Disclaimer: I don't own Card Captor Sakura.
Stuck With You
By: Lotus Dreams
Chapter 6: Missing
Sakura woke up at the crack of dawn the next morning. Her eyes were extremely sore, and she gave a huge yawn.
Where the hell am I again?
She opened one eye, and had the misfortune to spot Syaoran sleeping on the other bed facing her.
Oh right, in the stupid hotel with the baka.
With great difficulty, she sat up, and stretched. The sun had just risen, filtering lazily through the window, giving off an orangish light. Sakura was still quite sleepy, and she didn't like to be woken up so early. Then again, she hadn't been able to sleep all night.
Should I forgive him?
Though they had been kissing on the boat, Sakura still hadn't said anything. She still didn't know how she felt.
She cast a casual glance beside her. Her eyes wandered over to Syaoran's sleeping form. The bed sheets were all tangled up, and he was sprawled over the bed in a very strange position. His hair was a mess, and his mouth was slightly open, as if drooling. Sakura gave a small chuckle. Drooling. Still, he looked so...adorable.
With nothing to do, Sakura merely walked to the bathroom and took a shower. "Stupid water," she muttered. "It's so cold." When she finally opened the bathroom door (she took pretty long showers) she had already wrapped a towel around herself. Except standing outside the door...
...WAS SYAORAN!
Sakura shrieked. "WHAT THE HELL?" She wrapped her arms protectively around herself. "GO AWAY GO AWAY GO AWAY YOU HENTAI WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING STANDING OUTSIDE THE BATHROOM?" Syaoran raised an eyebrow.
"What? I was waiting for the toilet."
"Well - well - you don't have to stand directly outside the bathroom!"
"Well I need to go pee!" said Syaoran crossly. "And you've been hogging the shower for such a long time!"
"THEN GO PEE, BAKA!" yelled Sakura. She stomped out of the bathroom and made sure that Syaoran was in the bathroom before changing. She didn't put on anything fancy, just white shorts with a red stripe down the sides and a red T-shirt from her trunk that someone had already brought up. She was already lacing up her tennis shoes when Syaoran stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel.
"That's was a pretty long bathroom break." Sakura smirked.
"I took a shower too, you know," said Syaoran loftily. "If you haven't noticed." Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Ooh, am I supposed to drool over your GORGEOUS body now?" she said sarcastically.
Syaoran shrugged. "Yeah, I think so," he mocked.
"Dream on, hairball."
"You know you like it."
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "I know what I'm looking at, and I do not like it."
"Yes you do, you liar. You're just too embarrassed to admit it."
"Ugh, where do you get your sick thoughts? Leave me alone, hentai!" Syaoran grinned.
"Short temper today, eh? Don't worry, I won't tell anyone you like my body."
Sakura flushed. Mostly because he was right, he did have a nice body, but she wasn't going to admit it anytime soon. Oh no. And so, to shut him up, she blurted out stupidly, "Don't think we're friends, Syaoran. Cut it out." His grin faltered for a moment, and faded altogether. He averted his gaze. Sakura mentally slapped herself. Now WHY DID YOU JUST SAY THAT? Not knowing what else to do, Sakura stood up from the bed and walked towards the door.
"I'll see you at breakfast." Then she left.
Syaoran watched her go, and then, frustrated, he slammed his fist into his bed.
No way...she can't still be mad at me can she? But - on the boat...
You are such an idiot, Sakura.
Why did you say that to him?
Sakura reached the elevator and pushed the 'down' button. Just as the elevator doors close, she swore. "Shit. It's 6:30," she told herself. "They're not going to be up at this time of hour." She mentally slapped herself for leaving. I can't go back now! Then that'd bemlike, giving in to Syaoran...The elevator dinged, and she reached the ground floor. The doors slid open, and she exited hesitantly, not sure what to do. The clerk at the desk noticed her.
"Leaving, Miss...?"
"My name is Kinomoto Sakura, I'm with Terada-sensei and his group of students," said Sakura quickly. "I'm just taking a walk. I'll be back at eight." Then she ran out of the hotel faster than the clerk could stop her.
Once she was outside, a cool breeze immediately washed over her. You stupid idiot! It's freezing out here and you're wearing a T-shirt and shorts? She started swearing loudly in Japanese while walking, rubbing her arms to keep warm.
Her thoughts swirled back to Syaoran. I suppose I just don't like the way he thinks we can just...go back together. Maybe I'm not ready. I don't even know how I feel about him yet...do I?
When she got back, it was already around 8:15 am, and most of the students had already gotten up, as well as Terada-sensei. She checked into the hotel, and then proceeded to return to her room. When she reached the fifth floor, however, she came face to face with a frantic-looking Terada-sensei.
"THERE YOU ARE!" he yelled. "KAMI-SAMA, WE WERE LOOKING ALL OVER FOR YOU! THANK GOODNESS THAT CLERK TOLD US YOU WENT OUTSIDE FOR A WALK, AND THE TIME YOU WOULD BE BACK, OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE TO FACE THE ADMINISTRATION WITH SEVERE PUNISHMENT!" Sakura winced.
"Gomen nasai, sensei."
"SORRY DOESN'T CUT IT!" roared Terada-sensei. "IMAGINE MY SHOCK WHEN I FIND OUT TWO OF MY STUDENTS HAVE GONE MISSING!"
"T-two?"
"YES TWO!"
"Wh-Who's the other one?"
"LI SYAORAN!" shouted Terada-sensei. "I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU KNOW WHERE HE WENT?" Sakura's eyes widened.
"I-Iie. I saw him this morning..."
"KAMI-SAMAAAAAAAAAA!" Terada-sensei wailed. "I can't lose any of my students! This has never happened before!" He threw a venomous look at Sakura. "Go find a partner. Before we're going back to Ito Lake, we're going to organize a search party for Syaoran." Then he leaned in close.
"See, I don't know why," he whispered, "But it seems to me the main troublemakers on this trip are you and Li Syaoran. Following rules, I should be suspending you two already, but because everything so far has only been an accident, I am reluctantly forgiving you two. Today, you two are not allowed on Ito Lake, because I don't want to risk losing you two again. You are to stay in your hotel room, and I am instructing the hotel workers to not let you out. Understand?"
"Hai, sensei."
"Good." Terada-sensei left. Then, Sakura quickly took the elevator to the second floor, and knocked on every single door there was, until she reached Tomoyo's. She opened the door sleepily. "Sakura-chan! I'm still getting dressed!"
"We gotta hurry up!" said Sakura frantically. "Syaoran's gone missing!"
"Really?" Tomoyo was instantly wide awake. "You mean MISSING missing?"
"YESSSSS!" yelled Sakura. "WE HAVE TO FIND HIM, TOMOYO! WHO KNOWS WHERE HE COULD BE?"
"But...think about it logically...he's a guy...he wouldn't be kidnapped or anything...I mean he's really strong..."
"SO? WHAT IF HE GOT LOST OR SOMETHING?" Sakura was dancing around on her tiptoes, nervous and worried. "TOMOYO! WE HAVE TO FIND HIM!"
"Okay, okay! Wait for me, will you?"
Ten minutes later, the whole group of students on the trip were spread out, trying to find Syaoran. The danger of them getting lost was slim, because they all had walkie-talkies and most of them had cell phones. Also, the place where they were at wasn't very big, so it seemed as if finding Syaoran would be easy.
Wrong.
An hour later, with no success, Terada-sensei was forced to call the local police. And still, they kept searching...
"SYAORAN!" shouted Sakura.
"LI SYAORAN!" yelled Tomoyo.
"SYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNN!" hollered Sakura.
"LIIIIIIII SYAORANNNNNNNNNNN!" called Tomoyo.
"SYAORAN!" cried Sakura.
"LI SYAORAN!" bellowed Tomoyo.
Sakura dropped onto a nearby bench, panting heavily. "Where can he be?" she said miserably. "Where can Syaoran go?"
"LI SYAORAN, GET BACK TO THE HOTEL RIGHT NOW!" shrieked Tomoyo.
"You're not going to get him to hear you like that," said Sakura wearily. Then she took a deep breath.
"LI SYAORAN YOU STUPID DIM-WITTED BAKA GET BACK TO THE HOTEL OR WHEN I FIND YOU, I WILL SERIOUSLY HURT YOU!" she screamed.
No answer.
After about two more hours of searching, Terada-sensei and the police STILL didn't have any luck finding Syaoran. They even contacted the hotel and asked them if Syaoran was in any of the rooms, but it was unlikely, since each room had its own key, and people generally didn't leave their doors wide open or unlocked. Around five, a weary Terada-sensei told the students, hoarsely, "Guys, go back to your own rooms with this police officer here. We don't you to get lost. We've already contacted Syaoran's parents, they're on their way, although it might take a while, and don't worry, we have a ton of police officers searching the place for Syaoran. Please go, now. I am sorry our trip had to be ruined by this unfortunate incident."
Most of the students were grumbling as they went back, but Sakura was almost in tears. Tomoyo patted her back soothingly.
"It's alright. You heard Terada-sensei, they're going to find Syaoran soon."
"Where can he be?" Sakura said, more to herself than to Tomoyo. "I'm positive we've searched EVERYWHERE. Where the hell can he hide?"
"I don't know," said Tomoyo in a tired voice. "If you're really upset, come to my room with me. We'll talk."
"Iie, maybe not," Sakura told her best friend. "I'll...I'll go up to my room."
"Are you sure?" asked Tomoyo gently.
"I...I think so..." Sakura answered shakily. She gave a tight smile and headed towards the elevator.
On the way up three floors, Sakura kept wondering (and worrying) about where Syaoran could be. We've searched everywhere possible...where the hell are you, you idiot? She felt her anxiety level increase. Where the heck are you, Syao-kun...I'm...missing you.
I'm missing you.
The elevator reached her floor. She exited, taking longer than usual to find 513, since her mind was focused elsewhere. She put her hand on the doorknob, and was surprised to find it locked. SHIT, she thought, I don't have the keys!
"GAAAAAAH!" she yelled. "TODAY JUST ISN'T MY DAY!" She hit the door in frustration.
"First I make a complete fool of myself, then I get yelled at by Terada-sensei, and then he goes missing, AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN GET INTO MY OWN ROOM!" She repeatedly kicked and hit at the door, as if it was a punching bag, willing it break open. Just as she drew her fist back for another hit...
...the door opened.
And imagine her surprise when she saw Li Syaoran standing, annoyed, saying, "If you wanted to come in, you just had to knock, why take your anger out on the door?"
Sakura boggled at him. "YOU WERE HERE ALL ALONG?" she shrieked. Syaoran shrugged.
"Yeah. I went downstairs for breakfast and circled around the hotel for a bit before I returned to my room." He snickered. "Is Terada-sensei still looking for me?"
Not replying, Sakura realized her hand was still in a fist, and simply let loose with a hit to Syaoran's nose.
Oh dear...Sakura's so violent! See, Syaoran was in the hotel all along, that was the ONLY place they didn't thoroughly search. And he made poor Sakura-chan worry about him so much...well, anyway, again, sorry for the delay! REVIEW!