Thanks to all those who reviewed the third chapter and who's waited patiently for chapter four, I had to battle with serious revision schedules and a mean writer's block. But it's okay now! I threw sticks and stones at it and it was finally torn down!
Chapter four
The Magic Academy For Higher Learning was a school for high achievers. It was a school that only the privileged were admitted into, boys of a genuinely gifted talent and background.
One might see it as a form of discrimination, a regime not liberated from the sexist ideals of our grandparent's generation. But once you got into the extensive grounds, then you might be able to understand the need for such actions.
Spanning an impressive five thousand acre land space, the gothic buildings reminiscent of royal palaces in the old days that were protected by heroic knights and their fair maidens, graced the lavish surroundings. It was not that far from civilization but yet it gave the residents a sense of peace and serenity and the privacy to use the magic the school was so renowned for. A beautiful lake graced the surrounding countryside.
The grounds itself had everything that any of the students wanted and then some. There were the huge Olympic sized swimming pools, both indoor and outdoor, for swimming lessons. There were tennis courts, basketball courts, football/rugby fields, soccer fields, shooting ranges, archery ranges, the arena where magic is controlled and a stadium to watch the tournaments of magic casters.
The main building was an imposing three-storied building, housed the administrative offices, teachers' offices and the assembly room. The school also offers the usual academic subjects. These were taught in the adjacent two-story buildings containing the classrooms. On the right hand side, one would find the science buildings. The dining hall was not that far from the main buildings, also known as The Devil's kitchen for their mean curries!
If all of this was set to leave one speechless, then one was yet to visit the quarters of the students. This was not to be some ordinary dorm room. Unlike most colleges, where one was either required to board with a roommate in less than pleasant conditions (aka one single sized beds and enough room for your feet to barely move), these dorm rooms were like mini-palaces.
The dorm building was as lavish and as decadent as the main building itself. Entering the main room of the building, students are welcomed by a 'Resident Adviser', who ushered you through the comfortable lounge, complete with a large theatre-like TV, a nearby tuck shop (sweets shop) and game room. Then towards the largestairs, which led to the sleeping quarters. Each room was designed to fit intwo large poster beds (you would share with a room mate), a complete solid oak desk, already outfitted with a computer or laptop and other stationary. A large walk in closet and a couch, which was placed right in front of your very own fireplace. The décor was Victorian in nature, the predominant colours being dark brown. The dorm would also have an ensuite bathroom, shower and the usual appliances.
All in all, The Magic Academy was an extraordinary and exciting place.
And in a few more hours, it was bound to get even more exciting.
Sakura had been up since five o'clock on the day she was to leave her old life and start her new one at the academy. Being of a nervous disposition, she hadn't got much sleep but none of this seemed to really matter anyway. How could it? In another five hours she would be at the academy, settling into her new dorm, getting to know her fellow class men and marking her spot in the record books.
Nervous: No.
Terrified: Hell yes.
Excited: Undoubtedly.
But she felt a little less nervous as she stood at her mirror, staring fixatedly at her reflection in an almost trance.
She hardly knew herself.
Instead of the sweet girlish Sakura staring back at her, she saw a…boy. Well, you could argue that the image was what she was planning on, but it was still…shocking, all the same. She looked stunningly handsome, to put it simply. Pretty, but handsome. The face and lithe figure was the only thing that made Sakura look pretty, but the chest-binding device really succeeded in making her look boyish. The white shirt made every counter of her chest defined, the black slacks giving her a dashing trait, plus with the tie hanging loosely around her neck and the thin black rope chocker that had a surf logo made her look the part of an average teenage male across the country.
She decided on not putting the blazer on just yet, it would be too hot and uncomfortable travelling in it and it would most doubtedly get creased anyway.
"You will never cease to amaze me, Sakura. Or should I start calling you Saku from now on?" came her father's voice from her bedroom door. She turned to grin back at him and he entered her room, standing behind her and placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Sakura, if you don't mind. I won't be hearing it for a while so I want the last chance to hear it."
He smiled at her in the mirror. "Alright, Sakura. You should eat some breakfast. We will be leaving in about half an hour."
She nodded, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. "Okay. I will be down in a minute. Let me look around my room to memorize it before I go."
Her father nodded in understanding and he headed out of her bedroom. "Oh, by the way. You and I will have a little talk in the car."
Sakura frowned at him. "About what?"
"About what hormonal males want from innocent girls such as yourself."
Well, Sakura gave him ten out of ten for spectacularly ruining a father/daughter moment.
Sakura struggled to take deep breathes, consciously aware that over a thousand guys were walking past her, some of them coming too close to her, and their voices echoing in her ears. She swallowed as she tried to take a step forward, but then, a guy bumped into her hard. She managed to swallow the small gasp that threatened to slip past her lips, and turned around to see that the guy was busy picking up his books from the floor as he mumbled quickly, "Sorry! I didn't see you there." Then, with an apologetic smile, he ran off again.
Sakura wanted to run after her father and brother already. She couldn't handle this! What the hell was she thinking! Just the thought of the guys finding out that she was a girl... A shudder ran down her spine. Annoyed at herself for being such a coward, she hardened her resolve and made her way to the main entrance of the school.
The main building had a clock embedded above the arch door, which resembled a gothic tower with a church bell at the very top. A link or intersection of some sort that connected each building due to their small spaces apart from each other could be seen. The entire place looked immaculate, hard work to keep both buildings and grounds looking like they had done when it was first built. A small garden maze, the walls barely coming to thigh, was positioned at the front of the school, which surrounded a small trickling fountain wherein a statue of a water-nymph was pouring water from her jug into the rock pool below.
Shaking her head to get rid of any fuzziness that seems to creep in every time Sakura saw something pretty, she made her way to the entrance and opened the door. Inside was amazing as well. The decor followed the old decedent theme they school had going for it, with dark prints, decorated ceilings and large chandeliers that hung high above the student's heads.
What was obviously the reception, Sakura made her way to a large woman who sat at a large mahogany desk and the state of the art computer (NOT matching the old-style). A gold nameplate stood at the very front of the neat desk, saying 'Mrs. Chambers'.
The women looked up from the screen and seeing Isaiah she smiled kindly. "May I help you?"
Sakura was lost for a moment. She hadn't practised what she would say, but regaining her footing and lowering her pitch slightly she said "Uh yes, I'm the new student starting today and I was told that you would have my class schedule."
"Oh yes. I remember now." Mrs. Chambers opened her desk drawer and began riffling through pieces of paper. "I know I put it in here somewhere…Ha! Here it is." She handed over a bulky brown envelope that had Saku Kinomoto on the front in elegant calligraphy. "The letter also has a student starter pack, code of conduct and emergency procedures should there be a case of fire etc. You can sit over there and wait for a student advisor who will show you around, help me get your bearings."
Sakura nodded and proceeded to take a seat.
Well, that wasn't so hard. Maybe there won't be any mishaps after all….
Daniel had always felt that it was his special duty to welcome all new students to the Magic Academy, naturally, with his usual flair. So when he heard that there would be getting a new student at the start of the year, he volunteered to show him around.
Just your friendly advisor, helping out those in desperate need of a friend. And, taking one look at the small boy who was sat at a chair next to the window in the large reception, his beautiful green eyes nervously flicking around his surroundings, Daniel decided he definitely wanted to befriend the new guy.
Hell yes.
Daniel couldn't remember a time when he laid eyes on anyone as pretty as him, accept Seiya, but Daniel wouldn't admit that aloud. Seiya would certainly inflict grievous bodily harm and Daniel didn't like pain.
And so the introduction began:
"Why hello there. The name's Daniel. What's yours?"
"Ah!" Sakura jumped slightly at the cheerful voice of the person who shouted in her ear. She looked at him; her ears ringing slightly. It took her a few moments to finally understand what he had asked. "Oh! Uh…my name is Kinomoto Saku." Sakura reached out hesitantly and offered a small smile when Daniel enthusiastically shook it.
Daniel grinned back at her and released her hand as he stood back, letting her have more space to stand up from the chair she was sitting on. This also gave her a better view of his face. He was exceptionally handsome and cute at the same time, and if she wasn't supposed to act like a boy, she may have gone all fan girl and squeal. But now wasn't the time for that.
Daniel tipped his head to one side and asked, "You're a new student right? I'm the student advisor, I'm supposed to take you around the school, help you get your bearings." Daniel proceeded to wrap his arm around Sakura's shoulders and smirked at her tensed stance. "Shall we start now?"
Sakura nodded, smiling a small smile. "Sure."
After the little tour, Daniel proposed that they go see her room so that she could get some of the things she needed for her classes of her first day. Sakura laughed and talked back to Daniel the entire way, her mind at ease at last since she entered the school. she was grateful that she had a new friend.
"Come on. Let's get your stuff and get a look at your room"
Sakura turned her nose up at him as they finally got to her dorm room doorway. "And what makes you think I'm letting you in?"
"Eh! And why not? That's extremely rude!"
"Yeah, well, tough!" She smirked at his crest fallen expression.
"Your like a girl, you know that? So friggin' possessive over your privacy." Daniel grumbled.
At that sentence, Sakura's heart plunged into her stomach and she felt as if someone threw a bucket of ice-cold water over her. Was she really that transparent?
Daniel frowned at her pale face. "Hey. I was only joking." He teased softly.
Sakura took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I know." She gave him a weak smile.
Daniel grinned back. "Since your being a hog over your room, I'll catch up with you later? I don't have your first class. You'll be alright on your own, right?"
Sakura nodded. "Yeah. No problem."
With a hasty wave, Daniel shot down the hallway and was out of sight in seconds. Sakura just shook her head. Where do they get these nutters anyway?
Sliding the key card into the door and hearing the satisfying beep! Of confirmation, she twisted the doorknob and instantly froze in place, her hand on the door instantly turned bone white.
A tall boy her age looked up, startled at her entrance. She was instantly met with deep intense eyes. His dark chocolate hair was slightly damp and tousled from the shower. Her gaze slowly moved southwards, mapping out a toned tanned chest. A bead of water fell from his hair and landed on his shoulder, trailing his collarbone and then making its journey along the expanse of his torso to the waistband of his dark bluer baggy jeans.
Sakura felt her face flushing crimson.
He was evidently in the middle of getting dressed…. hang on, wait just one moment. Wasn't that…Li Syaoran?
Oh. My. God.
Syaoran raised his left eyebrow at her. "Yes? Can I help you?"
After several minutes of spluttering apologies, she managed to do the decent thing and shut the damn door.
This, she thought to herself, could not get any worse.
Boy, was she ever wrong.
To Be Continued…
Heh. God i love cliff hangers. Review!