Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Natsu ❯ Whatever Can Go Wrong, Will ( Chapter 6 )

Luckily for Sakura, her kind father took pity on her and said he would take care of the ants in her tent. After all, she was extremely pitiful. Her mother, however, almost bust a gut when she saw all of Sakura's belongings covered in ants. Sakura wasted no time in informing Nadesico that she was developing some very deep crow's feet.

 

Despite the bickering that ensued, Nadesico agreed to help Fujitaka with the ants while Sakura took a shower. She managed to shake the ants off a clean set of clothes to change into and then was on her way.

 

By the time she got to the bathrooms, Syaoran was leaving the men's side with a distinctly refreshed look about him. He winked as he passed her and she mentally put a curse on him.

 

For once on the trip, Sakura had a small stroke of luck. There were actually two empty showers so she wouldn't have to wait in line. With a small bounce to her step, she went into the first empty shower and placed her shampoos, soaps, and towel down and promptly twisted the knob that would give her some fresh, clean relief known as water.

 

A small trickle of what smelled like river water dribbled out of the shower head. Confused, Sakura twisted the knob more. A slightly stronger dribble came out of the nozzle, but that was about it. Undaunted, Sakura gathered her things together once more and decided to move to the other empty shower.

 

The water pressure was much better in this one so Sakura stripped off her clothes and prepared to go about her bathing rituals when something in the corner caught her eye. For a second, she couldn't believe what she was seeing, and rubbed her eyes until they hurt. But there was no denying it… there was poop in the shower.

 

The sound she made earlier that day when she got bit by a fish had nothing on the shriek she let out. People in nearby campsites would later claim that they thought someone was being hacked to death with a butter knife.

 

Not caring who saw, Sakura grabbed her stuff and ran, buck naked, into the shower with the crappy water pressure. Sure, she would have to jump around just to get wet, but at least there were no feces in sight. Needless to say, the park janitorial staff would be receiving a very strongly worded complaint from her in the near future.

 

By the time she was finished showering and dressed, her heart rate had had time to calm down. Trying to relax her frayed nerves and think positive, she stepped out of the bathroom and into the rain. There was a slight awning next to the restrooms that Sakura quickly jumped back under.

 

Sakura stared at the drizzling rain and rolled her eyes heavenward.

 

“What did I do in a previous life to deserve this?” Great, now she was talking to herself.

 

Not wanting to get dirty again, she decided to stay put until the rain let up. However, there was no telling how long that would be.

 

“Can I not get a break?” she asked out loud and groaned. That was when she heard it - a distinct buzzing. Knowing what she was about to see, but still somehow hoping that she was wrong, Sakura tilted her head up towards the ceiling and saw the biggest bee hive she had ever seen.

 

She took off running into the rain at the speed of light.

 

As Sakura walked up to her campsite and was about to go into the boy's tent (where the rest of her group was hiding out) the rain stopped. She suddenly had the overwhelming urge to either laugh or cry. Tired of being wet, she decided to laugh.

 

<<<<<>>>>>

 

“Wow,” Syaoran said sympathetically and patted Sakura on the back. “It sounds like you're the star of some strange, dark comedy written by a deranged author.” Everyone else nodded from around the picnic table. The towels that they'd used to dry it off were in a pile on the floor.

 

“You're telling me.” Sakura sniffled and wrapped the towel that her cousin had draped over her shoulders earlier tighter around her shoulders. The entire group had poked their heads out of the tent to see what Sakura was laughing about and then was worried that she lost her mind. After her explanation of the whole shower experience, they all understood and even her mother was being nice… well, nic-ER at any rate.

 

“In any case, now that the rain stopped, we might actually be able to get a fire going and cook some dinner,” Fujitaka said while digging through the ice chest.

 

“Really?” Sakura perked up at the mention of food. “What are we having?”

 

“Hamburgers,” Fujitaka said, and Sakura began to salivate.

 

“Hamburgers?” Nadesico echoed, sounding surprised. Unfortunately, this didn't bode well for dinner plans.

 

“Yes,” Fujitaka said slowly and rose from his crouched position to look at his wife. “Hamburgers.”

 

“I thought we bought the stuff to make hotdogs,” Nadesico replied, blinking.

 

“No.” Fujitaka lifted what was clearly hamburger meat out of the ice chest. “Hamburgers.”

 

“Oh.” Nadesico looked a bit sheepish. “Well, then we might have a problem.” Somehow, this didn't surprise Sakura in the least. Nadesico dug around in the other container that had all of their food and pulled out hotdog buns. “See?”

 

Both of Sakura's parents started laughing. Apparently, they found it to be an amusing little mistake. Sakura, however, thought about asking how they were both stupid enough not to notice that they were buying the wrong things.

 

“Oh well,” Syaoran said from beside her. Sakura raised an eyebrow at him but he just said, “You can't change the past.”

 

“Yup,” Fujitaka agreed. “This is just a minor blip on the radar. It's easily fixed. Someone's just going to have to go to the grocery store and get hamburger buns.”

 

“Or hotdogs,” Touya added.

 

“We also should probably get some more firewood, if we want to keep it going for a while,” Yukito chimed in, pointing to the wood pile. It was running pretty low.

 

“Okay, we'll divide up into teams to make it go faster so we can eat sooner,” Nadesico announced - without consulting anyone else, Sakura noticed.

 

“Me and Fujitaka will stay here and get the fire started.” Meaning Fujitaka would stay there and get the fire started, and Nadesico would watch. “So… who wants to go to the store?”

 

Whoever didn't go the store was going to have to go trekking through the trees and searching for wood. That job didn't sound particularly appealing.

 

“I'll go!” Sakura and Syaoran said at the same time.

 

Touya narrowed his eyes and glared at Syaoran. “What if I wanted to go to the store?”

 

“Too bad,” Syaoran said snottily. “You should have said so faster.”

 

Ignoring the testosterone flares between her brother and cousin Sakura asked, “So, who is surrendering their keys?”

 

“There's still a lot of stuff in the car, so why don't you two take Touya's truck?” Fujitaka answered. He was still digging around in one of the cases, presumably for the lighter fluid.

 

If it was possible, Touya's face puckered even more.

 

“I'll drive!” Sakura chirped. Touya's puckered expression loosened up into more of a smirk.

 

“What is that look for?” Syaoran asked, knowing that something had to be up for Touya to look so evilly happy.

 

“Have you ever had Sakura drive you somewhere?”

 

“No.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Sakura ignored this exchange, as she did with most. “Where are your keys?”

 

“In my blue bag in the tent,” Touya answered. He was still giving Syaoran a malevolent stare.

 

Without another word, Sakura shrugged off her towel and hop/skipped to the boy's tent. She always loved when she got to drive her brother's truck.

 

Annoyance ticked at the side of her brain when Sakura saw her brother's luggage.

 

“All of his stupid bags are blue,” She muttered and began to rifle through them. It was in the second bag she was going through that something caught her eye.

 

“Why that son of a…”

 

Touya was hoarding Milano cookies! She knew they were his favorite, but geeze! Stingy! Did he not trust her or something?

 

With an indignant huff, she continued searching for the keys.

 

<<<<<>>>>>

 

Sakura felt right at home behind the wheel in her brother's truck. It always made her feel powerful, but she still vowed not to let it go to her head and drive like a jackass. Unlike most truck drivers…

 

“So, how far to the store?” Syaoran asked from the passenger's seat.

 

“Why?” Sakura sent a slightly suspicious look at him from the corner of her eye.

 

“I'm just curious. Is it a crime to want to know?”

 

“No, but I don't really believe you when you say it's an innocent question.”

 

Sakura could see the smile Syaoran was giving her in her peripheral vision and, for some reason, it made her heart thump.

 

“I had no ulterior motives. You're not a scary driver like Touya was trying to make you seem.”

 

“Is that so?” Sakura asked, while purposefully swerving the truck from side to side and causing Syaoran to grab onto the door like it was a life raft. Several pedestrians gave them scathing looks and a lot of extra room.

 

“Cut it out!”

 

Sakura just laughed. “I'm sorry! Did that bother you? I'll behave.” That didn't stop her from snickering at the stricken look on Syaoran's face though.

 

“Har har,” he said dryly. “You made your point.”

 

However, Sakura's mind was already elsewhere. She was glaring at the rearview mirror. “Now, what does this asshole think he's doing? The only thing that should be creeping up my ass is my underwear.”

 

“Nice, Sakura,” Syaoran said, scrunching up his face at her crude choice of wording. “That's very ladylike.”

 

Sakura rolled her eyes heavenward, “Psh. I think we're far past the faux polite act,” and before she could stop herself, “For goodness's sake, you've had your tongue down my throat!”

 

The truck was suddenly filled with a very awkward silence.

 

Why? Why?! WHY?! Why would she say such a thing! Bringing it up like that made it seem like it has been on or mind or something! And it wasn't! Not really at any rate.

 

Terrified, Sakura slowly snuck a glace at her cousin. Just as she suspected, he was smirking.

 

“I thought there was an unspoken agreement that we weren't going to talk about that? It doesn't bother me, but I never thought you would be the one to bring it up.”

 

Sakura diverted her eyes. “That's because, I, uh, didn't. Nuh.”

 

“That doesn't make any sense.”

 

“Wow, this guy is really riding my butt!” It was a blatant attempt at a subject change and, for a second, she didn't think he was going to let her get away with it.

 

It took a while, but Syaoran finally said, “What are you going to do about it? Pull over so he can pass you?”

 

“Like hell!” Sakura exclaimed, falling into her aggressive mode. “I'm already going a couple of miles over the speed limit! There are pedestrians everywhere! He doesn't need to be going any faster.” This was her perfect example of a truck driving asshole.

 

“I think he's going to try and pass you anyways.”

 

“Oh yea?” And with that, Sakura shifted the wheel so that they were in the center of the small road. There was no way he could pass her now. And just to put the icing on the cake, she eased her foot off the gas and watched at the speedometer needle crept down to five miles under the speed limit.

 

“Hm…” Syaoran said, looking in the rearview mirror. “It's probably a good thing that we can't read lips right about now.”

 

“Stop looking so nervous, you wuss. The store is just a couple blocks away anyways.”

 

Luckily for the truck guy, he wasn't going to the store so they were soon out of his way. He sent them a one fingered wave as he drove past that Sakura readily sent back. Syaoran just shook his head at her antics.

 

“Don't look at me like that,” She said. “I'm not some truck-driving asshole.”

 

“Sure you aren't.”

 

“Shut up.”

 

Sakura was going in a slow crawl in the tiny parking lot when, from out of nowhere, a girl stepped in front of the truck. Sakura slammed on the brakes and then drummed her fingers on the wheel as the blonde took her sweet time. She didn't even look at them as she sauntered past, flipping her hair and gabbing on a cell phone.

 

“Bitch thinks she's too pretty to die,” Sakura said, shamelessly. Syaoran gave her a bug-eyed stare. “Oh, please, like you weren't thinking the same thing.”

 

<<<<<>>>>>

 

“Land!” Syaoran exclaimed and scrambled to get out of the truck, lugging the grocery bags with him. He was met with peals of laughter from the group sitting around the campfire, all of which had let Sakura drive them somewhere in the past.

 

“Yay! Food!” Sakura cried upon spying the hamburgers already cooking over the fire.

 

“They're just about done.” Fujitaka smiled.

 

“What's with all the bags?” Nadesico asked and gestured to the load that Syaoran was carrying.

 

“You sent me to the grocery store on an empty stomach,” Sakura said, by way of explanation. “Oh, and thanks for buying me a new bathing suit.”

 

Nadesico arched one eyebrow. “When did I do that?”

 

“Just now! Don't worry, it wasn't expensive.” Sakura set down the single bag she was carrying on the table as she passed it. It also happened to be the lightest bag.

 

“And just what was wrong with your old one?”

 

Sakura was about to answer but her brother beat her to it. “You don't know?”

 

Nadesico shook her head.

 

“Well, it was bound to happen,” Touya said sadly, and hung his head. The whole group looked at him, questioningly.

 

“What?” Yukito finally asked.

 

“Sakura's butt expanded so much that it burst out of her bathing suit!” And that sent everyone except Sakura into fresh peals of laughter.

 

“Actually, I ripped it on a rock, but okay.” She rolled her eyes and began stomping over to the boys' tent. “While the rest of you are laughing at me, I'm going to put Touya's keys away.”

 

Inside the tent, she could still hear her family laughing away like it was the funniest thing they had ever heard. Feeling resentful, she quickly grabbed the bag she retrieved the keys from and stuffed them back in. She was just about to leave the tent when an evil idea popped into her head and made her freeze.

 

Quickly, as to not arouse any suspicion, Sakura grabbed one of Touya's other bags from earlier and began fishing around. It didn't take her long to find what she was looking for. Sakura hurriedly stuffed the bag of Milanos up the back of her shirt like it was some kind of contraband. And, in a way, it was.

 

The next part included sneaking it past her family so it was a bit tricky. She actually surprised herself by eluding everyone's attention enough to slip the bag out of her shirt and stow it away in the grocery bag she put on the table. I'm sure it wouldn't surprise you to know that she was humming the mission impossible song in her head as she did it either.

 

Mission successfully completed, Sakura plopped down onto the empty spot in between Syaoran and her mother and grinned like a shark.

 

“What have you been up to?” Nadesico asked after taking a sip of her diet coke.

 

“What do you mean?” Sakura cocked her head to the side, innocently.

 

“You look like the cat that just ate the canary.”

 

“You mean my smile?” Sakura kept on smiling, she couldn't help it. “I'm just trying to make myself be cheery. I realize that I'm snarky and I complain a lot and -“

 

“That's for sure,” Touya piped up.

 

Sakura's eye twitched, but she continued. “And I'm going to try to change. I've decided to be nicer to people.”

 

“Sure you did,” Syaoran muttered, but he was quiet enough so that she was the only one who could hear him.

 

“Good for you, honey,” Fujitaka praised.

 

“Thanks!” Sakura turned up the voltage on her smile so that nearby campers would be blinded. “I'll go get everyone paper plates.” She was only doing it because she was afraid that she would break into laughter under the pressure. She needed to get away for a second. It was kind of amusing to see the incredulous looks on the non-believers faces though.

 

The first bite of juicy burger was absolute heaven for Sakura. Sadly, that was probably the only bite of it she actually tasted. Once her stomach was triggered, the rest of her burger was practically inhaled and she was left to lick her fingers clean.

 

“Pass the chips,” she said while still licking her chops.

 

“Damn.” Syaoran shook his head and slid the bag of Doritos towards the ravenous girl. “That burger didn't stand a chance. I'm just curious - have you ever heard of chewing?”

 

“Oh, bite me.” Sakura ripped open the bag and promptly shoved two Doritos in her mouth. “I've had a hard day and it left me famished.”

 

“Yes, but there's no reason to resort to cannibalism!” Touya chimed in. Yukito shook his head in disdain, but Sakura was almost positive that he was trying not to smile once again. It seemed that sweet little Yukito had been converted to the dark side. Well, that was just unacceptable!

 

Sakura turned her attention to her brother and smiled serenely at him. “I know you are trying to get a rise out of me, but it's going to take a lot more than that.”

 

Touya met her eyes dead on and smirked. “We'll see. I think I know you better than that.”

 

Sakura shrugged, nonchalant. He knew her well, but not well enough to prevent what she was about to do. “That reminds me! I got a little something for desert at the store!” She leapt to her feet and headed for the picnic table. She returned with the bag of Milanos in hand.

 

“Cookies!” She exclaimed and ripped the bag open. Delicately, she removed the first cookie from the bag and took a tantalizingly slow bite. “Ummmm… delicious!”

 

Syaoran looked slightly confused. “I don't remember buy-“

 

“Try one!” Sakura cut him off and stuffed the rest of her uneaten cookie in his mouth. Syaoran choked on the sudden invasion in his mouth and started coughing.

 

“Oh dear,” Sakura said sympathetically. “I thought you would like it.” He glared up at her, his face flushed from effort, but the glare faded when he caught the wink she sent for his eyes only.

 

By this time, the bag was making its way around the campfire, as everyone took three or four cookies at a time. Apparently, Sakura wasn't the only one that was left hungry after the day's activities. When the bag made it back to Sakura, there were only a couple cookies left. She pulled one out for herself and then looked across the campfire at her brother.

 

“Do you want the last one, Touya?”

 

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Why?”

 

Sakura blinked back at him, innocently. “Because I know they are your favorites and I'm trying to be nicer person. Are you trying to keep me from being a better person?”

 

“No.” Touya moved and plucked the cookie from her proffered hands and took a bite. “I still just don't think I believe you. I think there's a catch.”

 

Sakura just shrugged and sighed, as if to say `Think what you want.' Inside, she was doing a little dance that he had partaken in the destruction of his own bag of cookies. Small victory, but that didn't make it taste any less sweet.

 

<<<<<>>>>>

 

Sakura was so physically exhausted by the time she crawled into her tent for sleep that she knew she would be unconscious before her head even hit the pillow. This was despite the cramped position that she had to take to fit her whole body in her miniscule sleeping quarters. She also knew that nothing short of a stampede would be able to wake her from her deep sleep.

 

She was wrong.

 

Sakura was jerked out of her blissfully peaceful slumber by the loudest clap of thunder she had ever heard in her life. It was so loud in fact, for a moment, Sakura thought she had peed on herself in fright. Then her brain finally managed to catch up with what her eyes were seeing and the night's true events managed to sink in.

 

Her entire tent was flooded with rainwater - and not with just a couple of puddles creeping in on the corners. Her tent was completely flooded.

 

It was a miracle that it was the thunder that managed to wake her up, because any longer and she probably would have sucked in water instead of air.

 

Sakura sat there, unmoving, for what felt like hours but was probably just a minute or two. She sat there long enough to take in her wet luggage, blankets, pillows, sleeping bag, and (of course) her soaked pajamas and hair. It was like the ants, but with water.

 

Well, not only was her tent meant for someone four feet tall, apparently there was a leak.

 

Sakura was pretty calm about everything (despite the fact that she no longer had anything to wear) until she remembered that her iPod was in her duffle bag. Damn. Now she would have to listen to crappy music the whole ride home. Enraged beyond all comprehension, Sakura knew exactly who to take her frustrations out on.

 

“Mother!” She shrieked and unzipped her tent. Her voice was drowned out by the thunder that was so close; it was practically in sync with the lightning that accompanied it.

 

She took one step into the pouring rain and right into a big mud puddle. Thankfully, she was able to catch her balance before falling, but it was a close one. The rain was cold and went straight through her clothes, but she didn't care. She was on a mission! It was her mother's fault that she was on this stupid camping trip in the first place, not to mention the reason she ended up with the crappy tent.

 

Not even bothering with shoes, Sakura stomped right past the boys' tent and across the campsite to approach her parent's tent. She was just about to unzip the flap when a strange sound caught her ears. It sounded like a moan. Sakura froze and tried to blink the water out of her eyes. Thunder clapped again as she turned her better ear towards the tent and tried to make out exactly what it was she was hearing. The thunder died down and… there! That was it!

 

There was a feminine moan followed by a squeak and then a manlier guttural moan.

 

“Yes, that's it!” Nadesico's voice whispered, but to Sakura who was paying close attention, it was clear as day.

 

“Oh, God!” Fujitaka moaned right back.

 

Sakura stood unmoving, frozen if you will, by the absolute horror that washed over her when she finally realized what she was hearing. It was the worst nightmare of every child, the world over… she was listening to her parents have sex!

 

Her anger was completely gone and now shock took its place. There was no way she was going in there!

 

Still not quite thinking clearly, Sakura took a step backwards and promptly slipped on the slick mud. She fell flat on her butt and let out a squeak just as the thunder clapped again. Pretty convenient really, but she kind of doubted her parents would have heard her anyways. They seemed occupied.

 

Desperately, she scrambled to her feet and ran to the only other place she could - the boy's tent.

 

“Medusa!” Syaoran shrieked at her appearance. He reached over to turn on the lantern and the tent flooded with light, “Oh, it's just you.”

 

“Goodness, Sakura. What happened?” Yukito, ever the concerned one, managed to ask after getting a good look at her.

 

Sakura opened her mouth to say something, but nothing would come out. She tried a few more times, looking like a beached fish until managing to squeak out. “My, uh, tent flooded.”

 

“Well, what are you doing here?” Touya asked, looking at her with bleary eyes. He reached over to pick up his watch and groaned. “It's three in the morning! It's crowded in here. Go sleep in mom and dad's tent!”

 

“That is not going to happen,” Sakura said and shook her head violently, probably trying to get the nights events to get out. It was a good thing she didn't actually see anything or she would have had to gouge her eyes out.

 

“Why's that?” Touya asked, sitting up.

 

“They were… busy.”

 

“Busy?”

 

“Busy.”

 

Touya let out a big sigh. “Care to elaborate?”

 

“I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want me to.”

 

“Sakura,” Touya leveled his gaze with her. “You are covered in mud, I'm tired, I bet Syaoran and Yukito are tired, you are probably tired. Just spit it out already so we can go to sleep.”

 

“They were busy banging,” Sakura said and waited for the words to sink into her brother's thick skull. She didn't have to wait long.

 

“Oh,” He said when he regained the ability to speak. “Ew.”

 

“So you can understand why I'm a bit hesitant to sleep with them. That might be odd.” Sakura chose that moment to shiver, both from the mental images in her mind and the fact that she was soaked to the bone in cold rain water.

 

“Well, why don't you get your stuff and just sleep in here?” Syaoran offered and started moving his stuff to make room.

 

“Like hell she is you little pervert!” Touya barked.

 

Syaoran rolled his eyes. “Of course, she's going to sleep next to you, you dolt. Don't be an idiot.” Surprisingly, Touya didn't have anything to say back to that. He must have been really tired.

 

“I don't think you understand,” Sakura began to further explain. “My tent is FLOODED. As in, completely. There is not one dry thing in there.”

 

“Wow,” Yukito said yawning. “Tough luck.”

 

“All your clothes? What are you going to change into?” Touya asked.

 

Sakura narrowed her eyes. This third degree was lasting just a little too long for her taste and she was getting cold! “I thought I would sleep naked. How does that sound?”

 

All three boys' eyes bugged out at her.

 

“It was a joke. Can I borrow some clothes?”

 

“Sure.” Syaoran was the first to reply. He pulled his duffle bag towards him and began to dig around.

 

“What makes you think she's going to wear your clothes? What if she wants to wear mine or Yukito's clothes?” Touya's voice had a slight edge to it.

 

“Uh, because I'm the smallest guy here,” Syaoran replied. “So my clothes are the most likely to kind of fit her.”

 

Sakura shivered again and then growled. “Can we argue about whose penis is bigger later? I'm freezing balls right now!”

 

Luckily, that little statement was enough to snap the boys into action. Syaoran picked out a pair of boxers (“Those better be clean!”) and a t-shirt for Sakura to wear, Yukito found a towel she could use to clean up with, and Touya resituated all of his stuff to make room for her.

 

“Okay,” Sakura said, holding her new clothes. “You guys are going to have to turn around and close your eyes.”

 

“Huh?” All three said at the same time.

 

“I have to change clothes and I'm not going to let you watch!” Sakura said, by way of explanation.

 

“You're going to change in here?” Touya asked.

 

“Well, where else am I supposed to change? Outside in the rain?”

 

“No, but-“

Sakura growled. “There's no other way. Believe me. If there was, I would take it. It's not a big deal; I change clothes in front of girls all the time.” The boys looked slightly offended at that. “So just do what I say!”

 

“Don't you dare peek,” Touya sent as a warning to Syaoran, who just rolled his eyes heavenward.

 

“If he does, I'll be sure to let you know,” Sakura said, grinning at the stricken expression on Syaoran's face.

 

When the boys finally decided to comply with her demands, Sakura was left to stare at the backs of their heads. Despite what she said, she was feeling VERY odd about this whole situation. It was true that she changed in front of girls in the locker room, but she had never had reason to take her bra and panties off. Since her present undergarments were just as soaked and muddy as her clothes, it was unfortunately not an option.

 

In fact, this whole situation was vaguely reminiscent of the time she cut her back shaving and Syaoran had to help her bandage it. But then it had only been him in the room with her.

 

Deciding that it was best to get it over with, like ripping off a Band-Aid, she quickly dropped her shorts and panties to the floor and shook them off the end of her foot. She made quick work with the towel to clean herself off and hurriedly pulled on Syaoran's boxers. Despite him being the smallest guy there, his boxers seemed awfully loose. Not to mention she felt like an exhibitionist going commando underneath. In the hope that they wouldn't fall off, Sakura rolled the waistband a few times to make them feel tighter. It took less time for her to change her t-shirt and get situated.

 

Now all she had to do was tell them it was okay to turn around. Sakura was left to sigh mentally. All she had on now was a flimsy pair of boxers and a t-shirt. No bra or panties. Even though they wouldn't really be able to tell the difference, she knew the truth. It also didn't help to know that she was wearing Syaoran's boxers, which he himself had to have worn without anything on underneath. The thought made her flush slightly.

 

Yup, she was a perverted exhibitionist.

 

“Okay, I'm dressed,” Sakura finally said and watched as they turned around. It didn't escape her attention that Syaoran's gaze lingered over her longer than the other's.

 

“Alright.” Touya lifted his covers so that Sakura could crawl in next to him. “Let's go to sleep now.”

 

Sakura barely got situated by the time Touya barked at Syaoran to turn the lantern off. Apparently, someone was sleepy.

 

Unfortunately, Sakura didn't feel the same. The night's events had given her an adrenaline rush and she didn't feel like she was going to be able to sleep any time soon.

 

“I'm not sleepy,” Sakura said, hoping that someone else would say `me either' and they would be able to talk for a while - the way girls do during slumber parties.

 

“Too bad,” Touya grumbled and rolled over so that his back was to her.

 

“But I had a very traumatic evening.”

 

“Ungh.”

 

“…”

 

Sakura heard Syaoran snicker from the other side of the tent.

 

“I mean, why me?” Sakura continued, ignoring Touya's growl of frustration. “I have had absolutely NO luck on this entire trip. I heard the sounds my parents make when they're having sex for goodness sake!”

 

“Do you not have an `off' button?” Touya snapped. Obviously, their parents getting down with their bad selves about 20 feet from where they were sleeping was not something he wanted to think about.

 

“I've just had so much bad luck on this trip that it's not even funny!” Sakura continued anyways.

 

“It's a little bit funny,” Syaoran replied. Yukito snorted.

 

“Oh, just shut up, both of you!” Sakura whined, but there was laughter in her voice.

 

“Would you stop talking if I gave you a cookie?” Touya asked, a begging quality to his voice.

 

Sakura clammed up at this question. For a while there, she had forgotten about the evil prank she played on her brother at dinner. “Um… we ate all the cookies.”

 

“I had some stashed away, okay?” Touya sat up and started digging around in his bag. “But if giving you one is enough to shut you up so I can get some sleep, then it is a sacrifice I am willing to make.”

 

Sakura didn't say anything.

 

There was a few minutes of Touya rummaging through one bag… and then another… and another.

 

“That's strange.” Touya scratched the side of his head. “I can't seem to find them.”

 

“Weird,” Sakura squeaked out and burst into laughter.

 

Touya stared at her, until it dawned on him. “Were those cookies from dinner… MINE?!”

 

“Oh!” Syaoran exclaimed, and then also started to laugh. “So that's what that wink was about!”

 

While Sakura and Syaoran were laughing, Yukito was trying to catch up and Touya was busy breathing heavy. It occurred to Sakura that now would probably be a good time to make her escape, but she didn't make it in time. Touya pounced.

 

“Why you little-“

 

“No!” Sakura wailed; she couldn't stand to be tickled. Since she was extremely ticklish to the point of it hurting, she was every sadist's dream. She wiggled and squirmed to try and get away from her brother, but it was to no avail. He was bigger and taller and just had the advantage all around, so there was no way she would be able to free herself.

 

Just as that thought crossed her mind, Touya's waggling fingers managed to find the ultra-sensitive part on her side and her knee jerked on reflex - right into Touya's ultra-sensitive parts.

 

Everyone in the tent froze.

 

Time stood still until Touya fell over on his side and curled into a ball. Syaoran started laughing uncontrollably at this point, but silently so Touya wouldn't know.

 

“Uh, Touya, I really didn't mean to do that. I'm so sorry-“

 

“Get away,” Touya managed to say through his pain.

 

“But I-“

 

“I think maybe you ought to sleep between me and Syaoran,” Yukito murmured. Touya nodded vigorously.

 

“But-“

 

“Go!” Touya barked.

 

Even though Sakura was pretty sure that Touya would never tell her to sleep next to Syaoran if he was in his right mind, she really didn't think now would be a good time to argue with him.

 

“Fine.”

 

Touya managed to crawl back under his blankets and the lights were turned out again. It wasn't long before his ragged breath calmed down and then became even. Yukito (whom she was sharing a pillow and blanket with) took a little longer to fall asleep, but not by much.

 

Pretty soon Sakura was left alone in the dark with her thoughts. Her back was to Yukito so that she was facing Syaoran, who appeared to be breathing evenly. So, naturally, that was where her mind wandered. She could barely make out his outline in the dark, but it was enough to see the edges of his mussed up hair. She sucked in a deep breath to sigh and her nostrils were assaulted by his smell. At first she thought it was because he was so close, but a second deep breath told her that the smell was coming from her.

 

Oh, she told herself mentally. Duh. She was wearing his clothes! Of course they smelled like him. It was an intoxicating scent really. Very clean, almost like soap but she knew that wasn't what it was. They used the exact same soap and clothes detergent. This smell was somehow all him. Sakura breathed deep again.

 

“Are you sniffing me?” Syaoran's voice whispered through the dark. It was a quiet question, but the unexpectedness of it shook Sakura to the core.

 

“I thought you were asleep! You scared me!”

 

“Is that why you were molesting me with your nose? Am I just that irresistible?”

 

Sakura made a face at him, even though she knew he wouldn't be able to see. “You smell funny. Don't get a big head.”

 

Syaoran turned over so he was facing her. Sakura couldn't make out any details, but she was somehow sure that his eyes were bearing into hers. “Sexual harassment now?”

 

“Ha ha,” She choked out.

 

“That trick with the cookies was great,” he whispered, moving even closer so she could hear him better. It was obvious he didn't want to raise his voice and risk waking up Yukito or Touya.

 

“Yes, well, I have my moments.”

 

“You're so evil.”

 

Sakura smirked. “Don't act like you don't like it.”

 

“I never said I didn't.” There was laughter in Syaoran's voice and Sakura could feel him move his arm. She jumped when she felt his fingertips brush against her face.

 

“Hey, buddy. None of that. You're breaking the truce,” she whispered, trying to put a stern warning in her voice. It was harder to do than she expected.

 

“I promise I'm not going to do anything. I just want to touch your face.” When Sakura didn't have anything else to say to that, he continued.

 

Syaoran ran the back of his fingertips lightly across and down her cheek, down under her chin, and back to cup her other cheek. His hold lingered for a few seconds and then he dropped his hand.

 

“There. I'll stop now.”

 

Without even being aware of what she was doing, Sakura reached out in the dark and wrapped her hand around the base of Syaoran's neck. Exerting pressure, she pulled his head forward and pressed an open-mouthed kiss on his lips. Syaoran didn't move at all. Sakura wet her lips and went for it again.

 

This time, it seemed that Syaoran had had time to recover and he responded by moving his lips slowly against hers. It was nice, but not quite what Sakura wanted. Taking the lead, Sakura exerted more pressure and added some tongue. It occurred to her at that movement that this was the first time she had ever been so bold. She was the one making the moves!

 

Syaoran allowed her to deepen the kiss, but made no move to advance. Sakura was so into the kiss, she didn't really even think about it when she reached out to grab his wrist and place his hand on her upper hip. She covered his hand with her own and squeezed. Syaoran took the hint and began digging his fingers into the flesh of her hip, changing from light to slightly harder pressure.

 

It felt like her brain had shut down and was running on full circuits at the same time. All of her reasons for why she shouldn't be doing this just didn't seem important anymore. It was the power of night. It makes anything seem like it was possible, something to be taken care of on the brand new day. Mornings were for realization and worries. Sakura was tired of being rational and worrying. For now, she would just obey her gut instinct.

 

Mind made up, Sakura wrapped her tiny fingers around Syaoran's shoulder and pulled him closer. He didn't resist, even moving himself so they were almost pressed against each other. Not only could Sakura feel the heat radiating off of him, she was completely engulfed by his smell. She knew she herself probably didn't smell like a rose at that moment and vaguely wondered how he could still smell so good in the middle of a camping trip.

 

For the first time since Sakura initiated this kiss, Syaoran moved of his own accord. His hand moved so that he was brushing the blunt edges of his fingernails along her lower belly. The movement caused Sakura's stomach to contract and a small gasp to escape her lips.

 

Although the sound was barely audible, Touya snorted and rolled over in his sleep. However much Sakura hated to admit it, she was not THAT much of an exhibitionist and the reminder that her brother was a couple feet away was enough to kill the mood.

 

“Syaoran,” Sakura whispered, barely even making a sound.

 

“I know,” Syaoran replied, just as silently. He gave her one more lingering kiss and patted her hip. “Go to sleep.”

 

Almost afraid that she wouldn't be able to, Sakura detached herself from his arms and flipped over. She could still smell him so she wiggled a bit closer to Yukito.

 

Sakura lay awake long after Syaoran's breath turned even and felt like she was never going to be able to sleep again. Her heart was left pounding from the excursion and she just couldn't shake it. Her brain was so overcrowded with thoughts, that she couldn't hold on to one thought long enough to figure out a solution to the problem. The full extent of what she'd just done had yet to sink in. Sleep finally came when she decided she would save this for the morning.

 

Mornings were for realization and worries.