Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Card Captor Sakura. You can probably already tell by my story so don't ridicule me in reviews, which you will leave because you enjoy having your arm. Just kidding you don't have to review but if you feel like it please do. I am not going to finish this story if no one reviews. I mean one review per chapter is fine with me, it's a review, but now I'm getting off topic so...
Sakura's New Deck
Ch. 1 Love, Why me?
By ShinyK
" Sakura!" Syaoran called, "Get up!"
Sakura groaned and turned over, cover in tow. But she was awake already, so she peered around the room thinking of how fun it would be to cut class and stay in bed all day. The glorious benefits of college life indeed. College life in America nonetheless. Why didn't he ever tease Tomoyo that way? Oh yeah, Tomoyo had already left for work.
"SAKURA!"
Hmm. Well, if not all day, maybe around noon she could get up and go to the coffee shop down the street...
"SAKURA"
"I'm up!" she yelled grouchily. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at her suite mate propped in similar fashion in the doorway. Couldn't he just go without her? No, instead he had to taunt her, reaching over and turning on her bedroom light. He shook his head and walked away while adding, "You have fifteen minutes or I'm leaving without you."
Sakura whined, pulling the blanket back over her head. "Syaoran, you're so mean." She did smile, though, when the covers concealed her.
Twenty minutes later Sakura stepped out of the bathroom. "Okay, I'm ready."
No reply.
She sighed and continued to towel drying her hair. "If that butthead got me up to go to class without me…." She glanced at the clock in the hallway. She knew she'd been left. If she hurried, she might catch him still on campus.
Sakura ran huffily to her room, grabbed her bag, and lunged toward the suite door. She hated to walk alone. Syaoran knew this and usually was the gentleman about it. But he was not one to be late.
Once out the door, she continued to bolt blindly toward the elevator. She stopped dead in her tracks, her stomach turning. Syaoran hadn't left at least; he was one suite down, chatting incessantly to the little "……." He called a girlfriend.
Sakura bit her lower lip. She wouldn't resort to name calling, even in her mind. If Syaoran liked, no loved her, she must be a good person. Yesterday's events flooded her mind. Syaoran being extra giddy about something. Syaoran was never giddy, not as long as they'd been best friends. Then he started talking about her again. Sakura didn't like her. She wouldn't admit to herself the real reason of course. She was secretly in love with her friend of so many years and knew this was another fling. But no. As she was tuning him out, he said two words that made her heart race. 'Love her'. Sakura jumped. "What?"
"Sakura." He took her hands. "I think this is it. I think I love her."
Sakura recoiled quickly and this confused him. Typical male. "Well," she said, taking a deep breath, "Don't do anything too hasty until you know. But, I'm happy for you, I guess." Repressing stomach bile she plastered a tight smile across her lips and Li bought it for he hugged her. This was serious. She could count on her fingers the number of times he'd hugged her.
A deep cough brought her back to the situation and she realized with blushing cheeks that she'd been starring.
"Oh, hi Mandra." she said rather coldly. She didn't mean for it to sound so honest, but it was. She really didn't like her right now. The two girls stared hard. Li raked his hand through his hair, his emotional radar not picking up on things of such a womanly nature. Woman instinct.
Sakura had this thing about Mandra. To be fair, it had been building. She didn't trust her. Mandra acted sweet enough. She knew somewhere in the unmentioned areas of her soul it was jealousy, but Sakura genuinely didn't trust her. Her façade, personality, something was off. And of course, she wasn't good enough for Syaoran.
Mandra smiled up to Li, being the first to break eye contact. She acted like nothing had happened, but she really knew better. She hadn't done anything against Sakura. Sakura saw it differently.
"Hi Sakura!" Mandra replied cheery and chipper.
Sakura nodded in response but that didn't stop her mind from racing. 'She makes me sick. Perfect hair, face, and that cheery little voice. Of course Syaoran loves her. Who wouldn't? But something isn't right.' The she shook her head. She knew it was wrong, but ever since Li had started dating she seemed to stay really angry.
"You okay?" Li asked.
"Yeah."
He didn't buy it at first, but she persisted.
"I'm fine."
"And are you finally ready to go?"
"Oh bite me Li! It took a grand total of twenty minutes to get ready. Now, say goodbye to Mandra-Chan and let's go!"
"Rather pushy aren't you Sakura? And since when did I go from Syaoran to Li?" What is her problem?' he thought to himself. 'Every time she gets around Mandra she gets an attitude from Hades. I think she must hate her. Well, Sakura couldn't hate anyone, but I've never seen her like this before. I better ask Tomoyo what the heck is going on in our friend's head.'
'Look at him,' Mandra thought to herself. 'He is so in love with me, and Sakura hates it. That's okay, by the time she finds out the truth it will be too late.'
The professor clapped his hands angrily. "Mrs. Kinomoto, could you please stop humming and get your mind on Calculus? Just for a little while?"
"What an anal man." she mumbled to herself.
"What was that Mrs. Kinomoto?"
Sakura turned pink. "I said 'Okay, professor, I'm doing the best that I can.' "
"Well maybe your best isn't good enough! You came to this college to learn, and took this class to learn, and that's what you seem to do the least of. LEARNING! Please get back to it and SHUT UP!"
"Yes Sir." Sakura replied, hunched down and rather cowered in expression.
Snickering from the back caught her attention and infuriated her. Sakura turned to see who was mocking her pain. When she saw it was Syaoran, however, she just gave him a small smile and sighed getting back to her work. "What in the world are all those letters and numbers?" Not that she really cared. Syaoran would explain it all tonight when they went out for coffee...
After the bell rang, Syaoran appeared by her side. "So, did you learn your lesson, or am I going to have to tutor you on how to focus."
"That wouldn't be too bad." Sakura smiled dreamily. Her birthday was this weekend and she had an irrational feeling something was going to happen in her favor.
Li fidgeted nervously. "Hey Sakura. Well, you're a girl and a real close friend, and well, I got this and I want to know what you think." He pulled a little white box from his pocked and opened it tentatively. Inside lay the most beautiful diamond ring that she had ever encountered. It wasn't very big; probably about two carats, but the exquisitely intricate design on the outer-edges made it stand out.
"Oh my gosh Syaoran! This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!"
Syaoran butted in and said, "Do you really think so?"
Sakura nodded knowing it probably wasn't for her.
"Good, because I want this person to share in my life always. She's my best friend and the most important person to me, now and forever."
Sakura looked from the ring to his face. Best friend. That was her right? And in that moment she knew she loved him. She had known subconsciously for a long time, but him before her with a ring like this. Of course it was an early birthday present right? Syaoran had a girlfriend. But it sure looked like an engagement ring, and she wished it. Was this her unconscious dreams come true? She was speechless.
"I have been saving up for it for weeks..."
"Yes, of course! All that overtime you were so grumpy about." she said finally finding her voice and looking closer at the ring on the white satin cloth. There was a tiny inscription on the band and she leaned forward to read it. "This has to be the best present anyone has ever given m...Mandra?"
"I don't know about that. She is from a well to do family, after all."
Sakura wasn't listening. She instead read the inscription out loud to make sure it wasn't a misprint. "To Mandra, with all my heart and soul, Syaoran."
"Wow, you're pretty enthusiastic about her all of a sudden. But really, do you think she'll like it?" he asked earnestly. "That bit about best friend, now and forever doesn't sound too scripted right? It was natural? I plan on ending that way when I ask her to marry me."
"Yeah," she said tears threatening to fall from her eyes; "she'll lo-love it."
Li looked at her noticing the change in her voice. "Sakura, are you okay? What's wrong?"
"I'm fine." She said, quickly closing the ring and pushing it at him. "I gotta go get a Kleenex. You know, ma-major allergy attack. Makes my eyes water and clogs my throat up."
"You sure?"
Sakura charged past him. "Yeah."
"Oh, okay. Well I'll wait for you by the bathrooms."
Syaoran didn't totally buy it, but she didn't want to share now. Maybe the teacher got to her finally. He'd have to pry it out later tonight. 'Oh no', he thought, 'tonight's my proposal and I almost forgot.' He shrugged it off as forgetfulness, but he wasn't honest with himself either. He however would not admit to himself that he loved Sakura. They were too close of friends and he would not ruin that friendship. And where did that bit about best friend and most important person come from? He had outright lied about rehearsing to Mandra. He had been talking to Sakura. No, he couldn't think like that. She was his closest friend and he wouldn't risk that. Like she'd return the sentiment anyway.
"Something on your mind?" Sakura asked. She had come from the bathroom armed with tissue paper in both hands, and he smiled to her.
"I guess I'm going to have to call off tonight's coffee shop plan. That's okay right? I am going to propose tonight." Syaoran pushed the thoughts Sakura away. Mandra was a wonderful girl. He loved her enough to marry her or he wouldn't be proposing, right?
"Yeah, why would I want to intrude on your proposal?"
The two walked in silence to the library where Sakura had worked studied to pay tuition. "Great well, I'll see you later." He was obviously distracted.
"Okay, BYE!" she shouted after him, but he was already too far to hear her. Her 'allergies' overcame her the second he left the library. 'So, he's getting married huh? Stop crying Sakura. Well I guess I'll have to act the true friend and be all up in their wedding. If Mandra allows him to invite me. I've been really rude to her lately. Guess this means all hopes of Mrs. Sakura Li are gone...'
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Donny's House
"So Donny, you say Li will propose to me tonight? Well it's about frickin' time! I've been nice for a whole year! Oh, well I guess all that flirting and kissing paid off huh? Oh are you jealous Donny? Don't worry about it, he's nothing compared to you."
"I wasn't really that worried about it Mandy. I can read minds you know. I know you love me, I know Li loves you, and I know that silly brat Sakura loves Li. Bit of a triangle isn't it?" he said rather bored. He didn't tell her Syaoran also loved Sakura.
"Quite so, but don't let all that go to your head, you can't read everything." she gave him a kiss on the lips then walked out
"Where are you going?"
She quirked an eyebrow. "If you can read my mind why do you ask me questions like that?"
"Because," he said as if talking to a child, "These things take time. I can't just 'read your mind' you know. It takes concentration and catching someone with their guard down." Donny frowned. He had the hardest time reading Li's mind, only a couple of times had he glanced in and then Syaoran somehow knew and kicked him out. "Have fun at dinner, and kiss you're soon to be fiancé for us."
"Ha ha, bye." she ran back and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips before running out the door.
Donny rubbed his head. Reading thoughts, feelings, or persuading people's will, even as simply as someone like hers, always exhausted him. He relaxed meditating on the fate of his girlfriend and rivals to power. 'She is so high maintenance. Soon they will all be away from me and I won't have to worry about any of them. Except for the beautiful Mrs. Tomoyo that is...' An unexpected attachment no doubt, Donny had a humongous crush on Tomoyo and made it well known to all. Mandra of course being the blonde she was, just thought it acting, but he adored Tomoyo and would stop at nothing to win her. He would make sure she never found out about her friend's purposeful deaths and console her when they were gone.
Sakura's room
Sakura sat crying on the floor with Tomoyo gently caressing her back, telling her it would all work out, not to worry.
Both girls jumped as the door to her room swung open. Syaoran burst through the door and happily shouted "SHE SAID YES..." Then he seemed to notice no one was eye level and he found them on the floor. His entire demeanor changed. "What's wrong Sakura?"
Tomoyo tried to reply for her. "Her allergies are really killing her."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!" Sakura managed to choke out. "Tell us about it."
Li continued. He knew Sakura was lying to him and now his joy at acceptance was deflated. "Well, she said 'yes!'"
"That's great!" Tomoyo said lying through her teeth. "I'm really happy for you."
A pregnant pause filled the room. Li and Sakura held eye contact for the longest time before Tomoyo made them stop punishing themselves. "That is great Li, but ummmm, could you go now? Sakura and me are having a 'private' discussion."
"O-Okay..." he said, clearly hurt that he wasn't invited and he gently closed the door. 'I wonder what her problem is? She seemed all right today. They never leave me out of a conversation...
'I wonder what he thought of that,' Sakura thought to herself. 'We've never left him out of any of our conversations before... He probably didn't even care. Oh well, guess he's off to visit Mandra...'
Tomoyo didn't talk when he left, she just fumed silently. 'Why is he soooo stupid? Can't he see how much of an ice-princess Mandra is, and how much Sakura loves him? I am just going to have to work on these two...'
New update want to review again?Lol