Author's Note: I'm back. Not much to say, but there'll be major S+S mush up ahead.
Oh, and about one of my reviews: Lullaby, you WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT!!!!!!! I guess that next time, I'll have to make more people seem like the bad guy. Anyway, that's fine. I guess everyone knows who the 'mysterious guy' is. (-_-) Sorry this chapter took so long. Had school work and junk. Read anyway. (Short chapter ahead. I was low on ideas.)
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Disclaimer: Don't own CCS.
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*~* Chapter Eight *~*
The First Ball- Part Two
"Don't hurt him. If it's me you want, you can take me. Just leave him alone."
Syaoran stared at her. "Are you CRAZY? There's no way in hell I'm goring to let you go with him!"
I know it hurts, Syaoran. I love you too much to let you get hurt. Please let me do this. For you.
The man snickered. "It's obvious that she doesn't want you. Move out of the way. Don't worry, I'll take care of her."
Syaoran frowned. He raised his sword and shot a blast of his lightning at the man, catching him off guard.
"Ahhhhhhhh!" he cried out as the bolt struck him. "Bad move," he growled. The man called out a large staff with a claw at the top. A large black ball of energy materialized at the top. He sent it hurtling at Syaoran.
Sakura watched in horror. No, it can't end this way! I love him! Without thinking, she dove in front of her love, taking the impact. She cried out in pain. But she didn't care. As long as he was alive . . .
She fell to the ground with a thud.
Syaoran knelt down at her side. "Oh, God, no!"
The man just watched. She can't die! I need her alive! With a growl, he disappeared.
Syaoran sighed with relief when he saw that her eyes were open. "Are you okay?"
She blinked several times and nodded, attempting to sit up. "Who was that?"
"The guy from your balcony," Syaoran grimly replied. "I could feel his power in the ballroom earlier."
She paled. "Oh . . ."
Syaoran helped her onto her feet. "You must be made of tougher stuff than I thought. You took a blow like that and didn't even pass out."
"Are you sure? I feel out of it . . ."
He smiled. "Would you like to go to your room and rest?"
Sakura nodded.
With Syaoran's assistance, they climbed up the back stairs to prevent being seen by the guests. He slowly led her to her room.
Once inside, Sakura plopped onto her bed with a huge sigh. "I'm going to be sore in the morning!"
Syaoran frowned. "You shouldn't have done that." He sat next to her.
"Done what?"
"You know. You jumped in fort of me and took that blow. Why did you do it?"
Sakura kept silent, fingering the fabric of her dress. Because I love you. Because I don't want you to die. Because I need you. But instead, she said, "Because you're my friend. I-I couldn't bare it if anything happened to you."
Syaoran eyed her closely. "Don't do it again. I don't want you to get hurt, either."
"Are you trying to say I'm weaker than you?" she asked with laughter in her eyes.
"No. I'm just used to the pain. I've had YEARS of experience saving you back in the day," he muttered.
"Hey!" she gently shoved him. "That was not funny." She turned away from him.
Syaoran smiled. She was so cute when she got mad. He gently placed his fingers underneath her chin and turned her head so that she faced him. "I was only kidding," he whispered. "You know that I wouldn't do anything to make you mad at me."
"How can I be sure?" she whispered back.
Syaoran lowered his head and gently tilted hers upward. Their lips were so close together . . . SO CLOSE . . .
"HEY, WHAT THE H*%^ IS GOING ON!!!!!!!!!"
They jumped apart, their faces bright red. "Uh . . ."
Syaoran growled at Kero, who'd just flown in the door, which hang ajar. I was so close to kissing her and THAT THING blew it!! I swear I'm gonna kill him . . .
"Watch your language, Kero," said Sakura disapprovingly.
"You were going to let THAT SCUM kiss you! Don't you worry about getting cooties!"
Sakura laughed. "I thought only girls had cooties."
Syaoran rolled his eyes. "You should get some rest, Sakura. I'll be next door if you need me."
When Syaoran had left, Sakura glared at Kero. "Why'd you do that?"
"I was protecting you from that gaki. No tellin' what he was gonna do to you . . ."
She sighed and reached behind her to unzip her dress. She moaned in pain.
"What's wrong? What did that brat do?" shrieked Kero as he fluttered around her in panic.
"It wasn't Syaoran, Kero. It was that guy on my balcony that night," she answered, finally managing to get the zipper all the way down. She slipped out of the dress and fell onto her bed in exhaustion.
"What did he do?"
"He just attacked me, that's all."
"THAT'S ALL? You must've had a rough night with that guy and Mei-lin being her evil self again," replied Kero.
Sakura eyed him suspiciously. "How do you know about that?"
Kero looked sheepish. "I . . . uh, got hungry and went down for some food when I heard her."
Sakura forced herself into her nightgown. "Hmmm . . ."
She clicked off her light and got into bed. I got to dance with Syaoran and I almost got kissed . . .
"You know what, Kero," she whispered, "tonight was wonderful."
Author's note: Short short short! I'm soooo ashamed of myself. I'll have the next one up in about a day and it'll be really long. Anyway, R+R!
