Chapter 17: Tension
The chilly wind brushes through the crowd, giving each of them the unnecessary comfort it brings. The luminous moon casts some shadows of everything it glimpses upon. Among the crowd a weary teenager, glances nervously on her surroundings, cold sweat dripping on her forehead as if she had a fever, and hands uncontrollably trembling on her sides. She struggles to get out of it and find some solace somewhere else.
'Shit I can't control myself from shaking. Why am I this nervous? Is it because of that damn night? Will he see through me?' Sakura picked a stray branch and irately hit things she sees. 'What if he already did? What the f*** will I do?'
"You've got to calm down, Sakura or someone will notice your weirdness. But how could I even face him now?" Sakura sullenly questioned a tree nearby. "Damn it! I'm clearly loosing it!"
'Okay, I've managed to avoid him the whole day, but how long can I keep avoiding him before he notice something's off?' She then again hit every pebble that comes her way. 'I have to figure out something before he finds out.'
Without her usual sensible mind, she began to picture Syaoran in front of her. She instantly forgot that he was just a figment of her imagination and in instinct fidget and squirm in obvious uneasiness. Her heart began to pound loudly that she covered her ears in annoyance. Syaoran then started to walk closer while she tries backing away desperately from him until she lost her balance.
Groaning from the pain in her butt and the dreadful laughter she was anticipating, Sakura closed her eyes tight, willing her way to somehow escape from that situation. But only eerie silence greeted her. Sakura then gradually opened her eyes, and fortunately saw nothing, not even a single soul in sight. 'My f***ing mind is killing me.' She rubbed her eyes for good measure to have it adjust quickly and still found no one.
Assessing her surrounding and her minuscule injury, Sakura shakily stood up and dusted her clothes. 'What's wrong with me? Why? Why the hell did I just freak out from an imaginary Syaoran?'
She groaned for the nth time, frustrated with everything. 'Arghh! I need someone to tell me what this is. But who?'
Sakura slumped at a nearby tree as she wonders who to go to in a process of elimination. "Tomo's hopeless. I don't want to be in the middle of her matchmaking prowess. Andy's no better. She'll practically be helping Tomo for the sheer fun of it. I can't talk to Mei Lin, it's her brother. It would be too awkward. Yuki and Ken are always too close to my brother. Touya might suspect something and knowing Touya, he's gonna kill him even before I could find out about this… Ahhh…" She screamed in frustration as she continues pondering on her options until one name popped out. "Ren!"
She was gazing up the stars for clues on how to ask Ren for help when she heard some yelling.
"Ikki!"
"Am I also hearing things now? How loose are my screws?" She musingly glanced around. "It doesn't sound like my conscience. My conscience wouldn't be stupid enough to call me Ikki. Is it?"
"Ikki!"
"There it goes again?" Sakura again scans around in 360 degrees and was again confounded that she even checks the starlit sky. "Where the hell are those squeals coming from?" She then heard thundering footsteps, different pitches of screaming, squealing and giggling. She hastily turns around to the racket's direction, almost tumble from the force and paled with the huge mob approaching.
Sakura exhaustingly groaned, "Oh shit! Not again?!" mussed her hair in irritation and start running. In her panic, she bumped into someone, apologize without acknowledging who it was and run for dear life. "Gomen, I'm in a hurry."
Syaoran peeks carefully from his hiding spot as his fans pass. Waiting for the rest of the mob to pass, a particular memory was triggered.
'Okay, get a grip!' Syaoran scolded inwardly. 'Just need to confirm it.' He stealthily opened the cabin door of the gaki's quarters and peek inside. It was a good thing that the occupants are comfortable of the dark. There were no nightlights or lamps in sight, so he quickly got inside and close the door quietly.
The three occupants of the room where luckily still in their dreamscape. In complete silence, Syaoran approached each bunk to identify each one of them. Yuki and Ken where on the left bunks while the gaki was occupying selfishly the opposite bunks. Building up his courage, he then inaudibly advanced to the gaki's bunk. When he was only three feet away from his destination, the gaki stirred to his right and was now facing him. In his panic, not even noticing Touya's closed eyes, Syaoran gawkily sneaked to the bathroom.
Trying to balance himself, he grabbed the nearest thing he could reach. But like the fate had planned this moment in outmost perfection, the cloth he had grabbed came off its hook and brought him crashing down. A loud thud resounded and he cursed his bad luck as if it would make things go away.
Scuffling of feet outside the bathroom door was heard and Syaoran could only just dread the inevitable. Two silhouettes loomed at him as the door was opened abruptly. One of them turns on the light in the room and piercingly glared at him. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Syaoran looked up and met the glare of the gaki and the mirth in the eyes of Yuki. He tried to retort but his throat constrict unwillingly and not a word came out. Touya's face then paled. Eyes wide in shock and jaws apart in a silent scream while Yuki has this amusing smirk pasted on his face. Syaoran subsequently realized that both men were not looking at him but on the cloth in his hands. With fright coursing through his entire body, Syaoran slowly look at his hands. As he looked down, he got a whiff of a familiar scent. And in his hands there lies a plain black boxer with Touya's name on it.
Before anyone could utter a word, Syaoran scantily throw the boxer in Touya's face, sniffed him for good measure and scamper off for a quick escape while muttering, "Blasted Kinomotos' scent."
Touya grabbed his boxer and yelled. "You freak…" But alas, Syaoran lost the chance to hear the colorful words that came out of Touya's mouth as he raged on and on without realizing the receiver of his outbursts was already out of earshot.
"That was close." A panting Syaoran berated himself as he was still running like a mad man. "At least, I'm safe it's just the scent."
Concluding that he was far enough, he then slow down and walk the rest of the way to their cabin. "But if it's just their scent, then why am I not feeling the same way about Touya?"
Syaoran shrugged and grumbled at that particular thought, "Stupid logic!" Sensing that the coast is finally clear, he got out of his hiding place and stomped his way to their cabin.
A lone girl under an enchanting tree, bathe in the light provided generously by the moon and its stars, gazed dazedly heavenwards in silence with the graceful wind. It was like a surreal picturesque scene in a romantic novel, painted in real life.
"Hey kiddo what's up?"
"Ren? You're alone? You weren't followed right? Right?"
Ren just gaped at her, unable to understand her frantic demeanor as Sakura tensely scans around.
Realizing her sudden lack of finesse, "Sorry, I just barely escaped another ambush. They just keep getting better and better with their tracking."
"Paranoia getting into you?"
Sakura closed her eyes and finally relaxed. "How did you find me?"
"Are you questioning my abilities?" Sakura just ruefully smiled. "Kiddo, I've known you since you were born." Ren looked up at the tree, "A cherry blossom tree is quite an obvious hint, don't you think?" then sat down beside her.
"So what's bothering you?" Sakura bowed her head in defeat. Ren could always see through anyone. "C'mon kiddo, you know you can trust me."
"It's not a matter of trust." Sakura finally opens her eyes but refuse to look at him. "Actually, I was really planning to ask for your advice but was stuck on how to approach you about it." Ren just pat her head to let her go on.
As if in pain, her facial features contort as she attempts to elaborate on it. "I just don't know how to explain it. This, this feeling… it's… it's new to me."
"Is it a feeling when that particular person smiled or talked to you, you have this inexplicable thrill that runs through you? If you shared even a second of eye or body contact, a plague of goose bumps invades your entire body? And when you two are left alone, you can't seem to understand why you lack the courage to face him eye to eye?"
Caught off guard, Sakura uneasily tries to clear her throat as to remove the sudden blockage in her throat. "Ho-how…"
Ren looked at his pseudo-best friend in delight, "How do I know? Let's just say that I've gone through it all."
"Then what is it?" Sakura asked in eagerness and desperation.
Ren sighed, "Kid, I think you're falling for him" and at this Sakura fainted.
"What happened?" Syaoran curiously asked as Ren gently hauled Ikki to his respective bunk.
"He fainted." Ren breathlessly answered. "Guess, trauma from his fans."
Syaoran nodded in contemplation. "Can't blame him, I'm having quite the same situation."
"Could you do me a favor?" Sifting through his things, Syaoran just nodded solemnly. "Watch over kiddo, I need to talk to his ex about this."
But before Syaoran could get out a word of protest, Ren was gone. He heaved a heavy sigh to calm down his nerves and slowly stood up to the height of the bunk where Ikki lay.
A few strands of unruly hair was covering Ikki's left cheek as he roll lay flat on the bed. Struggling with self-control not to tuck it back or brush it away, Syaoran bit his lower lip.
But as he fought his desires to brush off those few strands, it instead, triggered a sudden pull. And he unconsciously scrutinizes Ikki's features. From his fair complexion mixed to perfection, to his eye lashes long enough to adorn the edge of his flush cheeks, cute nose artistically perched on the heart of his face and his pink plump lips that entices him to capture it in a sweet quick kiss.
'Do boys normally look this way? He certainly would make a pretty girl if he would be dress like one.' Syaoran suddenly concluded, but then quickly smack himself in the forehead for coming up with it. 'Do boys normally look at other boys this way?'
Unexpectedly, Sakura turn to her side, which was now fully facing Syaoran's face. She whimpered in her sleep and coincidentally grabbed his head like it was another comfy pillow.
Syaoran stiffened and blanched. He didn't dare to move a muscle in fear of waking him up. So he closed his eyes to avoid any unnecessary staring but regretted it immediately as his other senses heightened.
He began to visualize the cheerful Ikki with his exuberant spirit, quick wit, competitive reflexes, and musical ingenuity. He's the only one he knows who have various gestures, gazes, glares, and even different pitches depending on his moods. Ikki's vibrant childish aura and unpredictability coupled with his over-all simplicity when it comes to everything made him stood out from the rest.
"Shit! Why the hell… stupid perceptive brain… Shit!" Syaoran shrugged to clear his haywire thoughts but unfortunately became more aware of something else in return, as Ikki suddenly nuzzled and exhale noisily against his neck bringing a tingling sensation throughout his entire body.
"His skin's soft and smooth like an ordinary girl would have. Is it normal for guys to have those too?" He amusedly pondered as a gentle breeze passed through the open window sending another wave of confusion to his senses.
"Why do they smell exactly the same as if they're the same person?"
He wistfully smiled and muttered, "He really smells nice like Kura" then scrunches his nose in disgust, "and Touya…"
Thing's couldn't get even better for Syaoran. For out of the blue, Ikki loudly moaned. Syaoran could've not stiffened even more if he could. He then opted to just quietly whine his frustrations. "Why is this happening to me?"
Syaoran shook his head as subtly as he could at a certain thought lurking into his mind and countered it before he made any acknowledgement of its presence. "No, girls are my type."
However, as if cursed by fate, Ikki unconsciously snuggled a little bit more into his neck and gave a sigh of contentment.
"I like girls. I like girls. I like girls." Syaoran desperately chanted.
It's really a good thing Ikki's a heavy sleeper.
Ren have been unfortunately got himself to an unusual cat and mouse chase with his band mates slash ex-friends. He was about to approach them when the two girls suddenly ran for their lives when they caught sight of him.
"When I get my hands on those two?" Ren darkly muttered to himself.
Ren rounded another random corner having no idea where the two wicked matchmakers went and fortunately, find his two conniving band mates.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Tomo stuttered in panic, as if caught red handed with her naughty plots. "Um… to visit Ikki."
"Our cottage is that way." Ren snorted and pointed at the other direction. He tapped his right foot to convey his irritation and impatience for another of their absurd explanations.
"Yeah we heard he's sick or something." Andy replied coolly as if she hadn't heard or notice a thing.
"No, he fainted. Now that he realized what he's feeling."
"Really?" Andy and Tomo squeak/squeal in anticipation; hug each other and then lunged into Ren to suffocate him with their hugs.
Ren gently pried their hands from his body and suspiciously eyed his two mischievous friends, "Now, you two spill!"
Sakura, who just escaped her loony band mates, this early in the morning, huffed her way into their cabin. She then seek refuge in the bathroom knowing that it was the only place she could have some privacy.
Trying to decipher her situation, her thoughts and her feelings toward that certain someone, she removed her disguise to relieve some of the stress it brought to her. She gently unclasped the pins in her wig and lay it down on the counter, and splashed some water on her face struggling to get rid of her worries. Humming quite loudly, she has failed to notice the door opening slightly.
Syaoran upon hearing splashes of water and having a glimpse of something, 'Oops! Butt? Shit!' quickly close the door noisily before he witnessed some more indecent scenes in it, muttered an apology and hurriedly escape another humiliating bathroom scene.
[BLAG]
Sakura paled. Startled from the disturbance of the loud bang of the door, she wiped off the water from her face and quickly fixed her disguise as she heard an apology from the other side of the door. 'Shit its S-Sy- Syao, did he… did he saw me? Shit, shit, shit… now what?"
Tomoyo irately asked. "What's with Syaoran?"
"Huh?" Andy furrowed her eyebrows in puzzlement.
"Haven't you notice whenever Sakura is around or before she approached him, he suddenly vanishes." Tomoyo annoyingly pointed out the obvious.
Andy just shook his head and asked again in curiosity, "Huh?"
"So far, this is the third time that he made a disappearing act I've witnessed. One was when Sakura came late at breakfast and the other when we were at their porch after our band rehearsal. Syaoran retreated to the other direction when he notice Sakura was with us in front of their cabin." Tomoyo huffed in frustration.
Mei Lin seconded with another observation, "Yeah this morning before lunch, he suddenly faked an excuse of a pounding headache and fled before anyone could object. I thought he just wanted to get out of helping me but now that you mentioned it, Sakura suddenly approached me a second after he ran out of us."
"I don't get it? I thought he likes Sakura and confides with Ikki." Andy pondered loudly, "Then why is he now avoiding him?"
"Yeah he even stared at her while she was sleeping last night, even arguing with himself." Mei Lin interjected amusedly.
"I really don't get it either." Tomoyo frowned in the sudden turn of events. "We need to do something about it."
"I know just we need." Mei Lin flipped the facilitator's manual and grin.
At page 57 it read:
SUGGESTED GENDER SESSIONS
1. Overnight Bonding Sessions
~ groups of five to ten of the same gender would spend the night on a secluded area and perform suggested activities to achieved desired results.
*Requires Optional Supervision*
"Are you avoiding me?" Sakura slammed the door shut as she finally cornered him after numerous of failed attempts early in the morning and mid-afternoon.
"No, what makes you think that?" Syaoran said while fidgeting and mentally cursing himself. 'Shit! He's on to me. Am I that obvious?'
"Gee, I don't know. Either that or you suddenly aged forty years more and became forgetful." Sakura mocked in annoyance. 'I should be the one avoiding you. Not the other way around. What the hell is going on? Did he saw me in the bathroom? No, that couldn't be it. He would demand some explanation if that was the case not completely shut me out without a word.' Sakura chased those thoughts away and groaned in exasperation.
"What are you on? I really am busy with practice and stuff." Syaoran feign in innocence and threw back the question in defense. "Why would I ever do that to you anyway?" Syaoran then gave her a small smile, "But I really have to go. Miyu's been bugging me on the chords for some song she wanted to polish as soon as possible." Syaoran ruefully smiled at her, grabbed a handful of music sheets, and left a gaping Ikki behind.
Sakura slumped at her bunk and sighed.
"Exactly, just like that!?"
- to be continued-
A/N: Again sorry for the late update, I've edited the dialogues and reorganized the scenes a dozen of times or even more. This is my favorite chapter hope you have enjoyed it as I have enjoyed writing and revising it. I've turned Ren's description of falling into a poem posted in my fictionpress account. Anyway, thank you for all of those who have reviewed and added this story to their alert/favorite list. I can't thank you all enough!
August 27, 2009 bangag_pa
June 22, 2013 updated