Chapter 2

"So this is very simple," said Nakuru, wrapping an arm around her master who still looked very, very doubtful. "All Sakura-san and I have to do is to release the Create card and make some goons who will threaten to kidnap Mistress Tomoyo. Then you charge into the scene and-"

"Do some karate stuff?" guessed Eriol wryly.

"Yeah! Kickboxing, wrestling, whatever works for your skinny frame." Upon seeing her master's lethal look, she shrugged. "Sorry, but the truth always hurts, doesn't it?"

"I'm never the fighter, Nakuru," he reminded her.

"I know. You're a schemer."

"Know what, Nakuru? Stop hanging around with the Clow mistress and my cute little descendant too much. You're starting to add colorful words in your vocabulary."

"Eriol-kun, stop twisting around! You're not a human pretzel!" scolded Sakura.

"But these ants are going to eat me alive!" he hissed as he crushed the flimsy bodies of the red ants with the sole of his imported leather shoes. He found himself grinning with wicked satisfaction when he saw the smashed bodies of those freaking ants.

He and Sakura were positioned behind the bushes, waiting for Tomoyo to emerge from the church doors where she has her choir practice. Li was positioned on top of the tree with Spinel and Kero, serving as the look-out.

"Let them!" hissed Sakura back. The great reincarnation of Clow had unceremoniously stepped on her toenail for sixteen times since an hour ago.

"Why did we have to do this so early anyway? She won't be finished with her practice until fifteen minutes later!" he whined as he looked at the insect bites on his pale, creamy skin. His epidermis will never be the same again. Never.

"Because her practice might conclude earlier than expected!" she rationalized. "The early bird gets the worm, you know!"

"Or the ant," said Eriol, sighing.

"Hey, Eriol-kun! There she is!" said Sakura excitedly as she pulled Eriol. "She's coming out! See? I told you we should be early!"

Eriol couldn't understand what his friend was saying. All he could see was the glorious raven-haired girl with striking purple eyes and angelic face.

Slowly, he felt his courage drain.

Can I pull this off?

What if I faint or something before I can even get my act together? Good lord, help me!

But no time to think now, because Tomoyo Daidouji, the love of his life, was fast approaching. She was blissfully unaware of what monstrosity will happen to her, courtesy of Sakura and Nakuru's diabolical plans.

"Three, two, one…ACTION!!!" hissed Sakura. "Create card!!!"

Eriol shut his eyes tight. Screw my stupid life run by my friends!

Li watched as Sakura used the Create card, and several goons appeared. After giving out instructions, the goons nodded.

"You know, I still have this sinking feeling that something is about to wrong," he said, sighing.

"You're just being paranoid, you brat," said Kero. "I mean, what would go wrong? Sakura's a clow mistress, you know!"

"And not a very mature one," pointed Li. "I thought Hiiragizawa will be different. However, to my utter and complete dismay, he went with this stupid plan."

"It's not only my master who went with the stupid plan, you know," said Spinel, smiling vexingly.

His face flamed. "Shut up."

But deep within him, he knew that Tomoyo wouldn't like it when she learns about their plan. If there's one thing she doesn't like, it's being manipulated.

He sighed again. "Pray, Hiiragizawa. Just pray that everything will be fine."

Tomoyo was just walking home when she had this flash of alertness. She looked around.

My Sakura Sensor strikes again? But if she's here, where is she?

After another glance around her, she continued walking. She was sure her friend was around here. Maybe she'll bump into her later.

Then to her utter shock, several goons appeared on the path, blocking her way!

"Um…" They don't look friendly neighbors from the Sesame street.

Suddenly, they lunged on her!

"OK, Eriol-kun, that's your cue!" hissed Sakura, pushing him out of the bushes. "Go save the damsel in distress!"

He wobbled out of the bushes and crashed on the cemented sidewalk. He shook his head, then realized in dismay that his vision was blurred. He touched his face.

"My glasses! I can't see without my glasses!"

Li slapped his hand on his face, sighing. "Damn it. I knew it. I KNEW IT!"

Kero sweatdropped. "I didn't know my master is such a klutz!"

Spinel snickered. "I wish I brought a camera with me, then I could have at least kept a souvenir of this." The feline could already imagine the look on its master's face when it shows him the picture of this stunt. A handy blackmail whenever he tells it to do household chores when it's engrossed on a book or napping.

"Hiiragizawa, stand up!" hissed Syaoran. "Damn, you suck!"

One goon suddenly noticed Eriol blindly groping on the sidewalk. Its mistress' instruction was to lunge on anyone who's on the sidewalk, since it cannot recognize people.

It made a u-turn away from Tomoyo and made a dash towards Eriol.

The girl saw this. "Hiiragizawa-kun!"

Sakura gasped. "Eriol-kun!" She went out from her hiding. She took her clow staff. "I am the cardcaptor, and I command you to return to your true form!"

Tomoyo was utterly at lost.

Soon, the creatures were gone. Only Sakura, Tomoyo, and the still groping Eriol were left on the sidewalk.

"Sakura-chan, w-what…?" mumbled Tomoyo, still in the state of shock.

"Um…" She sweatdropped, then suddenly she bowed. "Gomen! Eriol-kun will explain everything!" With that, she left the scene as if the dogs of Hades were after her.

Tomoyo turned to Eriol. "Hiiragizawa-kun?"

She knelt down in front of him, and noticed that he still had not noticed her. She then spotted what he was looking for. She picked it up gingerly with her fingers and placed it carefully on his face.

Eriol's vision cleared at once. He blinked when he saw Tomoyo's concerned face looking down at him. "Dai…Daidouji-san!!!" At once, he struggled to stand up, but tripped on his own foot. He fell on top of her, and if she didn't steady him, they would have both fell on the sidewalk.

He looked up again, then swallowed nervously. Their faces were so close…so intimately close…it was so easy to bridge the inches of air separating their faces.

Colors flooded the face of the girl. "H-Hai?"

"Y-You're safe?" he asked.

"Uh-huh."

Great, Hiiragizawa. Just great! She was suppose to be the damsel in distress and not you.

"Daidouji-san?" He cleared his throat nervously. Say it now, you fool! Now is your chance!

"Hai?"

But God obviously didn't love him that day. Because he suddenly felt his chest constrict as if it was going to explode!

"Screw it! My rotacaps!" he cried.

Of all the days that he had to suffer an asthma attack!

Eriol had an asthma attack? Was it triggered because of Tomoyo's perfume? Tomoyo's breath? Anyways, the conclusion of this short, short fic will be coming soon. How soon? Heaven knows. lol