Sakura Kinomoto was the daughter of a wealthy family. She had everything she could want and she was like a spoilt princess. Her family decided to go somewhere new for the summer holidays that was coming up in a couple of weeks and she was against going away for the summer because that meant that she would have to be away from her friends – and she hated the country.

Sakura's parents were wealthy. Nadeshiko and Fujitaka Kinomoto, her parents had moved away from the city to try and raise her as simply as they could and so far that wasn't successful because she got anything she wanted. By the time she was 16, she had most of the materialistic things most teenagers would ever dream of, and she couldn't believe she was admitting it but she was starting to get bored of her life. Her parents loved her like what most parents would do, but since she was the only child in the Kinomoto family, she was spoilt and her parents were always overprotective of her.

A couple of days before they would be going away for the summer trip, she was in the bedroom packing her bags with the help of a maid, Marian and she asked Marian, 'Do you know where I'm going, Marian?'

Marian folded some dresses in the bag and said, 'I do not have any idea, Ms Kinomoto, but I'm sure your parents wouldn't bring you to somewhere to isolated from the city. You ought to have fun and start realizing that there's more than the world than the busy lives of this city'

'I don't want to go – I don't care'

'You cannot do anything about it, you have no say in this holiday, if I was you I would make the most of the holidays', Marian suggested.

'I might as well', she said stubbornly.

She was spending her summer holidays in Meguro City , where her mother used to spend her summers. They took the car to Meguro City and she looked out the window as they started heading towards town. She thought to herself it didn't look too bad, hopefully there would be something in this town to amuse her because she got bored easily. The car started slowing down and she looked at the two-storey house in front of her and she turned to her mother and asked, 'Do we own this house?'

'Yes, your father bought it for me for my 20th', Nadeshiko answered as a man opened the door from the outside and she headed out of the car as her mother continued, 'Like it?'

'It's perfectly adequate', she said, and when she looked beyond the gates that were guarding the property she saw a young man around her age cycle pass her and she quickly looked away. She had nothing against working-class people it's just sometimes they mistreated her just for being rich – that's why most rich people are considered stubborn.

'Father, how long are we staying in this place?' she asked.

'A month dear', her father answered as he took some of the bags and she followed behind her parents as they entered the house. It was probably the richest estate in the area from what she saw earlier on.

When she entered the house it was well decorated, not what she thought and her mother turned to her and said, 'We're having a welcome party tonight. So put on your best clothes and I'll introduce you to some people in town'

'I don't want to!' she objected.

'We're spending a month in Meguro City and you can't survive without friends here. Please do this for me', her mother begged.

'Whatever'

Around seven that night she heard noises coming from the dinner party that night and she looked out the window. She didn't even know anyone from there. She looked at herself in the mirror as she wore a white summer dress and wedges and she looked so posh compare to the people downstairs. She headed out and she saw an empty seat beside a girl around her age, she took her seat as her father asked, 'Where have you been, Sakura? Everyone I want you to meet my beautiful daughter, Sakura Kinomoto'

Everyone in the table smiled politely at her. No introductions were needed right now because she knew her own parents would introduce her to each of the family one by one, like they use to.

After dinner, her mother took her and lead her to a family standing together and her mother said, 'Ellen, Rob, I want you to meet my daughter'

'Nice to meet you, young Sakura', Rob said, 'I want you to meet my son Eriol Hiiragizawa'

She smiled at Eriol and said, 'Hi'

'Why don't you two talk and Eriol why don't you introduce her to some of the other girls from tonight?' Mrs. Hiiragizawa suggested.

Eriol nodded as she started walking with him to the group of girls and boys sitting down by the gondola and he asked, 'Sakura, how long are you staying in Meguro City ?'

'A month – my parents had forced me to spend my summer holidays here', she informed him, 'So if I seem like a rude person don't mind me'

He smiled at her and he said, 'You know this town isn't that bad. It has a beach – a lake, a lot of things that most towns can't have. If you want I can show you around'

She said, 'Maybe', before she smiled at the girls who stared at her.

Eriol kissed the two girls sitting down and said, 'Rika Sasaki, Naoko and Takashi Yamazaki I want you to meet Ms. Sakura Kinomoto'

The girls smiled at her and Takashi Yamazaki stood up and gave her a kiss on the cheeks and said, 'Nice to meet you and you look great'

'Thanks', she said sitting in between Rika and Eriol. She realized that these four people were the only ones that were going to keep her occupied for four weeks and she hoped that they would do a good job.

The girls that were there with her that night were all posh and rich so she would fit in well. They were also the type of people that she could get along well so it wouldn't be that bad as long as she had them.

When everyone else left except for the Hiiragizawa. She was walking back in the house but quickly turned around when she heard someone calling out her name, 'Sakura!'

'Yes?' she asked waiting for Takashi Yamazaki.

'You forgot something. I think you dropped this on the floor,' he said handing her the necklace that she loved, 'I saw it by the gazebo and noticed that you were wearing it earlier so I knew it must have been yours,' he added.

'Thank you Takashi Yamazaki,' she said.

'Any time. It looks like my family is just about to leave, I'll see you around?' he asked.

She nodded, 'Yeah, I'll see you around too'

A whole week passed

She had gotten used to the town and she knew the basic places around town – and she had gotten to learn about Meguro City a little bit more every time she jogged early in the morning and late in the afternoon where the view of the town was great. On her route she also saw boats, fisherman working early in the morning and she saw the young handsome boy that she saw cycling by the gates of her house on the first day she arrived town. She saw him twice everyday but she did not say a word to him. She wanted to say something but she was scared that she was going to be rejected for being the person that she was. She would usually just speak to the guy that she liked, but there was something different about this boy. There noticed or sensed that the boy had a sense of stubbornness and she didn't want to come in between that.

That Tuesday of the second week whilst she was jogging early in the morning and she was changing the songs to her ipod and she was not looking where she was going she fell to her butt since she bumped onto "that" guy. She got up with his help and he said, 'You should look where you're going'

'Excuse me, it wasn't my fault', she objected, 'You apologize'

He smiled at her and he said, 'I've been seeing you everyday, you're that girl that's staying in the manor, aren't you?' he asked.

She nodded and said, 'Yes I am, do you have a problem?'

'I'm Syaoran Li', he held out his dirty hand and he smiled at her when she made no move to touch his hand, 'It's just a hand'

She quickly shook his hand and said, 'Sakura Kinomoto, and you still owe me and apology'

'I'm sorry', he apologized and she smiled at him before he asked, 'Are you all right?'

She nodded saying, 'I'm fine thanks'

'I bet you – you haven't seen the most beautiful spots in Meguro City . You don't know what you're missing out on'

'Are you offering to show me around?' she asked starting to have hope. He was so easy to talk to, and her impressions of him was so different. That thought her a lesson that she should never judge a person by how they looked or appeared.

He looked at her and she blushed and he said, 'I should probably let you go before your parents send for a search party'

She gave him a frown and said, 'You're so rude'

'I'll see you around?' he asked, and she just smiled at him before she started jogging back to her place.

That same night –

There was a festival in town and Eriol asked her if she wanted to go that night and since she had nothing else planned she said yes. She was dressed in a red dress and Eriol picked her up as they walked to the festival together. She knew Eriol fancied her but she had her eyes on someone now, the Syaoran Li guy she met earlier on today. She couldn't stop thinking about him ever since this morning and she was taken away by his humor and handsomeness, but she knew that her parents would not accept if she went out with a boy like Syaoran because her parents would think he has no future, but she didn't care. Her parents wanted someone like Eriol for her.

'What are you thinking about?' Eriol questioned, 'You look like you're in deep thought'

She smiled and said, 'I was just thinking, maybe you were right about this place, it's amazing'

Eriol smiled and said, 'I knew that you would change your mind sooner or later. If you want – I can show you around the water, my family owns a boat and we can go on a boat together?'

'No thanks', she refused politely, 'I was planning on staying in tomorrow, I have some things to do'

'Maybe next time then', he suggested as she nodded at him, 'I'm glad that you said yes to my offer tonight – you don't know how happy I was when you called me'

She smiled and said, 'Thanks for the offer'

'Have you met any locals yet?' he asked.

'I met a boy, Syaoran Li. I became his acquaintance today', she said.

'Really? Syaoran Li, I don't think I've heard of him?'

'He's a boy around my age and I see him by the docks every morning since I go on a jog, I find him to be an interesting guy – very witty'

He frowned and said, 'I've met him. I don't get along with the fellow very well, just be careful around some locals, they tend to act negatively towards the richer classes. Do you promise to take care of yourself?'

She nodded saying, 'I'm not a little girl anymore. I think I know how to take care of myself'

'I'm sorry. It's just I worry for you, I can't help it because I'm to blame if something happens to you. I gave my word to your father that nothing bad would happen to you during your stay in Meguro City '

'You don't have to worry, I'm a grown girl', she said as she watched the parade from the side of the road, and for a second she saw Syaoran on the other side of the road who smiled at her, then one moment he was gone. She looked at Eriol beside her, she needed to get rid of him in order to find Syaoran so she said, 'Eriol, I'm feeling a bit hungry and thirsty, can you buy me some food?'

He nodded and he said, 'Stay around the area all right?', she nodded and when Eriol was out of sight she quickly moved through the crowd trying to find Syaoran.

She saw him and she yelled out, 'Li!'

Syaoran turned around and smiled at her and he walked towards her and he asked, 'What are you doing here all by yourself? It's not safe you know'

'I know – I just wanted to talk to you', she said.

'What about?' he asked.

'Your offer from this morning, is it still available?'

He smiled at her and he asked, 'Showing you around town? Are you sure your folks or friends won't mind?'

She nodded and said, 'They don't know about it – and I guess it should stay that way. Besides I have nothing else planned tomorrow and I could use something exciting to spend my time with'

'Was it me, or you just complimented me?' he asked.

'Shut up, so what do you say?', she asked, 'Hurry up, my escort is coming towards us soon. Well whatever you decide with, I'll be waiting for you by the docks', then she quickly walked away before Eriol caught up to her, she didn't want Syaoran and Eriol talking to each other since it would horribly awkward.

'Was that Syaoran that I saw you with?' Eriol asked.

She nodded, 'He just wanted to say hi, nothing more. Don't worry'

The next morning –

She was waiting for him dressed in another one of her summer dress and she stood up and smiled when she saw him heading towards her. When he stood in front of her she said, 'Thank you Syaoran for coming. I really appreciate it'

'Come on lets start heading off before someone notices us', Syaoran said taking her arm as he made her get onto the bike.

When his bike started slowing down, she asked, 'Where are we?'

'The most beautiful spot in Meguro City ', he answered as he stopped the bike and allowed her to get off first, 'Not much tourists know about this place because it's a local spot – so if someone sees you, you have to pretend that you belong around here'

She smiled and asked, 'Syaoran, can I ask you something? What made you change your mind?'

'You – I realized that you weren't the person that I thought and that made me change my mind. Usually I would hate rich girls like you but you're not that stubborn and you're very down to earth'

'Really?' she asked feeling flattered.

'And I realized that yesterday when I saw you last night, that I was falling in love with you and I wouldn't give up any chance to spend time with you'

She stopped and she blushed when she caught eyes with him as she said, 'I'm flattered, Syaoran'

'I'm sorry if I'm being a bit straight forward but I know that you have at least two weeks in Meguro City and I don't know if I will get a chance to see you again – and I want to make this summer memorable for you', he stepped towards her and he said, 'I mean what I say – I really do like you a lot'

'Syaoran, just let me tell you something, I need you to know that a lot of people will agree to our relationship if we let this happen'

'I don't care. I don't want to live my life wishing that I got with you. I don't want that. I'm sure you don't'

She smiled and nodded, 'You're right. But let's just take it slow, let's get to know each other first?'

He nodded and said, 'That's what I was planning to do'

She smiled as they sat under an oak tree and she looked at the view, 'It's beautiful here'

'You're so beautiful', he said as he sat beside her and she smiled into his eyes. She melted as she saw his emerald eyes and then took her by surprise when he asked, 'Is there anything going on between you and Eriol?'

'Eriol and I?' she asked, 'Don't be ridiculous, it's just friendship but I have a feeling that he likes me the way that you do. But I'm promising myself to you, don't worry Syaoran'

He smiled and he leaned forward to give her a kiss on her forehead, 'You don't have to doubt me because I promise you that I won't hurt you'

They stayed in there for nearly half of the day playing around and kissing each other, but that was all – if any thing more happened between the two of them then their relationship would be moving too fast. When she spent half of the day with Syaoran, she realized what an interesting person he was and he told her of his dreams. He dreamt of being the Mayor of Meguro City when the chance ever comes up – she told him it would be impossible but that didn't make him hope to be the Mayor in the future.

She asked him to stop a couple of streets away from the house since her parents would see her and Syaoran and he gave her a good bye kiss before they parted and having no idea that Eriol saw everything from far away.

Later on that night

When she went downstairs to have dinner, she saw Eriol sitting besides her father and she asked, 'Eriol, I had no idea that my parents has invited you over for dinner'

'You don't mind right?' her mother asked as she sat beside her.

'No, I do not', she answered giving Eriol a polite smile, 'Is there a reason why you decide to have dinner here tonight?

'I have something to discuss with you after dinner, privately', Eriol asked, 'If you would let me'

She nodded and stood up as the cook informed them that dinner was ready to be served.

During the meal, she couldn't stop staring at Eriol as she wondered what he wanted to talk about – it must have been something important for him to come and tell her straight away.

After dinner, her parents went to the study and she and Eriol started walking around the property talking.

'Sorry to come to your house unannounced', he apologized, 'But I saw something this afternoon and I'm just starting to wonder on whether or not it was you that I saw with Syaoran Li this afternoon', she quickly looked at him as she heard Syaoran' name, 'From your reaction I understand that it was you in his bike. What were you doing with him?'

'That is none of your business Eriol, I may chose to spend my time with anyone I want and what were you doing checking out on me? Were you following me?'

'No I was not, I was on the way to visit your house to ask you out for dinner tonight, but it came to a disappointment when I saw you with him instead. You must tell your parents'

'My parents doesn't need to know Eriol because what I do is my business not theirs'

'He's not like me'

'I know he's not like you, so what?!' she asked, 'Not everyone has to be like you Eriol, rich. I even like the fact that he's not rich. I like the fact that he's down to earth and he doesn't come from the same background as me because he's different and I can be myself around him'

'He comes from a broken family', he said, 'His father is away and his mother is a drunk'

'I – I', she started but the words couldn't come out of her mouth, 'Why are you saying this?'

'I'm just looking out for you because I care for you', he said tenderly, 'And I don't want you to get hurt by Li. He may just be playing with you and I don't want to see you cry. I'm just giving you a warning'

'I do not share the same feelings for you, I'm sorry Eriol and I beg of you not to tell my parents anything or else I would lose my trust in you', she said softly looking down on the floor, 'It's getting late, you should probably start heading home. Good night'

'Good night', he said before she started walking back in the house.