Thank you for all of the reviews!

Kita~~ they are! It's so fun making them like that. Makes for good fics *evil grin* yes, "trouble" IS afoot. :)

Nekoi~~ ACK! OFUDAS OFUDAS! Ah oh well, I'll go back and fix it laters. ( Thanks for the review!

And now, on with the show!!!!!

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Chapter 7- Chicken Noodle Soup Forgotten

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Last time on Together, Forever, as One::

A single salt tear fell down Syaoran's cheek and landed on the burned ground beneath him. He lowered his head to Sakura's ear, noticing her amazing scent, and whispered, "I'm sorry, Sakura, but I love you."

And his lips met hers.

~*~and now...~*~

Sakura was lost in a dream again. She felt herself falling, falling endlessly, a soft melody playing in her ears as the disappearing dragon's roar faded out. She wasn't afraid to hit the ground, she felt like she was floating. Her staff slowly drifted from her hand, her body leaving it behind as it fell faster. Finally, she hit something, but it wasn't the ground. She had been caught in two strong arms. Everything was perfect; she knew it, even though her eyes were closed.

And then she felt something leaving her, something drifting out of her quickly. It was draining, and she was sinking into darkness as it left. It was her magic, her energy, slowly slipping from her body. Sakura tried to call for someone, anyone, but it was no use. She fell into complete darkness...but a light shone at the end of the black, and the light was coming closer.

"I love you," she heard, and the light engulfed her.

Sakura came back to consciousness to find the softest pink lips she had ever felt over hers. The rush she felt was unexplainable and she couldn't fight it off. She wanted to deepen it, share this feeling and feel these emotions forever. So she did.

But the soft lips disappeared. Where had they gone to? Sakura opened her eyes in a panic, searching for what she had just experienced, but only to find her self staring into the eyes of Syaoran Li. There were tears running from those eyes. Those caring cinnamon orbs...

She remembered those. They had made her fall for him; they had led her into this trap. They had created her pain.

Sakura jumped from his arms, and ran. She was so scared of getting her heart broken again.

She ran all the way to the mansion, hardly noticing the raindrops beginning to fall on her, and locked herself in his room. She couldn't have him. She was too scared to trust him after what had happened, but she could have his scent, his room, his clothes, at least at the moment.

~The kitchen~

It had just started raining a few minutes ago, and Meiling Li was cooking up one of her favorite things on this kind of day: chicken soup. She hummed a soft tune to her self as she worked, but something caught her sharp hearing that didn't quite match the song. It was the sound of crying. Meiling knew it all too well what with Syaoran around the first year he had had to leave Tomoeda. So, in this case, she also knew how to help it. Meiling grabbed two bowls, ladled some soup into each, and set off in the direction of the sobs.

~back to Sakura~

A knock sounded softly on the door.

"Can I come in?"

Sakura didn't want anyone to think something was wrong, so she wiped her tears and tried to smile as she sat up in the bed.

"Hai"

The door opened, and Meiling's surprised face appeared. She had figured it was Syaoran, but instead Sakura sat with a desperate smile on her face and red eyes. Her hair was disheveled, and she was wearing the strangest outfit you could have ever imagined. Black and pink striped stockings, a pink skirt, and a pointed witch hat...must have been Tomoyo.

Immediately, Meiling sprang to the bedside, leaving the soup on the dresser.

"Oh Sakura! Are you all right!? If Syaoran hurt you I'll get him for you, I promise!"

She balled her fists in anger.

"No, no, Meiling, I just....." Sakura sniffled, slightly laughing at Meiling's protective attitude, "I guess I'm just scared."

"Of what, hon?" Meiling said comfortingly as she sat on the bed next to Sakura.

"Of...I don't know...He just...Syaoran has to be so darn perfect doesn't he?! I mean, why can't I just fall for someone else? Why can't I love someone who I can be with; who won't leave me?!" Sakura was letting her tears flow freely, sobbing into Meiling's shoulder.

Meiling sighed, and looked down at the frail form in her arms. Sakura was so in love, and Meiling was standing in the middle of it. Over all of these years, Meiling had only wanted Syaoran to herself, but now, seeing Sakura like this, knowing what she had been through for the past 13 years, she made a decision, one that could change everything.

"Sakura...the marriage was faked."

Sakura gasped and looked up.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that when Syaoran got here, he told me he never wanted to be with me, and never would, but the elders still wanted us together. We set it up so that it wasn't quite legally correct, and the elders know nothing about it. At first, I was determined to stop the idea. I almost went to them and told, but Syaoran made sure I wouldn't. He ran the whole thing, with only slight help from Wei. Sakura," She pulled Sakura up by her shoulders and stared her straight in the eyes.

"He would never do anything to hurt you, and neither would I." She let go of the frail auburn-haired girl's shoulders, and sighed looking at her feet.

"He'd be too proud to cry in front of you, but he was a mess when you weren't here. For the past few days I don't know whether he's been better or worse, what with you here but not returning his love."

And now Meiling caught Sakura's gaze again.

"He didn't leave you, Sakura; he stayed with you this whole time. The guy does more than care about you; he loves you, truly and completely."

Meiling fought to keep her own tears in check as she watched Sakura's small smile of appreciation. She looked into Meiling's mahogany eyes, and said, "Arigatou, Meiling-chan, you're a great friend to have. Maybe somehow I can make it up to him."

~*~~*end chappie 7*~~*~

ok, so, I thought this one was cute, that's all. (

lots of love,

ERJ

PS: my onii-chan is so cool! (umm.yeah, that was random.bye..)

*hint-hint* R+R! *hint-hint*