.Thank You, Stranger.
Author's Note: First story -smiles- Review appreciated. Oh, maybe I should mention, it could be said that it's somewhat based on a real life story with a fantasical twist to it.
Disclaimer: Don't own CCS. (whoops, I forgot it during Chapter 1, but there it is now!)
Summary: She didn't know about his reputation. He didn't know about her past. They didn't know each other. It was merely a simple request. It was suppose to be only one ride, one short trip around the city, who knew that it would lead to a long journey?
Chapter 2: No one is normal
2 weeks later…
Autumn had come six hours ago and to the emerald eyed girl, it hadn't made a difference since the weather man was always wrong. They think they could predict the weather, but they really couldn't breach the surface even with all the latest technological equipment. The gray gloomy clouds weren't supposed to show themselves on this 'supposed' sunny day. Mother Nature had threw a huge curve ball; the last week of summer was more like autumn and the apparent forecast of the first week of fall is going to be summer's last week.
Heaving a sigh, she looked away from the huge glass window and returned to her task. Fingers curved around the hard covered book, her eyes quickly surveyed the shelf in front of her before finding the place where the book belongs.
Her mind drifted off to the man two weeks ago and now thinking about it, she really owed him a great deal. He hadn't called the police or thought of her as a lunatic (he probably might, but was nice enough not to say it out loud) and allowed her to ride with him. Her parents would've strongly disapproved of a girl like her riding such a dangerous thing like a motorcycle, but she couldn't help it.
She needed the speed, she needed the rush, and she needed something that would outrun her worries and thoughts. In actuality, she had wished to be the driver, but she knew better to drive in her state. Thank you conscious for aiding my brain, she mentally thought.
Glancing at her cart, she was surprised to find that she had finished it. Placing a small smile on her face, she stood up from the chair, and begins to trot her way back to the front desk. Her vision was shortly blinded when two hands came and enveloped her eyes. Quickly searching through her mind to try to think of anyone who was childish enough to do such a thing, she gave a full out mischievous grin once recognition hit her. It was her transition to 'her self in the eyes of the beholder'.
"Kyo? Randy? Richard? Reed? Tony? Michael?," she began listing a bunch of names knowing that it was all the wrong answer.
"What's with all these guys?" came an irritated voice from behind her.
She grinned as she felt the pair of hands lifting from her eyes, sight returning as quickly as they've gone. Whipping her head around, she found a pouting silver haired man, almost a head taller then her.
"Jealous?" she mused, her grin had grown to an all out smirk.
"Of course, I have more competition now," the man replied, a sense of competitiveness etched into his voice along with an arrogant smile plastered on his lips.
"Oh, but did you forgot?" she innocently questioned showing him her left hand as the light caught the glint of an object, "You and the rest of them have to knock down Kyo first!"
"Ah, but I can simply just take it off you know?" the man replied grasping her left hand as one hand hovered above the piece of jewelry.
A few seconds later, the two burst out laughing just like they've done numerous times before.
"Ok, Yue, we should probably stop joking around, there's work to be done!" she lightly scolded the older man.
"Sakura, you're done, there's nothing left on your cart," Yue replied sapphire eyes eyeing her like she could breathe fire.
"Eh-he-he, I knew that!" Sakura sheepishly stated quickly blowing a raspberry at the man. Stopping her childish act, she questioned, "is Tomoyo here today?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Yue responded as their stride fell into pattern and he'd taken the task of pushing the cart for her.
Giving a glare to the sapphire eyed man, Sakura quickly glimpse at the clock, 10:30am it read, and just when she was about to complain how late her quiet friend would be, in stroll the said person. Tomoyo Daidouji was a natural beauty with long raven hair cascading down her back, amethyst eyes, soft white skin, and a gentle smile that males loved.
Tomoyo who had spotted Sakura a few feet away, let out a smile and went to hug the daylights out of her second cousin. Knowing full well that her cousin couldn't breathe with how tightly her arms were around her, she finally let go after much groans and mumble from the said girl.
"How are you?" the amethyst eyed girl asked, a playful smile on her lips.
"Well, how would you feel if your second cousin came up and basically tackled you out of nowhere?" Sakura sarcastically asked, emerald eyes narrowed as her arms crossed in front of her.
"Well, I for one would feel supremely flattered," Tomoyo declared, her amethyst eyes twinkling again.
Sakura knowing full well the hidden meaning behind that just glared at her cousin, but it was like glaring at a baby who isn't frighten of anything! Letting out a sigh, she allowed Tomoyo to chat about her week so far and how busy her mother was making her work along with finding her a future husband. Sakura held her smile hoping that her attempt was not futile as to not disrupt any 'Tomoyo sense' that something is wrong. She should've known better than to think she could overcome 'Tomoyo's sense'. It was that one freaky Tomoyo thing that she would never be able to figure out!
"How are things going?" the raven haired woman timidly asked, voice soft all of a sudden.
"I'm fine Tomoyo! Everything is normal," Sakura replied giving her cousin the best smile that she could manage, touched and yet irritated that her cousin had to bring it up again.
Tomoyo knew better than to believe those words. How can someone be normal again in two weeks? Is it possible to even come back to the surface of normality? No, Tomoyo knew that Sakura now is anything, but normal. Sakura had always come to her to talk to her about everything and anything, but lately it seem that the auburn hair girl was hiding some things, given that she could only pry a few minor details about that incident. "I'm here, you kn-"
"Yea, yea, I know. Don't worry about me so much, 'moyo," Sakura beamed and not giving Tomoyo a chance to answer, she strolled towards Yue.
All that Tomoyo could do was sigh at the stubbornness embedded into her friend's head. Silently walking after Sakura, she notices that there were scarcely any people at the library this Saturday morning. It's probably the weather, she thought.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The leaves are dancing with the wind again. How each rustle, like a giggle of a high class woman would shimmer and shake as to catch the eye of another man. Watching in boredom, a pair of eyelids became heavy as it slowly descend, covering a pair of amber brown eyes. A sudden nudge from the side awoke the man. About to yell at whoever the person was, he stopped mid-track when he noticed ten pairs of eyes looking at him as if he's a girl dressed as a guy.
Damn, he mentally cursed knowing that he was about to fall asleep during one of these boring lectures and that surely he's in for another scolding from the deep pool of amber eyes standing in front of the conference room.
"Syaoran, what do you propose we do about this problem?" asked a stern voice belonging to the woman who's calm nature can make one believe that she was not furious with you.
Looking around from face to face, he knew he was expected to answer the question, whatever the heck the question was, and it had better be a good answer. His eyes darted to the dark blue haired male next to him noticing on the laptop screen, typed in big, bold letters was the question. Mentally noting to thank the man, he gave a small grin and began his presentation that would whoo the crowd. He loved this ability.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"You owe me one," came a composed voice of a male.
Irritated with the azure eyed man for bringing it up before him, amber eyes narrowed in irritation and his stride begin to pick up. Loosing his black tie as he walked, the coffee haired man walked out the door to a thirty story building exquisitely designed.
"Syaoran, you need to make the finishing touches on the agreement," a shout had come from the navy haired man.
"Shut it, Hiiragizawa, you know as well as I do that you don't need someone normal like me," the reply was solemn and strained to hide the anger that was building up.
Without waiting for a reply, he pulled out a set of keys, quickly searching for the right one; he finally came upon his ride. Swiftly swinging his leg over to the other side and positioned his foot on the foot pedals he put the key into the ignition and as expected time and again, the silver bike roared. Not bothering to put on the silver helmet, he sped off onto the street before the other man could stop him.
Heaving a sigh at the coffee haired man, Eriol Hiiragizawa let a small smile danced on his lips before shaking his head like he was a wise man. Syaoran, when are you able to learn that no one is normal and you for one, is far, far from that. The azure eyed man thought before retreating back into the building to explain to a rather infuriated woman.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
He didn't want that position. He didn't want this reputation. He didn't want any of it, but unfortunately for him, everything was given to him on a silver platter. He had wanted to be normal, tried to be as normal as his demanding life can allow him, but somehow he knew, he knew that he couldn't.
Suddenly angry at everything and nothing, he picked up the speed going over the speed limit and accelerates down the highway. A sudden thought occurred to him of an emerald eyed girl. She was plain, but she haunted him with those protected eyes that were calmer after the ride and he knew that she was someone who had shared his theory. Growling in frustration as the sound of sirens reached his ears, he reluctantly slowed down.
Here we go again, he thought as the sirens grew louder.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Well, I'm off. See ya," a chirpy voice shouted to the now empty Children's Room of the library except the few who were gathering their things together.
"Sakura, do you want a ride?" Yue asked feeling something amiss in the air.
"It's ok. Thanks Yue," Sakura replied and was about to turn to leave when she noticed his arms wide open. "You're so silly, you know that?" as she walked up to hug him.
"Only for you, only for you," Yue softly murmured, tightening his hold on her.
"Yue!" Sakura giggled, lightly hitting him on the chest, "stop joking around!" as they untangled themselves and she walked away.
"Be safe!" he shouted after her fleeting silhouette only to be responded with a wave.
The sun was beginning to set, but Sakura didn't mind. The walk back would be ten minutes she knew, but it would give her time. She allowed her mind to drift off, allowed it to this once think of the future, present, and of the past, the recent past. Senses suddenly vanished to allow her mind to roam; she didn't notice the squeak of an abruptly stopped vehicle.
Still in a state of daze, she didn't expect the next few things to happen. Her lower body felt the impact of something metal or steel as her upper body tumble over, but a strong arm braced her head from damaging itself or anything for that matter. Realization hit her when she realized that she had somehow tumbled over a motorcycle and whoever's gloved hands stopped her head's impact, has a quick reflex.
Twisting her head around to quickly thank the driver, she was met up with a pair of intense amber eyes; how deeply she could gaze into it. Inhaling a short gasp as recognition of the male inflamed her body, she quickly tried to compose herself, rushing off onto her own two feet.
"It's you again," deep velvety voice greeted her; it held neither resentment nor anger, but maybe a hint of amusement, she wasn't sure.
To say that he was surprise was an understatement of the century. He hadn't expected to meet up with this crazy girl again, but look what's happened; she practically fell over his bike! Does she really like this bike that much? He mused, not realizing he spoke it aloud until he saw her widened eyes.
"I apologize," the girl said, giving that deep bow as amend.
"No harm done," he replied, letting out a sigh.
There was a silence that enveloped them for a minute, neither knowing what to do or say. She was lost in her own thoughts again. It seemed that her mind is playing 'on and off' without her consent. He was trying his best to look at everything beside her. Syaoran tried hard, he really did, but it didn't help that a human's eyesight is a hundred and eighty degrees so at the corner of his eyes, he saw her lost in a state of thinking.
Yep, he was definitely as crazy and insane as the girl in front of him and without thinking, he seemed to do that when he's around this girl, he offered her his helmet. The reason, he explained to himself, was that he needed a companion who shared the rush to run away from all these relentless stress.
Sakura's eyes widened to a state that if you would gently knock the back of her head, her eyeballs would come out. This man was offering her a ride!
"Coming or not?" he grumbled, slightly offended that she had not taken the helmet as quickly as he hoped.
"Are… are you sure?"
"Coming or not!?" he barked gritting through his teeth. He was irritated, if he wasn't then why would he offer the helmet, of course he was sure, wasn't he?
Shocked at how he raised his voice, she didn't think, but swiftly took the helmet, strapped it on, and situated herself behind him. For the second time that month, she felt at peace with the world as the coffee haired driver sped off onto the road with her hand griping tightly at his shoulder.
She wasn't normal. He wasn't normal. No one is normal for what is normality?
A/N: Hope you enjoy that: Review please so I could know what I need to improve on! I wanted to thank all who reviewed and now I know which way this story should go. Be patient? Things might be kind of slow.
Again, obviously all author(s/ess) would like reviews and this authoress isn't an exception! D
Luv KC