The next day when Sakura came to school, she could see Syaoran eyeing her.
Guessing that it was about what Touya said, she approached him.
"Syaoran," she started and at the same time he said, "Sakura!"
Suddenly Sakura jumped at him and gave him a hug. "I am so sorry! I didn't know that would happen! I shouldn't have even come, are you alright?"
He let go of her and looked into her eyes. "Sakura, it's okay! I'm fine! I understand. You told me he was over-protective, I understand." God, why is she so pretty? This is hard enough as it is! Syaoran mentally kicked himself. She just wants to be friends, remember?
"I just thought you were hurt. Are you sure you're okay?" He nodded and she smiled at him.
He sighed and reluctantly let her go, "I gotta go to class Sakura, I'll see you at lunch time," he said
Dammit! What is wrong with me?! We - Are - Friends. Friends. Get that through your head Sakura! "Okay Syaora, see ya then!"
****
After gym, just as Sakura was toweling her hair dry, Tomoyo ran in.
"SAKURA! Ching and Syaoran are fighting in the weight room! Hurry up, you have to stop them!" Sakura could see the excitement in Tomoyo's eyes, her friend loved when interesting things happened at school.
"What? Why do I have stop them?"
"You know you're the only one who can! Let's go!" Tomoyo grabbed Sakura's hand and pulled her towards the weight room.
****
When Sakura and Tomoyo entered the room, the first thing Sakura saw was that Syaoran had Ching down on the ground and was kicking his ass.… again. A few people had gathered around and were watching them fight on the ground.
"Syaoran! Stop it!" Sakura screamed. She knew Syaoran had a temper and she didn't want him getting in any trouble for hurting someone at their school, even if it was ching. Syaoran heard her scream and willingly obliged his lady love.
Ching slowly got off the ground and staggered towards her, sticking face very close to hers. His eyes blazed with anger and he had a cut on his lip.
"You bitch, this is all your fault." He said to her, raising his hand and hitting her, causing her to fall to the floor. She could feel her face stinging as she reached up. She touched the cut on her cheek and when she brought her hand down, there was blood on her fingers.
She heard Syaoran yell and she turned to see him punch Ching in the face. Ching fell back a couple feet and hit the floor, unconscious. "Sakura," Syaoran said, his voice hoarse, yet tender, "Are you alright? You're bleeding! Let me take you to the nurse."
She nodded and tried to stand but fell back to the floor. "Whoa. I don't think I can stand." She blinked a couple times but the room kept spinning.
Gently, Syoaran lifted her off the ground. Sakura shivered in his arms. He carried her all the way to the nurse's office. There was no one there so Syaoran just helped himself to the ice in the freezer.
He started to dab at Sakura's face and she winced. "Ouch. He has a good swing," she said and tried to smile, but found that it hurt too much. "Syaoran, why were you fighting with Ching again? She asked him curious about the cause of the fight.
Syaoran looked down with a frown on his face. "He started saying shit about you," he replied, "he was calling you a slut and bragging to some other guy that he was gonna get a piece of you." Syaoran squeezed his hands into fist remembering what he had been saying. "I couldn't just sit there and let that jerk talk about you like that." He said looking back at her.
"Well, I appreciate the Knight in Shinning armor routine, but you should really stop trying to beat people up so much." She said and couldn't help but giggle a little bit.
Syaoran smiled hearing the sounds of her giggles. "Sorry Sakura, I'll try to work on that." He laughed and tucked a bit of her hair, which was curly because she hadn't had time to brush it, behind her ear. He looked at her and leaned forward in his chair. He moved his face closer to hers and slowly kissed her on the lips.
She looked up, confused. She was about to say something but he cut her off and kissed her again with more passion. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he held her around the waist. They both noticed how right it felt to be in each other's arms. Their kiss intensified and when they finally stopped for breath she whispered "I love you."
"Wha...what?" Syaoran stuttered, not believing what he just heard.
She blushed, but firmly repeated, "I love you."
Syaoran looked surprised. "Sakura, I --"
"Oh, my God! SAKURA! Are you hurt?!" Tomoyo came bursting in, totally oblivious of what she had just interrupted.
Ah, Tomoyo, go away! Syaoran yelled at her silently. He knew he loved her also, but he couldn't tell her for the first time when somebody else was around, he wanted it to be special.
"Hi Tomoyo, I'm fine." Sakura replied. Why did I just say that? Sakura groaned inwardly, He obviously doesn't feel anything like that towards me.
Looking at Sakura, Syaoran noticed that she was biting her lip and looking worried. She thinks I don't feel the same, he realized, Tomoyo, just go away so I can tell her I do!
"Come on, Sakura, let's go." Tomoyo grabbed Sakura's arm and escorted her out of the room. Syaoran noticed her looking sadly back at him.
I was wrong. I thought maybe he felt something for me too. How could I be so stupid? Sakura wondered.
Syaoran said nothing as they left.
