Sakura yawned and stretched her arms.
Another sunny day.
Sakura thought looking out the window. The bright rays of light shone at Sakura's face. Sakura changed her clothes and walked down the stairs. She saw no one at the living room so she peeped at the kitchen and instantly she smelled the wonderful aroma of breakfast.
"Good morning." The old lady said without turning around
Sakura startled said. "Ahh. I mean good morning."
"Come and sit."
Sakura followed her orders and sat down her wooden table. A bowl of hot stew was laid before her.
"Eat before it gets cold." Auntie Kanna said.
"Thank you." Sakura felt the hot liquid travel down her throat as she consumed the stew.
"This tastes great!" She proclaimed.
The old lady smiled. "Thank you dear child. Eat up."
Sakura nodded and continued to eat the soup with delight. She has never tasted anything like it. I guess this was a good change; from eat outs to a nice home cooked meal.
"If you mind me asking. We do you live." The old lady asked.
Sakura choked.
What am I supposed to tell her? That I live in a mansion? That I'm a famous model?
"Uhm around Tomeda." Sakura said.
"Tomeda huh? I've heard of it. It's one of those big cities, isn't it?" She asked.
"Uhm yeahh, it is."
"Does your parents know that you're here." She asked once more.
Sakura froze.
What am I going to say?
"Uhm. Do you live by yourself here?" Sakura asked trying to change the subject.
The old lady didn't seem to mind changing the topic. "I don't. Until my son left."
"Where is he now?"
"He said he's going to pursue life in the big cities. He said that staying here would get him nowhere. I forbade him but he was persistent and he ran away."
Sakura stopped eating the stew. "I'm sorry I asked the question…."
"It's all right Sakura dear. It's almost 5 years now. It's nice to get it out of my system now and then."
Sakura felt bad that in order to save her lying butt she had to ask that stupid question about her son.
"Hurry up and eat. We're meeting Syaoran today remember?" The old said.
"Oh yes I remember." Sakura hastened her eating but not too fast, she didn't want to break any manner rules taught to her by her aunt back in Tomeda.
Sakura finished her stew and let out a satisfied sigh. "That was a really good breakfast. Thank you auntie Kanna."
Auntie Kanna smiled as she took her bowl. "Let's get going."
Sakura stood up ready to meet Syaoran. The old lady and her stepped outside. Sakura inhaled the fresh air all around her.
They don't have fresh air like this in the cities.
They continued to walk with the old lady leading and Sakura following. Sakura looked around her and saw all sorts of people doing all sorts of chores, washing clothes with their hands, feeding chickens and what not. Sakura was intrigued by their work because she has never seen anything like it before.
Mental note. If I get a chance I want to try one of those chores.
"Hurry along Sakura." Auntie Kanna said from in front of her.
"Oh sorry." Sakura hadn't realized that she had stopped. She wondered how all these people could live with out all the luxuries that she was fortunate to have but yet isn't that what she wanted too? Doesn't she want to have a 'normal' life? Maybe not this normal. Sakura sustained to follow the old lady. She didn't want to pry into her life anymore, afraid that she might pry something that she did not want to know.
The old lady stopped at the edge of the hill. "Syaoran is down there. See that tree and the children." She pointed downwards.
Sakura went beside the old lady and looked down the hill. She began to get nervous, this was it. This was the very thing she was looking for. Yet she was worried that Syaoran won't let her have that opportunity.
"Lets go." Auntie Kanna gestured and walked carefully down the hill.
Sakura followed the same movements. She did want to experience another slide down the hill and look like a fool in front of that Syaoran guy. The two reached flat ground and Sakura became more nervous.
The old lady stopped. "Syaoran. Syaoran dear could I interrupt you for a moment?"
All of the kids sitting down on the wooden benches turned to the two women standing. Syaoran turned his head. "What is it Auntie Kanna?"
Sakura's eyes widened. She could not believe what she saw. He was the… the…
"Monster." Sakura said out loud.
Syaoran's eyes looked at Sakura.
That girl looks oddly familiar.
Sakura saw the two sides of his face, the 'monster' one and the 'normal' one. Sakura frowned; she felt great sympathy for him. Syaoran knew that look, sympathy, pity. Syaoran looked away.
"What did you say dear?" Auntie Kanna asked Sakura.
Sakura shook her head. "N-nothing."
"Syaoran would this young lady has come all the way from those big cities. Tomeda was it?"
Sakura nodded not taking her eyes off Syaoran.
"Well she wanted to teach the children and I was wondering if you could let her teach while she stays here." The old lady continued.
Syaoran looked at Auntie Kanna and to Sakura. Now he recognized her, she was that girl he had encountered last night, the one that fell down that hill and called him…monster.
"No. She can't teach here." Syaoran said simply.
But before the old lady could say something Sakura charged over to where Syaoran was.
"Now wait just a minute. I came all the way from Tomeda to teach. I think I should get a chance at least." Sakura said. She was about an arms length from Syaoran.
"I said no." Syaoran said again. His nightmares had followed him here and he did want it to stay. Most of all the children did not need a teacher that leaves them. He knew the children and they want to feel security that they will not be left.
"Why?" She asked.
"The children don't need you. I don't need you here. You're going to leave anyway, why don't you make it early and leave now." Syaoran said.
All the sympathy that she felt was gone, all of it was taken over by anger and irritation.
"You know I actually felt sorry for you but you don't seem so nice now and I won't leave. I don't want to. I came here to teach them and I will."
Syaoran never met sucha stubborn girl. "I don't need your sympathy." He said coldly.
Sakura looked into his hazel eyes, not red but hazel. I guess he wasn't a monster after all but his attitude appeared to be one.
Sakura stomped away and up the hill. She could not believe that guy would not let her teach the children.
Syaoran gave a satisfied smile.
She won't be coming back.
Auntie Kanna was stunned that she did not even try to stop their argument. Instead she followed Sakura back to her house.
"Let's continue…" Syaoran spoke.
"That monster face! Arrgg. I don't like him. I don't like him at all!" Sakura said out loud.
"Sakura are you all right?" The old lady asked coming up behind her.
Sakura froze; she hoped she had not heard what she said. "Uhhh yeahh, I'm fine. Just fine."
"I apologize that Syaoran did not like the idea at all. And here I thought he was a reasonable person." The old lady sighed.
"Yeah no kidding." Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Does this mean that you're leaving?" Auntie Kanna asked.
"What! No way! I'm not going to give up." Sakura crossed her arms.
I'm not going to lose to that monster freak!
Sakura turned to face Auntie Kanna. "Do you happen to know his parents?"
"Why yes. They live right over there." Auntie Kanna pointed to the house at the very end of the semi-circle formation of the houses.
Sakura started to walk away and heading for the house.
"Where are you going dear?"
"To talk to his parents!" Sakura stomped away; hopefully they're not as mean as Syaoran was.
I'll show him! I'm going to tell on him! Hah! That ought to get him in serious trouble.
Sakura knocked on the wooden door. No answer. She knocked again, more loudly this time.
"Come in!" A female voice from inside called out.
Sakura opened their unlocked door and entered Syaoran's home. Sakura looked around and realized that their house was pretty much the same as Auntie Kanna's house.
"How can I help you miss?" The maroon headed lady said. Sakura came to the conclusion that she was too busy ironing to open the door.
"Sorry to interrupt you but by any chance are you uhmm Syaoran's mom?" Sakura asked.
"Yes. Yes I am. What do you want with him?" She asked.
"Well uhh I don't really know how to put this but, you see you're son did no allow me to teach the children down the hill which is really a great passion for me and I came all the way from Tomeda to get the chance too." Sakura said apprehensively.
"Oh. You're that girl from the big city. The one Old Kanna was talking about. Sakura right?"
"That's me." Sakura smiled.
Syaoran's mom stopped ironing. "Would you excuse me for a second?"
"Of course." Sakura replied
She came back with a pad of paper and a pen. "You're Sakura Kinimoto right? The renowned model and actress?" She said with her eyes glittering.
Sakura gave a surprised look. "Yes I am." She simply said.
"I know this seems out of topic but could give and autograph?"
Sakura smiled and took the pen and the pad of paper happily. "Anything for a fan."
Sakura gave her autographed pad paper back.
"I'm sorry its just that I've seen you're commercials and magazines, in fact everyone of them. Oh I'm Xu Asuka by the way." Xu said.
"That's no problem. I'm used to it anyway. And nice too meet you Xu. Oh I'm not really an actress I just do commercials here and there." Sakura said humbly.
Xu smiled at her, she could no believe that she was standing face to face with a celebrity.
"Now that problem with Syaoran. I'm sorry for inconvenience he has caused you. I'll make sure that he does lighten up and gives you a chance."
"Thank you. Thank you very much." Sakura said with a smile on her face.
"Again sorry for the interruption." Sakura apologized.
"Oh don't worry about it. It's not every day I get a celebrity knocking at my house you know."
Sakura gave a light chuckle. "Well nice to meet you Mrs. Asuka and good-bye."
Sakura opened the door.
"Bye." Xu replied and waved to her.
Sakura waved back and headed back to Auntie Kanna's house. She gave a satisfied smile, her celebrity status really did have its advantages and she was happy too that she had met sucha nice woman.