Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. Get used to it.

(Recap)

Sakura couldn't believe what Touya had said. And she started to smile happily as she recalled what he said, replaying it over and over again.

'I know you love him, imouto-chan. Just make sure he takes care of you, or I'll kill him, got it?'

And she giggled

-------------------------------Chapter 8-------------------------------------

Sakura awoke the next day shivering with anticipation.

Today, she was going on a date.

With Li.

At this thought, she started to blush profusely, but later got out of her flowery bed and looked at the clock.

9:36 a.m.

That gave her about two and a half hours to pick the perfect swimsuit and the outfit to go with it…

Sakura thought for a second, and then it struck her. She looked frantically in all of her drawers and in her closet, and realized…

'I don't have a swimsuit!' she thought fearfully.

Sakura immediately grabbed her cherry blossom cell phone and dialed the number she knew she had to call someday, on this occasion.

"Hello?"

"…Tomoyo-chan?"

"Hai, Sakura-chan? Nani yo?"

"Well… We have a situation…" Sakura could see Tomoyo's eyes widening through the phone.

"What kind of situation?" Tomoyo asked excitedly.

"Sigh… I have no swimsuit or clothes…"

"Why is that a problem?"

'THAT'S RIGHT!' Sakura thought as she slapped herself. 'I didn't tell Tomoyo!'

"I forgot to tell you yesterday?"

"…forgot to tell me what?" said Tomoyo mockingly, already knowing what she was going to say.

"That… Li-kun and I… are going on a date to the beach…" Sakura squeaked out, before hurriedly yanking the phone away from her ear to avoid the inevitable onslaught of:

"KAWAII! KAWAII, KAWAII, KAWAIIIIIIIIIIIIII! KAWAAAAAAII!"

Sakura sweatdropped, and counted the seconds. 43 seconds.

"You done yet, Tomoyo-chan?"

"Gomennasai. Hai, I'm done!" Tomoyo squealed.

"So… what do I do? I have two hours and… 15 minutes to get my outfit!" Sakura squealed into the phone worriedly.

"Meet me at the mall. You have 5 minutes." Click.

-----------------------------At Tomoeda Mall-------------------------------

Sakura didn't even get a chance to look around before she was grabbed roughly by the arm in a flash of blue-black hair and pulled into UnderH2O, the most fashionable swimsuit store in all of Tomoeda.

"YEEP! Tomoyo-chan! Hold on! I can't see where I'm going!" squeaked Sakura as Tomoyo get piling on suits and random coverings to go with them into Sakura's outstretched hands.

"Don't worry, Sakura! I know your limits better than anyone!" Tomoyo chided mockingly. "Now go! Into the dressing room!" she pointed, and helped Sakura to them.

After 45 minutes of trying on swimsuits, they had found the perfect one.

"Oh… maybe we shouldn't get this one… Li-kun might not be able to restrain himself!" Tomoyo gasped and exclaimed.

Sakura turned a bright red from head-to-toe.

"W-w-well, I'm sure Li-kun will be a gentleman, so let's get it…" Sakura stuttered, happy that she'd be able to impress Li.

Sakura's eyes widened as she reached into her white handbag.

"TOMOYO-CHAN! I forgot my mon-" Sakura trailed as she looked up, only to see Tomoyo paying for the swimsuit already.

"But, Tomoyo! I can't let you pay for today!" gasped Sakura.

"Of course you can, Sakura-chan!" said Tomoyo, smiling the biggest smile she had in years. "This is your lucky day, I intend to make sure you are dressed as such!" she said as she pumped her hand in emphasis.

Sakura smiled at her friend, and hugged her tightly.

"Thanks, Tomoyo-chan! You're the best!"

"I know, dahling, I know!" mocked Tomoyo in a fake accent, making Sakura giggle. "Now, let's go! We still have to get you an outfit to wear going to and after the beach!"

"Okay, but we only have... about 2 hours to get it, go back to my house, and get ready to leave!" Sakura said.

"Don't worry, I intend to get done MUCH faster than that, hehehe..." Tomoyo said, eyes gleaming.

This, unknown to Tomoyo, scared Sakura.

"Eheheheheh... r-r-right, Tomoyo-chan!" said Sakura nervously as Tomoyo pulled her into countless numbers of stores, before settling on something Tomoyo said would make Li's "eyes bulge out of his sockets."

The entire project took about and hour and 45 minutes, leaving about a half-hour for Sakura to get ready.

The two then went to Sakura's house, where Tomoyo continued to pore over her, putting her hair this way and that, and adding small amounts of make-up, not that Sakura needed it, mind you.

And when they were finished, all Tomoyo could do was gawk with glassy eyes at her masterpiece.

They finished at exactly 11:56, giving Sakura a few minutes to gawk at herself in the mirror before walking downstairs to meet Li.

Li was shocked. He'd never imagined any girl looking this beautiful. He already thought Sakura was the most beautiful creature to grace this Earth, but now... she was a goddess.

His feet moved without thinking as he glided over to the staircase and took her hand.

She was wearing a tight dark green tank top with a small pink blossom embroidered on the right shoulder strap, and pink ribbons splaying forth from it across the front of the shirt, making them look like pink sunbeams; tight black capris with dark green stitching, and dainty black and green flats with a green beaded flower on each heel. She had a small amount of lip gloss on, just enough to drive him nuts for her lips, and he could smell it: strawberry daiquiri. On her ears were tiny sakura blossoms with dark green leaves, and his and her mother's pendant adorned her neck. Her hair was in a loose upsweep, and sent small strips of hair to frame her delicate face, and her beautiful emerald eyes. Those eyes which could easily have someone lost in them.

As Li was now.

"Wow. You... look... amazing." he breathed out, amazed that such a girl would give him the time of day.

Sakura was blushing wildly, and held her hands up to her mouth, little green bag in hand, to cover her blushing face, before Li took her hands and her breath away.

"Don't cover your face. I want to see you."

They took each other's hands, blushing and smiling, before slowly walking out the door, ignoring Tomoyo's "KAWAII" chorus and video-taping, and Fujitaka's tearing as he saw his little girl go.

And they walked together, hand in hand.

As they walked, Li decided he would tell her, but not before calming her down some.

"Sakura, did you know that you're wearing my favorite color?" he smiled at her softly.

Sakura brightened, and then blushed.

"...Yes, yes I did. I wanted to look especially nice for you today..." she said shyly, hiding her head.

Li gently cupped her cheek and turned her to face him.

"Don't look away from me. I told you, I need to be able to see your face..." he said, blushing at how desperate it sounded.

Sakura was in heaven. Her Li-kun liked her, maybe even loved her back. All she knew was, she loved him, and that would never change. She gently took his face, and bent him down to kiss him.

And that was all it took for Li to make up his mind, as he reached into his pocket to touch the question…

---------------------------------The Beach----------------------------------

The couple was still smiling and blushing even when they reached the beach. The two then went off to their separate cabanas and changed.

Both Sakura and Li could hardly restrain themselves when they saw each other.

Li was, of course, topless, his lightly tanned and toned body making Sakura blush and feel like she was in the presence of a model. He wore black surf shorts with a dark green dragon with shimmering silver scales going up the side.

'Oh god, he looks good...' she thought, before blushing even brighter when she saw his eyes on her.

She was blushing, standing there in the sand in a dark pink and green bikini, with cherry blossoms weaving throughout the design. And Li noticed something else. There was a small tattoo at the beginning of her hip. A small moon and sun.

He leaned forward and kissed her, before grabbing her in his arms and carrying her bridal style to the water and throwing her in. She sputtered for a while at the shock of the water touching her skin, but later got an idea.

"L-L-Li-kun... I'm c-c-cold!" she stuttered, with a mischievous glint in her eye, which went unnoticed by Li.

As he came in to get her, she grabbed him by the shoulders and dunked him, and swam away quickly, before coming up and laughing at the shocked and stuttering boy in front of her.

"A...bwa...how...I'M GONNA GET YOU FOR THAT ONE, 'KURA!" he growled out, smiling as he came for her.

"AHHH!" she squealed and screamed, running through the water at no avail as he tackled her into the water, where they shared a salty underwater kiss, and played for the rest of the afternoon.

Before they were about to leave for home, Li gathered Sakura up in his arms as they sat on the beach towel. Sakura blushed and looked up at him, his eyes a smoldering amber as he looked her.

"Li-kun? Is something wrong?" she questioned.

He smiled for a minute then kissed her.

"No, there's nothing wrong. In fact, I want to tell you something." he said softly into her ear, making her shiver at the contrast of the cool air and hot breath.

"I love you." he said softly.

Sakura stared up at him with wide eyes, not able to believe what she had just heard.

"Li… say it again…" she said quietly.

Li was confused. Did she not hear him?

"I said I love you, 'Kura. I love you."

Sakura started to smile, before turning around and knocking him to the sand and giving him a searing kiss, one that confirmed her emotions for him.

When they broke the kiss, Li brought a tiny silver velvet box our from his pants pocket.

"Sakura… I lived without you for four long-ass years. I don't think I can do that again." he said smiling. "I'm giving you this as a promise." he said, opening the small box and making Sakura gasp and stare in amazement.

Inside the box rested the most beautiful ring she'd ever seen. It had a platinum band, and a silver cherry blossom brushed with pink, and a three stunning pink diamonds in the middle of the blossom, with opalescent green leaves fringing the blossom.

Li slowly took the ring out of the box and looked at her slowly.

"Sakura… this is a promise ring. I want to make a promise to you. I promise that as soon as we're 20, I will sweep you off your feet, and marry you, even if your stupid brother says no. Will you wait for me?" he said softly.

Sakura started crying, and looked at Li, a smile across her face.

'He asked me to marry him… he asked me to marry him… Oh God, he asked me to marry him!'

She quickly embraced him, and sobbed on his shoulder.

"Syaoran Li… no, Xiaolang Li… how stupid ARE you?" she shouted at him, worrying him and causing his face to scrunch up in confusion.

"Of course I'll marry you, you idiot!" she said before kissing him on the lips, with the most passion and happiness she'd ever had in her life.

All Li could do was lie there happily, no, in a state of ecstasy as he realized this girl would be with him for the rest of his life.

And then the rest of his words set in.

'Will you wait for me?'

"Wait... Xiaolang, what will I have to wait for?" she asked quietly.

Li straightened up and cupped her cheek.

"I need to go back to Hong Kong for a while... no longer than a year at the most, to get living arrangements set for... us, here in Tomoeda. My mother said that I needed to find the person I loved more than anything, and take her back to meet her... I leave in a week. Will you come with me?" he questioned.

Sakura was, again, in shock. Her green eyes widened, realizing that she would be going to Hong Kong to meet the now famous Yelan Li, whom Li had been constantly talking about on their date, and what she was like. She had finally figured out that Li had done this to get her ready to meet Yelan.

"Well, I want to be with you forever, so I guess that means yes, ne?" she said confidently, as she rested her head on his chest.

"So... should we be going back to tell the good news to everyone, 'Kura?" he said smirking.

She looked into his eyes, and realized something. She no longer felt helpless and lost when she looked into them. She felt... stronger, more alive.

She smiled and started to get up, before Li pulled her back.

"No, allow me." he said softly, before scooping her up in his arms bridal style, and carrying her back to the house, Sakura blushing at the looks there were getting the entire way back.

------------------------------Back at Home---------------------------------

Sakura had invited everyone over to her house the very instant she and Li had stepped through the threshold. Everyone meaning EVERYONE, including Yamazaki, Naoko, Chiharu, Rika, Meiling, Yukito, Tomoyo, and Eriol (to Li's disgust).

Tomoyo had of course, brought her video camera, as she felt tonight might be special. She immediately whipped it out when she heard Sakura and Li clear their throats.

"Um... thanks to everyone for coming on such short notice. Li-kun and I have something to share with everybody..." said Sakura, blushing lightly.

"OH MY GOD! YOU'RE PREGNANT, AREN'T YOU! YOU LITTLE BRAT, I TOLD YOU NOT T-OW! OWWW! OW! OW! STOP ALREADY!" screamed Touya, as he was beaten severely by the couple trying to speak.

"Ahem... as I was saying, we have something to share with everybody. NO, I am NOT pregnant... Li-kun and I... are going to get married!" she squealed.

Dead silence.

"KYAAA!" squealed Naoko.

"FLIPPIN' FINALLY!" yelled Chiharu.

"Took you guys long enough!" exclaimed Rika.

"Well, did you know that if the groom and the bride–"

"SHUT UP YAMAZAKI!" shouted everyone in unison.

"Fine. Some people have no appreciation for creative genius." Yamazaki sulked.

"Well, you guys are going to have to wait longer. We're not going to get married until we're 20." At this, many grunts and groans of disapproval rang throughout the room. "Hold on, hold on, there's a reason!" Li said.

"Yup! Li-kun wants to have me visit his mother, Yelan Li, in Hong Kong in one week. I will be staying there for 2 months with the permission of otou-san..." she said as she turned to face Fujitaka.

Fujitaka was now the center of attention, and was getting many glares stating what he was advised to say. He had a very good sense of self-preservation.

"Of course, you can go, Sakura." he said smiling, as a tear slid down his face, noticed only by Sakura as everyone else was celebrating. She quietly made her way over to him and gave him a hug.

"You'll always be my daddy, you know?" she said as she gave him a peck on the cheek.

Fujitaka looked up at her, and could swear he saw Nadeshiko behind her.

"I know, Sakura, I know. You'll always be my little girl." He said softly as he sobbed.

This was stopped when a very loud, bespectacled azure-headed boy stepped in front of the TV and started to clap loudly.

"ALRIGHT, EVERYONE! Can I have your attention, please! My beautiful girlfriend, Tomoyo Daidouji and I have been... making a documentary of our favorite lovebirds' time together, not just from this weekend, but from 4 years ago and before. I even had the privilege of sending for photos from Yelan!" At which Li promptly fainted.

"Without further ado, let's watch the video! Tomoyo-chan!" Eriol cooed.

Tomoyo quickly slid the DVD into the player, and Rika turned off the lights.

The TV quickly lit up with a picture of Sakura and Li asleep on each other's shoulders during PE years ago, with large white writing "The Kawaii Couple", obviously Tomoyo's idea.

Sakura and Li watched together silently, tears occasionally slipping from their eyes, until the middle of the video, which had a picture of young Li dressed in girls' clothes and pigtails, with eye shadow and copious amounts of blush. Sakura couldn't stop laughing, which ended in Li blushing madly as he tried to tickle Sakura into shutting up, which did nothing.

Li got his revenge however, as a picture of Sakura after cutting her own hair appeared on the screen. Sakura's eyes were wide open in surprise at the camera her father had pointed at her after coming out of the bathroom. One pigtail was gone completely, while the other hung loosely off the other side of her head. Her bangs were jagged, and hair was all over the bathroom. Li couldn't breathe within a few minutes, and needed to run out of the room in order to breathe. During all of this, Sakura simply sat there, blushing and looking as innocent as possible, trying to deny that such a thing had ever happened.

The video went on to show pictures of the two in middle school, leading up to the year Li left for Hong Kong. There was a picture of Li hugging Sakura before he left on the bus, with tears streaming down Sakura's face, and caused the entire party, even Touya, though he denied it immensely, to tear and cry.

And then came Tokyo Disney. There was much teasing over Li-kun tripping and Tomoyo teasing him, as well as Sakura's arm-flapping scene, which caused many red faces and breathless laughing fits, making Eriol and Yamazaki faint from lack of oxygen. And then came the kiss, which was decidedly the first, which Tomoyo decided to illustrate by putting the words "THE FIRST OF MANY!" across the screen. Touya almost lost it. No, he did.

"THAT WAS BEFORE I ACCEPTED YOU, YOU LITTLE RAT! HOW DARE Y-"

"TOUYA! SHUT THE HECK UP!"

"…Rrrgh…frikken little…"

And then the park scene showed up, only to make Sakura and Li blush madly and Touya to run out of the room swearing while Fujitaka fumed and thought of ways to quietly dispose of his son and make a new one look JUST like him.

The video ended with a picture of the two at the Hinamatsuri festival five years back, Sakura in her red and dark green flowered kimono and Li in his black yukata, leading Sakura around by the hand as she held a stuffed teddy bear won for her. Across the screen in silvery writing were the words "Xiaolang Li and Sakura Kinomoto: In Love When They Never Knew!"

Li and Sakura found this ending funny, and told Tomoyo it seemed out of the timeline, only to have Tomoyo glare and point to Eriol, who as it turned out, decided to put that caption without Tomoyo's permission. He would later have to beg for his life.

The gang then turned to look at the couple, who were snuggled together, Sakura sitting on Li's lap and smiling happily at each other, which caused Tomoyo to go into another "KAWAII!" seizure. Fujitaka decided that it was time to let everyone go, and ended the party. The family then sat down in the kitchen to discuss the travel arrangements.

"So, will I be financing this trip, Syaoran?" asked Fujitaka.

"No, of course not! My family will be financing it, and she will be staying with me and my family on our estate." said Li.

"...You won't let my daughter out of your sight, right?" said Fujitaka rather dangerously, and Li got the message.

"O-of course sir! I love your daughter, and I would do anything to keep her safe!"

"YOU BETTER DAMN FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT!" yelled Touya. "If my sister gets hurt because of you, I'll kill you with my bare, hands, wakarimasu ka?"

"Hai, wakarimasu, Touya." said Li calmly.

Sakura looked at this happily. The three main men in her life, all sitting at the same table and getting along. Well, relatively, anyway.

"Li-kun... no, Xiaolang... I will be with you and your family for one month, ne?" she managed to say nervously.

"Yup."

"Well... I was just wondering... are your sisters going to be there as well?"

Li froze.

'SHIT! THEM! DAMN!'

Everyone at the table looked at Li as his twisted as if he were in pain. Touya found it hilarious, Fujitaka was wondering how someone's face cold do such a thing, and Sakura... well, she was both, but worried as well.

"That means yes, doesn't it?"

"...unfortunately, yeah..."

"I'm sure I'll be able to get along with them Xiaolang."

"'Kura, I want you to call me Li-kun. My name sounds so... I dunno, weird to me now in Chinese..."

Sakura smiled. She'd much rather call him Li-kun anyway.

"Well, Li-kun, there's nothing to worry about, right? I'm sure I'll be able to get along with them."

"That's what I'm worried about." Li said, getting confused looks across the table. "When my sisters like somebody, and I mean really like somebody, they get a little... eccentric, maybe?"

"Nani?"

"Well... You're really cute, (at which Sakura blushed madly) so I'm guessing you'll get an even louder 'KAWAII!' chorus than Tomoyo can give right when you walk through the door, before your cheeks are pinched and you're kidnapped and taken to their room where they play dress-up with you and make you parade around the estate. Or something along those lines."

The entire table was gaping. How on earth did he have such a detailed description? Surely they didn't...

"HA! They did that to YOU, didn't they?" yelled Touya laughing.

Li simply growled and blushed, while Sakura laughed and gave him a hug.

"Of course they did. My Li-kun is too cute to pass up, right? Didn't you see that picture of Li-kun in a dress?" said Sakura, which caused laughter to erupt into the room, while Li slowly sank in his chair.

"This is going to be a long trip..." he mumbled.

-----------------------------------OwArI-------------------------------------

Wow... that was definitely the longest chapter so far.

Nani yo? – What is it?

Hinamatsuri Festival – Girl's Day; Day of the Dolls

Wakarimasu ka? – Do you understand?

Hai, wakarimasu – I understand.

Gomennasai! Sorry for making you guys wait so long for the update, but this chapter took a long time to write...

Anyway, review and give suggestions, please!

Machiko-chan