AUTHOR'S NOTES with darkshadow36:

YAY! At last, here's the third chap. Anyways, I'm not really surprised that only a few reviewed, and it's because I'm just a starter for SyaoSaku fanfic. But that won't stop me from updating, right? And as always, I would like to thank my reviewees, or reviewers—old ones or new ones; whatever you may call it! XD

REVIEWEES:

cristal-shian: I surely agree with what you said! I'll try adding a bit of humor… Hehe! But maybe more of that in the later chaps since this chapter is kind of a tension moment! Thanks, by the way.
Pinaygrrl: Gee, thanks! I was encouraged by that.
Shimela: Yup, this is a SyaoSaku fic, and it's definitely my first time to write a fic about them! I hope this one works! To tell you the truth, I felt like I should no longer continue this fic, but when I saw that readers would really like it if I continue, I decided that I better begin cooking the whole thing up! XD
Ice Queen 2: Hey there! I'm glad you liked it. And so here's Chapter 3!
Sakura-Angel-Blossom: Hi! I can't believe you still found time to read this third fanfic of mine… Don't worry; I'll try to find time to read yours! I am busy now that it's our vacation. I understood what your situation was then, 'coz computer glitches are really annoying!
neopyrocitrine: Monica? Is that really you? Hehe… I'm surprised! Thanks. Tsaka sana magsimula ka nang magsulat ng bagong kwento para may bago akong mabasa! Hehe.
mauinetani: Binubulgar mo naman ako e! Hehehe… Thanks all the same… I deeply appreciated your comments and stuff! Nabasa mo lang kasi yung toot!

BACK TO darkshadow36: Hehe… Now let's begin! I can't wait to see what happens during the first days of Syaoran's and Sakura's plan to become a couple… Let's see if you'll find it amusing or menacing! –I bet menacing! Haha!

: MAIN CHARACTERS:

Li Syaoran – 16-year old; the school's popular guy heartthrob and Tomoyo's closest friend
Sakura Kinomoto – 15; just your average girl and always engages in fights; closest friend is Eriol
Tomoyo Daidouji – 15; Eriol's talented girlfriend
Eriol Hiiragizawa – a 17-year old 3-point shooter in basketball; another school heartthrob

: SUMMARY FOR CHAPTER 3: 3rd chapter tells you of what happened on Syaoran and Sakura's first day as a couple, which became one of the biggest issues on Redstone that fateful day.

(UPDATED: April 3, 2005) Chapter 3: First Things First

Sakura woke up. Going to her personal bathroom, she rubbed her eyes and looked at herself in front of the mirror. She kept blinking.

"C'mon, you monster… better keep your eyes open…" she somehow wanted to stop blinking, but she can't help it. She slept late last night.

Then Sakura washed her face with some water to completely wake her up. "What a bizarre dream," she yawned. "Syaoran is to be my boyfriend for 3 months? Gosh…" She laughed, but when her eyes stopped blinking, she looked at herself again in the mirror.

She blinked twice. "Blimey! It isn't a dream!" She accidentally fell onto the shiny floor, and then gathered herself up again. 'Darn it… My ass hurts…' she thought.

"Stop being clumsy," she told herself, grinning. "Today's the first day… I wonder what will happen."

On the other hand, Syaoran woke up very early in the morning. He had already finished taking a bath, and is now dressing up into his favorite green t-shirt with his name on it, with matching elephant pants.

"Lookin' good!" he did a posing in front of the mirror. "I'm ready to take on today! Whoa… I forgot… Today is basketball practice…" He groaned. "Redstone, can't you give me a break? I was suspended yesterday and—"

He suddenly remembered—

"Sakura! Today's our first day as a couple!" a smile played on his lips. "Will Hiiragizawa be surprised if he discovered? Well, he'll find out sooner or later anyway… I couldn't have hoped for a better day…"

Day 1

"Maybe Sakura doesn't like the idea of being us at all," Tomoyo told Eriol sadly. They were sitting on the bench near the school entrance gates. "She skipped the whole morning classes last Monday."

"Even Syaoran acted the same way as Sakura did," said Eriol. "But he only cut one subject in the morning last Wednesday. He started acting stubborn when I told him about us—" He stared.

"What is it?" Tomoyo asked him softly. When Eriol pointed, Tomoyo was dumbfounded. Flabbergasted. No words can say what they had just seen.

Syaoran was holding Sakura's hand. They were both talking animatedly to each other as they both entered the school gates.

"They're an immediate issue to the students…" Tomoyo and Eriol looked at the students who were following the new couple with giggled whispers.

"Syaoran-kun was suspended yesterday, right?" Tomoyo asked Eriol who continued to stare at the students. Eriol nodded thoughtlessly.

"Hi!" a young sophomore lad waved at Eriol. "You're the famous Mr. Hiiragizawa, right? And this is the lovely choir member Ms. Daidouji." He beamed. Tomoyo smiled back at him. Eriol jumped on his seat upon hearing the boy's gestures. "My name's Keiichi Shinto, by the way. I'm the photographer for the school paper GIANT STONE. My companion here is Hikari Fujiyoka, a freshie. She's the entertainment news writer."

The freshman smiled at the two. "We're just wondering if… When will you both have the free time to be interviewed… by us," she gulped nervously. "But if…" she looked down.

"Maybe later lunch would do," Tomoyo spoke up. Trouble was brewing as she looked at Eriol since he was so quiet. "We're really sorry for the inconvenience…" She smiled sympathetically at them. The two just shrugged.

"Arigatou gozaimasu, Ms. Daidouji," they said in unison and then they stalked off. When they had gone, Tomoyo let out a deep breath.

"What's the matter?" she comforted Eriol who glided a hand through his messy blue hair.

"I'll be talking to Sakura at class later… You do the same with Li, okay?" he said calmly. He tried not to be angry. 'Everything's going to be just fine… I hope…' he whispered to himself.

Meanwhile, Syaoran and Sakura were sitting on the bleachers at the covered stage, waiting for the school bell to ring.

"Did you saw their expressions?" Syaoran grinned at Sakura. "I told you, this is—"

"Going to work?" Sakura finished for him. Her smile faded all of a sudden. "Look, are we going to do this just to make them jealous and—"

"Of course not," he interrupted. "This is just the beginning, ok? The hot things will begin soon…"

Sakura finally managed to wear a smile. "But… What do you mean by 'hot', Li-kun?"

Syaoran laughed. "Kinomoto-san, relax. Don't take that word seriously… What I meant is the real thing."

Sakura sighed, and then asked him, "What if Eriol asks me a question about us? Will I tell him the truth?"

"Hai," Syaoran replied. "It wouldn't hurt anyway, I guess."

"And…" Sakura put her forefinger on her chin. "I think we shouldn't be too hard on Eriol-kun and Tomoyo-chan… just take it easy as we explain things to them. Let's look on the bright side of life, perhaps… Since the four of us are still friends, and I don't feel like engaging to a fight with them today."

"That's the first time I ever heard you say such thing, Kinomoto," Syaoran sniggered.

At that exact moment, Keiichi Shinto came along with his faithful camera and co-staffer in the school paper, the freshman Hikari Fujiyoka.

"Not the school paper…" Sakura groaned. "Li-kun, I'll break up with you this very moment if they're going to ask us for a stupid interview!"

"Not that fast, Kinomoto," whispered Syaoran. "And… You said 'break up'?" he sneered. "We're not yet an official couple. And a couple couldn't easily break up just like that in one day." He leaned closer to Sakura's face. The emerald eyed beauty blushed.

"Don't make me lose my virginity as a tomboy, you schmuck," Sakura retorted, smacking Syaoran's head. 'How could you be so sarcastic? I never knew that during those times when we were still the best of friends…' she thought.

"Here are the paparazzi," Syaoran said heavily. "At least they're only two… A geeky photographer from the sophomores and a bouncing bunny from the freshmen…"

"Ohayo gozaimasu, Mr. Li and Ms. Kinomoto," greeted Hikari Fujiyoka. Keiichi bowed. Syaoran and Sakura felt uneasy at the gesture, but they're still fine all the same. "If you wouldn't mind, could we please…? Uhmm…"

"An interview—it's okay," Syaoran said hastily. "If it's going to be a fast interview, that is… Or maybe lunchtime would do if it's going to take long?"

"Gomen nasai, Mr. Li," Keiichi said uneasily but sympathetically, "but Mr. Hiiragizawa and Ms. Daidouji have already booked for lunchtime…"

"What in the world—" Syaoran cut his sentence short. He didn't want to be a bad example for these two since he was about to mutter curses. "You mean you're going to interview them too? Why? What for?" he asked.

"The school happened to know they're an official couple already," explained Hikari. Syaoran and Sakura looked a bit hurt at the thought. "And the whole school wants to know everything. And suppose—you, too, are already an official couple? We asked some students a while ago if they knew anything about you two—"

"Don't worry, Mr. Li," Keiichi butted in immediately in case tension arises, "We're going to respect your privacy if you don't want us butting in your business, sir."

"Why are people so fussy about Hiiragizawa and me?" Syaoran yawned. "Can't they let us have some quiet life for sometime? And maybe we can postpone the interview this morning—make it tomorrow. Yes, I know that's Saturday. I have another basketball practice tomorrow, that's why. And I know that the school paper staff gets to stay in school during Saturdays."

"And, don't tell Eriol and Tomoyo about this, okay?" Sakura engaged Hikari into a conversation. "Just a secret between the four of us—tell us what happens in your interview with them tomorrow, if that would be alright. Got it? By the way, I'm going tomorrow, too, to see the practice." She grinned.

"Yup," smiled Hikari. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Ms. Kinomoto, Mr. Li," she and Keiichi went away without another word, but they just sighed with defeat.

"Get ready for tomorrow, Kinomoto-san," Syaoran held Sakura's shoulders and looked straight into her emerald orbs. He looked serious. "Each of the GIANT STONE staff, each of them, asks with a sharp tongue. They listen with bunny ears. They take down notes as if they're just writing rubbish. They look at you with hawk-like eyes…"

"STOP IT!" Sakura's eyes bulged by the way Syaoran acted. "Hearing it already—"

They heard the flash of a camera.

"Makes me sick," Sakura bowed down her head, eyes still wide. Syaoran then let go of her shoulders.

"Sorry," Syaoran went pink. "I shouldn't have done that…" They looked away from each other. They heard another flash of a camera. Sakura got irritated. She looked to the direction where the flash came from. So she got down from the bleachers and approached the frightened senior. Syaoran tried stopping her.

"Kinomoto-san, don't you dare do it right now!" Syaoran hissed. But Sakura felt so annoyed she can't control herself. Thank goodness people weren't looking at them.

"Who the hell are you to take pictures of us?" Sakura demanded, putting a sharp finger on the girl's head. "And who're you, anyway? I know you're from the seniors." The girl, Tamara Shinto, shivered. Sakura was a bit taller than she was. "I don't care if you're older than I do. When it comes to fighting—"

She was about to box her with a strong and ready fist when someone yelled.

"Stop it, in the name of love!" It was another senior. Sakura halted. She can't believe what she had just heard. "That's… my girlfriend… She wasn't actually taking pictures of you—"

"I don't accept whimsy excuses, sir, sorry," Sakura put down her fist. "My adoptive mother is a lawyer and she's got a knack for smelling lies. Same goes here." She said sharply.

Syaoran gulped, and so did the two seniors.

Sakura continued, "I know she was taking pictures of Li-kun and me. Two flashes proved it. But I'm going to cancel my score..." She sighed, "If she's going to tell me why she had been taking pictures of the two of us. That's as simple as breaking a twig in two."

"Well…" Tamara played with her fingers, touching her camera. "It's because… These pictures are for the school paper…"

"You're not a member of the school paper," Sakura said shrewdly. She looked at Tamara head to toe and figured out that she has a similarity to the appearance of Keiichi Shinto, the GIANT STONE photographer. "But I know that that Keiichi Shinto lad is your younger brother, ne? Your name's Tamara Yanero Shinto and your mother is English, while your father is Japanese."

The lass nodded, a bit bothered by the fact that Sakura actually knows a bit of her family background. "He asked me to take pictures of you since he'll be taking pictures of Hiiragizawa and Daidouji… I'm terribly sorry for what I did, Kinomoto." She bowed down her head.

Sakura considered. "All right, I forgive you, miss. But if you're going to do that next time, ask permission first. But I couldn't blame you… The school paper staff is nosy and they've to do their tasks."

Tamara wore a small smile. "Aren't you… Aren't you going to crash the camera or something?" the senior lass offered her camera. Sakura shook her head.

"No, of course not," she smiled. "I'm not that brutal, and I think I've caused much trouble today, and I don't feel like landing in Yano's office in such a lovely morning. It will be my fourth time this month in that cabbage-smelling office…" She laughed. The two seniors joined in, and even Syaoran, who was nervous a while ago, managed to laugh.

"Sorry again, and… thanks very much," smiled Tamara. "You're one cool chip, Kinomoto."

The lad smiled too. "I guess we better get going, the rooster bell will be ringing any minute now. Oh, and… Would you mind it if I tell you… Well, good luck in your relationship!" She and the senior lad stalked off.

Sakura's mouth hanged open.

"Sure…" Syaoran yelled after. "Thanks!" Then he turned back to Sakura.

"What a morning it has been!" he told her. "This was the first time I see you not engage in one of those big fights…" He grinned. "Maybe it's because of me! You were inspired to be your best—"

"Shut up, you klutz," Sakura hit Syaoran's head playfully.

"That hurts!" Syaoran moaned. "And stop calling me names and stuff like that… You know… Klutz, a schmuck, a glitch, and then even skunk! And—"

"Well then, better not mess with me!" Sakura pouted cutely.

RRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!

"See you recess time," Syaoran winked. "Take care, okay? I'll wait for you outside your classroom. If I'll be the one who'll take long inside our room, please do the same for me."

"Yeah… you too, take care of yourself," Sakura seemed very happy for the first time this week. "Participate in class well!" She whispered. Unfortunately, Syaoran heard.

"I heard that!" he laughed.

It is presently Trigonometry class in Room 3-A. Usually, Sakura is bored during this class. Whenever there's a seatwork, she pretends to dawdle over her work so she wouldn't be called for recitations. But this morning, her world turned upside down.

"Okay, who wants to solve this problem? Don't tell me it's Mr. Hiiragizawa again? Anyone else other than him—Ms. Kinomoto!" Ms. Hitsu was surprised. Sakura raised her hand, volunteering. The sleeping class jolted back to their senses and smiled knowingly. "All right, dear, come here in front and answer it if you've understood the lesson very well…"

Sakura even explained her answer with confidence with an eloquent and clear voice. Eriol observed her actions and expressions carefully.

'She's a completely changed person today,' he thought, amused and surprised at the same time. 'I think Li has something to do with this…' he sighed. 'I'll try talking to Sakura…'

When Sakura got back to her seat, Ms. Hitsu gave them a seatwork to work on while she's out for a few minutes. Sakura felt refreshed while answering the seatwork with enthusiasm and ease. She and Eriol even finished at the same time. Sakura, who was sitting near the window, just gazed outside and looked at the children playing for their Physical Education subject.

Just then, she felt someone tugged her sleeve. She turned around.

"Sakura-chan, can we talk?" Eriol whispered, as not to disturb their other classmates. This didn't surprise Sakura, for she was expecting.

"Eriol-kun," she pursed her lips for a moment and smiled beamingly. "What is it?"

"You've changed," Eriol looked at her with those mesmerizing eyes she fell in love with. He tried to keep on softening his voice as much as possible. He thought Sakura was mad at him. "Does Li have something to do with this? Tomoyo and I noticed a while ago…"

But she didn't fell for it this time. "That was straightforward," she said, coolly. "But I think a simple talk would do nicely. And please go straight to the point. So, what is it?" She asked for the second time.

Eriol didn't want to be straightforward this time as Sakura had complimented, but since she mentioned that he better go straight to the point, he did. "Sakura-chan, is Li now your boyfriend? And aren't you angry at me or something?"

Sakura then remembered what Syaoran had told her a while ago about this thing.

"To tell you the truth," she paused for a while. "Uhmm… We had a… Oh, would it be alright if I pass you a note instead? Others might hear it… No matter how much I try my best in keeping my voice down… It's a really private matter, for my part." So she tore a paper from her notebook in Trigonometry and scribbled.

Eriol waited for at least 3 minutes. When Sakura gave him the note, Ms. Hitsu came back. While Ms. Hitsu kept on discussing about their seatwork, Eriol was reading the note Sakura handed him. On the other hand, Sakura was volunteering to answer the questions on the seatwork.

"As I was saying… Isn't it that it was Li's first and last day of suspension yesterday? And it was also my last day of suspension yesterday too since I was suspended for 3 days straight. Wait, I'm nearing the point!

"Syaoran paid a visit to my house yesterday and explained to me why he got suspended. And we both soon realized that we're both confused about what love really means. Come to think of it—I obviously don't know what true love really means because hatred is what covers my heart. It's just hatred and nothing but hatred. I even laughed my head off when Syaoran told me that he doesn't know about such thing as true love (between a couple and stuff like that). I mean a heartthrob like him?"

It seemed to Eriol that Sakura kept on emphasizing about the word 'hatred' since she even underlined the three mentioned. He continued reading.

"And so we decided to… become a couple for a 100-day deal. We believe that in that way, we'll understand what true love means. I know that sounds absurd, confusing, and stupid, but we guess it's the only way. And that's it."

"By the way, don't worry—Li and I aren't angry with you… Just a simple 'heartbreak'! We decided not to get angry with you even though I was, at first."

Thinking of what to reply, Eriol fumbled for his small notebook and tore a page. He got his pen ready, still thinking.

That was absurd.

And so he started writing, at the same time kept on looking at and pretending to listen to Ms. Hitsu in case she gets suspicious.

He passed the note to Sakura, who was listening to every word Ms. Hitsu says.

Sakura read with a playful smile on her lips:

"To tell you the truth, I think that was kind of weird. But what motivated you both to decide on such thing? Being a pretend couple might complicate things… I don't mean to offend you, really. And what was the reason why you and Li both got suspended? Does my relationship with Tomoyo have anything to do with this? Please tell me the truth. It seemed to me that you and Li are avoiding us."

Sakura shot another attentive glance at Ms. Hitsu, and then started scribbling something beneath Eriol's reply. Eriol tapped his fingers on his table, waiting for her reply.

"Why don't join Li-kun and I for recess? We're going to tell you everything at the fields. There's a long explanation to go." Eriol looked at Sakura, who was looking at him with bright eyes. He nodded.

"Goodbye, class, I'll see you next Monday," Ms. Hitsu faced the whole class, whose eyes were all squinting back at her. "And don't forget—we have a quiz! So study well!"

The class groaned as Ms. Hitsu walked out of the classroom for her next class.

"Not again!"

"Trigo quizzes suck, man!"

"This subject is not Trigonometry, it's Trigo-no-peace! Got it?"

Meanwhile, class in 3-B was too quiet that morning.

And why is that?

"Didn't you know that that was an insult? I'm so ashamed of you all! Do you want me to give you a grade of 65 in your conduct grades? Or perhaps an E would do you good?"

Yup, people… Sermons. Nothing can beat sermons especially when it's first thing in the morning.

Tomoyo kept looking at Syaoran who was sitting beside her. He was thinking and smiling to himself.

"Syaoran-kun?" she hissed. "Can we talk… About you and Sakura-chan?" Good thing the sermons were loud or else her voice could've been heard.

Syaoran sniggered to himself. He quickly passed a note to Tomoyo, who read it with a puzzled look on her face.

"Join Kinomoto and me for recess, ne?"

Tomoyo looked again at Syaoran. His eyes were fixed on their adviser.

"As if he ever listened to that old fraud standing in front of us…" she chuckled to herself.

When the bell rang for morning break, Sakura rushed to Syaoran's classroom when—

"OMP!" Sakura almost yelled. She looked up to see who she's bumped into.

"Li?"

"Kinomoto?"

"Hey! I was about to visit your room when you entered the scene!"

"Same goes here!"

"GRR!" They looked sharply at each other.

"Hey… I thought you're a couple?" Eriol sneered, showing the smile of a Cheshire cat. "And, no couple argues immediately on their first day." He winked.

"C'mon, let's go down now," Tomoyo pulled Sakura while Eriol pulled Syaoran.

No sooner had they all sat down on the soft grass of the fields. The fresh wind blew on their faces. Even the sun seems to agree with this get-together sort as it gives off its warm rays.

Nobody spoke.

"I think Syaoran should start," Eriol spoke up.

Syaoran looked slightly perturbed. "Why me?" he whined.

"It's because you're the one who put this up," Sakura said, crossing her arms.

"Well—"

"No buts or excuses," Tomoyo whacked Syaoran's back. "Explain."

Syaoran let out a heavy sigh. He can feel the three looking at him intently.

"I guess it's up to me now, then… as of the time being…"

He hesitated at first, but as soon as he started, he was spontaneous. He began with the reason why he and Sakura got suspended. Sakura, forgetting her argument with him a while ago, supported his story with enthusiasm. They ended the story with their 100-day deal plan.

And after that, they found their selves chortling.

"That was hilarious!" Eriol clutched his stomach.

Sakura looked at Eriol and Tomoyo tentatively. "You're not even angry about what happened? I mean—"

"Why should we be?" Tomoyo was also clutching her stomach. "We understood how you felt about us anyway… But you should've told us rather than you go sulking around like that!" she smiled. "And we're still friends right?" Then she and Sakura did a high five.

"I agree with her," Eriol smiled, sighing.

Sakura smiled. She can't believe how lucky she was to have friends like them. For a fleeting second, she had this mad urge to tell them about her past, but she thought that she doesn't want to do and take things in a rush.

"I better enjoy myself first by now," she muttered thoughtlessly. She had no idea that the other three had been watching her all this time.

"Eh?" she jumped. Tomoyo laughed, yet again.

"What do you mean by that?" she sneered. "Of course you do have to enjoy yourself… Now that Syaoran-kun is by your side! And I think you'd both make a great couple in the end! I bet that you'll fall in love with each other in no more than a week…"

Syaoran and Sakura shot weird looks at each other.

"I can never fall for a heartthrob but a jerk like him," Sakura yawned, looking away.

Syaoran raised an eyebrow and looked away too. "Well, lesbians aren't my type anyway, but I guess I'll have to put up with you for four months time, probably. And being with you—ow, c'mon, you're my best friend! It takes ages to fall for your girlfriend or boyfriend (female and male friends)… And I guess I won't have any problems to worry about with you."

But do they know what they had just said?

Probably… not.

TBC

AUTHOR'S NOTES with darkshadow36:

I know the first day only covered the whole morning session. Well of course the continuation will be posted on the next chap, so keep your selves updated! I was actually supposed to have at least three updates every month, but once our next school year sets in, I'll be busy with schoolwork, so don't be surprised if this fic will be finished when it's already year 2008, I don't know.

Anyway, I've just finished reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Actually, I've already read that many times a few years back… But I'm just rereading the 4th and 5th Harry Potter books because I'm preparing myself for the 6th upcoming Harry Potter book entitled Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. It is to be released in July 16, 2005, and I can't wait to read it!

And don't forget to drop by reviews. I will gladly appreciate constructive criticisms too if you've got any, as long as you don't mind the smallest details that much… If you know what I mean! I'm not trying to sound boastful or something, okay? AND, if you want me to send you updates about this fic, just mention your e-mail ad in your review, or if you're an writer, you can put me in your author alert watch list. But if you don't want, it's okay, just keep you selves updated!

Thanks again and may you all be inspired to do your best in all the things you do, 'coz you can never turn back time. It's hard to regret your mistakes in the past... just a small piece of a helpful advice from me.