a/n: sorry it took so long. As you were aware I was on vacation, and now I'm back but my back pain has gotten ten times worst and I'm bed ridden. I start school sept. 8 so I might only be able to update once every two weeks, gotta love biochemistry.

Disclaimer: I don't own Card Captor Sakura.

Warning: I did not edit this chapter.

Chapter 9

The next day went swimmingly for Syaoran. He woke up with lots of energy and went to class determined to enjoy it. He walked into the room and sat in the same seat as the prior week. Though things didn't go a smoothly after that. Eriol has spotted him and took the vacant seat next to him.

"Hello." Eriol said as he took his place. "I didn't know you where majoring in business." He smiled.

Syaoran put his work face on. He really didn't want to make a scene. "Of course you knew. Sakura was waiting for me when you bumped into her lest week." He didn't look at him he focused on getting ready for class.

"You still dislike me don't you?" Eriol looked at him for an answer.

"You haven't proved to me other wise. For the last five years you've caused Sakura nothing but pain. You can't wipe that type of pain away with a simple apology." He looked at him. "You hurt her again and I will use all of my allies to make your life a living hell." He turned to look at the board again.

"I can see that you really love her, so let me give you a little advice. Don't do what I did, tell her your feelings you both deserve it." He turned to look at the front of the class.

They didn't speak another word for the rest of the lecture. Though Syaoran had to process everything that Eriol had told him. He didn't realized that his love for her was the evident. He was also still very uncertain about everything surrounding Sakura and her family. He only half listened to the lecture, not that he really needed to because he had the power point notes.

Sakura's day wasn't as smooth, she didn't sleep very much. Her conversation with Tomoyo kept replaying over and over in her head. She sighed and rolled out of bed, she really didn't want to go to school she was exhausted. She could skip if she wanted to it wasn't like her teachers took attendance but she didn't want to start getting into the habit of skipping class when she didn't feel like going.

She took a shower and when she looked in the mirror she saw the dark circles under her eyes. She pulled out her foundation and eyeshadow. She quickly put on her make up and silently thanked her years of insomnia and practice with her make up. When she was finished and happy with her complexion, she threw her make up into her bag and she made her way to school.

Most of the day she was hoovering between sleep and wakefulness. She managed to take notes and to listen but when the end of the day came her stomach sank. She would be meeting up with Syaoran and even with all of her make up on he would know she was exhausted. Even though they had only knew each other for such a short time he could read her like a book.

She made her way to the gate and plastered a happy smile on her face when she saw Syaoran. She didn't see Eriol though she would have to talk to him eventually.

Syaoran saw Sakura and realized that she was lost in thought. She looked up and plastered a fake smile on her face. His mind began spinning, what could be wrong with her? He could tell that she had put on a lot of make up under her eyes. He had seen his sister do that when they had bags because the didn't sleep well the night before. He thought back to the night before and tried to remember if she was acting any differently then she had every other time they were together. The answer that came to mind was no. Something must have happened after he had left her for the evening.

He tried to act like nothing was different when she finally arrived in front of him. "Have a nice day?" He asked and put his arm around her shoulder when they started walking home.

"It was okay. Though all of the lectures were pretty boring. I had a hard time staying awake through ancient Greek." she mentally hit herself over the head for admitting being tired.

"Oh. Maybe we shouldn't have dinner together tonight and you can head to bed early. I'm sure i have some paper work for the restaurant hanging around somewhere for me to do. I don't want you to over exert yourself. After all you need your strength for this weekend with the meet and greet of my family. Mother told be she would be calling tonight to invite you, though I can tell her to call tomorrow if you want to go to bed."

Sakura leaned into him, trying to figure out what was going on in his head. He was a successful business man at the age of 18 and he found her interesting. If he was any other man she would think that he was interested in her for a date but then again he wasn't n average man. He was a multimillionaire and heir to his families clan. Not only that but he had suitor by the mile, all much more beautiful then her. She was snapped out of her thoughts when she felt him poke her repeatedly.

"Do you want to skip dinner so you can sleep?" Syaoran looked at her with those concern eyes she always seemed to fall into.

"No I'll be fine, I know that you tend not to eat when we're not together. We wouldn't want you to wither away." She smiled at him and looked a head.

Syaoran stopped walking and forced Sakura to stop as well. "Look" he sighed and rubbed his face. "Could you worry about yourself for once. It doesn't matter if I don't eat, it matters that you are exhausted and should go to bed early."

She was a little taken back by the statement. She hadn't realized that she was worrying him so much. "I know I should take care of myself, but I grew up worrying about everyone else. My father would get caught up in work and wouldn't eat. There were days that I went to the university to bring him supper to make sure he ate. I became a mother hen at a young age, so deal with it. I won't be able to sleep knowing that you didn't eat."

Syaoran ran his hand through his hair, Sakura had to be the most annoying and head strong girl he had ever meet outside of his family. He had to think of a compromise and fast. "How about this." He faced her and put his hands on her shoulders. "We go to your place, I cook while you do your homework. After we eat if you're finished your homework you go to bed and I go home. Deal?"
Sakura thought about. "Fine, but I'm cleaning up afterwards."

Syaoran laughed and turned to her side and held her shoulders. "No you're not. You're exhausted, and I'm assuming it the homesickness kicking in. Some times it helps to let someone else do things for you. Pretend you're the hime for the day." He smiled down at her.

Sakura sighed but rested her head on his shoulder anyways. "Fine, you win." she was too exhausted to fight him today. Though because of how he is acting she doubted that she would be getting much sleep this evening again. He was counter acting all of her arguments to herself the night before. She had only known him for three weeks, it was to early to know for certain how everything would turn out with him. She was certain she should just forget about everything that was plaguing her and act like it had been Eriol, after all she had hid her feelings from him for years what's a few months with Syaoran gonna change.

They made their way down the street and people whispered about the cute couple, causing both of them to blush. Though they didn't pull away from each other, after all there is strength in numbers.

They finally arrived home and Syaoran looked into the fridge. "Alright, you stay here and I'll go and buy things for supper." She nodded and Syaoran disappeared out the door.

Sakura dropped her book bag and fell onto the couch. Her head spun with so much information, She covered her eyes with her arm and was suddenly engulfed by nothingness, and the bliss of no sound.

Syaoran arrived and told Sakura he was back but got concerned when he received no answer. He arrived in the living room and found Sakura fast a sleep with a small smile gracing her lips. He went in search for a blanket and came back to drape it over her. She looked so peaceful, he couldn't help but kiss her forehead lightly and watch her sleep for a bit. He quickly remembered that he needed to be doing. He silently made his way to the kitchen and started cooking.

Sakura woke up a little while later and rubbed her eyes. She hadn't realized she had fallen asleep, she guessed she really needed it. She could smell food cooking and smiled as she sat up. The blanket that Syaoran had found slipped off her and her smile grew what she put one and one together.

She tip toed to the kitchen and made her way to him and slid her arms around his waist. "So this is what it feels like to have a husband." She joked and pulled away, trying to fix her hair.

"I don't know, I believe that if I was your husband I would be getting a lot more perks and wouldn't be doing all the chores." He smiled over his shoulder and finished cooking the chicken.

"What type of privileges would that be?" She asked innocently knowing full well what he meant.

"And here I thought I was conversing with a fully mature adult." He transferred the chicken onto a serving plate and handed it to her. "Put this on the table dear." He smiled and got the rice.

Sakura made her way to the table, she hadn't expected him to react in such good humour to her joke. She shrugged it off, he was after all acting like a dutiful husband she had every right to tease him. Though she couldn't wipe the feeling of her arms around his waist, it had felt so right and she wouldn't mind doing it over and over again.

Syaoran was a little taken back by the joke of being a husband but he didn't let it show. He tried not to focus on the warmth being emitted from Sakura while she had her arms around him. He wouldn't mind that happening again. He wiped his mind of all un-pure thoughts as he made his way to the kitchen with the rice and vegetables.

They sat and had a quiet meal, the discussed their day and half way through supper the phone rang. Sakura sighed and motioned to stand up, though Syaoran was already on the phone. "Moshi Moshi Kinomoto residence." Sakura could only hear one side of the conversation "I was closest to the phone mother." Syaoran looked irritated. "Yes mother........ I'll pass you to her."

Sakura took the phone from him "Konban wa Yelan-san, how are you?"

"I'm doing well, I was a little surprised with Xiao Lang answered the phone."

"As he stated he was closer to the phone."

"Oh, yes. I called to ask you if you had any plans for Saturday." Yelan suddenly sounded very happy.

"No, I only had planed on studying."

"Well then you must come for supper, or lunch, which ever you prefer."

"Well wouldn't lunch be better? That way you could come get me with Syaoran."

"Oh yes! That will do. I will see you then."

"See you then Yelan-san. Konban wa."

"Konban wa Sakura-chan."

They hung up and she rubbed her face. "Why do I suddenly regret saying yes?" she looked at him.

"Because you're going to have to meet my 4 sisters. Don't worry, as long as they don't think we're boyfriend and girlfriend we'll be fine."

She looked at him as if he were dumb. "Most people think we're a couple. Haven't you been listening to what people have been saying around us. I'm surprised there hasn't been a news article about the precious Li heir getting himself a girlfriend." she lean on her elbows and started eating again.

"Well after an incident in high school they stopped publishing about me." he turned red and started eating.

"I don't want to know." they fell into silence and after a few minutes Sakura looked at Syaoran. "Okay yes, I want to know. Why did the tabloids stop writing about you?"

Syaoran pushed his food around. "I might have hospitalized a report who dissed my girlfriend at the time." he didn't make any eye contact.

"Awww that's sweet." she smiled at him and laughed at the blush that stained his cheeks. "Who knew Li Syaoran was a hopeless romantic."

He threw his napkin at her. "Quiet you." his blush intensified. "You hide your love from Eriol for three years while you were at school together, hoping he'd see you as a woman and not just a friend. So it looks like we're both hopeless romantics."

"Yeah looks like it. We would make the worst couple. Two hopeless romantics together, our relationship filled with cheesy dates and even cheesier love notes." they laughed at the summary Sakura had come up with, though on the inside their heart clenched at the thought of not being with each other.

They finished their meal and Syaoran kicked Sakura into the living room with her homework. "Remember our deal. You do homework and I clean up the mess I made in the kitchen. Though if you are still up for it I bought some dessert." Syaoran sat her on the couch.

"There is always room for dessert." Sakura smiled up at him and pulled out her books. Syaoran nodded and made his way to the kitchen.

Syaoran cleaned at a steady pace thinking of what she said, about them making the worst couple. He wondered if what she said was her stating that she doesn't wish them to be a couple or silently wishing they were like when she would pine over Eriol. He racked his brain trying to figure it out, not that there was any harm in asking though if she said no it would be awkward for a little while between them. He decided to not ask and take the comment solely as a joke that was intended to be funny in the surrounding circumstances.

He finished putting away the plates and grabbed the strawberry short cake he had bought and cut each of them a piece and made his way back into the living room.

Sakura tried to focus on her homework but was finding it difficult at the current time. She wondered what had possessed her to say the comment on them being a couple, sure it was her secret wish but she knew that Syaoran wasn't interested and was probably only acting lovey dovey around her in public so that no one would bother him. Which she understood completely because she didn't want anyone bothering him when he was trying to relax.

Syaoran entered into the living room and Sakura pretended not to notice she wrote something down on her paper and them looked up at him. "Done already?" then she saw the dessert. "You remembered my fave dessert." She smiled at him and took her plate.

Syaoran nodded and handed over her dessert, he knew better then to get in the way of Sakura and her strawberry shortcake. "I bought an entire cake, I thought I'd leave it here so you wouldn't try and break into my apartment and try and steal it back."

"What do you mean break into your apartment. I would simply knock on the door and ask you politely, after all we are friends and you would give me anything my little heart desires." She batted her eye lashes and acted all innocent.

"You are quite right me sweet Sakura." He smiled and finished off his piece. "I'll get going and leave you to finish you're homework. I will call you by 9.30 to kick you to bed or else I will come over here and put you to bed myself. You hear me?" Sakura nodded and Syaoran made his way out.

Sakura finished up her homework quickly once Syaoran was gone. She was getting ready for bed when the phone rang. She glance at the clock 9.30, and smiled. "Moshi moshi Sakura speaking."

"Hey Sakura, just making sure you were heading to bed." Syaoran's deep voice drifted through the phone.

"Yeah I was just finishing up. I'll see you tomorrow." She smiled to herself and leaned on the wall next to the phone.

"Good, I'll let you go. I'll see you tomorrow." They hung up.

Sakura went to bed with a smile on her face, she could easily forget her troubles as she drifted off into a quiet slumber. Syaoran on the other hand had to finish his homework, he had a paper due already and he was working his ass off. By midnight he was finished and joined Sakura in the land of sleep.

The rest of the week was quiet for both of them. Sakura seemed to be able to push her worries away from her mind. They enjoyed school and the evenings, then finally their 'date night' came. They had agreed that every Friday they would get together and have some fun. Though Sakura didn't have to worry about it because it was Syaoran's turn to think about what to do this week.

TBC.

A/N : Sorry for any typos. I just haven't been feeling up to correcting the chapter, headaches seem to be a companion to back pain.

By the way what do you want to see them do? Give it a shot, after all there are plenty of date nights to come.