Dedicated to Cherry Destruction.

I realise that this song extract is longer than the usual amount, but if you actually read it, you'll realise that it does actually apply a lot to this and the previous chapters.

Chapter 12: Eyes On Me

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Whenever sang my songs

On the stage, on my own

Whenever said my words

Wishing they would be heard

I saw you smiling at me

Was it real or just my fantasy?

You'd always be there in the corner

Of this tiny little bar

My last night here for you

Same old Songs just once more

My last night here for you

Maybe yes, maybe no

I kind of liked it your way

How you shyly placed your eyes on me

Did you ever know

That I had mine on you?

Darling, so there you are

As if you're never hurt

As if you're never down

Shall I be the one for you?

Who pinches you softly but sure?

Just reach me out then

I will know that you are no dreamer

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Syaoran jumped to his feet.

"Sakura! You're awake!" Her mouth smiled slightly at his excitement.

"Apparently so." She said slowly, her voice hoarse. He picked up her hand and squeezed it gently with his.

"I was so afraid you weren't going to wake up."

"What? And let you be mean to Noriko and Leon without me? No chance." She whispered. Syaoran suddenly remembered that he had been told to call a nurse if she woke up. He picked up the buzzer and pressed it frantically. Then he turned back to Sakura.

"How long have I been here?" she asked.

"Nearly two weeks."

"Have you been here the whole time?"

"Most of it."

"Why?" This question caught him by surprise. He had to think carefully before saying,

"Because you're my friend. I wanted to make sure you're ok. And if my mother found out I wasn't with you she'd murder me."

"You stayed… because of your mother?" Sakura asked uncertainly. Syaoran frowned. This wasn't going too well.

"No. I stayed because you're the best friend I've ever had and I was scared you wouldn't wake up."

"That's sweet." Sakura smiled. The nurse came in, interrupting them.

"Miss Kinomoto! You're awake! I have to call the doctor." she picked up the phone on the wall and spoke quickly into before replacing the receiver.

"Mr Li, you'll have to leave."

"No! Syaoran, please stay." Sakura pleaded frantically. Syaoran looked at the nurse. The nurse smiled and nodded.

"Fine. Just don't get in the way."

"I won't." Syaoran said, holding Sakura's hand again. The nurse started to measure Sakura's pulse and other things. When the Doctor arrived he said,

"How are you feeling, Miss Kinomoto?"

"Sore. Kind of sniffly. Like I had a cold or something."

"A drastic improvement. Your father and brother have been called. They were resting at home."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

When Fujitaka and Touya arrived Syaoran stood up to leave. Sakura didn't let go of his hand. He smiled and removed it.

"This is your family time. I'll be right outside. Besides, I have to call Tomoyo, Eriol and Meilin." He had already told her about his cousin and Sakura was anxious to meet her. Syaoran stepped outside as Fujitaka and Touya fussed over her. He made his way to a payphone and dialled the number for Meilin's mobile.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Meilin, Eriol and Tomoyo had been sitting on a bench in the school grounds, talking when the phone rang. Meilin plucked it form her jacket and flipped it open.

"Hello?"

"It's me."

"Syaoran, hi!" The others bent their heads close to listen.

"Sakura's just woken up. Can you come ASAP?"

"Absolutely!" Meilin said. Tomoyo seized the phone.

"Syaoran, is Sakura OK?"

"She's fine. She only woke up about half an hour ago. Once things start coming back to her she might feel bad. That's why I want you all here."

"We'll come straight away."

"Bye."

"Bye." She handed the phone back to Meilin and smiled.

"She's awake! This is brilliant!"

"Let's go and see her." Eriol said, standing up. The two girls followed him and as they reached the school gates Tomoyo stopped. The others turned to look at her.

"What's wrong?"

"What should we do? I mean… what are we going to say to her when we see her?"

"Tomoyo, that doesn't matter. As long as we're with her it doesn't matter what we start the conversation with."

"I know but so much has happened. What can we say without upsetting her?"

"We'll see when we get there. Now come on!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sakura and Syaoran were talking quietly when they arrived at the hospital. Tomoyo hugged Sakura and burst into tears.

"Oh, Sakura, thank god you're alright!"

"We were so worried about you!" Eriol said, sitting down. Meilin hung back, waiting for Sakura to greet her friends. Sakura looked at her.

"You must be Meilin."

"Um… yeah."

"I'm so happy to meet you. Syaoran's been telling me about you." Meilin smiled and shook Sakura's hand.

"I heard that you were ill and came to keep Syaoran company. He's shown me your school and I'm going there for a while."

"Then you've met…"

"The Bitch and the Bitches bitch? Yeah."

"Interesting names." Eriol commented. Meilin flashed him a grin. Syaoran asked,

"Do they know about Sakura?"

"No. We've kept it a well guarded secret." Meilin assured him. Sakura smiled,

"I can't wait to get back and start bitching at them myself." She yawned suddenly. Syaoran smiled.

"We'll let you get some sleep."

They stood up to leave. As Syaoran started to close the door behind him he heard Sakura say,

"Syaoran?"

"Yes?"

"Can you do something for me?"

"What is it?"

"Take a shower."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

When Syaoran got to the hospital the next morning he found Sakura sitting up in bed, drinking tea and reading a motorcycle magazine. She smiled as he came in.

"Have you seen the new Yanton '76?" she asked, pointing towards a particularly fantastic bike.

"Yes, I was looking through that yesterday." He looked at her closely, then asked,

"What was it like… in the coma?"

Sakura looked at him thoughtfully. He grew embarrassed.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have asked."

"No, it's ok. I'm just trying to think how to describe it. I guess… it's like being asleep, but much deeper. You can feel things and hear things but you can't wake up."

"Oh."

"But there was one thing that I kept hearing, nearly the whole time." She looked at him. "And that was you."

"M-Me?"

"Yeah. I kept sort of getting at hint of a voice every now and then; it's hard to remember. Like when you're trying to remember a dream and can't. But I heard your voice."

"Do you remember what I said?"

"No… I couldn't hear. Why?"

"Just curious." Syaoran said. He looked over at the pink bunny rabbit next to Sakura's bed, then back at Sakura. She followed his gaze and her face fell.

"I don't know why I reacted like that. I don't think I wanted it to be real."

"It's OK."

"No, it's not. Yolei wanted me to stay alive and do things she couldn't. So what's the first thing I do? I go and nearly die. Not anymore. I'm going to live. I have to live."

"For Yolei?"

"Yes. And for me." she picked up the piece of paper and unfolded it. Syaoran looked at the picture and asked,

"Do you understand?"

"Yes. But I think that's the one thing I can't do for Yolei." Sakura said softly. She placed the paper in her pocket and smiled at Syaoran.

"Want to play Cards?"

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

That afternoon Sakura was told she could go home the next day. She looked at the doctor pleadingly.

"Can't I go home today?"

"Absolutely no. We want to monitor your condition overnight. And once you get home, it's straight to bed. I don't want you to leave the house for at least a week."

Sakura slumped back, sulking.

"I don't have a condition. I'm condition-free."

"Oh, I don't know. Could brattiness be considered a condition?" Said Touya from the door. Sakura glared at him.

"I'm not a brat!"

"Oh, that's right. You're my little kaijuu."

"Am not!" Sakura protested. The doctor shook his head and sighed.

"Relaxation, Miss Kinomoto, relaxation." The he left. Nakuru, Touya and Yukito came in. Nakuru was carrying a basket of cuddly toys.

"I didn't know what to bring you, so I brought you all of them!" she said, smiling. Sakura laughed, taking the basket.

"I don't know what I'm going to do with all these."

"Oh, you can donate them to the children's ward if you want." Nakuru suggested. Sakura nodded, then Yukito handed her a basket of fruit, saying,

"You really had us worried Sakura."

"Sorry." She muttered. Yukito grinned.

"Don't worry. I'm sure it wasn't exactly a bundle of laughs for you either." Syaoran stood up.

"I'm going to get a drink. Back soon."

"Can you get me a water?" Sakura asked. Syaoran nodded and left.

As he looked through the window he saw Touya hugging Sakura and Sakura struggling desperately. Syaoran sighed. He only had a month left. Just one month, then it was off back to China. For good.

Unless they got married.

But there was no way Sakura was going to agree to that. It just wasn't going to happen. And he knew that. He wasn't too keen on the idea himself. Sure, there were feelings. But feelings weren't enough. They'd have to see.

"Why don't you tell her?" said a voice behind him. It was Meilin. Syaoran clutched his chest, heart pounding vigorously.

"Shouldn't you be at school?"

"I took the day off. Eriol and Tomoyo are coming at lunchtime. Why don't you tell her?"

"Because that's not what she wants to hear!" Syaoran said crossly. Meilin folded her arms.

"You're never going to tell her! Then you're going to go off back to China and wish you had!" Meilin said furiously.

Syaoran turned away brusquely.

"It's not your business." He told her. Meilin's eyes narrowed and she seized his arm.

"You're going in there and you are telling her!" she said, tugging him in. He stumbled in and they stared at him. Meilin marched right up to Sakura and said,

"Syaoran has something to tell you!"

Syaoran glared at her, then looked at Sakura, who looked curious. He opened his mouth and said,

"I… I…"

"Spit it out!" Sakura said, laughing slightly.

"I… I couldn't get you any water. Sorry."

"Oh, that's ok! I'm not that desperate." Sakura said. Meilin groaned in despair and stormed out.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Late that night, Sakura and Syaoran were alone in the room. Sakura had been sleeping and had woken to find Syaoran reading beside her bed.

"Don't you ever go home?"

"Occasionally." Syaoran replied. Sakura smiled, shifting her head on the pillow so she could see him better.

Syaoran watched her carefully. She glanced at him and asked,

"Don't get sick. Get some sleep and rest for a while."

"I'm OK."

"You've got bags under your eyes that I could do a weeks worth of shopping in. Get some sleep."

"I'm fine."

"Look, come on!" she said. She shifted over on the bed, making room for him to lie down.

"Just get some rest. It won't hurt you." Syaoran was going to argue but she was glaring at him. He sat on the bed and took his shoes off. As he lay down Sakura rested her on his shoulder. He moved his arm so she was lying in the crook of his elbow. She sighed happily.

"I can't wait to go home."

"I know."

"And then I'm going to do it. I'm going to live. Do everything."

"Everything?"

"Yes."

"Won't that be a bit exhausting?"

"I'll manage. You only got one chance at life. You can't waste time being afraid of what might happen. You've just got to act. You've got to live it to the full."

"I hope you do."

"You'll help me?" Sakura asked sleepily.

"Of course." Syaoran replied. Sakura smiled.

"Then I've got nothing to be scared of. You're someone I can rely on."

"I'll keep an eye you. Two, when I can spare it."

"I'll be safe. Just as long as you keep your eyes on me." Sakura murmured.

Within a few minutes they were both sleeping soundly.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I hope you enjoyed it! What will happen next? Well, I'm not gonna tell you! That'd spoil it.

Remember to review! Let's try and get up to two hundred soon! Oh, and feel free to e-mail me. I always like to meet new people.

Myatk001@medway.org.uk

Lotsa luv 'n' huggles

Katie.