Chapter 33 Match Makers

"I still can't believe that Sakura did all that for me." Shaoran commented. They had been talking about things and their conversation inevitably drifted towards Sakura's direction.

"What's Sakura's favorite flower?" Ryu asked.

"Why?" Shaoran answered.

"Just answer it will you?"

"White rose. Now will you tell me what's going on?" Shaoran then said.

Ryu grinned at him. "Nothing. I just wanted to know. Don't worry. I'll help you. Just sit back and trust me." He said. Shaoran eyed him suspiciously. He knew that something was up. He said nothing.

XxXxXx

"Tomoyo? Is Sakura with you?" Eriol asked when he called her.

"Yeah. Why?" Tomoyo answered. "Just keep her with you for a couple of hours. I'll tell you later." Eriol answered.

Tomoyo wondered what in the world was going on. But she smiled as a thought passed that this was going to be something big and it was for Sakura.

"Sure, sure. Don't worry about it. I've got it covered." Tomoyo answered.

"Thanks, Tomoyo. Call you later." Eriol said as he hung up.

Tomoyo hung up the phone and turned to Sakura. Sakura looked at her, almost scared of what mischievous plan her friend had up her sleeve again. She looked at her suspiciously. She then said, "What is it this time, Tomoyo?"

Tomoyo grinned and said, "We are going shopping. What else? Come on. Let's go." She didn't even wait for Sakura to answer or take in what she said as she started to drag her out her door. Sakura had no choice but allow herself to be dragged along.

Shopping huh? And I'm the Easter bunny. Sakura said to herself. She couldn't believe what she was being dragged into. She knew that something was up. She saw that twinkle in Tomoyo's eyes so it was definitely hard to miss.

XxXxXx

"Alright. Tomoyo is with Sakura and she'll keep her occupied for the next couple of hours." Eriol said to Ryu, Touya and Yukito.

"Can I just ask what all of this is about? And for the record, I doubt that my sister doesn't have any suspicions of her own." Touya said.

Ryu smirked as Eriol grinned. It was those two who called the meeting. It was time that they all did everything they could to change the tempo of the things that were happening, especially between Sakura and Shaoran. They all knew that they loved each other. Both of them needed a little push, past their fear that the other wasn't ready to hear what they other had to say.

"This is about her and what has been happening these past months. I don't know if you took a vow of silence to let her go through with it but I think that you would like to get involved now." Ryu answered.

Touya looked at him a little suspiciously. "Ok it's not a secret that all of us here care about her, perhaps some more than the others but what is this exactly about? I doubt that meddling with things covertly will make it better." Yukito commented.

"I have to go with Yukito on this one. I know my sister. She is stubborn but she does things on her own time." Touya said.

"Hey I'm not saying that we ultimately change everything that has been going on between those two. I'm just saying we help create this opportunity for them to talk, that's all. Lock them up somewhere or create this meeting but none of us will be there…I don't know…something. It's just to make them be in the same place long enough for them to talk it out." Ryu said.

"Go on. I think I like that idea." Touya replied.

"That's just it. We don't exactly know how to make that happen. As of now, Sakura is so busy with the preparations for the competition that she barely thinks of anything else. It's just a couple of days before then so she's feeling the full force of the pressure and tension." Eriol replied.

"Then why not make it at the day of the competition itself?" Touya proposed.

"Yeah. That could work." Yukito agreed and so did Ryu and Eriol.

"Here…this is what I think…" Touya started to say as the others listened.

XxXxXx

Sakura and Tomoyo were sitting in this café, waiting for their drinks to arrive. It had been a pretty fun afternoon hanging out. Naoko was still out of town and Chiharu had a date so it was basically just Tomoyo and Sakura. Both didn't mind. It was a girls' day out. Tomoyo had made some purchases already. Sakura knew it was for her hobby making clothes.

"So what's your latest project that made you buy some stuff?" Sakura then asked.

Tomoyo smiled at her and replied, "You. I was thinking of making a whole line and I need a model. Since you were already looking for a job to save money for college, I thought that you'd be perfect. So how about it?"

It was a bombshell that Sakura didn't see coming. It looked like Tomoyo was really serious too. "You're serious?" Sakura was almost afraid to ask.

"Pretty much. My mom wanted me to feature it on her next magazine, just in time for fall. Come on. You'll just have to pose in front of a camera. I'll be there the entire time and plus we both get paid. How's that for college funds?" Tomoyo then said.

"I don't know…me? A model? I really don't know, Tomoyo. I will have to think about it." Sakura replied.

It was like freshman year all over again. Tomoyo had convinced her to be part of the class modeling act for school and it took a lot of psyching up for her to be ready for it and now Tomoyo was asking her to go through with it as a job? The pay wouldn't be all bad but when it comes to those sorts of things, but Sakura sometimes lets her shy side take the lead.

"Well you don't have much time to think because we start next week so that before the summer ends in three weeks, we've finished it and it's ready for press release in time for fall."

"Knowing you, I don't have much of a choice do I?" Sakura answered defeated.

Tomoyo started laughing. They had been friends for a long time and surely Sakura already knew her and her ways, just as much as she understood and knew Sakura. She knew that Sakura wasn't liking the idea but she also knew that she was determined to find a job that would help her save some money for college. "Well what do you say, Sakura?" Tomoyo proceeded to ask.

Sakura let out an exasperated breath. She knew that she really didn't have much to say. Everything was pretty much set already. Maybe it wouldn't be that bad…it was only going to be for the summer. It's not like it was going to be a full-blown modeling contract that was being offered to her. She will have Tomoyo there with her.

"You do know that with this, you are actually giving my brother license to torment me forever, right?" Sakura then said which made Tomoyo start laughing.

"He might but you know, I'm sure he will be really proud of you. You'll be helping earn for your college expenses just like he is doing now. Besides, these pictures will be great." Tomoyo said.

"I guess…but you'll be there right?"

"Yeah of course. I'm the designer. I have to be there. I have the last say on how the pictures will turn out. So?"

Sakura was silent and seemed reflective for a moment. "I guess…well…since all I've been doing lately is something crazy, why not this one too? Ok. I'm in. Don't say anything or I might change my mind. Right. Ok. So there…ok. I'm good. I'm good." She replied nervously.

Tomoyo wanted to laugh but stopped herself. Sakura might just change her mind. Watching her was totally hilarious. But there was no doubt in Tomoyo's mind that Sakura would be able to pull it off and that she would be great. She had always been photogenic…well, in Tomoyo's point of view that is. From the moment her mother had made the proposition, Sakura already popped into her mind. It was easy to work with her. She can really be stubborn but work still gets done.

"Chill, Sakura. It's not a death sentence or anything like that. It's just a little photo-taking session, that's all. If it makes you feel better, I am nervous too, not to mention really worried about making the deadline." Tomoyo decided to say to calm Sakura's nerves.

Sakura looked up at the girl sitting across from her. Tomoyo smiled at her. Her smile seemed infectious as Sakura found herself smiling too.

"I'm sorry, Tomoyo. It's just…the figure skating competition is really getting to me. It's in a couple of days and well…I'm really on edge now…then you decide to give me this bombshell. Well, I guess it will be alright. I'm just nervous. Scratch that. I'm totally agitated." Sakura said.

Tomoyo smiled. She could understand what Sakura was telling her. She knew that the tournament was something new and it was going to be Sakura's first time flying solo in front of thousands of people across the nation, perhaps even the world. It was an all new stage that she was walking on.

After awhile, Sakura then decided to say, "Tomoyo, can I ask you something?"

"Sure. Anything."

"How come I get the feeling that you are stalling for some reason? I mean, like you are purposely trying to keep me occupied. Is there something that I should know?"

Tomoyo was completely taken aback. Sakura was indeed so sharp. She had almost forgotten that herself. How in the world was she going to get out of that without revealing the vague message Eriol had given her earlier? Even she didn't know what was going on. All she knew was that she had to keep Sakura occupied for a couple of hours. If she lost her cool and said something stupid, it would just confirm Sakura's suspicions. Tomoyo decided to smile. Her mind was racing for an answer.

"Actually, Sakura, there's more to that proposal than what I initially said."

Uh oh…here it goes…

Tomoyo was silently pleading that Sakura would be satisfied with her answer even if it was still part of the truth. "The reason why I didn't tell you is because I know you already have it way over your head with the figure skating thing and well knowing you…well…I'll leave it at that, knowing you. So anyway, this modeling thing is actually a contract deal. I mean basically it will pay for your college and all the expenses that you will encounter, that goes for me too but that part is irrelevant, on the condition that you will be our/ my model for the next couple of seasons."

Sakura's face was that of shock. A modeling contract that will serve as a scholarship for college. That was…that was something big.

"Come over to my house tomorrow. The contract is there. I haven't signed it yet because I wanted to go over it with you and see what you think before I signed. I know this is something big to take in and I totally understand if you want to blow it off-"

"No. I already agreed that I'll do it awhile ago. I don't intend on turning back on my word. Besides, if it's going to pay for college, then who am I to just throw it away? It will definitely be a great relief on my dad's shoulders. With Onii-chan and I going to college and other bills, he might not be able to take it all. I guess I can sacrifice my peace throughout my life for my brother's constant teasing and also deal with my shyness if it means getting a college degree."

"You sure?"

"Definitely. I just hope that this decision doesn't live to haunt me." Sakura said as she leaned back on her chair. Tomoyo laughed.

"Don't worry. I'll be in it too. Let's just take it by stride."

"That sounds like a good idea. This is a great opportunity for you to be known in the world of fashion, Tomoyo. With your artistic skills, this might be just the break you are looking for." Sakura commented.

Tomoyo looked dreamily. She had always wanted to become a fashion designer. It was her hobby and she was excited that she could do something she loved for financial means for the rest of her life.

Then her thoughts went back to the issue at hand. Something was brewing and Eriol was going to fill her in later on the details. She smiled. She knew that Sakura was seeing it as because of her dream becoming a reality but what she didn't know was that Tomoyo's smile was also loaded. It was a smile for her close friend. She didn't lie to Sakura. She even went as far as telling her it was something big. Sakura didn't know the full extent of it all. Yeah. It was going to be something really big that would ultimately change her life forever.

(to be continued…)

Hmmm…reserving comment for this chapter. Only a few chapters to go. Thanks for the reviews and for reading. I really appreciate it. Keep it coming though. Thanks.

Michiko