Summary: Sakura Kinomoto, daughter of the wealthiest family in Japan, moves back to Tomoeda after a six year absence. She decides to attend Tomoeda Academy, the most prestigious school in Asia, as a "normal" student to surprise her brother, until she is targeted as the next "bully toy," by none other than Syaoran Li, the "King" of the Tomoeda Academy High School Divison.
Disclaimer: As much as I wish I did, I do not own the characters or anything related to Cardcaptor Sakura. Only CLAMP and other respected artists own the characters I will introduce. I only own my own characters and names.
Author Note: In this story, Yukito Tsukishiro and Yue are separate people. Same goes for Nakuru Akizuki and Ruby Moon. There will also be several characters from mangas that you may or may not have heard of.
At 8:31 AM, a yellow bear-like alarm clock rang loudly; loud enough to wake up the whole neighborhood. However, the sleeping girl did not even stir the slightest. Without warning, another girl with waist-long midnight hair and amethyst colored eyes came into the room with a cold bucket of water. The girl raised the bucket just as she approached the bed and poured the contents onto the sleeping auburn haired girl.
"HOEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!" screamed the girl, bolting up from her bed and glaring at the culprit responsible for the rude awakening.
"My, my, Sakura. You're finally up," the midnight haired girl said, smiling pleasantly. "Tomoyo! Haven't I told you that buckets, water, and I do not mix?" the girl, now identified as Sakura, replied.
"But you would not wake up no matter how many alarm clocks are set up for you," Tomoyo complained. "I mean, the whole house is up and running already. Is today not your day to return to Japan? The flight is in less than an hour."
Realization dawned upon the emerald eyed girl as she sprang up from her bed and ran to the bathroom. Once in the bathroom, she looked frantically for her towel and turned on the water, making sure it was not cold, but warm enough to shower in. Sakura walked into the shower and started shampooing her hair leisurely. It did not occur to her that she had only 45 minutes to get ready and to get to the airport.
"Sakura, you have 45 minutes until the limo leaves for the airport. Please hurry," Tomoyo called as she laid out Sakura's outfit for the day.
Turning off the shower nozzle, Sakura grabbed the towel on the hook and started to dry herself off. Wrapping it around her body, she turned to the sink and grabbed her toothbrush and toothpaste off the rack. After brushing for a whole two minutes, she rinsed her mouth and washed her cup and toothbrush.
She knew that Tomoyo has already picked out her outfit considering she has lived in the Daidouji residence for almost six years while studying abroad here in England. She walked to her bed and picked up her outfit and started getting dressed. When she was done, she surveyed her room and took one last glance before exiting. She had to make sure she didn't forget anything—even if she'd probably get them later anyway when she decided to visit Tomoyo. Walking down the stairs, she noticed her luggage was already at the entrance and that she'd be leaving shortly.
"Sakura! There you are! I'm going to miss you loads when you leave us. It's been six years and you still resemble your mother," squealed Sonomi Daidouji as she hugged Sakura. "Breakfeast is in the dining room. Make sure you eat. We wouldn't want you to faint halfway back to Japan, now would we?"
Sakura walked towards the dining room, but not before looking up and taking a glance at the house she had considered home for the past six years. She loved this house like her own in Japan and was going to miss it dearly. Sonomi Daidouji was Tomoyo's mother and they were relatives of the Kinomoto's. Sakura's mother was Sonomi's cousin and her maiden name was Amamiya. The dining room came to view and she saw Tomoyo along with her fiancé, Eriol Hiiragizawa. They have been in a relationship for almost three years ever since they met in a designer's show.
"Tomoyo, I see you can't stand being apart from Eriol for even a day," Sakura said gleefully. She loved to tease her best friend about her relationship. "As for Eriol, I see that just sitting next to her isn't enough for you, eh?"
She looked over the table to see Eriol's arm snaked around Tomoyo's waist. She had known Tomoyo since she was a toddler and loved her like a sister. As for Eriol, she had met him through Tomoyo. To say she wasn't shocked would be a lie. She didn't expect Tomoyo to find a gentleman like him, that's for sure. Heck, she never imagined Tomoyo's boyfriend would be from the Hiiragizawa's—a well known family that has been the wealthiest in England for several generations. Of course, she didn't immediately trust Eriol with 'her' Tomoyo. She feared that he, too, would be a player who liked to toy around with a girl's feelings, but all doubts soon ceased when she saw the love Eriol had for Tomoyo.
"I assure you, Sakura, that I just want to be closer with my future wife everyday of my life," Eriol responded, the deep sincerity in his voice causing Tomoyo to blush a deep shade of red.
"S-S-Sakura, why don't you start eating? The limo will leave in a few minutes. Wouldn't want to be late for your flight, right?" Tomoyo stuttered, attempting to change the topic.
"Alright, you both already know the plan when I return home, right? I'll be attending Tomoeda Academy as a 'normal' student. One without connections with the Kinomoto's. I want to experience how it feels to be not respected, not feared, and not flattered," Sakura reminded them.
"I know Sakura, but don't you think this decision is a bit… reckless? I mean, what if something happens to you?" Tomoyo said with worry evident in her voice.
"Don't worry Tomoyo, dear, Sakura can manage on her own. Right, Sakura?" reassured Eriol. "Besides, we'll be going, too. To Tomoeda Academy."
"Yeah. I'll see you guys there, Tomoyo. Just remember that you have to pretend you don't know me," Sakura cheered.
Eriol turned his head towards Sakura and smiled. "That's right! I almost forgot. You have less than…"
Tomoyo glanced at the clock on the opposite wall and gasped. "Sakura! You have to hurry! The plane leaves in 20 minutes!"
"Crap. I just knew this was going to happen! It always happens!" swore Sakura as she ran to the limo parked out in the driveway.
The man from earlier said, "This way, Sakura-sama." He opened the limo door.
"Thank you, Mori!" said Sakura as she hurriedly sprang into the limo.
The ride to the airport can be explained in one word: insane. Let's just say the ride wasn't that smooth. They had violated several speeding laws and avoided getting tickets because of the family status. That was not the only reason; Mori had used to be a famous Nascar racer in his younger years. Opening the car door herself, Sakura ran to the counter to get her tickets while Mori went and checked in the luggage.
Sakura handed the envelope to the lady at the counter and said, "Excuse me! Here's my ticket and information."
The lady looked at Sakura with an unreadable expression and replied, "Yes ma'am, right this way, please."
After a few minutes, a few men showed her the way to the waiting area to await her flight. She bid farewell to Mori and told him to tell Eriol and Tomoyo that she'll see them soon.
The plane ride went pretty smoothly; the ride itself wasn't bad. She had first-class tickets and plenty of leg space. It was the old business man next to her that got on her nerves. All he had was horrible breath, but she swore the next time she took a plane, she would bring extra breath mints to stuff into his mouth, of course, inconspicuously. She just hoped he wouldn't choke.
An 'ahem' on her left caught her attention. "Excuse me, miss, but I think that the sleeve of your jacket has gotten caught on my bracelet."
Sakura, being caught by surprise, only managed to say, "What?"
The person had brown-black hair and bangs that slightly covered his face. He also had blood red eyes and Sakura felt like they could see right through her. In the same voice from before, he said "Your sleeve."
Sakura looked down at her sleeve and merely shrugged. "I didn't know. Sorry. I'll get it out of your bracelet now."
She tugged and pulled, but to no avail did she get it free. A soft sigh was heard from the stranger. She looked up at him and looked away immediately.
"There, it's free. That wasn't so hard now, was it?" he asked, after he had pulled his bracelet out of her sleeve.
"Ah. I suppose," came her timid reply.
"Of course. May I inquire your name?" He said with such sofistication you'd think he had the line memorized.
Sakura caught herself before she could stare at him again and replied, "Hoe! My name is Sakura."
"Well, Sakura, I'm Kaname," he replied. "It was… a pleasure to meet someone as beautiful as you."
Blushing a deep shade of scarlet, Sakura mumbled, "Um, thank you."
Flight 532 has arrived in Tomoeda, Japan. Please unbuckle your seatbelts and retrieve your luggage from the overhead compartment. The exit is located on the right. The stewardess will direct you to the exit. Thank you for flying with us: Kinomoto Airlines.
Recovering from her previous state, she peered over to her left only to see the man gone as if he disappeared into thin air. She quickly got out from her seat and took her luggage from the overhead compartment and walked out the directed way. Following the little 'tunnel' as she would call it, she looked over the crowded waiting area looking for any signs of her friend, Yuuki Kurosu.
(AN: Yes, there will be characters from Vampire Knight. I do not claim them, Matsuri Hino does.)
Looking for a similar auburn haired girl, she saw one with a sign reading: Saku-chan in bold letters. She assumed that that one must be Yuuki. She walked over to her and tapped her on the shoulder. Sakura saw the girl turn around and widen her eyes.
"Sakura! It's been so long! How have you been? How was England?" came Yuuki's ecstatic inquiries.
"Thankfully, still alive. It has been a long time and England was pretty awesome," Sakura smiled.
Yuuki looked at her and cheered, "Good. Now, let's go to my house. I'm sure your family doesn't know about your return quite yet, right?"
As they climbed into the back seat of the car, she saw Yuuki's friend Zero Kiryu. He seemed to still have the stoic stoned expression as usual. Sakura just greeted him with a 'Hello.' He, being Zero, just grunted with a 'Hn'. She already knew he'd reply that way and just shrugged it off.
Once arriving at Yuuki's house, she could see the mansion still being big as before. They unloaded her luggage and went to the living room. Inside, she could hear the voice of Yuuki's surrogate father, Kurosu. His first name still remains a mystery to her even now.
"Oh my! Is that Sakura-chan? It's been a while!" Kurosu danced with too much enthusiasm for her comfort.
Luckily, Zero and Yuuki came in and he directed his attention to them instead and she took this chance to run upstairs to the room she'd be staying in. She had stayed over at the Kurosu's house when she was younger so she knew where everything was—as well as where her room was. Thinking back, her room was always next to Yuuki's and directly opposite of Zero's. Not that she minded, but sometimes she can't help but wonder why Zero was like that. She knew that Zero's feelings toward Yuuki were different from mere family, as Zero was not related to Yuuki or Kurosu in anyway. Just adopted.
She went into her room and unpacked everything. She had had a long day and she took a quick shower and jumped onto the bed, falling asleep immediately.
"Ho, where's Sakura-chan? I just saw her a moment ago!" asked Kurosu.
Zero muttered, "Of course, she ran for her dear life away from you, Kurosu." Zero merely looked up the stairs and saw that Sakura's room's door was now indeed closed. Most likely sleeping with the door locked, just like old times. He treated Sakura like a younger sister, most of the time.
"I mean, she did have to sit on the plane for a long time. I'm sure she's beat," Yuuki explained.
Kurosu whined loudly, "Awww. She didn't even say good night to me!"
"Hn. Probably because you're so damn noisy. Most normal people would run at the sight of you." Zero said, just before he walked up the stairs to his room.
Kurosu looked on and sighed, "Seven years and that boy still hasn't changed."
6:00 AM in the morning.
Sakura lay sleeping soundly on her bed until …
"Damn it girl! Shut off your damn alarm clocks! It's always been like this. I'm honestly amazed that seven alarm clocks still don't wake you up. In any case, I swear, I'll get my gun and blow a hole in this stupid lock of yours! Then, I'll get a bucket of water and pour it over your head!" threatened a very angry Zero.
Yuuki woke up to his usual yelling. She had gotten used to it years before.
A muffled sound was heard on the opposite side of the door. "Zero, I get it. I'm up. Geez, even in England, I got poured with water. I don't need it here too."
She got up and walked over to her closet. She smiled as she saw the uniform for school she got from Yuuki. It was the uniform for Tomoeda Academy. Scanning the table for her rubber bands, she took two and braided her hair into two. Beside her contacts, she saw thick black rimmed glasses. The glasses had fake lenses in them and she put them on.
Stepping outside of her room, she spotted the stairs and walked down to the dining hall. She saw the whole family already dining. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was 6:15. She hurried and took her seat at the table.
"Mind telling me what's with the hideous hairstyle and thick rimmed glasses?" inquired Zero, taking a bite out of his toast.
"Oh, this? I just thought it'd be nice to be 'normal' for a change in school. I want to see what it's like to be treated as an outcast, geek, freak, you name it," came Sakura's reply.
Zero looked at her. "For what reason?"
"Reason? Well, I thought it'd be fun and amusing to see their expressions when I reveal it all at the end," Sakura smiled. "I also want to surprise onii-chan."
Yuuki looked at the exchange between the two and suddenly shouted, "Oh crap! We're all going to be late!"
Glancing at each other and the quiet Kurosu, they sprang out of their chairs and headed to the door, but not before getting their things.
Yuuki interrupted with, "Yeah, Zero, lay off. Let's go to class." She turned to Sakura, "I hope we get the same classes!"
"Zero, Yuuki! Don't tell anyone about what I'm doing with the braids and glasses, alright? Especially not onii-chan! I want to surprise him! And act like you don't know me. Otherwise onii-chan being onii-chan will find out. Okay?" Sakura said unsurely.
Yuki answered with a smile and Zero just stared and walked on.
"I guess that means a yes," Sakura muttered. "Now, where's the administration office…"
Suddenly, footsteps were heard down the hall. She turned around and saw a band of six boys and one girl. She felt the urge to ask them the way to the administration office.
Grabbing the nearest person, a boy with messy chocolate hair and fierce chestnut colored eyes, "Umm… Excuse me! Where's the administration office?"
The boy looked at her as if she was disgusting and just shook her hand off. Looking at his angry expression, she said, "Oh, sorry, I was just wondering where the…"
Before she could finish, another person cut her off, "Administration. It's down the hall on the right, Sakura."
Sakura looked at the guy with blue hair and gentle eyes with glasses framed on his face. She said, "Thank you very much!"
She started to leave, but not before smiling at the guy and earning a smile back. She knew who that guy was and he knew that he should pretend to not know her. It was Eriol.
The boy with chocolate hair and messy bangs said, "Eriol, who was that and how did you know that disgusting looking wretch?" He started brushing off his sleeve as if it was infected with smallpox or something.
Eriol, knowing that he was suppose to pretend he didn't know her, couldn't help but wince when that boy called his future wife's best friend a "wretch."
"Well, Syaoran, that was the new student that got accepted in here with the scholarship. I do believe you need to remember what goes on around here in the high school division, since you are the student council president and 'King.'"
Syaoran replied gruffly, "Hn. Whatever. Let's go."
Sakura had taken a few minutes to get to the administration office. She had been thankful to Eriol, even if that chocolate haired boy was awfully rude.
She walked to the classroom and looked at the door—after getting her schedule at the administration office—making sure she was at the right classroom. She knocked softly.
"Come in, you must be the new student," came a muffled reply from what she assumed, the teacher.
Walking into the classroom, she couldn't help but notice the class giving her looks and stares. She could also hear whispers about how she looked. Of course, she had been anticipating this and knew. She wanted to see how it was like being an outcast. She walked up to the teacher and handed him the paper she received from the administration office.
"Alright, class. She is the new student from England. Please be nice to her and try to get along," The teacher announced. Turning towards Sakura, he told her, "Please introduce yourself."
"Hello, my fellow classmates. My name is Amamiya, Sakura," introduced Sakura. She decided to take on her mother's maiden name for her 'fake name' considering Kinomoto isn't exactly a common last name in Japan. She'd be found out immediately.
Whispers and murmurs were heard throughout the class. Some saying, Oh my god. Look at that poor looking girl. Those braids. Those glasses. The horror!
The teacher, known as Terada-sensei, shushed the class and mumbled, "Hmm. Where should you sit?" He earned glares and stares from the students. Terada-sensei looked around more and spotted an empty seat next to Eriol. "Hiiragizawa-kun, please raise your hand. Sakura-san will be sitting next to you."
Groans and scowls were heard from the girls and classmates. Mostly girls. They were all saying, What? Why is SHE sitting next to the vice president? She doesn't belong there. She's dirty. She'll tarnish the student council name!
Walking down the aisle to her seat, she saw several girls were sticking out their feet in attempt to trip her, but none succeeded. Sakura had taken some basic defending lessons when she was younger and she was not going to trip over some poorly made prank. She expected more.
Taking a seat in her chair, she sat quietly until Eriol decided to speak, "Amamiya-san, My name is Eriol Hiiragizawa. Please to meet you." He was smiling like the Cheshire cat the whole time.
Sakura replied with eyes glittering in amusement, "Thank you Hiiragizawa-Kun. It sure is a pleasure to meet you."
Of course, none of this went unnoticed by a certain pair of chestnut colored eyes. He wondered who this girl was. He decided to find out. After all, he loves to bully the ones who he thinks shouldn't belong here. For starters, he didn't think this 'poor' girl should belong in this high-class school.
Pulling out his cellphone, he sent a text to his group of friends. His group of friends consisted of himself, Eriol Hiiragizawa, Takashi Yamazaki, Kaname Kuran, Meilin Li, and Zero Kiryu.
The message's contents were:
Hey, this is a command from the King. I have a new target in mind. The target is the new transfer student from England, Sakura Amamiya. Prepare the usual pranks. We want this poor outsider out of this school ASAP.
-Syaoran Li
Silently in his mind, Syaoran thought, Let the games begin. What he didn't know was that he was messing with the wrong girl. Sakura had no intention of backing down.
Author Note: Thank you all for reading this long and dull chapter! I promise more excitement in the next one. But—will there be a next one? Hmm… I don't know. Perhaps reviews might make it happen…
Thanks November Chill for pointing out some mistakes! As for pairings, it's the usual, Syaoran and Sakura, Eriol and Tomoyo, and some others. This story isn't perfect, so I hope that some parts are pointed out clearly if not adequately.
With much hard work and sweat lost, Miku & Rika.
We hope you enjoy this story as much as we did!