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Chapter 2

Welcome Home

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"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked for the nenth time after letting her down to stand on her own.

"I'm fine." she answered flashing him her forced smile but the boy could tell she was shivering. Their gazes were locked on to each other and what little comfort it gave them, they were thankful for. The events of that day weren't anything near the ones they have faced before and what's most bothering was that they knew it was only the beginning. The fear they have been suppressing since they left the park, they were feeling now. The mysterious boy's threat struck deep to the very bone and worst, Syaoran could tell it wasn't hollow and THAT scared the hell out of him.

"Syaoran," Her voice interrupted his darkening thoughts. "Would you like to stay here for dinner? I'm cooking."

"Won't I be intruding?"

"Iie." She answered shaking her head.

"In one condition…" he grinned at her "You have to let me help you cook"

"Hoe?!!!"

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"Really Syaoran, you don't have to do this you're my guess after all." Sakura insisted while stirring the soup she was making.

"I'ts ok, I'm used to working in the kitchen anyway." he persisted handing Sakura the vegetables he chopped. Sakura put them in, turned the stove off then turned to help Li finish with the crab dressing.

"There! We're finished. See, it's easier if we do it together."

Sakura was on the verge of giving Syaoran another hug when her stuff-toy came hovering around them, or better yet, on their just-finished dish.

"Yo! Sakura!! What's cooking?" he exclaimed not taking notice of what he had just interrupted.

"Omai!!!!" he wailed with his dreamy eyes. He had obviously fallen in-love with the crab.

"Still greedy as ever."

"What?! What's this gaki doing here?!"

"Who are you calling a brat? You!!! " Another glaring contest started.

"Kero-chan!!" Sakura broke out. "You shouldn't go downstairs. Oniichan and Yukito-san will be coming in any minute now."

"How come HE gets to eat!"

"Tadaima!!" Touya's voice tore through the eruption of insults in the kitchen.

"Eh!" both Li and Keroberos jumped back. Kero hid behind Sakura just before Touya poked his head into the kitchen. He pryingly scrutinized the kitchen with his cat-like eyes then focused his vision at Li.

"You again!" Touya exclaimed after seeing the boy next to her sister. The 2nd round of the glaring battle began and this time Sakura just let out a sigh. The two halted and looked at her so she was forced to put up her usual cheery face. She was still feeling dehydrated from using Time back in the park.

"Don't mind me! hehehe!" she faked " I'll go change my clothes, be down in a minute."

escaped.. She mentally put in.

"That thing. how come you always carry it with you, don't they confiscate that in school?"

If it were anymore possible, Sakura's face turned paler than before.

"C'mon Touya. Sakura's no longer a child to be playing with stuff toys, right Sakura-chan?" Yukito interjected saving Sakura from more of her brother's teasing.

Touya knew kero wasn't just a stuff toy, he knew his sister wasn't just an ordinary 7th grader and the only thing he couldn't accept was that his sister was no longer a little girl. Maybe he is over-protective as Yuki would always says he is but after their mother's death he just didn't want to loose anyone anymore.

It only takes a word from his friend to have him drop the subject. Yukito had his share of his sister's secret agendas but he didn't want to push Sakura into telling him everything. It was probably enough for him to know that she has her own guardians to protect her. But a big brother would always be a big brother.

Sakura raced up the stairs after a signal from Yukito told her that he'd handle the rest. Touya slept back to the kitchen with a distorted face. Yukito had his way again.

It wasn't long before Yukito joined them into the kitchen and was surprised to see the two bombs not budging an inch.

"Oh, Hello again, Li-kun" he plainly greeted disregarding the awkwardness in the air. Syaoran returned the greeting and turned towards the dishes.

"oi! And what do you think you're doing?" Touya asked plainly unlike the way he used to talk to the boy.

"I'm cleaning up." He returned with the same tone, the idea of his girlfriend's brother and him being chums never stuck him amusing.

"Good idea. I'll set the table ready for dinner." Yukito interrupted. The two visitors had their way leaving Touya too overtaken to have any more remarks whatsoever that he ended up just helping.

"Dinner's ready!" he called out to his sister who had been taking too much time for someone who's just changing clothes.

"Sakura's really growing up fast, isn't she?" Yukito uncalled for remark had Touya frowning again just when Li's face slept into view and that too was shot with his usual death glare. Although the boy appeared to be clueless of the topic.

---sakura's room ---

"HONTO???!!!"

"Sshhhh." Sakura gestured at the loud stuff animal.

"honto?" it repeated with a smaller voice.

"Yes. And I'm afraid that even Syaoran or me couldn't have defeated him if he attacked us at that time."

"hmmm.. But I didn't feel anything the whole day and I suppose Yue didn't either 'coz if he did, he should've rushed there immediately since Yukito is within the area right?"

"I don't know. but to tell the truth I couldn't feel his presence there even when he did showed himself. Could he be a g-g-g-gho-"

"Ghost?"

Sakura jumped back clutching her pillow in her arms.

"The brat was with you right? Then he should be able to tell if that was a ghost or not, right? Maybe we should talk with Yue about this."

"But how? Oniichan is-"

"Oi! Kaijuu dinner's ready!!" she heard her obnoxious brother call out to her again.

"eh???" Kero blurted after seeing his mistress' scary face.

Sakura stomped down ready to fight, only to meet up with three puzzled faces.

"You took so long but didn't change your clothes?" Touya raised an eyebrow at her.

"Hoe???!!"