Starrie: Hizies!!!
Evil Starrie: Hiya!!!
Starrie: ooh! I have good news!
Evil Starrie: yeah....she and Sapphie decided to stop being lazy this summer and get to work on what they had planned almost half a year ago --;;
Starrie: *sticks tongue out* be quiet! anywayz....Sapphie and I made an S+S website!! ^^;; It's called 'Star of my heart' and you can find the URL on my profile here in ff.net!!
Evil Starrie: *smirk* yeah...Starrie FINALLY learned how to do HTML
Starrie: *glare* so what...at least I learned!!! Anywayz, please sign our guestmap on our site!! Tell us what you think!! We've got blank graphics, S+S wallpapers, AIM and AOL icons, REALLY good links, and other stuff too!!
Evil Starrie: yeah...so go check it out! For those too lazy to go look up the URL in Starrie's profile, it's www.angelfire.com/anime3/saphstar
Starrie: we're also looking for people to submit their fics, so if you want to submit your fic to our site, please go under our fanfics section and then under "submit fic". Sapphie and I are hoping to hear from you! don't be shy!! ^.~


Learning To Love
Chapter 5

Sakura walked into her apartment and let out a small yawn as she threw her purse on her couch. Dinner had been very uncomfortable. This time though, there was no water-thrown-down-her-shirt incident but with the cold stares that Meiling was giving her, it seemed almost bad enough.
'why does she hate me so much?'

Sakura thought as she walked into the bathroom and stared at her complexion in the mirror. She looked tired and the happiness that had once sparkled brightly in her emerald colored eyes, were now missing. The disappeared the moment Larry broke her heart. Sakura tore her gaze of the mirror and splashed some water on her face. She herself noticed the difference but she was sure nobody else did. She could always put on a fake smile and people would think she was happy. But deep down inside, she wasn't. Larry had left a hole in heart that still hadn't healed. She walked into her room and slipped under the covers of her bed.

'get over it Sakura...it was over a year ago. you have to move on with your life'
she scolded herself mentally when she felt her eyes sting with tears.
'You've got more important things to worry about. Things more important then the past'
she told herself as she slipped into a dreamless sleep.
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"What is wrong with you, why were you acting so cold!?"
Syaoran yelled at Meiling, who just stood glaring at Syaoran with her arms crossed and a stubborn expression on her face.
"well maybe if she stopped pretending to be so freakin' nice, maybe I would--"
"what are you talking about, that's the way Sakura is!!"
"yeah right!! I bet that's all a little act that she's putting up!"
"Meiling, why can't you just accept the fact that there are actually nice people in the world!? Not everyone's like you, you know?" Syaoran snapped back.

"yeah, well when will you stop being so damn blind!? It took you like what? Months to figure out that your girlfriend was cheating on you with one of your close friends!?"
Meiling snapped back just as angrily. As soon as the words had escaped her mouth, she regretted it. By the look on Syaoran's face, she knew she had hit a sensitive subject.

"Syaoran...I'm sorry"
she said softly as she placed a hand on his shoulder with regret present in her eyes. Syaoran glared at her and pulled away from her hand as if he had been burned.
"Sorry for what? For speaking your mind?"
he shot back, dryly as he turned his back on her and headed for his room.

"Syaoran, no! That came out wrong, I'm sorry"
Meiling said as she tried to reach out for his arm but Syaoran pulled away and slammed the door of his room shut behind him.
"Syaoran!! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that!"
Meiling yelled out through the close door. She let out a sigh and stopped pounding on the door when she realized that Syaoran wasn't going to talk to her anytime soon. She looked at the door in regret and then headed towards her room and shut her door quietly behind her.
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Syaoran heard Meiling's words through the closed doors but ignored them as he changed and walked back towards his bed. He was about to go to sleep when his cell phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and muttering a curse as he picked up the phone.

"what do you want?"
he snapped at Eriol.
"is that anyway to greet your best friend?"
Eriol answered cheerfully at the other end, obviously in a good mood.
"Listen Eriol, I'm not in the mood at the moment so just leave me--"
"I was calling to check up on you"
"Check up on what!?"
Syaoran asked impatiently.
"you know, on our little bet. So how's it coming along?"
Syaoran let out an exasperated sigh.
"Fine, everything's fine. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to sleep"
And before Eriol could answer, Syaoran hung up and disconnected his phone.
"Called to see how the bet's coming along, doesn't he have anything better to do"
Syaoran muttered to himself as he turned off the lights and plopped down on his bed.
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Meiling let out a sigh as she continued to walk around Tokyo. It was a bit past noon and she had decided to go shopping, but so far she hadn't found anything she had been looking for. Suddenly, a store from one of her favorite designers caught her eyes and without a moment of hesitation, she walked in. After browsing around the store for a while, she had a large pile of clothing in her hands and headed towards the cashier register.
"Found everything you needed miss?"
A woman with dark hair and amethyst colored eyes asked. Meiling smiled and put the clothing down on the counter.
"of course! Daidouji designs happen to be one of my favorites"
she said with a small laugh.
"I'm glad to hear that"
the woman at the cash register said with a small giggle. She was about to mention a sale they were having at the store when one of the salesperson came up to her.

"Excuse me Ms. Daidouji, but you've got a phone call"
"oh alright, thank you Amaya. Could you take over the cash register for me?"
Amaya nodded and stepped behind the counter.
"I'm sorry, but Amaya here will help you out"
Tomoyo said apologetically to Meiling, who at the moment was in too much in shock to even say a word.
"That was...was that...is she...."

Meiling was speechless as she stared at the door where Tomoyo had disappeared behind.
The saleswoman smiled and nodded as she slid Meiling's credit card through the computer.

"Yes, that's Ms. Tomoyo Daidouji. Owner and designer of Daidouji designs"
Meiling stood there, gaping in awe.
"Wow...she's young...for a designer I mean"
Was all she managed to say. The woman at the cash register giggled.
"Yes, but she's very talented"
"She sure is!"
Meiling agreed with a smile. She accepted her bag and thanked the lady, but was too reluctant to leave.
"You don't think that maybe...I could talk to her? I mean, I love her clothing line and I would just love it if I can..."
"Sure, go right in"
Amaya said, waving her hand towards the door that Tomoyo was in.

"You don't think she'll--"
"Don't worry, Ms Daidouji is one of the nicest person in the world, she won't mind"
Meiling smiled gratefully and walked into what seemed to be an office. Tomoyo saw Meiling walk in and smiled.

"Hi! Maybe I help you with something?"
She asked politely. Meiling shook her head and walked up to her.
"Hi, I'm Meiling Li, I just came to tell you how wonderful I think your designs are Ms. Daidouji. You are truly one of the best designers!"

Tomoyo let out a giggle, "why thank you very much. But please, call me Tomoyo. Take a seat if you like"
Meiling took a seat across from Tomoyo and looked at her in admiration.
"how do you do it? come up with all those great designs, survive all that pressure of designing....I know I probably sound so stupid right now for asking that--"
"no at all" Tomoyo interrupted. "Actually, I have my best friend to thank for a lot. She's been there for me through thick and thin and she's pushed me to follow my dreams. She's believed in me when I myself did not believe and it's thanks to her that I've been able to come this far"
Tomoyo said with a smile on her face.
"plus although I know she doesn't necessarily like it, she'll always let me try out my latest designs out on her"
Tomoyo added with a giggle.

"It must be wonderful to have a friend like that"
Meiling answered. Tomoyo nodded, her smile never leaving her face.
"Sakura's wonderful. She is the most unselfish person I have ever met."
Meiling blinked in confusion when Tomoyo said 'sakura'.
"Sakura? Does she by any chance work at Li Corporation?"
Meiling asked curiously.
"yes, as a matter of fact she does. Do you know her?"
Tomoyo asked. Meiling nodded in response.
"Actually, I do but....we didn't quite hit it off that well the first time around"
She said with a small nervous chuckle.

"Why not?"
Tomoyo asked, even though she already knew since Sakura had told her about Meiling.
"Well...."
Meiling hesitated for a moment. "Sakura's really nice. As a matter of fact, I've never met anyone like that before except...this one person. She was my cousins girlfriend and she was really nice, sweet, kind, polite. You name it; she was perfect.
We were friends and would tell each other everything or at least I though so until I found out that she had cheated on my cousin with one of my cousin's friend. She told him the truth right when he proposed to her.
To me, my cousin is like a brother, we grew up together and seeing him in pain completely broke my heart. And I felt I was to blame for it because not only did I introduce them to one another but also I had been too blind myself to see what was really going on at that time. I don't want my cousin to get hurt again, that's all"

Tomoyo looked at Meiling and nodded.
"I know exactly what you mean. Sakura went through something similar last year too. Just a few days before her wedding day, she found out her Fiancee had lied to her and been cheating on her with one of her friends. When Sakura found out, she was completely distraught. She went through a depression stage and it hurt to see her in that much pain"
Meiling looked at Tomoyo, listening to her every word. She would have never thought that Sakura had gone through something like that and suddenly, she regretted being so mean to her before.
"I guess we both want only the best for those dear to us"
she said with a small laugh. Tomoyo laughed along with her and nodded.

"only the best! I really wish that Sakura's would find herself someone who would never hurt her like Larry did. But she's scared to fall in love again"
Tomoyo added softly. Meiling let out a sigh and agreed,
"Me too. I don't want Syaoran to get hurt again" she then looked up at Tomoyo and smiled.
"but hey, if Syaoran and Sakura are going out then they must know about each others past, meaning they will never do anything of that sort to one another because they know how painful it is"

Tomoyo blinked in confusion,
"going out? Syaoran and Sakura aren't dating"
"they're not!?"
"nope"
"oh my gosh, I thought they were!"
Meiling said with a surprised look on her face. Tomoyo just shook her head again.

"no, they're just friends. but if you ask me, secretly, I wish they were"
she said with a wink. Meiling giggled, "they would make a cute couple wouldn't they?"
"their kids would look so kawaii!! I could design their cloths!"
Tomoyo said as she clasped her hands together with little stars in her eyes. Meiling burst out laughing at this,
"whoa, you're getting too far! Let's get them together and married first. Then we'll talk about kids"
Meiling said with a small giggle. Tomoyo agreed and nodded. Her smile dissapeared when she remeberd something important.

"Oh no...Syaoran already has a girlfriend"
She said with a frown on her face. Mailing's smile didn't erase from her face,
"Don't worry, leave that all up to me"
She said happily.
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"So just because your cousin's here you don't want me around?"
Rachel snapped at Syaoran angrily. Syaoran let out a sigh of frustration,
"Rachel, look I'm not in the mood to argue"
Rachel just glared at him and then turned away and headed towards the door.
"You're lucky...I have a photo shoot in Italy and starting tomorrow, I'll be away for 2 weeks"
She said as she walked out of the Syaoran's office and slammed the door shut behind her.
"I'm sick and tired of him! I don't even know why I even put up with him"
She muttered to herself as she walked down the hallway and towards the elevator. She then let out a small laugh and grinned.
'Oh well, his loss. What he doesn't know is that once I reach Italy, I plan on staying there"
Rachel said to herself mentally. With a smile still plastered on her face, she walked out of the building and took on last look at Li corporation.
"Good-bye forever Syaoran"
She said with a laugh as she turned around and headed towards her apartment.
(SN: okay, I wanted her out of the picture that's why I'm making her leave ^^;;)
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Syaoran shrugged and returned back to his desk.
"Good, she's leaving."
He said to himself as he took a seat behind his desk. He heard a soft knock come from the door that led into Sakura's office and looked up curiously.
"Come in"
Sakura walked in and smiled at Syaoran uncertainly.
"I don't want to be nosy but, is everything alright Syaoran?"
she asked worriedly as she gently closed the door shut behind her. She had heard the screams, shouts of insults, and everything from her office.
"yeah fine...I just broke up with Rachel"
Syaoran said nonchalantly. Sakura looked at him stunned and then her expression softened.
"I'm sorry to hear that"
she said in a soft voice. Syaoran put down his pen and looked up at Sakura and smiled at her.

"Don't be. Actually, I'm glad things ended between Rachel and I. she was becoming unbearable and I'm glad it's all over to say the least."

He then chuckled lightly and motioned for Sakura to take a seat across from him,
"plus you'll no longer have to put up with her attitude"
Sakura laughed and nodded as she sat down.
"That's true. I guess you'll have to continue looking for your true love"
Syaoran looked up at Sakura questioningly and then laughed,
"I gave up on that a long time ago. To tell you the truth, I don't believe in all that crap"
Sakura looked at Syaoran, stunned.

"How can you say that? Haven't you ever loved someone so much that you're willing to give up your life for? Someone who brightens up even your most bleak day? Someone's who's with you through thick and thin? Someone who--"
"Sakura, I get the picture"
Syaoran said with a smirk on his face. Sakura blushed, embarrassed of what she had just said.
"Well, there was once this person, and I thought she loved me as much as I loved her"
Syaoran let out a bitter laugh, remembering the past,
"But was I ever wrong"
He said, his eyes clouding over in anger.
"Ever since that, I just kind of...gave up on ever finding true love"
He said with a shrug. Sakura looked at him in his eyes and saw that it was still painful bringing up the past, just like it was for her.

"Syaoran"
Sakura said as she leaned forward and took hold of his hand.
"You mustn't ever give up on love. The right girl for you is out there, somewhere. You'll find her, I'm sure of it."
She said with a warm smile on her face. Syaoran looked at her, stunned. He noticed that they were holding hands and felt his cheeks get hot.
"I uhhh...."
Syaoran then withdrew his hand away from Sakura's and started to rummage through his desk as if he was looking for something.

"Syaoran, do you...."

"SYAORAN!!"

Sakura and Syaoran jumped up at the sound of the loud feminine voice and the sound of the door being swung open. There, at the entrance of Syaoran's office stood Meiling with a grin on her face.
"oh great...more trouble"
Syaoran muttered as he slumped down on his chair and groaned.
'Oh no...'
Sakura thought as she readied herself for the bomb that she thought was about to explode. But what surprised her more was that Meiling didn't seem even a bit mad. She seemed more cheerful then ever.
"Hi Syaoran, hi Sakura!"
Meiling said as she stepped in and closed the door behind her. She took a seat next to Sakura and smiled at her.

"Meiling...what's going on?"
Syaoran asked once he got over his shock.
"well, I came here for two things. First,"
Meiling turned to face Sakura and became serious.
"Sakura, I'm really sorry for acting so mean these past few days. I've realized that it wasn't the right thing to do and I'd like to start all over again. So what do you say, friends?"
Meiling said with a smile as she outstretched a hand out to Sakura. Sakura looked at Meiling in confusion, but then broke out into a wide smile.

"Sure!"
She said happily as she got up from her seat and hugged Meiling. Meiling laughed at she hugged Sakura back.
"Thanks, I knew you'd find it in your heart to forgive me!" she said in-between laughs.
"Okay...who are you and what have you done to my cousin Meiling!?"
Syaoran asked as he stared at the two girls. Meiling looked at Syaoran and rolled her eyes.

"It's me you dumbbutt!"
Her eyes then saddened a bit, "Syaoran...you're not still mad at me about the other day...are you?"
She asked softly. Syaoran looked at his cousin and smiled,

"Nope, I'm over it"
He said with a smile.
"Great! Then that means you won't mind!"
"Mind? hold on a minute there Meiling, Mind wha--"

"Sakura, Syaoran and I are going up to the mountains this weekend a--"

"We are? I didn't kno--"

"Quiet Syaoran! Anyway, before I get rudely interrupted i>again/i> would you like to come with us?"

"hold on, Meiling I never knew that--"

"Yeah well, now you know. So what do you say Sakura?"
"I'd love too! But that is of course if it doesn't come as in inconvenience. I don't want to be a burden on your trip and--"
"oh don't worry! It won't be an inconvenience at all! Right Syaoran?"

"ehhh? What??"

"hahaha, don't mind him, he's slow"

Meiling said with a giggle.
"oh yeah! Tomoyo Daidouji and her date are also going to be joining us up there later on!"
Meiling added in.

"Tomoyo? You met Tomoyo?"
Sakura asked in surprise. Meiling nodded happily.
"yeah! Actually, this whole trip was her idea! well, I got to run, talk to you two later, and don't forget we leave to the mountains tomorrow early!"
Meiling said, enforcing the word early since she knew Syaoran hated it. as if on cue, Syaoran groaned in annoyance. Meiling let out a giggle as she walked out of the office.

"bye you two, see ya tomorrow Sakura!"
"bye!"
Sakura called out as Meiling walked out of Syaoran's office and closed the door behind her.
"okay...what just happened here?"
Syaoran asked, still slightly confused. Sakura giggled and shrugged as she got up to head back towards her office.
"I'm still clueless myself! Anyway, I have to get going, I have some things I have to get done by the end of the day. see you later Syaoran"
Sakura said with a small wave as she exited the room.
"alright, bye Sakura"
he said as he turned back to the work at hand. But throughout the whole day, Sakura's words rang through his head...

The right girl for you is out there, somewhere. You'll find her, I'm sure of it...

~*~To Be Continued~*~

Starrie: *yawn* finally done
Evil Starrie: -_-ZzzzZZZzZzzZzZzZZzZZZzzZ
Starrie: *glare* WAKE UP!!!!!
Evil Starrie: *jumps* what is wrong with you? it's 2:35am!!!
Starrie: *smiles* I know...and I just finished chapter 5!
Evil Starrie: whaaat!?!?!? You finished it without me??? WAAAHH!!!! YOU SUCK!!!
Starrie: *sweatdrop* you fell asleep ^^;;
Evil Starrie: *glare* that's why you should write your fics up during the day....you know, when NORMAL people are awake!?
Starrie: *smile* but I never have time during the day...plus you bug me less at night so I like to write at night!
Evil Starrie: *looks mad and hurt at the same time* whatever....anywayz...I'm not talking to you! *turns to readers* well, please review!! we like to hear what you pplz think of our fic so far!
Starrie: *smile* yes, please do!! ^-^

***nah...why do I even bother. you pplz know what I usually say here! ^.~ if not, read the bottom part of my previous chapters ^^;;***