Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Shadow of the Dragon ❯ Sakura and the Question of Love ( Chapter 35 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Lord Archive 
With Sakura and Syaoran's relationship appearing to be over, can anything be done to bring them back together?
Anime/Manga: Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 08.29.2014 | Pages: 5 | Words: 4.3K | Visits: 278 | Status: Completed
With Sakura and Syaoran's relationship appearing to be over, can anything be done to bring them back together?
Anime/Manga: Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 08.29.2014 | Pages: 5 | Words: 4.3K | Visits: 278 | Status: Completed
Sakura really didn't want to go to school. She felt incredibly tired and would much rather hide away in her room. She jumped a little as one of her friends called her name. Frowning deeply, she hoped this wasn't going to be about her issues with Syaoran. "Morning, Naoko-chan."
Yanagisawa grabbed her friend and dragged her away from the other students. "I've got something to tell you."
Sakura hoped it had something to do with her friend's writing career. She gave a shallow nod while taking a step back.
Naoko shifted uneasily. "While I was talking to a producer about making my series an anime... I saw Li-kun out on a date with Megumi."
Sakura blinked in surprise. "He was?"
"I'm afraid so." Naoko nodded slowly. "He even told her he also had reason to question love."
Sakura tilted her head and let out an odd giggle. "Did you see or hear anything else?"
Naoko shook her head. "I left before he could see me."
Sakura shrugged. Hopefully Syaoran and his date had learned something. "Thanks for telling me."
Naoko stared as Sakura walked away. Why did her friend look HAPPIER now after learning her boyfriend had gone on a date with the school slut?
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Card Captor Sakura: Shadow of the Dragon
Chapter 35: Sakura and the Question of Love
By: Lord Archive
Card Captor Sakura belongs to the fine ladies of CLAMP. Used without consent, all rights reserved.
Author's Warnings:
This contains mature themes not intended for children under thirteen.
This series contains:
Adult situations.
Sexual situations withOUT detailed description of sex nor the naked human body.
Brief moments of violence, some cases involving people getting severely injured and possibly death.
Occasional use of vulgar language.
Japanese humor: which include bathroom jokes, panty fetish and shocking situations.
Depictions of criminal activity committed by fictional characters.
References of homosexuality.
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"Have you heard?" a boy asked in a hushed whisper. "Li Syaoran is gay!"
"Didn't hear that one, but not surprised considering he never bedded Kinomoto," another boy replied. "Where did this come from?"
"Apparently he went out with Inoue," the first boy replied.
"How does that make him gay?" the second boy wondered.
Tomoyo was also wondering that very point, over hearing the conversation.
"Because that's all he did, taking her out for a movie and food, despite all she wanted was to fuck him and he didn't even kiss her," the first boy explained.
"Has to be gay," the second boy agreed.
Tomoyo finally made her presence known when she suddenly laughed her strange, demented laugh, which made both of the boys jump. While the girl certainly wasn't happy Li went on a date with another girl, she at least knew nothing happened. She wondered how Li would take this rumor.
"Hey, you know if Li is really gay?" the first boy called out.
Tomoyo was not about to give any reply to that. She quickly retreated into her classroom and saw Li in a huff and Meiling about ready to laugh. Obviously both had overheard the rumor. She quietly took to her seat as any comment from her would be ill conceived.
Sakura arrived a moment later. "Heard you went out with Inoue."
Meiling blinked. "WHAT?!"
"I didn't do anything with her, just went on a date," Syaoran defended with a huff.
"Why not? Don't you have questions about love? It'd help answer them if you had," Sakura accused.
"It didn't feel right," Syaoran insisted.
Meiling shook her head. "So that's where the rumor of you being gay came from."
"I'm not gay," Syaoran quickly insisted.
Sakura tilted her head. "What about your crush on Yukito?"
Syaoran turned twelve different shades of red. "I.. well... I was only ten! It REALLY doesn't count."
"Shouldn't it?" Sakura returned.
"I'M NOT GAY! I like girls, YOU know that!" Syaoran protested.
"If you don't understand your own feelings, how am I supposed to know that?" Sakura almost hissed. "And there's nothing wrong with you liking guys and girls. Tomoyo-chan certainly has an eye for girls yet she has a serious boyfriend. My brother is with a guy even though his first love was a woman. I find Meiling-chan to be rather attractive."
Meiling made a strangled noise before shouting, "Leave me out of your perverted world!"
"So says the girl in love with her cousin," Chiharu groused.
"I'm not saying there's anything wrong with being gay," Syaoran stated weakly. "I'm just NOT gay."
"Settle down everyone," Teikei called out as he entered the room. "I could hear you shouting down the hall."
"Sorry, sensei," almost the entire class quickly replied, even the students who had nothing to do with the argument.
Tomoyo could tell her classmates wished their homeroom teacher hadn't ended the 'entertainment.' His presence didn't even allow them to talk about what they over heard, not just about Sakura's relationship, but that her own lesbian leanings had been made known. She could hardly be upset at Sakura as her own crime against her cousin was far worse. And now at least she had some idea what the argument Sakura had with Li was about.
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"I really didn't think Sakura-chan would've confronted him in front of everyone," Naoko mentioned before taking a bite of her lunch.
"At least we know he really didn't do anything," Rika replied. "The whole gay rumor was because he didn't even kiss Inoue."
"What I don't understand is why did Sakura-chan seem more upset that he _didn't_ do anything," Chiharu added.
Rika glanced over to where Tomoyo was functionally eating by herself. "Care to explain that one to us?"
Tomoyo was a little surprised at the request, but she quickly moved closer to them. "Explain what?"
Chiharu leveled her gaze. "You know what I asked."
"Um, why Sakura-chan was upset because Li-kun did nothing with Inoue?" Tomoyo ventured hesitantly.
Chiharu nodded.
Tomoyo let out a sigh, she had tried to not be obvious in listening to their conversation. She began quietly, "I'm guessing the dream Sakura-chan had that caused her fight with Li-kun may have indicated his feelings for her may not have originally been his own."
The three girls looked utterly confused.
"Li-kun's and Sakura-chan's crushes on Tsukishiro-san was initially brought on by their attraction to his moon magic. Their feelings brought on by Clow's magic, and not their true emotions," Tomoyo explained.
"And Li-kun now thinks his feelings for Sakura-chan aren't his own?" Rika wondered.
"Li-kun has only had feelings for Tsukishiro-san and Sakura-chan. He's never known romantic love when magic wasn't involved. He is likely questioning if his love for Sakura-chan is actually love of her magic and not her," Tomoyo related. "Sakura-chan wants him to realize his feelings are true. Much as her feelings for Tsukishiro-san had started because of magic, in the end she truly had loved him. And if kissing a girl who has zero desire for a relationship helps Li-kun figure out his feelings, then why not let him?"
"Which certainly rules out him kissing Meiling-chan," Naoko noted.
"With her it'd likely make things more confusing as a love exists, even if it's familial and not romantic," Tomoyo added. "Though I do have an idea that may help them figure out their problems."
"Locking them in a room?" Naoko questioned. "You've mentioned that before."
Tomoyo nodded. "The idea still holds, but the real issue is keeping them in the room."
"That would be difficult," Rika admitted.
"I was thinking of holding a Christmas party at my home. I'd invite a number of people so there would be some guests who don't know about magic near them. However, the only way to make sure Sakura-chan attends would be if you're all there," Tomoyo explained.
Chiharu frowned at the girl. "I don't know..."
Naoko smirked. "Would this be when you spring your trap on Megumi?"
"It would serve as a method, but to bring Inoue to the party and yet not invite the entire school, some of whom may get similar ideas of being locked in rooms, may be an issue," Tomoyo explained.
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Despite the cold breeze and risk of rain, Syaoran still went out to the school yard. He wondered why girls were such a mystery to guys. Yanagisawa had dumped her boyfriend for having sex with Inoue, yet Sakura was seemingly upset because he had NOT been with the school slut. Thanks to the weirdness of Japanese culture, he couldn't even be certain which would've upset her more: a kiss or sex without kissing. In Hong Kong the answer was easy: sex; however, in Japan there were many who believed sex without love was not cheating and only those in love kiss. In either case, he knew doing either of them was pointless with Inoue as he cared nothing for her. It would not answer his question: were his feelings for Sakura his own?
Syaoran looked up toward the elementary school's clock tower. The faint pulse of Sakura's magic showed the girl was doing something up there. He doubted his great-uncle would've sensed that magic unless he was paying close attention to her. Yet the feeling he had was more the reverse, that Sakura was the one looking for something.
Expanding his own magical senses he tried to figure out what Sakura was trying to find. He frowned sensing more magic than he had expected, and it looked to be growing. Worse that magic had the taint of the Li clan. His great-uncle seemed to be up to something, but with the magic so spread out he had no idea what it could mean nor what the man was planning. It certainly helped to explain the feeling of dread he had been feeling, that something bad was going to happen soon.
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Meiling opened her apartment door, surprised it was locked. "Looks like Syaoran isn't home."
"Really?" Matsumoto wondered gazing into the girl's home.
"I'll be ready in fifteen minutes," Meiling promised before stepping into her home and had to push her boyfriend back as he tried to follow her.
"What?" Matsumoto wondered.
Meiling scowled. "I know you want to make me even more sweaty and smelly."
Matsumoto smirked weakly. "I'd help you clean up afterwards."
"Not yet, but I may let you in soon enough," Meiling half promised.
"I can't wait," Matsumoto returned with a wolfish grin.
"Well, you better wait," Meiling warned. "If you go screw some other girl, you will regret it." She then shut the door and locked it.
Matsumoto frowned hoping to use this chance to get closer to the girl. He certainly wouldn't have minded making her even more sweaty, considering he had picked her up from martial arts practice. The girl's skills in fighting amazed him and hoped they would translate to the bedroom.
Meiling rested against the door for a moment, half tempted to let the boy in. Considering the boy was experienced, letting him take her virginity likely wouldn't hurt as much as being with most buys she knew. It would serve Syaoran right to walk in on her in a compromising position, to know the embarrassment and awkwardness of seeing such a sight. She just wasn't ready to go all the way with him. He still had one test to pass before then.
Shaking her head, Meiling rushed to her room to grab fresh clothes before jumping into the bathroom to take a quick shower.
Matsumoto began mimicking the punches and kicks he had watched Meiling use during her training. Discovering that martial arts movies didn't overplay most skills but underplayed them, discounting the jumping around on wires of course, made him interested in knowing if he could learn how to truly fight.
"Should I suggest a good school for beginners?" Meiling asked.
Matsumoto jumped and then laughed a little. "Didn't expect you to be done so fast."
"You just saw me stinky, sweaty, and messed up hair from beating up guys at the dojo. Don't see a reason to go all out," Meiling reasoned. "We're not going to some fancy restaurant, are we?"
"I'm hardly dressed for that either. Just thought a nice evening together would be good," Matsumoto replied.
Meiling nodded. "Certainly is a nice thought. And what about my question for martial arts school?"
"Can't you teach me?" Matsumoto wondered.
Meiling frowned. "Skill wise I'm qualified, I just don't have the patience to deal with teaching someone. Besides I wouldn't necessarily suggest you learn my styles of fighting."
Matsumoto raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't you?"
"People have different strengths and personality," Meiling pointed out. "I'm an aggressive fighter relying on speed and fast strikes. While I can take a few hits, it's best I avoid any strikes. While Syaoran's girlfriend, Kinomoto, is a defensive fighter. She'll wait for an attack and counter it rather than take the first swing. I doubt a pure defensive art would suit you, but you don't need to be as aggressive as me."
"Ah." Matsumoto nodded, though he didn't fully understand. "What sort of art would you suggest for me."
"There's a number of different arts that might suit you," Meiling began. She proceeded to go into detailed explanations of different martial arts styles, completely confusing her boyfriend in the process.
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"Sakura-chan, hi!" Tomoyo chirped loudly.
Sakura let out a sigh, wondering how much chance was in this meeting despite she had gone out of her way to lose Kurogane. "Hello, Tomoyo-chan."
Tomoyo tilted her head. "Doing some Christmas shopping too?"
Sakura nodded. "Trying to find things people need. I've got a dry erase calendar board for Chiharu-chan to mark upcoming important dates and to arrange when to do chores, and for Naoko-chan a book on how to influence people."
Tomoyo hummed in thought. "The book should help her keep her story the way she wants, and a monthly schedule would help Chiharu-chan and her husband be more organized. Any thoughts on the others?"
"For Dad I was going to hit a few old bookstores to see if I can find a book on archaeology he doesn't have," Sakura replied.
"That would be good, but do you know which books he already has?" Tomoyo questioned.
Sakura smirked a little. "No. But my increased senses should draw me to what I need to get."
"Really? You've gotten that good?" Tomoyo cheered.
"I wouldn't know about that. It helped pick the items for Chiharu-chan and Naoko-chan, but so far the only thing that attracted me to get for Rika-chan is well..." Sakura trailed off.
"Is?" Tomoyo coaxed.
"Condoms," Sakura answered with a blush. "But that's not something I want to encourage."
Tomoyo smiled. "So you're still learning how to use it."
"Yeah," Sakura agreed weakly.
"Now, Sakura-chan, I'll be hosting a Christmas party," Tomoyo began.
"I'll be there," Sakura promised weakly.
Tomoyo clasped her hands together excitedly. "You will?"
"This may be our last Christmas together," Sakura reasoned. "Next year Chiharu-chan may have started her family, Naoko-chan could be busy with her story, and Rika-chan might be forced to move away."
Tomoyo could only nod to her beloved cousin's words. "And what about Li-kun, Meiling-chan and you?"
Sakura shifted uneasily. "That... remains to be seen... Please, I don't want to talk about that."
Tomoyo opened her mouth to protest only to have the girl fade from her sight. "You can't keep running away from this."
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Meiling quickly sat up in her bed, uncertain how to qualify the dream she just had. She knew it had never happened as there was no way she'd let Kinomoto seduce her, let alone allow Daidouji and the other girls join in.
Pulling herself free from her bed she felt an unwelcome dampness between her legs, her panties soaked with lust. She glared at the mirror. "I am not attracted to girls," she hissed out. "I like guys and that's all there is to it. The damn nightmare is Kinomoto's fault."
Meiling shook her head trying to shake away the remnants of the dream from her mind. This had not been her first wet dream that failed to include any guy in it. The other times had been Daidouji's fault, especially as those times all featured that particular lesbian.
Flopping onto her bed, Meiling had an idea how to deal with such unwanted dreams once and for all. She picked up the phone and dialed, hoping she would not regret this.
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With her mother busy making breakfast, Rika went to check on why her newborn sister was crying. A quick check of the diaper resulted in a damp finger. "You really soaked this one."
Rika quickly went through the tasked of changing the baby's diaper. With the soiled garment tossed into a bin to wash later and replaced with fresh clothe she picked and held her little sister tenderly. "Shhh... All dry now."
"Thank you." Yuuka took her youngest daughter into her hands.
"It's no trouble," Rika returned.
"I suppose not as it may be practice for you," Yuuka commented with slight bitterness.
"It'll be at least a year before I could be a mother," Rika returned.
"That really should be at least four years," Yuuka observed. "But you have no intention on waiting."
"The only thing I want for my next birthday is to spend it with my beloved," Rika affirmed.
"The school informed me you've been seen on a date with a guy who barely looks to be out of high school," Yuuka noted.
"Good." Rika then looked away. "Then they've probably stopped looking."
"He's not you beloved?" Yuuka wondered.
"Figured the best way to deal with the school for the moment is to make it look like I'm dating a college student studying to become a teacher," Rika informed. "I will not lie to you. My beloved was my teacher."
"I see." Yuuka set her now quiet baby back down into the crib. "Considering your current teachers, I had certainly hoped it wasn't one of them."
"Certainly not." With Rika's current male teachers all being at least in their forties, there was little surprise to her mother's statement.
"I do have some idea who it might be," Yuuka informed.
Rika frowned and said nothing.
"When your father is here for New Year's, I'd like for you to arrange an 'accidental' meeting," Yuuka requested. "You can set the time and place. I promise I will not involve the school or the police."
"I'll see what I can do," Rika failed to promise, though with help from Sakura's magic and Tomoyo's boyfriend she could definitely set it up that even if her parents decided to do something about her relationship there would be zero evidence available to hurt her beloved.
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Meiling put her shoes into her school locker and then shifted uneasily. "I... slept with Matsumoto."
Tomoyo turned and frowned deeply. "You did?"
Meiling nodded shallowly. "I was getting a bit... frustrated. And well..."
"You do like your boyfriend, right?" Tomoyo finished.
"Yeah." Meiling huffed irritably. "You'd think not being a virgin he wouldn't be so quick to stick it in."
"So he wasn't any good?" Tomoyo wondered.
"Well, it certainly felt good, it just wasn't what I was expecting," Meiling tried to explain. "It might've been better if it wasn't my first time." She clenched her fist. "Next time I'm going to make sure it'll be something we'll never forget."
"Oh!" Tomoyo chirped. "He didn't get you to orgasm, did he?"
Meiling started to growl. "No... he didn't."
"Better luck next time," Tomoyo encouraged. "And good luck with your test."
Meiling groaned. "I'll be a lot happier once we're done with all these stupid tests. I really can't wait for New Year's break."
Tomoyo smirked. "If it wasn't for the fact more tests await us after break, I'd agree with you."
Meiling blinked. "More tests?"
"The need to do well on high school placements tests can't be under-stressed," Tomoyo reminded.
"When will this crap ever end?" Meiling wondered bitterly.
Tomoyo sighed. "Sadly, it never does. Even when we're done with school, working at a job will constantly test you, co-workers will always talk about who is sleeping with whom, and no matter how much you try you'll have to deal with idiots, jerks and other annoying people."
"That's supposed to be helpful?" Meiling hissed.
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Author's Notes:
Coming Next:
Chapter 36 - Sakura and the Horrible Presents
Twas the night before Christmas and unwanted presents await.
I know this is a shorter chapter than average. The next chapter will likely be one of the longest. I also know I've yet to make clear what is going on. Most will be explained soon.
OMAKE! OMAKE! OMAKE!
For the first time in his life Syaoran wished school wouldn't end. Not because classes were interesting but because he didn't want to deal with Meiling. There was no way he could tell her the truth as she'd never believe it. As each second ticked closer to the end of the school day filled him with more dread. He wanted something, anything to delay talking to Meiling.
A mournful howl echoed loudly throughout the school, reverberating through the boy's soul.
Syaoran glanced over at Sakura and her worried look showed she heard the Hollow's bellow as well.
"Class is dismissed," the teacher intoned.
Syaoran and Sakura immediately bolted for the door.
"Wha? WAIT!" Meiling cried out but her beloved cousin was now out of sight.
In their surprise and rush to leave, Sakura and Syaoran didn't notice that some of their classmates had looked around confused before the end of class, nor saw the glare cast in the direction they had gone.
Yanagisawa grabbed her friend and dragged her away from the other students. "I've got something to tell you."
Sakura hoped it had something to do with her friend's writing career. She gave a shallow nod while taking a step back.
Naoko shifted uneasily. "While I was talking to a producer about making my series an anime... I saw Li-kun out on a date with Megumi."
Sakura blinked in surprise. "He was?"
"I'm afraid so." Naoko nodded slowly. "He even told her he also had reason to question love."
Sakura tilted her head and let out an odd giggle. "Did you see or hear anything else?"
Naoko shook her head. "I left before he could see me."
Sakura shrugged. Hopefully Syaoran and his date had learned something. "Thanks for telling me."
Naoko stared as Sakura walked away. Why did her friend look HAPPIER now after learning her boyfriend had gone on a date with the school slut?
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Card Captor Sakura: Shadow of the Dragon
Chapter 35: Sakura and the Question of Love
By: Lord Archive
Card Captor Sakura belongs to the fine ladies of CLAMP. Used without consent, all rights reserved.
Author's Warnings:
This contains mature themes not intended for children under thirteen.
This series contains:
Adult situations.
Sexual situations withOUT detailed description of sex nor the naked human body.
Brief moments of violence, some cases involving people getting severely injured and possibly death.
Occasional use of vulgar language.
Japanese humor: which include bathroom jokes, panty fetish and shocking situations.
Depictions of criminal activity committed by fictional characters.
References of homosexuality.
------------------------
"Have you heard?" a boy asked in a hushed whisper. "Li Syaoran is gay!"
"Didn't hear that one, but not surprised considering he never bedded Kinomoto," another boy replied. "Where did this come from?"
"Apparently he went out with Inoue," the first boy replied.
"How does that make him gay?" the second boy wondered.
Tomoyo was also wondering that very point, over hearing the conversation.
"Because that's all he did, taking her out for a movie and food, despite all she wanted was to fuck him and he didn't even kiss her," the first boy explained.
"Has to be gay," the second boy agreed.
Tomoyo finally made her presence known when she suddenly laughed her strange, demented laugh, which made both of the boys jump. While the girl certainly wasn't happy Li went on a date with another girl, she at least knew nothing happened. She wondered how Li would take this rumor.
"Hey, you know if Li is really gay?" the first boy called out.
Tomoyo was not about to give any reply to that. She quickly retreated into her classroom and saw Li in a huff and Meiling about ready to laugh. Obviously both had overheard the rumor. She quietly took to her seat as any comment from her would be ill conceived.
Sakura arrived a moment later. "Heard you went out with Inoue."
Meiling blinked. "WHAT?!"
"I didn't do anything with her, just went on a date," Syaoran defended with a huff.
"Why not? Don't you have questions about love? It'd help answer them if you had," Sakura accused.
"It didn't feel right," Syaoran insisted.
Meiling shook her head. "So that's where the rumor of you being gay came from."
"I'm not gay," Syaoran quickly insisted.
Sakura tilted her head. "What about your crush on Yukito?"
Syaoran turned twelve different shades of red. "I.. well... I was only ten! It REALLY doesn't count."
"Shouldn't it?" Sakura returned.
"I'M NOT GAY! I like girls, YOU know that!" Syaoran protested.
"If you don't understand your own feelings, how am I supposed to know that?" Sakura almost hissed. "And there's nothing wrong with you liking guys and girls. Tomoyo-chan certainly has an eye for girls yet she has a serious boyfriend. My brother is with a guy even though his first love was a woman. I find Meiling-chan to be rather attractive."
Meiling made a strangled noise before shouting, "Leave me out of your perverted world!"
"So says the girl in love with her cousin," Chiharu groused.
"I'm not saying there's anything wrong with being gay," Syaoran stated weakly. "I'm just NOT gay."
"Settle down everyone," Teikei called out as he entered the room. "I could hear you shouting down the hall."
"Sorry, sensei," almost the entire class quickly replied, even the students who had nothing to do with the argument.
Tomoyo could tell her classmates wished their homeroom teacher hadn't ended the 'entertainment.' His presence didn't even allow them to talk about what they over heard, not just about Sakura's relationship, but that her own lesbian leanings had been made known. She could hardly be upset at Sakura as her own crime against her cousin was far worse. And now at least she had some idea what the argument Sakura had with Li was about.
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"I really didn't think Sakura-chan would've confronted him in front of everyone," Naoko mentioned before taking a bite of her lunch.
"At least we know he really didn't do anything," Rika replied. "The whole gay rumor was because he didn't even kiss Inoue."
"What I don't understand is why did Sakura-chan seem more upset that he _didn't_ do anything," Chiharu added.
Rika glanced over to where Tomoyo was functionally eating by herself. "Care to explain that one to us?"
Tomoyo was a little surprised at the request, but she quickly moved closer to them. "Explain what?"
Chiharu leveled her gaze. "You know what I asked."
"Um, why Sakura-chan was upset because Li-kun did nothing with Inoue?" Tomoyo ventured hesitantly.
Chiharu nodded.
Tomoyo let out a sigh, she had tried to not be obvious in listening to their conversation. She began quietly, "I'm guessing the dream Sakura-chan had that caused her fight with Li-kun may have indicated his feelings for her may not have originally been his own."
The three girls looked utterly confused.
"Li-kun's and Sakura-chan's crushes on Tsukishiro-san was initially brought on by their attraction to his moon magic. Their feelings brought on by Clow's magic, and not their true emotions," Tomoyo explained.
"And Li-kun now thinks his feelings for Sakura-chan aren't his own?" Rika wondered.
"Li-kun has only had feelings for Tsukishiro-san and Sakura-chan. He's never known romantic love when magic wasn't involved. He is likely questioning if his love for Sakura-chan is actually love of her magic and not her," Tomoyo related. "Sakura-chan wants him to realize his feelings are true. Much as her feelings for Tsukishiro-san had started because of magic, in the end she truly had loved him. And if kissing a girl who has zero desire for a relationship helps Li-kun figure out his feelings, then why not let him?"
"Which certainly rules out him kissing Meiling-chan," Naoko noted.
"With her it'd likely make things more confusing as a love exists, even if it's familial and not romantic," Tomoyo added. "Though I do have an idea that may help them figure out their problems."
"Locking them in a room?" Naoko questioned. "You've mentioned that before."
Tomoyo nodded. "The idea still holds, but the real issue is keeping them in the room."
"That would be difficult," Rika admitted.
"I was thinking of holding a Christmas party at my home. I'd invite a number of people so there would be some guests who don't know about magic near them. However, the only way to make sure Sakura-chan attends would be if you're all there," Tomoyo explained.
Chiharu frowned at the girl. "I don't know..."
Naoko smirked. "Would this be when you spring your trap on Megumi?"
"It would serve as a method, but to bring Inoue to the party and yet not invite the entire school, some of whom may get similar ideas of being locked in rooms, may be an issue," Tomoyo explained.
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Despite the cold breeze and risk of rain, Syaoran still went out to the school yard. He wondered why girls were such a mystery to guys. Yanagisawa had dumped her boyfriend for having sex with Inoue, yet Sakura was seemingly upset because he had NOT been with the school slut. Thanks to the weirdness of Japanese culture, he couldn't even be certain which would've upset her more: a kiss or sex without kissing. In Hong Kong the answer was easy: sex; however, in Japan there were many who believed sex without love was not cheating and only those in love kiss. In either case, he knew doing either of them was pointless with Inoue as he cared nothing for her. It would not answer his question: were his feelings for Sakura his own?
Syaoran looked up toward the elementary school's clock tower. The faint pulse of Sakura's magic showed the girl was doing something up there. He doubted his great-uncle would've sensed that magic unless he was paying close attention to her. Yet the feeling he had was more the reverse, that Sakura was the one looking for something.
Expanding his own magical senses he tried to figure out what Sakura was trying to find. He frowned sensing more magic than he had expected, and it looked to be growing. Worse that magic had the taint of the Li clan. His great-uncle seemed to be up to something, but with the magic so spread out he had no idea what it could mean nor what the man was planning. It certainly helped to explain the feeling of dread he had been feeling, that something bad was going to happen soon.
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Meiling opened her apartment door, surprised it was locked. "Looks like Syaoran isn't home."
"Really?" Matsumoto wondered gazing into the girl's home.
"I'll be ready in fifteen minutes," Meiling promised before stepping into her home and had to push her boyfriend back as he tried to follow her.
"What?" Matsumoto wondered.
Meiling scowled. "I know you want to make me even more sweaty and smelly."
Matsumoto smirked weakly. "I'd help you clean up afterwards."
"Not yet, but I may let you in soon enough," Meiling half promised.
"I can't wait," Matsumoto returned with a wolfish grin.
"Well, you better wait," Meiling warned. "If you go screw some other girl, you will regret it." She then shut the door and locked it.
Matsumoto frowned hoping to use this chance to get closer to the girl. He certainly wouldn't have minded making her even more sweaty, considering he had picked her up from martial arts practice. The girl's skills in fighting amazed him and hoped they would translate to the bedroom.
Meiling rested against the door for a moment, half tempted to let the boy in. Considering the boy was experienced, letting him take her virginity likely wouldn't hurt as much as being with most buys she knew. It would serve Syaoran right to walk in on her in a compromising position, to know the embarrassment and awkwardness of seeing such a sight. She just wasn't ready to go all the way with him. He still had one test to pass before then.
Shaking her head, Meiling rushed to her room to grab fresh clothes before jumping into the bathroom to take a quick shower.
Matsumoto began mimicking the punches and kicks he had watched Meiling use during her training. Discovering that martial arts movies didn't overplay most skills but underplayed them, discounting the jumping around on wires of course, made him interested in knowing if he could learn how to truly fight.
"Should I suggest a good school for beginners?" Meiling asked.
Matsumoto jumped and then laughed a little. "Didn't expect you to be done so fast."
"You just saw me stinky, sweaty, and messed up hair from beating up guys at the dojo. Don't see a reason to go all out," Meiling reasoned. "We're not going to some fancy restaurant, are we?"
"I'm hardly dressed for that either. Just thought a nice evening together would be good," Matsumoto replied.
Meiling nodded. "Certainly is a nice thought. And what about my question for martial arts school?"
"Can't you teach me?" Matsumoto wondered.
Meiling frowned. "Skill wise I'm qualified, I just don't have the patience to deal with teaching someone. Besides I wouldn't necessarily suggest you learn my styles of fighting."
Matsumoto raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't you?"
"People have different strengths and personality," Meiling pointed out. "I'm an aggressive fighter relying on speed and fast strikes. While I can take a few hits, it's best I avoid any strikes. While Syaoran's girlfriend, Kinomoto, is a defensive fighter. She'll wait for an attack and counter it rather than take the first swing. I doubt a pure defensive art would suit you, but you don't need to be as aggressive as me."
"Ah." Matsumoto nodded, though he didn't fully understand. "What sort of art would you suggest for me."
"There's a number of different arts that might suit you," Meiling began. She proceeded to go into detailed explanations of different martial arts styles, completely confusing her boyfriend in the process.
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"Sakura-chan, hi!" Tomoyo chirped loudly.
Sakura let out a sigh, wondering how much chance was in this meeting despite she had gone out of her way to lose Kurogane. "Hello, Tomoyo-chan."
Tomoyo tilted her head. "Doing some Christmas shopping too?"
Sakura nodded. "Trying to find things people need. I've got a dry erase calendar board for Chiharu-chan to mark upcoming important dates and to arrange when to do chores, and for Naoko-chan a book on how to influence people."
Tomoyo hummed in thought. "The book should help her keep her story the way she wants, and a monthly schedule would help Chiharu-chan and her husband be more organized. Any thoughts on the others?"
"For Dad I was going to hit a few old bookstores to see if I can find a book on archaeology he doesn't have," Sakura replied.
"That would be good, but do you know which books he already has?" Tomoyo questioned.
Sakura smirked a little. "No. But my increased senses should draw me to what I need to get."
"Really? You've gotten that good?" Tomoyo cheered.
"I wouldn't know about that. It helped pick the items for Chiharu-chan and Naoko-chan, but so far the only thing that attracted me to get for Rika-chan is well..." Sakura trailed off.
"Is?" Tomoyo coaxed.
"Condoms," Sakura answered with a blush. "But that's not something I want to encourage."
Tomoyo smiled. "So you're still learning how to use it."
"Yeah," Sakura agreed weakly.
"Now, Sakura-chan, I'll be hosting a Christmas party," Tomoyo began.
"I'll be there," Sakura promised weakly.
Tomoyo clasped her hands together excitedly. "You will?"
"This may be our last Christmas together," Sakura reasoned. "Next year Chiharu-chan may have started her family, Naoko-chan could be busy with her story, and Rika-chan might be forced to move away."
Tomoyo could only nod to her beloved cousin's words. "And what about Li-kun, Meiling-chan and you?"
Sakura shifted uneasily. "That... remains to be seen... Please, I don't want to talk about that."
Tomoyo opened her mouth to protest only to have the girl fade from her sight. "You can't keep running away from this."
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Meiling quickly sat up in her bed, uncertain how to qualify the dream she just had. She knew it had never happened as there was no way she'd let Kinomoto seduce her, let alone allow Daidouji and the other girls join in.
Pulling herself free from her bed she felt an unwelcome dampness between her legs, her panties soaked with lust. She glared at the mirror. "I am not attracted to girls," she hissed out. "I like guys and that's all there is to it. The damn nightmare is Kinomoto's fault."
Meiling shook her head trying to shake away the remnants of the dream from her mind. This had not been her first wet dream that failed to include any guy in it. The other times had been Daidouji's fault, especially as those times all featured that particular lesbian.
Flopping onto her bed, Meiling had an idea how to deal with such unwanted dreams once and for all. She picked up the phone and dialed, hoping she would not regret this.
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With her mother busy making breakfast, Rika went to check on why her newborn sister was crying. A quick check of the diaper resulted in a damp finger. "You really soaked this one."
Rika quickly went through the tasked of changing the baby's diaper. With the soiled garment tossed into a bin to wash later and replaced with fresh clothe she picked and held her little sister tenderly. "Shhh... All dry now."
"Thank you." Yuuka took her youngest daughter into her hands.
"It's no trouble," Rika returned.
"I suppose not as it may be practice for you," Yuuka commented with slight bitterness.
"It'll be at least a year before I could be a mother," Rika returned.
"That really should be at least four years," Yuuka observed. "But you have no intention on waiting."
"The only thing I want for my next birthday is to spend it with my beloved," Rika affirmed.
"The school informed me you've been seen on a date with a guy who barely looks to be out of high school," Yuuka noted.
"Good." Rika then looked away. "Then they've probably stopped looking."
"He's not you beloved?" Yuuka wondered.
"Figured the best way to deal with the school for the moment is to make it look like I'm dating a college student studying to become a teacher," Rika informed. "I will not lie to you. My beloved was my teacher."
"I see." Yuuka set her now quiet baby back down into the crib. "Considering your current teachers, I had certainly hoped it wasn't one of them."
"Certainly not." With Rika's current male teachers all being at least in their forties, there was little surprise to her mother's statement.
"I do have some idea who it might be," Yuuka informed.
Rika frowned and said nothing.
"When your father is here for New Year's, I'd like for you to arrange an 'accidental' meeting," Yuuka requested. "You can set the time and place. I promise I will not involve the school or the police."
"I'll see what I can do," Rika failed to promise, though with help from Sakura's magic and Tomoyo's boyfriend she could definitely set it up that even if her parents decided to do something about her relationship there would be zero evidence available to hurt her beloved.
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Meiling put her shoes into her school locker and then shifted uneasily. "I... slept with Matsumoto."
Tomoyo turned and frowned deeply. "You did?"
Meiling nodded shallowly. "I was getting a bit... frustrated. And well..."
"You do like your boyfriend, right?" Tomoyo finished.
"Yeah." Meiling huffed irritably. "You'd think not being a virgin he wouldn't be so quick to stick it in."
"So he wasn't any good?" Tomoyo wondered.
"Well, it certainly felt good, it just wasn't what I was expecting," Meiling tried to explain. "It might've been better if it wasn't my first time." She clenched her fist. "Next time I'm going to make sure it'll be something we'll never forget."
"Oh!" Tomoyo chirped. "He didn't get you to orgasm, did he?"
Meiling started to growl. "No... he didn't."
"Better luck next time," Tomoyo encouraged. "And good luck with your test."
Meiling groaned. "I'll be a lot happier once we're done with all these stupid tests. I really can't wait for New Year's break."
Tomoyo smirked. "If it wasn't for the fact more tests await us after break, I'd agree with you."
Meiling blinked. "More tests?"
"The need to do well on high school placements tests can't be under-stressed," Tomoyo reminded.
"When will this crap ever end?" Meiling wondered bitterly.
Tomoyo sighed. "Sadly, it never does. Even when we're done with school, working at a job will constantly test you, co-workers will always talk about who is sleeping with whom, and no matter how much you try you'll have to deal with idiots, jerks and other annoying people."
"That's supposed to be helpful?" Meiling hissed.
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Author's Notes:
Coming Next:
Chapter 36 - Sakura and the Horrible Presents
Twas the night before Christmas and unwanted presents await.
I know this is a shorter chapter than average. The next chapter will likely be one of the longest. I also know I've yet to make clear what is going on. Most will be explained soon.
OMAKE! OMAKE! OMAKE!
For the first time in his life Syaoran wished school wouldn't end. Not because classes were interesting but because he didn't want to deal with Meiling. There was no way he could tell her the truth as she'd never believe it. As each second ticked closer to the end of the school day filled him with more dread. He wanted something, anything to delay talking to Meiling.
A mournful howl echoed loudly throughout the school, reverberating through the boy's soul.
Syaoran glanced over at Sakura and her worried look showed she heard the Hollow's bellow as well.
"Class is dismissed," the teacher intoned.
Syaoran and Sakura immediately bolted for the door.
"Wha? WAIT!" Meiling cried out but her beloved cousin was now out of sight.
In their surprise and rush to leave, Sakura and Syaoran didn't notice that some of their classmates had looked around confused before the end of class, nor saw the glare cast in the direction they had gone.