Hello Guys! Wow it's Christmas eve!! The time flies doesn't it? I've already started my packing but it's been a big rush as I havn't even had time to tape some L'Arcenciel songs for the car trip…

Well as promised I have done my best at creating another chapter before I go on holidays. Hope you like it!

Azure Flame

Chapter 20 – Typical Highschool life

Sakura groaned and tried to open her eyes. But only a cold, despairing darkness filled her vision. There was something on her head putting pressure on her face and slowly blocking the oxygen needed to fill her lungs. She didn't know what sort of monster was on her face, but unless she fought back she would surely die.

Suddenly she felt less weight on her cheek and rays of light slowly chased the darkness away.

"Honestly Kinomoto, I give up my time trying to help you study for our exams and yet you reply my kindness by falling asleep under your text book!" an angry voice said.

"Monster!" Sakura cried, still in a delirious state and flung her legs in front of her.

"Holy crap! I am never tutoring you again, you violent thing! You Kaijuu!"

"I am not a monster, Touya!" She wailed.

"Touya?!"

Sakura blinked to adjust her vision to the strong daylight and slowly looked down.

"Hoeeee!" she shrieked and bent down on her knees next to Syaoran. She watched as he rubbed his jaw, looking less than pleased with her. "Oh my! Who could have done this to you?" she said, anxiously.

"Hmm, you tell me Wonder Woman," he replied, trying to sit up.

Sakura let out a surprised yelp as a large book was thrown at her. "What's this?"

"Biology text. The subject I was trying to share my wisdom on, before you drifted off into La-La land."

"Mou, you're so serious when it comes to working," she muttered, randomly flipping through the pages of the book in her lap.

"I don't take education lightly and I believe it was you're idea in the first place," he simply replied, ignoring all Sakura's groans and signs of boredom. "You're so easily distracted," he added closing his eyes and rubbing his temples.

"No, you're just too motivated. You're beginning to sound like Eriol."

Syaoran opened one eye, "Oi! Don't compare me with that geek."

Sakura let out a giggle and stretched her legs out in front of her. She still couldn't believe it had been two months after her friends had performed in the Battle of the Bands competition. She remembered being so proud of Syaoran when he had started playing his guitar solo and the crowd had cheered in excitement and anticipation.

Of course, it also helped that Syaoran had looked so handsome that night. It was a shame he had abandoned the hair gel and various cosmetics as soon as the event had finished. Perhaps I or even Kai could convince Syaoran to try them out again…and perhaps someday Syaoran might even fall in love with me as much as I have already fallen in love with him…

Sakura snapped out of her wandering thoughts when she heard the sound of movement and fabric rustling.

"I'll make you a deal," Syaoran said, slowly moving closer top her.

"eh?" was all she could choke out. Had he read her thoughts? He was now so close she could smell his aftershave.

"If you promise to concentrate on your science work, I'll…"

"yes?" she whispered, falling captive to his powerful auburn orbs.

She felt her cheeks grow hotter and her heart started racing at an alarming rate as she felt his breath gently brush her forehead.

Kiss me. I don't care how random or wrong it may seem. Please, I'd do anything for you if only you'd be mine!

"if you're a good girl, then I just might…" he continued.

Then you'll kiss me! She thought, trying to mentally will Syaoran do as she wanted.

"Then I'll let you sleep for the rest of the afternoon," he finally finished, pulling back from her flushed face and she realized with dismay he had no intent of kissing her, but had just been retrieving the pencil case lying on the bed behind her.

"So, what do you say?"

"Li-kun no baka!" she exclaimed, walking out of the room in a huff.

"Huh? What have I done this time?" he muttered while staring after her retreating back.

…Later…

"What?! You're moving?" Miho shrieked.

Syaoran nodded. "Since me and my brother are officially orphans, the court have decided we're to live with my aunt."

"And where does this aunt live exactly?" Kai asked him.

"Hmm, probably about 45 mins further south from here."

"T-Then does that mean you'll be c-changing schools?" Sakura asked, hoping that her tone didn't contain the fear she felt.

Syaoran looked at her in surprise, "of course not…"

"So are you going to move in the autumn break?" Miho pondered.

"It's the most logical time to move, I guess…" he replied with a shrug. "Is this inquisition over yet? It's not like I'm doing anything extra-ordinary!"

"Calm down Syaoran," kai replied, "you know how much this town lacks excitement. A pigeon shitting in the street is worthy of gossip."

"Your sense of humour scares me…" Syaoran muttered, glancing at Chloe who had been rather quiet throughout the groups gossiping. "What's up?"

"I feel kinda sick."

"Really? Maybe you should drink some water." When she shrugged, Syaoran gently pulled her towards himself and felt her forehead. "You're not joking, are ya."

"As if you baka."

"I better take you home since you have a fever."

"I swear you're only nice to me when I'm ill." She drawled.

"aww that's not true Chloe, I'm always sweet to you," he replied, helping her up.

…Later…

"Don't you think it was so sweet of Li-kun to take that grade 8 girl home. She only had a fever, it's not like she was going to die of some deadly disease. It's weird that he should be so concerned, don't you think?"

Sakura cringed at the amount of gossip and rumors she had heard after Syaoran's sudden departure. In fact as soon as Syaoran walked back into the classroom he took one look at the curious faces around me and hurriedly walked over to where Sakura sat. "What have they been saying about me?" he groaned.

"Only that you're hooking up with Chloe."

"What?! That's ridicules. How on earth did they get that impression?"

"Girls like to gossip. It's a power only we can possess. You have to be cunning and witty to be a successful gossiper. Boys lack the endurance." She replied, uninterestedly.

"Is that so? And I suppose since you're a girl, you have mastered this craft?" he asked, innocently.

"Well once someone ate Nii-san's pudding and I told him I didn't know who ate it…"

Syaoran let out a laugh, "that's not gossiping, that's just plain lying!"

"Who says I can't gossip?"

"I do. I know you wouldn't have the heart to put others privacy and reputation in jeopardy just for entertainment."

"I can so be cruel!" she argued.

"No way! I know you well, you could never be cruel!" he replied as he lent forward to tweak her nose. "You wouldn't be you if you were," he added with a smile.

Sakura blushed as she watched Syaoran getting comfortable at his desk as their teacher came into the classroom to start the lesson. After a few minutes of staring at her teacher's bald spot, she tried to rip a page out of her exercise book without making too much sounds that would give her away. Once the task was done, she began to start writing a message to Syaoran.

Hey, Li-kun!

I want to make a dare with you. If I can start a successful rumor about you by the end of the week, you have to cook me anything I want!

Luv Sakura.

Once she was done, she attempted to carefully folded the sheet of paper into some form of origami and then threw it at Syaoran's head. She watched him flinch in shock as the paper hit him and he suspiciously unfolded it to read the text. After a while he turned back around to look at Sakura and with a smirk mouthed the words: "You're on!"

Sakura nodded and looked back down at her text book, however Sakura had a feeling she wouldn't be doing much work this lesson, as her head had already started to fill with thoughts of a certain amber-eyed boy and what rumor she could start about him.

To be Continued

yeh yeh, I know it was a weird chapter. It mostly done so that I could remember my characters. Wow I just realized that Syaoran and Sakura still haven't shared their first kiss! Well that shall have to be soon then P

and once again, MERRY CHRISTMAS and thanks for reading this fic!