Ah! Sakura-sama!
Chapter 2

Rainy Conversations

by Killiko "aren't you glad I didn't put any author's notes this time?" Jun

killiko_jun@yahoo.com

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Syaoran glared at this 'Sakura' and the annoying little yellow beast that
accompanied her.. He nursed his swollen finger and his dark eyebrows were
lowered skeptically. Sakura sweated even more under his scrutiny and
took an involuntary step back.

"Who are you crazy people?" Syaoran demanded again, this time
with a harder tone of voice.

Kero flew in front of his face again, a vein popping out of his head. Sakura
brushed him aside gently and started her introduction again.

"I said, I am First Class Goddess Sakura and I'm here to grant you one
wish!" she smiled, though was still jittery from his gaze.A sweatdrop threatened
to drop out of her bangs.

'Yeah right, like I'm going to believe THAT.' Syaoran thought.

"Well, you don't have to believe me, but I'm on Kami-sama's orders,
so I have to grant you a wish anyways. Like it or not, I'm not leaving
before you make a wish," Sakura replied, crossing her hands over her light
rose dress.

Syaoran arched an eyebrow and thought 'How did she do that? I
didn't even do a thing!'

"I can read minds," Sakura answered right after the thought ran in his
mind, "well, surface thoughts anyways."

"You can, eh?" Syaoran grinned and thought of bagging Kero and
shipping him off to Miami, or better yet, into space.

"Mou!" Sakura pouted but humour glistened in her wide green eyes,
"that was rather mean!"

"Whatever," Syaoran muttered, finding himself enjoying the Goddess'
company... wait, what was he thinking?!

Abruptly, Syaoran whirled around and grabbed Sakura's shoulders,
his trademark angry glare on his face once more. He refused to think like
some cracked up, hormone-raging teenager or show any emotion but distaste
at the moment. Besides, this was probably some twisted prank created by
his dorm mates in their attempt to match him up with a girl... like he really
needed one!

Sakura reclined back as he started to rant in her face, advancing
dangerously close to her.

"Look I don't who the hell you are, but I want you and that stuffed animal
to get out of here! Tell whoever hired you that I don't need them to feel
sorry for me, much less hoook me up with a girl! I don't need any..."

The door slammed open.

"HEY! Syaoraaan! We're *hic* back!!" he could hear Yamazaki hollar,
followed by the drunken slurrs of the twenty other drunk dorm mates.

Yamazaki held up his sake bottle, his usually neat navy hair a tousle
now. Two others behind him were carting a cooler full of Canadian imported
beer, but every single one of them had somehow found themselves covered
in leaves and ketchup. They'd all been in worst situations, but Yamazaki had
to admit to himself: skinny dipping in the campus fountain and running like
monkies in the park was one of his most ... wittiest experiences he had
conjured up yet.

He stopped in mid-step as the picture in front of him came into focus.

What he saw was a very compromising position.

There was Syaoran, the grumpiest, shyiest most quiet loner of all the
dorm mates (perhaps even the school), with his arms gripping a stunningly
beautiful woman. Actually, he didn't look like he was gripping her, more like
going to make out with her. A stuffed animal lay near them, and he swore
that he had seen it in the air a moment before...

Syaoran blanched.

Sakura looked at Yamazaki curiously and cluelessly.Then she smiled,
"Konnichiwa!"

Yamazaki blinked. Yes, he _blinked_. "K-k-konnichiwa?"

Then, all hell broke loose.

The dormmates and Yamazaki grabbed Syaoran by his shirt and carried
him across the house, mosh pit style, and before he knew it, Syaoran
was plopped unceremoniously outside, along with Sakura.

"Ho-eh?" Sakura piped as she held onto Kero.

"You know the rules *hic* of the dorm Syaoran, and you broke one of
our most highly-regarded *hic* ones! There is to be absolutely no girls allowed
in the boys' dorm! And that includes making out with a girl!" Yamazaki ordered,
still flushed with drunkeness.

"M-making out?! No! You got it all wrong! I--!" Syaoran's cheeks had began
to blush furiously too, but of embarrassment. He was cut off before he could
explain anything.

"I'm afraid that it's unanimous that you get kicked out! Have fun with
your girlfriend!" Syaoran's dorm mate yelled as Syaoran's belongings were all
tossed out in a duffel bag next to him. The door slammed shut.

Syaoran's shoulders sagged as he ruffled his hair, an oncoming
headache pulsing in his brain. First he encounters some freaky girl and her
rabid pet _beast_, and now he was kicked out the only cheap lodgings in
Tomoedo, or Tokyo for that matter.

His amber eyes flickered to the parking lot. At least he still had his bike.

He stood tiredly and slung his duffel bag over his shoulders, sleepy
and frustrated.

He started as he heard snifflings in the still night air.

Sakura gripped the fabric of her smooth pink dress, creases forming
in her lap. Kero patted her shoulder sympathetically, though he didn't know
why she was tearing up. When she looked up at Syaoran, something stabbed
in his heart.

Two pools of enchanting sea-green gazed at his, clouded with so many
tears, he could see his own reflection in those depthless eyes. Sakura sniffled
and she rubbed the tears out of her eyes, but they flooded back.

"I-I'm so sorry Li-san... I made you lose your home... I'm so so sorry..." she
apologized and the sincerity in her cracked voice made Syaoran wince.

She looked back down, ashamed, but couldn't suppress her whimpers
and sobs. Her tears stained the cement but a hand reached out for her. She
peered at Syaoran, surprised and confused as she was carefully lifted off the
ground.

Gruffly, Syaoran spoke, "It's nothing. I couldn't really stand being around
them anymore.And it's not my home, it's just a dorm," he sighed, "I'll just have
to find another place to live."

He headed to his motorbike and saddled himself on the leather seat.
His duffel bag was strapped behind him as he began to strap a helmet on
his head too. Sakura stood uncomfortably, staring at him. Syaoran tossed a
matching green helmet to her and she caught it easily. She cocked her head
to the side.

"What? You're not coming?" Syaoran asked.

"Yeah!" Sakura strapped the helmet on as Kero levitated in the air.

Syaoran looked at her outfit, "Umm... I think it's best if you change into something
less... puffy?"

Sakura looked down at herself and sweatdropped. That was the last time
she was going to let Tomoyo design her costume. She closed her eyes and
her clothes willed away and she reappeared in a long-sleeve and white-collared
light blue shirt and a mustard yellow skirt. White wing insignas were sewn on
her collarbone. She beamed.

Syaoran held back a rising blush as she wrapped her arms around
his body.Kero sneered at Syaoran from his perch on Sakura.

"Don't be thinking some dirty thoughts in there, brat, else I'm gonna give
you a beating you'll never forget!" Kero threatened, pumping out his fist to
emphasize his meaning.

Syaoran smirked through the visor of his helmet, "I'd like to see you try
stuffed animal."

Before anyone could reply, however, the motorbike revved to life and
they were off.

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Sakura played with her sleeve as they were turned down once again.
It was the fifteenth time they were turned down because none of the lodgings
in Tomoedo accepted co-ed living quarters. She was ushered in quite a few
times but Syaoran had dragged her back out, giving a death glare to the
male land lords.

Syaoran slipped some money in the vending machine and two soda
cans rolled out. He handed one to the Goddess and opened his. With a
satisfying gulp, he downed the soda. He was still hungry, moreso now that
the night cold was getting fiercer.

He found Sakura sitting on the bench, her head bent in prayer. The
streetlight bathed her in a white glow, artificial, but still making her appear
etheral. Which was true because she was a Goddess after all.

The crickets chirped in the thick grasses of the King Penguin Park and he
leaned forward, elbows propped on his knees and soda can poised to be downed
again. There were many thoughts going through his mind, like what if his
family found out? Coming from Yamazaki's mouth, his predicament was doomed
to become an elongated and extremely exaggerated tale. He had given up trying
to convince himself that Sakura wasn't a Goddess after her display of magic and
the fact that she seemed to know who he was. Syaoran was so deep in worrying
over himself and what to do with Sakura that he didn't hear her speak.

"Huh? Come again?" Syaoran asked.

"Everything is going to be alright," Sakura beamed, her hands still clasped
around her unopened soda can.

"Oh..."

Silence ensued for the next few minutes and Syaoran shifted inwardly.
Kero was unusually quiet, zipping around his motorbike and examining the
park. It was as if he was on patrol of something.

Sakura toyed with the soda can, having never seen one in her entire
life. She had seen Syaoran drink out of it, but there was no hole for whatever
liquid in there to drink out of. Syaoran reached over for her can and popped
it open for her. She delighted herself in listening to it fizz before sipping
the sugary drink.

She is so much like a child, Syaoran observed through half-lidded eyes, but
her name does suit her. Cherry Blossum. Like the ones in this park.

"Ying Fa..." Syaoran whispered into the cool air.

"Hmm?" Sakura asked, startled for some reason at the words.

"No, it's nothing. Nothing at all..." the young man mumbled as he finished
off his soda.

Sakura sipped her drink and gazed honestly at Syaoran, "There's
something bothering you Li-san. I don't need powers to sense it. What's
the matter?"

She was amazingly direct and Syaoran had underestimated her
again. This girl had more surprises than he'd ever encountered. Sighing
defeatedly, he stared at the full pale moon.

"I'm just worried about what my family is going to think of me being
kicked out of my dorm like that. My family is rich, one of the richest in
Hong Kong, but I made them trust me enough to let me explore the world
on my own. If they hear that I failed and got kicked out because of a girl
no less..." Syaoran rubbed the nape of his neck, no explanation needed
any further.

"Ahh.." Sakura nodded sagely and apologized again for causing so much
trouble. Syaoran waved it off again.

"I told you already it isn't your fault. It couldn't be helped and it was
more my fault than yours. Don't worry about it," Syaoran replied.

There was that silence again, but this time, it was more comfortable,
peaceful. Sakura breathed in the air, a tangible waft of cherry blossums
mixed with the crispness of the air. She studied Syaoran's profile. Harsh brown
eyes stared into the distance, a perfect mask from the emotions toiling inside
of him. He had a strong jaw and pouty lips that were usually frowning, she
noticed. Unruly chestnut locks draped over a pair of dark eyebrows. He was
quite handsome, Sakura admitted, too bad he was being so distant from her.

Where in the world did THAT thought come from? Sakura mused and
turned her head a bit to hide her light blush. She was caught staring.

Syaoran locked gazes with her, having caught her staring. What was
she doing? Her face was concentrated onto on him and he willed himself
not to drown in those enticing eyes of hers. Her beautiful auburn hair
framed her round, fair face and accentuated her rosy lips...

What romantic trash, Syaoran berated himself, but he found himself
liking the attention. And it scared him.

He wasn't lusting after, far from that. Something in his heart was
beating helplessly against his chest, like a butterfly. With every beat of
his heart, that butterfly would pound against his chest. Something painful,
but something oh so more... wonderful. Syaoran couldn't point his finger at
it, but his nerves rushed thrillingly as he gazed onto Sakura.

But there was something else. Something so long forgotten and
engraved in his mind that he didn't know why he felt such a familiarity
with Sakura.

A brief flash of sunlight, smell of mint in hot summer air.

Without thinking, he spoke words that would forever change his life.

"I wish a girl like you could stay with me forever..."

A column of luminous blue surrounded the two and Syaoran felt
his whole body tingle. His heart raced. A distinctive cackling, like lightning,
rushed into his ears. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was very unnerving to be
surprised like this. He had trained long enought to know that this was
magic working. Extremely powerful magic.

Sakura reached for the heavens and an intricate gold symbol glowed beneath
the two. The winds whipped the trees and the sky darkened. The ground was
practically thrumming with power. The streetlights flickered and swayed riigidly
and the sand in the park sifted in the wind.

When all the commotion died down, Sakura smiled happily at Syaoran.

"Your wish has been granted."