DISCLAIMER: The plot and the songs are mine; the characters are not
[unfortunately, sigh.]
Review, onegai.
Sing for Me: Chapter Three: The Coffee Shop known as Destiny
Tomoyo grinned at Sakura as the concert finished.
"That new number really blew the crowd away Sakura-chan! And in all the fast numbers, you didn't trip once!" This last added remark caused Sakura to smile sheepishly.
She was known to be a bit of a klutz at times.
"Thanks Tomoyo-chan," Sakura replied, walking to the dressing room back stage, Tomoyo in tow.
"If you keep popping up with songs like this, the world will be at your feet Ms. Cherry," Tomoyo teased, using her friend's stage name and waiting for the expected reaction of vehemence.
She got it.
"S-a-k-u-r-a! Not Cherry, that's my public name you know Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura frowned as she closed the door the dressing room and slipped out of the lovely costume, handing it thankfully to Tomoyo who lovingly hung it up on its rack amongst the many others of Sakura's outfits.
"Hai, hai I know Sakura-chan. I was just kidding...where are you going?" Tomoyo asked suddenly, watching as Sakura changed into a pair of slightly baggy black pants and a white long-sleeved shirt with a loose navy blue collared shirt over top, making for a simple layered effect that concealed her femininity. Clicking her tongue thoughtfully, Sakura grabbed her favorite paperboy hat from the other night, black if you recall, and plopped it on her head as she replied to Tomoyo.
"I'm going out," Sakura's vague answer came as she tucked particularly bothersome strands of her troublesome hair behind her shell-like ears, noting and taking off the earrings as well.
"Where?"
"Just around Tomoyo-chan, don't worry about me. See?" Sakura straightened up and gestured at herself slightly, "I look like a young boy. No one ever recognizes me when I go out." Frowning, Tomoyo shook her head at Sakura.
"Maybe a little but not enough dear Sakura-chan...your face is too delicate I think, but that's perhaps because I am always around you that I notice such things." Sakura nodded encouragingly, dearly hoping for her friend to not make her stay here all-night or just go home...there was a certain Coffee Shop she wanted to return to.
"Please Tomoyo?" Sakura bent down on her knees and put her hands together in a plea, deciding the best tactic was the most lethal: the puppy-dog eyes. In mock-agony, Tomoyo shielded her eyes in a dramatic gesture.
"No! Anything but those! Anything but the puppy-dog eyes!" There was a pause and then Tomoyo released her hands and gave up pretense, smiling kindly at her best friend before shooing her out of the room, tucking in some extra hair that was already sneaking out from under the black hat.
"Now, I expect you to be careful. What would I do without you my little cherry blossom?" Tomoyo joked and Sakura laughed, hugging Tomoyo before she quietly slipped out of the amphitheatre and into the familiar city she knew to be her closest home.
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Eriol sighed in the back room of the Coffee Shop, this night donning instead a white collared shirt and black jeans, still suave and intellectual looking, running his fingers through his jet-black hair. After the concert, he and Syaoran had politely excused themselves from the date; their excuse: work.
Eriol also made mental note to thoroughly get his dues from his so-called best friend. That girl, Mira was it?-had been utterly torturous. Constantly pushing herself up against him, giggling too, and attempting-Eriol had had the impression-to make him kiss her.
He nearly laughed at that thought. He hadn't even wanted to touch the girl.
Syaoran on the other hand was all arms and lips apparently as he had bid his date farewell with a rather sensual display of kissing, making Eriol raise an inquisitive eyebrow, wondering how his best friend could lip-lock with every woman he came across...and not tire of it.
The door clicked as the devil himself ambled in casually, wearing a black turtleneck and dark brown pants, his amber eyes laughing.
"I don't even want to imagine what it is you're conjuring up for me in that manipulative mind of yours," Syaoran stated caustically as he sat down in a chair, smirking and crossing his arms.
"Oh, and why on earth would I possibly be scheming something dealing with you?" Eriol countered teasingly. He knew very well how much Syaoran owed him for the other thing he had done that day: agreed to do nightly performances.
"Simple," the amber eyed Adonis stated with clairvoyant pretense, drawing his palms up to either side of his forehead in false concentration. "I see it now...you are contemplating what you want me to do in return for you doing this nightly performance for the business," he paused and when Eriol was about to interrupt he raised a hand in silence and finished: "...and what else because I made you come with me to see Cherry with Sou and Mira."
Nodding comprehensively, Eriol lifted his hands in admittance.
"You got it pal."
"Well, whatever it is, it can't be worse than what I put you through today. Man, remind me never to take those two out again!" Syaoran chortled, mussing up his already tussled brown hair absently.
"I certainly will, not that you ever, or would ever listen to my advice to you on the female species," the blue-eyed singer and friend said thoughtfully. To this, the little wolf gave an inquisitive glance.
"Oh, and wouldn't I?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because it involves faith to one, I emphasize the word 'one' woman, sincerity in the relationship, and of course, love," Eriol said this quietly with no tone of mockery, but feeling that made Syaoran stare at him wonderingly. His friend surely was an intriguing character.
"Love? What is love? To some it may be a one-night stand, a good one granted," Syaoran replied cheekily, grinning, and continued "Or maybe it's a week's commitment, a year, who knows? It all depends on the person my friend. Love is too obscure to be real anymore though, true love anyway. As far as I'm concerned, women are rather questionable creatures."
"And we aren't?" Eriol asked almost wistfully, taking a moment to wipe off his glasses; it seemed they were never clean enough to see through, but perhaps that was because they only allowed him to see what everyone else with 20/20 vision could: the obvious.
"Perhaps, but that's not important right now," Syaoran said as he stood up, stretching, "It's time. I'm gonna go to man the music in my shadow box; Nakuru is dealing with the counter; and you are going out there to sing your little lyricist heart out!" And with a nonchalant wave of his hand and a mocking salute, the little wolf did so, slipping into the shadows.
Sighing for what seemed the millionth time, Eriol Hirigizawa prepared to go out and sing, sing a new song, one he had never, ever let anyone-not even the little wolf-hear.
Sakura entered the shop, which she now realized was called "Destiny". It was, as she expected, nearly full, but she found her to her personal joy that her table from the previous night was still free. Ordering a hot apple cider this time, laced with sweet warm caramel, she sighed, sipping at it luxuriously, wondering if that young man from last night would be there once more. Lo and behold, she was not disappointed; for there he entered.
Her cheeks warmed slightly as she saw him, tall and lithe, chiseled and in his own way, attractive, as she had remembered him. She might have wondered where these thoughts were coming from but since she was Sakura, she did not dwell on the confusing emotions roiling in her chest, instead, sipped her drink again and waited as he sat at the stool and the music began:
"I saw your eyes one night, one night a while back
They remained in my mind so very clear
The only part of you I could easily remember
Always hoping you would come back here
It wasn't quite love but something close
For I never believed in love at first sight
But if all the gods had made an exception for me
It would have been that very night
*Don't let my soul fall apart
This feeling of being like a lost prince
It's simply too much for my uncertain heart
Come back to me my mystery angel
This emotion runs so very deep
It's got the best of me, telling me I won't fail.
Listen to this song will you, will you listen?
I've written it just for you
Its rhythm is the beat of our hearts
And the melody is just as true
Return to me beloved stranger
Who doesn't seem quite so strange
Accept my willing love
For it was yours the moment you came
*Don't let my soul fall apart
This feeling of being like a lost prince
It's simply too much for my uncertain heart
Come back to me my mystery angel
This emotion runs so very deep
It's got the best of me, telling me I won't fail.
Don't let me fail,
My sweet innocent-eyed angel."
Sakura once more discovered an unspoken beauty in his words and the timbre of his voice, melodious but also distinctly masculine. Raising her cup to her lips, she realized she had been so enthralled with the singer that she had not sipped another bit of her drink. Amused slightly, she tried to compensate and nearly sputtered it out; she took in too much. Recovering quickly, she decided that the slow way was easy enough and she didn't have a curfew anyway.
Besides, maybe if she waited while she sat there long enough, she might work up the courage to speak to the singer.
Maybe not.
There was another group of girls sighing and giggling around the young musician and to Sakura's amusement, he seemed rather flustered. Actually, she felt kind of bad for him, but at the same time, felt a small twinge in her chest, near her heart. She ignored it.
Sakura noted with interest that some of these women couldn't possibly be his age, they looked too mature. Well, he was handsome, but still, some of these women looked a near seven years older than him, dressed somewhat...scantily. Then there were others, younger girls, dressed in a number of ways, simple, flamboyant, but all admittedly pretty in her own way. They continued to chatter and fuss around the singer until Eriol looked up, past the crowd of admirers, and perhaps by chance, perhaps not, met Sakura's emerald gaze.
Eriol's eyes widened slightly. It was her...or was it a he? He still wasn't positive. Ignoring his club of fans, he walked out of their group, straight towards Sakura's small corner table.
Sakura for her part felt her heart jump straight into her throat. Was he heading for her? What would she do? She had never actually had to speak at length with anyone while she was in disguise. She wasn't certain she could keep up the voice playing. It wasn't that much of an alteration, just lower, as if she were singing a low note in one of her ballads, just speaking instead. She thanked mentally all the years of inadvertent voice training from Tomoyo's music teacher. It looked like she would have to put her talents to full use tonight as the young man neared her.
And she suppressed another rise of warmth flooding into her cheeks just enough to be unnoticed.
"Hello there," Eriol greeted simply, not altogether sure what to say. He could just see it now: Oh hello. Did you know I've been thinking about you ever since I saw you yesterday? And I'd be very much obliged to you if you could specify your gender for me please. Oh yes, that would go over very nicely, Eriol thought sarcastically to himself, envisioning either one rather irate customer or total humiliation for himself.
Yes, the standard 'Hello' seemed to be very suitable.
"G-good evening sir," Sakura said, her voice still smooth and practiced but this time stronger, as a young boy might sound. Eriol laughed lightly.
"Just call me Eriol. You're not much younger than I am I think," he observed, and then asked, "May I sit?" Sakura only nodded, oblivious to the stares and glares she was getting-quite the colorful assortment really-from the other women. Funny thing was, the reason they were so upset was that this 'boy' had taken the attention from them. What was so special? They all discreetly sauntered off to other tables, waiting for Eriol to get up.
"What is your name?" Eriol asked. Sakura sat there a moment; heck, she'd never thought of a psuedo name...what would she call herself?
"Uh..." come on Sakura, think, her mind screamed, "uh...Hisui!" Sakura cringed at her hasty decision; Hisui meant 'jade'. Would he think that odd? Apparently not as he nodded and shook hands with her, she wondering exactly when she had proffered her hand to him in the western-style greeting.
"Okay, Hisui, pleased to meet you," Eriol smiled, wondering, what is it that interests me so about this person?
"The honor is mine Eriol-san," Sakura replied softly and Eriol frowned.
"That's so formal. Simply Eriol will do. I may call you Hisui?" he asked politely.
You can call me whatever you want, was her first thought and after her initial shock at such an unusual train of thinking, she recovered and nodded at the blue-eyed lyricist before her.
"Forgive me if this seems rude Eriol-sa...Eriol, but I was just thinking while I listened, to, to your song, that..." Sakura trailed off. Intently maintaining eye-contact with her, Eriol thought perhaps she was about to say what had drawn him to him. [He thought she was a boy because she looked as if she could have been either and after hearing her speak, assumed she was a boy.]
"No, no, continue please Hisui," Eriol encouraged.
"Well, I thought it was very profound and touching," and here Sakura lifted her right hand to her heart and smiled softly. Then she added hurriedly, "I know, silly isn't it?"
"Actually, no. That means a great deal to me. Writing songs is new for me. I only began when my partner and I went into business to bring Destiny about. Now of course it's a chain of Coffee Houses but this is the only one I've ever sung for. It touches me that you felt that way listening to me." His response was such that Sakura felt like tackling him in a loving hug. So warm, even to a near-stranger, he was.
"Do you perform here every night?" she asked hesitantly.
"Now I do," Eriol frowned.
"Why do you look so unhappy? Do you not like to sing?" Sakura asked, wondering if she had been partially mistaken.
"No, no. I love to sing. It is...my life I think, now anyway. But the way in which I was...let's say conned, into doing so every night, well, that was what I was remembering," Eriol explained good-naturedly.
"May I ask how exactly you were, um, conned?" Sakura ventured, smiling.
"You may," Eriol chuckled and relayed his story to her of his friend who not only made him date a girl he had no interest in, but proceeded in making him see that it was for the good of the business that he perform every night. Sakura could not help but laugh but cut it short when she realized how she could not mask the lightness in it, the feminine tone. Luckily, Eriol did not seem to have noticed.
"So Hisui, you think my words were well done?" Eriol thought aloud.
"Yes, yes I do," Sakura, replied.
"You might consider picking up a CD by that new artist, Cherry I think. Her words are much more beautiful than mine I think," he remarked somewhat wistfully.
"C-cherry? Um, I know her songs..." Sakura paused, wondering how to continue, "And I think you're every bit as good as her, maybe better too. Her songs, they're written from the heart...and yet they don't sound as soulful as yours, not all of them," she finished quietly, thinking on herself.
"Oh I don't think so. I think she just has a very bright way about her. I write this way because I have never loved. It is obvious though, that she has and that is the reason for the difference I think," Eriol smiled amiably.
"You think so?"
"I do."
There was a pause, a silence that both were comfortable sharing, Sakura sipping the last of her apple-cider, and Eriol taking the moment to gaze at her, or at the moment in his mind, 'him'. Eriol saw Sakura as a young boy, somewhat feminine...but nah, it must be a boy...right? He wondered absently but pushed the thought away as 'he' spoke again.
"I, I hear, that is if you're so into Cherry, that she is giving a big benefit concert for the adoption homes at a large party to raise funds for them at some high-priced gala. My best friend knows Cherry and I think I could get you invitations if you're interested," Sakura paused and waited.
"Are you serious?" Eriol felt like he might soar.
"Yes, I am actually," Sakura grinned impishly and added, "I can see how that friend of yours conned you so easily. You're a total pushover if there's something in it for you!"
"Maybe I am," he laughed and smiled at her and she felt her heart speed up a bit. What was happening to her?
"I'll see what I can do then," she said and stood up from the table. Eriol's smile wavered just a bit.
"Are you leaving already?" he asked, a bit saddened by his new friend's sudden departure plans.
"Hai, I have to get back. I'll have people after me in a while if I don't get home soon," she smiled, her hat flopping a bit over her emerald eyes and Eriol lifted the hat a bit, pushing it back for Sakura who's breath quickened at the close proximity. She had never, ever been this close to a boy except her oni-san, Yuki, or her father and she was rather innocent to boot. It was rather new to her and she couldn't put a name to the sensations running through her.
"You make it sound like you've got guards or something," Eriol chuckled and Sakura stopped from face-faulting at the near-truth in his jest.
"Ehehe... no, of course not, but still, you know..." she trailed off, hoping he did know.
"Alright Hisui...is there a last name that goes with that?" Drat, drat and drat, Sakura pondered rapidly. Of course, a last name, why hadn't she thought of that too? Sighing inwardly, she did the best thing she knew and added enough truth to her previous lie to make it half-way white.
"Kinomoto, my name is Hisui Kinomoto," she said.
"I presume I'll be seeing you again, ne Kinomoto-san?" he joked, patting her back as he turned to walk away, pausing only for her response, which surprised him as much as it did her:
"Every night," and with that she sped out the door, the bell jangling as the thing closed, leaving a delighted Eriol in her wake, and a tall young man with amber eyes who proceeded to unceremoniously drag his best friend into the staff room and closing that door.
"So, what was that?" Syaoran smirked.
"What was what?" Eriol asked, for once, truthfully confounded.
"That whole thing. You ignore all those beautiful, sensual females for a small stick of a boy with over-sized clothing? Granted if you swung that way, I might rest the case, because he was rather cute but I know that you don't. You're as straight as I am," here he paused and then added with a smile, "What was so interesting about him Hirigizawa?" Syaoran said this in the same way he commented about the weather but Eriol had known him long enough to recognize the 'don't fool with me' tone.
"He...liked my music and I thought it would be better talking to him than any of those, as you would put it, ahem, sensual creatures. In any case he seemed a great deal more intelligent." To this, Syaoran snorted his derisive agreement and Eriol turned smug. There, that was the truth, wasn't it?
"And?" Damn. He had gotten the 'and' part too. That was one of the things Eriol nearly couldn't stand about the amber-eyed wolf; he was a persistent stinker for the whole truth.
"And, he said he could get me tickets to Cherry's benefit for funds for the adoption homes coming up at the end of the week," Eriol added more truth...but was that still it?
"And?" Apparently not. Eriol groaned exasperatedly.
"What else is there?" he cried in frustration, scowling at the grinning heir to the Li clan.
"Something I suspect, but since you don't even seem to be aware of it, I certainly am not going to waste a perfectly good spot of amusement prying it from you. I'll just watch you from my shadows," he smirked. Eriol knew he was hinting at something but couldn't pin it down so he did the next best thing: got irritable. This of course, served only to further entertain the little wolf though.
"You and your bloody shadows..." Eriol grumbled as he poured himself a cup of apple cider. This earned him more of an odd stare.
"Don't ask," Eriol pleaded as he thoughtfully sipped his drink, wondering confusedly about his own actions to his own self.
And for once, Syaoran did what he asked and held his silence.
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Sakura hummed a new tune to herself as she brushed her short hair, clean and fresh from the shower, sitting in front of her mirror in her pale pink cotton pajamas and slippers.
It had been wonderful to speak with Eriol like that.
Sure, he thought she was a boy, but that was minor as far as she was concerned...momentarily.
Later she might find it to be more of a hindrance than ever she might have expected.
But that would come later.
For the moment she was content, humming, a new song winding its way into her heart, happy and light, just like her.
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So, whadya think?
Like I said, review, review and there's another chapter waiting for you! ^_~ And for all you S&S lovers, it STILL could twist for them; I rather like the idea of Syaoran and Eriol as friendly rivals for the little cherry's heart, but it'll all end somehow. Of course, right now little wolf hasn't even formally met, "Cherry".
Hmm...when will the two meet? How will Eriol take it?
Review and let me know if I should keep writing on this or not.
If not, then I'll scrap the story and turn in favor of another anime perhaps. -_-;
It's up to you as always people.
-Kaji
Review, onegai.
Sing for Me: Chapter Three: The Coffee Shop known as Destiny
Tomoyo grinned at Sakura as the concert finished.
"That new number really blew the crowd away Sakura-chan! And in all the fast numbers, you didn't trip once!" This last added remark caused Sakura to smile sheepishly.
She was known to be a bit of a klutz at times.
"Thanks Tomoyo-chan," Sakura replied, walking to the dressing room back stage, Tomoyo in tow.
"If you keep popping up with songs like this, the world will be at your feet Ms. Cherry," Tomoyo teased, using her friend's stage name and waiting for the expected reaction of vehemence.
She got it.
"S-a-k-u-r-a! Not Cherry, that's my public name you know Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura frowned as she closed the door the dressing room and slipped out of the lovely costume, handing it thankfully to Tomoyo who lovingly hung it up on its rack amongst the many others of Sakura's outfits.
"Hai, hai I know Sakura-chan. I was just kidding...where are you going?" Tomoyo asked suddenly, watching as Sakura changed into a pair of slightly baggy black pants and a white long-sleeved shirt with a loose navy blue collared shirt over top, making for a simple layered effect that concealed her femininity. Clicking her tongue thoughtfully, Sakura grabbed her favorite paperboy hat from the other night, black if you recall, and plopped it on her head as she replied to Tomoyo.
"I'm going out," Sakura's vague answer came as she tucked particularly bothersome strands of her troublesome hair behind her shell-like ears, noting and taking off the earrings as well.
"Where?"
"Just around Tomoyo-chan, don't worry about me. See?" Sakura straightened up and gestured at herself slightly, "I look like a young boy. No one ever recognizes me when I go out." Frowning, Tomoyo shook her head at Sakura.
"Maybe a little but not enough dear Sakura-chan...your face is too delicate I think, but that's perhaps because I am always around you that I notice such things." Sakura nodded encouragingly, dearly hoping for her friend to not make her stay here all-night or just go home...there was a certain Coffee Shop she wanted to return to.
"Please Tomoyo?" Sakura bent down on her knees and put her hands together in a plea, deciding the best tactic was the most lethal: the puppy-dog eyes. In mock-agony, Tomoyo shielded her eyes in a dramatic gesture.
"No! Anything but those! Anything but the puppy-dog eyes!" There was a pause and then Tomoyo released her hands and gave up pretense, smiling kindly at her best friend before shooing her out of the room, tucking in some extra hair that was already sneaking out from under the black hat.
"Now, I expect you to be careful. What would I do without you my little cherry blossom?" Tomoyo joked and Sakura laughed, hugging Tomoyo before she quietly slipped out of the amphitheatre and into the familiar city she knew to be her closest home.
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Eriol sighed in the back room of the Coffee Shop, this night donning instead a white collared shirt and black jeans, still suave and intellectual looking, running his fingers through his jet-black hair. After the concert, he and Syaoran had politely excused themselves from the date; their excuse: work.
Eriol also made mental note to thoroughly get his dues from his so-called best friend. That girl, Mira was it?-had been utterly torturous. Constantly pushing herself up against him, giggling too, and attempting-Eriol had had the impression-to make him kiss her.
He nearly laughed at that thought. He hadn't even wanted to touch the girl.
Syaoran on the other hand was all arms and lips apparently as he had bid his date farewell with a rather sensual display of kissing, making Eriol raise an inquisitive eyebrow, wondering how his best friend could lip-lock with every woman he came across...and not tire of it.
The door clicked as the devil himself ambled in casually, wearing a black turtleneck and dark brown pants, his amber eyes laughing.
"I don't even want to imagine what it is you're conjuring up for me in that manipulative mind of yours," Syaoran stated caustically as he sat down in a chair, smirking and crossing his arms.
"Oh, and why on earth would I possibly be scheming something dealing with you?" Eriol countered teasingly. He knew very well how much Syaoran owed him for the other thing he had done that day: agreed to do nightly performances.
"Simple," the amber eyed Adonis stated with clairvoyant pretense, drawing his palms up to either side of his forehead in false concentration. "I see it now...you are contemplating what you want me to do in return for you doing this nightly performance for the business," he paused and when Eriol was about to interrupt he raised a hand in silence and finished: "...and what else because I made you come with me to see Cherry with Sou and Mira."
Nodding comprehensively, Eriol lifted his hands in admittance.
"You got it pal."
"Well, whatever it is, it can't be worse than what I put you through today. Man, remind me never to take those two out again!" Syaoran chortled, mussing up his already tussled brown hair absently.
"I certainly will, not that you ever, or would ever listen to my advice to you on the female species," the blue-eyed singer and friend said thoughtfully. To this, the little wolf gave an inquisitive glance.
"Oh, and wouldn't I?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because it involves faith to one, I emphasize the word 'one' woman, sincerity in the relationship, and of course, love," Eriol said this quietly with no tone of mockery, but feeling that made Syaoran stare at him wonderingly. His friend surely was an intriguing character.
"Love? What is love? To some it may be a one-night stand, a good one granted," Syaoran replied cheekily, grinning, and continued "Or maybe it's a week's commitment, a year, who knows? It all depends on the person my friend. Love is too obscure to be real anymore though, true love anyway. As far as I'm concerned, women are rather questionable creatures."
"And we aren't?" Eriol asked almost wistfully, taking a moment to wipe off his glasses; it seemed they were never clean enough to see through, but perhaps that was because they only allowed him to see what everyone else with 20/20 vision could: the obvious.
"Perhaps, but that's not important right now," Syaoran said as he stood up, stretching, "It's time. I'm gonna go to man the music in my shadow box; Nakuru is dealing with the counter; and you are going out there to sing your little lyricist heart out!" And with a nonchalant wave of his hand and a mocking salute, the little wolf did so, slipping into the shadows.
Sighing for what seemed the millionth time, Eriol Hirigizawa prepared to go out and sing, sing a new song, one he had never, ever let anyone-not even the little wolf-hear.
Sakura entered the shop, which she now realized was called "Destiny". It was, as she expected, nearly full, but she found her to her personal joy that her table from the previous night was still free. Ordering a hot apple cider this time, laced with sweet warm caramel, she sighed, sipping at it luxuriously, wondering if that young man from last night would be there once more. Lo and behold, she was not disappointed; for there he entered.
Her cheeks warmed slightly as she saw him, tall and lithe, chiseled and in his own way, attractive, as she had remembered him. She might have wondered where these thoughts were coming from but since she was Sakura, she did not dwell on the confusing emotions roiling in her chest, instead, sipped her drink again and waited as he sat at the stool and the music began:
"I saw your eyes one night, one night a while back
They remained in my mind so very clear
The only part of you I could easily remember
Always hoping you would come back here
It wasn't quite love but something close
For I never believed in love at first sight
But if all the gods had made an exception for me
It would have been that very night
*Don't let my soul fall apart
This feeling of being like a lost prince
It's simply too much for my uncertain heart
Come back to me my mystery angel
This emotion runs so very deep
It's got the best of me, telling me I won't fail.
Listen to this song will you, will you listen?
I've written it just for you
Its rhythm is the beat of our hearts
And the melody is just as true
Return to me beloved stranger
Who doesn't seem quite so strange
Accept my willing love
For it was yours the moment you came
*Don't let my soul fall apart
This feeling of being like a lost prince
It's simply too much for my uncertain heart
Come back to me my mystery angel
This emotion runs so very deep
It's got the best of me, telling me I won't fail.
Don't let me fail,
My sweet innocent-eyed angel."
Sakura once more discovered an unspoken beauty in his words and the timbre of his voice, melodious but also distinctly masculine. Raising her cup to her lips, she realized she had been so enthralled with the singer that she had not sipped another bit of her drink. Amused slightly, she tried to compensate and nearly sputtered it out; she took in too much. Recovering quickly, she decided that the slow way was easy enough and she didn't have a curfew anyway.
Besides, maybe if she waited while she sat there long enough, she might work up the courage to speak to the singer.
Maybe not.
There was another group of girls sighing and giggling around the young musician and to Sakura's amusement, he seemed rather flustered. Actually, she felt kind of bad for him, but at the same time, felt a small twinge in her chest, near her heart. She ignored it.
Sakura noted with interest that some of these women couldn't possibly be his age, they looked too mature. Well, he was handsome, but still, some of these women looked a near seven years older than him, dressed somewhat...scantily. Then there were others, younger girls, dressed in a number of ways, simple, flamboyant, but all admittedly pretty in her own way. They continued to chatter and fuss around the singer until Eriol looked up, past the crowd of admirers, and perhaps by chance, perhaps not, met Sakura's emerald gaze.
Eriol's eyes widened slightly. It was her...or was it a he? He still wasn't positive. Ignoring his club of fans, he walked out of their group, straight towards Sakura's small corner table.
Sakura for her part felt her heart jump straight into her throat. Was he heading for her? What would she do? She had never actually had to speak at length with anyone while she was in disguise. She wasn't certain she could keep up the voice playing. It wasn't that much of an alteration, just lower, as if she were singing a low note in one of her ballads, just speaking instead. She thanked mentally all the years of inadvertent voice training from Tomoyo's music teacher. It looked like she would have to put her talents to full use tonight as the young man neared her.
And she suppressed another rise of warmth flooding into her cheeks just enough to be unnoticed.
"Hello there," Eriol greeted simply, not altogether sure what to say. He could just see it now: Oh hello. Did you know I've been thinking about you ever since I saw you yesterday? And I'd be very much obliged to you if you could specify your gender for me please. Oh yes, that would go over very nicely, Eriol thought sarcastically to himself, envisioning either one rather irate customer or total humiliation for himself.
Yes, the standard 'Hello' seemed to be very suitable.
"G-good evening sir," Sakura said, her voice still smooth and practiced but this time stronger, as a young boy might sound. Eriol laughed lightly.
"Just call me Eriol. You're not much younger than I am I think," he observed, and then asked, "May I sit?" Sakura only nodded, oblivious to the stares and glares she was getting-quite the colorful assortment really-from the other women. Funny thing was, the reason they were so upset was that this 'boy' had taken the attention from them. What was so special? They all discreetly sauntered off to other tables, waiting for Eriol to get up.
"What is your name?" Eriol asked. Sakura sat there a moment; heck, she'd never thought of a psuedo name...what would she call herself?
"Uh..." come on Sakura, think, her mind screamed, "uh...Hisui!" Sakura cringed at her hasty decision; Hisui meant 'jade'. Would he think that odd? Apparently not as he nodded and shook hands with her, she wondering exactly when she had proffered her hand to him in the western-style greeting.
"Okay, Hisui, pleased to meet you," Eriol smiled, wondering, what is it that interests me so about this person?
"The honor is mine Eriol-san," Sakura replied softly and Eriol frowned.
"That's so formal. Simply Eriol will do. I may call you Hisui?" he asked politely.
You can call me whatever you want, was her first thought and after her initial shock at such an unusual train of thinking, she recovered and nodded at the blue-eyed lyricist before her.
"Forgive me if this seems rude Eriol-sa...Eriol, but I was just thinking while I listened, to, to your song, that..." Sakura trailed off. Intently maintaining eye-contact with her, Eriol thought perhaps she was about to say what had drawn him to him. [He thought she was a boy because she looked as if she could have been either and after hearing her speak, assumed she was a boy.]
"No, no, continue please Hisui," Eriol encouraged.
"Well, I thought it was very profound and touching," and here Sakura lifted her right hand to her heart and smiled softly. Then she added hurriedly, "I know, silly isn't it?"
"Actually, no. That means a great deal to me. Writing songs is new for me. I only began when my partner and I went into business to bring Destiny about. Now of course it's a chain of Coffee Houses but this is the only one I've ever sung for. It touches me that you felt that way listening to me." His response was such that Sakura felt like tackling him in a loving hug. So warm, even to a near-stranger, he was.
"Do you perform here every night?" she asked hesitantly.
"Now I do," Eriol frowned.
"Why do you look so unhappy? Do you not like to sing?" Sakura asked, wondering if she had been partially mistaken.
"No, no. I love to sing. It is...my life I think, now anyway. But the way in which I was...let's say conned, into doing so every night, well, that was what I was remembering," Eriol explained good-naturedly.
"May I ask how exactly you were, um, conned?" Sakura ventured, smiling.
"You may," Eriol chuckled and relayed his story to her of his friend who not only made him date a girl he had no interest in, but proceeded in making him see that it was for the good of the business that he perform every night. Sakura could not help but laugh but cut it short when she realized how she could not mask the lightness in it, the feminine tone. Luckily, Eriol did not seem to have noticed.
"So Hisui, you think my words were well done?" Eriol thought aloud.
"Yes, yes I do," Sakura, replied.
"You might consider picking up a CD by that new artist, Cherry I think. Her words are much more beautiful than mine I think," he remarked somewhat wistfully.
"C-cherry? Um, I know her songs..." Sakura paused, wondering how to continue, "And I think you're every bit as good as her, maybe better too. Her songs, they're written from the heart...and yet they don't sound as soulful as yours, not all of them," she finished quietly, thinking on herself.
"Oh I don't think so. I think she just has a very bright way about her. I write this way because I have never loved. It is obvious though, that she has and that is the reason for the difference I think," Eriol smiled amiably.
"You think so?"
"I do."
There was a pause, a silence that both were comfortable sharing, Sakura sipping the last of her apple-cider, and Eriol taking the moment to gaze at her, or at the moment in his mind, 'him'. Eriol saw Sakura as a young boy, somewhat feminine...but nah, it must be a boy...right? He wondered absently but pushed the thought away as 'he' spoke again.
"I, I hear, that is if you're so into Cherry, that she is giving a big benefit concert for the adoption homes at a large party to raise funds for them at some high-priced gala. My best friend knows Cherry and I think I could get you invitations if you're interested," Sakura paused and waited.
"Are you serious?" Eriol felt like he might soar.
"Yes, I am actually," Sakura grinned impishly and added, "I can see how that friend of yours conned you so easily. You're a total pushover if there's something in it for you!"
"Maybe I am," he laughed and smiled at her and she felt her heart speed up a bit. What was happening to her?
"I'll see what I can do then," she said and stood up from the table. Eriol's smile wavered just a bit.
"Are you leaving already?" he asked, a bit saddened by his new friend's sudden departure plans.
"Hai, I have to get back. I'll have people after me in a while if I don't get home soon," she smiled, her hat flopping a bit over her emerald eyes and Eriol lifted the hat a bit, pushing it back for Sakura who's breath quickened at the close proximity. She had never, ever been this close to a boy except her oni-san, Yuki, or her father and she was rather innocent to boot. It was rather new to her and she couldn't put a name to the sensations running through her.
"You make it sound like you've got guards or something," Eriol chuckled and Sakura stopped from face-faulting at the near-truth in his jest.
"Ehehe... no, of course not, but still, you know..." she trailed off, hoping he did know.
"Alright Hisui...is there a last name that goes with that?" Drat, drat and drat, Sakura pondered rapidly. Of course, a last name, why hadn't she thought of that too? Sighing inwardly, she did the best thing she knew and added enough truth to her previous lie to make it half-way white.
"Kinomoto, my name is Hisui Kinomoto," she said.
"I presume I'll be seeing you again, ne Kinomoto-san?" he joked, patting her back as he turned to walk away, pausing only for her response, which surprised him as much as it did her:
"Every night," and with that she sped out the door, the bell jangling as the thing closed, leaving a delighted Eriol in her wake, and a tall young man with amber eyes who proceeded to unceremoniously drag his best friend into the staff room and closing that door.
"So, what was that?" Syaoran smirked.
"What was what?" Eriol asked, for once, truthfully confounded.
"That whole thing. You ignore all those beautiful, sensual females for a small stick of a boy with over-sized clothing? Granted if you swung that way, I might rest the case, because he was rather cute but I know that you don't. You're as straight as I am," here he paused and then added with a smile, "What was so interesting about him Hirigizawa?" Syaoran said this in the same way he commented about the weather but Eriol had known him long enough to recognize the 'don't fool with me' tone.
"He...liked my music and I thought it would be better talking to him than any of those, as you would put it, ahem, sensual creatures. In any case he seemed a great deal more intelligent." To this, Syaoran snorted his derisive agreement and Eriol turned smug. There, that was the truth, wasn't it?
"And?" Damn. He had gotten the 'and' part too. That was one of the things Eriol nearly couldn't stand about the amber-eyed wolf; he was a persistent stinker for the whole truth.
"And, he said he could get me tickets to Cherry's benefit for funds for the adoption homes coming up at the end of the week," Eriol added more truth...but was that still it?
"And?" Apparently not. Eriol groaned exasperatedly.
"What else is there?" he cried in frustration, scowling at the grinning heir to the Li clan.
"Something I suspect, but since you don't even seem to be aware of it, I certainly am not going to waste a perfectly good spot of amusement prying it from you. I'll just watch you from my shadows," he smirked. Eriol knew he was hinting at something but couldn't pin it down so he did the next best thing: got irritable. This of course, served only to further entertain the little wolf though.
"You and your bloody shadows..." Eriol grumbled as he poured himself a cup of apple cider. This earned him more of an odd stare.
"Don't ask," Eriol pleaded as he thoughtfully sipped his drink, wondering confusedly about his own actions to his own self.
And for once, Syaoran did what he asked and held his silence.
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Sakura hummed a new tune to herself as she brushed her short hair, clean and fresh from the shower, sitting in front of her mirror in her pale pink cotton pajamas and slippers.
It had been wonderful to speak with Eriol like that.
Sure, he thought she was a boy, but that was minor as far as she was concerned...momentarily.
Later she might find it to be more of a hindrance than ever she might have expected.
But that would come later.
For the moment she was content, humming, a new song winding its way into her heart, happy and light, just like her.
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So, whadya think?
Like I said, review, review and there's another chapter waiting for you! ^_~ And for all you S&S lovers, it STILL could twist for them; I rather like the idea of Syaoran and Eriol as friendly rivals for the little cherry's heart, but it'll all end somehow. Of course, right now little wolf hasn't even formally met, "Cherry".
Hmm...when will the two meet? How will Eriol take it?
Review and let me know if I should keep writing on this or not.
If not, then I'll scrap the story and turn in favor of another anime perhaps. -_-;
It's up to you as always people.
-Kaji