Chapter 11 Natural

Ryu called a meeting for all class and club officers one afternoon. Now that the university fair was over, the next important event that cannot be further delayed was the leadership training for the class and club officers. They had postponed it in favor of the university fair. It was time that they get it over with. All the officers where there except Sakura. Shaoran noticed that. He just didn't say anything.

When they were already starting, a knock came and the door opened. Sakura entered and closed the door behind her. She bowed at them and apologized for being late. She was carrying a lot of papers. Ryu went over to her. Sakura divided the pile into two.

"These are the consent letters and these are the itinerary Seiji-san sent. I had it photocopied." Sakura told him. Ryu nodded as Kenishiro approached. Sakura then handed him the receipt.

Ryu then turned to the group and said. "Ok. What I'm holding are the consent letters. The leadership training isn't going to be here in school. We are all going to the Miyagi prefecture and have it there. And what Sakura's holding are copies of the itinerary." Ryu explained as they started handing out copies.

"Guys, listen, as for the itinerary. We are going through it today but don't expect that we are going to follow it faithfully." Sakura warned. Ryu smirked as Shiho and Kenishiro hid their smiles.

"I don't get it. If we aren't going to follow the itinerary faithfully, what's the point in having it?" One asked.

Sakura smiled and looked at Ryu. He gave her a nod. "Well, it's not like we're not going to do all those things but be flexible enough to anticipate sudden changes or it being moved to the next day. Seiji-san is unpredictable. Trust us. You'll be surprised on what will happen." Sakura said as she smiled at them and went back over to where Kenishiro and Shiho were seated.

"Now we need the consent forms as soon as possible. I'm giving you this week to hand it over to me, Sakura, Kenishiro or Morimoto." Ryu said.

As they went over the itinerary, it crossed the student council officers that it was like déjà vu. It was much like the one Narumi gave them before but ended up doing a lot more and a lot differently. They couldn't help but wonder what they were in for this time around. As Ryu was discussing the itinerary, Sakura handed Shiho and Kenishiro a slightly different itinerary for the student council officers that Narumi gave. They quickly scanned the paper.

Shiho couldn't but exclaim out loud. Sakura and Kenishiro said, "Shiho..." But everyone was looking at them. Sakura smiled apprehensively and so did Kenishiro.

"Sorry…sorry…it's just…carry on." Shiho said. Sakura and Kenishiro looked at each other again and tried to hide their laughter. Shiho glared at them a little, which made them laugh a little bit more.

In his pocket, Ryu's phone started to vibrate. It was continuous so he knew that it was a call. His eyes met with Sakura. He took it out and threw the phone at her. She checked who was calling. She was surprised when she saw the name of Narumi. "Hello? Seiji-san?" Sakura answered, a little hushed so that it won't distract them.

"Hello? Is this Watanabe Ryu?" A younger male voice said.

"No but this is his phone. He is in the middle of a meeting right now. May I ask who this is please?"

"I am Seiji Naruhito. I am Seiji Narumi's son. Is there anyone from the student council I can talk to aside from Watanabe-san?"

"Yes. I am Kinomoto Sakura, the vice president. Is there something wrong?"

"Yes. It is about the leadership training this coming weekend."

Sakura started to have a bad feeling about it. Somehow she felt that there was something definitely wrong. "Yes?" She asked apprehensively.

"It may not happen as my father had just had a heart attack and is in the hospital right now." Naruhito said. Sakura was stunned. She didn't know how to react.

"Perhaps you can look for another instructor but I am willing to take my father's place because this is very sudden and you might not get anybody in such short notice."

"Seiji-san…are you sure…I mean…"

"I have a copy of the itinerary my father prepared. I have gone through it. He was looking forward to it. He had asked me a few days back that if anything happened to him, he made me promise to fulfill this."

"But this is a trying time for you and your family…are you sure? I mean…how is Seiji-san? Is he getting better?" Sakura said. There was a long pause from the other end.

"My father is in a critical state right now. The doctors are still not certain. This is his will. I will fulfill it for him. Please…Kinomoto-san…please fax me the list of names of the participants. I would want to go through it myself. Let us just do our best for him. I will call again if there are changes."

"Ok, Seiji-san. I will honor your wishes. I will fax them right now. I pray that he gets better."

"Thank you." Was all Naruhito could answer as he hung up.

Sakura then asked Shiho, "I need the copy of all the participants. I'll give it back to you right away. I just need to fax it." She looked at Sakura. She knew that there was something wrong. Kenishiro and Ryu noticed it too.

"Is everything alright, Sakura?" Kenishiro whispered.

Sakura closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Seiji-san is…he's not going to be able to make it this weekend…" She said. Shiho and Kenishiro's eyes flew wide open. Sakura gave them a small nod. They were speechless they didn't understand.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Ryu-san but this is important." Sakura then said loudly as she turned to Ryu. He stopped and looked at her. There was sadness in her eyes. Sakura then stood to address the group. "Uh there isn't an easy way to say this but I'm just going to say it. This weekend, Seiji Narumi isn't going to make it." Sakura said as it generated sudden murmurs from the group. It left Ryu dumbfounded.

"Please…please…Seiji Narumi didn't cancel or anything like that. He…" Sakura paused. She took a deep breath. She couldn't believe she had to utter those words. "He just had a heart attack and is now in critical condition. He's at the hospital at the moment. He wished his son to take over. So this weekend, Seiji Naruhito, Seiji Narumi's son, will be the one to conduct the leadership training. There will be slight changes I think but please understand that this is going to be a hard task for him as it will be for all of us. Please go through the itinerary that he sent and we will wait for his son to contact again if he plans on changing it."

Sakura then turned to Ryu and gave him the itinerary Narumi gave for the student council. She then said, "I'm just going to fax it over to Seiji-san." Sakura then handed him his phone. "He will call again." She said as Ryu nodded and Sakura left to fax the list of participants.

After a few minutes, the Principal came. Sakura had informed him about what happened at the same time that he had hung up the phone with Naruhito. He came to address them, "It is an unfortunate turn of events. We are all wishing for the best. However, things must go on as he wishes it to be. He trusts that his son would be able to do the job and so I have no objections to it. Everything will still be according to plan. If there are changes, he will call immediately and let the student council know and they will relay the information on to you."

It was the time that Sakura came back in and gave the Principal a bow before heading over to where Shiho was and handed her the paper. "Kinomoto-chan, is there anymore things that Naruhito had said after you have faxed the copy?"

"No, Yamaguchi-sensei." Sakura answered as the Principal nodded and then dismissed them for their extracurricular activities.

As they scrambled to get their things in order before they head to their respective clubs, Ryu said to Sakura, "Sorry that it had to be you who answered that call and tell everybody."

Sakura smiled at him and replied, "Don't worry about it. It's part of the job. Seiji-san didn't say when he'll call back but he will definitely call you. If there is anything, just tell us though I won't be able to answer if you call until 9 tonight."

"9? Why what's up?" Ryu asked and Shiho and Kenishiro wondered as well.

"I've got ballet. Don't ask. It's not like I really wanted to." Sakura answered.

"Then why are you taking it up?" Shiho asked.

"Well I was chosen to take part in the figure skating tournament in September. Coach wanted me to take up ballet in preparation. She said it's for more graceful movements or something like that. She said that ballet is different from gymnastics so I haven't got much of a choice."

They looked at each other. Sakura did have a lot of things in her hands and they do mean a lot.

"Listen I've got to go. I still need to practice the squad's new routine. See you guys." Sakura said as she dashed off the door.

Shaoran wanted to talk to her but she was really in a hurry so she just told him, "I'm really sorry, Shaoran. But I really can't talk. Bye." She then dashed off.

Shaoran stood there by the door for a while looking at where Sakura had disappeared to. Ryu then stood beside him before he left for practice. "She really does work hard doesn't she?" Ryu commented. Shaoran looked at him and didn't say anything. "It's amazing how she keeps her spirit up and her activity level considering that aside from school, student council duties, cheerleading and gymnastics, she still manages to do figure skating and ballet." Ryu added. Shaoran seemed surprised.

Ryu noticed his reaction. "Figure skating? Ballet?" Shaoran said.

"What? You didn't know? Sakura has been figure skating at the club near the mall for a month now and she has just been chosen to participate in this figure skating tournament in September. Because of that, her coach wants her to take up ballet, which she is now doing." Ryu explained. Shaoran didn't say anything. He was completely taken by surprise. Sakura hadn't told him any of that.

That afternoon, Shaoran planned to wait for Sakura and walk her to figure skating or something. But it seemed that after she had finished with the gymnastic drills with the others, she had already ran off to her practice. Shaoran saw Tomoyo, Naoko and Chiharu. He called to them and walked towards them. They were surprised to see him.

"Hey you guys have a minute?" Shaoran asked. They looked at each other and nodded. "Hey, what's up with Sakura lately? I mean, is she in some sort of trouble or something?" Shaoran asked.

It seemed to have confused the three. "What do you mean, Li-sempai?" Tomoyo asked.

"Yeah. Sakura's her usual perky self." Naoko said.

"Even if she did have a problem, isn't it that she always tells you first?" Chiharu commented.

"That's just it. I haven't really talked to her lately. We haven't had a decent conversation in over a month." Shaoran said.

"Sakura's just so busy right now." Tomoyo commented.

"Yeah. I heard. I heard that she just started ballet, while she started figure skating a month ago." Shaoran answered. Tomoyo seemed silenced. Chiharu and Naoko didn't seem to know how to answer to that either.

"Look, if you ask me, I think it's more like she's giving you space, you know." Tomoyo suddenly said. Shaoran looked at her. Tomoyo seemed a little apprehensive in saying what she was about to say because she wasn't sure if it were really what was happening. It was just her impression on things. "You and Rika-san are a couple and of course when you go steady with someone you will need to have some space to grow and just be free. I don't know but…this is just what I am thinking about this entire thing…I think she is just being your best friend. You two are really, really close and with you into a relationship, she might be thinking that it's not helping you at all if you two remained that close." Tomoyo explained.

"Yeah I know that but it seems that…nothing. Anyway, thanks. Watch over her for me." Shaoran said before he left. Tomoyo, Chiharu and Naoko looked at each other and watched him leave. They weren't sure how they would make out of what had just happened.

"Listen guys. I'll catch you later." Tomoyo said as she started to run after Shaoran. Chiharu and Naoko watched her go.

"Hey, Li-sempai wait up!" Tomoyo called out.

Shaoran turned around and saw Tomoyo trying to catch up with him. He stopped walking and looked at her. She was panting, catching her breath.

"You want to go and check out how she's doing?" Tomoyo asked. Shaoran looked at her, not quite certain what she was asking him.

"I was thinking on stopping by the skating rink to check out how Sakura's doing. She is preparing for a tournament. You want to come?" Tomoyo said, smiling at him. Shaoran said nothing as he started to walk with Tomoyo. "I've gone to see her there a couple of times. She's pretty good actually. So when she told me that she was chosen to compete, I wasn't really surprised." Tomoyo commented. Shaoran smirked.

When they were about to enter, Shaoran stopped. Tomoyo looked at him and smiled. "Don't worry. If you don't want her to see you, it's alright because she's really not going to see us. It's pretty cold though. Come on. You'll be amazed on what she can do now." Tomoyo reassured him.

Shaoran gave her a nod and opened the door and let Tomoyo enter before him. They then sat by the bleachers and watched. Sakura was practicing on the ice. She was wearing pants and a warm jacket. She had her hair tied back in a ponytail.

"That's her coach over there." Tomoyo pointed out a woman outside the rink. She seemed to be middle-aged. "She's Russian. She came here and started this club. It's really amazing that Sakura was able to impress her and convinced her to take her as a student." Tomoyo commented.

"Well Sakura has that quality in her." Shaoran answered as he watched Sakura. She was trying a combination of jumps it seems.

Tomoyo couldn't help but smile. "Did she tell you? She was also accepted as an intern at the French embassy." Tomoyo said. Shaoran looked at her.

"Really? She had been thinking about that for quite some time. It's great to hear that she got in. It's a step closer to her dream." Shaoran said.

"Yeah. But it wasn't her who applied." Tomoyo said.

Shaoran then asked, "What do you mean?"

Tomoyo looked at Sakura down there skating before answering. "Tsukishiro-san. He applied for Sakura and he was able to get the internship for her. It was his birthday gift from her. She's going to work there for the summer."

"I can't say that it surprises me that much. He has always had this soft spot for Sakura. He always looks out for her. They have always been close. It's something not out of character of him." Shaoran commented as he looked back at Sakura.

"As you two are." Tomoyo commented back.

Shaoran said nothing. He didn't register a reaction in his face. Tomoyo noticed that it was a subject that brought this emotional roller coaster between the two. She wasn't sure about the extent or how much it really was but she knew that it was there.

"You miss her, don't you?" Tomoyo was bold enough to ask.

Shaoran didn't answer right away. "I guess you can say that. I see her around school a lot but it's different now, especially with Ryu courting her."

"She is being linked with a lot of guys lately." Tomoyo replied with a short laugh.

"What do you expect? She is a beautiful person inside and out." Shaoran answered.

"Li-sempai, forgive me for saying this but…I was really surprised that you got back with Rika-san. I thought that maybe this time around you and Sakura would finally hook up. You two just look good together and seeing you guys together seemed so natural that I guess it made me believe that you two were made for each other. I guess I'm wrong but it really surprised me. Now, not seeing you two together is a thing that people are starting to accept too. I guess you like Rika-san that much to lose your best friend over." Tomoyo said as she stood up and walked down towards the skating rink.

Shaoran seemed to have been slapped across the face with that statement. It was like Tomoyo saw something that he couldn't see or understand. He watched as Tomoyo walked towards Sakura and she skated towards her. Immediately they were laughing together and seemed very happy. He and Sakura shared that once.

If things where back then, he wouldn't have hesitated to go down there by the skating rink and talk to her himself. Sakura would have told him what she was going through lately, what new things she learned and joined, her internship at the French embassy, simple nothings that they would usually talk about. They would hang together somewhere and not afraid to be themselves. Share secrets. Share their thoughts. Yes. Shaoran missed her. He missed Sakura. He missed his best friend.

He saw Sakura's coach call her to get ready. Sakura smiled and told Tomoyo something before making her way at the middle of the rink. She positioned herself. Music then began to play and Sakura started to skate to the music. He had never seen her dance to the music like that. She was one with the music. So much emotion and grace that it was like a stabbing feeling in his heart as he watched her skate her short program presentation. Her facial features. Her body rhythm. Her precise movement. Her confidence in her jumps and spins.

Shaoran hadn't noticed how much Sakura had grown as a person. He hadn't noticed her at all. He had been blind to her real self that it pained him. It made him feel like such a failure in being her best friend. He couldn't even come near her without this feeling that he couldn't explain. Things were changing and he couldn't stop it. He was lost. He didn't understand what he was feeling.

(to be continued…)

It's easy to overlook things when we think that we will never lose it or the person. We are left to reflect when things start to change without us even noticing it. It's wise to never take things for granted. Anyway, thanks to those who read and reviewed up to this chapter. I can't believe the response this fic has been given. I really, really appreciate it. Though I must still ask that you please sent in what you think. Thanks.

Michiko