Whatever Awaits

By lianneharmony

---

Disclaimer

I do not own any characters presently linked with CCS at the moment. Everything else you see here is a figment of my imagination.

---

Summary

AU. Tomoyo and Sakura, best friends since childhood, are off to university! What else could await them, amongst juggling classes, guys and everything else?

---

Chapter 1: Orientation

When the working day is done,
Oh,girls,
They wanna have fu-un,
Oh,girls,
Just wanna have fun...

---Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Cyndi Lauper

-20:15 pm; Sunday, 29th July; University Dormitory-

"I am so excited!" eighteen-year old Sakura Kinomoto fell back onto the bed at her room at the university dormitory.

"Someone's excited about university life," Tomoyo, Sakura's cousin/best friend smiled, holding a camcorder and video-taping the whole room.

"Tomoyo-chan! I'm not properly dressed! I'm in pajamas!" Sakura cried.

"Oh Sakura-chan, you're so self-conscious! You always want to be the perfect daughter. Ever since 4th grade, you ceased being that happy, carefree girl, and kept on burning yourself out with the perfectionist lifestyle. I'm surprised you even have time for me!"

"Well, not everyone is a born-genius, Tomoyo-chan," Sakura commented. "I mean, look at you. When we had that maths exam, I was the one slaving over the books. You were the one who was already perfect in that subject, and got an A for it."

"Sakura-chan –" Tomoyo began.

"But we shouldn't talk about high-school anymore! I mean, we're past the sixth-form! We're in college now!" Sakura waved her arms around enthusiastically.

"Oh, Sakura-chan, you're so energetic!" Tomoyo said, laughing at her cousin's antics.

"Hoe?" And Sakura realized Tomoyo had video-taped the whole thing.

"Tomoyo-chan –?" Sakura asked nervously. She sweatdropped.

"Now, this is going to be called 'Sakura-chan's University Dorm'!" Tomoyo cried, obviously now in her own little world.

"Do you think you're ever going to grow out of being an amateur film-maker?" Sakura asked.

"What?" Tomoyo's eyes grew larger and teary. "I want to create memories! I want to preserve memories! That's what life is about! Memories!"

Tomoyo raised an arm up, as she began a sort-of speech: "I will make memories worth remembering, and preserve them, with my handy camcorder, videocam and camera! I will record every minute I spend with my beloved Sakura-chan, my best friend/cousin! It doesn't matter if she doesn't believe in the principles I believe in! I will record memories for the both of us, and continue to do it until the day I die!"

"Oh Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura smiled awkwardly.

"It's true! You never make memories worth remembering, Sakura! After 4th grade –"

Sakura sweatdropped, as Tomoyo began another of her 'after 4th grade' speeches.

"Let's not talk about the past now! We're in university! I'm going to do my best, and hopefully not take maths! And I will also enjoy university life!" Sakura cried.

"It's going to be easier now, isn't it?" Tomoyo giggled. "Without Touya-san watching your back –"

"Onii-chan is very protective of me, but that's only because he cares so much about me. He tried to keep boys off my shoulder throughout both middle and high school, although he really didn't have to. I may have had the occasional crush –"

"Like Yukito-san," Tomoyo mischievously added, causing Sakura to blush.

"But mostly guys thought of me as a platonic friend," Sakura ended. "But I don't mind," she continued. "I've plenty of time for that in university. And Touya can't 'supervise' me here. I'm supposedly grown up. And I – like all other girls – just want to have fun!"

"Hai!" Tomoyo agreed.

"Now, where is that radio/CD-player of mine? I've got this song stuck in my head –" Sakura muttered.

"I keep telling you I can get you an iPod, but you tell me not to. Why? It'd make life much easier for you –"

"Gomen, Tomoyo-chan, but you've bought me already all of my favourite albums – you shouldn't do that! I haven't ever bought you anything as expensive, nor am I likely to –"

"Demo –" Tomoyo began.

"I need to learn how to be an independent person, Tomoyo-chan. I can't always rely on you –"

"But you can –"

"But I shouldn't," Sakura ended. Tomoyo sighed.

Sakura rummaged through her stuff. "Here it is! Now let's play the song!"

---

-23:01 pm; Sunday, 29th July; University Dormitory-

"What time is it now?" Sakura asked Tomoyo. Both of them were celebrating university life – although it hadn't even started! – with karaoke, and Sakura feel back onto the couch, tired out of singing songs with Tomoyo, although she wasn't tired of egging Tomoyo on to sing.

"About 11 o'clock," Tomoyo answered, also collapsing onto the lovely sofa, courtesy of her abnormally rich mother, who was chairman of a – gasp – toy-making company. Whoever knew that toy-making was worth such big bucks!

"When's the orientation starting tomorrow?" Sakura asked, one head over her forehead, as she lay on the couch.

"8:30 am," Tomoyo replied. "But we have to be there fifteen minutes before time."

"So early?" Sakura asked.

Tomoyo nodded.

"Well, for what it's worth, I still can't believe we're in uni already," Sakura said.

"Hai, Sakura, you said that so many times already," Tomoyo replied.

"I feel so grown-up."

"Don't we all? Soon we'll be adults, working and responsible for everything."

Silence. Slight sniffling.

"Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo asked, concerned. "What's wrong?"

"I miss otou-san and onii-chan! I wish I didn't go to a university so far from Tomoeda!"

"Oh, Sakura-chan," Tomoyo said sympathetically and sat near her on the couch she was laying on.

"I miss them so much. I wish I wasn't going to study to become a doctor. I have to leave them so far away in Tomoeda – well at least I have you," she ended, looking at Tomoyo.

"Sakura-chan –"

"I know, everything will be alright," Sakura sniffed and managed a watery smile. She hugged Tomoyo. "Thanks for always being here, Tomoyo-chan."

"What are best friends for?" Tomoyo hugged Sakura back.

There was a pause. Sakura broke it by saying, "Tomoyo?"

"Hai?"

"Do you think crying is a sign of weakness?"

Tomoyo paused for a while and then shook her head. "Iie, it just means you're human."

"You know, I dreamt of that strange guy again –"

Tomoyo smiled. "I think it might be a good omen. Maybe you'll meet him here, or maybe it's your guardian angel."

Sakura's tear-filled eyes looked up in hope. Tomoyo said, before anything else was said, "Let's go to sleep now, okay?"

A teary-eyed Sakura nodded.

---

You say you wander your own land
But when I think about it
I don't see how you can
You're aching, you're breaking
And I can see the pain in your eyes
Says everybody's changing
And I don't know why.

---Everybody's Changing, Keane

-7:40 am; Monday, 30th July; University Dormitory-

"Let's see, what should I wear?" Tomoyo mused. On her bed were five beautiful outfits, all courtesy of Daidouji Designs, a little label Sakura invented when she wanted to refer to all of Tomoyo's little creations. One was a simple knee-length black-bow dress with high black stilettos (for the elegant sophisticated look), one was a magenta turtleneck half-sleeve sweater paired with grey jeans and sandals(for the casual chic look), one was a white ruffle-y top with huge sleeves which she paired with a patchy worn-down faded ratty pair of blue jeans with sneakers (for that artsy genius-kind look), one was a lovely long sequined violet blouse which she accessorized with black belt and leggings and flat matching lavender shoes (for the girl-next-door siren-y look), and the last was a zebra-print shirt with long white pants and black patent pumps (for the continental look).

"Sakura-chan?"

Sakura came out wearing a white, embroidered half-sleeve blouse with black denim jeans and flat black moccasins.

"Go with the purple outfit. It brings out the lovely violet in your eyes."

Tomoyo put aside the other clothes and gazed at the clothes Sakura chose for her. "Perfect, as always Sakura-chan. And those clothes you're wearing – so kawaii!

Sweatdrop by Sakura.

"But I do wish that you would wear skirts and dresses like you used to in the 5th grade. I can still remember that lovely dress I made for you. It was adorable. I should make you dresses."

Sakura sweatdropped. "So why aren't you becoming a fashion designer?"

"Why are you becoming a doctor? You don't care for maths, and you keep saying science isn't your strong point."

"It's my choice," Sakura replied.

"And so is mine," Tomoyo smiled as she responded.

"I still think you're wonderful in the more artsy subjects. You know, music and fashion – you're such a genius, Tomoyo-chan. A real modern-day female Leonardo da Vinci."

"Oh Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo laughed. "We're going to have to stop this conversation if we want to get to the orientation."

"Hoe? What time is it?" Sakura yelled, panicking.

Tomoyo laughed. "Not time yet. And you shouldn't worry, Sakura. Don't change into someone else."

"Oh," Sakura sighed with relief, only hearing the beginning part of Tomoyo's words, and Tomoyo's voice was inaudible after that.. "Hey, do you think we'll see Chiharu-chan, Rika-chan, Naoko-chan, and Yamazaki-kun later on?"

"I'm sure we will. They enrolled here too, remember," Tomoyo answered. "But I propose we go early now, so we reach the orientation on time! I doubt we'll be able to find the right way to the orientation hall on the first try, this campus is so huge!"

"Hai," Sakura nodded.

---

-8:10 am; Monday, 30th July; North Hall-

"We are so lucky," Sakura gasped as Tomoyo and she both raced up the stairs to the North Hall, where the orientation for new students was being held.

"Say that again," Tomoyo gasped.

"We are so lucky," Sakura repeated.

The hall was already full when both Tomoyo and Sakura arrived. They felt like late-comers.

"I'm so glad we left early. I feel so self-conscious right now. Imagine how much more self-conscious I'd feel if we arrived any later."

Tomoyo didn't dare answer. She simply nodded her head, and pressed Sakura's hands. "Try and look around for –"

"Sakura-chan! Tomoyo-chan!"

Both girls spun around to see Chiharu waving at them. Beside her was Takashi Yamazaki, her sort-of on-off boyfriend since 4th grade. "Over here!"

"I am so glad we found you," Sakura squeaked out as both girls approached the couple. "It's a little scary here –"

"Self-conscious again?" Chiharu asked, and Sakura blushed a little.

"Did you know that the first person to feel –?" Yamazaki began, but was interrupted when Chiharu punched him on the shoulder, angrily saying: "Stop with your stupid stories! Honestly, I thought you'd grow out of it in middle school at least!"

"But you loved it, and don't deny it, you love me for it," Yamazaki playfully teased his 'girlfriend'.

"Don't flatter yourself," Chiharu said off-handedly, and Tomoyo giggled.

"Changing the subject, I'm so glad that I managed to pack my camcorder with all the other stuff! This video will be called 'Sakura and Tomoyo's Orientation Day'!"

Sakura was sweatdropping now. "Oh Tomoyo-chan," she said awkwardly.

"It'll be one of my greatest treasures ever in our collection!" Tomoyo clasped her hands together and had starry eyes, evidently in her own little world now.

"Demo, you said that about the last one too!" Sakura said sheepishly, still sweatdropping.

"That's because they're all one of my greatest treasures ever!" Tomoyo said, with a fist brought upwards.

"Er – Tomoyo-chan, the orientation is going to start," Chiharu poked her friend.

Tomoyo snapped out of her stupor. "Oh, hai!" She switched on the camcorder.

"Aren't Naoko-chan and Rika-chan going to be here?" Sakura whispered as the hall became silent as one of the teachers – well at least Sakura thought she was a teacher rose to speak.

"Iie, they're not coming for the orientation. But hush, it's going to begin soon," Chiharu answered.

"Welcome to the university!" the woman spoke. "I am Akizuki Nakuru, alumni student of this university, and I'll be your guide for today! So before we begin, let's have on the slide show! You guys have read the pamphlet about today's orientation?"

Some nodding and assertions. "Very well," Nakuru continued. "Dim the lights please!"

---

-8:40 am; Monday, 30th July; North Hall-

"It was so long!" Sakura gasped, as soon as the slide show was finished. All around, students were buzzing about the same thing.

"As you can see," Nakuru continued, "We have tons of activities at the university. From the variety of sports for the athletic students –"

Sakura gasped in delight. She loved sports.

"To the choirs and orchestra –"

"I'm joining that!" Tomoyo said excitedly.

"To the journalists' club, computer club, and many more! If you read the pamphlet, you'll see the list of extra co-curricular activities we have to make your lives in university an exciting one!"

"Why don't you join the journalists' club, Yamazaki-kun?" Sakura asked.

"Hai, you can make up all kinds of stories in it," Chiharu joined, giving Yamazaki a playful punch.

"Maybe you should join boxing, Chiharu-chan," Yamazaki replied. "You seem to like using me as your punchbob. Boxing should certainly bring out your punching talent – in fact (Yamazaki browsed the pamphlet here) – they even have a boxing club!"

"Why, you –" Chiharu began, but was interrupted by Nakuru's voice, crying: "Now, if you'll all line up, we'll divide you guys into groups for a tour."

Sakura, Chiharu and Yamazaki joined the line with the other new students. "Where's Tomoyo-chan?" Sakura asked.

"She disappeared. Don't worry, we'll see her later," Chiharu smiled reassuringly.

Now, when you receive your number, join the senior student who has the same number as you do. That'll be your group number, by the way."

Nakuru began counting. "One, two, three –"

"You're one," Nakuru smiled at Sakura. "You'll be in my group – two (pointing to Chiharu), three (at Yamazaki) –" and Nakuru continued counting.

"Aw, shucks, we're separated," Chiharu said glumly.

"I wonder what number Tomoyo-chan got?" Sakura wondered aloud.

"One, like you, Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo appeared next to her.

"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura hugged her. "So you knew that they were going by this system?"

"It was pretty obvious," Tomoyo shrugged. "I could calculate that they'd be divided into only five groups, because each group would have exactly the same number of students, and there aren't enough seniors to have twenty-five or more groups. SO I simply counted ahead of them and ensured I'd be counted as one, like you!"

Sakura stared wide-eyed at Tomoyo. "You're so smart, Tomoyo-chan!"

"So are you," Tomoyo replied. "Now, let's join Akizuki-san, shall we?"

"Hai."

Nakuru was standing in a circle with some of the other students. "Oh, there you two are! Number ones, as I recall. I was about to get the others to introduce themselves – so, let's begin!" Nakuru waved her hands to signal for the new students to introduce themselves, as if she were a queen.

"Akira Aya."

"Hayashi Shiyori."

"Ueda Keisuke."

"Ueda Kousuke."

"Kinomoto Sakura," Sakura said cheerily, with a smile at everyone.

"Daidouji Tomoyo," Tomoyo said with a soft smile.

"Wait a sec Nakuru-chan!" A dark haired boy with startlingly blue eyes hidden behind glasses ran up.

"Eriol-kun!" Nakuru cried, and then, ceasing to be the royal queen, ran over and actually pinched his cheeks, and then folded her arms and frowned. "Why are you so late?"

"Skipped the movie. Bo-ring!" He said, charmingly.

"Isn't he a smooth cookie?" Sakura heard Tomoyo whisper in her ear.

"Hoe?"

"Anyway, I brought my long-lost cousin along. You remember I told you about him? When you told me father wanted me to look for my other distant relatives –?"

A brown-haired boy who was lurking from behind the shadows of the sapphire-eyed boy spoke in a husky voice, "Li Syaoran. Nice to meet you all," but in a tone that meant he didn't really care whether he met the others or not.

Nakuru jumped on the dark-featured boy, and cried, "Oh Eriol-kun! Chinese? That's great! There are so few foreign students this year, you know. Demo, he's kawaii too! There's another girl, in our group, who's just as kawaii." Nakuru prowled around, as if searching for something – or rather, someone. Her eyes narrowed at Sakura.

Sakura turned white.

"You!" Nakuru pointed at her.

"Me?" Sakura looked astonished, surprised, pale –

"Hai! You're so kawaii!"

All the other new students were staring now.

"Hmph," the dark-featured boy grunted. "You'd better not have any ideas, Akizuki-san."

"It's Nakuru-chan for any friend of Eri-kun's, Syaoran-kun!" Nakuru glomped on the poor boy. It was really funny in a way, because Nakuru, who was probably 5"3 maximum, was treating the two boys as if they were eight inches shorter, rather than the roughly eight inches taller that they really were.

"I think we should go now, Naku-chan," Eriol interrupted this obviously awkward conversation.

"I think so too," Nakuru cried. "So on with the tour!"

---

-9:00 am; Monday, 30th July; Music Classrooms-

"And here are the music classrooms! So to all you music-y people, make sure you don't get lost, especially you, Eri-kun!" Nakuru cried, with a wink at Eriol.

Tomoyo lost her breath for a minute. "It's –"

"Wonderful," Sakura continued for her. She herself was entranced by the wonderful facilities. "Too bad I don't have music classes now."

"Imagine having choir practice here," Tomoyo sighed.

"You're a singer?" Nakuru overheard the two. "Well, you should really speak to Eriol-kun. He plays the piano, and is trying for the orchestra."

"Hoe? The piano?" Sakura asked the blue-eyed guy.

He nodded and gave a charming smile, which made Sakura feel uneasy. "Music is a wonderful thing."

"Interesting. Maybe you and Tomoyo could duet together," Sakura gestured to the violet-eyed beauty.

"I would be honoured to," he smiled at her too.

"You can stop flirting now, Hiiragizawa," his cousin growled.

"Why, my dear cousin? Are you jealous?" he grinned at him. His cousin replied with a scowl.

"On to the next destination, everyone!" Nakuru's voice rang loud over everyone else's chatter.

They moved out of the classroom and to the corridors. After a while walking, Nakuru spoke, "Isn't it lovely, Eri-kun?"

No answer.

"Eri-kun?"

Everyone looked behind. The blue-eyed guy was missing.

Nakuru groaned. "I knew he'd do that. Syao-kun, why didn't you make sure Eri-kun didn't get stuck in the music classrooms?"

He shrugged. Nakuru sighed. "Onegai, could one of you please go back to the music classrooms and look for Eri-kun? You know how he looks like. Why not you, Kinamoto-san?"

Sakura nodded. "Hai!" She asserted, and turned the other way.

The cousin to 'Eri-kun' just narrowed his eyes at her.

---

It's personal, myself and I
We got some straightening out to do
And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket
But I've gotta get a move on with my life
It's time to be a big girl now
And big girls don't cry

---Big Girls Don't Cry, Fergie

-9:05 am; Monday, 30th July; Music Classrooms-

As Sakura neared the music classrooms, she heard a beautiful melody being played. Only a professional could play a song like that, on –

"The piano," Sakura gasped. She recognized the song being played as the one her mother used to play when she was younger for her before she slept at night –

Before she died –

She entered the room. Eriol was playing the song, as if there was no one else listening. When he finished and covered the piano, Sakura quietly whispered, "That was beautiful."

"I'm glad you liked it," Eriol answered, and then he was startled when he saw her tear-filled eyes. "Nani? You're crying? What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing," Sakura evaded the question. She looked the other way, and tried to speak calmly, but her voice shook. "Akizuki-san asked me to look for you."

"Onegai, please don't cry," Eriol said, coming nearer towards her.

"It's really nothing. It's just that – that song – my mother used to play it for me and onii-chan when I was younger, before she died. It's one of the few memories I have of her." Sakura broke into sobs and sat down on one of the chairs.

"You must really miss her," Eriol spoke softly.

"I – I don't remember her, well, I hardly remember her," Sakura choked out the words.

Eriol looked sympathetically at her. Sakura saw this. "Don't pity me! I don't need your sympathy! I shouldn't be crying – I feel so –"

"Don't be afraid to cry. It's human to feel emotions."

Sakura looked up at him, and gave a watery smile. "You know, you're not the first one to say that."

Eriol smiled.

"Well, thank you for not judging me –"

"Onegai, call me by my first name, Eriol," he replied.

"Oh, okay."

"May I call you Sakura-chan?" Eriol continued.

"Hai," Sakura nodded.

---

-9:10 am; Monday, 30th July; Corridors-

"Where are those two?" Tomoyo wondered.

"You've got me curious. I wonder whether Kinomoto-san has gotten lost," Nakuru sounded worried. "Syao-kun, please go back and look for Eri-kun."

"Why me?" the guy's eyes flashed at Nakuru.

"Because if you had stopped him, we wouldn't be in this mess," Nakuru said, matter-of-factly.

"Could I go too? I'm worried about Sakura-chan," Tomoyo asked timidly.

"Oh sure, go. Just make sure you all come back in ten minutes."

Both Tomoyo and the other guy walked briskly back to the music rooms, when Tomoyo halted at the opening of one classroom, and saw Sakura and the blue-eyed guy in intense conversation. Quietly, she took out her camcorder and began video-taping the conversation.

As she did so, she noticed the cousin's entrancing amber eyes narrow at the two of them.

---

Author's Note:

Omigod. Like how long could this chapter get? Over 17 pages in all, Verdana font 10, 1.5 spacing, geez, how inspired did I get?

And yes, I know I'm supposed to finish my other fanfics, but this story wouldn't get rid. So here's one extra for you guys. Remember to read and review if you want to know what else happens!

Love always,

lianneharmony