Okies, I'm very sorry for the long wait. But I was on vacation, and this
chapter needed some SERIOUS editing. Some of the humor is more like
something you'd see only on Adult Swim. There are several times when
undergarments are mentioned. and let's just say Koji is a regular Gene
Starwind, if not worse, when it comes to women. However, I am just
finishing a cleaner version that may not be as funny, but there is
significantly less moments like that. Nothing in here is beyond anything
you would in a PG-13 movie, but I decided to give you fair warning since
there is swearing, suggested nudity, and suggestive dialogue. Not to
mention a little violence at the end. (Hint: The last two warnings are
somehow connected to the violence.) Anyway, if you are sure you don't want
ANYTHING like what I have put in this chapter, e-mail me at
Wallcrawler86@aol.com I'll send you a copy of the cleaner version. However,
if things like that don't bother you, read away at 14 pages of my fic.
Chapter 8- Koji's Love
*K'so- Damn Nani- What? Konban wa- Good evening
"I'm a girl! But how?! HOW?! I must be dreaming!" Syaoran pinched herself on the cheek. It hurt, but she didn't wake up. She wasn't dreaming. "That potion was just supposed to make me invisible, not change my gender! Oh, my God! What the hell am I supposed to do?!" She started to panic and breathe heavily.
Syaoran indeed looked like a real woman. Her dark brown hair now came halfway down her back. Her whole body was long and slender from her legs, hips, arms, and fingers, to her shoulders. Syaoran's lips were tighter and her nose was slightly smaller. In a sense, she looked a little similar, but unless it was pointed out to someone, they probably wouldn't notice it was her.
Sakura snickered. She and Tomoyo began to giggle, but soon they broke out laughing. "WHAT'S SO FUNNY?! Don't think I won't do anything to you just because you're my friends!" Tomoyo fell onto her back, laughing. Sakura wiped a tear from her eye. "I'm sorry, Syaoran! I shouldn't be laughing, but it's just too funny!" Syaoran growled and veins continued to pop up on her face. She was ready to explode. The girl stamped over to the counter. "What did you do to me?!" The old woman put on a pair of glasses. "Oh, dear. you are the young boy who came in?" Syaoran nodded her head. She turned around and looked at the shattered glass on the floor that was once the potion jar. There was a label on the jar fragments as well. She picked it up and read it allowed. "Healthy Beautiful Girl #16." The elderly woman gasped. "Oh, my. A thousand apologies. Like I said, my eyes just aren't what they used to be. I must have read the wrong label." Syaoran sighed. "I'll be alright as long as this isn't permanent. Please tell me that this is just temporary."
By this time, Sakura and Tomoyo had finished laughing, so they came up to the counter. "Don't worry, Syaoran. I'm sure you'll be back to normal by tomorrow." The old woman shook her head. "I'm afraid not. You see, I make many potions that also change a person's physical appearance. In your case, this was 'Healthy Beautiful Girl #16.' The beautiful and healthy parts determine your physical appearance. '#16' stands for the age you would become. I often sell potions like these to criminals being pursued by bounty hunters. It helps them slip by them unhampered. Sadly, they must give up their old body. Permanently. I'm sorry." Syaoran stood in shock for a moment as she leaned over the counter.. "Then. is there. a cure?" The old lady just shook her head again. "Of course not! I sell only the finest potions! There is no cure for any of my potions! It has literally changed your body into believing you are female. What did you expect? That if I pour hot water on you and you'd return to normal? This isn't some crazy storybook!" All the color drained from Syaoran's entire body. Tomoyo patted her on the shoulder. "Wow! You're taking this really well! But really, is it that bad?" Syaoran stood in silence and then fell backwards onto the floor and blacked out.
Syaoran woke up a few minutes later on the potion shop's floor. "Ugh. my head. Oh, Sakura. I just had this strange dream. I dreamt I took that invisibility potion, but it made me a 16-year-old girl, and there was no cure." A sweat drop rolled down Sakura's head as she leaned over Syaoran and pointed down at Syaoran's body. Syaoran stared at herself. "K'so*." The two girls stood up. "Dammit all. what am I supposed to do? If there is no cure, I'll be stuck this way forever! I can never go home since no one will recognize me and even my house is being rented under my name, but who would believe we're the same person?" The elderly woman behind the counter thought to herself for a moment. "Well, maybe, just maybe, there may be a way. While there is no cure, I may have a 'Healthy Strong Boy #10' in the backroom. That would return you to normal!" Syaoran smiled for the first time in her short time as a girl. "You mean. I can't cure myself, but I can still use potions to change?" The old woman nodded and walked into the back room. "I'll check back here. No extra charge." Syaoran wiped the sweat from her forehead and sighed in relief. "That was close! For a minute, I was afraid I would have been stuck as a woman forever! This feels so. awkward. I feel off balance." The old woman pointed. "It's probably just the chest. My formula tends to have that effect. You'll get used to it." Syaoran sighed. "I don't know if I CAN get used to that! Also, my hair keeps getting in my face!" She grabbed her hair and put it all behind her frustratingly. Tomoyo smiled. "We can fix that with a few braids or clips."
Sakura looked on, puzzled. "What's wrong? We switched bodies back in those jail cells, remember?" Tomoyo asked, "Jail cells? What are you talking about?" Syaoran shook his head. "We'll tell you later tonight. But anyways, this is different. It just doesn't feel right. I mean, back then my body was alright. I knew using the Change Card could turn us back. Now. my body doesn't even exist. I've changed. Also, because I'm not in YOUR body, it just feels. weird. I'm not sure why. It just feels like I'm a whole new person."
The old woman returned through the door in the back. "Ah, young man. or young woman. whichever. I have found it! I have double checked it numerous times, and as you can see, it clearly says 'Healthy Strong Boy #10.'" They all saw it from a distance. Syaoran laughed. "Thank you so much!" She took it from the woman and prepared to drink it. when her feet slipped on a puddle of leftover potion from the shattered jar. The glass containing Syaoran's only chance to be normal again was flung high into the air. "I GOT IT! I GOT IT!" Sakura shouted. She took a few steps back, trying to catch the bottle in midair. She juggled it in her hands before she could get a solid grip hold it safely. Sakura leaned against the door to rest. "Phew! That was cl-"
The door to the shop was flung open and Sakura fell face first to the floor, which caused the bottle in her hands to shatter. Kero and Mia charged in over Sakura. "Quick! We need a place to hide!" Kero shouted. He and Mia looked around the room. Sakura lay behind them on her face with broken glass in her hands. Tomoyo-chan was wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. Some strange girl was staring in shock at the potion that oozed out of the jar onto the floor. "Uhh. did we come at a bad time?" Kero asked.
The sound of the angry villagers was outside the door when Kero and Mia jumped behind the door. Immediately, a villager entered. "Pardon the interruption, but has anyone seen a young girl with blonde hair and a yellow demon flying around her anywhere?" Tomoyo nodded her head. "Yeah, I saw them heading south from here." "Thanks!"
The door closed and Kero and Mia came out from hiding. "Whew! Thanks, Tomoyo!" Mia exclaimed. "Those villagers have been after us for a day! Ever since this flying pig started to steal food yesterday!" "HEY! I WAS HUNGRY!" Mia sighed as she helped Sakura to her feet. "It doesn't matter. Say, what are you doing here? And where's Syaoran?" Then they got a good look at the girl still sitting on the floor. "Oh, and is this a new friend of yours?"
Sakura whimpered as she stared down at the shattered glass, almost symbolic of Syaoran's hopes of returning to normal. "Gomen-nasi, Syaoran-kun. Mia, Kero, it's a long story. I'll shorten it for you. This girl. is Syaoran." They both stood in silence for a moment until Mia said, "Umm. could you repeat that? I could have sworn you said she was Syaoran." Syaoran stood up and groaned. ".It's me."
Kero and Mia snickered. Within a few seconds, everyone but Syaoran was laughing his or her head off. Syaoran growled in the lowest voice she could muster and veins popped up all over her body. She tried not to erupt into a rage. ".You know I'm going to get all of you back for this one day and have my revenge. Assuming I'll ever find a way to go back to normal."
Everyone managed to stop laughing rather quickly. "I mean, my last hope for getting back to being a normal boy was smashed into oblivion when you two knocked over Sakura and smashed the last potion as you stormed in. That was the only potion that could restore me to my normal body. At least mother isn't here. If she knew, she'd kill me. Oh, God! I forgot about her! My mother! I'm the only. I mean I WAS the only male in my family! I was the one who was supposed to carry on the family name. but now, that's all gone! She was counting on me to do so much as the only boy." The smile on Mia's face turned instantly into a frown. "You mean it's our fault that you. oh my. I'm so sorry!"
The old woman smirked. "Maybe all hope is not lost. I feel somewhat responsible, so I'm going to help you. All of the ingredients to make those potions can be found around this area! So all I have to do is gather them and make the right potion, so you'll be a boy again!" Syaoran quickly smiled. "You mean it?!" She nodded. "It will take a while, and the potion needs at least a week to settle, but it should work. Until then, just relax." Syaoran nodded. "Well, maybe I'll just have to live with it for now. Until then, let's just go somewhere else."
Tomoyo pointed to Syaoran with one hand. "Well, it looks like you'll need some new clothes. We all kinda noticed it from the start, but we couldn't really say anything until the shock wore down a bit." Syaoran looked down and blushed. Her once-baggy shirt and pants were now way too tight for her to wear and her stomach stuck out. "Uhh. yeah, maybe it would be a good idea to change. I think I'll just head back to Kumiko's house." Syaoran said as she burst through the door, running back to their temporary home.
When Syaoran got there, there was no one home. It was around 5 pm, so Kumiko and her parents would probably be home soon. She went into their room and found her bag she had packed with supplies. She had a few other pairs of clothes, but none of them fit properly. They were all too tight around the chest, too loose around the waist, too short, too tight on the hips, or a combination of those. She hadn't expected to need clothes for a 16-year-old for his trip. Even her baggiest garments didn't fit right.
Tomoyo and Sakura walked in just as Syaoran finished changing back into her old clothes. She sighed out loud. "I normally don't care about my clothes, but. I noticed a lot of guys. ummm. staring. as I ran here." Tomoyo smiled. "Don't you worry your cute little head! Tomoyo has all the answers!" Tomoyo grabbed her huge backpack and opened the largest compartment. She held it upside down over her bed and a mountain of clothes came out of it. Sakura and Syaoran's eyes almost popped out of their heads. How did Tomoyo make all that fit into one backpack? Sakura asked, "Tomoyo, why do you have clothes that would fit a 16-year-old like Syaoran with you now?" "Doesn't everyone carry these things for just such an emergency?"
Tomoyo began to dig through her giant pile of outfits. There was everything from Sakura's old battle outfits, to swimwear, to formal wear, and almost anything you could think of. She even had shoes of almost every size and color. "Tomoyo, when I told you to pack only the essentials. I didn't mean you should bring every outfit you own!" Tomoyo looked on confused. "But this IS essential! How can you do anything in the past if you don't look good doing it? Anyway, here. Try all of these on." Tomoyo laid some pink underwear, a pair of green flat shoes, a pink bra, green hair bands, and a green silk dress on her bed. "We'll make you just like one of the girls in no time!"
Syaoran stared at the outfits for a second and shook her head violently. "NO WAY! Look, I may be a girl for now, but there is not a chance in hell I'm going to dress like that! Look at this stuff. How do you even put this dress on? Besides, I don't even know how to make any hairstyle besides my own, so how am I going to put in these clips right? Don't even get me started on the underwear. There's nothing either of you can do to make me wear this stuff!"
A few minutes later, Syaoran walked out of the room to Sakura, who was waiting just outside the door. Tomoyo asked, "What do you think, Sakura?" "Oh, my God! That is so beautiful! You'll have to make me a dress like that!" Syaoran just sighed. "I forgot both of you could make 'puppy dog eyes' like that. I was outnumbered."
Syaoran wore a long, green, Chinese-styled dress with slits on the sides that went from her ankles to just above her hip. It had cherry blossoms printed all over it. She was wearing flat green shoes on under her dress. Syaoran wore her hair in one long braid all the way down her back. "Wait! I forgot the final touch!" Tomoyo turned Syaoran's face towards her and when she was done, Syaoran had on cute pink lipstick. Syaoran shook her head in shame.
Tomoyo smiled. "So, Syaoran, what do you think?" ".I think this is the most humiliating day of my life." Tomoyo giggled noisily. "Oh, come on! You look adorable! The lipstick really brings it all together. Plus, the potion lady said she would probably get all the ingredients probably by the end of the week! It won't be that bad! And if it takes only a few days for the potion to become ready for drinking, that means you only have to be a girl for about a week or two!" Syaoran sighed. "You're not really helping, you know."
Tomoyo put her hands on her hips. "Oh, what's wrong? You should be happy you know you can still go back!" Syaoran looked down at herself. "This is what's wrong! Look at this! What's with these slits?" Sakura smiled. "What about them? They look great!" Syaoran growled. "What's wrong is they go up past my waist! These shoes are too hard to walk in! Also, the lipstick smears everywhere." Syaoran yanked on the front of the dress. "UGH! And I don't know how you girls stand this." Syaoran turned many different shades of red. "But my bra is way too tight and my underwear keeps getting stuck to my butt! .I didn't think I'd ever have to say that." "Well, it's very odd of someone to have your dimensions, so I just had to go with a few sizes smaller. It's no big deal. You'll get used to it in a few days." Syaoran took a deep breath and relaxed. "I'm sorry for being so mean. I just feel so weird. and a little scared at what will happen if I CAN'T change back and meet my family. I know my sisters will love it and talk about how 'cute' I am, but Mother won't be as pleased." Sakura put her hand on Syaoran's shoulder. "It's alright. You'll get through this. I promise." That's when Syaoran gave a faint smile. "I guess you're right. thanks, Sakura." They stared into each other's eyes for a moment. Sakura thought to herself, "Even after all of this, I still feel the same when I look into his. I mean her eyes."
Kero and Mia came in through the front door. "Hi! We're back!" They both stepped into the hallway that led to the guest bedroom and saw Syaoran, who instantly started to blush. Mia smiled. "Wow! Syaoran, you look great!" Kero didn't have the same reaction and he started to laugh obnoxiously. "HA! Look at the gaki now! What's wrong, little girl? HA!" Mia hit Kero over the head and he crashed into the floor.
"Quiet, you stuffed animal!" She turned to Syaoran. "Don't listen to Kero. He's just a baka. But seriously, you're so lucky! I wish I could look like that." Syaoran just hung her head low and didn't respond.
Moments later, there was the sound of a wooden door slamming. Then they heard and saw Kumiko running into her room. She slammed the door, and locked it. She could be heard bawling on the other side. Sakura knocked on the door. "Kumiko-chan? Are you alright?"
Kero got up off the floor and chuckled. "Maybe she managed to get a good look at the gaki here in a dress and was overcome by sympathy." A vein popped up on Syaoran's forehead. "YOU are not one to talk about looks, stuffed animal!" "HEY!" Kero bit Syaoran on her finger and wouldn't let go until Mia helped pull him off. Syaoran sucked on her finger with a tear in her eye. "Just watch what you call me from now on, baka!" Syaoran took her finger out of her mouth and held Kero tight. "Hey, what are you doing?!" Kero asked in fear. Syaoran grabbed her long braid and wrapped Kero tight in it. Syaoran chuckled noisily. "Heh. I guess long hair does have its uses." Mia laughed. "You know, he does make a cute accessory!" "You really think so? Maybe I could stuff him or turn him into a purse!" "HEY! NO! LET ME GO!" Kero continued to scream to get Syaoran to let him go, but to no avail. Tomoyo smiled. "Actually, I think he's cute as a hairpin! Just look at him!" Syaoran spun around like a fashion model and giggled. "Hey, you're right! But he's missing something." "I know!" Tomoyo shouted as she pulled a red ribbon from her backpack. "Look how cute it is now!" The large crimson accessory covered over Kero's face and completed Syaoran's look. "Wow! Thanks, Tomoyo-chan!"
A vein popped up on Kero's head, but he didn't even bother to try and escape. He knew he couldn't.
Sakura giggled. "Wow! It's so cute. But Syaoran, I didn't expect you to be so interested in that stuff!" Syaoran stopped admiring her hair momentarily and turned a deep cherry color. "Oops. I don't know what came over me. but I still think it looks cute! What's wrong with me?" Mia laughed out loud. "You're just being feminine!" Syaoran sighed. "I was afraid of that."
That's when the crying continued on the other side of the door. Sakura knocked on the door again. ".Please, just let me be alone. I'm so worthless." Kumiko yelled out from behind her door. They all didn't know what to say, but they couldn't just leave her like that. "Please! Kumiko! You're anything BUT worthless! If it weren't for your generosity, I would have starved to death by now!" The door creaked open slightly and Sakura stepped in. The door quickly shut. No one said a thing except for Mia. "So. Kumiko is Sakura's ancestor?" They all nodded.
Tomoyo, Mia, and Syaoran all worked on making some kind of dinner, while Kero had quieted down and Syaoran untied him. However, she still kept the ribbon in her hair. She seemed to really like it. At about 7, Syaoran put a pot of rice and some roasted fish onto the table. Sakura walked into the kitchen. "I have some bad news. It seems someone has been picking on poor Kumiko all day, saying how she doesn't even deserve to look at Hitoshi, the one she loves." Syaoran added, "Well, that doesn't sound too bad. Everyone gets teased." Sakura shook her head. "But she also said that the one who did this had thick glasses, short black hair, and was some 14-year-old jerk." "KOJI!" The others yelled in unison. Sakura nodded. "Apparently, Mia's calculations were a little off. Koji didn't arrive on the 14th. He's here now." Mia sighed. "I'm sorry. My spell isn't completely accurate about the exact date. But I think I know what he's up to. Kumiko is apparently very sensitive and has a low sense of self-esteem. If Koji could take advantage of that, he can easily get her alone and scared. That would make her easy to kill. He could probably even make it look like suicide if he wanted to." Sakura added, "Also, her parents are gone. Both of them are visiting a nearby village, so she's here all alone, except for us. She seems to like to have company, but is also very shy, so she can't really say anything to us."
Syaoran slammed her fist down on the table. "Dammit, then we have to protect her! We'll just have to be her personal bodyguards!" They all nodded. "Tomorrow, we'll follow her everywhere." They all sat down to dinner.
Sakura yawned. "I think it's time to go to bed." "Yeah. I'm beat." Tomoyo replied. "Me too." Mia said. Syaoran picked up an extra plate of food. "I'll go to bed in a minute. I think I'll give Kumiko some dinner first." "Alright," Sakura replied. "See you in the morning, Syaoran-kun. uhh. I mean Syaoran-chan!" Syaoran sighed. "Alright, alright. I get it. just call me whatever you want. I'll see you in the morning."
Syaoran put the food down in front of Kumiko's door when he thought, "Hmm. She doesn't know that I've become a girl. I've been avoiding her ever since it happened. I better not let her see me. She might freak out if she knew, and she already has enough stuff on her mind." She knocked on the door and said, "Dinner!" She immediately ran down the hallway and heard the door open. "Sakura? Huh? That's strange. That didn't sound like Sakura. Oh well." Syaoran heard her pick up the food and close her door. "Time for bed."
When Syaoran got to her room, everyone, even Kero, sat in a circle in their pajamas. "You mean I knew magic?!" Tomoyo asked. "That's right. I taught you everything you knew." "Wow! That's so cool! Just think. I could have used magic alongside you Sakura!" Sakura sweat dropped. "Umm. well, you knew different spells than me. Oh, konban wa*, Syaoran!" She sat down next to Sakura. "I just gave Kumiko her dinner. She sounds like she's doing a lot better. I didn't hear her crying at all. But I'm guessing you were telling Tomoyo about what happened?" Tomoyo smiled. "It's all just so amazing! I can't believe you two saved the entire world from that evil demon, Sadin! Then again, there is nothing you can't do, Sakura!" Sakura blushed bashfully. "It wasn't that incredible! After all, you helped us, as did Mia, Yue, big brother, and all of our friends." Kero coughed loudly. ".And Kero." The guardian beast smiled.
Mia turned to Tomoyo. "You know, if you wanted to, I could help you remember all of your old powers with a little practice." Tomoyo shook her head. "No, but thank you. I'll leave the magic to all of you. But you can always count on me to be there with plenty of outfits to make sure you look great doing it!" They all giggled quietly. "That's all we need." Sakura said.
Mia thought for a moment. "Now, where were we?" Sakura continued. "Oh yeah, after the final shrine collapsed, the portal to Sadin's world opened up. However, before that, all of the villages came together at the city of the mages to train for the battle that approached." Syaoran continued. "We managed to fight our way through the demon resistance at the entrance to the portal, but once we entered Sadin's world, an endless army of demons that would stop at nothing to stop us. Sakura, you, Touya, Mia, Kero, Yue, and those strangers who were following us, and I managed to sneak around into the side of Sadin's castle. We eventually found a crystal that was producing all the demons. We destroyed it, but that's when Sadin showed up." Sakura picked up where Syaoran left off. "Sadin. I still shudder every time I think about his glowing red eyes. But anyway. Touya tried to attack him, but he was no match and was hurt badly. We were all captured."
"But we all broke out one by one." Mia said. "Sadin laid out a set of traps to try and crush our minds and our bodies, but we all made it back to Sadin's lair. Touya was still injured, so you offered to take care of him and stay behind." Tomoyo smiled. "Really? I did that? This is so exciting!" Syaoran continued. "Anyway, we entered Sadin's lair and prepared to fight him. At first, he wasn't much of a problem. We defeated him fairly easily. But he wasn't done. He transformed into this hideous dragon and gave us the fight of our lives. Every attack we tried was crushed. We were helpless." Sakura continued. "But that is when Sadin made his biggest mistake. He hurt Syaoran badly. I couldn't stand it. I let loose the Light and Dark Cards, and Sadin fell. But it was too late. Syaoran." A tear rolled down Sakura's cheek. "He was gone." Tomoyo scratched her head. "But she's sitting right here! Well, maybe not in her usual form. but. well, she's still alive!" Mia smiled. "I managed to revive him with a special spell, of course." Syaoran continued. "When I woke up, we were together in the park." Sakura and Syaoran turned their heads and stared into each other's eyes for a moment. Each of them blushed and turned away. "We had defeated Sadin and were together again."
"That's so beautiful!" Tomoyo shrieked. "But what else could I expect from you two? Now I know it's true: There truly is nothing that can stop you, Sakura!" Sakura yawned. "Well, right now, I'd like to stop and go to bed." "Good idea. I'm exhausted." Mia said. Syaoran took the ribbon out of her hair and set it down on a table. "Let's all just get some sleep. We don't know where Koji is now or when he will strike, so we better be rested."
Syaoran took off her dress and got into bed. She still felt awkward being in a female body, but the day had been so emotionally rough that she fell asleep instantly.
Eriol sat waiting on the roof of Kumiko's house. His glasses gleamed in the moonlight. He laughed hysterically. "Well, isn't this a lovely moment? My 'cute little descendant' has gotten even cuter and become a fine young woman! But. it's going to take more than cuteness to win this time. I can sense that demon. He is nearby, like a snake, waiting for the right moment to bite with his venomous fangs. I'll be ready." "Well, I can at least sympathize with Li." Nakuru said. "Quit you're complaining. I'd figure you'd be used to having no gender by now. It isn't that bad." Spinnel insulted from the shadows. "Quiet, beast, or I'll-" "That's enough! It's hard to watch for this Koji demon without you two bickering all the time." Eriol yelled back. "Yes, Master." They both replied before they all disappeared into the darkness.
"Hey, wake up, sleepy head!" Syaoran opened her eyes to see Mia standing over her. "Come on! Are you going to sleep all day?" Syaoran mumbled to herself and rolled over, concealing her head under the sheets. "Sheesh. Can't a guy get some sleep?" Tomoyo pulled the sheets off Syaoran's head. "First of all, you are a girl for a while, remember? So you should have said, 'can't a girl get some sleep?'" Mia added, "And to answer your question, you got plenty of sleep, so." Mia and Tomoyo lifted one end of her bed, making Syaoran rolled off. She landed on her head. "OW! What was that for?" "It's 9 o'clock! We have to get moving." Syaoran grabbed the dress she wore the day before and started to put it on. She also took the ribbon she had seemingly grown attached to and tied it to her braid once more. "Look, I'm sorry, but you have to remember I'm not used to this body. Plus, this is one of the first good night's sleep I've gotten without someone being hospitalized, sent back in time, or anything like that." Mia sighed. "Anyway, let's get a move on. Sakura and Kero are already down at the library with Kumiko. Tomoyo and I were just about to leave to see if we can learn anything about this Hitoshi she seems to like. You go meet up with Sakura, alright?" Syaoran nodded. "Good. Then we'll see you later, okay?"
After they both stepped outside, leaving Syaoran behind, Tomoyo whispered, "Do you think we should have told her about our plans for AFTER the library?" "No, let's just keep that a secret for now. We need to take this one step at a time." They both giggled. "But either way, she won't be very happy. Oh well. Let's go." Mia said before walking off to see what they could find out about Hitoshi.
Syaoran walked out of the house a few minutes later. She popped the last egg roll into her mouth and headed out for the library. When she opened the door, there was Kumiko, sitting at a desk, glancing over the cover of a romance novel. Sakura sat at another desk, with her nose in a book. Syaoran walked over to Sakura and tapped her on the shoulder. "I'm here. But I see you're so interested in that book." "Oh, umm. hi! Konnichi wa Syaoran-chan. I. err." "You were just too busy reading your manga?" Syaoran put her hand between the pages of Sakura's book and pulled out the offending "Sailor Moon" comic. Sakura laughed nervously. "Umm. how did you know?" Syaoran sighed. "First of all, I seriously doubt you would be reading a Dutch dictionary, and secondly, I doubt you would read it upside down." Sakura closed the book and realized it was inverted. She laughed nervously and turned it around. "Well, actually, I couldn't find any books that interested me, so I just had to fake it." Syaoran sighed. "Hey, wait a minute. What took you so long to get here?" Syaoran tried to come up with a logical excuse, but he couldn't find one. "Umm. I. uhh." "You overslept, didn't you?" Syaoran nodded. "Yeah, how'd you know?" Sakura chuckled. "When it comes to oversleeping, I'm an expert, I'm afraid."
Syaoran took a seat next to Sakura and they continued to talk about anything and everything. About five minutes later, Tomoyo, Kero, and Mia came through the door. "Oh, hello!" Sakura waved. Kero dived back into Mia's hair to hide from the other people who were studying there. Tomoyo said, "Well, you're in luck! We found out a lot about Hitoshi! Apparently, he has a REALLY big crush on Kumiko! The only problem is that he gets a little shy around her, too! Basically, if we can find a way to bring them together, they'll be fine." Sakura smiled. "That's great news!" Mia asked, "So, how's Kumiko?" Syaoran smiled. "Don't worry. We've been keeping a close eye on her! She's. right. over." There was a prolonged silence as Syaoran pointed to an empty desk where Kumiko once sat at. "SHE'S GONE!" Tomoyo opened the door and waved everyone on. "I know where she went! Come on!"
The five of them charged up a hill as Tomoyo led them on. Syaoran mumbled to herself, "Hmm. this path seems somehow familiar." Soon, they all arrived at a familiar cave. ""She comes here everyday at around this time to read." Tomoyo said. Syaoran's eyes shrunk. Surely they didn't intend to bring her in? Before she could ponder what they intended to do, Tomoyo and Sakura dragged her into the changing room. All of the girls started to change. Syaoran turned pale and hid her face in a corner. "GYAH! What are you doing?!" Tomoyo answered calmly, "Well, you said you yourself if you could watch over us in the springs, you would! You were just worried the girls would get mad. But, now, you are a girl, too! Therefore, I see no problem. Technically, you are female, so, you can come in, right?" Syaoran still faced the stone corner. She didn't even know what the room really looked like. "Well. umm. I suppose that technically, I am a girl. for now. So. if I WANTED to, I could go into them." "Well, then I don't see a problem." Mia added. ""The problem is, I may be a girl, but I'm not used to it! It's too embarrassing!" Tomoyo giggled. "Aw, don't worry, Syaoran-chan! I did it yesterday. It's nothing!" "Easy for you to say." "Well, you can turn around, now, if you want." Syaoran slowly turned around, and faced the three girls who were all wrapped in towels. Her face turned beet red. "YAHHH!" "What's wrong?" Sakura asked. "Gomen. it's. it's just that last time I saw you like that." A sweat drop rolled down Tomoyo, Sakura, and Mia's heads. "A heh. Syaoran, it's okay. I'm not going to throw anything at you!" "So. if I saw you like this as a guy, you would hit me, but because I'm temporarily a girl, it's okay?" "Well. umm. yeah." "." Tomoyo giggled. "You two are so cute when you go on and on like that! But, just come on! You said you wanted to help us!" Syaoran sighed. "I'm sorry, but I just can't do it."
A few minutes later, Syaoran emerged from the dressing room wearing only a towel to meet up with the rest of the girls who were waiting for her outside the entrance to the room. She refused to get changed in front of them. Kero relaxed in Mia's hair to avoid detection by the other girls in the springs. She sighed. "One day, you and Tomoyo will have to tell me how you make those puppy dog eyes. maybe then I could say no to them."
The four girls stepped out of the cave and onto the edge of the hot springs. It was made of a gray type of rock, with steam rising across the boiling hot water. At one end, a group of 5 young women were all laughing, talking together. They looked like they were all around 15 to 18-years-old. As soon as the group of maidens emerged from the cave, they all yelled in unison, "TOMOYO-CHAN!" Tomoyo laughed. "You all remember me?" One girl with long brown hair and dark blues eyes said, "Of course we do! How could we forget?"
As Tomoyo leaped into the water and walked over to the girls in the corner, Sakura pointed something out. "Look! It's Kumiko!" There, at the opposite end of the hot springs and as far from anyone in there as possible, was Kumiko. She held a book in her hands and read silently. However, when she heard Sakura say her name, she turned for a brief moment, blushed in shyness, and went back to her book. Sakura, Syaoran, and Mia slowly stepped into the warm water and made their way over to Kumiko. "Hello, Kumiko-chan! How are you?" The girl put a bookmark in her novel and closed it. ".I'm alright. Are all of these people your friends?" Sakura nodded. "This is Mia." Mia waved. "Nice to meet you!" "And this is Syaoran." Kumiko gave her an odd look. "Nani? * Her name is Syaoran? But I thought Syaoran was that boy you were traveling with. Come to think of it, I haven't seen him lately." Sakura and Syaoran laughed nervously together. "Ahh. she didn't say Syaoran. She said. ahh." "Syao! That's her nickname! It's really Syaoru, but we just like Syao better." "Oh." Syaoran added, "Actually, I'm. uhh. Syaoran's sister. He had to leave the village quickly to attend to an emergency, but he sent for me a few days earlier." "Oh, I see." Kumiko said.
"Oh, my God! Tomoyo, are they all your friends, too?" "THEY'RE ADORABLE!" All of the girls around Tomoyo began to yell in delight. "Look at THAT one!" A girl pointed to Syaoran, who immediately turned bright red. "Who? ME?!"
The group of crazed girls swarmed all over her. "Wow! Look at you! You're so. so. drop dead gorgeous!" "What did you say your name was? Syaoru? I love that name! It's so kawaii!" "Look at that pink lipstick! I love it! You'll have to let me try it!"
Tomoyo said aloud, "Pink lipstick? But I didn't. Syaoru!" She joined into the crowd. "I didn't put that lipstick on you today!" A sweat drop rolled down Syaoran's head. She whispered to her, "Well. uhh. I just felt I could use some and put it on. I'd. 'blend in' better."
Syaoran could barely breath as the hyperactive girls overwhelmed her, like a pack of hyenas attacking their wounded prey. A sweat drop rolled down Mia and Sakura's heads as they watched. Tomoyo came over to Sakura. "Ha! Syaoran says she isn't used to being a girl, and yet she puts on lipstick without being forced to? Someone must be in denial!" The three of them giggled.
"Oh wow! You're so lucky! You're so very well built! Not at all like me. You're so lucky!" Syaoran started blush even worse. "Ahh. I'm. uhh. well. uhh. I never noticed before!" "Oh, don't be so modest! You look fantastic!" "C'mon! What's your secret for looking so incredible?" "I don't think there is a man in all of Japan who wouldn't fall for you!"
"My. my. my 'secret?'" "Yeah, after all, no one can look that great just naturally!" Syaoran blushed like she had never blushed before. "Ahh. ummm." "Hey, are you okay? Your face is bright red." Syaoran saw her chance. "Actually, I'm getting kinda dizzy! All of this steam is getting to me. I think I should go." Syaoran tried to stand up, but Sakura grabbed her towel and yanked her back down into the water. "But you can't go! You still need to tell us your beauty secrets! We've been friends for so long, and you've never even discussed them with me once!" Syaoran glanced at Sakura with a look that said, "You know I'm going to get you back for this."
"Come on! Tell us!" "We need to know!" "We're dying to know!" Syaoran thought hard, but she couldn't think of anything to say. She just had to come forward. "To tell you the truth, it's not my body." "What?" "What do you mean?" "Yeah right. Let me guess, some witch made you drink some kind of potion and it made you look like this?" Syaoran nodded and blushed. "Oh please, you're just too humble to tell us your secret!"
Syaoran sighed and thought, "Now I know what it's like to be a friend of my sisters."
A few hilltops away, Koji sat with a pair of electronic binoculars he had brought from the future. "What's this? It's that damn brat, Sakura! How the hell did she find me?! And there are her little friends, too. Though I don't see that Li brat anywhere. All I need to do is get to that girl when they least suspect it, kill her, steal her soul, and leave." Koji adjusted the binoculars to focus on the girls in the corner. "What's this? A catfight? Ooh. this may be interesting." At the same time, Syaoran stood up and Koji set his eyes upon her. "WHOA! Would you look at THAT one! Damn. she is flaming hot! I may need to get to 'know her' better. Hee hee."
Kumiko picked up her book and stepped out of the hot springs. Sakura, Mia, and Tomoyo noticed this and stepped out as well. The girls that were still smothering Syaoran looked up at the sun. "Oh, it's about 3 o'clock. I guess we should go." "So long, Syaoru!" "Sayonara, Syaoru-chan!" "Come back tomorrow!" "Yeah, see you tomorrow, O, kawaii one!" "We'll be back tomorrow, and this time, you better tell us your secret!" They all got out of the springs one by one.
"TOMORROW?! AGAIN?!" Syaoran sighed and let herself sink below the water's surface to just relax.
A few minutes later, Syaoran awoke to find herself floating on the surface of the water. "Ugh? I must have dozed off. Tomoyo was right. This is very soothing." Syaoran re-wrapped herself in her towel and stepped out. As she walked down the hallway to the changing room, she heard a whistle from just outside the cave's entrance. "HEY! Come here!" Syaoran stuck her head out of the entrance, but no one was there. "Hello?" She walked out into the open field, still dripping wet.
Stomp!
There was the sound of something hitting the ground behind her. Syaoran turned around and screamed to herself, "KOJI?! OH, NO! Wait, I can't let him know that I recognize him." Syaoran lied and asked, "Who are you? I've never met you before!"
Koji smiled. "I'm just the guy of your dreams! After all, with a body like that, you deserve only the best!" Syaoran blushed. "What?! What about my body?!" Koji gave a sadistic smile. "Oh, come on! Don't be so modest! Nice, smooth, long legs. delicate and beautiful fingers." Koji stepped closer and rubbed Syaoran's stomach seductively. "A cute and flat tummy." Syaoran took a few steps back and started to sweat. "What are you doing?! Get your hands off me!" He stared into her eyes and moved his hands through her hair. "A cute face and long hair." Koji wrapped his arm around Syaoran and started to rub her back while he gave her a head to toe glance, stopping just above her abs. "A rather large and perfectly shaped pair of breasts." Syaoran blushed even worse and started to stutter. "I. uhh. no. err. I-I-I'm not. I mean. my breasts. ummm. they're not that big. Are they?" Koji grinned sadistically. "Let's just say I think busty would be an understatement!"
Syaoran started to panic. "What do I do?! This guy is the biggest hentai I've eve seen! Does he actually think he's going to get anywhere with lines like that?! I gotta think of some way to get out of here. AHHH! Now what is he doing?!"
Koji slowly slipped his right hand down the back of Syaoran's towel. "And, most importantly of all, a very soft butt!" Her face turned about 50 shades of red. She wasn't sure if he was more embarrassed or angry, but after a few moments, she built up the courage and anger to get free.
Syaoran jumped back, out of Koji's arms. "NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU PERVERT?! GET. your." She felt a cold breeze. That's when Syaoran realized her towel hadn't come with her, as it was still in Koji's hands. Koji could only stare mindlessly and say, "Damn. I mean. WOW! You look even greater when you're close up than with binoculars!" Koji drooled as he gawked. "YOU WERE SPYING ON ME?!" Syaoran could feel the rage burning inside her, but she couldn't just let it out. She grabbed the towel from Koji's hands and covered herself with it. "Don't be so angry that I got a little peek at you! With a body like that, it's a waste to not let guys have a little peek at it. Why hide it from all of us? Tell you what. Why don't you take off that towel and just let me help you relax. I'll show you a very good time.?" Koji reached for the front of Syaoran's towel, but she raised one hand and gave Koji a vigorous slap that left a red mark in the shape of her palm. "Just keep away from me, you pervert! My body is my business! Just get the hell out of here before I get REALLY angry!" Koji cackled. "Heh! You're a fiery one! I like women with a little attitude! Come on, babe, why don't we play a little game? I know you want to." That's when Syaoran got an idea of how to get revenge and stop Koji at the same time.
Syaoran leaned over and said in the most seductive voice she could, "I see. Is that all I you wanted to do? Why didn't you say so? I'd love to play with you. Oh, I know the PERFECT game. now just close your eyes and I'll have a little surprise just for you." Koji was all smiles. "Oh, I know I'll love it!" He covered his eyes. "Koji, you sly dog. You're just irresistible to women! And you've hooked a regular fireball! I bet I know what her surprise is too. But then again, with someone like me, how could she resist? After this, I can kill that Kumiko girl or whatever her name is. Life doesn't get much better than this!" Koji began to dream of what was coming his way.
Syaoran walked over to the fence of the hot springs and pulled a bamboo pole from the ground. "I'll be back with your surprise in a minute!" Koji laughed. "Take your sweet time! I'm not going anywhere, and we can do this anytime and anywhere!"
She stood in front of the smiling Koji and said, "Okay, open your eyes! I'm ready!" Koji opened his eyes, but saw something a lot different than he anticipated. "PERVERT!" Syaoran brought the bamboo pole crashing down onto Koji's head. She then went on to use it like a rod and beat the tar out of Koji with it. "YOU SICKO! IF YOU EVER TOUCH ME AGAIN I'LL. I'LL.!
Koji lay bloodied on the ground. Syaoran lifted his head off the ground and slapped him as hard as she could. She hoisted Koji up into the air and prepared the final blow that would probably crush his skull. But when Syaoran swung the pole, Koji ducked and ran. Koji sprinted out of the field and back to town in a matter of seconds. "AND DON'T COME BACK!"
Sakura walked up to Syaoran from the side. "AHHH! Syaoran, what are you doing in the open dressed like that?! You're still dripping wet!" Syaoran wrung her hair out. "But that was Koji!"
Koji sat against the wall of a village house and took a deep breath. "DAMMIT! That hurts! That woman. she has such a temper! And she's brutal! I've never met any woman who can fight like that. Hell, I've never met a woman like her!"
Koji's eyes lit up. "I THINK I'M IN LOVE!"
See you, space cowboy.
Okay, for this chapter, I want to give special thanks to my friend Aerin, who gave me the idea for the hot springs and Syaoran's name. She also gave me advice on how much of this kind of humor was suitable. Not to mention the hours of painstaking advice, grammar checks, and plot hole pointing that she usually does. Thanks. ::Gives her a hug::
Chapter 8- Koji's Love
*K'so- Damn Nani- What? Konban wa- Good evening
"I'm a girl! But how?! HOW?! I must be dreaming!" Syaoran pinched herself on the cheek. It hurt, but she didn't wake up. She wasn't dreaming. "That potion was just supposed to make me invisible, not change my gender! Oh, my God! What the hell am I supposed to do?!" She started to panic and breathe heavily.
Syaoran indeed looked like a real woman. Her dark brown hair now came halfway down her back. Her whole body was long and slender from her legs, hips, arms, and fingers, to her shoulders. Syaoran's lips were tighter and her nose was slightly smaller. In a sense, she looked a little similar, but unless it was pointed out to someone, they probably wouldn't notice it was her.
Sakura snickered. She and Tomoyo began to giggle, but soon they broke out laughing. "WHAT'S SO FUNNY?! Don't think I won't do anything to you just because you're my friends!" Tomoyo fell onto her back, laughing. Sakura wiped a tear from her eye. "I'm sorry, Syaoran! I shouldn't be laughing, but it's just too funny!" Syaoran growled and veins continued to pop up on her face. She was ready to explode. The girl stamped over to the counter. "What did you do to me?!" The old woman put on a pair of glasses. "Oh, dear. you are the young boy who came in?" Syaoran nodded her head. She turned around and looked at the shattered glass on the floor that was once the potion jar. There was a label on the jar fragments as well. She picked it up and read it allowed. "Healthy Beautiful Girl #16." The elderly woman gasped. "Oh, my. A thousand apologies. Like I said, my eyes just aren't what they used to be. I must have read the wrong label." Syaoran sighed. "I'll be alright as long as this isn't permanent. Please tell me that this is just temporary."
By this time, Sakura and Tomoyo had finished laughing, so they came up to the counter. "Don't worry, Syaoran. I'm sure you'll be back to normal by tomorrow." The old woman shook her head. "I'm afraid not. You see, I make many potions that also change a person's physical appearance. In your case, this was 'Healthy Beautiful Girl #16.' The beautiful and healthy parts determine your physical appearance. '#16' stands for the age you would become. I often sell potions like these to criminals being pursued by bounty hunters. It helps them slip by them unhampered. Sadly, they must give up their old body. Permanently. I'm sorry." Syaoran stood in shock for a moment as she leaned over the counter.. "Then. is there. a cure?" The old lady just shook her head again. "Of course not! I sell only the finest potions! There is no cure for any of my potions! It has literally changed your body into believing you are female. What did you expect? That if I pour hot water on you and you'd return to normal? This isn't some crazy storybook!" All the color drained from Syaoran's entire body. Tomoyo patted her on the shoulder. "Wow! You're taking this really well! But really, is it that bad?" Syaoran stood in silence and then fell backwards onto the floor and blacked out.
Syaoran woke up a few minutes later on the potion shop's floor. "Ugh. my head. Oh, Sakura. I just had this strange dream. I dreamt I took that invisibility potion, but it made me a 16-year-old girl, and there was no cure." A sweat drop rolled down Sakura's head as she leaned over Syaoran and pointed down at Syaoran's body. Syaoran stared at herself. "K'so*." The two girls stood up. "Dammit all. what am I supposed to do? If there is no cure, I'll be stuck this way forever! I can never go home since no one will recognize me and even my house is being rented under my name, but who would believe we're the same person?" The elderly woman behind the counter thought to herself for a moment. "Well, maybe, just maybe, there may be a way. While there is no cure, I may have a 'Healthy Strong Boy #10' in the backroom. That would return you to normal!" Syaoran smiled for the first time in her short time as a girl. "You mean. I can't cure myself, but I can still use potions to change?" The old woman nodded and walked into the back room. "I'll check back here. No extra charge." Syaoran wiped the sweat from her forehead and sighed in relief. "That was close! For a minute, I was afraid I would have been stuck as a woman forever! This feels so. awkward. I feel off balance." The old woman pointed. "It's probably just the chest. My formula tends to have that effect. You'll get used to it." Syaoran sighed. "I don't know if I CAN get used to that! Also, my hair keeps getting in my face!" She grabbed her hair and put it all behind her frustratingly. Tomoyo smiled. "We can fix that with a few braids or clips."
Sakura looked on, puzzled. "What's wrong? We switched bodies back in those jail cells, remember?" Tomoyo asked, "Jail cells? What are you talking about?" Syaoran shook his head. "We'll tell you later tonight. But anyways, this is different. It just doesn't feel right. I mean, back then my body was alright. I knew using the Change Card could turn us back. Now. my body doesn't even exist. I've changed. Also, because I'm not in YOUR body, it just feels. weird. I'm not sure why. It just feels like I'm a whole new person."
The old woman returned through the door in the back. "Ah, young man. or young woman. whichever. I have found it! I have double checked it numerous times, and as you can see, it clearly says 'Healthy Strong Boy #10.'" They all saw it from a distance. Syaoran laughed. "Thank you so much!" She took it from the woman and prepared to drink it. when her feet slipped on a puddle of leftover potion from the shattered jar. The glass containing Syaoran's only chance to be normal again was flung high into the air. "I GOT IT! I GOT IT!" Sakura shouted. She took a few steps back, trying to catch the bottle in midair. She juggled it in her hands before she could get a solid grip hold it safely. Sakura leaned against the door to rest. "Phew! That was cl-"
The door to the shop was flung open and Sakura fell face first to the floor, which caused the bottle in her hands to shatter. Kero and Mia charged in over Sakura. "Quick! We need a place to hide!" Kero shouted. He and Mia looked around the room. Sakura lay behind them on her face with broken glass in her hands. Tomoyo-chan was wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. Some strange girl was staring in shock at the potion that oozed out of the jar onto the floor. "Uhh. did we come at a bad time?" Kero asked.
The sound of the angry villagers was outside the door when Kero and Mia jumped behind the door. Immediately, a villager entered. "Pardon the interruption, but has anyone seen a young girl with blonde hair and a yellow demon flying around her anywhere?" Tomoyo nodded her head. "Yeah, I saw them heading south from here." "Thanks!"
The door closed and Kero and Mia came out from hiding. "Whew! Thanks, Tomoyo!" Mia exclaimed. "Those villagers have been after us for a day! Ever since this flying pig started to steal food yesterday!" "HEY! I WAS HUNGRY!" Mia sighed as she helped Sakura to her feet. "It doesn't matter. Say, what are you doing here? And where's Syaoran?" Then they got a good look at the girl still sitting on the floor. "Oh, and is this a new friend of yours?"
Sakura whimpered as she stared down at the shattered glass, almost symbolic of Syaoran's hopes of returning to normal. "Gomen-nasi, Syaoran-kun. Mia, Kero, it's a long story. I'll shorten it for you. This girl. is Syaoran." They both stood in silence for a moment until Mia said, "Umm. could you repeat that? I could have sworn you said she was Syaoran." Syaoran stood up and groaned. ".It's me."
Kero and Mia snickered. Within a few seconds, everyone but Syaoran was laughing his or her head off. Syaoran growled in the lowest voice she could muster and veins popped up all over her body. She tried not to erupt into a rage. ".You know I'm going to get all of you back for this one day and have my revenge. Assuming I'll ever find a way to go back to normal."
Everyone managed to stop laughing rather quickly. "I mean, my last hope for getting back to being a normal boy was smashed into oblivion when you two knocked over Sakura and smashed the last potion as you stormed in. That was the only potion that could restore me to my normal body. At least mother isn't here. If she knew, she'd kill me. Oh, God! I forgot about her! My mother! I'm the only. I mean I WAS the only male in my family! I was the one who was supposed to carry on the family name. but now, that's all gone! She was counting on me to do so much as the only boy." The smile on Mia's face turned instantly into a frown. "You mean it's our fault that you. oh my. I'm so sorry!"
The old woman smirked. "Maybe all hope is not lost. I feel somewhat responsible, so I'm going to help you. All of the ingredients to make those potions can be found around this area! So all I have to do is gather them and make the right potion, so you'll be a boy again!" Syaoran quickly smiled. "You mean it?!" She nodded. "It will take a while, and the potion needs at least a week to settle, but it should work. Until then, just relax." Syaoran nodded. "Well, maybe I'll just have to live with it for now. Until then, let's just go somewhere else."
Tomoyo pointed to Syaoran with one hand. "Well, it looks like you'll need some new clothes. We all kinda noticed it from the start, but we couldn't really say anything until the shock wore down a bit." Syaoran looked down and blushed. Her once-baggy shirt and pants were now way too tight for her to wear and her stomach stuck out. "Uhh. yeah, maybe it would be a good idea to change. I think I'll just head back to Kumiko's house." Syaoran said as she burst through the door, running back to their temporary home.
When Syaoran got there, there was no one home. It was around 5 pm, so Kumiko and her parents would probably be home soon. She went into their room and found her bag she had packed with supplies. She had a few other pairs of clothes, but none of them fit properly. They were all too tight around the chest, too loose around the waist, too short, too tight on the hips, or a combination of those. She hadn't expected to need clothes for a 16-year-old for his trip. Even her baggiest garments didn't fit right.
Tomoyo and Sakura walked in just as Syaoran finished changing back into her old clothes. She sighed out loud. "I normally don't care about my clothes, but. I noticed a lot of guys. ummm. staring. as I ran here." Tomoyo smiled. "Don't you worry your cute little head! Tomoyo has all the answers!" Tomoyo grabbed her huge backpack and opened the largest compartment. She held it upside down over her bed and a mountain of clothes came out of it. Sakura and Syaoran's eyes almost popped out of their heads. How did Tomoyo make all that fit into one backpack? Sakura asked, "Tomoyo, why do you have clothes that would fit a 16-year-old like Syaoran with you now?" "Doesn't everyone carry these things for just such an emergency?"
Tomoyo began to dig through her giant pile of outfits. There was everything from Sakura's old battle outfits, to swimwear, to formal wear, and almost anything you could think of. She even had shoes of almost every size and color. "Tomoyo, when I told you to pack only the essentials. I didn't mean you should bring every outfit you own!" Tomoyo looked on confused. "But this IS essential! How can you do anything in the past if you don't look good doing it? Anyway, here. Try all of these on." Tomoyo laid some pink underwear, a pair of green flat shoes, a pink bra, green hair bands, and a green silk dress on her bed. "We'll make you just like one of the girls in no time!"
Syaoran stared at the outfits for a second and shook her head violently. "NO WAY! Look, I may be a girl for now, but there is not a chance in hell I'm going to dress like that! Look at this stuff. How do you even put this dress on? Besides, I don't even know how to make any hairstyle besides my own, so how am I going to put in these clips right? Don't even get me started on the underwear. There's nothing either of you can do to make me wear this stuff!"
A few minutes later, Syaoran walked out of the room to Sakura, who was waiting just outside the door. Tomoyo asked, "What do you think, Sakura?" "Oh, my God! That is so beautiful! You'll have to make me a dress like that!" Syaoran just sighed. "I forgot both of you could make 'puppy dog eyes' like that. I was outnumbered."
Syaoran wore a long, green, Chinese-styled dress with slits on the sides that went from her ankles to just above her hip. It had cherry blossoms printed all over it. She was wearing flat green shoes on under her dress. Syaoran wore her hair in one long braid all the way down her back. "Wait! I forgot the final touch!" Tomoyo turned Syaoran's face towards her and when she was done, Syaoran had on cute pink lipstick. Syaoran shook her head in shame.
Tomoyo smiled. "So, Syaoran, what do you think?" ".I think this is the most humiliating day of my life." Tomoyo giggled noisily. "Oh, come on! You look adorable! The lipstick really brings it all together. Plus, the potion lady said she would probably get all the ingredients probably by the end of the week! It won't be that bad! And if it takes only a few days for the potion to become ready for drinking, that means you only have to be a girl for about a week or two!" Syaoran sighed. "You're not really helping, you know."
Tomoyo put her hands on her hips. "Oh, what's wrong? You should be happy you know you can still go back!" Syaoran looked down at herself. "This is what's wrong! Look at this! What's with these slits?" Sakura smiled. "What about them? They look great!" Syaoran growled. "What's wrong is they go up past my waist! These shoes are too hard to walk in! Also, the lipstick smears everywhere." Syaoran yanked on the front of the dress. "UGH! And I don't know how you girls stand this." Syaoran turned many different shades of red. "But my bra is way too tight and my underwear keeps getting stuck to my butt! .I didn't think I'd ever have to say that." "Well, it's very odd of someone to have your dimensions, so I just had to go with a few sizes smaller. It's no big deal. You'll get used to it in a few days." Syaoran took a deep breath and relaxed. "I'm sorry for being so mean. I just feel so weird. and a little scared at what will happen if I CAN'T change back and meet my family. I know my sisters will love it and talk about how 'cute' I am, but Mother won't be as pleased." Sakura put her hand on Syaoran's shoulder. "It's alright. You'll get through this. I promise." That's when Syaoran gave a faint smile. "I guess you're right. thanks, Sakura." They stared into each other's eyes for a moment. Sakura thought to herself, "Even after all of this, I still feel the same when I look into his. I mean her eyes."
Kero and Mia came in through the front door. "Hi! We're back!" They both stepped into the hallway that led to the guest bedroom and saw Syaoran, who instantly started to blush. Mia smiled. "Wow! Syaoran, you look great!" Kero didn't have the same reaction and he started to laugh obnoxiously. "HA! Look at the gaki now! What's wrong, little girl? HA!" Mia hit Kero over the head and he crashed into the floor.
"Quiet, you stuffed animal!" She turned to Syaoran. "Don't listen to Kero. He's just a baka. But seriously, you're so lucky! I wish I could look like that." Syaoran just hung her head low and didn't respond.
Moments later, there was the sound of a wooden door slamming. Then they heard and saw Kumiko running into her room. She slammed the door, and locked it. She could be heard bawling on the other side. Sakura knocked on the door. "Kumiko-chan? Are you alright?"
Kero got up off the floor and chuckled. "Maybe she managed to get a good look at the gaki here in a dress and was overcome by sympathy." A vein popped up on Syaoran's forehead. "YOU are not one to talk about looks, stuffed animal!" "HEY!" Kero bit Syaoran on her finger and wouldn't let go until Mia helped pull him off. Syaoran sucked on her finger with a tear in her eye. "Just watch what you call me from now on, baka!" Syaoran took her finger out of her mouth and held Kero tight. "Hey, what are you doing?!" Kero asked in fear. Syaoran grabbed her long braid and wrapped Kero tight in it. Syaoran chuckled noisily. "Heh. I guess long hair does have its uses." Mia laughed. "You know, he does make a cute accessory!" "You really think so? Maybe I could stuff him or turn him into a purse!" "HEY! NO! LET ME GO!" Kero continued to scream to get Syaoran to let him go, but to no avail. Tomoyo smiled. "Actually, I think he's cute as a hairpin! Just look at him!" Syaoran spun around like a fashion model and giggled. "Hey, you're right! But he's missing something." "I know!" Tomoyo shouted as she pulled a red ribbon from her backpack. "Look how cute it is now!" The large crimson accessory covered over Kero's face and completed Syaoran's look. "Wow! Thanks, Tomoyo-chan!"
A vein popped up on Kero's head, but he didn't even bother to try and escape. He knew he couldn't.
Sakura giggled. "Wow! It's so cute. But Syaoran, I didn't expect you to be so interested in that stuff!" Syaoran stopped admiring her hair momentarily and turned a deep cherry color. "Oops. I don't know what came over me. but I still think it looks cute! What's wrong with me?" Mia laughed out loud. "You're just being feminine!" Syaoran sighed. "I was afraid of that."
That's when the crying continued on the other side of the door. Sakura knocked on the door again. ".Please, just let me be alone. I'm so worthless." Kumiko yelled out from behind her door. They all didn't know what to say, but they couldn't just leave her like that. "Please! Kumiko! You're anything BUT worthless! If it weren't for your generosity, I would have starved to death by now!" The door creaked open slightly and Sakura stepped in. The door quickly shut. No one said a thing except for Mia. "So. Kumiko is Sakura's ancestor?" They all nodded.
Tomoyo, Mia, and Syaoran all worked on making some kind of dinner, while Kero had quieted down and Syaoran untied him. However, she still kept the ribbon in her hair. She seemed to really like it. At about 7, Syaoran put a pot of rice and some roasted fish onto the table. Sakura walked into the kitchen. "I have some bad news. It seems someone has been picking on poor Kumiko all day, saying how she doesn't even deserve to look at Hitoshi, the one she loves." Syaoran added, "Well, that doesn't sound too bad. Everyone gets teased." Sakura shook her head. "But she also said that the one who did this had thick glasses, short black hair, and was some 14-year-old jerk." "KOJI!" The others yelled in unison. Sakura nodded. "Apparently, Mia's calculations were a little off. Koji didn't arrive on the 14th. He's here now." Mia sighed. "I'm sorry. My spell isn't completely accurate about the exact date. But I think I know what he's up to. Kumiko is apparently very sensitive and has a low sense of self-esteem. If Koji could take advantage of that, he can easily get her alone and scared. That would make her easy to kill. He could probably even make it look like suicide if he wanted to." Sakura added, "Also, her parents are gone. Both of them are visiting a nearby village, so she's here all alone, except for us. She seems to like to have company, but is also very shy, so she can't really say anything to us."
Syaoran slammed her fist down on the table. "Dammit, then we have to protect her! We'll just have to be her personal bodyguards!" They all nodded. "Tomorrow, we'll follow her everywhere." They all sat down to dinner.
Sakura yawned. "I think it's time to go to bed." "Yeah. I'm beat." Tomoyo replied. "Me too." Mia said. Syaoran picked up an extra plate of food. "I'll go to bed in a minute. I think I'll give Kumiko some dinner first." "Alright," Sakura replied. "See you in the morning, Syaoran-kun. uhh. I mean Syaoran-chan!" Syaoran sighed. "Alright, alright. I get it. just call me whatever you want. I'll see you in the morning."
Syaoran put the food down in front of Kumiko's door when he thought, "Hmm. She doesn't know that I've become a girl. I've been avoiding her ever since it happened. I better not let her see me. She might freak out if she knew, and she already has enough stuff on her mind." She knocked on the door and said, "Dinner!" She immediately ran down the hallway and heard the door open. "Sakura? Huh? That's strange. That didn't sound like Sakura. Oh well." Syaoran heard her pick up the food and close her door. "Time for bed."
When Syaoran got to her room, everyone, even Kero, sat in a circle in their pajamas. "You mean I knew magic?!" Tomoyo asked. "That's right. I taught you everything you knew." "Wow! That's so cool! Just think. I could have used magic alongside you Sakura!" Sakura sweat dropped. "Umm. well, you knew different spells than me. Oh, konban wa*, Syaoran!" She sat down next to Sakura. "I just gave Kumiko her dinner. She sounds like she's doing a lot better. I didn't hear her crying at all. But I'm guessing you were telling Tomoyo about what happened?" Tomoyo smiled. "It's all just so amazing! I can't believe you two saved the entire world from that evil demon, Sadin! Then again, there is nothing you can't do, Sakura!" Sakura blushed bashfully. "It wasn't that incredible! After all, you helped us, as did Mia, Yue, big brother, and all of our friends." Kero coughed loudly. ".And Kero." The guardian beast smiled.
Mia turned to Tomoyo. "You know, if you wanted to, I could help you remember all of your old powers with a little practice." Tomoyo shook her head. "No, but thank you. I'll leave the magic to all of you. But you can always count on me to be there with plenty of outfits to make sure you look great doing it!" They all giggled quietly. "That's all we need." Sakura said.
Mia thought for a moment. "Now, where were we?" Sakura continued. "Oh yeah, after the final shrine collapsed, the portal to Sadin's world opened up. However, before that, all of the villages came together at the city of the mages to train for the battle that approached." Syaoran continued. "We managed to fight our way through the demon resistance at the entrance to the portal, but once we entered Sadin's world, an endless army of demons that would stop at nothing to stop us. Sakura, you, Touya, Mia, Kero, Yue, and those strangers who were following us, and I managed to sneak around into the side of Sadin's castle. We eventually found a crystal that was producing all the demons. We destroyed it, but that's when Sadin showed up." Sakura picked up where Syaoran left off. "Sadin. I still shudder every time I think about his glowing red eyes. But anyway. Touya tried to attack him, but he was no match and was hurt badly. We were all captured."
"But we all broke out one by one." Mia said. "Sadin laid out a set of traps to try and crush our minds and our bodies, but we all made it back to Sadin's lair. Touya was still injured, so you offered to take care of him and stay behind." Tomoyo smiled. "Really? I did that? This is so exciting!" Syaoran continued. "Anyway, we entered Sadin's lair and prepared to fight him. At first, he wasn't much of a problem. We defeated him fairly easily. But he wasn't done. He transformed into this hideous dragon and gave us the fight of our lives. Every attack we tried was crushed. We were helpless." Sakura continued. "But that is when Sadin made his biggest mistake. He hurt Syaoran badly. I couldn't stand it. I let loose the Light and Dark Cards, and Sadin fell. But it was too late. Syaoran." A tear rolled down Sakura's cheek. "He was gone." Tomoyo scratched her head. "But she's sitting right here! Well, maybe not in her usual form. but. well, she's still alive!" Mia smiled. "I managed to revive him with a special spell, of course." Syaoran continued. "When I woke up, we were together in the park." Sakura and Syaoran turned their heads and stared into each other's eyes for a moment. Each of them blushed and turned away. "We had defeated Sadin and were together again."
"That's so beautiful!" Tomoyo shrieked. "But what else could I expect from you two? Now I know it's true: There truly is nothing that can stop you, Sakura!" Sakura yawned. "Well, right now, I'd like to stop and go to bed." "Good idea. I'm exhausted." Mia said. Syaoran took the ribbon out of her hair and set it down on a table. "Let's all just get some sleep. We don't know where Koji is now or when he will strike, so we better be rested."
Syaoran took off her dress and got into bed. She still felt awkward being in a female body, but the day had been so emotionally rough that she fell asleep instantly.
Eriol sat waiting on the roof of Kumiko's house. His glasses gleamed in the moonlight. He laughed hysterically. "Well, isn't this a lovely moment? My 'cute little descendant' has gotten even cuter and become a fine young woman! But. it's going to take more than cuteness to win this time. I can sense that demon. He is nearby, like a snake, waiting for the right moment to bite with his venomous fangs. I'll be ready." "Well, I can at least sympathize with Li." Nakuru said. "Quit you're complaining. I'd figure you'd be used to having no gender by now. It isn't that bad." Spinnel insulted from the shadows. "Quiet, beast, or I'll-" "That's enough! It's hard to watch for this Koji demon without you two bickering all the time." Eriol yelled back. "Yes, Master." They both replied before they all disappeared into the darkness.
"Hey, wake up, sleepy head!" Syaoran opened her eyes to see Mia standing over her. "Come on! Are you going to sleep all day?" Syaoran mumbled to herself and rolled over, concealing her head under the sheets. "Sheesh. Can't a guy get some sleep?" Tomoyo pulled the sheets off Syaoran's head. "First of all, you are a girl for a while, remember? So you should have said, 'can't a girl get some sleep?'" Mia added, "And to answer your question, you got plenty of sleep, so." Mia and Tomoyo lifted one end of her bed, making Syaoran rolled off. She landed on her head. "OW! What was that for?" "It's 9 o'clock! We have to get moving." Syaoran grabbed the dress she wore the day before and started to put it on. She also took the ribbon she had seemingly grown attached to and tied it to her braid once more. "Look, I'm sorry, but you have to remember I'm not used to this body. Plus, this is one of the first good night's sleep I've gotten without someone being hospitalized, sent back in time, or anything like that." Mia sighed. "Anyway, let's get a move on. Sakura and Kero are already down at the library with Kumiko. Tomoyo and I were just about to leave to see if we can learn anything about this Hitoshi she seems to like. You go meet up with Sakura, alright?" Syaoran nodded. "Good. Then we'll see you later, okay?"
After they both stepped outside, leaving Syaoran behind, Tomoyo whispered, "Do you think we should have told her about our plans for AFTER the library?" "No, let's just keep that a secret for now. We need to take this one step at a time." They both giggled. "But either way, she won't be very happy. Oh well. Let's go." Mia said before walking off to see what they could find out about Hitoshi.
Syaoran walked out of the house a few minutes later. She popped the last egg roll into her mouth and headed out for the library. When she opened the door, there was Kumiko, sitting at a desk, glancing over the cover of a romance novel. Sakura sat at another desk, with her nose in a book. Syaoran walked over to Sakura and tapped her on the shoulder. "I'm here. But I see you're so interested in that book." "Oh, umm. hi! Konnichi wa Syaoran-chan. I. err." "You were just too busy reading your manga?" Syaoran put her hand between the pages of Sakura's book and pulled out the offending "Sailor Moon" comic. Sakura laughed nervously. "Umm. how did you know?" Syaoran sighed. "First of all, I seriously doubt you would be reading a Dutch dictionary, and secondly, I doubt you would read it upside down." Sakura closed the book and realized it was inverted. She laughed nervously and turned it around. "Well, actually, I couldn't find any books that interested me, so I just had to fake it." Syaoran sighed. "Hey, wait a minute. What took you so long to get here?" Syaoran tried to come up with a logical excuse, but he couldn't find one. "Umm. I. uhh." "You overslept, didn't you?" Syaoran nodded. "Yeah, how'd you know?" Sakura chuckled. "When it comes to oversleeping, I'm an expert, I'm afraid."
Syaoran took a seat next to Sakura and they continued to talk about anything and everything. About five minutes later, Tomoyo, Kero, and Mia came through the door. "Oh, hello!" Sakura waved. Kero dived back into Mia's hair to hide from the other people who were studying there. Tomoyo said, "Well, you're in luck! We found out a lot about Hitoshi! Apparently, he has a REALLY big crush on Kumiko! The only problem is that he gets a little shy around her, too! Basically, if we can find a way to bring them together, they'll be fine." Sakura smiled. "That's great news!" Mia asked, "So, how's Kumiko?" Syaoran smiled. "Don't worry. We've been keeping a close eye on her! She's. right. over." There was a prolonged silence as Syaoran pointed to an empty desk where Kumiko once sat at. "SHE'S GONE!" Tomoyo opened the door and waved everyone on. "I know where she went! Come on!"
The five of them charged up a hill as Tomoyo led them on. Syaoran mumbled to herself, "Hmm. this path seems somehow familiar." Soon, they all arrived at a familiar cave. ""She comes here everyday at around this time to read." Tomoyo said. Syaoran's eyes shrunk. Surely they didn't intend to bring her in? Before she could ponder what they intended to do, Tomoyo and Sakura dragged her into the changing room. All of the girls started to change. Syaoran turned pale and hid her face in a corner. "GYAH! What are you doing?!" Tomoyo answered calmly, "Well, you said you yourself if you could watch over us in the springs, you would! You were just worried the girls would get mad. But, now, you are a girl, too! Therefore, I see no problem. Technically, you are female, so, you can come in, right?" Syaoran still faced the stone corner. She didn't even know what the room really looked like. "Well. umm. I suppose that technically, I am a girl. for now. So. if I WANTED to, I could go into them." "Well, then I don't see a problem." Mia added. ""The problem is, I may be a girl, but I'm not used to it! It's too embarrassing!" Tomoyo giggled. "Aw, don't worry, Syaoran-chan! I did it yesterday. It's nothing!" "Easy for you to say." "Well, you can turn around, now, if you want." Syaoran slowly turned around, and faced the three girls who were all wrapped in towels. Her face turned beet red. "YAHHH!" "What's wrong?" Sakura asked. "Gomen. it's. it's just that last time I saw you like that." A sweat drop rolled down Tomoyo, Sakura, and Mia's heads. "A heh. Syaoran, it's okay. I'm not going to throw anything at you!" "So. if I saw you like this as a guy, you would hit me, but because I'm temporarily a girl, it's okay?" "Well. umm. yeah." "." Tomoyo giggled. "You two are so cute when you go on and on like that! But, just come on! You said you wanted to help us!" Syaoran sighed. "I'm sorry, but I just can't do it."
A few minutes later, Syaoran emerged from the dressing room wearing only a towel to meet up with the rest of the girls who were waiting for her outside the entrance to the room. She refused to get changed in front of them. Kero relaxed in Mia's hair to avoid detection by the other girls in the springs. She sighed. "One day, you and Tomoyo will have to tell me how you make those puppy dog eyes. maybe then I could say no to them."
The four girls stepped out of the cave and onto the edge of the hot springs. It was made of a gray type of rock, with steam rising across the boiling hot water. At one end, a group of 5 young women were all laughing, talking together. They looked like they were all around 15 to 18-years-old. As soon as the group of maidens emerged from the cave, they all yelled in unison, "TOMOYO-CHAN!" Tomoyo laughed. "You all remember me?" One girl with long brown hair and dark blues eyes said, "Of course we do! How could we forget?"
As Tomoyo leaped into the water and walked over to the girls in the corner, Sakura pointed something out. "Look! It's Kumiko!" There, at the opposite end of the hot springs and as far from anyone in there as possible, was Kumiko. She held a book in her hands and read silently. However, when she heard Sakura say her name, she turned for a brief moment, blushed in shyness, and went back to her book. Sakura, Syaoran, and Mia slowly stepped into the warm water and made their way over to Kumiko. "Hello, Kumiko-chan! How are you?" The girl put a bookmark in her novel and closed it. ".I'm alright. Are all of these people your friends?" Sakura nodded. "This is Mia." Mia waved. "Nice to meet you!" "And this is Syaoran." Kumiko gave her an odd look. "Nani? * Her name is Syaoran? But I thought Syaoran was that boy you were traveling with. Come to think of it, I haven't seen him lately." Sakura and Syaoran laughed nervously together. "Ahh. she didn't say Syaoran. She said. ahh." "Syao! That's her nickname! It's really Syaoru, but we just like Syao better." "Oh." Syaoran added, "Actually, I'm. uhh. Syaoran's sister. He had to leave the village quickly to attend to an emergency, but he sent for me a few days earlier." "Oh, I see." Kumiko said.
"Oh, my God! Tomoyo, are they all your friends, too?" "THEY'RE ADORABLE!" All of the girls around Tomoyo began to yell in delight. "Look at THAT one!" A girl pointed to Syaoran, who immediately turned bright red. "Who? ME?!"
The group of crazed girls swarmed all over her. "Wow! Look at you! You're so. so. drop dead gorgeous!" "What did you say your name was? Syaoru? I love that name! It's so kawaii!" "Look at that pink lipstick! I love it! You'll have to let me try it!"
Tomoyo said aloud, "Pink lipstick? But I didn't. Syaoru!" She joined into the crowd. "I didn't put that lipstick on you today!" A sweat drop rolled down Syaoran's head. She whispered to her, "Well. uhh. I just felt I could use some and put it on. I'd. 'blend in' better."
Syaoran could barely breath as the hyperactive girls overwhelmed her, like a pack of hyenas attacking their wounded prey. A sweat drop rolled down Mia and Sakura's heads as they watched. Tomoyo came over to Sakura. "Ha! Syaoran says she isn't used to being a girl, and yet she puts on lipstick without being forced to? Someone must be in denial!" The three of them giggled.
"Oh wow! You're so lucky! You're so very well built! Not at all like me. You're so lucky!" Syaoran started blush even worse. "Ahh. I'm. uhh. well. uhh. I never noticed before!" "Oh, don't be so modest! You look fantastic!" "C'mon! What's your secret for looking so incredible?" "I don't think there is a man in all of Japan who wouldn't fall for you!"
"My. my. my 'secret?'" "Yeah, after all, no one can look that great just naturally!" Syaoran blushed like she had never blushed before. "Ahh. ummm." "Hey, are you okay? Your face is bright red." Syaoran saw her chance. "Actually, I'm getting kinda dizzy! All of this steam is getting to me. I think I should go." Syaoran tried to stand up, but Sakura grabbed her towel and yanked her back down into the water. "But you can't go! You still need to tell us your beauty secrets! We've been friends for so long, and you've never even discussed them with me once!" Syaoran glanced at Sakura with a look that said, "You know I'm going to get you back for this."
"Come on! Tell us!" "We need to know!" "We're dying to know!" Syaoran thought hard, but she couldn't think of anything to say. She just had to come forward. "To tell you the truth, it's not my body." "What?" "What do you mean?" "Yeah right. Let me guess, some witch made you drink some kind of potion and it made you look like this?" Syaoran nodded and blushed. "Oh please, you're just too humble to tell us your secret!"
Syaoran sighed and thought, "Now I know what it's like to be a friend of my sisters."
A few hilltops away, Koji sat with a pair of electronic binoculars he had brought from the future. "What's this? It's that damn brat, Sakura! How the hell did she find me?! And there are her little friends, too. Though I don't see that Li brat anywhere. All I need to do is get to that girl when they least suspect it, kill her, steal her soul, and leave." Koji adjusted the binoculars to focus on the girls in the corner. "What's this? A catfight? Ooh. this may be interesting." At the same time, Syaoran stood up and Koji set his eyes upon her. "WHOA! Would you look at THAT one! Damn. she is flaming hot! I may need to get to 'know her' better. Hee hee."
Kumiko picked up her book and stepped out of the hot springs. Sakura, Mia, and Tomoyo noticed this and stepped out as well. The girls that were still smothering Syaoran looked up at the sun. "Oh, it's about 3 o'clock. I guess we should go." "So long, Syaoru!" "Sayonara, Syaoru-chan!" "Come back tomorrow!" "Yeah, see you tomorrow, O, kawaii one!" "We'll be back tomorrow, and this time, you better tell us your secret!" They all got out of the springs one by one.
"TOMORROW?! AGAIN?!" Syaoran sighed and let herself sink below the water's surface to just relax.
A few minutes later, Syaoran awoke to find herself floating on the surface of the water. "Ugh? I must have dozed off. Tomoyo was right. This is very soothing." Syaoran re-wrapped herself in her towel and stepped out. As she walked down the hallway to the changing room, she heard a whistle from just outside the cave's entrance. "HEY! Come here!" Syaoran stuck her head out of the entrance, but no one was there. "Hello?" She walked out into the open field, still dripping wet.
Stomp!
There was the sound of something hitting the ground behind her. Syaoran turned around and screamed to herself, "KOJI?! OH, NO! Wait, I can't let him know that I recognize him." Syaoran lied and asked, "Who are you? I've never met you before!"
Koji smiled. "I'm just the guy of your dreams! After all, with a body like that, you deserve only the best!" Syaoran blushed. "What?! What about my body?!" Koji gave a sadistic smile. "Oh, come on! Don't be so modest! Nice, smooth, long legs. delicate and beautiful fingers." Koji stepped closer and rubbed Syaoran's stomach seductively. "A cute and flat tummy." Syaoran took a few steps back and started to sweat. "What are you doing?! Get your hands off me!" He stared into her eyes and moved his hands through her hair. "A cute face and long hair." Koji wrapped his arm around Syaoran and started to rub her back while he gave her a head to toe glance, stopping just above her abs. "A rather large and perfectly shaped pair of breasts." Syaoran blushed even worse and started to stutter. "I. uhh. no. err. I-I-I'm not. I mean. my breasts. ummm. they're not that big. Are they?" Koji grinned sadistically. "Let's just say I think busty would be an understatement!"
Syaoran started to panic. "What do I do?! This guy is the biggest hentai I've eve seen! Does he actually think he's going to get anywhere with lines like that?! I gotta think of some way to get out of here. AHHH! Now what is he doing?!"
Koji slowly slipped his right hand down the back of Syaoran's towel. "And, most importantly of all, a very soft butt!" Her face turned about 50 shades of red. She wasn't sure if he was more embarrassed or angry, but after a few moments, she built up the courage and anger to get free.
Syaoran jumped back, out of Koji's arms. "NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU PERVERT?! GET. your." She felt a cold breeze. That's when Syaoran realized her towel hadn't come with her, as it was still in Koji's hands. Koji could only stare mindlessly and say, "Damn. I mean. WOW! You look even greater when you're close up than with binoculars!" Koji drooled as he gawked. "YOU WERE SPYING ON ME?!" Syaoran could feel the rage burning inside her, but she couldn't just let it out. She grabbed the towel from Koji's hands and covered herself with it. "Don't be so angry that I got a little peek at you! With a body like that, it's a waste to not let guys have a little peek at it. Why hide it from all of us? Tell you what. Why don't you take off that towel and just let me help you relax. I'll show you a very good time.?" Koji reached for the front of Syaoran's towel, but she raised one hand and gave Koji a vigorous slap that left a red mark in the shape of her palm. "Just keep away from me, you pervert! My body is my business! Just get the hell out of here before I get REALLY angry!" Koji cackled. "Heh! You're a fiery one! I like women with a little attitude! Come on, babe, why don't we play a little game? I know you want to." That's when Syaoran got an idea of how to get revenge and stop Koji at the same time.
Syaoran leaned over and said in the most seductive voice she could, "I see. Is that all I you wanted to do? Why didn't you say so? I'd love to play with you. Oh, I know the PERFECT game. now just close your eyes and I'll have a little surprise just for you." Koji was all smiles. "Oh, I know I'll love it!" He covered his eyes. "Koji, you sly dog. You're just irresistible to women! And you've hooked a regular fireball! I bet I know what her surprise is too. But then again, with someone like me, how could she resist? After this, I can kill that Kumiko girl or whatever her name is. Life doesn't get much better than this!" Koji began to dream of what was coming his way.
Syaoran walked over to the fence of the hot springs and pulled a bamboo pole from the ground. "I'll be back with your surprise in a minute!" Koji laughed. "Take your sweet time! I'm not going anywhere, and we can do this anytime and anywhere!"
She stood in front of the smiling Koji and said, "Okay, open your eyes! I'm ready!" Koji opened his eyes, but saw something a lot different than he anticipated. "PERVERT!" Syaoran brought the bamboo pole crashing down onto Koji's head. She then went on to use it like a rod and beat the tar out of Koji with it. "YOU SICKO! IF YOU EVER TOUCH ME AGAIN I'LL. I'LL.!
Koji lay bloodied on the ground. Syaoran lifted his head off the ground and slapped him as hard as she could. She hoisted Koji up into the air and prepared the final blow that would probably crush his skull. But when Syaoran swung the pole, Koji ducked and ran. Koji sprinted out of the field and back to town in a matter of seconds. "AND DON'T COME BACK!"
Sakura walked up to Syaoran from the side. "AHHH! Syaoran, what are you doing in the open dressed like that?! You're still dripping wet!" Syaoran wrung her hair out. "But that was Koji!"
Koji sat against the wall of a village house and took a deep breath. "DAMMIT! That hurts! That woman. she has such a temper! And she's brutal! I've never met any woman who can fight like that. Hell, I've never met a woman like her!"
Koji's eyes lit up. "I THINK I'M IN LOVE!"
See you, space cowboy.
Okay, for this chapter, I want to give special thanks to my friend Aerin, who gave me the idea for the hot springs and Syaoran's name. She also gave me advice on how much of this kind of humor was suitable. Not to mention the hours of painstaking advice, grammar checks, and plot hole pointing that she usually does. Thanks. ::Gives her a hug::