Second chapter! Thanks for the reviews. Don't get mad at me, if it takes a while for them to fall in love….pleas keep reading! This chapter is pretty funny, so read it, and please please review! I need reviews to continue. Thank you lots!
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Twelve years had not dimmed Sakura's beauty. If anything, Syaoran thought dazedly, it had brought her into full bloom. Her vivid emerald eyes were fringed with dark, thick lashes which made her eyes appear to sparkle with a daydreamy sort of look. Her short auburn hair was still short, but was now pulled back, with tendrils peeking out, framing her oval, peach-complexioned face. Yes, Syaoran thought, she was a classic beauty. Then, realizing his thoughts, he blushed. With the quick mind of a Li clan leader, he realized why Sakura was here. Yes, Syaoran thought, Meilin had chosen an excellent girl to force on Syaoran. He had to admit, Meilin was good.
The room was still silent. Quickly recovering his composure, Syoran smiled affably. "Sakura! It's been a long time."
Sakura, evidently, was fine. "Yes," she said in her sweet, clear voice, "since fourth grade. Please, come and sit down!"
She was a good mistress, Syaoran thought wryly. Probably was trained by his mother. He moved to sit down, and sure enough, Yelan was smiling smugly.
"Hello mother. It's been a long time," he said, and quickly changing the subject, "Tomoyo, what brings you and Sakura here?" Syaoran was sure to address Tomoyo, since he was apt to blush if he asked Sakura. Syaoran, he chided himself. Get a hold! This is the first time you've seen her for a long time. You're just friends. Just friends.
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Sakura was in a well-concealed daze. Syaoran. How long it had been! Something was different. Syaoran was happy, charismatic, charming, almost. Mothig like the intense, angry boy she had known so well. That it, until she had met his gaze. Those liquid amber eyes still held a dangerous flame, that seemed to been contained. He still the same, alright. His unruly brown hair was still messy, but his face was different. He had matured, and become wiser over the years, she realized.
"Sakura?" Tomoyo asked.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't hear. What?" Sakura asked, mentally shaking herself.
"Yelan wanted to know how long you and Syaoran have known each other," Meilin explained, her eyes twinkling.
"Oh! Um…since fourth grade, of course. He sat behind me in class." Sakura said, and smiled, remembering some memory. She met Syaoran's eyes over the table, and blushed.
However Sakura made it to that tea, she never knew. As soon as it was over, Yelan stood up regally. "Meilin, I want to show you a new necklace that Shizuko brought me," she said. Meilin and Yelan gone. Tomoyo, Sakura, and Syaoran left.
"There's this new dress that I need to finish," she said. Tomoyo gone. Sakura and Syaoran left.
I will not blush, Sakura thought, I will not blush.
"Do you, um, want to see the Li gardens with, um, me?" Syaoran offered awkwardly.
"I'd love to," she said.
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Idle chatter was safe at least, Syaoran thought. So far, in seeing the gardens, Sakura had explained what a big designer Tomoyo was becoming. Soon it would be his to talk. Then, abruptly, Sakura changed the subject.
"Why are you here?" she asked.
"Uh… my mom….sort of ordered me to come home," he mumbled. Taking a chance, he forged on. "A Li clan leader must be married by the time he's 28 to become a leader. I think she was planning to hold some sort of…ball for me to meet girls." By now, Syaoran was blushing heavily.
"Meiling and Tomoyo brought me here on spring vacation. It hasn't been much fun so far, to tell you the truth. They and your mother have been plotting something ever since we arrived…." Sakura trailed off as realization dawned on her. "That's what they were up to!" she exclaimed. Syaoran nodded, having figured it out much earlier.
"So- sit down, we need to figure this out," Sakura and Syaoran sat down on a bench. "So- Meilin knows that you need to marry, or find some girl. So, enlisting the help of Tomoyo, she brings me here- at the perfect timing, you arrive a week later." Her eyes were sparkling. Why, Syaoran wondered, was she so happy? Does she love me? The thought made him unaccountably happy. Stop dreaming, he told himself firmly.
"So?" Sakura said, clearly impatient. "We have to do something to get back at them."
Oh. That's what she was so happy about, Syaoran thought. Hey, he thought, in an effort to cheer himself up, she has a good idea. Let's get revenge!
"Okay, I have an idea," Syaoran said.
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Sweet and simple. Sakura smiled. Confuse them, fluster them, use some cards here and there to scare them, then throw some guys at them and see what it feels like. Give them a taste of their own medicine. Syaoran's idea was good.
"So- today we'll argue about anything we can, and then tomorrow, we'll be best friends, and hold hands, and everything. We'll let them think their plan worked. Then we'll get two guys to throw at them, and let them suffer," Sakura said, finalizing their plans. Syaoran nodded. " I feel like a fourth grader again!" bubbled Sakura. Syaoran smiled back. "I do, too."
They walked in companionable silence back to the house. At the front door, they stopped.
"Okay- the first arguing subject will be….the cards. Argue something about how you should have gotten the Dash card, how unfair it was, or something like that," Sakura said. They exchanged high fives, and entered the mansion.
"Are you crazy? I captured that card, fair and square! You're just being a bad sport!" Sakura yelled, her eyes darkening. Hey, Sakura thought. That wasn't too bad! She winked at Syaoran, daring him to do better. He took the challenge.
" Excuse me?" Syaoran said loftily. "I was a bad sport? Me? I'm sorry, Ms. Kinomoto, but have you looked in the mirror lately?"
Sakura heard footsteps running. She clenched her fists, and made her expression angry, to make the argument more believable. "When have I ever been a bad sport? WHEN? Ha, that's right, you can't think of any time, anyth-" Sakura was cut off by an angry Meilin.
"Just what is going on here?" she asked, glowering.
"He says that-"
"She thinks-"
"He's being a gaki!"
"She is!"
Sakura turned to Tomoyo.
"I captured the Dash card fair and square, didn't I?" Syaoran looked to Meilin. "She did not!"
"BE QUIET, ALL OF YOU!!" Yelan towered over them all, majestic in her fury. "Syaoran, I'm ashamed of you, arguing with a guest!" Syaoran started to argue, but withered under her glare. Yelan then spread her gaze to the whole group.
"Dinner will be in an hour. Formal dress. NO ARGUING," she swept off. Sakura glared one last time, and went to her room. Meilin and Tomoyo followed, giving Syaoran questioning looks. Syaoran simply shrugged. She was a good actress, he thought. It was fun arguing with her. However, he would enjoy it more if they could talk normally, and just be friends. Or maybe more than friends. Ha, Syaoran thought, yeah right. A nagging little voice persisted, though. But wouldn't it be great to have Sakura as a girlfriend, it asked. As a wife? Scram, Syaoran, told that little voice. Shoo.
No, it said. Admit it, you love her. You had, since fourth grade.
Syaoran stopped in the middle of the hall. Me…..love…..Sakura? Okay, I'm going to leave now, the voice said, and fled. But the damage was done. After years of dodging the fack, Syaoran finally realized that he loved Sakura.
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Hee, hee! Did you like it?? If you did, and even if you didn't, please review! I like all reviews, even flamers!! Hee hee :-)