A/N: Okay, I was gonna wait until I had the whole chapter finished to post,
but I've got about 11 pages typed so far and I'm at a good stopping place.
Plus, I've got writer's block.so I'm posting part of chapter 7 now. I'm
really sorry for how long it's taken me to update. I'm a freshman in
college this year and I've been really busy. I hope I've still got some
readers left! I don't know when I'll post the second half of the chapter,
hopefully over Christmas break, but I can't make any promises. Thanks for
being so patient and I'm really sorry that it's taking me so long to finish
this!!
Okay, I'm done rambling now!!
Angelic Rhapsody
Disclaimer: I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura. If I did I wouldn't be writing fanfiction. Please don't sue me, I'm not making any money off of this fic, and I've got about $7.00 to my name.
Warnings: Shonen-ai, swearing, and some mild violence
Chapter 7
Present Day
"So they really did get together on their own," Toya said after Sakura finished telling the story of how Eriol and Syaoran got together.
"Yup," Sakura said with a nod, "and they ruined all my plans! I worked so hard on them to!"
"Sorry Sakura!" Eriol and Syaoran chorused, not looking the least bit sorry.
"Sure you are," Sakura said, mock-glaring at her friends.
Eriol and Syaoran did their best to look sorry, but wound up failing miserably.
"See, told you. You're not sorry!" Sakura exclaimed dramatically.
The group laughed and rolled their eyes at Sakura's antics.
"We should probably go," Tomoyo said, "we've been bothering Toya and Yukito long enough."
"You don't have to go," Yuki said, "you're welcome stay. You're not a bother."
"I know I'm not a bother," Tomoyo said with a grin, "but Sakura, Syaoran, and Eriol, well, they're another story."
"HEY!"
Tomoyo laughed. "Anyway, it's summer, we can't sit around inside all day! We've gotta do things, have fun!"
"Tomoyo has a point," Eriol said. "We're going to be in college soon. We need to have as much fun as we can now. Once summer's over, we're off to the hell known as college!"
"Aren't you being a bit over dramatic, koi?" Syaoran asked. "I don't think it's going to be that bad. I mean Sakura and Tomoyo won't be there!"
"That's true."
"HEY!"
"Hmmph! What is this? Pick on Sakura day?" Sakura grumbled.
"I thought that was every day," Toya said and then ducked as Sakura threw a pillow at him.
"Tomoyo's right, though," Sakura said, "we probably should go."
The group stood up and headed to the door. "We'll see you guys later," Yuki said as the teens slipped on their shoes.
"Okay," the teens chorused.
"Ja ne," Toya and Yuki said as the teens left.
"Ja!" the group responded and headed down the stairs. "So, what are we gonna do today?" Sakura asked as they reached her car.
"How about lay around and be lazy?" Eriol suggested. "We can go over Sakura's and lay out in the sun and watch Yue and Cerberus try to kill each other."
"Koi, weren't you the one said that we should have fun and do stuff," Syaoran asked his boyfriend pointedly.
Eriol grinned. "In my opinion laying in the sun is fun. And we won't be sitting around inside, we'll be outside enjoying the sun and fresh air!"
"That's true," Sakura agreed, "well it's fine with me. Tomoyo? Syaoran? What do you two think?"
"Fine with me," Tomoyo said, "I don't feel like doing much anyway."
"It's okay with me," Syaoran said. "Just make you sure you don't fall asleep, koi," he added, looking at Eriol, "you don't want to resemble a lobster again, ne?"
Eriol shuddered. "No way in hell will I fall asleep in the sun again. That sunburn hurt last time!"
The other three teens laughed and Syaoran hugged his boyfriend. "My poor baby," he said with a grin as he hugged Eriol tighter. "Could barely move, couldn't do anything but lay down for three days straight."
"And even that hurt," Eriol added with a pout.
Syaoran laughed and kissed his boyfriend. "Poor thing. We'll just have to make sure you don't fall asleep again." Syaoran kissed Eriol again, holding him tightly when the kiss ended.
"As sweet as you two are, we need to get going," Sakura pointed out. "People are going to think we're plotting world domination or something."
Eriol blinked. "You mean, we're not?" he asked looking shocked. When his friends shook their heads no, Eriol gasped. "No! You just ruined all my delusions! They're gone! All gone!" With that he dramatically collapsed into Syaoran's arms.
Syaoran looked down at his boyfriend. "You have problems. Have you ever thought of getting psychiatric help?"
Eriol stuck his tongue out at him.
Sakura shook her head at her friends' antics. "C'mon you two let's go!"
The two boys broke apart and the four teens piled into Sakura's car and headed off.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Syaoran looks forlorn," Tomoyo announced after they were on their way. "I think he's sad because he's not sitting with Eriol."
"Either that, or his legs are cramped from sitting in the back," Sakura said with a laugh.
"I don't see why you won't let me drive your car, it's not like I'm going to hurt it or anything," Syaoran grumbled.
Sakura grinned at her friend. "It's my car! Mine!" she said possessively, "No one's allowed to drive it but me!"
"Yeah," Eriol said, "She won't let me or Tomoyo drive it either."
"Didn't you learn about sharing when you were little?" Syaoran teased Sakura.
"No. When I was little I learned how to hide my toys from Toya," she retorted.
"Poor Kura-chan. You had such a traumatizing childhood," Eriol said with a grin before yelping when Sakura smacked him. "Ouchies. Your mean."
"Don't pick on my poor boyfriend," Syaoran told Sakura, "he's very delicate."
Sakura rolled her eyes as she pulled into the driveway. "Delicate my ass," she mumbled.
"What was that?" Syaoran asked, wondering how far he could push Sakura before she inflicted severe bodily harm on him.
"Nothing! I just said we're here!" Sakura said with an expression of utter innocence pasted on her face.
The teens climbed out of the car and went inside the house. "Hello!? Tou- san!? Yue!? Cerberus!? Is anybody here!?" Sakura called out as they entered the quiet house. "Well, I guess that we'll just have to eat this chocolate cake all by ourselves then," she said when nobody answered.
"Maybe we should go look for them," Syaoran suggested when Cerberus didn't come running into the room.
The rest of the teens nodded in agreement and the group split up.
Eriol walked into the living room and froze, staring at the sight in front of him. He was silent for a moment before he started to laugh uncontrollably. "I found them," he called once he had stopped laughing. "They're in the living room."
The other three teens left the rooms they had been in and went to the living room. When they reached Eriol they all poked their heads into the room and froze before laughing.
Once she had calmed down, Sakura went into the room and just stared at her guardians. Yue was sleeping peacefully on the couch, Cerberus, however, was lying in the corner, tied up with ropes of magic and had an apple shoved in his mouth. Sakura walked over to Yue and shook him. "Yue," she said, "wake up."
One violet cat eye cracked open slowly before both eyes opened completely. Out of the corner of his eye Yue noticed Cerberus tied up. He had planned to untie him before Sakura returned, but it seemed that things hadn't worked out like he had planned. "Hello, Sakura," Yue said nervously. "Um, I can explain Cerberus being tied up." 'I hope,' he added mentally.
"Please do," Sakura said, hiding a smile and trying not to laugh at Yue's expression. 'He thinks I'm going to punish him or something. Yue's actually afraid of me! Well, maybe only slightly, but still, this is too good!' she thought laughing mentally. "Well? Why, pray tell, did you find it necessary to tie up Cerberus and gag him, Yue?"
"Well, you see, it was just that I¼ um¼ he¼ well¼uh¼ I just," Yue stuttered before getting a hold of himself. "I was tired and he wouldn't let me sleep. He kept bouncing around and singing and every time I started to fall asleep he would jump on me or swat at me and wake me up! I just-"
Sakura held up her hand, cutting her increasingly flustered boyfriend/guardian off. "It's okay Yue, I'm not mad at you. It's not like you have a habit of doing this kind of thing anyway. Let's just take Cerberus outside and you can unbind him, okay?"
Yue nodded. "Of course. But why do you wish for me to unbind him outside?"
Sakura grinned. "I don't want the house to get destroyed when Cerberus tries to kill you for tying him up."
Yue just blinked and followed Sakura and company outside, dragging Cerberus behind him.
Sometime later the four teens were lying contentedly in the sun and Yue and Cerberus were sleeping under a tree and in the sun respectively. It had taken over an hour of Cerberus chasing Yue and threatening him for the winged cat to calm down, but now everything was peaceful and the teens were enjoying the sun.
"Are you guys scared to go to college?" Sakura asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
"Kind of," Tomoyo said and propped herself up on her elbow to look at her friend.
"A little," Syaoran answered as he sat up and shook Eriol awake. "What about you koi? Are you scared about starting college?"
"Not scared exactly," Eriol began, sitting up as well, "more nervous, apprehensive than anything. Why?"
"Sakura asked," Syaoran told him and reached over to brush a stand of hair out of his boyfriend's eyes.
"What's wrong Sakura? Are you afraid of starting college?"
Sakura nodded. "I'm terrified," she said softly. "I mean I know I'm only going to be an hour from home and you guys won't be that far away either, it's just that, oh I don't know. I guess it's just that I'm going to be all by myself without you guys. I can't even bring Yue and Kero with me. It's just such a big change."
"It'll be okay Sakura. We'll always be here for you," Tomoyo said and Syaoran and Eriol nodded in agreement.
"You can always call us if you're feeling lonely or homesick or just need someone to talk to," Eriol added as he got up and moved to sit with Syaoran.
Syaoran wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and rested his chin on top of Eriol's head. "We're not going anywhere 'Kura. We'll always be here for you. So cheer up, don't look so sad. We've still got a couple months before we leave, let's enjoy them."
Sakura smiled at her friends. "Thanks you guys. I guess that I just needed some reassuring."
"No problem Sakura. That's what we're here for," Tomoyo said, getting up and giving her friend a hug.
"So what do you guys want to do now?" Eriol asked.
"Sleep?" Syaoran suggested with a yawn. Eriol looked up at Syaoran and raised an eyebrow. Syaoran caught the look Eriol was giving him and grinned. "What? What's wrong with sleeping?"
Eriol sighed and shook his head. "So, any other ideas?"
"What time is it?" Sakura asked, pushing herself up into a sitting position.
"It's just after two. Why?" Syaoran answered, looking up at Sakura curiously.
"Do you guys want to go shopping for stuff for college?" Sakura asked. "We really do need to get started and there's a lot of sales going on."
"I think it's a good idea. I'm in," Tomoyo said.
"Me too," Eriol said. "What about you koi?" he asked, looking up at Syaoran.
"Fine with me," Syaoran answered.
"Sugoi!" Sakura exclaimed happily. "Let's go get ready!"
The group got up and put their lawn chairs away before going inside.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"C'mon you guys! Hurry up!" Sakura called impatiently. Her and Tomoyo were ready and were waiting on Syaoran and Eriol.
"We're ready, calm down will you?" Syaoran grumbled as he and Eriol walked into the living room.
"Let's go!" Sakura said, bouncing happily to the door and ushering her friends out.
"Me and Eriol are gonna take my car," Syaoran said.
"Okies!" Sakura said as she and Tomoyo got into her car. "We'll see you when we get there then."
"All right. Whoever gets there first, wait by the doors," Eriol said as he and Syaoran got into the car.
"Okay," Sakura called back in response and pulled out of the driveway.
Syaoran started his car and followed a minute later.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
15 minutes later the group was gathered inside the mall and debating on where they should go first.
"Any ideas on what we should buy first?" Eriol asked
"School supplies?" Tomoyo suggested.
The rest of the teens looked at each other and shrugged.
"Sounds good to me," Sakura said and Eriol nodded in agreement.
"Okay. Let's go then," Syaoran said and with that the group headed of to the nearest store that sold school supplies. "Hey Sakura," Tomoyo whispered as the two girls looked at folders and notebooks.
"Hmm?" Sakura murmured, looking up from her contemplation of two daily planners. "What is it Tomoyo?"
Tomoyo grinned and held up some Pokèmon folders, all featuring Pikachu of course. "I bet Eriol would just love these!"
"You're right Tomoyo, Eriol will go crazy over those," Sakura smiled innocently. "We all know how he feels about Pikachu. He'll be so shocked when he see's these!"
The two laughed and put the folders with their stuff and hurried off to find the boys.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Eriol and Syaoran stopped their hunt for the specific type of pens Eriol insisted on having when Sakura and Tomoyo joined them.
"Did you find your pens yet Eriol?" Sakura asked as she looked around for her own pens.
"No," Eriol said dejectedly.
"Aww, don't be sad Eriol," Tomoyo said. "Me and Sakura found something that you'll love!"
Eriol eyed the two girls warily, you could never be too careful when it came to them. "What is it?" he asked cautiously.
The two girls grinned. "Close your eyes," Sakura said, eyes sparkling mischievously.
Eriol hesitated for a moment before doing what he was told.
Sakura and Tomoyo each grabbed two folders and them up so that they would be the first thing Eriol saw when he opened his eyes.
Syaoran looked at the folders and faked a coughing fit to cover his laughter.
"Okay, open your eyes Eriol," Sakura said, trying hard not to laugh.
Eriol slowly opened his eyes. "GAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" he yelled, loudly. People from the surrounding aisles looked at him strangely. "Syaoran! Make it go'way!" Eriol whimpered, burying his face in his boyfriend's chest.
"Awww. Poor baby," Syaoran laughed hugging Eriol. "Those mean, mean girls. How could they show you that scary yellow rat."
Eriol pulled away and glared at his boyfriend. "Mou! You don't have to laugh at me!" He turned away, pouting
"I was just teasing you, angel." Syaoran murmured, wrapping his arms around Eriol's waist and nuzzling the back of his neck. "Love you koi. Please don't be mad."
Eriol sighed and turned to face his boyfriend. "I'm not mad," he said, wrapping his around Syaoran's neck and leaning against him. "Ai shiteru, Syaoran."
Syaoran kissed the top of his boyfriend's head and tightened his arms around Eriol.
They stayed like that, completely lost in each other, for a few blissful moments. Until, suddenly, reality came crashing down around them.
"Hey fags! Why don't you take your fucked up little selves outta here before I kick your asses!"
Eriol and Syaoran broke apart and turned to the idiot who had spoken. Tomoyo and Sakura glared at him.
"Let me handle this," Syaoran whispered in Eriol's ear.
Eriol ignored him and stepped forward. "Is there a problem?" Eriol asked, voice mockingly polite.
"Yeah, there's a problem. You two fairies are all over each other! I don't wanna see that!"
"Who asked you?" Syaoran mumbled.
"What was that fairy boy? You wanna fight? You ain't a real man! You couldn't even make me flinch!"
"I'm gay," Eriol said. "Yet, I don't complain when I see a straight couple hugging or kissing. So can you please act like a mature individual and not like some ignorant, narrow-minded bigot who takes being gay as a threat to his own masculinity. I'm not stupid. I'm not about to hit on a straight guy, or any guy for that matter. I have a boyfriend, I don't need to hit on anyone."
"Why you little," the idiot growled, lunging at Eriol. Eriol dodged the first few punches, but was caught off guard and received a blow to the side of his face and one to his stomach, forcing the air from his lungs and causing him to fall to his knees.
Syaoran saw red. "You bastard!" he managed to hit the guy twice before security came and "escorted" the idiot out and gave Syaoran a warning.
"Let's get Eriol to a bench," Sakura said worriedly.
Syaoran nodded and picked Eriol up, carrying him out of the store and to an empty bench. "Daijobu desu ka angel?" Syaoran asked after they had gotten Eriol settled on the bench.
"Hai, daijobu. I'm just a little sore is all," Eriol replied with a pained smile.
"We should get you home anyway," Syaoran said worriedly. "You should have let me handle it koi."
The smile on Eriol's faced disappeared. "What, are you saying that I'm weak Syaoran? That I can't stand up for myself? That I need you take care of me and protect me? Huh? Is that what you're saying?" Eriol demanded angrily.
"Well, evidently you need someone to, if what happened in the store was any indication of your ability to defend yourself!" Syaoran shot back angrily, letting his anger at the man who had hurt Eriol and his worry for Eriol express themselves as anger at the one person he wasn't angry at.
Eriol glared at Syaoran. "I may be the uke in this relationship, but that does not mean that I am weak, Li Syaoran!"
Syaoran opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by Sakura. "Syaoran, Eriol, why don't we leave? I'm sure that Eriol would like some rest and you both need to calm down."
Syaoran and Eriol both nodded in agreement. The four teens headed to their cars, moods much darker than when they had arrived.
With Sakura's help, Eriol made it to Syaoran's car and was helped inside. "Me and Tomoyo are going to grab some lunch and then go over her house okay? If you need anything just call," Sakura told Eriol as she closed the car door. "Make sure he gets some rest and you had damn well better apologize to him Syaoran!" Sakura practically ordered Syaoran as she walked to her car.
"Hai," Syaoran agreed, getting in the car and starting the engine. After they were on the road, he glanced over at Eriol. The blue-haired teen was sleeping, but his face was marred with pain. "We're almost home angel," Syaoran murmured, gently stroking Eriol's cheek.
Once they reached Eriol's house, Syaoran carefully gathered Eriol into his arms and carried him up to his room. Once he had Eriol settled in his bed, Syaoran went back downstairs and got a glass of water and some painkillers, which he took back upstairs and set on Eriol's bedside table before settling himself in Eriol's desk chair to wait for his angel to wake up.
A couple of hours later Eriol woke up. "Owww... I feel like I tried to break up one of Ruby Moon and Spinel's fights again," Eriol mumbled as he groggily sat up. Noticing the aspirin and water, he gratefully swallowed the medicine and water. Setting the empty cup down, Eriol glanced around his room and noticed Syaoran asleep in his desk chair. 'He stayed with me...I hope he doesn't think that I'm going to forgive him that easily. He had no right to say that I can't take of myself!' Eriol thought grumpily as he got out of bed, make that tried to get out of bed. As soon as he was standing, Eriol was hit by wave of pain and would've fallen from the intensity of it, if a pair of strong arms hadn't caught him.
"You should be in bed angel," Syaoran said as he carefully placed Eriol back in bed and covered him up before sitting next to him and gently stroking his cheek.
Eriol resisted the urge to lean into Syaoran's touch and instead pulled away and glared up at him. "Why? Because I'm too weak?" Eriol bit out scathingly.
"No. Because you're hurt and you'll just aggravate your injuries further if you walk around," Syaoran replied.
"Fine. Then leave, I don't want to see you right now," Eriol said coldly before rolling on his side so that his back was to Syaoran.
Syaoran stood up. "If that's what you want," he murmured softly, "I am sorry for what I said to you at the mall, angel. I didn't mean it. I was just angry at that asshole and worried about you and I said things that I shouldn't have. You're not weak. You're probably the strongest person I know. Gomen ne angel. I love you," Syaoran said softly before going downstairs and laying down on the couch.
As soon as Syaoran was gone, Eriol rolled over onto his back and stared up at the ceiling, tears falling down his cheeks. "Damn you Li Syaoran! Why is it that no matter how hard I try, I can't stay mad at you, no matter what you do? And why do you turn me into such an emotional wreck!?" Eriol wondered out loud.
After an hour or so of fitful sleep, Eriol forced himself to get out of bed and carefully made his way downstairs to see if Syaoran had left. Entering the living room, Eriol spotted Syaoran asleep on the couch and slowly made his way to him. Eriol carefully maneuvered himself onto the couch and into Syaoran's arms, where he fell asleep with in minutes.
Angelic Rhapsody
Disclaimer: I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura. If I did I wouldn't be writing fanfiction. Please don't sue me, I'm not making any money off of this fic, and I've got about $7.00 to my name.
Warnings: Shonen-ai, swearing, and some mild violence
Chapter 7
Present Day
"So they really did get together on their own," Toya said after Sakura finished telling the story of how Eriol and Syaoran got together.
"Yup," Sakura said with a nod, "and they ruined all my plans! I worked so hard on them to!"
"Sorry Sakura!" Eriol and Syaoran chorused, not looking the least bit sorry.
"Sure you are," Sakura said, mock-glaring at her friends.
Eriol and Syaoran did their best to look sorry, but wound up failing miserably.
"See, told you. You're not sorry!" Sakura exclaimed dramatically.
The group laughed and rolled their eyes at Sakura's antics.
"We should probably go," Tomoyo said, "we've been bothering Toya and Yukito long enough."
"You don't have to go," Yuki said, "you're welcome stay. You're not a bother."
"I know I'm not a bother," Tomoyo said with a grin, "but Sakura, Syaoran, and Eriol, well, they're another story."
"HEY!"
Tomoyo laughed. "Anyway, it's summer, we can't sit around inside all day! We've gotta do things, have fun!"
"Tomoyo has a point," Eriol said. "We're going to be in college soon. We need to have as much fun as we can now. Once summer's over, we're off to the hell known as college!"
"Aren't you being a bit over dramatic, koi?" Syaoran asked. "I don't think it's going to be that bad. I mean Sakura and Tomoyo won't be there!"
"That's true."
"HEY!"
"Hmmph! What is this? Pick on Sakura day?" Sakura grumbled.
"I thought that was every day," Toya said and then ducked as Sakura threw a pillow at him.
"Tomoyo's right, though," Sakura said, "we probably should go."
The group stood up and headed to the door. "We'll see you guys later," Yuki said as the teens slipped on their shoes.
"Okay," the teens chorused.
"Ja ne," Toya and Yuki said as the teens left.
"Ja!" the group responded and headed down the stairs. "So, what are we gonna do today?" Sakura asked as they reached her car.
"How about lay around and be lazy?" Eriol suggested. "We can go over Sakura's and lay out in the sun and watch Yue and Cerberus try to kill each other."
"Koi, weren't you the one said that we should have fun and do stuff," Syaoran asked his boyfriend pointedly.
Eriol grinned. "In my opinion laying in the sun is fun. And we won't be sitting around inside, we'll be outside enjoying the sun and fresh air!"
"That's true," Sakura agreed, "well it's fine with me. Tomoyo? Syaoran? What do you two think?"
"Fine with me," Tomoyo said, "I don't feel like doing much anyway."
"It's okay with me," Syaoran said. "Just make you sure you don't fall asleep, koi," he added, looking at Eriol, "you don't want to resemble a lobster again, ne?"
Eriol shuddered. "No way in hell will I fall asleep in the sun again. That sunburn hurt last time!"
The other three teens laughed and Syaoran hugged his boyfriend. "My poor baby," he said with a grin as he hugged Eriol tighter. "Could barely move, couldn't do anything but lay down for three days straight."
"And even that hurt," Eriol added with a pout.
Syaoran laughed and kissed his boyfriend. "Poor thing. We'll just have to make sure you don't fall asleep again." Syaoran kissed Eriol again, holding him tightly when the kiss ended.
"As sweet as you two are, we need to get going," Sakura pointed out. "People are going to think we're plotting world domination or something."
Eriol blinked. "You mean, we're not?" he asked looking shocked. When his friends shook their heads no, Eriol gasped. "No! You just ruined all my delusions! They're gone! All gone!" With that he dramatically collapsed into Syaoran's arms.
Syaoran looked down at his boyfriend. "You have problems. Have you ever thought of getting psychiatric help?"
Eriol stuck his tongue out at him.
Sakura shook her head at her friends' antics. "C'mon you two let's go!"
The two boys broke apart and the four teens piled into Sakura's car and headed off.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Syaoran looks forlorn," Tomoyo announced after they were on their way. "I think he's sad because he's not sitting with Eriol."
"Either that, or his legs are cramped from sitting in the back," Sakura said with a laugh.
"I don't see why you won't let me drive your car, it's not like I'm going to hurt it or anything," Syaoran grumbled.
Sakura grinned at her friend. "It's my car! Mine!" she said possessively, "No one's allowed to drive it but me!"
"Yeah," Eriol said, "She won't let me or Tomoyo drive it either."
"Didn't you learn about sharing when you were little?" Syaoran teased Sakura.
"No. When I was little I learned how to hide my toys from Toya," she retorted.
"Poor Kura-chan. You had such a traumatizing childhood," Eriol said with a grin before yelping when Sakura smacked him. "Ouchies. Your mean."
"Don't pick on my poor boyfriend," Syaoran told Sakura, "he's very delicate."
Sakura rolled her eyes as she pulled into the driveway. "Delicate my ass," she mumbled.
"What was that?" Syaoran asked, wondering how far he could push Sakura before she inflicted severe bodily harm on him.
"Nothing! I just said we're here!" Sakura said with an expression of utter innocence pasted on her face.
The teens climbed out of the car and went inside the house. "Hello!? Tou- san!? Yue!? Cerberus!? Is anybody here!?" Sakura called out as they entered the quiet house. "Well, I guess that we'll just have to eat this chocolate cake all by ourselves then," she said when nobody answered.
"Maybe we should go look for them," Syaoran suggested when Cerberus didn't come running into the room.
The rest of the teens nodded in agreement and the group split up.
Eriol walked into the living room and froze, staring at the sight in front of him. He was silent for a moment before he started to laugh uncontrollably. "I found them," he called once he had stopped laughing. "They're in the living room."
The other three teens left the rooms they had been in and went to the living room. When they reached Eriol they all poked their heads into the room and froze before laughing.
Once she had calmed down, Sakura went into the room and just stared at her guardians. Yue was sleeping peacefully on the couch, Cerberus, however, was lying in the corner, tied up with ropes of magic and had an apple shoved in his mouth. Sakura walked over to Yue and shook him. "Yue," she said, "wake up."
One violet cat eye cracked open slowly before both eyes opened completely. Out of the corner of his eye Yue noticed Cerberus tied up. He had planned to untie him before Sakura returned, but it seemed that things hadn't worked out like he had planned. "Hello, Sakura," Yue said nervously. "Um, I can explain Cerberus being tied up." 'I hope,' he added mentally.
"Please do," Sakura said, hiding a smile and trying not to laugh at Yue's expression. 'He thinks I'm going to punish him or something. Yue's actually afraid of me! Well, maybe only slightly, but still, this is too good!' she thought laughing mentally. "Well? Why, pray tell, did you find it necessary to tie up Cerberus and gag him, Yue?"
"Well, you see, it was just that I¼ um¼ he¼ well¼uh¼ I just," Yue stuttered before getting a hold of himself. "I was tired and he wouldn't let me sleep. He kept bouncing around and singing and every time I started to fall asleep he would jump on me or swat at me and wake me up! I just-"
Sakura held up her hand, cutting her increasingly flustered boyfriend/guardian off. "It's okay Yue, I'm not mad at you. It's not like you have a habit of doing this kind of thing anyway. Let's just take Cerberus outside and you can unbind him, okay?"
Yue nodded. "Of course. But why do you wish for me to unbind him outside?"
Sakura grinned. "I don't want the house to get destroyed when Cerberus tries to kill you for tying him up."
Yue just blinked and followed Sakura and company outside, dragging Cerberus behind him.
Sometime later the four teens were lying contentedly in the sun and Yue and Cerberus were sleeping under a tree and in the sun respectively. It had taken over an hour of Cerberus chasing Yue and threatening him for the winged cat to calm down, but now everything was peaceful and the teens were enjoying the sun.
"Are you guys scared to go to college?" Sakura asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
"Kind of," Tomoyo said and propped herself up on her elbow to look at her friend.
"A little," Syaoran answered as he sat up and shook Eriol awake. "What about you koi? Are you scared about starting college?"
"Not scared exactly," Eriol began, sitting up as well, "more nervous, apprehensive than anything. Why?"
"Sakura asked," Syaoran told him and reached over to brush a stand of hair out of his boyfriend's eyes.
"What's wrong Sakura? Are you afraid of starting college?"
Sakura nodded. "I'm terrified," she said softly. "I mean I know I'm only going to be an hour from home and you guys won't be that far away either, it's just that, oh I don't know. I guess it's just that I'm going to be all by myself without you guys. I can't even bring Yue and Kero with me. It's just such a big change."
"It'll be okay Sakura. We'll always be here for you," Tomoyo said and Syaoran and Eriol nodded in agreement.
"You can always call us if you're feeling lonely or homesick or just need someone to talk to," Eriol added as he got up and moved to sit with Syaoran.
Syaoran wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and rested his chin on top of Eriol's head. "We're not going anywhere 'Kura. We'll always be here for you. So cheer up, don't look so sad. We've still got a couple months before we leave, let's enjoy them."
Sakura smiled at her friends. "Thanks you guys. I guess that I just needed some reassuring."
"No problem Sakura. That's what we're here for," Tomoyo said, getting up and giving her friend a hug.
"So what do you guys want to do now?" Eriol asked.
"Sleep?" Syaoran suggested with a yawn. Eriol looked up at Syaoran and raised an eyebrow. Syaoran caught the look Eriol was giving him and grinned. "What? What's wrong with sleeping?"
Eriol sighed and shook his head. "So, any other ideas?"
"What time is it?" Sakura asked, pushing herself up into a sitting position.
"It's just after two. Why?" Syaoran answered, looking up at Sakura curiously.
"Do you guys want to go shopping for stuff for college?" Sakura asked. "We really do need to get started and there's a lot of sales going on."
"I think it's a good idea. I'm in," Tomoyo said.
"Me too," Eriol said. "What about you koi?" he asked, looking up at Syaoran.
"Fine with me," Syaoran answered.
"Sugoi!" Sakura exclaimed happily. "Let's go get ready!"
The group got up and put their lawn chairs away before going inside.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"C'mon you guys! Hurry up!" Sakura called impatiently. Her and Tomoyo were ready and were waiting on Syaoran and Eriol.
"We're ready, calm down will you?" Syaoran grumbled as he and Eriol walked into the living room.
"Let's go!" Sakura said, bouncing happily to the door and ushering her friends out.
"Me and Eriol are gonna take my car," Syaoran said.
"Okies!" Sakura said as she and Tomoyo got into her car. "We'll see you when we get there then."
"All right. Whoever gets there first, wait by the doors," Eriol said as he and Syaoran got into the car.
"Okay," Sakura called back in response and pulled out of the driveway.
Syaoran started his car and followed a minute later.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
15 minutes later the group was gathered inside the mall and debating on where they should go first.
"Any ideas on what we should buy first?" Eriol asked
"School supplies?" Tomoyo suggested.
The rest of the teens looked at each other and shrugged.
"Sounds good to me," Sakura said and Eriol nodded in agreement.
"Okay. Let's go then," Syaoran said and with that the group headed of to the nearest store that sold school supplies. "Hey Sakura," Tomoyo whispered as the two girls looked at folders and notebooks.
"Hmm?" Sakura murmured, looking up from her contemplation of two daily planners. "What is it Tomoyo?"
Tomoyo grinned and held up some Pokèmon folders, all featuring Pikachu of course. "I bet Eriol would just love these!"
"You're right Tomoyo, Eriol will go crazy over those," Sakura smiled innocently. "We all know how he feels about Pikachu. He'll be so shocked when he see's these!"
The two laughed and put the folders with their stuff and hurried off to find the boys.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Eriol and Syaoran stopped their hunt for the specific type of pens Eriol insisted on having when Sakura and Tomoyo joined them.
"Did you find your pens yet Eriol?" Sakura asked as she looked around for her own pens.
"No," Eriol said dejectedly.
"Aww, don't be sad Eriol," Tomoyo said. "Me and Sakura found something that you'll love!"
Eriol eyed the two girls warily, you could never be too careful when it came to them. "What is it?" he asked cautiously.
The two girls grinned. "Close your eyes," Sakura said, eyes sparkling mischievously.
Eriol hesitated for a moment before doing what he was told.
Sakura and Tomoyo each grabbed two folders and them up so that they would be the first thing Eriol saw when he opened his eyes.
Syaoran looked at the folders and faked a coughing fit to cover his laughter.
"Okay, open your eyes Eriol," Sakura said, trying hard not to laugh.
Eriol slowly opened his eyes. "GAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" he yelled, loudly. People from the surrounding aisles looked at him strangely. "Syaoran! Make it go'way!" Eriol whimpered, burying his face in his boyfriend's chest.
"Awww. Poor baby," Syaoran laughed hugging Eriol. "Those mean, mean girls. How could they show you that scary yellow rat."
Eriol pulled away and glared at his boyfriend. "Mou! You don't have to laugh at me!" He turned away, pouting
"I was just teasing you, angel." Syaoran murmured, wrapping his arms around Eriol's waist and nuzzling the back of his neck. "Love you koi. Please don't be mad."
Eriol sighed and turned to face his boyfriend. "I'm not mad," he said, wrapping his around Syaoran's neck and leaning against him. "Ai shiteru, Syaoran."
Syaoran kissed the top of his boyfriend's head and tightened his arms around Eriol.
They stayed like that, completely lost in each other, for a few blissful moments. Until, suddenly, reality came crashing down around them.
"Hey fags! Why don't you take your fucked up little selves outta here before I kick your asses!"
Eriol and Syaoran broke apart and turned to the idiot who had spoken. Tomoyo and Sakura glared at him.
"Let me handle this," Syaoran whispered in Eriol's ear.
Eriol ignored him and stepped forward. "Is there a problem?" Eriol asked, voice mockingly polite.
"Yeah, there's a problem. You two fairies are all over each other! I don't wanna see that!"
"Who asked you?" Syaoran mumbled.
"What was that fairy boy? You wanna fight? You ain't a real man! You couldn't even make me flinch!"
"I'm gay," Eriol said. "Yet, I don't complain when I see a straight couple hugging or kissing. So can you please act like a mature individual and not like some ignorant, narrow-minded bigot who takes being gay as a threat to his own masculinity. I'm not stupid. I'm not about to hit on a straight guy, or any guy for that matter. I have a boyfriend, I don't need to hit on anyone."
"Why you little," the idiot growled, lunging at Eriol. Eriol dodged the first few punches, but was caught off guard and received a blow to the side of his face and one to his stomach, forcing the air from his lungs and causing him to fall to his knees.
Syaoran saw red. "You bastard!" he managed to hit the guy twice before security came and "escorted" the idiot out and gave Syaoran a warning.
"Let's get Eriol to a bench," Sakura said worriedly.
Syaoran nodded and picked Eriol up, carrying him out of the store and to an empty bench. "Daijobu desu ka angel?" Syaoran asked after they had gotten Eriol settled on the bench.
"Hai, daijobu. I'm just a little sore is all," Eriol replied with a pained smile.
"We should get you home anyway," Syaoran said worriedly. "You should have let me handle it koi."
The smile on Eriol's faced disappeared. "What, are you saying that I'm weak Syaoran? That I can't stand up for myself? That I need you take care of me and protect me? Huh? Is that what you're saying?" Eriol demanded angrily.
"Well, evidently you need someone to, if what happened in the store was any indication of your ability to defend yourself!" Syaoran shot back angrily, letting his anger at the man who had hurt Eriol and his worry for Eriol express themselves as anger at the one person he wasn't angry at.
Eriol glared at Syaoran. "I may be the uke in this relationship, but that does not mean that I am weak, Li Syaoran!"
Syaoran opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by Sakura. "Syaoran, Eriol, why don't we leave? I'm sure that Eriol would like some rest and you both need to calm down."
Syaoran and Eriol both nodded in agreement. The four teens headed to their cars, moods much darker than when they had arrived.
With Sakura's help, Eriol made it to Syaoran's car and was helped inside. "Me and Tomoyo are going to grab some lunch and then go over her house okay? If you need anything just call," Sakura told Eriol as she closed the car door. "Make sure he gets some rest and you had damn well better apologize to him Syaoran!" Sakura practically ordered Syaoran as she walked to her car.
"Hai," Syaoran agreed, getting in the car and starting the engine. After they were on the road, he glanced over at Eriol. The blue-haired teen was sleeping, but his face was marred with pain. "We're almost home angel," Syaoran murmured, gently stroking Eriol's cheek.
Once they reached Eriol's house, Syaoran carefully gathered Eriol into his arms and carried him up to his room. Once he had Eriol settled in his bed, Syaoran went back downstairs and got a glass of water and some painkillers, which he took back upstairs and set on Eriol's bedside table before settling himself in Eriol's desk chair to wait for his angel to wake up.
A couple of hours later Eriol woke up. "Owww... I feel like I tried to break up one of Ruby Moon and Spinel's fights again," Eriol mumbled as he groggily sat up. Noticing the aspirin and water, he gratefully swallowed the medicine and water. Setting the empty cup down, Eriol glanced around his room and noticed Syaoran asleep in his desk chair. 'He stayed with me...I hope he doesn't think that I'm going to forgive him that easily. He had no right to say that I can't take of myself!' Eriol thought grumpily as he got out of bed, make that tried to get out of bed. As soon as he was standing, Eriol was hit by wave of pain and would've fallen from the intensity of it, if a pair of strong arms hadn't caught him.
"You should be in bed angel," Syaoran said as he carefully placed Eriol back in bed and covered him up before sitting next to him and gently stroking his cheek.
Eriol resisted the urge to lean into Syaoran's touch and instead pulled away and glared up at him. "Why? Because I'm too weak?" Eriol bit out scathingly.
"No. Because you're hurt and you'll just aggravate your injuries further if you walk around," Syaoran replied.
"Fine. Then leave, I don't want to see you right now," Eriol said coldly before rolling on his side so that his back was to Syaoran.
Syaoran stood up. "If that's what you want," he murmured softly, "I am sorry for what I said to you at the mall, angel. I didn't mean it. I was just angry at that asshole and worried about you and I said things that I shouldn't have. You're not weak. You're probably the strongest person I know. Gomen ne angel. I love you," Syaoran said softly before going downstairs and laying down on the couch.
As soon as Syaoran was gone, Eriol rolled over onto his back and stared up at the ceiling, tears falling down his cheeks. "Damn you Li Syaoran! Why is it that no matter how hard I try, I can't stay mad at you, no matter what you do? And why do you turn me into such an emotional wreck!?" Eriol wondered out loud.
After an hour or so of fitful sleep, Eriol forced himself to get out of bed and carefully made his way downstairs to see if Syaoran had left. Entering the living room, Eriol spotted Syaoran asleep on the couch and slowly made his way to him. Eriol carefully maneuvered himself onto the couch and into Syaoran's arms, where he fell asleep with in minutes.