Author's note Sorry for the delay. I got caught up with my preparatory exams, so I couldn't update. Anyways here are the answers to the riddles,
The tail would point down.
It's not raining.
Wednesday.
Congratulations to all those who answered it correctly! And an important msg to all the readers I have not mentioned that Sakura and Tomoyo are engaged to Syaoran and Eriol. Who knows, it could be some one else. Now, let's go on with the story.
Chapter 4:
CRASH!
Sakura fell down dropping all the plates in her hand.
"Moron, can't you see where you're going?"
"It's not my fault you're so clumsy"
"How dare you call me clumsy!"
"You're such klutz"
"Why, you…"
Chiharu sighed, "They are at it again"
That's right. Sakura and Syaoran were fighting again. Sakura was infuriated that Syaoran and she had to work in the same place. Tomoyo had told her yesterday evening that Eli worked in the same place as her. Also Lee and Eli were staying at a farmhouse not far from their cottage.
"You know what, fighting is a sign of a good relationship" Yamazaki commented.
"For once you've spoken the truth" Chiharu said.
"Those two are really cute together" Naoko giggled.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" yelled Sakura and Syaoran at the same instant.
"See, you're even saying the same thing together" Naoko smiled. Both Sakura and Syaoran glanced at each other, blushed and looked away.
The other three giggled. Akane came inside, "Don't forget! It's the festival tonight"
"What festival?" asked Sakura glad to change the topic.
"Oh, I forgot you both are new here aren't you? You see centuries ago people believed that the forest was cursed, so no one used to enter the forest for they feared death. Even though many people claimed that there were no such things as curses no one proved it. On this same day all those years ago a man entered the forest and came out alive. Ever since that day the people celebrated today to honor his bravery." Akane explained.
"That's an amazing story. What do you do in this festival?" Sakura asked wide-eyed.
"Well, there are all kinds of stalls and there's a dance and the best of all is the test of courage." Naoko said her eyes shining.
"What's a test of courage?"
"It's like a game. We all are divided into pairs and then we have to go into the forest to a small temple and bring something back from the temple. Each pair will be given a different route." Chiharu told Sakura and Syaoran who looked equally amazed.
"Alright, we'll see you guys tonight, bye!" called Naoko as she left.
"Bye, Flora. Bye, Lee" Chiharu went out dragging Yamazaki.
Sakura ran home and found Tomoyo who was busy sewing something. "Tomoyo, have you heard about the festival?"
"Of course. Look I've already made a nice dress for you to wear tonight" Tomoyo triumphantly held out the baby pink dress she was making.
"Right" Sakura said hesitantly. "I can hardly wait for tonight. I hope you get to be my partner for the test courage. I don't want anyone else to find out about my fear of ghosts."
"We'll see tonight"
That night
The place was beautifully decorated. There were many colorful lamps and flags hung on trees. Lots of people and children dressed in their best clothes were strolling and looking at the stalls.
Sakura and Tomoyo were at the entrance waiting for their friends to arrive.
"Look there's Chiharu and Yamazaki" Sakura waved and went over to them.
"Flora! Violette! You both look awesome" Chiharu told them.
"Thanks a lot"
"Hi Rika! Hi Naoko" Tomoyo smiled at the two approaching girls.
"Here come Eli and Lee" Yamazaki waved them over.
Sakura glanced at Tomoyo who was blushing. "You ladies look amazing tonight" Eli said smiling. "Now that we are all here let's go and look at the stalls. We have one hour before the dance starts" announced Chiharu.
Yamazaki wanted to try the hoopla so he dragged Chiharu with him while Naoko and Rika went off to do some shopping.
"I want to try that," Sakura said pointing at a stall, where you're supposed to knock the wooden dolls with a ball.
"Sure," Tomoyo agreed. And the two girls went paid the main and he gave them three red balls.
"How come there aren't any prizes?" Sakura asked looking around.
"Well miss, if you win then you get this," he said showing a tiny piece of colored parchment, "When you collect a minimum of 5 you can go and select the gift you want from the gift stall, at the end"
"That's sounds great! Are you going to give it a shot To—Violette?"
Tomoyo considered and said, "Maybe I will. Rika said that the gifts are really good,"
Sakura eagerly took the balls from the man and flung it at the dolls. The first shot went no where near the dolls. Sakura pouted in disappointment and before she could fling the next one, she heard a loud snort from behind her, which was from Lee (obviously).
"Nice shot there," he called mockingly and waved the colorful parchments he had collected. Sakura glowered at the chestnut haired young man and flung the second ball. But all her concentration was lost and she hurled the ball at the poor man's face. Taken completely by surprise he fell down against the force of the ball.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Are you alright sir?" she squealed.
Tomoyo ran in and helped the poor man get up. "I'm fine," he muttered rubbing his sore cheek. At this Syaoran roared in laughter, unlike Eriol who came rushing the help the man.(Mainly because he could get close to Tomoyo.) Syaoran was so absorbed in his laughter that he didn't notice Sakura toss the third ball at him. It hit him straight in the face and he sat down hard on the floor, blinking at what had hit him. Sakura walked up to him and said triumphantly, "Bull's eye!" He gave her his famous death glare, she ignored it but much to his amazement whispered a distinct "Sorry" before she stalked past him.
Tomoyo ran after Sakura, "Hey Flora Eli says he'll get me something from the gift stall. Want to come?"
"Sure"
The gift stall was pretty crowded but had all sorts of things. Brooches, necklaces, clothes and few other things, for five colored parchments the people were allowed to select what they wanted.
Tomoyo held up a brooch in the shape of a purple flower, "What do you think?"
"It's pretty"
"Do you want to get something too?" Tomoyo asked
Sakura shook her head, "No you buy something. Eli wants to get you something doesn't he?"
Tomoyo blushed and went over to give the parchments to get her brooch. Sakura looked at the displays a pretty necklace with a star shaped dollar caught her eye.
"Do you want it?" asked the woman holding it up for Sakura to see.
"I don't have any parchments" she said sadly.
"Go and try your luck dear, you'll get some parchments soon" The lady encouraged.
Just then Chiharu came over.
"Come on guys, it's time for the dance" she called.
All of them walked over to where the dance was held.
The dance
Sakura looked around and saw Chiharu dancing with Yamazaki, Rika and Naoko were dancing with some guys she didn't know. She saw Eli asking Tomoyo to dance with him, Tomoyo accepted.
Oh well this will get over soon she sighed and leaned against a tree watching them dance.
"Would you like to dance?" A voice asked.
Sakura spun around and looked into a pair of familiar pair of amber eyes. She raised an eyebrow.
"I'm only asking because we're the only ones who aren't dancing and people are staring. It's getting awkward." Syaoran defended himself.
She looked around to see he was right. So she accepted and the two of them went closer to where the others were dancing. Sakura didn't look up at him. She could feel his hand around her as they danced slowly.
She stole a glance at him, he was looking elsewhere too. His amber eyes were really entrancing, and he looked really handsome with his soft chestnut hair falling over his eyes
Suddenly he turned and looked at her, realizing that she had been staring she quickly looked away, a blush creeping to her face.
Syaoran stared at Sakura, she was looking down. He thought he saw her blushing but he wasn't sure. Sakura's beautiful auburn hair hung over face. Her eyes were gorgeous emerald green in color. She looked really pretty.
They suddenly realized that the dance was over and broke apart not looking at each other.
"Yeah it's time for the test of courage" Naoko looked really excited.
"Naoko loves scary stuff" Rika explained.
Sakura was surprised, for she was scared of ghosts and thunder,(the sky was cloudy but it wasn't raining). She was really afraid to go out in the forest when it was dark. She ran away from the castle at night only because she was desperate to stop the marriage.
"Come here and collect your numbers" cried the announcer holding out a bag.
"There are two of every numbers, so the two people who get the same numbers will have to go together." Chiharu explained as they went over to get their numbers.
Hoping that she and Tomoyo could be a team, Sakura dipped her hand in the bag. She pulled out a piece of parchment
The number10 was written on her paper. "What did you get?" she asked Tomoyo nervously.
"12"
"Oh! No! I was afraid of that. I don't want every one to know I'm scared of ghosts."
Eriol peeked over Tomoyo's shoulder and saw her number whilst she was talking to Sakura.
"I've got 10" he turned to Syaoran with pleading eyes, "What number have you got?"
"12" he replied dully.
"Could we trade, please?" Eriol had tears in the corner of his eyes.
"No"
"Thank you" cried Eriol grabbing Syaoran's paper and thrusting his paper at Syaoran.
"HEY! I never said yes" yelled Syaoran.
"Lee, Eli! What numbers have you got?" Tomoyo asked.
"I've got 12" Eriol said with an innocent look before Syaoran could say anything.
"Really? Me too" Tomoyo said. "Yamazaki and Rika are a team. Chiharu and Naoko… what about you Saku—Flora?"
"10. But I don't know who my partner is"
"Lee is" Eriol said.
"What!" yelped Sakura. Great. Of all the people why did it have to be him? I don't want him to find out that I'm scared of ghosts. He'd tease me forever.
Syaoran smirked, "Are you scared?"
Sakura regained her composure and retorted, "Of course not" but she wished that she was half as confident as she sounded.
"I think Chiharu likes Yamazaki. She seems disappointed" Tomoyo whispered.
Sakura glanced at Chiharu and nodded.
"You know what" Yamazaki said, "They say that the test of courage is really dangerous. Years ago two people disappeared and the people who went look for them also mysteriously vanished. It was said that the missing people were the only ones who ever reached the temple alive. But the temple was haunted by the ghost of a witch who was executed there. The night those men disappeared was just like tonight. The sky was dark and cloudy. Thunder and lightening clashed but it never rained. Also…"
But before Yamazaki could continue, Chiharu strangled him, "You liar! You're making that up again"
"All that was a lie?" Eriol looked at Rika and Naoko who were shaking their heads.
"Yeah, it always happens this way" Rika said
"But Chiharu is the only one who can tell he's lying" Naoko told them.
Soon the people gathered around at the edge of the forest. Sakura waved to Tomoyo as she and Syaoran walked into the forest.
Soon it was Tomoyo and Eriol's turn to go inside. Tomoyo peered into the map as Eriol shone the torch( A fire torch) over it. "Judging by the path it'll take about 10 minutes to reach the temple" she announced.
As Eriol took the map from her, their hands accidentally brushed, Tomoyo withdrew her hand blushing. Eriol was blushing too, "Sorry" he mumbled. And the two of them walked silently for a while.
Eriol stared at Tomoyo, she was looking really beautiful. Her pale skin seemed to glow in the darkness. "Um—Violette" he called softly.
She raised her head and looked at him questioningly, he gulped, "Nothing"
She looked at him strangely but said nothing. "Violette"
"What is it, Eli?" she sounded a little exasperated
"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you angry. I just wanted to tell you that you looked really pretty today and your dress is beautiful" he blurted out unable to keep his blabbering mouth shut.
She suddenly turned million shades red, "Thanks, you're looking quite handsome yourself" she said.
"You really think so?" She nodded and smiled at him.
He blushed happily, "Thank you"
I can't believe he said that I was pretty thought Tomoyo feeling elated.
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"You're scared aren't you?" Syaoran mocked at her
"No I am not" she said hotly.
"Then why are you holding my hand so tight?" He asked
Sakura turned a brilliant shade of red and let go of his Syaoran's arm. She scowled angrily and stalked forward and disappeared into a couple of bushes. A few minutes she screamed loudly and reappeared from the bushes.
She threw herself on Syaoran, burying her face in his chest and holding the front of his shirt tightly. "There is something there" she whispered. "Something touched me"
Syaoran was just about sneer at her when he noticed that her face was pale, she was trembling and there were tears in her eyes.
"Ok I admit" she sobbed, "I am afraid of ghosts and I hate going out in the dark"
"But why were you in the forest the night we bumped into you?"
"I only came because Violette was with me" she said.
He didn't say anything, "I'm scared of getting lost" thunder clashed above them, she buried her face harder into Syaoran's chest, "And… and I hate thunder"
He placed his hands on her shoulders and said, "Don't worry. It'll be just fine. Now come on the sooner we reach the temple, the sooner we can get out of here" he said in a much more gentle voice.
Sakura smiled to herself and pulled away from him. The rest of the journey was pretty quiet except for the times some of the towns people jumped out of bushes and trees disguised as monsters and ghouls. Sakura practically screamed her head off grasping Syaoran's arm more tightly than ever as if hanging on to her life.
Finally they somehow made it out of the forest, Chiharu and Naoko were already there, Rika and Yamazaki came soon after and finally Tomoyo and Eriol came out. Once all of the contestants came out, they had dinner. Everyone was chatting excitedly about their adventures inside the forest.
"It's going to be fun sleeping here tonight" Yamazaki cried as they grabbed a couple of mattresses to sleep around the fire. Spreading it on the ground the eight of them sat in a circle.
"Let's say scary stories" whispered Naoko
"Ok since you're good at that, why don't you say it?" Rika suggested, "Everybody ok with that?" she added.
Everyone nodded, Sakura too for she did not want to spoil the others' fun. Syaoran glanced at Sakura, she seemed very nervous.
"Once upon a time" began Naoko, "There was a princess who was very curious, and there was an abandoned old tower at the border of the capital city. Everyone was forbidden to go there saying that the place was cursed. But the princess wanted to know what it was like inside the castle, but the king forbade her to go inside. Her curiosity soon got the better of her and she sneaked into the tower one night. As soon she steeped inside the door shut behind her. It was very dark. The girl saw a light somewhere and followed it to a room, the room was empty but an old rocking chair was creaking by a fireplace as though someone was sitting on it, she got scared and ran into a creepy hallway. She kept running till she was tired out when suddenly someone touched her shoulder, she turned around and…."
"What's going on over here?" asked a voice. Sakura let out a shrill scream and promptly jumped behind Syaoran holding on the back of his shirt, Tomoyo and Chiharu clutched at Eriol and Yamazaki.
"Oh, it's you Lily" said Rika thankfully to the girl. The girl apparently had something to tell Rika and she walked off.
A wave of relief swept through Sakura as she rested her forehead on Syaoran's shoulder, then she got up from behind him and went over to her mattress and stretched
"Let's go to bed. It's late" Syaoran suggested. Sakura looked at him gratefully and lay on her mattress.
Everyone soon fell asleep, but Sakura couldn't, she tossed and turned and finally got up and sat by the edge of the river nearby. She put her hands on her chin and thought about what had happened that day. She hated Syaoran but somehow she had felt so safe when she was with him in the forest. She sighed and shook her head
"Mind if I join you?"
"No not at all" she asked Syaoran to sit down. "So you couldn't sleep?" he asked.
She shook her head, "Me neither"
There was pause, "Hey Flora. Mind if I ask you something?"
She raised her head, it was the first time he called her by her name "No go ahead"
"Why are you scared of ghosts and stuff?"
"When I was little my brother and I were playing in the forest, I ran off ahead leaving my brother behind. Soon it became dark and it started to rain heavily, and I took shelter under a tree. Suddenly I heard a wolf's howl behind me I got so scared that I started running blindly and all the scary stories my brother told me began to flash in my mind. In the dark I fell into the river and was found lying unconscious by some of the town's people the next day. And ever since that experience I've been so scared of ghosts" she finished.
Syaoran said nothing.
"Well I'd better go." She stood up and turned around. He suddenly grabbed her wrist and stuffed something into her hand. Before she could say anything he walked off
"Sleep well and happy nightmares"
She was just about to reply but then changed her mind and looked at what he'd given her.
It was the star shaped necklace that she had wanted. She smiled happily and put it sound her neck.
"Thank you" she whispered before falling asleep
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Author's note Well what do you think of that chapter? Review or e-mail me your opinions as well as the answers to the following riddles.
If your mother's brother's only sister had a child, then how would the child be related to you?
I have holes on my top, I have holes on bottom, I have holes on my left and right and I have holes in the middle yet I hold water. What am I?
My final exams are nearing, so I'll try my best to finish this fic before that (Though it's not quite possible as my exams start on March 9 and stretches on for a week.groans) This entire week has been gloomy for all of my friends, but I don't you want to guys to catch it as well, so I'll toss in a joke which was published in our school magazine.
Law of a student
The more you learn, the more you know
The more you know, the more you forget
The more you forget, the less you learn
So why learn?
Well that's it for now. Hope I'll be able to update soon. See ya guys soon!
sakura doll