storypaint | He Asked Her First (Syaoran and Tomoyo gen)

Title: He Asked Her First
Fandom: Cardcaptor Sakura
Subject: Li Syaoran and Daidouji Tomoyo
Theme(s): 10. A night out
Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura belongs to CLAMP.

Summary: Syaoran invited Tomoyo out to dinner.... He had to ask her something important. (friendship fic)

"This is all very strange, Li-kun," Tomoyo informed him, as though he didn't realize it. "Wouldn't you rather have invited Sakura-chan along too? People will talk if they see us sitting alone, having dinner together."

"Don't worry about it," Syaoran said gruffly, and so she went along with it and ordered her meal. They were mostly silent, in-between short bursts of polite conversation about the weather and so on. Syaoran pushed his food around on the plate and answered her questions in a distracted tone.

"Huh?" he said for the thousandth time, and Tomoyo put her fork down.

"What do you want from me, Li-kun?" she asked. He flushed and ducked his head. Finally he seemed to summon enough courage to speak.

"I want your blessing," he said, barely above a mumble. "I'm going to ask Sakura-chan to marry me."

Her eyes began to sparkle, but before she could squeal loudly he leaned across the table and put his hand over her mouth.

"It's a secret!" he said desperately, and she smiled and subsided.

"Okay," she said, her eyes still bright. "I can't believe it, oh my goodness... You want my blessing, Li-kun? Aren't you supposed to ask Kinomoto-sensei...?"

"I did. And Kinomoto Touya as well," he said, rolling his eyes a bit as he remembered that debacle. "But I felt like I should ask you too. Sakura is practically your sister."

It had felt right when he thought of it. It had felt natural. Tomoyo was one of the most important people in Sakura's life. He'd spent some time with her as well, over the years, and he saw the way she doted on Sakura. Taking her away would perhaps affect Tomoyo the most.

"Of course you can have my blessing," Tomoyo said in a soft voice. She reached across the table and set her hand on his. "Please take care of her for me, Li-kun."

Her eyes were still bright, but Syaoran felt as though she were about to cry, and it made him feel awkward. He patted her hand with his other one and waited for her emotions to subside.

"I will," Syaoran promised, and then he said, "Thanks."

It was a thin, simple word, but it was enough to substain Tomoyo for a while. The fact that he'd asked made Tomoyo feel a little less lonely, even knowing that the pair was leaving.

When Sakura called her the next night, screaming with excitement, Tomoyo even managed to sound surprised.