"You didn't have to do that, Tomoyo!" Sakura stared back at her, glaring.
"Well I did, ok? That's the only way he'll get better!" She defended herself.
"No it isn't!" Eriol insisted. "Syaoran's been like that since we were kids. He's never opened up to people, because he was brought up that way. He didn't deserve that, Tom. I know you think he deserved everything you just said…but…he really doesn't. I know he's a real sarcastic person, but deep down, he's not like that. You just didn't take the time to get to know him."
"And you don't know that…when he and I are alone…he's not like that. He's actually a funny guy…and he doesn't hurt my feelings. He makes me laugh and feel good…" Sakura looked out the window. "I know you didn't mean to yell at him, but you did and he didn't deserve it."
"I'm sorry that I yelled at him, but I'm not sorry that I said that! I mean I know why he's the way he is…but I just thought that it would help."
"He's always going to be cold to people, no matter what…because he's afraid. He's afraid that he'll get hurt once he opens up. I don't think…it helped." Eriol whispered, rubbing Tomoyo's arm. "It took me a really long time for him to trust me and open up to me, but it's all worth it in the end."
"I'm sorry." She murmured. "I didn't mean…"
"Let's go back." Sakura interrupted. "I don't feel like eating anymore. Let's just pack this up and get back to work."
"Yeah ok." Eriol stood up and asked for a bag.
"I'm sorry, Sakura. I really didn't mean to-"
"Don't apologize to me. You didn't do anything to me." She hugged her best friend. "Maybe when we get home, he'll listen to you."
She shrugged. "I hope so."
----
Tomoyo and Eriol got home first, waiting for Sakura and Syaoran. Tomoyo stayed in her room, afraid of what was going to happen, and Eriol watched TV, hoping to relax.
Sakura called Syaoran from work.
"What?" He asked angrily.
"Syaoran, it's me." She said quietly.
"Oh." He stopped. "Sorry."
"It's ok. Are you mad at me?"
"You didn't do anything."
"Mm…ok."
"Why'd you call?" He interrupted, glancing at the clock.
"Well…" She started. "I don't have a ride. Do you mind picking me up?"
He didn't say anything and walked towards the elevator, not saying bye to everyone.
"Syaoran?"
"What?"
"Will you pick me up?" She asked again.
He shrugged. "I don't know."
"What does that mean?"
"It means we'll see, all right?"
"Can you just say yes or no, please?"
"We'll see."
She glared at the phone and just blew up. "Don't give me all that crap. If you don't want to pick me up, just say no!" And she hung up.
----
Sakura felt really bad. She knew he wasn't being very nice because of the fight between him and Tomoyo. 'How am I supposed to get home then?' She thought miserably. Walking out of her office, she got out of the building and walked slowly to the sidewalk. 'I don't even know when the bus comes by…' After walking about 5 minutes, she stared down at the sidewalk, feeling even more depressed.
--
Then a car honked at her. Startling her out of her thoughts, she jumped and saw who the driver was. 'Syaoran...?' She walked over quickly and looked at him. "What are you doing here?"
"You said you needed a ride."
Guilt was coming at her fast. "I-I'm really sorry." She stuttered. "I-I didn't mean to hang up on you a-and yell at you!" She insisted, feeling so heavily burdened. "S-Syaoran, I'm so sorry!"
"Doesn't matter." He muttered. "Just get in."
"O-ok."
As soon as they were out on the road, silence struck over until Sakura apologized.
"I'm really sorry." She repeated.
"Stop apologizing."
"Not until you say you forgive me." She mumbled.
"I forgive you." He smirked. "Happy?"
"Don't say it if you don't mean it."
He sighed. "What do you want me to say then?"
She pouted. "If you don't want to say anything, then don't."
"All right fine." He looked out the road.
Sakura felt worse.
He glanced at her concerned face. "I forgive you. Now would you stop pouting like that?"
She looked up at him. "You mean it?"
"Sure."
She smiled then. "Ok."
--
Sakura watched him, wondering what he was thinking. He, of course, seeing this, looked back at her.
"What's up?"
She blushed. "Nothing. I…I'm just confused, that's all."
"About what?"
"I don't know." She looked down at her hands.
"Spill it. I know you know what you're gonna say."
She sighed. "All right fine." She paused. "I guess the fact that you actually came and got me…or maybe…that you're not mad…after what happened during lunch."
"Oh." He looked back at the street ahead.
"Oh?" She asked almost a bit angrily. "Is that all you have to say?"
"You didn't let me finish."
"Sorry." She mumbled.
"I was mad. But I thought about it for a long time and Daidouji's right."
"She is rig-…wait a second. Daidouji??" She asked, surprised. "I-I thought you stopped calling her that!"
"Yeah well. Seeing as how I don't have her respect anymore, better if I call her by that."
"Now Syaoran, hold on a sec-"
"No, I don't want to get into this." He interrupted. "I got told off, I learned my lesson, and it's over."
"Why don't you want to get into this?"
"Because it's goddamn complicated and I don't want to get in that situation again, all right?" He snapped.
She was blown by his words.
He sighed. "I…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that."
Sakura looked at him with worried eyes. "Well…are you sure…that you learned your lesson?"
He raked a hand through his hair. "I thought about it a while…I guess." He glanced at her.
"Sure?"
He shrugged. "Look, I-I don't know, all right?"
"Oh…"
"Sorry for all the…name-calling and…stuff I said to you before."
"No-no it's ok."
"And I guess I gotta say sorry to Eriol and her." He muttered. "The thing is…you guys just don't get that I'm not an open person. The reason I act like this is because I protect myself, you know? And I just hate it…I really do…when people get pissed off about it and start yelling at me. This happened to me at least 10 times in my life and amazingly, I couldn't do anything to change. I tried shrinks, whatever, but it didn't work. I don't open up to anybody. Not even my family."
"So even though you're being treated like this, you still won't change?" She asked, shocked.
He shrugged. "I don't know. I just hope maybe someday…you know…I meet somebody who'll accept me for who I am and…not lecture me about my personality."
Her heart just about melted. "Maybe there is." She shifted a bit, feeling a little more than hot.
"Doubt it." He muttered and turned right for their building.
"Maybe you should stop being such a pessimist and try to be positive for once."
"No thanks. Doesn't work for me."
"Typical Syaoran to be secretive and all mysterious." She pouted and watched as he parked the car nicely.
"Sorry I'm a very predictable guy."
'Nothing can ever change him…' She thought, getting out of the car. 'But I still love him anyway…'