Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura is not mine. . .

A/n: Heya guys!!!! I'm back!!!! =D Exams are OVER. Alright! Hmm. . .I see some new readers! ^-^ Sorry for the very extremely late delay. . .I had writers block. =(

Hikaru Ayumi, AnonymousT (yup, I took the idea from there), xiu (hihi!), and . . .harhar Najee, am I evil? Not to forgot the others too! ^-^

Chapter 8:

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"I thought I told you to ask her to leave Syaoran."

"Well yeah. . .but we got. . .distracted," Motoko shrugged her shoulders, twining her blonde luscious hair around her finger. "But what does it matter? They're getting married now."

"They are so not." The voice growled. "I am paying YOUR gang, so get the work done."

Motoko's ruby eyes flashed. "Don't push me." She drew herself to full height, shooting a sizzling glare.

The figure flinched. The setting sun was throwing long shadows, which veiled the stranger's face.

"More money, less time waiting. So do we have a deal?"

Motoko smirked. She held out a hand.

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Tiny diamond necklaces of sweat formed on Sakura's forehead. She mopped it away with her arm, and strained her eyes on the basketball game.

It was gym class.

"Sakura! Catch!" Tomoyo's voice rang out sharply in the air. She threw the ball over to Sakura.

Sakura's fingers grasped the ball firmly in her hands. She dribbled it, weaving through girls in blue sleeveless tops. Suddenly, Motoko whizzed in front of her, almost stealing the ball. Sakura gritted her teeth, and faced her back towards Motoko, her hands playing with the ball. Then, she shot it to Meiling.

Motoko pursed her lips in annoyance, still guarding Sakura. Sakura broke through Motoko's guard, and ran across to Meiling, who was having difficulty controlling the ball, with two opponents circling her.

"Meiling! Pass it to me!" Sakura yelled.

Meiling looked up, relief crossing her face. She passed the ball over to Sakura. As the ball flew in mid air, Sakura jumped up, hands outstretched. Then, she felt herself losing balance. . .

Sakura fell onto the ground with a loud thud. She felt a sharp pain spreading over her back. She groaned, curling up into a ball. She opened her eyes, only to see Motoko holding the basketball triumphantly, sneering at her.

The girls stopped playing immediately. Their sneakers squeaked as they ran across the clean wooden surface of the floor to Sakura. The gym lapsed into silence.

The teacher seemed to jolt out of her slumber. She blew her whistle frantically, signaled all to stop, and lumbered over to Sakura.

"Sakura, are you alright? Do you need to go to the sick bay?"

Sakura breathed heavily. The zapping pain was excruciating.

"She fell from quite a height eh?" "Very high. . ." "Wonder how she fell?" "I saw Motoko push her. . ." "And snatched the ball?"

Whispers passed through the girls like a string through beads.

"BEEEEEEEEE!!!" The teacher blew the whistle. "Silence please, girls!"

The girls rolled their eyes. The teacher ignored them.

"Now Sakura, how are you feeling?"

Sakura pressed her eyelids down tightly, as if to stop the pain. She managed to splutter, "I feel fine. . . just. . .need to lie down. . . that's all. . ."

"Right. . .we'll have u sent down to the sick bay. Anyone can help Sakura down to the Sick Bay?" The teacher called out.

Tomoyo raised her hand, "I can!"

Upon seeing Tomoyo's volunteer, Meiling piped up, "Me too!" "Excellent." The teacher clasped her hands in delight. "Come back as soon as you can. I want to know who did this." She narrowed her eyes to Motoko, who gave a careless shrug, and tucked her blonde hair behind her ears.

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"Sakura. . .careful. . ." Tomoyo's voice tinged with worry as she caught Sakura by the arm.

Meiling held Sakura up by the other. "What IS with that Motoko anyway. . .why is she so against you?"

Sakura sighed. "When I get well, I am so going to kick her ass. I've got enough of this."

"But Sakura, did you offend her or anything?" Tomoyo pushed open the door to the sick bay.

Meilng and Tomoyo both knew the reason why Motoko was crushing on Sakura. They had discussed it before. . .and if they just managed to dig it out of Sakura, it would confirm their suspicions.

"You can tell us, Sakura." Meiling offered gently, stopping the swinging door in time.

"It's. . .nothing really. No need to worry."

Tomoyo guided Sakura to the bed, "Meiling's right Sakura. If you tell us, perhaps we can help you."

The two friends lay Sakura on the white bed. As Sakura laid her back on the gentle mattress, it felt as if a ton of bricks had been heaved up from it. The pain was less now.

"Man, there's no nurse here?" Meiling frowned in disapproval. She eyes surveyed the room. The walls were stripped of colour, there were two brown wooden cabinets by the side, a metal tray on a small table hosting some medical equipment, and finally, a bed by the wall.

"So Sakura, what's up with Motoko?" Tomoyo veered back to the subject.

Meiling and Tomoyo pulled two foldable chairs up to Sakura's bed.

Sakura sank her head into the pillow. "It started a few days ago. After school. The Catstar gang approached me, and Motoko threatened to beat me up if I didn't let Syaoran go. I managed to escape by shouting 'car accident'."

Meiling snorted.

"Then today she knocked me down. I mean. . .if you want a guy, do you have to be so obsessive?"

It took a few moments for Tomoyo and Meiling to comprehend what Sakura said.

Meiling broke the silence first. "Hey Sakura. I think you should stop this. . .project. It's too dangerous."

"Yeah Sakura. Motoko can be really ruthless. She has been suspended a few times. . .and she doesn't care. Her father is filthy rich. . .the school needs him." Tomoyo urged.

Sakura felt a pang of disappointment. She thought her friends would stand by her. . .then she could continue writing this article. Right?

No. . .was that what she really wanted? Just to continue to project? Or was there something else.There was something else. . .but. . .

(A/n: DUH! Wake up Sakura!)

"Think about it, Sakura." Meiling clawed her chair away from the bed and folded it up. Tomoyo followed suit.

"Take care Sakura." She smiled, her amethyst eyes revealing concern.

Meiling smiled as she walked out of the door with Tomoyo - or was that a smirk?

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The shrill ringing of the school bell splintered Sakura's sleep. She straightened her back. The nurse had come in earlier, and rubbed Sakura's back with a weird ointment. . .with a strange smell. . .

Amazing. No pain at all.

Sakura shakily stood on her feet and walked out, joining the flow of the students.

"Hey Sakura. Can we talk?" Smooth voice. Coffee-rich, with a hint of a drawl. . .Syaoran.

He came up behind her. Sakura's heartbeat accelerated. She still had not forgotten their intimate moment; it was like a single spot of freckle, stubbornly dotted on the skin.

Syaoran was looking gorgeous, as usual, his amber eyes like honey, melting her immediately. OKAY, HELLO? WAKE UP!

"Eh. . . Uh. . .Hi." She cranked up a smile. Horrid starting. When had she ever felt so nervous, so unsure, before Li Syaoran before? Where was her assured self? Perhaps the day started tooo hectic. Yeah. That was it.

"Come on, I wanna bring you to a special place." He took her hand. Sakura felt a zap of electricity shooting up from her hand all the way to her spine. His hand was so warm. . .

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Sakura dreamily stared around. Syaoran had brought her to the beach.

The limousine drove off, its tires crushing against the gravel.

Sakura pulled off her sneakers and socks, sat down, the chilly wind gently caressing her face. She dug her toes into the warm sand, and wriggled them, enjoying the feel of the pristine sand trickling like fine baby powder between them. She tilted her head back, ears twitching to the gentle lapping of the waves.

Syaoran watched her discreetly. He sat down beside her. Sakura's face appeared calm and lifted, as if she were listening to soft guitar music from afar. She was so beautiful. Gawd. . .when did he ever last think of a girl like that?

He could stare at her for the whole day and not feel tired. Her auburn hair swayed in the wind, her skirt lifting ever so slightly. (A/n: eh. . .so very sorry. I forgot to mention Sakura changed out of her gym uniform -_-;)

"The sun's going to set soon." He murmured softly.

Sakura heard him. Okay. . .so what was up? Why did Syaoran bring her to the beach to watch the sunset? Was he sincere?

She sneaked a peek at him.

Syaoran's lanky legs were stretched right in front of him. His body was tilted backwards, hands supporting it. His face was cool and unfluttered, brown hair straying across his eyes. His shoulders were broad, matching his muscular arms. They weren't that muscular like Arnold Schwarzenegger's, but just enough for a girl to notice them.

Syaoran felt Sakura staring at him. He turned his head, only to see Sakura flushing rapidly. He could not help a grin. She was so cute.

"This is one of my favourite places. It just so peaceful. Isn't it?"

"Yeah. . ."

The sky was beginning to exhibit a splendour of colours. A shy pink began to turn solid at the horizon, following a light blue, and a darker shade of blue backing it up. As the sun descended deeper into the sea, the sky burst into vibrant shades of pink hues.

The sky was like a giant canvas, with beautiful, brilliant colours splattered all over it, it was like an artist was furiously swiping his brush left and right on his canvas. . .

(A/n: I think this should be enough describing of the sunset, eh? Seriously. . .I'm not very good at describing sunsets. -_-;)

"It's beautiful," Sakura whispered.

"We can come here everyday if you like." Syaoran offered.

Sakura snapped back to reality. Why was he being so nice to her? Didn't he know. . .this was all a big show she was putting on? Suddenly, the conversation she had with Meiling and Tomoyo was splayed all over in her head. She couldn't do this. . .she was letting herself fall deeper and deeper into this relationship. . .

"Syaoran, I . . .need to tell you something." Sakura hesitated about confessing.

Syaoran raised his eyes. "Yes?"

Sakura teetered on the edge of telling the truth. She didn't want to end this. No. . .she couldn't. . .

"Hey, you had something to tell me right? You go first." She had escaped it. For now.

"Yeah." Syaoran leaned back on the sand, looking at the night pushing the light away. "My aunt just called from Hong Kong. Yesterday night. My mum has cancer."

This news shocked Sakura. She had never heard Syaoran mentioning about his family. . . "I'm so sorry." She bit her lip.

"It isn't much. I've never been close to my mum all these years." Syaoran suddenly sounded very distant.

Was Syaoran serious about Sakura? Why was he revealing all these private stuff to her?

Sakura turned her head towards Syaoran. "I. . .is there anything that can save her?"

"Yeah. My bone marrow."

"Are you going to donate it to her?"

Syaoran put his hands behind his head. "My aunt called because of that. I'm the only one whose bone marrow my mum can accept. According to the lab results."

The sky was darkening.

"What's holding you back?"

Syaoran shrugged. "Nothing. It's just. . .I'm afraid to face her after all these years."

Sakura moved slightly nearer to Syaoran. "It's just your mum, Syaoran."

"Yeah, but, all the expectations she has of me. . ."

Suddenly, Sakura understood. "You have to show her who you are, what you have become. She'll understand."

Syaoran shifted his head towards her. "My family's complicated Sakura. Everyone expects me to be great. It's a lot of pressure. . .going back to Hong Kong."

Sakura gave him a smile. "You're a great guy Syaoran." Excluding all those girls you dumped. . . . . . .

Syaoran sat up, facing Sakura. "You're such a sweet girl. You know that Sakura?" He moved his face nearer to Sakura's.

Sakura's heart thudded. What was he doing? She froze.

The night was already whittling the last rays of sunlight.

And then, she felt Syaoran's lips touching hers. They were soft. Sakura closed her eyes as Syaoran slowly coaxed her mouth open. His breath mingled with hers and felt warm and sweet. Sakura felt Syaoran's tongue lick over hers, and she returned his kiss. Sakura's heart was beginning to thump quickly, and she felt as if she was racing down a roller-coaster.

Syaoran was such an awesome kisser.

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A/n: So very sorry for the late late late late late late update!! I had SERIOUS writers block. I could only finish this today, when the inspiration suddenly came to me. Wow, NOW I know what they mean by writers block. I'm so sorry guys! Hope this kissing scene makes up for it. . .=D

Ok. . .Syaoran is off to Hong Kong next chapt. And. . .Sakura is bombed.