Sea of Dreams:

Chapter 2: Tomoyo's Arrival

"Good morning Professor Daidouji," Sakura said as she passed the principal of the college.

"Ah, good morning Sakura," Professor Daidouji replied, not looking at Sakura, but shifting a few papers out of her arms so she could see past the tall pile of books she carried in her arms. "Do you think you could help me with these?"

"Not at all!" Sakura beamed. She reached up and took four or five books out of Professor Daidouji's arms.

"Where should I put these, Professor?" she asked.

"Follow me to the office," Professor Daidouji said, leading the way to the office. Sakura noted that in the presence of the long strides her principal normally used, there was a very pleased expression on her face.

"Er – Professor?" Sakura asked tentatively. "May I ask you something?"

"Permission granted, Sakura."

"I couldn't help but notice that you look rather happy today, ma'am," Sakura said, before hastily adding, "just generally," at the look on Professor Daidouji's face.

"Well…" Professor Daidouji started, "it's my daughter, Tomoyo. She…"

"Is she getting married?" Sakura prompted.

Professor Daidouji laughed. "Oh, no! Nothing of the sort. In fact, she's coming today from London."

Sakura whistled. "London?"

Professor Daidouji nodded. "She used to study in Oxford University – "

Sakura's eyes went wide. "Oxford?!" she asked.

Professor Daidouji laughed again. "Yes, Oxford. But then, there was an accident, and then I decided that I wanted her here, so that I could keep an eye on her. So, she's coming here. Oh, the office is the door on the right, not the left Sakura," she added, noting the direction in which Sakura had almost turned to.

"Er – yes, sorry Professor," Sakura said, going beet-red.

"Could you just drop the books off over there?" Professor Daidouji asked, stacking books onto her desk. Sakura followed suit.

"So…Tomoyo's coming here?" she asked.

"Yes. Oh, and, Sakura, could I ask just one favour?" Professor Daidouji asked.

"Yes?" Sakura replied, looking apprehensive.

"Do you think you could help Tomoyo around here a bit? It's only that the seniors are writing their final exams this week, and I'll be very busy. Do you think you could – help Tomoyo around, you know, show her the ropes around here, if you understand what I mean?"

"Yes, ma'am!" said Sakura, feeling very relieved.

"Call me Sonomi when no one's looking," Professor Daidouji whispered. Then she winked. "Be off with you, young Sakura, then!"

Sakura bowed and left, feeling very special. Of all the students at her college, Professor Daidouji had chosen her to show Tomoyo around!

Of course, Syaoran would help. He had to! He was her best friend after all. Besides, if Tomoyo Daidouji looked anything like her mother, she was bound to be very pretty. Sakura giggled. Maybe if she could get Syaoran to talk freely with Tomoyo, he'd be less shy around girls.

I mean, of course, he's really open with me, Sakura thought, but that's only because we've known each other even since we were in diapers.

-§-

"Syaoran!" Sakura yelled, as Syaoran and Yamazaki turned around. Sakura noted only too quickly the expression of shyness and guilt on Syaoran's face. She could read him like a book, she had known him almost as long as she had known herself, after all.

"Well Li, what's up?" Sakura asked.

"Er – " Syaoran started, but then he blushed.

"Spill the beans, pal," Sakura said, folding her arms.

"I – um – " Syaoran started, but Yamazaki cut him off.

"There's this new girl. Holy geez, she's gorgeous!"

Sakura looked over Syaoran's shoulder. Lo and behold, was a girl making her way into the college. She had long, silky black hair that cascaded in masses down her back. Her face was spotless, no blemishes, no patches, nothing! Her eyes were a deep, amethyst purple and. . .

Sakura smiled. Then, she turned to Syaoran, whose face was beet-red and was deliberately looking the other way.

"So that's what you were doing!"

She gave him a playful shove.

"She's new here, she came from London, she's used to study in Oxford…want me to introduce you to her?" Sakura asked slyly.

Syaoran's face went, if possible, even redder.

"No – it's okay, Sakura – I really don't need to – stop – stop – STOP – "

Sakura grabbed his arm, however, and marched up to where the new girl was slowly taking in the pretty campus.

"Hi!" Sakura greeted her.

"Hi…" said the girl slowly, yet she wasn't looking at Sakura. Her eyes rested on Syaoran, who fidgeted nervously and looked the other way.

"My name is Sakura Kinomoto. And this is – "

"Syaoran Li," Syaoran mumbled, still not taking his eyes off of his nails.

"Oh…" the girl nodded.

Sakura grinned and leant close to the girl's right ear.

"He's a bit shy, especially around pretty girls," she whispered.

"Hey!"

Sakura winked and stood up straight.

"It's been wonderful meeting you. My name is – "

"Tomoyo, right?"

For once, the new girl looked at Sakura. Her expression was confused. "Yes. My name is Tomoyo…"

"How did you know?" Syaoran asked Sakura pointedly.

"Well, I was trying to tell you, today, I was talking to Professor Daidouji and – "

"Great. Now, if you don't mind, please don't bring that old woman up so early in the morning, okay?"

He turned to Tomoyo and failed to notice Sakura's wince. "The principal of our college, Sakura's her pet."

He winced as Sakura slapped his arm angrily.

"Ah…" Tomoyo nodded slowly, the smallest twinkle of amusement flitted in her eyes.

"So…where did you go before you came here, Tomoyo?" Syaoran asked, trying to bring up conversation.

"London," Sakura replied.

"Yes," Tomoyo nodded.

"London, that's wonder – " Syaoran paused, and turned to Sakura, frowning. "How did you know?" he asked again.

"Well, if you'd let me speak – I was talking to Professor Daidouji today, and – "

"I told you before, the mere mention of that old grouch will undoubtedly curse my academic career. Please…" he trailed off, again failing to notice Sakura's wince, and yet again, amusement flickered across Tomoyo's face.

"Grouch…" Tomoyo repeated, trying not to smile.

"Ugh, yah…so, Tomoyo, where exactly did you study in London?" Syaoran asked.

"Oxford," Sakura piped up.

Syaoran's eyes went round. "Oxford?! Wow, that's amazing – " he paused yet again. He turned to Sakura. "How did you know?"

Sakura sighed. "Well…today, I was talking to Professor Daidouji, and – "

"Yah yah yah, PLEASE…let the nightmare be," Syaoran said dismissively. Wince. Flicker.

"You must really love your principal," Tomoyo said thoughtfully to Syaoran.

"Uh-hunh, yup – you're kidding me, right?"

"Hi, Professor Daidouji," Sakura waved. Syaoran sweat-dropped and turned around.

"Argh – hiiii…" Syaoran trailed off, looking at his shoes.

Professor Daidouji surveyed Syaoran with an expression of amusement.

"You are very lucky I didn't catch your little…intro back there, Syaoran. Make sure it doesn't happen again," she said sternly.

"Yes, Professor Daidouji," Syaoran said monotonously.

"Ah, Tomoyo!" Professor Daidouji said, her eyes lighting up. And then she frowned. "You do realise that I normally do not allow people to wear such short clothes in my college…"

Tomoyo looked at her halter top and short skirt and blushed.

"I'm really sorry," she said apologetically, "it's just that I just got back from London, and I haven't had time to unpack and – "

"May I?" Syaoran asked the principal.

"No!" she snapped.

"Thank you. Professor Daidouji, Tomoyo has just come back from London, where apparently, such short clothing is the fashion. As such, she hasn't had any time to unpack; she just had to wear whatever she found," Syaoran said swiftly.

Professor Daidouji's eyes narrowed.

"And you know this because…?"

"Tomoyo and I are childhood friends," Syaoran said.

"Really?" Professor Daidouji raised an eyebrow.

"Really, Mother," Tomoyo said cheerfully, putting an arm around Professor Daidouji's shoulders.

"Really, Moth – " Syaoran paused, looking horrified. "Mother?"

Sakura put an arm around Professor Daidouji's other shoulder.

"Mother," she said cheerily to Syaoran.

"Ah…Mother…" Syaoran said, trying to smile. "God, I'm dead," he muttered under his breath.

Professor Daidouji eyed him sternly.

"I'll be keeping an eye on you, boy," she said slowly. "I've got to go. Lots of work, you know…"

Saying so, she excused herself.

Syaoran turned to Sakura.

"I'm a goner!" he groaned behind Tomoyo's back.

Sakura patted his back sympathetically.

"Excuse me?"

Sakura quickly removed her hand from his back.

"…she's an old woman, a grouch and a n – " Tomoyo started.

"Nice mother?" Syaoran prompted.

"…nightmare…" Tomoyo finished. "…but, she's not that bad."

Smiling, she walked away.

"Flirt," Syaoran muttered under his breath.

Sakura tapped his shoulder.

"So?" she asked cheerfully. "What did you think of her?"

"Her?" Syaoran asked. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Oh, come on," Sakura said. "I've known you since we were in diapers. I know you almost as well as I know myself. I can read you like a book. And right now, if I've read the cards correctly…"

"Yes?" Syaoran asked, face beet-red.

"I think you like her," Sakura said slyly.