What's up guys?! Having fun this holiday? Hahah. I know you people have waited long for this chapter so here it is! From me to you!
(CCS DOES NOT BELONG TO ME! IT BELONGS TO… EHEH. MAYBE I SHOULD ASK FOR IT AS A GIFT? NAH. THAT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT. IT BELONGS TO CLAMP!)
CHAPTER 11
BEHIND A SILLY SMILE
"XIAAAAOOO LAAAANNNGG!~" yelled a guy, running towards the man he spoke of.
"Oof!" Xiao Lang grunted when the running guy jumped on him, dangling himself on Xiao Lang's shoulders. "Can't you be a bit gentler, Kyoushi?"
"Says the man with beefy arms and said to have unbelievable abs," Kyoushi laughed.
"You have them too so shut up," Xiao Lang laughed as well. He then looked towards a man standing by a few monitors. "Hey Takashi, you done yet?"
"Yeah. I think this is good enough so I'm done." Takashi stopped looking at the screen and went to join the two men. He stopped for a while to look at the two of them grinning stupidly. "You two sure bonded. Isn't he heavy?"
"This guy?" Xiao Lang looked incredulous. "He's as light as a feather! You should try feeling four older women climbing on to you."
"Oh yeah. Having sisters like yours sure is something. Hahahah." Takashi patted Kyoushi on the head, making him smile childishly.
"I always wanted to see your sisters! I hear they're pretty funny!" Kyoushi said from Xiao Lang's shoulder. If he had a tail, it would be wagging by now due to how happy he felt.
"I guess you can say that," Xiao Lang sweat-dropped. "And isn't it about time you got off me?"
"Do I have to?"
"Duh."
"Alright…" Kyoushi sighed and climbed off. His depression didn't last long as he was excited to go out with the two guys. There weren't many guys his age around the studio so when he managed to make friends with the only two people that were, his happiness soared. "So where are we going this time?"
"Its Takashi's turn to choose," Xiao Lang said to the tail wagging human.
"I found this great place out of town. It's a steak house! Hot steaming tenderness that melts the moment it hits your tongue, releasing an amazing variety of tastes and spices from the juiciness that oozes out into your mouth," Takashi shuddered. "The feeling of it going down your throat is just heavenly!"
"Whoah! Hey!" Xiao Lang exclaimed after looking at Kyoushi. "Don't go drooling all over the place just yet!"
"I can't help it…" Kyoushi wiped his face. "Just listening about it is making me so hungry…"
"Right? Right?" Takashi grinned.
They walked towards a clothes line of outfits and started rummaging through it to find something to wear.
"Maybe I should go as a diva this time," Kyoushi joked after putting on big-ass shades and a feather hat on. He pouted his lips to make what people called, a duck face. He earned himself a smack on the head. "Ow!" The shades fell from his eyes.
"Do you want me to smack you?" Xiao Lang asked.
"But you already did," he frowned, rubbing the back of his melon.
"Oh yeah. I did." They all laughed and quickly chose more appropriate disguises to go out for lunch. They left the studio, went up to Takashi's BMW (it was the least to stand out) and drove off to the place where they decided to have lunch.
It had been almost two weeks since Kyoushi came to the studio. Xiao Lang was sceptical at first about the guy for he was too childish, super clumsy, timid and yet so bold at the same time. But it was his persistency that won Xiao Lang over. No matter how he treated the guy, he was always happy. His actions were so stupid that he ended up laughing at almost everything he did.
Soon, he realized that he was the one being despicable. Kyoushi meant no harm at all. It just shows how much of a newbie he was as an actor. No matter how you despise someone, a job is a job. Moreover, it was an acting job that he decided to make into a career. That just made him feel even worse at how he treated Kyoushi. It also gave him a new level of respect towards the guy. He was really headstrong and has great perseverance; the mark of a great actor.
In truth, Xiao Lang understood that Kyoushi was a lot like Sakura, - clumsy, childish, timid yet bold, headstrong- only emphasized by ten. And when it came to Ying Fa, Kyoushi never really did anything besides be a friend to her. Likewise to what he did the first day they met, he was really a gentleman. He was always making Ying Fa laugh. Regardless, he would make Kyoushi suffer if ever he made the girl cry but he never spoke of it to him though.
"Hey, hey, Xiao Lang!" Kyoushi called out from the backseat.
"Mmm?"
"When are you, me and Ying Fa having that practice meet again?" he asked.
"It's tonight, after the sideline scenes," Xiao Lang answered.
"It wasn't tomorrow?!"
"Do you have pachinko balls for brains or something?" Xiao Lang laughed. "The scene is tomorrow. When else to practice for it then tonight? I wonder how manage to memorize all your lines so well with your short-term memory."
"Hey!" Kyoushi pouted, and then laughed in return. "Of course it's because I forget everything else that I manage to remember my lines. In turn, the only things I remember are my lines though."
"Typical you," Takashi said from the steering wheel.
"Don't you think you might regret it if you forget something important by mistake?" Xiao Lang questioned.
"Hurmm…" Kyoushi leaned on his back. He crossed his arms and closed his eyes, trying to imagine in his head if the situation should ever occur. "I'll remember."
"You're sure?"
"Maaaybe."
There was a short silence before Takashi broke it with his laughter. "Just let him be, Xiao Lang. I'm sure he knows what he's doing. That attitude of his just makes him who he is."
"Yup! This is who I am!"
"Which makes me wonder what gave you such a demeanour," Takashi turned the steering wheel at the corner of a junction. "Well?"
Kyoushi went quiet for a while, somehow reluctant to answer. Xiao Lang wondered what was wrong and faced him before Kyoushi began to talk. "I… I guess I was born this way."
That was the first time Xiao Lang saw Kyoushi make such a face.
It was a smile full of pain.
"Kyo-" but Xiao Lang was stopped by Kyoushi shaking his head, still smiling the same painful smile.
"We're here!" Takashi exclaimed, making Xiao Lang sit back straight. He parked the car and killed the engine. "Kay, guys. Hats down, shades on- oh, and don't forget the accent."
"Yee-haw!" Kyoushi yelled, fist-pumping.
"Err… too much accent."
"Oops."
"Never mind," Takashi laughed. "Let's get us some juicy steaks!"
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o 0o0o0o
"We're finally going to start acting tomorrow!" Ying Fa squealed.
"We've come a long way, haven't we?" Xiao Lang smiled which she returned.
"I can't wait to finally act again!" Kyoushi yelled, almost throwing the script in his hand.
"Down boy," Xiao Lang calmed him. "Now sit so we can begin."
"Yes, ma'am! I mean, sir!"
The three of them were in one of the lounges in the studio to practice their scenes together. The one and a half week that passed were mostly used for preparations of all sorts. During all that time, Both Sakura and Syaoran didn't go to school at all. Syaoran's reason was clear but he never knew of Sakura's absence from school. He only called her from time to time and also promised to tell her if ever he was going to come the next day.
"Before we start practicing lines, let's get the storyline done," Xiao Lang started off. Ying Fa always admired that part of him where he could command authority so easily. It made her want to strive to be better herself.
"Okay. So let's read the synopsis again to get the whole story," Ying Fa continued. They all agreed and began reading and skipping pages where they could. After a few minutes, they were all half done.
"There's no ending."
Both Ying Fa and Xiao Lang looked at Kyoushi. He read it unbelievably fast!
"Well, the director, Kaho said that they were still pending the ending," Ying Fa told them both. "They are having trouble to putting something down where the head of Sakura Corp will be satisfied with."
'Touya, huh?' Xiao Lang thought. His name alone would explain many things about Ying Fa's career. Among them was why she was so sheltered. She's never been to a single club even once, even if she was 16, being a celebrity granted you many things.
But because of that, he was pretty thankful of Touya. If not for him, neither Sakura nor Ying Fa would be who they are today without his protection. Who knows, Ying Fa could have ended up as a skanky slut who sold her body to get publicity.
"Then how is the shooting going to be?" Kyoushi tilted his head.
"I'm not sure yet but I'm sure they'll notify us the moment they conclude it."
"Then let's just focus on the now!" Kyoushi beamed his innocent smile. "I finally scored an important role. What's more, it's with you two incredible people!"
Both Ying Fa and Xiao Lang grimaced. Kyoushi complemented them too much. Anyone who looked clearly would notice that they managed to get the main roles because of their connections, unlike Kyoushi who has been working since long ago. He was the senior, the leader, the pro. And yet, his innocence clouded his eyes from the truth, if not altering it.
"Kyoushi… we're not really…" Xiao Lang tried to say.
"You're more incredible, Kyoushi." Ying Fa smiled. "You managed to get so far with your hard work alone. You received no help at all, yet here you are."
Something flashed in Kyoushi's eyes, as if he was reliving his former self. He looked at his feet for a second and smiled.
He grabbed Ying Fa's hand and put it against his cheek. "Thank you, Ying Fa-chan. That means a lot coming from you…"
Xiao Lang gripped his hands unconsciously but said nothing. He knew that Kyoushi was in pain because of something. Besides, he had no right to do anything.
Ying Fa patted Kyoushi's head with her free hand and smiled. After that, he let go and apologized.
"Sorry 'bout that," he smiled at them both. "But you guys are amazing! You may think that you got here due to connections but that's wrong!"
Ying Fa and Xiao Lang looked at each other, eyes meeting. So Kyoushi knew what they were thinking. He was sharper than they thought.
"You both have incredible voices that I obviously don't, and everyone loves you guys." Kyoushi stood up to prove his point. "Just by making your voices heard, you guys managed to capture the hearts of so many people, not only in Japan or Hong Kong either."
"But this is acting-"
"Does it matter?" Kyoushi interrupted. "You guys still used your talents alone. When you two got the parts, did you get any words of disapproval from anyone? No, right! That proves that the both of you have reached a level where close to no one can deny you this privilege. Connections have nothing to do with it. I'm sure if you guys just announced that you wanted to go into acting, just your names alone would call upon many job offers."
The two of them were speechless. What Kyoushi said did have lots of merits in it.
"Your silence proves it." He smiled down triumphantly at the two sitting. "So am I right, or am I right!"
Ying Fa and Xiao Lang both smiled with him and finally agreed, an unspoken burden lifting off their shoulders. Kyoushi was really a wonderful person, both kind and logic, not to mention sharp.
"Alright, we agree. Hahahah." Xiao Lang got up and bro-fisted him, pounding his head at the same time- messing his raven black hair.
"Yup! But that doesn't mean we're any better than you," Sakura said as she got up to join them.
Her agreeing made him beam even more than he did before. It was impossible to go unnoticed by Xiao Lang, but he ignored such a feeling.
"Okay!"
"Now let's sit back down and continue discussing the story line," Xiao Lang advised.
"Oh! Right!"
They all sat back down and began their discussion again.
"So I'll summarize the story for all of us," Xiao Lang started. "Excuse my language as I think we have all reached a level where formalities are unnecessary."
"I've never used formalities anyways," Kyoushi said, sticking out his tongue playfully.
"I don't mind at all," Ying Fa smiled.
"Alright. So the story begins with a perfect man and woman in looks, intelligence and physical attributes. So of course they were a couple, admired by many and stuff. But they couldn't snub out the insecurity they felt when it came to spawning a child of their own. They were too accustomed to being idolized and thought of as perfection that they unknowingly became too materialistic for their own good.
When they both found out their baby was on the way, their obsessive mind-set took control of their senses. Nothing was more important than making sure their baby was perfect. So with no regard of the consequences, they dug up some forgotten ancient dark magic and summoned the devil under a five hundred year old Sakura tree during a full blood moon. It was for a fact that their genetics were more than enough to bring forth a seamless child into the world. However, their greed fed the devil and allowed it to reward them with something they could never undo alone. It cursed their unborn child."
Xiao Lang took a deep breath after summarizing the beginning of the story. The story was set in the current century only with a few twists of fantasy in it. "The script's pretty fancy. Clow Reed must have had a hand in it," he muttered.
"Let me do the next part since it's mostly about me," Ying Fa said, earning a nod from Xiao Lang. "Nothing could stop the devil from uttering his curse,
'The descendant of two retained in beauty shall acquire all rights that have been bestowed upon her through the bond of blood,
However, all shall be veiled by a mask of human detestation and revulsion unless one shall surrender the deepest darkness of the heart in a mass of trust and love.
Only then will the child truly be perfect.'
With that, the devil disappeared into the red of the night," Ying Fa concluded.
"After that is when we find you floating in the water, right? Like supposedly 16 years into the future?" Kyoushi said.
"Yeah. That should be right."
"Are you two ready for that particular scene?" Kyoushi smirked knowingly.
Both Ying Fa and Xiao Lang blushed, understanding what he meant.
"How did that scene go again?" Kyoushi asked, deliberately trying to tease them.
"Kyoushi!" Ying Fa stuttered.
"Hahahahah. Fine! Fine! I'll help remind you guys," he laughed, flashing his teeth in wonder. He started before the two could stop him. "I push Xiao La- I mean Taiyou into the water to go save you. He gets you on the boat, thinking he saved a guy, you being extremely ugly due to the curse and all, and refuses to do CPR to a guy. But after tricking him into kissing you, he realized you were actually a girl by the most common thing for a girl to have. He accidently grabs your-"
"Kyoushi! We get it!" Xiao Lang yelled, his face red out of embarrassment.
"Hahahahah! You should see your faces!" Kyoushi laughed at the two blushing people. "It's all fake anyways. You're not even really kissing her. Well, technically its CPR but you're not doing that either."
"Ky-Kyoushi…" Ying Fa stammered.
Seeing her flushed face was enough to make Kyoushi's heart all warm and fuzzy. He loved seeing all kinds of her expressions. The same went for Xiao Lang only a bit different.
To Xiao Lang, he loved seeing the innocence in a person. But it made him guiltier with him thinking of only Sakura every time he looked at Ying Fa. (O_o)
"Alright, Ying Fa- chan! For you, I'll do anything," Kyoushi smiled childishly. "So let's finish up, act it out and go back to our comfy beds!"
"I couldn't agree more," Xiao Lang sighed.
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Another three weeks passed since they moved out of the studio and onto the location of the setting. They lived in one of the hotels close by during the entire time. Xiao Lang bunked with Kyoushi and Takashi while Ying Fa had her time with the other girls her age; Naoko, Rika Chiharu, and even Tomoyo from time to time.
"It's getting pretty cold, isn't it?" Tomoyo shivered and walked over to the heater to turn up the heat.
"It IS winter, Moyo."
"I know. I know. But is the movie going to be okay like this? Do you need me to make you another cold resistant coat, Sakura?" Tomoyo asked and sat down on one of the beds in their hotel suite.
"I think she already has enough clothes from you as it is," Chiharu stated from her laying position on her own bed.
"You can never have too much clothes, Chiharu."
"Hahahah. Maybe for you two since you're both famous. Well, you in name only so I guess only Sakura, huh," Chiharu replied. "Who knew you'd become so famous, Saks."
"It's true. You've really come far, Sakura," Naoko said. "Who knew you would go into acting."
"Yeah. We're so proud of you!" Rika pitched in.
"Thanks guys," Sakura thanked them. It was really great to finally have all her friends together after so long. Her identity prevented her to mingle with them outside of Ying Fa. Not even as Sakura at school. "I guess it took me two years to release my qualms about my mom."
Everyone sympathized her for a moment, thinking about the incident two years ago that shook Sakura's family with the death of her mother, the initial cause that ignited Sakura to be a singer in the first place.
"Is it also because of Xiao Lang~?" Chiharu smirked, making Sakura blush. "It is, isn't it?"
"Not really…" her reply earned many stares of disbelief. "Alright! Alright! He is one of the reasons. But the main one is because I've finally decided to take this celebrity thing seriously. Unless I find another reason to live for, this is what I want to do."
"Awwwww~~~!" The girls squealed.
"Our little girl has grown up!" Rika exclaimed.
"Don't forget us when you're all famous," Naoko said.
"You're gonna kick ass!" Chiharu yelled.
"And I'm going to be there all the way!" Tomoyo jumped joyfully. "Now I can widen your variety of clothing!"
Everyone sweat dropped but laughed anyways.
"Oh yeah, what about that Li Syaoran guy?" Chiharu asked all of a sudden.
Sakura looked at her curiously. "How do you know about Syaoran?" Sakura wasn't yet on first name basis with Syaoran but when she wasn't with him, she uses his given name unconsciously.
"I think the whole school knows that you two are always together," Rika said.
"Yup. Especially since Amy has been spreading all these weird rumours 'bout you guys," Naoko added. "And I'm sure around…. 150% is trash talk."
"Really?" Sakura seemed worried. She sat up straight on her bed. "I hope none of this affects my friendship with Syaoran. Having him as a best friend is so much fun."
Everyone looked at her weirdly.
"Sakura, are you friendzoning him?" Chiharu asked after a while.
"Huh? Am I what?"
"Oh trust me, she is," Tomoyo announced. "She just doesn't know or want to admit it."
"Hooooooooh~," the rest of girls, except Sakura, hooted.
"What are you guys on about?"she asked, obviously confused. "Which reminds me… Christmas is coming soon. I've got the Christmas Eve charity concert to do. I wonder if I'll get to hang out with Syaoran… But he's busy and so am I…"
The other girls grinned at the girl's stupidity and innocence but let her be. They knew nothing they say now would help the girl's maturity in that particular aspect.
"What about hanging with Xiao Lang?" Tomoyo asked.
Sakura was silent for a while as the girls gazed at her, awaiting her answer. "I don't think I want to."
"What?" "Huh?" "Seriously?" The girls were surprised by the answer. The question on their minds was the same.
"WHY?"
"Hoe!" Sakura said, started by the burst. "I-it's just that… Both him and me are really serious about this acting gig, so I don't think I should pester him with my feelings." She smiled as she continued, fidgeting as she sat on her bed. "I'm sure my feelings will reach him someday. But until that day comes, I'm content with being his friend. I want to reach the stars with him, climbing on my own two feet!"
"What about confessing your feelings?" Naoko voiced everyone's thoughts.
"Hmmmm…" Sakura thought for a while. Everyone stared at her, hoping to get a juicy answer. "After the movie ends, I'll confess. Whatever happens after that, I'll leave it up to fate. Right now, the most important thing is my career and my friends."
"Cheh. You've become somewhat more mature, haven't you," Chiharu said and walked over to join Sakura on her bed. The rest of the girls joined her until they were all sitting on Sakura's bed. The bed wasn't big enough for all five of them so they squished each other to make room.
"I'm gonna miss the childish you," Rika giggled.
"She's still childish, Rika," Naoko poked Sakura's cheek.
"Definitely. Here, let me show you." After saying that, Tomoyo immediately attacked Sakura's body with non-stop tickling which was amplified with the fingers of all the other girls on the bed.
"BWUAHAHAHAHA-S-STOOOP-HAHAHAHAH!" Sakura tried to shield herself but she was overwhelmed and on the verge of tears. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH!"
Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.
"Ph-phone-hahahahah!" Sakura tried to say in between laughs.
"I'll get it!" Chiharu said and got up to answer the phone one the counter. "Moshi Moshi!"
After a few moments of silence, except for Sakura's gasping for air and leftover laughs, Chiharu squealed in excitement.
"REALLY?! Okay! We understand. Thank you!" Chiharu ended the call and looked at them, her expression that of happiness. "We got a week off for Christmas!" she yelled.
"WOOHOOOOOO!" The girls cheered.
"Your wish came true, Sakura!" Tomoyo shook her friend from her exhaustion. "Now you have time to spend with Syaoran! And me with Eriol!"
"What? Really?" Sakura immediately lost all signs of being attacked and joined them in their celebration. They cheered and laughed, finally able to enjoy the holidays that were their rights. But not before Sakura remembered something important. "Oh yeah! I have to call and ask him first if he's free."
She grabbed her phone and was just about to dial his number when it rang.
TUTTUTTUTTUTUTUTRALALALALALA LALAAAAAAAA~
It was Syaoran.
"Moshi Moshi!" she answered.
"Hello."
"Li-kun! I was just about to call you!" Sakura walked into another room to get away from all the cheering and screaming. "Are you free next week?"
"…Yes."
"Then wanna hang out?" Sakura was excited by his answer, all worries fading instantly. She was finally going to be able to have fun with her friend again. She didn't realize how much she missed him.
"Can I… bring my cousin?"
"Huh?" Sakura was startled by the question. Her heart tightened a bit, which she noticed slightly but chose to ignore it. It wasn't nice to decline. "Who? Eriol?"
"No…"
"No?" She didn't know any other of Syaoran's cousins so maybe it was good to meet the person. "Okay then! Its fine! So I'll call you later after the date and place is settled!"
"Okay."
"Bye-Bye Li-kun! Happy holidays!"
"Bye."
She could almost detect a smile from his last word and giggled. Having a person like Syaoran as a friend was so amusing. Then, she walked back outside to join her friends in their pillow fight warzone.
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"Hey, Xiao Laaaaang~"
"Yes, Kyoushi?" he answered from his computer.
"I'm bored. Let's play something!" Kyoushi exclaimed, sitting backwards on a chair facing the chocolate haired man.
"I'm a… kinda busy. Why not go play with Takashi or something?" Xiao Lang didn't avert his eyes an inch from his laptop.
"No can do!" Kyoushi yelled and got up. He walked over to where Syaoran was and tried climbing on to his shoulder. "Takashi's showering."
"Pool then." He typed furiously, not flinching a bit even with Kyoushi's arms pulling him from the chair.
"It's not fun to swim alone. Whatcha doing anyways?"
"Well, right now my song writer, Clow Reed is briefing me on this new idea he has," he answered as he typed, "and right now I'm stating my opinion on it. I'll try finishing it up sooner but unless we get a break long than lunch, I'm going to always be busy even when I settle this one thing."
"Clow Reed?" Kyoushi tilted his head as if just realizing something. "I don't like him. He talks weird."
"You've met him?"
"Nope!"
Xiao Lang sweat dropped but chuckled anyways. "Yeah. He does get annoying sometimes but he's a good person. My best friend, in fact. He's working on some parts of the script too, in this movie."
"Really? No wonder the script's funny," Kyoushi snorted.
"I get used to it so, it makes not much difference to me." Xiao Lang pushed 'enter' and clicked 'send'. "Alright. I'm done. So what now? I'm not in the mood to leave the room at the moment nor am I much of a girl but is there anything you want to talk about?" Xiao Lang turned his seat, making Kyoushi fall on his bottom from pulling on him.
Kyoushi smiled sheepishly and decided to stay down there. "It's already nightime and I suddenly became sooooo lazy too. But I still want to do something… so I guess talking counts as a 'something'."
"Great! Cuz like I said, laziness has just invaded this space. Some bromance might be good for us."
"Let's ask tons of questions! I'll start!"
"Go ahead, Dog-boy," Xiao Lang offered and spun his chair around just to make himself dizzy.
"Let's see… what should I ask first…" As Kyoushi thought, he patted both his cheeks causing it to create an annoying popping sound. "Is it okay to ask something personal? Not answering is totally up to you~!"
"Ask awaaaaaay~" he answered, still spinning round and round, his head joing the rhythm.
"Okay. So when did you start knowing Ying Fa?"
Xiao Lang's chair stopped, the after effect taking a big toll on his senses. He tried pulling himself together to look at Kyoushi but all he saw was Kyoushi's baby-like smile floating all around his face. He shook his head vigorously and tried to regain his focus.
"Ying Fa?" he blinked. "I think it wasn't until we decided to make the music video together, like a few months ago."
"That's not long at all but you two seem so close!" Kyoushi had a look of awe like it was the coolest thing in the world. "I'm so jealous!"
"What? Why?" asked Xiao Lang, surprised by the statement.
"Why else? She's Ying Fa," Kyoushi said bluntly.
"O-okay." Xiao Lang tried understanding but nothing came to mind. Did Kyoushi like Ying Fa or was he just a fan? However, he was also a celebrity so why would he want to be a fan to any other celebrity, unless it was just pure admiration? This kid was just so confusing, especially when he rarely showed any other emotions besides utter joy. The only rare occurances were when he was in the car to lunch one day and when he was with Ying Fa and him. "Now its my turn. Soooo… are you always this happy? I mean, were you like born with a clownish smile the day you came out of your mom's… uterus?"
Kyoushi looked taken aback by the question. Not many, if not none at all, asked that type of question to him. Most were content with him just being agreeable, pleasant and didn't cause any trouble. Among the reasons he was that way was so no one would shove him away or ask too many questions.
"T-that… No," he started to stutter and looked down.
"No?"
Kyoushi too a deep breath and looked at Xiao Lang straight in the eyes with a jolly smile. "Nope! I've never always been this happy."
Startled by his reaction, Xiao Lang observed every edge of the other's face. The smile looked honest enough. But even through the happiness glow of it, deeper within he could detect even the slightest bit of angst.
"I see," he said. "So this is who you are now?"
"Most definitely!"
"That's good then." Xiao Lang smiled and got up to walk to his bed. He wobbled a bit, still dizzy he guessed, steadied himself and layed down. "Anything else?"
"Oh! There is!" Kyoushi slided his wheeling chair over to where Xiao Lang was. "I've always noticed how good you are at acting even though this is the first time you've acted. Won't you tell me your secret?" He wagged his non-existent tail.
Xiao Lang let himself think for a while. Should I tell him? He looked at the face of the doggy boy and sighed. His puppy dog eyes were too big to be normal.
"Okay. I'll tell you."
"Yeeaaahh!" Kyoushi hooted.
"But don't tell ANYONE."
"Right, Boss! I won't tell anyone even if it kills me!"
"Good." Xiao Lang took a deep breath and began confessing. "I do acting outside of the studio."
Kyoushi's ear twitched. "You mean on the streets?"
"Yeah, I guess you could say that." Xiao Lang wondered if he should continue talking and thought, he already said this much. "I go to school too. Even with friends."
Kyoushi's eyes grew extremely wide as he processed what was being said. "You mean no one knows who you are? Cool! I want to do that! Teach me! Bring me with you!"
"Not a chance! That'd just be strange, don't you think? Someone like you suddenly appearing. You have to set up a good backround and everything."
"Awwwww… Just tell how you do it, then? I've never actually tried that stunt." Excitement flashed in Kyoushi's eyes, another thing that could be used as a distraction from all others. "How can they not guess who you are? I think its pretty obvious with that voice of yours. It's like a voice that fell from the heavens!"
"E-excuse me?"
"Come on, someone must have complimented your voice before." Xiao Lang shrugged his shoulders in agreement, his face indicated he's heard worse, or was it better? Kyoushi continued, "Your voice also synchronizes perfectly with Ying Fa that it's unearthly! But… her voice is different than yours…" his voice became softer.
"What do you mean?" Xiao Lang arched his eyebrow and heard his heart thumping in his chest. Was he about to hear a confession?
"Ying Fa… she's… amazing. Her voice isn't like heaven at all," Kyoushi shut his eyes. His face looked like he was dreaming… A dream of nightmares and a savior. "It's like darkness…"
"You'd better explain, Kyoushi." Xiao Lang didn't try to hide his glare, daring the other guy to continue. "I don't quite take others bad mouthing my friends."
Kyoushi chuckled and smiled. "You're a nice guy, Xiao. But I'm saying what I feel. Besides, I'm not even done talking yet. Now where was I…" he shut his eyes again, dreaming.
Xiao Lang watched the actions of Kyoushi. He seemed even weirder now. The guy looked like he was sleeping! His lips were mumbling something which he couldn't make out much but he did catch a few words. Dark, cold, and mom.
"Kyoushi?"
"Like darkness," the sleeping figure suddenly said, eyes still closed. "An angel from the deep who knows sorrow as well as anybody. She rose from the water and on to the land, in search for a better salvation… and also, redemption. A being that uses her charm and makes her voice heard. A siren."
Is he talking about Ying Fa? Xiao Lang was confused. If he was, he either knew her in a way he didn't, or he was just babbling. Either way, it just proved how bizzare Kyoushi was. Is he a happy person, or just a person that hides behind that smile?
Suddenly, he opened his eyes and the childish smile returned.
"But that's besides the point! Now answer my previous question, please!" he said.
"What question?"
"Sigh. I mean the one where they can't tell who you are even with your obvious deep voice!" Kyoushi moved his face even closer to get a better hearing range. He really wanted to know the answer.
Xiao Lang sighed and smiled. It didn't matter what or who the kid was. They were now friends and that's all that mattered. And also as long as he didn't harm Ying Fa. "I'll tell you my secret," he lowered his voice. "The thing is, when I'm out in the field, the real world, I rarely talk at all!"
"What? You don't talk?!" Kyoushi yelled in surprise but was hurriedly shushed by Xiao Lang. "Is that your character? Tell me about it!" he said quietly.
"Hummmm…" Xiao Lang laid back down and thought about it. "That's kind of difficult. It'll be easier if you could see it for yourself but that's kinda…"
"Let me see it! Let me join you!"
"What?! No way!" he refused.
"I swear I'll be a good actor! They won't know me! I wanna be in the real field as well!" Kyoushi begged continuesly. "I've been acting for a long time! I know I'll be great! I will-"
"Alright! Alright!" Xiao Lang finally gave in and waved his hands in defeat.
"Wooohooo!" Kyoushi knocked over his chair and jumped up and down in pure excitement. After calming down, he was about to hug Xiao Lang but was stopped with Xiao Lang's palm pushing his face to protect himself. "Ack!" He waved his arms to reach Xiao Lang.
"No hugs."
"Cheh." He stopped his attempt and went back to sitting down on the chair that fell over after picking it up. "So when's it?"
"Not sure. We've still got a lot of filming to do so it may be a long time," Xiao Lang answered. "Unless we get some sudden break, it's best to just forget about it for now and concentrate on work."
"Awww… But I want to try it out now!" Kyoushi exasperatedly yelled into the air.
"Unless some miracle happens, we aren't getting a break out of thin air."
"Then I call upon a miracle! Give us a break!" Kyoushi waves his hands in the air, as if to summon something and spun his chair in circles.
As if on cue, the phone rang. RRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INNNNNGGG~
"That must be my miracle!" Kyoushi stopped spinning and glided his chair to the phone on the table.
"Right~ Keep dreaming, Dog-boy."
"Moshi moshi!" after that, he went quiet. The expression on his face was extremely serious as if he had just received a death sentence. Xiao Lang started to worry if something was wrong. "I see… Okay. Goodbye." Kyoushi ended the call and slowly glided towards Xiao Lang, still holding that severe look on his face.
"Did something happen?" Xiao Lang asked. Kyoushi remained silent even after reaching the edge of Xiao Lang's bed, his sullen face in the direction of the floor. "What's wrong, Kyoushi?"
Xiao Lang couldn't see Kyoushi's face as his raven black hair covered it perfectly. For a second there, he thought Kyoushi was crying until he heard the low chuckle that brew in his throat. Not long after, it became a barking laughter that filled the room. He threw his head back as he laughed.
"Kyoushi?"
"I did it, Xiao Lang! We have a miracle!" Kyoushi shook Xiao Lang's shoulder enthusiasticly.
"Seriously?! A break?!" Xiao Lang got up from the bed. "When?!"
"The week of Christmas! Until the new year!" Kyoushi joined him, standing up, ready to celebrate at any time.
"You sly dog!" Xiao Lang rapped his arm around Kyoushi's shoulder and punched the top of his head, messing his hair as much as he could.
"AAH! My hair!"Kyoushi tried to let himself free out of the arms of the incredibly strong man.
"Hahahahah!" Xiao Lang laughed and let go of him. "What's wrong with letting your hair a bit messy?"
Kyoushi tried putting his hair back into its previous style but failed miserably. So instead, he grinned. "My hair isn't like your messy one. It's kinda hard to take care of."
"Who cares!" Xiao Lang yelled ecstaticly. He just couldn't contain his glee. He can finally see Sakura again! The main reason he decided to take such an offer in Japan.
"You seem so happy! Then I'm happy too!" Kyoushi decided.
"Okay. Now we've got to make preparations!" Xiao Lang paced the room. "What will you be… My brother? Too unbelievable… My friend? Too weird… I got it. My cousin!" he continued to mumble to himself as he hit things while pacing. He laughed to himself from time to time like a crazy person.
Kyoushi watched how funny Xiao Lang was acting. He's never seen him acting so utterly blissful. It made him happy as well to see the first friend he made here like that. Not only was he the first friend Kyoushi made in the studio but rather the first friend he's ever made. A fact that no one knew.
"Ack! What the heck am I doing?!" Xiao Lang suddenly shouted. "I should call her and make plans first!" He rushed to his phone and dialed her number. Before he pressed call, he said to Kyoushi, "No matter what, say nothing. Wait until I end the call."
"You got it, Boss!" Kyoushi grinned and sat down to watch Xiao Lang make the call. His actions earlier were so amusing that he couldn't wait to see more.
Xiao Lang pressed call.
Barely a few seconds after that, the other person answered and a loud 'Moshi Moshi!' was heard.
"Hello," Xiao Lang said in the softest voice Kyoushi had ever heard. His amusement just scyrocketed. He inched in closer. He couldn't make out what the other person was saying but he or she sounded just as happy as he himself always was.
"…Yes," Xiao Lang answered a question the other person asked and made him or her squeal. Probably a girl, Kyoushi concluded.
"Can I… bring my cousin?" Xiao Lang's voice was completely controlled but anyone around him would see the obvious joyous grin he had.
The person asked something which Xiao Lang answered again. "No…"
After that, it was quiet for a moment on the other line but she answered something back. She talked a lot too since Xiao Lang's pauses were pretty long. He rarely said anything at all! Unlike his usual attitude which Kyoushi was used too.
"Okay," Xiao Lang said, his smile still clearly plastered on his silly face. He looked at Kyoushi, gave a thumbs up that went stupidly with his dumb grin and held in a laugh at Kyoushi's baffled expression.
Kyoushi caught a 'Bye-Bye Li-kun! Happy holidays!' which was practically a yell.
Xiao Lang's smile grew even wider. "Bye." If anyone heard that single word, the smile could easily be detected if they listened hard enough. Xiao Lang hung up and released a loud blissful sigh.
"What the heck was that?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!" Kyoushi let go of all his built up laughter.
"Oh shut up, Dog-Boy. We've got work to do."
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(SAKURA'S POV)
Yay! I'm meeting with Syaoran today! His cousin is going to be there too, though. I wonder what he's like…
I continue to walk to the designated place we had decided a few days ago. We were going to hang around Tokyo park where the Sakura trees were at. They were obviously not in bloom but it was still a beautiful sight to behold. I'm not sure what exactly Syaoran wants to do there but as long as we hang out, anywhere is fine.
Since it's winter, I'm wearing really thick faded jeans, not too mention boots, a baggy shirt and a huge pink winter overcoat, custom made by Tomoyo. The coat didn't have her initials DT on it so no one would ever suspect I got it from her. On top of my head is a fluffy pink hat with earmuffs included to protect my ears from falling off and slithered around my neck is a huge pink scarf that almost covers half my face. Besides all those are my glasses and warm gloves.
I reach the park 5 minutes early and find an empty bench to sit on. After relaxing my legs and bottom in a very cozy position, I look around. Christmas was in 2 days.(It really is. Now is Sunday in my country. 23rd December) Everywhere around the park was covered in the holiday decorations. There isn't really much snow yet since snow falls pretty late in Tokyo but it is still so breathtaking. Even the ice around the lake is already frozen. I can see a few people skating happily.
Then, from the corner of my eye, I see two silhouettes walking towards me. I turn my head to see who it is but they are still too far away to make out. But even so, soon I manage to detect Syaoran's thick glasses and immediately know it's him. He was wearing a hat though so I can't see his usual gel until rock-like hair. As they get closer, I wave at them to to indicate my position. But I'm sure just my pinkness alone was enough to tell them where I was.
Syaoran's face becomes clearer and my heart heats up fuzzily. My feelings of missing him collapses and all worries about anything else involuntarily disappears.
After that I remember that his cousin is with him! So I take a quick peek to know what kind of person he is, though just looks alone won't tell me much.
It was a surprise because he looks nothing like Syaoran at all. Everything he's wearing is black. From black boots, black leather pants, a black leather coat probably with a black shirt inside too and also a huge black scarf. Oh, and of course he's wearing black gloves as well as I see him take his hands out his pockets. And last but not least are the black shades he is wearing not to mention his hair was ALSO black. It made him look somewhat… dangerous.
I ignore that assumption and get up from the bench to meet them.
"Hi, guys!" I say when they finally reached me.
"Hi," Syaoran replies with that kind smile of his.
The newcomer merely nodds at me which makes it kind of funny. There was actually someone that talked less than Syaoran? They were cousins so it makes sense though. Kinda.
"So this is your cousin?" I dare to ask. "He does resemble you in someways… Somehow."
"In more ways than other. You just can't see it," the all black clothed guy suddenly says which definitely surprised me. I thought he didn't talk much. His voice was kind of gruffy somehow, like it was being controlled to speak in a way he wasn't used to. Or maybe it was just because of the cold and that huge scarf choking him.
"I see…" I look at both of them for a while and giggled a bit. It was true, if there were any similarities at all, I definitely couldn't see a glimpse of any of it. In defeat, I offer my hand to shake. "I'm Kinomoto Sakura, which I'm sure you've already heard from Li-kun. You are?"
"Kyou." He takes my hand and smiles a bit.
"Kyou…?"
"Just Kyou." With that, he let go of my hand and looked somewhere else.
I decide not to look into it and look at Syaoran. "Is there anything you have in mind that you want to do?"
He thinks for a while, or at least I think he's thinking, and looks towards the lake.
"The lake? You want to go skating?" He nodds and smiles at me. I smile back, quite satisfied with his choice this time, unlike the haunted house last time but that turned out okay anyway. "What about you, Kyou-kun? Do you want to go skating?"
He looks at me, arches an eyebrow and says, "If freezing my ass and breaking my bones every time I fall as to the coldness of just standing here solid, I'll choose the latter. But I'd be pleased to watch you two end up as how I said." He smiles.
"Umm… Okay." I smile back. "Then let's get over there."
It was a short walk to the lake. I pull Syaoran's hand the entire time which I'm sure he's used to by now and reach a booth where they let us rent ice-skates. I pick out a pink pair while Syaoran takes a green pair. As we go to pay, the old lady owner gives us a wrinkly kind smile and comments, "You two make such a sweet couple."
I look at Syaoran but he says nothing. I guess it was best to just agree with her. "Thank you, ma'am."
"I pray you two have a wonderful long and happy life together," she says again and waves us off as we head towards the lake.
"That was awkward," I giggle. I look at where Kyou is sitting – a bench right beside the edge of the lake – and call out, "You sure you don't want to join us, Kyou?"
"More sure than a cat afraid of water. It's the consequences I'm not daring to handle." I made a face, complete stupidity, and he says something else. "Just wait and see. Syaoran will show it to you." He smirked the last part which kind of made him look somewhat charming. The other girls present obviously noticed that as well and swooned.
I look at Syaoran. "What does he mean?"
He shruggs and nudges me to the ice.
This is going to be so much fun. It's been so long since I've skated. Its just like rollerblading! So I immediately take his offer and hop onto the ice, still holding his hand. Unknowingly, I accidentally pull his hand with me as I went and heard a loud cracking sound.
Syaoran fell flat on his face. Kyou started laughing like a maniac from his bench.
"Oh my God! I'm so sorry Li-kun!" I fumble and squat down to help him. "You didn't break anything did you?"
He shakes his head as I try to pull him back on his feet. However, my skates caught onto something and this time, we both fell flat on our bottoms. "HOE!"
Kyou's laughter just became incredibly louder. I am definitely going to get him back for that.
"O-owie…" I moaned. "Sorry Li-kun. I guess my clumsiness is on hyperdrive today."
He chuckles in return, though I wonder how he can, and tries to get up again. After a few minutes of 'w-whoa' and 'aaah!', we both finally manage to steady ourselves. We laugh together, as we finally had made progress.
"Do you know how to skate at all, Li-kun?" I decide to ask him.
He shakes his head. Figures.
"Okay, then. Let me teach you!" I take both his hands in mine and usher him forward. "Just put one foot in front of the other like this," I move backwards to let him come forward, "that's it! It's just like walking!"
We follow my steps one by one and manage to move, rather than stay in a single place. We almost fall too many times to count but we laugh it off immediately after. It's just so much fun! But something is quite weird with Syaoran today. Since the beginning, he's been having this goofy grin on his face, even when he falls down. Is he that happy? I wonder why… Is it due to having Kyou here? I look at Kyou and see the bored look on his face. Probably not.
After unbelievably accomplishing two rounds of pure exhiliration, we decide to stop for a while. It wasn't much but we did it together at a slow and steady pace which was tiring enough. We skate over to Kyou – Syaoran finally managed to go straight – and sit down at the empty space next to him.
"Had fun, love birds?" Kyou asks.
Syaoran raises an eyebrow at him. I'm not sure if it was a glare behind his glasses but Kyou smirks in return.
"We had a fun time. You should have joined us!" I exclaim, ignoring the 'lovebirds' part.
"And give up watching people break bones?" he looks at me skeptical. "No thanks."
"Oh. Okay." I giggle at him. He's funny in a way.
Suddenly, I group of laughing men come towards us. They are all big and tall with beer bottles in their hands. They stink of puke and cigarette smoke. After reaching us, they stopped.
"What do we have here? It's a slut!" says one of the three men. He was the biggest one, with tattered jeans and an unshaved face. "An ugly slut!" The others laugh in return.
Personally, I wasn't offended at all but this looks kind of dangerous.
"Hey, hey, must be tough babysitting such a geek couple, huh?" another one barks and looks at Kyou.
Kyou gets up, ready to say something in return but I pull on his sleeve, not wanting any trouble to arrise.
"Didja' see 'dat!" the last one bellows. "It looks like the babysitter is actually the slut!"
I could feel Syaoran's fist clench tightly. I take a glimpse and see his knuckles are pure white.
"Hey slut," the biggest one said again. "I may not be a geek or wear a fake leather jacket but atleast I got some balls down here!" he hollers, pointing to a dark place I have no intention to mention, with both his thumbs facing down. "Why not try me on for size?! Be my mommy this time!"
I'm speechless. It's not everyday I face this kind of guy, except Ken maybe, but this time, not only Syaoran was involved, a person I just met is too. I'm not even sure what to reply. Should I look at Syaoran for help? But I think its best to keep eye contact, to not show any fear. But… something inside me is quivering.
"Come on baby, ditch these guys and suck my-"
CRACK. I real sound of breaking bones just echoed through my ears. I look to my side and see Syaoran isn't there anymore. He's standing up. But the one that made that sound wasn't him. It was Kyou. Kyou had punched the guy straight in the jaw before Syaoran could and sent the guy flying backwards. The howling guy's two companions rush towards him to help.
The entire time, I couldn't say anything at all. Am I scared? I look at my hands and see them… trembling.
"YOU FUCKING DICKHEAD! I'LL MURDER YOU!" the guy yells in between coughs of blood. His friends had managed to get him up.
"Murder me if you can, too many attempts have failed already," Kyou answers. It shocked me but i can't even move right now. I look at Syaoran but his expression is hidden from me. What is he feeling now?
"So everyone wants you dead, is that it?" the guy laughs. His buddies try to stop him from talking but he shoves them off.
I watch the scene and pay attention to every move. To me, it seems like those words struck a nerve in Kyou. Syaoran walks up to his cousin and whispers something in his ear which was replied by a slight grunt.
There are spectators but no one makes any move to do anything. I guess they are like me. Useless.
"You've got no friends, don't you?" the man continues. "Even those two geeks right there are just dying to be free from you being such a nuisance. A trash of society. They just can't wait to get rid of you, like everyone else you know!"
"Kyou!" Syaoran tried to grip Kyou's arm but he seems to furious, like he could kill at any moment.
"That burns, doesn't it? You know what? I'm betting even your mom would have thrown you on the streets the moment she got the chance!" the man laughs maniacally at his own words. They were just gibberish mockery, I'm sure.
But not to Kyou, it seems.
He dashes in the three men's direction at implausable speed, startling me, Syaoran and the three men. They were so startled that they start yelping and scampering off in pointless directions.
"Kyou!" Syaoran calls out his name in a booming voice. It was a first I've heard him say something so loud but I have no time to dwell on it. Kyou was darting after the three men faster than I could have hoped. Syaoran gave me sorry look, indicating he had to leave.
"Go!" I say anxiously.
Syaoran instantly takes off his skates, grab his shoes and runs in the direction where Kyou had disappeared off too.
0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
(SYAORAN'S POV)
Where did Kyoushi run off too?
I followed his trail perfectly and now I'm around a place with many dark alleys. I have never seen Kyoushi act so violently before. They way he acted, it was like that was his real attitude. He seemed to addapt to it perfectly enough.
I walk around, hoping to get any clue as to where Kyoushi is but found nothing.
"Where are you, Kyoushi? Damn it!" I say in frustation.
All of a sudden, a strange noise came from another alley not too far away here. So I run in that direction and alarm begins to fill me. In the darkness of the place, there are three men lying down on the floor and another sitting on one of them, punching countinuously.
I walk closer and see the three guys earlier all bloodied and bruised. The one currently being beat is still concious and begging for mercy.
"S-stop!" he begs. "I-I'm sorry!" he was coughing up so much blood, he choked. Still, Kyoushi didn't flinch.
"Kyoushi! That's enough!" I shout to him as I get closer. "Kyoushi, stop!"
I grab his shoulder and spin him around, trying to stop his attempt of beating the already unconcious person. At that exact moment, lightning flashed and Kyoushi's electric blue eyes glowed with deep anguish. I caught sight of blood smeared on his face and his hair no longer in place. He looked like a demon. Then, the lightning disappeared.
"Kyoushi, get a hold of yourself!" I shake him vigorously. "This isn't you! You're not a bad person! You're good, Dog-boy!"
The last sentence seemed to have reached him because his eyes start returning to normal.
"X-Xiao Lang?" he falters. He looks around him and then at his hands. They were full of blood. "Oh no…"
"Kyoushi, what's wrong?" anxiety starts building up inside of me.
"I didn't kill anyone right?" Kyoushi demanded to know but he doesn't look at me for the answer. "I… I'm not like this… I'm not bad! I don't want to be!" He starts hyperventilating madly as he hugged his knees, rocking back and forth. Tears were flowing non-stop down his cheeks.
"Kyoushi! It's alright, you hear?" I sit down next to him and try to calm him down as much as I can. "You're going to be just fine."
"It… it's not!" he yells. "I don't want to be here. This place is bad!"
I look at him confusedly. He sounded more like a kid than usual but I shrug it off. That's not important right now. So I decide to do the one thing I could. I hug him.
"Its dark…" Kyoushi mumbled to himself. "Its cold… so cold…"
"Its okay, Kyoushi…" I say softly and start to humm one of my songs for him. It seemed to have a lot of effect because he slowly calmed down and his crying turned into light sobs.
"Ying Fa…" Kyoushi whispers.
This chappy is longer than most! It's a gift from me to you!
Right now is Christmas Eve here. But I don't celebrate it anyways. I still celebrate the 25 December though! Its my B-day! Woohooo~!
So instead of a christmas gift, think of it as my return birthday gift to you. Since no one really cares about my birthday during the holidays. :P
Either way, HAPPY HOLIDAYS everybody!
And a Happy New Year!
I always wanted to say that…. *giggle