Chapter 11; Hold that thought

Disclaimer: I do not own Card captor Sakura, manga or anime. Clamp does. None of the characters are mine.

(A/N- I know I know, long time no see. And I broke my promise of starting another fic till this one was finished. Sorry. I started two lol. Another card captor one set in the 20's and a seto/jou one. Deal. Anyways…)

Syaoran and Sakura stood at the front of the building. Their hands were clasped together, and their fingers were intertwined. They took one look at each other before turning to the task at hand.

"You sure you still want to do this?" Asked Syaoran, a little nervously.

"Of course, it is the only way." Replied Sakura rather indifferently.

"I'm sure we can find another way to be together. We do not have to go to such extremes if you do not wish it so." Spoke Syaoran. He just wanted her to be certain of her decision.

"I want this, you want this. It doesn't matter under what circumstances it gets done, as long as it does. Ok? So stop worrying so much." Chided Sakura, a kind of playfulness returning to her voice.

Sakura encircled her arm within her fiancés, and they, together, took the first step forward into the church as that familiar tune surrounded them.

Today was Monday, and what a glorious day Monday was. The sun was out, the birds were singing…a wonderful day to get married. Most people would have agreed with that assumption, but Touya Kinomoto wasn't most people. He had been waiting for this day all weekend and weddings were the last thing on his mind right now.

Touya had been busy all weekend, waking officials from their afternoon naps and getting paperwork in order. 'Sakura's in for a big surprise and I just can't wait to deliver it to her.'

Touya had a grin on his face that spelt anything but happiness. It was smug, condescending, arrogant, and distasteful. It screamed I-know-something-you-don't-know.

He was currently in a car heading southbound on the Tahlman Highway. The grin ever present as he counted down the minutes to his glorious victory. 'Nobody gets away with taking what is mine. Sakura is my little sister, my responsibility and I will keep her safe. She is safe with me, and only me. We cannot trust any others. We were left in this world, together, and I intend to keep it that way.'

Currently following Touya's vehicle of choice was the entire fleet of the Tokyo police department. The sirens were blazing and Touya's evil plot was put on hold as his thoughts drifted to when he last heard those sirens.

He was slipping in and out of consciousness and he could hear the warm soothing voice of his sister beside him. She hadn't left him, she wouldn't leave him. Or so he thought at the time. 'How can she do this to me? I'm her brother. She should care for me only!'

His pleasant thoughts were interrupted by that malicious one. The evil grin returned and the last of Touya's rationality went out with the last remaining coherent thought. 'Soon, it won't be much longer now.'

Tomoyo and Eriol had proven to be most worthy friends as they attended the wedding as the bride and groom's only guest. They had come on such short notice and had not said a word about that fact. They just had to be there for their friends.

There was no rings exchanged, there were no flowers thrown. There was no confetti anywhere to be seen, but there was a document. A contract that was signed by both parties involved, two witnesses, and a priest. Clearly in black and white. Sakura Kinomoto was no longer, and Sakura Li stood in her place. They had all the same characteristics, yet now, Sakura Li had the honor of being Syaoran Li's wife and was legally his. She was no bound to him by law, as he was her.

Mr. and Mrs. Li took their first steps as husband and wife as they rushed from the church. Sakura had not worn a white dress; there was no time for such liberties and traditions. She had hastily put on her graduation gown and put up her hair into a modest bun. Syaoran wore a plain suit, with no tie and a crisp white shirt.

The deed was done, it was official and that's all that mattered. In the eyes of the lord, and more importantly, in the eyes of the law, they were bound for all eternity. 'To love honor and obey, in sickness and in health, till death do us part…'

Contracts…certificates…documents…laws…We are all bound by these in this modern day society. They are as good as our word, even better in fact. They are to be trusted and be kept to. You must obey to the demands if you sign them. You can hand your life over in a contract, and gain in back in a contract. Words, scribbled across the page by the barrel full. Out of countless meanings and interpretations, those specific words were chosen for a specific purpose.

Contracts…it just so happens that Sakura's life was held up in numerous contracts. It started with her birth certificate and ended with her death certificate. Of course in the middle, her life had been shared amongst contracts of a different nature and purpose. Her life was handed to her brother in a contract, and now, she had signed her life over to Syaoran through marriage.

In this modern day society we live in, sometimes they only way to break a contract was to override it with another.

Touya had yet to learn of this latest development involving Sakura's life, or more importantly, the development that broke his contract over her…

He was oblivious, and his grin was that of a snobbish, yet oblivious man.

Syaoran and Sakura rode from the church in Syaoran's car after saying goodbye to their friends who they will forever be eternally grateful to. They held hands in between Syaoran shifting gears. Their faces held content smiles knowing they were safe once again.

The marriage certificate sat in the backseat, propped up again the right side door. Both had wanted the union, but they couldn't help but feel somewhat guilty. They could never have a big wedding now. Their wedding was over. Of course they could do it again, properly this time, but it would not be their first real, true, wedding. Sakura could not go insane over wedding dresses. And Tomoyo would never argue with her about insisting on making her dress instead. Touya had ruined all that with his blatant disregard for his sister's feelings.

'I will never forgive you for this Touya. You ruined mine and my husbands wedding day. That goes beyond even the depths I thought you were capable of.' Sakura's mind wandered from thought to thought as the car pulled into Syaoran's driveway.

Syaoran took a look over his wife and melted. 'Beautiful, and all mine.' Syaoran just loved watching his wife- he loved saying his wife-. You could tell by the lingering gaze that he was head over heels for the woman, and the same could be said about Sakura. They were clearly in love. Eternal soul mates.

Suddenly, an abundance of noise awoke Syaoran and Sakura out of their starring competition. Splayed across the lawn and many of the garden beds were what appeared to be, the cities police force. Touya had come to collect his due.

They starred out the windscreen in shock before bolting out of the car to deal with the situation.

Sakura instantly looked for her brother. Immediately knowing he was the one behind this serious breech of privacy and dishonor. But to her utter annoyance 'or is it disappointment' her mind said, she could not find him anywhere. She looked over to her husband, who nodded indicating he noticed her brother's lack of presence also.

But before actual words could be spoken between the pair, several officers came towards both and grabbed them. Sakura was roughly grabbed by her shoulders and dragged backwards, kicking and screaming all the way. While Syaoran was thrown against the ground, face first. His hands were then bound by handcuffs as an officer to his left read him his rights as a criminal. He was being arrested.

'…for the kidnapping of one Sakura Kinomoto and for being in breech of a restraining order...' Was all Syaoran caught of the man's words.

Once the cuffs were in place, he was hauled from the ground and led away to the back of a police cruiser. He could hear Sakura screaming his name in the background but he could do nothing about it. He strained his neck to try and see her but failed. All he caught was a glimpse of her tear stricken face. He growled under his breath and ducked his head to enter the car.

The door was shut and then he was gone. Sakura was now no-where in sight. They were separated once again, Touya had won this round.

If both weren't so sure that they were meant to be, they'd think the universe was trying to tell them something. But both knew that they were. It was Touya's doing, and Touya's doing alone that was causing their lack of togetherness. His selfish desires had affected the lives of others and for that, the universe owed him some karma.

The aforementioned brother was patiently awaiting his sister's return in the back of his sedan, behind the mass array of police cars. His was busy fingering his nails and made a mental note to get them polished before two police officers threw his darling sister into the back seat.

Immediately upon seeing the girl in the back seat, the driver nodded in the rear view mirror to his employer and drove. They were headed once again to the mansion where Sakura had conducted her childhood, that much she knew.

Sakura did not mask her confusion, anger and distrust for her brother in her voice as she shouted. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?". Touya noticed by her swearing that she was beyond pissed. She never swore, so he concluded it was that brat Li's doing instead.

His only response was a sadistic smirk placed across his pale face. Sakura's temper rose upon seeing the infamous grin and she then vowed never to let her brother get the better of her. She had to reason with her brother in order to save herself and her marriage-

She stopped short at that point. She had momentarily forgotten in the confusion of the afternoon's events. She was married now. Not legally bound to be under guardianship of her brother. He had no claim on her now.

It seems that sadistic smirks run in the family as Sakura's faced mirrored Touya's previous expression. She sat back quietly without another outburst.

Touya looked at her curiously before biting. "What?"

Sakura countered with an evilly sweet smile before poking her tongue out in a childish manner.

Touya scoffed loudly and turned his eyes towards the front of the vehicle once more. "It seems he cannot keep control of you anymore than I could. Look what he has done to your manners. Really, is that anyway to greet you brother?"

"You think you're getting a welcome back hug from me? After what you did? I can't believe you just had Syaoran arrested!" She screamed at her brother, quite loudly infact. All her anger returning once given the chance.

"A thank you would have been nice. After all, I did just save you from making the biggest mistake of your life. One day you will thank me, when you have your own kids."

"I don't think so. You just threw my husband in jail!"

Touya's head snapped round like a rubber band after he heard that sentence. His world even went dizzy for a few moments. 'Husband?'

Syaoran was currently being interrogated by the police. The small confines of the room did nothing to calm his nerves. Yes, he was innocent but now he had to prove that to them.

"Your accusations have no weight anymore. The restraining order was put in place by my wife's brother without her knowledge. And as she is my wife now, she is under my care and not her brother's." Syaoran finished, feeling much better now that he had his story out.

"That may be so Mr. Li, but we need proof." Said the officer who just finished butting his cigarette in the ashtray on the table.

"The marriage certificate is still in the back of my car. And that officially renders the contract which binds my wife under her brother's duty of care until the age of 21, void." Syaoran said the last statement with a tone of finality. "She is my wife and I will take care of her."

"You didn't?" Touya asked in a low, harsh whisper. Well, more demanded to know.

The inherited smirk was on Sakura's face again and she took the time to admire the look of pure shock and hatred on her brother's face. Then, she spoke. "Of course we did. I said I was going to and I did. I love him despite your thoughts and I expressed that love through marriage. God Touya, I thought the concept of marriage was simple to you."

"But you cannot, legally you cannot. You are still under my care until the age of 21 and you cannot get married until you are 18…." Touya's shock had turned into horror and disbelief as his words trailed off lightly.

"April 1st has gone dear brother. I am 18 and of marriageable age. Therefore, my actions have been perfectly legal and as I am only under your care until I reach 21, or…-" she paused to gauge his reaction at her abrupt pause and was not disappointed. "-until I am adopted, or are married."

There, she had said it.

Touya looked heartbroken. He knew the legal system like no other, spending late nights mulling over various contracts and such for work. And he was no stranger to custodial law, after all he had custody of Sakura and sought very hard to keep it that way.

Syaoran walked out of the police station. His stride was one of a proud man who had just escaped the clutches of the law. When infact he was a proud man who had just beaten the groom's worst enemy, the brother in law. Touya Kinomoto had not won entirely yet. They could not hold him at the police station once they checked the databases and realized he was telling the truth. There, in plain black and white, sat Syaoran's personal file on the Tokyo Police Department database. And under the name, partner, was Sakura Kinomoto.

He quickly stopped mentally gloating and brought his mind to more important matters. Like the ware bouts of his wife whom last time, had almost been killed and rapped in the presence of her so called brother. The very same brother who she was with right now.

Things were about to get ugly.

(A/N- I think this is the second last chapter, so only one more to go. I have a few big ideas in mind but I'm still not sure as to what I will do in the end. Be patient. Lots of love! PEACE OUT!)

-Golden-Pond-

EPILOGUE OUT NEXT!