Sakura's Pride
Helper
Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up.
Jesse Jackson
o0o
I found out there was one person who disliked Syaoran more than me the day I found out my mother adored him more than most people. I was not sure what to think of Touya, my brother, actually hating Syaoran. We rarely agreed with each other, but I could finally relate to my brother, whom I have learned to respect.
o0o
"Dear, you wouldn't believe what I saw today. It was the cutest thing in the world with my Sakura-chan," Nadeshiko declared, sitting at her end of the table.
"Really?" Sakura's dad, Fujitaka, sat at the opposite end of the table.
"Un-huh. She was with a boy."
"Yeah right, Okaasan," Touya smirked, "And I'm a magician for a living."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sakura slapped her hands on the table, rattling the plates.
"Behave," Fujitaka said quietly, "Friendly conversations at the dinner table only."
Sakura sat back down in her chair, trembling in anger.
"Well, as I was saying, I saw them together. His name is Syaoran and I saw him feeding her. It was so cute."
"What?" Touya choked. He had a short fuse.
Fujitaka ignored his son and smiled, setting his fork down. Supporting his head with a hand to his cheek he turned his head toward Sakura. "I would like to meet him."
"Syaoran and I are…" Sakura trailed off, picking at her food with her chopsticks.
"Are what!" Touya snapped.
"He was being nice. I forgot my lunch, so Syaoran shared his with me."
"And you agreed to it? He might have mono!"
Sakura's face turned flame red. If Syaoran had mono she would have gotten it before she shared a lunch with him. "You think every guy has mono."
"Did you kiss him?" He asked.
"No!"
"Why were you with him?"
Sakura felt like she was on fire. Her brother kept throwing these questions at her, while on the side lines their parents shared looks of adoration.
"Why don't you invite Syaoran to dinner sometime," Fujitaka suggested.
"No she will not!"
"The family will be delighted," Fujitaka spoke sternly, eyeing Touya wearily.
"As if!"
"Touya give him a chance. You'll see how compatible he really is with Sakura." Nadeshiko made the mistake in saying this, for Touya erupted into a more violent manner than before.
o0o
As promised, I did Syaoran's homework for weeks into the school year. In every one of our meetings, he would like to distract me with his either meaningless or indulging talks. Frequently he talked about meaningless things.
o0o
"I know you have a thing for classical music, but what else do you like?" Syaoran asked, staring at the top of her head from across the table.
Sakura was hovering over his homework, paying little attention to him. She had to put her whole mind to work, so that she would not make any errors like last time, which Syaoran pointed out to her.
"Slow down, Sakura and please talk to me."
Sakura stopped and glared at him. "Do you want me to finish this?"
"You can start it again after you answer my question."
"No."
Syaoran seized her hand and received a malevolent look in return.
"How about Sousa?"
Sakura withdrew a moment, garnishing a thoughtful look, while she leaned back in her chair. "Well, he's famous for many of his marches. People say his melodies are very catchy and they know them by heart. But no, I don't have a thing for marches no matter how popular they are."
"I'll let you borrow my CD. I think you'll find that it'll suit you."
"Whatever." Sakura returned to her work and Syaoran sat back in his chair with much on his mind.
Even though she was only an arm's length away, it seemed a world divided them.
For those of you who do not know what "Sousa" is let me explain. Sousa, first of all, is a he, who composed one of my all time favorites, "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Yep! That's the circus song! John Philip Sousa, as Sakura explained, is famous for those catchy tunes some people hum everyday, or those marchy upbeat themes you hear on the carousel. What do I think of marches in general? Well, let's just say I don't listen to it unless I have to play it. And there you have it! A little lesson on famous music and their composer.