Author's Note: A few people in the reviews asked why I hadn't put anything about the dream (from the 1st chapter) into the other chapters

Author's Note: A few people in the reviews asked why I hadn't put anything about the dream (from the 1st chapter) into the other chapters. Well . . . HERE IT IS!!!!!!!! I had to do some OTHER stuff in the story before I got to it. In fact, most of the junk dealing w/ the dream will come in the later chapters. Anyway, go ahead and read!!

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Disclaimer: GOSH HOW I WISH I OWNED CCS!!!!!!!!!!!! THEN I COULD SUE LITTLE UNEXPECTING KIDS WHO FORGOT TO PUT DISCAIMERS ON THEIR FANFICS!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!! But I don't, so there. Author begins to cry

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*~* Chapter Five *~*

For the rest of the day, Sakura stayed in her room, mostly watching TV and e mailing all of her friends on the computer in her room.

Around eight, she felt her eyelids droop. 'Time for bed, Sakura. Today's been a long one.'

She gathered up her nightclothes and went into her bathroom. After taking a long, hot shower, she dressed in a long, silky green nightgown, pulled her hair into a long braid and climbed into bed.

"Goodnight, Kero," she whispered, turning off her lights.

"'Night kiddo," he muttered, sounding very drowsy.

Sakura smiled and closed her eyes.

Goodnight, Syaoran . . .

*~*

That night, after meeting several other candidates for his wife, Syaoran retreated to his room. His thoughts kept flying back to what his mother had told him.

*~*

"If you're unhappy with Mei-lin as your fiancée, then you can choose from some acceptable young women chosen by myself and the Elders."

Syaoran shook his head. "You can't choose my wife for me, mother. I was willing to marry Mei-lin when I was just a stupid child, before I knew the importance of love. And I will only marry for love."

His mother began to pout. "Do you honestly think I loved your father when we got married? No, we barely knew each other! But I grew to love him and you could too with Mei-lin."

"I don't want that, Mother. And I just want you to respect my decision."

Sanori sighed. "Well, at least come into the dining hall to meet the girls I was talking about."

Syaoran agreed, knowing all along that there was only one girl for him.

*~*

Syaoran stood on his balcony, contemplating his next move. He was supposed to propose in three short days. And he wanted to go with his heart, but what about his family? What would they say if he went with his heart?

He was just about to return to his room when something green caught his eye on the balcony next to his.

Syaoran squinted in the darkness and gasped when he realized it was a girl. Sakura stood on her balcony.

"Sakura?" he softly called.

There was no answer.

She walked to the railing of the balcony and climbed onto it.

'What is she doing?'

Just then another figure caught his attention. This person was suspended in mid-air, arms stretched out, as if he was calling to Sakura.

Without a thought, Syaoran leapt from his balcony onto hers. He grabbed her around the waist just as she was about to step off of the railing.

The figure, which Syaoran could confirm was a guy, growled. "Do not interfere. She is mine."

Syaoran growled too. "Not in this lifetime, buddy."

The mysterious man shook his head. "I will give you one warning- stay away from her." And with that, he was gone.

Syaoran picked Sakura up and carried her into the room, closing the glass doors behind him. He placed her onto the bed and firmly closed the curtains.

He spotted Kero sleeping on the dresser and shook his tiny shoulder.

"Huh, wha . . ." he groaned groggily.

"Wake up, you stuffed animal! While you were sleeping, Sakura was about to walk right off the balcony," told Syaoran.

Kero glared at him. "What are YOU doing here?"

He rolled his eyes. "Didn't you hear one word I said?"

Kero nodded. "But why would she do that?"

"Some guy was controlling her, I think. He was trying to get her to come with him or something."

Kero fluttered over to his mistress. "Well, thanks for savin' her. Let's wake her up. She needs to know."

Syaoran gently shook her shoulder. He smiled when her eyes began to open. "Hey there."

Sakura sat up, staring at him. "What are you doing in here?"

Kero landed on her shoulder and told her what had happened.

Sakura paled. "I don't remember anything . . ."

Syaoran nodded. "It's okay. Just . . . be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Thanks."

The room was silent for a while until Kero spoke up. "Well, kid, I think you should go to YOUR OWN ROOM now. I hear that you've got a party tomorrow."

Syaoran glared at the yellow bear. "Yeah, sure. Just keep a better eye on Sakura, will you? Goodnight."

Syaoran left reluctantly. When he closed Sakura's door behind him, he came face to face with Xiefa.

She smiled at him. "Did you just come from a late night visit with Sakura?"

He flushed. "What are you doing walking around in the middle of the night?"

"I felt that someone was in trouble." Xiefa looked at Sakura's door with curiosity. "Was it her? Did you rescue her?"

Syaoran rolled his eyes. "Now you're beginning to sound like the others. Look, go to bed and I'll tell you in the morning."

"You can't tell me what to do. I'm your older sister. So you go to bed and stop creeping around other girls rooms."

Syaoran kissed his sister's forehead. "Yes, MOTHER."

Sakura went down for breakfast the next morning felling very nervous. She didn't know how things would be in the dining hall. Sakura didn't want to get any more nasty looks from Syaoran's mother and Mei-lin. But when she opened the large doors, the only person sitting there was Alan.

When she entered, he smiled at her. "I can see that you're a late riser, like me."

"Hoe?" She glanced at her watched. "B-but it's only nine twenty." She'd forced herself to get up earlier than usual just to make a good impression.

Alan nodded. "Yes, but the rest of the Clan gets up at the crack of dawn and this place is crowded." He stood up an approached her. "Right now, I have to go, but I hope that later we can talk."

Hoeeeee . . . and I tried so hard . . .

"Leave? But I'll be alone in here . . ."

He laughed at her. "This place can be intimidating if you're not use to it. How about you grab some food and we can sit in the shrine outside and chat?"

"I thought you had to go somewhere."

Alan winked at her. "I'd rather hang around a lovely girl. Let's go."

*~*

Alan led Sakura to the shrine. Although it was quite chilly outside, the tiny building was cozy and warm, thanks to the blazing fire.

They sat on the ground and Sakura began to munch on the food she'd brought.

"So," began Alan, "tell me about yourself. I've only heard little bits of gossip floating around the house."

She frowned. "Gossip? About me?"

He nodded and smiled. "Just curiosity, I guess. It's not everyday that Syaoran brings home a strange, beautiful young woman."

"Oh. Well . . . I'm seventeen and . . . uh . . . what would you like to know?"

"What do you do for fun?"

Sakura smiled. "I love to roller blade and ice skate. Although I hated it at first. Let's see . . . I like to model. I know that doesn't sound like fun, but my best friend is a designer and she makes it fun," said Sakura.

"I can understand the modeling thing. You're very beautiful." He grinned when she blushed. "I understand that you're the Clow Mistress."

Sakura nodded. "I think it's my turn to ask you a question. What does your family have against me?"

Alan sighed. "Besides the Card thing, you mean?" She nodded. "Well . . ." He didn't want to tell her that his family had noticed the feelings she had for Syaoran- and didn't like it.

"You don't want to know."

"But-"

Suddenly, a blast of cold air rushed into the shrine, extinguishing the fire. The two stood up in surprise.

"Oh, Syaoran . . .hi," muttered Sakura.

He gave Alan his death glare and eyed the two. What exactly had they been up to? Sakura's face was a light shade of red and Alan was watching him in amusement.

"What's going on," growled Syaoran.

Alan spoke before Sakura could open her mouth. "Just having a friendly chat, Cousin. I should be going . . . I've got to get to that . . . other thing . . ." He pushed past Syaoran and walked away.

Syaoran slid the door back into place once he was gone. "You shouldn't be out here after what happened last night."

Sakura stared hard at him. "I was with Alan- I was safe enough."

"Alan doesn't know magic. Whoever came after you last night would have beaten him with ease." Syaoran frowned. "And I was really worried. I was looking all over for you."

"Really?"

He nodded. "Let's get back inside."

Author's Note: Ho, ho, ho! What's Alan up to here . . . hmmmm! I dropped a MAJOR hint in chapter two about the upcoming events . . . I wonder who caught it! Please R+R although this is pathetically short! I promise a longer one next time!