Title: Listening Within

Chapter Title: "The Race"

Author: Peonyqt1004

DISCLAIMER: As this applies...

A/N: Thank you everyone for your encouraging reviews! *Smiles* I will continue and I thank all of you for your contributions to this story. =P It's almsot winter break! Yes! But I'm sick. Woo- Hoo- It sucks to be sick when you're going to have a vacation. Please rebiew afterwards! Thanks! Bye!

-Peonyqt1004

P.S- The other stories should be updated by this time. (Meaning "Mercy for the Damned".) I'm sorry to all who have been waiting for "Look for Me By Moonlight" and 'War Beat". I am seriously thinking of going hiatus on them for a long time. Thanks for the reviews anyways!

Chapter Title: "The Race"

*~*Music reflects how the person feels... and what they are.*~*

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Slender long fingers, musician¡¯s fingers tapped the wooden desk beneath her palms. Then there was a prolonged sigh.

"Why is this so hard?" The green haired girl groaned, messing up her shortly cropped hair. Once again, another ball of paper went flying into the trash bin across the room.

"I don't understand this stupid trigonometry stuff!" She moaned out loud as she slammed her textbook shut. "How in the world am I suppose to study for the quiz this Thursday?"

It has already been a week since Sakura first went to school. She met new people and her new teachers and she had to admit, the school system seemed really good. After all, Tomeda High School had the highest-ranking academic and SAT scores in the whole entire state. With a sigh, she turned to turn off her lights. With a start, she realized someone had come into her room and was perched on her bed.

"Sakura?"

Sakura met the deep brown eyes of Tom, who looked at her shyly. Sakura smiled, at first she had been scared when she felt another persons presence, but realizing it was just Tom made her feel so much better. "Hello Tommy." She replied, coming to him and perching on the pink and white bed next to him.

"Sorry if I disturbed you." Tommy said softly, beaming when Sakura smiled at him and pinched his cheek.

"What do you want Tom? It's 9:30! It's past your bed time."

Tom pouted. "How come you get to stay up so late when I have to sleep so early?" Sakura clucked her tongue, "It's because I am OLDER than you. Approximately 6 years older." Tom stuck out his tongue. "I still think it's not fair!" Then Tom rubbed his tired eyes with his small fists. "I came because Jin was having a nightmare again... and he was whimpering and hitting me. I can't sleep next to him!" Sakura tilted her head, puzzled. "Why don't you go to your parents?" Tom looked up at her; his adorable mussed dark black curls shining in the dim lamplight.

"Daddy scares me."

Tom snuggled up to Sakura. "I'm scared of him." Sakura suddenly felt cold all over. What in the world did Mr. Simmons do to make this boy so distrustful? "W-what does he do?" Sakura asked with dry lips. "He used to hit me." Tom admitted. "But he doesn't do that anymore. But he scares me still. He yells at me a lot." Sakura felt a tight squeeze in her chest as she hugged the boy towards her.

"Don't be scared. I'm here." Sakura reassured him. Tom smiled his childish smile. "I hope Jin trusts you too... later on." Tom murmured as he fell asleep. Sakura stared at Tom for a minute, and then lovingly tucked him into her covers and sheets.

"I guess I am going to sleep on my desk." Sakura thought out loud to herself. She thought of Mr. Simmons again, and shuddered. He seriously creeped her out. Something about him scared her, and she really didn't like staying with him in a room alone, she always tried to have someone there with her.

[Next class]

"Class! Open your textbook to page 66!"

There were sounds of groaning and muttering as people opened their books and shuffled through pages.

"Today we are going to discuss the eve of the civil war." The thick bearded teacher said stoutly. A purple eyes girl hid her laughter behind her hands and passed a note to a day dreaming Sakura.

Something bounced off of Sakura's head. Blinking, Sakura noticed the pale purple piece of paper and bended down to retrieve it.

"Excuse me Ms. Kinomoto?" The history teacher asked, a bushy white eyebrow rose. Sakura turned blood red and tried to hide the note.

"What is it in your hand?" The history teacher persisted, making Sakura turn nearly purple. "N-nothing Mr. Rohwer." She replied, her hands trembling.

"Nothing eh?" Mr. Rohwer asked sarcastically. "Then hold out your hands!"

Sakura slowly held out her hands and attempted to hide the note in her sleeve.

"Aha!" Mr. Rohwer caught her wrist with surprising speed and dumped out the note and put it back in Sakura's hand.

"Read it to the class Sakura."

"B-but..."

"No buts about it Ms. Kinomoto!"

Sakura sighed and felt genuinely embarrassed. She saw Tomoyo duck her head behind her hair in utter embarrassment.

"Sakura- don¡¯t you think Mr. Rohwer looks like Santa Claus? Do you still think--?" Sakura stopped and was suddenly very quiet, her face pale. Mr. Rohwer, his eyebrows going up and down in true irk-dom, coughed behind her. "Please continue this ever interesting note Ms. Kinomoto."

Sakura felt like she was going to cry.

"Do you still think that... um... the sky is blue?"

With a startled cry, the note was snatched from her grasp as Mr. Rohwer read the rest out loud.

"Do you still think Syaoran is cute?"

There was a long silence and Sakura felt tears rise up in her eyes and her face was very hot. Mr. Rohwer turned to Sakura, twirling his dark maroon tie.

"Well- I guess I do look like Santa Claus... maybe this note is more interesting then my class Ms. Kinomoto." He paused and gave her a look. "But, do not pass notes in class. Got that?" There were tittering and chuckling in the classroom and Sakura felt quite faint. This was too much for her. Suddenly she busted into tears and ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her as she fled. This was so humiliating! So much for good first impressions!

[... In the bathroom...]

Splash! Splash!

Sakura refused to return to the room. Splashing cold water on her blotched face, she stood staring into the school mirror.

'Why did he have to read who I like out loud to the class?'

She bit her lip and banged a hand on the mirror and got up straight, straighten her hair and tidying up her shirt.

'I have to face them sooner or later...'

"Sakura!" A voice trilled as soon as Sakura stepped out of the bathroom. Sakura whirled around, afraid at what she might see.

A group of preppy girls in aeropostal clothes walked towards her, sneers on their faces.

"So little Ms. Sakura is in love with Syaoran?" The petite slender one with blonde hair sneered. Sakura blushed. "No! I don't like--" The girl rolled her blue eyes. "Yea-right. Everyone likes my Syaoran. But, he's taken because he's MINE!"

"Have you forgotten?" A red head snarled at the blonde. "Meiling likes him and they're engag--" The blonde elbowed her friend and smiled a sickening smile. "So... stay away from him." Sakura gaped at them, her face flaming.

"What did you say Marina?" A cold voice very similar to Syaorans asked.

Sakura recognized the slightly husky tone, but it was distinctively more feminine. She turned around and saw a tall ebony haired girl with firey crimson red eyes. The blonde stepped back one.

"You're trying to hit on my fiance? Or are you lying about your status with him?" Meiling snarled. "Because, only Meiling Li has the right to him!" Mariana turned red. "Just because you take kung-fu doesn't mean you're going to beat me all the time Meiling Li!" Marina yelled. "Although you may be able to fight- I have connections! Hear me Meiling Li?! HEAR ME?"

But Meiling coldly acknowledged her and calmly moved away. Sakura was in awe of the girl and was slightly disappointed. Was Syaoran already married or engaged? Then she had no chance... Sakura moved away but Marian pinned her to the wall.

"Listen Sakura Kinomoto." The girl whispered slowly, her eyes cold. "If you EVER go near Syaoran... you will get hurt." With that, she pushed Sakura away from her and walked away. Sakura was too shocked to say anything.

'Why me?" She thought miserably. 'Having a small crush is so troublesome!'

The bell rung and Sakura started. "Oh dear! It's already lunch!"

"SAKURA!" Sakura braced herself, thinking it was another girl who was mad about Syaoran...

A black strange mechanical thing popped up onto her face, Sakura made a face.

"Oh perfect!" Tomoyo said, swooning. "What a perfect shot for my video class! Ohohoho!" Tomoyo pressed stop on her camera and popped on the lid and put it away in her bag. Sakura sweat dropped.

"I'm sorry about class Sakura." Tomoyo said sincerely. "He usually isn't such an ass about note passing... maybe he was picking on you because you're a new face!" Sakura grimaced. "I forgive you Tomoyo." She sighed. "But the whole entire WORLD knows who I am crushing on now!" Tomoyo shook her head. "Nah-." Tomoyo said bluntly. "I don't think it's such big news that it will spread about school like wildfire!"

Boy was Tomoyo wrong.

Sakura had enough of having people come up and ask her if she was the new girl, and that if she liked Syaoran.

"For the billionth time! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Sakura cried, moving away from them. Tomoyo was no help, because she was filming a food fight.

Giving out a sigh, Sakura retreated outside. Thankfully, not many people were there. A faint breeze carried the smell of nadeshiko flowers over to Sakura's nose.

"Mother..." Sakura sighed out loud, smiling slightly. She missed her father very much too, just looking at the sky made her heart ache with loneliness.

Fujitaka and Sakura used to lie down on hills and look up at the sky together.

Sakura smiled at the memory as she remembered making stories with her father using the clouds as props.

"NANI?!"

Sakura was interrupted from her daydream by a loud harsh voice. Sakura hid behind the building pillar and noticed a tall beautiful cherry tree with pink and white cherry blossoms hanging from them. Then she saw him.

The tall handsome boy who can create life with the violin.

His face was troubled and he held a cell phone to his face.

"Why mother?" He asked, his voice tense and his eyes dark and pain filled. His voice became louder as he started yelling into the phone.

"WHY DID YOU LET HIM GO!" He bellowed. "Why did you not stop him? Why?" Sakura heard him take a deep breath.

"No mother." He whispered softly.

"It's all your fault." He whispered softly, shutting the cell phone with a fierce click. Then he turned and punched the tree. Sakura let out a yelp, because the tree now had a dent on it. Syaoran whirled on her.

"Who's there?!" He called out, his face tense and angry.

Sakura bit her lip but he spotted her before she could sneak away. His face was cold and almost cruel.

"What are you doing here SAKURA Kinomoto? Spying on me? I have enough girls who follow me around like idiots. I don't need to add to the list." Sakura gasped, she was genuinely hurt by his words.

"But- I didn't--."

Syaoran rolled his eyes and turned to her. "Listen you pathetic girl." He said softly, his eyes looking straight into hers. "It's enough to have people ask me if I like you back. Listen. I like no one. I don't like ANYONE. Get it?" With that, he left. The tall willowy girl let out a sob and sat hard on the ground.

'I didn't DO anything to you!' She thought angrily. 'I was... just...'

Suddenly he was back, she almost believed he came back to apologize to her. He saw her tears and his eyes widened slightly but his lips stayed in a grim line.

"Don't tell anyone what you heard." He said shortly. Then he looked down at her. "Lunch is almost over, it's time for Orchestra." He turned to leave but for some reason Sakura called out to him.

"Syaoran!"

"Li." He corrected.

"Li then." Sakura said, her voice getting angry. "You might want this!" With that, she took out a hanky from her pocket. It was pink with little bunny designs all over it. He glared at her. "What do you think? That I'm a girl?" She grabbed his hand wordlessly and wrapped the hanky around his cut and bleeding knuckles.

"You might want to think about what you do to your hand before you hit a tree." Sakura told him coldly. He stared at her for a second, and quickly left. Sakura didn't know what to do.

'Why do I feel so left out in this school? I wish I was home again!' Homesickness overwhelmed her as she imagined Readington High School. 'Be strong Sakura.' She thought as she wiped away her tears. 'Be strong.'

[Orchestra Class]

The cello player, Tomoyo, yanked Sakura into her seat. Tomoyo smiled brightly.

"Sakura you're so popular with the guys!" Sakura was utterly confused. Why did Tomoyo always get her so confused?

"What are you talking about Tomoyo?" Sakura asked with surprise. Tomoyo had a sly grin. "Hey- five guys already asked me about you." Then she lightly hit Sakura on the arm. "Even Eriol." Sakura blinked her large green eyes, "Who is this Eriol?" Tomoyo gasped, her mouth wide open.

"Omygod..." Tomoyo muttered to herself. "You don't know Eriol?"

Sakura blinked in reply.

Tomoyo giggled girlishly and pulled her down. "Eriol is the HOTTEST guy in all of Tomeda High! He is also the most smartest guy in the whole entire worl-l-d-d!" Tomoyo sighed dreamily, and dense Sakura realized something.

"I think Ms. Tomoyo has a big bad crush on ERIOL!" Sakura said loudly. Tomoyo stared at Sakura with big eyes.

"Who? Me? NO WAY!" Then Tomoyo smacked Sakura hard on the back, making Sakura cough and sweat drop.

"Anyways, he asked about you." Tomoyo said enviously. Sakura turned red.

"Quit making a big deal out of it already Tomoyo--."

"Class!" Mrs. Foster barked, bringing everyone to attention. "Today I am giving out the solo part to people who want to audition for each part!" With that the orchestra teacher took out a stack of papers. "Who wants to try out?"

Hands shot up and waved about.



Mrs. Foster looked over them critically and took out her reading glasses and waved a hand at the plump girl nearby.

"Mary Sue, give the ones who want one the solos."

Mary Sue nodded and passed them out. One of the hands happened to be Sakura's.

"Huh?" Sakura peered at the song. "We're trying out for A Maidens Prayer?" Tomoyo smiled. "Yea, it might seem easy, but Mrs. Foster will probably soup it up a bit, make it a little harder for you... I know you will make it Sakura!" Sakura blinked and saw Syaoran receive a copy.

"Yea... maybe not with him running." Sakura muttered to herself as she watched the stone-faced boy look at the papers emotionlessly.

[Later At P.E Class...]

A crowd of children dressed in white T-shirts and dark black shorts ran about the large green field.

"I want three laps!" The tall buff bald gym teacher bellowed to the laboring student far away. Some students found enough energy to yell rude remarks back to the teacher, but many panted and kept jogging.

"This sucks!" Tomoyo managed to pant out. She looked at Sakura and was surprised to find that Sakura seemed quite all right... and seemed as if she was enjoying it!

"Sakur--a!" Tomoyo yelped as she fell over. Sakura kept jogging and waved at Tomoyo. "Come on Tomoyo! It's nice weather!" Tomoyo stared at Sakura.

"Y-you're athletic!"

Then something with a brown mop of hair ran with amazing speed past them. Sakura stopped.

"Who was that?" Sakura asked Tomoyo.

Tomoyo got up. "Well- it is our best musician and athlete... Syaoran Li."

Sakura looked up to see the handsome lean boy run around the field easily, and her face tightened.

'Is that why he's so egotistical? Because he's good at everything? I'll show him...' Sakura suddenly sprinted away. Tomoyo gasped. "Sakura! Matte!" Tomoyo struggled and sprained her ankle.

"Aw man..."

Sakura felt the wind whip about her face as she kept her eyes on the target before her and narrowed her eyes.

'You won't beat me...' Sakura thought fiercely. Sakura kept up the pressure and managed to pull up next to Syaoran. He looked surprised to see her.

"How did you--." Sakura gave him a hard look and pumped her legs harder, moving ahead of Syaoran inch by inch. Syaoran's eyes widened and hardened into a glare as he looked forward and set himself for another win.

"What are they doing?"

"They passed three laps!"

All the students clamored as they stared at the two streaking about the field like cheetahs.

Sakura felt her legs become heavy and her breathing became labored.

'No I wont give up! I need to prove myself better then him!'

Syaoran suddenly gave her a look and looked surprised that he didn't lose her.

"You're-better-then-I-thought." He said between clenched teeth. Sakura looked straight ahead.

"But-no-one-beats-me..." He muttered, a scary competitive look going over his eyes. Sakura let out a gasp as Syaoran suddenly sharply turned towards her and collided into her. Making her fall face down into the mud, her leg in a funny angel behind her.

"SAKURA!" Tomoyo screamed.

Syaoran streaked past the finish line and stopped, panting with a triumph look on his face.

Sakura let out a moan as someone shook her. "Sakura are you ok?" Purple eyes looked at her with worry.

"How could he?" Sakura asked nobody, pain numbing her. "Why did he cheat? Someone who can play so beautifully... why..." Then she blacked out.

[Syaoran...]

Syaoran grinned, he had won. She almost bested him. 'No female beats me.' He gloated as he stopped. Panting, he heard loud commotion behind him. He turned and stared. Of course, he had cheated to win. He could never bear losing... but... why was there such commotion over something so small? He drew closer in curiosity.

"Omygod she broke her ankle!"

"Is she ok?"

Syaoran felt his chest constrict and his palms become cold.

'I... hurt her?'

He suddenly felt very dizzy. 'I didn't mean to!' He convinced himself. 'It was just an accident... all an accident!'

[ Later...]

Mrs. Simmons looked worried as she wiped Sakura's face with a cold towel.

"Are you ok Sakura? On your 2nd week of school too!"

"I'm fine." Sakura answered, looking preoccupied. Her foot was propped up on a pillow to keep down the swelling. "I'm fine! It's all that stupid Syaoran's fault!" Tears threatened to fall from her face. 'If he wasn't so competitive! I didn't know he was going to do something that dirty!' Mrs. Simmons grinned however.

"But the Track coach wants you on their team now. He demanded it." Sakura turned red. "But my ankle..." Mrs. Simmons grinned. "It's fine. It was nothing big, it might hurt a bit, but you can still run just as well." Sakura smiled weakly, but her heart hurt.

'I guess you can't judge someone with music... and how they play it.' Sakura thought gloomily. 'I liked him because I thought I heard his soul in his music, I guess there was nothing there.'

"Martha... Can you get me my Viola? I want to practice my solo!" Sakura said brightly, smiling. Mrs. Simmons grinned. "That is a good idea! I hope you get the solo." Sakura grinned. "I will, believe me. With someone without a good soul, there is no competition."

Sakura gripped the viola and smiled at nothing in particular.

'Father... the musician of our family... told me, without the heart, music is nothing. The most beautiful music in the world is something which is contrived from the heart.'

With that thought, Sakura gently brought the Viola to her shoulder, and proceeded to practice.

[Syaoran...]

Syaoran felt horrible. 'At least that Kinomoto girl didn't tell on me.' He thought gloomily. 'But then I have a wrecked reputation. People think I'll do dirty things to win anything.' With a sigh, he went up his large marble staircase to his room. 'I need to salvage my reputation... the solo will help.'

"I'm home mother!"

He heard sobs and felt something cold enter his heart. "Mom?"

He hurried down their carpeted house and entered the room at the right where his beautiful mother sat near a table, holding something in her hands a weeping.

"What is it ma-ma?" He asked with wide eyes. He put down his violin case and stood at the door.

"Oh Syaoran... you're father is never coming home!" She wailed, clutching a note to her chest. Her tearful brown eyes showed him a piece of paper. Syaoran became cold.

Dear Mrs. or Ms Li.

Your husband/son has been found missing in action. We are sincerely sorry for all the grief you may be going through. Please accept this check and our condolences.

Syaoran couldn¡¯t bear to read more.

"No!" Syaoran let out a small growl. "Father is NOT dead! He told us he'd be back! Father never lies!" But Yelan shook her head.

"But the war is costly... your father--."

"NO!" Syaoran yelled angrily. "Father is coming home!" With that, he fled the room and shut the door behind him.

'He is coming home... I know it!'

Then he stared at piece of paper in his hands.

"You piece of paper... you ruin everyone¡¯s lives! Be gone!" With that, he threw the paper out of the window and watched it flutter away.

"Why? Why must this war be fought? This war is pointless... who is the good guy if both sides are losing lives?" He let out a small sob and clenched his hands.

"I have to focus on other things... Like my solo and my martial arts... Grief makes me weak. I can't let it cut me!"

With that, the sound of furious playing filled the home with angry notes of music.

[Sakura...]

Sakura finished playing and smiled softly.

'This is to my mother... my father... and my brother off at war...'

With that, she put away the viola, and turned in bed to watch a leaf flutter down from the tree.



To be continued...

AN: I hopes you enjoyed the 2nd chapter! =) Stay tuned for the next chapter! Oh- and remeber to review!

Preview:

Furious music erupted from Syaoran's violin. Sakura was suprised at all the emotions such a ston like person can put into such music.

'Maybe father was wrong.' Sakura thought with surprise. Syaoran stopped and ended with a bittersweet note which echoed throughout the room. Mrs. Foster looked absolutely excited.

"Excellent Syaoran! As always!" Then it was Sakura's turn, and Sakura didn't know if she's do well. She was shaken as she stupidly walked up towards the front of the room. Syaoran passed her, smirking at her with his dark brown eyes as he passively passed by her. Sakura gritted her teeth as she limped upwards in her crutches. Tomoyo kindly pushed a chair up for Sakura to sit upon.

'This is it...' Sakura thought nervously, looking around.

'I have to play what I have practiced...'

Sakura closed her eyes tightly and said a quick prayer as she took a deep breath to start playing.

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