1403 words.
Just one more chapter to go... The status of that chapter is half done. Just thought everyone would like to know...
Sakura's Pride
Knowledge
"To say you know when you do know and say that you do not know when you do not know—that is the way to acquire knowledge."
Confucius
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Acting the part of a raging maniac with a frying pan in one hand makes one look zany. Acting the part in front of someone admired by the world, a bigger fool you are made. I never meant to hurt him nor did I mean to scare him. No one could blame me for being scared when he showed up at my doorstep passed 9:00 PM, when my parents were out and I was watching a horror movie Touya rented out. Touya and his friend were up in his room working on a school project and Touya didn't want me interrupting them.
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Sakura hid under the cushions, whimpering with only a frying pan for company. Why did that cute girl have to be so dumb and go down that dank, creepy basement alone, especially without a weapon? It was predestined that something was down there out to get her. Was that not obvious?
She heard the doorbell ring. Was that in the movie?
It rung again and this time Sakura jerked. She glanced over at the clock. Who could it be at this hour? Her parents were not supposed to be home until 11:00. Petrified as a shiver crept up her spine, she gripped the handle of her frying pan with both clammy hands.
Sakura stumbled forward, taking slow, hesitant steps toward the door. What ever was behind the door could not be human. She knew because she was not as dumb as that cute blonde in the movie!
So with eyes sealed shut, she threw open the door and swung. The pan made contact with human flesh… Human… Sakura opened her eyes, dropping the pan abruptly as if it were scorching hot.
"S-Syaoran-kun!" She cried out in surprise.
She stared at him, his eyes swirling in spirals and his mouth hanging open. He looked like he was going to keel over and fall. Even before that could happen though, he barely heard her shout out his name. He found the balance he had lost, but it took a while for him to refocus his eyes on her wavering form. Yet, when he came to, the first thought was of how cute she looked in a pink apron over her over-sized t-shirt and mini shorts. He could not help, but smile at her, even shakily.
Feeling bad about what she had done, the girl threw herself at him and buried her face in his shirt. "I'm so terribly sorry!" She rubbed her face into his shirt.
Still a bit dizzy, but shocked at the same time at how close she was, Syaoran hugged her back.
"Why are you here at this hour? I thought you were something else."
He listened to her ramble, laying his cheek over her head and basking in the warmth of her embrace.
Suddenly Sakura jumped back, breaking free from their intimate position to glare at him. Syaoran laughed at her reaction to his affection.
"What do you think you're doing!" She screamed.
"I believe you were the one clinging to me."
"Well… You're not supposed to cling back!"
A shrill scream in the background, coming from the living room caused her to recoil.
"A scary movie?" Syaoran raised an eyebrow at her.
Sakura stared at him with a startled gaze. Her nod was stiff and slow, but Syaoran understood why.
He spread his arms out and took a step closer to her. He folded her stiff form into his arms. "Ever thought…" His whispery voice tickled her ear as he spoke. "Of muting it when the scary parts are on?"
Closing her eyes, she shook her head.
"Hey, what's going on here!" Someone hollered down the stairs.
Touya leapt down the stairs, six at a time. He reached out to grab his little sister, but Sakura dodged him, bringing Syaoran with her.
"Let go of her!" Touya shouted, pointing a furious finger at Syaoran.
"Stupid Touya, stop yelling. You're hurting my ears!"
"No!" He spat. "What is this weirdo doing to you in our house!"
"Syaoran came to visit me."
Syaoran smiled slyly. "Actually, I came to whisk her away, seeing that her older brother is a horrible babysitter, letting her stay up so late, watching movies that are inappropriate for little girls."
Sakura opened her mouth to yell at him, but he quickly bent his head forward and planted a slow kiss on her cheek, cutting off the retort from her. Parting from her slightly, he waved a disk in her face. "Actually, I came to give you this; Sousa."
Blushing and lowering her head slightly from his touch, she took the disk from him. "Thanks."
"No problem." Sakura was hoping he would move away by now, but instead he raised a finger to trace the soft features of her face. Then, boldly swooping down, he gave her the briefest kiss on the mouth. "I'll see you around."
Touya gawked at him. When Syaoran stepped through the doorway, Touya woke from shock mode and gripped reality with an iron fist. He launched himself at Syaoran, who was already at a safe distance with the door between them; pretty sure he would be dead the next time he showed up at Sakura's house. However, Touya stopped moving and stared, stunned at Sakura standing in his way of the door.
"He kissed you," he uttered in astonishment. Touya blinked dumbly at her. Then, his face scrunched up into a frown. "You liar. What else has he done with you?"
"Nothing!"
"If I see you with him once more, I will lock you up in the basement with the monsters and ghosts."
Sakura was furious and horrified at the same time. She could not argue with him for some reason, so Touya left her alone again. It was tacit that Touya officially hated Syaoran Li, but did she hate him as much anymore?
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Just as I was beginning to realize I had feelings for Syaoran, I ascertained that these feelings could be lies. After all, I had no experience with boys, so how could I be sure he was true? I contemplated about why boys in school never came near me and concluded that it was always because they were afraid of me. I scared them away with my high standards and flawless traits. So… Why shouldn't he be running away from me like the rest of them? When I asked myself this, I felt even more stupid around him because I was pretty sure I knew why.
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Sousa bounced through the kitchen as Sakura worked at the counter with a knife and cutting board. It was her turn to make breakfast that morning.
While Sakura was humming to the bouncy tunes, she was chopping. The 'noise' bothered Touya so much he barged in and slammed his hand on the stop button of the CD player. Sakura stopped what she was doing, turning to look at him with scary eyes, knife raised.
Her look did not change his temperament. "I hate," he growled.
Sakura tossed the knife into the sink and undid her apron. She walked up to him with intimidating strides, without breaking eye contact with him. She pressed the play button again, glowering at him defiantly.
Touya hit the stop button again, but this time he also pulled the plug out. "I said… I hate."
"Well, I don't!"
"You never listen to this kind of music. What is wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with this kind of music?" She stuck her tongue out at him. "I know you don't hate it. You only hate him."
"Smart," he said with a smirk.
"I don't need you to protect me anymore. I'm growing up."
"And becoming very snobbish! Why aren't you coming home right after school as usual? Chores don't get themselves done!"
Sakura turned red. "That is none of your business!"
"Idiot… You are so dumb!"
"So are you," she argued.
"Oh yeah? Who in their right mind would do her homework for a so-called boyfriend?"
Sakura gasped. "How did you know…?"
"I caught you one day in the act."
She gulped. "He's not my boyfriend."
"But you like him, anyway."
"Shut up!"
"Think about it Smart One, do you really think a guy who likes you back would make you subservient to him?"
He left the kitchen, in delighted triumph when no rejoinder came from her. He was right.