C-Mage: *kowtows* Yeah, I figured out a new way to bow. ^.^' Anyway, I'm
really, REALLY sorry that this didn't get out sooner. School is making me
pretty busy, and when I'm not busy, I feel like zoning out. -.-' I hope
we never do this again - seriously. Please forgive me!
T.Anjel: Same as C-Mage.
Disclaimers: We only own David and a few students, and I'm not too sure if we want to own David.... o.O
Summary: David meets Touya, and Sakura plans a lesson.
Learn to Love Me - Chapter 11 - Sakura's Tutor
"Dinner was great," I said shyly as David parked the car in front of the house. He leaned over to kiss me, but I turned my head away so he got my cheek. "Sorry," I said with a grim smile. "My brother's watching."
David nodded as if he understood, but still looked disappointed.
"Thanks," I said quickly, before unbuckling my seatbelt and leaving the car.
"Sakura!"
I groaned inwardly at the voice of my brother and looked timidly up at his looming figure positioned in the doorway. Even from far away, I was able to see his disapproving glare. I knew without words he wanted to see David.
I bent by the passenger's window and grimaced while saying, "Sorry, David, but do you think you can come inside for a minute?"
"Sure," David said without a moment of thought and turned the engine off. He locked his door and followed me up to the front porch.
"Come inside," 'Nii-chan growled as we approached him. I closed the door behind us and followed 'Nii-chan through the foyer and to the living room where he sat stiffly on a couch. He motioned for me to sit next to him, and David to sit on the couch opposite him.
David did as he was told.
"'Nii-chan," I moaned, but was cut off by his sharp look.
"Your name," he demanded.
"David Kaplan, sir," David responded diligently.
"Occupation."
"I'm a kindergarten teacher."
"What makes you think you can date my sister?"
"She's a wonderful and beautiful woman." I blushed. "I just hope she finds me to be a suitable match for her."
I knew 'Nii-san didn't like David from the moment he answered his first question. I groaned. There was no hope for David now.
"Touya, what are you doing?"
I turned around to see 'Tou-san at the entrance of the living room with a wet towel on his head.
"This kid's dating Sakura," Touya answered blandly, still glaring at David disapprovingly.
"Well, nice to meet you! I'm Sakura's father," 'Tou-san greeted, smiling and shaking hands with David. David seemed to relax. "How long have you two been dating?"
"A day," I replied, wanting my voice to be heard.
"And you didn't tell me?" Tomoyo-san asked, joining the small circle of people.
"I was going to," I argued weakly.
"I don't like you," 'Nii-chan said. "You're not fit for my sister, and let me tell you, I'm a great judge of character. Leave the house."
"'Nii-chan!" I gasped. I never remembered him being so rude.
"Touya!"
Tomoyo-san didn't say anything. She looked more amused than shocked.
David stood up and gave a small bow before quietly leaving the living room.
"David!" I called out and went to chase him, but 'Nii-chan pulled me back. "'Nii-chan!" I complained, furious at his behavior.
I heard the door shut before it was too late.
"Why did you say that?" I asked, trying to suppress my anger.
"I don't like him," 'Nii-chan replied. I couldn't say anything for a second as I saw that the dark look in his eyes still hadn't left.
"Why?" I stuttered out, my cheeks flushed and my fists clenched by my sides.
"He had a horrible personality, Sakura. I know his type. It's wrong for me to judge like this, but I find him to be an extreme exception. I'm sorry, Imouto," he apologized. "Date him if you want, but I won't let him ruin you or let it get anything beyond a kiss. Even that idea disgusts me." He left his seat without a word, heading to his room.
Tears welled in my eyes. I always had respect for my brother, and he was always there for me. Sure, a little overprotective, but it was all for me. I sniffled. Having his approval always made me feel proud, and his disapproval with David weighed heavily on my heart.
"Oh, Sakura," 'Tou-san said, bringing me to his chest and patting my head. "He's just stressed. Don't worry. He looks like a fine boy."
I cried silently into my father's shirt, finding comfort in the familiarity of his scent and embrace.
"Now wash up and get a good night's rest. It's a Saturday tomorrow. Oversleep," 'Tou-san said, cupping my face in his hands and kissing my forehead reassuringly.
I smiled in thanks. I bid 'Tou-san and Tomoyo-san a good night and did as I was told. I sunk into bed thinking over the day's events. I vaguely remembered David's handsome face, but found Li-san's seemed to float over my head with every detailed feature. I recalled how stubbornly he acted during dinner. I stifled a giggle at the thought. He always did the weirdest and cutest things.
I snuggled deeper into the bed, pulling the thin covers to my chin. I slept soundly and even had a couple of good dreams of Li-san. I would have pondered at them, but I didn't remember a second of the dreams once I woke up.
It was late in the morning when I awoke on Sunday, and the first thought in my mind was that I had to prepare a lesson for Monday. I gasped in panic. I barely had anything prepared. What was I going to do? How should I prepare the lesson? What would interest the kids? Thousands of questions plagued my mind as I fumbled through my bag and desk looking for notes and books.
I wouldn't normally have been so nervous, but the prospect of seeing myself in the front of a rowdy class staring curiously at me and judging me for every move I made shook my nerves. Also, Li-san would be in a seat, watching me and criticizing me in his head.
"I'm going to make such a fool out of myself," I moaned.
Someone knocked on my door.
"Yes?"
It was Tomoyo-san with a tray of hot breakfast. "I was wondering if you were hungry."
"Oh! I totally forgot about breakfast!" I said. "Thank you!"
"What are you working on?" Tomoyo-san asked, peering over my cluttered desk. "Preparing a lesson?"
I nodded while chewing my toast and choking it down. "I don't know how to do this, Tomoyo-san! It doesn't seem hard, but I just can't sink down the feeling that the lesson won't go as planned."
"Calm down, Sakura-chan," Tomoyo-san said, laughing her melodic laugh as if my nervousness was something humorous. "If you're really that nervous, wash up and call Li-san for help. He isn't really a very busy person."
"I'd be a bother!" I complained.
"Suit yourself." Tomoyo-san left my room, leaving me my breakfast and a feeling of dread.
As much as I didn't want to do it, I ended up taking Tomoyo-san's advice.
"Hello?" Li-san answered the phone.
"Hello, Li-san?" I squeaked.
"Ms. Kinomoto?" he asked to clarify my identity.
"Yes," I answered. "I hope you're not busy right now."
"Not at all."
"Do you mind helping me out with my lesson plan?" I asked. "I'm so sorry, but I'm getting all nervous, and I just don't know what to do." I must have continued to aimlessly blabber on, because Li-san cut me off with a seemingly exasperated sigh.
"I wouldn't mind helping you at all," he said.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Yes."
"So can I come by your place in thirty minutes or so?" I asked, still feeling a little bit of doubt in asking Li-san for help.
"That's no problem," Li-san replied. "I'll see you then." And he hung up the phone.
It took me a second to register the quick conversation and his abrupt ending to it. I hung up the phone and quickly packed my notes and books.
"I'm taking the car, Tomoyo-san," I said, peeping my head through her door.
"Going to Li-san's?" she asked without turning around from her desk.
"Un," I answered. "I'll be back as early as I can."
"Ja," she said, waving her hand and resuming her work.
I took the car keys from a rack in the foyer and headed out towards Li-san's apartment. It took a while to find his apartment, but I found it nonetheless. I was twenty minutes late.
I was in front of his door, and I knocked timidly. It opened fairly quickly, as if he was waiting by the door for me.
"I'm sorry I'm late," I stuttered, coming into his neat apartment. "I just got a little lost."
He nodded and motioned for me to sit at the kitchen table. I took out my small bit of notes and books. I was totally disarranged.
He quickly scanned my materials, then shoved all my books aside. He handed me a piece of paper and a pencil.
I looked at him in a confused manner.
"Books aren't going to teach you how to teach," he said. "You know what you're supposed to teach tomorrow?"
I nodded. "About the first colonies of America," I replied dutifully.
"I really don't get what you're nervous about, Ms. Kinomoto," Li-san said to me. "You know the information; all you have to do it tell it to the kids."
"That's the thing! How do I tell them? I don't want to sound boring and like I'm lecturing them. And then again, I don't want to play around and act as if I was teaching a bunch of little children," I said.
"Every teacher teaches differently, and you're just going to have to find out your own style in teaching these kids," Li-san said, staring at me sincerely.
I relaxed after his words, but fidgeted slightly under his gaze.
"I think you'll do fine tomorrow, but if you really feel as if you need something to depend on, just jot down what you're teaching and however you plan on doing it," Li-san said simply. He stood up, scraping his chair back as he did so. "That's all I can say to you, but if you find that another method suits you better, go ahead and do so. I'll be here if you have any questions."
I nodded and stared at the blank piece of paper. I knew that I knew the information that needed to be taught inside and out. I just didn't know exactly how to satisfy the kid's need for education and fun mixed in one. I heard Li-san shuffle quietly around the house, doing whatever he did on a Sunday.
I took my mind off of Li-san and concentrated on my work. I did as he told me to do and wrote down very general facts. I thought intensely on how to go about doing one thing or another. After who knows how long, I began to doze off. Before I knew it, my head was buried in my arms and I was fast asleep.
I woke up, but felt my eyelids were too heavy to open. It took me a second to realize where I fell asleep. Then it took me another second to realize that I wasn't leaning on a table. On the contrary, I felt myself moving. Was I being carried? The sudden image of Li-san carrying me in his arms startled me. My eyes shot open, and I tried to jump out of his arms.
I was unsuccessful.
I had a blanket on top of me and tripped on it as I tried to struggle out of Li-san's loose grip. In less than a second, I thought I found myself on a soft floor. Rather, I found myself on top of Li-san. I was blushing to the roots of my hair, realizing how I had just humiliated myself in front of him.
"Ah," I tried to stutter.
"You can just get off me," Li-san said. He seemed pink in the cheeks, but maybe that was just an effect the impact of the fall made. I nodded hurriedly and tried to stand up, only to slip on the blanket again and fall back down. This time, Li-san caught me. He managed to sit up by the time I tripped the second time, and I found myself sitting on his lap, cradled awkwardly in his arms.
"I'm so sorry!" I yelped, blushing to an even deeper shade of red and stumbling off his lap.
"Are you okay?" he asked, looking slightly away.
"Hai," I replied, feeling my heart beating twice as fast as it should normally from the shock of the fall.
"Are you done with your work?" he asked.
"Oh!" I remembered the reason as to why I was the teacher's house in the first place. I hustled over to the kitchen table and winced at all the scribbling and crossing out I did on the piece of paper. I generally didn't get anything done, except cross out everything I wrote.
"You'll do fine tomorrow," Li-san said, the blanket folded neatly in his arms as he came from the hallway.
"Are you kidding me?" I exclaimed, crumpling the piece of paper into a little ball. Li-san didn't reply, but decided instead to stare strangely at my face. "Is something wrong?" I asked.
"You have smudge marks on your face," Li-san said, as if trying to let out a small chuckle.
I instinctively tried covering my whole face with my hands in embarrassment. Li-san chuckled at my clumsy act and set the blanket down on the table.
"Let me get that," he said softly, taking my hands away from my face and rubbing my right cheek gently. I didn't know what to do. It was such an awkward position with Li-san cupping my face in his hands and rubbing away pencil marks from my face. My face was becoming flushed, and I opened my mouth to speak.
"I can wash it off in the bathroom," I stuttered quietly.
Li-san turned a bright shade of red and quickly took his hands away as if he wasn't in control of his actions a few seconds ago. "Ah..." he grumbled, letting me pass by him.
I quickly scuttled to the bathroom, shutting the door and heavily leaning on it. I gripped my chest as my heart was beating so quickly I thought it'd burst. What was wrong with me? I checked the mirror and saw a small smudge still on my right cheek. I scolded myself for completely embarrassing and humiliating myself at Li-san's home. I hastily washed off the mark and dried my face in Li-san's green towel.
I took a second to breathe before leaving the bathroom, not even wanting to think about why I was acting as strangely as I did. "Ano," I said, seeing Li-san slumped on his couch, "I think I have to get going. Thank you for your time today."
He nodded, standing up and handing me my bag. "You'll do fine tomorrow," he said. "I'll see you then."
"Okay. Sayonara, Li-san," I said with a smile before leaving his apartment. I let out a sigh of relief the moment his door closed and headed back home. I was still a bit worried about tomorrow's lesson, but I knew I'd be able to handle it somehow.
Little did I know that Monday's lesson wouldn't be the only thing I would have to worry about that week.
~~~~~
C-Mage: .... Short. .' Again, I'm super sorry! I do like it, though. Nice S+S moment. *grins* Review, comment, flame if you must....
T.Anjel: Same same.
T.Anjel: Same as C-Mage.
Disclaimers: We only own David and a few students, and I'm not too sure if we want to own David.... o.O
Summary: David meets Touya, and Sakura plans a lesson.
Learn to Love Me - Chapter 11 - Sakura's Tutor
"Dinner was great," I said shyly as David parked the car in front of the house. He leaned over to kiss me, but I turned my head away so he got my cheek. "Sorry," I said with a grim smile. "My brother's watching."
David nodded as if he understood, but still looked disappointed.
"Thanks," I said quickly, before unbuckling my seatbelt and leaving the car.
"Sakura!"
I groaned inwardly at the voice of my brother and looked timidly up at his looming figure positioned in the doorway. Even from far away, I was able to see his disapproving glare. I knew without words he wanted to see David.
I bent by the passenger's window and grimaced while saying, "Sorry, David, but do you think you can come inside for a minute?"
"Sure," David said without a moment of thought and turned the engine off. He locked his door and followed me up to the front porch.
"Come inside," 'Nii-chan growled as we approached him. I closed the door behind us and followed 'Nii-chan through the foyer and to the living room where he sat stiffly on a couch. He motioned for me to sit next to him, and David to sit on the couch opposite him.
David did as he was told.
"'Nii-chan," I moaned, but was cut off by his sharp look.
"Your name," he demanded.
"David Kaplan, sir," David responded diligently.
"Occupation."
"I'm a kindergarten teacher."
"What makes you think you can date my sister?"
"She's a wonderful and beautiful woman." I blushed. "I just hope she finds me to be a suitable match for her."
I knew 'Nii-san didn't like David from the moment he answered his first question. I groaned. There was no hope for David now.
"Touya, what are you doing?"
I turned around to see 'Tou-san at the entrance of the living room with a wet towel on his head.
"This kid's dating Sakura," Touya answered blandly, still glaring at David disapprovingly.
"Well, nice to meet you! I'm Sakura's father," 'Tou-san greeted, smiling and shaking hands with David. David seemed to relax. "How long have you two been dating?"
"A day," I replied, wanting my voice to be heard.
"And you didn't tell me?" Tomoyo-san asked, joining the small circle of people.
"I was going to," I argued weakly.
"I don't like you," 'Nii-chan said. "You're not fit for my sister, and let me tell you, I'm a great judge of character. Leave the house."
"'Nii-chan!" I gasped. I never remembered him being so rude.
"Touya!"
Tomoyo-san didn't say anything. She looked more amused than shocked.
David stood up and gave a small bow before quietly leaving the living room.
"David!" I called out and went to chase him, but 'Nii-chan pulled me back. "'Nii-chan!" I complained, furious at his behavior.
I heard the door shut before it was too late.
"Why did you say that?" I asked, trying to suppress my anger.
"I don't like him," 'Nii-chan replied. I couldn't say anything for a second as I saw that the dark look in his eyes still hadn't left.
"Why?" I stuttered out, my cheeks flushed and my fists clenched by my sides.
"He had a horrible personality, Sakura. I know his type. It's wrong for me to judge like this, but I find him to be an extreme exception. I'm sorry, Imouto," he apologized. "Date him if you want, but I won't let him ruin you or let it get anything beyond a kiss. Even that idea disgusts me." He left his seat without a word, heading to his room.
Tears welled in my eyes. I always had respect for my brother, and he was always there for me. Sure, a little overprotective, but it was all for me. I sniffled. Having his approval always made me feel proud, and his disapproval with David weighed heavily on my heart.
"Oh, Sakura," 'Tou-san said, bringing me to his chest and patting my head. "He's just stressed. Don't worry. He looks like a fine boy."
I cried silently into my father's shirt, finding comfort in the familiarity of his scent and embrace.
"Now wash up and get a good night's rest. It's a Saturday tomorrow. Oversleep," 'Tou-san said, cupping my face in his hands and kissing my forehead reassuringly.
I smiled in thanks. I bid 'Tou-san and Tomoyo-san a good night and did as I was told. I sunk into bed thinking over the day's events. I vaguely remembered David's handsome face, but found Li-san's seemed to float over my head with every detailed feature. I recalled how stubbornly he acted during dinner. I stifled a giggle at the thought. He always did the weirdest and cutest things.
I snuggled deeper into the bed, pulling the thin covers to my chin. I slept soundly and even had a couple of good dreams of Li-san. I would have pondered at them, but I didn't remember a second of the dreams once I woke up.
It was late in the morning when I awoke on Sunday, and the first thought in my mind was that I had to prepare a lesson for Monday. I gasped in panic. I barely had anything prepared. What was I going to do? How should I prepare the lesson? What would interest the kids? Thousands of questions plagued my mind as I fumbled through my bag and desk looking for notes and books.
I wouldn't normally have been so nervous, but the prospect of seeing myself in the front of a rowdy class staring curiously at me and judging me for every move I made shook my nerves. Also, Li-san would be in a seat, watching me and criticizing me in his head.
"I'm going to make such a fool out of myself," I moaned.
Someone knocked on my door.
"Yes?"
It was Tomoyo-san with a tray of hot breakfast. "I was wondering if you were hungry."
"Oh! I totally forgot about breakfast!" I said. "Thank you!"
"What are you working on?" Tomoyo-san asked, peering over my cluttered desk. "Preparing a lesson?"
I nodded while chewing my toast and choking it down. "I don't know how to do this, Tomoyo-san! It doesn't seem hard, but I just can't sink down the feeling that the lesson won't go as planned."
"Calm down, Sakura-chan," Tomoyo-san said, laughing her melodic laugh as if my nervousness was something humorous. "If you're really that nervous, wash up and call Li-san for help. He isn't really a very busy person."
"I'd be a bother!" I complained.
"Suit yourself." Tomoyo-san left my room, leaving me my breakfast and a feeling of dread.
As much as I didn't want to do it, I ended up taking Tomoyo-san's advice.
"Hello?" Li-san answered the phone.
"Hello, Li-san?" I squeaked.
"Ms. Kinomoto?" he asked to clarify my identity.
"Yes," I answered. "I hope you're not busy right now."
"Not at all."
"Do you mind helping me out with my lesson plan?" I asked. "I'm so sorry, but I'm getting all nervous, and I just don't know what to do." I must have continued to aimlessly blabber on, because Li-san cut me off with a seemingly exasperated sigh.
"I wouldn't mind helping you at all," he said.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Yes."
"So can I come by your place in thirty minutes or so?" I asked, still feeling a little bit of doubt in asking Li-san for help.
"That's no problem," Li-san replied. "I'll see you then." And he hung up the phone.
It took me a second to register the quick conversation and his abrupt ending to it. I hung up the phone and quickly packed my notes and books.
"I'm taking the car, Tomoyo-san," I said, peeping my head through her door.
"Going to Li-san's?" she asked without turning around from her desk.
"Un," I answered. "I'll be back as early as I can."
"Ja," she said, waving her hand and resuming her work.
I took the car keys from a rack in the foyer and headed out towards Li-san's apartment. It took a while to find his apartment, but I found it nonetheless. I was twenty minutes late.
I was in front of his door, and I knocked timidly. It opened fairly quickly, as if he was waiting by the door for me.
"I'm sorry I'm late," I stuttered, coming into his neat apartment. "I just got a little lost."
He nodded and motioned for me to sit at the kitchen table. I took out my small bit of notes and books. I was totally disarranged.
He quickly scanned my materials, then shoved all my books aside. He handed me a piece of paper and a pencil.
I looked at him in a confused manner.
"Books aren't going to teach you how to teach," he said. "You know what you're supposed to teach tomorrow?"
I nodded. "About the first colonies of America," I replied dutifully.
"I really don't get what you're nervous about, Ms. Kinomoto," Li-san said to me. "You know the information; all you have to do it tell it to the kids."
"That's the thing! How do I tell them? I don't want to sound boring and like I'm lecturing them. And then again, I don't want to play around and act as if I was teaching a bunch of little children," I said.
"Every teacher teaches differently, and you're just going to have to find out your own style in teaching these kids," Li-san said, staring at me sincerely.
I relaxed after his words, but fidgeted slightly under his gaze.
"I think you'll do fine tomorrow, but if you really feel as if you need something to depend on, just jot down what you're teaching and however you plan on doing it," Li-san said simply. He stood up, scraping his chair back as he did so. "That's all I can say to you, but if you find that another method suits you better, go ahead and do so. I'll be here if you have any questions."
I nodded and stared at the blank piece of paper. I knew that I knew the information that needed to be taught inside and out. I just didn't know exactly how to satisfy the kid's need for education and fun mixed in one. I heard Li-san shuffle quietly around the house, doing whatever he did on a Sunday.
I took my mind off of Li-san and concentrated on my work. I did as he told me to do and wrote down very general facts. I thought intensely on how to go about doing one thing or another. After who knows how long, I began to doze off. Before I knew it, my head was buried in my arms and I was fast asleep.
I woke up, but felt my eyelids were too heavy to open. It took me a second to realize where I fell asleep. Then it took me another second to realize that I wasn't leaning on a table. On the contrary, I felt myself moving. Was I being carried? The sudden image of Li-san carrying me in his arms startled me. My eyes shot open, and I tried to jump out of his arms.
I was unsuccessful.
I had a blanket on top of me and tripped on it as I tried to struggle out of Li-san's loose grip. In less than a second, I thought I found myself on a soft floor. Rather, I found myself on top of Li-san. I was blushing to the roots of my hair, realizing how I had just humiliated myself in front of him.
"Ah," I tried to stutter.
"You can just get off me," Li-san said. He seemed pink in the cheeks, but maybe that was just an effect the impact of the fall made. I nodded hurriedly and tried to stand up, only to slip on the blanket again and fall back down. This time, Li-san caught me. He managed to sit up by the time I tripped the second time, and I found myself sitting on his lap, cradled awkwardly in his arms.
"I'm so sorry!" I yelped, blushing to an even deeper shade of red and stumbling off his lap.
"Are you okay?" he asked, looking slightly away.
"Hai," I replied, feeling my heart beating twice as fast as it should normally from the shock of the fall.
"Are you done with your work?" he asked.
"Oh!" I remembered the reason as to why I was the teacher's house in the first place. I hustled over to the kitchen table and winced at all the scribbling and crossing out I did on the piece of paper. I generally didn't get anything done, except cross out everything I wrote.
"You'll do fine tomorrow," Li-san said, the blanket folded neatly in his arms as he came from the hallway.
"Are you kidding me?" I exclaimed, crumpling the piece of paper into a little ball. Li-san didn't reply, but decided instead to stare strangely at my face. "Is something wrong?" I asked.
"You have smudge marks on your face," Li-san said, as if trying to let out a small chuckle.
I instinctively tried covering my whole face with my hands in embarrassment. Li-san chuckled at my clumsy act and set the blanket down on the table.
"Let me get that," he said softly, taking my hands away from my face and rubbing my right cheek gently. I didn't know what to do. It was such an awkward position with Li-san cupping my face in his hands and rubbing away pencil marks from my face. My face was becoming flushed, and I opened my mouth to speak.
"I can wash it off in the bathroom," I stuttered quietly.
Li-san turned a bright shade of red and quickly took his hands away as if he wasn't in control of his actions a few seconds ago. "Ah..." he grumbled, letting me pass by him.
I quickly scuttled to the bathroom, shutting the door and heavily leaning on it. I gripped my chest as my heart was beating so quickly I thought it'd burst. What was wrong with me? I checked the mirror and saw a small smudge still on my right cheek. I scolded myself for completely embarrassing and humiliating myself at Li-san's home. I hastily washed off the mark and dried my face in Li-san's green towel.
I took a second to breathe before leaving the bathroom, not even wanting to think about why I was acting as strangely as I did. "Ano," I said, seeing Li-san slumped on his couch, "I think I have to get going. Thank you for your time today."
He nodded, standing up and handing me my bag. "You'll do fine tomorrow," he said. "I'll see you then."
"Okay. Sayonara, Li-san," I said with a smile before leaving his apartment. I let out a sigh of relief the moment his door closed and headed back home. I was still a bit worried about tomorrow's lesson, but I knew I'd be able to handle it somehow.
Little did I know that Monday's lesson wouldn't be the only thing I would have to worry about that week.
~~~~~
C-Mage: .... Short. .' Again, I'm super sorry! I do like it, though. Nice S+S moment. *grins* Review, comment, flame if you must....
T.Anjel: Same same.