Minna!!! ^_^ Hi!!! I'm back with another chapter! Sorry it took incredibly long. How many of you guys and gals read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix? I finished it Friday! I cried at the end! ^^; I'm an emotional person, what can I say? My favorite is still Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. What I find funny is…The Order of the Phoenix hasn't been out long and already, there are websites that are shippers of Luna and Ron. I'm kind of for the couple only because I'm a Harry/Hermione fan. DON'T KILL ME!!!

*sigh* Anyway, I'll do shout-outs next chapter! Hope you guys enjoy this!

Last time:

Sakura could feel a headache come to her head. She should have a talk with her daughter when she got Kristen back home.

"Sakura? What's the matter?"

Sakura jerked around to see Syaoran walking towards her.

"We're in trouble."

Syaoran's face filled with concern. "How?"

Sakura blushed, not sure if she should tell him, but thought it was for the best. "Judith and Kristen…"

"Yes?"

Sakura's mouth opened and closed many times before saying, "They've got a plan. They want us to be together. They are going to play matchmaker!!!"

My Daughter, The Matchmaker

Chapter 5: A New Beginning

By: Cutie Blossom

Syaoran's face turned into confusion. "What?"

"They are going to play matchmaker!" Sakura repeated.

Syaoran smiled. "The kiddos are going to play matchmaker on us, huh?"

Sakura frowned. "Are you hard of hearing? Yes!"

He smirked. "Are you sure that's such a bad thing?"

"Excuse me?"

Syaoran shook his head and leaned against the wall right next to Sakura. "I think we should play their game," Syaoran said.

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked.

"Let's just act like we are falling in love," Syaoran explained. "That will keep them going."

Sakura gasped. "You're crazy! We're playing with the girls' minds and that's not right!"

"We aren't exactly playing with them," Syaoran said. "We are just showing them what they want, but it will keep Judith and Kristen in high spirits while Judith is recovering."

Sakura sighed. "They want to become sisters, Syaoran. This just isn't all a game. You remember our lunch date the other day?"

"How could I not?"

"Remember asking me about Kristen's wishes?"

Syaoran nodded. "Yeah."

Sakura sighed again. "Well…she wants a little brother or sister and if we lead her on that road and we don't go all the way to giving her one of those, she'll be crushed!"

"Then why not give her one?" Syaoran answered innocently.

Sakura blushed. "Syaoran!!!"

"What?"

"I'm not interested in going through another relationship," Sakura said, not exactly calmly. "I don't have the best judgment in men so in conclusion…"

"You won't date ever again?" Syaoran finished for her.

Sakura nodded her head confidently. "Right."

"Then skip dating."

Sakura groaned. "You're hopeless."

Syaoran smiled. "Listen Sakura, I just want to keep Judith in high spirits."

Sakura looked down at the floor. "I know, but…"

"But what?"

She sighed. "If I do go through with this," Sakura began slowly, "you'll remember that I'm only doing this for the girls and we aren't going to far, right?"

Syaoran nodded. "Yeah…"

"I'm still not sure about this," Sakura said, softly. There was too much of a risk. Syaoran is a pretty trusty guy and all. She just wasn't sure if she could trust herself!

"I'll be a good boy," Syaoran said.

Sakura sighed again. "Fine."

"Thank you, Sakura," Syaoran said. "I owe you one."

Sakura stared up into his amber eyes. "I'm only playing along until Judith recovers."

Syaoran nodded. "That's just fine. Nothing more."

Sakura nodded her head.

Syaoran's face turned serious. "Can I ask you a question?"

"What?"

"Will you help me…with Judith?" Syaoran asked.

Sakura's face softened. "You didn't even have to ask. I wouldn't leave you alone with her to face the new world of parenting alone."

Syaoran hugged her tightly and Sakura hugged back.

"Wow! Maybe I'll get a baby brother or sister sooner than I thought!"

Sakura and Syaoran jumped away from each other. They saw Kristen stepping out of Judith's hospital room.

Sakura's face turned red. "Kristen, ho…." She was cut off when she felt an arm sneaking around her waist. Her blushed increased once she noticed it was Syaoran's arm.

"How is she doing, Kristen?"

Sakura swore that the sun had competition with how bright Kristen's smile was.

"She's doing better."

"That's good," Syaoran said, full of relief.

"She'll be in there for about three weeks," Judith's doctor said, coming up to the group.

Kristen looked down at the floor. "That's an awfully long time."

"If she does well, it may lower down to two weeks," he assured her. "If she does come around to walking again, it will be longer than that."

"Thank you, doctor," Syaoran said.

"What about the funeral?" Kristen asked. "Will she have to miss it because she'll be stuck in here?"

Syaoran shook his head. "No, they're letting her come home for the day of the funeral and then she has to come back."

"That's good. I'm glad can get to stay at home for a day or so," Sakura said.

"I'll bring her school work to her, Syaoran," Kristen said.

Syaoran smiled at her. "Thanks kiddo."

"And I'll even watch over her if you want to take my mother out on a date," Kristen said, happily.

Sakura chocked. "Kristen!!"

Kristen giggled and winked at Syaoran. "Just keep that in mind," she said before walking into Judith's room once again.

Syaoran smirked. "Well, she may have good intentions playing matchmaker, but she's not very good at it."

Sakura smiled. "Most diffidently, but I can't believe she said that!"

Syaoran's arm tightened around her waist, reminding her that it was still there.

"Maybe I'll take her up on that offer."

"Syaoran!!"

~*~

The following four days was the toughest on all of them. Syaoran rushed around trying to do his part in setting up the funeral for Chelsea and Zachary while Sakura rushed Kristen up to the hospital every day. Kristen did keep her word and did bring Judith her schoolwork everyday. Judith did all she could from a hospital bed, which wasn't much. She made very good progress on trying to walk again, but still there was no promise if she would be able to completely.

Sadly, the day of the funeral came. Judith sat around family members in the front with Syaoran next to her while Sakura and Kristen sat a couple rows behind them right next to the aisle. Judith wanted to sit with her best friend, but Syaoran said it was for the best to sit with her family. Judith wasn't very happy with it, but knew that Syaoran was right.

Kristen hugged her mother's arm. "I don't like funerals."

"I don't think anyone does, sweetheart," Sakura said.

"Why are innocent people killed instead of stupid idiots who try to kill others?" Kristen asked.

Sakura sighed and put her arm around her daughter. "It's what you call 'life,' Kristen. Not everything is how it should be."

"But Mr. and Mrs. Vanith are incredibly nice, though," Kristen said, starting to sniff.

Sakura hugged her daughter harder. "I know, I know."

The speaker stepped up to the podium and the room went silent.

"Today," he started, "we are here to recognize the lives of Zachary and Chelsea Vanith. They were both nice people and always giving to the community. They were both loving to their young and only daughter, Judith, and were very supportive of her." The man stopped when suddenly Syaoran stood up, carrying Judith in his arms. Judith refused to come to her parent's funeral in a wheelchair or that's what Syaoran told her. Sakura guessed it had to do something about showing strength for her deceased parents, but it was obvious from a mile away that Judith's cheeks had tears flowing steadily down them.

Syaoran murmured an apology and walked down the aisle and stopped right next to Sakura and Kristen. He asked the elderly couple who were sitting next to Sakura and Kristen to scoot down just a hair so they could fit in which they did. Syaoran sat Judith next to Kristen while Syaoran sat next to Sakura. Judith and Kristen immediately embraced and cried on each other's shoulder. Syaoran signaled for the speaker to continue with the funeral and he did.

"She wanted to sit next to Kristen," Syaoran whispered into Sakura's ear. He put an arm around her and she laid her head onto his shoulder.

"I think you'll make a great father," she told him in a small voice. "You know Judith so well and you treat her so well."

"Just because I let her sit with her best friend?" Syaoran asked, confused.

"She wanted to sit with her best friend so badly, but you knew it was best that she shouldn't because the family always sits in front, but you still knew what she needed the most and let her do it," Sakura said, truthfully.

Syaoran smiled and kissed the top of her head. "I think that's what I needed to hear."

Sakura blushed, but glad that he couldn't see her face. "No problem."

Judith or Syaoran didn't move from their spots for the rest of the funeral. Once it was finished and Judith's parents were buried, they met back at the Vanith's house just the four of them.

"This is going to be one long first night," Syaoran said, standing next to Sakura in the kitchen.

"It will be alright," she assured him.

"Hopefully."

Kristen stood across her mother with her best friend on the other side of her who was now in a wheelchair.

"Are you alright, Judith?" Sakura asked the little girl. Sakura noticed that Judith had calmed down a lot since the funeral and now no tears ran down her cheeks.

Judith smiled sadily up at her. "Yeah, I'm fine. I know my mother would have said, 'We don't want you crying, dear'. I know Syaoran well be a great guardian."

Sakura turned to look at Syaoran. She heard him mummer, "I'll try my very best."

She heard Judith giggle. "He knows right from wrong…usually."

Kristen giggled. "I guess mother's going to have to watch over him."

Sakura smiled and pat Syaoran on the head. "I think I can do that."

Syaoran sweatdropped. "You guys act like I'm a kid."

"Sometimes you are," another voice said.

They turned to see a tall women with dark hair walk over to them.

"Mother?" Syaoran gasped. "How did you get in?"

The women smiled at her son. "I have my ways."

The women turned to Sakura. "You must be the famous Sakura Kinomoto that Syaoran hasn't stopped talking about for the last couple days."

Sakura looked over at Syaoran who was a little red in the face. "Yes, I'm Sakura and this is my daughter, Kristen," she said, walking over to Kristen and putting a hand on her shoulder.

The women smiled at Sakura and glanced down at Kristen. "I've heard a great deal about you from Judith."

Kristen smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Syaoran's mother."

Syaoran's mother's smile grew. "It's a pleasure to meet you also." She kneeled down to Kristen's level. "You can call me Yelan."

Kristen smiled at the lady. "Okay, Miss Yelan."

The lady laughed and turned to Judith. "How are you, dear?"

Judith smiled. "I'm doing better, thanks."

Yelan smiled and leaned over to hug the young girl. "If you wish, you can live with me in Hong Kong instead with your grandparents."

Judith hugged her back, and shook her head. "No thank you."

Yelan released her. "Then are you staying with your grandparents?"

Judith shook her head. "Nope. Actually, Syaoran is going to take care of me from now on."

Yelan's mouth dropped. "Syaoran?! My Syaoran?" She looked over at her son. "Really?"

Syaoran nodded. "I'll take good care of her, Mother."

Yelan opened and closed her mouth before saying, "But Syaoran…! You don't know the first thing about parenting!"

Syaoran frowned. "Thanks, Mother! That is all I want to hear. You're so supportive it's pathetic."

Yelan walked over to her son. "I didn't mean it like that, Syaoran. It's just…you've never taken cared of a young person like Judith before so I wasn't sure if you should…"

Syaoran put up a hand to silence her. "It's alright, Mother. I know what I'm doing. I've thought a lot about it and I want to take care of her." He turned to Sakura and put an arm around her. "Including that, I've got the best mother around on my side."

Sakura smiled and blushed. "We live not so far away," she told Yelan. "I promised Syaoran to help him take care of Judith."

Yelan stared at the couple for a moment before looking down at the smiley girls.

"Are you my son's girlfriend?"

Sakura and Syaoran sweatdropped.

"No, I am not!" Sakura said, face turning redder than ever before.

Yelan sighed. "Darn. I was hoping you be."

"I'm going to go get some food," Sakura said, stomping away.

"I'll help you!" Syaoran said, following behind her.

"Miss Yelan!"

Yelan turned to look at Kristen. "Yes?"

Kristen smiled up at her. "Would you like to be let in on a secret?"

Yelan kneeled down. "What's the secret?"

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Of course!"

"Judith and I are going to get Syaoran and my mother together!" Kristen said happily. "If we need your assistance, will you help us?"

Yelan smiled at the young girl. "Of course! I would love to! In fact…" Yelan smiled and turned to face the kitchen. "I'm going to take the girls out for some ice cream at the shop just a couple blocks away! We'll be back in a few!" she shouted and turned to usher the girls out into her car.

The girls squealed in delight.

Sakura and Syaoran came out of the kitchen.

"But…!"

"I…!"

Before they got any more words out, the two girls and Yelan were gone.

Syaoran heaved a sigh. "Looks like there is another person that was just added into the group," he said and made is way into the kitchen.

Sakura blinked and followed him. "What group?"

Syaoran looked up at her. "The Matchmaker Group."

It took a minute before it sunk into Sakura's mind. "Oh no! You mean…I…um…you think so?"

Syaoran nodded. "My mother has been wanting me to settle down for years. I bet the girls are with her right now planning our wedding."

Sakura thought for a moment before her mind took her away:

Kristen licked the ice cream cone in her hand before saying, "Alright! The maid of honor will be a fellow Matchmaker by the name of Tomoyo. She'll design the dresses."

Judith smiled. "Your mom will be holding a bouquet of Sakura blossoms."

Kristen gasped. "That's a super idea!"

Yelan nodded. "That is, but where will it be held at?"

The three of them thought a moment.

"I'll think about that and get back to you, Miss Yelan," Kristen said.

Judith nodded. "There's plenty of time!"

"Guess you two are right."

"Of course!"

Sakura groaned and sank into a nearby chair. "Yep, Kristen would do that."

Syaoran smiled and leaned on the counter near her. "It'll get harder since my Mother is in it."

Sakura sighed and sat up in her chair. "Is she really that bad?"

"Yep."

'Why is the whole world against me?' Sakura thought. 'Why can't they just keep into their own freaking business. It's just plain flat out rude, I tell you. Even though Syaoran is a great guy who will make a great father to Judith. …Maybe Tomoyo was right. Not every guy is going to do what Ty did to me…Syaoran is a great kisser…'

"Thanks for the compliment."

Sakura jumped. "What?"

Syaoran smiled at her. "You said I was a good kisser."

Sakura gasped and put a hand up to her mouth. 'Did I just say that last bit out loud?'

"And I must say," Syaoran said, inching closer to her, "that you're not a bad one yourself."

Sakura laughed nervously. "Thanks. I was…"

Syaoran cut her off the best way possible…or to her it was. He placed his mouth over hers in a sweet, passionate kiss. Sakura didn't even think of objecting this time. She slowly brought her arms up to wrap around his neck as his arms went around her waist. Sakura heard herself moan as Syaoran deepened the kiss farther.

"Wow! I thought you'd guys would talk, but not make out!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Okay, it's not hard to figure out who it was, but I thought I'd leave you guys at this anyways! ^o^ Anyway, thanks for all of the reviews! ^_^ As always, they mean a lot. To all the Americans, Happy 4th of July and to the rest of the world, have a happy day!!

Cutie Blossom a.k.a. CB-chan