I awoke slowly, somewhat aware that the sun wasn't even bright enough to light my room completely just yet. Despite this I found myself sitting up and rubbing my eyes to clear the haze from them. I was still a little jet lagged from living in Hong Kong for so long and my sleeping schedule showed it. The clock on my bed stand told me I still had a good hour and a half before I had to leave for school but I already knew that I couldn't go back to sleep after waking up even if I wanted to. I slid out of bed and glanced over my shoulder towards Sakura, who was cuddled up against one of my pillows with the covers half off of her. 'So much for not looking,' my mind told me as I took an extra moment to take in her body. 'Ah what the hell, a little eye candy never hurt anyone.' I chuckled to myself as I walked out of my room, now pleased that I had woken up early. That sight was well worth it.

Whispers in the Dark IV

By: Satashi

Syaoran tossed the omelet in the skillet with a quick flip of his wrist. The mass doubled over on itself and began to cook again after a quick shake to get it back to the center of the pan. It had taken the boy a good part of a month to learn how to do that without ending up with scrambled eggs a few moments later. A small noise caught his attention, bringing his eyes towards his bedroom where he saw a still half asleep Sakura stumble over to the barstools. She had grabbed one of his button up white shirts, but only took the time to fasten the top three before giving up. "Morning sunshine," He greeted her, plating the eggs and tossing some toast beside them as well before serving his friend.

"G'mornin…" She replied lazily as she tried to wake up. I'm still sleepy."

"I can tell," Syaoran put a glass of orange juice in front of her as well before starting on his own breakfast. "Didn't stay up all night did you?"

"Nah, just when we talked." She ate a little of the offered food and took a moment to taste it. "Hey, this is actually really good."

"Actually?" He acted hurt. "Don't be so surprised; I'm a mean chef."

"So I notice," Sakura began to eat a little faster, now more awake. "Wow, they taste different than what I've ever had. What did you put in them?"

"Secret." Syaoran flipped his eggs in the skillet and let them cook while making some more toast for himself. "You can't live with so many sisters and not learn how to cook. Don't tell anyone but I bake some awesome cookies too."

Sakura laughed in her drink, quickly causing herself to cough a moment before laying her head down, giggling at the mental image of Syaoran in a pink fluffy apron baking cookies. "Oh gods, too funny!"

Syaoran plated his food and decided to lean against the counter in front of her to eat instead of walking around the bar to sit next to the girl. Idle chat followed as they shared the meal and he couldn't help but notice that although he liked the flirty Sakura a lot, he came to really adore the sleepy one as well. Sakura was making simple mistakes and even missed her mouth when trying to take a bite. Syaoran knew that he wouldn't let her live that one down for a long time to come. A grin came to his face, catching the girl's attention. When she was about to ask why he was smiling at her his watched beeped at them. "It's time to wake up," He laughed. "We need to leave for school in about fifteen minutes."

"You can wake up and leave within fifteen minutes!?"

"…Can't you?"

Sakura blushed. "Uh, yeah. Of course." It took her almost an hour. "Don't look at me like that!" She grabbed the empty plates and walked around the bar and over to the sink. "Go get ready, I'll do the dishes."

"I have a dishwasher you know."

"You have to pre-wash them before you put them in or they don't get clean."

"…..then what's the point of a dishwasher?"

"Shush, don't question a female on cleaning." She pointed at him with a dirty fork. "Now go get dressed, I'll clean up."

"Yes mam." Syaoran left the girl to her desires and changed into some casual pants and a long sleeved shirt. Hopping to put on his socks, he walked back to the kitchen after a quick stop in the bathroom to grab a brush and start combing his hair.

"Here, let me." Sakura told him, taking the brush from his hand in mid stroke and making him sit down at a barstool. "How long have you been growing your hair?"

"I don't know," Syaoran felt her take long strokes on him and closed his eyes. "Just for a really long time."

Sakura pondered the length and decided that it had to be at least five years, if not six. "Why long hair though? Back then you never even touched a comb, let alone used it."

"Someone I really looked up to had long hair; I think I wanted to be like him. By the time I realized that just growing my hair wouldn't do anything I already had it past my shoulders so I just decided to see how long it would get. I'm really picky about it."

"Oh?" Sakura took advantage of him being distracted by his story and parted his hair twice. "How so?"

"I would freak out on anyone who touched it, even my sisters. I think if I wanted to get it cut anyway no one would do it because I was so protective of it."

"Just like a girl," she teased him.

"Hey now," He got a small giggle. "That's why I didn't let your friends mess with it the other day."

"It's okay, I don't blame them. Your hair just screams 'braid me!'."

"Think so?"

Sakura looked around and found her discarded hair ties on the stand by the couch and quickly reached over to grab one. "Yup, I think so." Working fast, she looped the small pink ribbon around the end of the now braided hair and tied it in a snug bow. "There, finished." With the braid his hair only came to the middle of his back, a few inches past his shoulders.

"Thanks," Syaoran stood up and shook his head. He stood still a moment before reaching back and gripping the thick braid and pulling it over his shoulder to look at it. "You braided it!?"

"Yup!"

"I am not wearing a braid, let alone one with a pink ribbon." He went to untie the thread but Sakura grabbed his hand.

"But it's cute!"

"Cute isn't what I'm going for, Princess."

"As your princess, I command you to leave it in." She closed one eye and stuck out her tongue. "Don't disobey me now."

"…" The boy let out a sigh. "Fine, fine. Just for today and by that I mean only today!"

"All right!" Sakura cheered, pumping her fist in the air. Syaoran's eyes darted downward when she did the motion and the girl quickly realized that she had just given him a grade-A panty shot since the shirt wasn't buttoned all the way down. "Pervert!"

"Hey you did it!"

Sakura puffed her cheeks out at him. "You made me."

"Oh now it's my fault? How did I make you?"

"You made me happy!"

He smirked. "So if I make you happy I get flashed?"

"Yes… no!" Sakura smacked him upside the head. "Don't make me say weird things!" She brushed past him quickly to go change. "I'm going to get ready so…" Her voice trailed off slowly. "Uh oh."

"What?"

Sakura turned to look at him. "…I don't have any school uniforms here."

Sakura felt her cheeks color darkly as she walked through the halls of her high school with her friend. She was currently wearing a black Chinese style shirt and white drawstring pants. Next to her Syaoran was wearing a white Chinese shirt with dark black blue jeans. He didn't seem to think anything about it since he was already dressed and the only shirt that Sakura had bought when shopping with him was the one she was wearing. The girl on the other hand could almost feel the eyes on her. Several students whispered while pointing at them, making her walk quicker to her homeroom.

Syaoran took his time getting to class, allowing his friend to run ahead for whatever reason she needed to. His backpack was shifted lightly to keep it from falling off his shoulder as he walked, making a few girls giggle to themselves while watching.

"Syaoran!" Someone hopped next to him, placing his arm around the boy's neck and giving him a noogie. "Nice ribbon you have going on there!" Takashi greeted him with a laugh. "Get tackled by some girls?"

"Just one," He replied as he shrugged his friend off with a grin. "Sakura did it before I realized it."

"Sounds fun," He waved and stopped. "My class is here; let's meet up for lunch at the fountain?"

"Sure thing!" Syaoran waved at him as the boy retreated into the room and by the time he made it to his own class he heard Sakura finishing up her lie to the teacher about how she was caught in an emergency situation last night and couldn't get home so she borrowed cloths to wear to school. Walking past her, he tossed his bag next to his chair and flumped down into it.

"Cute ribbon, Syaoran." A voice whispered in his ear, making him turn to look at Tomoyo. "I do believe that's Sakura's hair tie?"

"Possibly," He evaded her, looking at a small dark green device she was offering him. "What's that?"

"A cell phone," she told him, eyes shining in a playful manor. "You know the things people use to make phone calls with?"

"I know that." He took it when she placed it in his hand and flipped it open. "New model razor?"

"Yup. It's cliché now, but it's the only one that I think fits you."

"Me?" He looked at it and flipped to the phone book, seeing Sakura and Tomoyo's numbers already in it.

"Late birthday present," She told him, patting him on the head. "Don't worry about the plan; it's already taken care of. Free calls to China and five friends, blah blah blah, you know."

"Wow, thanks." He grinned down at the phone. "I appreciate it. Really." He looked up to see Sakura sit down next to him and noticed that half the class was looking at them. "Huh?"

"Oh my, matching cloths! Aren't you two the cute couple?" Tomoyo flashed a picture of them just as Syaoran remembered that the Japanese have a tradition of dressing the same at school for one day after starting a new relationship.

"Been a busy day I take it?" Takashi asked his friend as Syaoran slumped underneath a tree by him.

"It's been hell," The amber eyed boy responded with a sigh. "I've been getting all these weird looks from girls and guys have been sending me death glares. What's going on?"

"I noticed you and Sakura were wearing matching outfits, you dating again?"

"Never was really, and it just happened to be the same today." He started shoveling food into his mouth. "People read too much into things."

"I see." Takashi started eating his meal as well. "But just incase, watch out for Keith, all right?"

"Keith?" Syaoran blinked.

"American transfer student, came here last year sometime. He's the captain of the Lacrosse team and Sakura's self-proclaimed boyfriend. A real Bandit if you ask me."

"Self proclaimed?"

"She blows him off all the time but he still swears up and down that they're dating. Beats up any guy that makes a pass at her."

"Sounds like fun," Syaoran rolled his eyes. "Two days into school and I already have a fight on my hands." He went to take another bite of food but found the collar of his shirt gripped tightly and he was hoisted to his feet. "What the!?"

"You must be the new kid," A large man addressed him. "You don't know the rules here so Keith's gonna let you in on them. Rule number one, no one flirts with Sakura but me. Rule number two, if you break number one you'll learn the hard way not to do it again… In America!"

"In…what?" Syaoran gave him an odd look before twisting out of his grip and fixing his shirt. "Keith, huh?" He got a nod. "I really don't know what's going on but I'll say this, if Sakura turned you down you need to back off. I don't think she likes clingy rejects hanging around her and scaring off any new boyfriends she may have."

"She just hasn't come to realize she loves me is all."

The girl in question chose that moment to run around the corner of the school building and catch sight of them. "Syaoran! Yamazaki-kun!" The rest of the way over to them was made quickly. "… and Keith-san."

"Call me Keith."

"I'll pass." Sakura looked over at Syaoran and offered an apologetic look.

"What say we ditch the rest of school and go to my place, baby?" Keith put an arm around the girl, making her look like she was about to get sick.

"Hands off, Keith-san, I've told you before I'm not your girlfriend."

"You belong to me, toots. That's the way things work… In America!"

"Yeah well, we're in Japan pal." Syaoran gripped Keith's wrist and squeezed it hard. A few seconds passed before the pain finally registered on the larger man's face and he ripped his arm away from him. "I don't see a tag on her so she must not belong to you."

"Look harder then, brat."

Syaoran leaned over to look at the back of Sakura's neck. "Oh hey, there it is." He got an amused sound from the American man so he continued. "Says here 'Syaoran' so I guess she doesn't' belong to you, huh?" Laughter rang up around them from the small crowd that was gathered. Keith grit he teeth and reached out once again to grab Syaoran's shirt. The boy this time chose rather to side step and trip him, making him fall down. "Come on Sakura; let's go get some food or something." He put his hand on her back to guide her away, which she did so gratefully. "Want to come, Takashi?"

"I would but looks like a teacher's coming so I'll vouch for you when she gets here."

"Thanks, we'll hook up after school then." He started walking again with Sakura, leaving his friend to cover his actions.

"This isn't over, brat!" Keith called out after them, getting a casual two finger wave from Syaoran as he walked away.

"I thought you were going to slug him," Sakura stated after a moment.

"Not worth the effort. What's the deal anyway?"

"Just some crazy stalker." She rolled her eyes. "No one really pays attention to him so I just ignore it for the most part."

"Kick his ass," Syaoran grinned. "You know karate don't you?"

"I could really hurt him!" She protested quickly, making Syaoran laugh. "Mou, don't laugh at me!"

"I'm laughing because it's true!" He chuckled a little more before allowing her to lead him to the roof where Tomoyo was waiting for her.

"But all the same… thanks." She looked up at him. "It made me happy to hear that."

"What?"

She closed one eye and gave him a cute look. "That my tag says 'Syaoran'."

"Tha-that was just the first thing I could think of!"

Sakura smiled at him. "Thank you."

"…You're welcome," He scratched the back of his neck, for once glad that his hair wasn't loose today.

"Hey Syaoran!" Takashi's voice made the boy turn around and wave at him. "Where you going?"

"Watch Sakura's cheerleading, what you up to?"

"Ah perfect," He ignored the question reflected back at him and instead went to his point. "Let's throw a party!"

"Say what?"

"A party; You know, the three 'B's."

"The three B's?"

"Beers, Bands, and Babes!" Takashi slapped him on the back. "For real, a party to get you known around here. You could use a few good friends."

"... I don't see any harm in that. Okay sure. Where at?"

"Your place of course! I heard you had a penthouse!"

"Yeah," Syaoran felt uneasy. "Not going to destroy my pad are they?"

"Nah, maybe trash it up a little but not destroy. Small price to pay for getting your name around school. Plus since you threw one over on old Keith you've already made a few friends as well. Might as well meet them."

"Okay, okay; you win. My place. Saturday night assuming?"

"You would assume correctly." Takashi ran ahead and waved. "We'll meet up after practice!"

"Party, huh?" Tomoyo asked as her friends walked over to her at the studio where she did her free-lance work. "Sounds like a blast."

Syaoran paused a moment before pointing at her. "How did you know I was throwing a party?" He looked at Sakura. "I didn't even tell you yet!"

"Tomoyo's known as the queen of information…" Sakura gave him an uneasy smile. "Nothing happens in the school without her knowing about it."

"So they say," Tomoyo put her fingers to her chin and thought. "Not much time to put it all together. I can get you catered but the entertainment will have to be up to you."

"I know some people in the school band that can play?" Sakura offered.

"A band in my little place? Crazy." Syaoran shook his head. "Penthouse or not, it's still an apartment. I can order a pay-per-view concert or something and crank it up."

"Drinks?"

"Ooooh," Sakura brought a hand to her mouth.

"Don't let Sakura get anything alcoholic," Tomoyo warned him. "She gets…catty."

"Hey!" Sakura puffed out her cheeks. "At least I keep my shirt on!"

"Sakura!"

Syaoran looked over at Tomoyo. "You didn't…" The look on her face told him otherwise. "You did! Oh I wish I was there!" The boy got two smacks on the head after that statement, once from each of the girls. "So worth knowing that."

"Come on in!" Sakura called out as Tomoyo knocked on the open door. "Syaoran, help her out please."

The boy looked over at his new guest and hopped over his couch to grab the large box she was carrying. "Hey Tomoyo, what you got in here, its heavy?" Syaoran sat the box on the armrest of his couch to get a better grip on it.

"The new fall fashion!" She declared happily as a few people in white chef uniforms followed her inside, each carrying platters or boxes. "I brought some for you too, Syaoran."

"Eh?" He looked around at all the people. "What?"

"Oh don't mind them, they're just going to set up the food and stuff for the party." Tomoyo waved her hand to get his attention. "Look here," She reached in the box and pulled up a light long sleeved green shirt. "This is my favorite. The material is stretchy so it form-fits your body." She tossed it to him and watched him inspect it. "Show off your muscles for a certain someone."

"Tomoyo!" Sakura hissed at her, blushing.

"So they send you cloths that your company is producing?" Syaoran asked, looking in the box.

"She gets two of each new item," Sakura explained, looking in the box and pulling out a cute pink three-quarter sleeved shirt with white hearts on it. "One for her, and she always gives the rest to me. You should see my closet; it's packed so full I have to literally bend my hangers to get my cloths out."

"Yeouch…"

"I got the male fashions for you, Syaoran." Tomoyo gave him a smile. "Since you don't have school uniforms be sure to show them off okay?"

"Walking billboard, huh?" Syaoran looked in the box again with a smirk. "I don't mind at all. Saves me the trouble of shopping for more cloths. Thanks. Really." He pulled out another article of clothing from the box but quickly dropped it and looked away.

"Oh yeah, new lingerie for you, Sakura." Tomoyo picked up the lacy bra that the boy had just dropped and showed it to her. "Look, you can almost see right through it!"

"Oooh!" Sakura cooed out, turning her attention to her. "You're right!" Her eyes darted to Syaoran to make sure he was getting embarrassed. "I should change into it now!"

"Oh you should! It has matching panties too, side-tie!"

"Girls, come on!" Syaoran almost screamed, eyes closed tightly. "I'm right here!"

"This is so much fun," Tomoyo giggled.

"Syaoran do you mind if I stash these in your closet till after the party? Last thing I need is some drunk guy finding my underwear."

"Sure, the bottom left drawer in my dresser is empty and my closet is huge so help yourself."

Sakura thanked him and picked up the box with Tomoyo's help and the two girls went back to his room. "I've never actually looked around his room," Tomoyo mused as she took the chance to inspect his sleeping quarters.

"He's a bit sloppy so I try to clean up after him when I come over," Sakura told her absently as she claimed one of his drawers. "Go in his closet, it's neat."

"Oh wow!" Tomoyo walked into the large closet and held out her arms. "It's huge!" She could take four steps into it and still not run into the wall. Hanger racks on both sides as well as cubby holes at the end, it was any girl's dream closet. "Is this all the cloths he has?" She inspected the small section of hanging cloths.

"Yeah, his others were on the plane when… you know."

"Ah," Tomoyo retreated from the closet and started picking out his cloths from the mixed up box. "I'll make sure he gets some winter cloths as well." Any response she may have gotten was cut off from Syaoran's voice as he greeted Takashi, who had apparently just arrived.

"Hey guys!" Syaoran leaned over the couch to speak to the four guys crashed on it playing the Nintendo Wii. "Having a blast?" He got a few nods at him. "Like beer?" He revealed a six pack in his hand and this time got a more enthusiastic response. "Here ya go, ice cold. Don't hold anything back guys, more where that came from."

"Dude you rock man!"

"Call me Syaoran," He nodded at them and made his way through the ever thickening crowd. When he reached the kitchen he gave his raven haired friend a light grin. "Tomoyo, how many people did you invite? If anymore show up we'll be cramped to hell and back."

"Oh man check it out! His veranda windows open up to the roof!" a random person hopped out his window and looked around. "It's huge out here guys!"

"Great," Syaoran went to stop them but Tomoyo grabbed his arm.

"It has rails right?"

"Yeah?"

"Then let'm have fun. Space issue solved." She gave him another pack of drinks. "Go serve them and take your radio out there too."

Defeated, Syaoran nodded and took the offered drinks before hopping out the window as well. Sakura watched him go while giggling to herself. "Seems like everyone is showing up, huh?"

"Yeah, the soccer team and cheerleaders would have been enough but you know how it goes… a friend tells a friend, tells a friend…" The sound of more people walking in caught their attention and Sakura went to make their new guest welcome while Tomoyo continued to walk around making sure everyone had snacks to munch on.

Syaoran realized that several hours had already gone past without him even noticing. Names and faces blurred together in his mind, but it seemed as if almost everyone there knew who he was since he was the one throwing the party for them. His eyes scanned the room to take in what was currently going on. Four guys, noticeably drunk, were playing Mario Tennis on his Wii while several people watched. More than a few were dancing provocatively to the loud music blaring from his speakers, almost overpowering the hoots and hollers from the people playing strip poker at his table. The outside was already packed as well, having at least twenty people claiming the roof of the apartment building since this penthouse took up the majority of the top floor. All in all the party was a great success in his opinion. 'I should thank Tomoyo,' his mind mused and he swept the area, finding her finally. The boy weaved through the crowd over to her friend. On his way he grabbed a Smirnoff Ice and twisted off the cap, bringing it to his lips. Syaoran took a large swig of the drink before gasping and coughing, almost spitting it all out "What the hell!?"

Sakura was behind Tomoyo, grinding her hips against her much like a guy would to the beat of the music. One hand was across her waist while the other was slipped up Tomoyo's shirt, revealing the girl's stomach and part of a red bra. "Meow!" Sakura greeted him, obviously drunk.

"They're wasted," Fujimaru, a member of Takashi's soccer team, informed him right after taking a shot of clear liquid.

Syaoran instantly went to break them apart, but paused just as Tomoyo let out a hiccup and started shaking her butt against Sakura. "Oh this is great!" Flipping out his cell phone, Syaoran took a few pictures before going over to them fully. "Tomoyo!"

"Hmmmm?" She looked at him, eyes half focused. "Oh, Syaoran!" She gave him a goofy smile.

"Meow!" Sakura called to him from behind Tomoyo happily.

So it was Sakura who was yelling 'meow' all this time?" He grinned, attempting to pull Tomoyo from her and fix her shirt.

"Nyaaaan!" Sakura proclaimed, imitating a cat again and almost falling over. Tomoyo managed to catch the girl half way down, but they still hit the floor. "Mmmm meowwww," She licked her lips and gave Tomoyo a sexy look. "Meow?" Both her arms snaked around her friend's neck and several guys turned and cheered.

"Don't think so," Syaoran hoisted Tomoyo to her feet and sat her down unsteadily before grabbing Sakura and slinging the drunken girl over his shoulder. "This one's had enough," he proclaimed, fighting his way through the people to his room. Opening the door after quickly unlocking it he walked into the dark area and closed it behind him

"We gonna have sex, nyan?" Sakura inquired as she was laid on the bed.

"Not tonight," He grinned at her as she pawed the air cutely in an attempt to entice him. "Though I will most definitely be reminding you of the offer tomorrow morning."

"Meooowwwww….."

"Good girl." He pet her on the head. "Go to sleep. Do not leave this room okay?"

"Meow…" She was already closing her eyes.

Laughing, Syaoran left the room and closed the door behind him, re-locking it. He found Tomoyo a little while later sitting down by the open window, looking out over the city. "Hey there," He sat next to her. "How many fingers?" he held up three.

Tomoyo paused moment and leaned forward to inspect the fingers closer. The move made her lose her balance and she ended up falling into his lap. "Three," She managed to answer correctly.

"Yet you're still smashed," He helped her sit up. "Get out of my lap before people start saying weird things. Tomoyo seemed to get a kick out of the thought and proceeded to giggle uncontrollably to herself. "Stay put until you sober up some." Syaoran got up slowly, trying to make sure she wouldn't fall out of the window. When he was relatively sure she was okay he went back to taking care of his guest, now by himself.

"Great party man!" Some guy Syaoran met but couldn't remember his name draped an arm over his shoulders. "Going to tell all mai buds 'bout this!"

"You do that." Syaoran let him fall down and pass out.

"Syaoran!" Takashi motioned for him to come over to the TV. "Play some!"

"What we playing?" Syaoran took the Wii remote from his friend.

"Drunken Tennis!" Someone else answered him. "Every time you miss a ball you got to drink one!"

Grinning, Syaoran got into position and flipped his remote, sending the ball over the court.

Hours passed and before long the sun started to come up, lighting Syaoran's ever empting apartment gradually. The last guest managed to stumble out the door, waving over their shoulders to the boy who was only partly sober now. "What a night," He breathed, rubbing his temples and instantly cutting off the music. He half-way scanned the living room for his friend and found her sitting at the dining room table, head down on her arms. "Tomoyo… Hey, Tomoyo you awake?"

The raven haired girl sat up slowly and looked at him with glazed eyes. "Syaoran…?"

"How sober are you?" He gently lifted her into his arms to carry her.

"Drunk as a skunk," She told him, blushing. "Let me down, I'm okay."

"No you're not." He managed to make it to the living room. "Stop squirming."

"Lemme down!" She exclaimed again, trying to get free of his grasp and ending up making them both fall onto the couch.

"What's with you?" Syaoran asked, realizing that he was starting to get a hangover from the lack of sleep.

"Sorry," Tomoyo whispered softly. While Syaoran tried to get his head to stop hurting the girl slowly moved herself so she was hugging him, resting her face against his neck. "I'm sorry…"

"Huh?" He blinked a few times, wondering what made the girl suddenly sound so sad. She repeated the phrase a few more times before he realized that he had warm drops of water rolling down his neck. "Tomoyo? What's wrong?"

"I'm a horrible person…" she sniffed a few times and gripped his shirt in her fist.

"Don't say that, you're great." Syaoran awkwardly tried to comfort the drunken girl by stroking her hair. "You got me cloths, and helped me throw a great party, even got me the food and drinks to give everyone. You're the best!"

"I'm the worst!" she argued. "I'm so jealous," Her voice broke by a hiccup. "I try to do everything I can but it still hurts…" She shifted, laying on him now and crying into his chest. "I'm jealous of Sakura for having someone to love… I'm jealous of you for having Sakura… I'm jealous of the way you hug each other…" Her sentences started breaking up again as she sobbed harder. "I just… I just…" She tried to take a breath so she could speak. "I just want to be held sometimes! I want to, to" Another hiccup. "I want to be loved too!"

"Take it easy… Breathe Tomoyo…breathe… that's better." Syaoran rubbed her back. "Sakura loves you a lot, I do too." He spoke gently to her, getting her to look up at him, scared.

"Not like that," She whispered, closing her eyes again. "I thought I was over it but, but" a small cough shook her. "When you came back I started wanting it again," Tomoyo put her forehead against his chest again and cried a moment more before continuing. "I want him to come back too, I- I want him to-to say he's sorry for m-making me wait." She felt his hands stroke her hair again and the calming effect worked a little, but her speech was still interrupted by breaths of air while she cried out on him. "I want him so b-bad!" Tomoyo's small hands gripped his shirt harder as she pushed herself against him. "I'm so jealous of you and Sakura; it makes me feel so sick with guilt!"

"Tomoyo…"

"I… I…" Her sobs slowly started to die away and her hands loosened around his cloths. "I…"

Syaoran stayed still a moment, wondering what had just happened. Soft steady breathing was against his chest and after a minute he realized that the poor girl had cried herself to sleep. Ever so slowly he slid his legs around the couch and stood up, cradling her in his arms. 'As if a drunken Sakura wasn't bad enough…' Making his way to his bedroom he unlocked the door and gently laid her on the bed, where she instantly cuddled up to her friend. He looked at them both a moment sleeping and smiled lightly to himself. Turning, he started to make his way out of the room but a soft voice made him stop.

"Eriol..."

Syaoran stood still a moment before glancing back over his shoulder and giving Tomoyo a light smile. Now with his two girls taken care of, he grabbed a pillow and walked back into the living room and feel onto the couch to finally get some blissful sleep.