Author's Note: This is my first attempt at any kind of fanfiction so please be kind. I encourage constructive criticism and would love positive reviews. (But I understand if you have flames. Just be gentle.) It may not seem like a romance at first, but it will later. This story is centered around Sakura and Syaoran but (of course) includes Tomoyo and Eriol as well. I am only familiar with the English version of CCS and what I have read of the other episodes, and I know little Japanese at all, so please correct me if I make any errors as to plot or use of Japanese. This isn't supposed to have a very intricate plot, so there probably won't be any errors that really matter. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I (sadly) do not own Cardcaptor Sakura or any characters affiliated with it. Please don't sue me. Thanks!
Summer
By: Shayna (No, this is not my real name)
As relieved as he was that school was finally out, Li Syaoran was slightly uneasy about his current situation. At the moment, he was seated next to a very beautiful Kinomoto Sakura who was dozing peacefully in the backseat of the SUV that he and his friends were in. Seems innocent enough, right? But Syaoran, the toughest fighter in the world, was feeling slightly uncomfortable. She was his one weakness, the one that could bring upon his downfall. He thought she was the most beautiful creature to ever grace the earth with her presence. And so, he couldn't take his eyes off of her.
He started at her hair, glistening in the sun showing through the window, and brushed a few stray strands from her face. Then, his eyes traveled to her eyes, which were listlessly closed shut. Going further, he observed her cute button nose, and then he went down to her lips. Her luscious pink lips. He quickly dismissed any thoughts he had as to those lips of hers, and went back to her eyes. Actually it was her eyelids. If only you would open those lovely eyes of yours, he thought to himself. And suddenly, her eyes fluttered open and her sparkling emerald eyes stared back at him. He froze, surprised at first, and then transfixed upon her gaze.
The two sat there for a moment just staring at one another. For her, watching him look at her like that sent shivers up her spine. Strands of his auburn locks were carelessly strewn across his face. His chestnut eyes were locked on hers making her feel warm and self-conscious all at once.
"What are you staring at, Syaoran?" Sakura asked, coming out of her small trance. He said nothing, only blushed.
"What is it? Is there something on my face?"
"No! I…um…I…thought I heard you say something in your sleep," he stammered. Giggles were heard coming from the front seat as the amethyst-eyed driver peered at them through the rear-view mirror. She exchanged glances with the front-seat passenger who smirked back at her in response.
How had Syaoran come to be in such a position? To start, he would be spending the first few weeks of summer in the mountains in a large cabin with his three good friends. Well, actually, one half-reincarnation of the creator of a magical book of cards (who he happened to be distantly related to) and a girl who was in love with her video camera as well as best friends with the last member of their fabulous foursome (who happened to be the most powerful sorceress in the world) and the object of Syaoran's affection. Of course there was also the fact that Syaoran, himself, was the future leader of one of the most powerful clans in all of China, but other than that, they were a pretty average group of teenagers.
Daidouji Tomoyo's mom (did I mention that she was rich?) had recently purchased a cabin in the mountains for the summer, but was unable to go because of last minute business to take care of. Who better to go than Tomoyo and her three best friends? So it was all settled. The four would be alone with no parents, unsupervised by anyone, under a single cabin roof in a secluded area of the mountains for nearly three weeks. How Sakura's father had allowed her to come was beyond Syaoran, not to mention Sakura's overprotective older brother, but somehow, they were all going to spend their summer together.
And so Syaoran found himself in an awkward situation on the car ride up to the mountains.
"How was your sleep?" he asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Refreshing," she replied. She stretched out as much as she could in her cramped quarters. Syaoran was nearly socked by her stray hand.
"Gomen," she remarked sheepishly. Glancing out the window, she surveyed her new surroundings. There wasn't much more than a highway stretching on for a long distance. She noticed that it was surprisingly peaceful in the car, just sitting there, enjoying the ride in good company. Up ahead, Sakura could see the mountains that they were heading for.
"Are we there yet?"
Tomoyo groaned at her friend.
"Sakura, couldn't you think of anything better to ask?"
"I was just wondering! How long was I asleep, anyway?"
"Well let's see," started Syaoran, "the snoring started at about…"
"Hey! I do NOT snore!" She punched him lightly.
"No need to get violent," Syaoran chuckled slightly and then continued, "You were out for a good hour or so."
"So how much longer until we get there?" Sakura inquired. Tomoyo rolled her eyes.
"Sakura!"
"I just want to know!" she defended herself.
With map in hand, Eriol traced their route, found their current position and made some quick calculations in his head.
"It'll be about another 75 minutes," he stated. It was quiet in the car for a while until Sakura spoke up again.
"Um…I kind of have to go to the bathroom." If it was at all possible Tomoyo, Eriol, and Syaoran would all have face-vaulted.
"You'll have to hold it," said Tomoyo, "because it'll be at least another ten minutes before we reach the next town." After a few more moments of complete silence, Eriol flipped on the radio. But they no longer received their usual alternative rock station. Instead, their ears were met with the chords of a country ballad. Four unanimous groans then ensued before Eriol could quickly change the station to something more suitable.
Sakura was the first to start humming the familiar tune and Tomoyo's voice then followed. Soon, they were both quietly singing the words. Not long after, the two boys, finding nothing else better to do began singing as well. Of course, it took a mere thirty seconds more for them to be loudly singing along and nodding their heads to the beat. A part of the song came on with really fast lyrics and they all pretended like they knew the words, but since none of them did, it all came out like a bunch of gibberish.
They burst out laughing. There was more driving and more singing for quite some time. (Long car rides are always boring.)
"Look! There's the town!" Sakura was the first to notice. Of course, it was hardly much of a town. It was more like a pit stop with a gas station, two restaurants, a shabby motel, a few scattered homes and some souvenir shops.
Tomoyo pulled into the gas station and all four piled out to stretch their limbs. Eriol proceeded to pump the gas as Sakura and Tomoyo went to find a restroom.
"I'm surprised she's not at all suspicious of you, my love-struck descendant," remarked Eriol to Syaoran once the two girls were gone.
"What are you talking about?" said Syaoran casually.
"Oh come on! It's painfully obvious that you're infatuated with her. Why don't you just tell her already?"
"I still don't know what you're talking about," Syaoran lied terribly.
"You can fool Sakura, but not the rest of us," Eriol smirked as Syaoran turned his back and headed for the convenient store next to the gas station.
Inside the small store, Syaoran rummaged through some candy and other junk, left soon with a small armload of goodies.
"My, aren't we the healthy eater?"
He whirled around and came face-to-face with two green eyes and a playful grin.
"Hey, you're not my mother. I can eat whatever I want, and this is what I…" but before he could finish, Sakura was loading some extra Ding-Dongs, Twix, and M&M's into his arms.
"That should do it." Figuring it was best not to argue, Syaoran merely headed for the counter. The cashier gave him a peculiar look when he dumped all of the junk food onto the counter, but sighed and then rang up the items.
As the two headed back for the car, they found Tomoyo and Eriol highlighting the route for the remainder of the trip and writing extra directions onto a piece of paper.
"You're driving, Syaoran," stated Eriol as he handed him the keys, "and Sakura will be your navigator," he went on as he handed Sakura the map and directions. He then slid into the backseat, followed by Tomoyo. Syaoran raised a suspicious eyebrow at Eriol, but hopped into the driver's seat nonetheless. The sun was starting to set as night rolled onto the car on the highway.
After about 15 minutes of driving, Sakura glanced into the backseat.
"Kawaii!" she whispered at the sleeping couple. Tomoyo was nestled against Eriol who was cradling her against him.
"You're starting to sound like Tomoyo," stated Syaoran.
"Scary thought," said Sakura, "All I need now is a camera pointed directly at both of them," she giggled. But not long after, Sakura, too was dozing off. Her eyelids had suddenly gotten so heavy. She was a little cold and absently searched for some source of warmth in her semi-consciousness. Without knowing it, she had leaned her head against Syaoran's shoulder and soon found the comfort she was looking for. She felt incredibly at peace and completely safe right where she was.
Syaoran felt Sakura shiver slightly in her sleep as her head fell against his shoulder. He felt the heat rise to his cheeks as he gazed down at her. He then brought his arm around her shoulder, allowing her to lean completely against him. He couldn't bear to see her shiver like that.
"Kawaii!" Syaoran turned a shade of crimson red, surprised to see that Tomoyo was awake and had already whipped out her camera and had it square upon the both of them.
"Don't you have anything better to do?"
"Not at the moment. Besides, you two are just too kawaii to pass up!"
"You don't want to wake her up, do you?" he hissed at her.
"I know YOU don't want her to wake up," Tomoyo winked at him.
"Daidouji!" She eventually stopped filming and after a while fell back to sleep again.
Alone with his thoughts and his Cherry Blossom once more, Syaoran hugged her a little closer. She sub-consciously snuggled closer to him, burying her head into the crook of his neck.
"Syaoran," she whispered in her sleep. He blushed furiously and peered down to make sure she was still asleep. Thankfully Tomoyo wasn't there to capture this moment on film. Her breath against his neck was almost more than he could handle. He was surprised he hadn't run the car off the side of the rode already.
The rest of the car ride went on uneventfully as he drove the rest of the way in the quiet darkness of the night with Sakura under his arm. He somehow managed to juggle both Sakura and the directions enough to find his way through the winding roads and ended up on a dirt road heading for the cabin.
When he finally arrived in the dirt driveway, he could vaguely make out the silhouette of the cabin and the outline of what seemed to be a lake. Regretting having to wake her up, he gently shook Sakura.
"Are we there yet?" she asked in mid-yawn.
"Hai. We're finally here," he answered with a slight chuckle.
They woke up the other two and the four proceeded with all they could carry and, as best as they could make out in the dark, headed for the front door. Tomoyo fumbled with the key and eventually got the door open. She flipped on the lights and all four of them gasped.
I know it's not that great, (or that long) but keep in mind that it is my first fic. So what do you think? Should I continue with this story or ditch it? Please review! I'll update as soon as I can if I get good reviews.
