A/N: Once again another chapter and I made a few edits in the last one. Alternate opening is basically all that has been added. It's not so different that you wouldn't understand this chapter if you are not new to this story. Sorry that I didn't update for a long while. It was because I had a beta reader, but she's still not done yet so I decided to just go ahead and post this chapter. Hope you enjoy it and I'm hoping to add the next one by this Saturday. I have finals this week.
And to my reviewers of the last chapter- Thanks for the reviews and don't worry a lot of your questions and ore assumptions will be answered! And for the last two chapters- I forgot my little narrator's opening…-slaps self.- It's back now though. This is the chapter that clears up a lot and also adds more to the real point of this story…it has a point…no seriously it does I've thought this story through till the end. Sakura and Syaoran's relationship will develop more from now on!
Now after this long note- here's the chapter that is longer and hopefully will be liked. I liked this story a while back and really want to finish it! So I am and plan to update weekly, if I don't, it's because I'm either sick or have tons of schoolwork.
Any critics on how to make this better are appreciated!
My two friends really haven't been completely clear lately. I mean really what they say and think contradicts everything! It's a mess I tell you! Well as we all know love is a beautiful and unexplainable phenomenon. Even though they realize the attraction they still don't really know what to think of each other. So as these two are brought together so are their feelings. Now it's time for them to figure out their puzzling emotions!
:Deciphering the Sakura Puzzle:
:x:Syaoran:x:
All those questions Sakura's brother asked me where really over the top. So what, he thinks every guy is bad news? Apparently that's what he thinks. I already have to deal with his monster sister, now I have to deal with him too. I really shouldn't have gotten myself into this. Instead of joining sports I should have just studied. It would have been a lot easier than this. Just a few days ago I had asked Sakura to become my tutor, now I'm her slave for all eternity in her opinion.
Her house wasn't bad though, in fact it was really nice, clean too. I expected Sakura to be a unorganized person, because she acts that way at school but she wasn't. I had hoped that when I entered her room that I would find it looking as if a tornado came through it. But no, that was not the case.
On Sakura's door her name written in pink letters, cherry blossom stickers were dispersed around her name. It screamed Sakura of course. As soon as she opened her door I saw pink walls, pink bedspread, and pillows. Her entire room was pink, light pink. Just like I thought she would. But even though I was right about that, I was not about her room being a mess. It was organized, clean and neat. The best thing to do right now is to complement her on everything. If I want to win any points with Sakura and get on her good side that would be the best plan.
"You have a very nice room." I said just glancing around. Sakura took a glance over at me then walked over to her desk an picked up a book. It was an elementary school grammar book.
"What's that for?" I asked. Having no idea why we needed one of those.
"Well since you're still fairly new to Japan and don't really seem to know all that much about Kanji and Katana. I thought it might be a good idea to quiz you on what you know then carry on from there. "She said then pointed down at the floor where a small table set. "You sit down there; I'll be back in a second. Have to go find some pencils." Sakura then turned around and skipped out the door. She really had a bounce in her step, was she excited about this? I should be really careful then, who knows what she's planning. But from what she told me she seemed like she really knew what she was doing. I don't know if Sakura has tutored anyone before, she sure acted like it.
While I waited for her I decided to look around. Sakura really was the cutesy type. She had around 10 stuffed animals on her bed. Posters where all over the wall by her desk, she seemed to really like Tokyo Mew Mew, Ultra Maniac, Full Moon, and Gakuen Alice. The shojo manga type huh? Interesting never pictured her to really be into this stuff. On the top of her desk were a few figurines, one looked like a teddy bear with wings. I picked it up and squeezed it and it was soft, a stuffed toy. Next to the toy was a picture of a woman. She was beautiful, long slightly curled silver hair, smooth milky white skin. She reminded me of both Sakura and Tomoyo. Which I realize does make sense, since the both of them are related. I wonder if this woman is her mother? I didn't see her around, nor has Sakura ever really mentioned her family.
"Her name is Nadeshiko. She's my mother." I heard a voice say behind me softly. I turned around to see Sakura looking at the picture as well. She had a soft, sweet smile on her face. I hadn't seen Sakura make an expression like that before. She looked, beautiful…
"Li?" Her voice broke me from my thoughts. Why is it so easy for me to get lost in her eyes like that? It's…creepy.
"Oh yeah? Sorry."I uttered, sounding like I was stuttering. But I wasn't, really I wasn't.
"Ready to get started?" Sakura asked laughing slightly. I guess I was stuttering. Nice one Syaoran.
"Sure, that's fine." I replied then sat down at the table, she followed shortly after me. Sakura sat right next to me, which was a bit unnerving for some reason. I felt as if my whole face was red. I sure hope it isn't.
"So Sa-" I started, she looked at me confused. I quickly caught myself. "Kinomoto so where is your mother?" Sakura looked down and smiled sadly to herself. "She died when I was three. I barely knew her but my brother used to tell me what she was like. My mother was a beautiful person, inside and out." She looked up at me with a bright smile. "So I'm not sad, because my mother loved me and still does."
I had no idea that Sakura didn't have a mother. Actually, I don't think I know anything about her. Have I really been judging her just on a few incidences? I don't really understand it, but, Sakura seems to really interest me.
"She must have been a wonderful person then. So do you live with your father and your brother?"
"Hmmm." Sakura tapped her chin. " Well yes and no."
What does she mean by yes and no? "But we'll talk about that later. Now we have to work on getting you up to being a B student." She winked at me.
I raised a brow at her confused. "I'm an A student except for one class."
"Yeah so? You won't be making an A in that class so easily. It'll take lots and lots of studying to get you caught up!" Sakura giggled then handed me a pencil and opened her old grammar book. "I want you to take this as a quiz and we'll find out how much you know. Then we'll go from there. So Li get to work. Kinomoto-sensei will be watching you, Kero-chan too."
"Kero-chan?" I asked her confused and looked around. I didn't see anyone. Sakura giggled again and pointed to her bed. "My cat, Kero-chan." My eyes traced to where she was pointing and I spotted a cat. It wasn't really fat, it was chubby I guess. But I'll just consider it fat. The fur was yellow, about the same color as the stuffed animal I picked up before.
"Sure okay the cat will be watching me." I sighed slightly amused at her enthusiasm. Sakura grinned at me, she seemed like a little kid. "He'll make fun of you later, I guarantee it."
I laughed slightly then started going through the exercises. It was slightly hard, since Sakura was looking over my shoulder the whole time. Being this close to her wasn't bad, just distracting. I even caught myself just staring at her. Every time she would glace up at me noticing I stopped writing and then I would quickly get back to work. I just pictured her confused face every time. She didn't notice I was staring but sensed it. After I finished the exercise I turned to look over at Sakura and tell her. "Kimot-" I started to say but was gazing into emerald eyes. She was staring straight at me. It seems I wasn't the only one staring. "Why are you staring at me Kinomoto?" I laughed slightly. Sakura looked away flustered. "I wasn't Li don't get cocky. I was spacing. Wasn't looking at you." She mumbled. I poked her cheek just to annoy her. "Yes you were. You're a horrible liar." I told her jokingly. Sakura turned to glare at me. "I was not Li! I wasn't lying!" she said then pushed me a bit. "Course you were lying, you stare at me all the time admit it." I pushed her slightly as well. Sakura then began to look flustered and pushed harder. "I don't!" she almost shouted, and the force was enough to where I fell back on the floor. Sakura then lost her balance and fell on top of me. I winced then looked up. Our gazes met. It was strange; we both just stared at each other in silence. We stayed like that for a few more seconds then we heard the door open. Both our heads turned to see who it was and it did not look good. It was Sakura's brother, in the flesh, looking like he was ready to kill.
"Brat what are you doing to my sister? And why are you in her room?!"
Now here is when the guy on top of the girl would be either beaten up and or killed. But in this case Sakura is on top of me. To Sakura's brother, I guess that didn't matter.
"O-onii-chan!" Sakura said nervously and quickly got off of me. I could tell she was very embarrassed, I was too. "I-I just fell is all and it just so happened to be on Li-kun…" she said laughing slightly rubbing the back of her head. I sat up then and looked over at him. He raised a questioning brow and I shrugged in response. "That's just how it was. Besides why would I want to touch your sister anyway?" I smirked at him slightly. He gave me a glare while Sakura huffed, "What's that supposed to mean anyway? Oh so I'm not attractive? I am attractive mind you! I've turned down tons of guys!"
I looked over and smiled at her. "I'm sure that's very true but to me you are not." I said. Which was a total lie, and Sakura's brother and Sakura did not notice thank goodness. Because with that statement he walked out of the room saying, "Next time study in the living room."
I sighed in relief then looked over to see a fuming Sakura. "So what you think I'm ugly then?" she asked with a huff then childishly looked away. "Uh….no I don't think that, you are very pretty Sakura…" I laughed nervously. Oh great I just said she was pretty. What is wrong with me that is supposed to stay confidential!
Though after hearing that Sakura blushed bright red and mumbled a "Thank you." So in the end telling her that was worth it in a way, least we kind of can get along when we try.
After a slight moment of silence Sakura turned to me with a smug look on her face. "Well get back to work Mister. We have a lot to cover today."
I sighed then went back to working on those exercises. It was pretty pathetic that I barely understood half of the grammar.
~XXX~
"Hmmm." Sakura mumbled looking over my work. It's been about 2 hours now and I was on my 5th exercise. I had done pretty well on the first few, with Sakura's help anyway. Now I was just hoping she wouldn't whack me again if I was wrong. She's done that once or twice already.
"Congradulations!" Sakura threw the book behind her. "You're done with 8th grade grammar, Bravo!" She clapped her hands. I sweat-dropped at her enthusiasm, I mean really….it's not that big of a deal. "Um well thanks for your help. I did understand everything a lot better when you were helping me." I told her smiling slightly. She really was cute, getting excited over something like this. "No problem! It is my duty to help those less fortunate!" she said proudly and put her hands on her hips. I think I like this Sakura a whole lot better than the one that glares at me all the time at school. I guess I've seen the real Sakura today, well least her other nice side. Sakura glanced at the clock then whined a "Hoeeeee, I forgot I have to make lunch!" I found myself laughing at her. She really was absentminded. Sakura pouted at me , "It's not that funny Li."
"It is though! I mean what's with the "hoeee" thing?" I snickered, she huffed then smirked at me. "Well then Li since you owe me for my tutoring session why don't you make lunch hmm?"
I completely forgot about that slave thing. Great now I have to make lunch for her. "Alright sure you did really help me." I sighed and stood up, then offered my hand. She looked up at me very confused; it took me a few seconds to understand why.
"I'm just offering to help you up Sakura. But if you don't want my help I guess I can-"I started then she quickly took my hand. I blushed madly, then shook it off and helped her up. Sakura straightened her skirt then smiled at me slightly. "You know you're not so bad Li. You may be a little cocky at times but other than that you are, just as bad as Eriol." Sakura laughed.
"You're comparing me to Hiiragizawa? Great. Just great." I sighed.
"Oh come on I thought you liked Eriol." She pouted. That pout of hers really makes her look cutesy. Then again Sakura and her room scream cute. I shrugged and turned my back to her walking off. "Hiiragizawa is just a friend, or more specifically an aquaintence."
"Aw! Eriol would be hurt by that!" She said behind me. I heard her soft footsteps behind me, and began to wonder why Sakura had suddenly decided to warm up to me. I guess I won't necessarily understand Sakura in one day. But for now I have to concentrate on making lunch.
Sakura really is puzzling.
