A/N: Right now my eyes are like stars. Stars, stars, stars, asteroid, stars, stars, stars...! I already have four reviews!! Wow...I really thank those people. Sniff...so kind. I never realized until now how precious reviews are. I have something to be thankful for in this harsh, cold world of fanfiction. Hehe.

Blue-sapphire

RequiemElise

Maru-chan

AutumnIllusion

Thank you so much!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Card Captor Sakura...but I do own a deck of cards. Hehe, I know, it's lame.

Chapter 2: Yup, he's definitely insane...

"Tomoyo, do you even know who he is? Do you know who you've just made a bet with?"

"Yes. Hey, what do you think? Blue or red?" I held up a pair of matching sweater-wearing stuffed bears off the glass shelf and observed them critically. Sakura didn't look at either of them and stared pointedly at me. "Well, what do you think? I personally like the red one better because of its rich, bright color...it fits the Christmas spirit perfectly."

"Who cares about Christmas spirit?! What about my question? The bet?? The guy you were just with??? How can you be so calm about it??!" She placed her hands on her petite waist and gave me a 'motherly' glare. "You can't just blow it off like it doesn't matter to you! That guy you just spoke to; he is— "

"Eriol Hiiragizawa," I interrupted, still critiquing the bears. I frowned slightly and grabbed a white-sweater bear from the shelf. Then I smiled. "Hey, now I've got red, white, and blue! I can make this an American Christmas gift set..." The brunette crossed her arms and tapped her foot, an annoyed expression on her cute face. I sighed. "Sakura, I know who he is, all right? I know that he's popular, rich, smart, arrogant, dense, athletic, an idiotic MORON... need I say anything else??" She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, and that he's Syaoran's best bud?" Smirking inwardly, I could practically feel the murderous auras emanating from her body and eyes at the mention of his name. Perhaps she had some kind of alien mental power that could kill people. Those eyes were pretty dangerous... I finally put the bears back (reluctantly) and looked at my cousin as she took a deep breath.

"Tomoyo," she started in a calm voice. "Maybe you don't fully realize this, but Eriol Hiiragizawa is the most popular guy in the school. Or at least, one of the most." I rolled my eyes. I knew perfectly well that he was popular. In high school, popularity equaled power. Power is what drives most people on in life. But, of course, I think the whole thing is total rubbish. I believe in the whole love, family and friends thing. I am an innocent girl in the right direction. Yessiree! ...What the hell am I talking about?

"Sakura. I don't really care about popular people and you know it." I lifted my eyebrows. "It doesn't affect me in the least if preps came up and insulted me! I could care less." She looked at the window, apparently thinking hard. "Listen, I'm sure the whole bet was only a joke...or a threat," I frowned and mentally flipped the blue-haired guy off. "He probably won't remember by tomorrow. If he does, he'll just call it off." I'm just positive he will.

My cousin bit her lip and looked back at me, a slight frown on her face. I looked back at her, determined to show that I was perfectly serious about what I'd just said. Finally, she relaxed and smiled. I smiled back wryly. Sakura could never stay non-smiling for more than a minute.

"Fine," she sighed. "But if he does remember, just say you're sorry and you'll never do it again." I gaped at her. Why, I could never do that! That was just weak! Tomoyo Daidouji never was weak. Well, my mother wasn't. But I was her daughter so it was basically all the same thing. "Tomoyo..." Sakura said in her strict tone. "I mean it, those preps can really bring you down. They've got the power of the whole school in their hands." I scoffed and flipped back my long hair. But what Sakura said was true. The preps DID have power. And if a person got on their bad side...let's just say that high school was plain hell for them.

"Sakura, don't worry, I've got it all under control. I'm not one to mess things up with people like them." I gave her an easy smile. She tilted her head and smiled back. Plus, who could possibly mess up anything when dealing with popular people? Those bunch of sissies werejust areally clueless group. I glanced at my watch and did a double take. "Oh! It's already six-thirty. Darn, I told my driver to pick me up at six." I smiled apologetically and hugged Sakura. "Do you want a ride?" My driver knew where her house was, seeing as he'd drove both of us since we were little kids. She shook her head and turned to go.

"My brother's at school, so I'll just walk there. I'll see you tomorrow," she called as we went our separate ways. "Oh, and if Eriol still remembers, tell me and I'll kick his AND Li's ass for ya!" She grinned, waved and was off. I chuckled and went on my way also. Sakura's offer to beat them up was pretty typical; after all, she was one tough girl. Or, as one of the many guys out there I've overheard said, 'one feisty chick'. When they say that even I wanted to beat them over their heads with my overly heavy textbooks. Males.

The next day I woke up in a rush. My alarm didn't go off until seven-thirty and I had only five minutes to wash, change and eat. I swear, with all the money my mother has I would think I could have a decent alarm clock. But I suppose she doesn't know my problem since I've never mentioned it to her. I guess I'm just being lazy. Anyways, I didn't get much sleep because I had stayed up all night thinking about someone...with blue hair and deep blue eyes. I had dark bags under my eyes.

Straightening my uniform, I yelled a goodbye to my driver and ran into the large school. Thankfully, the bell rung after I'd reached my seat. Sakura, who was in my first period, math, took her seat next to mine just as the teacher walked into the classroom. We both panted and looked at each other, struggling not to burst out laughing. It was known that Sakura Kinomoto was a very late person, and her near tardiness every morning was something to be expected amongst the juniors.

After attendance, the teacher begun the arithmetic lesson and Sakura turned on her sleepy mode she usually had during math. I smiled at this and paid attention to the teacher, knowing today's lesson was a little complicated and something I needed to study. Soon, other students grew bored of the teacher's droning voice and began whispering to each other, sending notes and stuff. Only I understood what was coming out of the teacher's mouth.

Maybe that was why I didn't notice the looks people were giving me, and the whispers that were increasing behind me.

"Tomoyo," Sakura whispered beside me. I turned my head and saw her glaring at something behind me. I gave her a questioning look and turned to see what was going on. My eyes caught dark brown eyes and Syaroan smirked. I raised an eyebrow. Oh yeah, Sakura's ultimate rival was in our first class. He sat in the back with the rest of the "cool" people. Hmm, what did he want? Not only was he disrupting the lesson, he was pissing Sakura off. I could feel her glaring eyes of emerald ice just begging to shoot him down. He caught her eyes and sneered back. Then he stuck out his tongue. I think Sakura started that. He even scrunched his nose, crossed his eyes and pulled his ears. I seriously think those two have problems.

"Asshole's trying to ask you something," she announced softly as to get my attention. I sighed impatiently. I noticed some girls were shooting evil looks at Sakura and me. And most of them, I noticed, were preps. I didn't really care much. Syaoran started silently mouthing words, using hand motions to help define what he was messaging. I didn't get it. He rolled his eyes and tried again. Still, I didn't get it.

One of the guys next to him, Takashi Yamazaki I think, caught my eyes and grinned widely, waving a cheerful hand. I blinked and smiled a little. He whispered something to Syaoran, who in turn blinked and then scowled.

I think he finally gained some sense, because he scribbled a note, folded it and passed it along to me. I reluctantly read it:

'Meet Eriol Hiiragizawa at the stairs during lunch. Come alone; NO KINOMOTO. Do not forget.' My face turned a bit blank at these words and my heart stopped pounding. It started pumping again when I reread the note. I breathed deeply, trying to calm down. Okay, Tomoyo, it's just a meeting. He probably just wanted to discuss the bet. Perhaps he was going to call it off. Hmm, and I was supposed to skip lunch for this?

I needed to think this over. I still had two more periods until lunch. And what did he mean by stairs? I read over that part in the note again, my eyebrows furrowing. What the hell did he mean by stairs??? "Stairs?" I breathed quietly.

"He means the stairs at the front of the school," someone whispered. I jumped and looked around frantically, until I saw Sakura staring intently at the note. Oh, so she read it. I looked at the expression on her face carefully and saw that she didn't like what the note said at all. "Stupid git, he just wants to gang up on you! Dumb sniveling rat!" She hissed as she shot daggers at said rat, who in turn, I assumed, returned the favor. I sighed and folded the note, looking at the teacher again. Then, after hesitating, I looked back at Syaoran and nodded slightly. He got the message. Taking a deep breath, I tried to focus on the lesson. Key word: tried.

The bell rang. I hurriedly grabbed my bag and whisked out of the classroom with Sakura on my heels. "Tomoyo, if you're thinking about going to meet him without me, think again. I'm coming with you whether you like it or not! Whether ANYBODY likes it or not! For I, Sakura Kinomoto, will never part from my best friend's side until death, or total blackmail!" I blinked.

"That is the most pathetic speech I've ever heard," came a drawling voice. Sakura immediately narrowed her eyes and stepped out of her noble form, her emerald eyes flashing as Syaoran walked towards us. Takashi was with him, chatting amiably with another boy. I sighed and grabbed Sakura's elbow, attempting to drag her away before another verbal battle issued.

"Well," she retorted as I kept pulling her, "seeing as you never getanything into your headand your judgment for these kind of things are very poor, I suggest you keep yourpetty comments to yourself and BUG OFF!" She spun around and marched away, this time dragging ME along with her.

"Daidouji, I hope you aren't being influenced by that minx!" He called after us.

"As if!" My cousin yelled quickly. "Snot head," she muttered. I sighed.

"Sakura, you and Syaoran are so immature. You guys have known each other since, what, fourth grade?? Don't you think six years is long enough to let the past go?" I managed to keep up with her lengthening strides as we neared the gym. She grunted quietly but didn't say anything else, to my surprise and relief.

Our next period was P.E, so we went into the locker room and changed into our P.E uniforms consisting of red shirts and black shorts. As we jogged out to our gym, I glanced at the other gym rooms connected to ours. Through one open door, I caught a glimpse of running students and—

A flash of blue.

Oh dear heavens I did not just see blue.

No, I absolutely did not.

Absolutely, positively did not see blue.

Never.

Eriol Hiiragizawa.

Damn—!

"Tomoyo!" I woke out of my daze just in time to crash into the wall. I fell on my bottom and blinked, seeing stars, daisies and birdies. Soon, twenty Sakura's stood before me, every one of them frowning in concern. I grinned a little goofily and giggled. This was kind of fun. I shook my head slightly and rubbed my nose.Finally my vision cleared and Sakura helped me up.

"Tom, your nose is red," my best friend informed me as the class began to settle down. I would have been mortified and embarrassed that I had just ran into a wall, but the pain in my nose was kind of bothering me. And besides, the sight of Hiiragizawa in the same building as me at the exact same time boggled me. Well, I've never really seen him in the gym before because he wasn't in the same class as me. There were six different auxiliary gyms in the building, and one big auditorium in the center. So it made sense that I'd never seen him until now. I groaned and rubbed my poor nose.

"Great, I run into a door, now I run into a wall. What next?" I cried out half-fake with despair. Sakura giggled and patted my back. Then a dark look crossed her face. I backed away at the sudden evil change.

"That Li better watch his stupid ass! I'm going to follow you and make sure nothing happens!" I blinked and gave her an uncertain smile as she glared. "He's probably tricking you into doing something...just so that he can earn Eriol's good side!"

I smiled amusedly. "Why would he want to get on Hiiragizawa's good side? They're best friends, Kura." She snorted but didn't say anything. I cocked my head. This was the second time in less than an hour she hadn't retorted at anything smart I said. Surprising. Usually she was spewing and spitting fire, her spirit never undaunted, but now...obviously she was thinking about something. Something very important. I would ask her later. We turned our attention to the teacher, who was just finished talking.

"...and Friday, we will have the tournament. Okay, everybody start running! You're legs need to be warmed up before we go into gymnastics!" Aaaaand what was that?? I blinked and got up as everybody started running around the gym, muttering to each other.

"What did he say?" I asked Sakura as we ran slowly. She shrugged.

"I don't know. I was talking to you." I sighed and looked over my shoulder. One of my other good friends, Chiharu Mihara, was jogging slowly behind us. I slowed down and asked her the same question. Her auburn pig-tails bounced as she smiled excitedly.

"We're going to hold a basketball tournament this Friday!" Sakura slowed down to run with us. She had a surprised look on her face.

"Are you serious? Cool!" She grinned fiercely, almost smugly. I think the word 'competition' was slowly being branded in her head.

"Yeah," I said quietly, smiling. I, for some reason, loved basketball. Although I wasn't into sports, and I hardly joined any teams at school, I liked dribbling basketballs and shooting them into baskets. I was pretty good at it too. I was a quiet, calm girl at school, but when I was at home, my attitude was fiercer than any chimpanzee. Of course I don't know what I mean by that...oh well. Anyways, I practiced a lot at home, and sometimes Sakura, Chiharu, and some other girls would practice with me. It would be a girl's basketball game at my home sweet home.

Chiharu began talking about how tomorrow was going to be fun and how much she was going to practice tonight. I understood why she was so happy because she loved sports, especially basketball. In fact, she joined cheerleading just so she could sit in the front row and watch the boy's basketball play. It suited her because she had so much energy. Sakura was in cheerleading also, but for what reason I still did not know. I think it had something to do with a certain chocolate-eyed junior being on the varsity team.

"Tomoyo... Tomoyo? Earth to Tomoyo!!" I glanced up quickly and looked at Chiharu. "Good, I thought that run into the wall gave you A.D.D. or something," she said good-naturedly. I blushed in embarrassment. Darn, somebody else saw! "Well, the other part is that the other five classes are going to be in the tournament. This will be so fun..! I think Yamazaki is in Class D..." she trailed off and soon she and Sakura were discussing their plans of beating a certain boy's butt.

I was frozen...mentally. Everyone in the gym was going to be in this? That would mean that...

...Eriol Hiiragizawa would be there too. We would see each other. What if I was in one of those teams competing? What if HE was in one of those teams? I mentally put these two together... I would be pulverized. A squashed rooster. A massacred rabbit.

Wait a minute, what was I talking about? Of course I was going to be in the team! I was going to face that arrogant clown with all the Daidouji spirit vested in me! I was not going to back down!! I would show that I was a determined girl when I wanted to be! Okay, enough pep talk. If I was going to meet him at lunch, I was going to need every ounce of wit and control I had.

The next period went by quickly, and it was Sakura-Syaoran free. I kept my calm as the bell rung, signaling lunchtime. Holding my bag tightly, I went to the front entrance and waited there. The stairs were outside, but I didn't want to stand out there on the steps. No, I would look like a dork then. Not that I wasn't in the first place...no. I wasn't a dork. I was average.

So if I was average, why was I betting with one of THE hottest guys in the school? Why did I agree to become rivals with him? Was my pride and anger really worth all this trouble? We were rivals for goodness sake.

A Sakura-Syaoran twin. Oh dear.

Suddenly, a hand touched my shoulder, and I spun around, holding back a scream. I realized it was only Sakura. She was out of breath and a pissed off look was etched on her face. I swallowed. What was up with her?

"Tomoyo, I just ran into Li and he tried to start a fight with me! The nerve of that bastard! I think he was trying to distract me, but then I remembered your meeting here..." she narrowed her eyes. I blinked. "I think Eriol's trying to set you up. This is probably all a trick or something." She muttered to herself and looked around. I looked around also, nervously clasping my bag. Was she right? Was Er-Hiiragizawa really trying to trick me?

Just a minute here. Why was I being nervous? There was nothing to be nervous about. He was just another prep...another guy who played with ladies and acted like he was King of the universe.Yes, that was Hiiragizawa all right. I narrowed my eyes in determination and stood straight. I remembered the arrogant smirk hovering around his lips as he challenged me. The familiar irritation and anger swept through me again. I smirked to myself. I would face him like the girl I was.

Sakura must have seen my sudden determination (or break to insanity) because her eyes widened and she looked uneasy. "Uh, you can stop looking like that now. It's a little scary..." I eyed her confusedly. "You know, the smirk, the glare, the malicious air... hey, I rhymed!" She smiled delightedly at me as I raised an eyebrow.

"Looks like he's not coming," I remarked shortly. I glanced at my watch and noticed that I'd already waited ten minutes. Damnation. Only twenty minutes left of lunch. I snorted mentally. "I knew it. He's just one of those airy-headed jocks with nothing in mind but sports and sex!" Oooh, good one. Sakura looked a little appalled at this, but I was too revved up to stop talking. "He was only trying to save face when he made that bet with me. And for a while back there I thought he actually had a brain. Well, guess not! And you know what? I think he forgot. Yes, he forgot. Tchah, figures. A guy with nothing in his head but dust wouldn't remember his own bet. I don't even know why I agreed to it! It's obvious that he was only saying words. And guess what? All my pride and rage, wasted! Arrogant prick!" Ding, ding, ding!!

As I took a breath, I smiled triumphantly at Sakura. Since I was facing the wall, which she was leaning against, I didn't see what she was staring so horrified at. A sharp sound suddenly erupted, and I nearly jumped. Somebody was clapping. The sound echoed eerily in the empty hall, and I was almost afraid to turn around.

"And I thought Kinomoto's speech was crappy," a familiar voice commented dryly. I turned around slowly, expecting to see Syaoran. I saw him all right. He was alreadybusy having a glaring contest with Sakura. Who I didn't expect was the guy beside him.

It was Eriol Hiiragizawa. (dum, dum, dum)

"Syaoran," he said in his quiet, deep voice, his eyes never leaving mine. I swallowed. The brown-haired boy beside him nodded slightly.

"Oi, Kinomoto. Care to continue that little fight you ran away from?" Syaoran's taunting words seemed to drive Sakura up the wall, because she growled under her breath.

"It wasn't even a fight! You started it!" I could tell she was trying hard to keep her temper in check. I admired her determination. But I was getting nervous...a pair of blue eyes never broke its intense gaze on me. "Tomoyo," Sakura gritted out quietly. I turned slightly to hear her. "Let's go." I blinked, gathered my senses and nodded jerkily. As I followed her out the door, I heard Syaoran yelling and someone grabbed my wrist. I was quickly pulled back into the hall. Whoa... a rapist?!?

"H-hey let me go!" I turned to see Hiiragizawa looking down at me with cool eyes, a passive expression on his handsome face. Indignation swept through me. What was he doing, touching me as if he had every right to?! I gave him a swift glare and wrenched my wrist from his grip. I realized Sakura was outside, and Syaoran was with her. They were having another verbal match. Without a second glance, I walked out through the doors where Sakura was screaming at the equally enraged Syaoran.

"Let them fight it out," said the calm voice. Hiiragizawa had followed me out. I tried to turn a deaf ear at the source of the voice, but then I felt something warm tickling my "deaf" ear. "You seem to think you know a lot about me..." He was talking intosaid "deaf" ear. He was way too close. My alarms were going off. "Well, since you obviously didn't forget about our little bet, why don't I get it started?" I shivered slightly as his breath hit my cheek. I tried to turn away, but he suddenly held my shoulders firmly from behind. I flushed deeply, knowing our position looked a little...weird. Should I kick him? Perhaps whirl around and knee him where it hurts? But his grip was pretty strong. I would probably break my collarbone trying to turn. I had to talk my way out of this. Prepare for Daidouji's legendary silver tongue.

"What do you mean? H-How would you get it started?" I croaked.Oh...that wassilver all right. Ibarely noticed Sakura and Syaoran moving farther and farther out of sight, still yelling bloody murder at each other. My heart was racing; what should I do??

"Hmm, glad you asked," he teased softly. I glared at the ground. I could hear his annoyingly arrogant voice taunting me. I hated players like him. HATE them."This Friday, during the basketball tournament...I want to see you there." I blinked. He wanted to see me there? How did he know I had that same class during that period? No matter, it wasn't important now.

"I'm going to be there, of course. Everyone is," I scoffed, stepping forward to free myself. His hold didn't budge, and neither did I. Stupid Hiiragizawa. He was starting to annoy the hell out of me. "Now what?" I snapped. "I said I was going to be there! Now let go!" I reached up to pry his hands off but then he spun me around to face him. I squinted up like he was the sun, backing away slightly when I realized how close we were. He smirked. I glared, tryingextremelyhard not to kick him.

"I want you to be in the tournament...as in, playing basketball."

Oh.

Darn. Darn, darn, darn, darn, darn, darn!

"Why?" Was the only question I could come up with. He tilted his head and smirked, finally letting go of me. For a moment he actually looked cute. But I'll be damned if I told him that.

"I'm going to show the school how pathetic you are."

Forget what I said. That bastard. That stupid asswipe of a...a banana!!

I, Tomoyo Daidouji, was not a person who could be easily provoked. I rarely even stayed angry with someone for so long. I was normally at peace with everything. I was like a calm as a...log. Never was I fire. But when someone particularly irritating and aggravating as Hiiragizawa here pushed my buttons, it was like a lit match being thrown at me. And I, the peaceful log, catch fire. Easily. Like right now.

I narrowed my eyes at the guy before me and answered his challenge with a smirk of my own.

"A prep like you shouldn't be able to say the word pathetic," was my finishing touch. He stared at me with surprised eyes, but then slowly smirked, a very-much sadistic look settling on his face.

It was on.

A/N: Well, I kind of wrote this in a hurry. It's not as good as I would haveliked it to be. Well, I hope everybodyenjoyed it anyways! Thank you, and please review!