STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIES
SONGS ARE MINE AS IS THE STORYLINE
Sing for Me: Chapter Seven: Concealing Feelings
Sakura sat in a park in the city, not the skater one, but a real park, even with a lake and trees and a hedge maze somewhere near the back. Tomoyo sat beside her, reading a book. Sakura was watching the clouds.
"Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo's voice was clearly audible; it seemed they were the only ones in the park, spread out on their picnic blanket, a picnic basket between them.
"Hai Tomoyo-chan?"
"What do you think of Hirigizawa-san?" Tomoyo asked tentatively, looking over her book at her best friend. Sakura felt a twinge of confusion in her but smiled and replied.
"Eriol-kun is nice, and always really polite," Sakura paused, "and a good skater." Tomoyo repressed her smile. That was definitely a Sakura answer.
"Hai, hai...demo, don't you think he's kawaii?" Tomoyo became more forward. Sakura's eyes widened.
"H-hoe? I...I..." she stammered, blushing uncontrollably and Tomoyo got an all-too familiar smirk on her face.
"HA! You DO think he's kawaii! OHOHOHOHOHO!" Tomoyo carried on like this for a short while, Sakura making protests all the while until Tomoyo ceased her signature laugh and gave her a shrewd look.
"So if it's not Hirigizawa, it must be Li-san."
Sakura choked on air and sputtered her reply.
"Iie! Th-that...baka...he...he's nothing. Stupid. He's so, so arrogant and conceited...and...and..." Tomoyo felt like laughing again at Sakura's flustered state, but refrained tactfully.
"Hai, hai Sakura-chan. Whatever you say." Tomoyo went back to reading her book.
"Eriol is kawaii."
"YOU admit it!"
"H-hai...mou...so?" Sakura frowned.
"Well, if you REALLY don't care about the little wolf, I think I've taken a bit of a fancy to him," Tomoyo pondered aloud.
"N-nani?! Daijoubu Tomoyo-chan? Are you sick? Have you got a fever?" Sakura rapidly placed her hand on Tomoyo's forehead as Tomoyo chuckled.
"Iie Sakura-chan. Iie. Stop before you lose whatever calm you have left. I just find him intriguing," Tomoyo explained lightly and then added, "I'm not talking about falling love or anything you know."
Sakura blanched at the thought.
Her best friend falling in love with the little wolf.
That was too much...Tomoyo and Syaoran? Her brow furrowed as she thought on this, why should it bother her? What did she care who he went out with? She was just afraid for Tomoyo's sake. Sakura knew he could be lethally charming and debonair...she'd nearly experienced the whole thing herself...that was all though. She was merely worried for Tomoyo. She didn't care whether or not the little wolf liked or didn't like her. She didn't mind if one day she might run across them staring lovingly into each other's eyes or holding hands or kissing...
She didn't care...she didn't mind...
Like hell she didn't.
Sakura felt like digging a hole to China...wait, that was where Syaoran was from...scratch that; she wanted to dig a hole to England...say wasn't that where Eriol was from?
Why did she think of Eriol? Why was she previously thinking of Syaoran? Could she possibly have fallen for both of them?
There was something terribly wrong with that. Great, she waited until she was all out of high school to fall for someone...and it was turning about to be a someone[s], plural. Ouch...
Mou...so, Sakura thought absently...Hiri-er, Eriol...
He really was kawaii. Not in the same way as Syaoran certainly, but more sophisticated, more gentlemanly. She remembered the warmth in his arms when they had danced and hugged her knees absently to her chest, lifting her head to watch the clouds roll by again.
Yes, her new friend was very kawaii.
And he thought she was a boy.
Or rather, he thought Hisui was a boy---and technically she was supposed to be---and thought that Cherry was a totally different person...which she was.
Or not?
Sakura didn't like this masquerade very much but what could she do? She could see it all now:
Oh good afternoon Eriol, did you know, I'm really the pop idol Cherry, masking myself as a male to go out in ordinary life, please don't be offended...oh yeah, that would go over real well.
And Syaoran!
She had already deceived him once.
Like they said, shame on him if she fooled him twice, but she had and still was. Supposedly he didn't suspect Hisui of being her yet. Not yet.
And here she was, back to thinking of the little wolf again, unwittingly and unnervingly. She wasn't sure she liked the feeling of not knowing where her heart rested.
But if Tomoyo had really taken a...ahem, 'fancy' to him, far be it from her to stop her! Sakura thought this thought adamantly and to such a furious mental argument in her mind that she convinced herself that the odd feeling, the funny tightening in her chest when he was near her, she convinced herself that it was revulsion.
But there is a certain limit there is to which, a person can lie to one's self...and was she lying? She wondered.
So lost in her thoughts, Sakura didn't notice two familiar shadows moving towards her and Tomoyo until suddenly instead of the vivid blue sky and white clouds, her vision was filled with amber, laughing amber.
"Li-san!" came Tomoyo's voice before Sakura could tell him to get lost. She groaned. Syaoran turned to her.
"Does my presence displease you?" he asked, only half seriously.
"No," she replied through gritted teeth, only then noticing the figure behind him, smiling at her: Eriol. Her look of mild tolerance melted to a bright smile and Syaoran scowled. He wasn't all THAT bad, was he? Why should Eriol be able to make her smile when he couldn't? He shrugged the annoyance off and settled his attention on the quiet Tomoyo.
"So Daidouji-san, how's business?" he opened; it was best with women like her, he knew it was best to start formal...and then work your way in.
"Very prosperous Li-san. And yours?" she asked, peering over the top of her book at him, her eyes asking him a different question: what are you getting at?
"Syaoran will do Daidouji-san," he interjected.
"And in that case, Tomoyo will suit equally well," she amended.
"Hai, Tomoyo. My...our business is also good. You should come see Hirigizawa some time. He's stiff most other times but when he sings you'd think he was a completely different person," Syaoran joked. Sakura hit his arm playfully.
"Iie! He's the same person when he sings, just a little more open!" she smiled and then faltered as it dawned on her what she had said.
"How would you know?" Syaoran asked suspiciously.
Sakura nearly bolted right there. Damn, damn, damn. I am in deep...
"H-hoe?" was the only response she could muster immediately.
"I said how would you know, Miss Cherry or don't you have the brains to remember even that?" he mocked her. Eriol frowned disapprovingly at this, as did Tomoyo. Handsome or not, insulting her best friend was a tad extreme. Contradictory to thought though, all this did was spark Sakura.
"Dare to say that I have no brains! You of all people!" she retorted with new anger.
"You still haven't answered my question.
"I-I figured as he is so kind, and polite and warm...everything you are not, I might add...I figured he would be just as good, whether he sang or spoke, but I know when I sing I sing from my heart and the result is a more soulful sound. I just thought it might be the same with him!" Sakura finished with a huff of indignant posture. She had not noticed that with every compliment she paid Eriol, Syaoran's scowl deepened ever so slightly and Eriol's eyes widened just a fraction. Nor did she notice Tomoyo's thoughtful visage, which was less expressive than her companions', but masked a concentrating mind at work.
Meanwhile, Syaoran was still trying to decide whether or not to believe her when she came at him again, still angry, and he saw again the Sakura from the skate park, spunky, kind and beautiful, but definitely a little spit fire...w-wait a minute! Beautiful? Where did THAT come from? He didn't have time to wonder because as said before, a very irate cherry blossom was yelling him at again profusely, glaring up at him from her inferior height.
"You, SIR," she said the title sarcastically with an added incentive to scowl, "On the other hand, border on the imbecilic and are the most utterly arrogant man I know!"
Syaoran took this all in stride and came back at her readily.
"Big words for the little cherry blossom," he teased, knowing how to push her buttons.
"Big mouth for the little wolf," she smarted back and Eriol coughed to cover up a chuckle, rather unsuccessfully. Sakura smiled triumphantly, wanting to pump an imaginary victory fist in the air wildly at the glower on Syaoran's face, as he looked at his best friend in irritated question.
"Gomen Syaoran...I've just never seen a girl best you in a match of words," Eriol excused. Tomoyo wore a knowing smile.
"You started it," Tomoyo pointed out, looking in mock-severity at Syaoran whose scowl transitioned into a rueful smile in front of Tomoyo. He pretended to beg her, dropping to his knees.
"Please forgive me, please oh best friend of the little cherry blossom?" he pleaded. It was Sakura's turn to frown.
"Hmm...Maybe...if," she paused waiting for him to supply the customary "If what?" which he did of course.
"If what?" Ah, there it was.
"If you'll join me for an evening out tonight." Tomoyo finished, smiling, still looking at them all over the top of the same book, which Syaoran then took out of her hands and placed carefully on the picnic blanket.
"Why my lady, I'd be honored to do so. So, am I forgiven?" he asked, his amber eyes begging in teasing hope.
"Well...what do you think Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo asked sweetly.
"Hai, hai, whatever the baka wants..." she grumbled as she flopped on her back on the blanket again, trying to ignore the two flirts---not that she minded Tomoyo; it was HIM that got to her---and went back to cloud gazing. A weight settled beside her and she turned her head to see Eriol on the blanket beside her.
"Nani?" she voiced.
"Oh, gomen. I should have asked first. Might I join you? The sky fascinates me so, and it's always more enjoyable to watch with a friend," he explained. Sakura smiled and nodded, turning back to gaze up.
The clouds had gotten considerably darker...she wondered why she hadn't noticed before...why none of them had...and then it happened:
CRASH!
Thunder and lightning reigned as the real rain threatened to drop at any moment in flooding torrents.
"HOE!" Sakura latched on, frightened, to Eriol's arm, trembling. Without any real cohesive thinking, Eriol drew her closer to him, cradling the shaking girl who kept mumbling about lightning and something else he couldn't hear quite right. Syaoran fumed silently but busied himself with Tomoyo who while she hadn't screamed, nor latched quite so fiercely onto him, was looking a tad pale and gripping the blanket beside her a bit too tightly.
"Here," he whispered and took her hand in his, and she relaxed a little. He smiled inside; perhaps getting Daidouji wouldn't be quite so hard as he thought. A fierce lightning bolt struck across the sky and she flinched, gripping his hand tighter; no, not so hard after all.
"Syaoran, let's get moving out before the rain comes, ne?" Eriol suggested, his hand placed and holding Sakura's reassuringly as they stood together and Syaoran unknowingly tightened his grip on Tomoyo at the sight. As another thunder rumble sounded, he picked up the blanket, Tomoyo got her book, Sakura got the picnic basket and Eriol couldn't hold anything, not being able to let Sakura's shaking hand without her falling on the spot. She was petrified.
So, Syaoran thought as they made their way to the woods nearby, the little Cherry Blossom is afraid of bad weather eh? I wonder what the story behind THAT is...he thought. Before they could reach the woods, rain began to cascade down on them but Tomoyo reached the woods very fast, barely getting wet at all. Syaoran was next, then Eriol and Sakura. The latter were thoroughly soaked, just short of dripping and Syaoran could not stop his gaze from quickly wandering over Sakura's previously unnoticed curves and shapely body. He wondered that he had thought her a child less than ten minutes ago. Now the wet rain had made her otherwise light pink tank top mold to her curves, as did her jeans. Her breath was slightly caught due to running and fear of the storm and every breath made Syaoran feel the least bit more uncomfortable.
He caught himself though, and looked away.
Too close.
Eriol was absently taking off his over shirt to wring it out while Syaoran began to make a fire, small but sufficient. Tomoyo laid the blanket, thankfully only slightly damp due to Syaoran's fast running, on the ground next to the warming flames and brought a shivering Sakura to gently sit next to her by it, whispering to her the comforting words she was used to saying whenever Sakura got hysterical like this...and that was whenever a storm hit.
"It's okay Sakura-chan. Remember? Zettai daijoubu right?" she implored and Sakura nodded slowly, still shivering. She felt a sudden added warmth to her shoulders and looked up, surprised to see Syaoran.
"You'll get sick. Keep that on," his order was gruff and her turned away to quickly stomp over deeper into the woods to get more wood even thought he knew perfectly well that Eriol had already left to do so.
"What was that?" an amused voice asked from the shadows but Syaoran just grumbled.
"Eh? I'd say you cared about her Syaoran," teased Eriol, ignoring the inward stiffening his heart was doing at that realization.
"Nani!? Never. She's a child. I much prefer her friend. She just looked cold."
"Hai, hai."
"I'm serious!" Syaoran insisted vehemently, waving his hands erratically.
"So am I." Eriol countered.
"Grr..." Syaoran stomped off in the OTHER direction [and this forest seems to have a lot of them doesn't it?]
"Sakura-chan you okay now?" a worried Tomoyo asked.
"Just a little spooked. You know me Tomoyo-chan. I'm silly...getting scared of a little thunder..."
"It was nice of Li-san...er, Syaoran to lend you his jacket, ne?" Tomoyo prodded.
"Hai, I'll thank him when he comes back," was the simple reply Sakura gave her.
"Hai, you do that," Tomoyo sighed, wondering if the way he looked at Sakura was merely a figment of her imagination or Sakura was totally oblivious to it. Both were very possible.
Tomoyo knew very well that Hirigizawa was somewhat near smitten with Sakura but what of Syaoran could be said truly? No one knew that man well enough to say so, Tomoyo was certain of that, except maybe Eriol, who she thought afterwards, would never say anything unless asked outright.
When the rain died away they put out the fire and wrapped up all their belongings, Sakura returning the jacket to Syaoran with a humble thanks.
"Ah...arigato Li-san," she mumbled.
"Didn't you hear me tell Tomoyo? Call me Syaoran," he said, almost an invisible plea in that variable order, some part of him dreading that she might shake off that thought and continue addressing him forever as a plague to avoid, cordially of course.
"Syaoran..." she fixed. Then, as unpredictable and fickle as men can be--- though Sakura was only beginning to learn that fact of life---he turned all his attention on Tomoyo.
"So M'lady, would you do me the honor of accompanying me to that outing you insisted upon not long ago?" he teased sweetly, holding out his hand and Tomoyo readily grasped it gracefully and Sakura felt for a moment, dark.
Not that the wolf she might have feelings for and her best friend since forever were seeming to hook up, but at their kind clasping of fingers and palms, simple and graceful; Sakura and her surroundings seemed, to her, a tear duller and shabbier for comparison.
"I would, demo Syaoran, I have to take Sakura-chan home," Tomoyo began but Sakura beat her down.
"Iie! Tomoyo-chan, go on with...with him. Have...fun. I'll get home fine on my own, don't worry. I'll take all our stuff back too, okay?" Sakura reassured.
Tomoyo looked at her doubtfully.
"Are you certain?" she asked further.
"Hai."
"Alright, but I'll not be out late, so look for me soon," Tomoyo called over her shoulder as she and Syaoran began to walk away.
Sakura was just close enough and sharp enough of hearing to catch the last thing Syaoran said before he was out of earshot:
"Maybe not so soon, ne?" and he once more held Tomoyo's hand in his and Sakura could not describe the feelings she felt assaulting her. How much was she hiding from herself in her own heart? Was she hiding anything? She had to be. These darkly sad feelings could not be false, and yet, she did not care for the little wolf! She did NOT! She felt like screaming...
He was after all, conceited, arrogant, rude, attractive, smooth...those compliments were not supposed to be in that description, she thought inwardly, clawing at the doors concealing her own heart from her.
She was glad when Eriol entered and saved herself from her own frightening revelations that had threatened to surface; she most certainly was not ready for that to happen yet.
So when he asked her if she would like a ride home, she said yes and felt for the time being, somewhat more secure in her own skin, with the once more regular beating of her heart as when Eriol smiled at her---unknowing of her inner turmoil---some of her troubled self seemed to melt kindly away to flying dust.
And she knew when she got home, Eriol polite as always, walking her to the door but nothing more, she unlocked her apartment and closed the door, heading straight for her bed where she curled up and slept, trying to stave off her earlier contemplations, settling for soon thereafter waking up and planning new songs for her upcoming performance.
She had not seen that as Eriol left, giving her hand a warm squeeze that she had assumed was meant to somehow make her feel better [and it did], she did not see...
And neither did he...
Both aspiring singers, one undiscovered, the other Japan's beloved Cherry, both artists, missed the brief flash of a hidden camera and the rustle of bushes as a shadowed figure ran off towards the direction of a local tabloid.
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Hope that was easy enough to understand. I try and format it nice, you know, standard new paragraph for each new speaker, et cetera, et cetera, spell check, et cetera, et cetera.
But we all make mistakes as I'm sure you know. ;)
Okay, review please. [Please be kind. It is much appreciated.]
In the next chapter: Cherry is singing more and more, Eriol is getting more and more publicity, the two are seen together a lot, as Syaoran and Tomoyo are often off somewhere, leaving the two singers to fend for themselves a lot against the crazy fans and scandalous news tabloids.
And what is this...perhaps at one of Cherry's concerts, a duet...perhaps describing what is really in her heart?
Just review and maybe you'll see. ^_~
SONGS ARE MINE AS IS THE STORYLINE
Sing for Me: Chapter Seven: Concealing Feelings
Sakura sat in a park in the city, not the skater one, but a real park, even with a lake and trees and a hedge maze somewhere near the back. Tomoyo sat beside her, reading a book. Sakura was watching the clouds.
"Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo's voice was clearly audible; it seemed they were the only ones in the park, spread out on their picnic blanket, a picnic basket between them.
"Hai Tomoyo-chan?"
"What do you think of Hirigizawa-san?" Tomoyo asked tentatively, looking over her book at her best friend. Sakura felt a twinge of confusion in her but smiled and replied.
"Eriol-kun is nice, and always really polite," Sakura paused, "and a good skater." Tomoyo repressed her smile. That was definitely a Sakura answer.
"Hai, hai...demo, don't you think he's kawaii?" Tomoyo became more forward. Sakura's eyes widened.
"H-hoe? I...I..." she stammered, blushing uncontrollably and Tomoyo got an all-too familiar smirk on her face.
"HA! You DO think he's kawaii! OHOHOHOHOHO!" Tomoyo carried on like this for a short while, Sakura making protests all the while until Tomoyo ceased her signature laugh and gave her a shrewd look.
"So if it's not Hirigizawa, it must be Li-san."
Sakura choked on air and sputtered her reply.
"Iie! Th-that...baka...he...he's nothing. Stupid. He's so, so arrogant and conceited...and...and..." Tomoyo felt like laughing again at Sakura's flustered state, but refrained tactfully.
"Hai, hai Sakura-chan. Whatever you say." Tomoyo went back to reading her book.
"Eriol is kawaii."
"YOU admit it!"
"H-hai...mou...so?" Sakura frowned.
"Well, if you REALLY don't care about the little wolf, I think I've taken a bit of a fancy to him," Tomoyo pondered aloud.
"N-nani?! Daijoubu Tomoyo-chan? Are you sick? Have you got a fever?" Sakura rapidly placed her hand on Tomoyo's forehead as Tomoyo chuckled.
"Iie Sakura-chan. Iie. Stop before you lose whatever calm you have left. I just find him intriguing," Tomoyo explained lightly and then added, "I'm not talking about falling love or anything you know."
Sakura blanched at the thought.
Her best friend falling in love with the little wolf.
That was too much...Tomoyo and Syaoran? Her brow furrowed as she thought on this, why should it bother her? What did she care who he went out with? She was just afraid for Tomoyo's sake. Sakura knew he could be lethally charming and debonair...she'd nearly experienced the whole thing herself...that was all though. She was merely worried for Tomoyo. She didn't care whether or not the little wolf liked or didn't like her. She didn't mind if one day she might run across them staring lovingly into each other's eyes or holding hands or kissing...
She didn't care...she didn't mind...
Like hell she didn't.
Sakura felt like digging a hole to China...wait, that was where Syaoran was from...scratch that; she wanted to dig a hole to England...say wasn't that where Eriol was from?
Why did she think of Eriol? Why was she previously thinking of Syaoran? Could she possibly have fallen for both of them?
There was something terribly wrong with that. Great, she waited until she was all out of high school to fall for someone...and it was turning about to be a someone[s], plural. Ouch...
Mou...so, Sakura thought absently...Hiri-er, Eriol...
He really was kawaii. Not in the same way as Syaoran certainly, but more sophisticated, more gentlemanly. She remembered the warmth in his arms when they had danced and hugged her knees absently to her chest, lifting her head to watch the clouds roll by again.
Yes, her new friend was very kawaii.
And he thought she was a boy.
Or rather, he thought Hisui was a boy---and technically she was supposed to be---and thought that Cherry was a totally different person...which she was.
Or not?
Sakura didn't like this masquerade very much but what could she do? She could see it all now:
Oh good afternoon Eriol, did you know, I'm really the pop idol Cherry, masking myself as a male to go out in ordinary life, please don't be offended...oh yeah, that would go over real well.
And Syaoran!
She had already deceived him once.
Like they said, shame on him if she fooled him twice, but she had and still was. Supposedly he didn't suspect Hisui of being her yet. Not yet.
And here she was, back to thinking of the little wolf again, unwittingly and unnervingly. She wasn't sure she liked the feeling of not knowing where her heart rested.
But if Tomoyo had really taken a...ahem, 'fancy' to him, far be it from her to stop her! Sakura thought this thought adamantly and to such a furious mental argument in her mind that she convinced herself that the odd feeling, the funny tightening in her chest when he was near her, she convinced herself that it was revulsion.
But there is a certain limit there is to which, a person can lie to one's self...and was she lying? She wondered.
So lost in her thoughts, Sakura didn't notice two familiar shadows moving towards her and Tomoyo until suddenly instead of the vivid blue sky and white clouds, her vision was filled with amber, laughing amber.
"Li-san!" came Tomoyo's voice before Sakura could tell him to get lost. She groaned. Syaoran turned to her.
"Does my presence displease you?" he asked, only half seriously.
"No," she replied through gritted teeth, only then noticing the figure behind him, smiling at her: Eriol. Her look of mild tolerance melted to a bright smile and Syaoran scowled. He wasn't all THAT bad, was he? Why should Eriol be able to make her smile when he couldn't? He shrugged the annoyance off and settled his attention on the quiet Tomoyo.
"So Daidouji-san, how's business?" he opened; it was best with women like her, he knew it was best to start formal...and then work your way in.
"Very prosperous Li-san. And yours?" she asked, peering over the top of her book at him, her eyes asking him a different question: what are you getting at?
"Syaoran will do Daidouji-san," he interjected.
"And in that case, Tomoyo will suit equally well," she amended.
"Hai, Tomoyo. My...our business is also good. You should come see Hirigizawa some time. He's stiff most other times but when he sings you'd think he was a completely different person," Syaoran joked. Sakura hit his arm playfully.
"Iie! He's the same person when he sings, just a little more open!" she smiled and then faltered as it dawned on her what she had said.
"How would you know?" Syaoran asked suspiciously.
Sakura nearly bolted right there. Damn, damn, damn. I am in deep...
"H-hoe?" was the only response she could muster immediately.
"I said how would you know, Miss Cherry or don't you have the brains to remember even that?" he mocked her. Eriol frowned disapprovingly at this, as did Tomoyo. Handsome or not, insulting her best friend was a tad extreme. Contradictory to thought though, all this did was spark Sakura.
"Dare to say that I have no brains! You of all people!" she retorted with new anger.
"You still haven't answered my question.
"I-I figured as he is so kind, and polite and warm...everything you are not, I might add...I figured he would be just as good, whether he sang or spoke, but I know when I sing I sing from my heart and the result is a more soulful sound. I just thought it might be the same with him!" Sakura finished with a huff of indignant posture. She had not noticed that with every compliment she paid Eriol, Syaoran's scowl deepened ever so slightly and Eriol's eyes widened just a fraction. Nor did she notice Tomoyo's thoughtful visage, which was less expressive than her companions', but masked a concentrating mind at work.
Meanwhile, Syaoran was still trying to decide whether or not to believe her when she came at him again, still angry, and he saw again the Sakura from the skate park, spunky, kind and beautiful, but definitely a little spit fire...w-wait a minute! Beautiful? Where did THAT come from? He didn't have time to wonder because as said before, a very irate cherry blossom was yelling him at again profusely, glaring up at him from her inferior height.
"You, SIR," she said the title sarcastically with an added incentive to scowl, "On the other hand, border on the imbecilic and are the most utterly arrogant man I know!"
Syaoran took this all in stride and came back at her readily.
"Big words for the little cherry blossom," he teased, knowing how to push her buttons.
"Big mouth for the little wolf," she smarted back and Eriol coughed to cover up a chuckle, rather unsuccessfully. Sakura smiled triumphantly, wanting to pump an imaginary victory fist in the air wildly at the glower on Syaoran's face, as he looked at his best friend in irritated question.
"Gomen Syaoran...I've just never seen a girl best you in a match of words," Eriol excused. Tomoyo wore a knowing smile.
"You started it," Tomoyo pointed out, looking in mock-severity at Syaoran whose scowl transitioned into a rueful smile in front of Tomoyo. He pretended to beg her, dropping to his knees.
"Please forgive me, please oh best friend of the little cherry blossom?" he pleaded. It was Sakura's turn to frown.
"Hmm...Maybe...if," she paused waiting for him to supply the customary "If what?" which he did of course.
"If what?" Ah, there it was.
"If you'll join me for an evening out tonight." Tomoyo finished, smiling, still looking at them all over the top of the same book, which Syaoran then took out of her hands and placed carefully on the picnic blanket.
"Why my lady, I'd be honored to do so. So, am I forgiven?" he asked, his amber eyes begging in teasing hope.
"Well...what do you think Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo asked sweetly.
"Hai, hai, whatever the baka wants..." she grumbled as she flopped on her back on the blanket again, trying to ignore the two flirts---not that she minded Tomoyo; it was HIM that got to her---and went back to cloud gazing. A weight settled beside her and she turned her head to see Eriol on the blanket beside her.
"Nani?" she voiced.
"Oh, gomen. I should have asked first. Might I join you? The sky fascinates me so, and it's always more enjoyable to watch with a friend," he explained. Sakura smiled and nodded, turning back to gaze up.
The clouds had gotten considerably darker...she wondered why she hadn't noticed before...why none of them had...and then it happened:
CRASH!
Thunder and lightning reigned as the real rain threatened to drop at any moment in flooding torrents.
"HOE!" Sakura latched on, frightened, to Eriol's arm, trembling. Without any real cohesive thinking, Eriol drew her closer to him, cradling the shaking girl who kept mumbling about lightning and something else he couldn't hear quite right. Syaoran fumed silently but busied himself with Tomoyo who while she hadn't screamed, nor latched quite so fiercely onto him, was looking a tad pale and gripping the blanket beside her a bit too tightly.
"Here," he whispered and took her hand in his, and she relaxed a little. He smiled inside; perhaps getting Daidouji wouldn't be quite so hard as he thought. A fierce lightning bolt struck across the sky and she flinched, gripping his hand tighter; no, not so hard after all.
"Syaoran, let's get moving out before the rain comes, ne?" Eriol suggested, his hand placed and holding Sakura's reassuringly as they stood together and Syaoran unknowingly tightened his grip on Tomoyo at the sight. As another thunder rumble sounded, he picked up the blanket, Tomoyo got her book, Sakura got the picnic basket and Eriol couldn't hold anything, not being able to let Sakura's shaking hand without her falling on the spot. She was petrified.
So, Syaoran thought as they made their way to the woods nearby, the little Cherry Blossom is afraid of bad weather eh? I wonder what the story behind THAT is...he thought. Before they could reach the woods, rain began to cascade down on them but Tomoyo reached the woods very fast, barely getting wet at all. Syaoran was next, then Eriol and Sakura. The latter were thoroughly soaked, just short of dripping and Syaoran could not stop his gaze from quickly wandering over Sakura's previously unnoticed curves and shapely body. He wondered that he had thought her a child less than ten minutes ago. Now the wet rain had made her otherwise light pink tank top mold to her curves, as did her jeans. Her breath was slightly caught due to running and fear of the storm and every breath made Syaoran feel the least bit more uncomfortable.
He caught himself though, and looked away.
Too close.
Eriol was absently taking off his over shirt to wring it out while Syaoran began to make a fire, small but sufficient. Tomoyo laid the blanket, thankfully only slightly damp due to Syaoran's fast running, on the ground next to the warming flames and brought a shivering Sakura to gently sit next to her by it, whispering to her the comforting words she was used to saying whenever Sakura got hysterical like this...and that was whenever a storm hit.
"It's okay Sakura-chan. Remember? Zettai daijoubu right?" she implored and Sakura nodded slowly, still shivering. She felt a sudden added warmth to her shoulders and looked up, surprised to see Syaoran.
"You'll get sick. Keep that on," his order was gruff and her turned away to quickly stomp over deeper into the woods to get more wood even thought he knew perfectly well that Eriol had already left to do so.
"What was that?" an amused voice asked from the shadows but Syaoran just grumbled.
"Eh? I'd say you cared about her Syaoran," teased Eriol, ignoring the inward stiffening his heart was doing at that realization.
"Nani!? Never. She's a child. I much prefer her friend. She just looked cold."
"Hai, hai."
"I'm serious!" Syaoran insisted vehemently, waving his hands erratically.
"So am I." Eriol countered.
"Grr..." Syaoran stomped off in the OTHER direction [and this forest seems to have a lot of them doesn't it?]
"Sakura-chan you okay now?" a worried Tomoyo asked.
"Just a little spooked. You know me Tomoyo-chan. I'm silly...getting scared of a little thunder..."
"It was nice of Li-san...er, Syaoran to lend you his jacket, ne?" Tomoyo prodded.
"Hai, I'll thank him when he comes back," was the simple reply Sakura gave her.
"Hai, you do that," Tomoyo sighed, wondering if the way he looked at Sakura was merely a figment of her imagination or Sakura was totally oblivious to it. Both were very possible.
Tomoyo knew very well that Hirigizawa was somewhat near smitten with Sakura but what of Syaoran could be said truly? No one knew that man well enough to say so, Tomoyo was certain of that, except maybe Eriol, who she thought afterwards, would never say anything unless asked outright.
When the rain died away they put out the fire and wrapped up all their belongings, Sakura returning the jacket to Syaoran with a humble thanks.
"Ah...arigato Li-san," she mumbled.
"Didn't you hear me tell Tomoyo? Call me Syaoran," he said, almost an invisible plea in that variable order, some part of him dreading that she might shake off that thought and continue addressing him forever as a plague to avoid, cordially of course.
"Syaoran..." she fixed. Then, as unpredictable and fickle as men can be--- though Sakura was only beginning to learn that fact of life---he turned all his attention on Tomoyo.
"So M'lady, would you do me the honor of accompanying me to that outing you insisted upon not long ago?" he teased sweetly, holding out his hand and Tomoyo readily grasped it gracefully and Sakura felt for a moment, dark.
Not that the wolf she might have feelings for and her best friend since forever were seeming to hook up, but at their kind clasping of fingers and palms, simple and graceful; Sakura and her surroundings seemed, to her, a tear duller and shabbier for comparison.
"I would, demo Syaoran, I have to take Sakura-chan home," Tomoyo began but Sakura beat her down.
"Iie! Tomoyo-chan, go on with...with him. Have...fun. I'll get home fine on my own, don't worry. I'll take all our stuff back too, okay?" Sakura reassured.
Tomoyo looked at her doubtfully.
"Are you certain?" she asked further.
"Hai."
"Alright, but I'll not be out late, so look for me soon," Tomoyo called over her shoulder as she and Syaoran began to walk away.
Sakura was just close enough and sharp enough of hearing to catch the last thing Syaoran said before he was out of earshot:
"Maybe not so soon, ne?" and he once more held Tomoyo's hand in his and Sakura could not describe the feelings she felt assaulting her. How much was she hiding from herself in her own heart? Was she hiding anything? She had to be. These darkly sad feelings could not be false, and yet, she did not care for the little wolf! She did NOT! She felt like screaming...
He was after all, conceited, arrogant, rude, attractive, smooth...those compliments were not supposed to be in that description, she thought inwardly, clawing at the doors concealing her own heart from her.
She was glad when Eriol entered and saved herself from her own frightening revelations that had threatened to surface; she most certainly was not ready for that to happen yet.
So when he asked her if she would like a ride home, she said yes and felt for the time being, somewhat more secure in her own skin, with the once more regular beating of her heart as when Eriol smiled at her---unknowing of her inner turmoil---some of her troubled self seemed to melt kindly away to flying dust.
And she knew when she got home, Eriol polite as always, walking her to the door but nothing more, she unlocked her apartment and closed the door, heading straight for her bed where she curled up and slept, trying to stave off her earlier contemplations, settling for soon thereafter waking up and planning new songs for her upcoming performance.
She had not seen that as Eriol left, giving her hand a warm squeeze that she had assumed was meant to somehow make her feel better [and it did], she did not see...
And neither did he...
Both aspiring singers, one undiscovered, the other Japan's beloved Cherry, both artists, missed the brief flash of a hidden camera and the rustle of bushes as a shadowed figure ran off towards the direction of a local tabloid.
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Hope that was easy enough to understand. I try and format it nice, you know, standard new paragraph for each new speaker, et cetera, et cetera, spell check, et cetera, et cetera.
But we all make mistakes as I'm sure you know. ;)
Okay, review please. [Please be kind. It is much appreciated.]
In the next chapter: Cherry is singing more and more, Eriol is getting more and more publicity, the two are seen together a lot, as Syaoran and Tomoyo are often off somewhere, leaving the two singers to fend for themselves a lot against the crazy fans and scandalous news tabloids.
And what is this...perhaps at one of Cherry's concerts, a duet...perhaps describing what is really in her heart?
Just review and maybe you'll see. ^_~