Chapter 2

Strange Day

Grumble. Grumble.

Aaargh…what's wrong…it hurts…

She clenched her abdomen. She was still very hungry. But it didn't make sense. She ate a big breakfast and in fact Touya commented that she reminded him of the hunger of Yukito, his best friend and also the other form for the moon guardian Yue, a cold and icy angel with a good and loyal heart.

Grumble.

Darn it.

She finally was at her school with the help of her brother's car. She went out. Originally, she used roller skates when she was still in elementary.

"Bye, Onii-chan…"

"Bye…Sakura…" he said with his eyes focusing on the ribbon Sakura was wearing. Finally he sped away.

She then started walking to her classroom.

Slam!

"Morning, guys!"

"Morning, Sakura!"

It was her friends: Rika's a cute and shy girl of short brown hair and is presently engaged to a teacher, Mr. Terada. Chiharu, on the other hand, is a beautiful and sassy girl of two short curled brown ponytails and always kills her crush for his ridiculous but strangely believable "trivia". She seems to be the only one who has the common sense and awareness of the boy's mischief. Naoko, the girl with the shortest hair whose color is also brown and the only one who wears glasses, is your typical bookworm and is very knowledgeable though she still falls for the odd ideas of Chiharu's crush, Takahashi. He is the prankster and the only boy in the group. He has jumbled black hair and has the "closed" eyes of a typical Chinese, though he is Japanese. Always, he is with the girls. Being with boys is a rare time.

As usual, he was talking to them…about real stories this time, Chiharu made sure of it. He abruptly stopped for a while and asked the auburn girl, "Hey what's that you got there?" while pointing to the ribbon Sakura had.

"Oh…it's a gift…from Syaoran…" she blushed while saying so.

"Hey Li!" said Takahashi mischievously at a boy of jumbled chestnut hair and amber eyes. "Nice one! Score one for China!"

"Say what?" he replied making his way to greet Sakura along with Tomoyo Daidouji, her best friend and cousin. "Good morning Sakura."

"Morning Syaoran. Morning Tomoyo."

"Morning Sakura." said Tomoyo. She was of ivory skin, had blue eyes, and long black hair supported by her pink headband.

"So…Syaoran…how long were you going steady, huh?" said Takahashi. Syaoran was still not used to these sorts of questions so…he still blushed once in a while.

"Shuddup, Takahashi or I'll break your neck!"

"Did you know…" continued Takahashi, "…it was a ritual back in medieval Europe to break the neck of you best friend's chicken in order to bring good luck to the health of the newly wed couple. It started around the 11th century by a Friar Lawrence of Nottingham. By the end of the 14th century however a king whose name was King Phillip the Tyrant ended such a ritual. But still it's well known in famous quotes like that William Shakespeare's Hamlet—ack! Agh that hurts!" he was abruptly stopped by Chiharu choking him at his neck.

"How many times will I choke you until you learn not to tell us such stupid "trivia"? Her eyes were dark and menacing. She looked almost like the Grim Reaper.

"Apparently almost…if I recall correctly…four to five years?" answered Naoko. "Yup you guys have been slamming out since the beginning of time you know…" The other girls laughed at that. Chiharu stared at Naoko with piercing eyes. "Ha.Ha.Ha. Very funny."

DRRRIIIINNNGG!

The door opened and in came a woman.

"Class, please take your seats and get ready for today's lessons."

"Yes, ma'am." responded the class.

As they were making their way, Syaoran spoke quietly to Sakura.

"Hey Sakura is it just me or you seem a bit whiter today?"

Sakura looked at herself. Hmm…that's funny I seem a bit whiter almost like…Tomoyo's… "Hmm. You're right."

"Are you using some beauty products or something?" Syaoran chuckled.

"Hehehe! Maybe it is the products!" she replied. Or maybe something else…I'm getting a strange vibe…

What's wrong with me today? I'm feeling very faint…

Sakura couldn't concentrate today. Her grumbling had stopped but her hunger was still inside her. She was caught already sleeping by the teacher. It was really humiliating for her. Her reputation was at stake. In her sleep were strange dreams. Dreams were she was running after people. What was also odd was that the only color in the dream was red. Red and only red.

DRRRIIIINNNGG!

"Okay class lunch time. Tomorrow were gonna have a quiz, 'kay? Be prepared."

As Sakura was packing up her stuff and going to the canteen, Syaoran and Tomoyo came up to her.

"Sakura, what's wrong? You don't look so good." said Tomoyo anxiously.

"Yeah…you look sick." commented Syaoran.

"I don't know…all I know is I'm hungry and thirsty. Terribly…"

Syaoran and Tomoyo looked at each other and shook their heads.

"Tsk. Tsk. Dear oh dear. C'mon let's go to the canteen. Fill you up with some food."

"Thanks guys."

"No problem." replied Tomoyo.

They finally came to the canteen. They unpacked their food and started eating. What really was surprising was Sakura. They just watched Sakura wolf down her food.

"Sakura…goodness are you that hungry?"

"I don't know…I just need to eat and eat." replied Sakura. Finally she drank up her juice. "Ah…that was refreshing…" She licked her lips. Something's weird here. he thought. Sakura noticed Syaoran surprised looks.

"Er…what's wrong Syaoran…?"

"You're not acting like yourself lately…"

"Oh c'mon Syaoran…" answered Tomoyo, "she's not feeling well that's why…"

"I guess…" he replied reluctantly while again taking a drink from his cup.

"Hey I just got an idea!" blurted Tomoyo all of a sudden. Syaoran and Sakura didn't like that look. It meant she had yet another… "demented" idea. Another costume design. Ever since she started capturing cards, Tomoyo was always designing a new costume for her every adventure. She just loved Sakura since she was so, for her, very cute. "If ever Syaoran gets sick, I can design Sakura with the cutest nurse costume!"

Syaoran gagged. "Say what?" Nurse costumes! Sakura in one?

Probably like every boy, imagining your girlfriend in a nurse costume is well…hot in a way. A bit sexy.

Sakura blushed instantly at that. "Aww…To-Tomoyo!"

"Yes! I'm planning already! When I come back home I'll make that up!"

They all laughed heartily at such an idea. But Sakura in the back of her mind was trying to find out what was wrong. For the past number of hours all she could think of was that color red in liquid. Blood. Why does it keep popping out my head like…instinct? But…it seems…sweet. Mmm…I want that…

Syaoran was also thinking at the back of his mind. I don't like this. I don't like this one bit. Sakura's acting very weird today…