Disclaimer: CLAMP owns Card captor Sakura.
Chapter Six:
"STOP MOVING!" Sakura reprimanded Touya for the nth time. She was trying to fix Touya's pillow but the stubborn grown man was acting like a three-year old. "Just let me do it for you this time and quit complaining!" She was getting pissed because Touya spent the last two minutes stopping Sakura from fixing his pillows.
Touya crossed his arms. Sakura finished rearranging the pillows in a more comfortable position and leaned back triumphantly. "Stop acting like a jerk and eat this."
Touya shook his head and turned to look at the other direction. Sakura wasn't going to be beaten. She held the bowl securely in her other hand and forced the spoon inside Touya's mouth. "It's chicken soup. It's good for you."
Touya grudgingly swallowed it. Before he could protest that he could eat it on his own, Sakura shoved another spoon in his mouth. "I told you, quit complaining! It's your fault you took a bath in the rain and hit your head on the table."
Touya could see the smirk on Sakura's face. He felt irritated. She was really enjoying this, playing master over him. Just then, there was a knock on the door. It opened and Tomoyo, along with Mei Lin, Eriol and Yukito came in. They were carrying bags of food.
Yukito was smiling, "This is a weird sight. Touya is finally tamed."
Tomoyo laughed. She ushered Mei Lin and Eriol on the seats and started to prepare the food. "You're lucky, guys. You don't get to see Touya being dominated by Sakura often."
"Hey… I worked hard on this." Sakura said with a grin, gesturing to Touya who was already red-faced.
"I'm just being nice." Touya said in a low growl. He was getting irritated more at what they were doing to him. He wasn't that sick at all. If they would all stop fussing, he would be able to go home.
"That's new." Yukito remarked with a loud laugh.
"Yeah," Sakura agreed. "Usually you're on your evil and selfish self." She stuffed another spoon inside Touya's mouth. Touya didn't say anything else. He knew that he was outnumbered. People are so brave when they know you can't get back at them at the moment, Touya thought savagely.
"Anyway, Touya," Sakura gestured to Mei Lin and Eriol as she put the empty bowl back on the table. "These are my friends, Mei Lin Li and Eriol Hiiragizawa. They're new in Japan."
Touya acknowledged them with a nod of his head. He took a drink of the pineapple juice Sakura offered him.
"So… Did the brat force you to come here so I can't get back at all the mean stuff she's saying now?" Touya asked them with a sly look on his face. He peeked at Sakura, wanting to know her reaction. He ducked just in time to avoid the spoon soaring towards him.
"SHUT IT, TOUYA!" Sakura screeched with her hands on her hips. The rest of them laughed.
"HEY! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU THROWING CUTLERY AT ME? I'M FRAGILE!" Touya answered back loudly.
"FRAGILE, MY ASS! YOU HIT YOUR HEAD ON THE TABLE AND YOU'RE STILL FREAKING ALIVE!" Sakura shouted.
Mei Lin and Eriol were both clutching their stomachs since they were laughing so hard. Yukito wasn't paying attention to the fight. He'd been with the family for so long, it was normal for him. It was like an everyday routine. Tomoyo was naturally, filming everything.
AAA
"Move over, Tomoyo…" Sakura groaned as she climbed into bed. It was already 11pm and she just finished her homework after getting back from the hospital. Tomoyo was sprawled on the bed on her stomach, texting on her phone. Sakura tucked her self underneath the covers, mentally calculating how many hours she has left before she has to wake up at 6 for school. She groaned at the thought of 7 hours -6 if Tomoyo doesn't pick up her butt and close the lights.
"Tomoyo… Lights…" Sakura threw the covers over her head. She inhaled the scent of lavender from the bed sheets. It was like being drowned in lavender flowers.
"Right…" Tomoyo answered back. She was busy texting Eriol. Suddenly, a hand shot out from under the covers and grabbed her phone.
"HEY! GIVE THAT BACK, SAKURA!" Tomoyo said loudly, sitting upright, her hands on her hips.
"I will if you close the lights now." Sakura bargained from under the covers, her voice a bit muffled. Tomoyo saw her tuck the phone underneath her pillow.
Tomoyo huffed and turned off the bedside lamps. The room was in total darkness now. She groped her way back to bed and shook Sakura. "There, Sakura. Can I have it back now? Eriol is going to reply any minute."
Sakura handed her the phone and turned on her right side. "Eriol schmeriol…" she muttered.
Tomoyo laughed as she went under the covers too. "I love you too, Sakura. Goodnight."
"Night." Sakura grunted. She was anxious to get to sleep; she only has about 7 hours of sleep left.
AAA
Syaoran undid his tie. He just came back from the office where he had to attend several meetings. He groaned as he sat on the edge of the bed and took off his shoes. They landed on the floor with a muffled thud. He stood up and undid his shirt, grabbing his towel on his way to the bathroom.
This day was close to disaster. He was absent-minded during one of the most important meetings of his life with the shareholders. He couldn't stop thinking about why he hesitated to say I love you back at Mei Lin. It wasn't like he had any trouble with that before. He scratched his head, feeling annoyed at himself. He undid his pants and took of his boxers. He slipped into the sunken bath tub and let the warm water sooth his senses.
He didn't want to talk to Eriol about it. His engagement with Mei Lin was already fixed since the day he was born. He just couldn't back out and risk losing the inheritance and break tradition. And of course, he couldn't hurt Mei Lin's feelings. He knew that she loved him dearly. As her childhood best friend, he was obligated to return her feelings.
Syaoran groaned aloud. He was getting confused. He wasn't like this before. Okay… Think back... Why did you hesitate to say those three words back at Mei Lin? He remembers kissing Mei Lin on the forehead- that was perfectly normal and acceptable. It was the only form of affection he did and was willing to demonstrate in front of Mei Lin's friends. Okay… Think back, Syaoran… There was Mei Lin's smiling face, saying 'I love you, Syao…' He pictured Mei Lin's face, using his willpower to focus on that face but the eyes became green and the long black hair turned brown. Before he knew it, he was picturing Sakura Kinomoto's face.
It took Syaoran several minutes before he realized he was imagining those red lips on his. He shook his head and splashed water on his face. He couldn't believe it! He only wanted to be friends with her, feeling very at ease around her! But he didn't expect his friendliness to turn into some crazed infatuation!
Syaoran suddenly realized something. Maybe that's why Sakura always acts so strange in front of him! He was acting all weird! Syaoran stood up and wrapped the towel around him. He laughed at himself. He was worrying too much over this small issue. He brushed his teeth and went back into the bedroom. He was thankful Mei Lin was already asleep in her own room. They have been sharing rooms since last year but Mei Lin needed a room of her own; her clothes simply take too much space.
He put on his boxers and locked the door. He didn't want any morning wake-up calls the next day since he was going to sleep in. He slipped under the covers and closed his eyes. He tried once again to erase Sakura's face from his mind but instead, it was resolutely etched in his mind.
AAA
"Remember that the Sportsfest is going to start two weeks from now. The players should submit their names to me now and start training themselves! Our class's color for this season is emerald green!" Mr. Takamuya finished announcing and started to fix his things. It was the end of the day and all of them were excited about the coming Sportsfest. It was a chance to show of their skills in different sports.
"Are you going to run again, Sakura?" Tomoyo asked her as Sakura fixed her books with a smile on her face.
"Of course." She answered.
"You run, Sakura?" Mei Lin asked her.
Sakura nodded. "Ever since."
Mei Lin smiled. "Well, it would be great competing with you." She waved a piece of paper in with her name on it.
"Wait, Mei Lin! Give this to Mr. Takamuya for me." Sakura handed her slip to Mei Lin who perused it.
"You also do cheer dancing, Sakura?"
Sakura nodded again, "Yeah. Tomoyo forced me into it when we were in grade school. I liked it since then."
Tomoyo nodded in agreement, "That was one of my wildest achievements. I also design all of Sakura's sport clothes and the whole cheer dancing costumes."
Mei Lin smiled, "that is so cool." She walked towards Mr. Takamuya and handed the slips of paper to him. She went back to her desk and spotted the empty desk on Sakura's left. "Ezra isn't here today?"
Sakura shrugged her shoulders. She felt a bit guilty that she didn't even notice that he wasn't there.
"Anyway, Sakura. I have to measure you again. You might have grown a wee bit since last year's Sportsfest."
Sakura cringed. Spending a whole day with Tomoyo measuring her always turn out to be nightmares. She groaned. "I haven't gained weight, Tomoyo!" She said hurriedly even though she feels heavier than before.
"Nonsense, Sakura. I have new designs in mind and I want to see you try them on. Don't worry. I'll make you all fresh and juicy for Ezra." Tomoyo said with a mischievous grin on her face.
Sakura made a face, "Yeah right! Like I would want to look pretty in front of him! Who is he to me anyway?"
Mei Lin and Tomoyo exchanged smirks as they followed Sakura out of the room. They went down the stairs and stopped in the hallway where Sakura stopped to change into her roller blades.
"I have to go visit Touya again today. I'll be home in a bit, Tomoyo." She said.
"I'll go with you, Sakura." Tomoyo said, stopping Sakura. "And where did those roller blades come from?" She asked, looking confused. She couldn't remember seeing them this morning.
"They were in my bag, Tomoyo." Sakura said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"There's no need for them you know. I'm going to take care of you while you're staying in my house." Tomoyo linked her arm with Sakura when she finished packing them inside her bag again. "So tomorrow, don't let me see those roller blades in your bag. Mom will scold me if she thinks I'm not taking care of you."
Sakura smiled and nodded. Packing her roller blades were a habit she can't get rid of easily.
"I don't think I can go with you to the hospital today, Sakura." Mei Lin said from Tomoyo's right side. "Syaoran is going to pick me up and he said we have to go meet Aunt Yelan today."
Sakura's mind stopped working on the spot. At the mention of Syaoran's name, all thoughts of cheer dance practice and running for training were gone. She had to make up an excuse so she won't get to see Syaoran!
"I just remembered, I think I uhh… Left my handkerchief in the classroom. You guys go right ahead." Sakura said swiftly, anxious to get away from there quickly since they were already nearing the school yard.
Tomoyo didn't let go of her arm, "It's alright, Sakura. We'll get your handkerchief tomorrow."
Sakura tried to free her arm from Tomoyo's firm grip. Tomoyo was unrelenting, "Why are you so nervous, Sakura? You'll get your handkerchief tomorrow."
Sakura shook her head, "No… It's uhh… Important… I have a cold coming up!"
That lame excuse stopped Mei Lin and Tomoyo in their tracks. Sakura mentally slapped herself for that pathetic reason. Tomoyo and Mei Lin looked at her suspiciously.
"You know, Sakura… I'm starting to think you're trying to hide something from us…" Tomoyo said, pointing her finger at Sakura's face. Sakura tried to avoid Tomoyo's accusing glare.
"Yeah… Me too…" Mei Lin looked at her face closely.
Sakura shut her eyes. "I'm not hiding anything!"
"We'll be the judge of that." Mei Lin said, her hands hovered on Sakura's waist, threatening to tickle her. Tomoyo was doing on the same side.
Sakura tried to get away, fearing for her own life. She was unsuccessful when she was pinned to the wall. She prepared herself for the tickling when someone called out her name.
"Sakura, can I talk to you for a second?"
Sakura whipped her hair around, grateful for her savior. It was Mr. Takamuya, holding her slip of paper in his hand. Tomoyo and Mei Lin released her and waved at their homeroom teacher. "You're not yet saved, Sakura." Tomoyo hissed as they went outside the school yard first, leaving Sakura to talk to Mr. Takamuya.
"Mr. Takamuya, what is it?"
"It's about the Sportsfest, Sakura. I noticed you signed up for two events again today." He said with a smile. Sakura nodded, not knowing where this conversation was leading to.
"I just wanted to say that training for the marathon is going to start tomorrow. I understand that I wasn't able to announce it today in class?"
Sakura nodded again.
"Could you tell Mei Lin the same thing? She's the one who is going to compete with you." Mr. Takamuya asked Sakura.
Sakura nodded again. She was starting to feel dizzy from all these nodding. "Yes, Mr. Takamuya. I will."
"Thank you, Sakura. Train hard and good luck." Mr. Takamuya went back upstairs.
Sakura let out a huge sigh of relief. She clutched her chest and calmed her racing heart. She rushed to the school doors and peered outside. She could see Mei Lin get into the car followed by Syaoran who was dressed in jeans. Ohh… He looks good… Even from afar… Shaking her head to rid of her unworthy thoughts, she felt lucky that she couldn't see Syaoran clearly from this distance. She withdrew from the door and composed herself.
She was fortunate enough to avoid Syaoran this time. But what about tomorrow? And the next day after that? Surely Syaoran won't be easy to escape since his fiancé is her friend?
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Not that long. Still, enough to keep you guys interested. Please review!