Disclaimer: We do not own CCS or anything like that, except this ficcie of course.
Chapter 6
"Now, Sakura. Would you tell me what's going on between you and Li?" Tomoyo asked the girl in front of her, bursting with curiosity.
They were in a café where the dark-haired girl had invited Sakura for lunch before they go to the victory party. Sakura knew why Tomoyo asked her out, even if she had told them she was dog tired. She agreed because she is dying to tell her best friend the truth, although right now, she knew she had no choice but to hide it as she agreed with Syaoran's deal.
But…
"Well, w-we're going out, I guess." Sakura answered hesitantly. Gomen, Tomoyo. I have to lie to you…
Tomoyo looked at Sakura, "You agreed to go out with him? But I thought you despised him? Where did that egotistical, stuck-up, conceited pig go to?" She teased Sakura.
The other girl blushed. That was what I used to call Li, and my opinion of him does not change at all. Though I must admit he is handsome and charming and…
Matte (wait)! He's my enemy! I shouldn't think positive thoughts about him at all.
Tomoyo mistook Sakura's blush to embarrassment. Hmm… She really likes him.
"Well, what do you like about him? I mean, there're so many guys wanting to date you, but you always refuse," Tomoyo asked, "What's so different about him?"
Sakura sighed, "H-he may not seem like it but he's really a good person." Yeah, the best person, "He's c-caring, umm, handsome… sweet?" Ugh! I'd like to puke! "He also—bought me a cell phone for reconciliation… and umm, ah! He's VERY considerate and he EASILY forgives!" Sakura added sarcastically.
Also, he's so annoying and smug! Argh… Although, he was a bit thoughtful that yesterday night he gave me a ride home when he gave me a cell phone then saved me from Mei Ling. But only a bit! Sakura tried to assure herself.
Fortunately, Tomoyo didn't catch on Sakura's sarcastic words; instead, she seemed really happy and excited about the whole Sakura-Syaoran thing. She was very happy because, at last, her best friend looked as if she is really enjoying a guy's company—something that do not happen everyday.
"So, I guess you'll be going with the victory party with him, then," Tomoyo smiled, "I made the best dress for you." Tomoyo said dreamily, "It would absolutely make that Li Syaoran of yours drool!"
Sakura sweatdropped. "Ehehe…"
"We'll drive to my house and I'll beautify you up, not that you are not already beautiful though." Tomoyo giggled, "You are so kawaii that I can't help make dresses for you!"
Sakura sighed. There was no getting out of this one. Once Tomoyo sets her mind in dressing me up, there's no stopping her.
"Okay." Sakura agreed half-heartedly. Besides, I wanna make that Li drooling.
"I'll take care of that!" Tomoyo screeched. Sakura looked at her with surprise.
"Huh?"
"You said, 'I wanna make that Li drooling'. I said I'll take care of it!" Tomoyo said.
Sakura blushed madly. Argh. I just have to say that out loud…
"By the way, what time will you have to go home?" Tomoyo asked, "Is Touya going to be there?"
Sakura smiled, "I gotta be home before twelve in the midnight. Touya-kun has another odd job tonight. Some kind of being a waiter or something." Whew. Good thing she changed the topic.
Tomoyo sighed, "Too bad."
Yeah, too bad… Sakura thought.
Li and Eriol were in a café where Eriol had asked Li to accompany him after they and the girls had separated ways.
"Now, spit it out playboy. What's between you and Sakura-chan?" Eriol asked playfully.
Li's eyes narrowed, "Sakura-chan? Are you that close to call her that?" he asked with a low voice.
The other boy chuckled, "Already possessive, aren't we?" When Li's glare only deepened, Eriol explained, "Tomoyo-chan and Mei Ling insisted I call her Sakura-chan. Besides, she's also my friend, isn't she?"
That only made Li's glare more deadly.
"You haven't answered my question yet, Li."
Syaoran closed his eyes indifferently, "We're going out." Then, he opened one eye to see Eriol's reaction.
"She agreed to go out with you?!" Eriol asked disbelievingly, his expression horrified.
"What am I, some kind of monster?" Li growled.
Eriol laughed, "No, of course not. That's not what I meant though."
Li grunted, "Your expression tells it all."
Eriol chose to ignore that. "But—what happened? I mean, when you two first met, you couldn't wait to pull each other's hair out, and now… I dunno. It all seems kinda weird. Even Mei Ling is wondering. She thinks you were blackmailing Sakura-chan or something."
Li almost choked on the juice he's drinking, "R-really? That's so—" …Clever… "cruel of her."
"You've got to tell me though," Eriol continued, "How you came to like Sakura."
"Actually, I don't." Syaoran answered.
"What?!"
"Just kidding," Li chortled, "Yes, I think I kinda like her. She's beautiful, not the model kind of beauty though. Hers is just simple—but exotic." He turned serious, "I like her because she acts like an annoying brat though she's already 16 years old. She is exasperating and so stubborn. She can be so sweet and thoughtful in one second, and then turn malevolent and spiteful the next. She is full of innocence and naiveté, that men would continuously want to protect her from all the harsh realities life could bring. And she uses that power to control males who would be willing enough to bend to her will."
Eriol watched Li carefully, but was smiling at his cousin inwardly. Never had he seen him like this. Usually, when he would ask why Li liked his new girl, Syaoran would always answer, "Because she's exceedingly beautiful and charming." Or "She is convenient and easy to please." Syaoran had been oblivious to the fact that although he had said all those things about Sakura, he really does like her—despite every negative opinion he has of her.
"I see you do have a good opinion of her," Eriol remarked derisively, "It's not such a wonder after all why you two are going out."
Li snorted.
"Well then. I heard what your opinion of Sakura-chan is. And hearing it, I really want to know of her opinion about you. I'm sure you two feel the same way about each other." Eriol said mockingly.
Li straightened in his seat. Darn this Eriol! Can't keep his remarks to himself.
But—what does Sakura think of me?...
"Eriol-kun!"
Li and Eriol looked up to see Tomoyo and Sakura approaching them to their table. The amber-eyed guy quickly stood up and went to Sakura, much to Eriol's amusement.
"Hey there, my cherry blossom." Li called charmingly. "What are you doing here?" Actually, I wanna ask 'what do you think of me?' He added inwardly.
Sakura froze, but tried to smile anyway, "H-hey."
Tomoyo squealed with delight as she watched the two. Kawaii!
"Tomoyo-chan, Sakura-chan. I thought you were tired? And aren't you getting ready for tonight?" Eriol invited.
Tomoyo grinned. "Of course! Sakura even said that she'll make him drool!"
Li's eyebrows rose, "Who's that?" He looked at Sakura.
Tomoyo grinned even more, "You—"
Sakura panicked, "—Eh. Y-Yueh." All of them looked at her, "That's—that's our dog. Who else would I want to drool on—" She sweatdropped when Li and Tomoyo was looking at her as if she lost her mind and Eriol looking as if he knew what Tomoyo really was trying to say, "—me?"
"You want to be drooled on by a dog?" Tomoyo asked disgustedly, "Wait. You have a do—"
"You didn't know?" Sakura glared at her, and she quickly understood.
"Ahhh… Hai. Yumi, your dog." She said, unaware of the way Sakura slapped her forehead and the way the two guys were silently laughing since it seemed that Li had caught on too.
"Oops! Almost forgot." She smiled apologetically at Eriol, unaware of what she had done, "We really have something to do."
"Can't that wait?" Li interrupted happily.
Tomoyo turned to Li, "No. I have a job for tonight of making your sweetheart here," Sakura blushed, "a stunning princess you will never forget as long as you live." Sakura blushed even more, rendering her speechless.
Li grinned, "Oh, but even without you doing that, I would still remember her till my dying day," He put his arms around the even more blushing Sakura's shoulders, "Although, I'd like to see a stunning princess tonight, not that you're not already stunning."
Eriol laughed loudly, "Hey, hey. Quit flattering the poor girl. Her face's so red already I think it would explode."
Sakura glared at Eriol, then at Li, "Will you stop it?" she whispered angrily so that only he could hear it.
Li continued to grin, "Oh. So you wanna make me drool, huh?" He whispered laughingly. Sakura elbowed him in the ribs—hard.
"Oi!"
"What are you two doing?" Tomoyo asked.
"Don't mind them, Tomoyo-chan. They're just having a lovers' conversation." Eriol said.
This time, together with Sakura, Li blushed.
"Oh, kawaii!"
"Mou!" Sakura whined, "Let's go to your house already, Tomoyo. Bye Eriol, B-bye Li."
She took a protesting Tomoyo's arm and went out of the café without looking back. Li just stood there, unable to react since he was still blushing from Eriol's statement.
Lovers?
He then turned angrily to his laughing cousin.
"Damn YOU, Eriol!"
"There!"
Tomoyo stepped back and squealed as she looked at her creation. KAWAII!!!
"Wait here, Sakura. I'll just get my video recorder. Oh, this is great!" She screamed happily as she went to her 'video room' to get it.
Sakura sweatdropped. Tomoyo's overreacting again…
What do I look like? I wanna see.
Slowly, she held her breath and turned around to face the full-body mirror behind her and gasped.
What the— I-Is that me?
She had on a pink halter dress that stops down above her knees. Tomoyo did a little altering on the dress and made it backless, so it emphasized Sakura's smooth skin and slim but curvy figure. She had on matching pink strapped sandals and she had a silver anklet with a star pendant that matched her silver bracelet. Her hair was put up in a high loose French knot and there are curled tendrils that framed her heart-shaped face. There are small braids that were included in the knot that really made her look princess-like. She had little make-up, just a touch of pink lipstick, powder, and little amount of blush-on. The combination of the dress and other touches made her look innocently elegant.
"Sakura, face here!"
She turned around and saw Tomoyo holding her video camera and taking a video of her. (duh!) She fidgeted with her bracelet, not knowing what to do.
"Kawaii!"
Sakura sighed.
"By the way, Tomoyo. You totally embarrassed me awhile ago." Sakura said, pouting.
Tomoyo laughed sheepishly, "Gomen."
"Now, he'll never let me hear the last of it." Sakura mumbled, "Oh, he's so annoying!"
"And cute—and handsome—and charming… You can't deny that." Tomoyo said, "After all, you did agree to go out with him."
"I did not!" Sakura fumed.
"Ehh??" Tomoyo looked at her in shock, "B-but I thought, he asked you out and you—agreed…"
Oh, no. I wish I kept my mouth shut. What to do?
"I mean, I did not agree to go out with him. I—I… I asked him out!" Sakura said,
"You did?! Wow! I didn't know you liked him that much." Tomoyo whistled.
Crap. This is what this is. Crap.
Ding! Dong!
Sakura's heart sped up. It's him!
"That must be your prince." Tomoyo said, rushing to go downstairs.
Sakura tentatively smiled at her reflection in the mirror. She could not deny that she does look pretty. If only Li would be enough of a gentleman to notice it.
Ahhh! What am I thinking?
"Li!"
Syaoran looked up and saw Tomoyo hurrying down the stairs. He smiled elegantly.
Tomoyo stopped to look at Li and whistled. "You sure are handsome—worthy enough for Princess Sakura."
"Where is she?" Li asked, trying to hide his curiosity and anticipation.
"She's coming down. You should be ready for it, you know." Tomoyo said mischievously, "And watch out for the drool."
Li chose to ignore the comment and focused on waiting for Sakura.
Here I come…
Sakura tried to flout her racing heart and went down the stairs slowly. She saw Li looking at her with a strange look on his face and Tomoyo squealing in pride for her work. She focused her gaze on Li and tried to fathom the unreadable expression he had on his face.
Was that admiration? No, it wasn't. Why are you looking at me like that?
Their gazes locked. Although Sakura could not guess what Li was thinking, his look made her feel warm all over, like the feeling when you're being held by someone tightly and securely.
She tried to look haughty and triumphant, but she couldn't. She has this warm smile on her face that was all directed to her sworn enemy. She couldn't stop herself. She's drowning in those amber eyes that were filled with an unknown feeling.
She was already so close to him and she was just reaching the last step when—
BAM!
Sakura tripped on her high heels and fell with a loud thud on the floor.
"Oh my gosh, Sakura! Daijobu (are you okay)?"
The two persons who were watching the descent of the princess rushed to her side.
"Sakura! What happened?" Tomoyo asked worriedly.
"Itai (it hurts)…" Sakura sat up quickly and nursed the bump on her forehead. She immediately blushed when she saw Li by her side and realized he had witnessed that awkward moment.
"Should we call the ambulance?" Li said, concealed laughter could be heard from his voice.
Sakura quickly stood up, her face flaming that the redness could be seen even in the presence of her blush-on. "So you think it's funny, do you?" She said indignantly. She could not believe it. He was so insensitive and cold-hearted. For a moment there, she thought she could try to get along with this—monster… I am so wrong.
Tomoyo looked at her, confused, "He's just concerned, Sakura."
"CONCERNED?!!!"
The hypnotic trance was gone. The intense feeling of being drowned thrown in the air. The powerful attraction that was created by mere connection of the eyes were replaced by antagonism and loathing.
And gone was the beautiful emotion that was present awhile ago.
Li chuckled.
"Look! He's chuckling happily because he enjoys humiliating me!" Sakura yelled. She wanted to cry, but she wouldn't give Li that satisfaction.
"Demo—" Tomoyo looked as if she was going to cry too.
Sakura's eyes softened. She wants everything to be perfect for me… Oh, Tomoyo.
She breathed deeply and tried to calm herself for Tomoyo, ignoring Li who was watching her with amusement, "Gomen, Tomoyo. I-I was j-just terribly embarrassed, that's all."
Tomoyo looked at her happily, "Okay. Well, go on. Go now. I'm going to get ready myself; Eriol-kun's going to fetch me."
Sakura nodded, wanting to go home and forget what happened but she had no choice. She had to go with that asshole.
Li took her hand and said his goodbye to Tomoyo. Then they went outside.
When they were in the car, Sakura remained silent.
Li drove smoothly on the road, looking at Sakura every once in a while. The amusement was gone from his eyes now, finally realizing that she was hurt by his uncaring attitude.
He suddenly pulled up on the side of the highway and faced the fuming girl. He knew she was surprised because he stopped, but she didn't give an indication she acknowledges his presence.
"Hey." Li said softly.
What is it about you, Sakura? That makes my barrier shatter and changes all the things I believed in… I couldn't help it. This is the very first time I considered apologizing seriously. What the heck are you doing to me? I was supposed to have my revenge and play with you—but… It seems you're the one playing with me.
"Look, I'm sorry." He said sincerely.
Sakura did not say anything.
Li tried again, "It was thoughtless of me, I know." Good, Sakura thought, "I shouldn't have laughed, knowing you were really embarrassed." There was a hint of laughter in his voice that was instantly quenched by Sakura's lethal glare.
"You—are—such—an—ASSHOLE!" She hissed, trying to calm herself.
"I am not. I have tried everything to be nice to you." Li said calmly, "Why can't you have a little sense of humor when I'm around?"
"In case you've forgotten, you were the reason I'm in this mess in the first place!"
"What kind of mess?" Li said, exasperated, "All I was asking you is to go out with me and be my girlfriend, that's not such a hard thing."
"Maybe for you, it isn't."
Or maybe apologizing wasn't such a good idea after all…
"You are so hard-headed." Li said gratingly. Sakura realized he was already getting mad, but she didn't want him to get mad… She was more familiar to the teasing and amused Li.
"What do you want from me anyway?" She said softly, not wanting to give rise to his anger.
Li remained silent, I wish I know…
"I'm willing to give anything to you, just release me from this stupid bargain," Sakura said pleadingly, not realizing what she had said.
A strange gleam passed across his eyes, "Anything?" he echoed.
Sakura backed up a little and waved her hands in front of her face. Why did I say that?
"Eh… No, I was just joking… Hehe. See? I already have s-sense of humor." She said, panicking. She wanted to get out of Li's gaze, it was the same strange expression he had when she was going down the stairs.
Out of the blue, he reached out and touched Sakura's cheeks, "My cherry blossom."
Sakura's heart was beating fast. I haven't seen Li like this before.
Then, Li abruptly sat up and revved the engine, without even looking at Sakura, who was blinking and looking confused at his sudden change of attitude.
Why is my heart beating like this? She asked herself.
She turned her back to Li, not noticing the way he gripped the steering wheel tightly or the way he seemed to fight for control.
"Sakura! You look so perfect!"
Mei Ling approached the two and kissed Sakura on the cheek.
They were in the bar where the victory party was held. There were lots of people who were there, including Chiharu with Yamazaki, Reika, Mei Ling, and their other friends who were included on the dance group and those others who were invited. There were also people who are not included on the victory party and were only hanging about inside the bar. The whole party was taking place on the second floor of the bar where they would have some privacy.
"Syaoran… so you two are really going out?" Mei Ling looked at them.
Syaoran was back on his teasing and playing around attitude, "Is it that obvious?"
Sakura sighed, "Yes, I guess so."
"I can't believe it!" Mei Ling clapped her hands, "You two look as if you're meant to be."
Yeah, meant to be killing each other, Sakura thought wryly.
You don't really mean that, said an inner voice, You know you kind of like being with him, even though all you do together is fight. Why don't you give him a chance?
A chance?! She screeched inwardly, He put me in this mess. If he had asked me out normally we wouldn't have been fighting at all!
Yeah… You wouldn't be fighting because you wouldn't even have agreed to go out with him! That inner voice screeched back.
That's exactly my point! I don't wanna go out with him! He's the most arrogant person I have ever met!
Is that right?
Yeah!
Then why does your heart beat for him like it has never beat for anyone else before?
I—
"Sakura, are you alright?" Li's concerned voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Sakura?" Mei Ling reached for her friend, but Li shook his head at Mei Ling, a sign which means, 'I can handle this'. So Mei Ling nodded and moved towards the watching group.
She looked at the worried Li, trying to look for the insincerity she was expecting. She found none.
"H-hai." She felt shaken up. She doesn't know what she felt at that moment, when Li was putting an arm around her and leading her to a nearby table. She tried to remember the loathing she had for this guy, but as much as she tried, she couldn't.
"Sakura?"
She pulled away from Li and concentrated on making those weird feelings go away.
Darn this!
Li didn't know what was happening to his date. But he knew how to wake her up effectively.
"Did that bump on your head awhile ago caused you major mental problems?" he said.
As expected, Sakura perked up when she heard that and glared at her companion, "Shut up."
"Thank goodness you're speaking again," Li said teasingly. Sakura only glared back.
Why am I even thinking of him?
Sakura looked around and saw most of her friends dancing. Tomoyo and Eriol had also arrived, but for some reason they haven't moved towards their table. They're isolating us.
Syaoran smiled at Sakura's reaction, for he was sure she was also realizing that none of her friends seem to go near their table to greet her or to talk to them.
"Wanna dance?" Syaoran asked.
Sakura looked at him but said nothing.
"C'mon," He urged, "Most people who are going out there dancing are couples."
"We're not."
Li smiled irritatingly, "Oh, but we will. Remember our agreement? We are going to be boyfriend-girlfriend when the going out phase is over."
Sakura gritted her teeth, but inside she felt warm all over.
"Okay."
Li stood up happily and led Sakura to the dance floor. Unexpectedly, as if someone was playing with them, the dance song ended and was replaced by a slow one.
"C'mon." Li whispered against Sakura's ear.
He put her arms around his neck and put his arms around her slim waist. Unable to stop herself, she leaned against Li's strong shoulder, closing her eyes. Syaoran smiled, not the sardonic smirk he usually wore, but a soft and contented smile. They were in the world of their own as they moved slowly to the music; they could not sense the people dancing around them.
"They look perfect, prince and princess." Tomoyo sighed blissfully. They were all sitting down now in one table, for they left the two oblivious couple on the dance floor.
"I thought Sakura wasn't interested in that guy?" Chiharu piped in.
Mei Ling looked at her cousin, "Well, we still don't know how they happen to like each other, but I'm happy that two of the most important people to me are together." She sighed.
"That guy sure is lucky," Reika said, "Sakura rarely entertain boys who wanted to date her. She always says that there are more important things than going out with insincere guys."
Eriol chuckled, "Sakura is also lucky though," All eyes turned to him, "Li was never serious over a gal before like he is with Sakura. He may not admit it to himself and he may not know it yet, but I think he's falling for a girl he only met in a short time."
"How can you be so sure?" Tomoyo asked excitedly, happy for her friend.
"Trust me, I know."
Forgetting herself, she jumped on Eriol, putting her arms around his neck, nearly causing Eriol's chair to tip over. Everybody sweatdropped.
"Ureshii (I'm so happy)!" Tomoyo said.
Eriol coughed uneasily, a slow blush creeping on his face. "Uh, Tomoyo-chan?"
"Yes?"
"Uh, we're going to really fall if you don't—"
Tomoyo realized what she did and also blushed and she hastily pulled away from him.
Everybody laughed, except Mei Ling who was sighing.
"I am so envious. What is it with cousins and best friends? I'm being left out!"
They didn't know how long they were dancing, (since Tomoyo bribed the DJ to continuously put in slow songs) and they didn't want to think. They were savoring each other's warmth and neither wanted to break the contact.
Sakura…
Syaoran…
Slowly, Li slightly pulled away to look into those beautiful emerald eyes. When Sakura opened her eyes, she saw the wonder and warmth reflected in those amber eyes. They stayed like that, their gazes locked, for a long time.
As if being pulled by a magnet, Li slowly leaned down to Sakura, closing his eyes.
He's going to kiss me!
Surprisingly, she wasn't repelled by the thought, instead, she was anticipating for it. She closed her eyes and leaned up to him, feeling his warm breath on her face. Their faces and lips drew closer…
Closer…
Oh, My Gosh—
Closer…
Sakura… My cherry blossom…
Closer…
"KAIJUU! What are you doing?!"
The moment shattered.
Sakura, red in the face, broke away from Li and looked around, feeling a sense of dread. She knew that voice… She knew who called her that… There was only one person who had enough guts to call her monster. That one person was—
"Touya-kun!"
How was it? I don't really know how to end it… So, it ended that way. P We really value those reviews all you guys keep on making. Hope you'd continue and tell us what you think of our story. Arigatou for all those who reviewed by the way. Don't know how much they mean to us.
Anyway, Keep those reviews comin'!
Thanx!