Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Natsu ❯ Camping Begins ( Chapter 4 )

Sakura unwrapped a stick of gum and viciously shoved it in her mouth without taking her glare off the back of her mother's head. The aforementioned woman in the front seat went about her business of chatting to her husband, completely oblivious to the mental daggers being sent her way.

 

The woman was a menace! She had just bound-in one morning after working the night shift and declared that they were all going camping the next day, whether they liked it or not. Seeing chewed food fall out of her brother's gaping mouth in shock had been enough to make her lose her appetite for the next couple days.

 

Sakura could only guess her mother's intentions for this little family trip, but she suspected that it had something to do with the thick atmosphere that had accumulated since that day.

 

Trying to be discreet, Sakura snuck a sidelong glance at Syaoran. Their eyes met. Sakura quickly went back to looking out the window, but could still feel Syaoran's piercing stare.

 

Damn it! It had been like that for a week now. While she was trying to forget anything had ever happened, Syaoran was making that impossible by giving her knowing looks when no one else was paying attention. It was really starting to grate on her nerves.

 

She had no idea what to do! It was obvious that he wasn't going to give up, but there was also no way she would give in. She had good reasons for not wanting to be involved with him in that way and he was just going to have to accept that. Still, it was easier said than done. Sakura started by making sure she was never alone and trying to invite Tomoyo over more often. That at least was keeping him at bay. It wasn't going to work forever. Pretty soon Syaoran was going to break through her defenses and catch her by herself, or Tomoyo was going to catch on to what was happening. Sakura was in desperate need of a game plan. Maybe if Syaoran saw that she was interested in someone else…

 

That idea instantly perked her up. There was no way Syaoran could ignore her going out with someone else. But who? Sakura deflated again. There was no one like that in her life. She had never really cared about boys as much as Tomoyo, so her prospects were null and void.

 

Nadesico's melodic laugh broke Sakura out of her little reverie.

 

That wench.

 

Nadesico had sprung this trip on everyone so suddenly that it was impossible for her to bring Tomoyo along, who already had other plans. Yukito had managed to have a clear schedule though, Sakura thought savagely. Life wasn't fair. Because her brother's friend was coming she was going to be outnumbered by three boys. She was the odd woman out. Not to mention that it probably meant she was going to be stuck with Syaoran a lot more than she was comfortable with. Sakura predicted that she was somehow always going to get the short end of the stick on this trip.

 

“Would you cut that out?” Sakura's mom snapped suddenly, getting Sakura's attention. Without realizing it, Sakura had gradually been smacking on her gum louder and louder.

 

Subtly, Sakura eased the volume up on her iPod and looked out the window at the scenery, smacking away.

 

“I don't think she can hear you, Nadesico,” Sakura's dad offered, glancing at his daughter in the rearview mirror. “Her music's probably too loud.”

 

“She heard me,” Nadesico grumbled, but turned back around.

 

Sakura smirked slightly to herself. Although it had been a pointless victory and her jaw was starting to ache, at least she had won that small battle. Her mom should have thought about how annoying her daughter could be before she stuffed her in the backseat of their car with no leg space and a good amount of luggage… for THREE hours. Oh yea, she was also stuck with the one person on the planet she was working her best to avoid. Not to mention she had to put on her headphones just to listen to some decent music.

 

If Yukito hadn't come along she would have been in her brother's truck with her feet on the dashboard, windows rolled down, and music blasting. But no…

 

Sakura sighed at her own whininess. She really needed to think positive. Maybe this trip was exactly what the doctor ordered. Some fresh air couldn't hurt, especially since she was beginning to feel paranoid by watching out for Syaoran every time she turned a corner.

 

Sakura perked up slightly when she noticed her father was pulling into a rest stop. “What's going on?” she asked, pulling off her headphones.

 

“You're mother and I have to pee,” Fujitaka explained as he and Nadesico jumped out of the car and made a mad dash for the bathroom. Sakura made a face. What a couple of losers. Did they have to phrase it quite like that? No wonder she always said crap like that - her parents had rubbed off on her. Puh, now that was a scary thought.

 

“We wouldn't want a repeat performance of the first time we ever had to stop here, now would we Sakura?” Touya's annoying voice spoke up from her open window. She hadn't even noticed him pull up, much less get out of his truck. She really was out of it today.

 

Nevertheless, Sakura eyed her brother warily. “What are you insinuating?”

 

Touya's eye's widened in mock surprise. “You mean you don't remember?”

 

“Remember what?” Now she was just confused. Touya seemed to find that hysterical.

 

“What are you guys talking about?” Yukito asked, coming out of the passenger side of the truck and standing beside his dark-haired friend.

 

“Yes,” Syaoran piped up, much to Sakura's chagrin. “What is this seemingly delightful story you're telling?”

 

Touya let his joyful expression drop long enough to sneer at Syaoran, but continued anyways. “Oh, I was just reminiscing with my dear sister about the first time we ever stopped at this particular spot. Would you like to hear about it?” he directed the question at Yukito.

 

“Sure,” Syaoran answered, but was ignored.

 

Yukito looked at Touya, untrusting, and then glanced at Sakura who shrugged her shoulders and said, “I have no idea what he's going on about.”

 

Touya flashed his teeth at Sakura before starting his story. “I'd say I was about ten when this story took place, which would make Sakura seven. You see, there I was, minding my own business, when Sakura got this ghostly pale look on her face and the car started to smell.”

 

The present day Sakura paled as well as she took a better look at her surroundings and realization began to dawn on her.

 

“Touya, shut up!” But he didn't.

 

“And do you know what that smell was?” Touya asked Yukito, pretending to shove a microphone under his nose to hear his response.

 

“Um, no,” Yukito said cautiously. “And I don't think Sakura wants me to know.”

 

Touya continued as if he hadn't heard anything. “That, my friend, was the smell of-“

 

Sakura was halfway out of the door, intent on shutting her brother up, but her foot was stuck under someone's bag and she lost her balance slightly. She could hear Syaoran already cracking up, but wasn't sure if it was because of the story or her lack of coordination. Probably both. Bastard.

 

“Poop.” Touya practically crowed, causing Sakura to freeze in her tracks. “Because, you see, my cute perfect little sister had just sharted on herself.”

 

Sakura felt the color return to her face out of anger. Beside her, Syaoran was clutching his side in hysterics. With one last tug, she yanked her foot from its prison of luggage and stomped towards her brother who looked completely undaunted.

 

“What do you plan to do?” Touya teased, standing up straight so that he towered over her shorter frame. Once again Sakura cursed her mother for giving all the tall genes to Touya.

 

“Kick you in the balls,” Sakura said and went for it, her leg coming up in a quick jerking motion. Unfortunately for her, it was too slow and Touya caught it. Instead of letting her leg go, he pulled it slightly higher and watched as Sakura desperately searched for some way to keep her balance. She would have failed miserably if Yukito hadn't offered his arm for her to latch onto.

 

“Aw, you're no fun,” Touya said to his friend before letting go of Sakura's leg.

 

“Just so you know,” she said, straightening her clothes in a very dignified manner. “I will get you back some time during this trip.”

 

“I don't doubt that you'll try.” Touya grinned like a shark and sauntered back to his truck just as their parents came back out.

 

“Well, let's go,” Fujitaka said and motioned for Sakura to get back in the car. “We're not far now.”

 

Touching the door handle, Sakura changed her mind and spun around walked towards Touya's truck. Her mother gave her an exasperated look, but didn't say anything. She came up on the passenger's side and knocked. When Yukito rolled the window down, she leaned forward so she could look her brother in the eye and said, “Just so you know, it was no coincidence that when I had my little accident, I was sitting on your pillow.” She walked back to the car, grinning with triumph at the disgusted look on his face.

 

“Remind me to never do something to make you want to relieve yourself on my pillow,” Syaoran said to her when she got in the car.

 

“You're too late,” Sakura informed his smug face. “If I were you, I wouldn't let your pillows out of your sight.”

 

And with those parting sentiments, Sakura put her headphones back on and resumed blocking out the rest of the world.

 

<<<<<>>>>>

 

“What the hell is this?” Sakura asked, staring at the box Touya had just shoved in her arms.

 

“Your tent,” Touya answered without looking at her. Sakura's jaw hit the floor.

 

“WHAT?! You've got to be kidding! This is the tent we used to put the ice chest in! It's what? Four square feet?”

 

“Don't over exaggerate,” Nadesico said from somewhere to her left.

 

“I'm not!” Sakura said, trying desperately not to shriek. “You'll be lucky if I can fit in that while in the fetal position!”

 

“You're not that fat.” Touya said, snickering. Nadesico gave him a withering look, but Sakura couldn't help notice that she didn't actually scold him. Stupid mother who played favorites.

 

“I'm not fat at all,” she sniffed to herself before snapping back into complaining mode.

 

“So let me get this straight: Mom and dad get the family dome, Touya, Yukito, and Syaoran get the 2-3 person dome, and I get the smurfs' coliseum?”

 

There was some laughter from her dad and Yukito that made her smile slightly, but Syaoran's loud, snarky laughter only darkened her mood some more.

 

“Well,” her mother explained, “you're the only person who's going to sleep by herself, and these are the only tents we have.”

 

“Why couldn't you have warned me? I would have asked Tomoyo's mom if I could borrow one of their tents. I'm sure she wouldn't have minded.”

 

Nadesico didn't reply and continued unloading, which Sakura took to mean that she either hadn't thought of that, or she wanted to make her daughter suffer. She was almost willing to bet on the latter.

 

“Everybody set up your tents and we'll unpack the rest afterwards,” Fujitaka instructed, a very large box with a picture of an enormous tent by his side. Sakura felt jealousy well up inside her.

 

“So I guess this means I have to set up my tent on my own?” Sakura asked, resigned to her fate.

 

Syaoran clapped a hand on her shoulder. “Don't worry, it won't be too hard for you; all you have to do is pull a string.” And he walked away, laughing like a jackass.

 

“Ha ha,” Sakura mumbled and looked around for a spot to set up her temporary home. To her dismay (but not surprise) she found that the rest of the campers had taken both shady spots. She rolled her eyes heavenward and dropped her box by a dying tree with no leaves. “All I can say is that there better not be any ants.”

 

It didn't take her long to set up the tiny tent. After all, she had always been the one to set it up in the past. She had a little difficultly, but it wasn't too terrible. Curious, she opened the flap and peered inside. It looked even smaller than she remembered. It would be a miracle if she managed to fit all her stuff in there AND spread the sleeping bag out. Feeling a slight dread for nighttime, she decided to see how her comrades/enemies were faring.

 

It wasn't a pretty sight. Sakura sat down on the ice chest and watched in amusement as Touya stood in the middle of the tent, desperately trying to hold it up while Yukito and Syaoran went around attaching everything.

 

“I guess we've finally found a use for you.” Sakura laughed at the look Touya shot towards her. His face was flushed pink from the heat and effort of holding the tent up and his hair kept falling in his eyes. Sakura spent a few more minutes laughing at his expense before she heard her name being called.

 

“What?” she asked, coming upon her parents' site where they were spreading out the canvas and holding the stick thingies.

 

“We need your help. This is a three person job.”

 

Sakura raised an imperious eyebrow. “It's a tent for more than three people. Maybe if you got a tent for one person, like mine, you'd be able to set it up.”

 

“Sakura,” her mother's voice was a warning. “I'm not going to ask you again.”

 

“Good,” Sakura replied, undaunted. “Because I'd hate to say no to you again.”

 

Fujitaka watched on in bemusement. Nadesico gave a strained laugh. “Okay, but I'll remember that for later when you want some help.”

 

“Like I'd need your help,” Sakura said snootily, but not really meaning it. She knew that her mother was serious and this whole thing was going to bite her in the ass sooner or later. Still, she didn't want to back down and admit defeat.

 

“Suit yourself,” Nadesico said and got back to work.

 

Oh, what fun this trip was already shaping up to be.

 

<<<<<>>>>>

 

Sakura squirted a huge glob of sunscreen onto her hand and worked it into her shoulders and arms, determined not to get sunburned this year as they floated down the river on inner tubes. It was then that she realized she needed help putting it on her back.

 

“Mom!” Sakura called, and looked around the small camp. From where she was perched on the picnic table she could see everything.

 

“What?” Her mother's reply came from her large tent. Somehow the adults had managed to set up the tent without Sakura's help. `Somehow' meaning that they had conned Touya and Yukito into giving them a hand.

 

“Could you put sunscreen on my back?” Sakura asked.

 

Nadesico popped her head out of her tent and slowly let an evil grin split across her face. “Now why would I do that?”

 

“Huh?” Sakura was feeling a bit slow all of a sudden.

 

“Why would I want to help you with that?”

 

Catching on that this was Nadesico's form of revenge for the tent incident, Sakura rolled her eyes. Sometimes her mother could be really childish.

 

“Because you don't want me to get skin cancer,” Sakura stated very matter of fact.

 

“Of course I don't but there are other people around. Get someone else to help you.” Nadesico came out of her tent clad in a one piece bathing suit and some flip flops. Sakura had to admit that she looked pretty good, especially for a woman her age. However, all good thoughts flew from Sakura's mind when her mother took one look at her and promptly stuck her nose in the air. “Because I won't.”

 

“Okay.” Sakura relented, while rubbing the bridge of her nose. Arguing with her mother like they were sisters was giving her the start of an awesome headache. “Where's Dad?”

 

“Bathroom.”

 

“Touya?”

 

“Bathroom.”

 

Sakura blanched and tried again. “Yukito?”

 

“Bathroom.”

 

“What the hell?!” Sakura had always thought that it was just girls that went to the bathroom in packs. She always figured that her brother was kind of - err - off, but her father? “What are they doing? Sharing a box of tampons?”

 

Nadesico gave her daughter the stink eye that also made it clear that she thought a few screws were loose. “Your brother and Yukito didn't know where the bathrooms were and your father went to show them.”

 

Nadesico took a hair toggle off her wrist and deftly tied her long hair up in a messy bun. With a mother like that, sometimes it was hard to have high self-esteem. Sakura often forgot just how stunning her mother could be because Nadesico's usual wardrobe consisted of scrubs and pajamas.

 

“Speaking of which…” Nadesico shot her daughter another look. “I'm going to the restroom now too. Are you coming?”

 

“No,” Sakura answered, looking at the sky. She had some pride too and she refused to tag along.

 

“Suit yourself.” Nadesico shrugged. “But you might want to make sure you go before we get on the river. There's no bathroom there for hours!”

 

“Then I'll just pee in the river like everybody else,” Sakura muttered under her breath.

 

“What was that?”

 

“Nothing.” Sakura shot her mother a 100 watt smile.

 

“Whatever.” Nadesico turned on her heel and marched toward the bathrooms without looking back.

 

When she was out of earshot, Sakura let the fake smile drop and groaned.

 

“I think you're forgetting about someone,” a deep voice rumbled from right behind her. The unexpected voice was so close to her ear that Sakura jumped up and stumbled a little in her haste to get off the picnic table.

 

When she was face to face with the other person she suddenly felt very tiny. Of course, there was no way that she would give him the satisfaction of knowing that. So she gathered her wits and tried to think of something witty to say.

 

“You're just so insignificant that it's easy to forget you're there.” Not bad. Not great, but not bad.

 

Syaoran just gave her that knowing smirk that was beginning to look all too familiar. “Now why don't I believe you?” He moved around the table and took a couple of steps towards her.

 

Sakura suddenly felt like the proverbial deer caught in headlights. Her brain was screaming at her to run away, but her feet just weren't cooperating.

 

How had she let herself get into this situation? All of her hard work at avoiding being alone with him had just flown out the window. In the corner of Sakura's mind, she felt some resentment for her mother who had distracted her.

 

A light shadow was cast over Sakura and she slowly looked up with apprehension. Syaoran's broad shoulders were slightly blocking Sakura from the sun. How had he managed to get so close? When had she let her defenses down? Probably with all this inner dialogue, she berated herself and was forced to face the situation at hand. Now, what was the last thing he said?

 

“Probably because your skull is too thick for things people say to get through.” Sakura glared up at him as strong as possible.

 

“Like what?” he asked, not moving towards her but not moving away either. Now that Sakura was pretty sure she could control her feet again it didn't matter. There was no way that she would take a step backwards. That would be like letting him win.

 

“Like `no',” Sakura countered. He just chuckled and let his chest shake slightly. This made Sakura aware for the first time that he was in his bathing suit like she was. This of course meant that his chest was bare. So distracted by all the naked skin, Sakura only noticed that his hand was moving towards her at the last minute.

 

It was a good thing that all he did was snatch the sunscreen bottle out of her hands. Sakura felt the tension seep out of her bones when he took a half step back as well.

 

“Turn around.” The tension came flooding back.

 

“Wh - what?” Sakura croaked.

 

“I said,” Syaoran spoke slower as to insinuate that that was all it took for her tiny brain to comprehend, “turn around.”

 

When she only continued to stare up at him blankly he rolled his eyes heavenward. “Fine.” Before she knew it, his hands were on her shoulders and turning her around manually. When he let go, her back was to him. “I can't put sunscreen on your back with you facing me,” he stated.

 

“Oh.” Sakura wasn't sure how comfortable she was with all this, but she really did need to put sunscreen on. “You promise not to do anything funny?”

 

“Nope.” Syaoran grinned at her like a shark when she turned around to look at him. She opened her mouth to say something but he cut her off. “I'm just kidding. I won't do anything. This is completely innocent - I'm just helping you with the sunscreen.”

 

Sakura's mouth opened and closed several more times before she managed to say, “Good.” and turned back around.

 

Sakura listened as Syaoran popped open the cap to the sunscreen and squirted some on his hands. She steeled herself but still wasn't quite ready for when his hands made contact with her upper back. He began rubbing the lotion in with sturdy hands.

 

“You know,” he began, his hands sliding up her shoulders and to the nape of her neck. “I was thinking.”

 

“About what?”

 

“About us.” Sakura's breath hitched in her throat but Syaoran continued to rub the lotion down her back. When he made it to the bikini strings of her top he snuck his hands under it to make sure the lotion was everywhere. Sakura said nothing so Syaoran continued. “We've been so tense around each other lately that I think the others are starting to notice.”

 

“You mean Touya,” Sakura finally said at length. Syaoran laughed.

 

“Yeah, him… but the others as well. And,” Syaoran trailed off and Sakura listened as he put more sunscreen on his hands. “I've also missed talking to you.”

 

Sakura spun around so that she could see his face. All she saw was complete honesty. They stared at each other for several seconds before Sakura finally let herself truly relax and smiled at him. “I guess I've kind of missed talking to you too.”

 

Syaoran quirked an eyebrow at her. “You guess?”

 

“Don't push it.” Sakura smirked and turned so he could finish covering her lower back with sunscreen. He continued the job.

 

“So let's call a temporary truce,” Syaoran said, running his hands up and down her sides to make sure the lotion was absorbed.

 

“Temporary?” Sakura asked.

 

“Of course temporary.” Syaoran grabbed her shoulders and turned her around to signal that he was finished. His eyes bore holes into hers. “For the sake of this trip and our sanity, I promise to be on my best behavior. Of course, that only lasts until we get home.”

 

Sakura shook her head at him, but could feel the butterflies churning in her stomach. “I suppose that's the best offer I'm going to get, so I'll take it.” That way, she could actually enjoy the trip without having to worry about Syaoran all the time.

 

“Good.” Syaoran flashed his teeth in a smile. “I told you I wouldn't give up that easily, but I will give you a break for now.”

 

“How thoughtful of you,” Sakura said sarcastically. She felt like a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders and this little camping trip was actually starting to feel like a vacation. Of course, there was the little niggling feeling in the back of her brain that was reminding her that this newfound comfort was only temporary, but she squashed it.

 

“So…” Syaoran slapped the sunscreen bottle in her hands and turned his back to her. “My turn.”

 

“Huh?” Even to her own ears, Sakura sounded completely stupid.

 

“I don't want a sunburn on my back either,” Syaoran stated slowly for her. Sakura had the sudden urge to tear his hair out, but she refrained. Instead, she put a huge glob of sunscreen in her hand and began to work it into his back. She had put on way too much and his whole back was covered in white.

 

“You do realize that you're going to have to work all of that in, right?” Syaoran asked haughtily.

 

“Yep!” Sakura smiled to herself as she rubbed sunscreen all over his broad back. She began making little designs out of the excess sunscreen and then wiping it away.

 

“It's never going to rub in,” Syaoran said impatiently.

 

“Aw, keep your panties on,” Sakura retorted, although he did have a point. She was going to have to spread the lotion onto more skin. Sakura started pushing the lotion up and down his sides, and finally to his front midsection. She had to wrap her arms around him to get his front and she ran her fingers through the contours of his stomach. Syaoran tensed. It was then that Sakura realized what she was doing.

 

Idiot! She berated herself.

 

“Ahem.”

 

Sakura froze at the familiar voice and could have sworn her neck creaked as she turned to look into the face of her older brother.

 

“What are you doing?” Touya asked, his hands on his hips.

 

“Molesting me,” Syaoran answered for her so she dug her nails into his belly. Realizing that she was still in a compromising situation, Sakura let her hands drop from around Syaoran and sheepishly took a step back.

 

“I was just helping him with the sunscreen.” Sakura looked around frantically. “Where's everybody else?”

 

“They're renting the inner tubes. They sent me back here to get you guys,” Touya answered her while glaring and promptly shoved her out of the way with his hip. “Here, let me help you.” And with that, he put his man hands on Syaoran's back and continued the job that Sakura had been doing.

 

Because of the look on Syaoran's face, Sakura thought she would never be able to stop laughing.