First Kiss Story

Chapter 14: Starting Point

Sakura sat down on a step to take a breather.

At best she knew… she started this project of hers little more than thirty minutes ago, yet with the amount of work she had put in already, it felt as though she had spent an entire day. Even school with all its trifles seemed better in comparison. Besides... sitting here, in the house of her first crush—or was it love?—unnerved her to no end.

Of course, that was only part of her concern.

When she first met him, he seemed so breath-taking, so beautiful, so... perfect. Yet, as soon as Eriol came into the picture he seemed to lose himself. It's true that it was unnoticeable at first, perhaps because it seemed just as friends, but that changed really quickly when they were 'alone'. Though with her as witness, they weren't truly alone.

But what was that!

Her love... her interest... in the arms of another man!? And then after, it seemed as though that part she had fallen for was tarnished and distant. Withdrawn and serious... as though his humor had been sucked from him in that instant he had lost himself in that locker room.

He wasn't the same person. She could feel it.

And then, there was Eriol. One just slightly older, one who commanded respect and admiration from all others surrounding him. That he could quail Tomoyo with a single sentence was beyond her understanding of him or her cousin, whom she had known to have a brutal streak that could be interrupted by no one once gotten in the mood. That and his command over faculty and even the staff at the orphanage.

It was beyond strange... yet she seemed the only one to take notice, while the others just accepted it as normalcy. Or was it that they were played in the same way he played Tomoyo... because she certainly seemed to challenge him after her thoughts returned to her. But frankly... that Tomoyo was the last person Sakura could approach about her concerns. After all... she was here because of her.

All that aside...

Sakura picked up one of the papers she had placed into one of the many piles that now adorned the place. Although it itself was beyond her, as her command of the English language in which it was written was quite lacking, the symbol in its corner was already more than familiar as it was the same no matter where she turned.

A black circle with a sun, moon, and stars. Just that... nothing more.

So strange... what meaning could it have in connection to them? A society? An organization? A cult? Perhaps none... perhaps all three... she couldn't decide. It could just be something they liked—like an author by symbol, if not by name. That was probably most likely. Though it was odd that it would be something set in another language. Though she gave credit to Eriol for knowing, she couldn't think quite the same for Syaoran.

Ah... she was thinking too much, and not working enough.

Resolve set back into her task before her, she returned the paper to the stack and went back to sorting. Just a few more steps until she could start on clearing the impossible floor below!

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Syaoran closed the door behind him gently, his hand lingering upon it for a moment before leaving it in favor of the empty hallway. He felt it wouldn't last long, since the classes were sure to move soon. As such, he had to discreetly find his way back to his own to escape the burden the movement would cause.

If only to give him enough time to recover his school face... that is… if his body would let him. Although he had felt great initially after his 'treatment', the moment he had removed himself from Eriol's side he felt as though his situation had deteriorated somewhat.

He staggered slightly as his hand left the door—immediately finding new placement on the nearby wall—as he attempted to regain his balance. His other hand found way to his face… his fingertips wet with the cold sweat he felt upon his face.

He felt… terrible.

Just what was happening with him? Two sessions separated by a matter of days… no, less than that—it had never happened before—and the feeling that it was the only bound to continue he could feel it deep within his gut. If Eriol wasn't around… if he didn't help him the way he did… would it lead to something beyond his comprehension? He had to ask Eriol… before it reached that point.

But before that… he had to last the day.

As he began to make his way down the hall, an unnoticed presence seemed to watch him from a nearby corridor… eyes filled with a malicious loathing overwhelming admiration. Not entirely sure of what to make of, let alone how to use, the information she had just collected, Tomoyo turned to leave… when before she could even cry out, her world had gone black.

"My my… it seems as though you are caught in all the wrong places of late." Eriol said softly to the unconscious girl in his arms, his one hand over her eyes. "Well... not too surprising, after all, "Hell hath no fury…" And I am definitely one in which you scorn. But it's a bit too early for your place in this drama." He smiled as he looked down at her. "I promise you'll remember nothing but the things most important to you… though I can do nothing for the confusion you'll face upon waking."

He eased her down gently, placing her in a sitting position against the wall and well out of the way of the eventual hallway traffic. His eyes staring at the long-empty hallway in which Syaoran had been before.

My apologies, dear Syaoran, for my greed was a little too over-bearing this time. You aren't far… but still not enough to satiate me.

"Well," Eriol mused aloud. "I guess I shouldn't be too eager… since things are only just at the starting point."

And as he left Tomoyo, he was only moderately amused by the soft footfalls that approached her. Had they seen the display? Well… it was more than likely. But even that kind of thing… could add to the interest to come.

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A/N (8/28/08): I'm sorry for all the confusion (I think even I could be confused at times), but it definitely has a place it's moving towards… even the title eventually. Sorry for the long delay!