"I'm surprised that your little plan worked, Tomoyo

Author's Note: I'm so sorry that I didn't get this chapter out any sooner, but this past week has just been so hectic! We just had swim finals and the school musical (all of which went very well) but I had no time to do anything during the week and I was too tired to do anything by the time the week was over, so this chapter isn't exactly my best stuff. Hopefully this week won't be so busy and I'll be able to write a little more often. At least swim season is out of the way! (I do my little end-of-swim-season dance.) That should give me a little more time for writing. Thanks again for all of the wonderful reviews! I really do appreciate every one of them. Since I know you guys are eager for more, I won't keep you waiting any longer.

"I'm surprised that your little plan worked, Tomoyo."

"Do you dare doubt the all powerful Matchmaker Tomoyo?"

"Not anymore. I'm just glad it worked."

"Yeah. They deserve to be together."
"I wasn't talking just about them," he whispered as he leaned in close to her. She blushed slightly but greeted his invitation as he enclosed her lips with his.

Summer cont'd

By: Shayna

In another part of the forest, Sakura and Syaoran were sauntering along their trail. Nothing could be heard but the wind through the trees. It was pure beauty and tranquility. Suddenly, Sakura stopped and closed her eyes.

"Do you feel that?" she asked, in a calm tone.

"Feel what?"

"I'm not quite sure, but it feels as though my magical senses have been heightening for some time now. They just suddenly feel stronger, and I feel some other kind of magic nearby. It feels like mine," she replied, a gentle smile adorning her face. Her eyes were still closed, as though she wanted to feel, rather than see whatever it was that she was sensing.

"I've noticed that your aura has gotten substantially brighter since we arrived up here."

"My aura…" she said, contemplating the thought.

"Wait!" she said in a hushed voice. Her eyelids still shut. "Don't talk or make a sound, and move anywhere around me."

"Sakura, what are you…"

"Shhhh! Just do it! I wanna test something."

"Alright."

He did as he was instructed, his catlike maneuvers allowing him to move without being heard at all. But as he moved, she moved with him. She followed him wherever he went. Not once did he take his eyes off her, and not once did she open her eyes.

"Stop," she commanded. She was smiling now. Then she began walking closer and closer to Syaoran until she was only about two feet from him.

"Put your hand up," she said. He did as he was told, slightly amazed that she could tell where he was. Of course, he had always been able to feel her aura. It was so bright, how could anyone with any kind of magic miss it? But she had never before been able to follow his movements, or even sense him at all.

Quickly stealing him from any thoughts, Sakura put her hand right up to Syaoran's and placed her palm against his. Then, she hesitantly laced her fingers with his. It was like their hands were made to fit together like that; pieces of a puzzle that had somehow been separated.

All at once, her lashes fluttered open and her jaded orbs stared directly into his mahogany ones. Surprise was a definite expression on his face. But there was something else. She wasn't quite sure what it was, but it made her heart beat faster by the second.

He had been so surprised at her bold move that he nearly forgot to breathe. When her eyes met his, he inhaled almost sharply. Her deep gaze penetrated him to the core.

And they stood frozen like that for what seemed like an eternity to them both when they heard a loud *snap* coming from the brush. Both of their heads whirled around simultaneously in reaction to the sudden commotion. They both took a few cautious steps towards the source of the noise and peered through the trees.

Beyond the small row of trees was a miniature clearing where the sun shone through. Anyone could easily pass through the trail without noticing it through the trees. Suddenly, they heard a rustling sound and a doe stepped out from behind some brush and into the clearing.

Sakura and Syaoran both held their breaths in witness of this magnificent display of nature. Neither could take their eyes off of the deer as it peacefully nibbled on some grass. They watched intently, transfixed on the absolute serenity emanating that area.

Just as quickly as it had come, the doe decided it was enough and headed back through the brush. The two onlookers could only stare, dumbfounded at the sight from which the deer had previously been grazing.

"Wow…" Sakura breathed.

"Yeah…" agreed Syaoran.

As they started to walk again, Sakura spoke up. "I'll never understand how hunters can find it fun to kill such innocent creatures," she spoke with a sadness in her tone.

"People often don't see what it is they are destroying until it is all gone," Syaoran added.

They were walking closer together now, neither realizing that their hands were still interlaced and hanging by their sides.

They also didn't notice that their auras were somewhat mixing together, hers pink and his green, each complimenting the other perfectly. They had never done that before. Perhaps they were getting more comfortable with being near each other. Perhaps it was something more.

Soon enough they came upon the area where the two trails merged again, and they saw Tomoyo and Eriol waiting patiently for them. When they spotted Sakura and Syaoran, they started whispering something to each other with devious grins on their faces.

"What are you two talking about?" asked Sakura, "It's making me uneasy."

Tomoyo's smirk grew wider.

"Oh nothing," she said in a sing-song voice, "except for the fact that you two…well…"

"That we what, Tomoyo? What are you talking about?"

"Oh for heaven's sake! Surely you two know that you're holding hands!" finished Eriol for Tomoyo.

Sakura and Syaoran looked at where their hands were. They went wide-eyed. Sure enough, their hands were still intertwined together. How could they not have known?!? They immediately let go of one another and went completely and utterly scarlet. Both Tomoyo and Eriol were looking at them expectantly. Well, Tomoyo was thinking more along the lines of, Why didn't I bring my camera!?! I'm such a baka! Meanwhile, the two in question were trying to say…something.

"I…um…"

"We…uh…were…"

"And…we…"

"We saw a deer!" Sakura stammered finally, changing the subject the only way she knew how. Tomoyo and Eriol face-vaulted.

"And Sakura found out that her magic is more powerful now," said Syaoran, trying to help her out. Of course, he still remembered vividly how they had come to that discovery, but he omitted that part for obvious reasons.

"Oh?" asked Eriol, in slight curiosity. "And how did this come about?"

"It just did. And I just knew," said Sakura rapidly. "So what about you guys? How was your nature walk?" she demanded of Tomoyo and Eriol with a weak smile, praying that the two would just drop it. Reluctantly, they decided not to press into matters any further. They knew that when the time was right, the two would eventually admit their feelings towards each other. They had, of course, been hoping that it would transpire during their walk, but it didn't quite happen.

And so, Tomoyo and Eriol made up an interesting story about things that they never saw because they had been too engrossed in each other to notice anything else. Sakura and Syaoran, now walking on complete opposite sides of the trail from each other, merely nodded and smiled, not believing for a second that the other two were telling them the truth. But they didn't mind either, both relieved that their interrogation was over.

As they walked on, it got a little colder, a few innocent clouds forming in the sky and covering up the sun at times. But the weather was still pleasant, and the birds still sang. They soon reached the end of the trail, and out in front of them, grass and the lake. Directly across from the lake (which was quite a fair distance) they could vaguely make out their cabin on the other side.

"Wow. I didn't realize we had walked this far away," commented Tomoyo.

"Looks like we'll just have to follow the lake all the way around," deducted Syaoran.

So, they continued walking towards the lake, chatting about this and that. But most of all they were enjoying themselves and the time they had away from everything else.

"It feels so good to have nothing to worry about," said Eriol.

"Yeah. No school and no homework," agreed Sakura.

"No stress, no anxiety…No worries," sighed Tomoyo happily.

With that comment, the wind picked up a bit, and they noticed more clouds in the sky.

"Uh-oh," started Syaoran, "It looks as though it might…." And then a drop of water hit his outstretched hand. "Rain," he finished.

"Oh, it's just a little sprinkle," said Sakura, "Stop worrying."

Of course, she regretted ever saying that. Thirty seconds later, the sky opened up and it was pouring like there was no tomorrow.

"Just a little sprinkle, Sakura!?!"

"Okay! So I was wrong. There's nothing we can do about it now!"

They began jogging along the pebbly shore of the lake in hopes of reaching their cabin a little quicker. Syaoran took a quick glance in Sakura's direction. Her hair was thoroughly soaked, some strands sticking to her face, and others trailing behind her as she jogged. Once again, he couldn't believe how beautiful she was even when drenched to the core.

They had to slow their pace as they reached an area where they had to climb over some jagged rocks. They were all wet and slippery, so it made it difficult to get over. But they were all eager to get to the cabin as soon as possible. They were almost through with that obstacle when Sakura suddenly lost her footing and slipped. She cried out in pain as her right leg was gashed by a sharp rock on the way down.

"Sakura! Are you okay?" Tomoyo asked, with worry evident in her features.

"Yeah. I'm fine. It's just a little cut. Can you help me up?" she replied, hiding the fact that her leg was throbbing with intense pain. Her open wound was bleeding profusely.

"Are you sure you can walk on it? It looks pretty bad."

"Yeah, it'll be fine," Sakura assured Tomoyo. And so, Tomoyo helped her friend to her feet. But as Sakura tried to take a few steps, her leg seemingly collapsed beneath her.

Sakura braced herself for an impact on the hard ground below, but it never came. Instead, she was aware of being held up in someone's strong arms. She turned her head and came face to face with Syaoran who must have reluctantly caught her. Once again, their eyes locked and they stared at each other, forgetting for a moment that they were standing in the pouring rain.

"Thanks," Sakura murmured, the heat rising to her cheeks.

"There's no way you're walking on that leg of yours."

"No, I think I'm okay now. You can put me down. Really."

"I don't think so." And with that he bent down and lifted her legs with his left arm, like he had when he carried her up to bed the night before, and began walking.

"Hey! Put me down, Syaoran!"

"Do you hear something?" asked Syaoran to Tomoyo and Eriol, sarcastically. The couple merely looked onto the scene with growing interest as the rain continued to pour.

Sakura crossed her arms and pouted. Syaoran chuckled at her. Suddenly, Tomoyo was struck with an idea.

"Hey! Eriol and I will run up to the cabin ahead of you to get some towels and medicine for Sakura's leg."

"You guys don't have to do that," Sakura said, somewhat fearing being alone in Syaoran's arms.

"Oh yes we do," Eriol assured her with a devious smirk. And the two ran off without letting Sakura get in another word.

And so, the injured Sakura sat embarrassed in Syaoran's arms.

"Gomen nasai, Syaoran, for causing you this trouble."

"It's not a problem."

She shifted slightly in his arms, now facing his chest a little more. Syaoran subconsciously held her a little closer as she rested her head against him. They could feel each other's hearts beat almost in unison. The rain continued to fall.

"Arigato for always being there for me, Syaoran. I'm glad I have you as a friend," she spoke into his soaking wet shirt.

Friends, Syaoran thought. Sure, he was glad that she was his friend, but he still wished they could be something more.

"I'm the one that should be thanking you," he began, "I was so mean to you when I was younger. Thanks for being so forgiving."

"That was a long time ago, Syaoran. You were just a stubborn kid who wasn't used to the idea of having a partner. You were in an unknown land with unknown people. Besides, I was always the one causing you trouble. You saved me from harm more times than I can count. You've always taken good care of me, and I'm lucky to have you."

"I'm still sorry for everything I put you through. I was so cruel to you, and yet you were the only one that thought I wasn't a bad person. I'm the lucky one."

She smiled, now content in his arms, feeling like there was no place safer in the world for her to be. And so she snuggled a little closer to him as he gazed down at her peaceful face. She beamed up to him and he smiled back.

I know that's not the best place to leave off and I'm so, so sorry! And I'm sorry again for not getting this out any sooner. Like I said, I hope to have more out this week. Please review! You guys have been such great readers! I appreciate every comment! Thanks again!