Author's Note: OKAY

Author's Note: OKAY!!!! SO EVERYONE DIDN'T KNOW WHO THE BAD GUY WAS!!!! I blew it and TOTALLY gave it away! Well, please read this anyway. I am predicting many twists and turns in the future! Anyway, This chapter will be totally S+S all the way. A rather cuddly chapter. Please R+R.

*~* Chapter Nine *~*

Spending Time with You

Sakura awoke to the sound of loud crunching and slurping. She slowly raised her head and glared at Kero who was munching on very loud chips and cookies. He was slurping up a glass of red liquid.

She groaned. Every bone in her body ached. She needed more sleep. 

Sakura pulled her blanket over her head to block the sound of Kero eating. She was just about to drift off to sleep when her door flew open.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" she cried out in frustration, sitting up. "CAN'T A SORE PERSON GET ANY SLEEP AROUND HERE?!!!!!!!!!!!"

A shocked Syaoran stood in her doorway, his eyes wide. "Maybe I should come back later . . ."

Sakura blushed. "Oh, sorry." She noticed a tray in his arms. "What's this?"

"Oh, just some breakfast," he answered, hesitantly stepping closer. "I thought it would be better if you stayed in bed as much as you could."

"Yeah, and maybe you should skip that party," told Kero. "What if that guy comes back?"

Sakura frowned. "I won't skip the party, but I will accept the breakfast! I'm sorta hungry."

Syaoran placed the food on her lap. "Mangez au contenu de votre coeur!" He took of the tray cover.

Sakura's eyes widened. "All of this food for me?"

He nodded.

She began to eat, slipping Kero some of the food. "What does mangez au contenu de votre coeur mean?"

"It's French. It means 'eat to your heart's content.'"

"Ohhhhh," murmured Sakura. "How ROMANTIC!"

Syaoran flushed. "Just something I picked up. Anyway, maybe Kero's right. You shouldn't go to the party tonight."

And leave you in Mei-lin's clutches? Yeah right! Over my dead body! And besides, I'd rather spend a day with the love of my life than nurse some stupid muscles. "I won't let that guy think I'm scared of him!" she cried instead of her toughs. "Besides, I've got a gorgeous dress to wear."

Kero sweat dropped. "Last night you couldn't even undress yourself. What makes you think you can dance?"

Sakura handed Syaoran the tray and climbed out of bed. "I'll be fine. Instead of sitting around all day, I think it would be better if my muscles got some exercise."

"What do you plan to do?"

"Well," she addressed Syaoran. "Maybe we could spend the day in town. You know, sight seeing, shopping, eating. Then we'll come back in time for the party."

Syaoran nodded hesitantly. It'll give me a chance to keep a close eye on her. "Alright. How about you meet me in the foyer in forty-five minutes?"

Sakura nodded. "Sure."

Once he was gone, Sakura quickly showered and dressed in a long green skirt, black boots, a white sleeveless shirt and a matching green jacket. She pulled her long brown hair back into a loose braid.

Kero jumped into her purse and Sakura proceeded down stairs.

She froze at the top of the stairs when she saw Sanori standing in the foyer, talking to an old man.

"I can tell just by watching him that he cares for the girl," replied the old man.

Sanori sighed. "I know. I'm . . . well, regretting being so mean to her when we first met. Maybe we could get to know each other. And seeing how my son is so wrapped up with her . . . she might . . ."

"Become his wife someday? I know that Minoa has pushed for the match between her daughter and Syaoran, but think of how he would feel. He loves her." The man paused. "And she's the Card Mistress. Their heirs would naturally be very powerful sorcerers."

Sanori nodded warily. "Yes, Klein, I will think about it. But you know that the rest of the family will be furious."

The old man smiled. "Those two, if anyone, can make it through anything. Just believe in them."

When the man was gone, Sakura proceeded down the stairs slowly.

Sanori turned to face her at the sound of Sakura's shoes on the stairs. "Well, good morning."

Sakura nodded. "Good morning to you, too."

"Umm . . .have you had any breakfast?" asked Sakura.

She smiled, seeing that Sanori was making an effort. "Yes. Syaoran brought some up to my room for me."

Syaoran's mother looked shocked. "Really? Well, I've never seen my son do something so romantic. That was very nice of him."

Sakura nodded again.

They stood in silence for a while.

"Are you going somewhere?" Sanori questioned.

"Yeah. Syaoran and I are going to go sightseeing for a bit."

Sanori eyed Sakura. Such a big change in Syaoran . . . his feelings for her must be strong and true. But the family . . .

Just then, Syaoran walked into the foyer. "Um, what's going on?"

Sanori smiled at her son. "I was just talking to Sakura. You two have fun." She walked away.

Syaoran blinked. "Okay . . . that was weird."

Sakura smiled and grabbed his arm. "Let's go!"

*~*

Mei-lin stepped out of a dark corner, her face twisted in a scowl. So that old man, the oldest Elder, was trying to persuade Sanori to accept Sakura? Never! she thought furiously. And Syaoran is mine! I will never give him up!

And who did Sakura think she was? Why had Syaoran brought her breakfast in bed and then offered to take her out on the town? Why had Syaoran –her SOON TO BE FIANCEE- had that stupid goofy look on his face when he saw the Kinomoto girl.

"WHY!!" Mei-lin shouted, jumping up and down in frustration.

"Having another tantrum, dear cousin?"

She whirled around and gasped. There stood Alan, leaning against the wall just behind her. "Where the hell did you come from?!" she shrieked.

Alan just laughed. "And what were you doing eavesdropping on other people's conversations?"

"I know you like Kinomoto, Alan. You should care that she may win Sanori and some of the family over. Then she'll be able to marry Syaoran. MY Syaoran. Do you know how long I've waited to get married to him?! I'm not letting that girl take him from me. So what if she's got magic! And so what if she's got the Cards? And GOD I hate those big green eyes! They make her look so innocent when she's actually a nasty little b****! And I just want to rip out all of that brown hair and-"

"Your jealousy is showing, Mei-lin," snickered Alan. "But don't worry- I've got a plan. You'll have your dear Syaoran. You can be sure of that."

Mei-lin stared at him. He sounded so sure of himself. "What's your plan?" she asked eagerly.

"Tsk, tsk, cousin. No need to worry your pretty little head about that. It's all taken care of. All you have to do is wait until the right moment."

Mei-lin turned her back to Alan and grinned. She couldn't wait until this 'right moment'! Then, when Alan's plan went into action, she would finally have her prince.

"You know-" she began, turning back to him. Her eyes widened. "WHERE THE HELL DID HE GO?!!!"

*~*

Syaoran smiled down at Sakura as they walked down the streets of Hong-Kong. She was slightly leaning against him with her arm wrapped around his. Just the way Mei-lin used to grasp onto him. But this was somewhat different. Sakura made him feel so warm and cozy inside. Like the world was perfect.

"I want to buy you something," he suddenly said.

Sakura looked up at him. "You don't have to do that."

"I know, but I want to. Please let me."

She tilted her head to the side. "Well . . . if you want to . . ."

Syaoran grinned. "What would you like?"

Sakura shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. Xiefa got me clothes, shoes, jewelry, everything."

Syaoran thought. "I've got the perfect thing."

*~*

Syaoran led Sakura into a park. They walked along a hardly noticeable trail until they reached a large iron gate with a huge lock on it.

"What's in here?" asked Sakura. Even Kero had emerged form her purse, filled with curiosity.

"You'll see." Syaoran produced a key from his pocket and slipped it into the lock. Once the gate was open, they followed another path.

Syaoran stopped at a large group of bushes.

"You got her some crusty old plants?" muttered Kero. "Talk about cheap . . ."

"No, it's not this." Syaoran pushed aside the bushes and smiled. "This is it."

Sakura gasped. A beautiful Japanese style garden lay just beyond the plants. It had a little pond with a bride over it and even a Zen garden. (You know, the sand is raked in fancy patterns and they often have rocks in them. I think that's what it's called.) Sakura trees and several other types of flowers gave the place its color. In the corner of the garden sat a tiny cottage.

"You're giving me this?"

Syaoran nodded. "I bought it a long time ago and fixed it up. I want you to have it. This can be your special place in Hong-Kong." He held out the key.

Sakura shook her head. "Make a copy of the key. Then it can be OUR special place." She took his hand and curled his fingers around the key.

Syaoran blushed. His eyes met Sakura's.

Their eyes never left each other.

God, I want to kiss her . . .

Syaoran lowered his lips to hers.

Sakura closed her eyes and tilted her head up to meet his.

He's going to kiss me . . .

I'm going to kiss her . . .

"BACK OFF, GAKI! NO KISSING WHILE I'M ON DUTY!" shrieked Kero, popping out of her purse.

Syaoran sighed. "Not again," he muttered.

"Kero! Did you stop to think that maybe I wanted to kiss him?" cried Sakura.

There was silence.

"I uhh, I mean . . . oh, this is embarrassing!" Sakura covered her face with her hands.

Syaoran grinned. "It's alright, Sakura. How about we get some lunch?"

Kero grinned. "Oh, it's lunch time already?! Oh, yeah. Let's go!"

Sakura sweat dropped. He'd forgotten about the near kiss when the subject of food came up.

*~*

Syaoran and Sakura sat down at a booth in a fast food restaurant. After ordering, Syaoran turned to Sakura.

"I'm curious- what did my mother say to you?" he asked.

"She was very nice. She just wanted to know if I'd had breakfast, where I was going today, that's all. Nothing big."

"It's just weird how she suddenly had a change of heart. I wonder what caused it?"

Sakura shrugged. "She was talking to an old man named Klein and he said . . ." she drifted off. I can't tell him that Klein thought that we would make a good couple. What if Syaoran thinks of me as just a friend? I wouldn't be able to handle that.

Syaoran smiled. "Klein? What did he say?"

"Uh . . . that I was a nice person."

"If Klein thinks you're okay, then that's good. He's the oldest Elder, so he has a lot of influence among the family," told Syaoran.

"But I don't see how he could have made that decision about me." Sakura paused as the waitress came and dropped off their food. "I've never met him."

"He's a good judge of character. Maybe he decided by your aura or something."

"Excuse me," said a woman. She stepped up to the table, grasping her son's hand. "How did you get your doll to eat a french fry?"

Sakura and Syaoran turned their heads to see Kero sitting on the table, munching on a french fry mechanically.

Sakura sweat dropped. "Wellllllll . . ."

"It's an experimental toy. Very new," covered Syaoran.

The woman smiled. "Well, I can't wait for it to come in the store." She took one more glance at Kero then walked away.

"That was close!" Sakura stuffed Kero back into her purse. "Let's hurry up and eat so we don't have anymore incidents today."

*~*

After about another hour of walking around, Sakura and Syaoran returned to the Li mansion. They went their separate ways to prepare for the ball.

Sakura warily climbed up the stairs and entered her room only to find Xiefa standing there tapping her foot.

"Where have you been all day?" she asked furiously. "The party's TWO HOURS AWAY! YOU NEED TO GET READY! ARE YOU SERIOUS ABOUT THIS?!"

Sakura sighed. "You know I am, Xiefa. I was out with Syaoran today."

Xiefa smiled. "Oh, really?" she asked sweetly. "Well, that's different. Come on, let's get you ready."

Author's Note: Oh, I think this is one of my better chapters! And look, Kero did it again! I know a lot of you all were mad that Kero interrupted the kiss, but I'm saving it until a special time. Please R+R!