I'm updating against my will…
Words of the Wolf:
I'm Sorry
I'm sorry I'm clumsy.
I'm sorry I can't do anything right.
I'm sorry I can not be everything you want.
I'm sorry I can't be the greatest, for being weird.
I'm sorry I'm not perfect, or as pretty as can be.
I'm sorry that I can't be like everyone else, instead of different and insane.
I'm sorry that all you see is a mask, but I can't trust you, it would be a pain.
I'm sorry because I'm me.
I'm sorry because that's all I can be.
Disclaimer: I do not own the CCS characters, the women of CLAMP do. I got dibs on everything else though.
Last Chapter:
She waited for her fall, to fell the pain as she rolled down to the wood floor below, but it never came. Opening one of her eyes, she saw that the stairs were a couple feet away, and she was on the ground. Her body relaxed, and finally noticed she was on something warm and rather firm, the smell of spices and pine came to her nose.
Feeling something tight around her waist, she looked down and saw a tanned, muscled arm, and knew instantly who it belonged to.
Live the Life on the Rails
Slowly turning around, Sakura faced fierce amber eyes, covered slightly by messy chocolate brown hair, and the handsome face of Syaoran.
His right arm was what held her, his left beside him. Sakura looked closely, captured by his eyes. She searched in deep, but brought herself out at the sight of something. She thought she saw concern, but it was probably her imagination.
His breath was calm, and tingled on Sakura's skin, giving her a shiver up and down her spine. His button up white shirt was opened to his tanned chest, and at the sight, Sakura felt a twinge. Syaoran's arm was still wrapped around her waist, and she was feeling awkward now.
"Syaoran, can you let me go now?"
(Syaoran P.O.V.)I was just going on my way, down the stairs, minding my business. And guess who comes bumping into me. GUESS!
Sakura. The girl I do and do not want to see.
I saw as she went to the last step, not seeing me around the corner, and smacked into me. She was surprised (duh), and her foot slid. In a second, her body was starting to form a ball, but not before I put my arm around her waist. I pushed back on the wall so we got away from the edge of the stairs. Using my left arm to land, I think I got a bruise or something. Because it hurts like hell.
Her body remained tense and in a ball for what must have been a minute. Then I felt her relax and spread out. I don't know why, but I felt...I don't know, a flash, just go through my entire body, that was so strong that Sakura must have felt it. All I can say is I caught her on time.
She faced me slowly, which I did and did not like. It was agonizing. Her emerald eyes just stared at me. I was concerned if she was alright, and checked her over to make sure she was fine. Out of no where, she asked in a soft, expectant voice,
"Syaoran, can you let me go now?"
(Normal P.O.V.)
Syaoran snaked his arm away from her, and Sakura scrambled to get off him. Extending her hand out to lift him, he gave his left hand.
And he regretted it.
As she pulled him up, he felt the pain shoot through his entire arm. Wincing, he cried out quietly, but it didn't stop him from falling into Sakura, who stood and supported his weight on her.
Taking his arm in her hands, she examined it. He stood on his own as she looked it over. Sighing, relieved yet saddened, she said,
"It's not broken, but there is a deep scratch, bruising, and muscle strain. Come on, I need to patch it."
With that, she took his right hand, dragging him to her room. Upon entering the room, she was surprised to see Tomoyo on the couch with the dogs, Eriol in the arm chair. Kero sat up when he saw Sakura, but his eyes were suspicious when he saw Syaoran holding her hand. Sakura sat her rescuer on the couch, a cushion away from Tomoyo.
Without a word, she went to the bathroom and grabbed her first aid kit under the sink. Coming back, she saw Kero staring at Syaoran, silent. Shaking her head, she ordered,
"Move, Kero-chan."
The German shepherd glanced at her, and then did as he was told. Kneeling on the ground next to Syaoran, she placed his arm on the arm of the couch. Opening the kit, she got out some antihistamine, gauze, Icy hot, cloths pins, and cloth bandage. They sat in silence as she patched him up. When she finished and put the stuff away, she got up.
"Now that that's done, just don't use it for about a day. And what are you two up to?"
Clearing a space for her to sit on the coffee table, she grabbed hold of her keys, fingering them, waiting for a reply. Tomoyo seemed to have snapped out of a dream, as she looked around confused.
"Say wha wha?"
Sakura turned to her, regarding her every move.
"I asked what you two were doing in here?"
Flushing at the implication, Tomoyo hid her face little. Sakura smirked and her eyes glistened at Tomoyo's quiet quarrel inside herself.
"Nothing. He came in a minute before you did. He said mom sent him and Syaoran."
Looking Tomoyo in the eye, Sakura saw something she wasn't expecting, but would let it go for now. Glancing at both quiet, stoic boys, she asked,
"Soooo. What does she want or say?"
The twins passed a look at each other, and Syaoran answered,
"You two need to pack for a week worth of clothes. We're leaving tomorrow early in the morning. Don't worry about your snowboarding gear because it's already been picked out. And you need to come down and eat."
Sakura blinked, "That's all?"
Eriol nodded,
"Pretty much. Also, you'll be on the plane with us, and it's been arranged that we share rooms."
Tomoyo broke from her quiet corner, rather scandalized,
"What? I thought we were sharing rooms with your sisters and Meilin?"
Syaoran shrugged,
"Last minute changes. Now go downstairs and eat something."
Both the girls pouted at being ordered, but none the less, got up and put their keys in their hoodie pouches. Going out the door with their dogs in front, the guys closed the door behind them. Sakura nudged Tomoyo,
"I dare you to ride down the banister."
"Only if you go with me."
"Deal!"
When their escorts approached, Sakura went on the right, Tomoyo on the left. Lifting themselves up, they released their hold and slid down the banisters polished wood. Seconds later, they landed on their feet in a giggle fit.
"That was fun! You guys should do it to!"
Sakura exclaimed. But ignoring her, the two kept stepping down the stairs properly, passing them. Tomoyo came beside Sakura and asked loud enough for the other two to hear,
"What's with them? It's like they got something shoved up their asses."
"I know. The second we have fun, it's a sin or something. Let's get something to eat. My stomach has turned into a bottomless pit."
They went to the kitchen accompanied only by their pets, the large white room empty, but not of food. Sakura opened the fridge, but didn't feel like making a mess to look for something delicious. Going to a cabinet, and to her joy, found instant ramen noodles.
Tomoyo opened another cabinet that held a trove of cookbooks. As Sakura made them beef flavored ramen, Tomoyo sat at the island counter table, reading through a dessert book.
Sakura placed a bowl beside the raven haired girl, and one in front of herself, passing a pair of chopsticks over. Seeing the book, she asked,
"You thinking of something sweet? Or someone, prey tell?"
Tomoyo waved her off,
"Shut up. I want to indulge my sweet tooth. I'm thinking either chocolate butterscotch bars or triple chocolate mint cookies. Which sounds better?"
Sakura loved both ideas, as both made her mouth water. But she picked the one she was nearly drooling for.
"Triple chocolate mint cookies…but after this feast has been tasted."
They agreed and rushed to finish. After they were done, Sakura put the dishes up and Tomoyo found the aprons and ingredients. They took off their hoodies. Tomoyo had on a red tank top against her black baggy pants with purple white and purple stars lining the sides of her front pockets and lining. Sakura still had her black wife beater on. The aprons were pure white, and made her already tan skin darker.
They started out with the flour, Sakura thoroughly sifted, and slowly added water, eggs, baking powder, sugar, vanilla extract, and the three chocolates (fudge, chip and dark). As the added the mint flavor, they heard a voice behind them.
Sakura was startled, and screamed at the sudden noise. Sakura turned around, knocking down water, which spilled under her feet and caused her to fall, her legs knocking Tomoyo down, their legs now tangled up as the lay on their backs, moaning in pain.
Neither noticed as people came running into the kitchen at the sound of a scream and crash. Meilin was suddenly at their sides, worried and sorrowful.
"I am so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you guys. Are you ok?"
All she got were moans that sounded like yes. Melin helped up Tomoyo first, who used the island to steady herself, not moving on the wet floor. Helping up Sakura, who winced at the sudden flow of blood leaving her head, clutched Meilin's arms as she got over her dizziness. Tomoyo answered in pauses to regain focus,
"Fine…just don't…scare us like that again."
Sakura recovered and asked,
"Can somebody get me a towel?"
One of the maids got a dish towel, and gave it to Sakura, who knelt down and started wiping the water off the floor. Another stepped forward.
"You don't need to do that, young mistress. It's our job to clean."
Sakura shook her head as she kept cleaning.
"I spilt it, I can clean it. Can someone please turn the oven to 450 degrees and get out three cookie sheets?"
In seconds, it was done, and someone had already greased the sheets for them. Standing up, Sakura wiped the rest of the water from the counter.
"Thank you. Tomoyo, you alright?"
"Yeah, my back is a little bruised though. Pass a sheet over, Sakura."
Doing just that, she grabbed her own sheet and started plopping the dough on the sheet, knowing that even if she tried, she wouldn't get a round cookie. They didn't notice that the servant, Li family, and Yukito were watching them as they carried on like nothing happened, or that they were there. Tomoyo started, lightly chuckling,
"Man, Touya would have loved that."
Sakura pouted,
"Yeah, me falling on my ass. He always laughed at that."
"True, but I know he'd love something more."
"What's that?"
Sakura had put the cookie sheets in the oven. Tomoyo got some of the cookie dough on her finger, and with out warning, pressed it against Sakura's head. Grinning slyly, she answered,
"That."
Emerald eyes flared up. Dabbing her hand into the bowl, she got a small chunk and chucked it at Tomoyo. But she ducked in time for it to splat in the face of the person standing behind her. Meilin.
The ruby eyed girl glared at Sakura playfully, grabbing into the bowl, throwing one chunk at her, only to miss, and hit Tomoyo who was shocked. Sakura took advantage, and smeared some of the mix on Meilin's arm and Tomoyo's face.
In retaliation, they all grabbed something from the top, and spread about the kitchen, ducking behind a counter, chucking their ammunition at each other, from chocolate chips, to flour, to eggs, or like Sakura, baking powder balls made from water.
With in five minutes, they ran out of sources, and called a cease fire. Slumping against the counter and lying on the floor, the three sat next to each other closely, laughing so hard tears came from their eyes, Sakura had to hold her side as it hurt. Meilin somehow managed to say,
"That was the best food fight ever!"
Tomoyo laughed, trying to wipe the egg and backing powder from her hair.
"Yeah!"
Sakura, covered in flour and sugar and some cookie dough, tried to dust herself off. Grinning, she helped the other two up,
"Come on, there's some…"
Now she notices everyone staring at them. She blinked,
"Hoe…"
Yukito and Yelan burst out laughing, followed quickly by the sisters and servants. The Li brothers made sure no smile came to their face. The three girls joined in, inviting the others to try some of the left over dough. Yukito grabbed a spoon from the drawer and dipped in. The smile on his face told all.
The three girls sat on the stools, dipping in, quickly followed by the rest of the family except the twins that stood at the door, scowling. Or rather, Syaoran scowling, Eriol just stood there. Meilin asked, as the topic was now open,
"What was your brother like?"
Sakura grinned softly,
"Aniki was a pain, but he was there. He never let guys near me, and always glared boys down at the skate parks and competitions. He always rooted for me, and he went to every practice and event with me. Touya…was the tough big brother that loved me. He and Yukito took care of me when I was a kid."
Trying to see what she can find from her more than probable future friends, Meilin wanted to know everything she could. And with her cousins in hearing distance, maybe they'll learn a thing or two of the girls.
Sprouting off questions here and there, she got answers from all four closest to the Kinomoto's and Daidouji's. Yelan shocked her sons when she recounted stories as a teen and young adult, being rather carefree and her adventures with Sonomi and Nadeshiko.
Even her daughters were slightly surprised by their mother's openness, but stemmed it to the fact that she had been life long friends with the other two. Every memory of those two were precious, and she would share the past with the next 'three musketeers'.
They went into the late hours of the night, all absorbed as they talked, the servants smiling as the cleaned up the forgotten mess from the battle. The Li family never had a midnight snack on cookie dough before, staying up just to have a conversation. Everyone seemed so relaxed, even the twins had joined them at the table after a while.
They knew the girls were a change for the family, and a very welcomed change.
Around midnight, Yelan had called it a night, on the basis that most of them were leaving the next morning. Hugging whoever accepted one (they didn't even aim for the twins), Tomoyo and Sakura raced to go pack.
Tomoyo easily assembled her bags, neatly packing a small make up kit, spa supplies, toiletry kit (1), copies of her folders and binders, day clothes, pjs, sweat pants, dress clothes, swim wear, etc. In her carry on, she had an art pad, a couple books (several manga, English, French, and Italian learning guide books, and a romantic tragedy), her gallon bag full of cookies and other goodies, MP3 player, and laptop.
She knew she was set, and only used two bags.
But when she came to Sakura's room, she almost fainted. Sakura, having been on the road to tournaments and competitions most of her life, amazingly did not pack very well. She merely grabbed the basics (underwear, couple of day clothes, pair of pj, toiletries, and a manga), stuffed it in a duffel bag, and went on her way.
Tomoyo, ever helpful, began teaching her dear cousin the fine art of getting more in the bag, and properly setting up her travel bag.
Basically, Sakura just sat on her bed while Tomoyo dumped all her stuff out, and started anew. Her raven haired friend lectured kindly as she packed in a dress or two, Tomoyo madeclothes, pjs, several language books, etc.
"We need to start preparing for a life on the go, Sakura-chan. Meaning we have to look our best at all times. Sucks, but this is our mission."
Sakura sighed, "I know that. But why so many language books? We're not international just yet. First, we need to get this started."
Tomoyo giggled, placing the fifth language book in the carry bag, next to some manga and Sakura's own folders and binders, laptop, MP3 players, cookies, and art pad.
"I know. But it's good to start learning now, and at least have a basic understanding. And the more a model tries to learn, the more people like about her. She is an image, an idol. She says she likes to learn…say…history. People will start looking it up."
Sakura grumbled, "What about yourself?"
Tomoyo smiled, "I have to do it as well. And so will Meilin, if you're wondering. And mom probably had Eriol and Syaoran started on that stuff years ago, for their end of taking over the Li clan and businesses. Now, go to bed. We're leaving early."
Sakura blinked, rather surprised Tomoyo had packed so fast, so neatly, and so much more than she did herself.
Cuddling up to Kero, she was quick to go to sleep, more light hearted than that morning. It felt real good too, to say good bye.
Author Commentary:
Quick chapter, but hey, I'm crankin' out what I can. I'm already an insomniac; I might as well do something with my time…
Toiletry kits: yes, they exist, and no, they have nothing to do with a toilet. Here's a life lesson. Toiletry comes from toilet, which comes from the French word toillete, which in essence means 'freshen up'. The kits have what people need when they travel: shampoo, conditioner, tooth brush, tooth paste, hair brush and supplies, deodorant, lotion, and even body spray.
So, now you know, young grass hopper. Lol.
And so this is when I say Read it, Review it, Love it! Later loves!