Chapter One

They tell me life is unfair and I respond with a sad smile, a quick nod and say "Yes, you're right. Thank you." They tell me fate was cruel and again I muster a smile, a swift head bob and whisper, "You're right." I already knew that though. I know that life was unfair and fate was cruel. I also know that fate wasn't always cruel. I mean it was fate that had brought us together. It had brought us together just as easily as it torn us apart.

We weren't like other couples who met because they lived next door to one another, or their parents were friends and so we would be. Heck, we didn't even live in the same neighborhood. We had absolutely nothing in common except for one thing, we both went to Tomoeda Middle School and we were both in the same 5th grade class. For some odd reason, perhaps it was fate, we became friends.

5 years later

It was a chilly morning of December of our sophomore year and Tomoyo and I were walking to school. We both walked in silence mulling over our own thoughts.

"Guess who asked my out last night," I said suddenly. Tomoyo turned to me and I saw in her eyes a glint of surprise which relaxed into a large grin.

"Who?" She asked.

"Makoto." I replied. It grew quiet and I could see her smile fade and shrink. It was a sad attempt to of a smile now, but I ignored it.

"What about him?"

I turn around and there walking behind us was Syoaran with his permanent crooked grin underneath this brown eyes. I hadn't even heard him approaching us.

Tomoyo said quickly "Nothing."

"Mokoto asked me out." I repeated. Suddenly the atmosphere grew extremely awkward as the quietness swept over all three of us. I turned to Tomoyo hoping that she would say something but she was looking the other direction.

"Oh," Syaoran said finally. "What did you say?" I saw from the corner of my peripheral vision that Tomoyo's head had turned to look at me. Syaoran was also looking at me. I could feel the blush rise in my cheeks.

"I told him that I would think about it." I said quickly.

"I think you should tell him 'no'" Syaoran said. His body was turned away from me and I couldn't see his expression. "I mean you hardly even know the guy. For all you know he could be one of those guys who just use their girlfriends."

His voice continued on. I tried not to listen but my mind was so used to focusing on his voice that my entire attention was still on him.

We had now reached the parking lot of the school and Syaoran quickly lengthed his already long stride and left me and Tomoyo behind.

"That's weird. I mean his locker is in the same hallway as us." I muttered. Silence fell over again as I pulled open the door to our school and we stepped inside. The warmth welcomed us as I slowly unraveled my scarf and headed towards my locker. Tomoyo did the same, but soon met me again by my locker. She stood there silently, so I started to walk in the general direction of my first class. She followed beside me, eyes downcast, and her face looked contorted as though trying to solve a hard math problem.

"Sakura," Tomoyo said, her soft voice seem to float above all other din from the other students. I turned to face her. "As much as I think you are the best friend anyone could ever have, I must say, you are the most clueless person I have ever met." And with those words said, she hurried down the hall towards her first class. I stared at her briefly with the most confused expression and walked into the classroom just as the first bell rang.

All day during class I had pondered on both Syaoran's odd behavior and Tomoyo's strange statement. Finally the bell rang and I flew out of the room and to my locker. There I found Tomoyo as well, her own locker only a few down from mine. When we both had gathered our books and homework we slipped out the school's large doors and began our walk home. I wondered where Syaoran.

"What did you mean this morning?" I asked Tomoyo quietly. I could see the King Penguin slide and the swing sets as we passed by Penguin Park. The laughter of toddlers filled the air making it hard to hear, somehow, though, I knew Tomoyo had heard me.

"Don't you notice?" She asked her eyes looked directly at mine. I raised an eyebrow and slowed my walk. "How he looks at you? How he always tries to impress you?"

She continued to rant until I interrupted her with a "who?"

"Syaoran, of course! I mean he has had a crush on you since 7th grade! You'd think you would notice!"

"Syaoran, has a crush on … me?" I was not sure how to respond. I had never even noticed how he looked at me. Perhaps this was just a joke, and soon Tomoyo would stop and say she was kidding and we would laugh. The laughter never came though. She was silent now and the only feeling I could name would be confusion.

"Geez. The poor guy would do anything for you." Tomoyo sighed.

"Anything?" I was completely confused now. How could I not have known? Was I truly that clueless?

"Ask him anything and he will do it. I am positive." Suddenly her serious expression was broken by another one of her shocking smiles. "I am glad that is off my chest. It was really bugging me." My house was in seeing distance now and I was almost glad. I needed sometime by myself to think this over.

I hastily murmured my 'goodbyes' and breezed through my house to my room, not even having time to say hello to my father or brother. I tossed my backpack into the corner and threw myself onto my bed. I stared out the window for a good ten minutes until finally I said with a frown, "anything?…"