Preview of last chapter:

Eriol watched her. "You know, there's something about her," he stated, waggling a finger at her. "Just can't put my finger on it."

Syaoran shrugged. "I admit, there's something she's hiding, but I'm not that interested to find out what it is."

Eriol raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

Chapter 2 – A Soft Spot?

A month passed by, quick for the other students, but slow for Sakura. The gangsters around the area were getting braver, and sometimes stalked her until they saw the authorities passing and disappeared in the shadows.

Sakura wasn't remotely scared of them; she just hoped they wouldn't try anything with her. Well, she was rather wrong about that one.

Friday, after school, she took the usual route home, shorter but it went through a back alley, making it dangerous. This is where the gangsters always started following her. Today, they didn't just follow, and not only one came, but three.

One approached her from the front, and she instinctively back away, but she bumped into two other. Immediately they held her wrists together, preventing her escape. Sakura refused to struggle or scream. If she did, they were gonna think her a weakling. She needed to earn her rep with these guys, so she remained still and calm, making sure no sign of fear or panic showed on her face.

The one who had advanced on her from the front was obviously the leader. He regarded her with brown eyes, slightly lighter than Syaoran's shade, but cold and hard.

"So…" he said, his voice rough. "Newbie in these parts?"

Sakura fixed him with the steady glare she gave everyone in Tomoeda High…except maybe Syaoran. For some reason her glare on him had softened, and she really wanted to find out why.

The leader chuckled and crossed his arms. "You know, using this back alley – especially this back alley – can be dangerous."

"I live for danger," Sakura retorted. It wasn't exactly true, but it sounded good at the time.

The two holding her wrists together laughed. The leader said, "You know what we do to girls like you?" He used his forefinger and his middle finger to tilt her chin up.

Sakura was about to spit at him when a stone flew over her captors' heads and landed on the leader's. He staggered backwards, managing a low growl while holding his temple where the stone hit him.

Sakura, just wanting to get out of there, hung her head then abruptly flung it backwards again with force that hit the one on her left. With one hand loose, she balled it into a fist, drew back and punched the one left. Seeing the leader advancing on her, she used the shoulders of the one behind her as leverage, lifted her feet, and kicked the leader with both feet in the chest. The force sent him flying back into the dustbin.

With the one remaining, she spun around and hooked her feet behind his knees and pulled. He toppled backwards. The other who she had hit with her head still looked dazed, but he managed to run from her. The one she tripped did the same until only their leader was left. He sneered and glared at her before running off after his comrades.

She picked up her slingbag, dusted the dirt off it and turned around to face her helper when she saw Syaoran there. She gawked at him for a few moments until he said, "No thank you?"

Realizing he had helped her, she actually turned red, but he was far enough that he couldn't see it. "I didn't need your help," she said rudely, turning back into the icy cold person that she was. "I had it under control." This wasn't true, but she didn't want to admit she was grateful to him for saving her. Or at least helping.

Syaoran rolled his eyes. "Yea, sure," he said sarcastically. He shook his head then turned his back on her and walked away.

Before he turned the corner, he heard Sakura's voice calling him. By his first name. Not that Li-san stuff. He felt shocked, and suddenly curious of the change in character. He turned around to face her and felt a bit surprised at how close she was. She stood maybe a few inches from him.

"A-arigato. For saving me. Or helping at the very least," she said. Her voice was so soft and gentle, rather than the usual cold and hard one. Her lips curled into a half-smile, and for the first time Syaoran noticed how much more beautiful she looked when she smiled.

She turned back and was about start back down the alley when Syaoran blurted out, "Would you like a ride back home? Could be dangerous going back down there again."

Her head turned, and this time a full, sweet smile was on her lips. Slowly, she nodded. "That'd be nice…Syaoran."

She walked back to him, and the two began to walk to Syaoran's car.

=.=.=

That night in her bed Sakura began to wonder why she was so bitter. It came to her in a flash, and she grimaced as memories flooded through her mind.

FLASHBACK

5 year old Sakura Kinomoto heard voices shouting in the kitchen. She crept back down to see what was happening.

The sight was enough to shock her. Her mother lay on the floor crying, a red mark on her face and a small cut on her temple. Her husband was shouting at her in Japanese, and Sakura understood parts of it.

Scared, she began to sniff and sob. Her parents heard her, and they both stared at her without a word. Sakura wiped away her tears.

"Daddy, why are you shouting at Mummy?" she asked, sniffing. "I thought you wuved each other…"

She was old enough to understand this, and upset, she ran back to her room. A little more shouting then she heard a car engine roar. She glanced out the window and saw her father on his motorbike, without her mom. He drove off, not even looking back.

END OF FLASHBACK

Sakura sighed. Yea, that's what happened. Her dad left her mom and she was bitter and cold for the rest of her life. Suddenly an image of Syaoran entered her mind. She bit her lip. Was she gaining a soft spot for him?

SAKURA

Impossible.

Am I actually gaining feelings for that guy?

Actually…he is kinda cute…

Alright, not kinda. REALLY cute.

He's a nice guy…plus he helped save me today.

…oh Sakura what is happening to you?

Didn't you vow not to fall in love with someone you didn't know well?

For fear of what happened to your mom happening to you?

Wait, did I just say love?

Oh my gosh…I guess I might as well admit it…

But only to myself.

…Even if I really did have feelings for him…

It's not like he'd ever return the feelings…will he?

=.=.=

Syaoran stared at the ceiling with a toothpick in his mouth on his bed, thinking about Sakura. The way she smiled at him that day, the way her eyes shone…and especially the way she defended herself. Now, that was impressive.

SYAORAN

Am I falling in love with her?
No way!

Then again, I think I am.

She's got pretty eyes, really good at defending herself.

And angelically beautiful.

Oh ancestors of the Li-clan, am I falling for her?

That ice princess?

If I really had an answer to that, it would be…yes.

Then again, it's not like she'd love me in return right?

Disclaimer: I, RiverLake, do not own CCS.