Chapter 20: Confrontation
"Hey, watch out!"
"Oomph what the hell?" Sakura screamed as two bundles of joy assaulted her from behind kicking Ikki out of the way. "Get off!" As Sakura scampers around trying to fend off her obsessed cousin and its zealous minion.
Ren pitifully shake his head from their antics quite unaffected by its normalcy. "I can really feel the love!" Ikki yelled as he get up from the rough ground and try to dust off his soiled self. "I did try to warn you guys." Ren shrugged as Ikki just glared at the two charming pests in his life.
"Finally, I can primp you up properly. I'll make your outfit drool worthy for a certain amber boy." Tomoyo beamed while Sakura's face turned beet red.
"No time."
Still enraptured with her cousin, Tomoyo densely asked. "Huh?"
"Sorry to burst your bubble sweetie but we're on in a few minutes." Ikki sweetly mocked as he walked towards the concert grounds. Unfortunately, they still weren't deterred from harassing Sakura.
"What the f*&^?"
Two black blurs came hurtling towards them almost knocking them off as a pink and purple blur with deafening girlish shrieks trailed behind it. Stunned by the unsettling commotion, Ren sneakily pulled Sakura from Tomoyo's grasp and whispered, "Go on kiddo, run while they're distracted.
You've got this new head filled up with smoke
I've got my veins all tangled close
To the jukebox bars you frequent
The safest place to hide
"Are they gone?" Ken panted desperately checking if the coast is clear while he tries to catch his breath. His companion however still stood his guard, he drag Ken in front of him so they can both watch over each others' backs. He kept quiet as he tries to decipher any suspicious approaching sounds around them. After a few minutes, he eventually breaks his silence. "I think we finally lost them."
"What was that? Did you get a good look at it Yuki?" Yuki just shrugged in bafflement, completely at a lost to what happened. "Dude, I don't know what I did in my past life but this certainly is over the top!" Ken groaned as he attempts to stretch his aching body to somewhat ease it from soreness.
A series of twigs snapping from their left got Yuki to swiftly yank Ken into the shrubbery near them. Yuki covered his best friend's mouth as he will likely curse the shit out of him. He would rather suffer his deathly glares than be caught by the arrival of the unknown.
A long night spent with your most obvious weaknesses
You start shaking at the thought
You are everything I want
'Cause you are everything I'm not
The unknown that were chasing the hell out of Ken and Yuki suddenly screeched in annoyance. "I can't take it anymore! UH! I can't believe it!" The pink blur A.K.A Ivan whose wearing a stylish pink themed outfit complementing his reddish hair stomped in place as he rant in tantrum. "My feet hurt and my shoes are ruined from running around."
Drew as in the blonde purple blur dusted himself from the twigs and leaves in his hair and clothing. "I know! They told us we're going to have them for a night for ourselves. I thought we're going to be alone with them in a room or something not chasing them around the compound the whole night."
"AHHH" Ivan suddenly softly pounded the tree dramatically then leaned back on the tree trunk, his right hand on his forehead. "I thought my Yuki fantasy would finally be fulfilled that I could die from the sheer happiness of it." He slides whimsically to the ground with a glazed look in his eye. Witnessing the display of yearning, Yuki almost gave away their hiding spot trying to masked his discomfort by faintly coughing.
Drew arrogantly squashed his friend's daydreaming episode. "Speak for yourself; my Ken fantasy already came true!" He then twirls in little circles as he reminisce, "I saw it in his eyes…" paused for effect and dreamily sighed "…his burning desire for me!" The subject on the other hand, almost lost his breath from his gagging reflexes, more likely choking from utter fear. Yuki tries to console Ken by quietly patting him on the back.
"You're lying when did that happened?!" Ivan pointedly accused his friend as he tries to pick up the trail of their idols. "You're just jealous!" Drew countered following behind.
Yuki and Ken then breathe in relief as the two fanatics walks away. "That was way too close for comfort!"
And we lay, we lay together just not
Too close, too close (How close is close enough?)
We lay, we lay together just not
Too close, too close
As the sun was about to set into its mother's embrace, a lone figure was again spotted making his way through the banks of the little lake.
'What's this damn stupid feeling in my gut?' Syaoran sighed as he dazedly wanders through the shrubbery further away from the concert grounds. He picked his brains out into exhaustion and has been walking around with this blank expression on his face. Admitting defeat, he punched the nearest tree on his right.
THWACK
Several old small branches snapped from the impact and leaves fell around him gracefully as they danced their way down with the soft night breeze.
"Wow, it's so pretty." A girlish gush was heard on the other side of the tree. "It's like green snowflakes!"
He almost lost his footing with the said comment. Realization then dawn on him, recognizing the voice and the quirkiness of the phrase hit him again in the gut. Syaoran had that tendency to flee the scene before she notices but this is way too close to get a clean getaway. Forced into a corner, he impassively staggered to face the owner of the voice still in hesitation on his thoughts of her and what he's going to even say.
I just wanna break you down so badly
While I trip over everything you say
I just wanna break you down so badly
In the worst way
"Will you stop jerking every step you took?" Yuki exasperatedly tap Ken in the shoulder who in turn jerked again from the touch.
Ken struggled to get his point across to Yuki. "He… me… desire… they…" He then gave up and starts this freaky cleansing dance. After a few minutes of his insane choreography, he suddenly shuddered and stopped. Convinced that it's safe to touch him again, Yuki pats his back in understanding. "Dude, lighten up! Think of it as some kind of weird fascination." Ken sent him a defiant stare, but it didn't deter Yuki from his teasing. "You should be more flattered. Your appeal can magnetize not only one but both sides!"
"Not funny man." Ken shoved the contact from his friend as Yuki quiver in repressed glee. "I could've been raped." Throwing a hissy fit, he picked up a branch bashing his way through the path until he got unexpectedly yanked by Yuki again. Ken scan his left and right in panic, "Is it them again? Where? Damn it dude, tell me!"
"No look!" Yuki then pointed the two familiar silhouettes on their northeast. "C'mon, let's leave them."
Ken grabbed Yuki sternly, not breaking his gaze from the two. His humorless expression made Yuki swiftly turn to the said direction.
My inarticulate store bought hangover hobby kit
In talks, it says, 'You, oh, you are so cool.'
Scissor-shaped across the bed
You are red, violent red
You hollow out my hungry eyes
You hollow out my hungry eyes
Surprised by the unexpected appearance of the boy she's beginning to fall with, Sakura jumped back a step away from him holding her heart and question her sudden hallucination in front of her, "Syaoran? What are you doing here?" She then notice his tousled hair with leaves sticking to it, a shallow cut in his right cheek, ripped clothes by God knows what, dirt covered sneakers and bleeding hand. Wide-eyed in concern she asked tentatively, "Are you okay?"
"What is it to you anyway?" Syaoran scoffed her concern and purposely avoided her gesture as she attempts to reach out to his injuries. "You don't have to imitate his voice, you know." He glared at the wig she's been holding on with her left hand.
Sakura shocked at the way he talked to her, unconsciously took another step back from his intense scowl. She then followed the direction of his glare and gasped at her mistake. She's been imitating her cousin for five days now that she automatically reverts to his voice and mannerism whenever she's with other people.
Syaoran smirked as he made her speechless. "So why did you do it?" He takes a step forward with every guess he took until he led her back into a corner of a little cottage they suddenly came by. "Is it for the money?" Step. "The fame?" Step. "Blackmail?" Step. "Revenge?" Step. "Am I getting any warmer?" Step. "Or just for the fun of screwing someone over?" Sakura on the other hand, cringed on every step she took back until she felt her back hitting something solid and finally realized she was trapped.
"God damn it! Answer me Sakura!"
And we lay, we lay together just not
Too close, too close (How close is close enough?)
We lay, we lay together just not
Too close, too close
On the other side of the forest, a giddy sister frantically looks for her baby brother. "Where's that no good brother of mine took off to." Mei Lin pondered quite loudly to herself. Deciding to take the left route she immersed herself again to the news she heard from her band mates that same morning.
"He what?"
"Yup heard it ourselves. Right Yuki?" Mei Lin then turned to Yuki for confirmation and just received an annoying smirk. Still doubting their story, she pressed on. "You sure you guys aren't still drunk?"
This time Ken answered her with certainty, "Nope. We didn't drink that much anyway as we used to. Have to be conscious for today."
"But he w-"
"I know he's not the type to admit his feelings to other people." Yuki went beside her and put an arm around her shoulders. "Mei we're not lying, I still can't believe it myself." Mei Lin then pulled away from his platonic hug and look through his eyes then to Ken's.
Before she could progressed further into her thoughts she then bumped into the guys themselves.
I just wanna break you down so badly
Well I trip over everything you say
Well I just wanna break you down so badly
In the worst way
"Hey guys?" Miyu cheerily greeted. "What are you do-" But before she could even go further with her questioning. Yuki and Ken grabbed her and Rika into hiding, placing a hand in their respective mouths to avoid being heard and seen by the couple they're watching. Satisfied on pacifying the two newcomers, they then turn back their attention to the couple against the wall of a nearby empty cottage.
Syaoran, who's still getting no response from his inquisitions, continued his interrogation. "How stupid do you think I am that I won't notice?"
Syaoran now pacing in front of her; throws accusation after accusation on her. "Is this your band's ploy to win the fucking contest? Get me distracted enough to screw up the songs?"
He then collapsed from mental exhaustion, apathy and humiliation. "And I can't believe it worked!"
"Your brilliant plan, fucking worked!" Syaoran screamed and then harshly and desperately kissed her out of frustration on falling for her as Ikki and as herself. He still can't believe he fell for her stupid act and now his foolish reaction.
Syaoran then sighed in defeat, as he still wasn't able to get anything out of her. "What did I even do to you to deserve this?"
Sakura, who remained quiet all throughout, finally captured his gaze and got smacked down by the hurt and betrayal swimming in his amber eyes. Stunned by the kiss and the discovered emotions behind his eyes, she snapped out of her reverie after a few minutes, only to find out that he's already gone.
I just wanna break you down so badly
Well I trip over everything you say
I just wanna break you down so badly
In the worst way (worst way)
"He didn't hear us, did he?" Miyu asked anxiously as she waits from any confirmation with the people around her who are still currently sporting aghast, dumbfounded, flabbergasted and thunderstruck faces. No one dared to break the silence after Miyu's query until they heard muffled sobbing. All five of them knew where it came from and took pity at the sight it presented.
There at the wall where Syaoran left not a few minutes ago, the girl he claimed to have fallen in loved with drowns her sorrows away in her hands. She lay slumped on the dirt, knees bent to her chest as she tries to hide her head in between.
Not knowing what to do due to inexperience, Rika decides to break the silence, "Ho-how could this happen?"
Mei Lin then shook her head from the despondency of the situation. "Miyu and Rika go follow my brother and do whatever you need to do to calm him down. Make sure he doesn't know that you've heard and seen what happened just now. Act as if you've just accidentally bumped into him." Rika and Miyu nodded and sauntered to the path that Syaoran took. Mei Lin turns to the other two only to find them almost reaching Sakura. She hurriedly followed them to comfort the broken girl.
I'm gonna make damn sure that you can't ever leave
No, you won't ever get too far from me
You won't ever get too far from me
I'll make damn sure that you can't ever leave
No, you won't ever get too far from me
You won't ever get too far from me
You won't ever get too far from me
You won't ever get too far...
She desperately scanned the grounds as he look for any sign of him. But as the minutes fly by, her sight blurred as her tears spilled from her eyes one at a time. Still unaware of her tears, she frantically rubbed her eyes to clear out her vision. Realization finally hit her when the urge to cry her eyes out became apparent. She slid down to the earth, caught off guard by the overwhelming surge emotions that came from the encounter.
"Kura!"
"Sakura!"
"Squirt c'mon!"
"I can't believe it worked! You're brilliant fucking plan worked!" She can still hear those words ringing repeatedly in her ears. Like a siren, warning her of something worse that's about to come. She curled herself into a ball, arms around her legs and head on her knees while gently rocking herself, head softly banging on the wall.
"She's not responding" Yuki sighed as he tried to gently shake Sakura from her stupor. Ken then turn to their only female best friend as he's also clueless on what to do. "We've been trying to call her but it's like she can't hear us."
In a desperate way to bring her back, Mei Lin hugged her tightly and whispered, "He loves you! He really does. He's just hurt and confused. Please don't give up on my brother. He needs to know how you feel."
Sakura broke Mei Lin's embraced to look her in the eyes. "How I feel?"
Mei Lin nodded, "You're in love with him, right? Just as much, he's head over heels in love with you!" But before she could respond to her older sister figure's assumption, a group of familiar faces sprung in front of her.
"There you are!"
I just wanna break you down so badly
Well I trip over everything you say
Well I just wanna break you down so badly
In the worst way (worst way)
Drawing out her innate acting flair, Miyu bounced clumsily dragging her cousin until they deliberately slam into their target. "Hey Syao, fancy meeting you here?" Rika rolled her eyes, nudged her idiotic cousin and whispered, "Mei said to act, not exaggerate." Miyu ignored her cousin's criticism and once again focuses her attention to their brooding leader.
"What the f*&^?"
"Language, language my dear cousin!" Miyu teasingly chastised her temperamental cousin which earned her two different sets of reaction: a dirty look from Syaoran that's obviously annoyed by their sudden appearance and a grimace from Rika, disbelief over the exaggeration of her acting. Miyu brushed off their reactions and ask, "So what are you doing?"
"Walking"
"Where you off to?"
"Nowhere!"
"Can we come?"
"Whatever"
"Are we there yet?"
Tired of getting one word answers and a glare from her last question, Miyu silently plead to Rika to help her. Rika shrugged and hopelessly muttered, "We're two sets away from performance, anything else you need for us to do?"
Syaoran heard her cousin but chose to answer her with silence instead. Rika on the other hand, knowing him too well, didn't give up in getting a response from him, baited, "We can do another round of practice if you'd like." Miyu groaned with the suggestion and on the verge of whining when he replied.
"Let's go, we're changing the song."
"What the hell are you thinking? You can't…"
"But you can't just change everything so…"
His two cousins yelled simultaneously. But before they can even finish their angry outbursts, he walked out on them.
"Damn it Syaoran! Get back here!" Rika screamed at his deranged cousin, to maybe somehow talk some sense out of him. Unfortunately, the said cousin didn't even looked back at her tirade and continued his flight away from them.
"Syao, wait up!" Miyu hastily grabbed Rika's hand and drag her to the direction their temperamental cousin took.
I'm gonna make damn sure
I just wanna break you down so badly
I just wanna break you down so badly (damn sure)
In the worst way (worst way)
"Kura! Dude!"
Sakura then, wipe her face with her sleeve and greeted her band mates. "Hey guys, what are you doing here?"
Upon seeing her up close, they notice the change in her demeanor and the red rims surrounding her eyes. But before any of them tried to point it out or ask about it three heads from the members of the band that they looked up too, shook their heads. Getting the point they then each give her a hug of comfort as they usually do when they see each other and cheerfully inquired.
"How are you Kura?" Jun asked carefully but got interrupted by Yam who pushed him to get directly in front of her, "Did you miss us? You did miss us especially me, right?" Ryu elbowed Yam to get in front of her. "Why, you? She obviously misses me the most as I'm her favorite! Right Kura?" Recovering from the playful blow, Yam returned the favor while yelling, "Dream on dude!"
"Guys shut up! And stop pushing; you might end up pushing her too. You don't want to get on the wrong side of Ikki, Tomoyo and Touya do you?" At Jun's comment, the two stop shoving each other and behaved as they saw Sakura smiling from their antics. The three band mates look at each other, 'Mission accomplished' running in their thoughts.
Sakura still reels from the shock of her own band showing up suddenly, halfheartedly listen as one by one affectionately expressed their longing by either repeatedly hugging her tightly or ruffling her hair. She shook her head from their obvious ploy to make her smile, gave them a shallow one for their effort and asked the question she'd been itching to ask since their appearance "What are you guys doing here?"
"Oh, didn't they tell you?" Yam peculiarly quirked his head on the side. "Hmm… That's odd?"
Ryu slump his arm on her shoulders and interjects, "They invited us to perform as the next intermission number."
Sakura then nodded dejectedly on the news and asked if she could pick the song for it.
"Of course!" Jun immediately piped up. "What do you…"
Before anyone from her band mates could ask what song it would be, she was already a few yards away from them.
- to be continued -
A/N: I'm really sorry for a year delayed update. I do promised to finished this. Only four chapters left! Words that were bold and italicized are lyrics to the song, "Make Damn Sure" by Taking Back Sunday
November 23, 2012 bangag_pa
I'm sorry for the delay, I lost my other file and have to rewrite the last part of Chapter 20 and the next chapter. I'll post it as soon as I can.
July 23, 2013 updated