Chapter 16: Admonition
Scanning the music sheet, Syaoran groaned for the nth time, "Why are we doing this again?"
"Some sort of another weird activity?" Miyu replied while fixing her shoe laces, Eriol and Rika were having a whispering fit as they lagged behind them.
Clearly annoyed, Syaoran again asked. "Then why, this song?"
"It was assigned to us. Mei just gave us a head's up. It's supposed to be a surprised thing." Rika interjected as they finally caught up with them.
"Yeah it was supposed to be an on-the-spot-exercise." Miyu giddily explained then curiously asked, "Something wrong with the song? It's better than the previous performances."
Eriol teased. "Stop sulking, you should be thankful. It's just what you need for her."
"Ooohh… who-who?" Miyu giddily asked.
Syaoran threw daggers at Eriol as he glared at him then growled at her. "None of your business. Now, get up it's our turn."
Miyu pouted, "Jeez is he PMS-ing a-again?"
"Try not to ignite his irritations again by interrogating him; heard he had some unnecessary confrontation with Touya Kinomoto earlier." Rika amusedly supplied.
"About what?"
"I'll tell you later."
She rolls the window down
And she talks over the sound
Of the cars that pass us by
And I don't know why
But she's changed my mind
"Dude, what's up with him again?" Ken gently shoved Yuki's shoulder with his.
Oblivious to what his best friend is asking, Yuki replied, "Who?" Ken then used his head to point to sulking dark aura he's pertaining to.
"Oh, him."
"Yeah, him."
Yuki just remained quiet for another minute until Ken burst, "You're not making this easy, are you?" Yuki just smirked at him and turn his attention back with the band on stage.
Ken sighed, "Okay, what do you want in return?"
"Hmm… that's a toughie…" Yuki taunted mussing his hair in mock thought. "How 'bout your extra electric guitar." Yuki smiled wickedly as he watched one of his best friend gaped incredulously at him.
"Jeez, this must be damn extraordinary for that expensive trade."
"Something you'll never expect to happen." Yuki's eyes danced with mirth, "So do we have a deal?"
Curiosity peaked; he agreed immediately, "Hell yah!"
Would you look at her?
She looks at me
She's got me thinking about her constantly
But she don't know how I feel
And as she carries on without a doubt
I wonder if she's figured out
I'm crazy for this girl
"Rika, please tell me now." Miyu whined when her cousin was close enough to hear her, clearly annoyed with the wait.
Rika glared at her cousin and again try to concentrate with her bass part, "I'll tell you later after this."
"Just give me a hint please. I can't focus here."
Almost missing a beat, Rika sighed and gave in, "Fine, it's about the Kinomotos' certain smell. I haven't heard the full story yet."
Still not letting it go, Miyu again asks, "Where did you hear it from?"
"From Mei, now quit bugging me and finish the song." Rika replied irately and moved away from her cousin, far enough to not hear any whining.
She was the one to hold me
The night, the sky fell down
And what was I thinking when
The world didn't end
Why didn't I know what I know now?
As he strums his guitar in trepidation, the words his cousin voiced out still hanging in his head, he suddenly remembers the first time he met her.
As the song reaches its climax the crowd grew more aggressive, someone was pushed forcefully into him and they both fell on the cold concrete. Something soft brushed with his lips. Dreading what it was, he stubbornly remained still and shut his eyes almost painfully, pretending it was all a dream. 'Shit, is it a girl? A guy? An old lady? Or an old man?' He shuddered at those thoughts.
The person underneath him didn't dare to move at all. And for five forsaking minutes, he couldn't take it anymore, and slowly open his eyes only to be greeted with a pair of intense emerald eyes.
The girl dazedly touches her lips, frowned and then glared at him. He then quickly stood up and helped the girl he bumped into. But the girl shoved his hands and stood up by herself.
"Watch where you're going," she snorted and wipes her lips in disgust and turn the other way but before she could ran away from him, he grabbed her wrist. "I'm sorry. It really was an accident."
"Fine, now will you let go of me?" The girl scoffed at him, wiggling her arm out of his hold.
He pleaded at her, still mesmerized by her sparkling eyes. "Will you tell me your name first?"
"Not a chance in hell."
"But w—"
"Syao we've been looking all over for you." He was suddenly spun around by his idiotic cousin and lost his grip on his new found fascination.
Coming out from his reverie, he glared at his least favorite cousin, 'Damn Eriol and his timing!'
Would you look at her?
She looks at me
She's got me thinking about her constantly
But she don't know how I feel
And as she carries on without a doubt
I wonder if she's figured out
I'm crazy for this girl
His memories then drifted to his roommate as he unconsciously picked him up from the crowd.
He instantly tries to inch away from his rumored-boyfriend but Ikki grab his arms and pulled him in. "You choose, either be raped by them or be killed by me if they found out our hiding place."
He gulp at their now more intertwined position. And tried to stop himself from impure thoughts by silently chanting, "Kura… Kura… Kura…"
"What are you muttering, be quiet." Ikki hissed in his ear.
He blushed at the proximity of Ikki's lips and his ear. Shivering from the sensation it brought, he lowered his head and stared at his shoes, focusing on it to prevent other unnecessary thoughts.
'I'm crazy for that boy?' Vigorously shoving those thoughts away, he shook his head like crazy. 'Focus idiot, got to finish this song and not act like a love sick fool.'
Right now
Face to face
All my fears
Pushed aside
And right now
I'm ready to spend the rest of my life
With you
As hard as he can, Syaoran successfully shoved those memories at the back of his mind. He tried to divert his attention but still stared at the hooded figure in the corner clearly angry with his band mates particularly with the brunette as it triggered another memory the night before.
"Um… about the kiss I never felt sorry for it."
Taken aback, Kura fidgets; looks at her watch and quickly improvise her escape. "Oh, shoot! Ah I really need to go! Umm… bye" and kiss him on the cheek.
Can't simply help it, he inwardly chuckled and sighed, 'Yeah definitely crazy for that girl…'
Would you look at her?
She looks at me
She's got me thinking about her constantly
But she don't know how I feel
And as she carries on without a doubt
I wonder if she's figured out
I'm crazy for this girl
I'm crazy for this girl
Being really perceptive as she is, Tomoyo felt someone staring at her. She frantically looked for the said person and caught Eriol staring at her. She gave him an enticing smile. As she was about to turn her attention to her cousin, she notice another person staring at their direction, only to find out Syaoran dazedly staring at Sakura.
Tomoyo then giddily nudged Ren to point out the obvious and looked at Andy. Glad that her best friend had noticed it too, she gave her a wink and a mischievous smirk then turn to her cousin.
Tomoyo asked innocently, "So how's your night?"
"Unforgettable?" Sakura glared at her cousin and its best friend.
"I bet." Andy taunted and got a nudged and warning glare from Tomoyo. While Ren watched the suspicious behavior the two were exhibiting.
"What was that?" Sakura asked Andy exasperatedly rendering the girl mute. "What?" Receiving no answer, she asked again. "Anyway, where the hell did you three go?"
"Actually it's a long and funny story. We don't want to bore you before we perform on stage." Tomoyo nervously glanced at Andy who was clearly enjoying the predicament she's in.
"It's okay. We still have time." Sakura glanced at her watch for good measure and direct her glares again to the two girls in front of her. "I'm waiting."
Would you look at her?
She looks at me
She's got me thinking about her constantly
But she don't know how I feel
And as she carries on without a doubt
I wonder if she's figured out
I'm crazy for this girl
"So you're telling me that you got lost, then found Mei, got lost again, chased by a stray wolf, stumbled to a lake and almost drown?" Sakura tried to understand as she summarized her cousin's ridiculous story.
Tomoyo nodded vigorously. "It's true. And when we finally found our way back, you were gone."
"I didn't know there's a lake here." Ren taunted and received glares from the two girls.
"And that's why Tomo and I can't sing, we almost lost our voice from screaming for help last night. Until Eriol came to our rescue and whisk our Tomo here off her feet and kissed her till she drops." Andy wittingly added which earn her a slap in the back from Tomoyo.
Tomoyo hissed at her ear, "You don't have to elaborate it further."
At the mention of Eriol's name Sakura glanced up the stage to look at Eriol as if to confirm the story but instead got surprised by catching Syaoran staring at their direction. 'It can't be me? Right?' Answering her self, 'Yeah must be Andy. Still crazy about her.'
Glancing back at her so called friends, "Yeah right. And what's your excuse?" Sakura asked as she directed her anger to the unsuspecting Ren.
Ren calmly countered, "You know very well, I'm not good at memorizing at the last minute." And glared at Tomoyo and Andy, the two nodded as they understood his glare. They have to tell him every detail that went on last night.
Defeated, Sakura frustratingly groaned and trudged up the stage.
I won't talk
I won't breathe
I won't move till you finally see
That you belong with me
Miyu dragged Rika around to find Mei Lin. Annoyed, Rika irately yelled, "Will you slow down? I can walk on my own. You don't have to drag me like a doll."
"Lighten up cuz." Miyu cheekily replied while swiftly scanning the area. Upon finding her cousin, Miyu quickly grabbed Mei Lin and push her two cousins in some remote space back stage.
Bewildered, Mei Lin screamed at her two cousins, "What the hell was that for?"
"Hyper here, wants to know the whole story about Syaoran's morning incident." Rika retorted as she tried to fix her tangled hair and wrinkled clothes.
"Oh, is that all." Mei Lin smiled mischievously at Rika then glared at Miyu and reprimanded her. "You could've just asked nicely you know.
Miyu just hug her gently, whispered an apology and gave her a pleading look. Weakened with her favorite cousin's charm she gave up incessantly.
"Fine."
You might think I don't look
But deep inside the corner of my mind
I'm attached to you
Mmmm
Sakura strummed her acoustic guitar in annoyance. As she looks up again to sing the next lines, she saw him again.
She tries to avert her attention to something else but her head just won't move and follow her commands. She stares longingly at him as she took in everything. His arrogant stance, his rugged fashion sense, his messy and sexy hair, his perfect face, adorable smile and captivating eyes.
'Wait… shit! I'm not attracted to him, am I?' Sakura again attempts to divert her eyes from him. But to no avail she then argues with herself. 'Duh, I just checked him out.'
In frustration, Sakura close her eyes and attempt to clear her thoughts of him. But to no avail she dejectedly opened her eyes and gave in to his charms. 'I'm in deep shit.'
I'm weak, it's true
Cause I'm afraid to know the answer
Do you want me too?
Cause my heart keeps falling faster
Syaoran caught sight of Touya. He quickly hid himself behind a post and groaned obviously still pissed off with something as he remembered a particular memory about someone's scent.
He paced around in a circle, 'Am I insane? Why am I doing this? I can't believe I can't sleep over this and now planning to invade that gaki's room to confirm my theory.' He gazed up at the sky questioning it further, 'What am I doing? I can't do this. This is ridiculous. People have their own unique scent. But Ikki and Kura… maybe…'
Frustrated, he cursed. 'Shit! Arggh! I just have to…'
I've waited all my life to cross this line
To the only thing that's true
So I will not hide
It's time to try anything to be with you
All my life I've waited
This is true
In spite of his reflexes, Touya still caught a glimpse of Syaoran before running behind a post. A vivid memory flashed back as he cursed for using the extra soap of her sister.
"Argghh! Damn best friends, can't they buy their own soap." He rummaged around his bag, his best friends' bag, the entire cabin but couldn't find anything.
A knock interrupted his predicament. He tightens his robe and answered the door.
"Kajuu?"
"Hey, nii-chan."
"What's the problem?"
"Nothing, just…" Sakura then notices his brother's grim face. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, those idiots ate my soap."
"Huh?" Sakura scrunched her face in confusion. "Are they that hungry?"
Accustomed to his sister's denseness, he explained. "Yuki and Ren used all of my soaps and I don't have anything else left."
Fully understanding it, Sakura suggested. "You can have mine. I have some extra soap packed by Tomoyo in my luggage."
"Thanks."
"No problem."
Touya cursed at the sudden flashback he had. "Damn, it! Should've figured out sooner it would also attract the stupid brat."
You don't know what you do
Every time you walk into the room
I'm afraid to move
As she sang further, Sakura still can't help looking at Syaoran and reminisced what happened the night before.
"Um… about the kiss I never felt sorry for it."
Taken aback, she fidgets; looks at her watch and quickly improvise her escape. "Oh, shoot! Ah I really need to go! Umm… bye" and kiss him on the cheek.
Still arguing with her self, 'Clearly it's really just a distraction. No matter how many times I replay that scene. Right?'
'Damn habits.' Sakura again groaned.
I'm weak, it's true
I'm just scared to know the ending
Do you see me too?
Do you even know you met me?
Rika gaped, "Ikki's a girl?"
Miyu quipped, "SYAO'S GAY?"
"Yes and Hell NO" Mei Lin yelled exasperatedly, but before she could explain further she was interrupted by Rika.
"Sakura is disguised as Ikki and Syaoran like her as Sakura or as Ikki?" Rika inquired while Mei Lin just smirked. "No wonder he was staring at her most of the time." Rika pondered over this then asked again. "Then why the hell did he smell Touya?"
"Silly, it means he likes Touya too?" Miyu conclude teasingly.
Mei Lin jibed at her cousin. "Shut up Miyu!" And to clarify things with Rika she added, "I really don't know but Yuki said something about blasted scent of Kinomotos."
I've waited all my life to cross this line
To the only thing that's true
So I will not hide
It's time to try anything to be with you
All my life I've waited
This is true
Ken gawked at his best friend like he had another head growing in him. "He did what? Did you just said sniff him or I just misheard you?"
"Yup." Yuki answered cheekily. "He did, as he was about to walk out on us. While glaring at us, he threw the boxer on Touya's face, sniffed him and madly dash away."
"Ooh, damn it! I just missed the finest Touya moment." Ken tried to control his laughter as to not gain any unwanted attention. And then regretfully moaned, "If I only didn't have my I-pod on."
"Damn right you did."
I know when I go
I'll be on my way to you
The way that's true
Still staring dazedly at one direction ever since they've started, Tomoyo gently nudges Ren to get his attention and again to prove her point. Andy became aware of this, turns her attention to Sakura and was not disappointed.
Ren, on the other hand, dejectedly shrug and conceded, earning a victorious smirk from Tomoyo as she playful wink at Andy and then gave a flirtatious one with someone in the crowd.
Sakura sighs and stare longingly at Syaoran who's currently and poorly hiding behind a post. 'Wish I could be true to you.' Sakura ruefully smiles then shrugs in distress, 'Oh, crap!'
I've waited all my life to cross this line
To the only thing that's true
So I will not hide
It's time to try anything to be with you
All my life I've waited
This is true
'It was just a wink.' Syaoran shrugs and sigh confusedly. 'Eriol and his weirdness.'
"Will you stop drooling?" Revolted from his cousin's reaction, Syaoran indifferently leaves his cousin behind with its thoughts.
He strolls across the forests bordering the camp as he rearranges his thoughts. A cluster of thoughts enter his mind: thoughts of Sakura, thoughts of the implications of the songs, thoughts of being gay… 'Shit! What? No… impossible, I'm not… smitten… I'm with… attracted… I'm… crush… No… It's Sakura.'
But what about Ikki?
'What about Ikki?'
The song he sang earlier, he's clearly thinking of you while singing it.
'What makes you so sure about that?'
Duh he's staring at you, not even blinking the whole time he's singing.
'No, that can't be right. Right? Wait who are you?' He eagerly scans his surroundings to see who it was. But to his dismay there was no one in sight and yet…
'What's this creepy feeling that I'm being watched?'
He then resumes his pondering about his sexuality and his sudden attraction to his roommate/friend/cousin of his crush. The complication of their relationship keeps on getting more tangled up. He shakes his head trying to shake off these thoughts. 'Get this in your skull, he is a he. You're not attracted to guys, especially to him… only to girls… only to her, only to Kura.'
Yeah, keep telling that to yourself.
'Just stop bugging the hell of me.'
You wish! I'm you, so I know you more than yourself. I'm your freaking conscience.
'Yeah, righ—' OOF!
Someone bump into him, apologize without acknowledging who he was and run for dear life. "Gomen, I'm in a hurry."
Syaoran looks at its retreating figure and immediately recognizes the guy. 'Ikki?' But before he could even react, squeals and thundering footsteps of the mob of fan girls and boys speedily approach him.
"Not again…" he groaned. Fear of getting sexually harassed from the fanatics, he dashes to the direction that Ikki went to.
- to be continued-
A/N: Words that were bold and italicized are lyrics to the songs: "Crazy for this girl" by the Evan and Jaron (Syao's band) and "True" by Ryan Cabrera (Ikki's band).
Aug 24, 2009 bangag_pa
June 22, 2013 updated