Notes: Last chapter was definitely rushed! Having not revised or reread the damn thing led to its untalented haste. BIG MISTAKE, F#$k! Do not blame the author, she – er – I will be revising soon. And, yes Toru's back. In case you don't remember him, he was mentioned in the 1st chappie. You know: evil boy (plus) horrid 'games' (equals) Sakura's fated encounter with Syaoran. Ring a bell? Okay, good. Much thankies readers!
Winter Waltz
Chapter 10:
Waiting in the Snow
Toru Ito, right there, at the front of the classroom, dangerous and lurking.
This paradigm was exactly why suicide should be endorsed. Well, IT was better than looking at his face, and feeling discomfited throughout the whole 'being glared at' session. Come on, what girl would feel comfortable in the same room as her godforsaken rapist, not to mention, her own stepbrother. If one had enough wits and logic, then one would by now realize what miserable life Sakura had.
Though she made it this far, could she withstand further strain? That 'strain/problem' being Toru's damned existence? Answer: highly improbable.
Sakura took quick intakes of breaths, delusional thoughts making her believe that quicksand was tugging her downwards. She felt like she was sinking, that her fingertips could pass through the surface of her desk as if it was, actually, made of sand. Was this possible? Say, perchance, this quicksand was an outlet that could channel her someplace far. Someplace that wasn't here, which leads to her next thought…
She didn't want to be here. The repugnance stirring in her eyes was the first obvious clue.
Being surrounded by her peers did not bring any sort of security. They all ignored her like usual; she had no friends in this class as the reason being why. So, she felt unsafe. The only barrier of protection she could give herself was stooping low in her chair, and keeping her eyes trained on her desk. 'Oh gods… what… am I… going to… DO!' She was crumbling, visibly. Nothing could moderate her fears or the increasing anxiety she had.
If only something could distract her, if only he wasn't present…
She accidentally caught the roguish expression of her captor, unwisely glancing up thinking that she'd locate the clock and not his grotesqueness.
The pupils in her eyes were swift to dilate. 'Kami-sama…'
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Toru Ito smirked, all high and mighty like. So many 'unimportant' girls were swooning and blowing kisses at him, trying hard to catch his attention. For awhile he awarded them with a few seconds of his attention, but it was basically an unintended, one-time, glance-over. Truthfully he had no interest in these types of girls, whose beauty did not match up to the ideal woman he had in mind.
His 'ideal woman' could be described as the young female sitting in the back room hyperventilating, and by the looks of it, praying madly.
She was still a sight, nonetheless. The contours of her cheeks, although fidgety, had a youthful, curved appearance. Her eyes always so guarded and skeptical, were the same pleasant green eyes he had the pleasure of looking into, day after day, minutes rolling, and seconds ticking… at least until the day she left.
Sakura Kinomoto was her name and no stranger alright, Toru knew who she was the moment she entered his classroom.
'Sakura, damn you…' Toru thought to himself, his nostrils flared. 'It's been over a month. Were you here this whole time?'
The students were oblivious to what was happening the very instance class started, which would have been apparent if one bothered to look at Sakura's wobbly self. They were too induced on working on their class assignment, unwary to the tension floating in the room, and the voltage of electricity that shot up and around, overhead, figuratively, between Toru and Sakura.
The girls in the room who thought their drop-dead gorgeous substitute was looking at them were definitely dreaming too hard. Toru's deep blue eyes were not quite aligned with theirs. He was looking past them, particularly looking past the pair of garnet eyes that ogled the hardest. Though, he wasn't aware of it. His fixation with Sakura had caused his attention to divert; he planned on confronting her by the end of class.
Diiinggg.
Toru inwardly chuckled. 'What perfect timing…'
Sakura, on the contrary, was not interested. Her first immediate thought was: 'Rush out, avoid Toru! And, don't look back! Cuz… my life depends on it!' A ragged sigh escaped her as she rose in her seat. Her heart rate was speeding, the adrenaline, no doubt, was kicking in. 'Must avoid T-Toru… at all costs!' If there was a chance she could walk out alive, then she'd make her next arrangement for a different academy.
If she could do this, then this would mean no more foreboding ways. There's no way she's going back to THAT! Just another, fully-thought-out plan… In no time, she'd break all contacts with him, and for good. 'Please, let me walk out this door…' She bit her lips as another thought crossed her mind. 'Li-kun…' she thought dreadfully, taking one step after another… almost there. 'I'm so selfish… but…'
"Kinomoto…" a stern, whispery voice jutted, just when she was almost out the door; the towering man smiled at her, "-san…"
Slowing to a halt, Sakura swallowed hard, deathly attentive to the lack of students in the room. 'Z-ZERO!' "H-Hai…?"
His murky cobalt eyes looked as callous as ever. "Were you really about to leave this room without saying anything?" He snarled, smiling threateningly. It made Sakura sick to her stomach having to watch him. "It's rude because… we do know each other on a personal level. It's proper to say at least 'bye, see you tomorrow' don't 'cha think, Sakura?" He paused to examine her. After a moment, he started to speak again, "You're still unresponsive. You know what this means right? It means I'll have to…"
Panic-stricken, Sakura cried out, "Stop!" She knew something perverse would come from a guy like Toru if she didn't interrupt. "Don't…say anymore," she said, faintly bearing the whites of her teeth. "Don't say things on your own freewill… Don't come here on you own freewill." She squinted furiously. "Can't you see that you'll gain nothing by coming here? Can't you SEE that I don't want to see you?!"
She was steaming, obviously she wanted no more of this, but Toru wasn't one to give in.
Toru suddenly laughed. "Aah, I'm surprise you've got a tongue now, how annoying…"
She sent him a heated gaze. "Yea, which means you can't control me anymore. I'm no longer that weak little girl for you to abuse, so you might as well go away and leave me alone!"
Toru pointed, warningly. "What abuse are you talking about? Can't you see that a brother misses you?" He placed both hands to his chest as if expressing his endearments. "Tell me you miss me too, Sakura, and I will forgive you for leaving."
"The only brother I miss is my 'real' brother!" Sakura shot back. "You're nothing compare to him! You're absolutely nothing and I hate you!"
An angry look flashed in Toru's cobalt eyes and he had her pushed up against the wall within a second, closing the gap between the two. "You're such a disappointment. You know that? Here I am missing you like crazy and all you tell me is that I am nothing. I came all the way here for you, and you're not the least flattered?" He suddenly laughed. "Ahaha, I know what you've been up to Sakura. Oh naughty, naughty Sakura, let me tell you." His eyes squarely caught hers, and she fidgeted. "…It's the worst of (my) deeds."
Sakura felt her breath restrict in her throat; she nearly retched in disgust. How dare he compare her to him!
"W-What can be worse than what you've done to me?!"
His smirk did not falter. "I received a phone call from Yelen not too long ago." Toru paused after hearing a gasp from Sakura. "No," he chuckled. "I did not give away your ploy, as much as I wanted to. Instead, I played along. Hai! I told her we were so poor we lived in the slums. (That's what you wanted me to say, right?) Anyways, I thanked her for taking you in, and strangely, she thanked me back. Ahahah, now Sakura, poor?" He laughed in a boyish manner. "We are not poor, you dumb broad! You could have told the high-class lady that we were dead or something so that she wouldn't have to call in the first place! Because you're so stupid, she did call and then offered me a job at this prestigious building."
Sakura's mouth fell open. 'Oh my gods. He knows where I live now.' This was bad. He could use this against her, he could blackmail her…
Without warning, Toru wrapped his arms around Sakura's torso, lifting her up by a few inches off the ground. "You're such a silly, stupid girl." He breathlessly whispered. "It's been so long. I've been craving for you, Sakura."
The area between Sakura's brows creased as she aggressively twisted in his grip, trying to avoid his unsympathetic blue eyes. Fighting without a bud of fruit, to no avail, obviously chewed off a piece of her pride. Also, her vulnerability put her in a state of tears. She had no choice but to be submissive, as much as it killed her. "What do you plan on doing…with me?" she whispered in a deadbeat voice.
As tepid as her words denoted, it sounded relatively suggestive to his ears. He licked his lips in muse. 'No longer weak, eh? Heh, you're stupid to think that!' Her pathetic form was much of a turn-on for him that he found his muscles convulsing… down there, in his groin region. His excitement was gradually building. He viewed it as a definite invitation from her.
Though, he was quick to grasp realization. He looked at the door minutely before turning angrily back at her. "Stupid girl," he hissed. "You think I'm gonna' risk taking you on school grounds just to get caught in the end?" His cheeks flushed crimson in rage. "You're asking for it, aren't you?"
Her long, fluttery lashes were already adorned with fallen tears. "Please don't tell…"
His grip on her tightened, knowing well what she meant. "Then you keep your mouth shut too."
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White, frozen globules fell from the sky in sheer masses, it was snowing again. Students were long gone from the private school, and only Syaoran stood near its premises. Thrusting his hands deep into the warmth of his denim pockets, hoping to ward off the biting chills, he grinned up at the pasty atmosphere feeling great at heart.
Today was the day that he was going to take Sakura out – with no one's knowledge of it, of course. He wanted this day to be unforgettable, and had been planning it for an entire week since their secret liaison began. During the school hours, he couldn't concentrate on his classes because he was constantly thinking about their imminent date to come. The reaction on her face, her gigantic smile, her pure happiness…
He could just picture it, barely. 'Oh, Sakura…' He made a goofy grin. 'Several teachers gave me massive homework because I couldn't focus. Despite that, it's all worth it…' Briiinggg. Briiinggg. Startled, Syaoran reached into his jacket to pull out his cell phone.
"Yo."
"Fuck!"
Syaoran sweat dropped. "Excuse me? Uh, Hiiragizawa?" Syaoran saw Eriol limping before him, a cell phone pressed to his ear.
Eriol talked into his cell phone, which was received by Syaoran's cell phone milliseconds later. "Damn it, Li! You can hang up now. I realize you're in front of me, so you can stop letting my phone bill pile up. Unless you want to pay for it?"
A bit taken back, Syaoran responded, "Hiiragizawa? What are you doing here?"
"What do you think? That wise guy Yue just drove off when I was just coming from the school." Eriol scowled, rubbing his aching bottom that was covered in snow. "I was trying to run up to the limo, but ended up falling down the stairs like an ass, and right in front of Daidouji-san!" His face flustered. "Oh the agony! Now please buy me smoothie to make up for the humiliating scene!"
A smile unconsciously lit up on Syaoran's features. "Eat snow."
"Oh, no thanks," Eriol replied dryly. "While you were saying all that B.S., I somehow miraculously healed. Ain't that great!" He rolled his eyes, taking spot by a fence alongside Syaoran, who was using it as a pillar. Then the boys waited; Eriol for a ride, and Syaoran for Sakura – unknowingly.
In the vast, pulpy white scenery, they stood in silence, one boy in thought, and the other bored to death – the bored one being Eriol. Being THAT insufferably bored, Eriol, desperate in action, took interest in the vapors escaping Syaoran's mouth and nostrils as he exhaled, and the occasional neck rub with the hand, or even that strange, gigantic smile stretching on his face. …! WAIT! Gigantic smile…? Plus, Syaoran?!
This must be an extraterrestrial event! Never before had Syaoran ever smiled like that! This was something new, something that must be double-checked, and something that fazed Eriol to a certain degree. Eriol turned toward Syaoran.
"So…" the raven-haired lad begun. "You're looking gay today. What's up?"
"Mmh."
It was such a careless, not-interested-in-listening-to-you retort that prompted more curiosity on Eriol's behalf. Coming up with possible theories and bizarre conclusions, his spectacles then gave off a mischievous shine. "Eeh, is it possible that the almighty Li is in love for the first time? And, is the girl who he has fallen for the girl who lives in his house?!"
"Mhm—WHAT?!"
"Aha, so you were listening to me!" Eriol yelled annoyingly.
Syaoran arched a brow. "All I heard was… Sakura…"
"Aha! I didn't even mention her name, so you were thinking about her! Eeeee," Eriol cried in a girly-girl sound.
Syaoran clenched his fingers. "And, I bet you're asking for a severe beating, right?"
"Y-Yea—NO!" Eriol scratched his head. "Eff you, Li! I know someone like you can't resist a girl like Sakura who is irresistible and cute-looking at the same time. (Ahem, not that I'm interested. My heart goes for Daidouji-san!) So what's the deal? Huh?"
Syaoran's composure fell. Conversation gone awry! He quickly ransacked his brain for something good to say without blowing his cover. 'Kuso. Was I THAT easy to figure out?' "N-No, it-it's n-n-nothing." Syaoran denied the allegation while stammering like crazy. He scoffed heavily, apparently irritated with four eyes over there.
Eriol, ruthless in nature, continued to persist like an avenger. "Y'sure about that?" he sang.
Syaoran's jaw jumped. "Quit jerking around! You want to die? Ack!" In frustration, he shook the fence the two of them were leaning on with all his vigor; his dark intention was to make Eriol slip and land on his back. Then, he'd make snowballs just to stuff in Eriol's mouth… and break his glasses… and-and…
"Jeez Li! Are you that angry?" Eriol said, hobbling away.
Syaoran stopped shaking the fence, wearing an expression that resembled perplexity. "I…don't know." His eyebrows furrowed as realization soon occurred on him; he had gotten mad so fast, and had irrationally vented his anger off on Eriol, which was something he rarely did. Syaoran ruffled his hair, dusting off specks of snow in the process, and wondering why the heck he was so moody.
"I'm just feeling… impatient…?"
"How come?" Eriol asked.
"Cuz'…" Syaoran growled. "Um…Sakura! Urgh! I don't know where she is! I told her to meet me here! But she's taking forever, wherever she is!" He yelled. His eyes all of a sudden widened as his mouth grew small. "Uh, I mean, today I'm supposed to be taking her home. Not that, uh…"
"Oh?"
Syaoran glared pointedly. "'Oh' WHAT?"
"She must still be in school then," Eriol said as a matter-of-factly. "We should go fetch her inside the building… race through the halls for old time's sake." He grinned sheepishly, to which Syaoran gave his disapproval to.
"I think we're past that age."
"That's why it's for old time's sake!"
Syaoran chuckled. "Okay, okay, for old time's sake."
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Notes: This chapter is much shorter than the last, but I think it's fine the way it is. Too much has happened already, and I don't want to cram all that in this chapter due to my extreme laziness that I embrace. My laziness thickens each day that I barely can pull myself out of bed. Well, maybe that's because of lack of sleep. But you get the point! It's around 3:30am. I am stupid for staying up late, and when I revise late, I tend to miss a lot of errors. Heh. Oh well, I'm gonna get some light out starting……………NOW! Oh, and review pretty please.