Summary: Preppy Sakura and rocker Syaoran had been together since the seventh grade. But now, in senior year, Sakura has finally had enough, and ends their almost six year relationship. But Syaoran? No, he just won't give up that easily.

Disclaimer: I do not own CCS or anything like it. I just own this plot line. I also do not own the lyrics which are written in italics. They belong to Maroon 5.

© October 1, 2006

Harder To Breathe
Chapter 3: Reinforcements
Written By: SweetBabyGurl

The rumour that once fell on deaf ears was finally stated to be true. Once people had heard from the lips of Syaoran and Sakura themselves, they were convinced. Some people were happy that both the hottest guy and hottest girl in school were single and ripe for the picking. Others who knew the couple well were troubled, since they knew that something like this would not go down well, especially considering it was Sakura who had done it. If it were the other way around, Sakura would have made sure that she went out gracefully before having a grieving period then moving on. Syaoran on the other hand… he was just a little too cynical and stubborn for that.

It was a Wednesday morning and Syaoran was casually trying to get his locker open without displaying his frustration. It was appalling really. He was the top fighter in all of Japan and China. He was destined to be the next leader of the omnipotent Li Clan. But he could just never get his locker open. Glancing at her through his peripheral vision, he sighed and felt his heart clench. God. How had he made it a week without her already? He couldn't sleep and was too distracted to eat. All he did was his school work and try and think of ways to win her back. Her words forever rang through his head.

He was moron. She knew it; he knew it; all their friends knew it. But would he admit it? Not even if they held a gun to his head. He needed her and it was killing him to have to go on without her. In his dreams he would reach out to grab her, but she would be just at the tip of his fingers, never allowing him to get a grasp on her to hold her close to him.

He missed everything about her. The way she had that special smile for him, and him alone. The way she used to tease him. The way she would be there for him whenever something would go wrong, always telling him it would be alright. The way he knew it was be alright just because she was there. The way whenever they were fighting she would find excuses to talk to him; to touch him; to be with him. He missed the way she used to kiss him. The way she used to tell him off whenever he did something a bit too publicly for her taste. He allowed a smirk at that. She always looked so gorgeous when she had that heated fire in her eyes.

"So Sakura, I heard you're single again, and that means you'll need a date for the semi-formal. What do you say?"

Well, that was enough to snap him out of his agony and turn on the anger. His head snapped over to the direction of where Sakura dressed in her usual school uniform as she held her chemistry text book and binder to her chest, looking quite uncomfortable.

"I don't know if I'm going as of yet. It's just a bit too soon for me right now," she replied, not looking at him and tucking a non-existent strand of hair behind her ear; definitely a sign of discomfort. Sending a glare in the stupid kid's direction, Tai was his name he believed, he took the books he needed for first period before slamming his locker shut and stomping his way over.

"Eheheh, good morning Li-san," the boy greeted Syaoran nervously. "I was just asking Kinomoto here—"

"Get lost idiot," Syaoran growled out, causing Tai to making a small 'eep'ing sound and give a strangled goodbye to Sakura before running away.

"Syaoran, why did scare away my friend?" Sakura asked him, a thin eyebrow raised, fury dancing in her eyes. He had to restrain himself from bracing her against the lockers and kissing her senseless.

Wait a minute. No he didn't.

Taking the books from her hand and dropping them down beside him along with his own, he gently pushed her back against the lockers before cradling her face in his hands and kissing her passionately.

She hadn't spoken to him since that night in the park and just hearing his name was enough to drive him crazy. She responded back just as eagerly which caused him to heave in relief. So she wasn't over him yet. He still had a chance. Pulling away and leaving her breathless, he tenderly gazed in her eyes while pushing her bangs from her eyes.

"Why do you insist on doing this to us Sakura?" He whispered huskily before burying his face into her neck and placing several kisses that were sure to leave marks wherever his lips went.

"Why do you insist on treating me like you don't care?" She whispered back, her hands still in his hair. He snapped his head up and was about to curse her out. He was about to yell at her. He was about to ask her how the hell she could even think that.

But when he saw the pain reflected in those emerald green eyes and the tears that laced them, his mind blanked. As he stumbled back in final recognition of all the damage he had caused, a tear ran down her cheek. He couldn't take it. So he turned his back on her and ran.

He sat in the lush living room and looked around. It hadn't changed much since the last time he was here. And that was over three years ago. There were a couple additional photographs and trinkets, but everything else stayed the same.

After he had run away from Sakura, very cowardly, might he add, he didn't know what to do with himself. He loved her, everyone knew that. But apparently, he hadn't been doing such a great job on showing the emotion to his Sakura lately. Yeah, she told him how he screwed himself over and what he did wrong, but he always thought she would just forgive him and get over it.

But no… now he knew the truth. What he was doing was taking a toll on her, and he was making her fall out of love with him, and that would happen soon if he didn't stop acting this way. But that was the thing. He didn't know how to change back to the guy she fell in love with.

"Li Syaoran. What are you doing here?" She regarded him with cool amethyst eyes.

"Tomoyo, I—" He began to speak.

"Daidouji," she reprimanded him, and he felt like he received a blow to the stomach. One of his childhood friends had turned him into a stranger in an instant.

"I guess I deserved that," he murmured, no intention of having her hear him.

"No you don't," she spoke aloud, and if it came from anyone else but his ex-girlfriend's best friend at that moment, he might have thought of it as an apology.

"I… don't?" He questioned.

"No. You deserve much more," she continued, walking from her original place on the stairs to the living room. "What do you want?"

"Your help. I… I need your help Daidouji," he requested through ground teeth. He was not used to asking for help.

"And why in God's name would I help the likes of you? You ignored me and everyone else around you for years, and then all of a sudden you expect us to be there when you need the people who used to be able to depend on?" She spat the words harshly. The dagger Sakura threw into his heart was slowly being pushed in further; twisting in by the people he used to call friends. And it only affected him so since it was the truth, nothing but the truth.

"I love her, but I've hurt her and I need to make it right. I need her," he whispered, and saw her eyes soften.

"If I decide to help you, it's not going to be easy," she told him outright.

"I can imagine," he murmured. He learned from an early age that the Daidouji women were slave drivers.

"You're going to have to quit drinking, smoking, seeing other girls, going to class, less partying, doing all of homework and changing the way you dress," she listed off her fingers. Nodding, he assured her that he would be willing to do all of it if it meant getting Sakura back.

"Alright then," she replied, clapping her hands together. "The reinforcements are here."

TBC

Readers: Hello, I'm not dead:D Sorry it's taken me forever, but you know the drill. School sucks. Thanks for all of the reviews and I'll try and get the next chapter up as soon as possible. Take care and don't forget to drop a review. Thanks a lot and ja ne!

— SweetBabyGurl

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