Chapter 02 - A Place Called HOME
Okies! I finally decided with the pairings, thank you all for helping me decide . . . whom? Well, it's a secret . . . hehe
" . . . Ichi juu ichi ji, go juu pun . . . Welcome to Tokyo International Airport, the time now is eleven fifty in the evening . . ." The speakers blared in both Japanese and English the moment our plane made a complete stop in one of the runways. I inhaled deeply, happy and relieved, due to the fact that I'm finally home.
// RING //
The alarm clock's deafening scream woke me up this morning. This morning wasn't like the other mornings I have where in I wake up cheery and bubble- eyed, facing a whole new day with tons of positive thinking and happiness. However, today was the opposite. My hair was a mess, my eyes were groggy, my nightdress had wrinkles all over it and I didn't feel like waking up anyway. I felt as if I was Sakura-chan, ready to go back to sleep anytime.
Unfortunately there was school, the only thing that prohibited me from having a lie-in. Classes start early morning around seven and ends in the late afternoon around four. As you can see, with the current time (6:00 am), the only thing I could do is to prepare myself to the upcoming day, facing a new day without my best friend at school.
I fumbled through the covers of my bed, forcing to wake my physical self up, or else, I would have to spend two hours this week in detention. I grumbled in annoyance, finding that there are just too many sheets in my bed, due to the sleepiness that seemed to be conquering my mind.
// Why do I have to sleep at a very late time anyway? // I thought, mentally blaming myself. I made my way to the washroom and took did my usual morning rituals, which lasted for thirty minutes.
Finally, I was "nearly" awake, I straightened my skirt, blouse and tidied up my hat. // At least I have to look presentable... //
I sat down in my usual place at the dining table, just beside my mother. She didn't seem to notice me, for she was busily reading the morning news.
"Tomoyo!" Her voice seemed very surprised. "What are you doing at this early hour?"
I stared at my mother for a long time, pondering on what the heck is she talking about.
"I'm getting ready for school, why? Anything peculiar about that?" She tried to suppress a laugh, but then, she failed. She ended up laughing her heart out.
"What's so funny?" I asked in an irritated manner. First, I woke up late and then next, my mom's laughing at me? What is wrong with everyone today?
"No, nothing..." She mumbled, once she stopped from her crazed laughter. I just stared at he for one last time, stood up and left the room.
"Oh Tomoyo-chan!" She called, making me retrace my steps and face my eve dearest mother. "Before you leave, I would suggest you to take a look at the calendar..."
// Take a look at the calendar? Now what is my mom thinking? // I thought. // But anyways, I'd better check it out, too, maybe she's trying to tell me something... //
I made my way towards the living room until I faced the grand piano with a notepad-like calendar seated just by the left corner. It read, "28 June 2002; Friday; No more school today!!! - Tomoyo"
I slapped my head mentally. // Darn! Of course! That's the only reason I slept late last night! It's because there's no more school today! //
At that very scene, my mother spoke up, as if she was watching me all the time. "Now, do you know what I mean?"
Sighing, I nodded and went back to my room, of course, to head back to sleep...
-- || event skip - a week later || --
"Moshi, moshi! Sakura desu, is Tomoyo-chan there?"
"Ano, Sakura-chan, this is her mother. Tomoyo's asleep right now, try calling around... twelve. Is that okay with you?" Sonomi-san replied.
"Hai, soo desu ne? I'll call later, then. Thanks a lot Sonomi-san!"
//CLICK//
I sat down on the counter, thinking and tapping at the same time. My first week in Tomoeda (after finally getting rid of the annoying jet lag), and yet I have nothing to do. I tried calling up Tomoyo, yet she's still asleep, perhaps she attended a party last night or something...
"Sakura!" My dad called, interrupting my thoughts. "Another letter from Hogwarts."
Dad appeared behind me and placed the envelope on the counter. I stared at the letter quietly, observing it from every detail. The envelope was simple. Its color was somewhat a cross between yellow ang beige and the Hogwarts seal carefully placed at the opening.
"It's your decision, if you really want to attend Hogwarts this year, or not." I look up at the nearly aging man beside me.
I shook my head. "You'd be all alone in the house... and just to add that Touya's leaving the family anytime this year. I would love to stay with him in his last remaining months in this house. I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"It's okay," Touya replied, appearing from nowhere. He just smiled and messed the top of my hair a bit. "I also wanted to see my sister attend one of the greatest Wizarding schools in the whole world, I, too, wouldn't miss it for the world."
"You're too touchy!" I teased, giving him a little poke on the ribs.
"Not to mention you're too overprotective!" My dad added, chuckling.
"Hey! That was like... four years ago! I was young then!" I smiled at my brother. //Same old anisan...//
"Well, four years ago you were seventeen, and now you're twenty-one! I can't believe you're going to have a debut party this December!" He smiled quietly and put his fingers under his chin, as if in deep thought.
"Well, time passes when you're having fun..."
"Having fun? You call overprotecting your little sister fun? Ha! Get a life, anisan!"
"Things will never change in this house..." Chichi said to no one in particular. I don't know what happened, but suddenly anisan and I both stopped and looked at father.
"Iie," I corrected, "A world incapable of change is a world without hope!"
Touya smiled and patted my head once more. "That's right... kaijuu..."
I saw him smirk a bit. "I'm not a kaijuu!"
"You're right, you're already fifteen, you shouldn't be called a kaijuu..." He thought for a while, before another one of his nasty grins showed. "You should be called... bakemono!"
"Anisan! Unfair!"
My father smiled as he watched us running around, just like kids quarreling over candy. "Some things will NEVER change..."
-- || Next Morning || --
"Ohayo, anisan to chichi!" I greeted that morning, feeling quite happy that day.
"Ne, ne, ohayo, Sakura!" They greeted back. I sat down quietly on the table and by magic, dozens of Hogwarts envelopes popped out of nowhere and settled itself in the middle of the table.
"The letter! I forgot!" I groaned. Quickly, I took one (the nearest of course) and popped open the seal and began to read the letter aloud.
After reading the letter, Touya spoke first. "Hnn, so are you going to attend or what?"
"Well... I don't know..."
"Sakura, this is a chance of a lifetime... I say you should first give it a try, just like what you did in Beauxbatons and Durmstrang." Dad suggested.
"Demo, there's always Tomoeda! Everyone knows that Tomoeda is WAY advanced than Hogwarts!" I pointed out.
"Nice point, however, Tomoeda is a special school for Asian students only. Remember, Eastern magic is a lot different from the Western one..."
"In what way?"
"Eastern magic teaches magic that doesn't need wands, like summoning the five elements et cetera, while the Western ones have something to do with wands like charms, transfiguration... don't know... but there are tons, I assure you..." My brother said in a know-it-all voice.
"I know that! I studied in the West for three years! Two years in Beauxbatons and a year in Durmstrang!"
"Besides, I heard that gaki... what his name again? Oh, yeah, Li Syaoran is studying there, too!"
Suddenly, I finally felt like going to Hogwarts after all. "Honto ni?" But then, what if Touya-kun is lying?
"Matte, you're lying, aren't you?"
"Nope!"
"Then where's the source?"
"Feimei told me. She's Syaoran's older sister..."
"I know that..." I thought for a really long time. Sometimes, when decisions as such appear, I wish not to be the only one taking the same decision.
Finally, coming up with an answer, I looked at my brother and my father quietly. "I'll do it!"
~*~*~*~*~
End for now!!!
Haha!!!!!!! Finally! I'm so happy!!!!! Hee, hee Ü... Anyway, I decided on the parings but I won't tell you guys anyway, hehe... Ü I don't think I'll give feedbacks to all of the reviewers, there's too much of you! Anyway, thanks for reviewing and voting! I really appreciate it! Mwah! Hehe..........
Okay, I'm going to skip a few events, the next chapter would be Sakura boarding the Hogwarts Express. No more of the usual shopping in Diagon Alley, flying to London etc. I really need to speed things up for you guys since my chapters are somewhat... slow...
Anyway, it's getting really late, I'll upload this chapter ASAP... Ciao!
Okies! I finally decided with the pairings, thank you all for helping me decide . . . whom? Well, it's a secret . . . hehe
" . . . Ichi juu ichi ji, go juu pun . . . Welcome to Tokyo International Airport, the time now is eleven fifty in the evening . . ." The speakers blared in both Japanese and English the moment our plane made a complete stop in one of the runways. I inhaled deeply, happy and relieved, due to the fact that I'm finally home.
// RING //
The alarm clock's deafening scream woke me up this morning. This morning wasn't like the other mornings I have where in I wake up cheery and bubble- eyed, facing a whole new day with tons of positive thinking and happiness. However, today was the opposite. My hair was a mess, my eyes were groggy, my nightdress had wrinkles all over it and I didn't feel like waking up anyway. I felt as if I was Sakura-chan, ready to go back to sleep anytime.
Unfortunately there was school, the only thing that prohibited me from having a lie-in. Classes start early morning around seven and ends in the late afternoon around four. As you can see, with the current time (6:00 am), the only thing I could do is to prepare myself to the upcoming day, facing a new day without my best friend at school.
I fumbled through the covers of my bed, forcing to wake my physical self up, or else, I would have to spend two hours this week in detention. I grumbled in annoyance, finding that there are just too many sheets in my bed, due to the sleepiness that seemed to be conquering my mind.
// Why do I have to sleep at a very late time anyway? // I thought, mentally blaming myself. I made my way to the washroom and took did my usual morning rituals, which lasted for thirty minutes.
Finally, I was "nearly" awake, I straightened my skirt, blouse and tidied up my hat. // At least I have to look presentable... //
I sat down in my usual place at the dining table, just beside my mother. She didn't seem to notice me, for she was busily reading the morning news.
"Tomoyo!" Her voice seemed very surprised. "What are you doing at this early hour?"
I stared at my mother for a long time, pondering on what the heck is she talking about.
"I'm getting ready for school, why? Anything peculiar about that?" She tried to suppress a laugh, but then, she failed. She ended up laughing her heart out.
"What's so funny?" I asked in an irritated manner. First, I woke up late and then next, my mom's laughing at me? What is wrong with everyone today?
"No, nothing..." She mumbled, once she stopped from her crazed laughter. I just stared at he for one last time, stood up and left the room.
"Oh Tomoyo-chan!" She called, making me retrace my steps and face my eve dearest mother. "Before you leave, I would suggest you to take a look at the calendar..."
// Take a look at the calendar? Now what is my mom thinking? // I thought. // But anyways, I'd better check it out, too, maybe she's trying to tell me something... //
I made my way towards the living room until I faced the grand piano with a notepad-like calendar seated just by the left corner. It read, "28 June 2002; Friday; No more school today!!! - Tomoyo"
I slapped my head mentally. // Darn! Of course! That's the only reason I slept late last night! It's because there's no more school today! //
At that very scene, my mother spoke up, as if she was watching me all the time. "Now, do you know what I mean?"
Sighing, I nodded and went back to my room, of course, to head back to sleep...
-- || event skip - a week later || --
"Moshi, moshi! Sakura desu, is Tomoyo-chan there?"
"Ano, Sakura-chan, this is her mother. Tomoyo's asleep right now, try calling around... twelve. Is that okay with you?" Sonomi-san replied.
"Hai, soo desu ne? I'll call later, then. Thanks a lot Sonomi-san!"
//CLICK//
I sat down on the counter, thinking and tapping at the same time. My first week in Tomoeda (after finally getting rid of the annoying jet lag), and yet I have nothing to do. I tried calling up Tomoyo, yet she's still asleep, perhaps she attended a party last night or something...
"Sakura!" My dad called, interrupting my thoughts. "Another letter from Hogwarts."
Dad appeared behind me and placed the envelope on the counter. I stared at the letter quietly, observing it from every detail. The envelope was simple. Its color was somewhat a cross between yellow ang beige and the Hogwarts seal carefully placed at the opening.
"It's your decision, if you really want to attend Hogwarts this year, or not." I look up at the nearly aging man beside me.
I shook my head. "You'd be all alone in the house... and just to add that Touya's leaving the family anytime this year. I would love to stay with him in his last remaining months in this house. I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"It's okay," Touya replied, appearing from nowhere. He just smiled and messed the top of my hair a bit. "I also wanted to see my sister attend one of the greatest Wizarding schools in the whole world, I, too, wouldn't miss it for the world."
"You're too touchy!" I teased, giving him a little poke on the ribs.
"Not to mention you're too overprotective!" My dad added, chuckling.
"Hey! That was like... four years ago! I was young then!" I smiled at my brother. //Same old anisan...//
"Well, four years ago you were seventeen, and now you're twenty-one! I can't believe you're going to have a debut party this December!" He smiled quietly and put his fingers under his chin, as if in deep thought.
"Well, time passes when you're having fun..."
"Having fun? You call overprotecting your little sister fun? Ha! Get a life, anisan!"
"Things will never change in this house..." Chichi said to no one in particular. I don't know what happened, but suddenly anisan and I both stopped and looked at father.
"Iie," I corrected, "A world incapable of change is a world without hope!"
Touya smiled and patted my head once more. "That's right... kaijuu..."
I saw him smirk a bit. "I'm not a kaijuu!"
"You're right, you're already fifteen, you shouldn't be called a kaijuu..." He thought for a while, before another one of his nasty grins showed. "You should be called... bakemono!"
"Anisan! Unfair!"
My father smiled as he watched us running around, just like kids quarreling over candy. "Some things will NEVER change..."
-- || Next Morning || --
"Ohayo, anisan to chichi!" I greeted that morning, feeling quite happy that day.
"Ne, ne, ohayo, Sakura!" They greeted back. I sat down quietly on the table and by magic, dozens of Hogwarts envelopes popped out of nowhere and settled itself in the middle of the table.
"The letter! I forgot!" I groaned. Quickly, I took one (the nearest of course) and popped open the seal and began to read the letter aloud.
After reading the letter, Touya spoke first. "Hnn, so are you going to attend or what?"
"Well... I don't know..."
"Sakura, this is a chance of a lifetime... I say you should first give it a try, just like what you did in Beauxbatons and Durmstrang." Dad suggested.
"Demo, there's always Tomoeda! Everyone knows that Tomoeda is WAY advanced than Hogwarts!" I pointed out.
"Nice point, however, Tomoeda is a special school for Asian students only. Remember, Eastern magic is a lot different from the Western one..."
"In what way?"
"Eastern magic teaches magic that doesn't need wands, like summoning the five elements et cetera, while the Western ones have something to do with wands like charms, transfiguration... don't know... but there are tons, I assure you..." My brother said in a know-it-all voice.
"I know that! I studied in the West for three years! Two years in Beauxbatons and a year in Durmstrang!"
"Besides, I heard that gaki... what his name again? Oh, yeah, Li Syaoran is studying there, too!"
Suddenly, I finally felt like going to Hogwarts after all. "Honto ni?" But then, what if Touya-kun is lying?
"Matte, you're lying, aren't you?"
"Nope!"
"Then where's the source?"
"Feimei told me. She's Syaoran's older sister..."
"I know that..." I thought for a really long time. Sometimes, when decisions as such appear, I wish not to be the only one taking the same decision.
Finally, coming up with an answer, I looked at my brother and my father quietly. "I'll do it!"
~*~*~*~*~
End for now!!!
Haha!!!!!!! Finally! I'm so happy!!!!! Hee, hee Ü... Anyway, I decided on the parings but I won't tell you guys anyway, hehe... Ü I don't think I'll give feedbacks to all of the reviewers, there's too much of you! Anyway, thanks for reviewing and voting! I really appreciate it! Mwah! Hehe..........
Okay, I'm going to skip a few events, the next chapter would be Sakura boarding the Hogwarts Express. No more of the usual shopping in Diagon Alley, flying to London etc. I really need to speed things up for you guys since my chapters are somewhat... slow...
Anyway, it's getting really late, I'll upload this chapter ASAP... Ciao!