§ Cherished in My Heart §
A fiction by moondocc
Rated T/Genre: Romance/Drama
Disclaimer: I don't own CCS, but I do own this plot : )
Summary: Long ago Sakura and Syaoran were childhood lovers, but Sakura had to move away. Ten years later she comes back as Cherry Kura, with amnesia, and completely detests guys like Syaoran Li, full-time player, who runs his hands through hundreds of girls in order to protect himself from getting hurt. Can you fall in love with the same person twice? SxS, ExT
Chapter 1: A Lost Tale V2
An auburn-haired girl laid on the meadow, gazing happily at the brilliant blue sky. Her beautiful, emerald eyes widened as she saw a cloud that had the shape of a beautiful pink flower. "Look, Syaoran, that flower looks like a cherry blossom," the girl smiled kindly, peering sideways at an eight-year-old boy.
The messy chestnut-haired boy snorted, his amber eyes danced with an icy whirlpool, and his heart pounded hard against his chest. He turned his back to the girl, pouting. "Just go to your stupid Japan." He said coldly. "It's not like I care."
The auburn-haired girl narrowed her eyes in surprise and turned around too. She clutched her pink dress with her hands and held back tear buds forming in the back of hers. He had never said that to her before, she thought, but she couldn't blame him. The boy called Syaoran laid his face on the grass, face full of guilt. He pulled strands of green from the hard sodden earth and grunted. A bird chirped, bringing happy news under the luminous sun.
Sakura felt pearls rolling down her cheeks and she wiped her tears away. She flipped around and saw her best friend's back, so small, yet so warm. Instantly she smiled and reached for his hand. Just that second Syaoran turned around too. For a moment their eyes locked, holding what felt like eternity in their breaths.
Ocean's apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn't stop the pain
If I see you next to never
How can we say forever
Eternity was gone in a second.
"Syaoran…" Sakura smiled, and grabbed Syaoran's hands. She pulled him up with some effort and grinned. "Forgive me, please?"
Amber eyes gazed lovingly at those puppy pools of joy. He almost felt conceited for hogging her all this time. "Hmm…" he pretended to think, his hands on his chin, "maybe." He stuck his tongue at her. Sakura laughed and slapped him on the shoulder.
"Don't kid around, Syaoran. You know I hate that."
Syaoran snorted. "Yes, yes, I know. I forgive you." He smiled widely, and held out his pinky to Sakura. Sakura looked down, surprised. "What's that for? What promise are we making now?" she had secretly liked all their little promises and little secrets that were confidential just between them two.
"I promise you that I'll forgive you for everything that you did and will do to me." Syaoran beamed. He stretched his pinky closer to her hand. "What?"
"From now on, don't ever tell me you're sorry. Because you'll have my promise that I will always forgive you!" Sakura laughed. "Oh, Syaoran, you are so silly!" But she crossed her pink with his nonetheless. Yes, that was his promise. His promise to keep.
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
For a moment they stood next to each other, silence housing their thoughts. Sakura broke their touch and tapped Syaoran lightly on the shoulder.
"Hmm?" he said absentmindedly.
"Syaoran… I'm still really sorry I had to do this, but my dad is forcing me to go back to Japan…" she said sadly. "I know that you'll forgive me, but I still want you to know."
Syaoran masked a grouchy look. "Don't remind me. I was perfectly happy for a second. Why did you have to take that away from me?"
Sakura looked down at her bare feet. The soft earth felt so comforting beneath her, so refreshing and so smooth. She heard Syaoran clear his throat.
"I forgive you." Syaoran said slowly. He braved a smile. "I'll forgive you even if you forget me."
"Oh, I'm never going to forget you! I can promise you that!" Sakura said childishly. She jumped on Syaoran suddenly, wrapping her legs around his waist. She gave him a big bear hug. "I'm never going to forget you, ever!" she grinned as her arms locked tightly around his neck. "I'm with my best friend, what more could I ask for?" she leaned back to look in his amber pools.
Syaoran gazed back, scrutinizing carefully in her beautiful emerald pools. A dramatic force pulled him as if those eyes were a black hole, sucking his soul in.
He felt the sudden urge to kiss her. He knew that their friendship would be at stake if he gave in to his temptations, but he also knew that this was going to be last day that he'll ever see her.
"Sakura…" Syaoran whispered, still holding Sakura in his arms, her legs still wrapped around her waist.
"Hmm?" Sakura's eyes twinkled happily.
"You have something smeared on your eye." He said concernedly. Sakura tried to reach for her eyes. "No, no, you won't get it. Close your eyes so I won't poke them." He ordered. Sakura looked at him in confusion.
"Just close them!" Syaoran demanded impatiently. Sakura closed her eyes at will. She had a soft smile on her delicate face. Syaoran gazed at her for a long while before closing his eyes too and leaning in slowly. It's now or never, he thought. Even if I have to face rejection.
Quickly he drove himself onto Sakura's lips and gave her a quick peck. Her eyes fluttered open instantly, realizing what had happened, and blushed. Syaoran let go of her and cleared his throat.
Sakura crept up next to him and pecked him on the cheek. She let out a gleeful laugh. Syaoran sighed, relieved. At least she didn't reject him, he thought.
"Sakura," he began, not sure what to say, "You ought to know that every year on my birthday I'd wish for the same thing ever since I was three," it seems like he found the right words.
To this Sakura responded with a grin. "And now?" she asked, although she already knew the answer in her heart.
"And now, I don't need to wish for anything anymore. I'm the happiest eight-year-old in the whole world! I don't need asshole corny wishes to have you anymore." Syaoran smirked, and Sakura giggled.
"Asshole?" she laughed.
"Well, my sisters call each other 'assholes' when they're mad… I've always wanted to use it though." Syaoran explained, his face full of dare.
"And do you know what it means?" Sakura asked suggestively.
"Um…" he thought for a while. "No." he grinned, a foolish yet cute smile.
"Well, if you don't, then don't use it in a romantic sentence!" Sakura pretended to holler angrily. She rammed into his shoulders and kept walking forward.
"Sakura!" Syaoran said as he grasped Sakura's thin wrist, and pulled her closer to her. "Sakura, please don't be mad at me." He pleaded, giving her a pair of irresistible puppy eyes. "You're my only friend," he confessed. In this situation, "Friend" to him meant more than just…friends.
"Syaoran, you'll make other friends," Sakura smiled kindly, not catching his cue.
"No, I won't. You know me. In fact, you know me better than anyone." Syaoran said hotly.
"Don't be stubborn. I don't know you. The Syaoran that I know is a cold, arrogant jerk who sometimes can be a pain in the butt." Sakura sneered, "but you'll make friends. Lots of friends. Actually, girlfriends. With your look and your charm and your lies, you'll make a lot of girl friends." Sakura added.
"Sakura, I'm not lying." Syaoran said seriously. Sakura stared into his determined amber eyes and then to his hair.
"You'll need to tend those better someday," she smiled, changing the subject. She felt too cruel treating him like that. "But not today. I'm leaving at nine."
"WHAT!" Syaoran shouted. "And you didn't tell me?" he asked.
"You know how you get when I go on trips, Syaoran." Sakura smiled secretly. "You keep nagging how dangerous it is to get on a plane."
"Uh-huh."
"Second of all, Syaoran—" Sakura paused, and looked into those amber eyes glowing with sadness and misery. She leaned forward to meet those lips one more time, shoving away the pains in her heart. She knew. She knew that she has been hiding a dark secret in her heart. She loved him. She loved him more than anyone she could ever love. Even at eight she vowed to love him forever, even if she was forbidden of such a thing.
"Promise me that you'll make new friends." It hurt her to say that to him.
"Promise me that we'll see each other again." Syaoran said determinedly.
"I'll promise if you will." Sakura smiled.
"Deal." Syaoran smirked, holding out his pinky again. Sakura locked her finger within his and the two smirked at each other.
Loud honks broke their glee as its sharp and daring sound pierced through the peaceful sky.
"I guess it's time for me to go, no?" She said sadly. Syaoran looked down at his feet. Then, without so much as a warning, Sakura jumped on him again and hugged him tightly.
"Syaoran, I will always cherish our friendship and love in my heart." Sakura braved a smile.
"Yes, cherished in my heart." Syaoran said emotionlessly. What could he do for her but watch her go? Sakura broke away and pecked him on the cheek. "Good bye, Syaoran." She whispered as she let go of his grip and ran downhill. "Don't forget our promises!" she hollered after.
Syaoran waved. "I won't!" he watched her disappear into the limo, and then, gone…forever.
I took for granted, all the times
That I thought would last somehow
I hear the laughter, I taste the tears
But I can't get near you now
Oh, can't you see it baby
You've got me going crazy
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
"Flight 618 flying to Tomoeda, Japan today on April 1, has met a daring blizzard and fought bravely, but eventually taken up by the strong wind and snow. All 734 passengers on board are dead, including the young Sakura Kinomoto, eight, heiress to the Kinomto Grand Hotel, the most famous hotel in Japan, and 23rd to the throne. Today also happens to be the young grand duchess's birthday. This is an unfortunate day for all royalty as investigation is being held back by the City Council. This is Kate Burling, Channel 2 News."
Syaoran shut the TV, and for the first time, he cried. Tears fell down from his cheek like rain, and pain struggled madly in his broken heart.
Damn you Sakura! Making a promise you'll never keep. Damn you!
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you…
To be continued…
Author's Note. This is a revision of § Cherished in My Heart § you guys! It's really kind of different from the original version, and this is a much better chapter and more probable than the original one, with me keeping in mind that they are, in fact, only eight years old, not eighteen. Therefore their embrace is I guess uh, cute, but not dramatic? Anyway. I hope you guys liked this revision, and don't forget to review!
The song used is Richard Marx's Right Here Waiting. Oh and you can also tell whether a chapter is revised or not by whether or not I have a song there and by the title at the top—it's so organized now! But I apologize in advance for the insane author's alerts.
Please review this revised chapter! And if you're a new reader please review also!