Chapter 1 - A Welcome

Sakura Kinomoto was a beautiful young woman. She had short, brown hair and a beautiful fair complexion. She was often reminded of how much she looked like her mother. However, what truly brought out each feature was her emerald green eyes. Not only were they a wonderful color, but they sparkled with love and kindness. She was liked by everyone who met her. She brought light to the small town of Tomoeda.

Sakura had a family she appreciated more than anything. Her father was the town's school teacher and was also an amazing cook. Her older brother, Toya, was strikingly handsome and although the women in the town wished to marry him, he held no interest. Instead, he enjoyed spending time with his best friend Yukito Tsukishiro or teasing his little sister to get a rise out of her. Despite all of that though, Toya was one of her favorite people in the world. He was caring and took care of them all.

Her mother? She unfortunately had passed away when she was young. She didn't remember her all that well, but she had a picture of her that she kept in her bedroom. She talked to it often, telling her mother about her days activities and that she was doing okay. To not worry about her.

Sakura's best friend was also her cousin. Tomoyo Daidouji. Their mothers had been cousins and so therefore they were family. However, they were best friends no matter what. Sakura and Tomoyo depended on each other and they spent most of their time together than apart. Tomoyo was richer than Sakura though. Tomoyo's mother had married a wealthy man and so they lived in the largest house in Tomoeda where they often threw parties and dances.

Yes, Sakura loved her town. The people. The places. She had lived Tomoeda her whole life. She couldn't think of any terrible thing about it. They all helped each other and supported on another. That was what you could expect from a small town. That everyone knew everyone and their story.

That is, except for the newcomer.

Not many people settled in Tomoeda. Travelers would pass through, but they would leave to go to bigger and better cities. The small-town life wasn't for everyone. That was why the town had been surprised to hear that their new resident doctor was from the prestigious city of Hong Kong.

Sakura had heard that the doctor was very good at his practice. Much better than the old, senile doctor that they had before. The poor man had been taken from his position in fear of him injuring patients instead of making them better. The new doctor was young, she heard. Around her age. He wasn't necessarily new to medicine, but he was newer than what they were used to.

She had been told he was handsome and that many of the women would pretend to have ailments so that they could visit him. Despite all the good points about him, there were some bad points as well, she had been told. He was sensitive and attentive as a doctor, but his personality about anything personal was a different matter. She had been told he was cold, detached, and had a fiery temper. She wondered why that was. The complexity of his personality made her curious.

Out of curiosity, Sakura wondered if he had been given anything to welcome him to the town. Being the kind girl she was, she decided to bake him something. Not being a very good cook, she tried her best by taking her father's recipe book and baking a basket of muffins for him.

Smiling to herself, Sakura walked to where she knew his office was.

"Sakura?"

She turned at the sound of her name and her heart sped up at the sight.

Yukito.

Her brother's best friend. She had been in love with him from the moment she met him. He was handsome, tall, kind, and warm. He was always leaving her smiling and her heart a fluttering mess.

"Yukito!" she greeted with a blush on her smiling cheeks.

"Are you heading to the doctor?" Yukito looked concerned and she quickly shook her head to reassure him.

"Well yes, I am! But nothing is wrong. I baked him some muffins to welcome him to the town. I was worried that no one had welcomed him properly," she explained in a rush.

Yukito peered down into the basket from behind his large round glasses and licked his lips. "Sounds delicious! I'm sure that he will feel very welcomed with any sort of gift from you, Sakura. Especially one that smells so good!"

Yukito loved food, she thought. She blushed darkly at his words and gave him an embarrassed smile. "Th-Thank you Yukito. I-I'll make you something too, if you want."

Yukito's eyes lit up and gave her a wide grin. "Oh, that would be lovely! I'll look forward to it, Sakura! Well, I better go. I'm supposed to meet Toya down by the river. We're fishing today."

Sakura nodded happily. "I'll see you later then, Yukito!" She watched him leave with a wave and momentarily forgot what she had been planning to do. "Oh! Right!"

She turned and resumed her walk to the doctor's office. In high spirits from seeing Yukito, she rose her fist to knock on the door, but stopped at the sound of shouting.

She couldn't tell exactly what they were saying but it sounded like a very heated argument. Sakura began to shake, wondering if what they had said about his temper was true. What if he yelled at her for no reason?

She was about to turn around, but the door swung open and revealed a very handsome, but angry looking man. She blinked in horror and backed up a few inches. "I-I'll come back later!" she stuttered and turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Sakura paused and turned back around. The man seemed to have cooled his expression and he didn't look half as angry anymore. He almost looked concerned. "I'm just finishing with a patient. They were just leaving," he explained with a pointed glare in the direction of a furious looking man.

Sakura watched the man scoff and push past her to leave. Once he disappeared, Sakura looked over at who she assumed was the doctor. He was handsome, her initial impression of him was correct. He had chestnut hair that fell into heated, amber colored eyes. He was tall, not as tall as Toya, but still very much taller than her. His skin color was tanner than what she was used to, more than likely because he was from Hong Kong.

Her heart sped up with his eyes on her. "Would you like to come in? You can explain what is ailing you properly."

She shook her head furiously, trying to stop herself from acting in such a way. He had her all flustered. "I-I… nothing is wrong. I just… wanted to… welcome you to the town!" she finished in a shout while thrusting the basket of muffins into his chest. He caught it and looked at her in shock.

"Than-"

Not wanting to hear his response, she spun around and ran as fast as she could in her summer dress.

Oo0oO

Later on that day, Sakura sat across from Tomoyo in her fancy sitting room with cups of tea in front of them.

"I'm so embarrassed!" Sakura complained with a red face, covering her cheeks in anguish.

Tomoyo giggled at her friend. "You sounded like you were so cute, Sakura. I'm sure he thought the same."

Sakura shook her head hastily. "No, he probably thought I was a complete nutcase! That was not how I wanted to welcome him to the town. Now he will think everyone is like this."

Tomoyo just listened with a sweet smile on her face, more than likely finding amusement in Sakura. As she usually did. Sakura sighed loudly and took her cup of tea. She took a drink and then sat it down.

"I'm over reacting. He was yelling at that man and I got scared."

"You're easily frightened, Sakura. Everyone knows that."

"I-I am not!" Sakura retorted, but was only met with another giggle from her friend. That's annoying. "Wait, everyone does?"

Tomoyo patted her friend's arm with a white gloved hand. "We all love you, Sakura. Don't forget that."

Sakura smiled at her friend, finding her to be sweet and kind. She was also so beautiful. With long dark tresses that framed her face, clear porcelain skin, and enchanting purple eyes…. She just couldn't find it in her heart to be annoyed with her friend for very long.

"Perhaps I'll invite him to the party this Friday. I'm sure then he will know that we are not all nut cases," Tomoyo suggested. Sakura thought for a moment.

"That would be perfect!" she concluded in sudden excitement. "He'll definitely feel welcomed then! Thank you so much Tomoyo!"

Tomoyo nodded with a smile. "Of course, Sakura. Anything for you."

Oo0oO

Friday came and Sakura had made her father lunch. She had also made Yukito muffins, but she had hidden those at the bottom of her basket. She didn't want anyone to notice as she was already embarrassed by it. She sure hoped he liked them. She honestly didn't know how her other ones had turned out because she hadn't stayed to see if the doctor liked them. She was also sure not to go and ask him. She was too afraid to see what he thought of her.

Walking towards the school house, she tried not to think of the doctor. Hopefully that night, he'd come to the party and realize that Tomoeda was a wonderful place to live and had wonderful people in it.

With hope in heart, she was startled to see none other than the doctor standing outside the school house. He was peering into the window, looking for something… or someone. She was unsure. She didn't think he had moved any young children with him, so she was confused to see him standing outside of a school house.

Unfortunately, he turned and saw her. She froze when she felt his heated gaze on her. She blinked, not knowing what to say to him now that they had seen each other once more. Should she apologize? Should she ask how the muffins were? She was unsure.

Her decision quickly was made when he opened his mouth to say something and she jumped, cutting him off as she ran into the school building and shut the door in his face.

"Sakura?"

She looked up from her sloop against the closed door and saw her father staring at her, looking startled to see her there – and in such a fashion.

"Ahehe… hi dad. I brought you lunch!" she said, standing up straight and walking over to his desk where he was sitting.

He smiled up at her. "Oh, thank you, Sakura. That's very nice of you. I actually forgot to bring mine with me-"

"I know," Sakura said with a kind smile. "That's why I thought to bring you it instead!"

Her father gave her arm a squeeze. "Thank you."

As she was setting out his lunch from her basket, she frowned with a thought. "The doctor was outside… is there someone sick or hurt here?"

Her father gave her a weird look. "He is? No, everything is all right. I don't know why he'd be here…" He stood and went over to the window to peer outside. "I don't see him, Sakura. Are you sure it was him?"

Sakura frowned and went over to the window. "Yes, I'm sure. I met him the other day. I brought him muffins to welcome him to the town… that's weird. I wonder why he was here."

Her father gave her a smile. "That was a very kind thought of you. I'm sure he appreciated the gesture."

Sakura blushed and scratched the back of her neck. "Ahehe… yes, I hope so."

They resumed at his desk and her father began eating. "This is delicious, Sakura! Did you make it all by yourself?"

Sakura blushed guiltily. "Well… no…. I had Toya's help." You'd think that a girl her age in this time would be a wonderful cook…. For her though, not so much.

"Either way Sakura, I appreciate it!"

Sakura grinned widely at him. "Well I better go. I must get ready for the party tonight. Are you coming?"

Her father's smile slipped at the mention of the party. "No, I think I'll stay in tonight. I'm not exactly Sonomi's biggest fan, you know that."

Sakura did know that, but she didn't understand why. Sonomi was Tomoyo's mom. Sakura's mother's cousin. They were technically family, but her father always avoided talking with Sonomi.

"Oh, all right then…. Well I'll see you when you get home."

Sakura left the school house and looked around curiously. She knew she had seen the doctor. She wondered what he had been doing there. Deciding that perhaps it was none of her business, she headed down the street towards Yukito's house.

He lived with his grandparents on the outskirts of Tomoeda in a quiet house. There was a beautiful lake alongside it and she felt like the grass was always growing and green. It was beautiful.

Smiling to herself, she walked up to his door and knocked. Yukito answered in a few short moments and was surprised to see Sakura standing there. He looked to be already dressed for the party that was in a few hours, as he was wearing a grey suit. He looked spectacular.

With hearts in her eyes, she stumbled to breathe, let alone talk.

"Sakura! What brings you here?" he asked her and she fumbled with the basket in her hands.

"I- well, I brought you muffins. Like I said I would," she explained through her dark blush.

"Oh! Thank you so much Sakura!" Yukito took the offered basket from her with sparkly brown eyes. He took one of the muffins out and bit into it. Sakura watched with interest, hoping he enjoyed her cooking. She had tried so hard to make them delicious.

Yukito paused, his eyes widening a little. Her breath caught. He chewed slowly. Her heart stopped.

"It's… well, it has an interesting taste. I do love food though!" Yukito commented and Sakura's head fell in disappointment.

"I'm sorry…. I tried so hard."

Yukito placed a hand on her shoulder and she felt her whole body warm under his touch. She looked up into his eyes and realized how close their faces were. Her mouth went dry. "I enjoy all the gifts you've given me, Sakura. You always give gifts with the warmth of your heart."

Sakura's face reddened and she couldn't look him in the eyes. "T-Thank you Yukito."

Yukito smiled at her and stood up, his hand leaving her shoulder which she missed terribly already. "I'll eat all of these. Don't you worry! Will I see you at the party tonight?"

Sakura nodded gratefully. "Yes! I'll see you there!"

Yukito grinned. "Save the first dance for me, yeah?"

Sakura's heart flipped. "Of course!"

Oo0oO

Yukito was going to be there! Sakura perfected her hair and stuck a pink jeweled pin on the side. It sparkled in the light and she smiled at her appearance. She hoped that Yukito liked the way she looked. She had been trying to tell him how she felt for years now, but for some reason something was always holding her back. He was just so kind, mature. She didn't feel like she could live up to his level.

She turned with a sorrowful sigh and grabbed her small white heels. She wore a floor length, light weight pink dress with puffed sleeves. Tomoyo was into designing clothing and she felt like Sakura was her perfect model to wear the clothes she created. The dress was one of them. Sakura felt beautiful in it and she couldn't wait to show it off at the party.

"Are you coming? Or is it that hard to make yourself look good? You are a monster after all!" she heard her brother's taunting voice calling from downstairs.

Sakura glared as she slid her last heel on and grabbed her beaded purse that she slid onto her wrist. "I am not a monster!" she defended as she swung open her bedroom door and stomped down the stairs.

Toya looked at her with a smirk and quirk of his eyebrow. "You're not? The way you just stomped down the stairs, tells me otherwise."

Sakura glared darkly at him and pushed past him, heading for the door where she grabbed her cloak. "I'm not talking to you for the rest of evening."

"That's too bad," Toya said with a lilt to his voice as he grabbed his own cloak to place over his shoulders. He looked extremely handsome in his suit, but Sakura didn't want to pay any attention to him now. "I suppose Yuki and I will just have to spend the evening without you."

Sakura turned around and looked up at him furiously. "I can talk to Yukito! Just not to you!" She stuck her tongue out at him and spun on her heel, heading out of the house.

Toya laughed behind her and followed her out.

The party was fancy as always. The Daidouji's always outdid themselves, even at the smallest gettogethers. Sakura's green eyes lit up at all the lights, the gowns, the music, and the handsome men in their suits. She loved parties. Sakura twirled a little as she entered the ballroom. A lot of people were already dancing while the others were all chatting happily in groups.

"Hello Sakura."

Sakura turned around to look up into the smiling face of Yukito. "Yukito!"

His eyes crinkled at the sides at her dazzling smile up at him. "You look absolutely beautiful tonight."

She blushed like a tomato and tried to keep smiling. "T-Thank you Yukito."

"I suppose she looks all right, for a monster," Toya spoke his two senses from beside Yukito. Sakura glared furiously at him through her blush that quickly turned red out of anger.

"Hmph!" She pointed her nose away from him. "Do you hear something?"

Yukito looked from brother to sister. "Am I missing something?"

"Sakura isn't talking to me tonight," Toya explained in amusement. Sakura crossed her arms over her chest defiantly.

Yukito pushed his glasses up his nose. "Oh, I see. Well, in that case. Sakura… would you like to dance?"

Sakura softened her features and looked to Yukito's offered hand. "I'd love to," she said with a sweet smile. Toya rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

Yukito pulled Sakura out to the dancing couples and slid his hand to her waist. Sakura's cheeks were bright red, but she continued to smile as she clasped hands with his and placed her other on his shoulder. He was so tall, she thought fondly.

He smiled down at her and they began to dance.

Sakura felt like she was dancing on air. Her heart was light and her head was silenced by nothing but Yukito. The way he looked, the way he held her. His smell. His eyes. His smile. She could live like this forever and be completely happy for the rest of her life.

Unfortunately, the dance ended way too soon, and she was led off the dance floor over towards Toya. Trying to keep her disappointment to herself that it was all over, she pretended to be interested in the drinks that they were serving.

"Sakura!"

She turned to see Tomoyo running over to her, wearing a beautiful purple dress and a matching bow holding up half of her hair. She looked gorgeous.

"Tomoyo! You're so beautiful!"

Tomoyo smiled, grabbing into Sakura's hands to give her dress a proper look. "I'm all right. That dress on you though! You should be in a painting!"

Sakura blushed at the attention and gave her a smile. "T-Thank you Tomoyo."

"I saw you dancing with Yukito! You looked so serene and happy! I wish I could have captured that moment on a drawing, so I could look at it forever. The look on your face!" Tomoyo gushed, placing a hand to her cheek as she seemed to be thinking of Sakura.

Sakura laughed nervously at Tomoyo. "Ahehe… I wish I could dance with him forever! But I'm so grateful that I was able to dance with him at least once tonight!"

Tomoyo smiled gently at her friend. "Speaking of men tonight. Look who came."

Sakura looked where Tomoyo was gesturing to and saw the doctor in the far corner of the ball room with a group of beautiful women around him. Her eyes widened at the sight. "Wow, he's popular with the ladies."

"Seems like it," Tomoyo agreed. "Doesn't look like he is enjoying the attention though."

Sakura looked up at his face and saw that he scowling as he looked away from them. "I guess not," she said with a thoughtful look on her face.

Tomoyo grabbed her hand. "Do you want to dance with me?"

Sakura blinked and tore his eyes from the doctor, grinning brightly at her friend. "Definitely!"

Tomoyo and Sakura walked out to the dance floor and began to dance with one another. It was a faster song, so they were able to laugh and carry on while dancing along to the music with everyone else.

That was until, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Sakura and Tomoyo stopped dancing and the former turned to look who had interrupted.

"Hoe!" she backed up into Tomoyo's arms at the sight of the doctor standing there with a deep frown on his face. He didn't look happy to see her at all. "D-Doctor!"

"May I cut in?" he asked Tomoyo. She nodded silently and let her friend go, stepping away. The doctor offered his hand to the startled Sakura.

She looked down at the hand for a moment before looking up into his face. His gaze softened when they locked eyes. "O-Okay…"

Sakura took his hand and he gently pulled her to him. Her heartbeat sped up and she felt his warm hand place itself on her waist. Gulping, she rested her hand on his shoulder. He wasn't as tall as Yukito and she couldn't help but realize that her arm wasn't straining itself. He smelled good too.

Slowly, they began to dance. She was self-conscious, and she felt like everyone was staring at them. Trembling in his arms, she tried not to look him in the face.

"My name is Syaoran Li," he told her gruffly and she blinked. Was he introducing himself?

Swallowing down a lump in her throat, she spoke softly. "I'm Sakura Kinomoto."

"I know."

Sakura looked up into his face then. "How?"

He was still wearing his scowl. "I asked about you. I was trying to find the girl who gave me such revolting muffins as a welcome gift."

Sakura's face grew as red as the suit he was wearing that evening, but she got offended at such a display of disgust. "I- that was rude! You could have at least pretended to like them."

"How could I? They were extremely bitter. Plus, you threw them at me and ran off."

Sakura was surprised by his sudden tone of amusement but didn't say anything. She was still very embarrassed by her behavior.

"I initially thought you were crazy, but after speaking with people about you, I've come to know that they all think highly of you." She smiled over his shoulder, appreciating the fact that people had defended her to him. Perhaps he wouldn't find her crazy after all. She'd have to find out who he spoke to and thank them with her whole heart. "However, it doesn't explain why you threw the muffins at me."

Sakura felt comfortable enough to feel sorry for doing such a thing. He didn't seem half bad once you spoke to him. "I heard you arguing with someone and I got worried you'd yell at me next."

He was silent for a moment and she wondered if she had offended him. She chanced a glance up at his face to see him frowning. She opened her mouth to apologize, but he cut her off.

"I don't yell at anyone that doesn't deserve it."

She frowned. "W-what did that man do to deserve it?"

Syaoran huffed lightly, apparently remembering the conversation. "He was meddling in business that had nothing to do with him."

Sakura tilted her head at him, unable to stop herself from asking the next question. "What kind of business?"

Syaoran paused in his dancing and she immediately realized her mistake. He released her.

"Syaoran, I'm-"

He had disappeared into the crowd before she could say anymore.

Embarrassed with herself, she looked around the room, hoping to see someone she knew. She had been left on the dancefloor alone. Tomoyo caught her eye but she was dancing with a handsome man. Sighing to herself, she walked over to the corner and attempted to hide from prying eyes. That time, she had officially ruined her impression on the doctor.

"What's the long face for?"

She looked up into her brother's face and saw that Yukito was beside him. They each had a glass of wine in their hands.

"Oh, Toya…. Yukito."

They both frowned down at her in concern.

"What happened Sakura?" Yukito asked her and she felt compelled to tell him about the doctor.

"-Now I'm pretty sure he hates me," she concluded, sounding almost like she was going to cry.

Toya scoffed. "If I see that guy, I'll-" He caught the look from Yukito and sighed. "Look, Sakura. Don't trust that guy. Ever since he showed up in Tomoeda, he has caused more problems than good. You don't need to be around him anyways."

Sakura sniffed and looked at her brother. "I'm not supposed to talk to you tonight."

Toya softened his face and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come on kid, let's go home."

Sakura followed Toya and Yukito out of the ballroom after she ran over and told Tomoyo goodbye. She didn't understand why the doctor had bothered her so bad. However, she felt like she needed to apologize. Perhaps, she'd find an appropriate time to do so. After everything blew over. She had a feeling if she approached him now that he'd yell at her and it wouldn't do her any good.

Syaoran Li, she thought. What's your story?