Tied by Fate
By: pnaixrose
Disclaimer: Card Captor Sakura and all the characters are copyrighted to CLAMP. I don't own them in any way.
Chapter 3: Tour
Spinel Sun curiously watched his master eat his morning meal. Eriol was already dressed in his high school uniform and was all set for school. Right now he was eating a small breakfast in the quiet kitchen. He smirked to himself as all the wonderful matchmaking plans came together in his head. Oh how he loved being evil. But he couldn't do it on his own. He would need the expertise of singer/matchmaker/Sakura's best friend, Daidouji Tomoyo. It would take no time at all to convince Tomoyo to help him. For years she had always wanted Sakura to have her first love so Tomoyo could video tape Sakura and her "kawaii" boyfriend. She had always loved romance as far as Eriol knew. So that was no problem at all. All there was left was to urge Sakura and Syaoran to at least act decent to each other for one minute. That was where the problem lay. It was clear to Eriol that Sakura and Syaoran definitely started off on the wrong foot. He understood that though. Would he want someone to feel know his most private feelings? No, most certainly not. But still, according to his observations, Syaoran and Sakura would make the most perfect couple. But-
"Eriol?" Suppi said interrupting Eriol's thoughts, "What exactly are your intentions with Mistress Sakura and Master Li?" Eriol chuckled quietly at Suppi's sudden question. That little guardian certainly knew him best.
"What do you mean?" Eriol asked innocently. If Suppi didn't know him so well, the guardian would've thought Eriol really was innocent when he said this. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Suppi knew his master very well.
Suppi rolled his eyes. "Puh-leeze. I'm not as dense as Mistress Sakura or Nakuru, you know. I know you're up to something. Why would you bring Master Li and his mother all the way from Hong Kong just to tell them about Master Li and Mistress Sakura's 'bond' with each other? It would've been more reasonable to just tell them separately. What exactly are you scheming, Eriol?"
Eriol laughed as he finished up his oatmeal and grabbed his bag. "Wow Spinel. You're as observant as I am. But I'm afraid that this little scheme of mine will not be known for a long time. Maybe if you're careful enough, you'll be able to figure it out on your own." He smiled and walked towards the door with his bag. "Spinel, please wake up Nakuru and Yelan. Syaoran has already left." Eriol laughed a little and thought to himself, "That early bird…he'll never change." And with a last quick wave to Suppi, Eriol left the house.
The small black guardian sighed as he flew slowly towards Nakuru's room. There was going to go an angry tornado this morning. Nakuru never likes being woken up. As he flew on to waken the storm, Spinal thought carefully about Eriol's scheme. What would be so important for two people to meet? Suppi groaned. Oh how he hated not being filled in on these things.
The beautiful, elegant Tomoyo Daidouji walked into her first class, homeroom. As she walked to her seat, looking neat and clean in her school uniform as usual, she smiled as she saw that Sakura was still not in class. Rika, Naoko, Chiharu, and Yamazaki came by her desk.
"Hey Tomoyo-chan!" Chiharu greeted. Tomoyo smiled in return.
Naoko glanced at Sakura's seat. "So the birthday girl is not here yet?"
Rika smiled. "Well, we all know how Sakura-chan is." They all laughed. They sure did. So far, Sakura had never been early once this whole year.
"I just hope Sakura doesn't get another detention again. She has about four each month!" a voice said.
"Oh, hi Eriol," Tomoyo said as they all turned to the voice. Eriol smiled at all of them.
Rika giggled. "You guys are so mean to Sakura-chan! It's not her fault she's always late."
"You know why she's always late? It's 'cause Kinomoto has magic!" Yamazaki said.
Eriol and Tomoyo cast nervous glance to each other. "Wh-What are you talking about, Yamazaki-kun?" Tomoyo asked. Eriol nodded. "I don't think Sakura-chan doesn't have magic…"
Chiharu gave a victorious smile. "See Yamazaki-kun? They don't believe your lies. Even Eriol who would usually go along with you isn't saying anything." Yamazaki blinked his already closed eyes. "But really. Once I saw her flying over Tomoeda! She had wings sprouted from her back!"
Naoko's eyes glimmered. "Really! Sakura-chan can fly!"
Eriol laughed nervously. "N-No way. Sakura? Flying?"
"It seems highly impossible, doesn't it?" Tomoyo added.
Chiharu bopped Yamazaki on the head. "You dumdum. Stop lying. C'mon let's go back to ours seats. Sensei's here."
"Good morning everyone," the sensei said entering he room, "Hurry to your seats. Class is going to begin."
After the teacher finished organizing some papers, he looked at his watch and smiled a bit. "I'm afraid Kinomoto-san's going to have a detention again. She's still not here." He chuckled a little, wrinkling his aged face. The class laughed along with him.
"Anyway, it seems we have a new student. We're not sure how long he's staying but let's welcome him anyway."
Everyone looked at the door dully. Most of the time all the new kids were mostly kids or people who just didn't fit into their class. But when the new kid walked in they – mostly the girls – gaped at him with their mouths wide open. He walked calmly over to the front of the class, his head bent down.
"This is," the teacher looked at his paper, "This is Li Syaoran. He came all the way from Hong Kong just yesterday," he said.
Syaoran looked around the class and caught sight of Hiiragazawa and that Daidouji girl. The girl waved and smiled while Hiiragazawa smirked. Syaoran growled. Seeing that Hiiragazawa was the one who made him go to this stupid class in this stupid school, Syaoran didn't really like him at the moment. Syaoran wasn't even supposed to be in this grade! He was supposed to be a junior, not a damn sophomore! But the school secretary had told him that he had to do sophomore year because something about China's teaching wasn't like Japan's. But Syaoran had scowled through the whole explanation, knowing that it wasn't true. Someone was behind it, wanting him to be in the sophomore class. And who else can it be other than that damn Hiiragazawa? Him and his damn magic...
The girls of the class were going crazy at the sight of him. They were all whispering, giggling and saying things like: "Look at the Li guy! He's so cute!" "Oh gosh…thank god he's the new student!" "Do you think he has a girlfriend?" Eriol almost laughed out loud at Syaoran's face when he saw his reaction to all the whispers. It was hilarious. It was obvious that Syaoran did not like attention. The rest of the class however, was bustling with excitement and whispers that soon became louder.
The teacher tried to disrupt all the noise erupting from the class. He never thought that the kids would be all worked up on a transfer student. His glasses were starting to slip off his nose as he desperately slapped his ruler on his desk, saying: "Class, please calm down now!" His patience was thinning. He opened his mouth to scream but luckily for the noisy class, the door opened with a bam.
There stood Sakura panting heavily. One arm was leaning against the doorway while the other held her bag. The loud, sudden bam from the door quieted the class immediately.
"Hoee…gomen ne, sensei," Sakura said between pants, "I woke up late again." She bowed down apologetically. "Gomen, gomen, gomen…"
The class tried to stifle their giggles as the teacher looked at her disapprovingly. Sakura, red with embarrassment, sweat dropped as she saw that all the eyes were staring at her. But then someone who was still standing up in the front of the class caught her eye. Piercing amber eyes greeted her along with a small frown. It was the person she had least expected to see...and least wanted to see.
Syaoran gave her with a curt nod.
Sakura looked back and greeted him with a dull, "Li."
The class quite baffled at the scene. They were all wondering the same thing. Syaoran hadn't come in until yesterday as the teacher told them. How did Sakura know this guy? The most surprising thing to them however, is how Sakura was acting towards the new boy. Usually, even to the new kids, Sakura would smile as brightly as the sun and greet them happily, so this was quite odd. There were two people in the crowd that weren't baffled, though. And the azure eyed boy with glasses and the long haired maiden were actually very amused at the sight.
The teacher cleared his throat to disrupt the uneasy silence. "Since you and Li here seem acquainted, I'll leave him to you to tour the school, Kinomoto," he said, clearly unknowing to all the tension between the two.
Sakura's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. No way can the sensei be serious about this! Leave her with him! The boy who she was 'connected' to? Just the thought of walking with him through the quiet halls made her shiver. So of course she said, "No way!"
The class was quiet at her outburst. Sakura usually got along with everyone so why was she so intent about not touring the school with the new guy? Tomoyo and Eriol however started to laugh quietly as soon as the teacher suggested the idea. Unfortunately for them, Sakura and Syaoran spotted them and glared.
The teacher was not used to his suggestions being rejected by his students so he insisted with a very stern voice that Sakura should show Li the building once again.
Syaoran smirked as he watched Sakura squirming. He felt her nervousness inside of him. It was a funny sight actually. "Sensei, it's okay," Syaoran said, feigning innocence. "If Kinomoto doesn't want to show me the school, it's quite all right. I understand."
Sakura's eyes shot him daggers as he did his little "innocent" charade. Hah! This rude, obnoxious little brat was definitely far from innocent! But Syaoran took all her glares with a slight smirk.
"Kinomoto Sakura, I urge you to show Li around the place at lunch time," the sensei said with a very demanding voice.
Sakura sighed in despair and nodded slowly. Oh how she hated that Li! Great. Now she had to spend her lunchtime with that...that thing. She slowly took her seat in the corner near the window. She was stationed next to Tomoyo who was in front of Eriol. As she was walking she turned her head to glare at Syaoran. She sat down at her desk angrily and slouched.
"Okay, Li, let's find you a seat," sensei said, scanning the room. "Hmm, where's an empty seat?"
Syaoran and Sakura groaned in unison. The only empty seat was behind Sakura. So of course the teacher made him sit there. When Syaoran sat at his new seat, Sakura angrily looked at her teacher who went on with a new lesson. Syaoran meanwhile angrily glared at her head. Eriol and Tomoyo caught each other's eyes and smiled. From now on things were going to be interesting…really interesting...
"So Eriol, why did you say that you needed my help last night?" Tomoyo asked facing the half reincarnation of Clow.
They were alone in the empty hallway. It was lunch period and most of the students were either in the cafeteria or outside, enjoying the sunny day while eating their lunches.
"Tomoyo," Eriol began, "Do you want to know the real reason why I brought Sakura and Syaoran together here in Japan and why I think they are connected to each other?"
Tomoyo nodded. She was still quite baffled at that. She was sure that the others were confused as well.
"Well, you know what I read in one of my books?" Eriol asked. "I read that when two people can feel each others emotions, it usually means something…"
"Like what, Eriol?" Tomoyo asked. She was dying in suspense. Eriol always liked keeping his ideas in suspense from people to enjoy seeing their anxious faces.
"Like maybe…being destined to be together?" Eriol said with a smirk.
Tomoyo's jaw dropped. "Are you serious, Eriol? Don't tell me that this is one of the little jokes you've been planning with Yamazaki-kun."
He smiled. "Don't worry, Tomoyo. Don't you usually know whether I'm lying or not? Besides, think about it. If Syaoran was supposed to come to Japan anyway, wouldn't you think something big would've happened between Sakura and him?"
Tomoyo thought for awhile. "Maybe…but what's the proof of that? For all we know, Li-kun and Sakura-chan could've hated each other if Li-kun came here when he was ten."
"The proof is them! The reason they are 'connected' is because Syaoran was supposed to come here and be with Sakura! And I'm pretty sure that she's supposed to love him back. Since he didn't come here when he was ten, I think they developed that connection to each other because they're meant to be together."
"But Eriol, that's a pretty big theory. Are you sure it is right?"
"Yes," he said with confidence. He smirked. "Besides, even if they aren't meant to be together, it doesn't mean they can't be together. I think Sakura could really change my cute little descendant if he lets her." Tomoyo noticed a sudden change in his expression. His eyes were full of sorrow. "I mean, I understand that life is hard for him. His father died when he was young and he had to replace his father and be the Li Clan leader at the age of ten. He's been down in despair ever since then. What I want is to see him do is smile again. All he ever does his frown and sometimes smirk but he never gives a real smile or laugh with happiness shown in it. I really think that Sakura is the one who could make him learn how to smile...really smile...again…"
Tomoyo was touched by Eriol's desire to help his friend. He seemed to really look out for Li, as if he were the older brother. Even throughout the rude things Li had said, Eriol still wanted to help him. This was one of the many things she loved about him. He was always there for his friends, constantly helping them or looking out for them. How could she ever say no to a great friend like Eriol?
Besides...this seemed like it was going to be fun. Who could refuse changing a rude, arrogant but obviously hot person like Li to a sweet caring one and then hooking the new improved even cuter Syaoran up with her best friends who was desperately in need of a boyfriend! KAWAII! She could see it now. Li and Sakura walking along a park walking hand in hand...KAWAII! Picturing Li and Sakura together sure wasn't hard now.
Tomoyo smiled. "I'll do it, Eriol. I'll help."
Eriol's eyes lit up behind his glasses. Tomoyo was glad that he was smiling again. It was hard to see such a creative, smart, hot guy being gloomy especially when he usually smiled all the time.
"Thank you so much, Tomoyo! I really owe you one!"
Tomoyo smiled. "I'll remember that."
This was going to be so much fun!
Sakura led Syaoran through the empty, quiet halls of the school. Every student was eating their lunch outside because it was an absolutely beautiful day and the teachers were probably at the teachers' lounge. Sakura sighed. This was not the way she was expecting to spend her day today. She was planning to come to school early, get some good grades, have a great lunch with Tomoyo and Eriol, go through the rest of the day at school, and then go home. She practically stomped along the hallway, her angry footsteps being the only thing heard.
"Kinomoto," Syaoran said suddenly.
"What?" she asked with annoyance in her voice.
"Aren't you going to talk about all the rooms and stuff? Like in real tours?"
"Sensei never said I had to talk," she replied shortly.
Syaonra could feel her growing anger. "Well, aren't we in a bad mood today?" his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Sakura stopped and stood right in front of him. "Of course I'm in a bad mood! I was planning to wake up early, go to school, have lunch with Tomoyo and Eriol and go home! But then Kero woke me up late and when I got to school, you were here! It's just my luck!"
Syaoran kept a straight face through the whole thing. "Wow…That's one of the few times I've felt you this angry."
"You're the only one that I've ever met that I've ever been angry at. And you're the only one I hate," Sakura said glaring daggers at the amber eyed face.
"I'm not hateable, Kinomoto," Syaoran replied shortly.
"Uh-huh…right."
Then he smirked. "Sensei seemed to like me more than he liked you today."
Sakura growled. "Hey! You pretended to be all innocent!"
"Did I?"
Sakura sighed in frustration. She simply couldn't deal with this guy anymore! She had thought that maybe he was a good person underneath those layers of coldness. It turns out that maybe those layers were thicker than she thought. "I'm going outside."
She started walking quickly to the door which led to the courtyard. But then Syaoran caught up to her and walked beside her. She sighed again. This guy just wanted to torture her didn't he?
"I'm going outside, too. So I'll just follow you," Syaoran said, keeping his pace the same as hers. It was too funny when he annoyed her. It was amusing...he could torture her all day just by hanging around her. It was even more amusing when he knew that she rarely felt angry at anyone.
Sakura sighed as she briskly walked through the hallway. This was going to be a long day.
Tomoyo and Eriol were already sitting down underneath a tree, obtaining shade from the hot sun.
"So we know what to do when they come right?" Eriol asked her as they ate their lunches from their laps.
She smiled and nodded. "It's a good thing that Chiharu-chan and Yamazaki-kun agreed to help with our plan."
Eriol nodded. "We'll have to thank them later."
"Eriol, they're coming!" she whispered. They saw Syaoran and Sakura walking towards them.
They became silent as the two sat next to them. Sakura sighed in frustration as she got her lunch out, noticing the annoying teen still trailing behind her. She sighed. "Hey Tomoyo-chan. Hey Eriol. I hope you guys don't mind Li here. He followed me here."
Syaoran grabbed his chopsticks and his lunch. "I just wanted to see what happens in the daily life of the great Card Mistress. So tell me, are you always late for school and getting scolded by the teacher?"
Sakura mumbled something under her breath and took a shrimp from her lunch and ate it. Li was getting on her nerves. She ignored him as they all continued to eat in silence. Oh how she hated Li.
Suddenly Li took a shrimp from her lunch.
"Hey!" Sakura yelled at him. "Shrimp's my favorite!"
Syaoran chewed the shrimp and swallowed. "That's some good lunch you have there, Kinomoto."
"Are you listening to me! Don't take my lunch!" Sakura whined.
"My, my Syaoran," Eriol said swallowing his food. "Already flirting with the girls, I see. I mean you barely talk at all and here you are flirting? Tsk tsk tsk..."
Syaoran took some food from his own lunch and ate it. "I don't see any girls here but Daidouji. How could you say I'm flirting?"
Tomoyo and Eriol laughed as Sakura fumed with anger and hit his head hard.
"Itai…You're so violent, Card Mistress…" Syaoran rubbed the back of his head and smirked. "Kinomoto, it's so fun seeing you angry…"
Sakura ignored the comment.
After a few silent seconds, Tomoyo stretched her arms and yawned. "I'm so tired. That math test wore me out."
Suddenly a ringing was heard coming from her bag.
"Gomen, it's my cell phone. I'll pick it up. Excuse me…" Tomoyo took the phone and walked away quickly from the group.
Eriol smiled. It was an excellent performance. He knew that Tomoyo would be great at this. "So Syaoran, how are things back in Hong Kong?" Eriol asked.
As Eriol suspected, Syaoran looked down sadly and said nothing. He knew Syaoran would suddenly feel the weight of responsibility on his shoulders again just by hearing about Hong Kong. Syaoran hated it.
Sakura felt the sadness from Syaoran and took a glance at him.
"E-Everything's fine, Hiiragazawa…" Syaoran said after awhile.
Eriol coughed. "Look Syaoran, I didn't mean-"
Yamazaki suddenly came up to them with a basketball in one hand. "Oy! Hiiragazawa! Want to play basketball? We need one more guy."
Eriol stood up. "G-Gomen, Syaoran…" he said before going off to the basketball court.
Silence filled the atmosphere as Syaoran was still looking down at his food and Sakura glanced at him occasionally. It was weird seeing Li in his sad mood again and not his obnoxious one. It made her nervous and she tried to find a way to get out of there but she couldn't find any. Her eyes darted around the place and she could find no reason to leave. The sudden sound of his voice made her jump.
"Go ahead," Syaoran said, his head still down. "Go ahead and just go away. You don't have to be all nervous like that around me."
Sakura felt the peevish boy disappear for a second. She actually pitied him. Li must have been through a lot for him to become like that. It made her sad to see him-
"STOP!" Syaoran yelled finally looking at her with angry eyes. "The one thing I hate more than nervousness is pity! Don't you dare pity me!"
Sakura actually trembled under his fiery amber gaze. He was extremely mad…she could feel it. "I-I'm sorry."
Syaoran stared down at her menacingly. He hated it when people pitied him. Just because they had perfect lives doesn't mean that they had the right to feel sorrow for 'the poor little boy with all the responsibility.' Just because this girl was the Card Mistress, didn't mean she was an exception to how he usually acted towards girls. This was the person who could feel his every emotion, know when he's pissed off or upset, and most of all, this girl knew that he was still lingering in his past and he wanted no one...no one...to know he was still thinking about his father. He couldn't and wouldn't go easy on this girl. Hey, he hadn't been nice to anybody since he was little. He wasn't going to start now.
Syaoran looked away from Sakura. "You're not worth glaring at, Kinomoto…"
Sakura blinked in confusion. Syaoran was scowling at her one minute and ignoring her the next. Syaoran noticed this and grunted. "Hey Kinomoto, would you rather have me glaring at you or ignoring you? Your pick."
"I'd rather have neither," Sakura said unexpectedly.
Syaoran turned his head to face her. Usually people would say 'ignoring' or just be silent, not wanting to answer to the cold question. The Card Mistress is highly unusual. "Huh? What are you talking about?" Syaoran asked, slightly amused. He still felt her nervousness.
"Well." Sakura said slowly and tensely. "I-I'd rather be friends with someone than being ignored or glared at…"
Syaoran lifted one eyebrow. Boy, was this girl weird. They were both silent for a moment before Syaoran spoke. "You're weird, Kinomoto."
Sakura pouted. "Hey! I'm not weird! I'd just rather be friends with you then being enemies. Besides if we weren't 'connected' we would be friends, ne?"
"I wouldn't even know you if that were the case."
"Oh, but there's always a chance of you coming here isn't there? I mean, how busy were you when you were first initiated anyway?"
Syaoran's eyes shadowed, hearing the question. Oh, he was far busier than most kids at age ten. Signing papers, sustaining their businesses, listening to different proposals, studying, training, training, training...oh that was how busy he was. At the time he couldn't even go to school. He was home schooled by their family butler and friend, Wei. But the training was the worst. He learned martial arts and how to use magic properly from the Elders after his father died. He remembered those days. Syaoran used to meet with some of the Elders and they would instruct him to do different things. Not only that, they even fought hand-to-hand combat with him, constantly trying to make him better. Syaoran remembered all those bruises and scars he received from their powerful magic. He had ached all over, but yet, after the training they forced him to study until late at night.
Sakura knew she had said something to upset him again as he became silent again. Not only that gave her a clue but the throbbing sadness in her heart contributed to her conclusion as well. She had some kind of talent for making him feel bad. Before anyone had a chance to talk, the school bell rang, signaling that lunch was over.
Syaoran stood up quickly while packing up his unfinished lunch. He left not looking at Sakura at all. He was far away before Sakura could say anything. She sighed looking at his back. It was so hard making friends with him!
Syaoran was the one who was weird…not her…
Sakura watched the amber eyed boy swiftly grab the basketball and swish it in the hoop. The girls who were with her were swooning over him, screaming and cheering. The thing was, Li never noticed the way those girls looked at him. He was concentrating all his thoughts on playing the best he can in the game, just as he did with everything else. He was the new guy and everyone liked him already but he didn't even know it! Suddenly Sakura felt someone nudging her arm and she turned to see who it was.
"What, Tomoyo-chan?" she asked seeing the raven haired maiden smiling at her.
"Li-kun is very good at sports, ne? The P.E. teacher really likes him. He was good at soccer, at baseball and now he's excelling in basketball too! His attitude may not be all that great but his sportsmanship is!" Tomoyo was saying. She carefully studied Sakura's expression as this happened.
"Hai, hai…he's pretty good," Sakura said with a scowl. "And weird."
Tomoyo smiled but sighed to herself. Sakura didn't like him a bit. But maybe it would change soon. Maybe Sakura will start to like him and then slowly change the arrogant boy. Even though it seemed impossible, Tomoyo was floating in happiness! It would make the perfect video!
Sakura and Tomoyo were silent as they watched Chiharu on the balance beam. It was P.E. and the guys in their class were playing basketball while the girls worked on gymnastics. As Chiharu finished, everybody clapped. "Chiharu-chan! It was great!" Sakura exclaimed happily.
Chiharu sweat dropped. "Arigatou. But you should see the way you are on the balance beam, Sakura-chan."
"Yeah, Sakura-chan. You're really good," Tomoyo added.
Sakura smiled and blushed in embarrassment. "Hoee? Not really…"
The teacher's whistle blew. "Kinomoto! You're next!"
"Great game, Li-kun. Wow you're really good at everything," Yamazaki said. The boys sat against the gym wall drinking water from their water bottles.
Eriol adjusted his glasses, wiping off the sweat on his forehead. "You really impressed the girls, Syaoran," he said with a smirk.
"Yeah, you should've seen them. They were swooning like crazy. I wish I were you, Li-kun," Yamazaki added.
"Huh? What are you talking about? You noticed all that while you were playing?" Syaoran asked. He wondered how they could play while taking in all their surroundings. It was always better to just concentrate on what you're doing so you'll accomplish it with good results. Well, that's how he was taught anyway.
"Of course! That's the point of playing basketball while they're around!" Yamazaki said laughing, "Boy Li-kun, you need to get out more!"
Syaoran raised an eyebrow, amused at the conversation. Barely anyone talked to him about girls so it was a change. He didn't really know what to say. "Um, Which ones?"
Yamazaki smiled. "Well I'm going out with Chiharu-chan right now so I guess I shouldn't be looking at the other girls." He said sheepishly. "Don't tell her I said that, okay?"
"How about you, Hiiragazawa? Don't tell me you like someone," Syaoran said with a smirk on his face.
Eriol smiled. "Wipe off that smirk off your face Syaoran. I'll have you know that I'm very popular with the girls."
"That's true, they always cheer for you, Eriol." Yamazaki said. "But that gets me thinking. You never told us who you like, Eriol. Don't tell me you're still all embarrassed by telling someone who you like...that's so middle school..."
Yamazaki laughed while Eriol glared at him. Syaoran smirked at him, enjoying all the Eriol bashings.
"So that's why you've never had a girlfriend, Hiiragazawa," Syaoran said. Eriol glared at him.
"Yes that's true, I admit that," Eriol said pouting a bit, "And it's pretty unlucky for me but I've still got my eye on someone. But you know, you have never been on a relationship, Syaoran. So you can't say anything," Eriol smiled at the glaring Syaoran.
Yamazaki stared wide-eyed at him. "No way! That's definitely not what I would expect, Li-kun!" he said laughing.
Syaoran shrugged. "I'm not really interested."
Yamazaki and Eriol looked at each other, with a shocked look on their faces. "You're not interested…in girls?"
Just then the teacher blew his whistle. "Kinomoto," he said. "You're next."
All the boys around them quickly stopped their talking and eagerly watched Sakura with her balance beam routine.
"Heh. It's Sakura," a boy close by said loudly. "More than half of the boys in our school like her."
Syaoran blinked in surprise then turned to the balance beam which Sakura mounted on. His eyebrow rose. "Kinomoto! That girl!"
They nodded in unison, watching her on the balance beam. No way! That scrawny, little, annoying Card Mistress was one of the girls that boys had their eye on? But then again, he didn't know anything about girls.
"Why?" Syaoran asked, turning to watch her, still finding it hard to believe that the person he was bonded to was popular among the males.
"Well," Eriol said his azure eyes glittering as he observed Syaoran's expression. "Sakura-san's really popular, likable, nice, has a great personality, is really athletic, has lots of good friends, is pretty smart, and has a good reputation. Lots of guys would die to be her boyfriend. Wouldn't you agree, Syaoran?"
Syaoran watched Sakura balancing on the beam with both arms out. Her face was deep in concentration and she didn't notice all the eyes that were on her. She did flips and handstands on the beam with ease as people watched her intently. She neared the end of the routine she did a flip in the air and landed on both feet on the mat below.
Everyone cheered and clapped for the perfect performance as she smiled in embarrassment. All except Syaoran. But, he was still watching her.
Eriol andYamazaki smirked at each other. "Are you impressed, Li-kun?" Yamazaki asked.
The question brought him to quickly tear his eyes from the smiling girl. "I-I…not really…but I must admit that she was pretty good. Except for some parts when she lost her balance and her form wasn't correct," Syaoran said.
But Yamazaki laughed. "Li-kun, you're falling for that girl, aren't you?"
Syaoran rolled his eyes. "Far from that, baka. C'mon let's play another game." He grabbed a basketball and stood up.
As Syaoran and Yamazaki left and went on the court, Eriol smiled to himself. He had never heard him stutter like that before. "She's changing him already…"
"Want to do something today, Tomoyo-chan? Like go shopping or something? Or the movies?" Sakura asked excitedly. The last bell had just rung, signaling that school was over...finally. They were in the hallway trying not to get squished as a wave of students rushed by them to get out of the horrid school grounds.
"Sure, Sakura-chan. What should we do?" Tomoyo asked.
"You girls going somewhere?" Eriol asked overhearing their conversation.
Sakura nodded. "Wanna come?" She was thrilled. It would be the perfect afternoon with just her, Tomoyo, and Eriol just hanging out, laughing and talking. It would make up for the terrible school day. Just hanging out with them would make up for meeting Li.
Eriol shrugged. "Sure. But…" He threw a smirk towards Syaoran's way. The amber eyed boy was just about to skirt out of the the classroom. He was walking quietly trying to discreetly get away.
Sakura groaned quietly and hoped that what Eriol was about to say didn't involve the rat. "But what, Eriol-kun?" Sakura asked hopefully praying that she won't hear Li's name in his response.
Eriol smiled as turned to Syaoran. "Li Syaoran! You better not leave!"
Syaoran immediately began to sulk as soon as he heard Eriol's voice. He groaned. "Hiiragazawa! I gotta get home and do my homework. This Japanese homework looks a lot harder than I-"
Eriol quickly walked up to him and dragged him back over to Tomoyo and Sakura. He smirked. "C'mon Syaoran. You could make up a better excuse than that. You know as well as I do that this homework is easy as cake for you."
Syaoran groaned but didn't respond. He crossed his arms in annoyance.
Eriol turned to Sakura and Tomoyo. "I'm supposed to tour with him around Tomoeda. It was a special request from Yelan today. Is it all right for both of us to come with you?"
Sakura was about to protest when Tomoyo spoke first. "That's a great idea! We'd love to tour with you, Li-kun! Right Sakura-chan?" she asked.
Sakura sighed. Tomoyo seemed like she really wanted to tour the place with Eriol and Li. Who'd on earth want to hang out with him? She groaned inwardly. She'd have to walk around aimlessly with that arrogant boy behind her...again! But she wanted Tomoyo and Eriol to be happy so of course she reluctantly consented. "Okay, okay. Let's go…"