I have returned despite a very disappointing lack of reviews (HINT HINT). I don't ask for very much, just a few words from four or five of you.

I think that I have some good ideas for the coming chapters. It's going to continue with lots of cushy fluff and a bit of suspense/action (not a lot, but some). Anyway, read on to the next chapter of Her Most Beautiful Smile – Unsure!



Chapter Six: Unsure



Syaoran stood with his arms crossed as he watched Sakura and Daidouji make their way out into the darkness near the middle of the lake. It had been a good night so far, he decided. While Daidouji did still follow with her camera, it didn't bother him that much anymore. She was his beloved's best friend. And it was her who had persuaded him to tell Sakura about his feelings in the first place.

It had been years since he first met her, and she had grown on him. Though he still didn't call her by her first name, he did consider her a friend. That may have been part of the reason he still had a hard time trusting him, even after it was apparent that he wasn't interested in Sakura (at least, not like that).

This Seta Soujiro was strange. His smiles never seemed to be genuine. It was more like someone who was running around with a mask on, trying to hide his true feelings. While Syaoran wasn't sure at first, it became more and more apparent that this man, who said he was a swordsman from over a hundred years ago, was interested in Daidouji somehow. He just couldn't figure out why.

That's what bothered him. Not knowing what was going through his head as he walked with his friend and his Sakura.

As the night wore on, however, more reassuring signs began to appear from him. While Syaoran resented it, Seta had helped him win the rabbit for Sakura at the strength test. And the way he gave Daidouji that penguin, his smile seemed like, well, like the mask had come off, and he was showing his real emotions.

While he admired the other man's sincerity on that one, it didn't really affect him other than that. But the way Sakura held his arm while they watched, and the way Daidouji hugged the penguin, he thought it was a wonder that either one was able to keep from crying (they were both very emotional girls after all).

Syaoran glanced sideways at the swordsman beside him. Seta was watching intently as the two girls became a dark form on the waters surface. Then out of nowhere, the young rurouni's eyes widened and seemed like he was about to fall over in pain.

"Hey, what's wrong? Are you ok?"

Seta steadied himself against a tree for several seconds before he responded to the quiestion. "I'm fine, Li-san," he said through gritted teeth, "It's fading now, I'll be better in a moment." He was trying to smile through whatever pain he was experiencing.

After a few moments where Seta's heavy gasps were the only sound, he began to relax. Soon his breathing had returned to normal. He smiled again at Syaoran, "See, Li-san? I'm fine. You shouldn't worry about me." Syaoran only nodded slightly and leaned against a tree of his own while Seta looked back out at the dark waters where the two girls were. After a few minutes of silence, it seemed almost like nothing at all had happened.

Syaoran knew that this guy held himself under a very tight leash. He should know, he had done the same thing around Sakura when he first came to Japan. But this guy didn't seem to hide like one would think. Most guys would hide their feelings under the guise of anger, or some other strong emotion like that. Seta seemed like he was…like he was –trying- to show his emotions and just couldn't for some reason. Like he was so used to being someone that he wasn't, that he found it difficult to be himself.

"Li-san?"

Syaoran was a little startled by Seta's speech, "Uh…yeah?"

"Would you mind if I asked you a personal question?" He still hadn't taken his eyes off the lake, though his smile had faded a little.

"If you want."

"What do you feel…when someone…important…?"

Syaoran arched his eyebrow, curious what he was going to ask, "What?"

"What are you supposed to feel when someone…holds onto you?"

Syaoran was confused now. -What is he asking?- "Uh…I'm not sure I know what you mean."

He closed his eyes, "Like when someone…hugs you…or like when Kinomoto-san holds onto your arm…what do you feel at a time like that?

He stared at the person standing next to him. "Why are you asking me this?"

Seta's eyes were still closed, that weak, shallow smile was still on his face, "When I was a child, my step-family hated me. I never understood why since I did everything that they asked me to do. When I…left their home, I didn't know anything but the life of the sword. I never had anyone care for me before. No one ever held me, even as a child. I…just wanted to know."

Syaoran was taken aback by Seta's open manner. This boy who seemed to hide his emotions so well, telling someone he just met a couple of hours ago something like this. "I understand, but…why are you asking me?"

His lip curled a bit at that, "Because you know."

Syaoran thought for a second, then he looked back out at the waters, where he knew the one he loved was, "When Sakura first hugged me, I still hadn't realized how much I cared for her. When I felt her arms around me, I went tense. I was so surprised at what she had done that I couldn't move. I felt strange, frozen and yet warm at the same time. So many thoughts flew through my head at once, it felt like I wasn't thinking at all. I know it sounds like a bunch of contradictions, but I suppose that's what it felt like. A big contradiction." He glanced over at the boy standing next to him. He still hadn't moved.

"When I thought about it later, the less I felt the cold, and the lack of thought made it seem like it had lasted forever. I realized that I had been happy that she had held onto me like that. But I was so afraid to show it at the time, that I couldn't appreciate it when she was right there next to me."

"After a while, I became more aware of my feelings for her, and her touch didn't make me freeze anymore. It just made me feel warm, and content. That's when I realized that I loved her. She was the one person who could make me feel happy with just a touch, or even a look." Syaoran sighed and felt his cheeks color when he realized just how much he had said. -Why did I tell him all that?- He looked to the other boy, who seemed to have regained that sincerity to his smile.

"I thank you for your answer," he said quietly, "While I am not sure I understand everything you said, it does sound…nice." He opened his eyes, looking across the water "I do know what it is like for someone to make you feel warm, though."

Syaoran smiled a bit at the boy he had been so suspicious of a few minutes before. -He had never known what it felt like, so he asked me wanting to know if that was what he was feeling now.- "You care about Daidouji-san, don't you?"

Seta didn't respond, he just stared out to the waters in front of them. Syaoran respected his privacy and turned to watch for his love to return.

"I…I don't know," he said almost inaudibly.

Syaoran allowed his lips to curl slightly. I do.



So what did you all think? Someone please tell me something! ANYONE!!!! I have more to write, but what's the point if nobody cares? Let me know you want me to continue!

NEXT CHAP: What was that mysterious pain Soujiro felt? Is something wrong with our poor boy? Also, now that Syaoran and Sakura have helped Soujiro and Tomoyo towards realization of their feelings, will a quiet walk through the trees near the lake spark something between them? Find out in the next chapter – Moonlight!