A/N: Oh, I'm really sorry for updating so late. I'm on a vacation right now so I'm supposed to update regularly, but... I failed to. I hope I've made this chapter long enough to fill the weeks I haven't updated. I've been in a week-long seminar in school this May 9 and it's followed by another week last May 16 and then another this May 23. Fortunately, the third week isn't exactly a full-week attendance. So I was able to write this chapter and finally, I've been able to update. Time is fleeting so fast! Our classes will start on June 6, so please don't get mad on me if I'll be updating sometime around third week of June. The two months of vacation is just a wink and now I'll be entering my Senior year in High school.
A big thanks to the following:
kenshinlover2002 – Sakura's really confused. Your questions will be answered here.
melaniemelmelgirl – thanks for praising my writing style.
youkaigirl64 – Don't worry, everything will be alright. Syaoran will be so nice in this chapter.
Shimelaczakali – Don't go crazy! No, Sakura isn't a rebel, she just want attention and that will be given by Syaoran!
SaddenedKimiko – I'm so sorry if there were errors along the way. But I'm trying my best to avoid it.
LupineLightning-IllusionDragon – You're right! Sakura's a tough girl and it's very difficult to handle her. New pen name, huh?
VampireJazzy – That's really sad, but they'll be soon friends again.
SS&ET S+S43v3rmonito – Sakura's not really mean, don't you think? Well, for you, I've made her nicer in this chapter.
Pure-Hearted – Yeah, you're right. Sakura can't control her temper but don't worry, everything will be fine, you'll see. I didn't know you're also pinaygrrl.
Rinoa Leonheartilly – Sakura's really lucky but she's not a bitch. She just wanted to prove that she's a tough girl, that's all.
Puffthemagicdragon567Sakura-miaka – Good point. Now you'll see how odd Syaoran will act just to be nice to her.
Rose Mitzkah – I'm so sorry! Yeah, they can be friends at first and we'll see what fate may bring them.OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
Chapter 2:
TO BE OR NOT TO BE
Eriol walked away from the trio with a smirk on his lips. Not much later, he heard footsteps running towards his direction from his back. Certainly, he knew who it was.
"Eriol!" Tomoyo grabbed his arm to stop him then paused to catch her breath.
Eriol cupped her face while looking into the worried eyes of the girl, "Did I worry you? Forgive me." He smiled.
"We don't really have to cancel our lunch." Tomoyo looked down the ground, "I don't know why Sakura and Syaoran went out from that house or why they were there. I thought they live in the other street."
Eriol put his hands into his pockets, "I'm not serious on what I did and said earlier. I got a plan in my mind, Tomoyo. Want to hear it?"
Tomoyo nodded excitedly, "What plan?" then she frowned, "Don't tell me you're planning to hurt someone?"
Eriol laughed then encircled his arm into Tomoyo's shoulder again, "I'm not like Syaoran. It's between him and Sakura. I know he likes her and it's not impossible for Sakura to like him. What do you think?"
"Them?" Tomoyo wondered, "It's like sky and earth, water and oil, dog and cat, David and Goliath, a maid and a prince. It's very impossible to mix them up."
"You see them came out of that house together," Eriol pushed his glasses, "So it means they went in together."
Tomoyo sighed, "You win. Ok, I'll help you. But the big question is, what are they doing there?"
OoOoOoOoO
Monday came quickly. The strong hands of Syaoran shaking her shoulders awakened Sakura. She slowly opened her sleepy eyes and a blurred vision of Syaoran's face startled her. She bolted upright.
Sakura covered her face with the blanket, "I'll start fixing my bed and myself. Get out Li, I don't want to seen like this, please." She murmured.
Syaoran turned back then exited their bedroom, "Breakfast is ready."
Sakura jumped out of bed to take a bath. After that, she headed the Dining Table, where she saw that Syaoran hasn't started eating and seemed to be waiting for her. Then the memories of the time when she told him all her woes came flooding back in her mind, it was the first time she told her feelings to someone aside from Touya and it was the first time she talked to him like that. That was the time she realized her own faults, which was the reason why sometimes she couldn't look straight in his eyes.
She started to walk towards him absentmindedly as Syaoran noticed her, "Oh, there you are!" he stood then offered her a seat.
Sakura sat, still not on her own mind then sighed. She picked her chopsticks then started eating.
"Any problem?" Syaoran asked as he began eating too, "I've cooked our breakfast today because I've risen early. I thought I should wait for you and eat together."
Sakura heard him clearly but she stayed silent. The memories of the afternoon two weeks ago were still fresh on her mind. It wasn't easy to forget a situation like that with your rival's arms around you.
Her face flushed.
"Sakura, are you ok?" Syaoran asked when she didn't answer or replied. Still, he got no answer.
Deep in thought, Sakura could still remember the way Syaoran approached her friendship. Syaoran's not really a bad person, in fact, Sakura's the one who kept thinking like that. She sighed again, if only she accepted his friendship...
"C'mon," Syaoran opened the medicine in the sofa, "let's aid your wounded knee."
Sakura put down her chopsticks, for she had finished her meal then walked just a few steps towards the Living Room. It was really a small house. She sat beside Syaoran then rested her right leg on Syaoran's lap. Syaoran's face reddened as he put alcohol on Sakura's knee. He has been doing this since Saturday after Tomoyo stomped away from them, but this wasn't like before. For two days, Sakura wore pajamas and she only rolled it up every time Syaoran begins to put alcohol and medicine on it.
Now, she was wearing her school uniform, of course, with a skirt.
"Don't look at my legs, Li." Sakura glared at him.
Syaoran frowned at her as he put the Band-Aid on the wound, "I'm not looking on it! Stay still." He sighed.
"I can do it myself now." Sakura said.
"I'm really sorry Sakura," Syaoran stuck the Band-Aid, "it's my fault. I didn't mean to do that to you. I didn't know you'll hurt your knee." That's the reason why he has been doing this for three days.
Sakura noticed herself watching him. Why was he always saying sorry? Why she couldn't manage to utter that word?
"That's it," Syaoran stood, "Don't leave without me. I'll just brush my teeth. Is that clear, Sakura?" He headed the Bathroom.
Sakura stood then followed him on the sink to brush her teeth too. She put the toothpaste on top of the toothbrush then turned to Syaoran by looking through the mirror, "Fine. And quit calling me Sakura."
Moments later, they went out of their house, Sakura locked the main door. She turned around and realized that Syaoran didn't move form his position, he didn't walk a few steps.
He smiled at her then picked up her paper bag containing three thick books, "Let me carry this. From now on, we'll be walking towards the school and on our way home together. It's just two streets away, see."
Sakura gasped as she felt his hand brush into hers, "Are you sure you want to carry that? The streets here are long not like the other streets." They began to walk.
Syaoran laughed, "Sakura, I'm a boy, it's usual to let me carry heavy things like this for a girl."
Sakura didn't try to argue with him. She smiled to herself due to Syaoran's kind attitude. She didn't know that Syaoran could be so kind and gentleman to her judged by his actions. She looked up the sky thinking of Touya. It has been a long time since someone cooked a breakfast for her, like almost three years ago. Her Dad and Touya used to cook for her before but hot nowadays until Syaoran repeated the habit. Syaoran was acting fine since they lived together in the same roof and Sakura still couldn't understand why she couldn't apologized to him, after all he has done.
"Sorry, Li." She muttered.
"Sorry for what?" Syaoran smiled at her.
"For the things I've said to you before, you know." Sakura looked at her feet, "I was so mean to you, yet you've been kind. I'm really sorry."
Syaoran smiled, "Oh, that? Of course I understand you Sakura. I'm not really fortunate with Mom. She's always on work and my sisters live far from me. I once owned a big house in Hong Kong with my butler, Wei. Mom lives here in Japan for business. So I learned to live on my own since then."
"We're not really far from each other when it comes in experiences." Sakura kicked a stone. "I'm always with Touya and Dad after my Mom died. But Dad moved out about eight years ago and Touya went into the city for college. So I'm left alone."
A short moment of silence surrounded then. They stayed quiet, for they know that the school was only a street away. Walking is a form of exercise, but in Syaoran's case, it was also a form of mental exercise.
Syaoran wore a big grin on his face as they walked along the sidewalk. This was a great way to start his day. Since he woke up this morning, Sakura hasn't shouted at him and she hasn't been talking a lot. He remembered what Sakura told him awhile ago, how she told him she was sorry. Syaoran's grin widened then sighed, what a wonderful feeling.
"Li!" Sakura pulled him away from the road.
Syaoran blinked, "What?"
Sakura stomped her foot, "You're almost hit by the bicycle, Li and you're asking me 'what?'"
"Huh?" Syaoran looked at his back, where he saw a teenage boy wearing Tomoeda High's uniform too riding a bicycle.
"I'm really sorry Syaoran Li," the boy bowed his head as low as he could, "I was about to turn right when you stepped out of the sidewalk. Good thing your companion, Sakura Kinomoto, pulled you away. I'm really sorry, sir."
Syaoran's lip curled then gave him a deadly look, "Are you saying it was my fault? Syaoran Li's fault?"
"N-no, sir." The boy quickly replied, "My fault."
"Good." Syaoran smirked, "Get out of my sight before I send you to hell."
"Y-yes, sir." The boy bowed again then turned to Sakura, "Congratulations, miss. I heard the news on the TV this morning."
Sakura frowned, "What news?"
"About you and Syaoran Li, miss." The boy answered.
"Are you tired of your life?" Syaoran held up a clenched fist.
The boy shook his head then biked as fast as he could away. Sakura and Syaoran reached the school grounds moments later. Everyone was whispering as the two walked towards their lockers. Then finally, Sakura lost her patience.
"Will someone tell me what's happening here?" Sakura roared as she shut her locker, "I can hear my name everywhere! Can you tell me what's the big deal?"
Syaoran appeared from her back giving everyone a cold stare then the murmurs started again rapidly. Sakura felt her temper rose, which sent everyone shivers.
"Sakura," Tomoyo ran to her followed by Eriol, "I heard the news, is that true?"
"News, news, news," Sakura muttered angrily, "will you tell me what is it? How can I tell you if I don't know the news?"
Eriol laughed then rested both his hands onto Sakura's shoulder from her back, "K and L Industries had just announced their big anniversary surprise this morning. And it was all about your future – Kinomoto and Li I mean."
"Hands off, Eriol." Syaoran smiled cruelly.
Eriol backed away then smiled.
"So is it true?" Tomoyo asked, "That you're living in the same house, where we saw you last Saturday?"
"Oh Tomoyo," Sakura took Tomoyo's hand, "forgive me on what I said last time. If you want to be friends with Hiiragizawa, I won't stop you anymore. Just don't get mad at me. Yes, what you saw is true."
More murmurs were heard from the crowd.
"I just can't understand why it was broadcast," Eriol sighed, "it's in the TV and newspaper."
"My apologies, Hiiragizawa." Sakura bowed her head.
"No problem." Eriol smiled.
"Let me handle this." Syaoran said to Sakura then turned into the crowd, "Just a word from the so-called news from you, I'm telling you, your High school life will never be the same again." He smirked.
The students disappeared one by one, leaving them alone. The four were left, as quiet as possible.
OoOoOoOoO
Lunchtime came. Sakura brought out her packed lunch from her bag then headed out their classroom to search for Tomoyo. She searched for her for ten minutes, still no sight of Tomoyo was found. She walked sadly staring at her packed lunch when someone shouted.
"SAKURA!"
Sakura turned around wearing her deadly stare, for she recognized that voice, "What's up, Li?"
Syaoran ran to her then smiled sweetly, "Can I join you with our lunch?"
Sakura smirked, rolled her eyes, and shook her head then walked away. Syaoran followed her until they reached the hill at he back. Trees were planned with a distant from each other. Over the years, Syaoran had seen this hill everyday but he had never climbed up even on its neck. Sakura sat below a shady tree then opened her lunch, Syaoran sat too.
"It's so nice here, I've never been on this place before," Syaoran remarked looking around the place.
Sakura lifted her nose up in the air, "it's my secret place whenever I try to escape your traps, you know." She smirked looking at her lunch.
"I'm sorry,"
"Sorry again, for what?" Sakura shook her head.
They started eating. Syaoran held up chopsticks in her mouth, with a slice of fish in between. Sakura laughed a bit then waved her hand to refuse but Syaoran was persistent, so she accepted it. Sakura chewed it for awhile then stared in Syaoran in amazement.
"Like it?" He smiled.
Sakura gulped, "Yeah, sweet and sour, my favorite."
"Like you," Syaoran caressed her bangs," Sweet and sour. Aren't you tired?"
Sakura grinned, "It's you whose attitude is sweet and sour. Tired? Yeah, I'm tired of you."
"But why?" Syaoran looked up the sky, "Aren't you tired? Because you've been running on my mind."
Sakura stared back then laughed very hard, resulting her to lay down her lunch in awhile, "That's what I'm saying, Li! In front of everyone, you're arrogant, bossy and scary, but when it's only the two of us, it's like you're not the Li I knew. Do you have a twin?"
Syaoran laughed too, "Really? I got two personalities. You can call me Syaoran and I can be sweet, you can call me Li and I can be sour."
Sakura wiped the small tears of laughter in her eyes, "I prefer the Syaoran than the Li. Right Li? Syaoran, I mean." She laughed again.
Syaoran pulled her close then rested his head onto hers, "Like you, I prefer to call you in first name, the sweet one."
Sakura shivered, "That's unlikely to happen. Move away, what if someone saw us?" she pushed him then looked away. In her surprise, she saw Eriol and Tomoyo nearby sitting below a tree too, "Hey, isn't that Tomoyo? Look."
Syaoran looked over her shoulder, "And that's Eriol. Something really fishy is going on here. And look, they're now lying on the grass looking up the sky."
Sakura quickly jumped to her feet, "Is that what you call 'friendship'?" she asked referring on Eriol's actions. "I'll make him realized his faults."
Syaoran pulled her hand, "Do you want Tomoyo to get mad at you again?" Sakura sat gain staring at Syaoran in anger, "Stay here, Sakura, I need you..."
Sakura gasped. Do Syaoran really meant what he said? And still he didn't free her hand, Sakura stared at it, sighed then frowned.
Syaoran wrapped his arms around her waist from her back then pulled her closer, "Stay, please stay. Let's forget that the world exists. Lend me a minute, please."
Sakura turned her head around to look at Syaoran straight in the eyes. Eyes are known as the window of the soul, so she spent forever just to figure out if he was saying the truth, "I can't believe I haven't sent you to garbage on what you're doing right now."
"Then thank you," Syaoran released her. Sakura brushed her hands onto her skirt. Syaoran laughed, "You look so girly."
Sakura frowned then stood, "No way! I'm trying to act as a boy, Li. I can prove that." She folded her hands across her chest.
"Oh yeah?" Syaoran stood too then laughed, "A boy doesn't say no is he was challenged into a fight."
"Are you saying I'll fight you?" Sakura buried her right index finger into Syaoran's chest. "Sure, anytime, anywhere." She smirked.
Syaoran smirked too then clasped Sakura's hand tightly, "Good, I'll tell you the time and place when we got home. After all, you're still a girl."
OoOoOoOoO
Eriol whistled a tune.
"Aren't you bored here?" Tomoyo sat up, "It's so quiet."
Eriol sat up too, "Bored? Of course not. I often go here to finish the papers you're handling to me. Here, I could concentrate. That's why I brought you here."
"Nice idea," Tomoyo smiled, "the sky is blue, the clouds are white, the leaves are green. There's a heaven on this hill, Eriol."
"And I've met an angel," Eriol held out a small notebook then pulled out a bookmark, "it's you Tomoyo. Here, take this."
"Me?" Tomoyo laughed then took the bookmark, "What's this?"
Eriol brought out another one, "Are angels always like that?" he laughed, "Of course, it's a bookmark!"
"Of course I know!" Tomoyo snapped, "I mean, what's this violet thing for? Why are you giving this to me?" she turned the bookmark around and realized that it was made of a piece of leaf laminated in a violet cardboard.
"I bought it yesterday from an auction," Eriol explained boastfully, "I got one too and it's color is blue, look." He showed his bookmark to her.
Tomoyo's eyes shone, "Wow, I wonder how they made this. Thanks, Eriol you must have spent quite a lot and then giving the other on to me. I owe you one." She smiled.
"Anyway, we must know Sakura's daily schedule first to plan our new mission. Remember we're doing this for their own sake." Eriol stared unblinkingly at her, "Right, angel?"
Tomoyo stayed quiet for awhile under his gaze, studying his hair, face, nose, lips than the mysterious eyes beneath his glasses, "I know, we're doing this for them. Some kiddie match-making..." she trailed off then sighed, still not taking her eyes off him, "Why Eriol? Why are you so kind lately? Calling me 'angel', helping me with stuffs..." she felt lost in his eyes in a minute and realized that he was taking her breath away.
"Because I like you, my angel," Eriol looked away breaking the eye contact.
Then it hit her. Tomoyo watched him with jaws dropped. Was she dreaming? Eriol's reply was calm and perfect, at the right place, at the right time. Was it true? It couldn't be. Tomoyo pinched her arm, she wasn't dreaming. Truly, she knew that there was a heaven on this hill as what she told Eriol.
"...As a friend," Eriol continued then turned to glance at her, "Tomoyo? Are you ok?"
Tomoyo blinked, "What? Oh yeah, I'm ok." She sighed. Maybe the other reply she heard earlier was just a product of her imaginative mind. How foolish she was! Of course Eriol only wanted to be her friend... as what she heard him say.
"My angel, are you sure you're ok?" Eriol lay his hand on top of the pale one, "You look like you're going to faint."
Tomoyo felt his warm presence then snatched her hand, "Yeah, I'm sure. What are we talking about again?" she put on a smile.
OoOoOoOoO
"Hurry up walking, will you?" Syaoran called back. It was already dusk, yet they're walking in the streets, "Faster and stay on my side!" he began to walk again.
Sakura stopped then frowned, "What am I, a dog? For your information, I've never dreamt of walking alone with you in this part of the day!" She walked again keeping a good block away from him.
"Do what you want, I don't care!" Syaoran yelled putting his hands onto his pockets, "I'll win the fight Sakura, remember that."
Sakura walked alone looking at his back as he walked faster and faster. She regretted the things she said to him this morning. She looked down the road absentmindedly muttering to herself. Out of the blue, she smiled. Syaoran could be nice sometimes, if only she wasn't stubborn. They could be walking together on their way home now and she could be very safe.
A bark of a dog made her look up, no sight of Syaoran can be seen. Then she heard a sound of a trash can rolling on her back. She looked back and saw a cat's body wiggling inside it making noise.
She sighed in relief and continued walking again. She laughed at the fact that streets as quiet as this could make her scared. The streetlights flickered on. She looked up at it then walked again. Just a few steps away from the post, she felt all the hairs at the back of her neck stood on what she's seen.
A shadow form his back of a man appeared then hid by pulling his companion's arm.
She gasped. She turned around and saw... nothing. Someone was following her and he's not alone, he's with somebody! She started walking but faster than before as she could hear footsteps on her back. She began half-running, half-walking again when she heard that the one following her stepped on a tin can. She shrieked.
She dashed from street to street in horror. She swore she would never walk alone again on her way home without a companion, without Syaoran, without him.
She disappeared in the dark.
"Goodness, Tomoyo," Eriol whispered, "we scared her away. You shouldn't have stepped on that tin can! Mission failed."
"Sorry," Tomoyo apologized, "really sorry. But you shouldn't have left where we hid unless she's a block away, should you? That's our fault in the first place, if I didn't pull you, I bet we're on garbage right now."
"Let's try other ways sometime," Eriol scratched his head, "for now, I should walk you home. It's dangerous for an angel like you walking alone."
Tomoyo nodded shyly.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
A/N: I hope this chapter is long enough. Please tell me what you think about it. Just simply click on 'Submit Review' on the lower left of the screen. It's fun.