Title: Somewhere, Somehow

Author: August Coldfeather (formerly known as EviL PunK)

Rating: T

Author's Notes: Thank you all for your reviews! Sorry for the delay of this chapter! I wasn't really having writer's block, but I just couldn't decide about the restaurant scene. Yeah, I'm a loser. Well, it's been a year since I last update and I hope you'll enjoy this chapter! Don't forget to review and please take note that I changed my pen name. Thanks!

Credits to Wikipedia for reference.

Chapter Twenty Three

Unsaid Words

-

Syaoran drove to the mall and parked the car in the parking lot. He turned off the engine, got off the vehicle, rushed to Sakura's side and helped her get down. She smiled and thanked him. They got inside the mall and went around the area. People of different ages recognized them. Syaoran smiled when a cute little girl with pigtails asked Sakura for an autograph. Sakura gladly obliged and even kissed the little girl on the forehead. Syaoran didn't mind all of the attention, as long as Sakura's happy; he's happy.

"I want to be like you when I grow up, Sakura-san!" the little girl piped.

Sakura smiled, "It'll be hard work, are you sure you can take it?"

"If you can, I can!" the little girl bravely said and received laughs and giggles from the people around her. Sakura chuckled as well.

Syaoran watched Sakura smile when he suddenly felt someone tugging on his pants. He looked down and saw a little boy with a baseball cap on his head. He gave a toothy smile.

"Hey, mister, are you her bodyguard?"

Syaoran smiled and crouched in front of the boy, "You can say that. She's a special person and I hate to see her get hurt. You see, I love her."

The boy gave a confused look but suddenly gave a hearty laugh, "You're funny! You're not supposed to be in love with her."

Syaoran chuckled and patted the boy lightly on the head, "You'll understand soon,"

Soon enough, the crowd dispersed and left the couple at peace.

"Sorry about that." Sakura apologized to Syaoran.

"No problem." Syaoran said, giving her a smile.

Syaoran took Sakura's hand and entwined their fingers together. They headed towards a new restaurant that just opened a few days ago to have dinner. It was an international restaurant that served different cuisines from the different parts of the world. A maitre'd greeted them and led them to their table. While going towards their table, they took a glance at the long buffet table, separated by some flower arrangements. Each 'section' had a sign above, indicating the specified cuisine.

"Here you are, ma'am." The maitre'd said, pulling out a chair for Sakura to sit.

"Thank you," she nodded at the man and sat down on the chair, with Syaoran sitting opposite her.

"Would you want to have a look at the buffet or have an ala carte?" the maitre'd asked, politely.

"We'll go for the buffet, thank you." Syaoran answered.

"A fine choice." The maitre'd smiled, bowed and took off.

"Shall we?" Syaoran asked, standing up from his seat and holding out his hand for Sakura to take. Sakura giggled and nodded.

"Yes, we shall." Sakura pushed back her chair, took Syaoran's hand and the both of them walked towards the buffet table.

"Wow! This looks delicious!" Sakura gushed over a paella pan of…well, paella; a Spanish rice dish, usually garnished with vegetables, meat and/or seafood.

"I doubt you want to try this." Syaoran said, pointing at some egg under the section of Filipino food.

"Hmm?" Sakura walked over to Syaoran to see what he was pointing and talking about. Sakura stared at the egg, "What is it?"

"Let's see…" Syaoran looked at the name card that was beside the bowl of eggs, "It's called balut."

"Balut?" Sakrua blinked, trying to pronounce it right.

"A balut is a fertilized duck egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell." Syaoran elaborated further.

Sakura stared at him and cringed, "Ehh…"

Syaoran chuckled at her facial expression, "I dare you to try it. It says here it's usually eaten with a pinch of salt." Syaoran didn't wait for her answer and immediately placed it on Sakura's plate and continued looking over at the Filipino food, "Everything looks delicious!"

Soon enough, they came back to their table with their food in hand. Sakura was still staring at the fertilized duck egg that was lying near her paella. Her eyes moved to Syaoran's plate which was filled with Filipino food.

"What's that?" Sakura asked, referring to something obviously unknown to her.

"Well, from what I read, it's called sisig, a popular dish from the Philippines."

"Looks delicious. What is it made of?"

Syaoran grinned, "Try it first then I'll tell you."

Sakura looked skeptical but decided to try it anyway. Grabbing her spoon, she scooped some of it from Syaoran's plate. Syaoran watched her intently as he placed the food in her mouth and swallowed it.

"Well?"

"It's spicy, but yes, it's delicious. So tell me, what is it made of?"

"Are you really sure you want to know?"

"Well, I've already eaten it, might as well tell me."

"It comes from a pig, in general. Anyway…oh, here you go," Syaoran placed a slat shaker in front of Sakura, "it's for your balut experience."

Sakura frowned, "You should eat one too if I'm going to try it. You're so unfair, Syaoran."

Syaoran laughed and raised his hands in defeat, "Okay, okay. I'll go get some."

Sakura watched Syaoran going back to the buffet table and grabbing another egg.

"Ready?" he asked once he came back and sat down on his chair.

Sakura gulped and nodded, taking the egg from her own plate. They started peeling off the top shell, sprinkled some salt and soon bit onto it. Silence fell on the both of them when Syaoran started laughing at the sour expression plastered on Sakura's face and nearly choked on his balut.

"It's not that bad actually." Syaoran said, taking another bite off the fertilized egg.

Sakura finally swallowed and reached out for the glass of water in front of her, taking a huge gulp.

"Never eating that again!"

---

Back at the Li residence, Meiling was relaxing, completely forgetting about her own dinner. With her feet propped on the coffee table and with a pint of ice cream in hand, she was watching those dramatic soap operas in black and white.

"Jeez, what possessed me to watch this?" she was about to reach for the remote control when the phone suddenly rang. Meiling lazily answered it, "Hello?"

"Oh," it was a woman, "Is Syaoran there?"

Meiling stopped eating her ice cream and raised an eyebrow, "Who's calling?"

"It's Amaya, his fiancée. Is he there? I just finished working out in the gym and I was hoping if he could accompany me to dinner. Well, he should because we're engaged and I'm sure I've worked off those awful 3 pounds I gained…and he's not answering his cell phone." She babbled.

Meiling rolled her eyes, "He's not here."

"Oh, well, do you know where he is?"

"Out."

"Out where?" Amaya was getting impatient, "Is this his cousin? Mai Ling?"

"It's Meiling, and it's none of your business on where he is. But I can say that he's having a good day."

Amaya frowned, "If this Meiling, or whatever your name is; you can forget about being invited to the wedding!"

"Like I even wanted to go in the first place! You're not worth my time or my cousin!" Meiling yelled and slammed the phone down, "Stupid bitch." She mumbled and went back to her soap operas.

---

"Where are we going?" Sakura asked impatiently as her eyes were covered with a blindfold.

"You'll see." Syaoran answered.

After Sakura and Syaoran left the mall, Sakura expected to be brought back home, but instead, Syaoran blindfolded her and went off to a different destination.

"I'm bored." Sakura said.

"Well, you'll just have to wait until we get there."

"Well, can you at least turn up some music?"

Syaoran chuckled and turned the radio on; a popular song began playing. There was silence between them when Sakura suddenly spoke up.

"You're not kidnapping me, are you? Are you really Syaoran?" Sakura demanded.

Syaoran laughed at the serious tone evident in Sakura's voice, "Yeah, I'm not Syaoran. I'm just a friendly neighbor who just took you out to dinner."

"Oh, Syaoran!" Sakura raised her hand and tried to smack Syaoran on the shoulder but missed and hit the chair instead. She pouted, "No fair. I can't see you."

Syaoran just laughed and kept on driving. Soon, the vehicle stopped and Syaoran quickly got out to help Sakura get off the car.

"Where are we?"

Syaoran didn't reply and just took Sakura's hand, leading her to their designated place. Sakura could hear people chattering and shoes make sounds on the marble floor. People greeted both of them. Sakura replied, not knowing who the people were.

"Just relax. You're in a safe place." Syaoran reassured her and Sakura nodded. "Watch your step."

"Very funny, Syaoran. I can't see a thing."

"Right." Syaoran chuckled.

Minutes later, Sakura just stood still.

"We're in an elevator, aren't we?"

"Yep."

Sakura sighed, 'Where is he taking me?'

DING!

The elevator stopped and the doors opened. The both of them carefully stepped out. Sakura could hear cars passing by and feel the cool breeze prickle her skin.

"Syaoran?"

Syaoran was behind Sakura, trying to take untie the knot he made on the blindfold. Soon, the blindfold came off and Sakura blinked. She gasped when she saw the scene in front of her. They were on a terrace on top of a hotel in the middle of the city and the place was adorned with rose petals and small candles on the ground. A small band sat at one side ready to play their instruments.

"Oh my…"

"Like it?"

Sakura turned to face Syaoran, "It's beautiful! But what's the occasion?"

Syaoran didn't answer but smiled instead. He signaled to the band to start playing. The soft and serene music coming from a violin, a piano and a few more instruments, gave that feeling of Heaven.

"May I have this dance?" Syaoran bowed a little in front of Sakura as he held out his hand for her to take.

Sakura smiled and nodded, taking Syaoran's hand as they began to slow dance. They didn't speak; they continued to gaze into each other's eyes. Syaoran was searching Sakura's eyes for some answers: does she love him? Does she know that he loves her?

Sakura was doing the same thing as well – searching his eyes for some answers. Why was he doing this?

The band continued on to play music but the couple stopped dancing. Syaoran let go of Sakura's hands and went towards the railing. He leaned against it and looked down.

"Syaoran?" Sakura approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Is something the matter?"

Syaoran sighed and replied, not looking to meet Sakura's gaze, "Sakura, I've known you all of my life and um…you're a very special woman to me and these past few weeks have been pretty much like hell for me but you somehow always made it better. You may not notice it but you do. I'm not making sense, do I?" he laughed and shook his head, "I guess what I'm trying to say is…"

Sakura's body started trembling. She already has an idea Syaoran was going with his words and for some reason, she didn't want to hear it and she didn't want to say it back – even if those unsaid wordswere true.

"I love you, Sakura…"

Syaoran slowly leaned towards her, hoping to feel her lips against his. Sakura closed her eyes as she spoke.

"No…" she whispered.

And a single tear slid down her face.