Dedicated to

Chapter 4: Angels

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I sit and wait

Does an Angel

Contemplate my fate?

And do they know the places where we go

When we're grey and old?

'Cause I've been told

That Salvation let's their wings unfold

And when I'm lying in my bed

Thought's running through my head

And I feel that love is dead

I'm loving Angel's instead.

* * * * * * * * * * *

"Sakura Kinomoto, your dinner is on the table! If you want to eat I suggest you hurry!" Fujitaka called up the stairs. Syaoran and Touya were already eating when Sakura tumbled down the stairs and dashed into the kitchen.

"I'm meeting Tomoyo in half an hour! I didn't know my maths would take so long!"

"Sakura, you're late for the hospital every week. Why would Tomoyo get worried today?"

"When I want your opinion Touya… No, I just never want your opinion." Touya stuck his tongue out. Sakura glared and ate quickly while pulling her socks and shoes on. Syaoran was grinning.

When they arrived at the hospital Tomoyo and Eriol were already waiting. Sakura parked her motorbike and stretched.

"How late am I?"

"Ten minutes. You're slipping you know. You were fifteen last week." Eriol said, consulting his watch. Sakura shrugged.

"I'll try harder next week."

"Yes, heaven forbid you should be on time!" Tomoyo teased. Syaoran sniggered. Sakura gave her a sly kick in the shin before saying,

"Let's go in. I'm sure they'll be missing us."

* * * * * * * * * * *

"SAKURA-CHAN!!!!!" Came the chorus of voices. Every child in the large playroom stopped as Sakura opened the door.  When Tomoyo came in there was,

"TOMOYO-CHAN!!!!!" Both girls ran forward to hug the small children. Syaoran could see they were between 3 and 8 years of age. As the noise slowly faded away to lively chatter Sakura was sitting with a small crowd of children around her.

"Sakura, your face is hurted." A little girl whispered, touching the bandages lightly with a tiny hand. Sakura nodded.

"Just a little bit. How are you doing, Faye?"

"I going home tomorrow!" she said proudly. Syaoran crouched down and asked Sakura,

"These kids don't look too sick to me."

"Faye just had her tonsils out. She's very brave!" Sakura said, tickling Faye's arms. Faye squealed and wriggled away, running to find her friends. Syaoran looked down as a boy tugged at his sleeve.

"Mr Sakura's friend?"

"I'm Syaoran."

"Will you play with me?" Syaoran looked at Sakura in a helpless way. She nodded encouragingly.

"Um… ok. What do you want to play?"

"Ninja's!" The boy shouted. Syaoran grinned. He liked this kid.

Within half an hour all four of them were busy playing. Syaoran looked up form the toy guns to see Sakura sitting in a corner, chatting with a little girl. She was lying in bed, and looked pale and weak. As the nurse came in Syaoran asked,

"What's wrong with that little girl?" The nurse looked over and sighed sadly.

"She's got cancer. Her name's Yolei. We don't think she'll last much longer. She's had it since birth. She's done remarkably well to last this long."

Syaoran made his way around the children to Yolei's bedside. Sakura looked up and smiled.

"This is Syaoran, Yolei. He's staying with me." Yolei's little face brightened and she smiled widely.

"Hello Syaoran!"

"Hi Yolei."

"Yolei's my special pal, aren't ya?"

"Yes! Me and Sakura will be friends forever!" Yolei giggled, then coughed weakly. Tomoyo called,

"We have to go, Sakura."

"Ok!" Sakura called to her. She turned back to Yolei.

"I'll see you next week, ok?"

"Sure Sakura." Sakura leant over and hugged her tiny body, kissing the pale forehead. As they left the ward the children all waved goodbye. Sakura looked back over to the corner were Yolei lay. The nurse was giving her an injection and talking to her softly.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Tomoyo and Eriol said goodbye outside the hospital. As Sakura and Syaoran made their way to the bikes he asked,

"How long have you known Yolei?"

"A few months now. She's only six." Sakura started to pull on her jacket. She looked at Syaoran.

"Six years old. And do you know what she said to me? I'm ready Sakura. I'm going to be with Grandma and Grandpa soon. Six years old and ready to die." Sakura felt her eyes grow hot and she squeezed them shut.

"Sakura-"

"She's got the same thing my mother had. Did you know that?"

"Yes…"

" 'I'll see you next week'… she might not even be there next week, Syaoran." It seemed that the day was finally taking its toll on Sakura. Tears escaped from under her closed eyelids. Syaoran didn't know what to say. What could he say? Sakura leant against her motorbike.

"My earliest memory is of my mother. I remember sitting on her bed, talking to her. She was dying, and I knew it but I didn't know what dying was. And Mother told me that she would be an angel, and she showed me these pictures of angels in long white dresses with big wings. And I remember thinking is my mother going to be on of those? Why does she want to? Why doesn't she want to stay here with me?"

A stifled sob escaped her lips. Syaoran put a hand on her shoulder, not sure what to do. Should he hug her or what? Sakura looked up at him.

"I'm so scared Syaoran. Poor Yolei. I love that little girl and she's going to die."

"I know. But you can see her now. She's in so much pain. And she's ready. She's ready to go on and just go to sleep and be gone. She loves you too Sakura, anyone can see that."

"I know you're right. I hate seeing her so sick and weak."

Sakura straightened and looked up at him.

"Everything is going wrong with my life right now. Noriko is making my life absolute hell. Then this whole stupid marriage thing. And now Yolei."

"And two of those things we can take care of. We'll sort out Noriko. We stand each other for three months and I'm out of here. And Yolei… you can spend as much time as possible with her and make the rest of her life the best you can." Sakura smiled weakly.

"Very wise words."

"I'm very good." He said proudly. She elbowed him in the stomach.

"Come on. Dad'll be wondering where we are."

* * * * * * * * * * *

The next day was Tuesday. As Syaoran and Sakura sat down in the form room he asked,

"Sakura, are you going to that karaoke thing tomorrow?"

"Of course. Wanna come?"

"You really want me hanging around?"

"Sure. It's not exactly crowded in the bar. Hardly anyone knows where it is anyway."

"Ok, I'll come then." Syaoran pulled a drawing pad out of his bag and started to sketch a vague outline. Sakura stared at him.

"You can draw?"

"Yes."

"You never said so!"

"You never asked!"

"That is a pathetic comeback which I am not even going to dignify with a response." Sakura said. Eriol and Tomoyo sat down around ten minutes later. Tomoyo looked at the drawing pad.

"That's fantastic!" They all craned their necks to look. It was a picture of a wolf. It was standing on top of a rock howling, with a full moon behind. It wasn't properly shaded but it looked brilliant. Syaoran was looking quite smug. Sakura grinned then rolled her eyes.

"Noriko Alert." She muttered. They all looked up to see Noriko wearing a skirt that was showing off that little bit too much. She glanced at the pad.

"That's really good Syaoran! Come and show my friends!"

"I'd like to finish it first." Syaoran said, not putting any emotion into his voice. Noriko smiled at him.

"How long are you staying in Japan?"

"Three months."

"Are you staying in the area?"

"Yes."

"Whereabouts?" Syaoran glanced at Sakura. She nodded.

"I'm staying with Sakura." Noriko's jaw dropped about six inches. Her friends who had been gathering around all stopped and stared at Sakura and Syaoran. Noriko asked,

"How do you know each other?"

"Our mothers were friends." Sakura said. Syaoran looked at her and she smiled. Noriko's attention had turned back to Syaoran.

"Have you got a special girl back in China?"

"No."

"Or in Japan?"

"Um… sort of."

"You're seeing someone?"

"Not really. Kind of. It's a long story."

"And one that has absolutely nothing to do with you." Sakura said pointedly. Noriko bristled visibly.

"This has got nothing to do with you Kinomoto. Keep your scabby nose out." Sakura's eyes narrowed but Syaoran leapt in first.

"This has everything to do with Sakura. She's a very good friend of mine." Noriko seemed at a loss for words, something that should be noted in history because it was as common as a millennium.

As she got her voice back she looked at Syaoran.

"Well… while you're still trying to decide about this other girl, maybe you'd like to meet up with me for a movie or something."

"No, it's ok thanks." Syaoran said. Noriko lent forward, her low-cut top showing of far more than Syaoran was comfortable with. As Noriko's large eyes came level with his, he said in a calm voice,

"I'm afraid I can't."

"Not just for tonight?"

"Um no… I'm busy tonight."

"Busy with who?" she said, pouting. Sakura had had just about enough of this.

"He's busy with me, ok? We're going out with our families tonight." Noriko sat up abruptly. Syaoran cast Sakura a grateful glance. Noriko handed him a slip of paper.

"Here's my number. Feel free to call me anytime."

"Thanks. I'm sure I'll have real trouble resisting THAT temptation." He said quietly as she walked away. Sakura snorted in laughter. He looked at here.

"Thanks a lot! I almost had to face a fate worse than death!"

"A date with Noriko? That's much worse!" Tomoyo giggled.

"A fate WORSE then a fate worse than death. That's pretty bad." Eriol said.  Sakura nodded.

"Yup, you owe me big time Syaoran Li!"

"Don't remind me." Syaoran groaned. Sakura gave him a mock glare and he smiled. Tomoyo looked through the camera at them.

"You know, you two are quite cute together!"

"SHUT UP!" They both shouted at her. She smiled.

"So you're saying that even when Syaoran leaves you'll never write to him?"

"Maybe. Probably not." Sakura said. Tomoyo turned the camera on Syaoran.

"Come on? Not event the odd e-mail?"

"Perhaps. But if we contact each other our parents might get the wrong idea. I caught my mother looking through a wedding dress catalogue the other day." Sakura stared at him.

"Are you kidding? Did they not hear the 'I never want to get married' speech?"

"Apparently not. She's already picked one out for you. It's very big and lacy. I'd watch out if I were you Sakura!"

"Don't worry. I saw Dad stop to look at tuxes the other day." Sakura said lightly. Syaoran choked on his drink.

"What?"

"My dad has no taste when it comes to clothes. When we don't get married, I suggest you pick your own tux."

"You do realise that sentence made absolutely no sense." Eriol said. Sakura nodded and shrugged.

"Doesn't matter. It's not going to happen anyway. And we only have 11 weeks and three days before Syaoran goes home!"

"Yes!"  Sakura and Syaoran gave each other high-fives before standing up as their teacher came in.

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Another chapter has come to an end. I must thank everyone who has reviewed. This story has been done so many times I doubted if anyone would read it.

Lotsa luv and hugs

Katie