Chapter 13: Diversion part 2
She was just minding her own business when...
"This song is for you, Ikki."
Sakura looked up, saw her fake ex smirking on stage and blanched. 'Shit!'
Just talk yourself up
And tear yourself down
You've hit your one wall
Now find a way around
Well what's the problem?
You've got a lot of nerve
So what'd you think I would say?
No you can't run away, no you can't run away
So what did you think I would say?
No you can't run away, no you can't run away
You wouldn't
Syaoran glance a longing look at his left where he hopelessly wished Andy should be, as he reminisced what happened earlier.
"I'm sorry Syaoran… ummm… I have someone else…" Crestfallen, Syaoran just unblinkingly stared at her blunt answer.
"Please don't be like this. Ummm… here…" Andy grabbed Syaoran's hand and twists his pinky finger with hers. "I promise I'll help you with someone else. I happened to know the girl you accidentally kissed in Mei Lin's last gig."
Syaoran's eyes widened, "You do? Who?"
"Maybe you should ask Ikki about his cousin."
Determined to find out about this mystery cousin of his new friend, he gently tapped Ikki on his shoulder and asked. "Can we talk over there?"
I never wanted to say this
You never wanted to stay
I put my faith in you, so much faith
And then you just threw it away
You threw it away
Watching Syaoran and Sakura in the corner of her eyes, Andy cheerfully bounced to her brother, Yuki and his band. She hugged each of them and purposely turned Touya around and wink at her brother then grabbed Mei Lin from them.
"Mei would it even hurt to give me a heads up about your brother having a thing for me?"
"Oh I forgot about that. How is it?"
"I took care of it." Andy smirked as she pointed out to Mei Lin her brother and a familiar boy huddled in a corner.
"C'mon, we need to help distract Touya more."
I'm not so naive
My sorry eyes can see
The way you fight shy
Of almost everything
Well, if you give up
You'll get what you deserve
So what'd you think I would say?
No you can't run away, no you can't run away
So what did you think I would say?
No you can't run away, no you can't run away
You wouldn't
Remembering his conversation with Ren, Tomoyo looked at Ren to get his attention and gesture to where Ikki and Syaoran where.
Flash back:
"Are you really sure she has fallen?"
"Yeah, just look at her."
Ren looked at Sakura and caught her staring at Syaoran as they perform together on stage. 'Crush, infatuation or love?'
End of Flashback
Ren satisfyingly smiled back at Tomoyo, giving her his whole consent on the matter. Tomoyo wink back and hungrily watched over Ikki and Syaoran huddled in a corner. She then looked for her co-conspirators in the crowd. Andy threw her a victorious smile and a thumbs-up sign. Mei Lin just smiled sweetly and winked at her. Beside them was Touya, busy arguing something with Ken and Yuki, who were purposefully blocking his view from Sakura and Syaoran.
'Good luck, kiddo.' Ren sighed and continued to play.
I never wanted to say this
You never wanted to stay
I put my faith in you, so much faith
And then you just threw it away
You threw it away
You were finished long before
We had even seen the start
Why don't you stand up, be a man about it?
Fight with your bare hands about it now
"So what is it?"
Delaying his interrogation he diverted. "Hey you sure it's just a pretend thing?"
"Huh?"
"Your fake ex, she's staring at you since they've started and even dedicated this song for you."
"Have you been listening to the lyrics? She's mocking me." Sakura glance at Tomoyo and glared at her for the embarrassment of its dedication. 'What are you up to now Tomo?'
"Bitter huh."
She unfortunately received a wink from her. "Don't mind her she's just thirsty for attention. Don't let her affect you, she might get the idea and take it against you."
Instead of teasing her further, he remained silent.
"Syao?"
"Um… I just want to ask… do you have relatives also in a band."
Instead of automatically answering it, Sakura carefully asked. "Uh… Why?"
"It's just… there's this… a paper…" Sakura raised one eyebrow in confusion. 'Paper?'
"I'm helping a friend of mine, gather info about musician's influence towards family members." Syaoran hid his face with his bangs to hide his blush.
'What the hell was I thinking?' He shook his head in annoyance as if to get rid of his stupidity, 'Pathetic.'
Though confused, Sakura still answered carefully and slowly to avoid any slip-ups. "Yeah, I have two. Two cousins: Touya over there with Busted Halo and his sister, Kura from Convicted Mind."
"K-Kura?" Scratching his nape, 'That gaki has a sister?'
Suppressing her curiosity to avoid any suspicion, Sakura casually raised an eyebrow and coolly asked, "Yeah you know her?"
'N-not really…' Syaoran just shook his head staring off at another direction.
I never wanted to say this
You never wanted to stay, well did you?
I put my faith in you, so much faith
And then you just threw it away
I never wanted to say this
You never wanted to stay
I put my faith in you, so much faith
And then you just threw it away
"Who's Kura? If he's really that pervert's sister, how come I never met her?"
'Finally...' Mei Lin amusedly asked his brother. "Why are you suddenly asking about her?"
"Umm… just curious. I heard from Andy, that she's really good and also has a band of her own, though she's only a high school student."
"She's already a senior and she's only a year younger than you. And the reason you haven't met her is because you always, either refused to go to my gigs because of the pervert or, be fashionably late."
"She's always there?"
"Yeah, unlike some siblings or cousins who doesn't have time to see our gigs. If you have supported me like a good brother then you would've met Andy sooner and even Kura." Facing Eriol, she continued dramatically, "And you with Tomo."
"Mei-mei, Syao's to blame. He always ordered us around, practically forcing us to 'practice to death.'" Eriol pouted, adding fuel to the starting fire.
"Fine, fine. I just want to meet her."
"You can't."
"Why the hell can't I?"
Mei Lin feigned her surprise and angrily answered back. "Watch your mouth young man; I'm still your older sister."
"Then why?"
Mei Lin this time, gasped for real, "Duh, isn't it obvious? Jeez what's up with you? You're slower than usual" and rolled her eyes when he still didn't get it, "You're in camp and she's not."
"Oh!"
Pretending to be annoyed, she asked. "Oh? Is that all?" Unanswered, Mei Lin decides to leave them when…
"Wait!"
"If she was at all your gigs? Was she at your last gig?"
"Yeah."
"How come I never saw her there?"
Trying to stall to irritate his impatient brother more, she paused for a minute before answering, "She was at the entrance of the back stage. I was still wondering why she didn't go in."
"She might be hiding from someone in there?" Eriol suggested.
Mei Lin watched her brother's reaction, 'Good one there Eriol, he's squirming like a little fish.'
To make it more convincing, she added. "Yeah, that makes sense. Maybe she did saw someone and got scared."
Syaoran visibly paled. 'She hates me?'
- to be continued -
A/N: Words that are bold and italicized are lyrics to the song, "For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic" by the band PARAMORE. Thanks please review.
Apr 15, 2009 bangag_pa
June 21, 2013 revised
September 23, 2015 updated