Author's Note: If you haven't yet noticed, I'm afraid that I've decided not to include any kind of an E+T relationship in this story. Sorry for all you hardcore ET fans, but I didn't want to have to weave them into the plot. Hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Breakdown

By: Shayna

Within ten minutes of the phone call, Sakura stopped cleaning the kitchen to answer the door. She couldn't help but smile slightly at the sight she was met with when she swung open the entryway. There stood the almighty future leader of the Li Clan at a complete loss for breath, clutching a plastic grocery bag, and clothed in tattered gray sweatpants and a loose green tank top. Sakura couldn't tell if the sweat was from his sprint over to her house, or from the intense training that he must have been in the middle of right before he called.

"I brought you some food," he stammered in between breaths.

For once, Syaoran didn't care how lame he sounded. All that mattered was that he saw her, and that she was okay. It took a few moments after she invited him inside for him to regain his breath completely, but soon enough, he was as good as new. As he looked around the kitchen where they were seated, he noted that it didn't look as bad as she had described it to him over the phone. Another relief was the fact that Sakura's cheeks were no longer stained with tears. But her eyes were still red, and he could still see and feel the pain that was hidden behind them. It seemed to him, in the brief moment that he gazed into her emerald orbs, that they had lost the brilliant luster that had once lit up a room.

"I cleaned up a little bit," said Sakura, breaking the silence between them. "You know, you really didn't have to come over, Syaoran. I'm okay now. And I feel bad that you left your training on my account. It was stupid for me to get so upset about burning my food."

"You're not stupid, Sakura," he said. "Besides, you sounded like you could use some company." He flashed her a quick smile, and then proceeded to empty the contents of the plastic bag onto the table. He was sorry to admit that there wasn't much in it, but he was more concerned about getting over to Sakura's as quickly as possible than he was about packing a gourmet meal. Once he had finished setting out the rolls, rice, and cold beef onto the table, he began preparing plates for each of them to pop into the microwave.

Sakura could only watch him puddle around her kitchen like it was his own. All of his movements were swift and precise, executing the desired task with complete accuracy. Before she knew it, there was a hot plate of rice and beef, with a warm roll accompanying it in front of her.

He was just like that. Always looking out for her. Sakura sometimes wondered why he cared so much. Sure, she would do anything for him if he needed her, but Syaoran was different. It wasn't that he had no feelings. She knew that his emotions were probably more intense than hers. It was just that…well, he rarely showed them at all. So why would he show his concern so willingly now?

She suddenly felt a pang of guilt. He had come all this way because she had overreacted the way that she had on the phone. He was such a good friend.

"Arigato gozaimasu," she mumbled. "But you really shouldn't have gone through all of this trouble just for me."

"Nonsense," he replied. They ate for a few moments in silence. He studied her a while, watching her eat, and tried to sift out her feelings through their connection. They were so close, sitting but mere feet from one another, but her feelings felt a mile away. It was like she was blocking him somehow. Nonetheless, he could still get a general sense of her emotions, and they were nowhere near normal. He would have probably dismissed her sadness to having a bad day at school, but he couldn't ignore the intensity of what he had felt from her during his sword training.

As she sat across from him, Sakura tried to suppress any sadness still lingering within her. When she thought about it now, she wondered why she had gotten so emotional over the meatloaf incident. When she was with Syaoran, everything else just seemed to matter less and less.

As she slowly began to relax, she could vaguely make out the familiar feeling of him trying to see her thoughts. It sounded weird, but she knew that's what it was, because they often did it to each other when they were by themselves. Sometimes she'd try to poke around in his mind to get a better picture of his thoughts, but it never really worked. The best they could do was absorb the feelings surrounding their auras.

"I already told you, Syaoran. I'm fine." Her sudden dialogue cut his thoughts short.

"I didn't say anything."

"You don't have to say anything. You're doing that thing. You know, you're trying to analyze my thoughts." She didn't really dislike it, but she was sometimes scared that it might actually work. And at the moment, she had too many thoughts and feelings that she would rather keep to herself. "Not only that, but I can kind of feel your concern."

"Oh?" He sometimes wondered about the extent of their bond. "What else do you feel, Sakura?" She looked him right in the eyes. And that's when he saw the light that had been absent from them flicker back to life again.

"I feel…better now," she replied with a genuine smile. He smiled back and they continued eating.

It was a complete mystery to Sakura how she could feel so much better just by being around him. She was much less tense, and started reaching her aura towards his. Naturally, they met halfway. There were a hundred things that they couldn't explain about their connection, and this was one of them. It was just natural for them to reach their auras out to one another, and seek each other out when they could feel themselves growing nearer. Perhaps it was the fact that once their auras met, they both felt an overwhelming warmth envelope their entire body. It was a comforting feeling that neither of them could describe, and it only added to the mystery.

"So, how are you coming along on your history paper?" questioned Sakura with a mouth full of rice. He swallowed.

"Well…I kind of finished it last week," he started. But knowing full well that she was probably still working on it, he added, "But it was only because I was bored and had nothing better to do. I'm sure you were busy with more important things." She chuckled lightly at his lame attempt to make her feel better.

"Well nothing is more important to me than history!" she imposed sarcastically.

"Well then I guess that puts me one slot lower on your 'Most Important Things' list," he mock-pouted. She smirked.

"What I meant to say was that nothing is more important to me than history except for the all-powerful, invincible, super-suave, smooth-talking, incredibly handsome hunk, Li Syaoran."

"Aw, you think I'm handsome!" She rolled her eyes at him.

He was glad to see her getting back to normal, but he couldn't forget about that feeling he got back at his apartment… For now, he simply agreed to help her finish her history paper, so once they cleaned off their dishes, they headed upstairs. Sakura swung her door open and…

"What's the Chinese gaki doing here!?!"

"Kero! His name is Syaoran, and he's going to help me finish my paper!" The small guardian beast had completely startled the two as they walked in. "When did you get back, Kero?"

"Just a few minutes ago." He was still eyeing Syaoran suspiciously. "How long has he been here?"

"None of your business. Now if you don't mind, we've got work to do." And with that, Sakura and Syaoran set about the task of composing a history report on (insert famous Japanese person here.) Meanwhile, Kero had seated himself on Sakura's dresser and had his arms crossed over his chest, supervising the scene to make sure no harm came to his mistress.

Syaoran could feel Kero's death-glare pierce into the back of his head as he leaned over Sakura to type something. This situation just seemed to get more and more uncomfortable.

Sakura was very much aware of her close proximity to Syaoran. Of course, that wouldn't have been bad at all if Kero wasn't right behind them, watching their every move. When Syaoran was around, Kero acted exactly like Onii-chan. Sakura couldn't help but smile inwardly when she thought about the resemblance in the way that they both glared at Syaoran. They even called him the same names!

Three cups of coffee later, the two felt that the paper was as good as it was gonna get.

"Well, I'd give it an A," remarked Syaoran.

"Gee thanks. That can be my argument when sensei hands it back to me all marked up in red pen. 'But Syaoran thought it deserved an A!'" They both chuckled. "Actually, though," Sakura continued, "I really appreciate you helping me out. I don't know if I would have gotten it done without you."

"Not only that, but you would have starved." Sakura elbowed him lightly in the side. She glanced at the clock.

"Yikes! I didn't realize how late it was."

"That's because you downed three cups of coffee."

"Thank you, Sherlock, for that keen observation."

"All in a day's work, my dear Watson," replied Syaoran in a British accent.

"Okay, you can shut up now, Syaoran."

"Jolly good!" Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Well, I suppose you should get going now, before we have to head off to school again. Arigato again for everything, Syaoran," Sakura spoke as she led him down the stairs and to the front door.

"Don't worry about it. And remember, I'll always be here if you need me. That's what friends are for, ne?" Sakura nodded. Just as Syaoran turned to leave, Sakura stopped him.

"Syaoran?"

"Hm?" He turned and looked up at her, but her eyes were cast down at the ground. Suddenly, she lifted her head and their eyes met. She was trying to hold back tears. She spoke very quietly.

"Ano… You're such a good friend. I really don't know what I'd do without you, Syaoran." He stared into the depths of her two jaded pools and spoke to her gently.

"You'll never have to do without me, Sakura. I'll always be here for you."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Well, that does it for this chapter. Don't worry. It doesn't end there! There's still much more to come! I hope you enjoyed this installment, and even if you didn't, I'm sure you have something to say about it. Please review! Thanks to everyone who had already reviewed this fic. I really appreciate it, and look forward to reading more. I LOVE getting feedback and ideas from my readers, because it is my mission to provide material that YOU enjoy! Thanks again!