Chapter Seven

Truth-telling to a Damsel in Distress

Disclaimer: I don't own CCS.

Exactly one week after her date with Li Syaoran, Satomi had enthusiastically informed Sakura that he had requested her company again. This time, they were to meet at an amusement park. When she arrived, he was already standing at the entrance, waiting for her, dressed pretty much the same as when they were at the mall, except today he wore a dark-green t-shirt. There was nothing flashy about him at all; nothing to suggest he was anything other than what he seemed - your average, incredibly hot guy next door.

He was on his cell phone, apparently typing a message. However, when she was about ten feet away from him he looked up, almost like he had sensed her presence. Time slowed. Each fierce beat of her heart sent shock waves throughout her body, and it felt like forever had come and gone and she was still walking towards him.

Syaoran's gaze dropped back to his phone, breaking his hold over her. She drew in a deep breath and her depleted lungs thanked her by swelling wide. He pushed his phone deep into his jeans pocket and she ran a hand down the side of her peach silk-chiffon skirt, smoothing out the non-existent wrinkles. Again, she had bought something new to try and impress him with and like before, she hoped he would like the way she looked.

As soon as she settled herself in front of him, he spoke.

"You're six minutes late."

His snappish comment momentarily stunned her tongue.

"I- there was a little traffic."

"I don't like tardiness. But today, I don't have anything pressing. So it's fine."

Sakura nodded and bowed her head, thinking to herself, if it was fine, why did he have to mention it? If they had met before she had worked as a courtesan, he would definitely be frustrated with her because she had always been chronically late. That happened when you liked to sleep a lot.

To her dismay, by the time she realised he was looking her over, he was already done and nothing about his expression suggested that she had wowed him. All the anticipation she had built up inside her deflated and she followed him past the large iron gates, reprimanding herself for wasting time trying on that other shoe before she left her apartment.

"Did you have a good time in Hong Kong, Li-san?" she asked as they walked by a roller coaster. There was a chorus of excited and terrified screams and he glanced up at it.

"I got what I needed done, if that's what you mean."

It was not what she meant but she would accept that answer. She was probably lucky he had replied at all.

"Is Hong Kong where you're from?" she asked.

"Yes."

"But you work in Japan?"

"Every so often."

"It must be tough working far away from home."

"Not really."

"But you must miss your family. And they must miss you."

"There are a lot of women in my family," said Syaoran. "Getting away from them keeps me sane."

Sakura giggled. Stopped. Then giggled again, giving her head a disbelieving shake.

"What?" asked Syaoran, eyeing her with suspicion.

"It's funny," said Sakura, face bright. "You're trying to get away from women but you're out with me."

"That's different," he told her.

"How?"

"I choose to be around you. I select the exact place and time. After a few hours I get to say goodbye forever, unless I want to see you again. You could say, I take you in very small doses."

"Oh."

From what Satomi had once said to her, men liked to lose themselves in the fantasy of going out with good-looking and intelligent women who were there to live for them for whatever length of time they bought. But Li Syaoran was not like that. He remained very conscious that she was a courtesan and that he was paying her to be out with him. Why was it so hard for him to relax and enjoy their time together? Did a courtesan hurt him in the past? Looking at him, she could not believe that there was a person alive capable of doing such a thing. He may very well be made of steel.

Then something occurred to her.

"I thought you said that you wouldn't send for me again?" she asked him. "That our last date was a one-time thing?"

Syaoran cast a sideways glance at her again. Aloof. Unreadable.

"The last time I had to leave early," he stated. "Technically, this is the continuation of that meeting."

Sakura did not feel that way. She felt it was a new date with a fresh set of three hours but she did not say so. Nor did she tell him that a true continuation of their date would be only thirty minutes long. She had to suspect that he had truly wanted to come out with her again or he would not have. That must mean she was winning him over in some way, right? Maybe he was realizing that courtesans were not as bad as he believed?

This must be true because he was more pleasant to her that day than he had ever been despite his rude greeting. He offered to buy her cotton candy and did so when she accepted, he walked in front of her in crowded areas, paid for her to play several games and even won a shooting game himself, winning her a teddy bear.

"Arigatou gozaimasu," she said, hugging the brown medium-sized bear to her. "I love teddies. Actually, any kind of stuffed animal toys. Oh and you're a really good shot, Li-san. I rarely win anything from that kind of game. How did you do it?"

Syaoran stood, hands in his pockets, and peered down at her for a moment, probably trying to detect if she really meant what she had told him. Plastering a wide, radiant smile on her face she waited for him to speak.

"Like a real gun," he explained. "It's all about grip, breath control, stance."

"You've shot real guns before?" she asked him, awed.

"Yes. I learned at the gun range when I was young."

"And you did this... for fun?"

"Yes."

"So you own a gun?"

"No."

Sakura breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Good. Because real guns are dangerous, you know."

There was a flash of amusement in his eyes.

"Yes. Real guns are dangerous."

He ruffled the hair at the back of his head as he gazed around at the other booths and stalls, teeming with patrons. Sakura's eyes grew round. A clown ahead of them was juggling several bowling balls while standing on one leg. It was amazing, the skills people possessed. It was nice that there was always someplace to put those skills to use. Yet she was still trying to figure out what her talents were.

"Do you want to go on a ride now?" Syaoran asked her, yanking her out of her musings.

She looked around. Hordes of people were queued in front of various rides. By the time they got on one ride, their date would be over. She ran a finger across her lips as she thought.

"The lines are very long."

"It doesn't matter," said Syaoran. "Pick one."

"The ferris wheel is my favourite," she told him.

She half-expected him to pull some rich person stunt and buy his way to the front of the line but Syaoran headed off to buy the tickets at the ticket booth. Then he patiently waited with her for - and she winced - twenty whole minutes until it was their turn. The conductor helped her into one of the cars. Syaoran climbed in after her and sat on the opposite seat. When the door shut, a deafening silence fell over them.

Sakura shifted uneasily, suddenly aware that she was locked in there with Syaoran for the next fifteen minutes or so. He wasted no time in taking up his leisurely pursuit. His eyes were already caressing her with impunity. The self-assurance in his posture and the simmering heat in his eyes made the pores on her arms raise. He was thinking something and from the way his lips kept tugging at the sides, he was relishing it immensely. Her entire body flushed and as she glanced out their car, she ever so subtly rubbed her thighs together, an irrational bout of excitement rising in her.

"You know, Li-san," she said, playing with the teddy bear on her lap to purify her senses. "You surprise me with your choice of venue. You did last time as well. You don't seem like the type of person who enjoys malls or amusement parks."

"I'm not," said Syaoran, his concentrated stare following the movement of her ankles uncrossing and crossing each other. "But if I took you to some place I would normally take a date, I'll run into people I don't want to run into when I'm with you."

There was a sick feeling in Sakura's stomach. Was he ashamed to be seen with her? He may have read her mind because he leaned forward and said, "It's not because you're a courtesan. Didn't I tell you not to feel special?"

She fiddled with the teddy bear's round ears. She knew she was not the best looking courtesan around but she cleaned up well and she felt she looked cute in her skirt today. She was always on her best behaviour too.

"Then why don't you want to be seen with me?" she ventured to ask. "I assure you Li-san, I wouldn't embarrass you in front of your colleagues or friends."

He leaned back in his seat.

"I don't like people knowing much about my private life so I prefer to keep our meetings to myself."

"Okay."

It was strange to hear him say she was a part of his private life but it was flattering all the same.

"Meaning, Eriol and Takashi don't need to know about this," said Syaoran, his face solemn.

They fell into a semi-awkward silence. The ferris wheel began it's first rotation and Sakura rest her teddy bear down and walked over to one of the transparent sides of the car. Every now and then the wheel would stop so that the passengers could enjoy the view. She got so caught up looking at the lush green mountaintops in the distance and the sense of nostalgia they brought, she almost forgot that Syaoran was there. That is, until he came to stand beside her, his ever-watchful eyes on her instead of the breathtaking scenery outside.

"Courtesan," he said, to get her attention.

Like he had to go through the trouble.

As soon as he moved from the car bench, he had her attention.

"You're not entertaining me."

Why did she have to flush every time his eyes bore into her own? Why did he always have to make her feel totally bare to him? Sakura was sure she could be wearing a dozen fur coats and she would still feel that way.

"I…" She took a deep breath. "I was just thinking."

"About what."

"I guess my life," she told him, half watching the view of the park below them. "I remember in high school, I would go out with my friends to the park sometimes. Ride on the ferris wheel and look out at the world like I'm doing now. Back then, to me, everything seemed possible. The freedom I would get by becoming eighteen, the choices, they were all so exciting then."

Syaoran leaned his back against the transparent side of the car and folded his arms, his gaze still fixed on her.

"And now?" he asked her, when she did not continue her contemplation straightaway.

She absentmindedly drew hearts with her finger on the side of the car, right between her and Syaoran.

"Now, sometimes, I feel like I don't even know who I am. What I want. The choices are so many, I can't decide on any one. This freedom I have almost feels like a burden. I hold and tell myself all the time that everything is going to be all right but I think, what I really need sometimes is..."

She touched her forehead to the car, a heaviness in her heart and mind.

"I think what I need is for someone else to hold me. Tell me the same thing. Maybe then I'll really believe my words. 'The real world' as they always called it in school is actually a lot scarier than I imagined. But I think, that if I stay cheery and positive then good things will happen. Because we get from the world what we put in right?"

She looked up at Syaoran. There was the slightest frown between his brows and she realised her mistake.

"I'm sorry Li-san. I know you don't want to hear these depressing things. They've just been floating around in my head and when you asked, I answered honestly."

He nodded.

"I suppose you have everything you could ever want," said Sakura. "I can tell that you're a very strong person. You're probably not afraid of anything."

They were at the top level of the ferris wheel and he glanced down through the corner of his eyes.

"When I was ten, I feared heights."

She gasped.

"I'm sorry! If I had known, I wouldn't have chosen the ferris wheel!"

"I said when I was ten," he repeated. "They don't bother me anymore."

Sakura clasped her hands behind her back.

"They say people who fear heights are really afraid of falling."

"So I've heard."

Twisting her hips so she could feel the soft flow of chiffon around her legs, Sakura proclaimed, "Someday, I'll be fearless. And strong. And I'll be one of the happiest persons in the world."

"How are you going to do that?" asked Syaoran.

"You really want to know?"

"Yes."

"Well," said Sakura, almost like she and Syaoran were conspiring. "I'm going to figure out what I want to do in life. Beyond being a courtesan, that is. And fingers crossed, I'm going to get married to the most wonderful man on Earth. But I don't expect to marry a client, Li-san" she added quickly.

"All I want is a regular nice guy. One's who's kind and smart and supportive. For my father's sake, he has to have a good job. But I don't care about that. As long as he loves me unconditionally, I'll be glad."

Syaoran gave her a skeptical look and she clamped her hands over her hot face and giggled.

"I'm serious. I'm such a romantic. And I know I should be logical too but I can't help myself."

Trying to suppress the huge grin on her face Sakura looked out at the tall buildings in the distance, her cheeks ablaze. She was starting to lose herself in thoughts about the future once more when Syaoran asked her a question.

"What's your name?"

She turned to him with disappointment. He had forgotten?

"Ayame. Sakamoto Ayame."

Syaoran shook his head.

"Your real name. I know that one's a fake."

"I can't tell you my real name," said Sakura, averting her eyes so she did not have to look at his displeased scowl. "I'm not supposed to. You'll know who I am."

The strength of Syaoran's stare intensified tenfold.

"You know who I am."

"It's not the same," Sakura insisted. "I signed non-disclosure contracts. I'll be in big trouble if I told someone I went out with you."

He raked his fingers through his hair.

"I understand. You want confidentiality. But if you do tell me, no one but us will ever know," he assured her.

And his voice was so rich, so subliminally seductive that Sakura almost spilled her soul to him.

"I won't tell anyone," he stressed. "I give you my word."

Sakura's heart thumped faster and faster. She could feel his will seeping into her. This was someone who got what he wanted but she was too afraid to reveal herself to him. To give in. Right then, anyway.

"I can't Li-san," she managed to say, her throat dry.

"What would it take to persuade you otherwise?"

He meant money and Sakura was insulted that he kept on insinuating that he could buy things from her that she was not selling.

"I can't," was her firm answer. Then like the coward she remembered she was, she added, "Satomi-san will be mad."

She returned to her seat, her legs turning to jello under Syaoran's hard glare. She put her teddy bear on her lap and decidedly stared at it. She wanted to tell Syaoran her name on one hand because in some silly way, she had to wonder if he liked her just a little. Why else would he care what her real name was? No other client had asked that before. But on the other hand, something deep inside warned her about him.

It could be Kazumi's voice. The girl had told her on the drive home after chaperoning her on her first date, that super rich men did not get that way by accident. They were persuasive, ruthless and selfish and they always had to get what they wanted no matter what it took or who got hurt in the process. Do not fall for one, she had said. And if you do, never let him know how much you care. He will use it and he will ruin you.

She felt Syaoran's footsteps resound in her chest as he moved back to the seat opposite. His gaze was fixed outside and he, without a doubt , was not happy. The remainder of the ride was unbearably long for Sakura. Many times she wanted to say she was sorry that she could not tell him what he wanted to hear but she doubted that he would care for an apology without her disclosing her name after it.

A few minutes later the ride came to an end and they went over to a botanical garden. Sakura kept checking for any signs that Syaoran was open to conversation but his staid demeanour was not handing out any invitations.

When he veered off the paved path, she followed.

"Do you know where you're going?" she asked, suddenly remembering the story of Little Red Riding Hood.

"I'll be able to find my way back, courtesan," said Syaoran, without so much as a reassuring glance back at her.

The way he said courtesan made it clear that he was still cross that she did not tell him her name. Sakura wished he could put it behind him the same way he had told her to put the terrible things he had said to her out of her mind.

The terrain of the woods was starting to become more rugged and it made Sakura's strides unstable even though her heels were not too thin or too high. Men never took such things into consideration yet, perhaps she should have said something earlier. Maybe Syaoran would have stayed on the flat pathway.

Ahead of her, he was moving steadily forward almost like he meant to leave her behind. She delved deep in her thoughts, wondering how she could get him to smile. Should she try another riddle? She was trying to remembering a good one when her shoes slid against a fallen twig. She came crashing down to the ground, butt first.

"Hoe..." she moaned, eyes shut tight.

The stones on the ground bit into her tender behind and her palm that had shot out to brace her, was grazed by sharp pebbles. She brought it up to eye-level. Thankfully it was only bruised and she did not get any cuts. Amazingly, she was still clutching tight to her teddy bear. She was about to begin her embarrassing journey upwards when she heard dry, fallen foliage crunching beneath feet. Syaoran's shoes came into view and she bowed her head. She had finally done it. She had finally made a fool of herself. And he had not even been watching her that time.

A palm appeared in front of her and she followed its origin, up a lean arm to find Syaoran watching her expectantly. She looked at his hand again and light seemed to emanate from it, beckoning. Was he really offering to help her up? Was she really going to touch him? The way he presented himself, cool and distant, it felt like an honour to do so.

Tentatively, she reached out, her heartbeats hammering in her ears. Her fingers hovered over his and she did not know why she suddenly felt scared to feel him. Even he had an air of apprehension about him, like he wanted to help her but at the same time, preferred she get up on her own. Which should it be?

Biting her bottom lip, she touched her fingertips to his and the shock was so severe, she flinched. She heard Syaoran draw in a sharp breath and when she gazed up at him, his head was angled back, warily. Yet, his hand never faltered. Squeezing the teddy bear tighter to her, Sakura very gently rest her fingers against his.

She shuddered. His thumb, slightly rough, slid with tormenting slowness up the back of her hand as his long fingers enveloped her in a warm, secure hold. For a crazy moment she thought that like Eriol, he would kiss her on it. Instead he stepped back, pulling her to her feet. Sakura, looking at her hand laying in his, reddened.

"Arigatou," she murmured.

She expected him to release her but he peered down at her shoes.

"There's a clearing up ahead," he said, and he started walking, still holding onto her, though a bit lighter this time.

Her legs were a bit shaky from her fall and every time she stumbled, Syaoran would grip her hand tighter before loosening his grip again. It steadied her physically but inside, she was tumbling all over herself. He's a client, she shouted in her mind, he's a client! He gazed at her through the corner of his eye just as she looked up at him. She glanced away but when she looked back, she discovered that his gaze had not wavered.

Goodness gracious. She was staring at his lips. And her insides were flipping. And her heart was skipping beats. Eriol had said he was a good guy. But Eriol could be wrong. But oh, if he was right it would be so amaz - client, she repeated to herself. He was a client. And strong, rude, silent types were not attractive to her at all. But he had apologized. Oh, Kinomoto Sakura, stop it.

As Syaoran had said, they eventually came upon a clearing. The only sounds Sakura could hear besides the sounds they made were that of critters on the ground and birds fluttering in the tree-tops.

"It's quiet."

"I like quiet," said Syaoran. "There's too many people in the park today."

"Well it's a Sunday."

She unconsciously sidled up to him.

"I'm having a good time anyway," she said. "I hope you are too."

She smiled wide and he came to an abrupt stop. Suddenly, her hand felt bare as his fingers released her. He stalked over to a pine tree and stood against it, brows furrowed.

"What is it?" she asked.

The leaves above their heads rustled in a passing wind and some golden ones drifted down around them. She squinted up at the soft sunlight, playing prettily through the branches of the trees.

"Why are you doing this?" asked Syaoran.

Sakura tilted her head in question not quite understanding.

"Being a companion, as you say," said Syaoran. "Why do you do it?

Sakura ambled away, taking in the sight of the thriving woods. Was he going to be mean to her now? It hurt because she thought they were getting on good terms. It was mind-boggling how he pulled and pushed her with such ease and still she wanted more - to see the side of him Eriol mentioned.

"It's my job," she told him, just loud enough to be heard.

"There are other jobs," he said to her. "Why did you choose this one?"

Sakura pressed her hand against a tree, feeling the jagged bark beneath her fingers.

"It pays well." She shrugged. "I'm not really talented at anything and it's not too difficult for me. It allows me to meet all kinds of interesting people, and dress up, and go to nice places... but I'm not going to do it forever, you know. When I get enough money I- "

She paused, alarmed at how much of herself she was revealing to Syaoran. Her hopes, her dreams... it was all too much.

"What do you need money for?" he asked.

Sakura sighed, feeling a headache coming on from out of nowhere.

"Why are we always discussing money Li-san?" she asked, a pained smile on her face.

He cocked his head to the side, eyes narrowing.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, retreating a little.

He took a few steps towards her and her bones turned to stone.

"You're naive," he told her. "Even after you get whatever money you need, you're not going to stop."

"How do you know?"

"I told you courtesan, I know all about women like you. I've been around you my entire life. When you're old and can't keep up with the younger ones any longer you'll be cast aside. But you don't quit. Not on your own. It's becomes too addictive."

Sakura's lips trembled.

"I... What does it matter to you? You're always looking down your nose at me Li-san but I'm not hurting anyone. So I let them touch me, kiss me sometimes but it's all harmless. And I-"

Syaoran was looking at her piercingly, his expression alternating between one of disgust and confusion. He moved so close to her that she saw her face reflected in his brown eyes and smelled that delightful cologne he wore.

"Where?" he asked her, hands held stiffly at his side.

"Nani?" asked Sakura, her braining slowing to a crawl.

"They kiss you where?"

Overwhelmed by his presence, she looked away.

"...you know."

Syaoran shook his head.

"My cheeks," said Sakura, thinking to herself that his line of questioning and her answering him was a bit abnormal.

"Only?"

"Little pecks on my lips sometimes."

Syaoran averted his eyes sharply, and a split second later, they was back on her.

"But you're only for platonic -" He paused, devouring her frame with his eyes and finally, she got the assurance that she did look good that day. "You didn't tell me kissing was allowed."

"You didn't ask about kissing. Besides, you said you didn't care about the agency's rules."

Syaoran stared in surprise. Her words had obviously caught him off guard but he was quickly recovering. That predatory gleam was in his eyes and he advanced on her. She stepped back as he continued to step forward, until her back bumped against a tree.

Syaoran's hand inched towards her face, passed tantalizingly close to the curve of her chin before falling back to his side. Her scalp prickled and she wondered what magic he was emanating to cause her body to react this way.

"Where do they touch you?" he asked her.

Sakura blushed but kept her mouth firmly shut. She had never been asked that directly. Usually, it was one tentative touch followed by many other tentative, 'accidental' touches that she pretended she had not noticed.

"Li-san…"

"I want to know," said Syaoran, looking deep into her eyes, his own pupils dilated so much, his eyes appeared black. "Tell me."

He adjusted his position and she had to press her back into the tree trunk to keep a sliver of space between them. The poor teddy was squashed against her chest as she clutched it tight.

"Normal places," she said, her heart racing like a wild horse.

Syaoran's head was angled downwards and his eyes were so captivating and his scent so intoxicating that even though her body was saying no, her neck was stretching up, exposing her lips to his.

"Like?" he asked, voice becoming husky.

"I... it's... girlfriend-boyfriend touching..."

"That could mean a host of things. Be specific."

Sakura swallowed. Each word coming out of his mouth though normal enough, sounded so lewd, so licentious, she felt beads of sweat gathering in the valley of her breasts which were heaving with each breath she took. And even though he was not physically restraining her, Syaoran's aura had her pinned down so securely, that despite her undeniable attraction to him, she was beginning to panic.

"Li-san, can you step back a little? Please?"

His head dipped but he wrenched it back.

He turned and walked away, fingers flexing. Then shockingly, he came back to her and he held out his hand.

"Let's head back."

When she timidly took his hand, he closed his fingers over hers and squeezed. Her hand shook as his trembled but in a matter of seconds it had finished and his hold was steady once more. Gently, he drew her along as they walked back the way they came.

When they reached the stone path they had deviated from earlier, Syaoran came to a stop and released her. Staring straight ahead of them at the soaring roller coaster in the distance, he said, "You realise those touches you mentioned are going to turn into something more. Right?"

Sakura sighed.

"I don't do that Li-san."

"Matsushita won't put that offer on her website and you say you don't do that," he said, like he had not heard her just now. "But you must be aware that the other girls do."

Sakura made no indication that he was right and that indeed, she did know. She had found out some time now.

"Yet I still have to pay a lot to see you. What makes you so special, that you command the price of a woman who would see to my every twisted need? Have you thought about that?" He looked at Sakura, flush in the face and she reddened. "After all, you're new to this and it's excruciatingly obvious."

"I try," said Sakura, defensively. "I know I'm not perfect yet but-"

"You're a virgin."

Sakura recoiled like she had been lashed with a bullwhip. Her cheeks were on fire and steam was flying out of her ears but Syaoran's grim expression had not changed.

"That too is obvious to me now," he continued, and he watched her seriously. "It explains many things. Men, particularly older men, don't mind you not being perfect because being with someone pure is enticing to them. Exotic, even. Matsushita knows that. You really think it wise to be entertaining men, when you've never even been with one?"

He waited for a response but Sakura could not form a coherent sentence right then. How could he talk about others' sex lives or lack of them, so calm and collected? Like it was his business?

"I assume by your silence that you really are a virgin. You do know what men want from you? Doesn't it bother you to have so much attention from so many men focused on that one thing?"

Sakura's heart was hammering so hard the force of the blood gushing through her veins made her ears hurt and her vision blur. Sometimes, she did get scared being out on her own with strange men but she would not admit that to Syaoran. Not when he had such a superior air about him.

"I don't see why I can't go out with them," she mumbled. "They're all mostly gentlemen and they've never said they wanted-"

"You don't know how these things work so let me enlighten you, courtesan," he said, with a hint of mocking. "Matsushita's dangling you in front of men who for whatever reasons enjoy the company of less experienced females. That's why she has you doing these little girlfriend-type dates. When enough men show interest in you, she'll start a bid and the highest bidder wins. You. Alone in a hotel room for three days or so. And bear in mind, when you sell yourself, enjoying it is a privilege you won't get."

Sakura's chest was tightening. Here he was again, judging her. Being a know-it-all. But this was one blow too many, and maybe that was because she did wonder late in the night if Satomi was as nice as she portrayed herself to be. She did not want to hear sense from this man though.

"I'm not a prostitute!"

He raised an eyebrow.

"No. Not yet. But when a million dollars is laid out in front of you, we'll see."

Her eyes burned as they filled with tears. She sniffed and looked about her. A few people walked by on the path and she did not speak until they were out of earshot.

"I'm not the kind of girl you think I am Li-san."

"I think you're exactly that kind," said Syaoran. "Too ignorant to see when you're being taken advantage of."

"I'm not!" said Sakura. Some girls did things with their clients but Satomi never said it was required. If they wanted to do so, it was their choice. "I know exactly what I'm doing."

"So you want to be auctioned off to the highest bidder despite all your talk about me only being able to buy your time."

"Satomi-san would never do that to me. I will never do that."

"That's what you all say but your actions always contradict. And don't for a second believe, she has not done this before. The woman is notorious for her virgin auctions. She calls them her Cherry Deals."

Sakura bit down on her teeth. How was he so certain? His confident words were making her dizzy. Was he right? He could not be right. She was not for sale. Dazed, she checked her watch. Overjoyed, she saw that it was time for her to leave. Syaoran saw her eyes on the time and his face hardened.

"I'll walk you out," he said before she could tell him that time was up.

He did not say another word to her nor she to him as he led her out of the amusement park's gates and that was one silence Sakura did not mind at all.


A/N

Hey Tomodachi! I got really busy this week but I wrote chapter eight (roughly) so it will be out in a jiffy. Thank you again signed reviewers and anonymous reviewers Guest, Reader, Yuki, abcdef, Chiyokira, Monster xo, aisora14 (Syaoran is in pure Lust Mode. He really doesn't care about Sakura but I think in this chapter, he's seeing her as a real person for the first time. But still, not much there yet but when he starts to really like her you'll know ^_^. Another smart alec reviewer I see, calling out the lust not love thing :P lol), and thank you too, Guest and SS fan. And those who favourited the fic, thank you as well.

Have no fear, Syaoran's POV next chapter and you'll know how he found his dates went. wink.

Read and Review. And Until Next Time, Ja ne! ^_^