Hello, everybody! Wow- thank you soo much for the reviews!! You have no idea how much they mean to me. And a note to masterofwords and silverlotus: yes, it's supposed to be descendant, my bad. And thank you, The Dark Mystress(I think that's your name- sorry if I got it wrong) for putting my story as one of your favorites- sob, sniff. Anyway, on with the second-to-last chapter. Yup, I decided it needed another chapter, because Eriol and Tomoyo decided to do something- very Eriol/Tomoyoish in this chapter, and I need to cover that. The next chapter will be last, and it will be about the ball. Jeez, this story has gone by so quickly- it was my first one, and I will always remember it. Again, thank you so much for the reviews- tell me what you think after this chapter!
Syaoran and Sakura couldn't resist spying. After all, as they contended, hadn't Meiling and Tomoyo spied on them? They decided to go after Meiling and Touya first. They were heading toward the gardens, Meiling stiff, Touya loping along, unreadable.
"So, um…I suppose you're gaki-boy's cousin?" Touya asked, smirking.
"He is NOT a gaki! Why do have it in for him??" Meiling asked, eyes blazing.
Touya merely raised his eyebrows. "Why do you have it in for me?" he asked genially.
Meiling stamped her foot. "I do NOT have it in for you! You just provoke me!"
Touya grinned.
"Here are the sakuras- over there are some nadeshikos," she said shortly, waving her hand absently.
"All in the family, I see," Touya said.
Meiling glared at him. "If you don't watch out, some of those "family" flowers will be ground into your face!"
Sakura and Syaoran decided it was time to leave. Suppressing laughs, they ran back to the house.
"Well, we definitely got our revenge with Meiling," Sakura commented.
"Well, let's see about Tomoyo," Syaoran remarked. Thankfully, Tomoyo's door was ajar. Syaoran and Sakura peeked in.
"So this is for Sakura?" Eriol asked, handling a bunch of pink silk.
Tomoyo grinned. "Yup. Isn't it pretty? But I have half a mind to strangle her in it," she said.
Sakura suppressed a giggle.
"Why?" Eriol asked. "When I last saw you in fifth grade, you two were best friends!"
Tomoyo laughed. "Things haven't changed. But a few recent events…" her eyes sparkled.
"Why do I get the feeling I'm missing something?" asked Eriol. His dark eyes flicked over to the door. "Maybe Syaoran-kun and Sakura-san can help clear things up…" He held up his hand, and the door flew open, revealing Syaoran and Sakura. Tomoyo mock-glared at them, her arms crossed.
"Why," she asked dryly, "am I not surprised?"
"Tomoyo!" Sakura said, laughing, a bit nervously, "I, uh, just wanted to see my dress!"
"Of course," Eriol said, looking amused, "and that explains why Syaoran is here. Unless he wanted a sneak preview?"
Syaoran and Sakura's faces went tomato. Tomoyo and Eriol smirked, like two devils.
"Now, Eriol-kun, should we let them go? With no punishment?" Tomoyo asked, gazing innocently at Eriol.
"Uh…" Eriol said, pretending to think.
"NO!!!!" they both yelled, laughing.
"Eriol, will you do the honors?" Tomoyo asked.
Eriol bowed. "Anything for you, Madame."
Sakura noticed that Tomoyo flushed deeply, but couldn't ponder it, because in the next second, there were handcuffs on her wrists. The door slammed, and they heard the lock click.
Syaoran was glaring at Tomoyo and Eriol. "You two, I swear, can read each other's minds."
Tomoyo laughed merrily. "Great minds think alike," she quipped.
"Tomoyo-san, do you have you makeup kit with you?" Eriol asked, eyebrows raised.
Sakura gasped. "Oh, shoot- the makeup?" she asked.
Tomoyo grinned wickedly. "Right here."
"Shall we get to work?"
Tomoyo grinned. "Right away," she said, brandishing a brush.
Eriol took out a red lipstick, and headed for Syaoran. He made the mistake of trying to bit Eriol's finger. Eriol smoothly drew away, shaking the saved body part. "Bad Syaoran!" he said mockingly. Syaoran opened his mouth to comment. He couldn't. His jaws were stuck shut.
There was no further trouble, and Tomoyo and Eriol finished the "makeovers" quickly.
"Mirror, please," Tomoyo commanded. Eriol handed one to her. She put it in front of Syaoran and Sakura's faced.
Sakura gasped, and Syaoran's eyes widened. They were dressed up somewhat like clowns, with a few differences here and there. Syaoran was wearing red lipstick, a red dot on his nose, and bright blue eyeshadow. Tomoyo also put white powder all over his face. Sakura had hot pink lips, and two bright spots of rouge on her cheeks, her eyes were darkened with black all around. She also had white powder all around.
Eriol and Tomoyo chuckled, and exchanged high-fives.
"Now, my dear descendant and cherry blossom," Eriol said. "This makeup will not come off until midnight. So, you are free now to do whatever you like!"
Eriol pushed them out of the door, and unglued Syaoran's mouth. He waved a hand and the handcuffs went out. Luckily for him and Tomoyo, he also closed and locked the doors. Syaoran tried to bang it down, but it stayed firmly shut.
"Darn," sakura said. "Well, I guess we got what we deserve!"
They tried washing it off, but Eriol had done something and it stayed stuck to their faces. They moped about in Sakura's room, until a maid called them to supper.
"Uh…" Sakura said, speaking through the door. "Could we pass?"
"The Lady Yelan wishing your prescence, madam," the maid said.
"Shoot," Syaoran said. "okay, we'll come."
Sakura, using the Create card, made two masks, and handed one to Syaoran. Donning the masks, they went outside. The maid looked at them strangely.
"Madam? Sir?" she asked, confused.
Syaoran sighed. "Just lead us to the dinner table."
Yelan, Meiling, Touya, Eriol, and Tomoyo were all seated around a table in the library. Seeing Syaoran's and Sakura's entrance, Tomoyo started to giggle. She poked Eriol in the ribs, and they both sat, enjoying the approach. Yelan frowned.
"Syaoran? Sakura? What is with those masks?" she asked.
"Uh…" Syaoran said, groping for an answer. "We're practicing for the festival??"
Yelan frowned, as did Meiling and Touya. Eriol and Tomoyo were rocking on their chairs trying to muffle their howls of laughter. Yelan glanced at Eriol and Tomoyo.
"What happened? Please take off those absurd masks," she said impatiently.
"Is it okay if we don't?" Sakura asked timidly.
"No. Take them off- please," Yelan ordered, the please tacked on as an afterthought. Sakura and Syaoran sighed, and slowly took off the masks. Yelan gasped. Meiling started to laugh, but then saw that Touya was laughing too, and stopped- with an effort. Eriol and Tomoyo were leaning on each other for support, laughing their heads off. Looking at Yelan, they saw she was fighting to keep a straight face.
"What-whatever happened?" Yelan gasped, a laugh escaping her. Syaoran scowled, which made the table laugh harder, since the frown looked comical on his painted face.
Sakura tried to explain. "Tomoyo and Eriol gave us makeovers," she said. Yelan lost the battle. She was giggling helplessly.
"Makeovers? Now, how did you provoke them?" Meiling asked, torn between a scowl and a smile.
"We didn't!" Syaoran said indignantly.
"Oh, I'm sure," Tomoyo said, laughing. "Anyway, they're stuck with those faces until midnight."
Yelan paused in her laughter. "Well, I'm glad they don't have to wear them to the ball."
Eriol's face went thoughtful. "You know, Madam, that wouldn't be such a bad idea."
Syaoran scowled, and clenced his fists. Meiling suddenly burst into a peal of laughter.
"Oh-hee hee!- wouldn't it be great to see the Li clan leader at a ball, like- like that??" she said. This set off another peal of laughter.
As soon as the laughter subsided, they managed to have dinner. However, the dinner kept being interrupted by a giggle or two, when ever someone happened to look upon Sakura and Syaoran. By the end, both Sakura and Syaoran were blushing heavily- from embarrassment.
Dinner was hastily finished, and Syaoran and Sakura fled, as soon as they could. Peals of laughter followed them up, however.
Much to their relief, Eriol kept his promise. They woke up, with no makeup on. Silently, in the morning, both vowed never to meddle with Tomoyo and Eriol again.
Did you like it?? Next chapter's the ball, and I'll have to be serious- somewhat. Don't worry, I've got a few pranks for the ball- including Meiling and Touya. And don't forget about Eriol and Tomoyo! There'll be a bit of E+T, but there'll be a lot more of their pranks- Eriol and Tomoyo are great when they put their heads together! Hee hee! Please, please review!