CHAPTER NINE: QUESTION

(It is August 29, two days before Syaoran has to return home.)

Syaoran looks at the door, then at the little box in his hands. Door, box. Door, box...

'Find your courage.' 'It's just four little words.' Kero's little speech echoes through his mind.

Syoaran studies the box as he has so many times before. It's small and velvety-green. There is a worn place at the top because of all of the time he has spent fingering it, not daring to bring it out. This little box holds his future within it....

He goes back to looking at the door. The box. The door. At this rate he won't leave the apartment for years.

The phone rings and Syaoran jumps five feet into the air.

With trembling hand he picks up the phone.

"Moshi moshi," he manages.

"Moshi moshi, Li-kun!" It is Tomoyo.

Syaoran relaxes. "What's up?"

"Well... it's just that I've been wondering..."

"Yes, Tomoyo-chan?"

"When you're finally going to give Sakura-chan the ring you carry around in your pocket!" Tomoyo laughs.

"You know??? How?"

"I have my ways, Li-kun. When?"

Syaoran pulls himself together and finds his courage. He gives it a good mental talking-to and tells it to stay put. Then he answers Tomoyo.

"Today, Tomoyo-chan. Today."

Sakura meets Syaoran in the park at sunset, as he has requested. As she comes upon him sitting on that green bench, she notices that he is unusually tense.

"What's wrong, Syaoran-kun?" she asks kindly.

"Nothing... I'm just a bit jumpy, I suppose."

"Why?"

"Well... Sakura-chan, I've got something very important to tell you... You must promise to listen." His eyes plead with her.

"I will always listen," Sakura says softly.

She sits down beside him. Nervously, Syaoran fingers the ring box in his jacket pocket.

"Sakura," he says, "I have to go back to Hong Kong in two days."

Sakura's eyes fill with tears. "Your mother won't let you stay any longer?"

"No... But I won't leave you alone here. I can't go back and not speak with you for seven years or more!

"So I've come to one conclusion--"

Sakura is astounded. Is he....?

Syaoran takes that ring box out of his pocket and runs his hands over it once more. Then he rises from the bench and goes down upon one knee.

"Kinomoto Sakura, love of my life, will you marry me?"

Sakura's eyes fill with happy tears. Her greatest dream has come true. And so she says:

"Yes."

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That's it! What do you think??? Please send questions, comments, and constructive critism to..... <Drummergirl7@msn.com>

I must thank Syaoran no Hime for her support! Her awesome 'fics inspired me to start one of my own! You go, girl!!!!!

There will be a sequel to this story, for those interested.... It will be called "White Dress," (Get it? Green ribbons, white dress...^_^) and will be available as soon as I write it!

The story starts off where this one left off: the wedding announcement, the revealing of Tomoyo's birthday present, their journey to Hong Kong and Sakura's judgement by the elders of the Li clan.... Will she be approved? (Hint: Look at the title of the story...)

Don't know the Japanese I use in the story? Short glossary below. Also: when introducing themselves or others, the Japanese say the last names first.

Bai-- I use it to mean bye. I'm not positive that it's right...

Baka-- fool or idiot.

Chan-- roughly, friendship. Usually only applied to females.

Domo arigato gozaimasu-- thank you very much. Used a lot in this story...

Gaki-- brat. Used mostly by Touya to refer to Syaoran.

Konnichiwa-- hello.

Kun-- usually applied to males, it means almost the same as chan but is a bit more polite.

Moshi moshi-- a way to answer the phone.

Ohayo-- good morning.

Onii-chan-- older brother. Used by Sakura to refer to Touya.

San-- respect. Servants use it. Also used by Eriol for Tomoyo and for persons he doesn't know very well.