CCSxSt Tail. Two rival gangs at Tomoeda High; Sakura's and Syaoran's. Both hate each other equally, but what happens when they have to stand side by side against another school? DM ET but especially SS
Hey all! Wheeeeee I rote this up while I was supposed to be studying for exams…don't you just love me? Lol…some interesting changes in Sakura's life in this chapter…
Have a good read !
Disclaimer: ccs is not mine.
The Ice-cream Parlour: Thankful
Touya's blood boiled at the sight of that brat leaning over his sister. He threw his icecream away and hurriedly sprinted over, pushing Syaoran uncaringly aside. Syaoran not even resisting, toppled over from lack of balance and sheer exhaustion, his muscles still not recovered to support his weight.
Touya took one look at his sister and turned to Syaoran for an explanation, hollering, "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED WHILE I WAS AWAY!" Syaoran winced at his loud voice and found it hard to talk. "Where to start…" he muttered.
When his question wasn't satisfied Touya's anger merely jumped a few levels higher and was ready to pounce on the younger boy -
"Don't," came Sakura's soft, broken voice as her chest heaved up and down, looking for the first time in her life, weak and utterly drained.
Touya's fist halted in midair.
"You wouldn't want to kill my saviour, would you?" she smiled faintly. She closed her eyes, not even needing the pleasure of seeing her big brother's face when she made that little announcement. Touya's face contorted into an expression of firstly realization, then shock, then total disbelief. "Wh-what…you mean…" Syaoran would have laughed but his stomach muscles were killing him.
"That's right, Tou-ya," Sakura said still with her eyes closed smiling. She put a hand to her forehead. "I nearly died out there…and where were you? Lucky Syaoran was here…" Syaoran fell over in surprise. She just spoke his first name nicely.
Touya shuffled his feet, her words hitting its target: guilt. He crossed his arms in defense. "Well, what were you doing out there," he countered haughtily, "you know you can't swi-"
"Shut up you," Sakura snapped, opening her eyes. "Don't baby me. You don't have the right to – after all, Syaoran pulled me out of the sea while you ran off somewhere. You did a great job of keeping me 'supervised', Tou-ya," she sang the last line and her brother growled, annoyed.
"And, after all this, you have no right to even criticize Syaoran," she continued, trying to sit up (her statement again causing Syaoran to fall over), "he obviously felt more responsibility towards me than you, so from now on, you can't hurt a hair on his head or else– "
Sakura got the wind knocked out of her when she was suddenly tackled by a speedy beige blob.
"SAKURA!" Tomoyo sobbed hysterically on her shoulder, arms around her neck so-very-tightly. "I was SO worried when I watched-"
"What do you mean…you were watching!" Syaoran croaked, finding his voice at last. If they were watching why the heck didn't they come and help!
"We saw you drag her ashore," Eriol said smoothly before Tomoyo said anything else. Inside he sighed with relief that they were both alive and breathing. He hastily swallowed an amused chuckle as he watched Sakura awkwardly pat the teary Tomoyo on the back, instead of the other way around.
"So…Syaoran, you okay?" Eriol looked at his friend on the ground.
"Huh? Yeah…just a bit…sore…all over…" Syaoran mumbled. Eriol shook his head. Syaoran would never admit something hurts. He kneeled next to Syaoran and put a hand on his shoulder. "Lay on your back while I heal you, alright? It'll be quicker if you relax…" Syaoran obeyed and instantly felt a cool soothing sensation on his shoulder emitted from Eriol's hand.
"SYAORAN!"
Syaoran groaned. Why must everyone be shouting?
Asuka ran up with Meimi not far behind him. He had felt Eriol use heal magic and instantly sprang awake to see what was the matter. Looking at Syaoran, he wondered if it was anything serious.
"What happened-"
"Yeah, that's something I want to find out-" Touya said, feeling very unimportant surrounded by the group of teenagers.
"Long story-"
"Would you care to share-" Meimi began.
"OH MY GOD DAIDOUJI-" Syaoran yelled, suddenly leaping up but flinching at the pain.
"It's Tomoyo-" Tomoyo said her voice muffled in Sakura's shoulder.
"Tomoyo, whatever…LET GO OF SAKURA SHE CAN'T BREATHE!"
Everyone turned to Sakura who was turning a nasty shade of blue. Tomoyo quickly released her death hold on Sakura and Sakura gasped for air.
"That's twice you've saved me today, Syaoran," she joked, smiling her Masquerade smile. Perhaps she had forgiven him?
"Ahh…no problem, Sakura," he grinned and laid back on the sand for Eriol to heal him. He could definitely get used this.
Tomoyo and Eriol exchanged satisfied glances.
Icecream Parlour
"So, Saku…why don't you give us a detailed account of how Syaoran saved you today…" Tomoyo taunted mischievously.
"Why don't you tell us what you and Eriol did while you 'went for a walk to buy icecream'," Sakura shot back, pleased that Tomoyo looked slightly flustered. Meimi laughed gaily at both of them, not trusting herself to sip her sundae because she might spray them all with vanilla and milk.
Sakura and Tomoyo glared at the laughing Meimi dangerously.
"Why don't you tell us who won the game of hide and seek?" Tomoyo said with an innocent smirk.
Meimi flushed red at the memory and squeaked, "Y-you saw that!" Sakura looked insanely interested; it was Tomoyo's turn to cackle evilly.
"Now, now Lady…stop bullying the poor girl," Mr Mikarzhi said fondly as he settled the tray at their table. Tomoyo beamed at the beloved nickname; he said he had called her that because she behaved very elegantly since a young child.
Mr Mikarzhi grinned at Meimi, who was sinking in her seat. "Girlie…you've turned as red as a tomato!" he observed as Meimi turned a darker shade of red and promptly buried her head in her arms to cover her face.
He loaded their empty glasses on the tray chuckling to himself, his kind hazel eyes bright behind thin glasses. Watching the deep-in-thought Sakura closely, he winked at her when he caught her gaze. "Missy Sakura…can you lend me a hand?"
"Sure," her chair made a scraping sound when she stood up. "Tomo…I order you to interrogate her!" she told Tomoyo as she pointed at the shrinking Meimi, "Squeeze every bit of information out of her!" Tomoyo nodded eagerly and saluted. Sakura laughed, following Mr Mikarzhi with the tray.
She put down the tray next to the sink and was about to turn on the tap to wash them, when Mr Mikarzhi said, "Nah don't worry I'll do them Missy…here can you take the garbage out?" he handed her a neatly wrapped bag of rubbish.
"Yep, no problem," she replied. Sakura headed out the back door smiling at his nickname for her. It seemed so long ago when he gave her that name. 'Missy' was created because of her tough tomboy attitude when she was a kid. Actually, the specific time was when he saw her push Syaoran into a vending machine just outside the parlour. She smiled at the memory; she only did it because he had thrown a water bomb at her before, which was after the incident where she chased him up a tree, and that was after he set fire to her letterbox…
Sakura dumped the heavy bag into the huge garbage bin. Really, now that she thought about it, all the times where she and Syaoran quarreled were quite fun. For some reason, they just didn't get along at all…it went back for as long as she could remember. She frowned. Some of the things he pulled on her were quite mean; but she had to admit that at times she was rather cruel to him. As they grew up it sort of escalated into full-blown rivalry. They even made the gangs because of this; they needed teammates! Sure, her friends did agree to it themselves, but it was never their war. However, because of such intense competition, she was able to bond closely with Tomoyo and Meimi – at first they were just partners in crime – scheming after school, or staying up late making that perfect trap. But soon, they became her support structure – protecting her from degradation when the boys dyed her school uniform purple, listening to her rants about Ms Lai continuously picking on her, or comforted her when Syaoran smashed a picture frame of her late mother.
Sakura closed the lid of the garbage bin and dusted her hands. Perhaps she really needed to be thankful of this rivalry. She was doubtful whether or not she would have become this strong either; if Syaoran hadn't always teased her, or pull tricks on her, or constantly picked fights with her, she wouldn't be as tough as she was now. She had learnt to let criticism slide off her, and pick herself up when she had fallen over, and strived to better herself to keep up with him. She really wouldn't be what she is now without him. She had taken the good with the bad and funnily enough, though everyday she seemed ready to kill him, she had to give him some credit.
Sakura smiled at the realizations. She was right about giving him a chance. He did have some positive influences in her life in spite of everything.
Sakura was about to go back inside when the blank white wall beckoned to her. It was the same wall she leant again a few nights ago after the Masquerade. She could see her own handwriting scratched in the corner, barely visible:
I hate him.
He kissed me.
And in a flash she remembered how he humiliated her in front of the entire school. She remembered how he tricked her into dancing with him. She remembered…the kiss… She remembered how she ran straight out of the school to here, breaking down and then in her misery scratched those words with a sharp stone. Sakura stared at the words, and for some reason, the feelings of resentment she should be experiencing didn't come.
After all, since that last entry, a lot of things happened.
Feeling the need to change the emotions that came off those words, Sakura walked closer to pick up a stone and stood in front of the wall pondering on what she should write.
Next to the two lines, she pressed and dragged the pointed edge slowly over the white paint:
He saved me today.
She reread it carefully. Thinking it wasn't enough, she added another.
I am thankful.
Home
"Yes…"
"…"
"It was because of Shinya at first, but I feel we need to take it slower…"
"…"
"I agree, though we need to…develop the relationship…"
"…"
"I believe in you completely…"
"…"
"We have to do it in secret…it would be disastrous if anyone found out…"
"…"
"Yes…thank you. I'll be there shortly. Wait for me-"
Fujitaka put down the receiver as soon as he heard the front door click.
"Father!" Sakura called, closing the door with her foot. She had just returned from the icecream parlour and was tired from all of the day's activities.
"Sakura…" he smiled warmly at his daughter, walking up to her and cupping her face. "My, it seems you've had quite a day!"
"Yeah…" her eyes trailed to her father's pressed fawn suit and the leather briefcase clutched in his hand. They further widened at the sight of a big suitcase next to him. "You're…leaving again?" she asked disappointedly, he never was around anymore. "So soon?"
"Yes, honey," Fujitaka lied with a cheerful face, hating the fact that he was doing this to his daughter. It would be best if she didn't know anyway; it would only hurt her. "I have to go immediately…"
"How long?"
"Ahh…yes…I have something to discuss with you, Sakura," he became serious and clasped both her hands in his. "I have to make it short because I have to go soon…this is unlike all the other business trips. I'm not going away for a few days this time; it's going to be much longer, and the problem is, I don't know when I'll be back, so I'm sending you off to someone to stay-"
"Oh that's no problem," Sakura said readily, "I'll just ring Tomoyo and I'll stay at her house-"
"No, listen, Sonomi called me back yesterday and said she couldn't because she was going overseas too; she was fine with Tomoyo being alone with the butlers and maids, but didn't want the responsibility of having you there too in case anything happens-"
"That's fine, I'll just go to Meimi's house then-"
"Sakura, honey…I haven't even met her parents yet…it's not that I do not trust them to take good care of you, but it's not very polite if I send my daughter to them if they don't even know who I am…"
Sakura sighed, knowing he was right. She was running out of options. "I know!" she brightened, "Touya and Yukito!"
"Don't be silly (bopping her affectionately on the head)…they have their hands full juggling university and jobs; do you really want to burden them? Besides, they live too far from your school."
"Then…who?" she said defeated and frustrated, "Can't I just stay here?"
Fujitaka looked at his watch. 'She's waiting…I can't let her wait…' he thought.
"Listen, Sakura, I have to get to the airport in half an hour. I've arranged for you to stay at someone's place already; so don't whine about it, okay?" he said sternly, "they're a good longtime friend of mine, so be good and don't be a handful. Their address is taped on the fridge with their phone number. I want you to pack as soon as you can…they're expecting you, okay?"
Sakura grumbled in response.
"Furthermore, I want you to know that this business trip involves a lot of heavy duty meetings and lectures…you know my number off by heart, but don't call me unless it's an emergency, 'right honey?" Fujitaka said with a grin, "so don't call me if their house doesn't have the right flavour of icecream or if you're missing a hairdryer…or if your room isn't the right colour-"
"Yes, yes I get it!" Sakura laughed, pushing her father out the door, "Hurry and get on that plane so the quicker you can come home!" She kissed her father goodbye and closed the front door.
Fujitaka closed the front gate with a sigh and straightened his clothes as he walked to the car.
"I'm sorry Sakura, for doing this to you but I have to go…you will understand soon enough," he said softly and drove away.
Sakura hummed as she walked to the kitchen to get something to drink. 'Just think! Living almost by myself for a few weeks? A month? Two months? The family I live with will lead separate lives anyway…they'll leave me alone and I'll leave them alone…'
She opened the fridge absentmindedly with blissful thoughts, to retrieve the orange juice. Pouring herself a glass she thought, 'I wonder what kind of people I'll be living with…they better not piss me off, or else they'll suffer the wrath of Sakura Kinomoto…' she laughed quietly to herself, "or maybe, I can just run away and live with Meimi…nobody would know…"
But her father's words echoed in her mind: "Don't be a handful." Sakura grimaced as she took a gulp. Oh yeah. She had to play nice to her father's friends. Sigh.
Who were her father's friends anyway…why hasn't she heard of them before? She turned to the fridge and spilled her orange juice as she read the note.
In her father's perfect handwriting:
Li Residence
8826-7056
168 Garden Rd
"LI?" Sakura wailed.
"FATHERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
Li Mansion
Wei opened Li's front door ready to welcome the visitor in. However, no one was in sight…but he was sure he heard a knock! "Must be me getting old and senile," Wei said cheerfully, about to close the door when he noticed a white box on the doormat. He glanced suspiciously at it. How did it get there? The mansion was surrounded by brick walls and security fencing...someone must have come through and delivered it! But nobody was around…and the front entrance was locked. Strange.
Nevertheless, Wei brought the mysterious box in and walked through the cool hallway. The card upon the box read:
To Li Syaoran
"Master Syaoran! You have a delivery!" he called. Footsteps thudded down the stairs.
Syaoran sneezed as he reached the bottom. "Damn, someone must be talking about me," he commented, "what is it?"
"Your guess is as good as mine," Wei said, handing him the box.
Syaoran carried the box into the dining room, untying the dark ribbon. Wei followed him with interest. Master Syaoran certainly had a lot of admirers, but due to his cold reputation no girls ever dared to show their affection. Lest he burnt them to a crisp. Or electrified them to a crisp. Either way, he didn't care.
Syaoran touched the embossed logo on the corner of the box, something he didn't immediately see, and smiled recognizing it. "Mr Mikarzhi's Icecream Parlour…" he spoke softly. "Let's see what message she sends me…"
Wei watched with silent fascination as his young master opened the box, the waft of rich chocolate already heavy in the air.
'Thankyou.'
oooh interesting. lol
a lot of people cutting each other off in this chapter, don't you think? hehe so rude...interrupting...
R&R thankyou
scarletskies