Disclaimer: I don't own Card captor Sakura
Chapter 2
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"Alright, I hope you'll be able to choose a club soon. Whichever appeals to you." Tomoyo smiled.
She had just finished introducing Syaoran to the club presidents, asking them to consider Syaoran's late entry if ever he choose to enter that particular club. With Syaoran's natural charisma and seemingly excellent skills in sport, they had no problem in considering.
Syaoran nodded as he opened the door back to their classroom. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."
Tomoyo looked inside the classroom, it was already empty except for one person. Sakura still remained in her seat, as usual, she seemed to be in a daze again.
"It's always like this," Tomoyo murmured. "She'll leave when the clubs are done. It was always like that..."
She walked to her place and arranged her things into her bag, she looked at her best friend with a smile. "I'll be going now Sakura, don't forget to lock up."
"Hmn," Sakura answered in daze, she glanced at Tomoyo for a moment before looking back outside the window again.
Tomoyo frowned as she walked towards Syaoran, who hadn't moved an inch from the door, "Well then Syaoran-san, I'll be going already," murmured Tomoyo.
"Oh, thank you again," said Syaoran, bowing slightly to Tomoyo as a sign of his gratitude.
Tomoyo smiled back at him, then she looked at Sakura once again, she sighed. When she turned to Syaoran, she whispered to him, "Please," then she glanced to Sakura.
Syaoran nodded in understanding. Tomoyo had asked for his favor to help Sakura back to her feet. Even though he doesn't really know her, seeing someone like that... just made him want to help. He still wasn't sure how he was to help, especially when Tomoyo told him about something bizarre...
Tomoyo quietly left the classroom. Leaving Syaoran with Sakura.
Sakura, you may not forgive me for this, but it's worth the shot... Whether you would be able to move on or just stay there... stuck in time... I know Syaoran-san would be able to make a difference.
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Silently, Syaoran moved behind Sakura and sat on his seat without a noise. He watched her back, somehow, it's like he could see how much pain she was keeping inside just by looking at her posture... He sighed, leaning forward.
"Kinomoto-san?" Syaoran called gently.
Sakura suddenly flinched upon hearing his voice. She immediately looked in front of the classroom. His voice...
"It's getting late Kinomoto-san, do you want me to walk you home? It's dangerous for you to walk alone around this time." Syaoran offered.
Don't... Don't be dragged in... He's a completely different person... He's gone... It's impossible for him to even be here... Don't be fooled... But... The temptation...
Sakura reluctantly looked at Syaoran, she forced a small smile upon her face, "Thank you, but I'm used to this," She said, her voice still lifeless.
"Oh." Syaoran said disappointingly, "Well, alright. Then, I'll leave ahead now. Take care on your way home and don't stay here too late class rep." Syaoran grinned.
Sakura felt a stab in her heart upon seeing him grin to freely.
She immediately looked away again, "Hmn," She answered.
Syaoran sighed silently and grabbed his bag. He looked at Sakura one last time before leaving the classroom.
Sakura exhaled the breath she didn't know she was actually holding in. So much similarity... Having to see him much closer... Their eyes are the same... For a moment, I could actually believe that he's alive...
She suddenly felt something warm trickling down her cheeks. She slowly touched it.
Tears...
It's been a while since she cried...
It feels so hard to feel again...
Letting the pain enter her heart once again...
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"Ah,"
Sakura looked up when someone suddenly took a step in front of her just outside the gates of the school.
"Kai." Sakura's eyes widen.
Syaoran suddenly had a confused look on his face. "It's Syaoran Li." He said, a playful expression suddenly surfacing on his face, "Your new classmate."
"W-why are you here." Sakura asked, another stab in her heart was felt. It's not him... He's gone already...
"I told you that it was dangerous to stay out late at night." Syaoran said, "It's already past 7, I'm surprised you weren't locked inside."
"My safety is none of your concern." Sakura murmured, walking to the direction of her house.
Despite her cold attitude, Syaoran still followed her with a bright aura. "A classmate's safety is the classmate's concern."
"Are you lost?" Sakura asked, a slight irritation evident in her voice.
Syaoran grinned at her, "Oh ho, class rep's getting angry." He joked.
Sakura's eyes widen. Angry...?
"Surprised?" Syaoran grinned.
Sakura immediately switched back to a poker face. "Whatever Tomoyo has told you about me, you should just forget it."
"Hmn? So you were actually aware? Don't tell me you pretend to look as if you don't have a care, when in reality you're just snooping around."
"Think what you want."
"Alright. This is what I think. I think that you just want people to pay attention to you. You seem to be shouting out loud the words Look at me. Notice me."
"What right do you have to judge me?" Sakura asked, this time, anger was completely evident in her tone. Her eyes were clear of that emotion too.
"You just told me to think what I want." Syaoran countered.
"Are you going to follow me until I get home?"
"I plan to."
"Are you a stalker?" Sakura asked, already a bit irritated. She walked faster.
Syaoran steadily kept up with her with no problem at all. "No, I'm your new classmate, in case you forgot."
Sakura sighed frustratedly, she looked at Syaoran once again, stopping from her tracks. "Is joking all you know to do?"
"I think you'd regret it if I become serious." Syaoran answered quietly.
"What did Tomoyo tell you...really?" Sakura asked.
"Nothing much." Syaoran answered. Just the fact that I seem to resemble a dead guy, and that dead guy seems to be someone precious to you. Then he suddenly remembered Tomoyo's words.
"Maybe you can help Sakura's time to start moving again... You and that person are different people. Sakura has to let that person go. Please help her. You have to let her time continue ticking again. She can't remain frozen..."
"Nothing much, you mean by much."
"She just told me that you're going through something rough, and that I may be of help." Syaoran said earnestly.
Sakura looked at the ground. Looking at him just reminded her too much of that person. "She didn't tell you anything else?"
"Nothing at all."
"Then why are you here? Did she say I need your help? You barely know me. Correction, you don't even know me." Sakura said.
"What I do know is that you are really not this person. I can tell that you're someone people love to around with. You can probably say that I'm interested in you, define it as a joke or as a confession, think what you want. I know this isn't who you really are." Syaoran smiled.
The smile…
Sakura could feel the corners of her eyes stinging with tears which were threatening to fall soon. She turned to the small gate beside her immediately and opened it.
"This is your home?" Syaoran said admiringly, "Closer to school than I would've expected."
Suddenly the front door of Sakura's house opened. Her father opened the door with a worried look on his face. He smiled in relief upon seeing his daughter walking up the pathway to the front door.
"Sakura, welcome home," greeted her father.
As if feeling that someone was standing from afar, Sakura's father looked towards the small gate. His eyes widen seeing as Sakura has a companion, and the face of the lad instantly registered. "Oh."
"Don't mind him," Sakura murmured, not bothering to look at Syaoran nor her father. "He's a stalker." Then she walked into the house.
Fujitaka watched his daughter trudge into the house with astonishment. His daughter actually sounded irritated... It had been a long time since he saw any emotion from her. He looked back at the boy standing outside.
"Did you happen to walk Sakura home?" He asked.
"Kind of. She didn't want my company though." Syaoran smiled, "Well, good evening. I'll be leaving now."
"Wait." Fujitaka called. "Do you happen to be a friend of Sakura?"
Syaoran chuckled, "No. I'm a new student, Kinomoto-san's my classmate. You can say I'm a friend of Daidouji-san. I'm Syaoran Li."
"Oh, well then, thank you for walking Sakura home. I always worry since she comes home late at night."
"It's no problem." Syaoran grinned.
"Would you like to join us for dinner Syaoran-kun?" He asked courteously.
Syaoran shook his head, "Thank you, but I should head home now. Surprisingly, I don't live far from here."
"So, that moving truck earlier must be your family moving in." Fujitaka said, clearly recalling the truck just a few blocks from the house when he went out to go to his university.
"I assume that is so." Syaoran answered with respect, "Have a good evening," He said, just before he left.
Fujitaka watched Syaoran's retreating form. He had barely suppressed his surprise upon seeing the boy. How could this be? He looked exactly like the boy whom Sakura really cherished in the past. Not only that, the way he talked and smiled, it was so similar.
He walked into the house, seeing Sakura setting the plates which was her daily routine.
He felt like worrying more for her. This would hurt her, wouldn't it?
"Sakura?" Fujitaka called.
"Hmn?" Sakura looked at her father, her brows shooting up. "Is anything wrong?"
Fujitaka was suddenly stunned.
"What's this? The little monster finally said a sentence?" Touya suddenly appeared from behind Fujitaka, he just came out of his room.
"Shut up, meanie." Sakura said, continuing with her task at hand.
Even Touya was stunned at her answer.
"It's been a while," Fujitaka said, his voice filled with relief.
"Yeah." Touya answered, completely understanding what his father meant.
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"Hey, Kinomoto-san, would it hurt you if I become your friend?" Syaoran asked.
Sakura looked up from her desk in surprise at his sudden question.
They were both coincidentally the first people in the classroom. Sakura had avoided looking at him the whole time. All of a sudden, she forgot what she had been doing all those days she came to school early... Syaoran sighed knowing full well that Sakura didn't want to talk to him, but he might as well get this chance of them being alone.
"Why are you asking me that?" Sakura asked.
"Because you seem to have this sudden hostility toward me. Yesterday was just the first day."
"I think you know why. You should've just minded your own business instead of following me home." Sakura answered back.
Syaoran sighed. "Even before I do any of that, you already seem to hate me." He pulled a chair in front of Sakura's desk at sat on the chair as he faced her. "Why don't you get to know me first before you start hating me?"
Sakura froze. It's because you might just remind me of him again... You both are already similar enough as it is. I'd go crazy if your personal interest is also similar... I don't want to know you... Hating you is easier...
"Just for a semester. Get to know me. Hate me or like me, whatever you decide in the end, it's your choice. Just get to know me. Everybody doesn't seem to have a problem with me."
"Why does my perspective of you even matter?"
"Like I said, I'm interested in you." Syaoran answered bluntly.
"W-well," Sakura stuttered, looking away, she suddenly felt her cheeks flaring. "Good luck in getting a positive answer from me."
"I take that as a go." Syaoran chuckled, standing up from the chair.
As soon as Syaoran left her sight, Sakura was already debating with herself inside.
Am I prepared to go through the same pain if ever it might happen again? Am I willing to take the risk? Getting to know more about him...? Maybe... it's a risk that might be worth it...
She closed her eyes.
It had been a while since she felt like this. Anxious. Worried. It's as if she was a baby discovering new emotions day by day...
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Tomoyo entered the classroom with a bright smile, and then suddenly, a classmate of hers stood in front of her.
"Daidouji-san..." A classmate said.
"Good morning," Tomoyo greeted. "Is there anything wrong?"
"Kinomoto-san..."
Tomoyo's eyes widen in panic, "Is there something wrong with her?"
Her classmate just shook her head, and broke into a large smile, "No, but, she looks better now."
"Eh?" Tomoyo craned her neck to look at her best friend.
Everything seemed to be like the usual. Sakura was still on her desk, looking outside the window. Then what did her classmate mean that she looks better now? Was Syaoran able to get through?
She looked at Syaoran who was seated behind Sakura. He was casually chatting with their other male classmates... Did anything happen?
"Good morning." Tomoyo greeted Sakura, like usual.
Sakura glanced at Tomoyo, she smiled a small smile, "Good morning Tomoyo."
Tomoyo stood still for a moment, then she broke into a brighter smile. There's a change... "How was your day yesterday?" She asked.
Sakura pouted, "Touya was being mean again."
Tomoyo giggled, "I bet he just misses you." She said softly.
Sakura frowned at Tomoyo's statement. "I'm sorry..." Sakura murmured.
"It's alright." Tomoyo smiled, pulling her chair from her desk. "Let's do some catching up." She smiled.
As Tomoyo sat down, she caught Syaoran looking at them. Tomoyo nodded as a sign of saying thank you to Syaoran. Syaoran smiled at Tomoyo.
"I guess I was right after all..." Tomoyo thought.
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A month...
A month has passed since Syaoran had entered their school.
Tomoyo smiled beside Sakura as they walked into their classroom. It has been a month and Sakura is still continuing to improve. As Tomoyo had thought, Syaoran was able to make a difference. Sakura was slowly opening her world to others again.
It made the class happy, but they were still anxious deep within.
They were worried if the time comes that she would... break again.
They knew that Syaoran was the one who opened up Sakura's heart again. He was Sakura's leaning post, he became her steady foundation. But they knew that any time, Syaoran could leave.
It wasn't like the two were in a relationship or anything. They were worried that if Syaoran finds someone...
They were worried about what might happen. Falling down for the second time is not something someone could easily stand up from.
Sakura would be hurt all over again...
For now, Sakura seemed to have placed everything about that person aside temporarily.
"Everything will be fine as long as Sakura thinks of Syaoran as Syaoran and not...him." Tomoyo thought.
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A/N: Review please!