Stupid Cupid
Disclaimer: CCS doesn't belong to me… but if you could get me a Syaoran for Christmas I'd be eternally grateful.
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Day Numero Uno was exceptionally interesting to our favorite Love God – as interesting as a day-filled headache can be, that is. Even though it wasn't necessarily exciting, how can his first day on Earth not be interesting when it came to meeting people like that Kinomoto girl or that freaky British boy in his art class? Personally his day would've been fine if he didn't have a headache and if he never had met the freaky British boy… but, eh, there wasn't much he could do about it.
He was still getting used to the atmosphere of Earth. It was very, very different from being up in the clouds and among the other Gods. His mother had warned him about the side-affects that he'd suffer as soon as he arrived on earth, but he didn't pay much attention to it, and now he wished he had been more prepared. First off, the climate was very different. Second off… it was overwhelming being surrounded by mortals. In Shinshuu he was normally surrounded by powerful auras; other Gods. But now? He was stuck around such mediocre auras… all overwhelmingly weak and small.
It was nerve wrecking. When he first arrived on Earth let's just say it was obviously not one of his best first experiences. It probably topped Syaoran's Top 5 Most Worst Experiences List. He was hit with a dizzy spell – a really bad one – to the point that he doubled over and vomited more than once. He suffered through the day with a migraine that he was still nursing, but thankfully it wasn't as bad as when he first got it. And now he was adjusting the feel of his own aura because it stood out too much against the humans. He knew how to sustain his aura back, but doing so was kind of weird because he never had much reason to in Shinshuu.
Syaoran looked at the bottle of Tylenol he had bought from a nearby drugstore. He didn't have any access to the medicines he was used to using back at home, so he supposed Tylenol would have to do… He sighed and drank two pills down with a glass of water before throwing himself on his couch.
So far, he did not like Earth at all. Humans. Being on Earth. It was all a waste of his time. He hated it enough to start a Why Li Syaoran Despises/Hates Earth List.
Up until now Syaoran only had one particular reason so far for hating his first day on Earth.
Homework.
Which is pretty much self explanatory.
Day #2
First period English class with Asakura-sensei, fun, fun. Syaoran found their sensei rather strange. Now that he thought about it, everyone he encountered was strange and had one thing in common: they smiled. A lot. As Asakura-sensei stood there lecturing about how grammar was important in the English language, he did so with a smile, and in a very calm and smooth way. Syaoran also pointedly noticed from his peripheral vision that the majority of girls in his class had dreamy expressions on their faces while they didn't listen – but stared at their "handsome" sensei.
Syaoran pretended to be engaged in what Asakura was saying, though there wasn't much reason for him to be. As a God he was already well educated in just about every language known on Earth. He didn't even know why he was taking this pointless class (or why he was on Earth besides the 'to train' reason).
He could probably be exercising his powers instead of being stuck in pointless classes all day... and the year could possibly go by faster… But everyone else insisted that he take part in the school-experience. Syaoran sighed mentally to himself.
He kept an apt attention to their professor, his gaze unwavering and his expression unreadable. If one were to look at him they'd think he really was listening to Asakura-sensei, but if one were to really look, they'd see this faraway look in those golden-flecked amber eyes that clearly stated he was far away in his own little world, thinking about things that he would never say out loud, or contemplating memories and turning things over in his head…
Such as the few months that occurred between his Judgment Day, the day he received his title, and the day he arrived on Earth. His mother had made it her duty to 'bestow upon him all that she knew' – the 'knowledge that all Love Gods should know.' This was how she trained him – by lecturing him day in and day out. It wasn't any physical training. He didn't learn how to cast spells or load an arrow to a bow… Before the Judgment Day, he had expected physical training, and mental, of course, but when that day came, his dreams were all crushed.
And it was all mental training from there on in – how to identify love, what love is…
But what is there to love? It's just some silly emotion that people mistake for love when really it's just infatuation or sexual attraction.
And it should be pretty easy to identify. All you have to do is notice a single longing glance or a light blush tinged on cheeks… Not that hard…
That's what he thought, and still somewhat thinks at that moment.
But there was a certain point in one of his mother's lectures that makes him think otherwise (slightly, anyway).
Meditation. He knew how to meditate. It was something he learned as a child, way in his earlier youth – one of the first things his father taught him as soon as he could walk and talk and comprehend things.
Every day they started their day like this. They would go through the process of settling themselves in the appropriate sitting position – legs crossed, back straight and eyes closed. Then they'd go through the process of clearing their mind, pushing away thoughts and finding that point of total… there wasn't a fitting word, but it was a point where you felt nothing; where your mind was clear and your body didn't feel like it was there and all that was there was your mind.
It was that point where every single one of your senses besides your eyesight sharpened to a higher degree that you could feel your surroundings, hear it shape around you and smell it lingering about you. It was at that point that he knew in the Shinshuu Gardens where Ayame, the 'nature goddess' was crouched in front of a rose bush, inhaling its essence just as a smile graced her lips.
He could even hear his own breathing more loudly. They were gentle inhales and exhales. Between each intake and outtake of breath he could hear his heart beating at a constant, normal rate. He could feel the comforting warmth of the air brush against his skin and wrap around his very being…
He did this in order to clear his mind of any previous emotions or doubts about what he was now labeled as – Ai no Kami. He did this so he could be more attentive to what his mother would have to say and not snort or retort any sarcastic comments. He did this so he could be open-minded.
"Now open your eyes," he faintly heard his mother command.
And he did.
Amber met onyx, and the lecture began.
"Syaoran, what do you think love is?"
And so the dreaded question is asked… She never asked before.
His response came out simply, as if it was the most obvious thing for him to say: "An attraction or feeling of infatuation that two people feel towards each other… not in a friendly or family kind of way."
She didn't make any kind of reaction to what he said. Like him she was more rehearsed in hiding her emotions and not letting what she thinks show on her face. She was better than him, even, only when she found it necessary, that is. But besides him, she knew when to smile a tender smile and show a sign of affection.
"Then in what kind of way?" Yelan asked calmly.
He shifted somewhat uncomfortably as he pondered over the question. He creased his brows. "In the… 'I like you, you like me' kind of way… The boyfriend-girlfriend or husband-wife kind of way."
"You make it sound so simple."
"Isn't it?" Syaoran raised his gaze to meet his mother's.
She shook her head lightly. "Syaoran, it's far too complex to be so simply defined. It's more than just liking them or being infatuated by them. When your father and I committed ourselves to each other, it wasn't because we liked each other. We have to more than like each other to plan on living the rest of our lives together. In marriage… you need more than just infatuation to keep it together."
"So you're saying that when you're in love, you get married to that person?"
Yelan smiled slightly, amused. Syaoran seemed like a little boy to her right that moment… confused and bewildered by this thing called love.
"No, Syaoran. If that was so then you would find more teenagers married."
"But aren't teenagers too young to understand love?"
"Some throw the word around carelessly, yes… but you're never too young to understand." She leaned in towards him and commented jokingly: "Look at you. You're the same age as these 'teenagers,' and yet you don't understand love, and you're supposed to be the Ai no Kami."
At this, Syaoran looked away, resisting the urge to pout.
Her smile turned gentle as she reached out and cupped his face between her hands. She lightly forced him to look at her as she continued on: "But unlike them, you have all the time in the world to understand it. It isn't something you can comprehend right away anyway, Syaoran, so don't worry. The Council appointed you as Ai no Kami because they believe you're fit for it. They are never wrong."
She leaned back just as Syaoran cast a dry glance at the ground and snorted beneath his breath: "Well there's a first time for everything."
Yelan sent him a stern look before folding her hands in her lap.
"Do you understand why you are going to Earth?"
"To make people fall in love?"
"No."
"Then what else will I be going there for?" he asked quizzically, skeptically.
"Syaoran, being a Love God doesn't mean you can just go around making people fall in love."
"Then what's the whole point of there even being a love God? What's the whole point of me having to go to Earth?" Syaoran asked angrily, losing his patience.
Yelan didn't flinch nor bat a single eyelid at his sudden outburst. On the contrary, she remained patient. "Everything has a point. Did you not listen to your father when he taught you that?"
He fell silent.
Yelan sighed. "I know you prefer understanding things right away, and I know you're used to understanding things right away… but this cannot be learned or comprehended within a few months, Syaoran. You will learn to understand eventually."
He grit his teeth.
You will learn to understand eventually.
How he hated being told that.
And how eventually anyway?
He normally was a patient person… he really was… but lately he couldn't help but feel impatient, agitated and irritated. None of this made sense. Why bother to appoint someone the position as Ai no Kami when they didn't grasp the concept of love at all?
Syaoran sighed, frustrated.
He supposed he was going to have to learn to be patient. After all, he had to spend one year on Earth.
"…Li-kun!"
Syaoran blinked and turned to look at Takashi Yamazaki. He looked as if he was trying to get Syaoran's attention for a while…
"Dude, what's up with you? You just like… spaced out for a really long time," Tama Inoue, another classmate, hissed. "Asakura-sensei's been trying to get your attention for the past minute."
"Eh…?" And slowly Syaoran turned around, and surely Asakura-sensei was standing there, with that same calm smile on his face as he stood there patiently and expectantly. Syaoran flushed in embarrassment as the class giggled. "Gomen nasai, sensei."
He grinned playfully. "It's okay. But it's great for you to finally join us… but would you kindly translate the first stanza into Japanese?"
The professor had scribbled something in English on the whiteboard. He scanned the first stanza before translating out loud:
Three passions have governed my life:
The longings for love, the search for knowledge,
And unbearable pity for the suffering of humankind.
Syaoran trailed off as he finished the statement.
Asakura-sensei smiled. "Arigatou, Li-san. Very well translated."
Syaoran nodded his head.
"I wasn't expecting any of my students to know English so well already…" His smile widened before he turned his attention back to the whole class.
Syaoran chose to mute out the rest of his lecture as he scanned the rest of the text on the board.
Okay, so, he's the Ai no Kami, right? He's a Love God. He has the ability to make people fall in love, right? …Or so he was telling himself at lunch as he hid behind a wall, peeking around the corner at the many students lingering outside and enjoying their lunch.
Well, he knew how to make people attracted to each other… for a while at least. It'd be like a Love Potion, but without having to drink anything.
Or it'd be like your typical Cupid.
But he, Li Syaoran, isn't Cupid! He would never ever call himself that or let anyone call him that. He's the Ai no Kami… not some little boy with wings waving a bow and arrow around.
Most definitely not.
Okay… so… first victim… hmm…
Syaoran scanned the crowd. It didn't take long for him to notice a girl staring dreamily at another boy sitting somewhere across the yard. Alright so all he had to do was make sure that girl will be the first girl he sees… all he has to do is wait for him to look in her direction. At least she's the only girl standing there…
"…What'cha doing Li-kun?"
He almost jumped out of his skin as he whipped around. He let out a breathy sigh as he sent a glare at a blinking Sakura. "Don't sneak up on me like that, Kinomoto!"
She smiled sheepishly. "Gomen, Li-kun." Sakura then tilted her head as she looked at him weirdly. "But what are you doing just hiding here?"
Syaoran eyed her.
Nosey mortal.
"Nothing."
Sakura smiled. "Why don't you join us for lunch then?"
He looked at her. Does she always smile? Everyone there smiles a lot… but he couldn't help but notice how different hers was. Unlike the others it seemed like she actually meant it; as if it was the most natural thing to smile. It wasn't anything flirtatious; anything to tick him off or taunt him with… it just looked natural to see the Kinomoto girl smiling…
He supposed that was the reason for him agreeing to go eat lunch with her and her friends for the second time.
But as soon as he saw the freaky European boy there he was about to turn on his heels and high tail it out of there. Sakura anticipated this, especially after witnessing their introduction in art class, and grabbed his sleeve and tugged him down right next to her.
Eriol grinned. "Hello again, Syaoran-kun."
"It's Li," Syaoran hissed between gritted teeth. He looked tempted to punch the European boy.
"Syaoran-kun."
"Li!"
"Syaoran-kun."
"Li!"
"…They're so cute," Tomoyo cooed happily as she video taped them. Sakura laughed as she shook her head and plugged her earphones in, switching her ipod on. She was leaning back on the trunk of the cherry blossom tree with her knees drawn up and her sketch book propped up against her lap. The page was blank.
Syaoran glanced at her curiously. Her eyes were closed and she was tapping her pencil against the page.
"She's been trying to think of something to draw for that art project," Tomoyo said to him with a smile.
Her smile kind of freaked Syaoran out, too.
It reminded him of the European boy's smile… sometimes anyway. Right now she just had this kind smile plastered on her lips.
But now that he thought about the art project, he hadn't thought of anything to do his on yet either. He still has time though…
"But once she finds that source of inspiration she won't stop drawing until she's done." Tomoyo's smile widened before she looked down at her lunch and held it out to Syaoran. "Want some?"
He blinked, taken aback by her sudden question. "Ano, it's okay. I already ate my lunch."
"Ne, Li-kun, do you play soccer?" Takashi suddenly piped up.
Syaoran raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because there's try outs next week and I was wondering if you'd wanna try out. We're looking for new players anyway."
"Hn, I'll think about it…"
"What about you, Hiiragizawa?"
Eriol looked up with a smile still on his lips. "Sounds interesting… I think I will."
So, after school Syaoran attempted to look around Tomoeda, right?
He attempted to do this all by himself – show his own self around in a foreign town where he didn't know where was where, etc.
So… now he's lost.
He didn't recognize any of the street names. He felt like he was walking through a maze. He could swear he went down this street a couple of times… And now he was getting frustrated. There was no one out or wandering the streets. There were no stores around him, just houses. He didn't even know how to get to the shopping center or any of those places.
He was lost.
Utterly lost.
Syaoran groaned and ventured on.
It wasn't long until he came upon a park. It was deserted, unfortunately. No one there to ask directions from… Syaoran sighed and slumped on the nearest park bench. It was a small park, nothing big or great. There was a huge penguin slide at the center, followed by a swing set and a couple of seesaws. There was hardly a breeze to cause the swings to sway ever the slightest bit. He leaned back against the bench as he turned his gaze to the sky.
The sun was starting to set. Pink and purple streaked the once blue sky as red glowed in the distance and over the horizon. Pale stars were starting to peek over clouds. A crescent moon was already dangling in the sky, preparing for nightfall.
Sure, Syaoran could see all this from Shinshuu… but it was… different observing it from down below. Up there he was apart of the scenery, but down here…
Down here he was an observer, and it made all the difference.
And ever since he came on Earth he felt he could relax and think rationally again. He supposed the scenery was the cause for his change in attitude, but whatever. It was a really nice sight… something he never really saw when he was up in the Heavens. It was beautiful. It was different.
Syaoran closed his eyes as he chose to listen to the passing breeze, the rustling of leaves and bushes and flowers; the swaying of the swings and the chirpings of birds.
Yes, everything was different on Earth. He knew the Gods created all of this, but knowing was different than just being apart of it; actually enjoying it…
At that moment he wasn't the Ai no Kami. He wasn't a God sent on Earth. He wasn't the son of a Love Goddess, but rather Li Syaoran.
At that moment he was simply Syaoran, a man like any other man on earth.
And it felt relaxing…
"It's lovely, isn't it?" a gentle voice broke him out of his reverie.
He opened his eyes and looked up, only to find Kinomoto Sakura standing there with her bag tucked beneath her hand, and her sketch book in the other. It wasn't until he noticed her that he remembered he was lost and an instant wave of relief washed over him. Finally! Someone who knew their way around town!
"Hn," was all he murmured in response though.
She plumped down next to him. "What'cha doing here anyway?"
"Just taking a rest…"
Somewhat the truth…
"…And I kind of got lost."
Sakura raised an eyebrow.
"I was… trying to look around town but… I didn't really know my way around…"
"…So you got lost." Sakura finished off with a grin. She giggled. He looked off, attempting to hide the fact that he was embarrassed at being caught. "It's okay. I'll help you find your way around."
"It's not necessary…" Oh c'mon, Syaoran, without her you'll never find your way home.
Sakura waved a dismissive hand. "It's nothing. I'll help you find your way home, and y'know what? I'll even show you around town tomorrow!"
He was about to protest when she held a hand up to silence him.
"Honestly. You're new here. How will you ever find your way around if you don't know where things are?"
"I – um…"
"Exactly. So, you can't deny my offer. But how 'bout this? As payment just… call me Sakura."
He looked at her in mild surprise.
"I don't like it when people call me Kinomoto. It makes me sound old." She flashed him a grin, and then giggled as she commented, "like my 'tou-san." She then stuck out a hand, signaling him to shake her hand. "Deal?"
Syaoran glanced at her hand, and then at her smiling and expectant face.
He took her hand and shook it. "Deal… Sakura."
They started to wander off with Sakura saying, "Alright, just tell me where you live exactly and I'll take ya there…"
Syaoran did so, all the while thinking that maybe being on Earth might not be so horrible.
Three passions have governed my life:
The longings for love, the search for knowledge,
And unbearable pity for the suffering of humankind.
Love brings ecstasy and relieves loneliness.
In the union of love I have seen
In a mystic miniature the prefiguring vision
Of the heavens that saints and poets have imagined.
With equal passion I have sought knowledge.
I have wished to understand the hearts of people.
I have wished to know why the stars shine.
-- Bertrand Russell
Author's Note: WOOH LONG TIME NO UPDATE! –dodges tomatoes- Sorry dudes and dudettes. I've been living in the stone age with no access to the internet or cable. It's horrible! Dreadful! (just like this chapter… not that happy with it). But I got this done as fast as I could seeing as how I haven't updated in a super long time and I feel real bad and I'VE MISSED WRITING…
-outburst-
Anyway! THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS! And omg I was so excited when I saw I got a review from you, Kotsch. Hehe. I remember reading Buddies in Love way back when and I was in love with the fic. It was so cute. –pets Saku and Syao- (I feel like I'm chatting through my author's note…) but'cha… thanks again to everyone. Just one month left of school and then summer break and I'll be free (hopefully) to write! And my mom should be getting a laptop for me which I plan on bringing with me EVERYWHERE so I can write WHENEVER I WANT. Booya.
I'm all giddy and excited.
Anyywaaaaays my ickle readers, don't forget to leave a review! They mean lots!
--FT
