Author’s Notes: Please send me what you think!
Hold Me ?Chapter 2 / Unexpected Reunion
As the train screeched to a stop, the girls covered their ears with their hands and smiled, wincing at the same time. Takashi and Syaoran just sat there, waiting for the train to fully halt, which happened fairly quickly. When it did occur, the boys got out and took their bags, which mainly consisted of a large bag to be slung across the shoulders that carried everything they needed for the few days they would stay. After they gathered their belongings, they handed the other bags to the girls, who thanked them politely. One after another, they single filed out of the train, remembering to thank the train crew for the enjoyable ride…whether it was enjoyable or not. Naoko clutched her stomach and pushed her glasses up a little. “Personally, I didn’t think it was that…enjoyable.?She stuttered while crawling out of the train. Terada-sensei stood in front of the large group, calling off names before starting out in their groups.
“Kinomoto Sakura.?
“Here.?
“Yamazaki Takashi.?
“Here.?
“Li Syaoran.?
“Here.?
“Good, then everyone’s here.? He proceeded by calling out the rules. “First of all, you’ll have to be polite to the family who owns the house you will be staying in. Also, you will have to help with the work. No work, no food and place to stay, got it??he received nods from the crowd. “Next of all, yes, you can pick your groups, but be sure to pick groups where you will work cooperatively, and not slack off. You may now choose your groups.? Syaoran walked next to Takashi, since they had promised each other to go in the same group. Takashi nodded and turned to him.
“Who do you want to go with, Li??
Syaoran shrugged. “I don’t know.?He smirked and eyed his friend. “But I know you want to go with Chiharu. Don’t you??he asked. Takashi turned away.
“As I was saying…who do you want to go with, Li??
“I said I didn’t know, whoever you want to go with…which is probably still Chiharu.?He added, whispering the last part under his breath. Takashi didn’t hear it, but he did drag his friend up to Tomoyo and the others.
“Can we come with you??Takashi asked. Syaoran rolled his eyes. Tomoyo smiled, stared at the two boys, then at Sakura and Chiharu, and nodded furiously.
“Of course you can, we were planning to ask you too. Naoko is going to stay with other group.?She said as she dragged both of them towards Chiharu, Rika and Sakura. “Takashi and Li will be staying with us, is that okay with all of you?? The girls nodded before turning back to their conversation, though Sakura and Chiharu’s glances lasted a little longer? Tomoyo turned to them. “I guess that’s a yes. Rika, would you go tell Terada-sensei that we’re ready?? The girl nodded happily and skipped off. Tomoyo stared after her. “She really likes him? she muttered, smiling. She turned back to the others. “I wonder what the family will be like?
“We can decide you know, Terada-sensei said so. As long as it’s in bounds.?Naoko said, butting in and pointing out the fact. Tomoyo nodded, before turning to Syaoran. She dragged him a few feet away from the group and eyed him.
“What did you do to Sakura??
“Wha…what??
“She’s acting weird, and I know it has something to do with you.?
Syaoran pulled his arm away. “What makes you so sure?? Tomoyo narrowed her eyes.
“Look, Li, just stop it, whatever you’re doing to hurt her.?
“Hurt her??he mumbled, but Tomoyo didn’t hear, she had already stomped off to the others, leaving a mystified Syaoran behind. He wasn’t hurting her…she was hurting him…wasn’t she? She was the one who screamed out that she hated him…but it had been him who had said it in the first place…he wondered if he should apologize, then everything would be forgotten and forgiven, which he probably liked a whole lot better. A whole lot better, alright. He stared at Takashi, who was turning bright red in the company of an also red Chiharu. I wonder how Tomoyo notices these things…I wonder if she has someone she likes?lt;p>
Rika stepped up and rang the doorbell, pushing Tomoyo up to the door to talk for the group before walking back to the group. Each sixteen-year-old had his or her bag slung across their shoulders, which were sagging and tired from the long walk to the house. Most of their foreheads were wet and a line of sweat trickled down their face. The group of six looked like they were about to collapse from tiredness in seconds if they didn’t get any rest. The door finally opened, revealing an old man with a white beard and gentle eyes, staring at the sixteen-year-olds. “Yes, may I help you?? From behind him came a rumble of footsteps, as a hand was placed on the old man’s shoulders. Since the man was tall, they couldn’t see who the newcomer was. The man turned his head back. “What’s wrong?? From behind him came a boy’s voice, with a hint of an English accent.
“Leave them to me, I’ll handle this, Mr. Fasaki.?The boy said, still unseen. Some of the girls…mainly Tomoyo…strained her neck to see who the speaker was…he sounded familiar. The man nodded.
“Fine then.?He turned to Sakura and Company. “Eriol here will take care of this.? The six of them all gasped, some of their eyes turning wide as the man walked back into an illuminated room, leaving a handsome sixteen-year-old boy standing there, with black hair and glasses smiling back at them. Tomoyo’s eyes widened until they were huge. Eriol bowed politely to the group before replying.
“Hasn’t it been a while? What a coincidence, isn’t it??he asked, smiling. “How have all of you been, all these years? Wait, how rude of me, please come inside and take a seat…you look…so…tired…where have you been??he said, opening the door wider and motioning for them to walk in and drop their bags, eyeing each of them carefully, smiling the whole time. As they all dropped their bags near the door and plopped themselves down on the chairs Eriol had moved into the room for them, the smiled and sighed happily.
“You don’t know how tired I’ve been after all that walking!?Rika said, rubbing her sore ankles and wincing. “We’ve been walking for hours, stopping only for emergency rests and food! I really don’t want to do that again! But we did see some cool sights, and the scenery was really beautiful! The flowers and trees around here are so nice, and that lake behind this house is so peaceful and serene, we really have to visit it someday!?she exclaimed, seeming to have the weight lifted off her shoulders. Shortly, though, she returned to rubbing while the others spoke.
Sakura nodded. “But now that we’re here, we have to ask you a favor, Eriol.?Tomoyo said. The boy nodded and replied.
“And what would that be??
“We need…to ask you…if we could stay here…for the night…because that’s our assignment. Please, we have no where else to go, and I don’t want to walk anymore! If you don’t have room, we’ll sleep on the floor, just as long as there’s no walking!? Chiharu explained, looking at Eriol pleadingly, along with the other five hikers. Eriol stared back at them and put his hands on his knees. He chuckled.
“Of course you can. I wouldn’t be so cruel as to stick my friends out in the middle of the night to hike another ten miles, would I??he said happily. “I’ll go ask the owner of this house, I’m sure he’ll agree.?He added, getting up and walking into the illuminated room that seemed to be the kitchen. A hand pulled his hand back. Eriol turned, finding it was Tomoyo.
“Um…tell them that we’ll work for what we get, Eriol.?She said. He nodded and pulled away. Tomoyo sat back down and happily faced the group, who was staring at her mischievously. “What…are you all…staring at??she said, eyeing them each. They shook their head innocently.
“Oh nothing.?They replied. Soon enough, Eriol came back, smiling as he always usually was. “Well??they all implied. He grinned.
“They said yes.? They all started to cheer, forgetting their worries for that moment. “Let me show you your rooms. The owners?children use to live here, and they had quite a few, so I’d figure each of you could get your own room, is that okay with you??he asked. They nodded furiously, eyes wide and starry. Eriol smiled. “Come on. I’ll bring your bags up later.? He said, walking upstairs. Soon, they all followed suit. Eriol stopped at each room, where one of the group of six walked in to look at their own room for the week they would be staying. Soon all of them were in their rooms, except for Sakura. When she was about to walk in, Eriol grabbed her arm. She turned to him.
“What’s wrong, Eriol??
“Sakura, something seems to be bothering you. Is something wrong??he asked. Sakura shook her head slightly, looking down. “Are you sure? You didn’t act like this before. Is it possibly about…Syaoran??he said, emphasizing the last word. Her head bolted up, and shook furiously. Eriol smiled and nodded. “I see…but there’s another thing.?He said.
“What??
“I’ve…been noticing funny events happening around here, things that don’t usually happen.?
“Like what??
“For example…like a whole field of crops being destroyed in front of the farmer’s eyes, though they couldn’t even see what did it. That definitely isn’t usual.? Sakura’s eyes clouded. “But…did you bring your little…guardian??he asked.
“Yeah, did you bring Kero??a voice said behind Eriol. Suddenly, Spinel Sun flew up onto the boy’s shoulders.
“I told you not to come out!?Eriol said, eyeing the creature, who shrugged. Kero suddenly popped out of Sakura’s bag, and flew up, eyeing Spinel.
“Oh yeah, I came.?He replied menacingly. Eriol held Spinel down.
“No fighting now. We’re not enemies any longer, remember??he asked. Both creatures nodded and settled down on separate shoulders. Eriol turned to Sakura. “Good. You did bring him. Long time no see, Cerebus. But that’s not the point. Sakura, you and Li will surely be feeling waves of energy sooner or later, and I want you to be prepared. Something just might happen, and I don’t want neither of you getting hurt.?
“Why??
“Because if I can’t stop them, you will have to.?He replied bluntly. He suddenly turned around, a familiar gentle smile on his face. “Ask the others to come down for a game before you all go to sleep.?
“A game of what??
“I’ve been missing out a lot in these past few years, and I want to play a game that will definitely help me get acquainted with you and the others again. Why not a game of Truth or Dare??he asked. Sakura’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong, Sakura, you’re scared? If you’re scared we don’t have to?
“No, I’m not. Sure. We’ll come down.?
Eriol smiled. “Good. See you downstairs.?