Chapter Six: A New Task
Disclaimer: I only own CCS in my dreams.
Author's Note: I'm back again! Thanks to all of your reviews I've found more inspiration to write. I would like to thank all of my reviewers! I also appreciate the advice and ideas that I got from Knda Crazie. Also to Anime Flower, I love your idea and I will incorporate it in the coming chapters. Thanks! Also thank you: meow-mix23, Black Rose, and star sapphire for reviewing!
Recap of the last chapter:
"Our next class is an optional class. You can choose whichever one you want to go to. Our school offers a wide variety of optional classes. You have to go to at least three a week. Some students use this time as study hall. I'm going to go to choir. Rika and Chiharu usually go to the crafts class and Naoko goes to creative writing. The rest of our group usually goes to the martial arts class. Which one would you like to go to Sakura?"
"I think I'll go to martial arts. Gomen Tomoyo but singing isn't my strongest subject. I really want to see everyone practice," Sakura said.
"How about you Takawa-kun," Tomoyo asked.
"I'll just go with Sakura," replied Takawa.
"Okay, I'll just see you later for math class. Ja ne!" Tomoyo waved goodbye.
"Follow us then, we're all going to the martial arts classroom," Meiling said.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Welcome to my class Mademoiselle Sakura Kinomoto and Monsieur Koji Takawa. How nice of you to choose my class today. Since this is your first time in my class, I'll just let you sit back and watch and get a feel of how this class works," said Brendan Connolly, internationally renowned martial arts champion.
"Monsieur Connolly, why don't you let them show us what they've got? I'm sure it would be better than sitting for an entire period," Eriol said.
"That's not a bad idea at all Eriol, why don't the two of you borrow some gym clothes for today and come back to show us some of your techniques," Connolly beamed.
"Okay!" replied Sakura while Takawa just gave a slight nod.
"Sakura, you can borrow my spare clothes," offered Meiling.
"You can use mine too Takawa," added Ken.
Sakura and Takawa both went to their respective locker rooms to change. Sakura emerged from the girls' locker room dressed in a loose emerald outfit and saw Takawa dressed in a black baggy outfit as well.
"Ano…um…Takawa-kun…" Sakura started.
"Look Sakura, I mean Kinomoto-san, I know we never really got along before and I've always been a bit mean to you and…" Takawa started to say.
Sakura jumped in and finally blurted out the question that had been bothering her since the morning, "Why are you here?"
"Well…because I want to help you. I know I've been mean before and you probably don't trust me but…can't we just be friends? I'm really sorry for all the things I've done in the past. And this mission will be easier with two people instead of just one. Even Akizuki-sama agreed when I asked to come here. So…" Takawa rambled on.
Sakura just stood there, not knowing what had just hit her. Each millisecond that passed in silence felt like years to Takawa. So many thoughts were rushing inside his head, 'What if she doesn't believe? I've been so mean to her in the past? Will she ever forgive me? I really like her but it would take a miracle for her to just consider me as a friend. I've screwed things up so badly.'
After what felt like millenniums Sakura finally spoke up, "It's true that we've never gotten along before. You never liked me and I don't know what I had done to make you upset. But I'm willing to start over and be friends Takawa-kun." Sakura smiled and took Takawa's hands in her own.
'I can't believe I ever doubted her. Sakura is such a nice person. She's so forgiving. No one could match her wonderful personality,' thought Takawa.
"Why don't you start by calling me Koji from now on? Anyways, people might be suspicious if you kept on being so formal around me. After all we're supposed to be cousins Kinomoto-san."
"Then you should call me Sakura at all times and not just for show like before. But I just have another question Koji," Sakura said.
"Ask away," replied Koji.
"Ano, why did you say that we were cousins?"
"Because it was the most logical thing to say when Cory harassed you. I was really angry and the best way to solve the problem is by saying that you were family. She's trying to get on my good side so she won't hurt you if we're related. If I said we were friends, she might have continued her attacks," replied Koji.
"Wow. Ano, arigatou for standing up for me this morning."
"Remember, I'm your friend Sakura-chan and I'll always be here for you."
"Hai, now let's get back to class, we've been gone for long enough," Sakura said.
"Oh, don't do your best out there. We don't know who Jing Long's spies are yet and it might be suspicious to have two new students who are accomplished in martial arts. So remember to hold back a bit," Koji warned.
"You're right. I didn't even think of that. What would I do without you?" Sakura beamed. Koji just sweat-dropped at how clueless Sakura was.
"About time you two got back. Did you know that if you borrow someone else's clothes, you…" Yamazaki started.
"Oh, stop it with your lies. It's too bad Chiharu isn't here to control you," Eriol interrupted.
"Oh-ho, look whose talking now, Yamazaki's not the only one who needs to be controlled, you'd be just as worse if it weren't for Tomoyo," said Meiling.
"Ahh, Tomoyo is a saint," replied Eriol.
"Hey stop goofing off over there," yelled Connolly. "Now it's time for Sakura and Koji to demonstrate their techniques. Take the floor, you two."
Koji and Sakura walked to opposite sides of the mats and got into their stances. The two stared at each other for a few seconds before Koji started charging towards Sakura. He tried to throw a punch but Sakura ducked and tried to trip Koji with a sweep kick. Koji jumped and avoided the kick. Both Koji and Sakura threw a few series of kicks and punches at each other but in the end they were evenly matched. After three minutes or so, Connolly stopped the match.
"Not bad, not bad at all. Now I don't have to worry about teaching you all the basics. You two are pretty evenly matched. You must have had the same coach, am I right?" asked Connolly.
"That's right," Koji replied sternly.
"Your technique was great. There weren't any flaws. However you could still improve by working more on jumps and flips. I recommend the gymnastic classes. They're really helpful. You can alternate between gymnastics and my class…."
'Blah blah blah as if we need any more improvement. We were only holding back. Some champion he is. I've already seen his matches and he has his flaws too. I could beat him in a fight,' thought Takawa.
'Tee-hee, he doesn't know how accomplished we are. We don't need any more classes. I might go take arts and crafts with Rika and Chiharu tomorrow instead of coming here,' thought Sakura.
"Good job you two! I didn't know you would be so good," said Yamazaki.
The rest of the afternoon past by quickly and before anyone knew it, school was over. Meiling and Ken met up with Tomoyo, Sakura, Eriol, and Koji as soon as the bell had rung.
"Wai! I'm so excited! I can record my kawaii Sakura in my clothes. Ahh, it feels like heaven. And I just got a new camcorder yesterday. I'm so lucky!" Tomoyo gushed with stars sparkling in her eyes.
Everyone sweat-dropped at Tomoyo's statement except for Eriol who simply smiled at his girlfriend's enthusiasm.
"Enough talking, can we go now?" asked an impatient Meiling.
"Ano, I still have to call my parents to let them know where I am. If they get worried, they'll send onii-chan to find me and he'll just overreact," said Sakura.
"You better; I don't need your onii-chan going on and on about how irresponsible I am. He is way too overprotective," added Koji.
"Okaa-san, can I go to my friend's house today. I promise I won't stay out for too long. Onegai?" pleaded Sakura on the phone.
"Oh I wish you could go too. But we've received some new information on Project X and we need you to come home right away, Sakura-chan. We're going to have a small task to perform in less than 6 hours and we still have a lot of stuff to prepare," Nadeshiko said sadly. She really wanted Sakura to have a normal life and relationship with her new friends, but work had to come first.
"Can you prepare without me? I could just go for one hour," Sakura tried again.
"If our task was simple you wouldn't have to be involved, but this is really serious and I'll tell you more when you get home. Can you just go tomorrow instead?" asked Nadeshiko.
"Okay, okaa-san," Sakura replied sadly before hanging up. She loved her job but she never knew how much it could conflict with her newfound happiness and life.
"Ano, my okaa-san said that something has come up at home and that I need to go home right away. Gomen," said Sakura sadly.
"It's alright Sakura-chan. We can always do this tomorrow," Tomoyo said kindly.
"Arigatou," replied Sakura.
"Well then, I guess we'll see each other again tomorrow," said Ken.
"Oh Sakura-chan, we usually meet at the tree near the entrance in the mornings. See you then!" said Meiling before she left with Ken.
"Tomoyo-chan, would you like to accompany me to the café down the street?" Eriol asked with a smile.
"Of course," said Tomoyo with a soft blush.
"Ja ne!" Sakura said as Tomoyo and Eriol left.
"So where are you staying Koji?" asked Sakura.
"In the house right next to yours," replied Koji simply.
"Wow! So we get to be neighbors! That's great!" said Sakura cheerfully.
"We should probably hurry a bit since we have a mission or else we would have been able to visit Tomoyo's house," said Koji.
"Okaa-san said that there's some new information about Jing Long's activity," added Sakura.
When both Sakura and Koji reached the Kinomoto residence, they were greeted by a super hyper Nakuru.
"Eh! Nakuru-chan, you're here too!" said Sakura.
"Yukito and I came over to help prepare all of you for your task tonight. We have some new equipment for you," said Nakuru happily.
"Welcome home, Sakura-chan. I'm so sorry you couldn't go to your friend's house today," said Fujitaka.
"It's okay otou-san. My job always comes first," Sakura said brightly.
"So what are we going to do tonight?" asked Koji.
"Ahh, Takawa-san. How are you?" asked Nadeshiko stiffly. Everyone was still a bit tense being around Koji except for Sakura.
"Look I know I haven't left the best impression of myself for all of you but I've realized the error of my ways and I'm changing. I intend to help you to the best of my abilities and hopefully earn your trust and friendship," Koji said strongly.
Everyone in the room was touched by Koji's declaration and everyone instantly forgave him for his past behavior and welcomed him except for Touya who said, "Once a gaki, always a gaki. If you hurt my sister, I'll come and get you."
Koji winced a bit but smiled at everyone else, happy that he was finally accepted.
"Let's get started now. We don't have all the time in the world to prepare," said Fujitaka.
"About an hour ago, Nadeshiko was able to tap into Jing Long's private server for about three minutes before we had to disconnect so as to not arouse any suspicion."
"I've found out that at 9 o'clock tonight, Jing Long will be transporting 2 gallons of chemically altered toxic waste. We don't know exactly how it incorporates into Project X but it is possible that Li is trying to use the waste to fuel a bomb. According to Touya's calculations, if it is a bomb, it can wipe out 10 big cities entirely," said Nadeshiko gravely.
"He's going to try to move the waste from his private airport located in the French Riviera, which is approximately an hour away from Paris, where we are right now. We have to take that plane down and remove the toxic waste. We won't be able to break into the plane before it takes off so we'll have to use a stealth plane," Touya added.
"Nakuru and I will fly the plane and the rest of you will carry out the task," Yukito added somewhat excitedly.
"Now for the equipment!" said Nakuru enthusiastically. "First off, each of you will get these contact lenses. They will help document your surroundings and help detect the toxic waste wherever it's hidden. A small kit for Sakura-chan to defuse the bomb, if there really is one. This is a special container that is designed specifically for holding toxic chemicals. We've also created better outfits for you so you won't get affected by too much exposure to the chemicals."
"You will all have the standard communicators and decoders for locks. We haven't really changed your guns but we did improve the speed of the bullet. You will also all have this necklace on. Just pull it off when you need to make a quick escape," added Yukito.
"Oh, I also have a surprise for you Sakura-chan!" said Nakuru cheerfully.
"Really!" said Sakura excitedly.
"I spent most of yesterday working on it. Sakura, I would like you to meet Kero, your new pet! He's made from some of the finest genetic material. He can talk and will be able to help you with all of your missions. He is highly capable. Kero isn't a robot; he's real and has a mind and personality of his own. I made him look like a stuffed animal so you can carry him with you anytime without causing too much suspicion. Isn't that great!" said Nakuru.
"WAI! Arigatou Nakuru-chan. I've always wanted a pet and he is so adorable," said Sakura.
"Kero, wake up!" yelled Nakuru loudly.
"Wha…! I'm up! Hello everyone! My name is Kero! I love to play video games and eat pudding!" said Kero happily.
"Welcome to our family Kero-chan!" the Kinomotos all greeted except for Touya who said, "Welcome stuffed animal."
"I am no stuffed animal. I am the almighty Kero and I'm a bazillion times smarter than you. Ano…do you have any pudding? I'm kind of hungry," said Kero.
Everyone just sweat-dropped.
"Ehehehe, his passion for food came from me," said Yukito. "It makes him much more realistic too!"
"I could make some for you right now Kero-chan," said Sakura. "I'm Sakura by the way."
"I know! I'm so happy that I'll get to work with you. We're going to make a great team," Kero said hovering near Sakura's shoulder.
"Let's have dinner before we leave. I'll start on it right now while you go over the details and the plan to check for any errors. Also, get some rest. It's going to be a long night," said Nadeshiko.
Time passed by quickly. Dinner was eaten, the plans were double and triple checked for errors. It was 9:55 pm, Jing Long's private plane with the toxic waste had left the airport 55 minutes ago and everyone was in the stealth plane preparing for take-off.
"In about 5 minutes, Li's plane will pass over us and we'll take off right after the pass. It'll take us approximately five minutes to catch up and attach the stealth plane with Li's plane. As soon as everything is secure the green light will appear and Nakuru will open the hatch for you to enter Li's plane," said Yukito.
Four minutes……Three minutes…..Two minutes…..One minute……30 seconds…..5…..4….3….2….1 and takeoff!
CS88: Dun dun dun! You'll have to wait until the next chapter to see what happens. But don't worry, I've already started it and it should be up in a week or less depending on my schedule. I promise that there will be more action in the next chapter. For those of you wondering when Syaoran will be back, all I'm saying is that he'll be back soon! I never intended to keep him away for so long. So just be a little more patient, please. So stay tuned and review! Thanks a bunch!