Hey everyone!!! Thanks for you reviews!!! I hope you like this chapter and sorry that I took a while to update. Well. here you go! And please read the author's notes and the end of the chapter.

Disclaimer: Kero's sick from eating too much pudding so this one's gna b simple. I do not own Card Captor Sakura or any of it's characters.

Last chapter:

Syaoran hated it when women flirted with him, but even more when women cried. He feels so helpless when he sees them crying. He had no idea what to do with Sakura, a girl that he just met who looked like an angel without wings, crying and sobbing in front of him. Until. Sakura. collapsed.

She had cried so much and used so much physical and mental energy fro the past 12 hours that her fragile body just couldn't take it. Her knees buckled beneath her and she fell onto Syaoran's chest.

On with the story
Chapter 4: Where she finally breaks free

"WHOA! Kinomoto! Are you alright? Wake up! Please! Don't scare me like this! God. Get up Kinomoto!" said Syaoran as he panicked.

He picked her up and brought her over to a bench. She felt so. so warm against his chest, she looked so fragile, so precious in his arms. With her skirt flowing down and her curls dropping over her eyes, she seriously looked like an injured angel.

Syaoran rested down Sakura on the bench. He himself kneeled down next to her. He inadvertently took one of her curls and tucked it behind her ear and leaned forward to try and wake her up. If a stranger walked past and saw them, they could swear that they were doing a scene out of Snow White or Sleeping Beauty.

"Hey, Kinomoto, wake up, come on, wake up." He said as he shook her slightly.

She slowly stirred a little and gradually, her eyelids opened and revealed her bright green eyes.

"What happened?" she whispered.

"You collapsed onto me when you were crying." He answered bluntly.

"Oh" she answered. pause. "Oh my Gosh! Are you alright? Did I squish you? I'm so sorry, I guess you had to carry my here as well? I must have been really heavy. I am so sorry li-san! I have caused you so much trouble today." she blabbered as she suddenly bounced up, sitting upright. She then noticed that she shouldn't have done that as she got REALLY dizzy and was about to fall back down. But she felt a pair of strong arms pull her back into her sitting position. She focused her eyes properly and saw Syaoran kneeling in front of her.

"Hi. Sor -,"

"Kinomoto, seriously, don't say sorry again. I think you've said sorry and thank you about a hundred times tonite. It's alright. I have been trained in martial arts since I was really young so lifting you up would have been no problem. You're really light anyway. AND the shirt! Phewwwwwww.. It's just a shirt Kinomoto, it's alright, it can be washed, it can be replaced. Now, tell me, are you feeling alright? Do you need me to call the ambulance?" asked Syaoran in a firm voice.

Sakura just shook her head slightly. "I'm alright, thank you for worrying though." As a slow smile crept up her face.

"Oh, yes, Li-kun. I have a favour to ask of you."

"Hmm?"

"Can you please please please not mention me fainting or crying or anything like that to Tomoyo or Chiharu? Please?"

"Why?" he asked as he got up and sat down next to her, Sakura. who was still a little tired and dizzy started to lose her balance again, so, she ended up resting on Syaoran's shoulder.

"Because if they know they would feel really guilty about how they weren't here to help. And I don't want them to worry, I think I've worried them enough for a while. So please, just between you and me?" pleaded Sakura. What a Sakura thing to do though? While she is having to go through so many memories again, she still tries to put her friends before herself.

That was exactly what Syaoran thought.

"Well, if that's what you want. But just let me tell you, it makes it much much better if you tell people what you're thinking. It's not good to hold everything in yourself. You should tell them. I won't though. You tell them whenever you're ready." Answered Syaoran.

"Li-san. I just wanted to tell you that I'm not always depressed like this. Jeez, I haven't cried since I last saw Now and Then. But anyway, I hope I haven't given you a bad impression. Sorri."

"Didn't you just tell Daidouji not to care about what other people think? And no, I don't think that you're weird or depressed. You've just had something that you don't want to happen happen to you. You don't need to tell me what happened because that's your privacy. Everyone is sad sometimes, it's normal. Just try and be optimistic and forget about those that have hurt you though. It's healthy to cry."

"Does that mean that you've cried before Li-san?" asked Sakura in a cute teasing tone.

"That's not for you to know." He replied, brushing the whole question aside. "Now, Kinomoto, put a smile of your face, it suits you better than tears," he said in a rare soft and comforting voice.

"Only if you give me a smile back. You need to give me something for me to smile, so we can be equal and smile together!" answered Sakura, already smiling.

Syaoran grinned at her cuteness and let out a tiny burst of laughter. Even though it was tiny, it was enough. Sakura heard his laugh. For the first time. It was warm and hmm. sorta. bright? So Sakura looked up to see him. And yes, our Syaoran was smiling.

His smile was so warm and. comforting, so Sakura held her part of the deal and flashed an even bigger smile. Her eyes widened and her smile revealed her straight and pearly white teeth.

"hehe. Li-san? You should smile more often. It suits you", smiled Sakura, "Did you know that you're really good at comforting people? Do you always comfort people? Are you a psychologist? Hehehehe You see. I reckon you're nearly as good as Tomoyo-chan!"

"What do you mean 'nearly'?" frowned Syaoran.

"Aww. no no no!!!! Smile again!!! You look better when you smile. I shouldn't have said that now. no.. smile!!!!!!!!" implored Sakura as she began giggling, "Fine. You're JUST as good as Tomoyo-chan. Satisfied? Noone other than my mother and father can be better than Tomoyo-chan, so you're on the same level as her. you should feel privileged. NOW SMILE!!!!" she ordered as she continued giggling.

Syaoran shuffled a little over the bench now. He wanted to cheer her up, now mission was completed, their closeness started to make him feel a little comfortable. Plus, she had gained her balance and was slowing standing up now.

"Li-san?"

"Yes?"

"I know that I've said it heaps of times, but thankyou. Thank you very much. You've made me feel better, and I think I'm starting to understand what's happening and I'm accepting it." Said Sakura "But I'm still sorry -- ,"

"Kinomoto. stop worrying about the shirt."

"OK. oh yeah. and."

"What?"

"I want you to pinky promise that you won't tell anyone about anything that's happen today with me."

"Huh? You don't trust me?" asked Syaoran. a little taken aback.

"No, not that, I just want a pinky promise."

"*sigh* fine. Pinky promise," they hooked pinkies with each other.

"How old are you anyway Kinomoto?"

"20 years old! You?" she answered, all cheerful, sounding like a little kid who was proud of their age.

"21"

"Really? You don't look that young."

"Are you calling me old?"

"No no no no, just that you look mature, like twenty-something."

"Well, surprise, I'm 21." He said sarcastically.

"I'm turning 21 soon! April the 1st. 'bout half a year to go! Then It'll be my birthday, APRIL FOOL'S DAY!!!" laughed Sakura.

"You sure don't act 20. If I didn't know, I would of thought that you were a overly grown 3 year old." Mumbled Syaoran. Sakura didn't hear him though.

"Li-san?" said Sakura. sounding shy all of a sudden, looking at the ground.

"Yeh what Kinomoto?"

"Friends?" she whispered, just the one word, not a statement, not a question either. sort of like. a suggestion. And she took out her hand and held it in front of him, hoping that he was going to shake it.

A lot of things were going through Syaoran's mind. For him, it was like time freezed and he was pondering whether or not to take the risk and befriend this girl. It was very rare for him to even consider these things. Usually, he's friend with women due to business matters and at other times, when women want to know him, he would just give them a glare. But.

Sakura is different.

She's not like anyone else.

It would be mean to tell her you don't want to be friends.. She might cry again.

Syaoran was having a mental battle. friends or not?

"Well. Li-san, if you don't want to, you don't have to. But I truly just want to be friends, nothing else. I dunno, I rekon I know you from before or something. It is seriously so ironic coz I feels like we've known each other for so long. You've seen me cry and laugh. But it's probably only me that feels like that, probably because so much has happened in the last 12 hours." Sakura said, slightly saddened by the fact that he didn't want to be friends.

She was about to take her hand back when she suddenly felt a large, soft and warm hand clasp hers in theirs. She felt a little shake in her hand.

She looked up and saw a pair of soft amber eyes looking at her. He had a small grin on his face . He gave her a tiny nod.

"YAY!!!!!" she squealed as she let go of his hand and instead, threw her arms around his neck. {MN: They're standing up now. n any1 heard of the phrase, 'love blooms from friendship'? (^_~)}

"YAYness! New Friend!!!" she squealed as she let go of him and started jumping up and down clapping her hands. She looked at Syaoran, smiling slightly and had a pink tinge on his cheeks.

"Thank you Li-kun! Thank you!" she was happy, and was looking forward to get to know him.

BEEEEP BEEEEEEEEEEEP honked a silver blue BMW that was parked up the street a little.

Tomoyo poked her head out of the window and shouted,

"Hey Sakura! Hop into the car! Sorry we took so long!!! We kinda got lost!!!" (But what really happened was something else, they didn't get lost. But Tomoyo. sorta. got carried away and told Eriol what happened to Sakura and Hatoshi and made him swear he wouldn't tell anyone) {MN:NOTHINK ELSE HAPPENED for all you hentais out there}

"It's kool" she replied.

"Hey Li-kun, let's go! I'm hungry! Breakfast breakfast breakfast!" she said as she started skipping towards the car. She turned around, expecting to see Syaoran next to her when she saw that he was way back and walking calmly, so she ran back to him.

"Li-kun *pant* come on!" she shouted as she grabbed him hand and pulled him towards to the car, giggling and puffing all the way. Syaoran, was complaining all the way while being dragged behind her.

They hopped in the car and made their way to the cafè. Tomoyo hopped to the back to sit with Sakura and let Syaoran sit up the front. Tomoyo made her best attempts to try and fix themselves up a little. However. there was no need, they were looking pretty good anyway.

"Hey Eriol-kun. (MN: I guess they let each other call themselves by name on the way to pick up the car) the cafè is next door to the 109 shopping complex. Just go to 109 and we can calk there. It's called Cafè Cibo's."

"Oh ok, I know where that is" he answered as he started the car.

And they drove off.

*~*~*~*~*~* in the back seat *~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Sakura-chan, are you alright now?" Tomoyo asked as she took out the clips and pins in her hair

"Yeh, sorry for making you worry. Things would work out as they come I guess."

"Hmm. well Sakura-chan? Promise me that you will find me whenever you think you need me for anything.?"

"Yeh, I promise."

"Good. now. what are we going to do about my main model for Kawaii Designs' newest collection?"

"Oh. Tomoyo-chan. I don't know, you know I still have to do school work and everything else. I don't think I would be able to handle it."

"Well Sakura, I think it would really be a waste. How could you not do it? You know I designed each and every piece for you to wear. It would look good on other models I admit. But only you can bring out the right emotions and colour of each and every piece. You know fashion designing is an art and my life is dedicated to it. And only you can let this new collection look like a piece of art. I've spent so much time in this collection. PLEASE Sakura, please." begged Tomoyo, this time she was serious, no puppy dog eyes but a genuine and desperate plea.

"I really want to Tomoyo, I know how much it means to you, but I seriously need to concentrate on my school work, I need to do my thesis, other than that, I'm sure I can help you."

"Well can't we work out a schedule for all this?"

"When's the collection open night?"

"In the November, the start of November, on the. uhh. 5th I think" answered Tomoyo

"Well. my thesis is due on the 17th of October. So that gives us about 2 weeks and bit, I dno, do you think that's enough?"

"Well Sakura-chan, I'm sure that you are going to be able to do SOME photo shoots on weekends, I mean, it's not like you're going to be just doing work for 6 weeks non stop, so we can fit in our photos during then and from the 17th to the 5th, we can work out what's going to happen in the catwalk. Is that okay? Please?"

"Fine," surrendered Sakura, "I'll do it. but .. On one condition. actually, two. no, three" she said, counting off her fingers

"Yeah? What? Anything" Tomoyo answered, she was so excited about her kawaii Sakura being her model again, she would agree to anything.

"One, you have to convince onii-chan to let me off the chores from now till the end of the whole collection business, meaning about 9 weeks of chores, I don't know how you're gonna do it Tomoyo-chan, so good luck. AND. even if you can't do the whole chore thing, you HAVE to do the following two."

"I'll t..tr..try." stammered Tomoyo. #These must be real hard ones if they come AFTER the whole Touya-san and Sakura chore switch. hope I can do this one#

"Simple, YOU, Daidouji-Tomoyo-san MUST take part in the opening night."

"Of course I will be! I am the CEO and top designer of Kawaii Designs, of course I will be taking part Sakura-chan!"

"No, Tomoyo. What I mean is that YOU must do whatever I have to do, this means, be the main model WITH me!"

"NANI??? SAKURA!!! You know that's not possible! I have.. I have so much to do and and and I . I."

Sakura gave her a go-on-look.

"FINE! Fine fine fine, I'll model WITH you than! I guess this would be fun." said Tomoyo. "Last request? There was three."

"You have to let me plan out the opening night, that is. the speeches and music and some other things, of course, you always have the last decision of whether or not you like it."

"Well, I guess that's not too bad. It sounds alright. As long as it can fit into your schedule and all, I'm sure it would be fine."

"YAY!" answered Sakura

"My turn." said Tomoyo evilly.

"Hoe?"

"YOU, Kinomoto Sakura-san, will be the main model and main. singer, with me."

"Iie!!! NO WAY!"

"Fine, I sing and you dance. you still got that flexibility and beat in you miss-cheerleader."

"Uhhh. I'll see.THAT one, we'll need to negotiate on Tomoyo."

"KAWAIIIIIIIII" squealed Tomoyo as Sakura blocked her ears and rolled her eyes.

#She'll never get rid of that one#

{MN: I'm sorri if you got lost in that conversation}

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* (front seats) *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"So, Syaoran, when's your return flight booked?" asked Eriol

"Haven't booked it, I'm not going back." Answered Syaoran

"NANI? Does the Clan and everyone at home know that the almighty Li Syaoran is staying in Tokyo? Do they know that you're not going back to Hong Kong?" exclaimed Eriol a little.

"Nope. But there's no way their making me go back. Ah A. Those people back there are crazy. I can't get onto the street without a few hundred people seeing me and coming after me. The party was an excuse, the reality. I'm moving here. Only Wei knows, and he'll be flying over here in a few days. I'll stay in the apartment." {MN: you'll get where 'the apartment' is a lil later one}

"So how's Hong Kong been since the last time I been there?"

"Eriol?"

"Yeah?"

"You just went to Hong Kong last week."

"And?"

"Well not much has changed in a week."

"Oh, so that means. hmm. Meiling is still your fiancée and is hanging onto you with everything she has and you get bombarded with about a thousand or so 'kawaii's everyday courtesy of your four VERY enthusiastic sisters. Mmm.. have you been receiving less love letters? The last time I went, you got like 70 in one day AND that's not including emails, phone calls and those girls that maniacally stand outside your office building everyday to declare their undying love for you." Said Eriol sardonically

"More like their undying love for my looks and my fortune." answered Syaoran dryly.

"So I take it nothing has changed?" teased Eriol

"If anything did change, would I need to escape from Hong Kong to Tokyo?"

"Good point"

And suddenly a loud 'KAWAiiiiiii' was heard from the back seats and Eriol looked up at the rear view mirror to find Tomoyo all excited in her seat and Sakura with a I-don't-know-how-I-got-into-this-look and her hand supporting her forehead.

Syaoran had jumped in his seat, glancing around thinking that one of his sisters had followed to Japan.

"SO Syaoran, my dear little cousin, what do you think of the girls in Japan?"

Syaoran gave him a glare.

"What? Not like I'm implying anything at all." Defended Eriol innocently.

"Do we have any conferences or important matters that I need to tend to at work today?" asked Syaoran, still frowning and glaring at Eriol, changing the subject completely.

"Well, you ARE the boss so you can control that. But no, we have nothing at work planned today, I made sure of that. you know, after the party and all, I thought we would get tired, the workload's on Tuesday. So, you and Sakura- san? What going on between you two?" said Eriol mischievously.

"Nothing like what your thinking." Answered Syaoran with a light blush. "We're just friends, she needed some help so I was passing by so I helped her. Friends, nothing else Eriol."

"Friends? Wow Syaoran. I never thought you could be friends with anyone other than the ones that are related to business or family. A stranger? Befriended in one night? It's either something has happened in the past week as you have denied or that Sakura-san is a very different girl that is worth our master Li Syaoran to be friends with."

#She is different, I think she would be a good friend# thought Syaoran

They continued their talk for a while longer until Eriol got a phone call. So he parked to the side coz he didn't have his hands-free and answered it. {haha! Eriol is a good boy, he follows the road rules}

Sakura and Tomoyo stopped talking coz they didn't want to disrupt the conversation.

"Mhmm." said Eriol into the phone. "Uhh. yes, why?" "I don't think that would be such a good idea." "But." "No really" "What if." "Well, not like I have a choice." he says, sounding harassed.

"I hope this turns out okay, if it doesn't, you don't know what I'll do to you." Muttered Eriol.

"Sakura, there's someone on the phone for you" said Eriol as he handed her the phone.

Sakura looked at him perplexed, but all the same, answered the phone.

"Moshi moshi? Kinomoto Sakura. Who's this? Chiharu? Is that you Chiharu? Ssup girl?", asked Sakura, presuming that the only person that would want to talk to her through Eriol would have to be Chiharu.

"Sakura." said a manly voice.

"Uh. hey. is that you Takashi? Why do you sound so uh. different?"

"Sakura, it's me" said the voice again.

The whole car was quiet now. Tomoyo was intrigued to know who was calling Sakura through Eriol's phone. Eriol was gripping the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles had gone white. He looked. guilty. afraid of something or someone, nobody knew. Syaoran was growing scared himself. What on earth could shake the usual calm and composed Eriol so much? And what does it have to do with Sakura?

"."

"It's me Sakura. It's me, Hatoshi."

The phone dropped out of Sakura' hand and slid onto the floor. Her smile disappeared. She gasped. She leaned against Tomoyo and shook a little, then tears started coming. She would have thought that she had run out of tears for now. But no, tears seemed to be something there was no end to. But suddenly everything stopped. She stopped crying and gasping. She felt something warm clasp her hand. She looked up, Syaoran had turned around and held onto her hand tightly. It felt warm and comforting. He wasn't saying anything but just his hand had given her a sense of security.

Slowly she realized that Tomoyo was hugging her, wiping her tears away with a tissue, making soothing noises in her ear. Eriol was sitting at the driver's seat blaming himself for giving her the fone, apologizing none stop. A thought suddenly sprang into her head,

#It's ok Sakura, if you need to cry then cry. If you need to run then run, but just remember, we'll always be here for you# (Chiharu)

#Chiharu's right. They're all here for me. What a fool I've been for so many years. Dwelling on the past. Stuff Ryo, forget about Hatoshi, he's history. So are the 'we' of me and Hatoshi. He can go get married for all I care now. I have my friends and that's what I need most. Thank you everyone#

Then slowly, a smile crept onto Sakura's face. It was a smile that was comforting to everyone. Herself and the others. She squeezed Syaoran's hand really tight and whispered, "I finally know what to do."

"Who was it Sakura? Eriol? Who was it?" whispered Tomoyo.

"Sukiteka Hatoshi" answered Sakura, shocking both Tomoyo and Syaoran.

#What does Sukiteka have to do with this?# thought Syaoran, but he didn't ask, he didn't want to look as it he cared.

Sakura smiled. She said his name without getting shaky, scared or sad. {MN: HAHAHA I just HAVE to put this in, alliteration, shaky, scared, sad! Yayness}

"It was him Tomoyo, it's alright. I'm alright. I think. I think I'm finally over it. Tomoyo, I've thought things out! Thanks to your support and all our friends all these years, and. and you, Li-kun," she smiled at him. "Four years. I've suffered and changed because of him and his crowd for four whole years. and today? After all that crying, the pain, the sacrifices, the changes, Tomoyo. I finally announce to you that I've broken free. Finally." she laughs a little as she turns around and sees that Tomoyo had whipped her video camera out of nowhere and started taping her.

"Hahaha, Tomoyo-chan, you still haven't changed one little bit. But I rekon THIS time is the bestest scene that you've ever filmed. We'll be calling it whatever you want, I'm sure you'll come up with a great idea."

She continued, "Eriol-kun, don't feel guilty. It's alright. Really, I'm serious, I'm over it all. it took time and finally, today, it's hit me, I'm free. Anyways, start the car, all this crying has been tiring, now, I want to just eat and sleep. So if you still feel bad, start the car and get me somewhere where I can eat", said Sakura cheerfully.

"Oh yeah! You're fone! Wow! It's flop flip." Said Sakura as she picked up the phone from the floor and flipping it shut. "I hope I didn't break it when I dropped it Eriol."

"Nah, it's pretty unbreakable, - thanks - let's go to breakfast." Said Eriol, taking the phone.

Sakura gave Syaoran a reassuring smile, a small nod, a tight squeeze on his hand and let go of it. He returned a tiny grin and turned around on his seat and looked as if nothing had happened.

What none of the occupants in the car knew was that someone had heard the whole conversation on the other line of Eriol's fone that had fallen on the floor. That 'someone' stayed and eavesdropped wanting to know what was happening. That 'someone' was Sukiteka Hatoshi. He wasn't impressed with what Sakura said. In fact he got real shitty after hearing what she said. He didn't want her to forget about him. He wanted her back. He had always wanted her, but this time, he wanted Sakura so much it was nearly like something had possessed. Before, he only liked her for her personality and understanding ness, but after last night, he wanted her even more because Sakura was the hottest woman that he had ever laid eyes on. he wanted her for himself. And he was determined to get her back.

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

They arrived at the cafè at around 9am, got a table and ordered and waited. All of them looked really tired.

"So."

"Eriol-kun, can you drop me home after breakfast? You can take Tomoyo to my place too."

"Sure."

"Tomoyo? Do you need to drop in the office today?"

"Nah, I'm going to sleep. You got anything planned?"

"Nope, but I need to hand up an assignment, so I need you to take me."

"Kool."

"What do you study Sakura-san?" asked Eriol.

"Psychology, at Tokyo University. Last year, honours degrees."

"Wow." mumbled Syaoran under his breath. He also had a tendency to presume that all girls that were pretty had no brains. {MN: THAT IS SO RUDE}

"Hard work?"

"Yeh Eriol-kun. It's really hard work. But I dunno, it's fun in a way I guess, to study what and how people's mind work."

"So, Sakura, do you know what you're going to do once you've graduated?" asked Eriol once again.

"Nope. Well. sorta. actually. ehehehe. I don't want to do clinical psychology so I'm going to probably follow with business psychology. but I suck at maths. Take it as it comes."

They continued through breakfast with some general chatter and got to know each other better. But Syaoran decided to stay quiet for much of the session After breakfast (which Eriol paid for). Sakura and Tomoyo got dropped off at the Kinomoto's house and Syaoran and Eriol went home to sleep.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Kinomoto's household *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The girls were chattering loudly as they walked up the porch, but it took them one secong and one look before they shut up. Touya was standing there, arms crossed, leaning against the open door waiting for them, tapping his foot impatiently.

"Who were those two guys that dropped you two home?"

"Later onii-chan" answered Sakura, brushing aside the matter. And she push past Touya and changed into her slippers.

"Ohayo Touya-san!" greeted Tomoyo

"Ohayo, Tomoyo, I want to know who those people were."

"Later onii-chan!" insisted Sakura. She didn't have the strength to argue with him.

"Come on Tomoyo."

They went upstairs to Sakura's room and the adjoining guest room. (That room is prettu much Tomoyo's anyway, it was added in especially for her and it joins to Sakura's), got changed and went to bed.

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

Syaoran got to his apartment. He was used to this place due to his constant traveling between Japan and China. The place was VERY classy and huge. It was at the very top of the 45 levelled apartment complex and was custom architecturally designed. There was only two apartment on the 45th level, Syaoran's and (unfortunately for Syaoran) Eriol's.

Yes, Syaoran had been trained since young but still, he wasn't super man. He was so tired after being deprived of two nights', fighting a drunk guy, comforting a crying angel etcetera etcetera.

So?

He flopped on his bed and fell asleep without bothering to change. He was exhausted. For the whole car trip Eriol was annoying Syaoran with countless questions about one being.

Kinomoto Sakura.

And with that girl in his head, Syaoran fell into a deep slumber.

# Kinomoto Sakura. friend. but. what. Sukiteka?.#

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

"Briiiiing - briiiiiiing"

Smash

"Sakura-chan"

"Mmmm. go away. Sakura. sleepy."

"Sakura! Get Up!"

"NO!" she replied as she turned over on her bed.

"Sakura! If you don't get up you'll fail your assignment!!"

"No I won't. onii-chan taught me not to lie. so you shouldn't either. *mumble**mumble*"

"SAKURA!!! IM NOT LYING!!! It's 3 o-clock! You need to get up, print your story and hand it up!!! If not, you'll get a fail! Remember???"

Sakura shot up from her bed and ran downstairs to the study, ignoring Tomoyo completely in the process.

"HOOOE-E-E-E!!! PRINT PRINT PRINT!!!" said Sakura o the computer as she ran back upstairs to get changed. Tomoyo had already laid out a pair of faded blue glitter jeans and a cute ruffled pink peasant top on her bed.

"Thank God for Tomoyo-chan" mutter Sakura as she changed at top speed. After that, she raced back downstairs to find that Tomoyo had a hot chocolate and some cookies ready on the table for her. Tomoyo herself, was seated at the table flicking throught the fashion section of the newspaper.

"I don't know what I'd do without you Tomoyo-chan"

"Neither do I." Replied Tomoyo and they both bursted out laughing.

Sakura ran back to the study and picked up her assignment and returned to find a note on the table for her.

Kaijuu,

I've gone out with Suki. I hope you've actually gotten up before dinnertime. Well look after yourself and cook for yourself, but don't burn down the house into ruins!!!

Onii-chan

P.S. Don't think I've let you off on the whole 'who were those guys that dropped you off this morning' thing. wait till I get home kaijuu.

Sakura sweat dropped at his comment and thought to herself.

#Sakura no Kaijuu onii-chan!#

and then she suddenly noticed that the very bottom of the paper was a note that was rushed on.

P.P.S. Kaijuu, just admit it. I know what you're thinking, but you're wrong. You ARE a kaijuu no matter what = P and haha! This time you can't stomp on my foot either KAIJUU!!! ^_^

And then Sakura fell down anime-style.

Finally, they made their way to the uni after something to eat. Sakura ran her assignment into the office. On the way though, she ran into a real good- looking guy with piercing golden eyes and ruffled, designer cut purple hair. {MN: well what do you expect? This is anime we're talking about, personally, I rekon that wuld look pretty hot}

SMASH.

"Ahh. gomenasai!!! Are you alright?!?" asked Sakura, she had a tendency to run into people at the wrong moments.

"Yeah, it's kool" said the man, standing up and brushing his shirt a little.

"K. I'm really sorry but I gotta run. I'm sort of lost and I really need to hand this up, so bye. and I'm really sorry." Said Sakura and she flashed him a smile and turned around, ready to go on a mission and search for that office.

"Uhh. miss. by any chance are you handing up a psychology honours assignment for Tsubasa sensei?"

"Yeah! How did u know?"

"Coz I just handed mine up and got lost too. Just go to the west wing and turn right and the second corridor, the in-box is there. But you better be quick because if you're any later then I don't think they will accept it."

"Hoe! Arigatou! Gotta run! See ya!" said Sakura as she turned her heels and ran off, not hearing the young man ask for her name.

Thanks to that stranger she bumped into, Sakura handed her assignment in just on time. After that, she and Tomoyo went for a little shopping and everytime Sakura saw something she likes, Tomoyo would be like:

"Sakura-chan, You know I could design something much better than that,"

or

"Sakura! Look at that fabric. I bet you, it would either fade or shrink after your first wash."

However, despite those criticisms every 10 or so minutes, they still ended up walking out of the mall with both arms full after shopping for only a hour. Lucky they had to chauffeur with them.

^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^ Kinomoto household

"Onii-chan! Why are you home so early? And you made dinner? Wow. What happened with you and Suki?"

"She got called home. Why are you asking? Don't you want me at home Are you expecting someone? ARE you expecting those two bakas that dropped you off this morning. {MN: sorri, but how weird dus it sound saying. bakas. English crossed jap, lol} Huh? Answer me! Who are they? And when did you start going out? AND WHY WERE YOU WITH THEM IN THE MORNING? WEREN'T YOU SLEEPING OVER AT TOMOYO'S PLACE? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN LYING TO ME KAIJUU?!?" roared Touya.

Both Sakura and Tomoyo sweatdropped.

"Eheheh. onii-chan you are so paranoid." She muttered as she walked up to him and.

STOMP

"Sakura no kaijuu onii-chan! Get that through your thickhead will you? AND don't be so paranoid!"

STOMP AGAIN

"Itai!!!! What was that one for???" cried Touya

"That one was for the note, because watashi no kaijuu onii-chan. HMMPH"

"Touya-san, those two men are the executives of Li-Enterprises. They dropped us home because my car broke down and the chauffeur couldn't fix it on the way here. It's fized now, but we couldn't catch a taxi at that time in the morning and the two of them drove past on their way to work so they gave us a ride." Lide Tomoyo convincingly. Sakura' jaw dropped a little.

"Well, you could have called me you know. And you shouldn't have gotten into a stranger's car anyway."

"But no, Touya-san. They are far from strangers. Kawaii Designs and Daidouji Co. {her mum's toy company} have many deals with Li Enterprizes so we are good friends." Well. hey? That's not really a lie is it? Kawaii Designs and Daidouji Co really do have many business ties with the Li's but I'ts just that Tomoyo has never met Eriol or Syaoran until last night.

Touya just wouldn't give up though. He still didn't like the idea of two guys that he didn't know taking Sakura in their car so he had to make them look as bad as possible despite the facts that they were young, rich and talented.

"Well what were two full-grown men doing together in each other's car in the morning. What? Are they gay or something?" (That was the best that Touya could come up with)

"Onii-chan! That is so rude! NO they are not gay, they just own the same company and live near each other so they drive each other to work! THEY'RE COUSINS ONII-CHAN!!!"

"Oh."

"Now let's have dinner shall we? I think the food is getting cold." Said Tomoyo, trying to change the whole subject before they start yet another fight.

So they all agreed and had dinner. Tomoyo left after dinner and Sakura went on with her thesis until late at night. At around 1 in the morning, she decided to hop into bed. And while lying there in her cozy bed she stared up to the ceiling and thoughts started dropping into her head. The last thought that appeared in her mind before she drifted off into dreamland was,

#No more Hatoshi, no more Ryo. I have my friends, and that is all that I need. I've got Tomoyo, Chiharu, Naoko, Takashi, Rika and my new friends. There's the ones at Kawaii Designs and at uni. And there's Eriol. and. Li- kun.#

and she fell asleep with a small glimpsing picture of Syaoran flashing into her mind. the scene with her in his arms after she fainted. a tiny blush appeared on her face.

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

MN: So? What do you think everyone??? I hope you liked this chapter.. I actually liked writing this chappie. Next chappie? More flashbacks of Sakura's past. and her moving on. (I think)

Well. please please please review because I gotta go bak 2 skool in a few days so if I don't get any reviews. well I dno..

Neways. just review. and. I've sorta got a new idea for a story and I was hoping to see what any of you thought. If you like it then I'll write it. if now then I won't.

Here's a summary:

Catch a Falling Star:

Sakura and Syaoran are betrothed to each other. Syaoran simply hates the idea. Sakura isn't too happy but agrees and obeys her mother's last wish. Syaoran won't even look at Sakura in the eye. Sakura is getting depressed. She didn't want to leave her family and she hates being deprived from all the love that she was used to and in return get glares and cruel comments from her so called husband. So Sakura dresses up as a maid to serve Syaoran, hoping to teach him how to love and not be so cruel. Will Syaoran ever fall in love with a maid? Will he accept his wife?

Luv from sita = D

p.s. your mouse isn't far. just click that little purple button and tell sita what you think.