Disclaimer: Card Captor Sakura and its characters doesn't belong to me. Tanako Kyoichi, though, is supplied by my imagination.

BEYOND ALL WORDS

Chapter Five Conflicting Emotions

hitokiri_tomoe

The next day, Syaoran, Kyoichi and Tomoyo had lunch together.

"So, Li-kun, d'you wanna know more?" Tomoyo, who was seated beside Kyoichi across from Syaoran, asked brightly.

"About what, Tomoyo-chan?" Syaoran asked through a mouthful of rice.

"Kinomoto Sakura! I asked a couple of girls in class about her, and I got additional information."

"What's this?" Kyoichi asked Tomoyo, raising an eyebrow at Syaoran, who looked away.

"Well, Li-kun asked me two days ago about Kinomoto Sakura, and---"

"Hey, Syaoran, is this the girl with the music?"

"Music? I heard that she played the piano, so---"

"LI SYAORAN!!!" a shrill female voice cried out, causing heads to turn in her direction.

"M-Meilin!" Syaoran, sweatdropping, exclaimed and stood up.

Meilin reached him and pointed a finger at a very embarrassed Syaoran.

"You jerk!" she shouted for all to hear. "You owe it to me to stay with me this lunch!!!"

Syaoran put a hand on Meilin's shoulder and whispered. "But, Meilin, we have an agreement that you wouldn't bother me at lunch…"

"Well, we also had an agreement that you would meet me after school yesterday!!!" and then her face turned menacing.

"Or did you forget?" She said, her voice dropping to an ominous whisper.

"Errr.. Meilin---"

"Meilin what? I don't need your excuses!! Come with me at once!!"

And with that, she dragged a red-faced Syaoran by the ear, to the entertainment of all the spectators.

"And she didn't even say hi…" Tomoyo said at the same time Kyoichi said, "And he didn't even say goodbye…"

They looked at each other. And then they burst out laughing.

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Sakura sat alone in a corner, calmly observing the students as they passed by. Her lunch lay uneaten in front of her. She was in that position when she saw Syaoran being dragged by the ear by a girl she didn't know. She saw the girl motion for Syaoran to sit, and saw him obey immediately. She saw that the look he was giving her was apologetic but the girl's expression was hard. Finally, the girl melted in Syaoran's explanation and burst into tears. He sweatdropped and the girl hugged her tightly, passionately, possessively.

'So, he has a girlfriend…' Sakura thought.

'That's good…' but for some strange reason, she felt her heart sinking in her stomach.

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Tomoyo and Meilin walked home together later that day.

"Oh? So what did he do?' Tomoyo asked.

"He apologized, said he had forgotten, and assured me that he didn't mean to stand me up."

They walked in silence for a while, both troubled ones. Then,

"Syaoran never forgets anything, even if he doesn't want to do it. Why would he forget that?"

Tomoyo had her own suspicions, but refused to say anything.

"You know, Tomoyo-chan, I wonder why he just doesn't break up the engagement. I know he doesn't love me. Yelan-san told us that we could break it if we want to. Why doesn't he just do it and put an end to all my sufferings?" tears brimmed in her eyes as she spoke.

Tomoyo put an arm around her. "I-I think, Meilin-chan, that it is his pride. He doesn't want to taint his pride by being the one to end it. I think… I think that… he's waiting for you to do it…"

"Well, he can just forget about that 'coz I'm not going to be the one to do it!" her tears floated down freely, and she leaned on Tomoyo's shoulder, sobbing.

"I- I love him Tomoyo-chan, but—but he doesn't. He doesn't even care about me!" she whispered through her sobs.

"Hush, hush, Meii-chan," Tomoyo said in a whisper as she stroke Meilin's back. "He does love you, any fool can see that. Though," she continued, "It's not in that way. Give it time, maybe he'll learn…"

Meilin continued crying on her shoulder. Tomoyo can understand his reasons, but she couldn't help but wish that Syaoran did love her in that way.

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At about the same time, Syaoran stepped into the piano room. Sakura was playing a different tune and didn't stop. Syaoran waited for the sweet music to end then clapped. Sakura turned, stood up and gave a curtsey. Syaoran almost magically produced another rose, this one a lovely peach color. She broke into a broad smile, took the rose, and inhaled its fragrance.

"Uhh, are you through practicing?" he asked rather hesitantly.

She paused for a while.

'What's this all about?' and then she shrugged her shoulders and nodded. She raised an eyebrow in question.

"Err, would you like to, I mean, is it okay if--" he broke off, at a loss for words.

Her eyes conveyed her puzzlement, and he had to try again lest she lose her patience.

"Umm, what I mean to say, umm, is, err, th-there's this, uh, café, and I-I heard they serve good coffee—or ice cream, you like ice cream?"

She was nodding with a faintly amused smile all through his litany. He was very red now. But he composed himself and cleared his throat.=

"What I really mean is, Kinomoto-san, would you like to have coffee or ice cream with me?"

She knew it was coming but she couldn't help but be shocked. Her heart pounded in her chest.

'I should refuse. There is nothing that this world and Li Syaoran can offer me. He has a girlfriend. I am only headed for trouble.'

She was about to shake her head, but instead, found herself nodding. Syaoran broke into a wide grin.

'Oh no.'

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To be continued...