Sakura and the Wishing Well
CHAPTER 1
One sunny afternoon,Tomoyo,Sakura, and Kero-chan weretouring a min-forest that just opened downtown.
"This place looks like the real thing!"gushed long-haired Tomoyo Daidouji.Emerald-eyed SakuraKinomoto nodded in agreement.
"Hey,what's that small roofless brick house doing in the middle of nowhere?"asked the animal,pointing to the right.
Both girls turned to look at what the animal was pointing at.
"That's a well,Kero,"replied Tomoyo,laughing.
Sakura squealed."It might be a wishing well!"She pranced towards the well."Lend me your loose change,Tomoyo,quick!"
Tomoyo handed her friend a couple of coins."Do you really believe those stories?"
"I wouldn't lose anything if I believe them."The girl shrugged then tossed the coin on the well and made a wish silently.
"What did you do that for?I could have bought myself an ice cream with that money!" screamed Kero-chan,horrified.
The long-haired lass winked."That is how a wishingwell works.You toss your coin into the well and you make a wish."
"That's absurd!"exclaimed Kero.
"SSH!!"hushed Tomoyo.But apparently,her best friend didn't hear the animal's remark.
"Please make Yuki fall in love with me!I wish Yuki will become my love slave!"Sakura silently wished.
"I wonder what she wished for?"wondered Tomoyo.
At school the next day...
"Sakura,what did you wish for?"Tomoyo asked her friend for the ninth time.
She giggled."It's a secret!If I tell you what I wished for in the well,it won't come true!"
"Wishing wells?You should have grabbed your chance
then and wished for a brain."a voice said loudly from behind.
Both girls turned around and saw Li Syaoran,frowning as usual.
"Hi Li-kun!Do you believe in wishing wells too?"asked Sakura.
He vigorously shook his head."Wishing wells are not true!Only pathetic idiots believe those tales!"he told her.
Sakura's face fell."Do you really think so?"she asked quietly.
Li,feeling slightly guilty,was about to apologize when they heard someone call behind them.
"Mistress Sakura!!!"Yukito Tsukishiro called,waving his right arm while holding a large picnic basket on the other arm."Time to eat,beloved Mistress!"
"B-Beloved Mistress?"stuttered Tomoyo.
"No way!"muttered Li.
"My wish came true!!"squealed Sakura.
"Ok,what did you wish for?"asked Tomoyo while they were being served food on the table.
Sakura blushed."Do you really need to know?"
"Of course!How else could we help you?"asked Syaoran as he glanced at Yukito who was happily spooning food in Sakura's mouth.
"Ok.."The short-haired gal urged the two to huddle with her.She then whispered her wish.
"HAAA?!"Tomoyo exclaimed.
Meanwhile Li said nothing,but his eyes were mocking.
"Mistress Sakura,don't tell me you're full already!Please eat more!"Yuki urged.
Sakura clearly thrilled,opened her mouth eagerly.
Syaoran suddenly stood up,mumbled a vague"excuse me" and left the table hurriedly.
"What's his problem?"Sakura asked her best friend.
Tomoyo looked down."Poor Syaoran.."she thought.
Dismissal...
"Oh my!Of all the days to forget an umbrella!"mumbled Sakura as she watched the heavy downpour of the rain."I should have hitched that ride with Tomoyo."she added,regretting that she still had to wait for her brother that didn't even show up!
"Aren't you going home yet?"Li asked from behind.
Sakura turned around."I don't wanna catch a cold."
Without looking he offered,"I can share my umbrella with you."
"Really?"A note of surprise was in her voice."Thanks!"
Soon they were walking,crunched together below the umbrella.
"Be careful,Kinomoto.The road today is slippery and you might fall-"Suddenly Li lost his balance.He could have crashed on the ground if not for Sakura's swift
move to steady him.
"Boy you're a klutz!"teased Sakura.
"Hmp!"Li steadied himself again and began to walk.He silently calmed his erratic heartbeats caused by a physical contact with her.He silently cursed himself for acting like a moron.
"Syaoran,do you think I'm an idiot because I used the wishing well to make Yuki fall in love with me?"asked Sakura suddenly.
Li paused."No.Wishing is just an outlet of our ifs and desires so I don't think.."He suddenly remembered what he told Sakura this morning."I'm sorry about what I said."
"It's ok,"replied Sakura.
Silence.
Suddenly,the oh-so-familiar voice called at them again."Mistress Sakura!!"
Yukito took Sakura by hand and gave her a pink raincoat."Why didn't you wait for us?We've been
looking all over for you!"
Sakura saw her older brother,Touya looking at them from the waiting shed."B-But Yuki,I'm walking with-"
"Come on now,Mistress!You'll catch flu if you don't get out of the rain,"said Yukito impatiently.
She stared at Li reluctantly,but the latter was on his knees,tying his tied shoelaces."Go on,Kinomoto.I need some space in my umbrella."
Sakura was confused.Awhile ago,Li was warming up on her already.Why was he now pushing her away?
"Ok.Bye Li-kun!"Sakura threw one last glance at her friend as her slave narrated a tale about her older bro.
Li was watching her with an unreadable
expression,but when he realized Sakura was looking at her too,he ran away.
to be continued...