Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Roommates ❯ Chapter 10 ( Chapter 10 )

Kitty Neko: Hiya minna-san! For this chapter, I have decided to have Syaoran doing the author notes with me.

Syaoran: Again, another author is forcing me to do this.

Kitty Neko: Save it for someone who cares.

Syaoran: (glaring at author) Well, why don't you begin by explaining why it took you so long to update with this chapter?

Kitty Neko: (immediately gets hit by millions of soda cans) I'm sorry! You know how these things go (gets hit again)! I have school work, projects (ouch), I got sick, Valentine's Day, tennis tournaments- I got first! (owie) and LOTS of other things that I don't want to bore you with. But I'm very sorry for the wait!

Syaoran: Save it for someone who cares.

Kitty Neko: I guess I had that one coming. Anyways, thank you for all the reviews! You guys are great!

Disclaimer: I do not own CardCaptor Sakura.

"Valentine's Day is stupid!" Sakura declared whilst slamming her fist down on the kitchen counter. Everything sprawled across it shook a little at the force.

"You're just saying that because you don't have a valentine." Tomoyo said.

"True." Sakura replied and stuck her tongue out at her best friend, prompting a giggle. "BUT! I'm serious! It's is a REALLY stupid holiday!"

"Uh huh." Tomoyo rolled her eyes making sure that Sakura could see her.

"Really! Someone probably said `Candy sales are down. What are we going to do about it? I know! Let's make a holiday!' Of course they decided to make the holiday for people who are in love. What about the rest of us?" By now Sakura was breathing deeply and she put her hand up to her heart. She closed her eyes and inhaled before exhaling slowly and reopening her eyes. "At least I have you to keep me company on this depressing day."

Tomoyo squirmed uncomfortably, causing Sakura to pay closer attention to her. "Actually, Sakura… Eriol's taking me out to dinner tonight."

Sakura quirked an eyebrow. "Eh? You traitor!" At Tomoyo's sad expression Sakura tugged on her soft hair gently. "I'm just kidding. You have a good time."

"Are you sure you don't mind?"

"Of course not! We didn't make any plans so I shouldn't have assumed you had nothing else to do. Plus, you're not my only friend! I still have Meiling! I was ganna call her anyways." Sakura rose to her feet and pointed at the door. "Now I think it's about time for you do go get ready for your date. It's getting late. Out! Get outta my apartment."

Tomoyo rolled her eyes again and grabbed her purse. "I'm gone. I'll call you tomorrow, ok?"

"Fine, fine."

Right before Tomoyo reached the door, it opened. Syaoran stood there with a couple of grocery bags. "Hi Tomoyo." He half-waved and disappeared into the kitchen.

"Bye!" Tomoyo called over her shoulder and shut the door with a tiny click.

"Sakura, come help me unload."

"No, I'm busy." Sakura answered stubbornly and picked up the phone.

"Doing what? Stuffing you face?"

"Shut up." Sakura said, at the same time entering the kitchen. "No, not you Meiling." She said into the receiver. Syaoran snorted and put a box of cereal in the cupboard watching Sakura out of the corner of his eye.

"Um hum… I was wondering if you wanted to do something today… oh… I understand… you have a good time on your date! Bye." With a little sigh of frustration, the pregnant woman clicked the `off' button on the phone and tossed it on the counter.

"Something wrong?" Syaoran asked.

"I have nothing to do tonight. Both Tomoyo and Meiling have dates and… " She paused and went into a singing voice. "I'm all alone!"

Syaoran finished putting things away and took a seat next to her. "Is it really that bad? Being alone on Valentine's Day?"

"Not really." Sakura muttered sadly. "It's just… I sort of miss the whole feeling of it. Like in Junior High. There were secret admirers, chocolate, balloons, roses… that kind of thing. I don't need it. But I miss it." Letting out a breath of air, she stood up and stretched. "Anyways, I'm just ganna get a nice hot bath and call it a night. See you when I reemerge."

*****

Completely decked out in her pajamas and with a towel wrapped around her head like a turban, Sakura finally came out of the bathroom. She had soaked in the water for a long time… probably about an hour. "Syaoran?" She called out into the seemingly empty apartment.

Silence…

She frowned. Where could he have gone? Feeling a little annoyed at being left completely alone, Sakura went into the kitchen to get something to eat. It was about dinnertime anyways.

What she saw when she entered the kitchen made her freeze mid-step. There, on the kitchen counter, was a stuffed bear, a balloon, a box of chocolates, and a card.

Moving slowly, Sakura approached the gifts. Both the stuffed bear and balloon had `Happy Valentine's Day!' written on them, and she noted that the chocolate was her favorite kind.

Carefully, she lifted the card and examined it. It was decorated with hearts on the outside and on the inside there was a note.

`From your Secret Admirer'

"Happy Valentine's Day." Startled, Sakura dropped the note and spun around. Syaoran stood there, dressed relatively nicely, and holding a white rose. He smiled and held it out to her. Grasping it in her fingers, Sakura brought it to her face and inhaled the sweet fragrance.

"Get dressed." He said simply. "We're going out to eat. Your choice, my treat."

For a second, Sakura didn't know what to say. That didn't last long. In no time, she was squeezing the daylights out of him. When he made a small grunt of protest, she only squeezed tighter.

It was at that moment, with her arms wrapped around his neck, that Sakura had a realization.

She was in love with Syaoran Li.

*****

Except for the slightly annoying tick of the clock, the apartment was silent. Sakura sat on the sofa with an expressionless face.

She had not been expecting this. This is definitely not what she needed at the moment. Her life was complicated enough! "Why?!" She voiced aloud. "Why did I have to fall in love with him?!" The empty apartment did not answer. It wasn't like she expected it to.

How long had she loved him? One month? Two? The next question had her make a cry of frustration.

Had she loved him even before she got pregnant?

Without even realizing it, Sakura brought her hand up to her face and started to chew on her fingernail. It only took her a second to pay attention to what she was doing. Startled, her hand fell to her lap. She had stopped that stupid habit in the first grade! What was wrong with her?!

It seemed like there was only one thing that she could do for the time being.

"Hello?" Tomoyo answered the phone like she would any other time. She had no idea what was about to happen.

"Tomoyo?"

"Sakura? To what do I owe the pleasure of your phone call this time?"

"I need to tell you something."

"Ok. Go ahead."

"Not over the phone." Sakura tried to keep the anxiety out of her voice but she knew it was still there a little bit. Tomoyo, being her best friend, was bound to pick up on it.

`Pick up on it' she did. "O… k…" Now that her curiosity was sparked, there was no way that Sakura would get out of it. "I'll be there in a little bit."

*****

"So, what is it you wanted to tell me?" Tomoyo blew lightly on her hot chocolate before placing the cup on her lips and taking a tiny sip. Sakura, on the other hand, just stared at her mug.

"Well…" She wasn't exactly sure how to start. Lifting her spoon, she dipped it in her mug and stirred. Tomoyo didn't persist; she just sat there and watched. Sakura would talk when she was ready.

"You love Eriol, don't you?"

Even though the question surprised her, Tomoyo nodded. "We've only gone out a couple of times. But… yes, I think so."

"Then you might understand."

Tomoyo could see where this was going. Her amethyst eyes widened. "You love someone? Who?" Sakura mumbled something under her breath. Tomoyo leaned closer. "What was that? I didn't catch what you said."

"Syaoran."

Tomoyo burst out laughing at the one word that Sakura uttered. This, of course, completely shattered the `touching' moment. "And just what is so funny about me loving Syaoran?" Sakura demanded, dropping her spoon.

"Nothing!" Tomoyo choked out.

"I would think that, since you're laughing so hard you can barely talk, something has to be amusing." The sour look on Sakura's face only made Tomoyo laugh harder. "Well," Sakura said indignantly, "If you really want to know the truth, Eriol ain't all that great either." She paused to give Tomoyo a chance to quit laughing. She didn't so Sakura continued. "He's weird and to be completely honest, he can be REALLY creepy."

Tomoyo didn't stop laughing and Sakura stomped her foot on the floor. "It's not funny, damnit!"

"But it is." Tomoyo chuckled.

"Why? What's wrong with Syaoran?"

"There's nothing wrong with Syaoran." Tomoyo composed herself and dusted off her skirt. "And I think it's so funny because I knew it."

"You did not! There's no way for you to know it! I only figured it out a week ago!"

For a second, the grin was wiped off of Tomoyo's face. This gave Sakura some satisfaction. "You mean to tell me that you've known this for a WEEK? You've been holding out on me for a WEEK?" Tomoyo's voice squeaked on the word `WEEK'.

"Uh huh. So there's no way for you to have known I love him."

"Bull." Tomoyo said simply. "Just `cause you didn't notice, doesn't mean I didn't. Let me guess, you've been trying to figure out just how long you've had feelings for him." It was more of a statement than a question and Tomoyo knew that she had Sakura's full attention now. "I'm here to tell you that you've liked him since August."

"August?" Sakura squeaked. She coughed and her voice returned to normal. "How do you figure that?"

"Because THAT is when your bickering began to turn into flirting!" Tomoyo stood and thrust her index finger in Sakura's face with triumph. "Am I right?"

Sakura looked, cross-eyed, at her best friend's perfectly manicured fingernail before swatting it away. "I don't know. Probably."

"Ha!" Tomoyo let out a bark of laughter and returned to her seat. "Now." She crossed her legs. "Before I forget, about Eriol…"

Sakura grinned sheepishly. "I was just caught up in the moment. I didn't mean it."

"Yes, you did." Tomoyo didn't sound mad, much to the relief of Sakura. "You didn't mean it in a mean way, but you did mean it. I'll have you know," Here, she licked her lips and wiggled her eyebrows, "Being weird and creepy is part of his charm."

"I'll never understand you." Sakura muttered.

"You already do and you know it." The dark haired girl flicked her glossy locks over her shoulder. "So what do you like about Syaoran?"

"It's scary, but I think… everything."

"Uh huh. So what made you realize you LUB him?"

Sakura ignored the baby talk and proceeded to tell her about what he did for Valentine's Day. When she was finished, Tomoyo had that strange glossy look in her eyes. "Don't say it." Sakura begged.

"But-"

"I said DON'T!"

"But, it's just so KAWAII!"

Sakura shook her head and rolled her eyes at the same time. She had heard that phrase so many times over the years that it wasn't even funny. "I hate you."

"I LUB you, too!"

*****

"You're awfully quiet tonight." Syaoran commented.

Sakura just nodded and started down at her food. It was a little strange to be around him now. Earlier, Tomoyo had asked her if she was going to tell him. She wanted to, but… Either way, she needed to eat.

Sighing, she picked up her spoon and dipped into her mashed potatoes.

"Is something wrong with the food?" Syaoran asked. He had been the one that made it.

Sakura shook her head.

"Are you nauseated?"

Again, she shook her head.

"Well," Syaoran set his napkin down on the table. "Something's wrong. And apparently you don't want to tell me what it is. This food is kind of bland. Do you want to go out for ice cream?"

Sakura smiled at his attempt to brighten her up. She nodded her head in an affirmative and rose to her feet. It was a little difficult but not very. They both grabbed their coats and headed for the door.

*****

"I've been checking around for bigger apartments." Syaoran said and licked his cone at the same time.

"Really? Did you find anything good?"

"No, everything sucks."

"That's the spirit!" Sakura sarcastically cheered.

"Well, everything's too small. I was thinking…" He broke off here and reached across the booth and touched Sakura's nose. When he pulled away, there was some ice cream on his index finger. He licked it off and continued. "We could rent a small house."

Sakura's eyes widened in surprise. "You'd do that?"

"Yea. It'll cost more. But, it's probably our best option."

Sakura nodded and they lapsed into comfortable silence. Inconspicuously Sakura examined him. What was it exactly that she liked about him?

Well, there was the fact that he was always helping her and taking care of her. He could also be kind. But she liked it when he teased her too. Not to mention, he was cute…

"Something on your mind?"

"Yea, I was just thinking about how cute you are." The sentence had left her mouth before she even had a chance to consider what she was saying.

"Really?" His `really?' sort of had an air of cockiness to it. Well, she would fix his little red wagon.

"Yea, I think just about all mutts are cute."

"Mutts?" he sounded incredulous. "As in a dog?"

"Of course!" She reached over the table, just as he had done earlier, and ruffled his hair. "You're hair even adds to the effect. You know, once I had a dog that had half curly hair and half straight."

Syaoran snapped at her hand with his teeth. "Well, if I have to be a dog, I at least get to be rabid."

"Fine by me." Sakura reseated herself. "But, you do know that we're going to have to put you down. We can't have a dog with rabies out on the loose."

"Then don't kill me. Just get back in your cage."

"Ha ha." Even though on the outside she seemed irritated, on the inside she was delighted. She was having her favorite bickering time and she had just saved herself a lot of embarrassment. From now on, she needed to be more careful. She couldn't let him know that she loved him.

… At least not yet.

Kitty Neko: I can't really think of anything to say for the ending author's notes. Except that I hope you like it! The story is already at the ending of February. It's getting to her due date.