A/N: Nothing to say except, here's Chapter One!

Life Lost, Love Discovered

Chapter One

It was fifth period, and Sakura's head was bobbing dangerously low to her desk. The hard wood seemed more and more appealing as time went on, comfortable, as if she could just put her head down and doze off . . .

"Kinomoto-san!"

"Eek!" Sakura jumped to her feet, suddenly wide awake. Her teacher tapped his foot disapprovingly.

"Please tell me you weren't going to fall asleep AGAIN," he sighed.

"Iie . . . of course not, Fujiyama-sensei," Sakura replied bashfully. A ripple stirred throughout the room, and she heard a low, good-natured snort from behind her.

She sat back down and turned to glare. It was him, Syaoran Li. When he had moved to Japan one year prior from Hong Kong, the two had hit it off right away. They became quick friends, however, Syaoran loved to torture Sakura whenever the chance surfaced.

"It's not funny," Sakura hissed at him, but she couldn't help but smile.

"I disagree. I found it hilarious," he grinned.

Sakura whirled around, blushing furiously. Why did he get to her like that whenever he smiled that boyish smile!? She didn't get it! Every time, without fail, her heart started to beat madly against her ribcage and she flushed red enough to make a tomato envious.

The teacher went back to his lecture, yet this time, Sakura felt anything but sleepy. She was energized, ready to move, ready to do SOMETHING, ready to . . .

'Get a grip, Kinomoto,' she chided herself. 'You're just friends. And you're going to remain that way.'

But that smile! It was so soothing, so . . . familiar, somehow. She shook her head, trying to push away the cobwebs that were accumulating, but to no avail.

The next two periods ahead of her were going to be long.

***

Somehow, Sakura made it through the day. She had a lengthy walk home, and she didn't feel up to the task. So she slid down on of the cherry blossom tree's thick trunks, the one that overlooked the schoolyard. 'Ugh. I'm wiped.'

She closed her eyes briefly and reopened them, only to be staring into two amber orbs.

"HOE?! GET IT AWAY!" She swatted at the thing in front of her, which let out a muffled cry in confusion as it fell back.

Sakura blinked. "Syaoran-kun?"

He rubbed his head gingerly, wincing where she had punched him accidently. "In the flesh."

"Oh, gomen nasai!"

"Don't mention it. What's got you so worked up today?" He asked, his eyes transfixed with hers. Sakura shifted. He did a double take, and laughed uncomfortably. "Sorry. I guess you're not the only one who's got something on their mind."

"What's up?" Sakura patted the ground next to her. "Let's talk."

He took her up on the invitation, and for awhile they sat there, never really getting to the topic that was on both of their minds. So they chatted about other things, totally losing track of time. Sakura caught sight of her watch, and at the same time, realized the sun had begun to set.

"Aw, man!" She stood, reluctantly. "Look at the time . . . onii-chan must be worried. I can't believe--"

"Can I take you home?" Syaoran suddenly blurted, startling Sakura. "I mean, if you don't mind . . ." He cast his gaze downward.

If her heart was merely beating before, it was doing the cardiac-equivalent of the Electric Slide now. "Of course I don't!" She stuttered, equally flustered.

"Great!"

Sakura had never seen him so bubbly. It was kind of . . . well, weird.

***

The street was nearly deserted as the wind whipped by. Add the setting sun, and it seemed like the prime location for a country Western movie. Sakura was half expecting tumbleweed to blow through. They were coming up on her house, but Sakura didn't want to go. She and Syaoran had been so deep into conversation, they hardly noticed their destination was near.

"Here we are," Sakura said, coming to an abrupt halt.

Syaoran simply nodded.

"Well, will I see you tomorrow?"

"Of course."

"All right."

A light breeze blew, rustling Syaoran's chestnut hair a bit. His amber hues glanced upward, gazing towards the heavens above. Sakura was struck with an emotion she had never felt before, an indescribable one. His presence was incredible, angelic, even, as he stood there, looking as though he could be the centerpiece in a watercolor painting.

So she did the only thing that came to mind.

"Syaoran?" She whispered. 'Am I really going to go through with this?'

"Hai?" He stopped gazing at the skies above to come face-to-face with her.

She braced herself for rejection and for the pain to come . . . 'I'm crazy!' That was the only thing going through her mind as she leaned forward, and kissed his soft cheek gently.

She felt him jerk in surprise. Sakura stepped back, putting her middle and index fingers to his lips. "G-Gomen nasai . . . I don't know what I was thinking . . . komban-wa, Syaoran-kun . . ." Before she could flee up the steps and into the safe refuge of her home, she felt a comforting hand on her shoulder.

'Such a familiar touch . . .'

"What WAS that?" He inquired, his face unreadable.

"I said I was sorry!"

He was quiet for a bit, but his hand never faltered. "There's no reason to be sorry. I enjoyed it."

Sakura couldn't help but gasp as Syaoran's face came closer to hers.

Closer . . .

Closer . . .

Contact.

A/N: Sorry for the weird ending, and although this chapter may seem like the opening to an all-out fluffy fic, there is a reason for that dream, and a reason for Syaoran and Sakura's relationship! ^_^ Oh, and thanks to that one person who was kind enough to review! Please, R+R!