There was a certain established ranking among Syaoran's little group thing. Syaoran was
obviously the leader, I noticed, because they all reported to him come meal time or whenever
they found some news worth sharing. Eriol Hiiragizawa, who was a year older than me, ranked in
second in command. Syaoran and him usually got the better parts of the food they ran down.
Takashi Yamazaki ranked in third. He had an attitude problem and a big mouth, but was one of
Syaoran's good friends, so they couldn't rightly kick him out. Tomoyo Daidouji fell in at fourth,
the only reason that she stayed in the little group was because Eriol thought she was cute. She
was my age and had a voice that sounded like nails on a chalk board, but she was nice enough.
Then there was me, fifth place, the minority if you will. I got whatever food the rest of them didn't
eat and the more rocky part of the land under the bridge to sleep on. I shouldn't really complain
because at least I got to eat and sleep somewhere, but my back hurt most nights and I seldom
got enough to eat. I suppose our lack of food grows on you because after a few weeks, I wasn't
so hungry as I normally was and I was considerably thinner, which makes me wonder how in the
world Tomoyo stayed so chunky. She was probably hoarding a secret stash of something
somewhere, we just haven't figured it out yet. Plus, I could fit in abnormally small areas, which
was convenient when Takashi and I would play cops and robbers…us being the robbers of
course, attempting to swipe some food before the storeowners called the fuzz on us. I came in
handy when rafter climbing was necessary or squeezing between trash cans in back alleys. We
had all gone back to the bridge at about six at night, Takashi and I had managed to get some day
old loaves of bread with a few pennies we found in a gutter, which were obtained with a loose
string, a paperclip and some gum that Takashi found in his hair…which was gross. We also had a
few links of sausage and a considerably large amount of breadsticks from a restaurant who was
stupid enough to leave the back door leading to the kitchen wide open. Tomoyo and Eriol had
managed to grab some hamburgers from a fast food joint and a couple of bottles of pop that
were flat. Syaoran, who generally worked alone, brought back some bread and fried shrimp that
he got off of a seafood restaurant. He also had a few hot dogs and half of a sub. All in all, it was
a pretty good haul. But as usual, everyone got to eat before me, they divided everything up
between the four of them and gave me the leftovers. I got half of a hamburger and some shrimp.
Talk about fine dining. But once again, I kept my mouth shut and watched as everyone else
engorged themselves. I noticed that everyone had a peculiar way of eating. Eriol and Syaoran ate
like the high upper class people, taking careful little bites. Takashi's way of eating resembled a
, he scarfed down anything in front of him and made queer snorting sounds when he chewed.
Tomoyo ate quickly, somewhat like a vacuum cleaner, some days I wondered if she even
chewed what went in her mouth. Syaoran sighed and leaned up against the bridge wall, looking
around lazily at everyone else. "Ok, so who's going with who tomorrow?" he asked curiously.
Eriol shrugged. "I'll go with the new chick…what's your name again?" He asked looking at me
stupidly. I opened my mouth to talk but Syaoran cut me off before I could say anything.
"It's Sakura, doofus. You need to pay more attention." he grumbled, throwing a rock at Eriols
head. "Anywho. I suppose that will work, then, Takashi and Tomoyo are working together
tomorrow and I'll go by myself. As usual" he mumbled this last part, but I think I was the only
one who heard him. Takashi and Tomoyo had pulled out a map of the city and were poking at
places where they would probably get a good amount of food, Eriol had lumbered over to my
side and smiled at me.
"Hi there. Sorry about forgetting your name… in not very good at those. Names that is." He said,
smiling at me sheepishly.
"um…no problem" I croaked, my voice deciding it didn't want to work just then. "You wanna
know why I wanted to work with you?" He asked curiously excited. I shrugged and began
stacking small rocks up in hopes to make a tower. They inevitably fell and scattered across the
ground making a small shwiff sound as they fell. He smiled, taking my ignorance as a yes and
took a deep breath. "Actually, Syaoran asked me to go with you tomorrow. He wants me to tell
him how well you work in the streets, you know getting food and all of that. He wants to make
sure your doing a fair part of the work. Syaoran's like the boss around here, he gives the orders
and we take um, however boring or meaningless they are. But he's really nice. I'm not surprised
he helped you." He rambled. I wasn't really paying that much attention, I caught most of it, but
my mind kept wandering off to other places. I dunno why though, probably lack of an actual meal
or maybe sleep deprivation. Whatever it was, I was abnormally tired and in dire need of
something softer than pokey rocks to sleep on. Pokey… Ahh the vocabulary of an eight year old.
I was looking around the bridge tiredly, stifling a few yawns and catching myself from nearly
flopping backwards and crashing several times. Syaoran must have noticed my struggle to stay
awake, because he quickly stated that we should get to bed to rest for tomorrow right after he
saw me let a yawn escape. Well, that was nice of him. And right now, those abnormally
misshapen and sharp rocks were looking mighty comfortable. Funny what being overtired does
to ones mind. Not caring what other people were doing, I quickly shuffled over to my side of the
bridge, opened up my traveling suitcase that I had taken when I ran and pulled out my blanket. I
had a pillow, but Syaoran needed something to make a fire…and since I was the minority,
Takashi graciously offered my pillow to His Small and Picky Highness. At least I had a blanket,
and I was gonna do anything to make sure it didn't get burned in the next bonfire. The Blanket
was the only thing I had left of my mother, and I wasn't gonna let it get charred like all of our stuff
did when the ship exploded. When I wasn't working… and even sometimes when I was, I
carried the blanket with me, much like a child should. I normally had it tucked under my arm or
had the right corner, where my mother embroidered my name and birthday, clutched tightly in my
hand, letting the other end of the blanket drag idly behind me. If it wasn't with me, it was tucked
in my suitcase carefully, so not to ruin it. Since I was the baby of the group, Takashi, who was a
year older than me, usually made fun of me, how I charted the blanket everywhere, but I really
didn't care, if he wanted to be more immature than I acted and call people trivial names, let him,
he's the one that looks like a fool, not me.
Anyways, Syaoran watched me stumble over to my designated sleeping place and splashed
some water from the creek onto the fire, letting the encasement of brick and blue tarp get
shrouded in black. Soon enough, the normal nighttime noises started up, Eriol with his obnoxious
snoring, Tomoyo talked in her sleep, which didn't surprise me in the least seeing as the girl never
shut up in the first place, Takashi thrashed around, waking up occasionally with a curse and a
grumble from hitting a rock, Syaoran was silent though. As was I. Though, I do wonder how the
heck he slept through all their noise, plus the noise of the city. It was a mystery to me. I probably
got about two full hours of sleep before being woken up by Tomoyo pouncing on my stomach
and screaming that it was time to wake up. I whacked my head on one or the more dangerous
rocks near my head due to my startling new alarm clock, and was surprisingly unfazed when I
realized my head was bleeding. Takashi laughed at my peril and watched as Eriol grabbed
Tomoyos hair and dragged her across the creek, soaking her bottom thoroughly, which only
make Takashi laugh harder and… Holy Lord, it must be a sign of the apocalypse… Syaoran
actually smiled. So the guy does have emotions…that's news to me.
After making sure Tomoyos butt was considerably dryer than before, we set out, Eriol and me
heading towards the theater district of the city, Takashi and Tomoyo headed for the eatery side
and Syaoran…skulking off to wherever it was that he went. Nobody really knew. Or cared
really, as long as he brought food back.
I wasn't quite sure why we went to the theater district. There were a few considerably high
class restaurants and some street vendors, but nothing big really. I suppose its better to start off
small though. As soon as Eriol said that it was time to get to work, I switched hands with my
blanket, clutching the right corner. He watched me carefully as I washed the dirt off my face with
puddle water and ran my fingers through my hair. "What are you doing?" He asked, mystified by
my odd acting. "Watch and find out…" I mumbled, immediately making tears form on the brim of
my eyes, waiting for the drops to roll down my cheeks. I sniffed and began to lurch across the
street, adding as much pathetic whining as I could. Eriol crossed his arms and leaned against a
wall, watching my every move. It was kind of unnerving, but oh well. One of the street vendors
noticed my pathetic drabbling and turned to look at me. He bent down carefully, much like an
adult would do for a whimpering puppy who just messed the carpet. "What's wrong lil girl??" He
asked concerned, Eriol watching me milk this for all its worth. I sniffed sardonically and looked
up with huge doe eyes. "My…My mommy's sick and I'm not allowed in the house…" I cried,
thinking of yet another pathetic excuse. His eyes grew wide and rather sad. "Daddy sent me for
food, but my money fell in the gutter and if I don't bring back food…daddy's…daddy's gonna
beat meeeee!!!" I moaned, throwing my head back and letting more tears fall. "Ohh…Oh
sweetie…Here.." He said, standing up and packing some submarine sandwiches and a few
sausage links and a plastic bag.
"Free of charge… last thing we need is this world is kids getting beat by their parents. You tell
your mommy to get better soon, so she can take care of you ok? Go on home now…" He
cooed, pushing my back lightly, sending me on my way.
I walked back to a very stunned Eriol, who had sunk to the ground in shock and eyed the bag,
amazed at what he had witnessed. I smiled at him weakly and helped him up.
"You… are…so… AMAZING!! Holy crap Sakura!! How did you DO that??!!" he wailed,
hugging me tightly. I stumbled backwards and grinned.
"Adults are saps for abused and hungry poor kids. it's a proven fact. Now lets go." I mumbled,
following quickly behind him as we moved down the back alleys of theaters.
We reached one of the more expensive restaurants and I was ordered to shimmy my way
through the abnormally small alleyway between the back of the restaurant and some old folks
home. It would be a problem for some one with a normal weight, but since I was both small and
frighteningly skinny, I could fit in easily, which, now that I think about it, is Reaaally scary how
many small places I could fit into. But I don't think that's really the point. Anyways, there was a
backdoor leading to the restaurants kitchen, and what do you know. Its unlocked. You know,
with the amount of beggar children running around, it's a wonder why they don't lock the doors.
And since they don't…I'm very grateful, for that, and the fact that the morons in the kitchen left a
completely unguarded wad of steak lying perfectly grilled and innocent on the table, conveniently
next to some tin foil and a bag of bread. Yay bread! And steak! That's a rarity when on the
streets, believe you me. So of course, that poor steak couldn't sit all by its lonesome, it needed
the company of some foil, a bag and bread. And that's just what it got…along with an all
expense paid trip to the fabulous and exclusive…under the bridge near the creak. Yup, how
marvelous. But what mattered was, we were getting a huge haul, what with four sub sandwiches
where one sub would feed two of us, a sausage link that wraps around my head twice( trust me,
we tried it.), some bread and a steak. Muahaha, the team of Eriol and Sakura reign victorious!
Maybe… maybe the big cheese Syaoran will congratulate me with more food and a more
comfortable sleeping arrangement…or maybe not…the inner workings of my mind are a place a
small girl should not venture in alone. Granted, everything I rant about is in my head. I think if
ever anyone heard what I was actually thinking, id have a nice warm straightjacket and a padded
room waiting for me at the closest asylum.
It took us a good couple of hours to do our 'hunting' and after the restaurant, we decided it
was about time to head back to base. By the time we had gotten back, Everyone was there
except for Syaoran. So we dropped out haul with the little that Takashi and Tomoyo got and
waited. About fifteen minutes or so passed before he got back, during that time, we had
established that Tomoyo and Takashi had mostly found some bread and a few hamburgers, but it
was nothing compared to what we had gotten. Syaoran pushed back the tarp and sat down,
tossing a bag of assorted foods into the pile, the bag consisted of a few subs, a Reuben
sandwich, and a couple of hotdogs. Huzzah, what a breakfast. Syaoran looked around and his
eyes fell on the pile of foods, I grinned inwardly as I watched his eyes grow wide.
"Who…who got all the food?" He asked, pushing past Takashi and rummaging through the bags.
Eriol smiled widely and pointed to me. Uh oh.
"Sakura gets the credit! She's Amazing!! We got four subs Sammy's, some bread, a sausage link
that can wrap around Sakura's head twice, and a steak…can I have the steak??" He added,
eyeing the food hungrily.
"Sakura…you got all of this?" he asked, looking towards me. Oh darn. I hate having any amount
of attention put on me. Its awkward. I nodded apprehensively, sitting up a little straighter from my
position near the wall. "Wow. How come you didn't do so good with Takashi then?" He asked,
standing up and walking over to me.
"Um…" I stuttered, " 'cause Takashi-kun only goes to one area…and never gets to good
places" I said, my English very choppy, I'm sure I sounded like an idiot. He smiled at me, almost
like he cared, which I highly doubt, and sat down. "Well then. I think that we have to move
someone up a rank. Takashi, for being so…blatantly stupid, you and Sakura are swapping
places" he said, chucking a rock at Takashi and opening up the bags of food, dividing everything
up. Wow… Maybe if I wish for a million dollars and a house, ill get that too! But that's highly
unlikely, I got my more food and better sleep due to the sheer fact that Takashi is…well, he's a
moron, and I brought back a good amount of food. Yay for me being malnourished! Ok, so not
really, but it paid off to be young and freakishly skinny. Syaoran handed me half a sub, some
bread and a chunk of steak. How wonderful! I get actual food! I watched as Syaoran bit off a
piece of the sub and began eating, but became distracted since Syaoran was for some reason
staring at me…or my blanket, I wasn't sure…but it was creepy. "Tomorrow…" he said through
a mouthful of chewed up sub, " Sakura is working with me"
Okay! That's chapter one! Huzzah! So how did you like it? And thus the fun begins!
Syaoran is gonna work with Sakura…how unlike him. I thought the whiny Sakura bit
was particularly genius. I just thought of that off the top of my head. Twas good
though, very good. Anyway, Till next Time!!
Ja Ne!!!
Chappy 2 up soon