When Dreams Failed
By: Sakura aka Michelle
Chapter 3

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Syaoran felt uncomfortable…

Utterly uncomfortable…

Especially when someone was staring at him as though he had grown two heads on his shoulders while he was having his meal…

And most especially when he was at somebody else’s home for a meal despite that someone’s objection and despite knowing he was not welcome.

But he came anyway, due to Sakura and Kaho’s insistence. He just did not have the heart to reject their invitation; maybe it was due to the fact that he had four sisters in Hong Kong and that was the reason he was sensitive to females’ feelings. Maybe that is the reason, Syaoran thought and sighed. Hopefully that is the reason why I accepted this particular invitation.

“Is the food to your liking?” Kaho asked Syaoran upon seeing his pensive look, thinking that he did not like whatever she had cooked.

Syaoran came out of his thoughts and looked at Kaho, then noticed that Sakura was looking at him too, and that was when he realized that he was had stopped eating. “The food is great!” he suddenly exclaimed. “The food is really great! Delicious!”

Sakura laughed, “There’s no need to exaggerate that much, Syaoran-kun. Though it is really true that Kaho is a great cook.”

Kaho blushed at the compliment that Sakura had given and smiled. “I’m glad you like the food and even more happy that you actually voiced out your opinions unless a certain someone,” she said and turned to look at her husband, who was sitting silently beside her at the dining table staring daggers at Syaoran as if he was his enemy of some sort.

“I apologize for keeping my words in my head,” Eriol replied sarcastically, earning a playful slap on his arm from Kaho.

“Eriol, stop looking at Syaoran-kun as if you want to eat him up,” Sakura comment as she leaned back against her chain to cross her arms in front of her. “You are making him uncomfortable.”

“There isn’t any signs that say I cannot look at anybody,” Eriol retorted and continued to glare at Syaoran with increasing ferocity. “And this is my house, so I can do whatever I want.”

Sakura made a face, “That’s being childish.”

“Sakura-chan,” Kaho warned. “Don’t be rude to your brother.”

Sakura raised both her hands above her head in a display of surrender and gave her and innocent look, “Well, I was only giving my comment.” Then she stuck out her tongue in Eriol’s direction; luckily he was too busy trying to intimidate Syaoran to notice that.

Syaoran forced another mouthful of food into his mouth. Well, the food was incredible but the fact that someone was staring him down made the food, well, queasy. He had not felt this way during mealtimes since he left Hong Kong. That was like one month ago. He sighed and put his chopsticks down; it was time to leave, he wasn’t going to stand this anymore. Why is it that I feel this way? How can I be made uncomfortable by just that glare? I didn’t do anything wrong and that Hiiragizawa is not frightening, or is he? I must think through this and find out the reason myself. Why am I so scared of him? Scared!!

“You are not eating anymore?” Sakura asked, noticing that he had already put his chopsticks down. “Full?”

“Yes,” he replied calmly, ignoring the fiery sparks coming from Eriol’s eyes. “I’ll clear up the table.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t!” Kaho exclaimed then noticed that Sakura had finished her meal as well. “You should go out and take a walk with Sakura-chan instead. The night is still young and you youngsters shouldn’t be cooped up in the house with a grumpy old man. I’ll take it from here.”

Syaoran had already picked up his plates and was about to move to the sink area when they were snatched away swiftly by Kaho. He did not know a tall woman like Kaho could move this fast, not that he was discriminating against the other gender but he was really surprised by her speed.

Sakura stood up as well and tapped on Syaoran’s shoulder to get his attention. “What Kaho wants, what Kaho gets. You won’t be able to change her decision once she has made it herself. Come on,” she told him and dragged him out.

They walked to the King Penguin Park in silence, enjoying the night breeze and companionship. Sakura sat down on a bench and sighed blissfully, leaning back against the bench and tilting her head up to look at the sky. “It’s a beautiful night,” she commented. “I hope nothing will be going to ruin it.”

“Pardon me? What did you say?” Syaoran asked, unsure of what he had just heard.

Sakura smiled at him and shook her head, “Nothing. I’m just saying that this is a beautiful night.”

Syaoran nodded his head and stood beside the bench she was sitting on awkwardly, not knowing what he should say. Then Sakura patted loudly on the empty space next to her, indicating that Syaoran should sit as well. That was what he did. He just sat beside her and looked into the space in front of him silently, contemplating on his mission and deciding which steps he should undertake. He sighed when he could think of no answers for his own questions.

Hearing him sigh, Sakura asked, “Problems?”

“It’s nothing actually,” Syaoran replied. “Perhaps I’m missing my own family after enjoying the company of yours for dinner.”

Sakura said nothing but her mouth formed an ‘o’ shape. She nodded her head instead to acknowledge that she had heard him. Then a few second later, she said, “It must be hard on you to be away from your family. I missed mine too.”

That pricked Syaoran’s curiosity. “Isn’t Hiiragizawa your brother? And you even have a sister-in-law.”

Sakura shook her head ruefully and smiled, though it was a sad one, “They were not my real family. I lost mine in a car accident. I was the sole survivor of that crash. The Hiiragizawa had kindly adopted me and Eriol became my brother for as long as I can remember.”

“I’m sorry,” Syaoran apologized earnestly. “I shouldn’t have brought up the topic; it’s painful for you.”

Sakura waved a hand in the air, trying to dismiss his apology. “Actually, it doesn’t. I’ve always treated the Hiiragizawa as my family. I was too young to remember that car accident. It was only recently that I managed to squeeze it out of Eriol’s mouth. But I’m glad that he told me the truth for I do not wish to be kept in the dark forever.”

“But you must have wanted to at least remember your family,” Syaoran remarked. “I have often wished that I could remember how my father looked like; he passed on when I was only but three. I couldn’t remember much about him and my mother would become distraught whenever I brought up the topic. Nobody in my family says much about him. Funny isn’t it? Even my sisters, too.”

“Perhaps they find it too painful to speak about your father,” Sakura reasoned. “Some people are like that and I believe my brother Eriol is one of them. You will have to force them before they are willing to tell you. At least you still have your mother and sisters with you; I have no one to turn to besides myself.”

“You still have your brother,” Syaoran reminded. “He seems to be very over-protective over you. The most important thing is that he is concerned about you; you are not alone in this world.”

Sakura nodded and brushed a tear that threatened to flow down her cheeks. Thankful for his presence, she took both his hands in hers and told him, “Thanks for reminding me that I still have a brother with me. Perhaps it is because I longed for a complete family and I forgot that fact.”

Syaoran patted her hands and smiled; what else could he do besides that? “You are always welcome.”

Sakura looked at her watch and gasped at the lateness of the time. “Oh my,” she exclaimed suddenly and wrenched her hands free from Syaoran’s grasp. “It is so late already! I need to go back right away.”

“Yeah, how time flies,” Syaoran told her and stood up. “Come on, I will walk along with you.”

“Won’t you be walking one big round to go home?” Sakura asked and then realized she had no inkling as to where Syaoran lived. “By the way, you haven’t told me where you lived.”

Chuckling, Syaoran replied, “You’ll be surprised when you know. Come on.”

Sakura frowned and looked at Syaoran suspiciously. Couldn’t he come straight to the point and just tell me where he lives? Surprise? I don’t think so… Except if he tells me that he’s living with Eriol. That would be funny! Sakura shrugged and followed Syaoran, who had walked away from the bench and was a short distance in front of her. She had to jog to catch up to him and he smiled at her when she reached him.

The journey home was considerably much faster than when they walked to the park It was partly due to the fact that Sakura was rushing for time and partly due to Sakura’s curiosity as to where Syaoran was living. He had not giving any hints throughout the walk home and Sakura was becoming impatient. She was not one who would like suspense.

The duo was already at the doorstep of Eriol’s apartment. Sakura turned to face Syaoran while she tapped her feet impatiently. Grinning away, Syaoran pointed to the apartment next to Eriol’s and Sakura’s eyes widened. She did not realize that the apartment next door was vacant till Syaoran’s arrival.

“You are telling me that you are actually our neighbour?” Sakura asked, incredulous. “Eriol is going to get fits when he hears about this.”

“That is the reason I neglected to mention this,” Syaoran replied laughingly. “Though I would really love to see his reaction upon knowing this piece of information.”

Suddenly, the door to Eriol’s apartment slammed open, revealing an angry looking, fume spitting, Eriol in the opened doorway. Both Syaoran and Sakura turned abruptly to look at him in shock; they had expected this.

“What are the two of you doing alone outside?” he asked.

“Talking?” Sakura suggested with a smile and then she winked at Syaoran discreetly without letting Eriol see.

Syaoran got the hint and then he announced, “I was about to go home.”

“Then be one your way!” Eriol retorted, making a move to drag Sakura into the house. “Sakura, stay away from him. He..”

“I live here,” came his next announcement and that rendered Eriol speechless.

“You!?” Eriol fairly shouted. “You live here? Are you kidding me?”

The door to Syaoran’s apartment opened and Wei popped out, alarmed by the commotion outside and then saw Syaoran amongst the group. “Syaoran-sama!” Wei exclaimed. “It’s about time you came back! I was worried sick; you didn’t leave a note to say that you’ll be out late.”

Eriol gaped at the gray-haired elderly man at the door and then looked over to Syaoran. After a few seconds of silence on his part, he sighed and slapped a hand on his forehead and then said, “This is a nightmare.”

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