Author's Notes: Sorry everybody! I just got caught up in the first day of 7th grade and all the homework and all that stuff! Here's chapter 14! Enjoy!
SukiLovesAnime – Sorry, got caught up in homework. Here's the update!
FrozenBlossom – I know I can do it, but the story's been all ready and written up and finished since I first posted. Maybe for the sequel?
Heymary – Yay! I updated!
PureKatPrincess – I updated! Pika!
Amme Moto – Here's the update!
Blue Mew – Here's the update! And no, Camp Gilead is actually a Christian camp.
Mandytee – I'm glad you love it. Here's the update.
(My disclaimer was in chapter 2)
Cherries and Pears – Chapter 14
The next day, Ichigo, Sakura, and Nashi went to school. Ichigo and Nashi both noticed that Sakura seemed to feel extremely sad, as tears repeatedly filled her eyes.
"Are you feeling okay, Sakura-chan?" Ichigo asked her at lunchtime.
Sakura knew that she was not fine, but she forced herself to smile at Ichigo and say that she was. Ichigo stared at Sakura for a moment, then nodded, reluctantly accepting the answer.
"Ichigo-chan, could you please get Nashi-chan for me?" Sakura asked Ichigo after school. "I'm going straight to the café."
Then she ran off before Ichigo could say anything. Sakura ran as fast as she could. When she finally reached Café Mew Mew, she was panting tiredly.
"Keiichiro-san!" she called, spotting him behind the counter. "Where is Ryou?"
"Ryou? He's in the park," Keiichiro told her. "He said you'd know where."
"Thank you!" Sakura said over her shoulder, bolting from the café. She ran down the pathway to the field she and Ryou watched the sunset in last night. She saw Ryou smack in the middle of the field. She dashed over to Ryou, who greeted her softly.
"Why did you place all the blame on me last night?" she confronted him, her voice containing anger but mostly sadness and disappointment. "Why did you call me a ditz? I trusted you with information about my family because you acted kind to me, but then you blew it! Why?"
Ryou stayed silent.
"Answer me, Ryou! Why?" Sakura persisted.
There was still no answer.
"Tell me!" Sakura demanded. "Please!"
Ryou remained quiet. Sakura grasped her skirt between her fingers hard, her knuckles turning white. Sakura shuddered and twitched, trying to stop the tears in her eyes from pouring down her cheeks. But she could not prevent it. The tears poured down her face, soaking her skin, as Sakura's body shook violently.
"Are you crying?" Ryou accused gently, instantly sitting up.
"What's it to you?" Sakura shouted furiously, standing up. She was about to run away from the field when Ryou grasped her wrist firmly.
"Don't leave," he commanded.
"Let me go!" Sakura struggled. But Ryou would not let her go. He pulled her towards him and wrapped his arms around her waist to prevent her from escaping.
"…I don't like to show my emotions," he said.
"What does that have to do with it?" Sakura demanded, still struggling from Ryou.
"I… I didn't want them to… I didn't want them to figure out that I enjoyed watching the sunset with you, okay?" Ryou exploded. Sakura immediately stopped struggling and stared up at him.
"Wha… what?" she asked confusedly. Ryou wiped the still pouring tears from Sakura's face as his own face becomes serious.
"…I'm having trouble making up my mind," he told her, heavily blushing.
"What does that have to do with it?" she asked.
Ryou sighed and slightly loosened his grip on Sakura. He placed one hand on her cheek and kept the other around her waist. He then began slowly moving his face closer to hers, his eyes gradually closing. Sakura was sort of paralyzed at the moment, shocked at what Ryou was doing. His lips were now centimeters from hers, their noses touching…
Author's Notes: Ooh, cliffhanger! Remember that they haven't quite kissed yet! Review please!
