FALL PLAY
by Daidouji Tomoyo
DISCLAIMER: (gotta love these! = P) Card Captor Sakura/Cardcaptors
© CLAMP/Kodansha. "Fall Play" is a fanfic written by----- ME! This
story takes place sometime during the series (or maybe an alternate scene..?)---
Meiling and Eriol are present in this, both are students along with Sakura,
Syaoran, Tomoyo, and others at Tomoeda Elementary School.
To the readers/reviewers: I know you all wanted to see Sakura portraying
Juliet, but I apologize... she won't be Juliet AT ALL. Trust me on this one...
I've got a sweeter plot with Sakura being director... ^.^;
Thanks for the reviews, minna-san! I really do appreciate it. ^_^
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CHAPTER 5: To Kiss or Not to Kiss... That is the Question
A week has passed and it was the second week of our rehearsal. Something happened
in school that made the schedule of our play be delayed on schedule, which was
good. This would mean that we would have lots of time rehearsing the play. Throuoghout
the whole week, we had our actors rehearse through Act 1, all five scenes. Until
now I still have not figured out how I was supposed to teach (train, practice,
whatever) Syaoran on the kissing part. We just had him rehearse his lines and
scenes with Meiling without the kissing part. Speaking of Meiling, she was not
really happy with me lately (not that it's new, since she was never happy with
me in the first place anyway...) because I let Syaoran do whatever he felt comfortable
of doing with during his rehearsing. She still yearned for Syaoran's lips, but
again, I kept telling her that she would have a lot of chances getting kissed
by him... that is, once I figured out how to help him out with this kissing
bit.
Speaking of the kissing part, I have been reading Tomoyo's mom's magazines that
had kissing advice columns and all that stuff. One time I got caught reading
these by Touya and got worried about me, thinking that I was actually planning
to kiss a certain boy someday by reading these articles. He said in the lines
of "Oh well, you're growing up anyway, just be sure that boy isn't a punk
brat like that Chinese kid who tried to beat you up long time ago..." He
even had a nightmare, he said, that he caught me and that "Chinese punk
brat" kissing in the living room alone when he finally arrived home from
one of his part-time jobs. I blushed completely crimson red right after he told
me, thinking about Touya's nightmare. I wish that would be for real... Ah well...
forget it, Sakura-chan, just keep on dreaming because that will never happen.
Syaoran's getting married when he comes of age to Meiling, and I feared that
once that happens, I would never see him ever again.
By the end of that week, Tomoyo-chan grew so much into working with the backstage
crew that she, with the advise of Terada-sensei and Mizuki-sensei, that they'd
bump me from being "assistant director" to the official DIRECTOR of
the whole play. When I heard about it, I complained to Tomoyo-chan that it's
too much responsibility. I believed that if there's anything that messes up
in the whole play that I would be the one who would be blamed. It was bad enough
that I practically have no idea how to make Syaoran kiss Meiling (oy vey...)
and everybody else had been looking forward to seeing those two kissing....
passionately... lovingly... longly... deeply... well, you get the idea.
On the other hand, I really enjoyed being in charge. I got to boss around annoying,
irresponsible actors who took this whole thing as a joke, yet I helped a lot
of people work on their acting and their lines. I told Kero-chan when I got
home about my little "promotion" again from being an "actor's
coach" to "assistant director" to "director" by Tomoyo-chan,
the head organizer of the play project. I wonder what Tomoyo was up to when
she suddenly gave me the little promotion. I just hope she wasn't trying to
make me the center of attraction again, just not up on stage being Juliet or
whoever the leading lady of the play was. From that point, every night and even
on the weekend, Kero-chan had been helping me on how to become a good, effective
director. He even told me some more historic stories about Clow Reed's descendants
and Shakespeare, and he even proved to me that back in those days that the cast
members of all the plays Shakespeare wrote were all men, just like what Yamazaki-kun
said during the first day of last week. Eriol even said that it was true, so
it must be true. He also said that they did not allow women in them and that
there weren't any kissing scenes in the original copy of Romeo and Juliet
until Shakespeare's death, where women were finally allowed to be casted
in the play. In addition, some of Clow Reed's descendants, he said, even had
a chance to be part of the cast of some of Shakespeare's plays. In fact, Romeo
and Juliet wasn't even Kero-chan's favorite, but some comical play that
Shakespeare wrote called Twelfth Night, or What You Will. That play was
Kero-chan's ultimate favorite. He recommended it to us, just in case that our
class was chosen again to do this year's Spring Play. I should let Tomoyo-chan
know that.. maybe at that point, I can be in the play again as the female lead...
now I just have to be sure that it's romance and that she ends up with a male
character portrayed by Li Syaoran... Aaah... what a dream come true!
Today was the first day of the second week. We nailed all of Act 1 last week
and everyone was comfortable doing their parts already... except that I STILL
have yet to figure out how to train/ teach/ coach Syaoran on the kissing part.
Romeo and Juliet won't be Romeo and Juliet without the kissing
scenes. It would not be as romantic as what the play should be. Syaoran was
not mad at me or anything like that, it's just that he still refused to do the
kissing scenes. He was actually this close to quitting the whole play, which
really worried me a lot because there weren't anyone else who would be willing
to play Romeo. But then again, he remembered what he promised to me that he
would go ahead and be Romeo, only because I wanted him to and him being Romeo
meant so much to me.
Right now I was reading those kissing articles again in Tomoyo's mom's women's
lifestyle magazines. In fact, I even tried to simulate them myself, using an
imaginary object (I wish I had Syaoran's picture for me to practice with ...
hoe ... wait, you didn't hear that...) or whatever as my "object of affection."
Luckily no one else was watching me acting stupid trying to simulate this kissing
bit by myself. I was at the corner of the stage behind the curtain when I overheard
a conversation on the other side of my curtain. I recognized the voices very
well, since I hear them everyday anyway, but I wasn't too sure if they were
who I thought they were ...
"Dear virtuous one... I thought about you ..."
"Oh.... r-really...? Um... wow... I'm very... flattered..."
"I was reading the newspaper last night before my slumber and I saw an
advertisement that the Tokyo National Theater was presenting a Shakespearean
production called A Midsummer Night's Dream in two weeks... Saturday
night. Right away, somehow... well... you came in to my mind..."
"Oh! Oh... oh my... I... I don't know what to say... does Shakespeare really
do remind you of me...?"
"Um... well... perhaps... yes... ah, I really do apologize for startling
you like this..."
"No no no! Not at all! It's just that... no guy has ever come up to me
before and... compare me to Shakespeare..."
"Let's just say that Shakespeare does such beautiful works of art... and
you, my dear..."
"Oh.... oh my... oh my goodness..."
"... are a beautiful work of art..."
Whoa... what's this, I thought. Is there some flirting and charming and swooning
going on here? Somehow I found myself drifting away from my imaginary kissing
simulation and decided to eavesdrop a bit. Now, I know that I'm no eavesdropper
unless if it was about me, but this was just too much...
"Um... oh my... I... I don't know what to say... I... oh my gosh..."
"Say no words, sweet doll ... I only speak of the truth... because that
I have mentioned about A Midsummer Night's Dream that I wondered if...
it would be such great honor for me to bring you to watch this wonderful work...
if not, I do understand and I shall not pursue furth---"
"OH MY!! OH I WOULD LOVE TO!! Oh thank you so much!! Oh, what should I
say to people?! What should I say to everyone??"
"For now, just hush, my dearest... let's just keep this special moment
to ourselves, shall we...?"
"Um... um... um... okay..."
"Ah, my darling... our good man Terada-sensei and the rest of the cast
have arrived..."
"And the star-crossed lovers too!" I heard the giggling that came
after that. "We have to tell everyone that they're all here! I can't wait
till they start rehearsing Act 2!"
"Ah yes, the famous balcony scene between Romeo and Juliet. I do feel ashamed
a bit that Kinomoto-san still had not properly trained young Li to kiss passionately...
but I do have high beliefs that Kinomoto-san will truly succeed. She had use
her directing skills very well."
"Me too! That's why she was promoted as director of the play!" Then,
a short silence came... then, the conversation finally concludes: "I have
to go and work backstage ... I'll talk to you later, okay?"
"But of course, darling, I shall always be here..." He sighed deeply
and whispered softly: "Adieu, adieu... parting is such sweet sorrow..."
"Sakura-chan!" I was startled right away and saw Tomoyo standing right
in front of me, giving me her usual sweet, big smile. "Come on, we'd better
meet with everyone now for a short briefing!"
"Sorry 'bout that, Tomoyo-chan, I overheard two people fllirting each other
on the other side of this curtain that I got myself eavesdropping and stuff.
I know it's not my business or anything like that but I thought that the ones
who were talking were---"
Tomoyo giggled softly. "What conversation?"
"Well, this guy was asking this girl, lady, whatever about a date to go
see some other Shakespeare play in Tokyo in two weeks..."
"Aww, that's sweet... yeah, I've heard about that. A Midsummer Night's
Dream? My mom mentioned to me about that. I want to watch it!"
"I wanna go watch it too!" I exclaimed happily. "Maybe you and
I can go watch it or something!"
"Yeah, of course, Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo giggled.
I stood up from my little chair and strolled out from backstage with Tomoyo,
as I continued our convo about what I heard on the other side of the curtain.
"And that guy sounded as if he was Romeo or something... the way he sounded
is like... totally gentlemanly, all polite and stuff. He sounded so romantic...
I wish I had a guy who'd be so sweet and romantic like that..."
"You have Li-kun, Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo giggled, nudging me at the
same time. I blushed deeply, but tried not to show it in front of her or it
would be obvious that she was right about me having a secret crush on Syaoran
after all.
"Shut up, Tomoyo-chan!" I stuck my tongue at her as Tomoyo continued
to giggle. "Well, anyway, he even said one of Juliet's lines in the end
when the girl left to meet with the backstage crew... he said 'Adieu, adieu...
parting is such sweet sorrow...'" I sighed deeply, thinking of that single
line and imagining Syaoran saying that line all at once, even if it was Juliet's
line.
Tomoyo chuckled softly, covering her mouth shyly. "He said that? Sounds
like something that Hiiragizawa-kun might say when he sees a pretty girl ..."
She continued to giggle, as I giggled along with her.
Our early meeting started with Terada-sensei and Tomoyo-chan presiding again.
During the meeting, I noticed Meiling looking tired, leaning her head on Syaoran's
shoulder, while Syaoran just sat there, not looking very well and... he shot
out his usual mean glare with his arms crossed. At the same time I even noticed
Eriol leaning against Mizuki-sensei, while Mizuki-sensei gently stroke his dark
hair with her fingers at the same time. I knew there was something going on
between those two.. it sure was weird, but definitely there really was something
going on between Eriol and Mizuki-sensei... and no, I'm not talking about a
"little brother, big sister" relationship either! In the meantime
I noticed Tomoyo-chan not exactly paying attention to the meeting. Her eyes
seemed to havea been forcused right towards the direction where Meiling, Syaoran,
Eriol, and Mizuki-sensei are sitting right now, and boy, for the first time,
she did not give out her usual enthusiastically happy smile. She did not look
too happy while looking at them; it was like she was about to cry or at least
shed a tear of sadness or something. Okay... am I missing something here...?
Basically one quick briefing was that Mizuki-sensei completed half of the script
already, translating them in to plain, modern Japanese (even old-style Japanese
was hard enough to understand in the first place anyway ...). Second was the
usual "We are going to rehearse Act 2, with Kinomoto Sakura as your new
director..." etc. etc. Of course, you do understand that Tomoyo-chan no
longer plays the director in this project, but she still is the head organizer
of the play, working along with the backstage people with the props, the sets,
the costumes, the makeup, stuff necessary for the stage. This would mean that
I'm completely in charge with the acting and diction of the play and its actors.
I know this was going to be a lot tougher than it looked, but at the same time,
it felt good being leader for a change.
"Alright, that's all for today's briefing," Terada-sensei concluded.
"With the exception of Li's kissing problem, all of you kids are doing
a good job portraying your roles! Keep it up! Let's get back to work!"
I looked down towards the seats and saw Syaoran mugging at Terada-sensei for
that remark. Again, I know that only I can fix the kissing bit... even at the
same time, Meiling was shooting another glare at me right after Terada-sensei
mentioned about "the kissing problem."
I took over the stage as I called out to the cast: "Okay... Act 2, Scene
1 - characters involved are Romeo, Mercutio, and Benvolio--- Li, Yanagisawa,
and Hiiragizawa, please get up on stage... the rest of you, rehearse your lines
for Act 2... thanks!" I gave everyone a big smile as I called for Syaoran,
Naoko-chan, and Eriol up the stage. Again, we met at a corner of the stage to
have our pre-rehearsal quick meeting. "Scene 1 is a really short scene,
so it's not too hard."
"Woohoo!!!! Yeah!!! Mercutio gets the huge spot on this scene--- I have
the most lines!" Naoko cheered happily. "And I get to make fun of
Li-kun too.... hee hee..."
"Great..." Syaoran frowned, as if he looked really tired, while looking
at the happy, hyper Naoko with that same muggy look.
"Indeed you do, dear Yanagisawa-san," Eriol winked at Naoko. "Even
though you are female you really captured Mercutio's character perfectly, I
admit."
"I told you that I dig Mercutio's line, even if his character dies early
in the play, I still LOVE him!"
I giggled at Naoko-chan as I hushed them. "Anyway, this scene is when Romeo
dashes off to look for Juliet after the party while Mercutio and Benvolio are
chasing after him. That's about it. So, let's get started...?"
"I'm ready!!" Naoko-chan perked up from her seat, stretching herself.
Boy, was she ever perky this morning!
"Let's make this nice and smooth," Eriol smiled, clearing his throat.
Syaoran quietly gets up and says nothing.
I stood up from my seat and I lead them towards one end of the stage. "HEY
TOMOYO-CHAN!" I called for Tomoyo towards backstage. "DO WE HAVE AN
IMAGINARY WALL READY?!"
Tomoyo appeared from backstage and called the backstage crew to take out a temporary
wall, small enough for Syaoran to climb over it during the scene. "We're
not quite done with the actual wall, but this will do, Sakura-chan."
"Thanks, Tomoyo-chan!" The people pushed the wall towards the center
of the stage while Tomoyo just stood there silent with a really faint smile
on her face. Suddenly, I noticed her face blushing a little bit. I tried to
trace her eyes as to where she was looking at--- right towards the side of the
stage where Syaoran, Naoko, and Eriol were waiting while practicing their lines
at the same time. Then, she sighed deeply and lowered her head. Okay, it was
official, I thought. Something was wrong with Tomoyo-chan. I decided to talk
to her about it later during breaktime or lunchtime or something. "Well,
we'd better get back. Good luck with scene 1."
We waved each other goodbye for now as I went up to the three: "Now, you
know what to do, right? That thing over there will be our wall for now. Syaoran-kun,
you're eventually going to climb over this wall after you say your line. After
you climb over, Naoko and Eriol, you run out to stage and stand beneath that
wall thing and do your dialogue. After that, just run across to the other side.
That's it!"
"Wow, that's easy!" Naoko smiled.
"This will only be a breeze..." Eriol sighed with a smirk on his face.
"Yeah, yeah..." Syaoran reluctantly gave his reaction.
"Alright, let's do this!" I took my seat down the front row beneath
the stage as I watched them. "Ready and... ACTION!"
Syaoran strolled out slowly, portraying his Romeo very well. He stopped right
next to the wall and slightly leaned against the wall, then recited his line:
Syaoran/Romeo: (contemplating to himself) Can I go forward when my
heart is here? Turn back, dull earth, and find thy centre out.
Syaoran climbed over the "wall" next to him and hid behind it. Few
seconds later, Eriol and Naoko, with Eriol leading, jogged out from the side
of the stage. Both of them started to look around, obviously trying to catch
up to Romeo, who already climbed over the wall.
Eriol/Benvolio: (calling all over the place) ROMEO! MY COUSIN, ROMEO!
ROMEO!
Naoko/Mercutio: (stops, thinks, and shakes her head, shrugging
at the same time) Ah, Benvolio... he is wise, And, on my life, hath stolen him
home to bed!
Eriol/Benvolio: (sees the wall and shakes his head) He ran this
way, and leapt this orchard wall! (turns to Naoko) Call, good Mercutio.
Naoko smirked and leans next to the wall and says her line:
Naoko/Mercutio: (smirking) Ah, nay, I'll conjure too. (calls
out towards the other side of the wall) ROMEO! HUMOURS! MADMAN! PASSION! LOVER!
I freaked out a bit at this part. Naoko acted like a witch, trying to summon
evil spirits or something at this part of her line. Mercutio was making fun
of Romeo after all while trying to look for him.
Naoko/Mercutio: (acting like a wizard casting a spell) Appear thou
in the likeness of a sigh, Speak but one rhyme and I am satisfied. Cry but "Ay,
me!" Pronounce but "love" and "dove", Speak to my gossip
Venus one fair word, One Nickname for her purblind son and heir, Young Abraham
Cupid, he that shot so trim When King Cophetua loved the beggar maid.
Naoko leaned against the wall and placed her ear against it, trying to see
if she can hear Romeo on the other side of the wall. Eriol did the same thing,
then they turned to each other. Naoko blinked while Eriol shook his head and
sighed.
Naoko/Mercutio: (blinks in confusion, looking at Eriol) Eh...? He
heareth not... he stirreth not... he moveth not; ... Ah, the ape is dead, and
I MUST conjure him!
Eriol started chuckling softly at Naoko, as Naoko drew out her prop sword
from her little sheath, as she starts to draw an imaginary circle on the ground
using the tip of her sword, as if she was still like a sorceress or something...
great job, Naoko, I thought.
Naoko/Mercutio: (while drawing the circle using the tip of her sword
on the ground) I conjure thee by Rosaline's bright eyes- by her high forehead
and her scarlet lip. By her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh, And
the demesnes that there adjacent lie, That in thy likeness thou appear to us...
Eriol bursted in laughter while Naoko smirked. The rest of us watching were
laughing as well. That Naoko-chan... she'd be better off being a comedian than
being a horror novel writer. In fact, she's a better comedian than Yamazaki-kun
too!
Eriol/Benvolio: (softens his laughter) And if he hear thee, Mercutio,
thou wilt anger him!
Naoko/Mercutio: (smirks) Ah, this cannot anger him! 'Twould anger
him To raise a spirit in his mistress' circle Of some strange nature, letting
it there stand... Till she had laid it and conjured it down; That were some
spite! My invocation Is fair and honest: in his mistress' name I conjure only
but to raise up him.
Eriol chuckled at Naoko's remark, as he gently pulls Naoko from the wall by
her arm. Boy, I'm impressed by these two. Their characters completely click
to each other! Way to go Naoko-chan and Eriol-kun!
Eriol/Benvolio: (pulling Naoko from the wall) Come, he hath hid himself
among these trees To be consorted with the humorous night. Blind is his love,
and best befits the dark.
Naoko/Mercutio: (chuckling at the same time) If love be blind,
love cannot hit the mark. Now will he sit under a medlar tree And wish his mistress
were that kind of fruit As maids call medlars when they laugh alone. (in a mocking
tone) Oh Romeo, that she were... O that she were An open-arse and thou a poperin
pear!
Naoko turned to the wall and blew a kiss towards it, smirking at the same
time:
Naoko/Mercutio: Romeo, good night! I'll to my truckle-bed. This field-bed
is too cold for me to sleep.
Eriol started snickering softly again, as he gently pulls Naoko away.
Naoko/Mercutio: (turns to Eriol) Good Benvolio, Come, shall we go?
Eriol/Benvolio: (smiles) Go then, for 'tis vain To seek him here that
means not to be found.
Naoko and Eriol exit the stage together. Scene one has ended perfectly.
Man, these people are really good! Those who were watching applauded including
the teachers. Boy, those two are impressive. "WAY TO GO, YOU GUYS, GOOD
JOB!!"
"Very impressive!" Terada-sensei praised the actors. Naoko, Eriol,
and Syaoran came out as we all gave them a standing ovation. I could even hear
Rika-chan and Chiharu-chan chanting "ENCORE, NAOKO-CHAN, ENCORE! ENCORE!"
Naoko bowed gracefully, while Eriol and Syaoran joined in the applause. Though
this was a short scene, basically Naoko ruled the scene completely. Yanagisawa
Naoko is not acting like Mercutio--- she IS Mercutio!
I climbed up the stage and turned to them, continuously clapping for their wonderful
performance. "You guys are perfect! You actually nailed the whole scene
down right! Wow!!"
"Well, what can I say...?" Naoko-chan smirked right at me, "in
fact... let me fill you in with a little secret of mine..."
"Secret...?" I wondered. Naoko-chan brought me towards one corner
of the stage and whispered: "Yes... have I ever told you that this sweet
young girl Yanagisawa Naoko... is possessed...?"
"Eh...?" I giggled a bit, thinking that Naoko was trying to act like
a comedian. "Possessed...?"
"Oh... why yes, Kinomoto Sakura-san..." Naoko raised her eyebrows
and her facial expression suddenly just turned sinister.
"Uhh.... um..." I gulped nervously, feeling a little shaky.
Naoko continued as she got closer to me: "Last night in my sleep... I felt
a very mystical presence... and to no avail, this mysterious being suddenly
took over this puny little body.... and................. BOO!!"
"AAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" I shrieked loudly when Naoko threw out her usual
spooky gestures when she just rose her arms upward as if she was trying to get
me. I hate it when she does that... everyone practically knew that I was a coward.
I stepped back slowly as Naoko continued to approach me with that same evil
look on her face.
"'TWAS THE HONORARY SPIRIT OF THE GREAT PLAYWRIGHT HIMSELF, DEAR SAKURA,
AND HE HATH POSSESSED THIS YOUNG BODY OF THIS SWEET YOUNG CHILD KNOWN AS YANAGISAWA
NAOKO... THIS SPIRIT HATH THOUGHT--- YANAGISAWA NAOKO IS NO MORE, AND THE MEMORABLE
YOUNG MAN KNOWN AS MERCUTIO HATH APPEARED BEFORE THINE EYES!!! MWA HA HA HA
HA HA HA!!!"
"WAAAAAAAAAHHHH..... GET IT AWAY FROM ME... GET AWAY FROM ME... GO AWAY...
GO AWAY... GO AWAY..." I found myself crying, trying to cover myself just
to protect myself from getting spooked when I felt comforting arms surrounded
me and a hush on my ear. I can still hear Naoko-chan laughing evilly as I screamed
out for my life...
"Sakura, she's just playing a joke on you... come on..." I heard a
gentle voice spoke to me. I opened my teary eyes and saw those sweet chocolate
eyes looking at me.
"Syaoran-kun..." was all I could cry out, not saying anything else.
"Sakura, get up," Syaoran commanded me as I slowly got up along with
him. He turned towards Naoko and frowned at her: "That wasn't funny, Naoko..."
Naoko was about to say something but Syaoran snubbed her off and pulled me away
from her.
We headed backstage at an isolated place. I was having a feeling that we're
gonna end up talking alone again. I looked my eyes up towards the sky and thanked
the gods who made some of my dreams come true. Alas, I'm alone with Syaoran
again...
From far away I noticed Naoko giggling continuously along with Eriol while he
just shook his head with her. That Naoko-chan... one of these days I'll get
her back for this, and when I do, let's see who gets to have the last laugh.
"Jeez, Sakura, you actually believe that Naoko's possessed?" I nodded
quickly as he gave me a dissatisfying frown. "You get scared easily...
that's not a good sign for a Card Mistress..."
"Hey, it's not my fault that I'm a chicken at ghosts..." I wiped off
my ears as Syaoran handed me a clean piece of facial tissue. I wiped my ears
away using that tissue.
"There's no such thing as ghosts!" He crossed his arms and frowned
right at me.
"Not when you're Touya-niichan, Syaoran-kun..."
He shook his head towards me. "And you actually listen to that jerk brother
of yours?!"
"HEY, DON'T CALL HIM A JERK!" I yelled right back at him.
"Well..." Syaoran sighed and lowered his eyes. "You just need
to get over it, you know? Convince yourself that the Card Mistress is not afraid
of anything!"
I frowned and looked at him straight in the eye: "And I suppose you're
not afraid of anything?"
"I trained all ten years of my life to become who I am now, Sakura, and
nothing, not even a single microbe, has ever made me fear them in a fight!"
"Oh really?" Ah yes, go for it, witty Sakura! "Then let me ask
you something, Li Syaoran--- if you say you're not afraid of anything, then
how come you're afraid of kissing girls, huh?"
Hah! I got him right there! Syaoran just stood there silent. Boy, I got him
alright, and I surely got him good! "W--- wait, that's got nothing to do
with it!"
"What's the matter, Syaoran-kun...? Tongue-tied...?"
"That's not fair, Sakura! I just came by to save you from Naoko's freakiness
and then you give me this treatment?"
"You called me a coward!"
"I didn't call you a coward, I never did! I can't believe you came back
with that kissing stuff at me! It's not my fault that I act like this towards
kissing girls... and of all people, Meiling?!" I guess I could take what
I said back eariler. Now it was my turn to feel tongue-tied. He had a point.
It was my fault (well, not quite, I just prayed, but praying can't be a sin
though, right?) that I wanted him to be Romeo... and convinced him to be Romeo,
only because I wanted him to. I wondered sometimes why he decided to do some
things in my favor, I mean he could always just flat-out refused and I'd understand,
but it'd always turn out that he would do what I wanted him to do... why? Unless
if he really does... um... well... yeah right, Sakura, dream on!
"Ne, Syaoran-kun..." I decided to change the subject before things
could get worse from here. It was bad enough for me that we had to argue, but
at the same time I didn't want to get him on his bad side (which he was always
was anyway, but still...). Anyway, time to be the director now. "Syaoran-kun...
you do realize what Act 2, Scene 2 is about, right...?"
Syaoran stood still, thinking of what I just asked him. Then he shook a bit,
then looked at me straight in the eye. "It's the balcony scene... the one
where I start off with the line that I just recited to you last week on the
first day. It's where I... well... I mean, it's where ROMEO and Juliet finally
blossomed their love for one another and made it official... and... the kissing...
the most passionate of all the kisses that mankind has ever seen... or... well,
something like that..."
I blushed a bit, thinking of what this balcony scene may be like... and Syaoran
in all his glory as Romeo and... oh... wait... never mind... I almost forgot
that Meiling was playing Juliet. "Hoe..."
"Sakura...?" I gasped a bit and saw him giving me that concerned look
again. I tried to restrain myself from feeling floaty everytime he looked at
me that way. Oh those caring sweet cocoa eyes of his... and his special complexion...
oh so perfectly still and exquisite... his father must have been a very handsome
man and his mother like a graceful angel... if he is this perfect then the four
sisters that he mentioned about long time ago must look like princesses in front
page covers of fashion magazines or something! I found myself blushing some
more...
"Uhh... sorry... um... I was thinking about something..."
"You still haven't figured out how you're going to have me do this kissing
thing, no...?"
Aaaah... Syaoran-kun... please don't be so tempting... I can't stand this
anymore... I covered my face once more, just to be sure that I did not transform
back to Kinomo-TOMATO Sakura once more. "Um.... don't worry... I've been
researching..."
"Researching...? Nani, Sakura...? (What, Sakura...?)"
"Tomoyo's mom's magazines... heh..." I felt a huge sweatdrop falling
from the back of my head.
"You actually read that stuff? I always thought all that stuff is totally
baloney..." Syaoran frowned and crossed his arms.
"Well.. uhh... just for the kissing articles and stuff..."
"You remind me of my sister Feimei back in Hong Kong... she always chatted
along with her little friends about these stuff in those Chinese teen magazines...
I actually took a glimpse at one of them and that whole advise thing was pretty
stupid... sometimes I wonder why girls can be so vain..."
"Err... umm... heheh..." I scratched my head in nervousness, trying
to find an answer. He did have a point... why are we girls so conscious about
our looks in the first place ...? "Well, uhh... it's... natural... I guess..."
Syaoran turned his head to see the clock up on the wall backstage. "So...
what do we do now...?"
I scratched my head and answered: "Act 2, Scene 2...?"
"Oh yeah... that." I smiled sweetly towards him as I left the silent
corner and met up with the backstage crew to say hello. Syaoran followed me
from behind as I continued my way out towards the front stage.
"I wanna take a break," I said. I headed down to the seats and sat
on my corner, where I left my stuff at. When I took my seat, I found Meiling
talking to Syaoran again. She looked really excited and had flashy stars on
her eyes. And to an unexpected moment, I noticed Syaoran smiling back at her.
Now this really made me all curious. The two exchanged smiles at each other
as Syaoran walked his way towards my direction. Oi, I thought, I'd better get
back to my seat. I dashed right at my seat, opened my schoolbag, and took out
my water bottle. I started drinking through my bottle when Syaoran arrived at
my corner and sat right next to me.
"Tired?" He asked as he took out his water bottle as well.
"My throat hurts from yelling," I replied briefly to him.
"Hey Sakura... um... listen..." I turned my head to him, showing that
I am listening. "Sakura... back on our talk earlier... it's not that I'm
afraid of kissing girls... it's just that..."
"Hoe...?" I blinked, looking a little confused at him.
"It's just that... I don't kiss girls when the kiss has no meaning in itself,
Sakura..."
Eh?! I almost spat the water in my mouth, but I saved myself by covering
my mouth. "You don't kiss girls---"
"--- when the kiss has no meaning..." He leaned back on his seat and
drank some of his water from his water bottle. "If I were to kiss a girl...
I would kiss her because I want to... and to show that..." Hoe....?
Since when did the future leader of the Li Clan ever become so romantically
sensitive...?
"To show that...?" I blushed slightly, actually hearing something
so sensitive and even romantic from someone like him. I always thought that
he was flat out strict, but... maybe it was the Romeo and Juliet influence
or something...
"I guess to show that... well... um..." He sighed deeply as I waited
for his answer. "... I have special feelings for her." Special
feelings... you mean like love...?
I sat back on my seat and drank some more of my water. "So... are you
trying to tell me that you've kissed girls before...?"
Syaoran got up and exclaimed right at me: "NO! I don't mean that I've kissed
girls before, it's just that... I don't feel right kissing a girl when there's
no meaning to that kiss..."
"Ehh..." I chuckled nervously, another huge sweatdrop fell on the
side of my face, and scratched the back of my head nervously. "But you
see... when you kiss Meiling, you're not kissing her as yourself... you're kissing
her as Romeo... you always keep on referring yourself to the Romeo character,
Syaoran-kun... see, when you play---"
"I know, Sakura..." His voice sounded really deep this time. God,
I thought to myself, why did you have to put me in love with this guy when he's
already taken by someone else...? Seeing them as Romeo and Juliet truly showed
that they seem to have meant for each other, but why did I HAVE to be in the
way? Now I'm supposed to help this guy kiss some other girl other than myself...?
"Good," I gave him a gleeful smile and glanced at him once more. Gosh,
my heart always beats so fast everytime I decided to just look at him in a silent
moment. Not only that he was irresistibly good-looking with that messy hair
of his that made his complexion look so perfect and the shimmering sparkle of
his chocolate-jewelled eyes, but his aura was just so strong and so mighty...
like he was a powerful barrier that no one could ever break. His steadfast self
was that of a mighty wall, but his heart was that of an angel in hiding.
I sighed in bliss, just looking at his perfection, not even realizing that I
sighed deeply in public that Syaoran heard me: "Sakura...? You okay...?"
"Hoe...?" I blushed lightly as he shifted himself slowly to face me.
"Um... um..."
"I heard you sigh... I thought you may be troubled..." Troubled...?
You have no idea how "troubled" I am, buddy... "I... um...
worry a lot when you... sigh..."
"R-really...?" Sakura-chan, be careful... don't turn yourself
into a tomato again... "I... I mean... you don't have to if you don't want
to, I mean, you know me... heheh... I'm always getting into loads of trouble,
but you know I'm used to it... heheheheheh... um... heh..."
"Mm..." Syaoran let out a very soft murmur from his lips, which
completely captivated me. I can finally imagine myself turning into a sun-dried
tomato--- way more red than your average, healthy tomato. Before anything suddenly
happens (which of course, I wish something sweet may happen to me and him, but
now isn't the right time because we're in school and everybody else was around),
I decided to change the subject and grabbed my copy of the script.
"Okay... break's up! We have to go get Meiling so we can rehearse the balcony
scene!" I jumped up immediately, feeling nervous completely when I'm right
next to him. Luckily Meiling, Eriol, and especially Tomoyo and that video camera
of hers were not around while I was having my sort-of special moment with Syaoran
right here and right now. "I'm gonna go meet up with Terada-sensei first...
you go get Meiling and meet me up on stage, 'kay?"
"Oh..." Right away, I saw the sadness and displease through his eyes.
Oh my, I thought, did I do or say something wrong...? "Okay... we'll talk
later..."
"Okay!" I replied cheerfully with my usual smile, as I made my way
backstage. He went ahead to go get Meiling--- wherever she was...
I was on my way towards backstage when I was distracted by the glimpse of my
best friend, standing innocently straight--- with Eriol?! I wanted to join in,
but it looked like there were some emotions going back and forth here. I took
a short sight of Tomoyo and noticed her cheeks blushing red while Eriol was
talking to her. I wonder what they were talking about, I wonder. I decided to
watch their actions and I noticed Eriol smiling sweetly towards Tomoyo, while
Tomoyo just shyed away, giggling and blushing at the same time. Then I realized
something--- could it be...? Was Tomoyo blushing right at Eriol during those
times that I saw her blushing while staring at some direction? First time I
noticed that was during our first day when she and I met that morning and headed
to class, and when we saw Eriol, she became perked up all of a sudden and ran
to him about the play. Second time was during our first meeting when Syaoran
and Eriol were sitting next to me. Third was when she looked really sad when
she looked at Syaoran, Meiling, Eriol, and Mizuki-sensei. Then the latest time
I saw her blushing right towards Syaoran, Eriol, and Naoko-chan during the rehearsal
of Act 2, Scene 1 while I was talking to her about that imaginary wall thing.
I actually got nervous at first that she might be blushing the same way as I
was towards Syaoran that almost gave me the idea that she likes him too, but
then again on the other hand, why would she always tease me with Syaoran in
the first place?
I finally decided in my thoughts about my best friend--- Daidouji Tomoyo is
in love with Eriol Hiiragizawa!
I stood there watching them through their actions. Now I thought that this
was already overdone--- Eriol just gently traced a portion of Tomoyo's snow-white
cheek with his finger, which made Tomoyo turn completely red. Then from his
finger he gently slid his hand towards her hand, held it, and right from that
moment he softly kissed the back of her hand. Finally, he said his goodbye and
walked away, leaving the completely red Tomoyo shaking with excitement. I decided
to go up to her and get back at her from her constant teasing with me and Syaoran.
"Looks like Hiiragizawa-kun has done it again," I smirked right at
Tomoyo.
"Oh! Oh Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo gasped and became nervous right at me.
"I... I didn't see you there! Wh-when did you... I mean... um..."
Looks like Tomoyo-chan released more crimson red blush on her cheeks right now...
Gotcha!
"AHA!" I shrieked, pointing right at her with my finger. "YOU
LOVE HIM, DON'T YOU?!"
"SAKURA-CHAN!!" Tomoyo gasped in shock and hushed me. "Don't
say that aloud... he'll hear it..."
"Y-you mean it's true? Oh my goodness!" I started to giggle a bit,
softly, of course. I decided to liven up more with a little song I made up:
"Tomoyo-chan wa Hiiragizawa-kun ga dai~~ suki neeee! (Tomoyo loves Hiiragizawa-kun
big time!)"
"You'd better take that back, Sakura-chan... that's not funny!" Tomoyo
demanded right at me as I skipped away towards the backstage area to look for
Terada-sensei, continuously singing my little song: "Tomoyo-chan wa
Hiiragizawa-kun ga ko~~ishiteru da neeeee! (Tomoyo is deeply in love with Hiiragizawa-kun
big time!)"
"SAKURA-CHAN!!" Boy, do I love being the teaser this time!
"Itsuka Tomoyo-chan to Hiiragizawa-kun ga ke~~kkon suru da neeeee! (Someday
Tomoyo and Hiiragizawa-kun are going to get married!)"
"I'M WARNING YOU!!"
"Soshite Tomoyo-chan to Hiiragizawa-kun wa kawaii a~~kachan ga mo~~tteiru
da neeeee! (And Tomoyo and Hiiragizawa-kun will have a cute little baby!)"
"OKAY, KINOMOTO SAKURA, YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR!"
"Uh oh!" I started laughing endlessly as Tomoyo started chasing around,
both laughing happily at the same time. Finally we reached backstage as Tomoyo
caught up with me, attempting to tickle me down to the ground when we were caught
by Mizuki-sensei from behind. "Uh oh... whoops..."
"Looks like the two of you are having fun, hm?" Mizuki-sensei chuckled.
"Well then, since you're both here, we need to have a word with you. Sakura,
Terada-sensei is at the dresser rooms right now, talking to some of the actors,
and he would like to talk to you about the play. Tomoyo, I need your help with
organizing the lighting crew and the sound crew."
"No, actually, my idea is this..." We ended up splitting from each
other as I headed my way towards the dressing rooms.
When I arrived at the dressing room, I saw Terada-sensei in there alright---
with Syaoran and Meiling! I gulped nervously as I went ahead to meet up with
them. "Just in time, Kinomoto!" Terada-sensei waved at me. "Why
don't you, Li, and Meiling take a seat, please?"
Uh oh.. are we in trouble? That was the first thought that came to my mind.
I took a seat, with Syaoran sitting in the middle between me and Meiling. I
wonder why Terada-sensei wanted us here. "What's going on, Terada-sensei?"
I asked.
"Oh don't worry, Kinomoto, all of you are doing a great job so far! I'm
very proud of you all. Now, I brought the three of you in here because I need
to address an issue that would somewhat affect our status of this play."
"Okay," I replied.
"Well... first of all, I received word from the principal that a representative
from the famous London Conservatory of Thespianship in England, a special private
institution for those who would want to be actors or those who would like to
work in show business, both in stage and in film, will be arriving here in Japan,
looking for potential students who may be qualified to attend the Conservatory
when they graduate from high school. They are holding a special summer camp
of acting and improvising for elementary school children from all around the
world and spend the whole summer acting and do other fun activities--- in England,
of course."
"Wow!!" Meiling and I cheered happily while Syaoran kept himself quiet...
as usual.
"This representative is looking for only ONE lucky fourth-grade class representing
Japan to that summer camp in England, since we were chosen to do this fall play.
I definitely would love to go and take this class along with me to England,
and I thought that maybe our production of Romeo and Juliet would definitely
convince the representative to choose us--- Tomoeda Elementary School--- to
be the representative for Japan for that summer camp..."
"Hai!" I cheered happily. "Don't you worry, Terada-sensei, as
director, I shall make this play the best-ever, most memorable production of
Romeo and Juliet ever! I am gonna try to make our actors woo this London
Conservatory guy and pick us to represent Japan for that summer camp! Oh I would
LOVE to go to that summer camp!"
"Me too! Me too!!" Meiling cheered along with me, as she turned to
Syaoran: "I can't wait for us to spend together in England, Xiao Lang!"
Syaoran did not reply, as Terada-sensei nodded with a smile.
"Now... I brought this up because I'm concerned about you... especially
you, Li," Terada-sensei continued. "You do know that this kissing
bit is a very important key to a successful play, and that rep is going to expect
that from our play big time..."
"Gomen nasai, Terada-sensei... (I'm sorry, Terada-sensei)"
Syaoran sighed deeply. "I tried to... but... I just..."
"I understand, Li, which is another reason why I brought the three of you
here. Mizuki-sensei and I have decided that since you and Meiling here already
know the whole play by heart that we decided to split you and Meiling apart
to rehearse your role and your lines."
"Oh?" Syaoran blinked in confusion.
"WHAT?! WHY?!" Meiling shrieked in horror. "You can't do that,
Terada-sensei! Xiao Lang and I are INSEPARABLE!" Then again, so are Li
Syaoran and Kinomoto Sakura, but you know I was just being sarcastic...
"Meiling, we need to figure out what was actually preventing Li from kissing
you in the first place during the rehearsal, which is why we decided to split
you apart. Starting tomorrow, I will personally direct the play with some help
from Hiiragizawa."
Wait... wait... what? Split Syaoran and Meiling up...? Does that mean that I
don't get to direct the balcony scene anymore...? That would mean that Syaoran
and Meiling won't be able to rehearse their scene together. How is that going
to make this play a successful, effective play? I need to have both Meiling
and Syaoran together to direct this scene... wait.. wait a minute... Terada-sensei
said that he would be directing the play starting tomorrow... what the heck?
I'm not the director anymore...? Wait a minute, what's going on here?! Hey,
why am I here in the first place...?! "Um... Terada-sensei, um... if you're
going to direct the play from now on then... what am I supposed to do...?"
"I was just getting to you, Kinomoto, don't worry, you're still the director
of the play, but you'll be having a special assignment. Meiling will be rehearsing
her lines with the rest of the cast here, since I find her acting a little too
overboard..."
"Overboard?!" Meiling shrieked as Terada-sensei calmed her down.
"You're overreacting, Meiling, let me finish first..." Terada-sensei
said, as he continued on. "Your assignment as director of the play is to
coach, train, and rehearse parts of the play where all the kissing scenes are
located with Li..."
HOE?! What in the... me... teaching Syaoran how to kiss... ALONE?! AS IN...
BY MYSELF--- WITH HIM?! "Terada-sensei, but... you mean... just me
and HIM?!" I pointed my thumb towards Syaoran, while Syaoran himself gave
a really shocked expression on his face. Syaoran and I... alone...?!
"Precisely, Kinomoto. I believe in you, you know that... you have done
a wonderful job as director and all the kids look up to you because of it...
I'm sure you can succeed your directing wizardry on Syaoran's problem with kissing
scenes... I already had permission from the principal to have your practice
session secluded from everyone else so you and Syaoran will be practicing in
our classroom... and after school, you may leave early... but please continue
the session in your homes as well." Terada-sensei patted both me and Syaoran
on our shoulders with a smile on his face. Where is the sun-dried tomato now...?
"Now, don't be nervous, kids, remember, this isn't for real, so it shouldn't
be much of a problem..."
That's easy for you to say, Terada-sensei, I thought to myself, still
in shock that I was assigned to train Syaoran on kissing scenes...? I might
as well get my ideas together then and... I don't know... make a list of methods
on how I was going to make this work. This isn't just shocking, but embarrassing
as well, it's like Syaoran and I were being punished for not doing anything
about the kissing problem. Why did Tomoyo had to choose this play...?
On the other hand, I may find myself in Cloud Nine completely, now that I get
to spend most of my time being with Syaoran alone... and not just that, KISSING?!
I... well.. I just hope that nothing... um... weird... happens between us...
Yeah right, Sakura, you know you want Syaoran all to yourself! Ugh, stupid
conscience... I wish that voice in my mind would just shut up for once.
"Well then... that's all... you are dismissed and proceed with what your
tasks should be!" Quietly and still in shock, the three of us exited the
dressing rooms and met together to go through Act 2, Scene 2--- the balcony
scene.
Another school day ended. Tomoyo and I were walking home alone again. Ever since
we were dismissed I still haven't said a word. I was still completely in shock.
Tomorrow, I will be away from my classmates and my regular duty as director.
I will be spending the whole day in the classroom and even outside of the classroom
teaching (or... at least, trying to...) Syaoran on the kissing scenes. Terada-sensei
may have figured that maybe Syaoran felt uncomfortable kissing Meiling in public
or something that made him decide to try something else for Syaoran to actually
practice his kissing with. I'm still shocked that I was given that responsibility
to get Syaoran's lips ready for the play. Still though, even if I succeeded,
those lips would eventually land in Meiling's lips, and who knows... maybe Syaoran
might end up falling in love with Meiling on the spot and... oh no... another
problem there...
I wish I was Juliet... I wish I was the girl Syaoran would be kissing in public...
even if it's not for real, I would definitely treasure the special moment we
shared together. I know that he may not have the same type of love for me as
I do for him, but at least, one special moment with him would be enough for
me to feel that--- yes, I may not have him, but I still had a chance with him---
just one small chance of being with him... and that's all that matters. If not
forever, at least, just this one day...
I told Tomoyo about it and she decided to get me back from my constant teasing
with her affections with Eriol. I wonder if Eriol knew about Tomoyo's affections
for him... and I wonder if that mysterious flirting convo I overheard this morning
were that of Eriol and some other lucky girl that he just wooed... too bad that
girl wasn't Tomoyo... poor girl. And until now--- what is up with him and Mizuki-sensei
anyway?!
Tomoyo was still on Cloud Nine later and she started talking about how wonderfully
perfect Eriol is. I warned her about him being flirty to girls and stuff, but
Tomoyo did not care. She believed that he had a kind heart and a sincere meaning
within him. She even believed that one day that she may have a chance with him.
She even said that seeing Eriol flirting with Mizuki-sensei made her sad, but
she held her head up high and not let something so small as that put her down.
And she also said that I should feel the same for Syaoran and Meiling... and
I thought to myself... Tomoyo may be right about this.
Nighttime came; had my dinner with my dad and Touya-niichan. For the first time
I was not as talkative as I always have been and it actually worried my dad.
Touya didn't seem to pay attention, but it didn't matter to me, since he wasn't
that important in this case. Luckily I was able to make our dinner, so it was
Touya's turn to wash the dishes.
Dad invited me to go to his den for a little talk. Time for another father-mother
session: "You seem really quiet tonight... did anything happen in school
today...?"
I looked down, trying to look for a good answer: "Things are okay, Dad."
"How's the play? Everything fine?"
"Um... Dad...? Well... um... Terada-sensei talked to me earlier today...
there's this guy from some big acting school in England who's gonna come to
Japan in a few weeks and he was looking for a small fourth-grade class for their
upcoming summer acting camp or something and I really wanna go, but for that
to happen, we have to make the play as powerful as we can to convince him that
Tomoeda Elementary kids have a lot of potential and talent enough to go to that
acting summer camp. Oh Dad, I really want to go sooo bad!"
"Well, that's not too hard... I heard from my colleagues working in the
school administration that you have been doing a wonderful job so far... I don't
see the problem in there... I'm sure you will be chosen, Sakura-chan..."
I stood up from my seat and looked directly towards my father's eyes: "Dad,
don't you see? We've got a problem--- Syaoran-kun has a kissing problem?"
"Hm? Kissing problem?"
"He's playing Romeo in the play, Dad! For that play to be powerful, all
kissing scenes should be in it, and Syaoran-kun doesn't wanna kiss Meiling,
who's playing Juliet! And now Terada-sensei's making me teach him how to kiss...
and... um.. I don't know anything about kissing... Daaad..." I pouted and
frowned as he hushed me quietly.
"Ah... at last the moment has come... you're growing up, Sakura-chan..."
"Dad, um... that's not what I meant..." I blushed a bit, thinking
of what Dad may have meant.
"Wait.. Syaoran... the Chinese boy in your class your brother has been
ranting to you about for a long time now?" I nodded and lowered my eyes.
"Touya's a nut," I told him. "Don't listen to him." Dad
chuckled softly. "Dad, I don't know what to do with Syaoran-kun now ..."
I whined while my dad continued to hush me.
"It's only kissing, Sakura-chan, it's no big deal, it's not like you and
him are romancing each other now, right? You're the director, you need to do
what you're supposed to do... it's your task, sweetheart. And he, an actor,
must follow and learn everything you teach him... simple as that..."
I sighed deeply and gave another blush. Everytime I think of Syaoran my plump
face becomes completely uncontrollable. "Dad, Syaoran-kun's not a bad guy...
I admit he was a bully when we first met, but he's becoming really nice to me...
I like him a lot now..."
Dad just smiled and nodded. "That's a good girl... you're too lovable to
be hated, you know that, sweetie.."
I blushed and sighed: "I love you, Dad." He and I embraced each other,
as he whispered the same to me.
"Now, you'd better get your precious little shut eye before your brother
gets suspicious of you again..." He purposely messed up my hair lightly
as I giggled.
"Are you sure about this, Sakura-chan?" I heard Kero-chan's concerned
voice from behind as I changed my clothes in to my favorite PJ's. Kero-chan
and I had been talking a lot lately, basically about the play, and in turn,
Kero-chan would always tell me stories about the Shakespearean days, the lives
of Clow Reed's descendants living in Shakespeare's time, stuff like that. Just
recently I told him about the guy coming from that London acting school and
in turn, he talked to me more about that school. He said that it was the result
of Shakespeare's success that made a lot of people got interested in acting
that Queen Elizabeth I established this school for those who would want to be
performers on stage. It was too bad that it was already established just three
days before Shakespeare's birthday, which was also the day he died... ah, what
curse indeed!
Now I just informed him about my little problem with Syaoran's kissing problem
and he got worried. "I'll do what I can to make Syaoran-kun kiss in public
in the play..."
"I still don't like him, but then again, you're the director of the play...
and he's the actor, so he shouldn't be arguing with you. He's got no choice,
he has to kiss that bratty girl in public. You know, sometimes that brat gets
mixed up between fiction and reality. Poor kid..." Kero-chan informed me.
"But then again, if there's anything else I can do for you..."
"I'll let you know, Kero-chan," I smiled and poked gently on his stomach.
Kero-chan giggled and returned to his little bed.
"Awrighty, I'm tired now... you better tuck yourself in so you can be early
for school... well, you know the drill."
I giggled softly: "Goodnight, Kero-chan!"
Kero-chan yawned and went to sleep as I was just lifting up my comforter on
my bed. I was ready to tuck in myself when I heard a knock on the door: "It's
open!"
The door opened and Dad came with our cordless phone on his hand. "Sakura-chan,
you have a phone call."
"Thanks, Dad." I hugged my dad again as he left and closed door, smiling.
I giggled a bit, thinking that it's Tomoyo. She's the only person I know of
who would call me at this hour: "What's up, Tomoyo-chan? Look, I'm sorry
about my little song between you and---"
"Sakura..." Eeep! I'm not hearing things, am I...? Could it be...?
"It's me... Syaoran."
"Syaoran-kun?! Ah!! Gomen.. I thought you were Tomoyo-chan, since she's
the only person who calls me at this hour!" I gulped, feeling a little
shaky. First up, I don't recall giving Syaoran my phone number, second, here
I am now, talking ear to ear with him! Oh God, what have you been doing to me...
are you saying that maybe I'm really meant for him...? "Um... Syaoran-kun...?
H-how..."
"Daidouji called me up earlier and gave me your phone number... I don't
know why she did that, but I thought it may be important, so... I called you..."
Tomoyo-chan?! Okay, Tomoyo-chan, now you REALLY asked for it... "She
got my cell number from Yamazaki earlier... which was weird... she's really
clever, that Daidouji girl... she knew that Yamazaki was the only one who knew
my cell number..."
"Oh... Oh my gosh! Wait!" I shrieked in horror. "What about Meiling?
Does she even know that you're talking to me right---?"
"She's fast asleep... I kinda laced her dinner with some sleeping herb
while she was too busy looking at herself in the living room mirror ... I kinda
had to bribe along with my butler for him not to tell her about what I did because
I know she would try to cling all over me again, trying to make me kiss her
as my so-called training for the play..."
"Ah!! Are you okay now...? I'm so sorry..."
"Don't worry about it..." Okay, now silence came between us. I really
don't know what to say to him at all... now what, I thought...
"Um... Syaoran-kun...? Um... so... uhh... well, just to let you know that
I still haven't come up with some good ideas on how to teach you how to kiss..."
"Well, frankly I don't care... I thought... maybe I'd feel more comfortable
learning from you than having to deal with Meiling's attempts all night every
single day in this apartment... I wish I lived in a house all to myself then
I'd be happy..."
I blushed in different shades of tomato colors all over. He actually said that
maybe he would feel more comfortable with me than with Meiling...? Oh my goodness,
I thought... this is getting too much... first, I have to train him how to kiss
alone, second, this phone call, and now this...? I love him, God... I love Li
Syaoran ever-so-deeply in my heart... I... I wish he would share the same feelings
for me--- someday. "Well... um... we'll see about that..."
"Yeah.. I've been thinking about it... actually..."
"Hoe...? You mean our kissing training thing that we're gonna do tomorrow...?
I mean, I'm completely shocked that Terada-sensei would actually put us through
this... it's like a punishment or something!"
"I don't mind... anything to get away from Meiling for a change..."
I giggled a bit... he actually made a funny!
"But... what about the fact that you're going to be alone WITH me, trying
to make you kiss in the play...? You know...? I mean, you and Meiling are too
common to be together, but... me...? I mean, how do you feel about this whole
thing...?"
"If Terada-sensei thinks I'd make a stinky Romeo, then I'll turn it around
and make my role better, and I have no choice but---"
"No, I mean, how do YOU feel...?" Silence came from the other side.
Have I made him nervous... or uncomfortable...?
"Well.. I'm... to be honest... I'm... nervous... actually..."
"Nervous...? Y-you're... telling me..."
"And scared... Sakura, I don't want you to feel uncomfortable around me..."
"No! No!" I shrieked immediately. "No no... I'm perfectly fine...
I mean, we're friends, right...? And this kissing thing isn't for real anyways,
so... uhh... why should we get nervous...?" Yeah right, Sakura... you
know you want to kiss him...
"Well... um... it's not like.. there's something going on between us,
I mean we're allies and best friends and... well, not that we would actually...
uhh..."
I blushed even more. I just could not take it anymore! "Syaoran-kun...
I... I know exactly what you mean... but... but we have to get through this!
I wanna go to England with you and all our friends in class this summer!"
"I know, me too... sounds exciting, even if we're actually going to the
country where 'four-eyes' came from..." Yep... "four-eyes" is
one of Syaoran's little nicknames for Eriol.
"Hiiragizawa-kun?" I giggled softly. "He's not that bad..."
"Sakura, you know how my feelings are towards him..."
"I know, I know, but don't worry, Tomoyo-chan's got a crush on him!"
"Good luck to them both... they're going to need it." I couldn't stop
laughing... I was really getting in to this conversation with him through the
phone! Now I found myself more in love with him than ever!
"Ah... shoot..." I heard a dissatisfied tone from Syaoran on the other
side. "It's getting late... my butler's already warning me about my cell
phone usage... I have to go... but it was really nice talking to you for the
first time on the phone like this..."
"Me too..... I really enjoyed talking to you..." More like "being
with you" is more like it.
"I'll meet you at the auditorium in the morning, 'kay? Then we'll go to
the classroom together... guess I'll be kissing a lot tomorrow..."
I blushed heavily and just giggled. "Okay! Um... well... goodnight, Syaoran-kun."
"Goodnight, Sakura-chan... sweet dreams."
"You too.... Syaoran-kun..." From then on, I hung up the phone and
placed the phone on my sidetable. I stretched my arms and lied down on my bed,
tucking myself in tightly.
Tonight, I would definitely going to have the sweetest dreams for sure. Tomorrow
will be the true beginning of everything... tomorrow will only be me and Syaoran...
all alone... together... in the classroom ...
Kissing ...
To be continued...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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