AN: This is the longest chapter I have, but don't get too excited. I won't say anything more because I don't want to give anything away.

Things you should know:

"Someone talking"

Someone's thoughts

~*~*~ Changing to someone else's Point of View (You will be told whose point of view). When I am changing the setting of the story and that doesn't appear, it means it is still the same point of view from the previous setting.

[Author's Notes]

Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura doesn't belong to me, it belongs to Clamp but the plot is mine and any new characters are mine.

Murdering Angel

Chapter Fourteen

(Syaoran's P.O.V)

I ran, and yelled at cars that honked at me when I crossed the streets.

Please let me be wrong, please let me be wrong, I chanted over and over again, but when I saw the police cars and officers surrounding Hiiragazawa's apartment building, I knew that what he had told me over the phone wasn't a mistake. Pushing people aside, I made my way to his apartment.

"Damn it, what happened?" I demanded.

Hiiragazawa, seeing my angry face, left the officer he was talking to and approached me. "Like I told you, Melinda was kidnapped" Eriol said sadly, as if every word he spoke was a struggle to say.

Cursing, I balled my hand into a fist. "Who took her?" I ask through clenched teeth.

"I don't know. I was in the shower, and I heard her scream and when I came out, she was gone."

"Did someone break in?"

He shook his head. "No. There was no sign of force entry. I think Melinda opened the door on her own."

I wanted to punch something, and because Hiiragazawa was the closest thing to me, I did exactly what I wanted to do.

I socked him in the face.

"Shit!" I exclaimed as he twisted around and landed on the floor, back side up. Few seconds went by without movement from him before he pushed himself up (I was too surprised at myself to actually help him), staggered to his feet, and looked at me as he wiped his nose. I blanched when I saw that there was blood coming from his nose and that there was some of it on his hand.

"Okay" he stated, his voice filled with pain. "I understand you're mad, but to hit me-"

"Sorry" I interrupted, still too amazed at myself. "I was angry at the situation and I reacted on the impulse to hit something."

"And that something was me" he said, glaring at me.

I nodded, guilty. I had never hit a person unless they had hit me first, and what I had just done shocked me to the core. Melinda's kidnapping had affected me that much.

"I guess I can understand" he said gruffly as he took out a handkerchief and held it against his nose. "Did you tell Sakura about this?" He asked, his voice slightly muffled.

I was all too glad to change the subject. "No. This is not a good night for us, and I didn't want to make it worse for her by telling her about Melinda being taken. I took her home and then immediately ran here."

Hiiragazawa ran a hand, his free one, through his hair. "Li, I am sorry about this. You trusted me with Melinda and-"

"It isn't your fault." I sighed and I, too, ran a hand through my hair. "Who would take a little girl?" I finally asked. "Especially Melinda?"

"I don't know. There are some psychos out there whose motives are never understandable." He winced when he touched his nose.

"Whoever took Melinda is a psycho who will soon be dead" I hissed. Then I took out my cell. "I better call Sakura." I looked at it for a few seconds, not wanting to dial the number which would later result in Sakura's sadness and fear.

"Sir?" I look up as an officer walked up to Hiiragazawa. "There are no fingerprints around, which proves that whoever this kidnapper is didn't enter the apartment at anytime before taking your daughter."

"Thanks, and she isn't my daughter."

"She's mine" I say, surprising myself, Hiiragazawa, and the officer. "He was just babysitting her for me" I continue.

"Oh, well, my apologies" the officer said. "Well, because you are the father, we need you to come to the station and-"

"I know. How long will it take to find her?"

"It could take days, weeks-"

"I want an exact estimate."

The officer sighed. "Due to the tremendous lack of evidence, it's possible we might never find her."

I balled my fist again and rubbed my other hand down my face. I couldn't believe this! God, I had this all planned out, and now they are telling me I might never see her again!

"It might also be a possibility that she had left on her own."

I glared at the officer. "She's eight years old. She knows that it's dangerous out there, especially at night, for a girl her age to be wandering around in the streets."

"Sir, there are many girls who go out on their own that's the same age as your daughter-"

"At the moment, officer, I don't give a shit how many girls her age leave on their own. Right now, I care about my girl, my little Melinda, and I want her found."

"I know you're upset-"

"Upset? Upset? Damn right I'm upset!" I yelled. I was finally giving in to the panic and fear of never seeing Melinda again. Even worse, seeing Melinda dead. "My daughter was kidnapped! She may have made a mistake by opening that door, but I know she didn't open it just because she wanted to!"

"Only being eight years old-"

"She was mature for her age! She knew what people our age probably don't know! I'm telling you that Melinda had opened that door because she thought that whoever the person was on the other side of it was someone important, or had said something important!"

"Sir, calm down-"

"Don't tell me to calm down!"

"If you don't then I'll be forced to arrest you!" The officer yelled, glaring at me. That made me keep my mouth closed, but I did put a hand on the side of my forehead while breathing hard.

"Officer" I say, my voice tense and thick with emotion. "Just . . . just find my daughter. Please."

The officer nodded. "I'll do my best." He left and I took a deep breath as I leaned against the wall.

"Hiiragazawa" I say.

"Yeah?"

"If I can't handle Melinda's kidnapping, Sakura will literally have her heart wrenched away from her chest. How can I do that to her?"

"I don't know. If you want, I'll do it for you."

I shake my head. "No, I have to do this. I have to tell her." I look at my cell before putting it away. "But I can't call her and tell her. I have to tell her in person."

~*~*~ (Sakura's P.O.V: House)

I hummed as I looked at myself in the mirror. I spun around and smiled at myself before walking away from it. I still couldn't believe that the prints match Bennett's, but I pushed that phone call I got tonight to the back of my head, at least for tonight. Instead, I thought about the date with Syaoran, and I smiled. It was lovely. I never had such a wonderful evening. He was such a gentleman, asking questions and actually paying attention to what I say. And he looked so good in that Tux! I giggled a bit as I remembered that he had made an effort to comb his hair. It wasn't exactly neat, but it was less unruly than usual.

Too bad he didn't get a chance to change before running out after coming back here, I thought, and then I frowned. Why did he run out like that? He seemed worried.

"Whatever it is, it has something to do with that second call he got" I say to myself.

"It was Hiiragazawa who called."

I jumped and turned around, and sighed with relief when I saw it was only Syaoran. "You gave me a fright" I told him.

"I'm sorry."

I opened my mouth to tell him how he always makes it a habit to scare me, but then I noticed his expression. I closed my mouth and watched as he entered my room and came up to me.

He took hold of my hands and brought me closer to him. My heart began to pound. His eyes, his beautiful eyes, held so many emotions. But only two emotions were standing out in his orbs: Fear and worry.

"What's wrong?" I ask fearfully.

He sighed. "Sakura . . . I don't know how to tell you this."

"Tell me what?"

He took his hands away in order to wrap his arms around me. Feeling that I should do the same, I wrapped my own arms around him. I felt the tension running through his body.

"Hiiragazawa was the one who called me when we barely got home tonight. He had some bad news for me."

"What bad news?"

"I wanted to surprise you. Melinda was never sent to America." I pulled away a little and looked at him.

"What?"

"I pulled some strings, made a few calls, and convinced Melinda's social worker to let her stay with Hiiragazawa. The worker believed he was going to adopt her, but in truth, he was just babysitting her. I had planned to surprise you with Melinda after we caught John Doe, so you can have a chance to adopt her."

"Oh Syaoran" I breath, emotion choking me up. "That would have been a wonderful gift."

"I thought so." He pressed my head against his chest with his hand. "I had carefully planned everything. And everything was going so great. But then . . ."

"But then what?"

I heard him sigh shakily. "Sakura, the reason for Hiiragazawa calling me . . . the reason for me running to his apartment building tonight without changing clothes . . . it's all because someone took her."

I froze for a second, hoping against hope that what I just heard was a misunderstanding. "What?" I whisper as I pulled back and looked at him. He was looking down at me with misty eyes.

"She was taken. Someone kidnapped Melinda."

I felt like I couldn't breathe. "Please tell me this is some sick joke of yours. You know how much I love that little girl!"

"I do know, I do. That's why I had planned all this for you. But this isn't a joke. I don't-"

I shoved him away from me, and he was so surprised from my action that he almost toppled over and onto the ground. I ran past him, and down the stairs. I heard him following me, but I didn't pay attention. I grabbed my coat but before I was able to reach the door, I felt Syaoran grab me by the waist and he pulled me against him.

"Are you crazy?!" He exclaimed, already figuring out what I was going to do. "You can't go out!"

"Yes I can!" I struggled against his arms. "I have to go to Eriol's building!"

"And do what?!" He snapped. His anger only ignited mine.

"Check and see if there is any evidence the kidnapper left behind" I snapped back.

"That's already been done! The apartment is off-limits to everyone, including you!"

"Not if I tell them that I am going to handle her kidnapping, which I will!"

"Bennett already gave the case to Hiiragazawa, because he himself asked for it! He blames himself and he refuses to share the case with anyone!"

I finally released myself from his hold and turned around to face him. "Of course this isn't Eriol's fault! You are the blame!"

His eyes widened and he took a step back. Oblivious to what I was doing to him, I continued on with my shouts. "If you had just agreed to my plan to adopt her, she would be with us in this house safe and sound! But no, because of you and your resistance to help me, she is now gone and we may never see her again! This is nobody's fault but your own! If Melinda is found dead you'll be responsible!"

After taking deep breaths, what I had just said registered in my mind, and I noticed that throughout this time, I wasn't looking at him, but at his shoes. Paling, I raised my head to look at his face, and what I saw wrenched my heart. He stood there, his own face pale. He looked vulnerable and alone.

And hurt.

I hurt him.

"Oh God" I whispered as I covered my mouth. "Syaoran-"

He walked forward and passed by me as he headed towards the stairs. I flinched at the sound of his door slamming a few seconds later. I looked down at myself and saw that I had put my coat on, but underneath it I had on my thin nightgown. I had the strong urge to laugh at my stupidity, but instead I began to cry. I crumpled to the ground and cried into my hand at the fact of Melinda missing, and at the fact that I had just hurt the one man I love.

(Midnight)

I bit my lip as I slowly opened the connecting door. It was late, but I hoped that he was awake. I had waited for him to come to my door, to ask for an apology, but I knew he wouldn't. I had to go to him. I was just wishing he would come to me so I wouldn't have to, and I cursed myself for feeling that way. It was a cowardly thing to do, wanting him to come to me so I wouldn't have to face him.

So here I am walking into his room, having very little courage. But I had to apologize to him for what I said. It was horrid for me to blame him, when I should have comforted him. After all, he loves Melinda as much as I do. I know he does.

"What do you want?" The question was so cold that I winced. He hasn't spoken to me this way since when we were first put together as partners. But I deserved it.

"I'm sorry" I say softly. "I'm sorry for . . . what I had said." Through the dark, I could see him lying on his back in his bed. I bowed my head when he said nothing. Taking it as a refusal of accepting my apology, I turned around to walk out.

"No . . . don't go." I paused and turned back around to stare at his silhouette. He was sitting up and even though it was dark, I knew he was looking at me. I stayed at my spot, and we stared at each other for a few seconds before he outstretched his arms and held them out towards me. With a sob of relief, I practically ran to him and threw myself onto the bed and into his arms without shame. He hugged me tight and I shut my eyes. I wanted to yell out that I love him, that I loved him so much I would never have said what I had said unless I knew I was hurting him in the process. But I held myself back and just enjoyed the fact that he was holding me.

"I didn't mean what I said" I whispered several minutes later. "I was scared at the fact of having Melinda with a stranger, at the fact that she might have been . . ."

"She's alive, she has to be" he whispered back.

"I don't want to sleep alone, Syaoran. Please. Too much has happened tonight and I don't want any nightmares and-"

He kissed me to stop the babbling. He laid us down on the bed and he hugged me to him. "Go to sleep" he said softly, and I hugged him tight. "Don't worry" he continued in the same tone as I closed my eyes sleepily. "I'll protect you from nightmares."

And he did.

~*~*~ (Syaoran's P.O.V: Saturday Morning.)

I waited until she opened her eyes before I smiled. Her eyes fluttered open and I watched her gorgeous emerald eyes look back at me with confusion before she closed them and smiled.

"I seem to recall the first time I woke up in your arms" she said groggily from sleep "I had closed my eyes to see whether to find out if you were a dream, or real. And when I opened them, you were indeed real."

"And we ended up having an argument" I finished with a smile, but I sobered up when she asked her next question.

"Was last night real? Did you really tell me about Melinda being kidnapped?"

I didn't want her to get upset, but she wanted an answer, so I nodded. She groaned with dismay as she put her face against my chest.

"I'm sorry, Sakura, I'm so sorry. I never meant for Melinda to be kidnapped. I wanted it to be a surprise. I had planned that on the day we get John Doe, I would take you to Hiiragazawa's apartment, and Melinda would bounce into the room with a smile. If I had known what would have happened, I would have brought her here rather than keep her a secret."

"It's not your fault" she whispered. "It never was. Do you have an idea on how she was kidnapped?"

I nodded. "Hiiragazawa told me that a few days ago, Melinda had opened the door to Daidouji while he was in the shower. He suspects that she opened the door once again while he was in the shower, and that whoever she opened the door for, took her."

"Oh Melinda, Melinda. Why would she open the door knowing that she shouldn't?"

"I believe that whoever had knocked said something or introduced himself as someone who she believed was important enough to disobey Hiiragazawa's order not to open the door to no one."

She was quiet for a moment. "So, Eriol is going to handle the case?"

"Yes. He blames himself and wants to make it up to me."

"Do you blame him?"

"No."

She was quiet for a few moments. "I was mad at the situation, that's why I had lashed out at you last night and blamed you for Melinda being kidnapped" she said as she looked up at me. "I wanted something to scream at and since you were the only thing in front of me, I used you as a scapegoat, and I apologize."

I chuckled. "You and I are alike. When Hiiragazawa told me about Melinda being kidnapped, I wanted to hit something and he was the closest thing next to me."

She gasped. "So you hit him?!"

"Yeah. But it was an accident. He had gotten medical attention later."

"Oh, Syaoran!"

"What? I told him I'm sorry, and he understood. Besides, after how he annoys me so much, he's lucky that all I did was hit him in the nose."

She sighed and shook her head. "I hope she's alright" she whispered.

"She is. She has to be. And I'll kill the bastard who took her. Slowly." I looked down at her and couldn't resist the urge to kiss her, to reassure her. Parting her lips, I slowly rolled her onto her back while I was on top of her. I knew this wasn't the best place, or position, to be in while kissing her. But I couldn't help it. I knew I had to stop this, or this kissing might become more than just our mouths mating. I knew that wouldn't be good right now. But being a twenty-four year old man, and kissing the woman I love in bed, it was a losing battle to listen to my brain. Instead, I was listening to my hormones, and they were on overdrive. I heard her moan, and I felt electricity whiz through my body.

Stop this!, my brain shouted. She's vulnerable! You're vulnerable! This isn't desire! This is you and her seeking comfort over the fact of Melinda being kidnapped!

Then let us be comforted, I told myself, and continued kissing her. Tossing away my brain's warning, I didn't stop. Even if I knew what would happen, I wouldn't stop.

Unless the stupid ringing of the phone interrupted!

I lifted my mouth away from hers and looked into her eyes. Her eyes were filled with desire and passion. Contrary to what my brain thought, this is desire that was happening between us. But, on my side, there was also love. Whether there was love on her side, I did not know, but, for now, I felt smug knowing that I was the one who ignited that desire within her.

But at this very moment, all I felt was annoyance. It seems it isn't only cell phones that are a nuisance to my love life. Unfortunately, these type of phones are everywhere and I can't exactly burn them all. Damn them all to hell!

I rolled off her and answered it. "Yes?"

"Mr. Li Syaoran?"

I frowned. I didn't recognize the voice. "Yeah?"

"Mrs. Li Ling is prepared to be taken home."

I blink. "Excuse me? Who is this?"

"This is the coroner's office. As I said, I had examined your late wife's body, and she is now fully prepared to be taken home for funeral arrangements."

I groan. Funeral arrangements. How can I forget about the funeral arrangements? Her mother would have done the job, if she hadn't disowned her. And even though Ling had signed the divorce papers, she was killed before the papers could be taken to the judge, or at least that's what the coroner told me. According to him, Ling was killed the same day she had signed the divorce papers. So, I was now being given the title as her widower, and as her widower, I was now responsible in arranging the funeral the way Ling had written in her will. It's a good thing I convinced her to write a will, just in case anything happened.

"Look, at the moment I am a little preoccupied with trying to find my daug- I mean, a little girl who was kidnapped, and I'm trying to comfort her mother. Isn't there anybody else who can do it?"

"No, sir. In her will, you are the one listed as the person who will do the arrangements."

I knew I couldn't get out of this one. Damn it. This is a bad time, but I knew I had to do it.

"Alright" I sighed. "But that means I have to go to her lawyer and-"

"No need. I had called Mrs. Li's lawyer. According to the will, she wants to be buried in her homeland."

I bang my head against the pillow and glanced at Sakura. She was looking at me worriedly, and so I gave her a reassuring smile that everything is all right, even though I knew it wasn't.

"Damn it" I couldn't help but say that, though. "Homeland means she wants to be buried in Hong Kong."

"That's right. She also wants a white coffin, and wants to be buried in a cemetery I can't quite pronounce."

"It's in Chinese" I said, knowing that Ling never changed the will since I had filed the divorce, since I recognized all that he said. "Don't worry, I believe I know the other conditions that she wants."

"Okay. I'm really sorry for your lost, Mr. Li."

"Don't be" is all I said as I hanged up. I fell back on the bed and sighed.

"Who was it? And what's in Chinese?" Sakura asked.

"It was the coroner's office."

Sakura jolted up. "The coroner's office?!" She asked, a panicked expression on her face.

"Don't worry, don't worry" I soothe. "It wasn't about Melinda."

She sighed in relief. "Good."

"Yeah. It was about Ling. She's ready to go home. I had told Ling when we were first married to do her will, just in case anything bad happened. When I filed for divorce, I changed my will, but she didn't, so I am still listed as the one to do all the funeral arrangements if she is dead. She wants to be buried in her homeland, which is Hong Kong, and what's in Chinese is the cemetery she wants to be buried in, which is, translated, called the Old Traditional Cemetery."

"Old Traditional Cemetery? Why is it called that?"

"Something about how in the old days, when technology hadn't existed, they use to do this traditional burial, and if you wanted to be buried there you had to do the traditional burial. Of course, over the years, the rule eventually no longer applied. But it's expensive to bury someone there."

She nodded. "Does this mean you have to go . . . to Hong Kong?"

"To make arrangements, yeah. And if I remember all the conditions, I'll be in Hong Kong for a few days."

Great, even in death Ling is keeping me away from Sakura, I thought grimly as I turned to look at her. She looked somewhat sad, but understanding at the same time.

Before I can say anything, she began speaking. "Before you even think it, you have to go to Hong Kong for the arrangements. No matter what Numi has done to you, you have to take care of it."

"But I can't go, not now. Melinda is kidnapped-"

"I know she is" she said as she got out of bed. "But Numi was your wife; listen, you, nor I, can do anything right now about Melinda. Eriol has the case, and as you said he isn't going to let me help, which is probably for the best because I'll be emotionally involved and that is never good. But he'll find her. I know he will" she mumbled, almost to herself, and her voice was shaky. Shaking her head, she looked back at me. "I'll take care of Bennett and the case of John Doe."

I sighed. "I know Hiiragazawa will take care of Melinda's kidnapping, and I know you can take care of John Doe, but I still don't want to leave you."

"Syaoran, I can take care of John Doe by myself-"

"Sakura, I said I don't want to leave you."

She blinked, before realization dawned on her. I sighed as I got out of the bed and walked over to her. "I still want to be in a relationship with you" I murmured "and going to Hong Kong will make me wait. I don't want to leave when . . ."

"When what?"

"When we're close to being involved with each other."

I blinked at her little smile. "Syaoran, we're all ready involved. We've been involved since we started kissing." She bit her lip, her expression showing how nervous she looked. I felt like she wanted to tell me something, but she was holding back.

"I still don't-"

"I'll be waiting for you" she said softly. "We might be able to make this relationship thing work. But we won't be able to do anything about us being together if Numi is just sitting there waiting to be buried." She bowed her head. "Besides, we wouldn't be able to do anything about a normal relationship when we are stuck wondering about Melinda."

I looked down at our hands, which I had took hold of when I reached her. So many things were keeping me from being with the woman I love. Is this a sign? A sign from Destiny telling me that maybe . . . I had fallen for the wrong woman? That me being with this woman would be a repeat of what had happened between Ling and I?

No! It couldn't be, and even if it was, I would do everything I can to make sure that Sakura and I would have a happy life. I love Sakura, and nothing will keep me from being with her. Looking into her eyes, I knew she was the woman for me. She was different than Ling. Sakura loved life, cared for others more than she did for herself. True, she was cold as ice at first, but beneath those cold ice pieces, there's a warm, friendly person, a wonderful and beautiful person.

She's going to be my wife, I suddenly think to myself, and I wasn't at all shock at that statement. What shocked me was how long it took me to realize that I will marry her. I'll do anything for her to accept me . . . and maybe, we can have Melinda as our daughter, for real.

If we find her, Came a voice in my head, and I pushed it away. We will get Melinda back. We just have to.

"Okay" I said, reluctantly agreeing. "I'll go. I'll leave tonight, so I can be back as soon as possible."

"I'll be waiting" she said.

I knew we should discuss what we were about to do on my bed if the phone hadn't rang, but I didn't think we should bring it up now. Maybe later, we'll discuss it.

I gave her a quick kiss on her forehead before pushing her towards the door.

When she left, I collapsed on my bed and put my head in my hands. "I can't do this" I whisper to myself. "I can't go to Hong Kong."

God, Melinda is missing and the last thing I want to do is go to Hong Kong and make arrangements for my dead wife who I had realized I never really loved. And now I have to spend more money on her. Damn her. Even in death she is always interfering in my life, especially when I don't need her in my life right now. Last night, when I had lay in bed, I realized how much I loved Melinda, and that's what had made me say she was my daughter, because I had that type of connection with her. And when Sakura had blamed me, I began thinking that maybe it was my fault. That is why I had paled. I hadn't realized I blamed myself until someone else blamed me. But of course I wasn't going to tell her that. She explained her reasons, and I believe her.

But it was hard. It was hard trying to comfort Sakura, trying to make her smile, trying to make her forget about this Melinda kidnapping so she wouldn't worry herself until she has a mental breakdown, while at the same time trying to keep myself from having one. I guess that's why I was so willing to go to the next step when we were kissing on the bed. Making love would make her forget about this situation all together, and it would make me forget too.

But, for now, I just have to hope that Sakura will concentrate only on John Doe, because that will definitely distract her, especially with this new development of Bennett's fingerprints matching fingerprints in the house, and that Ling was killed by John Doe and had left a little message.

Please, I pray to anybody who is willing to hear. Take care of Melinda. She is so young . . . she doesn't deserve this. Bring her back. And please help Sakura through this period of wondering whether she is alive or dead while I'm gone. Give her strength, because I won't be here to give it to her. Please?

~*~*~ (Sakura's P.O.V: 5:30Pm)

I looked at the message from John Doe. I had killed a stranger, and now I had killed an enemy. Who will I kill next? JD.

I don't know, I answer silently, and I looked out the window while sitting down. Syaoran was busy packing, for his flight leaves at 10:00 PM. I didn't want him to leave, but I knew he had to. I even told him that he had to, so I couldn't complain.

Where are you, Melinda? Are you safe? Are you scared, crying?

"I'll drive myself crazy with these questions" I mumble to myself as I felt my eyes water. I quickly wiped my eyes when I heard Syaoran come down the stairs.

"I'm all packed up" he said, and I nodded. I didn't dare look at him, because my eyes were red. I felt scared for Melinda. I knew I couldn't go out and look for her myself, because Eriol had the case, and since I'm not handling her case, it would be dangerous for me to go out there and search for her. I might mess up a trail or I might mess up a plan that Eriol has, the same way Numi had ruined our plan to get John Doe. And because I'm emotionally involved, I wouldn't be able to see the consequences of my actions, and my actions might very well kill someone, even Melinda. No, it's best I stay here and out of Eriol's way.

But being here wondering about Melinda is literally driving me insane, but that's all I can do. All I can do is stay here and wonder. All day I would smile here and there when Syaoran said something to amuse me, and I adored those moments because during those moments, I wouldn't think about Melinda and whether she is alive or not. But once those moments are over, I then remember what Syaoran had told me about Melinda being kidnapped, and all I wanted to do was cry. But I had to be strong, if not for my sake, then for Melinda's sake.

But still, I wanted some escape from what is happening right now. When Kita and Father died, I had to endure everything that happened, and it was not only tiring but heart-wrenching as well. I just couldn't bear to go through that all over again.

"That's good" I half-whisper, talking about his statement of finishing packing.

I felt him approach me and he wrapped his arms around me as he sat down behind me. "She must be scared" I said softly, when none of us said a word. He placed his chin on my shoulder.

"She's brave."

"Maybe, but Melinda is still eight years old. So young. Do you know how many guys like raping little girls?" I said, fear clearly being heard.

"Look, if the guy who kidnapped Melinda laid one finger on her in that way, he'll regret it for the rest of his life."

"What if we never find her? Eriol is an excellent PI, I know, but sometimes you can't find the victim because . . . because she is no longer alive."

"She's alive" he said in a fierce whisper. He tightened his hold on me. "Listen to me, Melinda may be eight years old, but she is smarter and more mature than most people our age. She might be able to outsmart the kidnapper."

"And if she can't? What if she ticks off the kidnapper, and he kills her?"

It took him a while to answer me. "We just have to hope that Melinda is smart enough not to entice the kidnapper."

Hope. That's all we had, but it wasn't enough. I gradually eased away from him and stood up turning around to face him. "I have this horrible feeling that we'll never see her again. And if we do, she'll be dead." The thought of Melinda being dead made tears blur my eyes. "I don't want to go through this again, Syaoran. I-I can't lose someone else I love. This pain hurts, and I feel like if I go through this alone once again, I'll die. I'll die of heartache."

I hugged myself and closed my eyes, and then I felt him wrap his own arms around me.

"You won't go through this alone. I'm here with you."

"But you have to go to Hong Kong" I whisper. "Even though I said you have to go, I still feel like I'll be going through this alone.

"I know, but I'll be in Hong Kong for only a few days. You're strong, and I know you'll be okay."

"And what if I'm not strong?"

He lifted my chin up with his finger. "You are strong. Stronger than anybody else I know. So don't cry." He began kissing my cheeks, stopping my tears. Then slowly, his lips captured mine, and I automatically parted my lips to adjust the fit. I was grabbing his shirt tightly and he tightened his hold on me as we passionately kissed. This kiss was stronger than any kiss we had before, but I didn't mind at all.

I bit my lip when he pulled away. "We shouldn't kiss like that anymore" He asked in a low voice. But I can hear the desire, which ignited mine.

"Yeah, I know." But then I kissed him softly before pulling away. "But I want you to kiss me like that. And . . ." I knew what I wanted. I didn't have to analyze it to figure it out. I tried to find the right words to express it, but I couldn't find any, so I just told him what I wanted without hints. "And I want you to make love to me."

He was silent for a few seconds. "What about-"

"No, no thinking. No compromising. No nothing. Let's not think at all. Just please make love to me. I want this." I kissed him again. "Please?" I whispered against his lips.

"I don't want to hurt you, or scare you." He was trying so hard to resist, and maybe I should just end everything now, but I couldn't help what I feel, and what I feel was love and desire for this man in front of me. And I knew he wanted this too, especially with what had happened earlier in his bed. I think that if that phone hadn't rung, we would have gone all the way.

"You'll never hurt me" I mumble as I pull him down on the couch with me. I lied down with him on top of me. "And you'll never scare me."

"Sure?"

"Positive" I breathe against his lips, feeling all of his barriers fall away. "Will you make love to me?" I asked, making sure I wasn't just imagining his resistance disappearing.

"Of course" he said huskily before kissing me, the first of many of this coming night.

~*~*~ (Third person P.O.V: Melinda)

Her eyes snapped open. Everything was so blurry that for a minute she thought that her eyesight had gone bad overnight. She blinked them hard until they finally adjusted. Before she could look at her surroundings, she all of a sudden felt cramps all over her body. Frowning, she looked at what she was lying on. Her frown deepened when she realized that she wasn't lying down, but sitting on a chair. And she was tied up.

The memories came back like a tidal wave. She was kidnapped! Panic began to rise, but she fought it down. If the kidnapper saw how scared she was, they would have the advantage over her. No, it's best if Melinda stayed as calm as possible. But she felt the goose bumps on her arms, and she felt the anxiety. Tears of fear began to well in her eyes.

"Don't cry, don't cry" she began to mutter to herself as she shut her eyes. "Stay calm. If you don't stay calm, the kidnapper will see how scared you are. Do not show fear, do not show fear. Someone will come, someone will save you."

Holding on to that thought, her fear eased a little. But just a little. She had no idea where she was, or what day it was. She grimaced as she remembered how the kidnapper grabbed her and, when she had screamed, placed a cloth over her mouth before she lost consciousness.

Chloroform, She thought to herself, remembering a sweetish smell coming from the cloth.

"I never should have opened the door" she scolded herself. Now she was being punished for disobeying a small, simple order that wasn't even an order but more like a request from Eriol.

Getting restless, she began to yank at the rope, trying to break herself free. Then she froze as she heard the door open to the little room she was in.

"It won't work" her kidnapper said. "Those ropes are far stronger than you."

Melinda kept her mouth shut.

The kidnapper laughed. "I know you're scared. I can see it in your eyes."

Melinda peered at the figure, and then she saw the piece of paper in the hand. Her eyes widened.

"John Doe" she whispered.

Laughing again, the kidnapper nodded. "Yes, it's me. The one labeled as John Doe. Quite catchy, don't you think?"

"Why did you kidnap me?"

The kidnapper knelt in front of her. "Little girl, I don't need to explain my plans to you."

Melinda no longer felt fear, but anger. "What type of monster are you?! Why are you killing the wives and husbands of others?! Do you know how much pain you're causing?!"

John Doe merely stared at her. "Yes, I do" John Doe said in a voice so low it almost wasn't heard. "I know exactly how much pain I am causing. And you know what? I like it! They've never suffered the way me and people similar to me had. They all deserve pain, every single one!"

"But why kill them?"

John Doe's head moved from side to side, as if Melinda had said something wrong. "You think the people I killed are the ones I want punished? Guess again! The people who I want to feel pain are the widows and widowers of the officers I've killed. Well, not anymore ever since that bitch Kinomoto and Li had planned that fake marriage to get me. I had thanked the woman, Li's real wife, about saving me from making a dangerous mistake by going after Kinomoto before killing her." A grin appeared on the face. "Ever since I found out about it, I've just been killing at random. I suppose it's better, because Li and Kinomoto never know who I'll go for next."

Melinda knew about how Sakura and Syaoran were going after John Doe; she may be eight years old, but she was able to read the newspaper, which wrote countless of articles of what was going on with John Doe and the case.

But now she was learning more information than what she would have ever learned from a newspaper.

Melinda gulped. "You never intended to kill Sakura" she said.

The head shook. "Nope. I was going to kill Li. But, then, Kinomoto made me so angry that killing Li wouldn't be enough. No. I want her dead." John Doe looked at Melinda before chuckling. "Stupid me. Why am I discussing my motives with an eight year-old?"

John Doe walked over to an old desk and placed the paper there. Taking out a knife, Melinda didn't have to think about what John Doe was going to do with the knife. She already knew and she began to struggle. She no longer cared whether her captor can see fear in her or not. She just wanted to be alive.

"Don't struggle, little girl. Struggling won't do you any good. Besides, why struggle when you are about to see your mommy and daddy?"

Eyes widening, Melinda couldn't help but scream,

(Sakura)

Sakura's eyes fluttered open. She glanced at the clock and saw that it was already 10:30 PM. She knew Syaoran had gone. He told her before they slept that he wouldn't wake her to say good-bye, instead they said their good-byes when they fell asleep in each other's arms.

She raised herself up on her elbows, and looked down at the comforter covering her naked body. She didn't remember having the comforter over her body when she went to sleep a couple of hours ago, just a sheet, but Syaoran must have covered her before he left. She lay back down on the pillows, and sighed with happiness. She was glad she had chosen to make love with Syaoran tonight. Beautiful was the only word she can describe it. Not only that, but it kept her mind off . . .

Melinda, she thought and all the happiness within her was replaced by a feeling of fear. Now she wished that Syaoran had never left. She never would have admitted it before, but now she knew she needed his strength, his presence, to ensure that she wasn't going through this torture alone. Call her selfish, but that was how she felt.

The phone made her jump slightly. She looked around and realized that she was in her room. She remembered how she and Syaoran had moved from the living room to the bedroom, but she wasn't paying attention to which room they went in to.

Throwing the comforter off her, she sat up, while at the same time wrapping the sheet around her, and stood up to walk to Syaoran's room. Sakura didn't want a phone in her room, always thinking that Syaoran would answer because most calls were for him, so she rushed to his room to grab the phone before whoever was calling hanged up.

"Hello?" She answered breathlessly when she picked up the phone.

"Sakura?"

Sakura frowned. "Eriol? Why does your voice sound thick?"

"We found her, we found Melinda."

Sakura literally felt her insides drop. "You found her? You found Melinda?!" She asked excitedly. "Oh thank God. Can you put her on the phone? I want to tell her so many things!"

Sakura smile faltered when she heard nothing but silence. "Eriol? Are you there?"

"Yeah, I'm here . . ."

"Aren't you going to put Melinda on the phone?"

"I can't . . . she can't talk."

Sakura's smile left completely. "What do you mean she can't talk? Eriol, what's wrong with her?!"

"She was tied up to a chair when we found her . . . her eyes weren't open . . . and there was so much blood . . ."

Sakura's lip wobbled. "Is she . . . alive?"

"I didn't want to hurt you, Sakura . . . Melinda is gone. She's with her mother and father now."

Sakura couldn't breath, couldn't think. Melinda was . . . dead?

"How long?" she whispered.

"Sakura . . ."

"How long?!"

" . . . The ME estimates that she has been dead for a few hours now."

She bit her lip and closed her eyes. "Who killed her?" Tears were beginning to fall down her face.

She heard him sigh with hesitation.

"It was . . . it was John Doe."

Sakura gripped the phone the phone. "John Doe? The bastard killed her?"

"Yes. Scent Dogs sniffed a piece of her clothing and we followed the dogs to where we found Melinda and- Sakura? Sakura?! SAKURA!!"

Sakura didn't hear Eriol's concern calls for her. If Eriol had the ability to see Sakura right now, he would have seen her on the floor with her eyes closed after she had fainted from hearing that she would never see the little eight-year old girl who she had grown a special bond with, and who had touched the hearts of many people.

AN: I am so sorry! I know many (actually, almost all of you) asked me not to kill Melinda off, but it was already planned before I even wrote about her being kidnapped. I know you'll want to kill me, but wait until after I finish the story, okay?