Breaking Stereotypes

Disclaimer: My name is Anemone. I have a habit of procrastinating, and I do not own Tsubasa Chronicle.

Syaoran was the first to admit that he wasn't the type to say no. It didn't take much – just a pleading look and a slightly begging tone – and he'd be putty in the hands of anyone close to him. He was a willing and biddable puppet to those he cared for.

However, even someone like him had morals. There were certain things he would and wouldn't do. He had a list, and everything on this list was added for a reason.

He would not make a snowman in his underwear: This was added because Mokona had requested it back in Jade. He would not literally walk through fire, but he would do it metaphorically: This was added late one night when a drunken Fai – lighter in hand – had asked him if he'd like to try. He also would not – in a million years – bathe in animal blood. This was added due to a battle-intoxicated Kurogane after teaching him the proper way to slay a bear.

Looking back at his current situation, Syaoran cursed himself for not having the foresight to add this to his list of things he'd never do. 'But honestly, how was I supposed to know that the Princess would ask me to-?'

"Syaoran-kun?"

A soft, questioning voice cut his thought short.

Caramel eyes locked onto emerald. "Yes, Princess?"

A hint of sadness tugged at him for a minute. There was a time when addressing Sakura with such a formal title would've earned him a lengthy lecture about how "Friends didn't use formalities." But those days were long gone, never to return, courtesy of Yuko-san.

But now wasn't the time to be thinking of that.

His mind rehashed the events leading up to the situation, further delaying his response to Sakura.

It was an utterly quiet night. Fai and Kurogane had run off to – well, he'd rather not think of what those two did behind closed doors. Mokona was passed out in his lap, and not even sword training held his attention. Sakura was doing something in the kitchen, he assumed, because an enticing aroma hit his nostrils. Placing the sleeping ball of fuzz on the leather couch, he got up to investigate.

Peeking around the light wooden doorframe, leaning against the dark gray wall, Syaoran watched Sakura. Her dainty, nimble fingers held a mixing bowl steady with one hand, the other held a wooden spoon. All of her concentration was placed on whatever was in the bright orange bowl.

Clearing his throat, he signaled his entrance into the kitchen. Her head snapped up and he gave a small smile to ease the fright from her face.

"What are you making, Princess?" He asked softly.

The girl relaxed, turned her attention back to the bowl and answered softly. "Chocolate fondant."

Syaoran thought for a minute, remembering the delicious cake Yuko-san had sent them in Outo Country.

"I got the recipe from Yuko-san," she further elaborated. "As compensation, I made her a dress."

Syaoran nodded, not really paying attention. His stomach growled at the delicious smell.

"Would you like to taste?" She smiled, green eyes hopeful.

"Sure," he said, stepping closer. He gulped nervously at their close proximity. His eyes tried to focus on the wooden spoon and not the girl holding it, tried to ignore the fact that he could smell the faintest scent of lavender and strawberries emanating from her.

She pressed the spoon to his lips and he opened his mouth to taste it. The sugary treat danced across his taste buds in a tantalizing tease. He made a small sound of appreciation in his throat.

"Is it really good? You're not just trying to spare my feelings?" She sounded a bit insecure.

While it was true that Syaoran didn't like to hurt others with unkind words, the fondant really was that good. So, he voiced this and was rewarded with Sakura's beaming smile. Oh, how he missed that smile.

"Syaoran-kun," Sakura began.

This made him frown slightly, sadness rolling through him again. There was a time when she would simply call him "Syao," because "Syaoran-kun is so formal, and best friends don't use formalities, silly boy."

"-right there." She finished.

Syaoran blinked, confused. He really had to stop drifting into the past. "Sorry. Could you repeat that?"

"Just let me take care of it," she said with a soft smile that made her emerald eyes shimmer. With that, she brought her finger to his cheek and swiped away the chocolate. Bringing the dainty digit to her lips, she licked the batter away.

He felt the blush start from his nose and spread over his cheeks. Trying to stamp it down was futile especially when he saw her eyes widen. "It really IS good." She marveled.

It was then that he remembered their close proximity. He felt the heat radiating from her body and he let caramel eyes drift from her soft, pink lips to her brilliant green orbs.

Before he could fully comprehend what was happening, he felt those lips against his. He wasn't entirely sure who had made the first move, and that wasn't important. All he wanted was to revel in this moment, a moment he thought would never happen.

All too soon, it was over. Nothing more than a soft brush of lips had set every nerve in his body ablaze with passion, want and need. His gaze locked onto the auburn haired girl before him; fingers pressed to her lips and a look of curiosity playing in her eyes.

"I- I'm sorry, Syaoran-kun." She whispered.

"Don't be." His voice was husky and it served to deepen the light pink dusting across her cheeks to a crimson blush.

"S-Syaoran-kun?" Her voice was hesitant.

"Yes, Sakura?" He dropped the whole 'princess' title, because this situation didn't call for formalities.

"If… If this were to continue, to get more… Intimate," she paused as if considering her word choice, then drove forward when she decided that was the best word. "Would you be willing to do something for me?"

Her gaze was so intense. It almost burned. He looked away as he answered, "Anything." It was breathless and he wasn't quite sure she'd heard.

And that is how he landed in this situation. He was currently in Sakura's bedroom, sitting quietly on her soft mattress and surrounded by a swell of light yellow bedding.

"If you're not comfortable with this… We don't have to do anything." Her tone contradicted her words. She dropped her hands, letting the lacey black dress fall from her now slack fingers.

Syaoran looked from the girl to the dress on the floor. This went against his morals. Every nerve in his body was screaming that this was wrong on so many levels.

He ground his teeth, schooled his features and cursed himself for wanting Sakura so badly. "No," his tone was flat and yet his eyes were dark with lust. "I'll put on the dress."

Sakura beamed before bringing her lips to his. "Would it be too much to ask you to wear the wig too?" She pointed to the curtain of black hair on her dresser.

Syaoran groaned, hating that he couldn't say no to the girl.

( ) ( ) ( )

To Be Continued!