Then he pulled out a velvet jewelry case from his pocket, and opened it. Sakura gasped.

Inside was a white gold tiffany ring with a single emerald at the center, and little ambers all around it. She stared at it, transfixed.

“Will you marry me?” He asked, blushing like mad.

“Oh,” she managed to say. “So soon?”

He nodded, before continuing. “Yeah…but not immediately, of course! But you’ll meet my family soon…Just…just say yes, then…” His eyes pleaded.

She gazed at him unblinkingly before finally nodding.

His face lightened up. Then he bent down and kissed her hungrily. It was nothing like the kisses they’ve shared, and she felt a little shocked and anticipating. It was passionate and tenderly sweet at the same time. For the first time, his tongue entered her mouth. She opened her eyes in surprise, and saw…

…Touya. He was standing in the staircase, looking livid. She pushed Syaoran away as Touya went down, clearing his throat loudly.

“Go ‘way, Li,” he said menacingly. “You don’t make out with my sister here.” Sakura blushed, but Syaoran nodded in agreement.

“Gomenasai,” he said to Touya before kissing her at the cheek and leaving.

“Later, Sakura,” he said before closing the door.

“Do you love him, squirt?” Touya asked gently, a moment later.

“Of course I do.” She said defensively.

He sighed.

“My little sister isn’t so little anymore…Well,” he sighed, before ruffling her hair lovingly, “You have my blessing. Only don’t let me find out that he hurt you, or I’ll kill him myself.”

“Oniichan!”

“Just kidding, but if I had my way…” He shook his head and looked at her. “So, what did he give you, some stuffed toy?” Sakura shook her head and showed the ring in her right hand.

“A ring? That’s quite expensive…”

“An engagement ring…” She said in a small voice, correcting him.

“What? You’re too young, Sakura!” He protested. “You—you accepted? Are you out of that bright mind of yours?”

“It’s not as if I’m married already!” She said, giggling.

“Are you meeting him later?”

“Yeah, him and his family.”

“So it’s getting serious.” He said without smiling that she suddenly felt nervous. “Listen, baby, I…we only want what’s best for you. Don’t rush in to things, okay? Dad loves you, no matter what…We love you.”

She nodded her head, and he left.

---

Sakura awakened with a start. She looked around wildly, and saw her brother sleeping beside her bed, looking very much exhausted. She suddenly stared at her right hand. The ring was no longer there. She remembered that she left both rings to him when they went on separate ways. But still…she felt bound to that ring…

She sighed and stared at her bare fingers, losing sight…

---

“Ready?” Syaoran asked her as he helped her enter the car.

She nodded nervously and she held his hand as he switched the engine on.

She was fidgety all throughout the ride, and kept on biting her fingernails.

“Stop doing that, sweetheart,” he said gently. “It’s alright, don’t worry.”

“Oh, sorry…”

They have arrived at a large mansion in Tokyo. She suddenly felt the social gap between them widen. Li Syaoran was filthy rich.

“Young Master Li.” A man in his late forties greeted them.

“Wei, this is my fiancée Sakura Kinomoto.” The man looked surprised, but welcomed her just the same.

They went inside, and Syaoran steered her to a rather large door, and knocked three times. A stern woman’s voice floated from inside.

“Enter.”

He pushed the door open, revealing about a dozen people seated in a long table. They were mostly old men, but there were two girls their age, one who looked shocked indeed. A woman sat at the end of the table, and Sakura supposed she was the one who had spoken.

“Xiao Lang,” she said, her gaze falling upon Sakura. Sakura bowed as Syaoran introduced her.

“Mother, everyone,” he acknowledged the woman and the rest with a glance, before continuing, “This is Sakura Kinomoto, my…fiancée.” There was a slightest hesitation in his voice, but he continued it.

The old men all stood up, and the blue-eyed girl stood up with them. They looked outraged.

“What’s this?” The old man in the far end of the table spoke, looking mad. “Tonight is your engagement to Yang Zhen Yi! Have you no shame?”

“What kind of sick joke is this?” Another asked angrily.

“Silence!” Syaoran’s mother has also risen from her chair. “Please, Elders,” she said, “Please calm down.” Then she stared at her son intently, looking furious, but also questioning. “Explain.” She ordered.

“Xiao Lang, you cannot do this!” The blue-eyed girl exclaimed. “Mom and Dad are coming now!”

“Zhen Yi, please calm your self and sit down.” Syaoran’s mother said, and the girl followed, although looking still much tensed.

“I will not marry Yang Zhen Yi.” Syaoran spoke in a resolutely clear voice. “I have decided to marry Sakura, and you can’t stop me.”

“What do you mean?” His mother asked, sitting down herself.

“I love her…I do.” Sakura reddened at this, but nobody noticed. Then, the ruby-eyed girl stood up and went up to her.

“Hello,” she said with a smile, “I’m Li Mei Lin. Syaoran’s cousin.” She added when Sakura looked confused.

“Mei Lin!” Syaoran’s mother shouted across them.

“Sorry, Auntie Yelan,” and she indeed looked apologetic, “But I think it’s quite alright, really. She seems nice…”

“I think so, too, but…” Yelan Li sighed. The Elders began to leave. She pointed at them resignedly.

“You will marry Yang Zhen Yi, or we’ll disinherit you!” The Elder who first spoke shouted before marching off the place.

Sakura suddenly felt weak, but Syaoran continued to support her.

They, too, walked out of the room…

…and out the door of acceptance.