Meinien
Virgo Writer
Vashs Trigun Gurl
and
SaKuRa LoVa
Chapter 7: I won't say I'm in Love
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
No chance, no way I won't say it, no, no(Give up, give in
Check the grin you're in love)
This scene won't play,
I won't say I'm in love
(You're doin flips read our lips
You're in love)
You're way off base
I won't say it
Get off my case
I won't say it
(Girl, don't be proud
It's O.K. you're in love)
Oh
At least out loud,
I won't say I'm in love
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
From the minute Sakura and Syaoran entered the classroom the next day whispers followed them everywhere. People pointed, laughed and chatted about them all day. But that wasn't what they were concerned about. No, they were concerned about Leon.
He had become a student teacher at their school. He was four years older than them and was assisting in all of Sakura and Syaoran's classes. Which also happened to be all of Noriko's.
As they sat down in Math's, first lesson, Sakura looked at Syaoran and said,
"It's still not too late to back out."
"No way. You're stuck with me. I'll be there for you if you need me."
"Or if you need me." Sakura said, seeing Noriko twist in her seat and lean over to them.
"Can I see the ring, Sakura?"
"There is no ring. We're not getting married." Syaoran said sharply. Noriko smirked and said,
"Everyone's saying that you are."
"Everyone is wrong. Our parents want us to get married, we don't." Sakura turned to the front as the door opened. But the math's teacher did not enter. Leon did. Sakura and Syaoran stared in horror as he put his books down and grinned.
"Hi, I'm Leon. Your math teacher is absent this week, so I'll be taking this lesson for you." His eyes rested on Sakura and Syaoran and he smirked. But didn't say anything, just turned to write on the board.
As the lesson ended Leon said,
"Sakura, stay behind please. The rest of you can go."
"I'll be right out there for you." Syaoran muttered. Sakura nodded and stood in front of Leon's desk.
"What do you want?" she asked, angrily. Leon sat on the desk and smiled.
"That's a rather rude way to address a teacher."
"I've seen better teacher's than you, running around farmyards, with their heads cut off." Sakura told him. His eyes narrowed.
"You'd better shut your face."
"Or what?"
"Or you'll regret it."
"Great comeback, Leon. I see your conversational skills have improved since we last met."
"Now, now, can't we put that behind us? You've got yourself a nice man, I don't see why we can't be friends."
"We can't be friends, because you're an egotistical bastard, with the intelligence of a dead frog lying at the bottom of a garden pond."
"I don't remember you complaining about me two years ago."
"That was before you tried to rape my best friend."
"I see you're both still upset about that. Still, you managed to replace me pretty quickly." He threw a glance at the door.
"Syaoran's just a friend. I'm leaving."
"Feel free. I'll see you in tomorrow's lesson, Sakura. Say hi to Tomoyo for me." Sakura didn't pause but walked from the classroom. Syaoran looked up as she came through.
"You Ok?"
"Fan-bloody-tastic." She muttered. As they walked to their next class he asked,
"You don't have to put up with this. If you talk to the school, they can sort it out."
"It doesn't matter. I don't care about him anymore. I could have forgotten it if he'd just hurt me… but he hurt Tomoyo too. And I don't forget when someone hurts my friends."
"So if he'd tried to beat me up, you'd save me?" He asked. She smiled.
"Maybe."
"Only maybe?"
"Oh, alright. As long as there wasn't anything good on TV or something."
"Fair enough. Come on, we're going to be late for chemistry."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
For the next week, Sakura did something she rarely did. Kept her head down, and tried not to draw attention. Noriko and Leon continually singled her out but with her friends help she managed to ignore them most of the time. On the Friday Syaoran got a telephone call before they set out for school.
"Mother is taking us all out to dinner tonight. Is that ok?" Fujitaka nodded.
"Sounds great. Sakura, try and get home early and find something nice to wear."
"My clothes are nice!" Sakura said indignantly, looking down at her faded jeans and pink t-shirt.
"You know what I mean. Same goes for you, Touya." Touya nodded, reading the newspaper. As Syaoran and Sakura went to get their bikes, to go to school, Sakura said,
"Thanks for being so nice this week."
"It's ok. Leon really annoys me for some reason. And I don't really need a reason to dislike Noriko." Sakura laughed as she pulled her helmet on.
When they arrived at school Tomoyo and Eriol were waiting outside the form room, looking worried. Sakura frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"Leon's in there. He's been waiting for ages. We thought we should warn you before you went in." Eriol said. Sakura sighed. Tomoyo looked at her friend.
"Are you ok?"
"Yes. Come on, we can't hang around out here for ever."
She pushed the door open. Leon was sitting with Noriko and her friends. Sakura and co. ignored them and sat down at their desks. Sakura turned to talk with Tomoyo.
"Do you want to come to Touya's birthday party tomorrow night? It's just dinner and a movie. Eriol, you can come if you want to."
"Sounds great." Eriol said. Tomoyo nodded and smiled.
"I've got Touya the best present!"
"What is it?"
"I made him a new jacket, with his name on it. It doesn't sound like much, but it's got his symbol on it!"
Touya was good at art and had helped Sakura design Kero. His own symbol was circle, filled with patterns of stars and circles, the moon and sun and other small emblems. (In other words, Clow Reed's magic Circle.)
Syaoran looked at Sakura.
"I still have to buy him one. What do you get the guy who intensely dislikes you?"
"I got you a gift to give to him." Sakura said. Syaoran stared.
"What is it?"
"Furry dice to hang in his window screen."
"Sakura!"
"Just kidding. I got him a shirt for you. You can't go wrong with a shirt."
Syaoran sighed in relief.
"Thanks. I was getting really worried about that."
"No problem. By the way, why is your mother taking us out tonight?"
"Because she wants to, I guess." Syaoran said, but he looked sort of shifty. Sakura narrowed her eyes.
"Syaoran…"
"She wants to see how we're getting along. Seeing if we're getting closer."
"For God's sake! Is anyone actually listening to us?" Sakura said, frustrated. Syaoran shrugged.
"Apparently not. Anyway, she wants to have dinner every two weeks. To check on our progress."
"There is no progress. We are a progress free area!" Sakura pointed out. Syaoran smiled.
"Hey, you're preaching to the choir."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Noriko and Leon watched the couple closely. Leon turned away in disgust as Sakura burst out laughing at Syaoran's joke.
"Why am I here, again?"
"To make their lives living hell. We want to break them up."
"They don't even want to get married. This is a waste of time." Noriko gave him an annoyed look.
"Sakura can't stand to have you around, so that works out well. It's breaking her miserable little soul."
"So, why am I here?" Leon repeated
"To annoy them, duh. They're getting closer, anyone can see that. They just don't want to admit it. I hate Kinomoto and if I can upset her, that's good."
"Right. OK."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Sakura stared into her wardrobe. Yelan had said they were going to the Peach Blossom Restaurant. It was the most expensive place in town. You weren't allowed in there unless you were wearing formal clothing. And unfortunately for Sakura, she possessed no such item. Fujitaka knocked at the door.
"Sakura, are you ok?"
"Yeah… Dad, I have nothing to wear." Fujitaka pushed open the door and smiled at the various outfits that were flung onto the floor and over the chair.
"I remember your mother doing this all the time. She and Yelan used to love dressing up to go out, only it would take her at least three hours to get dressed."
Sakura threw up her hands in despair.
"That's it. I'm not going." She flung herself onto the bed. Fujitaka smiled. She really was a lot like her mother. Except for the motorbike thing. He wasn't really sure where that had come from.
"Sakura, I'll be back in a moment." Sakura watched him leave, then crossed to the desk. She sat down and stared at the picture of her mother. She was so beautiful. Sakura had often imagined her as an angel when she was smaller, and it wasn't hard to see why. No wonder she and her dad were so much in love. They were perfect for each other. Fujitaka knocked on the door and came in, carrying a dress.
"Your mother wore this the night we got engaged."
"Dad, if this is some kind of subtle hint…"
"No! No, it's just a nice dress! It'll look lovely on you." Sakura opened the box and gasped. Fujitaka winked.
"I'll wait downstairs."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Yelan, Touya and Fujitaka looked up as Syaoran came in. He looked around and asked,
"Where's Sakura?"
"She's still upstairs. Can you go and get her?" Fujitaka asked. Syaoran nodded and trudged upstairs. Just as he was going to knock on Sakura's door it opened. And Sakura came out.
She was wearing a long, blue dress, the colour of the sky. It was simple, but it looked elegant on her. Silver thread was sewn around the waist and neck. In other words, she looked gorgeous.
No! Syaoran shook his head hard. Not gorgeous. Attractive. Pretty. Cute. Lovely.
Nope, she really was gorgeous. She was also staring at him.
"What?" He asked. She shrugged.
"You were the one shaking your head like a mad man."
"Huh? Never mind. Come on, everyone's waiting."
As they made their way downstairs Touya stared at his sister, then grinned.
"Hey, where's Sakura? This cutie sure isn't my monster!"
"I'm not a monster!" Sakura said angrily, and stamped her pointy heel down on his foot. Touya reeled in pain and gasped,
"Ok… maybe it is her." Yelan smiled.
"The driver is waiting outside for us."
As they were driving to the restaurant they passed a nighttime funfair. Sakura and Syaoran both turned to watch it as they passed. Yelan caught their gaze and frowned.
"Come on, the meal will be marvellous." They both sat back, sighing.
The Peach Blossom restaurant was magnificent. Elaborate decorations plastered the walls, and flowers were placed all over the place. It looked amazing. As they sat down at their table Sakura couldn't help staring around.
"This is so…"
"Fantastic." Syaoran finished, in a similar state of shock. Yelan smiled at them as she opened the menu. The food all looked great and they had to think long and hard about what to eat. But as they started to eat Fujitaka asked,
"Touya, have you decided you is coming tomorrow night?"
"Sakura invited Eriol and Tomoyo. Yukito's coming, and Nakuru." He mumbled the last name. Sakura frowned.
"Who's Nakuru?"
"A close friend." Sakura's face lit up.
"You have a girlfriend!" Touya was now the colour of beetroot. Sakura giggled but her father held up a hand.
"Don't tease him."
But this is too good an opportunity to miss!"
"Sakura…"
"OK."
By the time they were ordering dessert Yelan had decided to bring up the forbidden subject.
"So, how are you two getting along?" Sakura and Syaoran glanced at each other and shrugged.
"Ok."
"Fine." She looked at them expectantly. Syaoran sighed,
"Mother, you already know. We don't want to get married. We're friends. That's as far as it is going to go."
"You still have over two months. Don't decide too quickly." Yelan glanced at Fujitaka and he stood up.
"Yelan, may I have a word?" They stepped away. Sakura looked at Touya.
"Touya, I promise not to tease you about your girlfriend, if you let me go to that funfair."
"You're not going to a funfair by yourself at this time."
"I'll go with her. I want to go to the funfair!" Syaoran said. Sakura pleaded,
"Please? Touya, please?" He sighed.
"You owe me big time."
"Thank you Touya! Come on, Syaoran." Sakura seized Syaoran's hand and her bag. They walked quickly from the restaurant.
Yelan sat back down and stared at the two empty places.
"Where-"
"They wanted to go for a walk." Touya said. Yelan and Fujitaka looked at each other and smiled.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Woohoo! Look at al the rides!" Sakura squealed, running through the gates to the funfair. Syaoran was unbuttoning his shirt and loosening his tie. Sakura took the clips out of her hair and let it hang free. She looked at him.
"Which ride shall we go on first?"
"The Haunted House?" Sakura's face fell. Syaoran grinned.
"OK, what about… the bumper cars?"
"Yay!" Sakura ran to the ride and hitched up her dress to climb into the car. Syaoran sat beside her, preparing himself for the ride.
Within two hours they had successfully gone on every ride in the park, played the hoop games and won a small fortune in cuddly toys. Sakura stared at the carrier bag and shrugged.
"We can take them to the hospital. Yolei would love this bunny rabbit."
"There's still one more ride." Syaoran said. He pointed to the big wheel. Sakura grinned.
"Let's go!"
They climbed into the seat and watched the people grow smaller as they rose steadily into the air. Sakura gasped with delight. Syaoran watched her out of the corner of his eye. She turned to grin at him.
"Isn't it great?"
"Brilliant." He replied, smiling. Their seat stopped at the top of the wheel. Sakura looked up at the stars. As if to complete the whole scene, and star shot across the sky. Sakura giggled.
"Make a wish." Syaoran closed his eyes.
A wish?
When he had wished and opened his eyes Sakura was sitting back, smiling. The way she looked, her eyes sparkling, her dress, the way her hair fell into her face… Syaoran felt as if his heart was in his mouth. Sakura said,
"I wish we could freeze this moment. I don't want to have to go down there." She gestured at the ground. "Back to… them."
Syaoran knew that she meant Leon and Noriko. He took her hand in his.
"Don't worry. You'll get through this."
"Will I? It's Tomoyo I care about. It's not fair… I keep feeling sorry for myself, and she was the one… Anyway, let's forget about them." She turned to face him.
"Syaoran… do you think I could write to you?"
"When I go back to China? Of course. I'll write to you too. I'd miss you."
"Really?"
"Really." Sakura smiled and was about to speak again when Syaoran did something he never though he would do.
He kissed her. Just quickly, on the mouth. But he didn't move his head away. And she didn't complain, as she kissed him back.
This was right, he thought. Somehow, this was right.
But they were jolted out of the kiss by the seat moving downwards. Sakura jumped back, suddenly realising what she had done. Syaoran said,
"Sakura-"
"No. No, that didn't happen. This can't happen, ok?"
"Why not?"
"Because… because it can't." she turned away.
And Syaoran looked down, wondering why.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
When they arrived home Sakura went straight to her bedroom. As she sat down on the bed, she closed her eyes.
She had almost let someone in. For a brief moment she had wanted to love him. She shook her head fiercely.
"Didn't you learn your lesson? You're not going to get a fairytale ending."
Just admit it! Her brain screamed at her. She buried her face in her hands.
"No! I won't say it!"
I won't say… I'm in love.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The chapter is at an end! Ooh, dear! Poor Sakura's a bit confused! But it's not gonna be that easy. I mean it'd be a bit boring if it went:
"Sakura and Syaoran were in an arranged marriage. They hated each other at first, but through many romantic misunderstandings fell in love and lived happily ever after. The End."
Who'd wanna read that???
Lotsa luv 'n' huggles
Katie.