AUTHOR'S NOTES with darkshadow36:

Another update, from yours truly! The world is really getting quite dizzy now, eh? Sometimes the key to things shall remain a mystery… You'll understand as we go on. By reading this chap, you may uncover things, and suggestions can be welcome also, but as of now… Gack, just read, k?

: MAIN CHARACTERS:

Li Syaoran – clueless of what's behind him
Sakura Kinomoto – darkened over her dark past
Tomoyo Daidouji – optimistic and willing to help
Eriol Hiiragizawa – has his hidden talents

: SUMMARY FOR CHAPTER 8: Is movie date gonna do it? On the other hand, Madam is now thinking of a plot on how to capture Sakura Kinomoto and make sure she's dead meat… Watch out, some secrets and a bit of the past will be revealed! And, what's happening to Eriol and Tomoyo's relationship… And it looks like their relationship's being challenged…

(UPDATED: December 31, 2005) Chapter 8: Waiting for Time

-0-

'Some ickle brat got me to kiss him (MY FIRST KISS!)… Oh, how I hate Li! And to think I gave in. I guess he was right—he's not the only one who thinks stupid.' Sakura wrote in her calendar for the 6th day. She found herself quite confused with her feelings… She started racking her brains like mad.

'I can hardly believe what a prat I actually am—I kissed Kinomoto because of a little girl named Yuma… And she's smart for her age! I mean, that's kinda creepy, ne?' Syaoran wrote shortly on his calendar.

Day 6

"Our plan yesterday worked somehow, Madam," said a man with amber eyes. His voice was quite deep. The dimly lit room made him shudder a little. "We're sorry, but after all, you only told us to make it a threat…"

"Somehow? Nervous, aren't you, Wally?" the woman called 'Madam' said quite icily. Her voice was crisp and cold. "Don't worry, once I get hold of the girl's fortune, once the girl's dead, you and Frank, and especially Yukon and Sherri of course, shall get what you deserve."

"Thank you, Madam," Wally bowed so low his head, which was bald touched the floor. "And by the way, that girl looked scared when she looked into my eyes. Maybe she exactly thought of our plan of deceiving her it may be Syaoran."

Madam's hawk-like yellow eyes flickered. She gave an evil laugh.

"Ooh, I can hardly wait to get my hands on her fortune. And what's more? She doesn't know I can use Syaoran on her since we kind of have a special relationship… She doesn't know what I can do with that best friend of hers either."

"But Madam, when we last confronted with the Kinomoto girl, she was so tough," Frank said quite feebly.

"Frank Harper, don't be a chicken," Madam laughed. "I'm sure she has a weakness, and that shall be your mission for now. Find out what her weakness is."

Wally sighed. "I don't think there's no need for that, Madam. I think her weakness is about the death of her family."

"Our problem is Syaoran, he's very close to her," said Frank.

Madam's eyes glinted. "Syaoran is the least of my problems. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if we borrow his best friend for a while; and then soon, when we'll hand Sakura to him, the girl will be as dead as her dear father, the man I have planted grudge against with."

-0-

"THE HAUNTED HALLOWEEN, showing today at theaters near you, this is what the flier says," said Sakura as she and her friends looked at the fliers on the walls along their way home. "Its next showing this afternoon is at… eh? Four o'clock… About twenty minutes more in my wristwatch! I think I'm in the mood to watch a horror movie today. How about you guys?"

The three looked at each other. "Well, we haven't got much homework to do today anyway, so I suppose we should all go and check this out—" Syaoran shrugged.

"Maybe it'll be much better if Tomoyo and I won't join both of you—" Eriol started when Sakura scowled at him.

"No, I want you to join us," she said flatly. "And about yesterday, I've been thinking of it all night. Both of you left on purpose didn't cha? You knew what Yuma was like around two people of the opposite sex together! There's no use hiding, I now know. I asked your butler this morning. Oh, and don't get angry with your butler. I forced him."

But Tomoyo didn't looked angry or anything. She was smiling. "I'm not angry," she said. "I was just surprised you were able to discover it. Anyway… All right, Eriol and I will join you. Now that's something in return! Satisfied?" her voice was filled with amused sarcasm.

"Of course," Sakura nodded. "Well… Is this supposed to be a Dutch treat?"

"Definitely," Syaoran said. "I haven't got enough money to treat all of you."

"Same here," Eriol spoke up.

So that afternoon, the four walked going to the Silverwing Mall, just a few walking distances from the school of Redstone. Later at the movie house…

"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Sakura laughed, clutching her stomach.

"I'm wondering if we actually went to the right movie house for The Haunted Halloween movie," Tomoyo continued to watch the giant screen while grinning at the same time. "This seems like a funny movie instead of a horror one."

"Maybe the movie staff tricked us into thinking this is a horror movie since they know lots of people today love watching scary kind of movies, so that their movie will earn much money and stuff like that," Eriol suggested.

This time Sakura was looking at the giant screen with wide eyes. She looked quite scared now.

"And to think she told us that she was in the mood to watch something scary," Tomoyo said while looking at Sakura. Eriol chuckled quietly.

"What's up?" his girlfriend asked her.

"Nothing, Tomoyo-chan," he continued to put up his Cheshire cat smile. Tomoyo shrugged and just continued watching.

Eriol wasn't watching though. He can't help but smile. Just the same ol' pretty boy smile. He somehow wanted to laugh, but he knew he just couldn't.

He kept on glancing around Syaoran and Sakura if they're both scared to death already.

It's because, if they ARE scared now, they'll be holding on to each other and… and…

"RAARRRRRRR!"

"Aah!" Sakura almost screamed out too loud, together with the other people inside the movie house.

This time, amidst all the shouting and yelling audience, Eriol finally managed to laugh as loud as he can, after all, people won't hear him. He finally saw it—Sakura holding on to Syaoran tightly in fear.

But he felt someone holding on to him, too. It was Tomoyo.

"Didn't you see that, Eriol-kun?" she said, catching her breath. Eriol went bright pink. He found himself caressing her hair. He never realized the pleasure of having to touch that long, silky smooth hair…

"Wow…" He said thoughtlessly, still looking at Syaoran and Sakura's moment. He grinned.

"Uh… Eriol-kun?"

Eriol readily answered without waiting for the question, "I'm looking at our hate-lovebirds." Tomoyo looked and laughed softly, for the people were finished shouting.

"Hmm… A scoop waiting to happen at school, students will watch out for that," she whispered. "Don't tell them about that, okay, Eriol-kun?"

"All right then, I'll keep that in mind," a manly voice she didn't recognized whispered softly in her ear. The voice seemed quite calm, but it was sort of seductive.

Tomoyo gulped quite nervously. She can feel her hands sweat. "Who… W-Who…"

"A fellow schoolmate, that's all… Daidouji," the guy answered back. "See you at school, then."

"Wait…" Tomoyo turned around immediately, but he was gone.

That was creepier than what had just happened in the movie.

"Kinomoto, would you stop holding my sleeve?" Syaoran, who was blushing madly, said gently as not to offend Sakura, but she was still holding on to it.

"Li…" she shivered a bit. "The monster…"

Syaoran shook his head. "Uh, it's quite okay now, the girl was able to escape from the monster's clutches…"

"But… I'm still scared…"

"Be brave, all right? I'm telling you, holding on to my sleeve that tight won't help you solve your problem or whatsoever. Try to overcome your fear, Kinomoto. Nothing will happen if you'll just hide—"

Sakura finally let go. But she still felt Syaoran's warmth…

'How I wish this moment could last forever…' Sakura thought, but all of a sudden she was shaking her head furiously.

"Yes, I do believe it could…" Sakura heard the girl in the movie said.

-0-

Madam walked around the room, thinking of a better plan to get hold of Sakura Kinomoto.

"She may be smart," she kept on walking, her left hand cupping her chin thoughtfully, "but I shall prove to her that we adults are smarter than kids. We shall prove it. Our experiences could help us, ne?" Wally and Frank simply looked at her.

"To tell you frankly, Madam," Wally looked as if he would smirk, "I absolutely think that's sort-of childish. You know, playing that kind of game with teens. I believe that youth today aren't like what we used to be before…"

Madam was silent. She looked out the window and watched street children play with smiles on their faces. Even if they lived on the squatters' area just on the other side of Blackwind Street, she could see that their status in life wasn't much of a hindrance for them.

"Uhh… Madam?" Frank inquired.

Madam said absolutely nothing. When Wally mentioned about what they were like before, she remembered him, the man she loved but turned her down…

-FLASHBACK-

They were 15 during that time, in 3rd year high school.

"Hi, Trudee," an exceptionally handsome young lad waved over at the other table. "Want to sit with us? You're alone back there."

"I-I'm okay," said the girl, who blushed. "Never mind, I'm about to finish my lunch anyway, but thanks for worrying, Kinomoto."

Then she heard his friends babbling about her like mad.

"Don't ask that girl, okay, Fujitaka? She's not that pretty at all and she's just a riffraff—"

"Don't you dare call her that, Elwin," snapped Fujitaka. "She's very nice, and her status in life and her physique doesn't matter to me."

Fujitaka Kinomoto was the school's heartthrob. Probably the 'perfect' lad in school—with that neatly combed hair, with his captivating and warm eyes, his friendly terms towards others, his good grades and having an athletic lifestyle, girls drool over him. And, he's a rich kid.

One day, while Fujitaka was resting under a cherry blossom tree without his friends, she was about to approach him when fear overtook her.

'How can I tell him that I liked him ever since we became good friends at the start of school year?' she thought earnestly.

"Hey, it's you, Trudee," Fujitaka smiled as soon as he saw her. "Come here and sit with me. The wind is perfectly calm and cool especially here at the grounds. I'm glad most students don't pass by here, so that means I can have a time alone with myself without much noise."

She sat down and avoided meeting his eyes. "You love silence too, just like me." She thought of something quite sensible to say, but these words came out from her mouth, "Uhh, thanks a lot for everything, you know."

"What are you thanking me for?" Fujitaka grinned. When she didn't reply, he just said, "I'm the approachable type of person anyway, so it's okay, that's nothing. I should be the one thanking you, especially right now since you're here."

She suddenly felt tense. His words seemed to make her feel uncomfortable. "What do you m-mean?" she spluttered.

"I just needed someone to talk to about my feelings right now, that's all. But I don't want to tell my friends about it, I just don't know why."

Gertrude gulped a little. "I suppose you can tell me about it, but wait, you know, I think I'm glad too that I have someone to talk to also about my feelings…"

Fujitaka looked at her with a gleeful smile. "Really? You're feeling something for someone also?"

"Y… Yeah, I am. If you don't mind me asking, who's the lucky girl--?"

He laughed. "All right, but please promise me you won't tell the girl or anyone else, k?"

"I promise," she gulped quite nervously. 'What if that girl is me?' she thought.

"The person I like… It's our classmate, Nadeshiko Amamiya. How about you?"

Nadeshiko Amamiya? That pretty girl who's so nice to everybody? That simple girl who doesn't like crowds much? That humble girl who never even thought of becoming popular with guys, though she is? That girl who…

"So, I said it," Fujitaka was blushing. She's never seen him blush before because of a girl he likes. "Who do you like then?"

"I… I like…" she felt her world turn upside down. She stood up quickly and ran away.

'I thought he likes me… But why is that? Why? Why? I just can't take it…'

"Wait, Gertrude!" Fujitaka ran after her.

"Did I say anything wrong?" he asked himself.

-END FLASHBACK-

"What are you thinking about, Madam?" asked Wally. "Frank and I are waiting for our next move through your orders."

"Wally, are you stupid?" Frank snapped, hitting Wally the baldhead. Wally moaned. "Madam has just told us that we are to find out for ourselves the girl's weakness."

Wally felt stupid, but as not to look real stupid in front of Frank, he whispered, "I know that, Frank… I just… Want to break the ice."

No, I shall not let my feelings take over now. I need my revenge. She thought.

-0-

"I must say, it was fantastic," Sakura looked very happy when the four of them stepped out of the movie house.

"And to think you were the one who kept screaming all the time…" Syaoran sniggered. Sakura scowled at him.

Tomoyo cleared her throat loudly. "Stop bickering, will you? And wait… You still have to follow the rules, right?" she said with those innocent eyes. "So… I suggest you walk Sakura home, Syaoran-kun…"

"Oh, that won't be a bother, I'd even be glad to," Syaoran said as though he doesn't really mind at all.

"Oh really?" Eriol sneered. "What if I add this? Walk her home… Hand in hand. Got it, dude?"

Syaoran's head spun around and looked at Sakura who just looked at the road. C'mon, Sakura, at least you say something and contradict as usual… He thought desperately. But there's definitely no turning back now.

"That's settled then," Tomoyo smiled. "And we're now in… Well, almost here at Bluebell Street—oh, here we are now! And you shall now hold hands…" She turned to Syaoran and Sakura who were both avoiding each other's gazes. "Do it! Eriol and I are just… We're right behind you, guiding your every step."

Syaoran didn't look as he slowly searched for Sakura's hand beside him. He can feel his sweat dripping under the hot sun. And when he was able to feel her hand, he gulped.

As for Sakura, when she felt Syaoran's hand in hers, she can feel goose pimples all over her.

"They're feeling queasy, I think…" Eriol observed them.

Tomoyo chuckled. "Nah, I think they're cozy."

"What if…" Eriol quickly held Tomoyo's hand and they, too, walked holding hands. Tomoyo looked quietly at Eriol, who was looking away. Their faces were pink.

-0-

Just then the door opened.

"Hey, it's ickle master Syaoran," Wally smirked as Syaoran entered with a smile.

"Now this is a surprise—you're smiling. How come?" Frank asked anxiously. Syaoran leaned against a wall and said nothing, continuing to smile. Then—

"Gertrude?" he said, "You've been staring at me for quite a while… What's up?"

"Nothing you should know," Wally mumbled. Frank laughed. Syaoran suddenly felt suspicious. He raised an eyebrow.

'Watch out for Gertrude for me, k?' Nakuru reminded him again the last time they met.

When Gertrude sensed that something seems to bother Syaoran about it, she quickly cleared her throat and said aloud, "Be quiet, you two. Don't spoil our little boy's happiness."

-0-

Syaoran went to his little quaint room. It was all his adoptive mother could ever provide him. But he didn't mind. He has accepted already long ago that his adoptive parents were poor.

When Syaoran was six years old, he lost his real family, and he didn't know why. They live a normal life. That time, Sakura was already his best friend. He found it hard to cry for the death of his family because of Sakura. She taught him how to be brave. It was her. She brought him to a new light. These sufferings will soon be over.

'If your parents were alive, they would tell you the same thing,' she kept on telling him. 'I'm sure they want you to go on with life, so be brave. Crying will get you nowhere.'

She was such a smart kid back then, until now.

Syaoran had to live in an orphanage for a year after the death of his parents and sisters. News about their burial didn't reach him. Only Sakura went to console him, so she visited him almost everyday, until that time came when he saw on TV the news about the death of Sakura's family. He watched the news alone. He already expected Sakura wouldn't pay him a visit that day. Bored, he turned on the TV and Kimitaka Yu's face appeared on the screen.

"Mr. And Mrs. Kinomoto, the richest people in town, have just died at exactly 11 this morning," he was saying. "It was also reported that their eldest son Touya was nowhere to be found, and people say that his body must have been burned along with the enormous fire. As for their youngest, Sakura, she was found to be by the beach this morning…" Syaoran found himself relieved.

"At least my best friend's safe… But her family…" he mumbled. He sighed sadly. Just then—

"Here's Ji An Shinohara with an interview with little Sakura—"

"This man doesn't report that well," Syaoran shook his head. "Saying little to a kid who belongs to a respected family seems like an understatement…" But he still watched and saw Sakura on TV.

"How do you feel—?" Ji An Shinohara wasn't able to finish her sentence when Sakura interrupted her.

"How do I feel?" Sakura said, her face red and her eyes brimming with tears, "isn't it obvious, you wretched woman?" The reporter went bright red, embarrassed. "You see my family's dead, the whole lot of 'em, and you ask about how I feel for them now that they're dead? Why, how would you feel if you were in my place—"

She can't take it anymore. She ran wherever her feet may take her.

Syaoran wasn't surprised. This woman doesn't report very well either, he thought. Then he approached a nun who just came in to watch the TV with him.

"Uh, Sister Jin, mind if I go out for a while?" he asked, taking his chances. Sister Jin was the most approachable nun in the orphanage, for she is there all the time for the children.

Sister Jin looked at him intently with her clear blue green eyes. "What for, Syaoran, dear?"

"Well… That young girl on TV is my best friend… And I just wanna see how she's doing," Syaoran replied quite nervously.

The nun sighed. "Wow, Sakura is surely lucky to have such a caring friend like you, but…"

Syaoran expected that last word.

"I have been given strict orders not to let any of you children out," she said sadly. "And besides, you don't know where your friend could've gone to."

Syaoran exhaled deeply. "Yeah, that's true," he tried to fight for his desire, "but maybe I know where to find her—"

"No," the nun said firmly and gently. "I'm really sorry about it, and your friend too. I would so much like to help you—"

"In that case, you can go with me!" Syaoran said desperately, "Please, Sister Jin…"

"No," the nun repeated. "And that's final."

"But—"

But the nun shook her head and then she looked at the boy sympathetically. Feeling sorry for him, she went outside.

"Stupid reporters," Syaoran turned off the TV, quite pissed off.

-0-

That night Sakura wrote for her Day 6…

'GRR… Tomoyo! When we got out of the movie house, she was able to convince Li to walk me home. And to add it all up, Eriol butted in and made us walk hand-in-hand… And they… Oh, I GIVE UP. I wish I could but I already promised to keep on with it…' Then she drew a big SAD face (like that of smiley face). But when she thought of their holding hands again, she shook her head furiously.

"GEEZ!" she yelled, her voice echoing across her room.

Syaoran, meanwhile wrote very fast…

'I wondered why I was smiling when I got home. Maybe it's because of Kinomoto when I walked her home—we were holding hands… I couldn't help it, I actually… blushed.'

And he went crimson as he repeated what he wrote twice.

-0-

Day 7

Sakura and Eriol sat down on the fields during the morning break. They watched as the other students played around them.

"Everything seems to go wrong for me…" Sakura said sadly. "I just don't know why…"

"Is Syaoran part of it?" Eriol said quietly.

Sakura looked up at the sky and watched the birds fly around. "Maybe, maybe not…" She sighed. "Gee, I'm such a confusing person, aren't I?"

"No, Sakura-chan, I don't think of you that way," Eriol grinned. "Because… I also feel as though I have a knack for confusing people… Besides, we've known each other for a few years already, and we're still as close as ever."

"Yeah," Sakura smiled simply. "I'm glad we're friends, and I'm glad I can confide in you my problems…"

"Same here," Eriol said, and then he and Sakura did a high five. And then they were silent again.

"So, what's your problem anyway?" Sakura asked Eriol. "And why did you have to… err… you know… Edge away your girlfriend and stuff…"

FLASHBACK

The bell rang for morning break. "Hey, Tomoyo-chan," Eriol went to Syaoran and Tomoyo's classroom. Sakura walked along with him. "You mind if Sakura and I won't join you both for break this morning? The teacher called for us, and…" Sakura gaped at Eriol, but said nothing.

He should have a valid reason for this one, she thought to herself.

"I'm okay with it, unless Syaoran-kun isn't," Tomoyo sneered at Syaoran whose eyes went round at her. "I mean, not being with Sakura-chan…"

"Okay then… We shall meet this lunch time at the cafeteria, k?" Eriol tried not to hasten his tone.

The other two nodded, and both duos went on their ways.

END FLASHBACK

"I did that on purpose for us to… have a bonding even just once in a while," Eriol gave a smile. "Ever since it became us," he gestured to himself and did some hand signals as though he was pointing at an invisible Tomoyo, "You know—err, I think I have forgotten you… Have I?"

Sakura laughed. "Nah, of course not… After all, I was busy with Li. At least I know you still have concern for me…" Her eyebrows went up and down. "So what's your problem?" She repeated. "When you said bonding, it probably means you have a problem you want us to talk about."

The warm wind blew in. The students continued running around the fields, chasing birds…

"You're smart." And this time Eriol turned quite pale, his smile fading. "It's Tomoyo…"

Sakura gasped. "What?" she said. "But you both looked happy with each other! How come she's your problem? And being the talk of the school, you're sweet with each other and—"

"I shouldn't have been too fast about making her my girlfriend," he said. He looked it.

"But you both looked so perfect together, even many say so," Sakura put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Get straight to your problem with her, if you don't mind."

Eriol straightened his glasses, and did an afterthought. "I don't think she's ready yet about having me as her… boyfriend," his face reddens slightly whenever he mentions girlfriend-boyfriend. "She doesn't seem so serious about us, and I've been observing her actions towards me for quite a while… The fact that she seems more focused about pairing you and Syaoran together…"

"Well, I can't give you any advice, to be frank about it," Sakura felt quite stupid about saying that, but she continued, "But all I could offer now is a shoulder you can lean on and I can always be someone you can talk to about your problems and stuff. I want to ask you first… What do you really feel for Tomoyo-chan? Do you still love her?"

Eriol let out a deep breath. "Uhh… Of course I do… I love her so much you'll say it's too much…" he blushed, and then grinned. "How I wish she returns back my feelings… My real feelings… I mean, I'm really serious about her."

"I'm sure she will," Sakura reassured him. Eriol looked at her skeptically. "Someday she'll realize she loves you too that much. Who wouldn't want a guy like you? You're sincere… Everything."

"Eriol-kun, I have no doubt about it," she smiled when she saw his expression. "Definitely. So rest assured, just… Go on and live your life the way you think it should be. Only you can handle your destiny. I can't hold it for you. Often you have to learn how to depend on yourself. That sounds rash, but that's what I think, and that's how I live my life. Ever since my parents died…"

"Sakura-chan…" Eriol said. "I'm sorry I made you go to that… That topic about your parents…"

"Nah," Sakura shook her head. "It's time I bury the shadows of yesterday. And… I think it's time I tell you about what really happened to my past."

"Are you ready though?" he said hastily. She nodded, and he saw sincerity in her expressive eyes.

"Whoa," she stretched her arms and then she pouted. Eriol laughed at her.

"Haha, cute pout, I must say," he said, "Now go on. I'm giving you the floor."

-0-

At the cafeteria, students can be seen eating on their tables, chatting, laughing, and eating… But two people seemed aloof from them from a corner…

"Eriol-kun… Why does he seem so distant even when I'm with him?" Two tears fell on Tomoyo's cheeks. Syaoran patted her comfortingly on the back.

"But Eriol seems really serious about you… To be frank, maybe you are not serious about him," he told her. "I don't want to hurt you or anything, okay? It's just that…"

"I understand," Tomoyo wiped her tears with her handkerchief. "Maybe I really wasn't serious about him, I mean, it all happened so fast! How I wish I could turn back time… The first time we met, and then I don't have to fall in love with him!"

"You're confusing me, my friend," Syaoran turned his head in circles. "The first time you met, you told me you liked him. And now that you're together, which is a dream come true for you, you're turning back! You're not yet on your first month together, yet you now seem to lose hope so immediately."

Tomoyo took a bite off her sandwich. "Maybe I am not ready to have a relationship yet at all," she said sadly. "But… I'm not blinded by love… I… I actually love Eriol so much you'll say it's too much! I… I…" She put her head on Syaoran's shoulder and cried. "I don't feel so confident myself… Maybe it's because many people say bad things about me."

"They're just jealous," Syaoran assured her. "I suppose you're conscious whenever you're with Eriol, especially when girls follow him and all that stuff—"

"Syaoran-kun, how does it feel to be a heartthrob?" Tomoyo cut in. The latter cupped his chin and thought for several seconds.

"It's a pressure," he finally said. "Makes you feel conscious since people expect you to always look poised and look good… You become a celebrity item or whatsoever. However, I don't care about looking that good all the time." He grinned. "It's nice being yourself at certain times. I don't know how Eriol feels about being one, but definitely he's not the type whose pride takes over when it's about fame. How are you feeling right now? You're connected to him, and that means you're now one of those famous people in school. Girls are surely jealous and envious of you."

"I think I'm feeling better now," Tomoyo replied with a smile. "Thanks for taking the time to talk to me… It must have been horrible for your part. I'm sorry."

Syaoran shook his head. "Don't mention it. We're friends, right? And to be honest with you… I think it'd be better for you to stick with Eriol. At least he's someone I know, and we're good friends. I don't like the idea of you going out with anybody I don't know. I'm sure Kinomoto-san would have said the same thing."

"You're still calling her Kinomoto, yet you were childhood friends," Tomoyo clicked something from beside her. Syaoran tried to look.

"What was that?"

"I recorded our conversation," she held up a recording device. "I'm just going to put this in my box of memories…"

"You mean to say your crying was fake?" Syaoran's chestnut brown eyes went huge.

"Oh, don't be a prat, of course it was all true. Besides, I only did that just to do… Uh, I wanted to practice recording 'coz I need to do something."

Syaoran seemed to smell something fishy. "Does something have to do with Kinomoto and me?"

"Maybe," was all she said.

Syaoran cupped his chin again to do some thinking. 'Hmm… One of these days it'll be your and Eriol's turn to be paired up by us… I'm gonna have to talk to Kinomoto about this one."

"Hello, Daidouji. Remember me?"

-0-

"Hmm… Now that's something… What happened next?"

RRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNGGGGGGGGGG!

The faithful and punctual bell rang for next class.

"Oh well," Sakura bit her lip. "I guess we'll just have to continue this talk later… Or tomorrow?"

"I don't know, either," Eriol shrugged as they both stood up from the grass. "Come what may. C'mon, let's just get to our classroom."

"Stupid bell," Sakura kicked the rock near her as they stood up from the grass.

-0-

"Who the hell are you?" Syaoran stood up. Tomoyo did too, but it was because she heard the bell rang. But the lad in front of them continued to smile mischievously.

"I'm a fan and admirer of yours, Daidouji," he said, "One day you'll be mine. I've reached the part of your conversation about your worries with your relationship with Hiiragizawa. If you were never going to make up again, I'd advise you to… Just go with me… And I'll make you happy."

"Are you the fellow schoolmate from yesterday?" Tomoyo asked, remembering about what happened to her in the movie house. "Because if you were him, I certainly didn't like your way of stalking me or what. And eavesdropping in conversations wasn't a right thing to do at all! C'mon, Syaoran-kun, talking and trying to argue with this man is pointless."

"Who are you, anyway?" Syaoran repeated.

"I'm a senior," he replied. "Don't forget me Daidouji! Bye sweetie!" he laughed.

"Why, you—" But Syaoran felt himself being dragged by Tomoyo.

"I told you," she said, "it's pointless trying to argue with him. Whoever he is, I definitely… Aargh, let's just get to next class."

-0-

"Hey, this is where Sakura lives, together with her adoptive parents, Yukon and Sherri," a man in glasses said. He looked up at the man next to him.

"Yes," the latter smiled. "I'm glad we'll be seeing each other very soon. What do you think of moving to this house next to theirs? After all, there are no occupants, and it's being rented. We're lucky to find a house next to theirs. I would love to watch out for Sakura. But of course, plans must be straightened out first… And it looks like Gertrude is on the run."

"She's the woman Li Syaoran's living with, right?"

"Yeah, and I told Nakuru to simply warn that Li boy about her. But the time will come she'll tell him why."

TBC

AUTHOR'S NOTES with darkshadow36:

Who was that new guy? Hmm… Maybe he's a minor character only, but let's see if he'll be of use in the end. And what did Sakura exactly told Eriol? Do you think Eriol and Tomoyo will ever have the chance to make up again? If yes, how?

Now that you know Gertrude is Madam, what do you think will be her next move? Will Syaoran be able to find out what's she really planning… And from Chapter 6, what does Nakuru know about Gertrude? Who were the two people talking in the last part of this chapter? Are they enemies? Or… Sakura's only chance of getting past Gertrude?

If you want to know why I put up the main characters part in every part of the story… Well, they're updated about every 4 chapters.

But anyway, I do hope you found out a lot about this chapter. Let's see what we have for Chapter 9… There'll be lots of treating… And… Haha, I don't want to spoil. Maybe it'll be more of that sweet stuff for the next chaps to come. Oh yeah… I know this chap was boring… Haha! After all, I believe we're still on the beginning of the story.

Ja ne! Please do read and review. Thanks a lot for the support, pips! And have a HAPPY NEW YEAR AS WELL, of course.