CHAPTER SIX: THE MUSEUM

The museum is much as Syaoran remembers it. Fondly, he runs his hands over the description panel in front of the Egyptian mummies. Though they were now a common sight, it had been the opening of this exhibit that had prompted their previous trip....

They all wander through the museum, oohing and ahhing over points of interest.

"Look, Eriol-kun!" Tomoyo says, pointed to a T-rex skeleton. It glares down upon them, toothy mouth hanging open. "It's Li-kun in a bad mood!"

They all laugh goodnaturedly.

"Surely..." Syaoran protests in an amused tone, "I can't be that horrible!"

"You've got a point...." Eriol smiles. "Your teeth are a bit sharper."

Syaoran's mouth hangs open.

"Did ever-serious Eriol-kun just make a joke?"

Eriol looks surprised. "I did, didn't I..."

Tomoyo says to Syaoran, "What have you done to Eriol-kun? You've actually made him have fun!?"

"Yes, what a curse!" Sakura giggles. They exit the museum, still joking around.

They stop at a nearby cafe for lunch.

After a while, Sakura and Syaoran just sit there, gazing at each other across the small table.

Eriol and Tomoyo continue their conversation for a few minutes before Tomoyo glances over at the couple. She smiles, amused.

"Come on, Eriol-kun," she says pointedly. "Let's go get dessert."

"Miss Daidouji-san, I don't want--"

Tomoyo kicks him in the shin and glances meaningfully at Sakura and Syaoran. Eriol quickly changes his tune.

"But of course! Do you guys want anything?" he asks the two politely.

"No, I'm fine," Sakura mumbles, not taking her eyes off of Syaoran.

"Me, too," he mumbles.

So Eriol and Tomoyo leave the table and move off some distance. They stand next to an empty table, where they can see Sakura and Syaoran but Sakura and Syaoran probably can't see them (as if they would take their eyes off one another, anyway... ^_^).

"Why--" Eriol asks.

"Let them be alone," Tomoyo smiles. "Come on, I'm still hungry and I hear they have a good sundae here."

"Sounds good to me. I'll buy."

"Eriol-kun, the perfect gentleman!" Tomoyo laughs. "If you insist..."

"I insist."

They go to the counter.

A sudden breeze whips through Sakura's hair, mussing it up.

"I forgot my ribbons!" she says unhappily. "Now my hair's a mess." She sighs.

Syaoran leans back in his chair. He pulls something from his pocket.

"You might have," he says, "but I didn't."

He opens his hand. Upon his palm rests the green ribbons Sakura gave him. He leans across the table.

"Hold still," he says, and deftly puts the ribbons in her hair.

Sakura reaches up and feels her little ponytails. "Very nice, Syaoran-kun," she says appreciatively. "Where--"

He shrugs. "I have four sisters, remember?"

They fall silent. He looks at her, and she at him... They are still very close...

What else is there to do? Sakura leans in and closes her eyes...

Eriol and Tomoyo are watching from their vantage point close by.

Tomoyo watches them kiss and sighs. "They're so obviously in love," she says softly. "I wish that someone loved me like that..."

Eriol murmurs in her ear, "I love someone like that..."

"Oh... Who?" Tomoyo asks. Surely it couldn't be her...

"Someone you know very well," he replies. They turn back to Sakura and Syaoran, watching their friends in silence for a moment.

Eriol puts his arm around Tomoyo's waist and pulls her closer to him. She does not resist...

Someone I know very well...

Finally, reluctantly, Sakura and Syaoran pull back. They look at each other with affection in their eyes. They have just shared a very special moment...

The love in the air disappears when Touya walks up to the table.

Gods damn it!!! Syaoran thinks. Anyone but Touya! Did he see??? If he did, he's gonna kill me...

Oh no... Sakura thinks. Overprotective onii-chan... What a time! Did he see us? If he did, he's going to fight with Li-kun...

Eriol and Tomoyo, sensing trouble, let go of each other and hurry to the table worriedly...

Touya can't believe his eyes... The Chinese gaki back, and kissing his sister! That boy would pay...

He glares at Syaoran for a few long minutes. Syaoran returns the look calmly. He is almost as large as Touya, and if it comes to a fight...

But it doesn't. A woman comes up smiling. She takes Touya by the arm.

"Hi!" she says brightly. She has violet-colored curls and large, innocent sapphire-colored eyes.

"Touya!" she says happily. "Who are these people? I know Sakura-chan of course, and Miss Daidouji... But who are these cute lil' boys?"

(Since you are probably reading this in English, give this lady a thick Southern accent.)

She pauses here, thinking. "Oh, I know! You must be Sakura's boyfriend!" she says to Syaoran, who doesn't take his eyes off Touya. "And that make you Miss Daidouji's beau!" she says to Eriol.

A slight flush appears on Eriol's and Tomoyo's cheeks. The woman doesn't seem to notice.

Sakura moves inbetween Touya and Syaoran, breaking their eye contact.

"We'll talk later!" she hisses to Touya. Then, to the woman, she says, "Kinomoto Koneko, meet Li Syaoran and Hiragizama Eriol." She gestures to each.

"Konnichiwa, Mrs. Kinomoto," Eriol says politely.

"Yes, hello, ma'am," Syaoran says distractedly. He doesn't know whether to watch Sakura or glare at Touya.

There is an awkward silence. Finally, Tomoyo says briskly, "Would you look at the time! I've got to get home!"

"I'd better catch a ride with Miss Daidouji," Eriol says, and follows her.

"We'd better get going too," Sakura says in a relieved tone. "Come on, Syaoran-kun..." She pulls him to his feet and they walk to the car. Syaoran is very tense, but he relaxes once inside the vehicle.

Sakura sighs and sweatdrops.

"Why can't you two get along?"

"I guess I made a bad first impression," Syaoran says shortly.

"I must get him to understand!" Sakura says desperately. "It was a mistake then!"

"He doesn't care. The fact of the matter is tat he can't let you go. Touya doesn't understand that you've grown up," Syaoran says perceptively.

"Perhaps you're right," Sakura sighs. She puts the car and gear and they head for Tomoeda.