The New Student Part 3
By: D Yuy-Winner
GOMEN FOR NOT UPDATING SOONER! I've been so busy with school that I forgot to write. Baka AP World! Don't take any AP classes unless you want extra work and stress. Alright, they have two good things to them...it looks good on college application, and a weighted GPA, but still...it sucks! I DO NOT own CCS, Clamp does! Enjoy! I only own Hideki and Brandon because I made those characters up. A little note, Meiling is in this installment and she's Syaoran's cousin. Thanks to those who wrote me the names of Syaoran's sisters...it's much appreciated! YAY!! Thanks for the reviews too!!! They kept me at writing this story...even tho I haven't updated it in almost a year...he-he ^_^ *huggles readers* Arigato gozaimasu!!! Xie Xie!!! Kamsa hamnida!!!!
Recap:
"Ano....To tell the truth, I have feelings for you and I've had them since the day I met you." Syaoran said.
"Really?" Sakura asked.
"Yep, but with these tutoring sessions, somehow I've come to falling in love with you!" Syaoran answered.
"I KNEW IT!" a voice called from behind.
"What?" Syaoran and Sakura turned around. There was Hideki standing there with a gun in his hand. He was full of anger and very upset.
*~*~*~*
"What are you doing Hideki?" Syaoran asked in a fierce voice.
"I'm going to hurt you the way you back-stabbed me." Hideki screamed.
"Put the gun down!" Syaoran said in an even more ferocious voice. Hideki slowly started to pull the trigger aiming it at Syaoran when....
"DON'T HIDEKI!" Sakura screamed jumping in front of Syaoran. All of a sudden, Hideki's hand quivered and he dropped the gun to the ground.
"I can't...I can't.....I can't...do it." Hideki said falling to his knees. Sakura ran over to Hideki.
"Hideki, it's alright." Sakura said kneeling to him and stroking his cheeks.
"I don't ....I don't know...why...or...or...how I could've done that..." Hideki breathed.
"Don't worry, everything is fine now. I'm here for you, don't fret." Sakura said kissing Hideki's cheek.
"Sakura, we'd better get him home." Syaoran said slowly.
"I will, but I have to talk to him first." Sakura said.
"I'll stay here with you." Syaoran stated.
"No, I'll be fine, Hideki needs me now." Sakura said.
"He isn't in his right mind though." Syaoran said.
"I'll be fine. He needs me and I plan to be there for him. I think having you here would just complicate things." Sakura said.
"No, I'm staying here." Syaoran said.
"No, I want you to leave! Onegai!" Sakura said.
"Fine, but you must let me know what happened as soon as you get home." Syaoran said.
"Hai, I will." Sakura said. As soon as Syaoran left, Hideki got up.
"Sakura, you will pay for the hurt you caused me." Hideki said. He pushed Sakura to the ground and punched her in the face, causing her to bleed all over. He punched her in the arm causing a blue-black mark to show up. He left her there, and ran off.
*~*~*~*
"Sakura, wake up!" Touya yelled.
"Nani?" Sakura asked. "Whoa, what happened? Why do I feel so drowsy." Sakura asked.
"You took some pain killers." Touya explained.
"Oh, wait...what happened to Hideki? How did I get back home??" Sakura asked starting to get out of bed.
"Sakura, get back in bed! You must stay in bed until you heal." Touya said. "Otousan said you must stay home for a few days before you go on your trip."
"Where is the trip?"
"Remember otousan's friends that live in Hong Kong with a daughter your age?"
"Yah, what do they have to do with anything?"
"You're going to Hong Kong for Christmas vacation."
"Oh...but wait...what about you?"
"I'm staying here with Yukito for Christmas."
"Oh, where's dad?"
"He left already...he promised to come back in a couple days to take you to Hong Kong."
"Oh, what am I supposed to do?"
"Rest, and be happy."
"Oh that sounds great..." Sakura said sarcastically.
"Hey, what happened to you imouto?" Touya asked looking really serious.
"Nani? What are you talking about?" Sakura asked confused.
"You have a broken nose and pretty big blue-black bruise on your arm and leg. You couldn't have gotten that from tripping over a rock." Touya pointed out.
"The last thing I remember is that I was with Hideki talking and then he shoved me to the ground and punched me." Sakura said as last night's events started to slowly flow back to her.
"Oh my kami! Is Hideki the guy that you had a crush on since seventh grade?" Touya asked getting furious.
"But it doesn't seem like him, he'd never do something like that. I think that his brother Brandon might do something like that, but not Hideki! Hideki never had a bad temper, but Brandon did. Tomoyo sometimes would complain how short-tempered Brandon was." Sakura answered.
"Brandon is his twin brother right?" Touya asked.
"Yah, but I don't understand...why would Hideki do such a thing.." Sakura sighed.
"Did he see something you did or done something that could've provoked this change in attitude?" Touya asked. Sakura slightly blushed.
"Ano...I don't want to talk about it!" Sakura said softly embarrassed.
"Kajiuu this is important! I must know if he saw or did something that could've caused this change in him?!" Touya exclaimed.
"Promise not to make fun of me..." Sakura inquired.
"Hai, I solemnly swear." Touya lied crossing his fingers behind his back.
"Ano....well...today I got my math grade. I got an A-! I couldn't believe it! Remember my math tutor, Li-san? Well, I got so overexcited that I hugged and kissed him. Tomoyo told me that Hideki saw. I was supposed to meet Hideki after school by a Sakura tree, and his whole attitude did a 180." Sakura said blushing.
"Ai-yah, kajiou!" Touya said slapping himself on the forehead. "Don't you know anything? When guys see their prospective girlfriend kiss another guy, they feel used and feel as if they're not good enough... Sometimes guys overreact when they see this happen..."
"Kajiou ja nani!!!!!" Sakura said bopping Touya on the head with a pillow.
"Kajiou!!!" Touya said throwing a stuffed animal at Sakura.
"BAKA!" Sakura said throwing a cup of water on Touya. The cup of water was on her bed-stand so she could drink something before swallowing pills.
"AHH! SAKURA!!! YOU GOT ME WET!! YOU'RE GOING TO PAY!!!!" Touya yelled. Sakura ran out of her room down to the kitchen. She grabbed two cups and filled one with ice-cold water and the other with ice. Touya came bounding down the stairs with a can of soda and he was shaking it up and down like crazy.
"AKIZUKI AND ONIICHAN SITTING IN A TREE K-I-S-S-I-N-G!!! MAKING OUT ALL NIGHT LONG!!" Sakura taunted. She knew that Touya hated Nakuru especially since she bugged him all the time. Nakuru always pretended as if Touya and her were boyfriend and girlfriend! (A/N: This may not be true in the actual CCS plot, but this my story, and that's how I want it to be! I've never seen the Japanese version, so I don't know if it's true or not. I've only seen the English version...which SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!)
"YOU'RE DEAD KAJIOU!" Touya said chasing after his little sister. Sakura sprinted up the stairs and Touya didn't see her. He was right below the staircase looking for her when......... "HOLY S**T!" Touya yelled because Sakura had dropped an ice cube down his back. Then she dumped the cup of cold water on his head and he cussed even more.
"Oooo....warui oniichan! Wait, till otousan hears what you said to me!" Sakura taunted. Touya lunged at his sister and grabbed her in a headlock. He started to tickle her and she giggled like crazy. "Oniichan, stop it!!" Sakura giggled.
"Iie. Not until you say that you're the kajiou!" Touya said.
"Iie..." Sakura giggled even more.
"Alright then, I'll keep tickling you."
"Fine, I'm the kajiou.." Sakura said, but as soon as Touya let her go, she yelled," NOT!!!" She ran off laughing like crazy.
"I give up kajiou, you win." Touya said raising his arms in defeat still holding the soda-can.
"Alright, but you must promise not to call me kajiou! My name is Sakura, not kajiou."
"Alright Sakura, you win." Touya said with a slight grin on his face. As soon as she got close enough to him, he grabbed her into a headlock. Then he opened the soda can and squirted all the soda over her hair and on her face. "Kanpai!" he said as he was pouring the soda on her.
"ARGH ONIICHAN! You'll pay."
"How, you have no more ice left." Touya said when he felt humongous pain in between his legs. "OOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!" Sakura kicked him, but not very hard you-know-where. It was enough to cause him to let her go in surprise but it didn't hurt that much.
"Ha-ha, I told you'll pay." Sakura said prancing off to her room. She was laughing the entire way watching her oniichan cross his legs with the same, shocked expression on his face. Sakura showered to get all the soda out, and changed into her pajamas. 'Only a couple days until I go to Hong Kong...' Sakura smiled as she fell asleep.
*~*~*~* (The Next Morning)
Sakura awoke from her slumber. She heard her alarm clock ringing. She yawned looking over at her clock, it read 10:30 PM. 'I don't want to get up...'
"Sakura, come and eat your breakfast!" Touya called. Sakura ran downstairs to the kitchen.
"What did you cook?"
"Scrambled eggs and a couple half pieces of toast."
"I bet you poisoned them, ne?"
"Hey, you got a phone call this morning. I think he said his name was Li- san, he really wanted to talk to you, but I thought you should still sleep."
"Did you get his phone number?"
"Nope, why should I? It's not my friend..."
"Argh, oniichan! You did that on purpose. I need to speak to Li-san!" Sakura exclaimed.
"Maybe he'll call you back, I have to get to the university library. I'm meeting up with Yukito-san. See ya around lunchtime. Yukito might be around so you might want to clean up a bit." Touya said chuckling.
'What's wrong with how I look...' Sakura ran over to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. 'Oh my kami!' Sakura's face was covered with makeup, she looked like a clown. For the next couple of minutes, the words 'Baka Oniichan' could be heard throughout the neighborhood. The phone rang and Sakura ran to pick it up.
"Hello."
"Hi Sakura." Tomoyo said.
"Oh hey, what's up?"
"Syaoran called me and told me what happened last night... Are you alright?"
"Hai, except for a broken nose and a big black and blue bruise on my arm, I'm alright."
"That seems so unlike Hideki, it seems more like what Brandon might do."
"Yah, I was thinking that last night too."
"I called earlier this morning, but you weren't awake."
"Nani?"
"I called this morning, but you still were asleep."
"BAKA ONIICHAN!!"
"Nani did Touya do now?"
"He told me that Li-san called this morning."
"Oh, I wonder WHY you want to speak to Syaoran."
"No it's nothing like that...I was supposed to call him last night, but I didn't. I forgot to. Did Li-san tell ya what happened last night?"
"He said he told you his true feelings."
"Yah.."
"So, what's wrong? Don't you have feelings for him too?"
"Hai, but I don't want to be in another relationship...look at how I screwed up the great relationship I had with Hideki..."
"You have the whole Christmas break to think about it because he left for Hong Kong. That reminds me, what did your otousan have planned for your vacation?"
"He's taking to visit his friend's family in Hong Kong."
"Hey maybe you might bump into him there."
"You know what? That never even occurred to me...both of us will be in Hong Kong at the same time."
"I think you should tell him how you feel, but tell him you're not ready for a relationship."
"I guess....maybe..."
"He'll understand after all that's happened."
"I dunno...Do you have his phone number?"
"Uh-huh...he said to give it to you, in case you needed to talk to him. Let me go get it...hold on.....Aaahhh, here it is...." Tomoyo said giving Sakura the phone number.
"Well I'd better go wash..."
"Okay, onegai try to call Syaoran...he seemed really worried about you."
"I'll try...ja. I'll call you to tell you when I leave for Hong Kong."
"Ja ne." Sakura hung up and the phone and went to the bathroom to take a shower and change out her pajamas. She changed into a pair of jeans and light pink sweatshirt. She screwed up the courage and started to dial Syaoran's phone number.
"Hello." A feminine voice said.
"May I please speak to Syaoran Li."
"Hai, hold on."
"Hello." Syaoran said.
"Syaoran, this is Sakura."
"Oh, hey. Are you okay? I've been so worried about you."
"Yah, I'm perfectly fine."
"That's good to hear. I hope you don't mind but I told Daidouji-san what happened."
"Yah, I already talked to her this morning."
"Oh...have you talked to Hideki to straighten things out?"
"Well, not really. He left rather quickly after you left."
"Okay...well you'd better talk to him."
"Yah, I will eventually."
"I'm happy that you're doing alright, but I gotta go, my okasan is setting up for this big Christmas party and she's inviting everyone. I promised I'd help her with the organization since my sisters are more worried about their attire than for the actual party, itself."
"Ja ne."
"Ja." Sakura hung up the phone and sighed. 'I hope I don't bump into Syaoran in Hong Kong. He'll want to murder Hideki for what he did to me. I don't want Hideki to be hurt because it wasn't his fault. It's my fault for not telling him that I developed feelings for Syaoran during those tutoring sessions. He had the right to be upset.'
"Hey kajiou, we're home!" Touya said.
~*~*~ (A couple days later)
"Sakura, you ready to go to Hong Kong?" Sakura's otousan called.
"Yah, let me grab my last suitcase." Touya, Yukito, Sakura, and her otousan load into the car and drive to the airport.
"Flight 1818 for Hong Kong is boarding at gate 12." A voice on the intercom played throughout the lobby.
"Well that's us." Sakura exclaimed.
"Arigato Touya and Yukito for watching over Sakura. I hope that this trip will cheer her up." Fujitaka said.
"Ja ne Touya and Yukito-san!" Sakura said giving them both a hug.
"Sayonara Sakura. Make sure not to make any guys fall in love with you while you're in Hong Kong or they will be in deep trouble." Touya said to his sister. Sakura couldn't tell if he was being serious or if he was joking.
"Ja Sakura and Mr. Kinomoto." Yukito called.
"I'll give you guys a call when we get in Hong Kong." Fujitaka said waving. Sakura and her otousan find their seats and sit down.
"I'm going to take a little nap, Sakura." Fujitaka told his daughter.
"Alright." Sakura said before slipping on her headphones and listening to the song 'Purachina' wash over her. All of a sudden she felt her cell phone vibrate.
"Hello?"
"Hey Sakura, its me Tomoyo. I thought I'd give you some company while you're on the plane."
"Sugoi. My otousan already fell asleep, sleeping like a baby."
"So have you talked to Syaoran after you called him once."
"Nope, I didn't even tell him I was going to be in Hong Kong or what really happened that night."
"Ai-yah...why not?"
"I know that Syaoran will want to murder Hideki once he finds out, and it isn't Hideki's fault that I never told him about my feelings for Syaoran. All of this is my own fault." Sakura sighed.
"You're going to have to tell him sooner or later."
"Yah, I know, but until that time comes I'm not going to think about it."
"Well, you won't be able to avoid it forever."
"Ooo, they're showing one of those airplane movies. So they're dimming the lights."
"Those are sooo cheesy. I can't believe that you actually like watching those movies. They're usually those subtitled, black and white, samurai movies. So typical since there's soo many foreigners on the airplanes."
"Well, I'd better go. My okasan wants to go shopping. I already gave you your gifts for Christmas ne?"
"Hai. They're humongous, but I can't wait to open them. I hope you enjoy the gift that I got you."
"I'll absolutely adore anything you give me. I hope you like the gift I got you."
"I probably will! Ja." Sakura sat through two of those subtitled, black and white, samurai movies before taking a little nap.
"Sakura, wake up!" Fujitaka said shaking his daughter.
"Nani?"
"We're in Hong Kong!"
"Hontou ni?"
"Hai." Sakura and her otousan go and find their luggage and got ahold of a taxi to take them to the house they are staying at. When they reached it, it looked huge. It was a pretty big estate for someone that lived in a modest neighborhood.
"Wow, that's amazing."
"I know."
"Who's your friend that lives here otousan?"
"Li Chiyako."
"Oh...what's the daughter's name?"
"Li Meiling."
"Oh." Sakura and her otousan carry their luggage to the house and pay the taxi car driver.
"Welcome!" A thin, tall woman with short, cropped, black hair called.
"Chiyako-san!" Fujitaka called giving her a hug.
"Where's Wufei?"
"He's on some business, but he should be home soon. Would you like to meet my daughter, Meiling?"
"Sure."
"Li Meiling!"
"Coming!" A thin, 5'5" girl called. She had long, raven-colored hair that reached below her butt. "What mama?"
"This is the Kinomoto family: my best guy friend, Fujitaka, and his daughter Sakura. His son, Touya is back in Japan. They're staying with us for Christmas vacation."
"Oh right. Welcome. Mama, I need my gown for the ball tonight at Auntie's Yelan's ball."
"Didn't it already arrive?" Chiyako asked her daughter.
"No, Lawrence already checked twice."
"Oh dear, I guess you'll just have to wear one of your old gowns."
"But mama, I wanted to show cousin, Li-Li my new dress. I bragged to Li-Li about it all of yesterday."
"Well, isn't that too bad? You had no right to brag to your cousin in the first place. Yelan told me that he's upset about something that happened at school."
"Fine then mama. What do you suggest that I wear?"
"Wear that dress by that new Chinese designer. That ruby-red, spaghetti strap number that reaches your ankles. The one your otousan doesn't like because he claims it hugs your curves." Chiyako said with a giggle.
"Alright, but you have to fix my hair." Meiling called running back upstairs.
"Fine." Turning towards Fujitaka and Sakura, "Gomen about that. There's this big ball tonight for the return of Yelan Li and her family. They moved to Japan but they're visiting this Christmas. Both of you can come to the ball if you would like. You'd come as our guests of course."
"I don't have a gown though..." Sakura faltered.
"You can borrow one of Meiling's dresses. You look like you're about the same size. hyaku, and run upstairs so you'll have enough time to get yourself ready." Sakura hurried to Meiling's room.
"Li-san, can I borrow one of your gowns for the ball?" Sakura asked.
"Sure, take your pick." Meiling replied.
"Alright, arigato." Sakura said while she scanned Meiling's closet. She found a gorgeous shamrock-green gown with straps that hung around her shoulders.
"Here's a pair of shoes that should fit." Meiling said handing Sakura a pair of the shamrock-green, strappy heels.
"Arigato." Sakura said.
"Aren't you going to fix your hair or wear any make-up?"
"Ano...iie. I don't know how to wear make-up and I think my hair looks alright with this dress."
"No, no, no. You look gorgeous in the dress and heels, but you're hair doesn't match. It has to be more bouncy or fluffy to light up your face. Plus, you need to add a simple touch of make-up."
"Wow, I guess I don't know anything."
"Don't worry that's why you have me." Meiling said with a bright smile.
"Arigato Li-san."
"Call me Meiling."
"Hai, arigato Meiling." After a couple of hours, Meiling and Sakura were ready for the ball. Sakura hair was a bouncy flow of curls with a hint of makeup while Meiling had soft waves with deep red lipstick and bronze eyeshadow.
"Sakura, why do you have that blue-black bruise on your arm?" Meiling asked noticing it from where her skin is exposed on the dress.
"Oh that..." Sakura face changed expressions.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"This ex-boyfriend of mine got upset because he saw me kissing another guy. I only kissed him because he helped me to get an 'A' in math. I really needed the 'A' so I could play soccer. My ex almost shot the guy I kissed, but chickened out. I thought that my ex wanted me to help him, so I had the other guy leave and my ex punched me and left."
"Wow, gomen!" Meiling said running over and giving Sakura a hug.
"Hey it's okay. I'm fine now. You know your cousin you were talking about 'Li-Li'?" Sakura said.
"Yah? What about him?" Meiling asked.
"OMG? That's a guy!"
"Hai."
"Oh I thought he was girl because I was going to ask you to introduce her, I mean him, to me."
"Sure, you're probably going to see him a lot during Christmas anyway. We always spend Christmas together. It's a Li family tradition."
"Li-Li, isn't his real name is it?"
"No way. It's just a nickname. We made it girly because he's surrounded by women. It's kinda funny, but his real name is..." Meiling started but was interrupted.
"Hey are you girls ready to go?" Chiyako asked.
"Hai." Both girls answered.
"Don't you two girls look like a set of princesses off to a ball for your Prince Charmings." Wufei said peeking his head through the door.
"Arigato." Sakura said politely.
"Sakura, this is my otousan, Wufei Li." Meiling said.
"Hajimemashite." Sakura said bowing.
"Huh?" Wufei looked confused.
"Nice to meet you!" Chiyako, Meiling, and Sakura said at the same time.
"How do you know Japanese, Meiling and Chiyako?" Sakura asked.
"I am Japanese." Chiyako said.
"Then okasan taught it to me, but otousan never bothered to learn because he likes his Chinese better."
"Didn't your otousan tell you that he went to school with me since we were in grammar school?!" Chiyako asked.
"Nope, but that's interesting to know. Oh, by the way, is my otousan going?" Sakura asked.
"Hai, he borrowed one of Wufei's tuxes. Let's load up in the limos." Chiyako said.
"Limos..." Sakura said dreamily. This was the second time she had been on a limo, and she was reminiscing about the first time, which was with Syaoran. After a short ride, they got off at an even bigger house. It was two or three times the size of Chiyako's house.
"Wow....."
"I know, isn't Li-Li's house impressive?" Meiling asked. (A/N: Tho Meiling and Sakura aren't great friends...it'll be easier if I refer to Meiling as Meiling...there will be too many 'Li-san's...too confusing...^_^)
"It's amazing." Sakura sighed.
"Let's go." Meiling said grabbing her arm and going inside.
"Good evening Meiling. Who's your guest?" Yelan asked.
"This is Kinomoto Sakura. She's our guest, she's friends with mama." Meiling answered bowing to her aunt.
"I see. Welcome Kinomoto-san, I hope you can make yourself feel at home. You must excuse me I have to greet my other guests." Yelan said.
"Wait, auntie is Li-Li around somewhere? I want him to meet Kinomoto-san." Meiling said.
"Yah, he's probably in his room. I let him skip greeting the guests because he's been really worried about one of his friends from school."
"Okay. Xie xie auntie." Meiling said. "Come on, you'll get to see Li Li's room early."
"Wow, this house is so big." Sakura said.
"I'll go in and talk to him first and then I'll introduce you." Meiling said knocking on the door and going in. Meiling started talking in rapid Mandarin and a voice that sounded familiar answered back, just as fast in rapid Mandarin. Sakura couldn't understand a word they were saying. The only words she could understand were wanshang hao, ni hao, and ni hao ma.
"Sakura, there you are. Come on, I want you to meet someone." Chiyako said grabbing Sakura and hurrying her downstairs.
"Wait...Meiling was going to introduce..." Sakura said before she was interrupted by Chiyako.
"This is another one of your father's Japanese friends that moved to China. They live in Beijing, but traveled to Hong Kong just for the party."
"OMG! Pearl-san!" Sakura said hurrying over and hugging a girl about the same age as Sakura. Pearl was gorgeous with shimmery black hair with orangish-brown highlights. She was shorter than Sakura, but looked very sophisticated.
"Sakura-san!" Pearl cried hugging one of her closet friends.
"I can't believe you're here! Papa said I wouldn't get to see you until New Years, this is so exciting!" Sakura exclaimed.
"I assume that the two of you know one another." Chiyako replied with a smile.
"Ni hao Heero and An-Mei Matsuura." Sakura said bowing to Pearl's parents.
"Yah, I forgot to tell ya Chiyako, Sakura met the Matsuura's from a previous summer, in which they came to visit in Japan." Fujitaka said.
"I see." Chiyako answered. The adults start up a conversation and Pearl and Sakura decide to find a place to it down and chat.
"So...what's up Sakura?" Pearl asked.
"Nothing much except what my otousan told you." Sakura said.
"I can't believe that boy! When you introduced me to him, he seemed like an honest and trustworthy guy. He seemed collected and a sweet guy without a quick temper." Pearl said.
"Yah, well so did I, but it was my own fault for not telling him that I had developed feelings for Li-san." (A/N: Just for clarification: Pearl doesn't really know who the guy Sakura has developed feelings for...she only knows that Sakura refers to him as Li-san.)
"It's not your fault. Things happen, and you can't choose who you fall in love with or not because I know if ya could, you wouldn't have done anything to hurt Matsuri-kun in that way." Pearl said.
"Whatever, so have you found any prospective guys?"
"Yah, there's this kawaii guy at my school, I think he kinda likes me, but I'm not sure."
"What's he like?"
"Well, he's really kawaii, sweet, polite."
"Awww...how sugoi!"
"I can't believe that you actually are wearing makeup and dressed up all fancy!"
"Well, Meiling helped me..."
"Oh you mean, Chiyako's daughter, ne?"
"Hai."
"Hmmm...I have to find out how she did it because I never was able to get you in a dress with makeup...no matter what I tried."
"You just don't have skills like that of Meiling!" Sakura laughed.
"SAKURA!" Meiling yelled rushing over to Sakura.
"Nani?" Sakura asked turning around.
"I wanted to introduce you to Li-Li!! When I went to introduce you to him, you disappeared. Now he has to go greet guests and he probably won't be able to met you until after dinner!" Meiling complained.
"Gomenasai." Sakura said bowing.
"It's okay."
"How you met Matsuura Pearl?" Sakura asked.
"Yah...we're acquaintances." Meiling answered curtly.
"Yah...we've known each other for a long time, Sakura. We've always been forced to compete against each other because we're the same age." Pearl explained to Sakura.
"Hmph...forced...forced my butt! You enjoyed the competition and you know it!" Meiling spat.
"Yah...whatever...I didn't but you did! You always thought everything was a competition; a competition that you had to beat me at." Pearl exclaimed her tone changing.
"Hey guys...that's in the past...no more fighting...let's look for kakkoii guys!" Sakura suggested.
"No that's okay...I suddenly feel ill...I'll go help Li-Li greet guests." Meiling said leaving.
"Wow...there was definitely tension between you two." Sakura noted.
"Yah...well we've always had to compete at academics, sports, you name it. Meiling took it soo seriously, she always had to win no matter what." Pearl answered.
"What about her cousin Li-Li, isn't he the same age? Did he compete with ya'll?"
"Nope...he didn't really care. He knew what he was superior at and what he wasn't. He didn't like to brag or boast. He's the perfect guy." Pearl replied and Sakura noticed the love that Pearl held for Meiling's cousin.
"You really like him, ne?"
"Yah...too bad he moved away to Japan. It made my heart break into two pieces."
"I can't wait to meet the guy that caused my friend, polygamous as she is, to suddenly want one guy." Sakura laughed.
"Hey...I've always been a one man type of woman. I just don't see that there's a problem with flirting with other guys."
"Sure. I believe you." Sakura said laughing. A pair of chestnut brown eyes watched Sakura from across the room. The eyes did a double take, not sure if the person the eyes viewed were a mystical illusion or not.
"Attention, all guests are to report to the dining room. Dinner starts in 10 minutes." A voice called out of a mysterious intercom. Everyone hurried to the dining room. Pearl and Sakura sit by one another at the humongous dining table. Sakura looked at the front table and noticed two familiar chestnut brown eyes. 'Could that be Li-san? Naw...it couldn't be. I'm imagining things.'
"Sakura, you'd better serve yourself before someone eats all your food." Pearl said.
"Yah..." Sakura said dishing some food on her plate.
"Are you excited? There's a ball after dinner. It's going to be fun! We'll have to both dance with Li-Li, he's a great dancer." Pearl said going on and on about Li-Li.
"You're really in love with this guy. Wow...it's kawaii. Although, I'm just curious, does Meiling know?"
"Yah...she's known for a long time. Maybe that's what increased her hatred toward me."
"I don't think she hates you! No one could hate you, Pearl! You're too sweet and kind!"
"Awww...arigato Sakura! You're such a great friend!!"
"Thanks...wait. If you've liked this guy for so long, how come you never told me? But you can tell your 'enemy,' Meiling?"
"Oh that's because, you didn't know him and I knew that nothing would ever happen. He doesn't show any interest in girls. He's more worried about his duties, school, etc. Besides, Meiling could see the affection I have for her cousin in my eyes. She isn't dense."
"Oh...Gomen...I feel so bad for you."
"Hey its not bad, if he's not interested in girls...at least he's not going out with anyone."
"Yah...I guess that is good."
"Pearl, I have to go ask my otousan something. I'll be back." Sakura said walking to go find her father.
"Pearl, who's that girl you were talking to?" A deep voice asked. Pearl turned around to find...
"Syaoran! Hey! I'm so glad you've come back to visit! I've missed you!" Pearl exclaimed.
"Yah, me too. Pearl, who was that girl you were talking to?"
"Oh she's one of my best friends. She is visiting Hong Kong from Japan."
"What's her name?"
"Why are you so curious? Do you have a crush on her?" Pearl asked joking.
"Iie, I'm just curious." Syaoran said blushing.
"Her name is Kinomoto Sakura." Pearl replied.
"Oh...umm...xie xie." 'So it really is her! I can't believe she's here! I have to talk to her.'
"So, would you like me to introduce you to her?"
"Oh...that's okay. I have to go greet some guests I missed. I'll be back. Save a dance for me." Syaoran called over his shoulder.
"Oh...he's sooo gorgeous." Pearl sighed.
"I'm not going to let you have him...he deserves better." Meiling snapped appearing behind Pearl.
"Wha---"
"You heard what I said. If my cousin develops a crush on you, I won't let you have him. He deserves someone like...ummm...Kinomoto-san."
"What gives you the right to decide who he should be with? That's his decision."
"Well look, he's going to go talk to Kinomoto. I don't think he's picking you."
~*~*~
"Kinomoto-san?" Syaoran called to Sakura.
'That voice is so familiar! Is it Li-san?' "Li-san?" Sakura asked turning around.
"Kinomoto-san...I can't believe its really you!" Syaoran exclaimed. He walks briskly closer to her. He slowly digests Sakura's beauty and her cute confused look. 'I love it when she looks confused...she's sooo kawaii!'
"Wow...is that really you?"
"Hai..." He rushes over and gives her a hug.
"Daijoubou ka?"
"Hai..."
"Come with me, let's go talk outside..." Syaoran says grabbing Sakura's hand. He leads her out into the courtyard gardens. They find a secluded spot and sit on a bench.
"Wow...I didn't think I was actually going to see you Li..." Sakura faltered.
"Yah...I didn't even know you were going to be in Hong Kong."
"I didn't want to tell you because I was afraid." Sakura says trying to cover up her bruise on her arm.
"What's that?"
"Oh...it's nothing."
"Sakura!" Syaoran exclaims removing her hand and fingering the bruise. Syaoran's touch left Sakura feeling tingly. "Is this from Matsuri?"
"Maybe..."
"Tell me!"
"Ano...hai..."
"Damn...I knew I should've stayed with you! Its my fault! I should've protected you from that monster! How could I have been so stupid to leave you alone with that...that...I can't even say it! GAH!"
"Its not your fault! I thought that Hideki had forgiven me and he wanted me to comfort him! I'm soo---oo gullible!"
"You're not gullible! I should've been there to protect you! If I loved you as much as I say I do, then I would've been there for you."
"It's not your fault!" Sakura says putting her hand up to Syaoran's face and stroking it.
"Sakura...I love you soo---oo much! I don't want anything to ever happen to you! I don't know what I'd do without you!" Syaoran said cupping his hands on Sakura's chin. Slowly leaning over, Syaoran kisses Sakura. He pulls her closer and Sakura kisses him back.
Sakura suddenly breaks off the kiss. "I can't do this, not to Hideki...I can't. We can't do this. I promised myself not to get into another relationship! I can't...gomen Li-san."
"But Sakura...I've wanted this for so long...I love you! Can't you see that? I want to be with you! Don't you want this too?"
"I can't...I just can't! I can't hurt Hideki anymore than I already have. I just can't be with you Li-san! I'm sorry...the most we can be is friends." Sakura said running back inside the house.
TBC....
mwehe-he-he ^_^ I will update this again before summer is over! I promise! I have nothing else to do except AP Bio and AP Comp summer work...grrr...*shakes fist* Newayz, I hope that you liked it! It only gets better from here on....^_^ There will be little obstacles for Sakura and Syaoran to overcome...but hey what couple doesn't? Gomen...this chapter was supposed to be longer, but I decided to prolong the story...he-he ^_^
GOMEN FOR NOT UPDATING SOONER! I've been so busy with school that I forgot to write. Baka AP World! Don't take any AP classes unless you want extra work and stress. Alright, they have two good things to them...it looks good on college application, and a weighted GPA, but still...it sucks! I DO NOT own CCS, Clamp does! Enjoy! I only own Hideki and Brandon because I made those characters up. A little note, Meiling is in this installment and she's Syaoran's cousin. Thanks to those who wrote me the names of Syaoran's sisters...it's much appreciated! YAY!! Thanks for the reviews too!!! They kept me at writing this story...even tho I haven't updated it in almost a year...he-he ^_^ *huggles readers* Arigato gozaimasu!!! Xie Xie!!! Kamsa hamnida!!!!
Recap:
"Ano....To tell the truth, I have feelings for you and I've had them since the day I met you." Syaoran said.
"Really?" Sakura asked.
"Yep, but with these tutoring sessions, somehow I've come to falling in love with you!" Syaoran answered.
"I KNEW IT!" a voice called from behind.
"What?" Syaoran and Sakura turned around. There was Hideki standing there with a gun in his hand. He was full of anger and very upset.
*~*~*~*
"What are you doing Hideki?" Syaoran asked in a fierce voice.
"I'm going to hurt you the way you back-stabbed me." Hideki screamed.
"Put the gun down!" Syaoran said in an even more ferocious voice. Hideki slowly started to pull the trigger aiming it at Syaoran when....
"DON'T HIDEKI!" Sakura screamed jumping in front of Syaoran. All of a sudden, Hideki's hand quivered and he dropped the gun to the ground.
"I can't...I can't.....I can't...do it." Hideki said falling to his knees. Sakura ran over to Hideki.
"Hideki, it's alright." Sakura said kneeling to him and stroking his cheeks.
"I don't ....I don't know...why...or...or...how I could've done that..." Hideki breathed.
"Don't worry, everything is fine now. I'm here for you, don't fret." Sakura said kissing Hideki's cheek.
"Sakura, we'd better get him home." Syaoran said slowly.
"I will, but I have to talk to him first." Sakura said.
"I'll stay here with you." Syaoran stated.
"No, I'll be fine, Hideki needs me now." Sakura said.
"He isn't in his right mind though." Syaoran said.
"I'll be fine. He needs me and I plan to be there for him. I think having you here would just complicate things." Sakura said.
"No, I'm staying here." Syaoran said.
"No, I want you to leave! Onegai!" Sakura said.
"Fine, but you must let me know what happened as soon as you get home." Syaoran said.
"Hai, I will." Sakura said. As soon as Syaoran left, Hideki got up.
"Sakura, you will pay for the hurt you caused me." Hideki said. He pushed Sakura to the ground and punched her in the face, causing her to bleed all over. He punched her in the arm causing a blue-black mark to show up. He left her there, and ran off.
*~*~*~*
"Sakura, wake up!" Touya yelled.
"Nani?" Sakura asked. "Whoa, what happened? Why do I feel so drowsy." Sakura asked.
"You took some pain killers." Touya explained.
"Oh, wait...what happened to Hideki? How did I get back home??" Sakura asked starting to get out of bed.
"Sakura, get back in bed! You must stay in bed until you heal." Touya said. "Otousan said you must stay home for a few days before you go on your trip."
"Where is the trip?"
"Remember otousan's friends that live in Hong Kong with a daughter your age?"
"Yah, what do they have to do with anything?"
"You're going to Hong Kong for Christmas vacation."
"Oh...but wait...what about you?"
"I'm staying here with Yukito for Christmas."
"Oh, where's dad?"
"He left already...he promised to come back in a couple days to take you to Hong Kong."
"Oh, what am I supposed to do?"
"Rest, and be happy."
"Oh that sounds great..." Sakura said sarcastically.
"Hey, what happened to you imouto?" Touya asked looking really serious.
"Nani? What are you talking about?" Sakura asked confused.
"You have a broken nose and pretty big blue-black bruise on your arm and leg. You couldn't have gotten that from tripping over a rock." Touya pointed out.
"The last thing I remember is that I was with Hideki talking and then he shoved me to the ground and punched me." Sakura said as last night's events started to slowly flow back to her.
"Oh my kami! Is Hideki the guy that you had a crush on since seventh grade?" Touya asked getting furious.
"But it doesn't seem like him, he'd never do something like that. I think that his brother Brandon might do something like that, but not Hideki! Hideki never had a bad temper, but Brandon did. Tomoyo sometimes would complain how short-tempered Brandon was." Sakura answered.
"Brandon is his twin brother right?" Touya asked.
"Yah, but I don't understand...why would Hideki do such a thing.." Sakura sighed.
"Did he see something you did or done something that could've provoked this change in attitude?" Touya asked. Sakura slightly blushed.
"Ano...I don't want to talk about it!" Sakura said softly embarrassed.
"Kajiuu this is important! I must know if he saw or did something that could've caused this change in him?!" Touya exclaimed.
"Promise not to make fun of me..." Sakura inquired.
"Hai, I solemnly swear." Touya lied crossing his fingers behind his back.
"Ano....well...today I got my math grade. I got an A-! I couldn't believe it! Remember my math tutor, Li-san? Well, I got so overexcited that I hugged and kissed him. Tomoyo told me that Hideki saw. I was supposed to meet Hideki after school by a Sakura tree, and his whole attitude did a 180." Sakura said blushing.
"Ai-yah, kajiou!" Touya said slapping himself on the forehead. "Don't you know anything? When guys see their prospective girlfriend kiss another guy, they feel used and feel as if they're not good enough... Sometimes guys overreact when they see this happen..."
"Kajiou ja nani!!!!!" Sakura said bopping Touya on the head with a pillow.
"Kajiou!!!" Touya said throwing a stuffed animal at Sakura.
"BAKA!" Sakura said throwing a cup of water on Touya. The cup of water was on her bed-stand so she could drink something before swallowing pills.
"AHH! SAKURA!!! YOU GOT ME WET!! YOU'RE GOING TO PAY!!!!" Touya yelled. Sakura ran out of her room down to the kitchen. She grabbed two cups and filled one with ice-cold water and the other with ice. Touya came bounding down the stairs with a can of soda and he was shaking it up and down like crazy.
"AKIZUKI AND ONIICHAN SITTING IN A TREE K-I-S-S-I-N-G!!! MAKING OUT ALL NIGHT LONG!!" Sakura taunted. She knew that Touya hated Nakuru especially since she bugged him all the time. Nakuru always pretended as if Touya and her were boyfriend and girlfriend! (A/N: This may not be true in the actual CCS plot, but this my story, and that's how I want it to be! I've never seen the Japanese version, so I don't know if it's true or not. I've only seen the English version...which SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!)
"YOU'RE DEAD KAJIOU!" Touya said chasing after his little sister. Sakura sprinted up the stairs and Touya didn't see her. He was right below the staircase looking for her when......... "HOLY S**T!" Touya yelled because Sakura had dropped an ice cube down his back. Then she dumped the cup of cold water on his head and he cussed even more.
"Oooo....warui oniichan! Wait, till otousan hears what you said to me!" Sakura taunted. Touya lunged at his sister and grabbed her in a headlock. He started to tickle her and she giggled like crazy. "Oniichan, stop it!!" Sakura giggled.
"Iie. Not until you say that you're the kajiou!" Touya said.
"Iie..." Sakura giggled even more.
"Alright then, I'll keep tickling you."
"Fine, I'm the kajiou.." Sakura said, but as soon as Touya let her go, she yelled," NOT!!!" She ran off laughing like crazy.
"I give up kajiou, you win." Touya said raising his arms in defeat still holding the soda-can.
"Alright, but you must promise not to call me kajiou! My name is Sakura, not kajiou."
"Alright Sakura, you win." Touya said with a slight grin on his face. As soon as she got close enough to him, he grabbed her into a headlock. Then he opened the soda can and squirted all the soda over her hair and on her face. "Kanpai!" he said as he was pouring the soda on her.
"ARGH ONIICHAN! You'll pay."
"How, you have no more ice left." Touya said when he felt humongous pain in between his legs. "OOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!" Sakura kicked him, but not very hard you-know-where. It was enough to cause him to let her go in surprise but it didn't hurt that much.
"Ha-ha, I told you'll pay." Sakura said prancing off to her room. She was laughing the entire way watching her oniichan cross his legs with the same, shocked expression on his face. Sakura showered to get all the soda out, and changed into her pajamas. 'Only a couple days until I go to Hong Kong...' Sakura smiled as she fell asleep.
*~*~*~* (The Next Morning)
Sakura awoke from her slumber. She heard her alarm clock ringing. She yawned looking over at her clock, it read 10:30 PM. 'I don't want to get up...'
"Sakura, come and eat your breakfast!" Touya called. Sakura ran downstairs to the kitchen.
"What did you cook?"
"Scrambled eggs and a couple half pieces of toast."
"I bet you poisoned them, ne?"
"Hey, you got a phone call this morning. I think he said his name was Li- san, he really wanted to talk to you, but I thought you should still sleep."
"Did you get his phone number?"
"Nope, why should I? It's not my friend..."
"Argh, oniichan! You did that on purpose. I need to speak to Li-san!" Sakura exclaimed.
"Maybe he'll call you back, I have to get to the university library. I'm meeting up with Yukito-san. See ya around lunchtime. Yukito might be around so you might want to clean up a bit." Touya said chuckling.
'What's wrong with how I look...' Sakura ran over to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. 'Oh my kami!' Sakura's face was covered with makeup, she looked like a clown. For the next couple of minutes, the words 'Baka Oniichan' could be heard throughout the neighborhood. The phone rang and Sakura ran to pick it up.
"Hello."
"Hi Sakura." Tomoyo said.
"Oh hey, what's up?"
"Syaoran called me and told me what happened last night... Are you alright?"
"Hai, except for a broken nose and a big black and blue bruise on my arm, I'm alright."
"That seems so unlike Hideki, it seems more like what Brandon might do."
"Yah, I was thinking that last night too."
"I called earlier this morning, but you weren't awake."
"Nani?"
"I called this morning, but you still were asleep."
"BAKA ONIICHAN!!"
"Nani did Touya do now?"
"He told me that Li-san called this morning."
"Oh, I wonder WHY you want to speak to Syaoran."
"No it's nothing like that...I was supposed to call him last night, but I didn't. I forgot to. Did Li-san tell ya what happened last night?"
"He said he told you his true feelings."
"Yah.."
"So, what's wrong? Don't you have feelings for him too?"
"Hai, but I don't want to be in another relationship...look at how I screwed up the great relationship I had with Hideki..."
"You have the whole Christmas break to think about it because he left for Hong Kong. That reminds me, what did your otousan have planned for your vacation?"
"He's taking to visit his friend's family in Hong Kong."
"Hey maybe you might bump into him there."
"You know what? That never even occurred to me...both of us will be in Hong Kong at the same time."
"I think you should tell him how you feel, but tell him you're not ready for a relationship."
"I guess....maybe..."
"He'll understand after all that's happened."
"I dunno...Do you have his phone number?"
"Uh-huh...he said to give it to you, in case you needed to talk to him. Let me go get it...hold on.....Aaahhh, here it is...." Tomoyo said giving Sakura the phone number.
"Well I'd better go wash..."
"Okay, onegai try to call Syaoran...he seemed really worried about you."
"I'll try...ja. I'll call you to tell you when I leave for Hong Kong."
"Ja ne." Sakura hung up and the phone and went to the bathroom to take a shower and change out her pajamas. She changed into a pair of jeans and light pink sweatshirt. She screwed up the courage and started to dial Syaoran's phone number.
"Hello." A feminine voice said.
"May I please speak to Syaoran Li."
"Hai, hold on."
"Hello." Syaoran said.
"Syaoran, this is Sakura."
"Oh, hey. Are you okay? I've been so worried about you."
"Yah, I'm perfectly fine."
"That's good to hear. I hope you don't mind but I told Daidouji-san what happened."
"Yah, I already talked to her this morning."
"Oh...have you talked to Hideki to straighten things out?"
"Well, not really. He left rather quickly after you left."
"Okay...well you'd better talk to him."
"Yah, I will eventually."
"I'm happy that you're doing alright, but I gotta go, my okasan is setting up for this big Christmas party and she's inviting everyone. I promised I'd help her with the organization since my sisters are more worried about their attire than for the actual party, itself."
"Ja ne."
"Ja." Sakura hung up the phone and sighed. 'I hope I don't bump into Syaoran in Hong Kong. He'll want to murder Hideki for what he did to me. I don't want Hideki to be hurt because it wasn't his fault. It's my fault for not telling him that I developed feelings for Syaoran during those tutoring sessions. He had the right to be upset.'
"Hey kajiou, we're home!" Touya said.
~*~*~ (A couple days later)
"Sakura, you ready to go to Hong Kong?" Sakura's otousan called.
"Yah, let me grab my last suitcase." Touya, Yukito, Sakura, and her otousan load into the car and drive to the airport.
"Flight 1818 for Hong Kong is boarding at gate 12." A voice on the intercom played throughout the lobby.
"Well that's us." Sakura exclaimed.
"Arigato Touya and Yukito for watching over Sakura. I hope that this trip will cheer her up." Fujitaka said.
"Ja ne Touya and Yukito-san!" Sakura said giving them both a hug.
"Sayonara Sakura. Make sure not to make any guys fall in love with you while you're in Hong Kong or they will be in deep trouble." Touya said to his sister. Sakura couldn't tell if he was being serious or if he was joking.
"Ja Sakura and Mr. Kinomoto." Yukito called.
"I'll give you guys a call when we get in Hong Kong." Fujitaka said waving. Sakura and her otousan find their seats and sit down.
"I'm going to take a little nap, Sakura." Fujitaka told his daughter.
"Alright." Sakura said before slipping on her headphones and listening to the song 'Purachina' wash over her. All of a sudden she felt her cell phone vibrate.
"Hello?"
"Hey Sakura, its me Tomoyo. I thought I'd give you some company while you're on the plane."
"Sugoi. My otousan already fell asleep, sleeping like a baby."
"So have you talked to Syaoran after you called him once."
"Nope, I didn't even tell him I was going to be in Hong Kong or what really happened that night."
"Ai-yah...why not?"
"I know that Syaoran will want to murder Hideki once he finds out, and it isn't Hideki's fault that I never told him about my feelings for Syaoran. All of this is my own fault." Sakura sighed.
"You're going to have to tell him sooner or later."
"Yah, I know, but until that time comes I'm not going to think about it."
"Well, you won't be able to avoid it forever."
"Ooo, they're showing one of those airplane movies. So they're dimming the lights."
"Those are sooo cheesy. I can't believe that you actually like watching those movies. They're usually those subtitled, black and white, samurai movies. So typical since there's soo many foreigners on the airplanes."
"Well, I'd better go. My okasan wants to go shopping. I already gave you your gifts for Christmas ne?"
"Hai. They're humongous, but I can't wait to open them. I hope you enjoy the gift that I got you."
"I'll absolutely adore anything you give me. I hope you like the gift I got you."
"I probably will! Ja." Sakura sat through two of those subtitled, black and white, samurai movies before taking a little nap.
"Sakura, wake up!" Fujitaka said shaking his daughter.
"Nani?"
"We're in Hong Kong!"
"Hontou ni?"
"Hai." Sakura and her otousan go and find their luggage and got ahold of a taxi to take them to the house they are staying at. When they reached it, it looked huge. It was a pretty big estate for someone that lived in a modest neighborhood.
"Wow, that's amazing."
"I know."
"Who's your friend that lives here otousan?"
"Li Chiyako."
"Oh...what's the daughter's name?"
"Li Meiling."
"Oh." Sakura and her otousan carry their luggage to the house and pay the taxi car driver.
"Welcome!" A thin, tall woman with short, cropped, black hair called.
"Chiyako-san!" Fujitaka called giving her a hug.
"Where's Wufei?"
"He's on some business, but he should be home soon. Would you like to meet my daughter, Meiling?"
"Sure."
"Li Meiling!"
"Coming!" A thin, 5'5" girl called. She had long, raven-colored hair that reached below her butt. "What mama?"
"This is the Kinomoto family: my best guy friend, Fujitaka, and his daughter Sakura. His son, Touya is back in Japan. They're staying with us for Christmas vacation."
"Oh right. Welcome. Mama, I need my gown for the ball tonight at Auntie's Yelan's ball."
"Didn't it already arrive?" Chiyako asked her daughter.
"No, Lawrence already checked twice."
"Oh dear, I guess you'll just have to wear one of your old gowns."
"But mama, I wanted to show cousin, Li-Li my new dress. I bragged to Li-Li about it all of yesterday."
"Well, isn't that too bad? You had no right to brag to your cousin in the first place. Yelan told me that he's upset about something that happened at school."
"Fine then mama. What do you suggest that I wear?"
"Wear that dress by that new Chinese designer. That ruby-red, spaghetti strap number that reaches your ankles. The one your otousan doesn't like because he claims it hugs your curves." Chiyako said with a giggle.
"Alright, but you have to fix my hair." Meiling called running back upstairs.
"Fine." Turning towards Fujitaka and Sakura, "Gomen about that. There's this big ball tonight for the return of Yelan Li and her family. They moved to Japan but they're visiting this Christmas. Both of you can come to the ball if you would like. You'd come as our guests of course."
"I don't have a gown though..." Sakura faltered.
"You can borrow one of Meiling's dresses. You look like you're about the same size. hyaku, and run upstairs so you'll have enough time to get yourself ready." Sakura hurried to Meiling's room.
"Li-san, can I borrow one of your gowns for the ball?" Sakura asked.
"Sure, take your pick." Meiling replied.
"Alright, arigato." Sakura said while she scanned Meiling's closet. She found a gorgeous shamrock-green gown with straps that hung around her shoulders.
"Here's a pair of shoes that should fit." Meiling said handing Sakura a pair of the shamrock-green, strappy heels.
"Arigato." Sakura said.
"Aren't you going to fix your hair or wear any make-up?"
"Ano...iie. I don't know how to wear make-up and I think my hair looks alright with this dress."
"No, no, no. You look gorgeous in the dress and heels, but you're hair doesn't match. It has to be more bouncy or fluffy to light up your face. Plus, you need to add a simple touch of make-up."
"Wow, I guess I don't know anything."
"Don't worry that's why you have me." Meiling said with a bright smile.
"Arigato Li-san."
"Call me Meiling."
"Hai, arigato Meiling." After a couple of hours, Meiling and Sakura were ready for the ball. Sakura hair was a bouncy flow of curls with a hint of makeup while Meiling had soft waves with deep red lipstick and bronze eyeshadow.
"Sakura, why do you have that blue-black bruise on your arm?" Meiling asked noticing it from where her skin is exposed on the dress.
"Oh that..." Sakura face changed expressions.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"This ex-boyfriend of mine got upset because he saw me kissing another guy. I only kissed him because he helped me to get an 'A' in math. I really needed the 'A' so I could play soccer. My ex almost shot the guy I kissed, but chickened out. I thought that my ex wanted me to help him, so I had the other guy leave and my ex punched me and left."
"Wow, gomen!" Meiling said running over and giving Sakura a hug.
"Hey it's okay. I'm fine now. You know your cousin you were talking about 'Li-Li'?" Sakura said.
"Yah? What about him?" Meiling asked.
"OMG? That's a guy!"
"Hai."
"Oh I thought he was girl because I was going to ask you to introduce her, I mean him, to me."
"Sure, you're probably going to see him a lot during Christmas anyway. We always spend Christmas together. It's a Li family tradition."
"Li-Li, isn't his real name is it?"
"No way. It's just a nickname. We made it girly because he's surrounded by women. It's kinda funny, but his real name is..." Meiling started but was interrupted.
"Hey are you girls ready to go?" Chiyako asked.
"Hai." Both girls answered.
"Don't you two girls look like a set of princesses off to a ball for your Prince Charmings." Wufei said peeking his head through the door.
"Arigato." Sakura said politely.
"Sakura, this is my otousan, Wufei Li." Meiling said.
"Hajimemashite." Sakura said bowing.
"Huh?" Wufei looked confused.
"Nice to meet you!" Chiyako, Meiling, and Sakura said at the same time.
"How do you know Japanese, Meiling and Chiyako?" Sakura asked.
"I am Japanese." Chiyako said.
"Then okasan taught it to me, but otousan never bothered to learn because he likes his Chinese better."
"Didn't your otousan tell you that he went to school with me since we were in grammar school?!" Chiyako asked.
"Nope, but that's interesting to know. Oh, by the way, is my otousan going?" Sakura asked.
"Hai, he borrowed one of Wufei's tuxes. Let's load up in the limos." Chiyako said.
"Limos..." Sakura said dreamily. This was the second time she had been on a limo, and she was reminiscing about the first time, which was with Syaoran. After a short ride, they got off at an even bigger house. It was two or three times the size of Chiyako's house.
"Wow....."
"I know, isn't Li-Li's house impressive?" Meiling asked. (A/N: Tho Meiling and Sakura aren't great friends...it'll be easier if I refer to Meiling as Meiling...there will be too many 'Li-san's...too confusing...^_^)
"It's amazing." Sakura sighed.
"Let's go." Meiling said grabbing her arm and going inside.
"Good evening Meiling. Who's your guest?" Yelan asked.
"This is Kinomoto Sakura. She's our guest, she's friends with mama." Meiling answered bowing to her aunt.
"I see. Welcome Kinomoto-san, I hope you can make yourself feel at home. You must excuse me I have to greet my other guests." Yelan said.
"Wait, auntie is Li-Li around somewhere? I want him to meet Kinomoto-san." Meiling said.
"Yah, he's probably in his room. I let him skip greeting the guests because he's been really worried about one of his friends from school."
"Okay. Xie xie auntie." Meiling said. "Come on, you'll get to see Li Li's room early."
"Wow, this house is so big." Sakura said.
"I'll go in and talk to him first and then I'll introduce you." Meiling said knocking on the door and going in. Meiling started talking in rapid Mandarin and a voice that sounded familiar answered back, just as fast in rapid Mandarin. Sakura couldn't understand a word they were saying. The only words she could understand were wanshang hao, ni hao, and ni hao ma.
"Sakura, there you are. Come on, I want you to meet someone." Chiyako said grabbing Sakura and hurrying her downstairs.
"Wait...Meiling was going to introduce..." Sakura said before she was interrupted by Chiyako.
"This is another one of your father's Japanese friends that moved to China. They live in Beijing, but traveled to Hong Kong just for the party."
"OMG! Pearl-san!" Sakura said hurrying over and hugging a girl about the same age as Sakura. Pearl was gorgeous with shimmery black hair with orangish-brown highlights. She was shorter than Sakura, but looked very sophisticated.
"Sakura-san!" Pearl cried hugging one of her closet friends.
"I can't believe you're here! Papa said I wouldn't get to see you until New Years, this is so exciting!" Sakura exclaimed.
"I assume that the two of you know one another." Chiyako replied with a smile.
"Ni hao Heero and An-Mei Matsuura." Sakura said bowing to Pearl's parents.
"Yah, I forgot to tell ya Chiyako, Sakura met the Matsuura's from a previous summer, in which they came to visit in Japan." Fujitaka said.
"I see." Chiyako answered. The adults start up a conversation and Pearl and Sakura decide to find a place to it down and chat.
"So...what's up Sakura?" Pearl asked.
"Nothing much except what my otousan told you." Sakura said.
"I can't believe that boy! When you introduced me to him, he seemed like an honest and trustworthy guy. He seemed collected and a sweet guy without a quick temper." Pearl said.
"Yah, well so did I, but it was my own fault for not telling him that I had developed feelings for Li-san." (A/N: Just for clarification: Pearl doesn't really know who the guy Sakura has developed feelings for...she only knows that Sakura refers to him as Li-san.)
"It's not your fault. Things happen, and you can't choose who you fall in love with or not because I know if ya could, you wouldn't have done anything to hurt Matsuri-kun in that way." Pearl said.
"Whatever, so have you found any prospective guys?"
"Yah, there's this kawaii guy at my school, I think he kinda likes me, but I'm not sure."
"What's he like?"
"Well, he's really kawaii, sweet, polite."
"Awww...how sugoi!"
"I can't believe that you actually are wearing makeup and dressed up all fancy!"
"Well, Meiling helped me..."
"Oh you mean, Chiyako's daughter, ne?"
"Hai."
"Hmmm...I have to find out how she did it because I never was able to get you in a dress with makeup...no matter what I tried."
"You just don't have skills like that of Meiling!" Sakura laughed.
"SAKURA!" Meiling yelled rushing over to Sakura.
"Nani?" Sakura asked turning around.
"I wanted to introduce you to Li-Li!! When I went to introduce you to him, you disappeared. Now he has to go greet guests and he probably won't be able to met you until after dinner!" Meiling complained.
"Gomenasai." Sakura said bowing.
"It's okay."
"How you met Matsuura Pearl?" Sakura asked.
"Yah...we're acquaintances." Meiling answered curtly.
"Yah...we've known each other for a long time, Sakura. We've always been forced to compete against each other because we're the same age." Pearl explained to Sakura.
"Hmph...forced...forced my butt! You enjoyed the competition and you know it!" Meiling spat.
"Yah...whatever...I didn't but you did! You always thought everything was a competition; a competition that you had to beat me at." Pearl exclaimed her tone changing.
"Hey guys...that's in the past...no more fighting...let's look for kakkoii guys!" Sakura suggested.
"No that's okay...I suddenly feel ill...I'll go help Li-Li greet guests." Meiling said leaving.
"Wow...there was definitely tension between you two." Sakura noted.
"Yah...well we've always had to compete at academics, sports, you name it. Meiling took it soo seriously, she always had to win no matter what." Pearl answered.
"What about her cousin Li-Li, isn't he the same age? Did he compete with ya'll?"
"Nope...he didn't really care. He knew what he was superior at and what he wasn't. He didn't like to brag or boast. He's the perfect guy." Pearl replied and Sakura noticed the love that Pearl held for Meiling's cousin.
"You really like him, ne?"
"Yah...too bad he moved away to Japan. It made my heart break into two pieces."
"I can't wait to meet the guy that caused my friend, polygamous as she is, to suddenly want one guy." Sakura laughed.
"Hey...I've always been a one man type of woman. I just don't see that there's a problem with flirting with other guys."
"Sure. I believe you." Sakura said laughing. A pair of chestnut brown eyes watched Sakura from across the room. The eyes did a double take, not sure if the person the eyes viewed were a mystical illusion or not.
"Attention, all guests are to report to the dining room. Dinner starts in 10 minutes." A voice called out of a mysterious intercom. Everyone hurried to the dining room. Pearl and Sakura sit by one another at the humongous dining table. Sakura looked at the front table and noticed two familiar chestnut brown eyes. 'Could that be Li-san? Naw...it couldn't be. I'm imagining things.'
"Sakura, you'd better serve yourself before someone eats all your food." Pearl said.
"Yah..." Sakura said dishing some food on her plate.
"Are you excited? There's a ball after dinner. It's going to be fun! We'll have to both dance with Li-Li, he's a great dancer." Pearl said going on and on about Li-Li.
"You're really in love with this guy. Wow...it's kawaii. Although, I'm just curious, does Meiling know?"
"Yah...she's known for a long time. Maybe that's what increased her hatred toward me."
"I don't think she hates you! No one could hate you, Pearl! You're too sweet and kind!"
"Awww...arigato Sakura! You're such a great friend!!"
"Thanks...wait. If you've liked this guy for so long, how come you never told me? But you can tell your 'enemy,' Meiling?"
"Oh that's because, you didn't know him and I knew that nothing would ever happen. He doesn't show any interest in girls. He's more worried about his duties, school, etc. Besides, Meiling could see the affection I have for her cousin in my eyes. She isn't dense."
"Oh...Gomen...I feel so bad for you."
"Hey its not bad, if he's not interested in girls...at least he's not going out with anyone."
"Yah...I guess that is good."
"Pearl, I have to go ask my otousan something. I'll be back." Sakura said walking to go find her father.
"Pearl, who's that girl you were talking to?" A deep voice asked. Pearl turned around to find...
"Syaoran! Hey! I'm so glad you've come back to visit! I've missed you!" Pearl exclaimed.
"Yah, me too. Pearl, who was that girl you were talking to?"
"Oh she's one of my best friends. She is visiting Hong Kong from Japan."
"What's her name?"
"Why are you so curious? Do you have a crush on her?" Pearl asked joking.
"Iie, I'm just curious." Syaoran said blushing.
"Her name is Kinomoto Sakura." Pearl replied.
"Oh...umm...xie xie." 'So it really is her! I can't believe she's here! I have to talk to her.'
"So, would you like me to introduce you to her?"
"Oh...that's okay. I have to go greet some guests I missed. I'll be back. Save a dance for me." Syaoran called over his shoulder.
"Oh...he's sooo gorgeous." Pearl sighed.
"I'm not going to let you have him...he deserves better." Meiling snapped appearing behind Pearl.
"Wha---"
"You heard what I said. If my cousin develops a crush on you, I won't let you have him. He deserves someone like...ummm...Kinomoto-san."
"What gives you the right to decide who he should be with? That's his decision."
"Well look, he's going to go talk to Kinomoto. I don't think he's picking you."
~*~*~
"Kinomoto-san?" Syaoran called to Sakura.
'That voice is so familiar! Is it Li-san?' "Li-san?" Sakura asked turning around.
"Kinomoto-san...I can't believe its really you!" Syaoran exclaimed. He walks briskly closer to her. He slowly digests Sakura's beauty and her cute confused look. 'I love it when she looks confused...she's sooo kawaii!'
"Wow...is that really you?"
"Hai..." He rushes over and gives her a hug.
"Daijoubou ka?"
"Hai..."
"Come with me, let's go talk outside..." Syaoran says grabbing Sakura's hand. He leads her out into the courtyard gardens. They find a secluded spot and sit on a bench.
"Wow...I didn't think I was actually going to see you Li..." Sakura faltered.
"Yah...I didn't even know you were going to be in Hong Kong."
"I didn't want to tell you because I was afraid." Sakura says trying to cover up her bruise on her arm.
"What's that?"
"Oh...it's nothing."
"Sakura!" Syaoran exclaims removing her hand and fingering the bruise. Syaoran's touch left Sakura feeling tingly. "Is this from Matsuri?"
"Maybe..."
"Tell me!"
"Ano...hai..."
"Damn...I knew I should've stayed with you! Its my fault! I should've protected you from that monster! How could I have been so stupid to leave you alone with that...that...I can't even say it! GAH!"
"Its not your fault! I thought that Hideki had forgiven me and he wanted me to comfort him! I'm soo---oo gullible!"
"You're not gullible! I should've been there to protect you! If I loved you as much as I say I do, then I would've been there for you."
"It's not your fault!" Sakura says putting her hand up to Syaoran's face and stroking it.
"Sakura...I love you soo---oo much! I don't want anything to ever happen to you! I don't know what I'd do without you!" Syaoran said cupping his hands on Sakura's chin. Slowly leaning over, Syaoran kisses Sakura. He pulls her closer and Sakura kisses him back.
Sakura suddenly breaks off the kiss. "I can't do this, not to Hideki...I can't. We can't do this. I promised myself not to get into another relationship! I can't...gomen Li-san."
"But Sakura...I've wanted this for so long...I love you! Can't you see that? I want to be with you! Don't you want this too?"
"I can't...I just can't! I can't hurt Hideki anymore than I already have. I just can't be with you Li-san! I'm sorry...the most we can be is friends." Sakura said running back inside the house.
TBC....
mwehe-he-he ^_^ I will update this again before summer is over! I promise! I have nothing else to do except AP Bio and AP Comp summer work...grrr...*shakes fist* Newayz, I hope that you liked it! It only gets better from here on....^_^ There will be little obstacles for Sakura and Syaoran to overcome...but hey what couple doesn't? Gomen...this chapter was supposed to be longer, but I decided to prolong the story...he-he ^_^
