Chapter Fourteen

Mischievous Love

Card Captor Sakura

*starjade*

In Which Binoculars and Dealings

Causes Feelings

Syaoran glared at the pavement as Eriol talked about nonsense as he usually did. They were off doing something mischievous and mysterious as usual and Syaoran was getting a prickly feeling in his stomach.

He had no idea what it was and wasn't going to ask Eriol what it was. Eriol would launch into one of his General Hospital episodes and start bawling and planning out Syaoran's funeral.

Eriol did that sometimes.

" You sure you told Hiiro to meet us here? 'Cause I don't see him anywhere," Syaoran snapped, uncomfortably.

Eriol replied, " He'll be here in five , four three-"

" Hey guys!" Hiiro cried.

Eriol screamed, " STOP!"


Hiiro froze.

" Two, One, Zero!" Eriol finished. He looked up and put on a startled expression. " I was right! Look, Hiiro's here!!"

Syaoran scowled and Hiiro blinked. " Is he normally like that?" Hiiro asked Syaoran.

Syaoran shrugged. " He was dropped on his head as a baby."

Hiiro grew dot eyed. " That explains everything."

Eriol grabbed Hiiro's arm and Syaoran grabbed the other. Hiiro let out a yelp as they shoved him on a bench. Eriol put on some sunglasses and Syaoran held Hiiro to the bench.

Eriol stuck a cigar in his mouth and took out a lighter. He looked out to the horizon and continued in a husky voice, " See, here, Hiiro, we have a proposition to make. Something I think you will like very much."

Hiiro tried to wriggle out of Syaoran's grasp but Syaoran was holding him fast and Hiiro gave up. " What the hell are you talking about?" Hiiro snapped. " I thought you guys wanted some tips on how to get girls. From what I here, you aren't having much luck."

Eriol's eyes narrowed. " What do you mean?"

Hiiro gulped at the mean glint in Eriol's eyes. " I-I meant , I mean, I was going to say-"

Eriol took one glance at the sputtering Hiiro and muttered, " Pathetic," before taking a puff from the cigar. Then he had to run to the water fountain nearby because he was coughing uncontrollably. Syaoran sighed. Eriol got way too influenced by TV,

Eriol sauntered back and leaned down to Hiiro's level. " So, I hear you rather like girls."

Hiiro leaned back. " Doesn't everybody?"

Eriol yelled, " Don't you dare talk back to me, little boy!"

" I wasn-"

" SHUT UP! I am the authority here, and if I command you to shut your mouth , you will shut it, even if the witness, which means you, has rights, which I cannot even COMPREHEND why. I am telling you to be silent and remain in a inconspicuous manner, for if anyone happens to fortuitously walk by and charge me under judicial charges, YOU WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE!"

Hiiro blinked and Syaoran groaned. " Get to the point, Eriol and cut the act."

Eriol grew teary eyed. " But, Syaoran, you have to understand, I am protecting the nation against kids like HIM-"

Syaoran growled through clenched teeth, " The ultimate plan? Don't scare the kid, Eriol."

Hiiro indeed looked rather scared. Eriol looked back down at him and seemed to jolt out of his character for a moment. " OH YAH! Our plan..." He coughed and looked around sheepishly. " I got caught in the moment..."

Syaoran sweat dropped. " I see. Get on with it."

Eriol coughed and bend down once more. " Look here , kid, we have a proposition for you and we need you to say yes. We have big enemies in this town and we need to kick them out as fast as we can. They have been threatening our manliness and that is the one thing us boys cannot lose. We need you, the un-manliest f them all to get back at the prime target."

Hiiro snickered. " Manliness? Coming from someone who paints his fingernails?"

Eriol gasped. " How did you find out?"

Hiiro pointed to Eriol's hands and Eriol flushed. Syaoran smirked as well and Eriol glared at him.

" Going on!" Eriol forced out. " Do you accept?"

Hiiro raised his eyebrows. " One condition. A, does it involve girls?"

Syaoran grinned. " Oh yah!"

Hiiro smirked. " Good! B, you guys won't do anything freaky, right?"

Eriol asked, " Do you call wrapping Hong Kong in toilet paper freaky?"

Hiiro opened his mouth and Eriol interrupted. " I thought so. Yes or no?"

Hiiro grinned. " You got yourself a deal."

*******

Sakura paced back and forth. " It's Monday. He didn't accept my deal. He didn't dress up! WHY?? I had all the press waiting and they were going to take photos and stuff, and HE CAME DRESSING DEVASTATINGLY sexy as usual!!"

Tomoyo's eyebrows rose as she checked her make-up in the mirror. " Uh huh."

Sakura burst out, " He hasn't done anything! No pranks , except for the mud in the shower thing, but that is so old , that even I know something is wrong! They're planning something big...grr...really big..."

Tomoyo shrugged. " Maybe he's tired of bugging you and got on with his life."

Sakura blinked. " You think so?"

Tomoyo nodded. " It could be true. No pranks yet and he even, sort of, asked you to be his friend. You said no unless he does something absolutely humiliating and he got on with his life. Done. End of story."

Sakura's eyes grew wide and she wondered why suddenly she felt an empty pit in her stomach. Syaoran...he wasn't going to prank her anymore. He's gotten over it and....and...

" I should be happy..." She trailed off and blinked as Tomoyo rose up and grabbed her purse.

" Where are you going??" Sakura asked.

Tomoyo blushed. " A date...well, not exactly. Eriol asked me over to study with him."

Sakura's eyes nearly bugged. " NO! You can't be serious!!!"

Tomoyo nodded, shyly. " Do I look alright? Maybe I should go a bit fancier...but it's only a study date, so casual is the dress code.."

Sakura, however, was having trouble taking it in. " YOU! You traitor of all things good and holy! Your yelling' at me for some stupid attraction to Syaoran and your going on A DATE WITH THE LEADER OF THE BABOONS FROM HELL?? How dare you?"

Tomoyo opened her mouth to protest, but Sakura just shook her head slowly, her eyes filling with tears. " No, Tomoyo. Never....never talk to me again!!"

With a dramatic sob, she raced for the bedroom door, sending a strangled look at Tomoyo before running straight into the door and collapsing with an "oof" onto the floor.

Tomoyo giggled as she walked over to her dazed friend. " Usually when you make a dramatic exit, you open the door."

Sakura glared. " Sure, Ms. Smarty Pants. Sure. Now go and have fun on your 'study date' you sellout!!!"

Tomoyo shook her head mockingly. " Alright. See you tonight!"

Sakura leaped up to her feet as Tomoyo walked down the stairs. " Be back before 9:00! Call me when you get there! Call me every hour! Don't let that boy touch you! Don't go anywhere else and don't talk about anything else but school! Are you sure your wearing fresh underwear???"

Tomoyo yelled, " I'll be fine, Sakura! Stop worrying! See you!"

The door banged shut and Sakura wiped away a tear. " My little girl...all grown up."

*********

Eriol chewed on his pencil as Tomoyo carefully pointed out all the rules of calculating the math problems. He didn't understand a word, but it was great to hear her voice. Eriol wanted to pat himself on the back. How smart was he?? He asked her to come over for a ' study date ' so he could find out whether or not Sakura liked Hiiro.

God, he was so smart, it was a wonder why girls didn't fall to his feet and worship his very footsteps. He would love a temple, worshipping him, maybe called, " The Eriol Worshipping Temples, only Females Allowed."

Maybe some gifts too...Fruits and candy...a couple of briefcases full of money...that new videogame that was about to be released...

" Eriol-ERIOL?? Are you listening???? EEEEEERRRRRIIIIIOOOOLLLLL!!!" Tomoyo screamed at the top of the lungs. Eriol jumped, startled.

" Whoa, woman, calm down! I'm planning on using those ears later on!!" Eriol cried.

Tomoyo glared at Eriol, leaping up to stand before him, her arms crossed. " I'm here, talking to myself literally and your off in la-la land. Will you pay attention for once?"

Wow, she was cute when she was angry.

" Sure, sure. I'll pay attention. Explain it again, I'll listen this time!" Eriol said.

Tomoyo stuck a finger in his face. " Promise?"

Eriol grinned. " I promise."

Tomoyo let out a small smile. " Alright." She went back to sit down, but as she did, a loud fart echoed in the room.

Eriol cracked up laughing. " Haahahahaha!"

Tomoyo turned red. " That is it, Eriol! I don' t know why I put up with you!" She hissed with anger. She got up, after blowing away strands of her hair from her face, punched Eriol straight in the jaw and walked out of the room.

" OW!" Eriol cried, rubbing his sore jaw. That girl knew how to pack a punch! Then he heard the door slam and he gasped. Tomoyo was leaving! God, he needed to get to her before, before-

" TOMOYO!" He cried. Taking slow steps, he reached the door and swung it open and yelled into the sky, " TOMOYO!!!!!!"


Tomoyo blinked at him from the sidewalk as he ran to her, slowly running towards her, his hair flopping every which way, his face red with concentration. Finally, he reached her and grabbed her hand, swinging her into his chest.

With an " Oof!" Tomoyo landed on his chest.

Eriol breathed hard. "Tomoyo! Love! You almost left me forever! I was plunged into the icy depths of sorrow!!" He went down on his knee and looked up with tears in his eyes, " Never, EVER leave me! I couldn't take if you did! You are the moon , the stars that twinkle with hope in the sky-"

" Cut it out, Eriol!" Tomoyo snapped.

Eriol stopped abruptly.

Tomoyo narrowed her eyes at Eriol and he sat down quickly as she paced back and forth in front of him. " Do you think this is all funny? We come to Hong Kong for a year, you prank us until we leave and laugh about it until you get new victims? What are you trying to accomplish??"

Eriol opened his mouth, but Tomoyo shouted, " DON'T YOU DARE!!"

Eriol shut his mouth.

Tomoyo took a deep breath and cried, " What were you trying to do when you invited me? Prank me? Get secrets out of me? Embarrass me? Because you accomplished all of that."

Eriol shook his head vehemently. " Not the secret part-"

Tomoyo let out a huge sigh and spread her hands out with exaggerated drama. " What secret? What secret? You know exactly what secret!! When we go to school tomorrow, it'll probably be all over the school! Tomoyo Daidouji has a crush on Eriol Hirigizawa!!"

Tomoyo suddenly stopped and blinked for a bit.

Eriol sat there in shock.

Silence extended between them until Tomoyo let out a bit of nervous laughter, her face as red as a tomato. " I-I guess you didn't know that, did you...."

Eriol shook his head. At the back of her mind, Tomoyo thought this was the longest period of time that Eriol was silent...maybe when he sleeps, he's quiet too...nah, he must talk in his sleep. That was what Eriol was all about.

Eriol suddenly said, " So you adore me, eh?"

Tomoyo's cheeks turned bright red. " No!"

" You want to make love to me, eh?"

" EW, no!!!"

" You want to kiss me, eh?"

" EWWW, NO!"

Eriol threw his hands up. " Then what's the point of having a crush on me? How exactly do you define, 'Crush?'"

Tomoyo crossed her arms huffily. " A crush is a certain attraction that females have for males, no matter how pig-headed and loserish they are..." She looked at Eriol pointedly. " That's it. It'll pass over."

Eriol smiled at her and Tomoyo felt her heart pound. " It'll pass over?"

Tomoyo nodded, feeling her palms go clammy as he walked closer to her and his hand came out, to touch her cheek. Her face grew hot and she gulped as he leaned down and kissed her.

Okay...Maybe it won't pass over...Was her last thought.

********

Sakura looked out of her window, binoculars stuck to her eyes. She wondered if the binoculars were permanently glued to her eyes. It probably was...Syaoran probably snuck into the house and put superglue on the ridges.

Suddenly, the light in Syaoran's room turned on. Sakura got herself ready and peered through the binoculars.

" Subject walks into room. Runs hand through hair. Wonder what shampoo subject uses. Very nice hair. Flops onto chair. Writes something. Groans. Writes again. Walks to window. Very nice eyes. Nice amber color. Subject looks surprised. Leans down. SUBJECT OUT OF SIGHT! No, back in sight. With binoculars. Subject looking out window. Subject..."

Sakura stopped and halted before squealing and ducking down.

" Dammit!!" She swore. " Subject has seen me!!"

A voice floated through her window. " Hey, Sakura!"

Sakura stared out the window at Syaoran, who was grinning at her. " Whatcha doing?"

Sakura flushed. " None of your business, subject-I mean, Syaoran! What are you doing? Don't deny it, I saw those binoculars! You were SPYING ON ME!"
Syaoran sighed dramatically. " Oh no, you have caught me, oh great one."

Sakura narrowed her eyes as Syaoran leaned out the window. " So, you've realized that I turned down your offer."

Sakura glared at him. " Yes. But that means I won't be declaring anything to you."

Syaoran titled his head and Sakura felt her breath catch in her throat. " Declaring what, exactly?"

Sakura had to catch her breath again before she retorted, rather breathlessly, " I won't be declaring that I'm your friend!! Cause I'm not!! We're enemies! We always will be!"

Syaoran folded his arms and Sakura felt faint again. Okay, what was happening here? Just because the muscles in his arms were quite visible does not mean that you can feel like this, Sakura scolded herself.

" Really? What if I felt as if...as if you were more than just an enemy , more than just a friend?"

Sakura said in a quiet voice, " What do you mean?"

Syaoran leaned back against the window post and let out his breath.

" What if I said that you.....you were the image in my heart? The woman I breathe for, I live for, the woman that is in my thoughts, my very last heartbeat, my blood and my soul? What if I told you, that your face was in my mind when I woke up , and the last thing I see before I sleep? What if I told you I yearned for, I needed you, I...I loved you?"

Sakura didn't notice that her fingers were clutching the window post so hard her knuckles had turned white. Her emerald eyes were wide and her heart was beating fast. " Wh-What?"

Suddenly, Syaoran burst into laughter. Sakura blinked hard, wondering what had just happened. Then she realized what had happened. Syaoran had deliberately played with her emotions.

" Did you see the look on your face??" Syaoran sputtered, his face red with laughter.

Sakura felt her heart sink and she yelled, " I hate you, Syaoran Li! I hate you!!" Before slamming the window closed and collapsing onto the bed in tears. God what had happened to her? His words had such an effect on her heart...god, she wasn't...she wasn't falling in love with Syaoran Li...was she?

Syaoran's laughter had died away quite fast after Sakura had slammed the window shut. He stared at the closed window for quite sometime, before thinking, Had I gone too far? How would I know Sakura would fall for it??

But he couldn't dismiss the unidentified feeling in his heart...he needed to get to a doctor, quick! He had been feeling this emotion a lot! But what was it??

Now here, exactly right here, is where I leave you. To think about what you have done. WHAT HAVE YOU READERS DONE?? Look at these formerly, normal pranksters turning into...normal people and...falling in love!! This cannot happen! But alas, you readers have the final word in where this story goes.

But I get to stop the chapters anywhere I like!! So that means you won't find out if Sakura actually admits Syaoran is her friend or something more *raises eyebrows* or if Eriol is just leading Tomoyo on, or what this Ultimate Plan really is!!

a/n: Hello readers! I LOVE ALL YOUR REVIEWS! You guyz are so nice! *wipes away a tear* Remember more reviews causes for more chapters! Do the math, ppl! Review or email and tell me what you think is gonna happen next! And some suggestions, alrite?? If you want something to happen tell me!! I'll see what I can do!

See ya latez,

*starjade*