Disclaimer: Characters used are rightfully owned by the geniuses known as CLAMP.

Author's Notes: After months of being absent in the fanfiction world, and being tormented by dozens of school works and project proposals, I finally found time in my busy schedule to write something. And although it is not an update to one of my chaptered fics, I hope you guys still enjoy this. This is a 3-part fic that I try to make a light read and would be done before the year ends. Ü

Summary: One date. That was the deal. One wrong move, and you're out of the game.

Playing the Cards

I must be completely out of my mind.

Whatever brought me to accept Eriol's deal was beyond me. How we even got this close in the first place was still a mystery. After all, he just transferred to our school two months ago and now we're conversing like we've known each other for a long time.

This gave other students the opportunity to talk about us though. Well, who wouldn't think of our relationship as a bit controversial when he spends most of the time with me or my group of friends? For the first few days I acted normal, being my friendly self to the newly transferee but as the weeks pass I knew something was up.

I'm surprised myself that I knew something was wrong. I've always had the reputation of being the naïve girl, but growing up and now 16 do still have its perks.

When the day came that Eriol walked up to me and asked if we could talk in private, it gave others something more to talk about. Whispers of, "he's gonna ask Sakura out!" or "do you think they make a great couple?" were around me.

I inwardly gulped. If what their thinking was correct, then I'm not exactly prepared on how to tell him I'm not ready for a relationship. Not since my last one. A horrible one, I might add.

Don't get me wrong, I like Eriol. But not in that like like way. He's a nice guy, just not exactly my type though.

It's true that Eriol's one of those guys whose meant to stand out with his looks and charming personality. A lot of girls in my school did notice him too. He's smart, witty and sometimes even funny, but he's someone that I picture to only be friends with. As a close guy friend.

I'm more of after those with a mysterious personality. A strong, dependable guy whose eyes could tell you a thousand words without even saying anything. A guy who can lift my spirits up with his very rare smile and just melt my heart with one look.

Eriol's not that kind of guy.

So when lunch came, he walked me to one of the abandoned gondolas around the school. I was really nervous but outside I showed like nothing was wrong. If ever he did ask me out, I wouldn't know what to do and how to reject him. By the time we arrived, he immediately dropped the bomb on me.

"I want to ask Tomoyo Daidouji out."

I wanted to lie down from relief after that.

-x-

Everything was as clear as day.

By the moment he said those words, a quick flashback played inside my mind. Those days he would try to sit it between me and Tomoyo, when he tried to join in our girly conversations and boy talk, when he consistently asks us about our day and how we did in our tests… it was all crystal.

So instead of going with my original plan of lying down due to relief, I just passed him a teasing smile and said, "You like her."

"Yes," he didn't deny.

I sat on one of the benches inside the gondola while he leaned on one of the posts.

Much to his chagrin, I laughed. And the face he just made required me to explain. "Then why don't you just go for it? Why didn't you befriend her first before me?"

I had to ask. His answer would be the reason to everyone's confusion as they question our relationship.

"I did consider that, but after a day of observation, I realized that it's much easier to talk to you first than her. It's kind of hard to approach her especially after she just dumped a student the day I transferred here."

I raised a finger to my chin, trying to remember what he just said. I think he was referring to the day a senior approached Tomoyo and got instantly rejected. What a poor brave soul. If I were Eriol, I would've been terrified to get close to her too.

"I understand," I said. "So in short, you're using me to get to my best friend?" I accused him, but with a playful tone.

The devil just grinned at me with his fangs proudly showing, "Using you is such a strong word. I'd like to think of it as a stepping stone to my dreams."

I snorted. What's the difference?

"One date. Just help me ask her out on one date, and if everything goes well then I'll pursue her on my own. Please?" He asked.

"And how do you suggest I do that?"

Eriol paused to think. I inwardly prayed that it's not something so impossible that would definitely require me to say no. I patiently waited until his eyes suddenly lit up and he passed a grin at me again.

"Let's have a double date."

-x-

It was impossible.

It definitely was.

Because I, Sakura Kinomoto, don't have a boyfriend. Let alone a date.

Of course when he proposed that ridiculous idea to me, I immediately said no and explained to him my dilemma. We've known each other for two months and he obviously knew about it, so I have no idea what got into his head to suddenly think about that.

It seems like he planned this very well, because the next words he said were, "I'll introduce you to someone."

It was a perfect plan. To him, at least.

The only way he could get me to go on a double date with them would be if he gets me a date as well. Very smart, Eriol.

Not.

The only thing I see here is that he's the only one benefitting from this, not me. He gets to enjoy time with my friend while I try my best not to look stupid in front of a stranger. Asking Tomoyo out was easy, if he wanted me to chaperone their date then that's fine too. But setting me up was something I'm never prepared for.

Of course I said no.

In his ears, it was a complete yes.

And the strange thing was, my mind screamed the same thing too.

-x-

So now here I was, on a bright Saturday, walking to our meeting place: Tomoeda Park.

We decided to just meet everyone there and just talk about the plans for the day. Eriol told me beforehand that he was already planning something special for his date. Good for him, at least he knows Tomoyo's likes and dislikes, while all I know is my date's name.

Syaoran Li.

Eriol tells me he's a close friend of his from his previous school in Hong Kong who also transferred here the same time he did. He goes to another school but still near our area. I didn't want to disappoint myself so I just tried to picture the worst possible. He could be a jerk, may have chinky eyes on his pimply face and isn't really fluent in Japanese. If that were so, then I would just at least try to enjoy my day and thank heavens it's a double date so I still have someone I know around.

Until of course I heard of smart-ass Eriol's ultimate plan.

Over the phone.

Just as I sat on one of the benches, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I saw Eriol's name on the screen and answered his call.

"Hello? Where are you? I'm already here." I answered.

"Tomoyo and I are already on our way to the movies. I'm sorry we weren't able to tell you sooner but we needed to catch the time for the movie."

My eyes widened. "What! That's horrible of you guys!" I whined. I suddenly heard a few rustles, probably Eriol passing the phone or Tomoyo trying to get the phone but either way, the next voice was already my best friend's.

"I'm really sorry Sakura, but when we both got here Eriol already got the tickets and we noticed that the movie was scheduled earlier than reserved. We didn't want to waste it so now we're on our way to the theatres." Tomoyo said.

Now I'm bothered as to how Eriol managed to get Tomoyo to do this immediately. Was there something I never knew about her feelings regarding Eriol?

I was both sad and annoyed at my friends. And those people call me their friend? But if they left, then that means…

"So does this mean I get to go home now? I mean, the double date's off anyway."

I heard the phone being passed again and this time Eriol was on. "Oh don't worry about it. I called Syaoran and told him about what happened. He was also on his way there when I called so the date's still on. I really wouldn't want to waste his time 'cause he gets a bit temperamental when I do that, or when I cancel plans. You can calm him down, right?"

I swear I could hear his evil smile over the phone. That jerk.

"But how am I supposed to know who he is? I don't even know what he looks like! For all I know he could be a grouchy old man with a pimply face and a big fat tummy. You could be setting me up with a hobo, Hiiragizawa." I accused glaringly.

Eriol had the nerve to laugh at my misery.

"Don't worry, he doesn't fit in any criteria in your hobo checklist. Would I do that to my friend?"

I didn't even think about my reply. "Of course you can, you can do it to the same friend you just ditched to have a date with her best friend." I rolled my eyes.

"I think you'll thank me one day Sakura. Who knows you could really hit it off with Syaoran."

"If his face is as handsome as his name, then I think I could still forgive you." I whined, then heard his laugh again.

"I'm already wishing for it then. Anyway, I got to go. The movie's about to start. Say hi to him for me! Thanks Sakura!"

"Bye Sakura!" I heard Tomoyo in the background.

"Bye," I hung up with a bitter tone and sighed. At least they're having fun. I'm already starting to have a disappointing day because of them, now I'm going to be left alone with some stranger who could even be a maniac.

I placed my phone back in my pocket and leaned against the bench, letting the wind blow my bangs away as I stared up the bright sky.

"Syaoran Li huh?" I whispered against the winds. I closed my eyes for a few seconds until I heard rustling of leaves behind me and a shadow blocking my sun. Irritated, I squinted my eyes and opened them, words of annoyance ready to burst out of my mouth.

I opened my mouth alright, but words didn't come out when my eyes met the brownest eyes I've ever seen.

"So do I classify as a hobo to you?"

My eyes would've been very obviously wide because now his face, his oh-so-handsome face was now sporting this smirk that added to his good looks. He knew I was shocked. And I didn't even have to ask who he was.

"Syaoran Li." I finally managed to speak. His name rolled smoothly against my lips.

I couldn't stop staring at him! He was there, standing right in front of me with hands in his pockets, his gorgeous messy hair framing his face perfectly and those eyes that just bore mysteriousness. His overall look just screamed sexiness and by god, I must've done something amazing to meet this man in my life.

He looked at me for awhile then gave a curt nod, confirming his name.

"You're Kinomoto, right?" He asked, an eyebrow raised.

His face does match his handsome name. Even better!

Not finding my voice again, I just silently nodded at his question.

"So you're the date I was trying to get rid of."

It took me three seconds to digest his words, and another two to find my voice back as my eyebrows slowly joined in annoyance.

He was trying to get rid of me?

He seemed to ignore my look and said, "Well we're already here. Should we get going?"

And of course I said the first thing that came into my mind, "I'm leaving." And leave I did.

I'm definitely out of my mind.