Author's Notes: This chapter is relatively short because it is one of the chapters that serve as a linkage between the previous chapter and the coming chapters, so as to make the entire fanfic flow. So I hope you won't mind the length. Personally, I was a little affected when writing this, being Chinese New Year. Well, enjoy…
Glossary of words that I used:
'Otousan' – Honorific term for father
'Ohayo' – Good morning; this is a more informal greeting compared to 'Ohayo gozaimasu'
'Hai' – Yes
'Daijoubu desu' – I am fine.
'Hajimemashite' – How do you do? Mostly used for introductions.
The sound of the birds chirping outside the window marked the beginning of a new day, with the golden rays of the sun peeking into the room on the second floor of the Kinomoto residence. Sakura stirred in her bed, opening her eyes to absorb the radiance of the sunlight falling upon the bed and her.
"What time is it?" She muttered softly to herself, as she reached over to grab the alarm clock. The hands of the clock indicated that it was only seven in the morning and Sakura gave herself the luxury of continuing in bed, with her comforter pulled up to her chin.
Still early. I think I can wait for a while before getting up. Cerberus isn't up yet either. Her thoughts strayed to that of last night and her snuggling close to Li-kun resurfaced in her mind. She blushed for a minute long, before shaking that feeling off. Why? I am supposed to be dating Kaima-kun. Why? I just met Li-kun. Why? Do I know him a long time ago? Why? Why? Why?
She climbed out of bed and crossed over to the closet. She pulled out her uniform and quickly dawned it on. No point thinking too much about it. There may be a part of my memories that can explain my emotions. With that, she smiled and picked up a brush to brush her auburn hair.
"Sakura-san, wake up! Breakfast will be ready in a short while!" Otousan's voice sounded from below.
"Hai! Coming!" She responded back, as she stepped out of the room and climbed down the stairs, stopping by at the toilet in the meanwhile. As she neared the dining room, she saw her father laying the table with plates and cutlery. "Ohayo, Otousan."
"Ohayo, Sakura-san. You are early today." The middle-aged man smiled as he looked at his daughter. "Did you get enough sleep?"
"Hai. Daijoubu desu. So don't worry about me."
"Ah, that's good. Well, sit down. Breakfast will ready soon."
Sakura nodded.
* * *
Tomoyo stared at the yellow sachet, which contained a rabbit-faced eraser. "From now on, I will be sitting next to you. Pleased to know you. Huh? You didn't bring an eraser? Here, you can have this. If you like it, you can keep it." "Sakura-chan…"
"Miss, the car is ready. We will be waiting for you at the porch." The voice of one of the female bodyguards was heard from the other side of the door, bringing her out of her thoughts.
"Hai." Tomoyo laid the yellow sachet back into the wooden box and locked the box up. She slipped the key back into a drawer and crossed over to the other side of her room for her bag. As she swung it over her back, her eyes caught sight of the paper bag lying against the table. She picked it up and stared at its contents – a silvery white outfit with black laces around the collar, sleeve-ends and waist and an accompanying cap and pair of boots. I made this shortly after Sakura-chan lost her memories, and all this while, it has remained there untouched. Will she… will she ever wear the outfits that I have made for her? Will I ever be able to capture her on film again?
* * *
Sakura smiled as she skipped along the corridor leading to her classroom. I don't know why, but I'm looking forward to going to class. Her smile broadened as she neared the classroom.
"Kinomoto!" A dark male voice came upon her from behind. Sakura turned around to see Kaima Moikudan standing against the wall.
"Ohayo, Kaima-kun. Is anything the matter?"
Kaima moved closer to her and casually flipped a lock of her hair. "I'm sorry about what I said to you yesterday. I shouldn't have left you in school like that." He twirled the lock of hair around his finger.
Sakura blushed at his words. "Don't worry. I'm not angry with you at all. Besides, you said that you got something on. I can understand that."
"Really?"
"Hai."
"Well, before you return back to class, I just want to tell you that I'm your only friend." He looked intensively at her eyes, as if mesmerizing her.
Sakura felt her mind and will waning. "You are my only friend?"
"Yes. I am your only friend. So you must not trust any other people."
"You are… my only friend. I must not… trust any other people." Sakura repeated, her emerald green eyes dulled by the spell.
"Yes." With that, he let go of his prey's mind, and walked into his classroom, with an obvious sinister smile on his face.
* * *
Syaoran sat at his desk, his eyes falling on the empty seat in front of his own desk. Sakura isn't here yet. His mind swayed to the previous night's events. What is exactly going on? Somehow, I have a bad feeling about all these. Something evil is brooding in the air. I don't like this omen. He looked out of the window and gazed at a faraway object, lost in his thoughts.
Meiling turned to look at her cousin and saw his troubled expression. Syaoran has been quiet since he returned back last night. I hope nothing bad has happened. She turned herself in her seat, so as to face the brown-haired male. "Come on, Syaoran. Cheer up."
Syaoran turned his eyes off the far-off object and looked at the ruby-eyed girl for once since he sat down. "Why do I have to cheer up?"
"Because… something is bothering you."
"No. Nothing is bothering me."
"Don't lie to me." Meiling turned herself so that she faced the front again. "You are worried about Kinomoto-san. That's what you are thinking. Don't deny it."
"I…" Syaoran began, but the opening and closing of the sliding door stopped him. Sakura moved towards her seat and settled down on it.
"Ohayo, Sakura." He smiled. I'm glad that she is alright now.
"Ohayo." The auburn-haired girl replied without even looking at him. Her emerald green eyes had life back in them, but a dark swirl remained hidden deep down.
"Sakura…" Syaoran called again, but got no further response from her. What is the matter with her? Little did he know that Sakura had been bewitched.
* * *
Kaima laughed silently as he sat down by his desk. Everything is going as I have planned. Sakura can't break that spell. Neither can anyone else. She won't be able to trust anyone else except me. Then, I'll be able to manipulate her. The cards will not be able to anticipate this.
He looked up as the form teacher of his class stepped in. Why do I have to go through this everyday, studying subjects that I have already known years and years ago? I am better than anyone here, including the sensei. What's more, the topics taught here are so boring and dull, unlike the topics that Liya and I had studied together back then.
"Class, today we have with us a new student who came from England. Please welcome him. You can come in now." A teenager with neat bluish hair and spotting a pair of spectacles entered the room at the command of the teacher and stood by him.
"Hajimemashite. My name is Hiragizawa Eriol, and I'm from England."
Kaima stared hard at the new student. I don't like him. There is something about him. But why? Why can't I figure out what's so special about him? He raised a low gurgling sound as he glared at the bluish-haired boy.
"Let's see. There's an empty seat behind Moikudan's seat. Hiragizawa, you can sit there." The teacher's voice broke Kaima's train of thought. He watched with suspicion as the boy walked up to him.
The teenager paused in front of him, staring at him for a while. What is he staring at? Just as Kaima was about to raise his voice to challenge the new arrival, the bluish-haired male smiled and continued on to his desk.
What is all that about? Maybe, I'm over-sensitive. He seems normal. So I don't have to bother myself about him. After all, he's unlikely to pose a threat to me, regarding Kinomoto. Kaima shrugged as he felt the boy sat down. But the boy, whose name was Eriol, grinned, as if he had heard Kaima's thoughts.
* * *
As the school chime rang and lessons proceed underway, no one came to know of what the dark sorcerer, Kaima had installed for Sakura. Syaoran, Meiling and Tomoyo felt an discomforting silence from Sakura but could not figure out the cause of it. So they remained quiet throughout the two hours of lessons.
Yet, not all beings were ignorant to what was going to happen, for six non-human-like beings waited at the entrance of the school building, a trail of pink aura around them. No one noticed their presence and no one knew of what they were waiting for. Then, a wisp of air came upon them and they disappeared into the school compounds, their pink aura lingering behind for a while.
Author's Notes (again): I know you may be wondering why I did not put Eriol in the same class with Sakura and the others, but choose to place him in the same class with Kaima. Well, three reasons to that. Firstly, I don't think it looks good for a class to have so many good guys in it. Sakura has Syaoran, Meiling and Tomoyo with her and that is considered alot. Secondly, Eriol's presence is supposed to be kept a secret from Sakura and others till an appropriate time. No offence for Eriol's fans because that doesn't mean that Eriol's appearance will be few. Thirdly, Eriol is the only person who knows the real identity of Kaima and he's in his class to keep a check on him. Well, to say, I have many plans for Eriol.
The eraser that Tomoyo was looking at was a gift from Sakura when they first met in class. That reminiscence is taken form episode 11 after the Shield has been sealed.
Thanks so much for your support all this while. I appreciate your comments. I will continue to work on it. As for writing a sequel for 'Destiny', I have thought about that before when I was writing it then. I don't quite have inspiration then as well as now to begin a sequel on that. But once I do, I will let you know.