A New Season

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Chapter 5

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It been a week since that incident, today is the day that I will go to Mei Ling's school carnival type thing, it's to start around two o'clock, and school today is to finish around noon. Mei Ling attended our sister school, students mostly mingled with one another. I had though about this and had decided that I would go no matter what. Seriously, I will. After all, it's not like I'm confused. And of course I have remained the same way since then, even if Sensei said all that. I can't even call her Baka-sensei anymore. Not after that, and no it wasn't because she had looked at me with such a painful expression that has permanently embedded itself into my mind and heart.

After that day, I had gone—well been dropped of at Eriol's house, knowing full well that he wouldn't be there. I had walked around, getting soaked by the rain. Thinking about it, thinking about Mei Ling, and what she meant to me. I had already known that I wasn't romantically in love with her, but I had felt that it would come as time passed... but so far, it hadn't, and now I was beginning to doubt it.

Anyways, right now I sat on the school roof top with Shun and Eriol, drinking a pop. Shun was smoking a cigarette, and Eriol was looking at me. Today he had his glasses on, only because he wanted to experiment on whether or not girls would like him more with his glasses on, in contrast to his usual contacts. Why did I know this? Because that is what he had been talking about all day. Sometimes, it truly was shocking how he had turned out this was, looking at his sister you would think he would be afraid of girls. But no, he was the exact opposite.

"Hey, let's go hit a club before you have to go." Said Eriol as he took a sip from his can of strawberry-tropical mix juice. He was about the only guy on the surface of the planet that could actually stand the tangy sweetness of the juice, and also the only guy who lived off of it without dying of the sweet nectar.

"Eriol, no decent club is open around noon." I replied as I took the last sip, finishing my drink.

"Yeah, if you just want to get hot with a girl, call one up." Said Shun, as he butted his cigarette with the base of his shoe. "I swear they need to make stronger stuff." He muttered to no one in particular.

"Well, I'm a growing boy! I need love!" complained Eriol, as he gently fell back on the pavement.

"You don't really think do you Eriol, if we even did find a place that was open, you would be cutting class and—"

"I can't believe I missed seeing Eriol in a dress!" mused Shun.

"Believe me Shun; you were lucky, very lucky. It is something that will be burned into your eyes for life; I'm surprised I didn't die from it." I teased.

Just then we all turned toward the door as we heard someone open it, and there a head popped out, the black hair shone in the light. I cursed inwardly, and quickly got up. "I have to go, my phone, it's ringing." I all but ran out of the view of her coming here. Damn it, I still can't face her.

"Hey, Syaroa—" started Sensei, but I didn't hear the rest as I bolted down the stairs, to a vending machine. Slowly, I took out some change, but dallied. Why was I still unable to see her, was it guilt on my part? Was it…could it be true that I only regarded Mei Ling as my sister if anything? I do recall denying the fact that she really is my fiancée.

I leaned back on the vending machine and sighed, why the hell am I so confused? I'm a normal teenager that requires a normal life, without all this hiding. Damn all of this to hell!

"Yo, why the hell did you run out like that?" I looked up to see both Shun and Eriol standing in front of me.

"I was thirsty, and I didn't run away."

"You're not avoiding someone in particular are you?" asked Shun, as he put his hands in his pocket in search of some spare change.

"Why would I be avoiding someone, I'm not like Eriol who needs to hide from girls after cheating on them."

"Hey! It's not my fault, that I don't do repeats." Eriol said as he tried to defend himself.

"Ah, Akira-sensei!" said Shun as he turned around to face someone with black hair. It just couldn't be Sensei. No way in hell was it Sensei. No. no…no… oh god, damn it!

"Syaroan! There you are! Hey get back here! Syaroan!" After I was far away from Sensei, I leaned back on the closest wall to catch my breath. I inhaled a large breath, and counted slowly form one to ten. I really was avoiding Sensei. Just like Shun had said. Not to mention that I ran away in front of the both of them. Damn it, they were to think that, Sensei did something to me, or that I was well…being an idiot. I don't want to be an idiot.

I glanced down at my watch; it was a little past noon meaning that school was officially over. Might as well head down to Mei Ling's school. I pushed myself off of the wall and started to walk towards the main gates. As I reached the gate, the last bell of the day went of, signaling everyone that it was the end of the day.

I hadn't thought of how l was going to go to Mei Ling's School, until just now. Was I going to take the subway? Considering I didn't have any other choice, since the school was, at the very least, a twenty minute drive from here. I let out a sigh, I did promise right, meaning that I had to keep my word. Whether I liked it or not, I was still a Li; which meant that I had to keep my word.

I started to walk on the main street towards the subway. Hmm, I should really get my license, more preferably my motor cycle license. Yes, that would be awesome, with Sakura's hands tight around my waist while we drove of the nowhere and everywhere. WAIT! What the hell am I thinking? Calling Sensei Sakura, not to mention, her arms around my waist?! Now way, nooo frigging way! I had Mei Ling, even though she wasn't really someone I thought of like that. Damn it! My mind is so stupid.

More importantly, what was I to do next? I knew that I wasn't in love with Mei Ling, and I think I'm not in love with any other girl. But why had she said that, she had said it with so much emotion that it hurt to look at her. It had twisted my heart so much, that I had thought all the blood in my heart had been spun out. Why had it hurt me?

I walked into the subway, and took out my pass, with a small beep I walked into the platform, ready to take the next train. Glancing down at my watch it was already half past noon, and the train would be coming in the next fifteen minutes.

Returning back to my thoughts, why had it hurt? Why did the words haunt me to such an extent that I felt guilty looking at Sensei. So guilty, would I be able to look at Mei Ling today? It was all about her so I wouldn't be able to right? Guilty, I decided that I would tell Me Ling how I truly felt about her. How I truly thought of her as a sister and not as my future partner.

With a hiss the train pulled in. Determined, I looked up and got on with the flood of people. I was going to do this. At least I would be able to see Sensei again, even if Mei Ling might be heart broken. But I couldn't bear to hurt Mei Ling, she was after all one of my most cherished persons. Just like Shun and Eriol she was always there, she had always stood by my side.

The conductor announced my stop, and just as I had entered I exited with the crowd. I walked out and there was the school, visible with banners. I shook my head to set all of my other thoughts outside of my mind. My only focus was Mei Ling today, to make her happy, and to fulfill my promise. I looked down at my watch fifteen minutes after one. Hmm... I'm just in time.

I walked up to the entrance of the school, and felt my lips tilt upward in a smirk. It was so like St. Peter's Private School for Girls to exaggerate such an event, so that it would make headlines. There were a few visible reporters, and the stands were full of color and games. I walked in, and started to look for Mei Ling, she was on the student council, so she was probably checking around to make sure that everything was in order.

A few girls 'accidentally' bumped into me and began to apologizing. I gave them a glare, and continued to walk and look around. I started towards the main entry into the school. As, I walked in I was constantly stopped by various girls after 20 minutes it had become very annoying. So when the next 'presumed' girl pulled lightly on my arm, I was about to go ballistic, but my eyes met amber-red pools. I sighed inwardly, thanking god. "Hey"

"Sorry, did you have to wait long?" she asked as she smiled happily, loose strands of hair had escaped probably from walking around, and came into her eyes.

"No, not really." I said gently as pulled the loose hair behind her ear.

She began to blush, "I just need to put this folder away in the student council room. I was checking on the stalls, that's why I was late."

"I'll come with you." I said, and placed my hand on her back, not on her shoulder that would make it look like I was harassing her, and not on her waist because that would claim her to be mine. Her back was safe, kind of protective and kind of loving. "Lead the way." I said as I slowed down my pace to match hers.

"D-Did you have trouble finding the school?" she said as she began to walk.

"With all those colorful banners, it would be hard not to find it. You guys did a pretty good job."

"Our president always likes to exaggerate on everything."

"She must be quiet a powerful figure then."

"She is, I admire her a lot—" She stopped walking and nudged me.

I looked over to where she was looking, and saw a few guy surrounding a girl, and began asking her. "Hey, want to hang out with us?" "You are quiet pretty you know." And many other questions along those line.

"Syaroan-san, could you please—" she began to ask, I nodded and started to walk towards them.

"What do you think you're doing?" I questioned as I began to look at them with complete distaste. All of them turned to look at me, giving me a chance to look at the girl being harassed. She had waist long hair, that was waved expertly, she wore little make up just as a touch up for her fair complexion. The guys were right, she was pretty, but she also had a look of suppressed anger, the face told nothing, but someone with experience with holding in emotions might be able to recognize the anger behind it.

"What's it to you? Are you her boyfriend?" one of the guys asked with anger. I raised my eyebrow, and being taller, I glared down, my lips twitching into a venomous smirk. Did he just question me? Is he trying to pick a fight with me? He is isn't he? Good, it's been a while and I've been feeling pissed off lately. I felt me my smirk grow deadly, as I began to lightly stretch my wrist and fingers, getting ready for a fight.

"Very brave, to think you are actually challenging a guy with a black belt, seven year fencing, and kendo experience and not to mention the junior champion in his junior high days, along with other such titles. Brave indeed, but lucky for you she's not his, but mine." Said a familiar voice, I looked up to see that the familiar person with a black wig, and brown contacts had come up and had wrapped a protective arm around the girl's waist. I could hear Mei Ling gasp from the back, and I felt my eyebrow twitch upwards. How did she know all of that?

The person placed a soft kiss on the girl's cheek. "Sorry, Tomoyo I'm late. If I had known that these brats were going to harass you, I would have come a lot sooner."

"Kinomoto-san…?" asked Mei Ling.

"Oh, Hi Rae-san, and of course to you as well, Syaroan. Fancy meeting you guys here, and thanks for trying to protect my girl from these guys." She smiled at us, and then looked back towards the guys. "Hmm, now that you know, I'm not as talented as him; in fact I'm only a black belt, kendo, and kickboxing provincial level champion. Now, the right thing to do would be to apologize and get the hell away from my girl." Said Sensei, as her voice dripped with so much menace that I could feel the fear in the air emitting from the guys. They weakly nodded, giving quick apologetic bows and ran away. Not bad, she sure can emit an aura of danger.

"That was totally unnecessary. I could have handled them." Said the girl, that Sensei had called Tomoyo. She quickly pinched Sensei's arm off of her, and began again. "Since when am I yourgirl, last I checked you were still interested in men. Not to mention you were late, and kissed me! You were never cool so don't try now, and why am I not surprised you were late!"

Sensei winced, "Ah… sorry, you know I was working. And then Touya stopped me—" but she quickly stopped as she saw her 'girl' glaring at her. I couldn't help it; I felt my lips tug up into a smile, which I quickly covered with my hand.

Mei ling walked up to where I was standing, "Uh, Daidouji-san all the stalls are in order." She said weakly obviously trying to stop the argument.

The girl turned around and looked calmly at Mei Ling and smiled, "Thank you, Rae-san, you are obviously more component than others. Now whom may this be?" she had said 'others' with coldness, which caused Sensei to smile nervously. She looked at me with some interest, quickly looking me over she asked with a note of amusement, "Your boyfriend?"

Mei Ling blushed more, I quickly stepped up and regarded her for a second before answering, "I'm Syaroan Li, I'm her cousin."

Her eyes twinkled with amusement, "Oh, I see. So this is Li-san that you talked about?"

This caused Mei Ling to blush even more. Sensei, quickly came by to stand beside Daidouji-san, "Tomoyo stop picking on her, I'm your target remember."

"You be quiet." She quickly said, and smiled at me politely, "Nice to meet you." She bowed down politely. I nodded politely in return. She began again, "This is my second cousin Akira Kinomoto, but it seems like you already know him."

"Yes, he's Syaroan-san's teacher, and I met him a week ago." Smiled Mei Ling. Yeah, some teacher.

"So, since, we met up and know each other, would you two like to join us and go around the festival?" asked Sensei, as she too smiled.

I glanced quickly at Mei Ling, I didn't really want to because I remembered how I was avoiding Sensei. But to my dismay, Mei Ling agreed. Then, Daidouji-san and Mei Ling walked ahead and started to talk. I let out a sigh, now I was somewhat alone in Sensei.

I saw Mei Ling turn back, "Should we go play some games?" She asked, my gaze softened at her smiling face, and I gave her a small nod.

"What games are there to play?" I asked, as she now came and was walking next to me.

Daidouji-san answered, "Lots, from basketball to fishing, it kind of like being at a summer festival. Hmm, how about we try the horseshoe toss first? I know that you want to compete with Li-san, isn't that right Saki-chan?"

"I don't, but I do know that, he probably wants to after the last time." Replied Sensei with a wide grin on her face.

I felt my face go red remembering how she had beat me at Mortal Kombat, I quickly brought out my poker face and sighed, "You caught me unguarded there, and I wasn't expecting that method for a challenge. But, you do realize that I did beat you at your wheel."

She glared at me with anger, "It seems that you were a bit lucky there."

I felt myself smirk and turned towards her, "You call it luck, and I call it skill."

"Please, everyone knows that you were probably praying behind that poker face of yours."

"Oh really? Well, it's not as bad as what people are beginning to think of you, like some psychotic teacher who can't leave his fantasies out of class."

"And you think you're so cool."

"Better than you."

"I'm not too sure about that Syaon-poon"

Daidouji-san who had been watching the argument with interest raised a perfect eyebrow and asked, "Syaon-poon?"

I rolled my eyes, "It didn't work last time and it won't help you this time." Suddenly, we heard both Mei Ling and Daidouji-san laugh. We turned towards them, I cocked an eyebrow. And Sensei herself, started to laugh. I looked at all three of them with a blank expression. What was so funny?

"Ah" said Sensei between giggles, "You and me, we are soo like little kids! Arguing like that!" she started to tear up from laughing to hard, "I haven't done something like that in a very long time." She finally admitted. I could feel the smile, the laugh embed itself deeper into my heart, making it skip a beat or two. Damn you heart!

I felt even more confused, "What…?"

"Oh, don't worry about it. Look! It's a target game!" Said Sensei in excitement. "Hey, Syaroan, let's see who is better?" she asked with a grin and challenge on her face.

I smirked, "You are so going down. Hey, Mei Ling, which prize do you want? And don't hold back, I want to prove to Sensei that he's too old to be participating in such games." I glanced over to Mei Ling, who had now clamed down but was still a little red from laughing.

Suddenly, Sensei punched me on the shoulder, "I'm not that much older than you!"

I gave her a smirk, "Are you older than me?"

"Yes." Replied Sensei gritting her teeth.

I motioned towards her, "There you go. Now Mei Ling, have you decided yet?"

Sensei whirled around and marched over to the stall, and put down 50 yen and asked for a few darts, she called back to us, "Tomoyo I'll get you the giant purple elephant!"

Daidouji-san gave a sigh, and looked at Mei Ling, "Might as well go with something, once you get him started he doesn't stop."

Mei Ling giggled a little and looked up at me, "If you don't mind Syaroan-san I'd like the p-pink hippo."

I gently gave Mei Ling a soft pat on her head, "Alright, no matter what I'll win in for you." I said as I walked away to the ready Sensei. I too placed 50 yen down, and got ready taking the darts. I noticed that both girl had come up and now were watching us. I closed my eyes briefly and cracked my wrist.

"The rules are simple, if you hit all five targets you win. The targets ranked according to difficulty from hardest to easiest are, ducks, balloons, and lastly bottles." The announcer looked at both of us, and moved out of the range of the darts, "Ready. Set. Go!" announced the stall manager.

And we began; I threw the dart perfectly straight through the air, and hit dead center on the moving target ducks. One down four to go. Without glancing away form my objectives, I threw the rest with the same flick of the wrist, hitting the target every time. Finishing the darts in my hand, I straightened up and raised an eyebrow.

Sensei was also done, and stood up proudly, "Five ducks out of five ducks, my dear student." She said as she held out her hand, extending all her four fingers and thumb.

"So it's true, you can teach an old dog a new trick, I also got five ducks out of five, Sensei-sama."

"Syaroan, Syaroan, my dear student haven't you learned anything from school at all? You can't beat me, no matter how hard you try."

"Oh, is that so? Want to go again?"

"Alright, you're on!"

"Pick your game!"

"Uno, sorry to bother you, but can you please pick out a piece of paper?" asked two girls carrying to boxes. We turned to look at them.

"You pick out a number and don't show it to anyone, and then at the end, well around four o'clock, we will announce the lucky number and one girl and one guy will have the same number and will be crowned the spring queen and spring king. It's a long lasting tradition here at St. Peter's." explained Daidouji-san as she saw Sensei look at the girls in a confused manner. Daidouji-san went up to one of the girls and whispered something in her ear, and the girl nodded as if in understanding

"Alright" I said, as I reached into the box one of the girls held out, and I placed the folded piece of paper into my pocket, having lightly glanced at it, it had been bare.

"A number will appear on that paper at four, when we announce the spring couple, so please wait for it. Also, it is impossible to have the ink appear before then." Said one of the girls

"Of course! Since it was made by our most talented President" squealed the other one.

Sensei rolled her eyes, "Please, don't compliment Tomoyo too much otherwise I'll have to suffer from it afterwards." She also picked a paper out of the other box, and placed in swiftly into her pocket. "Thank you, ladies"

They then scurried off to some other people, when I realized something, "Hey, Mei Ling, did you get one?"

She smiled sadly, "No, student council isn't included." I went to her, and gently brushed her hair from her face.

"Then don't worry about it alright, if you want, I won't participate." I said. I couldn't bare that look.

"No, it's alright." She smiled, "It doesn't really matter…"

I reached out my hand, to make her feel better, when I heard someone clear their throat rather loudly. I turned and glared at the person who had, and it was no surprise to find that Sensei was the culprit.

"Ah! Rae-san, let's go get ice cream?" suggested Sensei, as she came up to her taking her hand and began to lead her to the ice cream stand.

I mentally sighed, why did things get so complicated!

"You don't love her in the same way she does, do you?" asked Daidouji-san.

I turned to slightly in her direction, and said, "That really isn't any of your concern."

"True, but she is a friend and I wish for her best interest." She said, and I began to turn the other way to where Sensei and Mei Ling had ran off to. Just then, she turned me around by jerking my hand. I raised my eyebrow. "I don't care about you, but I do care for her! It's already plainly obvious that you are in love with someone else, and it just so happens to be Saki-chan."

"You should be more concerned for your own well being, before you start prying into others lives." I replied.I was feeling like i was getting angry. I was feeling like I was betraying the two girls. "You think that I'm playing with their feelings. You don't know about what is going on between Mei Ling and me or about Sensei. So don't start accusing me of anything before you know all the facts, isn't that how the heir of the Daidouji Group should work, instead of jumping ahead." I pulled my arm away started to walk towards Mei Ling. I knew what her expression would look like, shocked and frozen beyond control.

As I reached Mei Ling, she smiled at me, and handed me an ice cream cone. "Mei Ling, can I talk to you." I asked as I took the ice cream from her hands.

"Ah, Tomoyo, I got you a vanilla like always. Hey, what's wrong?" asked Sensei to Daidouji-san. Mei Ling distractedly looked over to Daidouji-san. But it seemed that Sensei now was blocking her view of Tomoyo, as she had now crouched down to Daidouji-san's height.

"Uh… okay, Syaroan-san"

I nodded and began to walk to a quieter place, where no people were. I motioned for her to sit down at the small bench. I looked down at her now that she was sitting. "Mei Ling…"

"Is this about our engagement?" she asked all of a sudden, looking down.

"Mei Ling, our engagement was arranged by our parent's as a business arrangement. I don't want you to be forced down to something low like that so—"

She suddenly got up, and brushed her skirt, she turned her back to me. "You know, I've never seen you argue with anyone like that before, as you did with Kinomoto-san. You seemed almost happy, and for a second there, it—it looked like it was just the two of you, you both seemed happy and almost as if in your own world. As I watched the two of you together, it almost seemed like you two had a sort of connection, something that couldn't be explained. I could feel my hurt quench, but for some reason I also felt happy for you."

"Syaroan-san, I'm not sure if this is the actual thing, but I do love you." She turned around, with tears beginning to brim her eyes. "Are you in love with Kinomoto-san?"

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Author's Note: Hi guys, here you go… and ooh! I think I'm going to kill you guys with how I ended it this time!

Fallen from the sky Lol I love the cute and dense Syaroan, actually he's just confused
rosedreamer101 sorry to confuse you, it's basically Syaroan, Yukiito and Touya that know Sakura's cross dressing secret, no one else know. And since in it in Syaroan's POV, Sakura is a girl.

Musette Fujiwara You really are smart, picking up things like that, well just sit tight and read the chapters to follow to know

SakurachanThankies :D
iXidarkmelodyiXi I love reading your reviews, they are so funny, yes I wanted to but didn't know for sure, so I flipped a coin, not to mention I was threatened
AngelEmCutithankies :D

Thank you and please continue to review or else :D