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squeaklingsTitle: Untitled (WiP)
Wordcount: 5580
Fandom: CCS
Rating: R
Warnings: Badly-written flut
Summary: Sakura has loved Syaoran for six year, but it takes a talk with Tomoyo for her to realize just how much and what that means going forward.
Notes: Seeing these perfect children being adorably shy warms the remains of my cold, black, long-dead heart. Suuuuper-duper unbeta'd and barely proofread, just getting it out there for crit.
“Sakura-chan?”
“Yes?”
Tomoyo smiled at her friend as they walked along the path, dappled sunlight playing off the other girl's beautiful light-brown hair. They walked hand-in-hand as usual, but lately Sakura didn't have her usual pep. Tomoyo had been waiting now for her friend to confess what was obviously on her mind for the past week, but it seemed her intervention was needed after all.
“Do you have time to stop by today? I have some cakes I'd like to give to you and Kero-chan.”
“Yeah,” Sakura said with a smile, radiant as always. “Dad and oniichan don't get back until late, so I have some time before I need to make dinner.”
“I'm glad. There's also something I wanted to ask you about.” Sakura blinked in confusion and Tomoyo smiled coyly. “Nothing bad, don't worry.”
They chatted about school and clubs and nothing at all the rest of the way to her house. Even small-talk with Sakura was interesting and entertaining and Tomoyo would never ask for anything else. It did, as well, give her time to put her thoughts in order for exactly how to broach the subject she actually intended to talk about.
“Would you like some tea and sweets before you leave?”
They stood in Tomoyo's room, and Sakura nodded as she absently sat down at the small table in the center of the room. A quick call over the intercom, and then Tomoyo joined her friend at the table, hands folded demurely in her lap as she smiled at the other, distracted girl.
“Sakura-chan.”
“Yes?”
“Did anything happen between you and Li-kun?” Sakura's bright crimson face was answer enough, but Tomoyo pressed on. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”
“E-e-everything's fine, really,” Sakura rushed out, hands in front of her face. “Really, please don't worry!”
“You've been distracted since a few days before he left for spring break, Sakura-chan.” Tomoyo let a ghost of a smile draw up her lips. She had no doubt there was nothing wrong between the two—they obviously loved and cared about each other. Anyone with eyes knew the two couldn't stop staring at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking, so naturally being them, they never noticed it themselves.
Sakura's face was good and buried in her hands now. “It's embarrassing...” she mumbled, and Tomoyo pressed a pale hand against her friend's tanned ones to draw her fingers away from her cheeks. Green eyes looked back at her. “I didn't mean to keep it from you, I just...didn't know how to say it...”
Tomoyo smiled her brightest, most-loving smile. “I never thought you were. I knew you were trying to speak to me, but sometimes you just need a bit of a nudge.” She squeezed Sakura's hand. “It's one of your good points.”
Sakura gave a keening hoeeee in that cute way of hers and Tomoyo beamed.
“W-well...” Her friend fidgeted in the chair, then startled as a knock sounded at the door and one of the servants entered at Tomoyo's permission. A tray of tea and cakes was set before them, and Sakura smiled through her blush as the dark-haired girl calmly cut them some slices and served the drinks. “Thank you, Tomoyo-chan.”
“Of course.” She sat back and took a tiny bite of her own cake. “You were saying, Sakura-chan?”
She would never tire of her friend's adorable blushing face. “W-well... He's been teaching me some of his family's martial arts, and we were practicing at his place, and, um...um...” Her voice was barely audible. “He accidentally touched my chest.”
Tomoyo reached for Sakura's hand again; now was the time for silent encouragement. Sakura would find her words eventually.
“And, um...” Her cake lay untouched before her. “....It gave me a warm feeling in my stomach and I really liked it and wanted him to do it again.” Tomoyo took a few moments to understand exactly what her friend said—her words were a jumbled, sped-up mess.
“But he didn't?” she finally asked when Sakura remained silent for a long moment.
She shook her head. “We sort of stared at each other and he apologized and I said it was fine, but before I could say I liked it his mother called.” Sakura sunk down in the chair, deflated. “He had to finalize details for his visit so I left them to it and then we didn't get a chance to speak about it before his flight.”
“So you're trying to figure out this feeling?” Tomoyo asked, taking a sip of her tea. Sakura sat up in her chair and poked at her cake and nodded. “Is it a good feeling or bad?”
“Good.”
“What kind of feeling is it, exactly, other than warm?” She was sure she knew what it was already, but it was important for Sakura to realize herself.
Her friend took a bite of cake, then another. “...Like...like when your stomach bottoms out, you know? Kind of scary but also....nice. And warm.” She took a sip of tea, holding the cup in her hands and rubbing her thumbs over the flower decorations. “And I keep thinking I want to do more than kiss him, and want him to touch me again, and then I get embarrassed and then distracted and I don't know what to think anymore.
Tomoyo smiled and stood. “Wait just a moment, Sakura-chan.” She crossed to her dresser and pulled out a small box she'd bought a few days ago once she was sure her suspicions were correct. And even if they weren't...it helped to be prepared.
She set the box on the table and Sakura instantly buried her face in her hands again, keening loudly. Tomoyo leaned forward, a soft smile on her face. “From what you've said, it sounds like you want to go farther with Li-kun. But Sakura-chan, absolutely only go at your own pace.” She grabbed her friend's hands again, expression serious. “Don't ever do anything you aren't ready for.”
“I-I know, Tomoyo-chan.” She pressed her forehead against Tomoyo's and smiled. “I won't do anything I'm not ready for.”
“Good.” She leaned back and clasped her hands together. “Now you can take those with your sweets.” Sakura's face instantly burned red and Tomoyo sighed happily. “Just make sure to keep them separate.”
---
“We're off!”
Sakura waved goodbye to her father as she and Tomoyo closed the front door behind them, only for her to nearly run into Touya at the gate. Her brother glanced between the two of them, his expression guarded.
“Where you off to, monster?”
“I'm not a monster!” Sakura growled and made a fist. Touya raised an eyebrow and pointedly gave her pale pink knee-length dress, purse and nice shoes a once-over. Sakura felt her cheeks start to burn and she clutched the purse closer, hoping against hope her brother didn't know what was in it. She'd packed Tomoyo's “gift” with her after discussing her plan with her friend, but she hadn't yet decided if she could make use of it or not.
“We're going to meet Li-kun, Yamazaki-kun, and Chiharu-chan for dinner,” Tomoyo supplied, her voice sweet and innocent, “and then Sakura-chan is staying over at my place.” Sakura envied how easily her best friend could fib.
“Is that so.” Touya held his gaze on Sakura for another few seconds before he shrugged and scooted past them, ruffling his sister's hair as he did so. “Have fun you two.”
Halfway down the road Sakura finally let out the breath she'd been holding, and Tomoyo practically beamed. “Now you're free to have a long talk with Li-kun.”
“Y-yeah...”
“Remember, Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo said, and pressed the side of her head against the other girl's, “take things at your own pace. Those never need to leave your purse if you don't want them to.”
“I know, Tomoyo-chan. Thank you.” Her face felt on fire, but she nuzzled her friend before continuing towards the restaurant, hand-in-hand. Not everything Tomoyo said had been a lie, after all—they really were meeting for dinner with Syaoran. He'd returned a few days before the start of the school year a few weeks ago, but between classes and clubs and the beginning of their senior year, they'd had no time to really talk.
She'd been looking forward to this since Tomoyo suggested it earlier in the week; she just wished her stomach would stop doing flips.
Usually, Sakura loved the restaurant they'd decided on, but she spent the entire time alternating being unable to look at Syaoran, or trying to catch him looking at her without him noticing. She hadn't thought it would be this difficult, sitting beside him. Even with Tomoyo there, she could barely keep the blush off her cheeks, and when he reached for her hand under the table and rubbed his thumb against her knuckles she almost died. Wonderful, lovely Tomoyo managed to keep the conversation flowing and on the good side of awkward, but by the time they finished and stood milling outside, her nerves were frazzled and she nearly jumped at every little sound.
“Well then,” she caught Syaoran's voice then and realized she'd missed almost the entire conversation. He smiled at them and gave a little bow. “I'll see you at school on Monday?”
“W-wait.” She reached out without thought and grabbed the cuff of his shirt, her fingers bunched in the fabric. Tomoyo smiled. “Um, maybe we could, um...go to the park?”
“I'd love to join you,” her friend said, and there was an actual hint of regret in her voice, “but I have to get home. I have rehearsal tomorrow I have to practice for. Have a good night.” Tomoyo bowed slightly to them both, but paused beside Sakura to whisper a quick “You can do this!” before she made her sedate way down the road and away from them.
“Sakura?” Now alone, Sakura felt her courage starting to fade and gripped Syaoran's shirt even tighter. She'd mastered the Sakura Cards, she could very well master her own feelings! “Are you all right?”
“Y-yeah!” She smiled her best, brightest smile, and his expression relaxed as he gently pried her hand from his cuff and threaded his fingers through hers. Cheeks pink, they made their slow way towards Penguin Park, the silence calm between them. His hand was warm in hers, his fingers calloused and familiar and she focused on that the entire way, too afraid to let her thoughts stray. With jelly-legs, she flopped down on one of the too-small swings as they finally reached the park, and lazily kicked off as her boyfriend took the seat beside her.
“Are you sure you're all right? You've been distracted all night.”
“Ah...sorry. I--” she glanced over at him through her lashes and felt her cheeks heat up again. He looked so worried. “I...had a talk with Tomoyo-chan earlier that's been on my mind. About...” Her voice faltered. “About...”
“Sakura.” The swingset creaked and she glanced up to see he was stood before her, a soft look in his eyes as he held his hand out to her. “You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. I can walk you hom--”
“I told them I'm staying with Tomoyo-chan tonight.”
He blinked in surprise, a question on his lips before he stilled in realization. His hand fell to his side as he gazed down at her with a look in his eye she recognized from one of the times she caught him looking at her at dinner, as well as after the incident in his apartment. Sakura gave him her bravest, brightest smile, then squeaked in surprise when he pulled her from the swing into a hug.
“Are you sure?”
Even held in his arms, his voice was so soft she barely heard it. Not trusting herself she nodded against his chest, hands bunched in his shirt over his heart.
Before she realized, they stood before his door as he unlocked it and gestured her inside, his hand on the small of her back. Lights flicked on as he set his keys on a small table beside the door and she glanced around. The apartment wasn't extravagant; a few pictures hung on the walls, photos of his family or the Hong Kong skyline. His couch was older but well-kept, with a similar chair to the side facing a small TV.
“...Would you like some tea?”
“Y-yes, please.” He led her to the couch to sit before he moved into the small but tidy kitchen. She stared around in a bit of a daze as she set her purse on the coffee table in front of her, eyes sweeping over the plant in the corner near the balcony window, the remote lying on the end table, the half-open door leading to what she suspected was his bedroom. The couch was soft beneath her, warm and comfortable.
“Here you go.” She startled at the cup he held towards her, and stammered an apology as she took it and gripped it tightly in her hands. Syaoran sat beside her, eyes locked on her face before he set his cup on the table and reached out to brush at a few stray bangs. His fingers felt too warm against her skin, but she leaned into the touch with a smile. “So...this talk with Daidouji?”
Sakura pulled away enough to take a long sip of tea before her cup joined his on the table. Feelings can't be understood if they aren't spoken aloud. “I think...we both want...to do more than just kiss.” Her skirt was soft between her fingers as she fidgeted with the fabric, glancing up to catch Syaoran's eyes every other word. “I've thought so since right before you went home...Tomoyo-chan just helped me realize it...”
It was embarrassing to say the words out loud, but somehow she felt better for saying them. Her cheeks, while still red, didn't feel on fire, and she felt calm for the first time since the morning. She glanced up in time to see that look in his eyes before he leaned in to kiss her, his lips soft and warm as she breathed out his name.
“I do, but only if you're okay with it,” he finally said, lips still pressed to hers.
“I am.”
Tea completely forgotten, he hovered over her and she leaned back until she was lying on the couch, one leg dangling off the edge and the other pinned between Syaoran's side and the back of the sofa. It was a little uncomfortable, but she'd seen something like this in one of those dirty manga one of her classmates would bring to school and the other girls would giggle at during club. (She'd only ever managed to join the circle twice before embarrassment won out and she excused herself quickly, face in her hands and bright red.)
He shifted above her, one hand on her hip and his leg hiking her skirt up past her thighs, and that heat she told Tomoyo about flared through her belly and she gasped as his mouth moved to her jaw and then her neck. Between his lips and his thumb tracing circles along her hip, just barely grazing the skin of her thigh, it felt great...but her leg hurt.
“Sy-Syaoran-kun...” He paused and she wriggled underneath him. “I'm...a little uncomfortable...”
“S-sorry!” He pulled away from her quickly to sit on the edge of the couch, his face red as he glanced over at her. She lifted herself onto her elbows and then tucked her legs beneath her, self-consciously smoothing her skirt down over her thighs as she did so.
“N-no, it was nice. I just...my leg...” She brushed her fingers along his cheek until he looked at her. “We could try again...?”
He pressed a kiss to her palm but his eyes never left hers. Then, with a sudden tug on her wrist he pulled her against him, but misjudged his strength and they both tumbled backwards in a heap. Sakura managed to catch herself before she pushed her boyfriend off the couch, stammering apologies the entire time. Beneath her, Syaoran covered his face with his forearm before his shoulders started shaking, and it took Sakura a few moments to realize he was laughing.
“That was supposed to be cool...” he whispered and pulled his arm away, smiling through his blush. The back of his fingers brushed over Sakura's cheek before he threaded his fingers through her hair, just behind her ear, and she leaned into the touch. With a little pressure he urged her down, lips ghosting across hers before he pressed their foreheads together. “...I see what you meant about being uncomfortable.”
Face on fire, Sakura scooted backwards off him until he could push himself up onto his elbows. Only then did she notice his back had been pressed into the arm of the couch, and she started to wring her hands before he gently took them in his to stop her.
“It's okay, that was my fault.” He swallowed and glanced away for a moment, and she followed his gaze to his bedroom door. “Maybe we could...?”
'Butterflies in your stomach' had always been a silly phrase to her, but she fully understood it then as she nodded and let him help her stand. Tomoyo had helped her to understand her feelings, but she couldn't focus on any of them through the beating of her heart and the fluttering in her belly and the heat she felt. She loved Syaoran, he was her number one, and she wanted this, she did. But...it was frightening, too. What if...what if everything changed afterwards?
His room was as tidy as the rest of his apartment. Where her room was an explosion of color and clutter, his was reserved in an almost elegant way: a potted plant sat on the floor by his balcony window, a darkly-colored chest of drawers and a wardrobe stood along the wall opposite the bed, a computer on his desk with a notebook and a picture of them beside it--she remembered when Tomoyo took it at the New Year's festival last year. He led her to the neatly-made bed and she slowly sank down onto the comforter as he traced her cheeks and pressed his lips to her forehead.
“Syaoran-kun...?”
He crouched down so their noses almost touched, eyes locked with hers. Sakura couldn't say what he saw in her expression, but his eyes softened and he gently combed his fingers through her hair before pulling his hands away from her.
“We don't have to--”
“No, I want to!” She nearly leapt at him in her haste and surprise, and managed to bang their noses together. “S-sorry..!” she whimpered, holding her nose with tears pricking her eyes. She just kept making everything more difficult!
For his part, Syaoran looked more amused and surprised than hurt or angry, even as he nursed his own nose and stood to sit down beside her. After a moment more of rubbing his sore face he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Let's just sleep.”
“I...” Sakura pressed her face against his shoulder and gripped his shirt. Don't force yourself, Tomoyo had told her. Trust your feelings. “...I really do, but... I'm afraid of everything changing, too...”
His thumb moved in gentle circles over her shoulder as he hugged her closer. “I know what you mean.” He chuckled suddenly. “If it took us both so much effort just to confess to each other, we can't really expect this to go easy either. There's no rush.” He kissed the top of her head. “We have time.”
Well...she couldn't really argue with that. Over the years expressing themselves became easier, but she'd never quite lost that shyness. Thanks to Tomoyo she'd only just recently recognized what the feelings she'd been having lately even meant, acting on it so quickly was expecting a lot.
Syaoran pressed another kiss to the top of her head and then slowly stood. Without him there she felt oddly cold. “Did you bring pyjamas? I'll let you change.” She grabbed his shirt as he started to move away. “Sakura?”
“Could I...” Her stomach fluttered. “Could I wear one of your shirts instead?”
Cheeks dark, he nodded and rummaged around in the chest of drawers until he found an older, well-loved pale green shirt. Sakura held it close and breathed in his scent as he showed her to the bathroom and left her to change and prepare for bed. The t-shirt was soft and much too big, just grazing the tops of her thighs and, while not quite hanging off her shoulders, was quite loose around her neck. As she bent to clean her toothbrush it fell open and she could clearly see her bare chest. Compared to the other girls in her class she was definitely on the small side; was that a good or bad thing?
When she returned to the room, Syaoran stood by his desk tracing the picture beside his computer. He wore only a dark green pair of drawstring pyjama pants, and she paused inside the door to stare at him. Like her he had an athletic build, and he'd grown tall in the seven years she'd known him. He was tanned, and handsome, and she couldn't take her eyes off him.
“Syaoran-kun?” Usually he'd have turned to her by now—he always knew when she was near.
“Yeah, I...” He finally said, glancing over his shoulder. His eyes widened before he quickly looked back at the picture, and then turned towards the bed. “You look...” He coughed and scratched the back of his head before turning to face her. “You...look good like that.”
Sakura self-consciously smoothed the shirt down what little it covered of her thighs as she moved to join him. Her tummy kept doing flips, and she felt like she was on fire when he leaned down to brush a kiss against her lips. “I'll join you in a few minutes. Don't worry about the lights.”
She nodded dumbly and crawled under the covers as he left her alone with her thoughts for the next few minutes. Giddiness threatened to overwhelm her as she buried her face in the pillow, breathing in his scent. Somehow it calmed her, and she could think clearly by the time he returned, hit the switch near the door and then joined her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and holding her close. He smelled nice, like a summer night after rain, and she snuggled against him, head pressed into his chest just below his neck, her hands pinned between them.
“Goodnight, Sakura.”
“Goodnight, Syaoran-kun.”
He kissed the top of her head and settled further under the blankets as the gentle sounds of night lulled them to sleep.
---
Sakura awoke warmer than usual, and blinked her eyes open to the pre-dawn light-blue haze creeping through the balcony window and bathing most of the room in shadow. Behind her something shifted as she stretched, and only then did she notice the arm around her waist and Syaoran's warm breath on the back of her neck. The room was silent save their breathing and the faint hint of birdsong, but she was sure he could hear her heart thumping loudly in her chest.
Turning over slow enough to hopefully not wake him, Sakura met his open amber eyes watching her. Blushing furiously, she smiled at him and then leaned into his touch as he lifted his arm from her waist to trace her cheek and then bury his fingers in her hair. The silence and calm of the early morning felt almost like a spell; the nervousness and fear she felt before seemed far away and foolish, and she lifted her face to kiss him.
Their kisses were usually chaste and innocent, just a brush of lips and a gentle nuzzle of their noses. Only recently had they become something more, heavy and passionate and leaving her breathless and wanting more. Perhaps that was when she first started realizing the signals her body had been giving her, but she didn't know and she didn't care as Syaoran's hand pressed against the back of her head and she opened her mouth for his tongue. Heat pooled in her belly as she buried her hands in his hair and pressed herself against him, hooking her ankle over his calf without noticing. Lips still together he shifted until she was half beneath him, his knee between her legs and hands on either side of her to support himself.
“Sy-Syaoran-kun,” she gasped as he trailed his mouth down to her neck and gently pressed his knee against the apex of her thighs. The heat pooling in her belly burned hotter, and she clung to him with one hand gripping his shoulder and the other gripping his dark brown, messy hair. He smiled against her neck and pressed his knee a little harder against her.
This...this was the feeling she'd been chasing, the one she confessed to Tomoyo. The heat she'd felt when Syaoran kissed her, the thrill when he'd touched her breasts those few weeks ago, the half-remembered dreams she'd wake to that left her breathless.--though those she hadn't confessed about. What had she been so afraid of, again?
Still hovering over her, he trailed his right hand down her side and to her hip and the edge of her borrowed t-shirt. His thumb hesitated on her panties before moving to her belly and rubbing gentle circles over her muscles. Sakura made a soft, gasping moan and gripped his hair tighter. “S-sorry,” she breathed out when she felt him wince, and did her best to smooth down the hair she'd accidentally pulled.
“You're fine,” he muttered against her neck, and shifted again to kiss her lips. Sakura relaxed into it, enjoying the feel of his tongue against hers, the way their breathing echoed in the stillness around them. The sheets made gentle swishing sounds as he slowly moved his knee against her and she writhed below him.
“Sakura....?” he finally whispered, breaking the kiss and catching her hazy gaze with his. It was so hard to concentrate. “May I...?”
She blinked in confusion before she felt her shirt lift higher, his palm flat against her belly. The butterflies returned, loud and insistent, and she nodded. Cool night air hit her heated skin as he pulled away from her slightly, kneeling now so he could lift the shirt with one hand and slightly raise her off the bed with the other. He paused when the lower swell of her breasts were exposed, and the tip of his tongue darted out to wet his lips. He bent over to kiss her ribs and she giggled, either because she was ticklish or nervous or both.
“Please don't stop,” she whispered when he looked up at her questioningly. He nodded, but instead of continuing he finished lifting her shirt over her breasts and licked his lips again as he traced every inch of her with his eyes.
“You're beautiful,” he breathed out, and bent down again to kiss the swell of her right breast, lips cool and wet against her skin. Sakura sighed and threaded her left hand through his hair while her right traced the muscles of his back. He was slightly damp with sweat even though the blanket was pushed down and bunched around his hips.
Slowly the light from outside grew brighter as dawn threatened to break the spell in the air. Sakura ignored everything but him: his lips on her, his knee between her legs, the feel of his muscles and hair beneath her fingers and the overwhelming heat pulsing through her body. His lips trailed from her right breast to her left, and his right hand pressed against her hip as his fingers played with the hem of her panties.
His knee pressed against her again, sending heat up through her belly, and his lips paused as he slipped his fingers just under the hem of her underwear.
“Sakura, I--”
BRRT BRRT BRRT
Syaoran nearly flew off her in surprise as his alarm blared, breaking the spell that had taken over the moment she woke up. Cold gripped her bare skin as her boyfriend stumbled off the bed in his haste, tangled in the blankets and cursing softly. The t-shirt fell down around her stomach as she sat up and pulled the sheets with her, shivering.
The sound cut off quickly as Syaoran slammed his hand down on the alarm near his computer, face red and body shaking. “S-sorry,” he said, roughly combing his fingers through his hair as he turned back to face her. “I didn't even think to turn it off...”
By all rights Sakura knew she should be frustrated, the feel of his lips still ghosting across her skin and an emptiness threatening to consume the pit of her stomach as the heat slowly dissipated. Yet instead, she felt a giggle bubble up and burst from her before she quickly covered her mouth with her hands. Surprisingly, Syaoran joined in, his shoulders shaking from amusement as well as frustration.
“I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh,” she started, voice muffled by her fingers. “It's just...”
He nodded and rejoined her on the bed, not bothering to fix the blankets half-fallen off the side. They sat side-by-side, backs against the headboard and shoulders touching. His fingers rubbed gently at her side as he looped an arm behind her and she sighed.
“If I didn't know better,” he finally said, amusement tinging his voice, “I'd say the universe was teasing us.”
“I wish it would stop,” Sakura muttered, then felt her cheeks flame. Syaoran kissed the top of her head and she buried her face against his shoulder. They could always continue, she knew, but with sunlight streaming in from the balcony and her nerves still rattled from the alarm, she just felt content beside him instead of that burning, driving heat from before. It was frustrating, if she was being honest with herself.
Syaoran pulled away from her after a few moments and she reached for him before he took her hands and kissed her palms. “I'll make some breakfast if you want to get dressed. Are pancakes okay?”
“Are you...mad?” she asked instead, staring at their hands.
“No.” He paused and rubbed his thumbs in gentle circles over her knuckles. “A little embarrassed at myself, honestly. I sort of ruined the moment,” he added sheepishly, and she glanced up to see his cheeks red as he, too, stared at their hands.
“You didn't ruin anything,” Sakura assured him and lifted their hands to kiss his knuckles. “I'm happy, even if things didn't turn out quite how I thought they would...”
He smiled at that. “You and Daidouji made quite the plan.” His voice was soft and light as he stood and brushed one last kiss against her forehead. “So, pancakes?”
“Yes please.” She waited until he'd left the door to crawl out of bed, the floor cold against her bare feet. She'd left her purse near the door when she came back the night before, and reached down to pick it up. She'd packed light with the intent for stealth—only her toothbrush, brush, a change of underwear and another spring dress she could bundle up small enough to fit inside her bag.
As she pulled the dress out a small box tumbled to the ground beside her feet and her blood ran cold. The condoms. She'd forgotten all about them!
In her embarrassed-slash-horrified shock she must have made a sound, because Syaoran was at the door, expression worried as he looked at her stood in the center of his room. “Sakura, are you okay?”
“I...” She reached down to pick up the box at the same moment Syaoran noticed it, his face paling as he realized what it was. “They were in my purse, but I completely forgot about them...”
“That's...” His face alternated between pale and flushed and finally settled somewhere in-between as he scratched shyly at the back of his head. “I wasn't really thinking about that, either...” She started to speak and he shook his head quickly. “Don't blame yourself.” Syaoran stepped close to hug her close, his chin resting on the top of her head. “We'll just have to be more careful next time.”
Sakura nodded against his chest, but before she could respond he sniffed the air and pulled away from her. “The pancakes!”
He was out the door in a flash, leaving an amused but embarrassed Sakura behind. She quickly started to change, but it was only as she shimmied into her dress that his words registered and she stopped dead, one arm through the strap and the other pinned beneath the cloth.
Next time.
Heart beating wildly, she finished dressing and took a deep breath before leaving his room, a smile on her face and her heart light.
Definitely.
Wordcount: 5580
Fandom: CCS
Rating: R
Warnings: Badly-written flut
Summary: Sakura has loved Syaoran for six year, but it takes a talk with Tomoyo for her to realize just how much and what that means going forward.
Notes: Seeing these perfect children being adorably shy warms the remains of my cold, black, long-dead heart. Suuuuper-duper unbeta'd and barely proofread, just getting it out there for crit.
“Sakura-chan?”
“Yes?”
Tomoyo smiled at her friend as they walked along the path, dappled sunlight playing off the other girl's beautiful light-brown hair. They walked hand-in-hand as usual, but lately Sakura didn't have her usual pep. Tomoyo had been waiting now for her friend to confess what was obviously on her mind for the past week, but it seemed her intervention was needed after all.
“Do you have time to stop by today? I have some cakes I'd like to give to you and Kero-chan.”
“Yeah,” Sakura said with a smile, radiant as always. “Dad and oniichan don't get back until late, so I have some time before I need to make dinner.”
“I'm glad. There's also something I wanted to ask you about.” Sakura blinked in confusion and Tomoyo smiled coyly. “Nothing bad, don't worry.”
They chatted about school and clubs and nothing at all the rest of the way to her house. Even small-talk with Sakura was interesting and entertaining and Tomoyo would never ask for anything else. It did, as well, give her time to put her thoughts in order for exactly how to broach the subject she actually intended to talk about.
“Would you like some tea and sweets before you leave?”
They stood in Tomoyo's room, and Sakura nodded as she absently sat down at the small table in the center of the room. A quick call over the intercom, and then Tomoyo joined her friend at the table, hands folded demurely in her lap as she smiled at the other, distracted girl.
“Sakura-chan.”
“Yes?”
“Did anything happen between you and Li-kun?” Sakura's bright crimson face was answer enough, but Tomoyo pressed on. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”
“E-e-everything's fine, really,” Sakura rushed out, hands in front of her face. “Really, please don't worry!”
“You've been distracted since a few days before he left for spring break, Sakura-chan.” Tomoyo let a ghost of a smile draw up her lips. She had no doubt there was nothing wrong between the two—they obviously loved and cared about each other. Anyone with eyes knew the two couldn't stop staring at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking, so naturally being them, they never noticed it themselves.
Sakura's face was good and buried in her hands now. “It's embarrassing...” she mumbled, and Tomoyo pressed a pale hand against her friend's tanned ones to draw her fingers away from her cheeks. Green eyes looked back at her. “I didn't mean to keep it from you, I just...didn't know how to say it...”
Tomoyo smiled her brightest, most-loving smile. “I never thought you were. I knew you were trying to speak to me, but sometimes you just need a bit of a nudge.” She squeezed Sakura's hand. “It's one of your good points.”
Sakura gave a keening hoeeee in that cute way of hers and Tomoyo beamed.
“W-well...” Her friend fidgeted in the chair, then startled as a knock sounded at the door and one of the servants entered at Tomoyo's permission. A tray of tea and cakes was set before them, and Sakura smiled through her blush as the dark-haired girl calmly cut them some slices and served the drinks. “Thank you, Tomoyo-chan.”
“Of course.” She sat back and took a tiny bite of her own cake. “You were saying, Sakura-chan?”
She would never tire of her friend's adorable blushing face. “W-well... He's been teaching me some of his family's martial arts, and we were practicing at his place, and, um...um...” Her voice was barely audible. “He accidentally touched my chest.”
Tomoyo reached for Sakura's hand again; now was the time for silent encouragement. Sakura would find her words eventually.
“And, um...” Her cake lay untouched before her. “....It gave me a warm feeling in my stomach and I really liked it and wanted him to do it again.” Tomoyo took a few moments to understand exactly what her friend said—her words were a jumbled, sped-up mess.
“But he didn't?” she finally asked when Sakura remained silent for a long moment.
She shook her head. “We sort of stared at each other and he apologized and I said it was fine, but before I could say I liked it his mother called.” Sakura sunk down in the chair, deflated. “He had to finalize details for his visit so I left them to it and then we didn't get a chance to speak about it before his flight.”
“So you're trying to figure out this feeling?” Tomoyo asked, taking a sip of her tea. Sakura sat up in her chair and poked at her cake and nodded. “Is it a good feeling or bad?”
“Good.”
“What kind of feeling is it, exactly, other than warm?” She was sure she knew what it was already, but it was important for Sakura to realize herself.
Her friend took a bite of cake, then another. “...Like...like when your stomach bottoms out, you know? Kind of scary but also....nice. And warm.” She took a sip of tea, holding the cup in her hands and rubbing her thumbs over the flower decorations. “And I keep thinking I want to do more than kiss him, and want him to touch me again, and then I get embarrassed and then distracted and I don't know what to think anymore.
Tomoyo smiled and stood. “Wait just a moment, Sakura-chan.” She crossed to her dresser and pulled out a small box she'd bought a few days ago once she was sure her suspicions were correct. And even if they weren't...it helped to be prepared.
She set the box on the table and Sakura instantly buried her face in her hands again, keening loudly. Tomoyo leaned forward, a soft smile on her face. “From what you've said, it sounds like you want to go farther with Li-kun. But Sakura-chan, absolutely only go at your own pace.” She grabbed her friend's hands again, expression serious. “Don't ever do anything you aren't ready for.”
“I-I know, Tomoyo-chan.” She pressed her forehead against Tomoyo's and smiled. “I won't do anything I'm not ready for.”
“Good.” She leaned back and clasped her hands together. “Now you can take those with your sweets.” Sakura's face instantly burned red and Tomoyo sighed happily. “Just make sure to keep them separate.”
---
“We're off!”
Sakura waved goodbye to her father as she and Tomoyo closed the front door behind them, only for her to nearly run into Touya at the gate. Her brother glanced between the two of them, his expression guarded.
“Where you off to, monster?”
“I'm not a monster!” Sakura growled and made a fist. Touya raised an eyebrow and pointedly gave her pale pink knee-length dress, purse and nice shoes a once-over. Sakura felt her cheeks start to burn and she clutched the purse closer, hoping against hope her brother didn't know what was in it. She'd packed Tomoyo's “gift” with her after discussing her plan with her friend, but she hadn't yet decided if she could make use of it or not.
“We're going to meet Li-kun, Yamazaki-kun, and Chiharu-chan for dinner,” Tomoyo supplied, her voice sweet and innocent, “and then Sakura-chan is staying over at my place.” Sakura envied how easily her best friend could fib.
“Is that so.” Touya held his gaze on Sakura for another few seconds before he shrugged and scooted past them, ruffling his sister's hair as he did so. “Have fun you two.”
Halfway down the road Sakura finally let out the breath she'd been holding, and Tomoyo practically beamed. “Now you're free to have a long talk with Li-kun.”
“Y-yeah...”
“Remember, Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo said, and pressed the side of her head against the other girl's, “take things at your own pace. Those never need to leave your purse if you don't want them to.”
“I know, Tomoyo-chan. Thank you.” Her face felt on fire, but she nuzzled her friend before continuing towards the restaurant, hand-in-hand. Not everything Tomoyo said had been a lie, after all—they really were meeting for dinner with Syaoran. He'd returned a few days before the start of the school year a few weeks ago, but between classes and clubs and the beginning of their senior year, they'd had no time to really talk.
She'd been looking forward to this since Tomoyo suggested it earlier in the week; she just wished her stomach would stop doing flips.
Usually, Sakura loved the restaurant they'd decided on, but she spent the entire time alternating being unable to look at Syaoran, or trying to catch him looking at her without him noticing. She hadn't thought it would be this difficult, sitting beside him. Even with Tomoyo there, she could barely keep the blush off her cheeks, and when he reached for her hand under the table and rubbed his thumb against her knuckles she almost died. Wonderful, lovely Tomoyo managed to keep the conversation flowing and on the good side of awkward, but by the time they finished and stood milling outside, her nerves were frazzled and she nearly jumped at every little sound.
“Well then,” she caught Syaoran's voice then and realized she'd missed almost the entire conversation. He smiled at them and gave a little bow. “I'll see you at school on Monday?”
“W-wait.” She reached out without thought and grabbed the cuff of his shirt, her fingers bunched in the fabric. Tomoyo smiled. “Um, maybe we could, um...go to the park?”
“I'd love to join you,” her friend said, and there was an actual hint of regret in her voice, “but I have to get home. I have rehearsal tomorrow I have to practice for. Have a good night.” Tomoyo bowed slightly to them both, but paused beside Sakura to whisper a quick “You can do this!” before she made her sedate way down the road and away from them.
“Sakura?” Now alone, Sakura felt her courage starting to fade and gripped Syaoran's shirt even tighter. She'd mastered the Sakura Cards, she could very well master her own feelings! “Are you all right?”
“Y-yeah!” She smiled her best, brightest smile, and his expression relaxed as he gently pried her hand from his cuff and threaded his fingers through hers. Cheeks pink, they made their slow way towards Penguin Park, the silence calm between them. His hand was warm in hers, his fingers calloused and familiar and she focused on that the entire way, too afraid to let her thoughts stray. With jelly-legs, she flopped down on one of the too-small swings as they finally reached the park, and lazily kicked off as her boyfriend took the seat beside her.
“Are you sure you're all right? You've been distracted all night.”
“Ah...sorry. I--” she glanced over at him through her lashes and felt her cheeks heat up again. He looked so worried. “I...had a talk with Tomoyo-chan earlier that's been on my mind. About...” Her voice faltered. “About...”
“Sakura.” The swingset creaked and she glanced up to see he was stood before her, a soft look in his eyes as he held his hand out to her. “You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. I can walk you hom--”
“I told them I'm staying with Tomoyo-chan tonight.”
He blinked in surprise, a question on his lips before he stilled in realization. His hand fell to his side as he gazed down at her with a look in his eye she recognized from one of the times she caught him looking at her at dinner, as well as after the incident in his apartment. Sakura gave him her bravest, brightest smile, then squeaked in surprise when he pulled her from the swing into a hug.
“Are you sure?”
Even held in his arms, his voice was so soft she barely heard it. Not trusting herself she nodded against his chest, hands bunched in his shirt over his heart.
Before she realized, they stood before his door as he unlocked it and gestured her inside, his hand on the small of her back. Lights flicked on as he set his keys on a small table beside the door and she glanced around. The apartment wasn't extravagant; a few pictures hung on the walls, photos of his family or the Hong Kong skyline. His couch was older but well-kept, with a similar chair to the side facing a small TV.
“...Would you like some tea?”
“Y-yes, please.” He led her to the couch to sit before he moved into the small but tidy kitchen. She stared around in a bit of a daze as she set her purse on the coffee table in front of her, eyes sweeping over the plant in the corner near the balcony window, the remote lying on the end table, the half-open door leading to what she suspected was his bedroom. The couch was soft beneath her, warm and comfortable.
“Here you go.” She startled at the cup he held towards her, and stammered an apology as she took it and gripped it tightly in her hands. Syaoran sat beside her, eyes locked on her face before he set his cup on the table and reached out to brush at a few stray bangs. His fingers felt too warm against her skin, but she leaned into the touch with a smile. “So...this talk with Daidouji?”
Sakura pulled away enough to take a long sip of tea before her cup joined his on the table. Feelings can't be understood if they aren't spoken aloud. “I think...we both want...to do more than just kiss.” Her skirt was soft between her fingers as she fidgeted with the fabric, glancing up to catch Syaoran's eyes every other word. “I've thought so since right before you went home...Tomoyo-chan just helped me realize it...”
It was embarrassing to say the words out loud, but somehow she felt better for saying them. Her cheeks, while still red, didn't feel on fire, and she felt calm for the first time since the morning. She glanced up in time to see that look in his eyes before he leaned in to kiss her, his lips soft and warm as she breathed out his name.
“I do, but only if you're okay with it,” he finally said, lips still pressed to hers.
“I am.”
Tea completely forgotten, he hovered over her and she leaned back until she was lying on the couch, one leg dangling off the edge and the other pinned between Syaoran's side and the back of the sofa. It was a little uncomfortable, but she'd seen something like this in one of those dirty manga one of her classmates would bring to school and the other girls would giggle at during club. (She'd only ever managed to join the circle twice before embarrassment won out and she excused herself quickly, face in her hands and bright red.)
He shifted above her, one hand on her hip and his leg hiking her skirt up past her thighs, and that heat she told Tomoyo about flared through her belly and she gasped as his mouth moved to her jaw and then her neck. Between his lips and his thumb tracing circles along her hip, just barely grazing the skin of her thigh, it felt great...but her leg hurt.
“Sy-Syaoran-kun...” He paused and she wriggled underneath him. “I'm...a little uncomfortable...”
“S-sorry!” He pulled away from her quickly to sit on the edge of the couch, his face red as he glanced over at her. She lifted herself onto her elbows and then tucked her legs beneath her, self-consciously smoothing her skirt down over her thighs as she did so.
“N-no, it was nice. I just...my leg...” She brushed her fingers along his cheek until he looked at her. “We could try again...?”
He pressed a kiss to her palm but his eyes never left hers. Then, with a sudden tug on her wrist he pulled her against him, but misjudged his strength and they both tumbled backwards in a heap. Sakura managed to catch herself before she pushed her boyfriend off the couch, stammering apologies the entire time. Beneath her, Syaoran covered his face with his forearm before his shoulders started shaking, and it took Sakura a few moments to realize he was laughing.
“That was supposed to be cool...” he whispered and pulled his arm away, smiling through his blush. The back of his fingers brushed over Sakura's cheek before he threaded his fingers through her hair, just behind her ear, and she leaned into the touch. With a little pressure he urged her down, lips ghosting across hers before he pressed their foreheads together. “...I see what you meant about being uncomfortable.”
Face on fire, Sakura scooted backwards off him until he could push himself up onto his elbows. Only then did she notice his back had been pressed into the arm of the couch, and she started to wring her hands before he gently took them in his to stop her.
“It's okay, that was my fault.” He swallowed and glanced away for a moment, and she followed his gaze to his bedroom door. “Maybe we could...?”
'Butterflies in your stomach' had always been a silly phrase to her, but she fully understood it then as she nodded and let him help her stand. Tomoyo had helped her to understand her feelings, but she couldn't focus on any of them through the beating of her heart and the fluttering in her belly and the heat she felt. She loved Syaoran, he was her number one, and she wanted this, she did. But...it was frightening, too. What if...what if everything changed afterwards?
His room was as tidy as the rest of his apartment. Where her room was an explosion of color and clutter, his was reserved in an almost elegant way: a potted plant sat on the floor by his balcony window, a darkly-colored chest of drawers and a wardrobe stood along the wall opposite the bed, a computer on his desk with a notebook and a picture of them beside it--she remembered when Tomoyo took it at the New Year's festival last year. He led her to the neatly-made bed and she slowly sank down onto the comforter as he traced her cheeks and pressed his lips to her forehead.
“Syaoran-kun...?”
He crouched down so their noses almost touched, eyes locked with hers. Sakura couldn't say what he saw in her expression, but his eyes softened and he gently combed his fingers through her hair before pulling his hands away from her.
“We don't have to--”
“No, I want to!” She nearly leapt at him in her haste and surprise, and managed to bang their noses together. “S-sorry..!” she whimpered, holding her nose with tears pricking her eyes. She just kept making everything more difficult!
For his part, Syaoran looked more amused and surprised than hurt or angry, even as he nursed his own nose and stood to sit down beside her. After a moment more of rubbing his sore face he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Let's just sleep.”
“I...” Sakura pressed her face against his shoulder and gripped his shirt. Don't force yourself, Tomoyo had told her. Trust your feelings. “...I really do, but... I'm afraid of everything changing, too...”
His thumb moved in gentle circles over her shoulder as he hugged her closer. “I know what you mean.” He chuckled suddenly. “If it took us both so much effort just to confess to each other, we can't really expect this to go easy either. There's no rush.” He kissed the top of her head. “We have time.”
Well...she couldn't really argue with that. Over the years expressing themselves became easier, but she'd never quite lost that shyness. Thanks to Tomoyo she'd only just recently recognized what the feelings she'd been having lately even meant, acting on it so quickly was expecting a lot.
Syaoran pressed another kiss to the top of her head and then slowly stood. Without him there she felt oddly cold. “Did you bring pyjamas? I'll let you change.” She grabbed his shirt as he started to move away. “Sakura?”
“Could I...” Her stomach fluttered. “Could I wear one of your shirts instead?”
Cheeks dark, he nodded and rummaged around in the chest of drawers until he found an older, well-loved pale green shirt. Sakura held it close and breathed in his scent as he showed her to the bathroom and left her to change and prepare for bed. The t-shirt was soft and much too big, just grazing the tops of her thighs and, while not quite hanging off her shoulders, was quite loose around her neck. As she bent to clean her toothbrush it fell open and she could clearly see her bare chest. Compared to the other girls in her class she was definitely on the small side; was that a good or bad thing?
When she returned to the room, Syaoran stood by his desk tracing the picture beside his computer. He wore only a dark green pair of drawstring pyjama pants, and she paused inside the door to stare at him. Like her he had an athletic build, and he'd grown tall in the seven years she'd known him. He was tanned, and handsome, and she couldn't take her eyes off him.
“Syaoran-kun?” Usually he'd have turned to her by now—he always knew when she was near.
“Yeah, I...” He finally said, glancing over his shoulder. His eyes widened before he quickly looked back at the picture, and then turned towards the bed. “You look...” He coughed and scratched the back of his head before turning to face her. “You...look good like that.”
Sakura self-consciously smoothed the shirt down what little it covered of her thighs as she moved to join him. Her tummy kept doing flips, and she felt like she was on fire when he leaned down to brush a kiss against her lips. “I'll join you in a few minutes. Don't worry about the lights.”
She nodded dumbly and crawled under the covers as he left her alone with her thoughts for the next few minutes. Giddiness threatened to overwhelm her as she buried her face in the pillow, breathing in his scent. Somehow it calmed her, and she could think clearly by the time he returned, hit the switch near the door and then joined her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and holding her close. He smelled nice, like a summer night after rain, and she snuggled against him, head pressed into his chest just below his neck, her hands pinned between them.
“Goodnight, Sakura.”
“Goodnight, Syaoran-kun.”
He kissed the top of her head and settled further under the blankets as the gentle sounds of night lulled them to sleep.
---
Sakura awoke warmer than usual, and blinked her eyes open to the pre-dawn light-blue haze creeping through the balcony window and bathing most of the room in shadow. Behind her something shifted as she stretched, and only then did she notice the arm around her waist and Syaoran's warm breath on the back of her neck. The room was silent save their breathing and the faint hint of birdsong, but she was sure he could hear her heart thumping loudly in her chest.
Turning over slow enough to hopefully not wake him, Sakura met his open amber eyes watching her. Blushing furiously, she smiled at him and then leaned into his touch as he lifted his arm from her waist to trace her cheek and then bury his fingers in her hair. The silence and calm of the early morning felt almost like a spell; the nervousness and fear she felt before seemed far away and foolish, and she lifted her face to kiss him.
Their kisses were usually chaste and innocent, just a brush of lips and a gentle nuzzle of their noses. Only recently had they become something more, heavy and passionate and leaving her breathless and wanting more. Perhaps that was when she first started realizing the signals her body had been giving her, but she didn't know and she didn't care as Syaoran's hand pressed against the back of her head and she opened her mouth for his tongue. Heat pooled in her belly as she buried her hands in his hair and pressed herself against him, hooking her ankle over his calf without noticing. Lips still together he shifted until she was half beneath him, his knee between her legs and hands on either side of her to support himself.
“Sy-Syaoran-kun,” she gasped as he trailed his mouth down to her neck and gently pressed his knee against the apex of her thighs. The heat pooling in her belly burned hotter, and she clung to him with one hand gripping his shoulder and the other gripping his dark brown, messy hair. He smiled against her neck and pressed his knee a little harder against her.
This...this was the feeling she'd been chasing, the one she confessed to Tomoyo. The heat she'd felt when Syaoran kissed her, the thrill when he'd touched her breasts those few weeks ago, the half-remembered dreams she'd wake to that left her breathless.--though those she hadn't confessed about. What had she been so afraid of, again?
Still hovering over her, he trailed his right hand down her side and to her hip and the edge of her borrowed t-shirt. His thumb hesitated on her panties before moving to her belly and rubbing gentle circles over her muscles. Sakura made a soft, gasping moan and gripped his hair tighter. “S-sorry,” she breathed out when she felt him wince, and did her best to smooth down the hair she'd accidentally pulled.
“You're fine,” he muttered against her neck, and shifted again to kiss her lips. Sakura relaxed into it, enjoying the feel of his tongue against hers, the way their breathing echoed in the stillness around them. The sheets made gentle swishing sounds as he slowly moved his knee against her and she writhed below him.
“Sakura....?” he finally whispered, breaking the kiss and catching her hazy gaze with his. It was so hard to concentrate. “May I...?”
She blinked in confusion before she felt her shirt lift higher, his palm flat against her belly. The butterflies returned, loud and insistent, and she nodded. Cool night air hit her heated skin as he pulled away from her slightly, kneeling now so he could lift the shirt with one hand and slightly raise her off the bed with the other. He paused when the lower swell of her breasts were exposed, and the tip of his tongue darted out to wet his lips. He bent over to kiss her ribs and she giggled, either because she was ticklish or nervous or both.
“Please don't stop,” she whispered when he looked up at her questioningly. He nodded, but instead of continuing he finished lifting her shirt over her breasts and licked his lips again as he traced every inch of her with his eyes.
“You're beautiful,” he breathed out, and bent down again to kiss the swell of her right breast, lips cool and wet against her skin. Sakura sighed and threaded her left hand through his hair while her right traced the muscles of his back. He was slightly damp with sweat even though the blanket was pushed down and bunched around his hips.
Slowly the light from outside grew brighter as dawn threatened to break the spell in the air. Sakura ignored everything but him: his lips on her, his knee between her legs, the feel of his muscles and hair beneath her fingers and the overwhelming heat pulsing through her body. His lips trailed from her right breast to her left, and his right hand pressed against her hip as his fingers played with the hem of her panties.
His knee pressed against her again, sending heat up through her belly, and his lips paused as he slipped his fingers just under the hem of her underwear.
“Sakura, I--”
BRRT BRRT BRRT
Syaoran nearly flew off her in surprise as his alarm blared, breaking the spell that had taken over the moment she woke up. Cold gripped her bare skin as her boyfriend stumbled off the bed in his haste, tangled in the blankets and cursing softly. The t-shirt fell down around her stomach as she sat up and pulled the sheets with her, shivering.
The sound cut off quickly as Syaoran slammed his hand down on the alarm near his computer, face red and body shaking. “S-sorry,” he said, roughly combing his fingers through his hair as he turned back to face her. “I didn't even think to turn it off...”
By all rights Sakura knew she should be frustrated, the feel of his lips still ghosting across her skin and an emptiness threatening to consume the pit of her stomach as the heat slowly dissipated. Yet instead, she felt a giggle bubble up and burst from her before she quickly covered her mouth with her hands. Surprisingly, Syaoran joined in, his shoulders shaking from amusement as well as frustration.
“I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh,” she started, voice muffled by her fingers. “It's just...”
He nodded and rejoined her on the bed, not bothering to fix the blankets half-fallen off the side. They sat side-by-side, backs against the headboard and shoulders touching. His fingers rubbed gently at her side as he looped an arm behind her and she sighed.
“If I didn't know better,” he finally said, amusement tinging his voice, “I'd say the universe was teasing us.”
“I wish it would stop,” Sakura muttered, then felt her cheeks flame. Syaoran kissed the top of her head and she buried her face against his shoulder. They could always continue, she knew, but with sunlight streaming in from the balcony and her nerves still rattled from the alarm, she just felt content beside him instead of that burning, driving heat from before. It was frustrating, if she was being honest with herself.
Syaoran pulled away from her after a few moments and she reached for him before he took her hands and kissed her palms. “I'll make some breakfast if you want to get dressed. Are pancakes okay?”
“Are you...mad?” she asked instead, staring at their hands.
“No.” He paused and rubbed his thumbs in gentle circles over her knuckles. “A little embarrassed at myself, honestly. I sort of ruined the moment,” he added sheepishly, and she glanced up to see his cheeks red as he, too, stared at their hands.
“You didn't ruin anything,” Sakura assured him and lifted their hands to kiss his knuckles. “I'm happy, even if things didn't turn out quite how I thought they would...”
He smiled at that. “You and Daidouji made quite the plan.” His voice was soft and light as he stood and brushed one last kiss against her forehead. “So, pancakes?”
“Yes please.” She waited until he'd left the door to crawl out of bed, the floor cold against her bare feet. She'd left her purse near the door when she came back the night before, and reached down to pick it up. She'd packed light with the intent for stealth—only her toothbrush, brush, a change of underwear and another spring dress she could bundle up small enough to fit inside her bag.
As she pulled the dress out a small box tumbled to the ground beside her feet and her blood ran cold. The condoms. She'd forgotten all about them!
In her embarrassed-slash-horrified shock she must have made a sound, because Syaoran was at the door, expression worried as he looked at her stood in the center of his room. “Sakura, are you okay?”
“I...” She reached down to pick up the box at the same moment Syaoran noticed it, his face paling as he realized what it was. “They were in my purse, but I completely forgot about them...”
“That's...” His face alternated between pale and flushed and finally settled somewhere in-between as he scratched shyly at the back of his head. “I wasn't really thinking about that, either...” She started to speak and he shook his head quickly. “Don't blame yourself.” Syaoran stepped close to hug her close, his chin resting on the top of her head. “We'll just have to be more careful next time.”
Sakura nodded against his chest, but before she could respond he sniffed the air and pulled away from her. “The pancakes!”
He was out the door in a flash, leaving an amused but embarrassed Sakura behind. She quickly started to change, but it was only as she shimmied into her dress that his words registered and she stopped dead, one arm through the strap and the other pinned beneath the cloth.
Next time.
Heart beating wildly, she finished dressing and took a deep breath before leaving his room, a smile on her face and her heart light.
Definitely.
