Author's Note: Hi, there! I'm Abisinia and this is my first Card Captor
Sakura Fan fiction!!!!!!!!!!!! Just to make a few things clear: 1) Sakura and
friends are about 17 years old in this fic 2) Since they are about 17, they
don't think or act as the 10 year old children they were in the series, if you
know what I mean 3) Eriol has gone back, just like in the series 4) Syaoran
hasn't told Sakura about his feelings YET 5) Syaoran hasn't gone and won't go
back to Hong Kong (yessssssss!!!!!!!!!!!) 6) Since I'm not used to those "kun",
"san" and "chan" stuff, I won't use them 7) Don't be too hard on my pitiful
grammar skills, since English isn't my first language
Firstly, I want to thank Kyralea, Absolut Angel, Satashi and THE
MOUSE, the four wonderful authors who inspired me to write this story (although
they probably don't know me)! I'd also like the readers to know that this is MY
story, so don't hate me if you don't like it, because I did my best. And
please, I beg you, send me FEEDBACK (flames or whatever)!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!
I'd also like to thank the first reviewers of this fic:
Moshimoshiqueen, Nako-chan, LiNa, Lyss chan, sakura, nonie77, DawnRising, Cherry_Blossom,
chescaOtaku, Sakura Li, CATGIRL, Happy Individual, Flower Kid, ~*princess
icestar*~, Yeslek25, Star Mistress, Sakura Kinomoto Li, ~lil~ Sakura~chan, Jane,
Silver Kitsune, kari, Intrams and AyaChan! You've helped me a lot!
Disclaimer: No, I don't own Card Captor Sakura. Clamp
does. Sue THEM if you want to…
Disclaimer 2: I DO own Lin Su Hin (the pronunciation is "Lin Su HAN" and
"Lin" is the surname)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't forget:
"……….." = Thinking
- ………… = Speaking (duh!)
~*~*~*~* = Change of scene
or/and POV
(A.N.:……) = Author's note
There are also a few thick black lines in the middle of the text,
I'm not sure where. Please ignore them: it was an error I wasn't able to do
anything about! L
Love or Hatred?
By Abisinia
Chapter 1: The newcomer and the childhood friend
Sakura woke up with the alarm clock. She
had slept on her knees, leaning on the window.
- Hoe! I'm late again! Why didn't you wake
me up, Kero? - She said as usual,
rubbing her eyes.
Kero went out of the drawer, sleepily. He
was so used to that scene that, when he remembered what it was all about, he
went back to his "room" to sleep again… for six years he had heard
the same thing every morning.
Sakura put on her uniform as fast as she
could. The High School one was different from the Elementary School uniform:
the dark blue skirt was a bit longer and, embroidered on the white shirt and on
the dark blue tie, was the school emblem. She glanced at her reflection in the
mirror, in a silent approval, and picked up her backpack, throwing a strap
behind her right shoulder. Then, she ran downstairs, forgetting to tell the
guardian of the Clow Cards (now Sakura Cards) about her dream.
She sighted in relief as she remembered
her brother wasn't there to call her "squirt". Touya had been very busy and
they hardly saw each other. Also because of that, she had rarely been seeing
Yukito. She had given up on him since he had told her that he loved someone
else, a long time ago... but they were friends anyway. Also, she hadn't seen
Yue for a long time... Last time, she agreed to let him live permanently as
Yukito and give Touya his magical powers back; but Yue made her promise that,
if she needed him, she would summon him anytime. She never did…
Sakura ate quickly the first thing
available and, as fast as she could, ran out of the house on foot. She hadn't
used her roller-blades for a long time, now.
It was a beautiful spring day. The Card
Mistress felt tempted to use the Time Card, just to stop for a while and enjoy,
observing the blue sky and the curious shapes of the clouds. She gladly inhaled
the fresh scent of various flowers, carried by the warm, pleasant breeze that
was blowing.
She entered the court, full of students
from the Elementary and High School. Since there was only a short wall that
separated Tomoeda Elementary from Seijou High, students usually went from one
to another. Giving smiles to everyone who bowed at her, Sakura showed,
unconsciously, the reason why she was one of the most popular girl in there.
Beauty and gentleness combined were things that just couldn't be ignored,
especially by the male half of the school. She had a happy smile adorning her
angel-like face when she reached her classroom.
- Good morning everyone! – she cheered.
A storm of "good morning", "hey, Sakura", "hi", "how are you" and such
things filled her ears, as she placed her books on her desk and hanged her backpack
on the back of her chair. She looked around and, just beside her, found the one
she was searching for:
- Good morning, Tomoyo!
- Good morning, Sakura. – The
amethyst-eyed young woman smiled - Why are you so happy today? You look so
kawaii when you're happy!!!!
Sakura
face-faulted, anime style. Tomoyo, her best friend for years, had always been
kind of obsessed about her. Her happiness was taping Sakura all the time and
the most precious treasures of her life where her tapes of the Card Mistress
capturing the Clow Cards or changing them into Sakura Cards. Now, as those
adventures where unlikely to happen again, Tomoyo's favorite "taping
situations" were "Sakura & Syaoran moments" as she called them.
- The day is
sooo beautiful, isn't it?
- Sure. So
that's why you're happy!
Sakura nodded in reply, while she turned
around, to the desk behind her own. When she was about to say "Good
morning, Syaoran!" with that smile she had practiced the whole night
before, just for him, she noticed he wasn't there. A sad cloud seemed to cover
her features, as the sky turned grayish and the day lost a bit of its
enchantment.
- Where's Li? - She asked, with a
disappointed tone, as she turned to her friend.
- He hasn't arrived
yet. Weird, isn't it? He is usually early!
- Yeah... – Sakura's voice was distant - I
wonder if anything happened.
Tomoyo smiled, as she saw her friend
looking hopelessly out of the window. The dark-haired girl knew her friend had
been in love with the Chinese young man for about six years now. Actually,
lately, Tomoyo had observed that Sakura was completely head over heels for him.
Well… who wouldn't? Her friend was not the only one who had noticed his
absence; the whole feminine part of the classroom had a disappointed look
whenever their eyes rested on the empty desk of the secretly voted "Hottest
Hunk" in school.
- I guess Syaoran can take care of
himself, don't you agree? – Tomoyo continued.
That seemed to cheer up Sakura. Her friend
was absolutely right: Li had always been independent…
"And not only he can take care of himself,
he can take care of others…" the Card Captor, thought, as she remembered all
the times the warrior had saved her. Sometimes she wondered why he would always
help her… not that she didn't like it, of course.
- That's
right, Tomoyo! But I guess I'm going to visit him after class, you know… just
to ask him why he hasn't come... – she knew her friend would never believe that
silly reason she had given, but that didn't matter - You're coming with me,
right?
- Why? –
Tomoyo grinned, and then teased - Don't you want to be alone with him?
Sakura wasn't as clueless as she used to
be… Partially because Syaoran was one of her best friends, and, lately, they
had allowed themselves to flirt (strangely, they only did that when they were
alone); with that, she had found out that her Card Captor partner was more of a
dirty-minded and a sweet-talker she could ever had imagined…
"Actually, he's changed a lot since he
came to Japan… specially towards me" -
She allowed herself a small blush and a smirk at that thought, but quickly
regained her control.
- Tomoyo! He's
my friend! – "A very close friend, as a matter of fact"
- Then why are
you blushing?
"Touché"
- Hoe! It's just
that... – she couldn't find the words.
- Never mind,
Sakura... - Tomoyo giggled – I'd love to join you, but my mom asked me to help
her with her work today. I'm sorry...
- That's OK. I DON'T MIND going alone
because Syaoran is my FRIEND – she emphasized.
Finally, the
teacher arrived. Math's… the very first class of the day was Math's! Everyone
sat down, with bored expressions.
"Why do I take this class, anyway?" -
Sakura thought. And then, looking behind her shoulder, she remembered - "Oh!
That's why…"
- Good morning class. Today we have a new
student. He is from Hong Kong... – the bad-looking, short, fat and bald Math's
teacher started, as he put on his glasses.
At the mentioning of "Hong
Kong", Sakura's green eyes sparkled, brighter than the most perfect
emerald that could ever be found.
"But Li is not a new student..." – and then she
frowned – "Why can't I stop thinking about him? After all, he's not that
charming, interesting, intelligent, good-looking, hot, sexy and hunky as all
the girls say… Is he?" – she smirked at her stupid question.
The teacher continued:
- His name is Lin Su Hin.
Sakura looked curiously at the young man
who was standing in front of the classroom, with a charming smile on his face.
He was tall, well built, had a very dark hair and green eyes, lighter than
Sakura's. He was so VERY handsome! Soon, all the girls in the class were
glancing at him, giggling and whispering… someone had arrived to compensate the
absence of a certain chestnut-haired guy.
- So, let's see where you can sit... – the
teacher's small, serious eyes looked around the classroom, and stopped when
they reached the adequate spot - There! You can sit there, behind Miss
Daidouji.
He pointed to the empty chair beside Li's
empty desk and behind Tomoyo, who turned to her auburn-haired friend and winked
in a suspicious way. Tomoyo couldn't help to smile, as she thought that, for
the next days, all the attention from the girls would be in that spot of the
classroom… that would be interesting!
Su Hin, with his backpack casually hanging
on one shoulder, headed towards his new desk. When he was about to reach it, he
suddenly turned to Sakura, in a way that reminded her about Eriol. His eyes
sparkled, and a smile lit up his handsome features.
- What is your
name? - He asked, with a tone that over-flowed with charm.
- S..Sakura...
- Nice to meet
you... Sakura – the sound of her name coming from his soft voice was quite
pleasant.
And then he sat down on his place, while
Sakura answered him with a cute smile, oblivious to the death glares coming
from all the girls in the classroom. The Card Mistress already had a lot of
guys from school in the palm of her hand… and the new hunk was going to be
another of them? What drove the feminine students crazy was that Sakura
declined all the offers of going out and dating with the guys who asked her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
For the rest of the day, between all the
boring classes, several guys talked to Sakura, asking her out or flirting.
Syaoran had always been some sort of barrier between other young men and the
Card Mistress. No one dared to make a move on her, afraid of the Chinese
student, who was well-known basically for 4 things: hotness, football playing,
fighting and being one of Kinomoto Sakura's best friends. But now that he was
absent, the girl was at the point of cursing if, after spending the whole day
declining dates, another student approached her…
Sakura almost screamed in relief when the
bell rang, indicating they were dismissed. Tomoyo told her goodbye and rushed
to her mansion to help her mother out... at that moment, finally alone in the
classroom, the Card Mistress looked at Li's empty place.
- I hope everything is fine... I should go
now, if I want to make him a visit...
She picked up her backpack, her books and
started heading to her friend's house. She was almost at the school gate, her
mind wandering, when she felt a strange presence. She stopped for a while and
looked around; but the only thing she saw was the new student, Su Hin, smiling
at her, just like he had done that morning. The presence had disappeared. She
smiled back.
- What are you
doing here, Su Hin?
- Well, Sakura... I wanted to ask you
something... – he started.
Her eyebrows rose. "Not another one
please… Don't these guys ever quit? I'm going out with none of them, period."
- What is it?
– she finally managed to ask.
- I was
wondering if I could walk you home... then I would also get to know the city
better...
That wasn't what Sakura expected. None of
the students who had talked to her today had asked her anything similar… There
was something different about this one…
- I would be pleased...
Su Hin smiled in that charming way,
blinking his bright green eyes, and continued Sakura's sentence:
- …but...
A "famous sweat drop" appeared
on her head, as gave him an embarrassed smile.
- I'm visiting
a friend before I go home... But it's OK if you want to join me...
"Please, don't be so mad at that point!" –
she thought, knowing that if that handsome young man showed up at Syaoran's
with her, he would be in trouble.
- Really? Thanks! You're a very nice
person, Sakura... but let's leave it for another time, then...
She had to control herself not to sigh in relief.
However, she didn't know if it was because she didn't want Li to meet him, or
if it was because she'd be able to be alone with her friend… or for both
reasons. That was weird…
- If you prefer so... See you tomorrow
then, Su Hin! – She finished.
- Bye!
Sakura watched as the teenage turned
around and went away. Finally, she started walking her way to Syaoran's.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Syaoran was had been practicing with his
sword since that early morning. His hair was wet and he was sweating, because
of the exercises. His athletic body moved with a natural grace in his fighting
outfit, while he swung his weapon around, with the same ease Sakura turned and
threw her stick, when cheerleading.
His skills had greatly improved since the
last time he had a "real fight". Although all the Clow Cards had been
changed, he still trained every day. Wei had gone back to Hong Kong when Li was
13. The boy had insisted that he could take care of himself, and had been
living alone since then. Sometimes he felt lonely, and mostly, when that
happened, he would grab his sword and train.
"I wonder if anything happened
today... something tells me that soon I'll know..." - He said to himself, as he finished his
invisible enemy, with a final sword attack.
His thoughts were interrupted by the
doorbell, which was ringing loudly. He changed his sword back into the onyx
amulet, placing it around his neck and feeling his calloused hands a little
painful, as he walked towards the door.
"Who can it be?"
But he immediately recognized the aura,
and, before opening the door, he already knew who it was. Syaoran looked at the
smiling teenage girl who was standing there. Her emerald eyes, shining happily,
were staring at him and her hair was blowing with the gentle breeze from
outside. Li was almost speechless, trying not to drown in those green,
sparkling pools. He was always surprised by the way her stunning beauty
affected him. But, in a second, he regained control.
- Sakura! – And, although he didn't smile,
his eyes did.
- Syaoran! It's good to see you...very
good, actually – she giggled.
He blushed a little, just like he used to
when they were ten. He had forgotten about those flirting games they had been playing
for sometime, now. Actually, it was more a "let's make the other one blush"
game. Suddenly, he realized his appearance at that moment wasn't that good:
what would Sakura think, seeing him that way? Sweating, wet hair, tired…
- Come in – was all he could say.
- Thanks!
She walked into the living room, observing
how everything in his house was organized... she would never be able to keep
her things like that! She had already been to his place several times, but she
was always surprised by its tidiness.
- You can leave your b- He couldn't finish
his sentence. Sakura left her bag casually on the floor, in front of a sofa,
and then sat down, crossing her legs and looking mockingly at the sorcerer.
- I know.
Li couldn't help to smirk at that: there was
certainly no need for such formalities between them… But the thought that was
really bothering him now was "why the girls had to wear skirts for school?"
He'd take that opportunity to tease his little friend, surely…
- Sakura...
- Hoe?
- With all the
respect… Has someone ever told you have killer legs?
She blushed furiously, making him smile at
her reaction. He was getting better in teasing her…
- Now,
seriously… Do you mind to wait in here for a while? I'm taking a shower now...
I've been practicing for the whole morning...
Sakura looked at him, her blushing slowly
fading away. Li had changed a lot in those past years...
"My turn"
- Are you saying I'm not allowed to make
you company? – And then she faked a seductive smile. His previous smile grew wider.
- Do you want anything to eat or drink
while you wait? Feel free to get anything in the kitchen if you want…
- Thanks, Li... but I don't want anything.
- OK. I'll be back in a few minutes… And
NO peeking! – that made her chuckle.
He walked away, his feet almost making no
noise on the floor. Sakura followed him with her eyes. They were really close
friends, now. For the past years, Syaoran had been there to let her cry on his
shoulder, when she had problems; to make her laugh, when she was sad; and all
the things she had never expected him to do, when she had first seen that
serious boy, so full of himself.
Soon, she heard the noise of falling
water, feeling her face going crimson once again.
"I'm glad he isn't here to see
this... I must be looking really silly!"
Around ten minutes later, she heard the
sound of a door opening. She felt his green aura moving to his bedroom and,
after that, the Card Mistress heard the sound of drawers being opened and
closed impatiently, as Syaoran's voice talked to himself:
- Damn! Where are my T-shirts?
She giggled at the angry tone in his
voice, while she pictured him with a deep frown on his face, throwing his
clothes out of the drawers and all around the bedroom. It was quite a rare
thing to see the Chinese young man acting impatiently, specially towards his
clothes.
She didn't even notice when he came back to the living room, so
concentrated she was on her funny thoughts. But she finally noticed his
powerful aura beside her once again, as she put her thoughts away and looked at
him. Syaoran was wearing only an ordinary pair of dark green baggy trousers,
drying his chestnut hair with a towel while he looked around the room, filling
it with his exotic scent of autumn leaves. His onyx amulet was, as usual, hanging
around his neck.
The warrior didn't even notice the look in
his friend's face. Sakura's eyebrows arched and she smirked lightly, as she
observed how his broad shoulders matched perfectly with his toned chest and
arms, and how that wet, messy hair gave him a charming look, while his hypnotic
amber eyes completed him with a mysterious touch. The years had done such
wonders to him...
- Sakura?
- Hoe! You scared me! - she replied,
quickly, trying hard not to blush.
"What was I thinking? Syaoran's been
my friend for years!"
- Are you OK?
He was gazing her with his worried amber
eyes. She looked away, nervously.
"Well... maybe my handsome… very,
extremely handsome friend for years..." - she added for herself.
- Yeah... no
need to worry - she faked a smiled.
Li knew her too well to believe that, but
he decided to let that pass. She'd always told him everything, and if she
wasn't doing that at the moment, it was probably because she really didn't want
him to know it.
- I can't find any clean T-shirts... do
you mind waiting some more, just until I find one?
Sakura stood up and started walking
towards Syaoran.
- I'll help
you out. It'll be easier that way… the sooner you get decently dressed, the
sooner you'll be able to give some of your precious attention, won't you?
"You'd get all my attention anyway" He
smirked.
- Sure I will
– and his stunning amber eyes sparkled, with malice, as his smile grew wider.
Totally lost in his gaze, Sakura stepped forward.
She didn't see her books just in front of her, lying on the floor, where she
had left them. The Card Mistress stumbled and felt her body loosing its
balance, as she closed her emerald eyes instinctively to prepare for the fall.
- Watch out, Sakura! (A.N: I just LOVE
when he says that!)
In a heartbeat, the warrior knelt down and
grabbed her easily by the waist with his strong arms, before she could hit the
ground, holding her tight. When the girl opened her bright green eyes again, in
surprise for the lack of pain, she noticed she had her arms gripping Syaoran's
waist tightly. Sakura also noticed they were sitting on the floor of his living
room, and that her head was laid on his bare chest, although she was feeling
too dizzy to pay attention to his heart, which was beating faster and faster.
The Card Mistress looked up at his face,
not even 10cm away from hers, with the usual worried look in the stunningly
beautiful eyes and a shade of red on the cheeks that gave a boyish touch to his
masculine features, his autumn leaves scent filling her… Before she could think
about what she was doing, Sakura threw her arms around his neck and held him
even tighter (if that was possible!).
- How many times have you already saved
me, Li? – she said, giggling, and then she added - I just hope you'll never to
charge me for that…
"At least not
money… My God! How can I be such a pervert!" – They had the same thought.
Syaoran, realizing that he had a great
chance to loose control over himself and do something he shouldn't if they
didn't move away, loosed the embrace and held her gently by the shoulders,
afraid that he might break her if he wasn't careful. She was smiling that way
only she could do, making him feel a bit dizzy, as sparkling emerald and
intense amber stared at each other.
- Are you
hurt? – he almost whispered.
- No... thanks
Syaoran...
He sighted in relief and smiled sincerely,
one of those rare smiles he'd only show the Card Mistress. One of those smiles
that made her melt…
- You're welcome, Sakura...
As they held each other closer once again,
feeling with every cell in their body the warmth and the pleasure of being in
each other's arms, drowning voluntarily in each other's eyes, they noticed their
faces were approaching, an unknown and invisible force pushing them forward.
"What am I doing? Well… I guess I'll
find that out later…" - Sakura thought as she closed her eyes, unwilling
to fight against that, whatever that was… she just couldn't think
straightly…
"This can't be happening…" - Li
thought, as he slightly bent his head to the side and closed his eyes – "I just
hope I'm wrong about that…"
When their faces were about 3cm close,
they could feel each other's uneasy breath against their parted lips, teasing
them mercilessly... and finally, as both of them made up their minds, they
heard a familiar voice coming from the opened window, in the saddest and most
disappointed tone ever, making them unconsciously back away.
- Oh NO! I can't believe I've forgotten my
camera!
The extremely surprised and embarrassed
couple's sight focused on the direction the unwelcome voice had come from. A
pretty girl with a very white skin, wavy black hair and amethyst eyes that were
now wet because of the tears she was holding, was staring at them.
- I've always wanted to film such a kawaii
moment, with you and Li, Sakura! - She added, trying to keep her voice from
trembling, for she was almost crying.
Huge (and I mean HUGE) sweat-drops
appeared on the Card Captors head, as they face-faulted. They looked at each
other, embarrassment showing on her faces, which were now blushing deep
crimson. In a blink, Syaoran realized that he still wasn't fully dressed. As
fast as lightning, the sorcerer ran to his bedroom. Between the many T-shirts
that were scattered all around the place, he chose a black one and put it on,
faster than he ever thought he could.
"Calm down, Li..."
Standing in front of the mirror that
hanged on one of the walls, he looked and his red-as-a-tomato self. The
always-self-controlled teen counted slowly to ten and took a long, deep breath.
Then, feeling his spirit calmer and more relaxed, he went back to the living
room.
Sakura was sitting on the comfortable
sofa, by her greatly depressed best friend, who had just come in by the window.
Watching the nervous breakdown Tomoyo had been about to go through, the Card
Mistress decided to put away the formalities and get the girl inside right
away.
Then she saw, as relief took over her
features, Syaoran had finally returned, decently dressed in a black T-shirt.
"Oh, my… I wonder what would've
happened if Tomoyo hadn't arrived just in time to screw everything up. I don't
even want to guess what she is thinking about all that… seeing your best friend
in this kind of situation isn't something you can call a routine" - Sakura
thought; and then walked towards Li, leaving the lost-gazed girl alone in the
sofa.
- Is it OK
that I asked her to come in? I thought she'd have a heart attack or something…
- Sure... - he replied, looking at the
dark-haired girl – If you allow me to say that… I guess, sometimes, Tomoyo
over-reacts…
- I couldn't agree more – she replied, her
eyes also fixed at the young woman, as she walked towards her once again,
followed by Syaoran.
The amethyst-eyes girl looked at them,
deception on her face and voice:
- I just can't believe I couldn't film
your first kiss... I'm so unlucky! I left home as soon as finished helping mom,
and I was sure I was going to find you here, but... I'll never forgive myself
for not taping the moment I had been waiting for so much time!
- Tomoyo... –
the auburn-haired girl interrupted, softly.
- Don't try to make me feel better,
Sakura! - she looked down at her feet -
I just can't-
- Syaoran was just... helping to take an
eyelash that had fallen in my eye! - she added, faking a chuckle and looking
away from Li. She just wouldn't bear to look in his intense, sunset eyes after
saying those words.
- WHAT???? – Tomoyo's eyes went
unimaginably wide. She didn't know if she should be happy or sad about that. Of
course Sakura's excuse had been the most ridiculous she had ever heard, but the
Camerawoman had a strong feeling that they really hadn't kissed…
- She's right. - Syaoran replied, a little
hurt, looking at the floor. His conscience told him he had confirmed Sakura's
excuse simply because he wanted to believe what had almost happened had been an
accident… but, deep inside, in a part of his soul that Syaoran still hadn't
taken notice of, he knew that it had been far from an accident. The warrior
just wished he knew what was going thorough the sorceress's mind.
- Really??????? - Tomoyo asked, almost
screaming because of her happiness. - Then I guess I'm not unlucky at all!!! –
she concluded, triumphantly.
"Maybe not you... but I must
be!" - Sakura and Li had the same thought.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
- So, Sakura... why did you come here, anyway?
- Syaoran asked, changing the subject and staring at something far away, that
no one else could see. He still didn't want to face her and those jewel-like
green eyes.
"Coward!" he thought in angry disapproval
to himself.
The three long time friends were all
sitting in the comfortable living room. Sakura and Tomoyo were sharing the only
sofa and Li had insisted to sit on the floor, in front of them. Maybe he just
wanted to feel its coldness…
- Hoe! I had almost forgotten! Why didn't
you go to school today? I can see you're not sick.
"And you could also feel that he's
not sick…" a mocking voice inside her head pointed out.
Finally, (apparently) regaining his usual
confidence, self-control and courage, the warrior looked at her in the eyes,
surprised to find that she was looking straight at his. Ignoring the dizziness
he knew that, sooner or later would come, Syaoran explained:
- A strange thing happened last night...
and I felt that I should stay here to practice…
Her eyes grew wider, although that answer
hadn't been so surprising to her. Sakura was expecting that sort of reply… but
she didn't know why. Usually, when it was about magic, both of them could sense
something was wrong… but her dream had been about herself and Li; it had
nothing to do with magic! Maybe what happened to him had been just a
coincidence…
- Something strange also happened to me
last night – she said.
Tomoyo was intrigued: "Why hasn't she
told me anything?" But she wouldn't question her friend's decision; at
least not for now…
Li frowned. "In this
world there are no coincidences. There can only be the inevitable". The sentence immediately flashed in his
mind.
- What sort of strange thing?
Sakura hesitated. She couldn't tell him that
she had a dream in which he was leaving her, and that she had cried for that.
It's not that it wasn't a good reason for her to cry, but she wasn't… READY to
tell him that…
- I had a strange dream... but I can't
remember it right now! - she lied, as she sweat-dropped.
- Same here... - he also lied, looking
away. He was aware that, if she saw the look in his eyes, she'd know that he
was lying. Suddenly, he realized something - So that's why you were awake!
- Huh? How did you know I was awake? – she
added, in puzzlement.
Li got a little embarrassed, as he
realized what he had just said. Uninvited words usually went out of his mouth
when he was around her, for some reason. After a few seconds, he replied, still
refusing to look at her adored face:
- I was searching for any source of
unusual power... Accidentally, I felt your aura – "Something quite predictable
if you consider that, for the last seven years of my life, my aura has been
reaching unconsciously for yours" Of course, the sorcerer didn't say that aloud
- ... But, after that, I actually noticed a strange presence nearby...
- Hoe! It's true! I also felt an unknown
presence at school today, when I was going away!
Syaoran was silently thinking about the
whole problem. Surely, that aura didn't belong to a Clow Card… he'd recognize
it if it did. But, then… who or what did he and Sakura feel? Something, in an
instant, came up to his mind:
- Did anything else happen today?
- Humm... Let me see – the Card Mistress
thought for a few seconds - Ah! A new student arrived from Hong Kong!
- From... Hong Kong? – could it be Meiling
or a young member of the Li Clan? Unlikely. This was getting even more
confusing, now…
- Yes, his name is Lin Su Hin! – and
before anyone could say anything, a voice continued:
- ... he is
sitting almost beside Sakura and he is VERY handsome! - Tomoyo added, looking
expectantly at Li. She was waiting for his reaction.
"Three, two, one" And then, the young warrior
went crimson red from head to toe. He could feel every tiny little cell in his
body begin to burn uncontrollably, and it felt like he was going to explode. He
gasped:
- WHAT????????
"I must find out who is he..."
he thought angrily, regretting for missing that day's classes. If it wasn't
enough to have a new presence to worry about, now there was this guy, who was
probably all over Sakura already! "Great! Just the perfect time!"
Tomoyo chuckled as she turned to face
Sakura. Her friend had a very concerned look in her pretty face, too busy
thinking about the strange aura to pay much attention to her friend's talking.
Li was glad about that! But suddenly, the auburn-haired teen shouted, her
emerald eyes sparkling with excitement:
- I REMEMBER!
Scared to death by her sudden screaming,
the Chinese sorcerer would have jumped off his place, if it not for his
self-controlled nature. At least, now he was pale, and not red.
- Remember what? – Syaoran asked, still
trying to calm down his spirit.
- I was almost reaching the school gate
when I felt the presence… and when I looked around, I just saw Su Hin... then
the presence just disappeared!
"And what the heck was he doing there
after the classes had finished?" - Li thought, trying to keep his temper
from rising once again.
- Curious thing... - and then he
continued, hesitating - What was he doing there?
- He was just waiting for me. He asked to
walk me home and show him around the city... I guess Su Hin was trying to be
nice, since he doesn't know anyone here.
- I think he
was very sweet for doing that! - Tomoyo said, giving Syaoran a quick glance.
- HE DID WHAT? - Li's jaw was reaching the
cold floor at that moment, and smoke seemed to come out of his head. He put all
his effort on maintaining his face with the usual color.
"What's wrong with him? Did I just
notice jealousy in his tone?" Sakura thought, in complete puzzlement "Nah!
I must be imagining things…"
- He asked if he could walk me home and show
him around the city – she repeated, and then finished - But I said we would
have to leave it for another time, because I was coming here to visit you...
Syaoran was quite surprised and shocked
with that answer. Of course they had been friends for years, but it wouldn't be
strange at all if Sakura preferred to spend time with the "handsome new
student" than visiting him (specially because she visited him very frequently).
"Maybe she didn't want the other boy to
meet me, because I'd scare him away just like I do with all the others"
Tomoyo couldn't help to giggle at the
startled expression on the Chinese young man's face. If she teased the couple
now, two things could possibly happen: 1) Li would be so furious because of the
new student that Sakura would end up noticing that he liked her more than a
friend; or 2) Sakura would confess that she didn't bring Su Hin along with her,
because she wanted to be alone with Syaoran (as Tomoyo had obviously guessed).
That was the perfect opportunity to make them confess their love for each
other, although the amethyst-eyed girl didn't have her camera…
- And why didn't you bring him with you,
Sakura? Maybe he just wanted an excuse to be near you - the "camera-less
Camerawoman" chuckled, while she looked at trying-not-to-get-red Syaoran.
- Because... – the Card Mistress
hesitated.
"I wanted to talk to Li
alone..."
- Just because! - she finally concluded.
Tomoyo decided to push a little more. She
wouldn't loose that chance to help her two best friends get together:
- Are you suuuure about that?
Sakura was already full of her friend's
insistence. Where was she trying to get with that? The sorceress finally decide
to say what her friend had been pushing her to… or at least what she thought
that Tomoyo wanted to hear. Although it was not entirely true, it would silence
her:
- Ok, ok! I DID invite him, but he didn't
want to come! Happy now?
"Tomoyo can be SO annoying
sometimes!"
The dark-haired girl just couldn't believe
Sakura had said such a thing! It was the worst thing she could have done! But
why? Of course she was lying, but why did she have to say such a stupidity in
front of the person who couldn't care more about that! Her shocked
amethyst-eyes were focused on the youngest member of the Li Clan.
"So... she DID invite him..." -
the young man thought. His face almost darkened, all of a sudden, and he turned
to stare at the floor. He felt his heart being squeezed in his chest. Tomoyo
saw that he was hurt... and also Sakura noticed that he wasn't all right.
- What happened, Syaoran? – She said,
softly, as she reached her hand to rest on his shoulder. But she never actually
touched him, because, before she could, he stood up and walked away to the
kitchen, avoiding looking at anyone of the girls. He had noticed her intention,
but the warrior wouldn't bear to be touched by her hands because of pity…
- Excuse me – his voice was dry and
emotionless, in order not to reveal the chaos inside him.
Sakura followed him with her curious,
worried eyes, as confusing thoughts she had had just a few minutes before took
over her mind again. Jealousy? No, it just couldn't be…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Li was staring blankly at a glass full of
water that was on the table, in front of him. As a blurred image of a smiling
girl with green eyes began to float inside it, the young man shook his head,
pushing the vision away. He finally picked up the glass and drank, slowly, as
he felt his whole body pleasantly refreshing.
He put it down again and stared once more.
Syaoran slightly smirked as the previous image reappeared…Suddenly loosing his
temper, the warrior punched the table with his powerful fists… the glass
luckily escaping from a fall that would've turned it into shatters. The Chinese
teen lowered his head.
"Why do I have to get so upset every
time something like this happens? Sakura is a beautiful, overwhelming girl...
I'm obviously not the only guy to notice that! I wonder what would be her
reaction if I told her everything I don't have the guts to say…"
- Rejection… - he answered his own
thoughts – I should at least be glad we are even friends!
As the sorcerer continued his conversation
with himself, Tomoyo and Sakura talked in the living room…
- Why did you say that? – The dark-haired
girl started, still shocked, as soon as Li was out of sight.
- "That"
what? – The Card Mistress asked cynically, with a "it's all your fault" look.
- That
you invited Su Hin! – Tomoyo said, ignoring her friend's tone.
- Because it was the only way to make YOU
stop! – Emerald eyes shot daggers at her.
- Sakura, listen to me... You like,
Syaoran, don't you?
- HOE? I... no... I mean... I do... as a
friend! – The Card Mistress didn't know why, but she didn't want Tomoyo, or
anyone have the slightest hint of her feelings towards Li. She wasn't even sure
herself about that! Well… maybe just a tiny little part of her was…
- Yeah right... Anyways... You obviously
don't want him to think that you like Su Hin better than him, do you?
- Why would he? I've just met Su Hin: how
am I supposed to lo- (A.N.: she almost said it, huh?) like him better
than one of my best friends?
- Exactly because of that! You've just met
Su Hin and both of you have already invited each other to do something...
- Come on Tomoyo! Don't be ridiculous! I
was just being polite with the new student and I don't think that Syaoran would
be that sensitive when it comes to our friendship! – She said, taking a second
to observe that she actually wanted Syaoran to be sensitive about them,
although she didn't known if "them"
referred to both of them as friends or something more…
Then, Sakura looked sadly at Tomoyo.
- It doesn't matter that much whether he
knows that he's incomparably more important to me or not, although I could
assure you that he's aware of that… I know that he doesn't lo-
Her speech was interrupted by Syaoran's
voice. He'd just dragged himself back to the living room, and he was so
distracted he didn't even notice that the two girls were talking. After his
conversation with himself in the kitchen, the young man had been trying to find
a good excuse for leaving his friends so suddenly as he had done. And as soon
as he came up with one, he spoke up:
- Sorry for that. I wasn't feeling well.
- I hope you feel better, now - Sakura
replied, smiling. Her sadness had, all of a sudden, disappeared. It was intriguing
the way her mood had been changing quickly from happiness to sadness in the
last years, especially when she was near or thought about a certain specific
person. She looked casually at her
wristwatch and, in astonishment, stood up - Hoe! I'm late! Have to go before
Touya starts chasing after me!
She quickly picked up her backpack and her
books that were on the floor; she'd have to remember to take good care of them
from now on, since it had been because of those books that she had ended up in Syaoran's
arms. Tomoyo also stood up, curiously following her best friend's gaze… why was
she smiling at her books?
- I'm going with you, Sakura... Mom must
be wondering were I am...
- All right. So... see you tomorrow,
Syaoran! – Then she added, anxiously - You ARE going tomorrow, aren't you?
- Sure - he replied, smiling. With those
emerald pools begging at him, he just couldn't say "no", although he had
already decided that he wouldn't miss the next day's classes - See you, Sakura.
Bye, Tomoyo.
- Bye... and thanks for helping Sakura
with that eyelash! – Tomoyo winked at him.
Both card captors turned crimson red, and
Syaoran rushed to close the door behind the girls. He lightly frowned, as he
came back to his usual color, his intense amber eyes sparkling like burning
flames.
"I'm going tomorrow just to see who
that Su Hin guy is..."