Finding Love

Witch-Mistress-Animaru

A/N: Here goes the next installment of Finding Love…whew…I'm speechless. What is there to say anyway, that has not been said yet? So just read and relax!

3: The Freak and the Famous

AKA So Starts Hell for Kinomoto Sakura

"Oniichan! We're going to be late if you don't hurry up!"

"Speak for yourself, kaijuu." He smirked, looking very much annoying as he stood there, still pajama-clad and hair-tousled. "I don't have classes today."

Sakura, who was strapping on her rollerblades, stopped what she was doing, nearly losing her balance as she did. "What do you mean? It's the start of term, oniichan!"

"I don't go to high school, baka." She let the insult pass, knowing it was meant to infuriate her. "Term hasn't started at university yet, and I'm only coming to arrange my schedules. Meaning, I can come anytime I pleased."

"No fair! And you didn't even tell me; I waited for you, you know?"

"Did you even ask? Besides, I'd hate to disillusion you that you woke up earlier for school than I did, even just once."

"Eh?! Of all the most inconsiderate brothers I could have had considering my tough luck, I had to have you!"

Touya merely shrugged that off, causing her temper to blow full-steam.

"Whatever. If I were you, I'd be on my way now. Can't be late on the first day of class, or can you? I never understood how a monster's mind works, anyway, if it has one."

"I'm no monster!"

"Sure, sure…if you don't mind I'm going back to sleep." He feigned a yawn. "Unlike some unfortunate person here, I don't have anything to do all morning."

"Ugh, you really infuriate me, oniichan! Good morning to you as well — sweet nightmares on your lie-in!"

"Hai, hai…Arigato gozaimasu, kaijuu…I'm sure to dream of your monstrousness anyway."

"WHAT-EVER!" She enunciated the word and started her trek to school.

She reached school barely on time, something Tomoyo, her best friend since second grade, was keen to notice as she propped down on her seat.

"You're almost late, Sakura, and it's the first day, too."

"Yeah…so would you be if you waited for an annoying brother who didn't have the heart to tell you that university term hasn't started yet."

"Oh," Tomoyo giggled at her apparent anger. "You squabbled with Touya-san again? You two are really close."

"What do you mean, 'close'? You've got to be kidding me!"

"Whatever you say," she suppressed a giggle again, and tried not to grin. "Anyway, you're lucky. It looks like our new homeroom teacher is late as well."

Sakura listened to Tomoyo while she arranged her books in front of her desk with excess vigor. After having done so, she sat back and extracted a notebook from her bag. Tomoyo groaned.

"You're writing again," she said with an exaggerated sigh. "What is it about this time?"

"Nothing, really," Sakura answered, ignoring Tomoyo's tone. "I just thought of a plot from the last novel I read. I thought I better get a move on the story."

"If you aren't reading, you're writing. Do you ever have any other activities other than that?"

"Tomoyo, don't make it sound so pathetic. You know I love doing this."

"But it is a bit pathetic if you ask me," her friend said, her tone cautious and apologetic.

"You don't understand me when it comes to this, Tomoyo."

"So you say, so you say. I don't really mind it much, but, c'mon, I wanted to chat with you for once. When was the last time we talked about nothing?"

"Can't remember." Tomoyo knew it was a losing battle. When Sakura's answers became clipped and almost inaudible, she knew she should stop pushing her further. She hated being disturbed when she wrote, she knew. She was about to leave her to it, when Sakura propped eyeglasses on before she started writing.

"Eh, Sakura…what's with those glasses?"

"Huh?" Sakura straightened up from what she was doing and turned to Tomoyo. "Oh. Correctives, this pair. Dad got it for me."

"That's what you get for doing nothing but read and write all day long."

"Shh! Skip the lecture now, Tomoyo. I'm on such a good part…"

"There you go again…"

They were senior students at Tomoeda High. Sakura was known for her ardor for writing. She wasn't exactly an outcast. The popular-thingy did not exist in their school. Or at least, not blatantly. There are those who acted like they owned the world, but they were usually the ones who got shunned to the side. In their section most especially, IV-A, everyone's a bit chummy with each other. Even opposite poles are on speaking terms. The popular people in their class respect Sakura as well as her band of eccentric writers. They all belong in the school paper, and were on the honor roll as well. One would do well not to fight with them.

Speaking of the school paper, Sakura thought she ought to try her luck on being the EIC of their paper. Most probably, though, Naoko Yanagisawa will get it. Still, she's going to take the grueling exam. She wasn't going to miss her chance. Even if it's just one chance.

Smiling at that thought, her hand moved listlessly over the paper, pouring out her thoughts and plot on it. Her mind worked over the minor details of her story, thinking of letting her best friend read it later as amends to her neglect of their friendship.

But just as she got to the good part, Tomoyo nudged her gently. She looked up, irritated, in time to see Terada-sensei enter the room. She cursed under her breath and dropped her pen reluctantly.

"Ohayou gozaimasu, minna," He said, gesturing for them to remain seated as there was a scramble to stand.

""Ohayou gozaimasu, Terada-sensei," was the response from them.

"Right…so this is the final year, eh? You better enjoy it as much as you can. Just don't cross the rules, you'll be fine." He paused. "There isn't much to do today. You'll be meeting your teachers. And you have a new classmate as well."

There were faint murmurs around the room. Everyone but Sakura wondered who it was. She was busy preparing the plot of her masterpiece.

"Mr. Li, you can come in now."

There were gasps all around the classroom as a chestnut brown-haired boy entered the room, looking sulky.

Sakura looked up to see the new student. It was famous Li Syaoran, teen idol and son of a business tycoon. No wonder the girls all swooned before him. Outside the room, there were a dozen girls screaming their hearts out. She shook her head. Just how dense can these girls get?

Tomoyo didn't even give him a second glance, and that was all she needed. She shrugged as well, returning to her story as the girls went gaga over him.

"Now, girls! Girls! Will you please stop crowding Mr. Li? We are a civilized lot, aren't we?" Mr. Terada looked stricken by the sudden display of misconduct by his students.

"Eeh! Li-sama, marry me!"

"I had a crush on you since you debuted in 'Ohayo Nippon!'"

"Won't you go out with me, Syaoran-sama?"

"Daisuki!"

"I'm going to faint!"

"Is this for real?"

"Li-sama, Li-sama!" The girls chanted his name as they smothered her. It was so freakish that Sakura laughed loudly. Tomoyo was stifling hers. Sakura did the same, but too late, she caught the attention of the rest of the class.

"Why are you laughing?" One of them asked.

"N-nothing…" She breathed. It was really hilarious to find a famous person being mobbed by their usually respectable class.

"Silence! Everyone, please treat Mr. Li with respect. No more such outrageous displays, do you hear?"

"Er —" Li started to speak and everyone turned to listen. "Please treat me nothing special, really…"

The girls all cooed again and shrieked their hearts out.

"Oh, he's so modest…"

"Aishiteru, Li-sama!"

"Syaoran-sama, we love you!"

Li Syaoran looked definitely awkward, but she knew better than to believe that. She knew he's enjoying the attention so much, just like the rest of the TV personalities.

The hypocrisy, she thought viciously. If there was one 'profession' she despised, it was showbiz, nothing more, nothing less. She was under the impression that these famous people suffer from extreme cases of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder). She'd do better than mingle with such airheads.

Not that anybody ever agreed with her, not even Tomoyo. Tomoyo disliked the hero worship of the people for these famous personalities, but she didn't think too unkindly of them. Not that she had any reason to do so, not like Sakura, who always hated popularity itself and shunned fame and the limelight to one side.

She turned her attention to her notebook, poring over what should be done next on the story.

Unfortunately, she cannot focus well on it, what with the shrieking and cooing all about. Before she knew it, cameras were flashing and reporters made their way inside. She nearly groaned out loud, but she tried to suppress her dismay still.

"Mr. Li, is it true this is the result of your kissing scene with a leading lady?"

"Are your elders punishing you for it?"

"Are you really retiring so early, Mr. Li?"

"Do you think you won't miss the publicity, Syaoran-san?"

Mr. Terada did his best to shove the reporters away, while Li Syaoran covered his face.

"Please, sirs, this is not the time! We are about to have class here…so if you please!"

Finally, after what seemed to be an hour, the reporters were driven away. A moment's silence rang all over the room.

She paid no attention as Mr. Terada explained Li Syaoran's circumstances. She hardly noticed that he took the seat beside her, or that every girl in the room except her best friend threw dagger glances her way. She didn't even give him a glance. She didn't find the guy wonderful as they do, and that was it.

Syaoran looked beside him, a little bit awed. The girl beside him was the only one who did not seem impressed by having him for a classmate. Not that he cared, of course, but it was really something new to him.

But there was something else. Despite the eyeglasses, she was a looker. And she appeared familiar to him. Why, he did not know. There were a dozen others who were definitely more appealing than her. Yet he was arrested by her face.

"Ano…" He whispered to her, ensuring nobody else heard him or the girl would definitely be in trouble. "Miss, can you…I mean, show me around here?"

"Huh?" She looked up, apparently surprised. She turned to him and he was surprised to see loathing in her fierce green eyes. "Are you talking to me?" Her voice was rimmed with ice, and she didn't bother whispering. He almost groaned.

"Y-yeah, sort of," he answered, lowering his voice although it did not help at all. Every girl in the room was staring at both of them.

"I see. I'm busy, if you don't mind. Go find someone else to toy with." She said dismissively before returning to her notes.

He so damn nearly blushed from embarrassment. If that wasn't a direct turn-down, ergo, an insult, then he didn't know what it was. And to think it was the first time he tried to be friendly with a virtual stranger. What a blow on his manly ego. If his friends found out about it, he's dead meat. They'd never let him live it down.

"But it's you I asked." He said, feeling annoyed that he was actually re-issuing the invite.

"But I declined," she whispered to him, a sarcastic smile on her pretty lips.

He felt like he just got slapped.

Fine, if that's the way you want it!

"Thanks anyway. I was only testing you, nerd." The words slipped before he could stop them. And he nearly kicked himself when he saw the brief pained expression that crossed her face. Then she shrugged it all off, returning to her cold demeanor.

"You never had me fooled anyway," she said, although he thought that was a lie.

"Anyway, missy, thanks for the warm welcome. Rest assured I'll return it a thousand times more."

"Suit yourself," she shrugged again, making him feel inferior and childish.

Pretending to shrug it off as well, he turned away and tried to ignore the curious eyes darting his way.

"Sakura," a raven-haired girl called from the girl's other side. She looked worried, and she cast an apologetic look his way. "It's nearly lunchtime, let's go."

"I'll get to it, Tomoyo, just let me finish this line."

"Oh, if I let you do that, you'll never finish. Let's go, or all the good spots will be gone, so are the food."

"You go without me."

"Oh, no, you're not skipping lunch! Bring that wretched notebook with you and we can go down."

"Just a few lines more…"

"Sakura!"

So Sakura was her name. It suited her well. But I'd say Rose would have been more appropriate.

What the hell was he thinking? He was contemplating about the girl, for God's sake!

Yet there was no denying it. The girl called Sakura caught his attention, in a good way. Only he wasn't used to that, so fiasco was where he was headed, though he didn't know it yet. Nor did he realize until much, much later, that he wanted badly to impress her, but only made her hate him in the long way.

Sakura, of course, realized that trouble headed her way. All the girls turned cold towards her, and that only cemented her opinion of showbiz people: superficial and egoistic.

And she carried that definition with her for a long time. Until they met again, much, much later, when she could be famous but chose not to be, and when he lost all life's meaning to familial responsibilities.

They started off badly, could they end up nicely? Syaoran is very much intent on courting her later, but will she shove away his advances still?

Hmm…Looks like both overlooked some details of their past acquaintance.

Much is still to be said about their past and future, some things they both intend to hide or forget, somehow, but not quite buried and forgotten.

For nothing shall remain hidden in this journey of self-discovery they chose to embark on.

And everything may change with only one particular moment.

TBC

A/N: I left a lot of things hanging, like why Sakura hates showbiz and fame, although I revealed here that it wasn't Syaoran's intention to make Sakura's life a living hell back then (he's actually crushing on her!), though he will only realize that later. I still have a few cards up my sleeve. Like the sibling quarrel issue between Sakura and Touya. I wonder how I pull that one off. It's up to you to find out in the next chapters, isn't it? So see you next chapter, then!