Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Until There Was You ❯ When Paths Crossed ( Chapter 2 )

Hellmaster Fibby here. (:-} Disclaimer: All the CCS characters found in this fic belong to their respective owners.

 

I am introducing a bunch of new characters in this chapter. This is going to be a bit longer than chapter one, but still quite short. (The prologue and the first two chapters are just the foundation of the coming chapters. The following chapters, I imagine, would be really long since all the action takes place there.)

 

 

 

 

Until There Was You

Chapter Two: "When Paths Crossed"

The entire class buzzed with excitement. Students scattered about the room, moving to and fro each area. Situated in the far left of the classroom, a group of students gossiped and sat in a huddle.

 

Bits and pieces of the conversation could be heard now and then.

 

“Sakura's dating who?!!”

 

“Ohmigod! She's so lucky!”

 

“I know! Imagine! Going on a date with him, the hottest guy in school!”

 

“May I join your conversation?” a feminine voice interrupted.

 

The girls whirled around to see Tomoyo smiling at them. A fair-skinned teenager with her hair dyed blue stood up and placed both hands on the table. “So, Daidouji… Are the rumors true?”

 

“What rumors?” She shot them an innocent look.

 

“You know what I'm talking about," Sayako said imploringly. She flipped her long cerulean hair and tilted her head, “Sakura going on a date with you-know-who.”

 

Tomoyo laughed in her demure manner. “Ohohohohoho! Talking about Voldemort, I see.”

 

“Ha! Good one, Daidouji!” Maya tittered but immediately stopped when Sayako glared at her. She waded the icy atmosphere with her tanned arm and turned to Tomoyo. “We're talking about the mystery man Sakura is dating tonight. Did you tell her who he is already?”

 

“No, of course not! She'll find that out later tonight.” Tomoyo got out her video camera and proudly announced, “And naturally, I will be there to get it on tape!” She gave her video cam a gentle pat and giggled to herself.

 

“Really, Tomoyo... Don't you ever get tired of that weird hobby of yours?” Mikah shook her head in disbelief. “I mean, you probably have hundreds of tapes at home and all of them are shots of Sakura.” She ran her slim fingers through her short brown hair and gave an impatient sigh. “I'd be bored to hell if I had to watch them. I could just see it now -- an episode featuring a typical day in the life of Sakura. Everything here is so boring as it is, why bother to watch something like that?”

 

Sayako let out a chortle, obviously amused. “Dear, dear Mikah. Being frank as usual.”

 

“Actually, she has one thousand and thirty seven tapes all in all. Eleven of those are raw footage, untapped and waiting to be edited.” Chiharu informed them. “Ne, Tomoyo?”

 

“Woah! Really?” Karumi asked, moving her head to look at a smiling Tomoyo. Her pink hair swayed as she turned to Chiharu. “How'd you know that?”

 

Chiharu shrugged, answering the question as if she was asked that a million times already. “I never hear the end of it whenever Tomoyo is in one of her `Worship-Sakura-Like-A-Goddess' moments.”

 

Tomoyo grinned at Mikah. “Nothing about Sakura-chan bores me at all! She may be easy to read at times but other than that, she is the best thing that ever happened to me! Always so kind and thoughtful... A perfect angel!” she mused, her eyes sparkling.

 

“True," Maya agreed. “But then again, Mikah is right. Nothing interesting ever happens around here.”

 

“Nothing except Sakura's date tonight,” Sayako corrected, shaking her index finger at Maya.

 

“I'm not so sure about that. Frankly, I don't give a rat's ass about her `mystery' date. In fact, I don't even find him attractive at all.” Mikah nodded her head at Maya.

 

“Hey! That's not very nice!” Karumi protested, her almond-shaped eyes narrowing. “I, for one, find him quite attractive!” she declared.

 

“Yeah!” Sayako pouted. “You guys don't have good taste, that's all.”

 

“People, people!” Maya chided. “Just because you guys have a crush on him doesn't mean it's the greatest thing that ever happened here in Tomoeda.” She winked at the snickering Mikah.

 

Provoking fan girls is such an amusing pastime.

 

“Hey, wait a minute." Mikah paused to glance around the classroom. “We've been talking about her all this time but I just noticed... Where is she, anyway?”

 

 

 

 

“HOOoEEeeEe! I'M LATE!!!”

 

Sakura panicked as she rushed her way through the school's entrance. The moment she stepped inside, she reflexively scanned the corridor. Good, the hallway's not empty yet, she thought to herself, relief washing over her.

 

She stopped by her locker then got out her History and Algebra book. Carrying the heavy books in her arms, she ran to her classroom avoiding the occasional obstacles blocking her way. She made a sharp turn at the next corner and ran straight into what seemed like a padded wall.

 

Almost immediately, masculine hands reached out to steady her.

 

She looked up to see familiar amber eyes staring straight into her jade ones. Her gaze wandered to his messy chestnut hair and doubled-back to examine his facial appearance more closely. Her eyes widened in surprise as she recognized him.

 

“Careful," he said simply, walking away.

 

Sakura stared at his back somewhat stunned until he disappeared behind the corner. Shaking her head, she quickly regained her composure and went inside the classroom.

 

 

 

 

“Sakura! Finally!”

 

Sakura blinked, her face flushed. “Huh?”

 

“Sakura-chan?” Tomoyo frowned, concern evident in her fine features. “Are you okay?”

 

Mikah slapped Sakura gently on the back. “Where have you been, girl?!”

 

“I-I slept late..." Sakura began. Her hands flew up to her face in realization. “Sumimasen!!! Were you guys waiting for me? I.. I...”

 

“Don't fret, sweetie. It's okay!” Maya cut in. Her lips curled upwards as she pinched Sakura's right cheek. She started making baby noises at a confused Sakura. “Abujuvujou! You are so cutie-wutie, my little baby-wabie!!! Peek-a-boo! Where's Maya?” She covered her face. “Where's Maya one san??” She revealed her face. “There she is!!!”

 

“Hooee?”

 

Sayako whapped Maya on the head. “Stop that, you mentally disturbed idiot!”

 

Everybody big sweated.

 

“Oh-kaay then," said Mikah with a blank look on her face. “Anyway, Maya and I better get going to our own classroom. Class is going to start any minute now.” She dragged Maya out of the classroom and shut the door behind her.

 

Moments later, the bell rang to signal the start of Homeroom.

 

The students practically flew to their seats when Kuryoku Hayuma entered the classroom. He was a gruff man in his mid-thirties, popularly known to the students as “The Fire-breathing Ice Dragon.” It was a stupid name, but his attitude fit perfectly with it. He always has this frosty aura enveloping him and was quiet most of the time. However, when provoked unnecessarily... well, let's just say he's the last person you'll want to test.

 

“You have a new classmate,” Hayuma stated.

 

The students whispered among themselves. They were all saying the same thing: “A new student? In the middle of the school year?”

 

His thick dark brows furrowed as he tried to read the new class list. “Li Meiling, a transfer student from Hong Kong.”

 

As if on cue, a girl with silky black hair stood up from her seat at the back. She beamed, revealing perfect white teeth. “Ohayou gozaimasu, minna-san! Dozo yoroshiku.” She bowed deeply, strands of silken black spilling over her shoulders.

 

Sakura was impressed. She noticed that the new girl had spoken fluently in Japanese. She had experienced first hand how hard it was to learn a totally new and different language when her father urged her to join the French summer class held at the university he was teaching in. English was bad enough, and French did her in. She turned her attention back to the young woman behind her. She smiled at Meiling, who generously smiled back in return.

 

 

 

 

“So, Kinomoto-san.” Meiling grinned at a sulking Sakura. “How was the quiz?”

 

Sakura sank her head lower.

 

“Don't worry, Sakura-chan... I'm sure you did great!” Tomoyo peeked at Sakura and gave her a reassuring smile.

 

“Iie." Sakura shook her head vigorously. “I got lost in number three!” She faced her two companions, tears of frustration gathering in her eyes. “Number three is very crucial in answering the following last questions! I'm doomed!!!”

 

Meiling cheerily gave her a playful slap on the back. “Don't be like that! There'll be other tests!”

 

“I hate math..." Sakura mumbled.

 

“You know, Sakura-chan... Li-san is right.” Tomoyo smiled at her best friend. “You'll just have to study harder next time.”

 

“... Daidouji-san?”

 

“Hai, Li-san?”

 

“Just call me Meiling.” She turned to Sakura. “Same to you, Kinomoto-san.” She beamed at her new friends.

 

“Hai.” Tomoyo closed her eyes, a small smile spreading on her lips. “I'd be pleased if you call me Tomoyo as well.” She bowed her head politely.

 

Sakura followed her best friend's gesture. “Just call me Sakura.”

 

Meiling bowed her head shyly. “Arigatou.”

 

After a while, the three giggled uncontrollably to themselves. They were so serious for a moment there and they found this truly amusing. Perhaps bystanders would have thought they were just silly schoolgirls pining over the school heartthrob, sharing `hanyaan' moments with each other. But they knew better than that. Unknown to those people, a little thing called Friendship had just connected these three together in a tight bond that will surpass any ordeal, and if lucky, will never be broken.

 

“Okay, what now?” asked Meiling, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes.

 

Tomoyo's face lit up. “Meiling, you can help me prepare Sakura for her date tonight!” she exclaimed happily. She took Meiling's hand in hers. “Please say yes!!!” Her eyes sparkled as she spoke.

 

“Huh? Sakura has a date?” Her lips formed into a mischievous smile and turned to a blushing Sakura. “A date? You have a date?!” she teased.

 

Sakura colored. “H-Hai…”

 

“Well, what are we waiting for, Tomoyo?! Let's dress this doll up!”

 

“Hooooeeeeeee!!!”

 

 

 

 

Behind an aging crimson tree, the profile of Minou Yugata could be seen as he watched the three friends speed off into the empty street. He briskly turned away, narrowing his eyes into slits. With a swift movement, he merrily lunged at a wandering street dog and sent it running away frightened, its tail between its hind legs.

 

Laughing heartily, he disappeared into the abandoned woods behind the school.

 

 

 

 

“I don't know about this..." said an uncertain Sakura.

 

“Oh hush! You look great!” Meiling examined her handy work and nodded. “Tomoyo, the necklace you put on her did wonders!”

 

“Ohohohohoho!” Tomoyo focused her video camera on Sakura's embarrassed form. “And the make-up you put on her is just gorgeous!” she praised. “Sakura-chan! You look absolutely kawaii!!!” Her eyes glittered dangerously. “And now -- for the last touch!”

 

Meiling complied. She held up a silver brush, holding it as if she was a serial killer about to slit the throat of her victim.

 

“Hoooooeeeee!!!”

 

 

 

 

Darkness slowly descended upon the unsuspecting individuals of Tomoeda. The clashing colors of purple and orange slowly receded behind the black veil of night. One by one, each streetlight lit up to brighten the dim streets.

 

Colorful lights can now be seen in the seemingly humble town. Neon lights and attractive music are everywhere, trying to draw unwary creatures into its deceiving radiance.

 

Amidst all this, a young man with gray eyes and dark hair waited patiently on the sidewalk. He was wearing a taupe suit and a pair of brown leather shoes. His outfit had a casual touch to it because of the light earthy colors, and his designer necktie became the overall accent to the ensemble.

 

A beautiful young lady stepped forward from the darkness, the faint light coming from the restaurant illuminating her advancing form.

 

Had she not been standing firmly on the ground, people caught unawares would have thought she was the goddess of beauty herself. The young woman had her hair up in a twist, wisps of auburn falling elegantly from the knot. Wearing a white haltered silk dress whose edges swayed gracefully to every move, Sakura self-consciously fidgeted in her place, making her earrings and diamond necklace glisten in the light.

 

The young man took her smooth slender hand and brushed the velvety skin against his lips.

 

“Sakura Kinomoto, I presume?”

 

 

 

 

//=============//

 

Ugh. Excuse me while I -- erk!

:: barf :: :: barf :: (moans and makes splatting sounds)

 

To those who didn't catch that, Sakura's blind date is not Syaoran. (Did I fool you? hehe. Sorry about that. ^_^ Giving a vague description of her date is all part of this little scheme of mine.) This guy (who might mysteriously die if I didn't stop myself from murdering him) had gray eyes, not amber.

English meaning of mentioned Japanese words/ phrases: (according to my memory)

 

Sumimasen - "I am sorry." or "Excuse me." either one.

 

one san - elder sister

 

Ohayou gozaimasu, minna-san! - "Good morning, everyone!"

 

Dozo yoroshiku - "Nice to meet you."

 

otou san - father

 

Arigatou - "Thank you."