Resounding Ripples

Chapter Two: First Day

by: Mel

E-mail: LightofFaeries@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: Don't own CCS. Enough said.

Syaoran was playing basketball. Already, his team was leading by twelve points, but Syaoran was not satisfied. There was no challenge and nothing to gain when all his opponents were so easy to beat. He played basketball not just to win, but to be able to exercise his body. But where was the exercise when all he had to do was dodge a couple guys and shoot? Syaoran sighed as he dribbled a pass around one of his opponents and launched the ball into the air. It fell straight through the hoop, falling past the net with a loud swish as if to say 'this is too easy.'

Syaoran's teammates cheered, but Syaoran just ignored them.

Just then, a large group of girls walked by. Syaoran usually never paid girls any attention, but this time was different. He felt something very familiar brush past him and he whirled around. All he saw was a sea of black hair. Syaoran started turning back around, thinking he had imagined it, when he caught a glimpse of honeyed-brown amidst the black.

Syaoran froze. 'No, it can't be her.' He shook himself a little. She didn't have any reason to be in Hong Kong and Syaoran had no reason to think about her. She was part of his past, when he was still a weak little boy. He was much stronger now. So why was he still thinking about her?

Sakura was happy. She had made so many friends at her new school and everyone was polite. 'But,' she thought to herself, 'I still miss everyone in Tomoeda. But at least Tomoyo is coming soon.' Sakura's lips curved up in an unconscious smile. She had just called Tomoyo a few minutes ago and Tomoyo had told Sakura that her mother had to go to Hong Kong for a couple of months because of her business and Tomoyo had asked to go along. Sakura had been so happy. She had never dreamed that Tomoyo's mother would let Tomoyo come to Hong Kong, even though she often thought about it.

Suddenly, Sakura felt an aura seeming to flare out of nowhere. She stopped so abruptly that several of her new friends walked ahead of her before realizing she had stopped, and backtracked.

"Zhe me la?" One of them asked, concerned.

Sakura only shook her head, smiling reassuringly and pretended everything was alright. Inside her mind, she reached to grab out at the aura, but it had already gone. Sakura knew the aura was familiar, though it was ten times stronger, but she just couldn't place it. Sakura shook herself mentally. She would try to figure it out later.

~*~

The screen door slammed behind her as she yelled, "I'm back!"


Her brother poked his head out of the kitchen doorway, wearing an apron and in the process of peeling a potato. "So you're back, kaijuu. How was the first day of school? Did everyone laugh at you because of your horrible Chinese?"

"I am not a monster!" Sakura yelled as she took off her shoes. "And my Chinese is not that bad!" She stomped into the kitchen to pinch her brother. "Why are you home so early anyway?"

Touya answered calmly, "If you weren't such a slow monster, you would have gotten home first. As it is, I'm let out later then you." This time Sakura kicked her brother thinking wistfully of her childhood dream to grow as tall as a telephone pole and crushing him. It was a pipe dream. Even now, she was barely up to his shoulder.

"Hey, don't just stand there. It's your turn to make dinner."

Sakura stared at the potato in Touya's hand.

"I just started making dinner 'cause I was afraid that by the time you got home, I would be asleep. But now that you're here, you can finish making dinner." Touya put the potato and the knife in Sakura's hand.

After dinner was served and eaten, Sakura ran upstairs and opened the door to her new room. She sweatdropped. Luggage was scattered all around the room. Half of Kero was sticking out of one of the suitcases as he dug around.

"Where are the video games?!?!" he muttered, rummaging around and almost falling completely into the suitcase.

Sakura swallowed a giggle and stole up behind Kero. She reached out and gently tugged at his tail. Immediately, he stiffened as though to fly up and confront his tail-puller, before he remembered that he was suppose to be a stuffed-toy and went limp.

Sakura laughed. "It's okay Kero, it's just me."

Kero immediately flew up muttering, "Humph, Kero's tail not for pulling," as he held his tail gently and scowling at Sakura.

Sakura struggled not to laugh again, "What are you looking for?"

"My video games of course!"

"Ahem. They're my video games. Anyway, I'll find them once I unpack. You have to help too!"

Kero just nodded, disappointed. He had hoped to find the video games and start playing while Sakura did the unpacking.

Author's Notes: Okay, okay, I know you're all dying to kill me, but I didn't want Sakura to meet Syaoran right on the first day. I would have made the chapter longer and included the part where she met Syaoran but I knew I was taking forever and decided just to post this. By the way, thanks for all the reviews, they really helped me get a move on. I kept putting writing this chapter off 'cause I was so busy and then went on vacation. If none of you reviewed, I'd probably still by on the first paragraph. And I know this chapter was short and not that great but I promise the next chapter will be a lot better.

*"Zhe me la?" means "what's the matter?" in Chinese.

Thanks a bunch to Daphne Li, Sakura-Saturn, Myst, Li-Lover, Ashley411, Fantasy, pinkuser, Sakue, Verna S, Firery, Luna, sportyangel, lilum-star, aznpride, sakura rulz, ranee, blue demon160, and KariAnimeQueen for reviewing. You guys are the best! oh, and if I didn't e-mail you for some reason (I try to e-mail everyone that's reviewed) please let me know!

~Mel~