A/N: I'm back again with another story :D
And my pen name isn't Fate94 anymore :D It is now officially Yuuki Imai ;)
I just couldn't get the idea for the story out of my mind so I decided to start writing it and see what happens.
There will be some parts that might confuse you (Sakura's inner voice), but please be patient in trying to understand it. I will try my best to explain them in the latter parts of the story. (Sakura is not mentally impaired.)
R&R! I don't accept flames ;) Only constructive criticism :D
DISCLAIMER: I do not own CCS.
Enjoy :)
.:: Chapter One : First Kiss ::.
:: Daily Gossip ::
Li Xiao Lang : To Be Engaged (?)
by Tsuki Hanaki
Resident heartthrob and heir to
the Li fortune, Li Xiao Lang has been
placed under the guardianship of his
Aunt Ming, four days after the death
of his beloved mother, Yelan,
and shortly after the discovery
of her will.
Recently, a very trustworthy source has
informed me, Tsuki Hanaki, of something
very surprising in Li Yelan's will.
"In Li Yelan's will, it is said that
her only son, Xiao Lang, is to be
engaged. There are more details
about it, but I couldn't remember what
they were," says my source.
In light of this. . . (continued, pg. 6)
Sakura put down her copy of Kiss magazine and stretched her arms. "What boring news," she yawned, looking around the empty classroom.
Sunlight was pouring through the windows, bright and warm, with some dust dancing inside the golden rays. The door was ajar, letting in a breeze or two. All of the chairs except Sakura's were tucked in their desks.
The brunette took a sideways glance at the clock. "Quarter to five," she whispered. Darn it! Touya's going to get it when I get home, thought Sakura. Her older brother had messed with her alarm clock again, which resulted with her coming to school early.
So Syaoran's getting engaged, pondered Sakura, must be to some snobby rich girl.
Sakura rested her head in her arms and sighed, "Will wonders ever cease?"
—
"Hey, sleeping beauty! Wake up!"
"Wuh?" Sakura woke up with a start, looking around her.
"You fell asleep, Sakura," Daidouji Tomoyo, Sakura's best friend, sat down on the seat in front of her. "Were you reading this?" Tomoyo asked, holding up Sakura's copy of Kiss magazine.
Sakura nodded, stretching out her arms. "Li's getting engaged? That's. . .surprising. Isn't he only sixteen?" Tomoyo glanced at the other side of the classroom, where a group of girls were busy giggling.
"Yeah. But he's practically royalty. Isn't that enough to be able to bypass the law?" Sakura raised her brows, as she, too, glanced over at the gaggle of girls. Tomoyo flipped through the pages of the magazine and slowly nodded.
"I'm going to go to the comfort room for a few, Tomoyo. I'll be back before class starts," said Sakura, sliding off her seat and making her way to the door. As she walked, she caught bits of the conversations that the group of girls were giggling about.
". . .he could be engaged to anybody. . ."
". . .a pity that it wasn't. . ."
". . .wonder when it's going to be. . ."
Is that all those girls can talk about? Sakura shook her head disbelievingly.
Bamm!
There was a flurry of papers and a loud thud as Sakura fell to the floor. "Gah," she groaned, rubbing her head and looking up to see dark reddish brown eyes staring at her. She blinked, and the next thing she knew, she was being lifted up by the arm.
"Sheesh. Watch where you're going, will you?" said the voice of Li Syaoran as Sakura muttered an apology, bent down, and helped the boy pick up the papers that flew out of his bag.
Sighing, Sakura stood up, fixing the papers into a neat pile and then handing them over to Syaoran. "There you go," said Sakura. But as Syaoran took the papers from her, she saw what was written on the topmost sheet of paper in the pile. Both curious and surprised, Sakura held on to the pile and said, "Hold on. What's this?"
Syaoran pulled the papers free of Sakura's grip and shoved them down his bag. "None of your business, Kinomoto," he said, pushing past her and heading for his seat. Sakura stuck her tongue out at his back as he got engulfed by the flock of gossiping girls.
"Stupid and impolite jerk," grumbled Sakura as she ran to the bathroom. Sliding — and almost falling — Sakura entered the comfort room and opened a faucet in one of the sinks. "Those papers he had with him, though. . ." Sakura's voice trailed off as she splashed some cold water on her face.
Look at you, Sakura's inner voice spat at her. Drown yourself in worry, will you? Next thing you know, you're checked into the mental hospital.
Sakura shook the voice away.
—
The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Classroom 3-C was in chaos, as all the students rushed out of the room, causing the door to be blocked for a few minutes.
"Ne, Sakura, I can't walk home with you today. Mom's picking me up." Tomoyo looked harassed, Sakura observed. But then, didn't all the high school students look harassed nowadays?
Sakura nodded. "It's okay. I'll call you later?" she asked and Tomoyo nodded. Sakura watched as Tomoyo ran towards the door and gave Sakura a wave before disappearing out of it. Sakura sighed and continued packing her things. Is your world falling apart already? The voice inside her kept whispering. "Damn it, I know I have problems so stop rubbing it in," said Sakura, gritting her teeth as she shoved the last of her things in her bag.
Hitching her bag over her shoulder, Sakura silently left the empty classroom. Some of their classmates were still out in the corridor, endlessly chattering away. "See you, Kinomoto," said some of them as Sakura walked past, giving them a smile in response.
It took her less than five minutes to reach the school courtyard, which was empty but for a few lingering students here and there, hidden under the shades of trees. Sakura looked around as a warm afternoon wind whipped past her, blowing strands of her brown hair into her face.
As the wind stopped, Sakura made her way down the steps and towards the side of the school's main building. Once there, she leaned against the wall and dropped her bag beside the small rose bush. "What a hectic day," yawned Sakura as she stretched.
Then, suddenly, Syaoran appeared on the other side of the building, just across from where Sakura was. "Syaoran? What the heck are you doing out here?" Surprised, Sakura stood up straight and scrutinized him with narrowed eyes. He looked as if he had been running around the whole city.
Without a word he walked towards her, a determined look on his face. Upon reaching her, he slammed his hand, palm-first, on the part of the wall on her left. He used his other hand to grab her wrist. "Oi! What do you think you're doing?" Sakura said indignantly. Syaoran moved closer to her, and took a quick look to his right. Sakura noticed that his eyes widened for a moment and then his gaze turned on her.
"You better let g—"
Sakura was cut off as Syaoran pressed his mouth to hers. Sakura's eyes widened. Time froze for a few seconds as if to relish the moment.
His lips are so cold.
That was the first thing that came into her mind. She could feel the coldness of Syaoran's lips against her warm ones. She could taste them too, Syaoran's sweet lips. For a moment, she felt as if she enjoyed it.
But only for a moment.
"Li-bocchama?"
She felt herself go red in the face as Syaoran lifted his head and muttered a curse. "Kawashima, you baka!" he hissed, looking at the tall, young-faced man who looked as if he just happened to wander in.
The man turned red, and stammered, "Gomenasai, Li-bocchama! I-I didn't know. . .forgive me. . . ." he bowed clumsily and marched off.
The moment the man named Kawashima disappeared, Syaoran let go of Sakura and looked to see if Kawashima was still there. Sakura finally came to her senses and slapped him hard on the cheek.
"Who. The. Hell. Do. You. Think. You. Are?" she said lividly, glaring daggers at him as he rubbed his cheek.
"This isn't the place to talk, right now—"
"Don't tell me that this isn't the place to talk! You appear out of nowhere, pin me to the wall and with no consent did you kiss me! You're going to tell me what the heck is going on, and Kami-sama forbid, that I don't strangle—mmff!" Sakura was silenced by Syaoran putting his hand over her mouth.
"Don't shout! I'll explain everything, but only if you calm down and come with me," hissed Syaoran, looking around.
Sakura bit his hand. Hard. "Fine. As long as you stay three feet away from me and that we travel where there are witnesses." Syaoran nodded distractedly as he bit his lip in pain, for his hand was now bleeding where Sakura bit it.
—
It took them less than half an hour to get to Tomoeda Park. Sakura had been glancing behind them at Kawashima, who followed them like a shadow.
Syaoran led Sakura near a fountain, where he sat down at its edge and gestured for her to do so as well. Reluctantly, Sakura sat down a foot away from him.
"I have to apologize for awhile ago. It was rude of me," said Syaoran, looking at her straight in the eyes, his voice clearly showing that he didn't mean what he just said. Sakura merely scoffed. "Well, here's the thing: You might've heard that I'm to be engaged to someone" — Sakura nodded — "Well, my mother didn't really leave in her will who I was to be engaged to, so the family lawyer said that it was all up to me." He paused, staring at the clear water in the fountain.
"I didn't want to get engaged, but I have no choice. If I don't choose someone soon, my Aunt Ming" — and here he shuddered — "will choose for me. I talked to my friend's father about this whole scenario, and he told me that he could be able to get me out of this snag. The downside is that it'll take a while and—"
"I don't get where this is going," interrupted Sakura.
"I'm getting there," said Syaoran, irritably. The sun cast its light on him, making him look angelic. "To make a long story short, I want you to be my fiancée until my friend's father can get me out of the whole engagement thing." Seeing the incredulous look on Sakura's face, he added, "But it's not for nothing! I have a deal for you."
Sakura raised her brow. "What kind of deal?"
"I know about how all your family's money was stolen."
There was silence. Sakura's eyes grew wide.
Syaoran continued in his smug tone, "If you help me out with my problem, I'll help you and your family out with yours. Pretend to be my fiancée until whenever it takes for me to clear this engagement business, and at that time when it's settled that I don't need to be engaged anymore, I will pay you thrice as much as what your family lost." He looked into her eyes, his seriousness making her blush a bit.
"If you look at it in a different point of view, you could say that you're getting the better half of the bargain," said Syaoran, now playing with a leaf he picked up from the water, looking bored.
Sakura quietly thought the situation over. It's not like you'd lose anything, encouraged the voice inside of her that usually tormented her. Go for it! Accept his proposal! That way, you wouldn't feel so worthless to your family for not helping them. They'd be grateful to you! Go on, do it! Say yes!
"I-I'll do it. I accept your offer," said Sakura, breathing very deeply.
"You will?" Syaoran's eyes widened with disbelief.
"No funny business, or I will have your head, understand?"
"You think I'd try something on you?" Syaoran said, raising his brow.
Sakura shook her head. Inside, she was half-relieved that Syaoran was back to his usual arrogant self, and half-annoyed at her stupidity.
What have I gotten myself into?
A/N: Waah. That last part was tricky to write.
What do you think about it? Remember, I do not — I repeat, do not — accept flames. Constructive criticism is the best kind of review to get. Why insult a person for the crappiness of their writing, when you could help them improve?
So, review, please ;)
I talk too much, I know -laughs at herself-
I actually promised myself that I'd post this story up when I was already finished with chapters two and three. . .I'm so not good at keeping my self-promises. Shame on me. :(
Adieu!
-Yuuki :3
