Sakurairo Hanabi
By Fantasiimaker
Chapter 5
----
His lips were warm, with a fading scent of milk and buttered toast. Warm, warm, warm…and if it weren't for his icy cold fingers crushing her wrist, she might've blacked out from this sudden warmth.
"Ugh!" Sakura gasped out, tearing herself away and immediately bringing her hand up to cover her mouth. Crazy. He was absolutely cuckoo, that nasty idiot. Pervert. Insecure poser. All of these negative labels bubbled up like black volcanic liquid inside her, and each bubble popped before it reached her lips. She couldn't say anything. Her eyes were too busy flaring furiously at him. Why?
Syaoran was looking back at her steadily, not breaking his gaze. Rain trickled down his eyebrows, nose, dripped off his chin. He didn't seem to notice or care. Only his fists were alive, trembling slightly in a tightly determined clench at his sides.
The two glared silently at each other, until Tomoyo's voice broke out, "Syaoran!"
He whipped his head around at the sound, as though he'd forgotten she was there. And suddenly, all of his wild, determined energy dissolved; his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Blinking against the rain, he quietly picked up the fallen umbrella, thrust it at Sakura, and stalked away. As he passed Tomoyo and Eriol, he faced pointedly in a different direction.
There was a pause, and then Tomoyo rushed to the sopping Sakura, still standing there alone. "Are you…all right, dear?" she asked Sakura, taking her cold hands.
The contact seemed to rouse Sakura out of her shock. At the touch, she yanked her hands away quickly and stared at Tomoyo as though she were a snake. Then, sensing Tomoyo's surprise, she allowed herself to relax for a measured amount. "I am fine," she answered stiffly. "I…I'm going now." Eyes sweeping the school grounds without actually seeing anything, she clung tightly to her umbrella and headed in toward the school buildings.
Tomoyo stared after her silently, not noticing Eriol as he carefully watched her face.
----
At lunch, Sakura was perched on the stone wall once again. One hand clutched the umbrella that protected her from the pattering of rain overheard and all around; the other held an untouched sandwich in a plastic ziplock bag. She terribly hated herself for wasting brain power over this, but even with the limited hopes she had for herself, she hadn't wanted to give her first kiss away to any random guy. Really…she hardly expected any guy in the world to desire a kiss with her, which was just as well, as she didn't want to kiss them either, but… Oh, she so wanted to clutch her head in frustration, but both of her hands were occupied. "Dammit!" she whispered fiercely, kicking her legs out over the raincloud-colored wall. Raindrops immediately dotted her shoes, and she damned the raindrops silently.
That scumbag. Complete idiot. Sakura knew he didn't kiss her because he had feelings for her. He did it because his crush was there, and she was with someone else, and lost in his pathetically childish little whirl of emotion, he tried to satisfy his pain and get even by kissing Sakura. This was the logical explanation, she knew already. She knew it. So then, why was she sitting here, stupidly damning the raindrops? Because she had nothing else to do? Yes, maybe that was it. Where could she go? In the warmth of the hallways, the classrooms, there were always groups spread apart and sitting together…groups upon groups, each with their own invisible thread binding them. Who was she to them? Nothing but a miserable loner who wasn't worth the effort to get to know.
Despite these thoughts, Sakura heaved herself up from her seat on the wall. Distastefully tossing her sandwich back inside her backpack, she headed for a building and pulled open the heavy door. A welcome blast of warmth assailed her, drawing her in; she obeyed and followed. As she expected, there were groups, too busy talking among one another to even lift their eyes. Giving a barely audible sigh, she headed down the hallway in search of someplace secluded and quiet.
Many of the classrooms were either filled with people or locked. Sakura discovered one room near the end of the hallway that was dark, but the door opened easily when she tried it. Cautiously, she reached inside and flipped on a light. Aha. Empty. Letting the door slip closed behind her, she crept slowly into the room and set down her damp backpack.
She recognized this room. Looking around, she spotted a familiar lizard cage, and a tank with a turtle inside. This was her science classroom. Maybe she would check on the turtle. Yes. Animals were so nice; they never behaved in crazy, unpredictable ways like humans did. And they were quiet. They didn't yap at you one moment, then pretend they didn't know you the next.
The turtle, sensing movement in the room, clambered against the glass wall of his tank. The scratching sound calmed Sakura for some reason. "All right, I'm coming, Mr. Turtle!" she laughed.
Suddenly, her foot caught on something soft and she plunged forward, cursing as she went. She caught herself on the lab tables and whirled around, eyes snapping.
An arm.
What the hell…!
Sakura's eyes followed the arm under the table, where it connected…to a dark, slumped-over form on the floor.
Tousled brown hair. Syaoran.
"Shit!" Sakura clamped a hand over her mouth and backed away quickly against the counters. What the hell was HE doing here? The insults wanted to stream out again, but her curiosity got the better of her. Crouching down, she edged a bit closer to him. Idiot. She almost wanted to stomp on his stupid arm a few times and be done with it. Or better, those lips. Stamp them a few times with the muddy bottoms of her shoes. That'd teach him, maybe.
One hand clutching a cold metal table leg, Sakura gently poked his shoulder. "Hey. Are you dead?"
Not a stir.
Getting angry, Sakura leaned as close as she dared to his ear and whispered loudly, "BOO."
Syaoran's eyes flew open. Catching sight of Sakura, he jerked upright, banging his head loudly against the underside of the table. "AH, mfrjllmgg!" he muffled his curses with a hand, eyes watering in pain. Sakura eyed him, feeling somewhat satisfied, as he crawled slowly out from under the table. "What is wrong with you, woman?" he demanded sleepily, pulling upright with a gigantic yawn. "Does my getting some sleep interfere with you in any way?"
"Yes, yes it does!" Sakura retorted shortly, surprising herself at her quickness. "You…you can't sleep. Tell me why."
"Why what?" he yawned again, stretching.
Sakura banged her fist down onto the table. "Why did you kiss me?"
Syaoran paused mid-yawn and looked at her. What a stupid expression, Sakura noted as he eyed her critically.
Silence.
Then, he shrugged. "Don't you already know why?"
Sakura gaped at him in disbelief. What…how could he… "How can I know what's going on in your brain?" she snapped. "If you have any brain at all, to do such a BRAINLESS thing."
"Oho!" Syaoran chuckled, though there was no light in his eyes. "Insulting me again?"
"I'm not insulting you! I'm…I'm…I want to know why my first kiss had to go to such a loser!"
There. She'd said it. Her cheeks were burning red by now; she had never felt so frustrated. Why was she showing herself so easily like this? She hated it. Hated him for making her like this.
Yet, Syaoran's teasing manner had disappeared. Carefully, he stepped closer and sighed. "Look, I didn't mean for things to go like that. I didn't mean it, okay? You're right, my brain didn't even know it was going to make my body kiss you until that very moment. I'm just…fed up with the whole situation, you know. I wasn't…prepared."
She avoided his gaze, but her ears were tuned to every word. Syaoran reached out as if to touch her arm, but Sakura shied away.
He dropped his arms. "Well, there's nothing else I can do! What do you want me to do, turn back time? Well I'm sorry, I can't do that! I kissed you already, and that's that! It's not a big deal, okay?"
"Not a big deal!" her voice was shrill, and it surprised her. Taking a breath, she tried again. "Not a big deal. Maybe not for you, since I guess all guys care about is physical pleasure. You wouldn't know what it's like, having someone kiss you like that. I feel like…" She made a disgusted noise. "Maybe if you'd kissed Tomoyo, she would feel differently. I don't know. You probably would have preferred that anyway. Why didn't you kiss her instead!"
"Look, I'm sorry you had to kiss a loser like me!" Syaoran nearly shouted. "You're right, I'm a loser, I'm a loser! I was all ready to tell her, and I couldn't tell her!"
Sakura's mouth clamped shut.
"And now, I'm not going to tell," he continued fiercely. "I can't tell Tomoyo anymore."
"Can't tell me what?"
Syaoran's head snapped up. Tomoyo was standing alone at the doorway, peeking curiously in. "What can't you tell me, Syaoran?" she asked.
"Ah…that's…" he fumbled for a moment. "I…uh…well." He glanced at Tomoyo, who had begun to advance into the room, and he quickly looked elsewhere.
"Well?" Tomoyo was wearing that gentle smile of hers. Sakura could almost visibly make out the tension rising between the two. She wished with all her might that Syaoran would just confess now, let spill his silly little secret so the two could live happily ever after off in the hills somewhere. And yet… She gritted her teeth. How annoying. Did they have to do this now, in front of her…?
"Well…I…I asked Sakura out on a date," finished Syaoran lamely.
Sakura's eyes widened. Yet another lie? That coward. She glared seethingly while he stared down at the floor, waiting for the silence to dissipate. Oh, the boy had some nerve.
Tomoyo's tinkling laugh broke through the loud silence. "Oh, is that all?" Smiling, she patted Syaoran's arm. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. You know you can trust me!"
Nodding numbly, Syaoran sneaked a sheepish glance at Sakura. She glared daggers at him.
"Ah! Well. I guess I should probably go! I'm very sorry for interrupting things," Tomoyo laughed embarrassedly. "See you guys later, then!" Waving at Syaoran, then Sakura, she retreated and left the two alone once again.
Sakura whirled on him at once. "Are you stupid!" she hissed. "You've just made things worse!"
Giving her a tired look, Syaoran headed toward the turtle tank without answering.
"Listen to me!" she demanded, swatting him across the back.
Syaoran caught her hand from behind and swiveled around to face her. The suddenly serious look in his eyes froze Sakura in her tracks.
"Go out with me, Sakura," he whispered.
"Idiot!" she snarled immediately, throwing his hand aside. Without looking back, she grabbed her backpack and umbrella and clattered out of the room. Down the hall she skittered, ignoring the raised heads of students by their lockers. Classroom doors flew by, only a multi-colored blur. There. She thumped open the heavy door and felt the cold, rainy air envelope her body once again.
The icy raindrops were blessedly welcome on her burning cheeks.
----
After school, the skies were still unrelentingly pouring down rain. Sakura gazed out at the wet, miserable scene before her from under the umbrella. Which scene was worse; this, or the one waiting for her at home? Well, better to be warm and dry, at least. Nodding to herself grimly, she tightened her grip on the umbrella handle and started out across the school campus.
At the school gate, she came upon a surprise: Tomoyo, Eriol, and Syaoran were huddled together in conversation. Oh, hadn't she seen enough of them today? Exhaling with frustration, she decided she would try her best to creep past them without stirring attention.
She hadn't come within five feet of the gate when Eriol called out, "Ah, here she is!"
Sakura's heart sank. There was no way out now.
"Come!" Tomoyo motioned with her hand, and Sakura came reluctantly. Syaoran was doing the utmost to avoid her now, she noticed. All the better.
"I've heard that you two are planning to go on a date," Eriol began. "Well actually, Tomoyo told me." He grinned, and Tomoyo unsuccessfully suppressed a giggle. Why were those two so cheerful? wondered Sakura, shivering. Syaoran certainly looked more and more uncomfortable each minute.
"You see," Tomoyo broke in. "We wondered if you might like to go on a double date with us?"
Sakura nearly groaned aloud. She shot a venomous glare at Syaoran, whose eyes had closed in careful composure. What a coward. What was she supposed to say?
Sensing hesitation, Tomoyo took Sakura's hand warmly. "Please, won't you come? I'm also a little nervous about being with Eriol alone," she confided. "I know you must understand that too! If we're all together, it'll be a lot more fun! Don't you agree?"
That nearly did it. Tomoyo didn't mean any harm. As Sakura looked into her beautiful dark eyes, she couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth. "Ok," she whispered, bowing her head.
"Wonderful!" Tomoyo clapped her hands gleefully. "Oh, I'm so happy. And I've got it all planned out too! The weather's supposed to be lovely on Saturday, so we'll go to the beach! I'll bring my camera, and then we can go on roller coasters and buy cotton candy…" She went on and on. And suddenly, Sakura wondered what she had just gotten herself into.
----
Just as Tomoyo had predicted, the weather was perfect on Saturday. Sitting in Tomoyo's limousine, Sakura watched the power lines loop past. The sky was cloudless except for a few stray puffs in the distance. Sakura counted them in her mind. Five.
"Hey," Syaoran murmured quietly, giving her a gentle dig in the side. Leaping up, Sakura glared at him and hissed, "Don't talk to me."
He ignored her. "Did you tell your parents that you're going on a date?"
"No, of course not," she retorted indignantly.
With that, Syaoran seemed to be satisfied. He turned on his side and lapsed into silence again.
"And did you tell your parents?" questioned Sakura, unable to resist.
"No," Syaoran laughed shortly. "They're not around to tell."
"Syaoran lives alone," said Tomoyo, turning around to look at the two. "Very impressive, isn't he?" She winked at Sakura.
"Not at all," Syaoran mumbled, sinking down lower in his seat. Chuckling, Tomoyo turned back around and leaned her head lightly against Eriol's shoulder. Sakura curiously watched Syaoran's face change colors. This boy…she had thought him to be the simple, straightfoward type, but he was actual filled with one surprise after another. Impulsively, she opened her mouth to ask where his parents lived. But at the sight of his brooding form, hunched over against the opposite window, she thought better of it and kept her silence.
And the silence continued until a salty scent in the air alerted Sakura that the ocean must be near. She hadn't come here in ages. Come to think of it, she hadn't been to the beach since Touya left for college. Dad was always so busy…and the thought of Midori taking her anywhere fun was laughable. She smiled. Even if this was to be an awkward situation, perhaps she should make the best of it. How often could she get out of the house like this, anyway?
Tomoyo caught Sakura's eye and smiled back at her. "Lovely day, isn't it?" Sakura nodded in full agreement. Maybe she could pretend to be like those normal teenagers at school, and these were her group of friends. No great hurt in pretending, was there?
The limo rolled to a stop, and they all climbed gratefully out of the vehicle, into the warm sunlight. Dotted with sunbathers, surfers, and children shrieking with laughter, the beach laid invitingly out before them. On the opposite side of the street, a small theme park stretched along the perimeter of a long wooden boardwalk, and a brown, rickety-looking roller coaster rose up from amongst the bustle. The cool salty wind of the ocean was soaked within every inch of all this. Sakura closed her eyes and raised her face to the sun, breathing in deeply.
"Where shall we go first, beach or roller coasters?" Eriol asked, grinning.
"Beach!" cried Tomoyo, just as Syaoran shouted, "Roller coasters!"
Laughing, Eriol turned to Sakura. "And where do you want to go?"
She shrugged. "I don't mind either way."
Eriol looked at her for a moment, then nodded. "We'll go on rides first, and then down to the beach for a romantic stroll at sunset. How does that sound?" he asked, eyes twinkling.
"Fine with me!" Tomoyo agreed. "Syaoran?"
Sakura noted with amusement that he certainly didn't seem happy with the romantic stroll part of the schedule. However, Tomoyo nudged him when he didn't say anything, and he quickly nodded.
Half an hour later, past the ticket booths, restrooms, and crowds of people, the four approached the entrance to a tall, brown coaster. Tomoyo, Eriol, and Syaoran had already stepped into the line, but Sakura hesitated.
"What's wrong?" asked Syaoran.
"You guys go ahead," she replied quietly.
"What?"
"Go, just go!" she muttered, motioning him forward quickly. Tomoyo and Eriol were already standing further up the line.
"What are you talking about? You can't just stand around there alone!" Syaoran started to reach for her arm.
Backing away stubbornly, Sakura's eyes met Tomoyo's as she trotted back to the entrance. "What is it, Sakura?"
She bit her lip. "I…don't like big roller coasters."
"Ah…" Tomoyo nodded slowly. "I see. Don't you want to at least give it a try? We'll all be there with you, Sakura!"
Sakura shook her head.
"Actually…" Eriol moved Syaoran aside gently and stepped out of the entrance gate. "I don't feel like riding coasters today either. You two go ahead, Tomoyo. I'll keep Sakura company."
"Oh?" Tomoyo looked doubtfully at them. "Well…"
"It'll be fine!" smiled Eriol, ushering her forward. "Go on, enjoy the ride!"
Casting one last glance over her shoulder, Tomoyo headed back toward the line. "Come on then, Syaoran." With a slightly disgruntled look at Sakura, Syaoran took off as well.
Sakura watched their retreating backs as the sound of their footsteps faded into the general theme park noises in the air. She turned slowly to Eriol, who was watching her with a small smile. "Miss him already?"
She flushed. "No, I don't." The sunshine glinted annoyingly off of his glasses rim. "So…now what?"
"Now that I've offered to keep you company, that's exactly what I plan to do," Eriol answered smoothly. "So you don't fancy roller coasters, huh?" He started to walk, and Sakura trotted a bit to catch up to him.
"That's right," she said flatly. "I don't see what's the fun in plunging down a hundred feet and screaming like a banshee the entire way."
To her great surprise, Eriol began to laugh uncontrollably. The sun sparked off his glasses as he laughed, clutching his sides. Sakura eyed him with annoyance. "What's so funny?" she demanded to know.
"It's…just…" he tried to speak between gasps. Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself down considerably. "Well…You said 'banshee'."
"Yes…?"
Eriol coughed. "That's so…old-fashioned," he said. As though that explained everything.
Sakura raised her eyebrow. "And is that…funny?"
"Yes," he smiled. "It is to me."
Sakura couldn't help it. She let out a quiet, unsure laugh, which built up and grew stronger as they laughed together. "You're weird!" she exclaimed. Eriol smiled knowingly in reply.
"By the way, what flavor Icee do you like?" he asked suddenly.
"Why?" Sakura said suspiciously.
"Cherry it is," Eriol laughed. "Wait here a moment, please."
Sakura released a huff of annoyance as Eriol went off toward a drink stand. Eriol was the one she knew least about so far, yet she was already beginning to like him. There was a casual confidence in him that set her at ease; she could see why Tomoyo had been so drawn to him. Of course. Compared to Syaoran, it was an easy choice between the two. Smiling smugly, she crossed her arms and waited.
In a minute, Eriol returned carrying two cups of Icee and a small bowl of ice cream. "Sit, shall we?" he indicated toward a white table nearby, and they sat. "Now then," he began. "This is for you…" He handed her the cherry Icee. "…and this is for…us." He smiled, setting down the ice cream.
Sakura's cheeks turned slightly pink. "Don't get any funny ideas."
Eriol laughed aloud. "Not at all, dear, not at all! It's a warm day, right? Ice cream is perfect for the occasion." Taking a plastic spoon, he dug into the smooth vanilla and chocolate swirls. "Here- say ahh!"
Keeping her lips firmly shut, Sakura turned her head to the side and began, "What do you think you're- mmflkgrh!" Eriol had taken advantage of her open mouth and stuffed in a spoonful of ice cream.
Swallowing, Sakura licked her lips clean of the sugary substance and glared. "Stop cheating on your girlfriend."
Eriol began to shake with laughter again. Sakura waited patiently until he stopped.
"It's not like that at all, you see.." he began.
"I don't see."
Smiling strangely, in an almost father-like manner, Eriol pointed to his chin and handed Sakura a napkin. "I think you're a sweet girl, Sakura," he said, watching her wipe up the stray drop of vanilla. "I'm absolutely delighted to have met you. However, Tomoyo really is the one that I love, no mistake about it."
Sakura watched him distrustfully, but there was a frank sincerity in his voice that made her pay closer attention.
"You're not like most other girls, I can see," he continued. "I like that very much. You see, I was at first somewhat worried that Tomoyo would not be able to let go of Syaoran. They've been good friends since childhood, you know."
Sakura nodded slowly.
"Well, now that you're here, I don't have to worry quite so much, do I?" Eriol exclaimed brightly. "And Tomoyo seems to like you as well."
"I…don't know what you mean…" Sakura trailed off wonderingly. Was he going where she thought he was…?
"Of course you do! It's Syaoran! You're such a perfect match for him," said Eriol, taking her hand in a fatherly manner.
"Oh, shut up!" she gasped, snatching her hand away. "Not this again! I don't even like that stupid-!"
But Eriol wasn't listening anymore. One ear glued to his cellphone, he was nodding and murmuring "Mmhm. Yes. I see. All right, that's fine. We'll meet you then." He clicked the phone shut. "That was Tomoyo. They've just finished the ride, and they've gotten in line for another roller coaster. So we've decided to meet later."
"Later?"
"Yes," Eriol smiled gleefully. "At the bumper cars, at five-thirty."
Five-thirty! Sakura checked her watch. Oh, kami-sama help her. Two whole hours alone with this strange guy.
----
But the two hours passed by relatively quickly and without incident. They had been spent mostly strolling along the boardwalk, trying out random prize-winning games and going on various kid's rides. Eriol hadn't seemed to mind riding the little green dragon coaster, although he looked ridiculously out of place with his long legs folded up before the bar. Sakura was beginning to have a little more respect for him, especially as he didn't mention Syaoran again.
And then two hours ended, and they were waiting in line at the bumper cars. At the front of the gate, Eriol checked the time and frowned. "They're late." He straightened up and searched over the crowd.
"Call them?" Sakura suggested. Eriol flipped open his cellphone, but the line ahead of them began to surge forward.
"Ah well. Too late," he shrugged. "Let's just go in, and we'll find them afterward."
The bumper cars were colorful and spacious enough to sit two. "Let's sit together," said Eriol.
Sakura nodded. "The blue one!" she pointed. Eriol scrambled ahead of her and jumped inside the blue car just as a little boy was trotting toward it. With Eriol inside, the boy's face crumpled, but Eriol just laughed and made a face at him, "Nyah you're too slow!"
"So mean!" Sakura admonished him, laughing. She bent down and patted the little boy on the head. "Sorry. Do you need help finding a different one?"
The boy only bursted into tears and ran off, weaving between legs. "Ah-!" Sakura looked off worriedly in the direction he had gone, but Eriol pulled her by the arm into the bumper car.
At the signal, the bumper cars all began to churn and rotate wildly at the controls of their drivers. Sakura had the wheel, and adrenaline tingled pleasantly through her veins as she maneuvered the little car through an ever-moving maze of contact. It had been so long since…since she felt the simplicity of being a kid again. She didn't have to care about any of tomorrow's worries, not at this moment. What a priceless feeling. Letting out a laugh, she sped forward.
Abruptly, she caught a flash of chestnut hair, and a blanket of inky black. Syaoran and Tomoyo were in a bumper car at the other end. "Look!" Sakura shouted above the noise. "It's them!"
"Shall we go?" Eriol called back.
"Yeah!" she cried. Their car surged forward, and Sakura managed to steer their way closer to the other two.
And suddenly, her hands seemed to freeze on the wheel by their own accord. Those two were sitting…so close together. No, their sides were even touching. Tomoyo's bare arm against his T-shirt sleeve. Nevermind that she was sitting fairly squished together with Eriol. Those two…she drew a breath. Their sunny laughter…the way Tomoyo ducked her head innocently against his shoulder when another car slammed into theirs…
Why did it look like they belonged together?
Sakura swung the steering wheel sharply to the left, and they turned around immediately. Once they reached the far end of the enclosure, she took her hand off the wheel. "You drive," she said, grinding her foot against the accelerator. Without questioning, Eriol did so. It was as though the light had suddenly flown out of her, and she didn't even understand why.
After the ride, she watched as Tomoyo laughingly got out of the car and pulled Syaoran up by the hand. "They're close, you see," Eriol said sadly.
Sakura jumped. She'd forgotten Eriol was standing next to her. Shrugging off her surprise, she announced, "I'm going to the bathroom," and walked off.
While washing her hands, she avoided looking at the mirror. Nothing pretty to see, anyway. She struggled briefly about whether she should return to the group, but worked out that there'd be no way for her to get home if she didn't go with them. Heaving a sigh, she started back.
"Sakura!" Tomoyo waved at her as she came into sight, then ran up excitedly and took her by the hand. "How was your time with Eriol? I hope he didn't make you feel uncomfortable or anything!"
Sakura laughed shortly. Yes! she mouthed at Eriol over Tomoyo's head. But at Tomoyo's questioning look, she immediately faked a smile. "Oh, it was great. We had a good time. Yeah."
"How wonderful!" Tomoyo clapped, looking genuinely glad. "Oh, I got some great footage of the rides Syaoran and I went on…I'll show them to you later when I've edited them! But I didn't get you or Eriol yet…hmm…"
Eriol took the opportunity to swoop in and grab Tomoyo's hand. "To the beach, shall we, dear?" Giggling, Tomoyo nodded and went off, seeming to forget about her filming. With a grin, Eriol winked at Sakura over his shoulder and indicated clutching someone's hand with his free one. Irritatedly, Sakura resisted the urge to shake her fist at him, and settled for a hard glare.
"So, uh," Syaoran cleared his throat. "You had a good time, then?"
Carefully looking out over the waters, Sakura nodded.
Syaoran bent down and sat on one of the wooden steps leading down to the sand. He picked at a few grains in the cracks between the wood. While Sakura was still wondering whether or not to sit down beside him, he straightened up again.
"Let's go," he said.
"Where?"
"The beach. Would you like to walk?"
"No." She refused him on impulse, without raising her head.
Syaoran sighed, looked down, glanced at her, and said, "You have to."
Silence.
Another sigh. "I mean, you don't have to, but I'd like it if you'd walk with me. Please."
At this, Sakura nodded ever so slightly. She followed his feet as they descended the wooden steps and padded out onto the warm, glinting sand. They walked on silently for a while. Sakura wondered if maybe he was watching Tomoyo and Eriol in the distance. She sure wouldn't bother herself to pick them out among the strolling couples.
Fingers brushed hers gently, and then Syaoran's hand was wrapped around hers. Sakura still didn't dare look at him, but she felt an involuntary thrill jolt through her arm at the touch. It was…strange.
But not uncomfortable enough to make her pull away.
"I'm sorry," he began awkwardly.
"Hmm?" she murmured.
"For all this."
"It's all right," said Sakura. Her hand was starting to feel unreal, like something not composed of earthly material. "I really did have fun today." Even though you weren't there most of the time, she didn't say.
Syaoran seemed to brighten a bit. "So did I." He swung the hand holding hers lightly.
I'll bet, thought Sakura grimly. With Tomoyo, the person you should be holding hands with right now.
"How's Eriol?" he asked suddenly.
"He's really nice, actually," she replied, letting a bit of warmth escape into her voice. "He's a good person. I can see why Tomoyo likes him." There, let him interpret that how he liked.
Syaoran's hand seemed to tighten on hers, but it could have been her imagination; the tightness disappeared in a moment. When she sneaked a glance at his face, there was a smile, illuminated orange by the fading sunlight. She couldn't quite tell if it was genuine or not.
Sakura wondered vaguely why he was still holding on to her hand.
And a huge wage rushed up, frothing salty white over her ankles.
Letting out a small scream, Sakura skittered away from the water, letting go of Syaoran's hand in the process. "Freezing!" she gasped. Syaoran was laughing at her now, but she was too shocked at the sudden cold to care. Sopping wet, her sneakers had become the same color gray as the very edge of the dusky sky.
"Ugh…" Looking down at her shoes with dismay, Sakura scrambled up to dry sand.
"What are you doing? Take 'em off!" exclaimed Syaoran. When she just looked at him, he chuckled and began to attack her shoelaces with his own hands.
"Hey, get off! I'll do it myself!" cried Sakura. Planting herself down on the warm sand, she kicked off her wet sneakers, then peeled off her socks with disgust.
Syaoran laughed. "Don't make such a face! Look, I'll do it too." He pulled off his own shoes, and in a moment, the two were padding along the beach with shoes dangling from their hands.
Without warning, Syaoran had her at the wrist and was pulling her out into the deeper water. Sakura yelped, icy water crashing over her knees. "Stop! Stop!" she cried, trying to shake his grip off.
"No!" he grinned evilly, yanking her out further still.
Panicking, Sakura suddenly lost her balance and flailed her way headlong into Syaoran's chest, sending them both into the waves with a crash.
Fortunately, the water was shallow enough so that Sakura could sit up, but Syaoran sputtered out of the cold water, completely wet from head to toe. "You clumsy…!" he exclaimed. But Sakura was already searching the water wildly, not paying any attention to him.
"My shoes!" she cried, almost in tears. "Find my shoes, you idiot!"
----
"We'll wait for you," Eriol whispered as the limousine pulled up in front of Sakura's house in the darkness.
With a nod, Syaoran gently lifted Sakura out from her seat and started up the driveway toward the door. Heh. Who knew she'd fall asleep that quickly on the ride home? Well, after all that stress with the shoes, which were still slightly damp but safely on her feet now, she'd probably overexpended her energy. Syaoran grinned. She wasn't as heavy as he'd expected.
He rang the doorbell and stood back, holding her securely. A few seconds later, the door creaked open. It was a middle-aged man, tall and wearing glasses, with quite a few silvery hairs framing his brow. "Ah, Sakura!" he said quietly. And though there were a few wrinkles folding at the corners of his eyes and mouth, Syaoran could detect the man's gentle kindness.
"Mr…Kinomoto." Syaoran bent his head briefly. He would've bowed with more of his body, were he not carrying a sleeping girl. "She…ah..fell asleep on the way."
"I can see that," Sakura's father chuckled softly. "Well, I'll.."
"I'll bring her in," Syaoran said at once. "That is…if I may come in?"
"Ah." The older man looked mildly surprised, but he nodded and opened the door. "Please, come in."
Sakura was starting to feel a bit heavier now, after an extended period of time. Grunting lightly under the effort, Syaoran stepped inside and followed Mr. Kinomoto's directions toward the girl's room. It was the last one down a dark, gloomy-looking hallway. He nudged the door open with his foot and glanced around quickly.
Books and papers strewn across the floor. Clothing piled up on the bed. Grinning, Syaoran laid Sakura down in what free space the bed had. He hadn't expected this kind of mess from such a strict, cold girl. Gathering armfuls of shirts, he deposited them onto a chair nearby and straightened Sakura's sleeping position on the bed.
Carefully, so as not to wake her, he edged the blanket out from underneath the sleeping girl and pulled it gently over her body.
With a smile, he patted the blanket reassuringly and stood up. "Sweet dreams, cherry-blossom girl."
On second thought, he glanced at the bedroom door. No one.
Expression serious now, he bent down and brushed Sakura's forehead with his lips.
She didn't stir, but Syaoran still felt a tingle of embarrassment. Oh well, it wasn't as though he'd stolen a kiss this time, right? It was only a forehead kiss. And anyway, she'd likely never know.
Lost in his thoughts as he gazed down at her, Syaoran didn't notice a woman standing in the shadows of the door behind him.
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Author's Notes:
First, I must apologize for being gone so long! I must admit, I think I'd almost given up on this story. Disinterest, combined with college applications, kept me from really working on it. However, I'm beginning to think I should finish it. I hope you will stick me and continue giving your helpful feedback! This extra-long chapter is just for you, my dear loyal readers.
Haha, this chapter began and ended with a kiss! How funny…