Chapter 7: Orientation

'Since the school is the host of the camp this year. The school's representative band would play the last performance of the day which is unfortunately I'm now stuck with. I knew something wrong was going to happen. I knew it and yet I give in to my cousin's insistent pleadings and persuasive tricks. Gee, talk about bad luck. I can't believe they got me into doing this. What if I forget a chord? Shit! Pull yourself together Sakura. You can do this. Inhale exhale. Well, here it goes.' Sakura heaved another sigh before getting on stage.

It always seemed that I was sorry for the things that I did,

But never did a thing about it 'til I let you in.

It's kinda funny about the time that I was falling apart.

You came and put me back together, now.

'Cause what I want

And what I need

Has now become the same thing

You've been offering.

As days go by,

I've finally become what you want me to be.

"That's not Andy up there." Yuki curiously declared sensing something odd with his sister.

Staring intently at the said guitarist, Ken wildly guessed. "Is that squirt?"

"It is Kura." Mei Lin gasped as she too recognized the girl hiding in the hood of her shirt.

"Kajuu? No way, she's not supposed to be here?" Touya vehemently disagreed. 'But Andy's forte is the drums. That brat won't give Ren the chance to bring the house down if she can't help it.'

Ken pointed out the familiar position she's playing her guitar with. "But that's squirt, no doubt. Besides why would Ren give up that guitar chords to Andy when he had the chance to show off."

"Her guitar stance…" Yuki confirmed his friend's assumption.

"I taught her that." Touya gaped. 'What are you up to, kajuu?'

I still remember all the stupid things that I've said and done,

But still, you stuck around with me when all your friends said, "Run!"

Givin' me a name, I found myself inside all the flames.

Becoming everything for you again

"I-it's her." Syaoran blurted unconsciously. 'Another live performance and she's playing the guitar again instead of the drums.'

"Wow they're really good!" Miyu complemented totally oblivious of her cousins' obsessive trances.

Eriol who was also hooked by the enchanting raven-head bassist added. "They're better than the video."

"Eww… that's disgusting wipe your mouths." Rika yelled disgusted with her cousins' drooling states.

'Cause what I want

And what I need

Has now become the same thing

You've been offering.

As days go by,

I've finally become what you want me to be.

Ren noticed the tense atmosphere surrounding Sakura. Trying to break it, "Kura chill will yah? You're doing great."

"Easy for you to say." Sakura playfully glowered. "Why do you have to pick this song?"

"Duh, the amazing guitar chords." Ren teased, chuckling with her silly attempt at scowling at him.

"Ha-ha very funny."

Tomoyo added and give furtive glances to her other band mates. "I promise we'll make it up to you."

"You better." Sakura finally relaxed and smiled.

Ren smirked while Tomoyo laughed at her childish answer. "Ready?"

"Hmm…" Sakura uttered and just nodded, trying to focus on the upcoming chords.

Ikki heard his band mates and cousin's conversation. He gave Sakura a side glance, a quick smile and wink at her.

Don't tell me you saw it all along.

God help me, I never knew it alone.

Guess I was wrong.

Syaoran saw the wink Ikki gave to her. A strange strong feeling surged into his blood and glared at the unaware vocalist. But this intensity was broken by a sudden guitar solo performed by none other than Andy herself, or so he thought. We all know who it really was except for him.

Agape in awe and eyes bulging out of its sockets, he sighed in admiration. 'She really is something.' He never expected her to be this brilliant, good enough to be an equal.

His three cousins and band members, finally notice his state when Andy started to play the solo. A similar thought run across their minds as they watch amusedly their cousin's reactions. 'He found his match.'

What I want

And what I need

Has now become the same thing

You've been offering.

As days go by,

I've finally become what you want me to be.

"No offense Yuki but that solo rules out Andy completely." Ken commented suddenly. They knew Sakura is a better guitarist than Andy and that guitar solo even if it's short gives away the proof that it really was Sakura on stage.

"If that's Sakura, what happened to Andy?" Mei Lin pondered loudly.

"You don't think something bad happened to her do you?" Yuki worriedly scanned the crowd for his sister.

"I hope not. I really hope not." Mei Lin replied anxiously staring at Sakura. She knows Sakura would never take Andy's place without a very sensible reason behind it. 'But what is Kura doing here in the first place?'

Although worried with Andy, Touya was really furious with her sister for sneaking up in the camp without his consent. 'You'll really get it this time, squirt.'

And what I need

Has now become the same thing

You've been offering.

You've taken me,

And shaped me to become what you want me to be

As the orientation was concluded to a close an interesting conversation took place some where at the edge of the forest.

"Is this some kind of a sick joke?

"No"

"Then why didn't you say anything?"

"Uh... I want to surprise you?"

"Are you sick or something, you almost gave us four a heart attack?"

"Well that could be arranged nii-chan!"

"Why haven't you told me?" He paused trying to think of a reason. "Huh, you thought you could get away with it, didn't you?"

"Uh, of course not. That would be ridiculous."

"Is it?" Touya sauntered forward to his sister.

"Look nii-chan, Ikki's really desperate. He really needed that scholarship. You can understand that right? And the act earlier is because Andy was badly hurt. I really have no choice."

"So you'd agree without my consent?"

"Why should I get my consent from you?"

"Duh, I'm your brother. Aren't I?"

"I already told dad, plus you might blew up my cover."

"You told dad and you didn't… What made you think I would do that anyway?"

"You're my brother. Brothers tend to do something overprotective and you might compromise my cover."

"I—No, I still forbid you… You have no idea that…"

"Well even if I don't want to, I have too! Don't worry I'm a black belter, I still got the moves!"

"Bu-but… but..."

"Bye onii-chan, see you later." Sakura scampered leaving his brother before he could even utter a single word.

Touya scowled at the empty space where her sister was just at a few minutes ago. "No, kajuu see you very soon."

"We're what?"

"Roommates"

"Why the—"

"Uh… Because, we're boys?" Ren continued. "The girls have their own cottage. And we have to share this cottage with two more boys from another band."

"What? Where's Ikki? He didn't tell me about this. I'm gonna kill that son—"

"Chill, kiddo. He's already gone. He left an hour ago, didn't he tell you." Ren paused realizing something. "Oh right, you have to prepare for the switched. We can't have two Ikkis at the same time that would be repulsive." Ren shrugged out from that thought.

Pacing around the room, he continued. "Come to think of it, this would be the first after two years attending this camp. It's always been one cottage per band. We never expected this would be the arrangement for this year."

"Damn."

"Guess, some of the facilitators this year we're a bit conservative." Ren mocked knowing too well who would have changed the rules aggressively.

"You think." Sakura bit back sarcastically. "We're talking of Touya here."

As if by fate, the subject of their discussion entered the room with two buddies in tow. "Kajuu, you're coming with me." Touya caught her off-guard and grabbed her.

Recovering from the blow, Sakura shoved it away stubbornly backing away from him. "And where would that be?"

"You're bunking with me?" Touya growled at her sister, again advancing at her sister.

Yuki placed himself between the two. "Touya she can't be seen in the facilitator's cottage. The band might be falsely accused of buying off the facilitators or something and get kicked out."

"And besides, you're making it more suspicious by treating squirt here differently." Ken added and got beside Yuki, shielding Sakura from his seething brother.

Making a wall out of their bodies, Ren joined the two. "She's your cousin and not your sister, remember?"

"But she's bunking with the gaki."

"Who?" Sakura asked confusedly, looking at her brother, Yuki, Ken and Ren for an answer.

Ren countered. "Touya, I'm still here. You know Kura's like a little sister to me too. I'll never let anything happened to her."

"Bu-but…"

"Onii-chan, it's just for a few days. And Ren would never leave me alone with those two roommates of ours." Sakura paused. "Besides you're cottage is just nearby."

"Bu-but…"

"Squirt's a black belt holder, dude. Give her a break to beat some guys up." Ken teased.

Touya truly annoyed by the ganging up of his peers and siding with her sister, grabbed Sakura's wig in irritation. "Take this off. And where's that damn Ikki? When I get a hold of him… I'll…"

Touya was cut-off as the door opened.

- to be continued -

A/N: Words that are bold and italicized are lyrics to the song, "What I Want" by the band DAUGHTRY. Thanks please review.

Feb 14, 2009 bangag_pa

June 21, 2013 revised

September 23, 2015 updated