1 Chapter 4

Syaoran sat in class, playing mindlessly with his pencil. He could not focus to save his life. The last thing he could think about was school. I can't stop thinking about Sakura, he thought. What if something happens to her and I'm not there to protect her? How could I ever live with myself? But it's not as if I can just follow her around all the time. Could I?

Suddenly, he sat up straight in his desk, so quickly that he bumped it, sending his math book toppling to the floor. Blushing, he bent to pick it up. The class stared. Sakura giggled.

I sensed it again, he thought as the class got back to the math problems. I'm going crazy! What's going on? Well, if Sakura can't sense it, and neither her nor Tomoyo even believe that there's really a threat, maybe I SHOULD follow them around, just for a little while, to make sure she gets home OK. Especially after that dream I had. Syaoran was decided. He would follow Sakura and Tomoyo after school to make sure that Sakura got home safely.

After school, Tomoyo and Sakura started walking down the street together. Their boots crunched through the fresh powder from the previous day, but now the sun was shining, making the snow sparkle. The holiday decorations that hung on each house filled the streets with a Christmas spirit that even Syaoran could feel, even though he had never much cared for holidays. However, the beauty of the scenery was not what caught his attention that day.

As he walked some distance behind Sakura, he was overcome by her beauty. How could I have not fallen in love with her long ago? he thought. What more could a guy want? She's beautiful, charming, kind, and strong. She's perfect. Then a sudden thought pierced his heart.

She could never love me.

The thought struck him so hard that he stopped walking for a moment.

I was so cold to her for so long. I never showed her that I cared. How long did she think that I was against her, that I wanted to take the cards away from her? It wasn't long after I met her that I realized that it was my duty to protect her, even though that's not what I was told to do. I knew it. And yet, I never showed it. She must think I'm such a cold person. She must hate me. How could someone like her ever like me, much less love me?

Crushed, he kept walking. He tried to remain quiet, so that Sakura and Tomoyo wouldn't notice him. Luckily, they were chatting casually about something. As he began to listen to what they were saying about some guy, he tried to get his mind off the new pain he felt, until suddenly, his heart stopped.

They are talking about. me?

Tomoyo giggled. "Syaoran looked very cute in the sweater he was wearing today, don't you think, Sakura?"

Sakura giggled too. "Syaoran looks cute every day."

"And he's such a sweet person. It's amazing how different he is now than he was when we first met him."

"I know what you mean, Tomoyo. It's like he's a different person. He."

Syaoran's face burned. He could not believe what he was hearing. Maybe she does like me after all. Maybe.

And then, suddenly, because he was so preoccupied, he tripped and fell.

The girls turned around to see what had happened behind them. When they saw Syaoran quickly scrambling to his feet, his face beet-red, they stared for a second, then began to giggle. As soon as he got to his feet, Syaoran ran away as fast as he could, incredibly embarrassed.

She must think I'm stalking her or something, Syaoran thought. Look at me, now I'm following her around!

He threw his backpack onto the floor and flopped face-first onto his bed. "I'm so worried about her," me murmured into his pillow, "but how can I possibly protect her when nothing I do goes right?"

Suddenly, he sat up straight. I wonder. if I should just talk to her.

No, he thought. How can I? She already thinks I'm crazy. But maybe. Maybe I can make her understand that I'm just worried about her and I don't want her to get hurt. That way, she'd understand why I do what I do. But I don't want her to get the wrong idea. I mean, I don't want her to think.

I don't want her to guess the truth. How can I possibly tell her? No, I won't tell her how I feel. Not yet, anyway. I'll just tell her that I want to protect her.

Syaoran stood up. "I resolve to talk to Sakura tomorrow after school," he said, "and tell her why I'm worried about her. I'll walk her home and explain everything. And I won't chicken out!"

Syaoran blushed and fell backwards onto his bed, thinking about it. Tomorrow.