Hunting Emerald's Secret

Chapter 8: Getting to know him...

--- Authors Comment: ---

Hello again! Well, I thank you a lot for your reviews! I just got my ears pierced again! Yay for me! I also passed the exams with flying colors! I hope you like this chapter!   On with the story...^^

--- Vacant Lot ---

Their eyes widened as they heard sirens and saw red-and-blue flashing lights come near them. The view wasn't a pretty one: the wooden house was now black, still with erupting flames coming out from the windows. There were already firemen frantically taking out their gear and hosing down the fire. Sakura got up, squinting at the outlines of two officers coming toward them holding flashlights: One was a tall and slender guy in his mid 20's, and the other was a short and portly man who was also around the other's age. Syaoran as well stood up seeing them come closer. ' Do we run? Do we hide? Do we kick their butts? Syaoran is quite tired... what if we get caught? It wasn't our fault! They were after us; he had to do this... I don't want to go to jail!  ' she started freaking out. Syaoran read her nervous mind for he stepped in front of her.

The police finally arrived, both of them eyeing Sakura who was trembling behind a glaring Syaoran. The officers took a glance at each other and then the slender one step forward.

" Hello there lads, we don't mean to hurt you " he spoke, " We just want to ask you a few questions, that's all... " An unpleasant silence followed.

" What do you want to know?" Syaoran finally asked in a cold tone.

" Just what the hell happened here... in an abandoned house! " the portly man answered rubbing his cap. Syaoran nodded.

" At what time did you arrive at this house? " the slender started asking.

" At midday "

The officers gave each other another glance, then at their watches. Sakura looked at her own and gasped, it was already midnight.

" When did the house started to burn?..."

" About two or three hours ago... "

Sakura lost the rest of the conversation. Syaoran was until now handling the situation. He seemed his old self, and the officers were buying it all, whether it was the truth or not. They couldn't reveal their secret to them since it could cause trouble. One question though, brought her attention.

" And what were you doing in the house? What business did you have there? " Syaoran took a little while to respond, thinking of a rather good excuse.

" We were making out, what else? " he finally answered. Sakura flushed red at his answer. The slender got a disgusted look on his face and the portly one coughed. 

" Okay then, one last question and you are free to go... How did the fire start?"

Another two men arrived before Syaoran could answer. " Apparently there are about 50 dead corpses in there " one said, " and they weren't only burnt but knocked out. No one survived " The slender nodded. ' Great! Just what I needed!'  Syaoran sarcastically thought. 

" Well? " he asked now eyeing suspiciously at Sakura and Syaoran. He was thinking hard, what good reason would involve 50 men?

" They were meeting there in the house... a secret I guess, " Syaoran heard Sakura say, " We didn't know about this, until they found out that we were also there. Li fought back for my protection and one who was smoking dropped the cigar on some dead leaves outside... That's how the fire started" she lied. Were they going to buy it? They both stood there for another silence. The portly officer muttered something and the slender one nodded.

" Get in the car "

--- Police Car ---

Sakura and Syaoran were forced to get in the car. Syaoran gazed outside the window on one edge and Sakura on the other one. He didn't look at Sakura on the whole ride, and Sakura neither at him. She'd probably just blown it. ' Stupid, why did you say that? ' she kept scolding herself. Syaoran had everything under control until she had to barge in and ruin it all. And what about Saori? Sakura had promised to meet with her in the streets... ' What will happen to her now?' She leaned her forehead on her hand as a tear slid down her cheek.

--- A few minutes later ---

The car stopped, Sakura didn't bother to look at their destination: jail. She only heard the opening and closing of doors. They both came out, Sakura with her head low.

" Okay then... lets go..." she heard one say. Who? She really didn't care right now.

--- Inside ---

Sakura entered firstly seeing the floor white. She lifted her head to find that the walls were also the same color. She had a strong feeling of nostalgia boiling in her blood. She had been here before, but when?  The smell of strong medicine and alcohol filled her: the scent of cleanliness. She turned her view to Syaoran who was right beside him. He also showed bewilderment in his eyes. Sakura faced forward and saw men and women all dressed in white. She suddenly realized where she was... the hospital.

The real reason was that the two officers had actually bought the whole thing, leaving them one final task: to take them to the hospital to get treatment. She saw as the slender one explained the nurse in the main hall the whole situation. The nurse smiled and nodded understanding. The two officers waved as they excited.

Sakura got taken care of her tiny bruises left from the shards of glass, and got rechecked her ankle, which still seemed a little fractured. Syaoran reluctantly wanted any help, but without further choice he was forced to go to, since he was in the verge of loosing consciousness.

Sakura was now waiting for him outside in the waiting room. Her body was all covered in band-aids, her clothes were almost shredded and dirty. She saw people walking by: some excited, others depressed, some sobbing, others laughing. She saw a cheery black-haired, blue-eyed girl about her age passing by in a wheel chair. Another boy was helping her, also about her age. He had dark blue hair and sapphire eyes. He was actually kind of cute. Sakura smiled at both of them. She saw them come closer.

" Hi! My name is Naomi and this is Ryu my older brother " the girl in the wheelchair greeted.

" Pleasure to meet you! My name is Sakura! " Sakura said.

" So, what are you doing here? " Naomi asked.

" Well, I'm waiting for a friend " she answered thinking of Syaoran and how badly his condition had been.

" Oh, I see... I just got out. Seems like a leg injury. Nothing permanent, at least I hope " Naomi said happily pointing at the wheelchair. They started chatting about girl stuff, while Ryu wrote down some forms until. Naomi had had a car accident in the night and was by a 'miracle' saved. Sakura was amazed at her optimism, and she couldn't help but notice that Ryu was looking at her from time to time.

" Naomi, we better get going... It's getting late " Ryu finally said as he took a glance at his watch, " Its already two in the morning! "

" Yeah... well I hope we see each other again " she said waving. Sakura saw Ryu wink at her as he also waved. She waved back as they disappeared into the crowd.

She suddenly remembered why she had felt nostalgic inside. This reminded her a lot of her mother's loss. She was little, but she still could keep in mind all of the events that had occurred to her. Her father never mentioned what caused it to happen. He had kept it a secret from both Touya and Sakura. She had forgotten about it because she had given up one day from begging to his father.

" I'm done " she heard Syaoran's voice as he came out with his arm bandaged. The rest of his body was also covered with band-aids from minor bruises. She nodded as they both left the hospital.

--- Syaoran's Home ---

They both took a taxi back to their homes, but Syaoran didn't want to wake up Tomoyo (Tomoyo knew that Syaoran was always okay, so she didn't worry that much) making Sakura to stay at his house. Well it wasn't a house; it was a hotel. They both entered and got in the elevator until they reached the eleventh floor.

Sakura had of course not agreed so much to do this. She sometimes felt so uncomfortable around him and they almost always fought for things that had no meaning. Syaoran was a very weird guy. ' Why do I always end up with him? '

Sakura saw that the room was fair. It was quite greenish, which totally suited him. There was a little living room at the start with a television set. A small kitchen was next, followed by another room. Inside in the middle was a king sized bed with two small tables beside it, a window leading to a balcony on one side, and a door that lead to the bathroom on the other. 

He sat down on the sofa and motioned for Sakura to do the same thing.

" Thank you " she sighed as she sat.

" For what? " he asked as he started taking out a note the doctor had given him to follow once he arrived.

 " For lots of things... It would take me forever to mention them... " she said as she eyed the note. She then got up. " You know what? Just sit down and relax, give me the note and I'll do everything " Sakura said snatching it out of his grasp not waiting for him to answer, and pushing him down when he tried to stand up. Syaoran grunted as he turned on the TV and waited.

--- A few minutes later... ---

Sakura came in with three different medicines that Syaoran had to take for the pain. Then she cooked up soup for him.

" What's that for? " he asked eyeing Sakura.

" I have a theory... " she started saying placing her hand on his forehead making him slightly blush, " Yep, and I just proved it right... You have a fever! " she said placing the soup down in the table.

" What?! "

" You heard me right, and eat this soup before I decide to give it to you" she surprisingly heard herself say with motherly affections. ' Wow I'm good' she smiled to herself. He grumbled as he started eating, shooting a few glares at her, all ignored. She sat next to him waiting him to finish.

She couldn't believe that the mighty Syaoran could actually have weaknesses. After all he was human, but still... She wondered how he ever took care of himself being alone. He had mentioned he had a family, but did he? He couldn't be lying. Now he was almost helpless with a burning fever and an aching arm. She was now in charge of him, for the night... well morning. She giggled as thoughts began coming to her head. Once he finished, she picked up the dish and stood up.

" You are a good cook " she heard him say. She stopped and turned around.

" Really? "

" Hell yeah, compared to Meilin's cooking " She beamed as she went to clean the dishes.

--- Another few minutes later... ---

" Tell me how you do it " Sakura begged. They were now in his bedroom sitting in his bed.

" What? " he asked as he passed his hand through his hair.

" The time you made me unable to move back in the house... "

" Oh, there is a weakness in all humans. A point that is so vulnerable it can kill the person with only caressing it " he tried to explain to a rather confused Sakura.

" And which point is it? You mean like in guys, right? " Sakura made Syaoran flush red. She covered her mouth gasping at what she had just suggested. 

" No...It's sometimes on the head or below it. Depends on the person... " he finally answered regaining his composure.

" Show me" she said standing up. He sighed as he also stood up facing her. 

" Okay... yours is right... here " he said as he moved his hand past her cheek and behind her neck. She shuddered at the sensation of his hand, she then felt a little tap on the back of her head, a feather's touch, and fell forward into Syaoran's arm. She blushed as she found out that she couldn't leave his arms. She was again a doll, and maybe this time she didn't want to be real again.

 " Okay, you can let go now " she heard him say after a while.

She tried to get up, but accidentally tripped. Syaoran caught her once again. Their faces were inches away from each other. They both looked intently in silence at each other's eyes waiting for someone to move.  Syaoran stared at her intensely. He was feeling something inside of him... but what could it be? His heart was actually beating faster. The alarm clock snapped them out from their trances; it was already three in the morning.

" Well, I guess... that you should... " Sakura started saying.

" Yeah..."  Syaoran said as they both pulled apart.

Sakura sat back in the bed while Syaoran went to the bathroom. She heard him turn the shower on. ' What just happened? What was I feeling? '  she tried answering her questions, but she just couldn't. She decided to look around the room to keep her mind off things. She went to the table besides the bed and opened the drawer to find photos.

The first one was a happy Meilin about five years younger, smiling at the camera. Her black hair was in two ponytails making her look innocent. Another one was of a beautiful woman who was sitting straight in a chair; she was like a valuable work of art. ' Must be his mother, ' she concluded noticing that she had no expression showing in her face. The next one was of four ladies, with the same brown hair as Syaoran. They were all smiling cheerfully. ' Must be his sisters ' She continued in the next one: A photo of himself. Sakura couldn't believe it. The four-year-old boy with amber eyes and brown hair that she was looking at was joyful and merry. He was holding a blue ball in his hands as he gave a smile to the camera. ' How can this same boy be him? ' She examined the picture a few more times, hoping that her eyes wouldn't play tricks on her and giggled. ' I would certainly love to meet that cheerful boy ' She finally saw the last one. It was of a stern-looking man.

" That is my father " Sakura jolted up from the bed when she felt his hot breath behind her.

" Since when did you finish? " she asked surprised, her cheeks red.

" A while ago " he chuckled, " I see you like to snoop around on other people's private stuff "

She tried to answer but he threw her some green pajamas into which she could change. She nodded as she headed for the bathroom to take a shower and change.

--- After a while... ---

Sakura came back feeling fresh again. She giggled as she saw in the mirror that Syaoran's clothes hung loosely over her body: she had to fold the way too long sleeves. Smells of him came from his clothes. She went into the bedroom to find that Syaoran was still not in bed and made her way to the balcony.

--- Outside ---

Syaoran was thinking about tomorrow as he looked outside at the stars. He heard the door open and close.

" What are you doing? " Sakura asked curiously standing beside him, leaning her arms in the handrail.

" Thinking " he answered, still looking at the stars.

" About? "

" Things "

" Like? " Syaoran thought for a while as Sakura also watched the stars in wonder.

" What will happen once we get all seven vespers... "

" All of your dreams come true... " Sakura whispered remembering the legend.

" I know, but I mean... what will happen then? Will we go on separate ways? " he asked.

" Probably... I mean...  I will get home as soon as this crazy chase is over. I have no interests in making my dreams come true " she answered sighing. She wondered how everyone was doing in Tomoeda. " Li, what do you want from them? " she asked. Syaoran thought for a while before answering.   

" I really don't know or care... all I want is to prove that I can take care of my own. I sometimes even think that the legend is not true  "

Sakura now looked at his wonderful facial features. ' He doesn't want anything? What happened to him in his childhood to make him run away? ' 

" Really? "

" I think that the only way you can achieve your dreams and goals is to fight for them, the harder you try, the faster they will come true " he said now looking into her deep emerald eyes. She was shocked at the words that came out from his lips. This wasn't the Syaoran she knew. A gust of wind blew by.

" You have a cold, we better get inside " she said.

" I don' t want to " he said crossing his arms.

" Oh you better, or I'll make you, " she threatened as a mother would to her loving child.

" Make me then " he chuckled. Sakura narrowed her eyes.   

" Okay then... "

Sakura tried to push him, lift him, pull him, but he didn't budge. He watched in amazement as Sakura tried all of her 'so called tactics', never giving up. ' Pretty stubborn aren't you? ' She then stood face to face with him and crossed her arms. 

" Li, you are impossible! Why do you have to be so stubborn!? " she exclaimed.

" I should ask you the same question... " he muttered.

" What?! " she got her face even closer. Even though she and Syaoran were blushing, she placed her hand again in his forehead. " You are burning Li, I don't want you to get sicker than before, " she said now really worried.

" Fine " he gave up not wanting her to get troubled. She beamed a one true smile. " Under two conditions though..." 

" What? " she asked in confusions.   

" That you call me Syaoran and..."

" And?... "

He suddenly surprised her as he scooped her in his arms.

--- Inside ---

Syaoran got inside with Sakura in his arms and closed the door. Laughs were coming from both of them as he carried her. Yet, he accidentally tripped and they both landed in bed with Syaoran on top of Sakura. They continued laughing until they stopped. Syaoran started to breathe heavily, he had never actually enjoyed anything in his life since when his father had died. The laughs died away into a complete silenced as they stared at each other.

" You will call me Syaoran won't you? " he finally asked still not moving.

" Hmmm... I think that... NOT! " she teased.

" Oh you are so going to get it "

" Get what, LI? "

" You are going to die of tickles! " Syaoran said as he started tickling the sides of her tummy. She started to laugh her heart out.

" Okay! I give up... LI!"

This only earned her more prickles, until she finally gave up. They both stood up from the bed, trying to figure out how they were going to sleep.

"  Ill sleep in the couch if you want to... " he said.

" No... It's your room, so... I guess that its okay " she said already climbing into bed.

" However you feel like it... Trust me I won't try anything, and if I do, just hit me" She giggled.

" Okay... " her voice trailed away as she fell into a deep sleep.

Syaoran yawned and also climbed in bed. He turned the lights off and thought for a while. What was happening to him? He had never felt this before? Why now? Thinking to much only to him to also fall asleep. He tucked himself in and took a glance at Sakura. 

" Good night Sakura..."

" Good night Syaoran..."

He finally closed his eyes, just when the sun was about to come up.

---- Authors Comment ---

 Well I'm done... So... Syaoran has a soft side? What will happen next? I'm sorry if there were many mistakes in this one, because I didn't have the time to check it completely! See ya!