A Semester of Deceit and Love
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Chapter 12: A Caretaker
Syaoran hurriedly made his way over to her and lifted her head in his arms, stunned at the heat emanating from her body. He picked her body up in his arms, laying her gently on the couch. He looked at her fever flushed face, his eyes widening in worry.
He searched the house quickly to find a thermometer and some blankets. In only a few minutes he had done so, and hurried back to Sakura, who was now breathing heavily in her sleep.
His heart was beating quickly, his hands shaking as he tried to ready the thermometer to place in her mouth. She moaned slightly as she felt the small instrument slide through her lips. Syaoran stood beside, waiting anxiously until he heard the repeated beeps that indicated the thermometer had completed its task. He pulled it out of her mouth and almost gasped as he looked at the result. 106 degrees…that just can't be possible…she seemed fine yesterday…tired, but fine.
Sakura's sudden coughs suddenly pulled his attention back to her. He gently removed Sakura's sweater, seeing that she had an undershirt on beneath it. Then, he took the two blankets he had found and wrapped them around her to keep her warm. He sighed worriedly as her breathing became even more labored as the minutes passed.
He placed his hand softly against her forehead, pulling it sharply back as he was once again surprised by the intense heat. Syaoran quickly filled a large bowl with ice-water and dipped a small towel into it, placing it on Sakura's forehead. She opened her eyes slightly at the sudden coolness. "Syaoran-kun?" she mumbled, almost unaudibly. She began to sit up, but quickly fell back against the couch. Syaoran's eyes widened as he watched her try to move.
Sakura sighed, finding it almost impossible to keep her eyes open. What's wrong with me? And why is Syaoran-kun here? I feel so heavy…so tired…
Sakura slowly drifted back to sleep while Syaoran watched over her. Once he realized she had fallen back to sleep, he made his way to the kitchen to make a warm bowl of soup for Sakura. In only a few minutes, it was done, and he carried the soup to the sleeping girl. She really needs to eat this…but I don't want to have to wake her up…
He debated with himself for a while, but ultimately decided she could get better much more quickly if she actually had some energy. He gently shook her. She finally woke up a few moments later, staring at him through dull eyes.
"Sit up for me, okay?" he asked her, placing his arm around her back to help her sit up. He placed the tray with the soup on her lap. "You have to eat to get better."
She just sat and looked down at the bowl in front of her. She slowly reached to take the spoon, her hand shaking enough to knock the spoon completely off the tray, splashing some of the warm soup onto her blanket and on the floor. Syaoran almost smiled at her helplessness, thankful that he had come when he did.
He quickly picked up the spoon, took it to the kitchen and rinsed it, and approached Sakura once more. He kneeled beside her, taking the spoon and slowly feeding her. She stared at him surprised, trying to refuse his help, but he insisted, and she was much too weak to argue.
Sakura shyly let Syaoran feed her half of the soup, but then grew too tired once more to be able to do much of anything. Syaoran gently laid her back down and covered her once more with the blankets, replacing the cold cloth on her forehead. Why is he being so nice to me? He's never really been this nice…except maybe right after Ryan…
She looked away from Syaoran as he tucked in the blankets around her. It's so nice to have Syaoran-kun here…he's so different than he was before he went back to Hong Kong…not so cold. He was nice before, but never like this. It has been awhile…but I wonder what made him change so much. Sakura smiled weakly. And I think I like him this way…
Syaoran's eyes widened slightly as he noticed Sakura's small smile. He smiled. I wonder what she's smiling about. Even when she's so sick like this…she's still so pretty…especially when she smiles. He started to blush. He just watched as she turned her head back toward him and closed her eyes sleepily. Her breathing had become much more normal since she had eaten.
In a few minutes, she had fallen asleep once more. Syaoran just sat down on the floor by the couch watching her sleep. A few strands of her short brown hair fell softly over the side of her face. He hesitated, then slowly reached over and pushed it back in place, running his hand softly down her cheek. Her face is so soft…so hot…but so soft. He pulled his hand sharply back as he heard her mumble in her sleep. He grinned. I hope she's dreaming about something nice…He laughed quietly. It would be so nice if she were dreaming about me…
***
Sakura woke up an hour later, still feverish but feeling much better. She started to sit up when she felt a little weight on the blanket making it hard for her to move. She looked down to see Syaoran sleeping peacefully sitting by the couch she was on with his head on her blanket. She smiled. He looks so kawaii when he's sleeping…I don't even remember ever seeing him sleep before. It's so nice…he looks like a little boy, so sweet. She reached over and took a few pieces of his hair into her hands. How nice…
***
Touya stood outside the door of his house, breathing hard. He had suddenly had a bad feeling about Sakura and had hurried home as fast as he could from his apartment in Tokyo. Yukito was with him as well, his other form Yue having also sensed something had happened.
Touya quickly threw open the door and rushed in. He immediately started searching for his younger sister and soon entered the living room, stopping in his tracks, shocked. Even Yukito's eyes widened as he beheld the view before him, but he quickly relaxed and smiled. Touya, however, just stared at Syaoran and Sakura, his shock receding to make room for his anger at the young man, which eventually decreased as he felt a sense of relief in seeing that everything seemed to be fine.
He sighed. Yukito grinned at him, understanding his feelings and the emotions he was feeling. Such an overprotective brother…
Touya sat in a chair across from his sleeping sister and the young man at her side. He just continued to stare at them. They look so perfect together somehow…and for some reason I know that Sakura is okay and will always be okay because of this guy. And I know I already told this guy that it would be okay if he were with her…but it's just so hard for me to see them together…
Syaoran, suddenly sensing something new in the room, quickly awoke, surveying the room quickly, his gaze stopping on the older brother of the girl beside him. His eyes widened in surprised. "When…" he began, then stopped, unsure of his position.
Touya glared at him for a moment, sensing the young man's uneasiness. "Explain this to me…" he commanded, motioning toward him and the still sleeping Sakura.
Syaoran hesitated. "We…we just got back here to Tomoeda yesterday. But this morning I felt like I needed to check up on Sakura to see how she was doing…she hasn't been all that well since that guy…" he stopped.
Touya's gaze hardened. Syaoran decided to quickly continue. "Anyway, when I got here, no one answered the door so I…uh…sorry, but I just decided to come in…and I found Sakura on the floor and she had a really high fever, so I decided to try to help her…and then I guess I fell asleep."
Touya just continued to stare at Syaoran for a little while longer. "Where is that stupid stuffed animal?" he asked.
Syaoran's eyes widened. He had completely forgotten about Kero. "Uh…I don't know."
Yukito's expression suddenly hardened, and almost immediately, he had changed into the guardian Yue, who quickly left the room looking for Kero.
Touya and Syaoran just watched as the tall moon guardian left the room, then turned to stare at one another once more. They were silent.
Their attention was, however, suddenly taken off of each other as they suddenly heard Sakura mumble something unintelligibly. They watched as she slowly opened her eyes and yawned. Syaoran gently placed his hand on her forehead under the glaring watch of Touya, but sighed in relief as he realized her temperature had decreased significantly.
"Syaoran-kun?" she muttered. She attempted to sit up, Syaoran helped steady her as she did so. She turned and suddenly noticed Touya. Her eyes widened slightly. "Oniichan…"
Touya came over to her and also touched her forehead. It was warm but not overly warm. He sat down beside her and pulled her close to him in a short hug. "Are you okay?" he asked
Sakura smiled, looking up into her brother's eyes. "I'm fine."
Touya just narrowed his eyes. "You always say you're fine, and it seems lately that's never the truth."
Sakura turned away. Touya groaned quietly, pulling her into another hug, then pulling away and standing up. "I'll go see if Yue has found Kero. I'd like to have a word with that stupid stuffed animal too."
Sakura watched quietly as her brother turned and left, leaving her alone with Syaoran. Wow…Oniichan has certainly changed too. I can't believe he's leaving me alone with Syaoran-kun. I thought he hated him. She smiled. But I'm glad I was wrong and that everything seems to be easier between them. I always hate when they fight with each other because I like them both so much… She blushed. I can't believe I just thought that…of course I love Oniichan…but now I guess I really do like Syaoran-kun a lot…and he's been so nice lately. I just keep liking him more…
Syaoran watched amused as the expressions on Sakura's face kept changing. Her face always seems to have the most interesting expressions...it's always so open, so innocent sometimes, like now. It makes her even more beautiful. He blushed. I can't believe I can care about someone this much…maybe I should tell her how I feel. But I really don't know if it's the right time when she still seems to be having so many problems with her memories about that horrible Ryan guy. But maybe it would help her through it…I don't know…
Sakura suddenly turned toward him. "Thank you, Syaoran-kun, for taking care of me."
Syaoran blushed. "Your welcome. I'm glad I came when I did today."
Sakura smiled weakly. "But not only today. You've been there all the time taking care of me."
Syaoran just stared surprised at her. "I…" he stopped. I don't know what to say…I want to tell her how I feel, and this seems like a good time…but I still don't know. I don't even think she feels the same way…I would probably just make her feel worse. I just don't know what I should do…
He looked away from her for a moment, taking a deep breath. Sakura watched him confused. He turned back to her suddenly, his expression determined. He had decided.
***
End of Chapter 12
Thank you all again for your wonderful reviews!! ^_^ I just can't express my appreciation of all of you. You are all so wonderful!!!
Anyway, I'm feeling kind of stupid right now…not in the greatest mood to write. But hopefully the next chapter, which will almost certainly be the last chapter, will be up in another day or two.
Thanks again!