Chapter 4. House Rules

Disclaimer: You know I don't own the awesome CCS.

After Nadeshiko and Syaoran left, Sakura crept out of her room. Her dad was out of the city again, on another excavation trip. He'd be gone for a week. He came to tell her goodbye just this morning. Touya was at the college in the next city, applying for a scholarship.

She sighed, and then plopped down on the couch, munching on an apple. She had been trying to keep herself preoccupied for some time. She kept away all thoughts of another year in her dreaded high school. Why was she the school loser again?

Sakura was a big bookworm. Truth be told, she was a sucker for love stories. She could read a three-inch thick book in less than a week. She also had a habit of taking notes in class, reviewing too much, and reciting a lot. Because of that, she was labeled the nerd.

She wore her long hair down a lot. She had been meaning to cut it for ages, but she never got around to doing it. Also, the clothes she wore never really seemed to match. Without a girl friend around, she was stuck with figuring things out by herself.

To be honest, she was beautiful. People just don't see it because they don't look hard enough. Her emerald green eyes were always curious and innocent. At home, she was happy and carefree. At school, she was reserved and quiet. She enjoyed the company her parents and Touya gave her, but she never felt the feeling when you were with a friend.

Even worse, she only saw Eriol every Saturday. That was the day that they invite him and Nakuru to come over and have dinner. His house wasn't far from hers, but they were in separate schools, so she seldom sees him.

This year would finally change, she thought to herself. Eriol and Li were going to be in her school. Oh, and Tomoyo. She vaguely remembered her mother gushing about her cousin Sonomi's daughter.

Sakura had never met Tomoyo, and she wasn't sure what to make of her. Whenever Tomoyo was around for a visit, she was out of the house or hiding somewhere doing something. Would she shut her out because of her status? The three would probably be popular the second they step into the classroom. Come on, they were gorgeous. Sakura had seen pictures of her cousin Tomoyo before but none of them too recent.

It was also unfair in Tomoyo's part, to be judged even before meeting. Sakura was just making sure she wouldn't have a bully for a cousin. She resolved to just let things flow, whether it was in her favor or not.

She threw away what was left of her apple, and then made herself some orange juice. She faintly heard the door open, and then close. It was her mother.

"Hello, mother. What happened to Li-san?" Sakura asked. Her orange juice cup was half empty already. She poured herself some more.

Nadeshiko smiled, "He's with Eriol."

Sakura nodded. "How come you're his legal guardian?" Yes, it was a question that had been constantly reappearing on her mind.

Nadeshiko seemed thoughtful for a moment. "Well, do you remember Li Yelan, Hiiragizawa Miya and Daidouji Sonomi?"

The girl nodded. "Well, we told each other that whatever happens to us, our children had to go to one. Syaoran to me, you to Yelan, Eriol to Sonomi, and Tomoyo to Miya. But then, Miya and her husband, Uteji-kun died so suddenly, that Nakuru took charge. Sonomi agreed, since she and Tomoyo lived in Tokyo."

Sakura smiled. Somehow, in some way, the little arrangement was cute, albeit confusing.

Suddenly, the door creaked open. Two boys were heard arguing.

"Tell her to cook pizza."
"But we had pizza yesterday."
"Aw, c'mon Eriol. Pizza."
"No. Lasagna, and that's final."
"Fine..."

Syaoran and Eriol emerged from outside. They both bowed to Nadeshiko.

Syaoran's eyes fell on Sakura. When she noticed this, her eyes found the floor. He tilted his head slightly, and then breathed.

"Hello, Kinomoto-san."

"Hey, Sakura!" Eriol was bouncy and hyper. Sakura guessed ice cream and sweets. She smiled sheepishly.

"Hi Li-san. Eriol."

"Syaoran?" It was Nadeshiko. She opened the door to his room midway. "May I come in?"

Syaoran was keeping a paintbush in one of the cabinet drawers. He nodded. He had been painting for a while ever since he came to the Kinomoto household. He was nearly finished with his painting. It was of beautiful garden. To be honest, it was of Nadeshiko's garden.

"That's a lovely painting. It's my garden, isn't it?" Nadeshiko beamed. Syaoran truly was a gifted child.

Syaoran returned a weak smile. "Yes, it is."

Nadeshiko shook her head and then sighed. "Since you'll be staying with us now, you'd better know that we have house rules here. Curfew is at 11 pm; although I'm sure we wont have any problems with that. You have also have chores."

The boy's eyes widened. He had never done chores before. "B-but… I don't know how." He said quietly, his eyes on the ground.

Nadeshiko tried to ease his tension. "Sakura will help you!" She chirped.

Syaoran's shoulders slumped in defeat. "Alright, Mrs. Kinomoto. Thank you."

Syaoran swore inwardly as the plate slipped from his grasp again. He was washing the dinner plates. Nadeshiko already went to sleep and only who knows what Sakura was doing.

"You seem to be having trouble." He whipped around and saw Sakura in a t-shirt and pajamas. She raised her eyebrows, and then looked off to the side.

Syaoran laughed nervously. "Umm, yeah. I can't get the hang of it."

Sakura walked near him, and then took a pair of rubber gloves. She put them on and then took a plate. "You hold it like this," she demonstrated, "and you scrub downward, like this." For ten minutes, they washed and scrubbed and rinsed the dinner dishes. In all honesty, Syaoran had fun. It was weird. But it was fun. After a few tries, he got the hang of it quickly.

Sakura dried her hands with a tissue paper. "Well, I'll uhh, go now. Goodnight!" She fled from the room. Syaoran had to admit that Sakura was a weird girl. But she seemed nice enough. He shook his head, dried his hands, and went off to sleep.

A/N: Hello! Ohmygolly. Its been three weeks or so hasn't it? I'm really sorry for the delay but Math has been occupying my mind these past few weeks. Anyway, I hope you liked it! I made it longer than usual. Hehe. Anyway, please review! :3