Sorry about late late late update. I'm trying to keep a good schedule again, but it doesn't work too well especially when my mom got involved. Anyway, short chapter, but I think this style will suit me better. Sorry, but I write faster with short chapters. It keeps me from procrastinating ^^;;

Disclaimer: CCS is owned by CLAMPS, plot is all mine so don't even dare stealing it...although there's not much to steal T.T

Key= should have that memorized since first chapter.

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Chapter 6: Practice
Sakura blinked her eyes. She giggled nervously, "Umm, Coach, I don't think I heard you right." She scratched her head lightly and watched her coach's expression carefully, "Did you say my partner is Li..."

"Li Syaoran," the coach agreed, "yes, that's your partner."

Sakura's lips trembled in shock as she opened and closed her mouth several times while trying to mumble, "But I couldn't...no way...Syaoran...can't I just have a new partner?"

The coach shook his head, "No, everyone is paired up, Kinomoto."

"But I cannot work with Li-kun!" Sakura wailed.

The coach sighed and grabbed the small-framed runner by her shoulders, "Kinomoto, we are in high school, get over the 'boys-are-icky' phase." Then, he walked away.

Sakura stood in her place and stuttered, "But I'm already over that phase! I just can't work with Li-kun!"

"Oh? And why is that?"

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"...was that girl you?"

Meiling's true expression flickered for a second before she masked it with her traditional cold stare. But curiosity won over her for she asked, "How do you know?"

Ying Fa smiled knowingly, "You told me that Xiao Lang spared a girl once and since you are the only other living soul here, I assume her to be you."

"Very good observation," Meiling's crimson red eyes shone with admiration for the young woman before her. "However, you cannot get more information from me."

Ying Fa raised her eyebrow, an attempt to ease in the pain building in her chest. She had asked the question curiously, but as soon as she knew the answer, her heart was clenched by an unidentified force. "Why?" She asked hoarsely. She wanted to know everything, everything about Xiao Lang. There was something about the Henchman that was fascinating and she wanted to know what it was.

Meillng shook her head, "You should ask the one whom you seek, not pounding indirectly for an incomplete answer."

Ying Fa nodded, "Alright." Silently she added, *But will Xiao Lang answer these questions for me?*

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Sakura quickly spun around, "Well, yeah, coach! Li-kun and I have been..." Words failed to emerge from Sakura's mouth as her eyes widened at the boy in front of her. His amber eyes burned with an unordinary flame...a flame moved by his emotion, the emotion of...anger? Sakura shook her head. She must be hallucinating, Syaoran and her had been archrivals for years and been known as least compatible partners from academic to sport. They hated each other, so why would Syaoran be angry when she pointed out the truth?

Syaoran looked away, and when his eyes bored into Sakura's emerald eyes once again, they were as calm as the sea before a storm, "We need to practice now, *partner*."

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Ying Fa sighed, a habit that she had taken upon ever since she started living in the Henchman's lair. She couldn't get rid of that habit, oddly. Usually, she was a lass who kept mostly to herself, watching the villagers from afar, and helped them whenever they asked for help. Of course, most of the time, she descended upon them whenever trouble struck. She was a kind person; she couldn't bear to see sadness and fear in the village children's eyes---she didn't want any child to end up like her---alone. Many found her ridiculous naïve and kind, but although she touched other's souls, none had touched her own...

But Xiao Lang was a different story. For one, she couldn't stop thinking about him, about his aloof attitude, about his pain-stricken eyes. She wanted to help him, help him find a way out. It didn't matter whether he was the Henchman or the soon-be murder of her own death. She could see distress in his eyes. It told her more about the Henchman than he ever possibly had known about himself. He was not a merciless killer, there was a reason to his madness, there got to be a reason. And she would find that out for sure.

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"Ready?" the coach yelled as the team members busied themselves typing the rope around their feet, getting ready for the infamous three-legged race. The coach looked around, satisfied with every pair. He sighed in relief when he noticed the two archrivals, yet the most competitive players on his team, were settling down their different for now, although 'settling' might have not been the right word. Unlike other players who leaned on each other for support, Sakura and Syaoran were in ready position, pushing each other's head out of his, or her, way. Their eyes were focused and burned with a determine gleam. The coach struggled, at least they weren't arguing. "LET'S GO!" Let the game began.

"Hey!" Sakura pushed Syaoran aside roughly. "Watch it!"

"You should be the one watching it!" Syaoran retorted after he regained his balance.

"ME?" Sakura yelled. "What are you talking about? We are supposed to be like a team!"

"Well, obviously you are not a team member," Syaoran sneered.

"You just don't know when to be nice, don't you?" Sakura replied, a hint of hurt in her voice. She wasn't tried to be mean to Syaoran, but why was she acting this way around him?

Syaoran glanced over, his eyes widened. He halted and stammered, "I..."

Sakura didn't expect Syaoran to stop, "What are you doing?"

It was too late, Sakura tripped over Syaoran and the two rolled down the hill.

"Kinomoto-san! Li-san!" the coach hollered as the crowd swarmed pass him and to the bottom of the hill.

Nobody was expecting this.

Sakura was laying on top of Syaoran with his arms encircled around her waist as a protection against the fall. Their eyes locked together, not blinking once. And their lips...touched and grazed gently against each other...

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Yeah, I told you the chapter is short, but hey, I got S+S fluffiness going again ^^:; Heh, it's been such a long while without my sweet little innocent *accidents* mwahahaha... Anyway, cross your finger that there's more coming ^o~