Must see : NEON GENESIS EVANGELION!!!!! IT’S SOOOOOOOO SAD!!!!!!! *cries and hugs every single character she liked, which is Shinji, Asuka, Rei, Kaworu, Toji, Maya, Misato, Hikari, Pen Pen…(goes on and on and on)*

Must say : CHIHARU AND TAKASHI ARE SOOOOOOO NOT COUSINS!!!! *yells at the top of her lungs*

Dedication : This fic is dedicated to Pyromancer and Care and Lys, who actually bothered looking at my little note to you all…I’m afraid that since no one’s entering, I’m canceling the contest. Pyromancer, you don’t have to write a Tomoyo/Eriol fic…but it would be nice…*hopeful look*

Disclaimer : No, I don’t own anything yet…but if you’re nice enough to give some, I’ll be the first one to raise my hand. I don’t even own His Dark Materials, by Phillip Pullman…because that’s where I got the good part from. ^_^

Strawberries

Syaoran’s POV…

And I had totally no idea how I got into this mess in the first place. This was supposed to be a regular trip…boring and a good chance to sleep, as usual. But when you’re someone like me, these things tend to happen, and they do become quite a nuisance. And often I wondered why the others don’t have such common problems among them…like the situations are dying to prey on me. That’s not fair…out of all the people to be stuck with…it had to be with her. Her, her! Talk about luck. Out of all people, the one girl who set my heart on fire, and the only one who I considered dangerous! So while I sat there, next to her, I’m burying my face in my hands…just to make sure that my eyes didn’t wander. But they did, unfortunately, and I found myself staring longingly at Sakura…who lay on the floor of the cave, peaceful and dreaming. And the faint little smile plastered on her features, as the shadows caused by the fire played on her face, made my heart melt right then and there.

All into a lump of boiling mush inside my chest. She was so…undescribable. Beautiful would have been too understated…much more serene than that. I bit my lip, hard. So hard that I felt it break open and bleed. But I didn’t pay attention to the taste of blood on my tongue. My mouth was closed tight and my teeth were clenched, just to make sure that nothing would slip out. I pushed myself on to the floor, next to her, and by itself, my hand reached out.

And I brushed her cheek ever so slightly, just a strand of auburn hair away from her eyes. And she smiled at me, giggling for a second, but still asleep. I held my breath, hoping she wouldn’t wake up. I wanted to stay like that just a little longer. I found my fingers tracing her lips, and I slapped myself infinite times…but I couldn’t help it. So I bent down…and slowly, her face drew nearer. She stirred and I stopped, but she never woke up…so closer I went. And I don’t know how close together we were…but she moved as to turn over. And while she did that, the strangest, yet most wonderful thing in the world happened.

I kissed her.

Our lips just brushed against each other…lightly because I only pushed my head forward a little, and because she did the same while moving. And I stared at the back of her head, speechless and wide-eyed. I sat straight back up…in the same condition. I smiled gently at her, and pulled my jacket closer to her, because I saw her shudder. Then I rolled over and faced the opposite direction, feeling the light warmth of the fire against my back. And I fell asleep just like her, smiling and peaceful.

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Sakura’s POV…

We finally got back to the camp where the others were the day later. Last night, I had the most wonderful dream, beyond compare. I dreamt that I was sleeping, just like I really was…but Syaoran bent over and kissed me. And he whispered that he loved me. Oh and how I wished it was true! What I would give if it was! But sadly, all dreams end when you woke up. And he shook me awake. We walked for a while in the forest. I had no idea of where we were going, but Syaoran seemed like he did, so I trusted him, and followed close behind his lead. I was right. After about ten minutes of walking, we found them, still asleep, but we could recognize them right away.

I told Syaoran not to wake them up. They were sleeping, so let them sleep. So we sat by ourselves for about an hour and a half, until the first one stirred. Both of us looked up, and saw a fully awake and alert as usual Takashi. He blinked and smiled at us. "I see you made it back in time for breakfast. I knew you would. Welcome back." Syaoran nodded and Takashi sat next to him. He said something to Syaoran I couldn’t hear, and burst out laughing, while Syaoran remained silent, his head bent down. I stared curiously at them, but they gave no hint of an answer.

I sat in silence, wondering what was going on in the conversation between those two, until Chiharu came out. She yawned and smiled, waving at Syaoran and Takashi, saying a "good morning" to them both before smiling again and sitting down next to Sakura. "Hey Sakura, glad you made it back, Tomoyo was starting to get worried." I nodded.

Then came the silence, because neither Chiharu nor me knew what to say. I looked up after a while, and found her staring at Takashi. And I saw him look back at her, and for a few seconds, hold her gaze, until he turned hastily away. Chiharu sighed and turned to me. "You really do like him, don’t you?" I asked. She blushed crimson, which was a good enough color for me. I looked at Syaoran. "What makes you like him so much?" Chiharu shrugged and smiled at Takashi.

"That special something. I bet you know…that special wanting inside and that rush of heat when you see him. It’s undescribable, but I know exactly what it is. And I’m sure you know too."

I stared at her. "What do you mean?"

She smiled. "You know exactly what I mean. I like Takashi because there’s this special something he makes me feel, just like I bet Syaoran makes you feel that special something too." I felt myself looking down to the grass between my feet. "Sakura, tough luck. Grass doesn’t give good love advice." Chiharu joked. I hit her playfully on the arm and giggled.

"But when was the first time you realized you liked him?"

Chiharu seemed to think for a while, before answering. "When we were nine."

"All the way back then?" I said, surprised. She nodded and smiled gently.

"There was this party…the one at the end of spring, remember? The festival…and we were all dressed up in kimonos and fans, and everything seemed perfect. Well, me and Takashi…we were walking by ourselves near some trees, away from the hustle and bustle…and we were both eating cake."

"Cake?"

She grinned and nodded. "Yeah, cake. And by mistake, I fell down, tripping on my kimono, and I dropped my piece of cake. Being as little as I was, I started to cry, one thing, because my rear really hurt, and the other, because I wanted that cake. Takashi had bought it for me, and it was special. I really wanted to eat it. And there it was, ruined and crushed on the grassy floor, and I cried. Then Takashi bent down and smiled at me. And with his hand, he broke off a piece of his piece and raised it to my lips. Gently. The feeling was amazing, I knew I loved him right then and there, just because he did it so kindly. I opened my mouth, and I ate half of his cake, and he ate the other half."

I smiled. What a cute story. "But you still haven’t told him how you felt, right through?" She shook her head.

"No, because I’m afraid he won’t love me back. That it was just an act of kindness. A good deed and nothing more. I don’t want to look like a fool in front of him."

I replied playfully. "Then judging by the rate Takashi comes out with the truth, you’ll have to wait forever!"

She smiled blissfully…not the exact reaction I would have expected. She lay her head in her hands and sighed. "Then I would rather wait forever."

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Through the whole day, Chiharu’s story was stuck in Sakura’s mind. She just couldn’t get it out of her thoughts. It seemed too sweet to be true, but the ending wasn’t happy yet. She wished badly for Chiharu or Takashi to tell the other how they felt, because she was a hundred percent positive that Takashi felt the same way. But they were both afraid. And she knew that it was a lot like her. She glanced at Syaoran. She was very, very afraid. And almost sure that he didn’t like her.

But he looked up at her, turning his back to the strawberries they had found on they walk home. And she lost herself in his amber eyes. She felt her own heart starting to pound, like a wild beast against its cage bars. Like people pulling their game of tug-of-war. One side told her not to utter a word, and the other told her to scream it out to him. And a puddle of mud suddenly appeared at one side.

And one team slipped.

And she felt the rope snap.

And the cage bars break.

And she looked deeper into his eyes, before picking up one sweet strawberry from her basket and walking over to Syaoran. He stared curiously at her, and from the clueless look on his face, Sakura wanted to hold him right then and there, but she controlled herself. And the next few things came slowly.

She picked up the strawberry.

And held it gently to his lips.

He stared at the fruit, wondering what in the world she was doing, until he finally caught on. And from the look he had in his eyes, she could tell that he knew exactly what she meant. Her knees grew weak from under her, and her grasp tightened around her basket. Her other hand, which held the strawberry, started to tremble.

Syaoran felt it, and he reached up, holding her hand in place, smiling. She felt her legs give away, as she fell.

Syaoran caught her in his arms and held her in midair. Gently, he let her on to the ground, where she sat, still holding the strawberry. Her face was as red as the strawberry, and so was his. Lovingly, Syaoran took her hand in his, and held the fruit up to his mouth again. Biting off a little from one side, he held the other side to Sakura.

She could feel her heart leaping up into her throat. She opened her mouth and nibbled off the other half. Neither could utter a word, they just stared longingly into each other’s eyes. The strawberry fell to the floor, but neither noticed.

And gently, he pushed his lips up against hers. Sighing, Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck and lay back, pulling him along with her. Her back hit the grassy floor. Shocks of joy ran up and down her spine, and she opened her eyes, to find herself staring into amber pools. Syaoran was staring at her, and for a split second, Sakura was afraid that this all was a mistake. But he soon told her the answer to that. Closing his eyes, Syaoran slowly wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her closer to him.

She felt everything inside of her melt, and was glad that she was leaning on the floor. For if she was standing, she was sure that she would have fallen. Her legs felt like water, and his lips felt like feathers, soft and warm. She wasn’t afraid anymore, the risk had been taken, and it had come out her way. All the doubt inside of her drained out slowly with every time their lips met, until none remained at all. And that left two teenagers kissing softly in the middle of a strawberry patch. Sakura’s heart beat fast and steady in her chest. Oh how she had wanted him, and finally, was able to have him.

And once again, she pressed her lips on to his, which tasted of sweet strawberry.

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Sumiki-chan : That’s it, minna, hoped you liked it!

Quatre : …uh…Sumiki-chan…

Sumiki-chan : Nani?

Quatre : I’m still not sure about something here…

Sumiki-chan : Really? What?

Quatre : What happened to Takashi and Chiharu?

Sumiki-chan : *blink, blink* AIYEEE, THAT’S RIGHT!!!!

Quatre : *covers ears*

Sumiki-chan : I forgot that, didn’t I? *hugs muse* What would I do without you?

Quatre : Well…for starters…you could let go of my head…I can’t breathe…

"I wonder what’s taking them so long…they should have been back by now." Chiharu said, walking next to her childhood friend, Takashi Yamazaki. He nodded.

"You know, there’s this story about…" he didn’t get to finish. She hit him playfully on his arm, and he grinned. "Okay, okay…I like telling my stories to Sakura and Li better, at least they listen for the whole thing."

"Takashi!"

"Okay, gomen!" They walked on for a while until they came upon a piece of land covered by strawberries. Takashi had his eyes closed, so he didn’t see.

"Ano…Takashi?"

"Hai?"

Chiharu pointed to the ground. "Look! Strawberries, I wonder if we can eat them!" Takashi immediately bent down and popped one into his mouth. He smiled and nodded.

"Yep, they’re edible."

"Takashi! You shouldn’t have done that! There could have been a bug or something on it!" Takashi blinked at her a few times, before he suddenly turned blue and started to choke. Chiharu immediately got up and started patting his back, worried and afraid. "Takashi! Are you okay, Takashi?"

Blue.

She stood in front of him and scanned his face. It was an unhealthy pale color. She hit his back one more time, before he finally was able to swallow. Then he gasped in a few times for air. Chiharu bowed, biting her lip. "I'm so sorry, Takashi…I didn’t know you were going to choke…" He didn’t answer. "I really didn’t mean it, please forgive me…"

He looked up at her. "On one condition."

"And what’s that?"

"Close your eyes." She looked skeptical, but obeyed and closed her eyes, wondering what he would do. Takashi smiled, and blushed crimson, but he pushed his head slowly forward.

"Takashi…what are you…!!!!!!"