The Lost Princess
A/N: overtime mode…hehehe ^^ reviews please…. ^_^
Chapter 5
In the dead of the night… while darkness enveloped the Earth, the full moon and stars provided enough light for those who needed it. The moon's light shone brightly above and through the window of a dark room where only the silhouette of the furnitures and people could be seen.
Behind a desk, sitting on a swivel chair was a slightly lanky man wearing formal clothes. Another figure was leaning next to the window, arms crossed carelessly on the chest --- another lanky guy, around 6 feet in height. Another was a girl's outline, sitting on the couch just infront of the desk. Her long hair with indiscernible color was up in a tight ponytail while the last one, just a young boy, was sitting on the floor, legs crossed.
"Your next mission…" this came from the man behind the desk. His voice placed him to be a man in his early to late forties, "the serial killer who victimizes young women. I want him taken down within the fortnight, understand?"
"Copy that, sir." Came the reply of the guy from beside the window. His voice was deep and serious --- an early adult.
"The information you will need as aid is here…" he picked up a stack of papers and the girl stood up and took it from him. She moved gracefully and with gait.
"We'll succeed." The one sitting on the floor assured the man behind the desk. His voice was boyishly serious.
"I know…but I don't need words… I need results… The earlier, the better." And they left the place one by one quietly.
XXX
Syaoran saw Sakura staring wide-eyed and brows up at something which was found inside her locker early that morning.
"Hey, what's up?" he inquired, pretending nonchalance as he opened his locker which was a couple of lockers before hers.
"Someone…just left three roses in my locker." She stated in a daze, reaching a hand inside her locker and pulling out three white rose buds, holding the long stems daintily.
Syaoran's brows quirked up in interest at this.
"Who's fool enough to give you such things?" he stated casually with a hint of sarcasm, starting to pull out his books, glancing furtively at Sakura's confused countenance. She seemed not to have heard his taunt because she made no comment but just inhaled the scent of the roses.
XXX
"I'm telling you, Saku. It must be Yukito…" came Chiharu's persistence as they went out of their last class for lunch.
"I think not…" she whispered quietly, trying to analyze her situation. Chiharu continued talking and she just shut her ears mentally, focusing on her thoughts.
They immediately found a vacant table and settled there.
"You listening to me, Saku?" came Chiharu's suspicious query.
"Huh?... Uh… Yeah…" Chiharu's query snapped her from her thoughts.
"What do you think?" Chiharu prompted enthusiastically.
"It's no big deal, really…and besides, I don't want to talk about it right now." Came her quiet reply.
"Oh, okay." She saw a glimmer of understanding in Chiharu's blue eyes and friendly smile.
"Hey, Saku! I heard you've received roses for three consecutive days already, isn't that right?" this query came from a smiling Yukito who had approached their table and was leaning on the table from across her until they were eye to eye.
"Huh?...uh…kinda…" she stammered, her cheeks flaming in total embarrassment and her eyes looking anywhere but at his twinkling hazel eyes.
"You really are cute when blushing…" came Yukito's chuckled comment, placing gentle fingers beneath her chin and making her look at him, "Such expressive emerald eyes…" he complimented quietly, making her blush even more, if that was even possible. Silence followed his compliment and it was him who broke from their eye contact.
"Anyway, just wanted to ask if you're free on Valentine's Day." Came Yukito's casual inquiry after straightening up and giving her a dazzling smile.
"Huh…uh…" she stammered dumbly, mentally scolding herself for such a stupid reaction.
"No…She's not available…" there was firmness in the tone of the one who delivered that line. Every head turned to the direction of the speaker. He was just casually sitting there, brows quirked up in inquiry but Yukito saw something in his brown eyes --- quiet anger and what? Possessiveness? At this, Yukito's lips twitched up in interest…
~Well, that's quite interesting.~ he mused to himself before nodding.
"I see…maybe next time…Okay, see you around!" and then he left with a satisfied grin on his lips.
~But I can't really blame him.~ was his last thought before joining his friends.
"We have a scheduled meeting on that day…that's what I was about to tell you when he interrupted." Takashi explained quite sheepishly.
"That's okay, Takashi…" Sakura assured Takashi then frowned thoughtfully.
"Why the frown?" came Chiharu's off-handed question.
"I just feel stupid 'cause I was unable to construct a sensible sentence in his presence. What's wrong with me?" Sakura groaned in embarrassment, covering her face with both hands, elbows on the table.
"That's quite normal. You like him after all." Chiharu gave her a gentle pat on the back.
"That's real stupid, actually." Came a quite serious voice from opposite Chiharu. Chiharu whipped to that direction with a frown and a glare which warned him to shut up.
"Stop trying to shield him from reality, Chi. That guy is just toying with her. I know the type of guy he is." This statement was thrown carelessly.
"Shut up!" Chiharu hissed to him, then, "Don't listen to him, Saku." She told the quiet Sakura.
Sakura withdrew her hands from her face and placed it on the table, shaking her head.
"He's right…" she agreed to her guy friend's statement, an empty smile on her lips. Silence elapsed then Sakura announced that she was going to the library and excused herself.
"What's with the attitude?!" Chiharu hissed at the contrary guy whose countenance was dangerously serious, brown eyes flashing.
"It's all true, Chi. That guy is up to no good. I'm not just going to wait for her to get hurt. Never!" his tone was hard and deadly.
"Your protectiveness is out of place." Chiharu observed warily but he gave no reply…until she felt a hand on her arm. She looked at the other guy who shook his head, silently telling her to stop grilling the unusually serious guy. She just sighed before assenting.
~Darn! What's wrong with me?~ he thought in annoyance, clenching his hands into fists on his lap. He was being ridiculous, he knew, but the sight of Yukito had made his blood boil. He had never liked that sweet-faced jerk… but damn Sakura for liking the guy, anyway. . She was too good for the jerk. He was surprised at his thoughts especially the urge to connect his fist to the guy's arrogant face. He groaned inwardly, trying to ease the tension in his body.
~Admit it, man! You're absolutely so in trouble!~ he told himself when he realized the truth behind his reaction
"'Ey, Saku!" someone called from behind. She turned and saw the pretty Tomoyo, walking to her direction with a natural and friendly smile that reached her amethyst eyes.
"Just wanted you to know that we'll have practice today, five in the afternoon, in the gym." Tomoyo stated in her usual serene tone.
"Practice? For what?" Sakura delivered this query with creased brows.
"For the Valentine's Day presentation." Tomoyo answered simply, "And by the way, inform Takashi and Syaoran about this, okay? Make sure that those two attend --- regardless of their alibis." She added with a knowing grin.
"Yeah, sure. Count on it!" Sakura replied with equal amusement, grinning.
"Thanks! See you there!" Tomoyo announced with a friendly pat on Sakura's shoulder before leaving.
