*Hey everyone, thanks for the reviews! I can't believe I have gotten so many for only 2 chapters! Anyway before I continue, I want to take the chance to give a preview of the new fic I am planning on starting after this fic and "Every New Day" are done. It's S&S, with a tragic ending. Syaoran lost her once, but when she comes back for seven days, can Syaoran let her go a second time?*

Reviewers: FirexAngel, kikakai, friends, sweet-captor, Star Cherry, Flame Aura, Nariko, Ms. CherryStrawberry, & emily

Marred

Last Chapter: "I couldn't get away . . . " Sakura murmured as Syaoran pulled her into a gentle embrace.

'How anyone could hurt you is beyond me, Sakura.' Syaoran thought. . .

Sakura shifted slightly, moving closer to her pillow. It was so warm, so soft; Sakura couldn't help but wrap her arm around it and hug it close. Her eyes snapped open, however, when her pillow hugged her back.

Sakura focused on Syaoran as he slept soundly beside her, his arm draped around her small waist. She watched him as he slept, his chest rising and falling as he breathed slowly. Messy chocolate hair fell over his closed eyes, giving him a childish yet at the same time sexy appearance. Sakura didn't dare move, else she would wake Syaoran up. As she continued to stare, she began to wonder.

'What am I doing at Syaoran's?'

Her face clouded with sleepy confusion as she tried to remember what brought her to the boy's house. She shifted, then felt a wave of pain course through her. Sakura became even more confused, and she looked under the blankets, where Syaoran was holding her. A big black bruise painted her side where her shirt had ridden up. Sakura gasped in surprise, then agony as the memories returned.

'Oh my God . . . I'm here because Nick . . . raped me!'

Syaoran felt something moving, and slowly opened his eyes, letting them center on Sakura, who was staring at him with teary emerald eyes. He bolted upright, looking down at Sakura as she began to cry once again. Pain filled his heart as he too recalled what had happened.

"Hey . . . don't cry." Syaoran coaxed, looking down at Sakura's angel face. He was sitting up, his elbow holding him up. Sakura was lying down on her back, her arms wrapped around her.

"I . . . I can't help it!" Sakura cried, more tears spilling out of her pretty eyes. Syaoran couldn't stand it when Sakura cried, he hated it when she wasn't perfectly happy. Syaoran then did the unthinkable; he leaned over Sakura and softly cupped her face in his hand.

Looking down at the frightened young woman, Syaoran's eyes softened. With their faces just inches apart, Syaoran leaned down closer. He was about to touch Sakura's lips when Sakura sat up, facing the opposite ways. Syaoran realized what he was doing, and mentally berated himself for being so stupid.

"Sakura, I'm sor-" Syaoran started. Sakura cut him off as she turned around to face him.

"I can't believe you just did that." Sakura whispered, hurt obvious in her quiet voice. Syaoran felt a stab at his heart; he wasn't trying to put the moves on Sakura, he just wanted her to feel better. Why that entailed kissing her was beyond him.

"I'm sorry, I-" Syaoran sputtered. Sakura stood gingerly, ignoring the pain all over her body.

"You know what I can't stand, Syaoran? I can't stand people who don't care for me romantically to take advantage of me. Last night I was raped by someone I thought loved me. And this morning, after all this, I find you trying to make a move on me when I'm my weakest! How dare you?!" Sakura yelled, forcing back her tears as she spoke. The words stuck like venom in Syaoran's ears as he watched Sakura move away from him.

"Please, Sakura . . . listen to me." Syaoran offered, getting out of bed. He walked over to Sakura and tried to take her into his arms. When she jerked herself free of his grasp, Syaoran became frustrated.

"Sakura! There is a difference between Nick and me. Can't you see that? Or do you see me as a rapist too?" Syaoran argued, his voice tingeing with damaged emotions. Sakura looked away, unable to face Syaoran's piercing amber eyes.

"You tried to kiss me." Sakura said, her eyes fixing on the floor. Syaoran shook his head and walked over to Sakura, taking her hands in his. He tilted Sakura's chin up so she was looking at him, looking at the sincerity in his eyes as he spoke.

"I tried to kiss you, Sakura, not because I wanted anything. I tried to kiss you because you were hurting. And when you're hurting, I hurt. I don't think you understand that." Syaoran said softly, gripping her hands in his just enough.

"I don't. How can you justify kissing me with that explanation?" Sakura whispered, searching her best friend's eyes for something, anything that could make her understand him.

"It wasn't just because you are hurting, then. I admit it." Syaoran answered, his eyes transfixed on hers as he spoke.

"So you did want something in return." Sakura retorted bitterly, yanking her hands out of Syaoran's grip and dashing for the door.

"No! I wanted to kiss you because . . . " Syaoran exclaimed. He watched as Sakura started to open the door to leave, tears streaming down her face at that point.

"Because I love you!" Syaoran yelled. Sakura stopped dead in her tracks and whipped around, her golden brown hair whipping in a semi circle.

"Wh-what?!" Sakura cried, completely stunned. Syaoran moved forward, took her face in one of his hands, and just looked at her.

"I have loved you all my life. I always thought . . . it was only in a friendly way. The way a brother loves his sister. But when I'm with you, when I'm holding you at night, I feel more. I fell in love with you before I knew what love was, and seeing you last night, seeing the agony on your face . . . I couldn't take it anymore. Please . . . don't hate me for this." Syaoran stated as a blush spread over his cheeks.

"You're in love with me?" Sakura asked, stunned. Syaoran nodded, looking at his feet with sudden self consciousness.

"You don't want to love me. I'm dirty now." Sakura whispered. Syaoran's head shot up, and his face was a mixture of anger and shock.

"What happened to you was not your fault. I promise you Nick will pay for his sins. Don't try and deny me because you think you're not good enough, Sakura because you are. You're so much better than anything I have ever known. I just can't believe it took me all this time to realize what I was feeling, and I'm sorry I let you down." Syaoran replied. Sakura's eyes watered; she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"God, Syaoran . . . if only I knew . . . " Sakura sniffled, burying her head in her hands as she began to sob. Syaoran pulled her into his arms once again, running his hands through her hair.

"I don't hate you, Syao." Sakura whispered, removing her head from her hands and looking at Syaoran through reddened eyes. Syaoran sighed with relief, wiping a tear from her pretty face.

"I . . . I . . . " Sakura started. Syaoran leaned closer, trying to hear what Sakura was trying to say. Unable to utter what she wanted to say, Sakura shook her head, then planted her lips against Syaoran's.

Syaoran was surprised by Sakura's sudden actions, but was overjoyed by the fact that she was responding to what he'd told her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her in closer. Sakura winced, and the kiss was ended. Sakura looked up at Syaoran, her emerald eyes hinting with sparkle.

"I couldn't find the words, so I had to show you." Sakura whispered. Syaoran grinned slightly, retaining his hold on the small girl he called his best friend.

"If I ask you this time, would you let me?" Syaoran asked nervously. Sakura nodded slowly, her eyes fixed on Syaoran's gaze.

"Sakura, can I . . . can I kiss you, please?" Syaoran breathed, his voice barely audible. Sakura paused for a moment, then nodded slowly. Syaoran took his chance and tenderly met Sakura's lips again. They kissed for a moment, then Sakura draped her arms around Syaoran's neck and opened her mouth slightly, inviting Syaoran.

Syaoran gently opened Sakura's mouth with his tongue, touching his to hers for a moment before shyly removing it. The kiss stopped, and Sakura looked up at Syaoran without a word.

"You know what I want to do today?" Sakura asked quietly. Syaoran shook his head, and Sakura walked away from him and climbed back into bed.

"I want to just lay here with you for the rest of the day. We have a lot of things to talk about, you know." Sakura said, opening the blankets and motioning for Syaoran to join her. Syaoran obeyed, wrapping his arms around Sakura as he kissed her forehead tenderly.

Syaoran watched Sakura as she slept peacefully beside him. They had been in bed all day, just talking. She was happy for the moment, but what would happen when reality set in, and she had to deal with the shadow Nick had created around her?

'Don't you worry, Sakura. I am going to get that guy and make him pay for every bruise, every tear. I'll never let anyone hurt you like that ever again.' Syaoran thought to himself. He noticed that throughout the whole day, Sakura had seemed to forget her experience from the previous night, and that put his mind at ease in a sense.

Syaoran pulled a blanket over Sakura's bare shoulder, and she smiled softly in her sleep. Syaoran couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen next. He knew things weren't just going to be perfect, and there could be some dire consequences dealing with Nick and what he had done to Sakura.

'I'm willing to try anything . . . ' Syaoran thought before cuddling down next to Sakura, closing his eyes softly.

*Okay. . . this prolly is the worst chapter ever. Sorry. I just wanted to show that a bad event doesn't stay on the minds of those afflicted 24-7. Syaoran and Sakura . . . are they actually together? Or is it just an expression of affection after a horrible night? Don't forget to review, and I thank you for reading!*