Author's Note: This is the second chapter… I know the last chapter was a bit confusing… but ya… :P btw if anyone is INTERESTED in what the costumes actually LOOK LIKE, I've done at pic of it, which you can find at:
http: (slash)(slash) www (dot) deviantart (dot) com (slash) view/33733915/
erase all the weird stuff of course. XD it's a half body, and it's Sakura… so yeah… :P
)nadeshiko blossom( - she WAS very kind in the anime… but well, I like to twist character personalities... xD
)MizEvilBlossoms( - thx so much:) well, obviously I can't let Meiling win, ne? I can't kick the main characters out of the story before the story even begins! xD
)AngeL( - xD LMFAO! Evil Nadeshiko and Sonomi and lab coats and sparkly-evil eriol-like glasses? LMAO! I can just envision dat! LOL!
)Mewy( - hey um sorry but I don't see your email address there… :sweatdrop:
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Chapter Two
We Became, who We Became
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The girls looked at each other. Sakura and Tomoyo shared a look of confidence and a secret look. They're going to work together to beat this girl down; they will, even if they do not plan to, they've been together for so long; it's impossible not to—it has already became a habit.
They stood side-by-side and shot a similar stare at the girl with the fiery look in her determined eyes.
"Begin."
The tests began with knowledge, then with experiments, memories, and missions that requires the brain. It was always a three-way tie. There was no winner, and none was panting, nor feeling the slightest uneasy. This was a breeze for all three of them; this competition would take forever at this rate.
Luckily, Nadeshiko, Sonomi and the mysterious black-haired woman wanted the girls to show off each of their true abilities.
First, there was a race. Sakura and Tomoyo had a tie… in second place. Meiling's speed was amazing. They had no clue how it was even possible for her to run so bloody fast. The two girl panted slightly, while Meiling just smiled at them with her black and red hair soaked in sweat – the smile was of more of a proud taunt than that of a friendly gesture.
Next, there were three masters of defence, same skill, same age, same everything. They were robots, cloned, human shaped and soft skin. They won't attack, but their defence is amazing, the girl who can beat it to a bloody pulp and put it out of business first will be the winner.
Sakura won. Her attacking skills are undeniable.
And last, it was completely opposite. The humans – robots – humanlike robots attacks, with great skill and accuracy, the first to get hit even once, will be out. The last one standing will be the winner.
Tomoyo won. Queen of defence.
The last will be the toughest test of all, to show who is really the best at fighting. Whether it's speed, technique or defence.
They are to fight each other.
They stood in roughly a triangle. Meiling set her eyes on Tomoyo. The girl looks calmer – she's an easy target.
Tomoyo smiled. She's the target, she knows it, and yet, she smiled without worry. Why shouldn't she? Not even Sakura can beat her down. Though she could not hurt Sakura, Sakura cannot land a punch on her because of her superior defence skills. She held up her arms in a defensive position. Her eyes flashed. Show me what you've got, honey dolly.
Meiling launched into the air and Tomoyo estimated the time the kick will hit.
Yet she was off. Way off. Meiling swung her foot towards Tomoyo's face and Tomoyo was barely able to block it.
She took a step back and gasped. She's amazing! At the race this girl was only showing a quarter of her agility, her real ability is unimaginable! How is that possible?
Tomoyo blocked off a couple more attacks – barely.
Meiling fired forth another punch, Tomoyo caught her hand but took a step backwards, almost immediate, a foot came beneath her, and this time, she was way too slow, she tripped and fell onto her back. Immediately, Meiling stepped on her arms to keep her down and landed a hard punch on her face.
Tomoyo was now under a major advantage, but she managed to bring her legs up a few times to block a couple of the attacks. Her face was beginning to become swollen.
Meiling let go of her, only to slip her foot under Tomoyo and jabbed into her spine.
"Ah!" Helplessly, Tomoyo let out a cry of pain. Who the hell is this person? She can't possibly be this fast, it's just not possible!
Next a heel struck her temple and Tomoyo felt herself passing out.
Sakura watched with amazement. Tomoyo – a girl whose defence is so miraculous even she, Sakura, the queen of fighting could not touch a hair on her – was going down. All because of a seemingly ordinary girl.
When Tomoyo yelped in pain, Sakura almost cried out for her friend, for as long as they've known each other, Tomoyo had never uttered a screech from discomfort.
A foot struck her friend's temple and she couldn't take it anymore. She jumped forward.
As fast as Meiling was, Sakura's fighting skills were much better. Though she was hit a few times, she managed to slip in a leg and kneed Meiling in the spine as the girl fell to the ground.
Meiling could not believe this. It's not suppose to be happening! She was the strongest! Didn't she prove so by beating the Tomoyo girl whose now lying half conscious on the ground?
She quickly got back on her feet and threw a punch. Sakura absorbed the punch. It hurts. Like hell. But she could take it, because she knew she could punch twice as hard as that. Sakura grabbed onto that arm, so hard that Meiling was unable to pull it free. In frustration, Meiling drew back her other hand and punched forward, yet all of a sudden, Sakura twisted her other hand, slowing the stunned girl down, as Sakura caught both Meiling's hands in a tight grip.
For the first time, Meiling felt fear, and she was right to feel this.
Sakura let a smirk on her face, though she was bleeding slightly from Meiling's first few well started off punches.
Sakura bent Meiling's fists in a strange angle, kicked her knee, then using Meiling's hand, she pushed herself upwards, flipped and did a double kick under Meiling's chin, almost throwing her head off.
Tomoyo laid there weakly, she turned her head slightly to watch the scene before her, and a pattern filled her mind. Sakura could defeat Meiling but not Tomoyo. Tomoyo could defeat Sakura but not Meiling. Meiling could defeat Tomoyo but not Sakura. The three of them needs each other. They're like a triangle, one line gone, and it's no longer considered that shape.
Meiling made a last attempt; she swung her leg, yet Sakura grabbed it. That girl – she never defends, she'll turn your attack against you. Meiling was knocked on her back and Sakura made her kick herself with her own leg, knocking her completely unconscious. Tomoyo had to give her credit for not even crying out once during the whole torture.
Sakura smiled, a malicious smile when she was up for revenge. She curled her hand in a position, as if trying to point all her nail on Meiling's chest. And that's exactly what she is doing. She is going to kill the girl.
Sakura's hand shot forward.
With her last strength, Tomoyo got up and jumped for, barely managing to brush Sakura's hand aside. Another one of Tomoyo's special defense ability. Instead of absorbing the attack with her body, she has an ability to be like the wind, and swiftly guide the attack towards the wrong direction.
Sakura looked at her. "Why?"
"Because." Tomoyo fell down beside Meiling, and she realized how similar the three of them really are, to one and another. "We're the same. I am you, I am her, you are her, she is you. We're all the same…" Tomoyo hugged Meiling gently, and before she could get up again, she lost conscious.
"Tomoyo…" Sakura frowned deeply. Her friend had never given her a hug before. At least not one with so much feeling like this one.
"Congratulations, Kinomoto Sakura, and Daidouji Tomoyo. Meiling was the first to fall, which makes the two of you winners." Nadeshiko spoke as if nothing had happened, as if Tomoyo was not lying half dead on the ground right now, as if Sakura was not filled the hot turmoil burning inside her. "There will be a prize. You pick."
Sakura looked at Tomoyo and Meiling, then remembered how human her words sounded. She was speaking from the depth of her heart, something humans often do. "I want to live." She said.
"You are alive."
Sakura looked at her mother in the eyes, only to feel as if she were staring into the eyes of a stranger. She did not know this cold-blooded… creature in front of her. "I'm dead." She replied. "I am not human, I have no heart, and without a heart, you're dead. I'm dead." She repeated. "And I want to live."
Her mother stared at her back. "I repeat. You are alive. If you do not consider the way you're living right now, alive, then perhaps I have not taught you enough."
It was a subtle threat. Sakura caught it, and she sighed. "Rephrasing – I would like to live the normal, low density life the people on the 'outside' are living. I would like to experience it."
"Why?"
"There is no way. I am who I am, my dreams are what I wish and you can't change them."
"Are you so sure Tomoyo would like your decision?"
Sakura looked down at Tomoyo and the events of the hug replayed again in her mind. "Yes, she would be more sure than I am."
"Very well."
Sonomi and the mother of Meiling came. They spoke and came upon a decision. Nadeshiko delivered the news to her daughter. "You will have exactly one year. You will enroll in a school in Tomoeda 3 weeks and 5 days from now. It will be the beginning of a new school year. You will be grade 8s, since your age is 13. At the exact end of that year, the second the bell rings, we will fetch you.
"Now, we do not wish for you to be like this while you are interacting with… them. I would like you pick a hair colour, a personality and a few sets of clothing. You will be like that for the whole year. Two conditions. One, do not go near water. Your hair dye will not wash off and will be stained to the roots of your hair, but when water touches it, it will immediately wash away the dye. And two, at all times, I expect you to be wearing your 'uniforms' underneath all the extra clothing."
"Agreed." Sakura then continued without pausing. "I would like to have auburn hair, same coloured eyes, a personality of a generous girl who is outgoing, and has a bright view of life. Her flaw is that she is never punctual, and times when she does not feel like it, she will not pay attention to what others are saying."
Nadeshiko was amused. "Complete opposites of you now. What made you decide to go with auburn hair and green eyes?"
To know what I would've looked like if I was alive. She thought to herself. "Just choices. Random."
Her mother stared at her long and hard. "I'm sure they are. You are to finish the preparation by tonight. Meet in my room tonight. Inform Tomoyo to be at Sonomi's room."
"Yes, mother."
At exactly 8:00pm that night, Sakura walked into her mother's room. "Good Evening, Mother."
"Good evening, Sakura."
"What is your request?"
"I have confirmed with Tomoyo, and it is true, she wishes the same as you do. She has also picked out her looks, and personality, which you will find out soon. The house you will be staying at has already been purchased, and inside is everything you'll ever need—from money, to cloth, to cooking utensils, to weapons and guns, to school stuff." Nadeshiko walked up to her as she pulled a bottle of liquid out of her pocket and poured it over Sakura's hair.
Immediately, as if it were magic, Sakura's hair changed. The rich auburn poured through each strand of hair and she looked as if she were like that for her whole life. "Wow…" she muttered.
"Yes, science—especially ours—is an amazing thing."
What she did not know was that Sakura was not awed by the solution, she was, in fact, awed at what she would've, could've, should've looked like had she been born normal. But she did not voice her opinion.
"Remember, do not go near water. Period. Believe me, not only do you wish to protect your hair, you wouldn't want to get any water on your cloth either. Trust me."
Sakura trusted her. It was unwise not to. "How do I stay clean?"
"That you needn't worry about. The house has been penetrated and filtered with a special kind of air. It will scrub you from head to toe the moment you enter. Which is why I will now tell you, that it's unwise to bring guests to your house."
"Understood."
"Also, an advice: don't get attached to anyone."
"Yes, ma'am."
"You may leave now. There is a car outside waiting." Nadeshiko glanced outside. "Tomoyo is waiting."
She needn't tell Sakura that, of course, because Sakura already heard Tomoyo stepping into the car. Nadeshiko turned around and began to walk away. "Wait!"
"Yes?"
"What… happened to Meiling…?" As much as she disliked the girl, it was impossible not to wander. After all, she doubted they'd persecute such a precious figure. As much as Sakura hated to admit it, Meiling was definitely something very special and rare. As rare as her and Tomoyo, even.
Nadeshiko turned around, and there was a bemused, and slightly cruel smile on her lips. "I suggest you not worry about that…"
Sakura frowned slightly. That's not a good sign. "Is she… dead?"
The smile grew. "Do you wish for her to be dead?"
"I…" Sakura looked away. "I don't care."
"Exactly." And Nadeshiko was gone.
Sakura felt a chill. She hoped nothing would happen to Meiling. After all… it had been slightly unfair she lost the fight… since it had been two on one…
Sakura's bed was next to Tomoyo's. Dawn was approaching, and they had never felt this way before. The bed was so… simple… and the outside world… it was… so beautiful… the red hue outside their window shined on their faces as they breathed the air in. "I can't believe it… we made it out…" There were tears in Tomoyo's eyes.
"Yes… we're now free…"
"Only for a year, though…"
"Better than most people in the lab."
"Like Meiling…"
Sakura stared at her best friend, who now had long, grayish locks, but same coloured eyes. "I'm sure she's okay…"
"You're sure?"
"…I asked Nadeshiko."
"What did she say?"
"She… asked me if I wished Meiling dead…"
Tomoyo frowned. "And you said…?"
"I told her I didn't care either way."
Tomoyo sighed. There was so much heaviness in her heart. Sakura doubted she could let go of it all within this short year. The burden would take an eternity to be scrubbed free. "I do… I care for her, and I wish she could've came with us…"
Sakura looked away. "If she did, we would be in her position…"
"And what is her currently position, exactly?"
Sakura sighed, as she went under the covers. The air in this house burned and pricked. No doubt if she brought any low-density humans over they'd probably suffocate to death. "Get some sleep. We have a long day."
"Was just practicing my personality."
"You don't need to, Tomoyo… it'll come to you naturally."
Sakura and Tomoyo walked into a classroom with unfamiliar faces. In fact, they were still in shock from seeing so many kids their own age. They stared around like innocent children as they marveled at their colourful surroundings, and how each individual was made from different shapes and colours. Everyone was unique, not like people at the lab, who always looked exactly alike.
"Hey, I haven't seen you guys around before! Are you new?"
Tomoyo spun around slowly and shyly, her eyes peering up while her face kept down.
Sakura took a deep breath.
She spun around cheerful, and let a huge grin fill her face as she widened her sparkling eyes. "Yeah, we're new!" She stuck out her hand almost immediately. The smile on her face was irresistible. "I'm Kinomoto Sakura! Call me Sakura!"
The girl giggled. "You certainly are hyper." She said, taking Sakura's hand. "I'm Yanagisawa Naoko. And those are my friends Mihara Chiharu and Sasaki Rika." She said, pointing at a girl flirting with a guy, and another girl who was speaking with the teacher, Mr. Terada. "Is she a friend of yours?" She asked looking at Tomoyo.
Tomoyo smiled politely and nodded. Her voice came out sweet and angel-like. "Yes, we've know each other a long time now… since we're little, actually."
Naoko smiled. "I can tell… you two seems very close."
"We are!" Sakura chirped. "Why is your friend talking to the teacher anyways? She can't be having problems on the first day of school!"
Naoko laughed. "Oh, she doesn't. But that's just Rika, she's got a huge crush on the teacher."
"Oh my God, on Mr. Terada? No way! He's like… 20 years older than her!"
"Well, she's just got a thing for older guys I guess."
Sakura laughed. Her eyes scanned around the room. "Hey! Look at that guy over there talking to your other friend! Tomoyo, he's got almost the same hair colour as you, you two'd make quite a couple!"
Tomoyo blushed slightly. "Not a chance… besides, if I'm not wrong, I believe he's more interested in the girl in front of him."
"Quiet observant." Naoko replied. "The two loves each other. I mean it. They've been going through this blushing-flirting routine for almost six years. But neither cares to make a move. It sickens me sometimes." Naoko shook her head.
"Aww…" Sakura pouted. "There's no cute and fun guys left then…" She scanned the room one more time.
"Agreed…" Tomoyo replied. "There's no mature guys left besides Mr. Terada, either."
Naoko's glasses flashed. "Well… one of you is looking for fun, the other for maturity… I think I know the two guys whom you two might like…"
Sakura laughed. "In this bundle? No way!"
Tomoyo shook her head slightly watching two boys pouring ketchup on each other. "No one seems to be able to grow up in this classroom… though with the teacher so busy checking out our Sasaki dear, it's no wonder…"
Naoko sweat dropped. "Well in this classroom, no one will match you two… but tenth grade…. At the high school across from here…" Naoko's glasses flashed again. "There just may be two guys…"
"WHAT! The high school across the street only has two guys!" Sakura exclaimed.
Tomoyo giggled. "No, Sakura, she meant two guys suitable for us!"
"Oh… Phew… otherwise I'd question what kind of a town I've moved to!"
"Ah don't worry, this is a pretty normal place. Nothing strange ever happens…" She sighed sadly. "As I was saying… there are two guys you two might like… then again, all the female population in this town loves them. So…" She turned their back towards them and began walking away. "Aim a little lower. You are after all, newbies here."
"Heeeeey!" Sakura cried chasing after Naoko. "What's that suppose to mean?"
"Don't you know? They only date the popular girls, girls they've know almost forever, girls who are special, girl's who are unique and has the male population's eyes on them. You gotta stand out somehow to grab their attention. They don't go for peasants, you know."
Tomoyo cocked her head to one side. "I think I can get their attention…" she said.
Naoko was curious. "What do you mean…?"
"Well… there just might be a couple of things I'm good at…"
Naoko shook her head. "Don't mean to shoot you down but that might not do you any good at all… give up while you're still ahead. Just gaze at them, and daydream. Dream and Reality are separate worlds. Being able to kiss one of those guys in one world is enough for me…"
"Same, but I'd prefer Reality over the Dream world…"
Naoko snapped out of her dreamy trance. "Ah, it's all right, Tomoyo, just forget what I said… you haven't even met them anyways… you seem to have high standards, and a crave for maturity. Maybe you should try someone in college… two years older might not be enough for you…"
"I'd like to meet them then…" Tomoyo said thoughtfully.
"So would I!" Sakura chirped. "I can at least befriend them!"
Naoko nearly chocked. "I don't think the word 'friend' is even in their vocabulary… they're rather close with each other, but as far as I'm concerned, no other close buddies, especially not a friend who's a girl." She stretched. "Well, I'm still saying you shouldn't meet them, just in case you get romanticized by their charm—after all, tryin' to saying as many victims as I can here—but if you really, really REALLY want to, across the street, today, right after our class ends at noon, so does theirs… and you might be greeted with a surprise… and find out quite a bit of things about them… you might not have wanted to know…" she winked.
"Are you trying to give us a bad impression of them?" Tomoyo questioned with a small frown.
"Now, now, don't get me wrong! But liking them is a sin, and it's bad for the health."
"But you like them…"
Naoko laughed. "Exactly." And she bounced away to Chiharu.
Tomoyo and Sakura stood by the gates of Seijou High School. "Wonder what they're like…" Tomoyo wandered.
"Don't know." Sakura replied. "How can males possibly appear attractive to females?"
Tomoyo glanced at her. "You should talk. You've never been around a male besides that strange guy we met before our fight with Meiling." A look of pain crossed her face.
Sakura ignored it. "Likewise. You haven't neither."
Tomoyo nodded. "So I haven't. We'll experience this for the first time, together, then." And she grasped Sakura's hand, and they waited.
A few minutes passed, before a circle of girls rushed out. Clearly they were surrounding someone.
"So, where are we going today?" One girl asked flirtatiously, while trying to pull up her school uniform skirt so that it'd appear as short as possible.
Somewhere within the crowd, a much deeper voice than that Tomoyo and Sakura are used to replied, "Nowhere, hon. It's a new school year."
"B-But…"
"Sssh." The figure put a finger over his lips. "We had a deal. Beginning of school, to the next year. It's time you and I moved on."
"Do I have a chance of staying with you longer, then?" Another girl asked.
The male shook his head sadly. "Sorry sweet cheeks, but I must say goodbye to all ten of you. It's been a fun year, but it's over now."
There seemed to be another male with dark blue hair next to the talking one. He pushed up his glasses slightly, as he gave the ladies an apologetic look. "Sorry." It was all he said, as he walked away.
The speaker—who seems to have had brown-ish hair—finally managed to get rid of the ring of girls after much trouble.
At last, the view was clear.
"Wow…" Sakura muttered. "Never seen any specimens like such back in the lab…"
Tomoyo nudged her.
"I mean… never seen any… humans… like this back in… our old town…"
"Let's go talk to them." Tomoyo said, already making her way towards them.
When they were close enough, Sakura called out, "Um… Excuse me…"
The two boys glanced their way. The brown-haired one smiled a charming smile. "Are you two next in line?"
Sakura cocked her head to one side and blinked her bright green eyes innocently. "Hmm? What line?"
The one with the glasses smirked slightly. "New here, huh." He said under his breath.
Of course, Sakura heard perfectly fine, though she pretended not to. "What? Did you say something?" She questioned loudly.
"Look here," The brown-haired one began to explain. "I know you two probably like us, but because you're new, you probably don't know the rules. At the beginning of the year we pick twenty girls to go out with," he said a matter-of-factly. "And only the ones we think are half decent can even get in line. You got to get us to notice you first, then you can line up, and maybe next, or next next, or even next next next year you can go out with us."
"What was with the girls you shooed away just minutes before, then?" Tomoyo asked softly.
His smile grew. "Sharp. Well, see, to make it fair for everyone, it's agreed that we only go out with the girls from the beginning of the year, to the beginning of the next year, and that's when we'll change."
Sakura didn't need to glance at Tomoyo. They could practically sense each other's thoughts.
No strings attached.
Exactly one year, huh.
This is perfect.
Indeed. More perfect than planned.
They want us for a year, we can only stay a year.
But they do not love us.
But we love them.
Do we? We do not know love.
I've certainly never felt this way before.
Perhaps this is how you feel about every male.
But they do look very… how to describe…
Hot?
Yeah, that' s the word people here use.
We came here to learn about love, and live.
So we did. And we will live.
What about love?
It's difficult to achieve.
So we give up?
I'm simply saying it's better to have achieved one than none.
We'll live with them?
I believe so. They are lively. They'll be fun. They'll be enjoyable.
Fun that comes as easily as it goes.
It does not matter. We've never had fun before. I want to be human.
I want be loved.
Give this a try. Have fun. Relax. Maybe love isn't so wonderful. Nadeshiko and Sonomi has warned us again it, after all.
A soft sigh. They warn us against everything.
"We can't wait that long. We want to go out with you guys at the beginning of this year." Tomoyo stated.
"Ooo, feisty. Sorry babes, but not a chance."
Sakura couldn't noticed how the glasses one kept starring at Tomoyo.
He's starring at you.
The brunette!
No, the other one.
Oh, well.
He might like you.
Right.
You are very beautiful.
So are you.
But I'm not you.
Tomoyo looked at Sakura. What are you saying?
You're the charmer. You talk us out of this one.
You can too, if you so desire.
But the personality I chose does not allow me that luxury.
"What must we do to get your attention?"
"So desperate?"
"No, simply impatient, and demanding." Tomoyo smiled lightly.
The brown-head looked thoughtful. "Well you've certainly got my attention as of so far, but I see nothing special about you. Propose to me."
"Will you go out with us if I get on your school's cheerleading team by tomorrow?" Sakura proposed with a grin.
The brown-head was thoughtful, and seemed impressed. "If you can, then I'll allow you to go out with us. She still have to prove herself though." He glanced at Tomoyo, hoping for some unique proposal from her as well.
Tomoyo did not hesitate. "I will paint you a painting so beautiful, so realistic, you'll believe it was the real thing."
He smiled. "No…"
"Yes…"
"That will be difficult."
"I love a good challenge." She her smile broadened. "Do not underestimate us. And do not break a promise."
"I won't, if you two really are as good as you say you are."
"Oh, we are something specially, all right. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have work to do. Shall we meet back here tomorrow?"
"At lunch?"
"That's the most desirable hour for us."
"At lunch it is."
The turned around, gave a wave and a smile that had a hidden meaning, and made their way to their newest mission, which in their mind, has already been accomplished—after all, everything they've ever wanted, they always got.
"There's no way."
Syaoran glanced over at his friend who pushed his glasses up with a slight frown. "No way? You think?"
Eriol stared at him. "What kind of a dumbass question was that? Of course they can't. Use your brain and think about it. Seijuu High hates all middle-schoolers and has no respect for them. The cheerleading team is the best team in the school; there's no way you hell they're gonna let that girl in. As for the other one…" The light reflected off his glasses so that Syaoran was momentarily unable to read his expression. "No, bloody, way. Maybe Da Vinci could do it, when he's lucky. But a girl at her age? No, bloody, way."
Syaoran shrugged. "If she can't, then she shouldn't have made such a promise."
"Well… I kinda did wanna get to know her…"
Syaoran stared at him. "Pardon?"
"Well, I don't know… somehow… the way she speaks… she sound so… intelligent. So unlike any of the other girls I've ever had throwing at me."
"You got a point… The way she spoke… she seems… so mature…"
"Make a deal with you."
"What?"
"If you see a painting tomorrow, pretend you don't. Pretend you thought it was the real thing."
Syaoran raised an eyebrow. "And what do I get in return?"
Eriol smirked. "A date with me, hon."
Syaoran rolled his eyes. "Get outta here. That line may work on everyone else in the school, but no way in hell that works with me. I'll do it for you, as a favour, as long as you cut this lame-ass talk out."
Eriol laughed. "Deal."
Next day…
"PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!! YOU HAVE TO! YOU JUST GOTTA!"
"Oh, I don't know… I mean what I did back there… it was just for fun you know… Nothing serious…"
"Nothing serious! With skills like that we'll for sure win the finals!"
"Naww, I'm not that good…"
"STOP BEING SO MODEST! JUST JOIN US!"
"But… I don't even go to the same school…"
"WHO CARES?"
"Well…"
"PLEASE! BE THE CAPTAIN OF OUR CHEERLEADING TEAM, SAKURA-CHAN, PLEASE!"
Syaoran and Eriol stared at each other when they heard that line as they stepped outside of the building at lunchtime. There was a huge crowd gathering in the middle of the field, consisting of most tall, skinny, perfect skin and hair girls surrounding a slightly shorter one. "No, bloody, way."
They rushed over as they moved through the crowd. "Oh my God… Are you JOKING me!"
"No, we're not. We're asking them to be captain of our team!"
"What happened to Ashley?"
"Puh-lease, she's nothing compared to Sakura!"
Syaoran's eyes grew. "SHE'S A MIDDLE-SCHOOLER!"
"SO WHAT! HER TALENT MAKES UP!"
"Oh my God…" He stared at her.
She just stared back at him with a blank stared while smiling a broad smile at him as if she wasn't sure what was going on. But he knew there was more to her than that shallow smile on her pretty face. He sighed. "You win."
Her smile grew. "All right, ladies, I'll join your team."
"YAY!"
"THANK YOU SO MUCH!"
"OH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE LEAD THIS YEAR!"
"YOU'RE SO TALENTED! AND TOTALLY KAWAII!"
The girls each petted Sakura or pinched her cheek as the crowd finally thinned as they went to grab their lunches.
"Where's Tomoyo?" Eriol asked.
"Oh, over there, wait for you guys." She replied pointing at a silent figure standing in the shade of a giant tree.
Eriol and Syaoran stared at each other as they walked towards her. Sakura stayed back, watching their retreating figures. A sly, mysterious and knowing smile flashed on her lips. Oh, they're about to get the surprise of their life… oh are they ever…
"What do we say?" Syaoran muttered. "We saw no paintings today…"
"Uh… just say you saw some painting and at first you thought it was real and it was really nice…"
He raised an eyebrow. "Are you that obsessed with her?"
"Shut up. Just do as I say."
"What if she never painted anything in the first place?"
"Then she'll be praying we would say this. Because then her plan would go perfectly."
"Well…"
They stopped in front of her.
"Hey."
She said nothing. Her eyes still starring off into the distance.
"Um, really great painting of that… um window today… when I first saw it, I totally thought it was real, but then when I took a step closer, it was like fake… so yeah… totally amazing…"
She continued to stare off. Her eyes spacey.
"Um… hello?"
Syaoran bent down to wave a hand in front of her face and he froze. "No, friggin', WAY." He straightened, and took a step to the right, and stared back at her. The bark of the tree didn't match. "Oh my God…" He turned to look at Eriol who was already frozen.
Slowly and delicately, he reached forward and touched the collar of her dress.
Holy. SHIT.
She is the painting.
"How'd you like the painting, boys?" Their heads snapped up as they saw her coming out from behind the tree, a painting plate in her hands.
"Did you just paint this now!"
"Well, if it dried some unexpected things could happen that would give it away. So I couldn't risk it."
"How did you know when we were coming?
"Just… a hunch."
"And how did you know we were going to come from that direction? Had we come from anywhere differently the background wouldn't've matched and your plan would've been foiled.
"Well, you'd for sure notice Sakura first, and I told her to tell you guys to come this way, so you have to have came from that specific direction."
Eriol shook his head. "It's not just that… the exact measurements and lines… but… how… how did you manage to bring out the texture…?" He reached forward with a slightly shaking hand, as he touched the painted girl's cheek.
Tomoyo tilted her head slightly. "I've been painting before I could walk, you could almost say."
"Had you started painting since you were in your mother womb you still would not have reached this level of mastery…"
Tomoyo smiled innocently. "Then, it's magic."
At that moment Sakura made her way to them. "Know what I go through everyday now? I live her. Imagine the confusion I go through when I tick her off. She's a vengeful little one." Sakura giggled.
Tomoyo smiled, but said nothing. Instead, she turned to the boys, smiling calmly, not at all intimidated by Eriol's intent stare on her. "So, we have a deal?"
Syaoran held out his hand. "One year."
Sakura grasped his hand as she caught his eyes. "One year."
Tomoyo and Eriol stared at each other, before nodding. "Yeah. No more."
"And no less."
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Author's Note: Jeez… sounding a bit typical… maybe I'm still a romantic at heart… LOL I could be cruel but somehow… aah… couples I'm used to writing… so difficult to break them up or be cruel to them… xD
6152 words. Not bad.