Disclaimer: I don't own CCS.
AN- ok, since most of these chapters were prewritten, I'm not getting to
the point where I am actually writing a new chapter, so it's gonna take me
a while to get them up probably. Gomen, but R+R please!
Chapter 8- How Can We Remain Together?
Sakura was finally done shopping. She was at the food court, relaxing and waiting for everyone else to finish. She checked her watch. It was already seven. Her father and brother knew that she was coming home late.
For dinner, she had pigged out on fast food. Finally, for Chiharu, she had gotten a pretty set of wind chimes. Kero's present had been the easiest to find: a new video game. Eriol had received a weird sparkly thing that Yamazaki had wanted also. Sakura had seen Chiharu pick it out for him though. She had no idea why the guys would want it. Must be a stupid guy phase, she thought to herself.
Otou-san was going to receive a photo frame with a picture of Sakura in it. Sakura had bought a new CD player for onii-chan, since Kero had accidentally broken his while he had been playing around.
Tomoyo, the last person Sakura had bought a present for was receiving a bath set, and a new 'best friends forever' necklace.
Sakura still hadn't found a present for Syaoran, so she decided that she would hand make his.
"Hey, Sakura-chan!" she heard a voice yell. She jumped. It was Meilin, Naoko, and Kasumi. They all sat down together and started to talk. Rika, Leisa and Chiharu were the next to show up.
"Hey, where are all of the guys? I thought that we were the ones who liked to shop," Chiharu said with a smile.
Sakura didn't say anything, relieved that Syaoran and Leisa weren't together anymore.
Yamazaki and Eriol popped up. "What were you saying about us?" Eriol said.
"Hey, guess who we saw?" Yamazaki piped up. "That famous movie star Meiji Kyoto! He was shopping with us and."
"Oh shut up Yamazaki!" Chiharu strangled him.
"No." Kasumi said softly. "We saw him too." So that's who he was. No wonder he's so rich and hot.
"Really?" Sakura squealed.
"Yeah, he was shopping with us," Naoko said.
"Wow! I can't believe you saw him! What was he like, was he nice, oh, he's so hot!"
"Ooh, it's Syao-kun!" Leisa screamed as she ran over to him. She could spot him anywhere.
Sakura steamed inwardly. Syao-kun? Where'd she come up with that?
Syaoran and Michael were together, talking. They seemed to be on a lot better terms than before. Michael sent a quick look to Naoko, who pointedly ignored her.
Fine, who cares about her anyway? Michael asked himself angrily, and sadly.
As he started to flirt with a classmate near him, he found himself staring at Naoko more and more. She was talking with Sakura and Meilin.
I do care. Michael realized. Is it because I'm really in love with her?
*~*~*~*
"Syaoran, are you going to the Christmas dance?" Meilin asked him.
He was busy carving an object out of wood in the living room. It was going to a present to Sakura for Christmas. Currently, it was a cherry blossom flower and he had already cut himself twenty two times while carving, though not out of inexperience. He often caught himself thinking about a certain green-eyed, and auburn-haired girl while he was carving.
"Syaoran, you're going, right? And you'd better NOT be going with that jerk Leisa this time." Meilin told him.
"No, I won't go with her," Syaoran said. "I already heard that she was going with Tomaki-kun."
"Oh, that's good," Meilin said. Tomaki was an extremely hot guy at their school, though he was prone to violence sometimes.
"Why would you be asking?" Syaoran asked her suspiciously.
"No idea, I just didn't want you to go to some bi*** like Leisa. Syaoran, look at me." Meilin's voice was so serious and intense, that Syaoran immediately obeyed.
"I gave you up because of the time that I spent with you here back when we were in fourth grade. I could see how much you loved Sakura, and even though it pained me a lot, I gave you up to her. I could see that I had no chance, and that you two were meant to be together. So that's why I want to see you two together."
"What makes you think that my feelings haven't changed yet? I might not like Sakura anymore," Syaoran said to Meilin.
"Syaoran, if your feelings have changed, then you need to tell her, gently of course, so that she can move on with her life and find someone else, though I think you two are the best for each other, and I don't know why your feelings would have changed."
"Meilin, you know that we have grown close, but how do I break it to her?"
"I don't know Syaoran, and I really don't understand why you don't love her anymore." Meilin abruptly stood up and walked out of the living room to her room. Syaoran stared after her.
"I don't either," he said softly to the empty room.
*~*~*~*
"Ohayou Meilin-chan!" Tomoyo greeted her as Meilin picked up the ringing phone in her room.
"Hey Tomoyo-chan," Meilin said.
"Well, did you get Syaoran-kun to come to the dance?"
"Yes. He's definitely coming, and Leisa's going with Tomaki so this is a perfect chance to get them together."
"I know. Oh by the way, I'm having a Christmas party after the dance, it'll be a sleepover, but my mom and dad will be monitoring. Do you think that you guys can come?"
"Of course," Meilin replied. "Definitely."
"Don't you think that you should ask Syaoran-kun if he wants to come?"
"Nah, you'll come, and if you disagrees with my choice, too bad for him, cuz he's coming whether he likes it or not," Meilin said.
"Oh ho ho." Tomoyo giggled.
"So, I'll see you in school today," Meilin said as she hung up. "Oh Syaoran, guess what, we're going to a party after the Christmas dance!" Meilin announced to him.
He groaned. "I hate social events, didn't you get sick of all the ones that we were dragged to back in Hong Kong?"
"Nope," Meilin said excitedly. "I loved it there. Hey, Syaoran, do you still have that painting that you drew back in Hong Kong?"
"Eh? What painting?" Syaoran asked, feigning confusion.
"Don't give me that crap. You know, that picture of that beautiful girl with dark green eyes and flowing brown hair and that pretty, pretty pink dress?"
"Eh." Syaoran sweat dropped. He knew exactly what painting Meilin was talking about. Two weeks before he had left, he had drawn a picture in art class. Their teacher had said to capture beauty in a picture, so without any ideas, Syaoran had just started painting aimlessly. Somehow, his brush took over, and he ended up with a picture of Sakura.
He was about to destroy it when his art teacher had come up to snatch it away from him. It had been entered in a national art show and won first place. Syaoran was surprised that Sakura didn't know about it. Meilin had teasingly badgered him about the painting.
"Syaoran?" Meilin demanded.
"Maybe." Syaoran said, flipping pancakes over on the griddle.
Meilin decided that it was a yes. "Mmm. it smells delicious!" She said to Syaoran as he presented her with a plate of pancakes.
"Of course it does, I made it." Syaoran said.
"I'm glad that I woke you up early," Meilin told him.
He yawned loudly. "I'm not. I'm so tired."
"Whatever would you do without me?" Meilin asked him grinning.
"Skip school a lot more than now?"
*~*~*~*
Sakura was really happy at school that day. Tomoyo had returned to class, but no one knew about her accident except Sakura, Syaoran, Meilin, and Eriol.
"Look, the cast of characters is up!" the shout went throughout the hallways after school.
"Who's Gina? Who's Riley?"
"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo greeted her. "Guess who you got!"
Sakura shrugged her shoulders. She hadn't thought that she had done a good job, so she didn't expect anything big. Leisa was giving her a huge death glare though, and several other juniors and seniors had congratulated her.
"Who?"
"You're Gina, the main lead in the play!" Tomoyo shouted.
Sakura stared at Tomoyo in surprise. Laughing, Sakura shook her head. "Yeah, right Tomoyo-chan. Am I really?"
"Sakura-chan, I never lie. You're the lead!"
Sakura pushed her way through the crowd mingling around the post. At the top of the list was her name: Kinomoto Sakura- Gina.
"Hoe!" Sakura said. Keeping calm, she scanned the rest if the list with Tomoyo. Yamazaki had gotten the part of Marc, a friend of Riley, as had Eriol and Hiyoshi. They were Alixander and Whitney, which were pretty big parts too.
Chiharu, as Tomoyo had predicted, was Gina's friend Shinhwa. Rika and Meilin had landed parts as other angels. Naoko was ultimately, God. She was already going around commanding people around.
Leisa had unfortunately gotten the part of Yuri. Although it was a big part, she was antagonist to Sakura. Kent was Eriol's understudy, and Meilin was Sakura's understudy. She was happy for Sakura though, and couldn't wait to help out. Tomoyo couldn't wait to make the costumes.
As Sakura finished looking through the list, she realized that she hadn't seen Syaoran's name. She started to rescan the list. Spotting his name near the top, she glanced to the left of the sheet to see who he had gotten.
Baka, he's only the understudy for Kale! Sakura thought to herself. Michael had gotten the part of Riley.
Wow, my dream's finally come true. I'm with Michael and we're co-starring together, but why don't I feel any happier about this? Why aren't I excited? Why am I sad? It's because I know Kale and I don't belong together, that he and Naoko are the best couple. But then why am I bothered that Syaoran is only the understudy? Sakura was questioning herself.
"Hey, Sakura, good job!" Michael congratulated her.
"Thanks Kale, you too," she replied.
"Ooh, Michael-kun likes Sakura-chan," went the whispers around the crowd as they drifted off.
"No, look how close Naoko and him are," another girl said.
"I gotta go," pleading a headache from the noise, Sakura escaped from the crowd.
As she turned a corner, she heard a voice call out to her. Recognizing it as Syaoran's, she slowed down on her blades. As he caught up, she hid a smile from him.
"Umm, Sakura-chan?" Syaoran finally managed to say.
"Hoe?" she asked quietly.
"." Syaoran panicked. How do I say this? How do I do this? Why am I the only guy that freezes up whenever I have to ask a girl something?
"Well, I was wondering if you're going to the Christmas dance?"
"Of course I am. Tomoyo-chan's making my dress again, and she's going to make me go anyway," Sakura said, giggling to herself. Syaoran smiled at her.
"Are you going with anyone?" he asked, gaining some confidence.
".No." Sakura said slowly. Syaoran nodded, and they walked on in silence for a bit, while Syaoran tried to get enough courage to ask her to go with her. Finally, he stopped walking, and Sakura turned around to look at him, her emerald eyes inquisitive.
As he finally started, "Sakura, will you go to."
Kent appeared in front of them, almost magically.
"Hey Sakura-chan!" he greeted her.
"the dance." Syaoran broke off. The moment was ruined.
Damn you Kent! Syaoran screamed out loud in his head.
"Hey, Syaoran-kun, I didn't know that you walked Sakura-chan home. I usually do that." Kent said to him.
Sakura's mouth dropped open in surprise, but Syaoran didn't even notice because he was too busy giving Kent his copyrighted death glare. Usually he reserved that for Eriol the little stuffed doll and Sakura's evil brother, but Syaoran could make exceptions.
Kent grinned at Syaoran, and then he slipped his arm through Sakura's and picked her books up. They strolled along, with Syaoran fuming behind them.
Sakura could feel his anger behind them and she was puzzled at it. Why would he even care that I'm walking with Kent-kun? Kent's just a friend. Why is he so jealous. Baka, I'm trying to ruin myself again by thinking that he actually likes me. She gave a small sigh within herself. Why would he want me, when obviously, all the girls at high school are in love with him. I'm just another girl, who is nowhere near as pretty as Leiko, nowhere as smart as Cho, and nowhere near as sophisticated as Kiaka. I'm so stupid, thinking that he could actually like me. All I am to him is some girl that he now knows only because of the cards. He would never even have given me a second glance if I hadn't opened the Clow book, and that was all through my own clumsiness. Baka, concentrate Sakura!
Syaoran suddenly caught some words. "So, Sakura-chan, you're going to the Christmas dance, right?" It was more of a statement than a question, but Sakura answered it anyway.
"Yeah." She kept glancing back at Syaoran, who was staring at the ground deliberately ignoring her. Hoe, Syaoran-kun just asked me the same question. What do they want?
"Would you go to the dance with me?" Kent popped the question fast. Syaoran's head flew up, and he waited for Sakura's answer silently.
Sakura's head whirled with thoughts. Is that what Syaoran was trying to say? Why hadn't I paid him more attention? Maybe I would've been going with him, instead of trying to fight Kent off now.
"Well, Kent-kun, I.um," she broke off. "Actually, I don't think that I'm going to go with anyone.
"Oh." Kent said, not sounding let down or anything. "OK. Well, I've gotta go now anyway, so I'll see ya later." He ran down the street and disappeared around the corner.
Syaoran's amber eyes flew up to meet a pair of emerald ones.
"Why didn't you say yes?" Syaoran asked her slowly.
"I. well. I don't know. Just because you went with Leisa doesn't mean I need to throw myself at every guy I see."
"Hey!" Syaoran said. Suddenly, he had an urge to speak something. He had no idea where this was coming from. "You know all of the old days were just forgotten childhood memories to me. None of that stuff even matters now, they're just old memories, all in the past."
Sakura turned away quickly. Forgotten childhood memories? Why did he have to go ruin everything when it was just going well?
"Sakura?" Syaoran reached out to her, and she recoiled.
"Hoe, I've really gotta go," she said hurriedly as she ran down the street to her house.
Syaoran watched her go with mixed feelings in his heart. Why had he just said those words to her?
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?" he yelled to himself to the growing darkness.
Suddenly, he flipped his head up and glanced around.
I thought that there was a sense of a card.or maybe not.then the sense faded. I guess that I'm too tired. Baka, now how do I open up to Sakura again?
*~*~*~*
Running down the street, Sakura bumped into Hiyoshi. Gently stopping her, he saw the tears streaming down her face.
"Sakura, are you alright?"
"No," she said softly.
"C'mon," he said as he led her away to the park.
"OK, now let's talk," he told her.
Slowly, the whole story came out, and Sakura even made some references to the old days.
"I just don't know why he had to go ruin it. 'Just forgotten childhood memories'? How'd he think I would react to it? Now I really don't know what to think of him. There was a time when I was positive about how I felt about him. Now I'm just not sure at all." Sakura said to Hiyoshi.
"All you have to do is trust in him. Trust that he still loves you and that you will remain together forever," Hiyoshi said gently to Sakura.
"But what should I do?"
"That's your own choice, as is who you want to be with. If you're sure Syaoran is the one, then you should. If you are convinced that he doesn't feel the same way about you, then you shouldn't waste your time on him. I know that you have been through a lot together though, so I don't want to help you lean in one direction," Hiyoshi said. "I need to go, and I think that you probably should too."
"Alright. Domo arigato," Sakura said to Hiyoshi.
Hiyoshi stared right back at her with his serious gray eyes. "Sakura, I am only giving you advice. The way you use it is up to you. Please don't make any bad decisions, ok?"
"Hai." Sakura responded. She headed home quickly.
*~*~*~*
Syaoran's cell rang as he entered the house. "Wai?" he asked.
"Xiao didi! (little brother) Merry Christmas, well, early. I've got great news!" Syaoran groaned as he heard his sister, Li Feimei's voice on the phone.
"What's up?" he asked her.
"Well the Elders have finally decided that you can stay in Japan for as long as you want, as long as you want. BUT, you have to send the Li Clan Sword home."
"Oh, that's fine, as long as you send mine here." Syaoran said to his sister.
"OK." Feimei said. "Nice talking to you, I'm sure my xiao didi is fine, and everyone here is good, so I'll see you later."
"Zai jian! (bye bye)" Syaoran called to her as he heard the sound of the phone being hung up on him.
Now Syaoran had time to reflect on what had happened. He was disturbed by what Sakura had done but if that was the way she wanted it. He really didn't understand it. Why did she suddenly turn away? Did she really hate him that much? And why the hell had he said those words to her? he knew he didn't believe them himself so where had they come from?
He was only the understudy for Riley, with Michael playing the real main. It basically said that he didn't have a part in the play, and that he wouldn't be in it. That wasn't good, but Syaoran was glad that Michael had gotten the part and not Kent.
For one thing, Michael didn't have a bad aura radiating off of him, though for some reason, Syaoran was also getting a slight aura off of Michael, but it was much less than Kent's. Syaoran had also known Michael for a longer time than Kent. Plus, he knew that Michael liked Naoko, so there wouldn't be a bad reason for Michael to get Sakura. Syaoran sighed. His life was way too complicated.
*~*~*~*
"Otou-san, I got the lead in my play!" Sakura shouted to him as she walked through the door.
"Great job!" her father congratulated her. "When is the performance? I want to go see my daughter perform."
"In January," Sakura said.
"The kaijou can actually get a good part in the play? What a miracle!" her brother snickered.
"I am not a kaijou, and that was mean 'nii-chan!" she yelled at him, punching him lightly in the ribs. She ran upstairs to her room after she grabbed some snacks.
"So, whose Riley?" Kero asked innocently after Sakura had told him about the play.
"Oh, Michael-kun." Sakura said. She was concerned about Syaoran still. The words kept repeating in her mind. They were just forgotten childhood memories. What did he mean by that?
"Oh, why can't I read minds? What is he thinking about?"
Had he been trying to ask me to the dance? Why did he ruin everything then? Well, I have Hiyoshi to lean on now in case anything goes wrong. Sakura thought. And of course, Tomoyo-chan is always there.
Her cell rang, and she picked it up.
"'Lo?"
"Sakura?"
"Yeah, it's me."
"This is Michael-kun."
"Oh. Hi!"
"Hi, well, I was just wondering.about the play."
"Yeah, well, hey, good job. And I was wondering something too."
"OK, you go first."
"Alright. I've noticed that there are a few places where we have to like, kiss?"
"Hai."
"I don't know if I'll be too comfortable kissing you."
"Well, it's ok. We can work it out. I'm not too sure about it though either."
Sakura laughed. "Hey, you're pretty close with Syaoran now, right?"
"Hey, I said one question! But I'll answer it anyway, yes, if you call talking to occasionally in the hallways and mall friends."
"OK, well. never mind."
"Hey, he did tell me that he wanted to go with someone to the dance."
"Oh, like who?" Sakura asked casually, though her heart was beating really fast.
"Oh, it was.I don't remember."
Sakura fell over on the floor. She got up, starry-eyed.
"Anyway, do you want to get started on practicing since we have the most lines and everything?"
"Sure." Sakura replied.
"OK, how about every weekday, at about 7:30 at night?"
"Sure, want to start today?"
"Yeah, so see you soon." Michael hung up.
Sakura grabbed her script as soon as her homework was done and started practicing her lines. She had more than five hundred to memorize, plus her cue lines. She was going to be busy.
As she went down for dinner, Touya greeted her.
"Hey, where's otou-san?" Sakura asked him.
"He's out for a meeting," her brother told her. He was radiant as he handed Sakura a plate of cooked, un-burnt pleasant looking spaghetti.
"Hey, not bad 'nii-chan. It's edible!" Sakura said to him.
"Yes! First success!" Touya cheered as he grinned.
Sakura smiled at the new picture of her mother. She was so glad that her mother had been a model cuz now they had so many pictures of her.
This picture showed her with another male model, one who looked oddly familiar to Sakura. She squinted at the picture closely, but couldn't tell who it was.
Giving up, she grabbed her stuff and headed out towards the park. As she headed out the door, she collided with Michael.
"Hey!" he greeted her warmly. "Where ya going?"
"To the park to meet.with you. Well, c'mon. Hurry up before my brother sees you. He's a bit." her eyes widened as Touya appeared. ".protective." She muttered underneath her breath.
"Who are you?" Touya demanded angrily.
"Michael Brown, nice to meet you too." Michael said pleasantly.
"We're just going to go practice a few scenes from the play that I'm in." Sakura said, trying to save the situation before it got any worse.
"This is your co-star?" Touya asked suspiciously. He rounded on Michael. "Where's the Brat?
Touya didn't like the Chinese Brat, but he trusted him a lot more than this kid, what's his name, Marc, Mitch, Michael? Touya couldn't remember.
"Yeah, well, umm, Syaoran-kun's busy," Sakura said.
"And what exactly are ya guys doing in this play?"
"Nothing much," Sakura said quickly.
"Oh, just some hugging, some kissing, that sorta stuff," Michael said evilly.
"What?!" Touya exploded.
"Gee, great!" Sakura said. She glared at Michael and Touya glared at both of them. She laughed nervously at Touya, and then jumped into Michael's car.
"Hurry up, let's go!" She yelled.
"Sakura!"
Touya sighed as they drove off. He was afraid for his little sis. Afraid that she would get hurt, terribly. He didn't know that she already had, and she was fighting with it this very minute. Touya reluctantly went back into the house.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Ooh, Kent, that was evil, using that Lie card on him!" Leisa accused him.
"I know, but no way is he going to take my Cherry Blossom away from me! She's mine! Too late Syaoran, your girl is mine!"
So, anyone mad that Syaoran didn't get the main? And what's going on between S+S? Who knows. It'll get clearer later, but it'll be an S+S soon. And I'll have them getting really close soon. Don't worry all ya S+S fans. And I just looooove Hiyoshi! Isn't he just such a sweetie! Next chapter is going to be the Christmas Dance. R+R please, reviews help a lot!!! ~Ruby
Chapter 8- How Can We Remain Together?
Sakura was finally done shopping. She was at the food court, relaxing and waiting for everyone else to finish. She checked her watch. It was already seven. Her father and brother knew that she was coming home late.
For dinner, she had pigged out on fast food. Finally, for Chiharu, she had gotten a pretty set of wind chimes. Kero's present had been the easiest to find: a new video game. Eriol had received a weird sparkly thing that Yamazaki had wanted also. Sakura had seen Chiharu pick it out for him though. She had no idea why the guys would want it. Must be a stupid guy phase, she thought to herself.
Otou-san was going to receive a photo frame with a picture of Sakura in it. Sakura had bought a new CD player for onii-chan, since Kero had accidentally broken his while he had been playing around.
Tomoyo, the last person Sakura had bought a present for was receiving a bath set, and a new 'best friends forever' necklace.
Sakura still hadn't found a present for Syaoran, so she decided that she would hand make his.
"Hey, Sakura-chan!" she heard a voice yell. She jumped. It was Meilin, Naoko, and Kasumi. They all sat down together and started to talk. Rika, Leisa and Chiharu were the next to show up.
"Hey, where are all of the guys? I thought that we were the ones who liked to shop," Chiharu said with a smile.
Sakura didn't say anything, relieved that Syaoran and Leisa weren't together anymore.
Yamazaki and Eriol popped up. "What were you saying about us?" Eriol said.
"Hey, guess who we saw?" Yamazaki piped up. "That famous movie star Meiji Kyoto! He was shopping with us and."
"Oh shut up Yamazaki!" Chiharu strangled him.
"No." Kasumi said softly. "We saw him too." So that's who he was. No wonder he's so rich and hot.
"Really?" Sakura squealed.
"Yeah, he was shopping with us," Naoko said.
"Wow! I can't believe you saw him! What was he like, was he nice, oh, he's so hot!"
"Ooh, it's Syao-kun!" Leisa screamed as she ran over to him. She could spot him anywhere.
Sakura steamed inwardly. Syao-kun? Where'd she come up with that?
Syaoran and Michael were together, talking. They seemed to be on a lot better terms than before. Michael sent a quick look to Naoko, who pointedly ignored her.
Fine, who cares about her anyway? Michael asked himself angrily, and sadly.
As he started to flirt with a classmate near him, he found himself staring at Naoko more and more. She was talking with Sakura and Meilin.
I do care. Michael realized. Is it because I'm really in love with her?
*~*~*~*
"Syaoran, are you going to the Christmas dance?" Meilin asked him.
He was busy carving an object out of wood in the living room. It was going to a present to Sakura for Christmas. Currently, it was a cherry blossom flower and he had already cut himself twenty two times while carving, though not out of inexperience. He often caught himself thinking about a certain green-eyed, and auburn-haired girl while he was carving.
"Syaoran, you're going, right? And you'd better NOT be going with that jerk Leisa this time." Meilin told him.
"No, I won't go with her," Syaoran said. "I already heard that she was going with Tomaki-kun."
"Oh, that's good," Meilin said. Tomaki was an extremely hot guy at their school, though he was prone to violence sometimes.
"Why would you be asking?" Syaoran asked her suspiciously.
"No idea, I just didn't want you to go to some bi*** like Leisa. Syaoran, look at me." Meilin's voice was so serious and intense, that Syaoran immediately obeyed.
"I gave you up because of the time that I spent with you here back when we were in fourth grade. I could see how much you loved Sakura, and even though it pained me a lot, I gave you up to her. I could see that I had no chance, and that you two were meant to be together. So that's why I want to see you two together."
"What makes you think that my feelings haven't changed yet? I might not like Sakura anymore," Syaoran said to Meilin.
"Syaoran, if your feelings have changed, then you need to tell her, gently of course, so that she can move on with her life and find someone else, though I think you two are the best for each other, and I don't know why your feelings would have changed."
"Meilin, you know that we have grown close, but how do I break it to her?"
"I don't know Syaoran, and I really don't understand why you don't love her anymore." Meilin abruptly stood up and walked out of the living room to her room. Syaoran stared after her.
"I don't either," he said softly to the empty room.
*~*~*~*
"Ohayou Meilin-chan!" Tomoyo greeted her as Meilin picked up the ringing phone in her room.
"Hey Tomoyo-chan," Meilin said.
"Well, did you get Syaoran-kun to come to the dance?"
"Yes. He's definitely coming, and Leisa's going with Tomaki so this is a perfect chance to get them together."
"I know. Oh by the way, I'm having a Christmas party after the dance, it'll be a sleepover, but my mom and dad will be monitoring. Do you think that you guys can come?"
"Of course," Meilin replied. "Definitely."
"Don't you think that you should ask Syaoran-kun if he wants to come?"
"Nah, you'll come, and if you disagrees with my choice, too bad for him, cuz he's coming whether he likes it or not," Meilin said.
"Oh ho ho." Tomoyo giggled.
"So, I'll see you in school today," Meilin said as she hung up. "Oh Syaoran, guess what, we're going to a party after the Christmas dance!" Meilin announced to him.
He groaned. "I hate social events, didn't you get sick of all the ones that we were dragged to back in Hong Kong?"
"Nope," Meilin said excitedly. "I loved it there. Hey, Syaoran, do you still have that painting that you drew back in Hong Kong?"
"Eh? What painting?" Syaoran asked, feigning confusion.
"Don't give me that crap. You know, that picture of that beautiful girl with dark green eyes and flowing brown hair and that pretty, pretty pink dress?"
"Eh." Syaoran sweat dropped. He knew exactly what painting Meilin was talking about. Two weeks before he had left, he had drawn a picture in art class. Their teacher had said to capture beauty in a picture, so without any ideas, Syaoran had just started painting aimlessly. Somehow, his brush took over, and he ended up with a picture of Sakura.
He was about to destroy it when his art teacher had come up to snatch it away from him. It had been entered in a national art show and won first place. Syaoran was surprised that Sakura didn't know about it. Meilin had teasingly badgered him about the painting.
"Syaoran?" Meilin demanded.
"Maybe." Syaoran said, flipping pancakes over on the griddle.
Meilin decided that it was a yes. "Mmm. it smells delicious!" She said to Syaoran as he presented her with a plate of pancakes.
"Of course it does, I made it." Syaoran said.
"I'm glad that I woke you up early," Meilin told him.
He yawned loudly. "I'm not. I'm so tired."
"Whatever would you do without me?" Meilin asked him grinning.
"Skip school a lot more than now?"
*~*~*~*
Sakura was really happy at school that day. Tomoyo had returned to class, but no one knew about her accident except Sakura, Syaoran, Meilin, and Eriol.
"Look, the cast of characters is up!" the shout went throughout the hallways after school.
"Who's Gina? Who's Riley?"
"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo greeted her. "Guess who you got!"
Sakura shrugged her shoulders. She hadn't thought that she had done a good job, so she didn't expect anything big. Leisa was giving her a huge death glare though, and several other juniors and seniors had congratulated her.
"Who?"
"You're Gina, the main lead in the play!" Tomoyo shouted.
Sakura stared at Tomoyo in surprise. Laughing, Sakura shook her head. "Yeah, right Tomoyo-chan. Am I really?"
"Sakura-chan, I never lie. You're the lead!"
Sakura pushed her way through the crowd mingling around the post. At the top of the list was her name: Kinomoto Sakura- Gina.
"Hoe!" Sakura said. Keeping calm, she scanned the rest if the list with Tomoyo. Yamazaki had gotten the part of Marc, a friend of Riley, as had Eriol and Hiyoshi. They were Alixander and Whitney, which were pretty big parts too.
Chiharu, as Tomoyo had predicted, was Gina's friend Shinhwa. Rika and Meilin had landed parts as other angels. Naoko was ultimately, God. She was already going around commanding people around.
Leisa had unfortunately gotten the part of Yuri. Although it was a big part, she was antagonist to Sakura. Kent was Eriol's understudy, and Meilin was Sakura's understudy. She was happy for Sakura though, and couldn't wait to help out. Tomoyo couldn't wait to make the costumes.
As Sakura finished looking through the list, she realized that she hadn't seen Syaoran's name. She started to rescan the list. Spotting his name near the top, she glanced to the left of the sheet to see who he had gotten.
Baka, he's only the understudy for Kale! Sakura thought to herself. Michael had gotten the part of Riley.
Wow, my dream's finally come true. I'm with Michael and we're co-starring together, but why don't I feel any happier about this? Why aren't I excited? Why am I sad? It's because I know Kale and I don't belong together, that he and Naoko are the best couple. But then why am I bothered that Syaoran is only the understudy? Sakura was questioning herself.
"Hey, Sakura, good job!" Michael congratulated her.
"Thanks Kale, you too," she replied.
"Ooh, Michael-kun likes Sakura-chan," went the whispers around the crowd as they drifted off.
"No, look how close Naoko and him are," another girl said.
"I gotta go," pleading a headache from the noise, Sakura escaped from the crowd.
As she turned a corner, she heard a voice call out to her. Recognizing it as Syaoran's, she slowed down on her blades. As he caught up, she hid a smile from him.
"Umm, Sakura-chan?" Syaoran finally managed to say.
"Hoe?" she asked quietly.
"." Syaoran panicked. How do I say this? How do I do this? Why am I the only guy that freezes up whenever I have to ask a girl something?
"Well, I was wondering if you're going to the Christmas dance?"
"Of course I am. Tomoyo-chan's making my dress again, and she's going to make me go anyway," Sakura said, giggling to herself. Syaoran smiled at her.
"Are you going with anyone?" he asked, gaining some confidence.
".No." Sakura said slowly. Syaoran nodded, and they walked on in silence for a bit, while Syaoran tried to get enough courage to ask her to go with her. Finally, he stopped walking, and Sakura turned around to look at him, her emerald eyes inquisitive.
As he finally started, "Sakura, will you go to."
Kent appeared in front of them, almost magically.
"Hey Sakura-chan!" he greeted her.
"the dance." Syaoran broke off. The moment was ruined.
Damn you Kent! Syaoran screamed out loud in his head.
"Hey, Syaoran-kun, I didn't know that you walked Sakura-chan home. I usually do that." Kent said to him.
Sakura's mouth dropped open in surprise, but Syaoran didn't even notice because he was too busy giving Kent his copyrighted death glare. Usually he reserved that for Eriol the little stuffed doll and Sakura's evil brother, but Syaoran could make exceptions.
Kent grinned at Syaoran, and then he slipped his arm through Sakura's and picked her books up. They strolled along, with Syaoran fuming behind them.
Sakura could feel his anger behind them and she was puzzled at it. Why would he even care that I'm walking with Kent-kun? Kent's just a friend. Why is he so jealous. Baka, I'm trying to ruin myself again by thinking that he actually likes me. She gave a small sigh within herself. Why would he want me, when obviously, all the girls at high school are in love with him. I'm just another girl, who is nowhere near as pretty as Leiko, nowhere as smart as Cho, and nowhere near as sophisticated as Kiaka. I'm so stupid, thinking that he could actually like me. All I am to him is some girl that he now knows only because of the cards. He would never even have given me a second glance if I hadn't opened the Clow book, and that was all through my own clumsiness. Baka, concentrate Sakura!
Syaoran suddenly caught some words. "So, Sakura-chan, you're going to the Christmas dance, right?" It was more of a statement than a question, but Sakura answered it anyway.
"Yeah." She kept glancing back at Syaoran, who was staring at the ground deliberately ignoring her. Hoe, Syaoran-kun just asked me the same question. What do they want?
"Would you go to the dance with me?" Kent popped the question fast. Syaoran's head flew up, and he waited for Sakura's answer silently.
Sakura's head whirled with thoughts. Is that what Syaoran was trying to say? Why hadn't I paid him more attention? Maybe I would've been going with him, instead of trying to fight Kent off now.
"Well, Kent-kun, I.um," she broke off. "Actually, I don't think that I'm going to go with anyone.
"Oh." Kent said, not sounding let down or anything. "OK. Well, I've gotta go now anyway, so I'll see ya later." He ran down the street and disappeared around the corner.
Syaoran's amber eyes flew up to meet a pair of emerald ones.
"Why didn't you say yes?" Syaoran asked her slowly.
"I. well. I don't know. Just because you went with Leisa doesn't mean I need to throw myself at every guy I see."
"Hey!" Syaoran said. Suddenly, he had an urge to speak something. He had no idea where this was coming from. "You know all of the old days were just forgotten childhood memories to me. None of that stuff even matters now, they're just old memories, all in the past."
Sakura turned away quickly. Forgotten childhood memories? Why did he have to go ruin everything when it was just going well?
"Sakura?" Syaoran reached out to her, and she recoiled.
"Hoe, I've really gotta go," she said hurriedly as she ran down the street to her house.
Syaoran watched her go with mixed feelings in his heart. Why had he just said those words to her?
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?" he yelled to himself to the growing darkness.
Suddenly, he flipped his head up and glanced around.
I thought that there was a sense of a card.or maybe not.then the sense faded. I guess that I'm too tired. Baka, now how do I open up to Sakura again?
*~*~*~*
Running down the street, Sakura bumped into Hiyoshi. Gently stopping her, he saw the tears streaming down her face.
"Sakura, are you alright?"
"No," she said softly.
"C'mon," he said as he led her away to the park.
"OK, now let's talk," he told her.
Slowly, the whole story came out, and Sakura even made some references to the old days.
"I just don't know why he had to go ruin it. 'Just forgotten childhood memories'? How'd he think I would react to it? Now I really don't know what to think of him. There was a time when I was positive about how I felt about him. Now I'm just not sure at all." Sakura said to Hiyoshi.
"All you have to do is trust in him. Trust that he still loves you and that you will remain together forever," Hiyoshi said gently to Sakura.
"But what should I do?"
"That's your own choice, as is who you want to be with. If you're sure Syaoran is the one, then you should. If you are convinced that he doesn't feel the same way about you, then you shouldn't waste your time on him. I know that you have been through a lot together though, so I don't want to help you lean in one direction," Hiyoshi said. "I need to go, and I think that you probably should too."
"Alright. Domo arigato," Sakura said to Hiyoshi.
Hiyoshi stared right back at her with his serious gray eyes. "Sakura, I am only giving you advice. The way you use it is up to you. Please don't make any bad decisions, ok?"
"Hai." Sakura responded. She headed home quickly.
*~*~*~*
Syaoran's cell rang as he entered the house. "Wai?" he asked.
"Xiao didi! (little brother) Merry Christmas, well, early. I've got great news!" Syaoran groaned as he heard his sister, Li Feimei's voice on the phone.
"What's up?" he asked her.
"Well the Elders have finally decided that you can stay in Japan for as long as you want, as long as you want. BUT, you have to send the Li Clan Sword home."
"Oh, that's fine, as long as you send mine here." Syaoran said to his sister.
"OK." Feimei said. "Nice talking to you, I'm sure my xiao didi is fine, and everyone here is good, so I'll see you later."
"Zai jian! (bye bye)" Syaoran called to her as he heard the sound of the phone being hung up on him.
Now Syaoran had time to reflect on what had happened. He was disturbed by what Sakura had done but if that was the way she wanted it. He really didn't understand it. Why did she suddenly turn away? Did she really hate him that much? And why the hell had he said those words to her? he knew he didn't believe them himself so where had they come from?
He was only the understudy for Riley, with Michael playing the real main. It basically said that he didn't have a part in the play, and that he wouldn't be in it. That wasn't good, but Syaoran was glad that Michael had gotten the part and not Kent.
For one thing, Michael didn't have a bad aura radiating off of him, though for some reason, Syaoran was also getting a slight aura off of Michael, but it was much less than Kent's. Syaoran had also known Michael for a longer time than Kent. Plus, he knew that Michael liked Naoko, so there wouldn't be a bad reason for Michael to get Sakura. Syaoran sighed. His life was way too complicated.
*~*~*~*
"Otou-san, I got the lead in my play!" Sakura shouted to him as she walked through the door.
"Great job!" her father congratulated her. "When is the performance? I want to go see my daughter perform."
"In January," Sakura said.
"The kaijou can actually get a good part in the play? What a miracle!" her brother snickered.
"I am not a kaijou, and that was mean 'nii-chan!" she yelled at him, punching him lightly in the ribs. She ran upstairs to her room after she grabbed some snacks.
"So, whose Riley?" Kero asked innocently after Sakura had told him about the play.
"Oh, Michael-kun." Sakura said. She was concerned about Syaoran still. The words kept repeating in her mind. They were just forgotten childhood memories. What did he mean by that?
"Oh, why can't I read minds? What is he thinking about?"
Had he been trying to ask me to the dance? Why did he ruin everything then? Well, I have Hiyoshi to lean on now in case anything goes wrong. Sakura thought. And of course, Tomoyo-chan is always there.
Her cell rang, and she picked it up.
"'Lo?"
"Sakura?"
"Yeah, it's me."
"This is Michael-kun."
"Oh. Hi!"
"Hi, well, I was just wondering.about the play."
"Yeah, well, hey, good job. And I was wondering something too."
"OK, you go first."
"Alright. I've noticed that there are a few places where we have to like, kiss?"
"Hai."
"I don't know if I'll be too comfortable kissing you."
"Well, it's ok. We can work it out. I'm not too sure about it though either."
Sakura laughed. "Hey, you're pretty close with Syaoran now, right?"
"Hey, I said one question! But I'll answer it anyway, yes, if you call talking to occasionally in the hallways and mall friends."
"OK, well. never mind."
"Hey, he did tell me that he wanted to go with someone to the dance."
"Oh, like who?" Sakura asked casually, though her heart was beating really fast.
"Oh, it was.I don't remember."
Sakura fell over on the floor. She got up, starry-eyed.
"Anyway, do you want to get started on practicing since we have the most lines and everything?"
"Sure." Sakura replied.
"OK, how about every weekday, at about 7:30 at night?"
"Sure, want to start today?"
"Yeah, so see you soon." Michael hung up.
Sakura grabbed her script as soon as her homework was done and started practicing her lines. She had more than five hundred to memorize, plus her cue lines. She was going to be busy.
As she went down for dinner, Touya greeted her.
"Hey, where's otou-san?" Sakura asked him.
"He's out for a meeting," her brother told her. He was radiant as he handed Sakura a plate of cooked, un-burnt pleasant looking spaghetti.
"Hey, not bad 'nii-chan. It's edible!" Sakura said to him.
"Yes! First success!" Touya cheered as he grinned.
Sakura smiled at the new picture of her mother. She was so glad that her mother had been a model cuz now they had so many pictures of her.
This picture showed her with another male model, one who looked oddly familiar to Sakura. She squinted at the picture closely, but couldn't tell who it was.
Giving up, she grabbed her stuff and headed out towards the park. As she headed out the door, she collided with Michael.
"Hey!" he greeted her warmly. "Where ya going?"
"To the park to meet.with you. Well, c'mon. Hurry up before my brother sees you. He's a bit." her eyes widened as Touya appeared. ".protective." She muttered underneath her breath.
"Who are you?" Touya demanded angrily.
"Michael Brown, nice to meet you too." Michael said pleasantly.
"We're just going to go practice a few scenes from the play that I'm in." Sakura said, trying to save the situation before it got any worse.
"This is your co-star?" Touya asked suspiciously. He rounded on Michael. "Where's the Brat?
Touya didn't like the Chinese Brat, but he trusted him a lot more than this kid, what's his name, Marc, Mitch, Michael? Touya couldn't remember.
"Yeah, well, umm, Syaoran-kun's busy," Sakura said.
"And what exactly are ya guys doing in this play?"
"Nothing much," Sakura said quickly.
"Oh, just some hugging, some kissing, that sorta stuff," Michael said evilly.
"What?!" Touya exploded.
"Gee, great!" Sakura said. She glared at Michael and Touya glared at both of them. She laughed nervously at Touya, and then jumped into Michael's car.
"Hurry up, let's go!" She yelled.
"Sakura!"
Touya sighed as they drove off. He was afraid for his little sis. Afraid that she would get hurt, terribly. He didn't know that she already had, and she was fighting with it this very minute. Touya reluctantly went back into the house.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Ooh, Kent, that was evil, using that Lie card on him!" Leisa accused him.
"I know, but no way is he going to take my Cherry Blossom away from me! She's mine! Too late Syaoran, your girl is mine!"
So, anyone mad that Syaoran didn't get the main? And what's going on between S+S? Who knows. It'll get clearer later, but it'll be an S+S soon. And I'll have them getting really close soon. Don't worry all ya S+S fans. And I just looooove Hiyoshi! Isn't he just such a sweetie! Next chapter is going to be the Christmas Dance. R+R please, reviews help a lot!!! ~Ruby