Longings: Chapter 5

By: Jia-Tien

Email: jiatien@catsrule.garfield.com

Author's Notes: Okay Syaoran's back but what happens at school? You'll have to read it. ^^ I hope you enjoy... Thank soooo much for the reviews! It kept me going. I REALLY need to know whether you like my stories. ^^"

Disclaimer: I do not own CCS. I only own Minaka, Calvin and this story.

Hai --- Yes

Nani --- What?

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Setsuna Minaka sat at the desk in her bedroom. The room was illuminated with a single fluorescent lamp on the desk next to a pile of papers. She flipped through the pages of the script and read it with pure concentration. After she read the last page, Minaka leaned back against the chair and closed her tired eyes, thinking of a plan.

'How do I get my cousin to be in the leading role of the play when Yamazaki-kun has already took that role?' She thought in frustration and a frown appeared on her usually smiling face. 'I need a break.' Then she slowly got out of her seat and walked to the kitchen.

Minaka made herself a steaming cup of tea and leaned against her bookshelf. She knocked her head lightly against the smooth surface of the wooden bookshelf. Then it hit her.

'I'll have to get him to fall sick or something. I know I'll feel bad about it later. I'll figure out something tomorrow.' She placed the cup in the sink and went to bed.

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'I'm so happy Syaoran-kun is back.’ Sakura thought with a smile as she sat in her math class. The teacher just droned on and on with the lesson but Sakura couldn't care less. Now and then, she'd steal glances at Syaoran who sat behind her. Tomoyo and Minaka caught her a couple of times but said nothing and turned their attention back to the teacher.

Syaoran couldn't believe his luck. 'It's amazing how I get to sit behind her again. I can't believe how lucky I am!' He thought as he gazed at the back of Sakura's head. That's when he saw her tilt her head slowly and glanced at him. When she noticed that Syaoran caught her, she turned away quickly to hide the blush that had crept up her neck and turned her cheeks into an amusing shade of pink.

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Everybody greeted Syaoran warmly and made him sit with them for lunch. Minaka suddenly noticed that someone was missing.

"Ummm... Where's Yamazaki-kun?" She asked while she looked around expecting him to appear at any moment.

"Didn't you hear? He had a small accident yesterday and called in sick." Naoko answered.

"What happened to him?" Minaka inquired with her voice full of concern. Even if she was glad, she didn't have to do anything to him. She noticed someone's gaze on her and smiled up at Tomoyo.

"Takashi-kun slid on some ice on the sidewalk when he was telling another one of his lies and sprained his ankle. He is supposed to keep off his foot for at least two weeks" Chiharu replied. Everyone at the table just sweatdropped when they heard the news.

"Who's going to take his place for the play? It's starting in a week." Sakura questioned with a frown.

"I will." A voice came from behind the group. Minaka knew who it was and she choked on her lunch, causing everyone to look at her with a panicked expression. Tomoyo quickly handed her a glass of water and watched Minaka gulp the water down. Then, she carefully placed the glass on the table and gasped for air. Syaoran patted his cousin's shoulder lightly in reassurance. Minaka just smiled at him and mouthed a "thank you".

"You got to be more careful when you swallow, you know." Calvin said with a wide grin. Minaka just shot him a glare, which scared everyone a bit because she looked alot like Syaoran when she glared. Under the table, Minaka clenched her fist so tight that her knuckles turned white but she decided to let go of the urge to punch Calvin.

"Excuse me for a minute. I'll be right back." Minaka said before she got up and dashed through the doors with a trail of dust behind her. Everyone blinked in confusion when she ran out like that.

"Hey, Sakura-chan! I was hoping I could get that role in the play and now I get to act with you on stage." Calvin said proudly.

"Ohhh... That's great, Calvin-kun..." Sakura answered nervously. Syaoran gritted his teeth when he heard what Calvin said.

"I was wondering if you wanted to practice the lines together sometime when I get the leading act in the play after school." Calvin suggested, edging closer to Sakura. Syaoran shot a death glare at him and growled inwardly.

"Ummm... I have rehearsals then..."

"Good then we can go together." Calvin concluded.

"Yeah! I can video tape you, Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo cheered.

"I didn’t say you cou-" Calvin started.

They didn't notice Minaka pushing through the doors slowly and panting lightly from running too much. As she dragged herself over to the group, she overheard the conversation and decided to help Tomoyo.

"Don't forget about me and Syaoran! We're coming too!" She added. Everyone turned their gaze to her and she grinned sheepishly. Syaoran narrowed his eyes at her.

"Uhhh... Hi? I'm back?" And she returned a knowing glance back to Syaoran. It took him a while before he understood.

"Well, we better get to class now, ne?" Minaka said grinning, then she grabbed her stuff and left quickly. Everyone just stared after her and followed suite.

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"Minaka-chan, where did you run off to during lunch time?" Sakura questioned curiosity in her voice. The whole group including Calvin walked to the auditorium.

"Ummm... Outside to get a bit of fresh air?" Minaka said sheepishly and looking pretty suspicious. Everyone just stared at her incredulously. When they walked into the auditorium, everyone saw Mr. Terada walk toward them.

"We need an extra volunteer to act as-" Mr. Terada announced.

"I'll volunteer!" Calvin interrupted, rather rudely and ignored all the glances that he attracted. He flashed his best charming smile at Sakura. Syaoran and Minaka glared at him; everyone noted how much they looked alike when they glared. 'It must run in the family.' Everyone thought.

"Good. Now we have someone to act as the enemy in the play. The student called in sick. He caught a bad cold." Mr. Terada smiled with satisfaction.

"NANI?! What happened to the leading role?!" Everyone asked in surprise. The only one who didn't seemed at all shocked was Minaka, who just stood there smiling warmly.

"Didn't you know? Li-san has that role in the play." Mr. Terada responded. Tomoyo and Syaoran turned to stare at Minaka.

"You did that, didn't you?" They asked in unison. Minaka just put on an innocent look and grinned.

"What makes you say that?" Tomoyo just smiled at Minaka and silently cheered for her but Syaoran narrowed his eyes at his cousin. Minaka giggled at the memory, when she left the lunchroom.

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"I can't believe you did that to me, Minaka!" Syaoran groaned as he walked home with his cousin. He found out that she lived in the same apartment building, so they walked home together.

"Well you wouldn't like it if that Hurst-san acted with Sakura on stage, would you?" Minaka teased. Syaoran winced when he heard that guy's name. Even Minaka couldn't stand him.

"Okay, okay! You win." Syaoran sighed in defeat as they walked down together. Suddenly, Minaka stopped in her tracks with her head lowered so she stared at her feet.

"Something wrong?"

"Syaoran... I can't help feeling that Hurst-san is... well... creepy..." She shuddered slightly as she said that.

"I know, so we better keep an eye out on things, ne?" This lit up Minaka's face and she smiled cheerfully.

"Hai! Ummm... Syaoran?"

"Nani?"

"What are you getting for Sakura this Christmas? There's only nine more days to Christmas." Minaka asked coyly. She grinned when she saw Syaoran blush an interesting shade of crimson red.

"Well you better get her something good! Now let's get back home! I'm freezing!" Minaka yelled as she started to run toward the apartment building.

"I'm with you all the way! Wait for me!"

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Well I hoped you liked that. ^^" This isn't good, right? Please review this! I need to know what you think of my weird ideas! And tell me, do you like Minaka?