A/N: God. It's been three years! I'm so so so super sorry. Please don't hate me. LOL. But anyway, I can't NOT update it so here's Chapter 10. Thanks for all who review and put and the story in alert and/or in their favorites.

I wasn't able to proof read yet, 'cause I wanted to update as soon as possible. Anyway, enjoy. :)

Disclaimer: I still don't own anything.

Chapter Ten

Sakura's P.O.V.

I slipped out of the party as quietly as I could. I felt a little bad for leaving Syaoran after he… What was he going to do, really? I shook my head. I don't have time for that now.

"N-Nii-chan?" I stammered over the phone.

"Where are you?" His voice had no humor, as always. "I'm on my way home."

Shit. I knew it. "I uh… I'm out with friends right now. We have a… problem set to finish." Well, I wasn't entirely lying. Half of it was true, anyway.

"I see." He fell silent. I could hear the sound of the engine and the other cars in the background.

Did he see through my lie? I gulped. "Nii-chan? You still there?"

"Eh." He sounded a little preoccupied. "I'll call you again when I get home. I have my keys anyway."

"Wakatta," I replied.

"Ja." He ended the call.

I flipped my phone close and sighed. I walked towards one of the larger stones lying around outside the department and slumped there, the phone still in my hand. Suddenly, I felt tired. "Mou." I moaned to myself. My brother just couldn't have picked a better time to come home.

I stood half-heartedly and tucked the phone back to the secret pocket of my annoyingly large dress. I have to get home.

"Kinomoto." I turned around at the sound of my name. I felt a little bothered when I saw that it was Li standing behind me, his mask and Musketeer hat already removed. What happened to "Sakura"? Well, not that I cared what he call me. Whatever. Right?

"Daijoubu ka?" I wasn't sure if he looked concerned or apathetic.

"Eh. I guess." I smiled. "But I need to get home. Eto… Something suddenly came up."

"I'll walk you." He started ahead of me and stopped about two steps from where I was standing. He turned to me and smiled. I couldn't really place it but something was weird with the way he did it. It felt like he didn't really mean it. "You probably want to say goodbye to senpai-tachi. I'll wait for you here."

What's this feeling? I gripped the skirt of my dress tightly. I didn't know if I was irritated or sad. Maybe a little of both? But there's nothing to be irritated or sad about.

I looked down at the floor and ignored my uneasiness. "Eh. Arigatou." I turned around and headed back inside.

O.O.O.O.O

Syaoran's P.O.V.

I watched Saku – Ie… Kinomoto – as she walked back inside to the party. It was the second time I had to watch her walk away from me in one night; the first time when she got that phone call, from who I assumed to be her brother, and she had to get away from the noise to talk to him.

She had her head down, her hair covered her green eyes.

I walked to where she was sitting a few seconds ago, both hands in my pocket, and sat down.

Okina-senpai had placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled. It was the second time he had encouraged me, only this time, he didn't really say anything. It was like I read his mind: Go after her. I know you want to. Although there was an underlying threat in the way he looked at me: If you don't, I bet you, someone else is going to.

I shook my head. Good and bad things come in two, eh? I laughed to myself.

I had to admit, I was a little disappointed – okay, scratch the "little" part – when Kinomoto just up and went when I was about to spill my guts out. But then, I did tell her to answer it.

I scratched my head, annoyed at myself. What's wrong with me? Reading other people had always been my specialty, and I always knew how best to act around different personalities.

I've watched tons of DVD's about detectives, read about Sherlock Holmes, and even watched a few hundred episodes and the first two movies of an anime about that high school detective who was turned back to a child by some syndicate's drug. People reveal who they are whether they like it or not; in their mannerisms, in their way of speaking, etc. 'If you want to read people, you got to observe their every action and respond in a way that will be most favorable to you in the future.' It was my mother who told me this when I was I a kid. And I was raised to uphold her so-called truth.

Ja, nande? I sighed. It was the very first time that I had trouble dealing with a situation. Was it even a situation though? She's just a girl, for crying out loud! I scratched my head, more vigorously this time. This is infuriating.

"Li?" Shit. This day just couldn't get any worse can it?

"K-Kinomoto!" I turned, flustered, and tried to smile.

Kinomoto raised an eyebrow at me. "I don't know if I should ask what you were doing or if I should just laugh."

I sighed. "Just…" I considered it for a moment then smiled. "Just laugh."

I stood from the stone. "Ikou."

O.O.O.O.O

Sakura's P.O.V.

When I walked back inside, I was feeling nervous, uneasy, irritated, sad, and probably a few more emotions I wasn't sure what to call yet.

Frankly, I'm not an emotional person – far from it, actually. I don't dwell on sadness and I don't like confusing myself with things like love.

I shivered involuntarily at the thought. Love. Yeah right.

I said my goodbyes quick, saying that I had something going on at home and I needed to go home. All in all, I guess they understood what I wanted to say with few words; Hiiragizawa-senpai simply smiled and told me to take care; Mikage-senpai looked at me meaningfully and nodded; Okina-senpai hugged me and we sorta made a little scene when I tried to get out of it but to no avail since my dress wouldn't allow me to move anyway; and Yamazaki-senpai was nowhere to be found so I just told them to tell him I said goodbye.

When I walked back out, it was then that I saw Syaoran ruffling his hair. I watched him silently from the side. Obviously, he had something on his mind since he didn't realize I was back.

I took a moment to take in his features – the messy hair, the lean figure, the long legs… He really does look good… Doesn't he? I shook my head. Like I said, I don't like thinking about these things.

I smiled to myself. The irritated feelings I had earlier were gone. And I guess it has something to do with the way Syao… - Ie, Li, his name is Li – looked. Maybe I just wouldn't get enough of him. For now, at least… That much, I guess, I was willing to admit.

He ruffled his hair again, this time he looked annoyed at something.

"Li?" I willed myself not to laugh.

"K-Kinomoto!" he turned, looking flustered. His smiled was crooked but cute.

I raised an eyebrow. "I don't know if I should ask what you were doing or if I should just laugh." I tried my best to sound serious.

He sighed. "Just…" He seemed thoughtful for a moment. He smiled his charming smile. "Just laugh." He then stood from the stone and said, "Ikou."

I followed him, smiling when his back turned.

O.O.O.O.O

Normal P.O.V.

Syaoran and Sakura walked silently through familiar streets. Neither of them wanted to say anything about the party and the weird mix of emotions that followed. And though they couldn't read each other's disposition, to some extent they knew that the silence was what they both needed at the time.

Sakura still had her brother to think about. She took one look at her dress and knew that his brother would see through her lie at once. Who on earth wears a red ball gown to study group? She sighed.

Syaoran glanced at her the corner of his eye. "What's wrong?" he asked.

She smiled weakly. "I uh… sorta need a change of clothes."

He raised an eyebrow. "I thought you're going home?"

She bobbed her head. "Well, nii-chan is on his way home. And I kinda told him I was with friends working on a problem set." She stuck her tongue out.

He looked at her with suspicious eyes. "Problem set?" He eyed her from head to toe. "Right. Even I would buy that." His sarcasm was over flowing. He felt his spirits lift a little, being able to talk to her the way he used to be.

She smacked him in the arm. This is the way it should be. She smiled. "Thus, the 'I need a change of clothes' remark."

"Let's come by our place first." Syaoran looked at the road ahead. The streetlights shone brightly under the starless, night sky.

Her heart skipped a beat. "N-Nande?"

He chuckled. "You wanted a change of clothes, right? I'll lend you some of Meiling's."

She exhaled. "Nanda. That's why." She chuckled.

"Why else?" He glanced at her. "Queer girl."

She smacked his arm again. "Rich, cocky bastard."

She stared at the back of his head, her head calm and serene. She loved the way they treated each other, like childhood friends who had known each other for a long time. Of course, a part of her wished that she knew more about him.

The honk of a car made both of them turn around. Headlights blinded them instantly and they both covered their eyes.

"What gives?" Sakura walked behind Syaoran to shield her from the light. "That driver's lost it."

Syaoran remained silent and waited for the car to pass. He slightly raised one arm protectively when it instead stopped in front of them. The passenger side window rolled down.

"Sakura."

Sakura's eyes were wide. She'd recognize the voice anywhere. "N-N-Nii-chan?" She half shouted.

"Nii-chan?" Syaoran looked at Sakura, a little shocked.

Touya Kinomoto opened the driver's door and stepped out of his silver sedan. "What are you doing here?" His eyes pierced through the shining headlights.

"Eto… Sono… I…" She was at a total loss for words. She cursed continuously cursed herself in thought and wanted to ran away right then. She'd even thought of pretending not to know him, or the "Sakura" he was talking about.

Touya turned to Syaoran, one of his eyebrows quirked. "And who is this?"

"This is…" Sakura looked at Syaoran pleadingly. Kami-sama. Help me. She almost cried.