Disclaimer: I don't own ccs. CCS belongs to clamp, you are wasting your time suing me.

Chapter 2- the letter

The funeral lasted longer than Syaoran had expected. He stood there, eyes filled with hidden emtions he chose not to let out.
"Mother is gone...", the words said in the mind Syaoran, "but... why did she have to make me promise?"
Fuutie looked over at her brother, whom she was standing next to. The children of Ieran all stood in the first row, but only Syaoran and Fuutie were not crying.
Syaoran knew his sister wanted to burst out into tears, but she refused to let that happen. She was shaking, though she stood stiff.
"Let it all out...", Syaoran whispered.
Usually when people say that, one would, but not Fuutie. Shaking her head, she refused to.
"I will not be like my other sisters", she declared back in a whisper.
Syaoran looked back at his three other sisters. They were sobbing wildly, as their husbands did their best to comfort them.
Syaoran nodded, understandingly at Fuutie.
The funeral was an open-casket, which is weird in a chinese funeral. Usually one would be cremated, but Ieran chose not to be.
"She was so young...", a sobbing sister, Feimei said.
"Why did she have to die?", tearful Fanran ask.
"She was so strong too...", crying Shiefa ask.
"Yes. It is true mother was strong. She could have lived to be an old age, but something was troubling her", a wise Fuutie said, as she stared at her brother, as if blaming him for their mother's death.
He ignored taht, and headed for the open-casket.
Gripping onto the woman's cold hands, the promise he made to her suddenly appeared inside his mind.
"Promise me?", that voice ask.
"I promise...", Syaoran whispered.
"Promise what?", Fuutie ask in curiousity.
"Nothing", Syaoran said boldly, as he walked away from the casket.
"It's about the Li clan, isn't it, Syaoran?", Fuutie ask, catching up to him.
Syaoran shrugged.
"Do not lie. I always knew you were to lead the Clan, but... did not say anything. I have to admit this is rather a sexist decision, that had gone on for generations. I find it unfair, for I am the oldest, and most wise, yet a male gets to run the clan"
"No need to be jealous", Syaoran told her.
"Jealous? Me? I was when I wasyounger, thinking you cannot handle it, for you were young. But you developed quickly. What a fast learner you are! But, Syaoran... if you need any help at all... I'm always here for you..."
Syaoran nodded. A change of heart had come from eldest sister. The sister who used to bug him the most, and tease him about his "girlfriend". How mature the young woman had gotten!
The funeral was over. Young man drove home in silence. The same day as the funeral, also the same day a new letter from Tomoyo came.

"Dear Syaoran-kun,
I wish you would answer my letter. Sakura is getting married. Sumimasen... Sakura wants to invite you to her wedding. It's a month away. Long enough for you to make a decision whether or not you are going. If you are, the plane ticket is inside this letter. Please come! It'll mean a lot for me... and Sakura... Sayonara, Syaoran-kun.

Love,
Daidouji Tomoyo"

He knew it was coming. His long time love was getting married. He was still in love, yet he had no idea how the girl looks like. Is it love? Or just a long-time crush? That was what Syaoran is confused about. How can one be in love for so long, if one did not see the love for eight years?
Young man know he could not just leave this letter unanswered. Yet... he does not want to tell Tomoyo that he still loves Sakura. It will ruin everything. After all, that promise he broken to her... he could never face her again after that. And the promise he made to mother... focus on the Li clan... put everything aside...
Syaoran headed for his car. Where was he going? Fuutie's house. Why? He needed a favor.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A loud banging came from the door, as Fuutie opened it.
"I have a doorbell", Fuutie told litte brother.
"I need a favor", Syaoran said.
"What is it?"
"I want to write a letter to my old friend, Tomoyo"
"And?"
"Tell her I'm dead"
"What!?"
"You heard me"
"But... why would you want to lie to her?"
"It's none of your buisness"
"Well, I refuse to do it, if you won't tell me"
"Fine! ...Remember a girl by the name of Sakura?"
"That really adorable card mistress?", Fuutie ask, as she went into a phase of when she was a teen, thinking everything is just so "cute!", but then snapped out of it.
"Anyways, she's getting married. Tomoyo sent me an invitation to go to her wedding"
"You still in love with her?"
"......"
"Understood", Fuutie said, "but lying isn't the key to solving your problems"
"I promise mother I would ocus on the Li clan, and put everything aside... even Sakura..."
"But brother... do not lie to her... why do you think I'm still single? My love broke up with me, I thought it was because he needed some space, but really... he lied to me! He was married..."
"Fuutie... you never told us that..."
"It was hiding inside my heart all this time... I never loved again, and so, I focused on what is most important, my family. Do you really wish brother, to lie to your love?"
"Fuutie... understand..."
"Fine! If you want to break her heart!"
"I already had. I told her I would come back to her... I promised her that... I never had..."
"Syaoran... okay, fine... I'll write the letter..."
"Xie Xie, Jie Jie"

To be continue...

author's notes: Hmmm... okay, e-mail me your comments and questions at: qtisyaoran@hotmail.com Sorry if I messed something up. I'm not so familiar with chinese funerals, though I'm chinese. Hey! That's what happens when you are born in America. Thanks for reading my story!

~*qtisyaoran*~