Chapter 8 Memories Return
by:
~SakuraStar
Sakura opened her eyes slightly, just enough so she could see the sun’s rays start to creep in the room. She smiled in remembrance of where she now lay. In the arms of the one she loved. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly then turned to see Syaoran’s sleeping face.
‘My hero…’ she said silently. He looked so handsome, even in his sleep. She hoped that he was ok. He had used way too much of his power last night. And he’d done it all for her. She lifted one of her arms into the air and looked over her glowing skin. The light had been fading since their connection had been broken, but she still liked to watch it, dancing happily and making her aura stronger as it continued to gradually disappear. The radiance of the glow filled her body as well and she felt more alive than ever before. And yet, so different. It was like she…sparkled.
She snuggled into the shirt she was wearing,
“So warm…” she sighed. Everything about Syaoran was warm. After seeing the moon completely dissolve, she turned over to face him, his chest rising and falling with every sleeping breath. She lightly traced the outline of his face with her fingers and barely noticed when his hand met hers and held it to his cheek. Sakura’s heart fluttered. He was so gently in everything he did. Syaoran breathed deeply and she knew he was awake. He twisted his hand around and intertwined his fingers in hers giving her a reassuring squeeze. Then he brought it down and kissed the back of her hand while opening his eyes. He smiled softly and her eyes lit up as she beamed back.
“Hey…” she whispered, “are you all right?”
He nodded, “Yeah…”
Sakura curled up close to him, “I’m glad…”
“How about you?” He combed a hand through her hair.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been better…” She stroked his chin with her hand. Syaoran turned to look at his desk and moaned.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Monday morning.”
“Aww! I don’t wanna go to school!” Sakura played in a cute and whiny voice. He chuckled as she wrapped her arms around him and he helped her sit up.
“But then we’ll have more extra homework!” he complained with her. She got a mischievous glint in her eye as she looked up at him,
“Is there something wrong with that?”
His heart raced,
“I guess not. But your friend will be very disappointed in his…” he teased. She stretched her arms up and pulled her hair out of her eyes.
“Yeah, then she’ll start asking me a bijillion questions again…” Putting up an imaginary video camera to her eye and a microphone to Syaoran’s mouth she spoke in a mimicking voice,
“Where were you on the night of March 20th?” They laughed together but Syaroan stopped.
“I was with an angel…”
Sakura smiled and raised her eyebrows while lowering her hands,
“And I was with my knight in shining armor…”
He stared at the glowing girl in front of him,
“What did you say?”
“You’re my knight in shining armor.” She threw herself at him and pushing him back down to the bed.
“I am?”
“Always…” she breathed and kissed him gently. Syaoran’s eyes closed and a long, shuddering breath escaped from his lips as she pulled away. She rested her chin on his chest and smiled as his face turned bright pink when he opened them again.
“I’ve decided to see it your way,” she said softly, “besides, if we don’t go to class they’ll get suspicious when we show up at the dance tonight…”
He smiled back, “I can’t wait…”
She let him stand and stretch then he looked at her with concern.
“Aren’t you cold?”
She gazed down at what she was wearing and blushed a little. The shirt almost came down to her knees, but it still didn’t cover much of her body.
“Not really…”
He held a hand towards her.
“I’ll carry you then,” he answered warmly. She gratefully put her hand in his and they walked over to the window where he stepped out and took her in his arms. Sakura started to protest about how he’d used enough of his strength last night and that she could walk by herself but Syaoran wouldn’t give in.
“I like to hold you…” he whispered. She blushed furiously.
“All right…” she said looking down. She tried to relax her arms around his neck which was hard to do since the feel of his skin kept sending sparks up her veins.
“Sakura?”
“Hmm?” The sound of his voice finally let her loosen up.
I’ve been thinking a lot about it and…are you….sure…they didn’t say anything else?” Syaoran felt her arms tighten a little around his neck. They must have said something or she wouldn’t be acting this way. If he could just get her to tell him, then
maybe she could calm down. Her eyes widened and she pursed her lips together.
‘If I tell him then…he might leave me…No! I won’t let them take him away!’ Her body shook and Syaoran held her closer.
“Sakura…” His steps grew slightly smaller as he waited for her to answer. But she didn’t. Something was definitely wrong. What was it they said that she couldn’t tell him?
“Please, tell me…” he pleaded.
‘I can’t…’ she said through her mind.
‘Why?’ he asked in the same way.
‘Because you’ll l-‘ Sakura caught herself. She just realized that she had been speaking to him subconsciously and her ‘tongue’ had almost slipped. After thinking for a minute she finally spoke,
“It doesn’t matter what they said, just don’t leave me, all right?”
He hesitated. For some reason she was going to make sure he didn’t find out what it was. But he’d think of a way.
“Never…” He rested his head on top of hers and she stopped shaking.
“Thank you,” she whispered almost inaudibly but he still heard her. Sakura nestled into his arms and he felt his heart beat rise. He couldn’t believe how adorable she was. Syaoran brushed his fingers lightly over her arm, and saw her smile. That breath taking smile. That was probably the first thing he ever noticed about her. It could always make his knees go weak.
He came around the corner to her house and his feet moved more slowly. What if her brother saw them? Horrible things ran through his head but he pushed them aside and helped her up the tree. She climbed in the window and turned to face him.
“I’ll be back in a minute, ok?”
He smiled and nodded. She patted the windowsill and almost ran into Kero as she stood up. Sakura screamed and clutched a hand to her chest.
“Oh! Kero-chan, you scared me!”
“What happened!? What happened!? What – ha – pened!??” His eyes were humongous. She jerked her head back towards the window,
“He’ll tell you.”
Kero looked behind her and threw his arms uphappily,
“Oh, it’s the kid! Tell me what happened, pal!”
Syaoran sighed and tried to think of a way to explain last night’s events.
Sakura got out her school clothes and went in the bathroom to change. When finished she stared at herself in the mirror. Her skin had stopped shining but now it shone in a different way. It looked so alive and full of energy on its own without the glow. What had he done to her?
All this, and yet she still couldn’t tell him the truth even when he’d given her a second chance! She just needed more time to figure out how to keep them safe before the eyes could do anything. Then she’d tell him. There wasn’t any harm in that, right?
‘There is…’ her mind answered.
“No!” She pounded her hand on the sink, “There can’t be! There can’t be! I can’t tell him!” She screamed in anger and tried to take deep breaths.
“No,” she said calmly, “today is supposed to be perfect. I won’t let this ruin it.” She pushed them aside and thought of Syaoran instead. How he smiled at her and how caring he was. Today would be perfect. No matter what. She grinned and skipped out the door.
“What about your clothes, Syaoran?” Sakura asked on the way to school.
“I have an extra pair in my locker, I can change there.”
“Oh….Syaoran….you don’t…you don’t know how much what you did last night means to me…”
“Sakura I-,”
The phone began to ring in her backpack.
“Ah!” She jumped and pulled it out, “Moshi, moshi!”
“Sakura-chan!”
“T-Tomoyo-chan? School starts in 20 minutes, you do know that, don’t you?”
“It’s Eriol-kun! He’s come back!” She sounded completely out of breath.
“Hoe? Eriol-kun?” Syaoran’s muscles stiffened, “I thought he went back to England!”
“Iie, he says he didn’t, but isn’t it great?”
“Hai! I almost felt sorry that I didn’t get to say good-bye! I’m glad he’s back!” Syaoran looked at her smiling face out of the corner of his eye.
“Me too! I’ll see you in class, ok?”
“Hai! Ja ne, Tomoyo-chan!”
“Ja ne, Sakura-chan!”
Syaoran stared accusingly at the ground. That maniac was still here in
Japan!? Around Sakura?
“I bet he’s back to embarrass me some more…” he muttered angrily. Sakura tucked her cell phone safely away next to her bear and turned to Syaoran.
“Isn’t it great, Syaoran!? Erio-kun never went back to England at all! I’m so happy!”
He looked up at her. His eyes had turned cold and full of hurt again. She lowered her eyebrows.
“Syaoran?”
He quickly averted his gaze.
“Is something wrong?”
Syaoran mentally kicked himself. Why should he be worried about Eriol? Sakura said she loved him, and he knew it was true. Him not Eriol. Her feelings toward his rival had been proven wrong. Why couldn’t he accept that? There was just something about him that made Syaoran feel like he couldn’t be trusted. The thought of the English transfer student made him scowl. He just had to ruin everything.
“Iie, it’s nothing.”
Sakura cocked her head then smiled brightly and took his hand. All thoughts quickly vanished from his mind.
“Come on!” she said laughing as she pulled him behind her, “We don’t want to be late!” Sakura’s enthusiastic voice rang in his ears like a crystal bell.
“Eriol-kun!” Sakura called as the two of them walked into the classroom, “We’re so happy you’re back!”
The blue-haired boy turned around from his conversation with Tomoyo and smiled at her.
“Ohayo gozaimas, Sakura-san, Li-kun!”
Syaoran fought the urge to beat him up.
‘Eriol’s no threat to me,’ he said to himself.
Tomoyo saw both of them come in together and started grinning like a lunatic. Sakura was all right! She must have gone to Li-kun’s yesterday.
“Ho ho ho ho ho….” She chuckled softly but no one noticed.
“Where did you to, Eriol-kun? You’ve been gone for a whole week!” Sakura walked to her desk and Syaoran followed silently.
“I had some unfinished business that needed taking care of, nothing much. Sorry to worry you!”
“Well, you’re here now and that’s all that matters!” She laughed and hopped into her seat.
“You’re very happy today, Sakura-san.”
Sakura blushed and glanced at Syaoran.
“I have good reasons…” she said quietly.
“I heard the Cherry Blossom Dance is tonight. I hope the weather will be as beautiful as you are.”
Syaoran’s hand snapped up and he gripped the edge of his desk. He did not like that boy’s tone of voice.
Sakura smiled sweetly but said,
“Syaoran-kun is taking me. He asked me last week.”
“Oh…” Eriol’s shoulders drooped slightly, “well that’s good. He’s very lucky that you agreed.”
She got a confused look on her face,
“Hoe? Why?”
Tomoyo started laughing quietly, then Eriol joined in with her. Syaoran just stared at them.
“Why is everyone laughing at me!?”
Eriol tried to control himself,
“You just look so cute…” he stated. Syaroan clenched his teeth. How dare he say things like that to her! Her face turned only slightly pink and looked at Eriol curiously, raising one eyebrow and lowering the other.
“You two are really strange…”
Syaoran just wanted to disappear. Why did Eriol have to sit next to him and so close to Sakura? Why couldn’t his desk be far, far away and leave he and Sakura alone? Tomoyo was right, Sakura was naïve. She was completely oblivious to what Eriol was saying to her. He supposed that was a good thing in a way, but he hated seeing her so misled. He looked at Tomoyo. Did she not see it either? Maybe he was just thinking nonsense. But his heart told him that something wasn’t right and that he should be on guard. He had followed his heart when he finally told Sakura about his feelings so he would do it now.
He sighed dejectedly as he watched her laughing with him and hoped that things between them wouldn’t change.
“So, Sakura-chan, what’s your dress for the dance like?” The usual group of friends plus Syaoran and Eriol were crowded around a lunch table outside, just barely being able to control their excitement.
“Well, Tomoyo-chan made it for me - ,”
“Ooohh!” The girls began to squeal, “We can’t wait to see it!”
“Tomoyo-chan makes the coolest outfits!” cried Naoko.
“I don’t know how you do it!”
“Remember the costumes she made for our Sleeping Beauty play?”
Sakura and Syaoran both smiled.
“Sakura-chan and Li-kun were so kawaii!” They were all a little surprised when Syaoran didn’t argue when them about it.
“What Sleeping Beauty play?”
“Oh, that’s right! You weren’t here when we did that, Hirigawiza-kun!” Chiharu exclaimed, “Well see, we did that play for the school festival last year. Sakura-chan was
the prince and Syaoran-kun was the princess! And the costumes Tomoyo-chan made for them were so awesome!”
“I think the dress I made for Sakura-chan tonight is the best though!”
Tomoyo-chan cut in.
“Really!?” All three girl’s eyes grew wide.
“I’m sure Sakura-san looked very charming as the prince.” Eriol responded, ignoring the way Syaoran’s eyes narrowed at him. Sakura chuckled nervously,
“It was just that Tomoyo-chan’s costume was so well made…”
“But you were probably a very good price as well. You must be terrific actress. I can tell by the way your face reacts to everything.”
Syaoran felt Sakura pull her hand out of his as she waved her arms in front of her.
“I – iie, iie! I was really nervous!”
Chiharu, Naoko, and Rikka watched all of this in confusion. Mostly they noticed Syaoran. His face was so angry yet he looked so sad, and his muscles tensed every time Eriol said something to Sakura. Chiharu leaned over to Naoko and whispered,
“Is it just me or did I miss something?”
“I don’t think it’s just you…what about you Rikka-chan?”
“I can’t make any sense of it either…”
“Hmm…” the three friends pondered as they all rested their heads in their hands.
Syaoran couldn’t take it any longer. Her bright and happy face was making his heart beat faster and faster, but it wasn’t for him. She probably didn’t even notice that he was sitting next to her anymore. Maybe he should just leave her alone for a while. After all, she most likely was sick of seeing him every minute of the day. Not that he was. He treasured every second he spent together with Sakura and kept all the memories safely in his heart. But he didn’t think he could bear watching her smile at and laugh with Eriol anymore. It was tearing him apart.
Her back was almost completely turned to him so he slowly slipped off the bench and walked around to the other side of the school. He just needed to cool off, then he could stop worrying about what Eriol was saying to Sakura.
Ever since that kid had transferred here to Japan he’d always been so kind and caring towards her, something he couldn’t do and it nearly drove him mad.
‘Well, it did at times…’ he thought to himself, remembering how he always blew up in people’s faces when Eriol was around her. How he had embarrassed himself in front of Sakura just because he was jealous.
“Am I jealous?” he asked himself.
‘You know you are,’ a mocking voice responded.
“Why should I be jealous? Sakura loves me!”
‘Because you’re afraid he’ll outshine you and she’ll start liking him in-,’
“NO! STOP!” Syaoran closed his hands over his ears. “That won’t happen…” he whispered. He opened his eyes, and being satisfied that the voice had stopped talking, put down his hands and sighed.
Suddenly someone jumped on his back and he fell on his hands. Sakura wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and shook her head.
“Uh uh! I’m not letting you out of my sight unless I absolutely have to!”
She let him roll over and sat on his stomach while looking down with a pouting look on her face.
“Why did you leave?”
Syaoran couldn’t control the mad blush that had come over his neck and cheeks. Nor could he decide weather he was scared out of his mind or more relieved than he had ever been in his entire life. Her reaction was so swift that he barely had any sense of what was going on. All he knew was that she had him pinned to the ground by his shoulders and her sparkling eyes were wide with laughter. His brain didn’t seem like it could think straight. Right before Sakura appeared he was saying that she was probably tired of being around him, and now she was here telling him that she wasn’t going to let him out of her sight! So he went into a state of complete and utter confusion thinking,
‘Something isn’t right…’
Sakura leaned in closer to him and twisted up her face.
“Syaoran? Are you all right?”
His pulse went up so high that he couldn’t even distinguish one beat from the other. He felt their aura’s blending together, forming a barrier around them that seemed to block the outside world. His aura mixing with hers; the most intense and wonderful sensation, right next to her touch. As the seconds went by, the pink shield behind her appeared to glow brighter, so bright he thought it would blind him. But instead he could see more clearly, every feature and detail of her face was accentuated to match the brightness of her smile.
“Syaoran?”
Couldn’t his face get any warmer?
“I….you…..uh….well….I-…I-,”
A wave of fear passed over her face,
“Oh my gosh, is something wrong!?” She began to pull her hands away and he saw the color slightly fade.
“No!” He grabbed her arms to keep her down.
“No, I-I-I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
Her muscles relaxed and she let out a long breath.
“I was so worried…”
“Why?” He managed to gasp.
Sakura furrowed her eyebrow.
“Syaoran, I turned around and you had disappeared! Can you imagine how scared I was?” Her eyes looked almost like they were filled with tears.
“Really?” he asked softly. She turned pink and nodded.
“Why did you leave?”
He tried to pull his eyes away from hers, but couldn’t.
“You were talking with Hirigawiza-kun and…”
“And?” She spoke just barely above a whisper.
Syaoran swallowed. He should tell her how he felt about Eriol. It wasn’t fair that she should go on thinking everyone was friends.
“And…..I….don’t know…….sorry.” Telling her something that would make her unhappy was something really hard to do. He’d tell her later. Sakura blinked. Syaoran was acting weird. Not to mention that he was still burning bright red and his eyes were huge.
“Can you feel it?” he asked her. She did. The breath taking feeling of their auras joining and growing stronger from their connection. All their emotions were spinning around them, giving off a roller coaster feeling that sent their hearts flying. Sakura’s breaths quickened and she grinned.
“Yeah…”
Syaoran smiled back at her wishing he could stay like this forever.
‘I love you…’ he thought.
‘I know you do…’ she answered.
Syaoran was half startled at hearing her voice in his mind and she smiled even wider.
‘Don’t leave again like that, all right?’
‘Not unless you want me too.’
She lowered her eyebrows and grinned shyly.
“Believe me, I won’t…”
“Sakura-chan!” They heard their friends calling from around the corner. Sakura groaned and they helped each other to their feet, but she stumbled and fell into his arms as the four girls appeared. Tomoyo squealed and everyone noticed that she had her trusty digital camera on record.
“I got it!” she cried.
“KAWAII!!” the others screamed. Sakura and Syaoran both turned red. She quickly straightened herself up but still stayed close to him
“So what were you guys doing over here all alone?” Chiharu said curiously while leaning in and grinning slyly.
“N-nothing!” they stammered in unison.
“Oh really!?” Naoko chimed in. Sakura looked desperately at the other girl.
“Rikka-chan!” she pleaded.
“I was actually kind of wondering what the two of you were doing myself.”
“We weren’t doing anything! You all just have sick minds!” she was growing frantic now.
“Is this true, Li-kun?” Rikka asked politely. Sakura winced and Syaoran blushed even more. His eyes darted wildly as he tried to come up with our answer.
“Well, I ….uh…..”
Sakura was still holding his hand,
‘Come on! Can’t you just say ‘no’?’ she teased. He looked into her eyes.
‘Not when I’m so close to you,’ he replied. Her pupils widened and she quickly turned her face to hide the blush.
“I knew it!” exclaimed Naoko, “You both saw a UFO!” she pointed at them with stars in her eyes as they all sweatdropped.
“Yeah, something like tha-,” but Chiharu cut him off.
“No, Sweetie,” she patted Naoko’s shoulder, “they didn’t see any UFO’s”
“Oh,” she slumped back a little.
Suddenly Takashi popped up,
“You know, it’s been said that a UFO crashed in a place called Roswell back in 1947 and the government is holding the alien bodies in-,”
“Enough!” Chiharu boxed him in the ear. “We’re in the middle of a very important discussion here!”
“Oh really? About what?”
Sakura began to shake from nervousness and her face kept growing warmer.
“Wow! Look at the time, lunch is over! Come on Syaoran-kun!” They both dashed hurriedly back inside the school building.
“Well, you were right, Tomoyo-chan!” said Rikka.
“Yeah! They make the most kawaii couple!” Chiharu added. The dark haired girl turned off her recorder and smiled brightly at them.
“Hai! And I got it all on film!”
“You got what on film?”
Tomoyo jumped and clutched the device safely to her chest.
“Oh, Eriol-kun!” she breathed a sigh of relief. “I was just saying that I got to film how kawaii Sakura-chan and Li-kun look when they’re together!” She started giggling while Eriol just looked at her.
‘So Sakura and Syaoran were over here alone together, huh?’ He should have known that’s where she had gone.
“Was it interesting?”
“Oh yes! Very interesting!”
“Hmm. Tomoyo-san, I’ve been wanting to ask you something.”
“What is it?” she asked, trying to overcome her fits of laughter. He took her free hand and held it in both of his.
“Tomoyo-san, would you go to with me to the Cherry Blossom Dance, tonight?”
She stared at him for a moment. She’d never gone out with a boy before or ever had any intention of doing so.
‘Well, this way I have an excuse to watch Sakura-chan!’ Grinning, she looked into his eyes.
“It would be my pleasure, Eriol-kun!”
He smiled.