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.:2luv:.
.:alex:.
.:Amazonian Anime Queen:.
.:anjuliet:.
.:Anime-fangirl1:.
.:animelover1129:.
.:anonymous:.
.:AnonymousT:.
.:Avelyn Lauren:. I appreciate your kind criticisms and very good suggestions, but I've made a few chapters ahead already, and I'm not sure how I'll be inserting your ideas in it! I've taken it upon myself, though, to include some of your minor suggestions, but it's for certain I can't use the one with Sakura getting kidnapped for real. Thank you so much for your ideas, though!
.:Azn Pocahontas:.
.:Brown Eyed Angel:.
.:Bloodlust Night:.
.:Carmela-chan:.
.:Cherry Jade:.
.:chibi cherry blossom:.
.:ChibiMangaAngel:.
.:Corinne:.
.:crazy azn angel:.
.:CuziMaGrL:.
.:darlin':.
.:demi-kaijuu:.
.:DiNji:.
.:dunkmoonX:.
.:FieryWolf:.
.:figment:.
.:flitterbug:.
.:Garfunkelzsnugglebunny:.
.:Heero Strife:.
.:henna:.
.:Hikaru Ayumi:. Sorry I put Hikaru as the name of the woman, but honest, I didn't get it from you!
.:illusion-girl:.
.:Illusioner 1412:.
.:Inferna:.
.:inu-chan 613:.
.:Jess:. No, the woman's not Hikaru. Mauve-eyed is also like saying amethyst-eyed, so it's Tomoyo, but it's good you're really interested in it!
.:jiruru-chan:.
.:just-for-me-22:.
.:kawaii kitty5:.
.:Kawaii-Syaoran-Sakura:.
.:Kella4:.
.:kikakai:.
.:lifesmysteries18:.
.:LightHawkKnight:.
.:Li-Li2:.
.:little-moonlight:.
.:Loki-TheGrimScreamer:.
.:luvlybunnyloo:.
.:MagicKnightNancy:.
.:maixwolfblossom:.
.:Meilin Baby 13:.
.:Midnight Crystal:. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about all that stuff! It's all going to come up in this chapter, I think. Of course, I can't just completely take out his birthday, now would I? =D What a crooked smile…lol.
.:Mimi:.
.:Natalie:.
.:Natari:.
.:Nari Dragon-girl:.
.:NEOGALAXY:.
.:Nisha:.
.:relena333:.
.:S A K U R A22:.
.:Sakume Nohara:.
.:SaKuRa Kinomto-Li1:.
.:Sakura-Angel-04:.
.:SakuraandLiforever:. Miguel's not really up to anything. It's just a guys' night-out sort of, but good job on the identifying suspicious info!
.:sally:.
.:Saturnlover:.
.:ScarleT Rose5:.
.:Seiko123:.
.:Shamankinggirl1:
.:Sherina:.
.:Silver Moon Megami:.
.:silverwolf:.
.:Smegan:.
.:SulliMike23:.
.:svetlaella:.
.:Syaoran's Cherry Blossom:. Are you the same person as bottom penname??
.:SyaoranzCherryBlossom:. Are you the same person as top penname??
.:The Fallen Star and Rising Sun:. Jennifer, sorry I couldn't review your story! I've been so busy!
.:The Otherworlder:. I'm waiting, Jany! tapping foot with crossed arms
.:Umi:.
.:Unmei Hime:.
.:Vi3t BabiI:.
.:Yummei:.
Syaoran opened his eyes and stared at the flashing movie on the big screen. At the corner of his eye, he saw Eriol watching the movie intently. Miguel and his buddies were muttering to each other, munching on the buttered popcorn. Syaoran glared at the movie again and took a small sip of the coke by his side. He just couldn't concentrate and it was frustrating him like hell! All he could think about was Sakura. His Sakura. He was extremely upset that she and him hadn't reconciled yet, and they never even had fights that was as long as this was going on. All he knew was he wasn't going to let go of Sakura. Not that early. He wasn't going to give up on her. He…he loved her.
And Hikaru. Syaoran's fist tightened at the thought of that woman. 'F-cking bitch,' he said in his head, 'what the hell is she thinking, coming back here after so long?? Does she expect me to give her a chance??' He stretched his legs in front of him and sighed. 'She just better not do anything to Sakura or she's dead.' Then, he felt a warm hand on his shoulder. He turned idly and saw Eriol's concerned face.
"You ok, man?" Eriol asked, raising an eyebrow.
Syaoran sighed again and offered a small smirk. "Just thinking."
"Sakura?" He reasoned.
He nodded. "That woman's got me going crazy…" He almost sounded whiny.
Eriol chuckled lightly. "Yeah that's what happens when you fall in love with a woman."
"Yeah well…not just her. That bitch, Hikaru, she just doesn't know when to stop. She's a freakin' stalker, man!"
"I kno-" Eriol started, but Miguel butted in.
"Come on fellas, focus on the movie! It's good I promise!" He grinned cheekily.
Eriol laughed and Syaoran smirked. "We'll watch," Eriol promised.
"All right then forget about your ladies," Miguel said and stared back at the screen.
"You think you can do that?" Eriol asked, glancing back at Syaoran.
Syaoran's amber eyes drooped. "Probably not," he muttered.
Eriol patted his shoulder. "You can go, man."
He shook his head, "nah that won't do anything. I'll just get home and she'll just ignore me." He turned away and glared at the screen once again.
Eriol didn't know what else to say.
----
Sakura stared at her reflection in the mirror. She and Syaoran just started going out and now their relationship was falling apart?? Why was everything going so wrong?? A tear escaped. She didn't bother wiping it. Blinking her eyes rapidly, she turned on the faucet and washed her face. 'I'm not going to give up on him. I care way too much about Syaoran. I-I just…I can't lose him. Not when I'm…falling in love…for the first time.' Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and decided to go back to her room. Syaoran was gone, and even though Sakura knew she wouldn't give up on him easily, she didn't know what to say to him.
----
One free afternoon, all four roommates stayed at home, enjoying the resting time. Eriol and Tomoyo had gone to a bedroom, leaving the two alone. Syaoran was reading a newspaper on the loveseat, his eyes drooping, waiting to go to sleep. Sakura felt tired herself. Work was just too much sometimes. She leaned on the back of the couch and put herself in a sitting position, flipping the channels. As the two were about to go to slumber, the couple found their way in the middle of the living room, sitting on the table. Eriol shook Syaoran gently, waking him up.
He groaned. "What?" He rubbed his eyes and sat up. "What do you want?"
"We've got something to tell you guys." Tomoyo was all smiles. Eriol was grinning.
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Syaoran stared at Eriol's face intently. "This better be good, man."
"Do you want to say it?" Eriol whispered to Tomoyo. She nodded.
"Well…" Tomoyo flushed heavily. "We're getting married!!!!"
Syaoran's eyes bulged widely while Sakura started screaming happily.
"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!!" Sakura giggled. "Where's the engagement ring??"
Tomoyo thrust out her hand and let them see it. It was a beautiful amethyst ring. "Oh wow," Sakura whispered. "Oh my gosh!! Congratulations, guys!!" She shrieked.
"Let's go talk in the other room!" Tomoyo took Sakura's hand and they ran to one of the bedrooms, laughing happily.
--
Back in the living room, Eriol sat across Syaoran, watching his expression. Syaoran couldn't believe his best friend was getting married. Nothing came out of his lips as he stared back at Eriol with surprise. Eriol laughed out loud and waved a hand in front of Syaoran's face. That got his attention.
"You're getting married?" He asked.
"Yeah." Eriol flushed. "I was thinking about it for a couple weeks. I mean…yeah I admit that before I was having a lot of problems with commitment and stuff, but then I realized that I couldn't love anybody as much as I love Tomoyo." He sighed dreamily. "So what do you think?"
"I'm proud of you, man." Syaoran patted Eriol's arm. "Congratulations."
Eriol grinned and hugged him. "Thanks buddy." They pulled apart. "Guess what?"
"Tomoyo's pregnant." Syaoran joked.
"Well yeah, but that's not it."
"WHAT?!"
--
"YOU'RE PREGNANT???" Sakura yelled in bewilderment.
"Yes!!" Tomoyo giggled happily. "Isn't that great??"
"For how long??"
"Um…just a week."
"Oh my god! Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"We just found out a couple of days ago." Tomoyo shyly replied. "And when Eriol found out…that's when he proposed."
Sakura hugged her friend immediately. "Oh honey, congratulations! You are going to be the best mother!"
Tomoyo laughed and almost cried with happiness. "Thanks babe. You don't know how happy I am that I have your blessing."
"You do have my blessing, but you've got to make me your maid of honour."
"Who else would I pick?" Tomoyo asked certainly.
Sakura giggled. "This is amazing, Tom. You guys are getting married…and having a baby…"
--
"Holy shit, how long has she been pregnant?" Syaoran asked with amazement.
"A week man!" Eriol laughed. "That's what so great about it!! I proposed to her when I found out she was pregnant!"
Syaoran finally broke a smile in front of his best friend. "You're gonna be a great father, man."
Eriol's eyes widened and then he smiled genuinely. "Thanks man. I didn't think…I'd ever see you smile…" He joked.
Syaoran chuckled and hit him playfully.
"No seriously, I was always afraid to be a dad, but…I'm gonna be one. It's gonna be awesome."
"Yeah I know." Syaoran murmured. "But I just want you to know man…I got your back. Always."
"Thanks Li." Eriol looked down and grinned. "Anyway, that wasn't what I was gonna tell you."
"Oh right. So what is it?"
"I want you to be my best man."
Syaoran felt real friendship when Eriol said that. "You got it."
"All right!"
"Wait a second." Syaoran stopped him. "Uh…so what happened with those beliefs of yours…that uh, premarital sex is wrong?" He raised a brow.
Eriol's eyes widened and he reddened. "Uh…" He thought for a second and found the right words. "I love Tomoyo, Syaoran, and I won't stop loving her. It might look like it was lust, but it's not. I love her so much that I wanted to do it…and I stood up to responsibilities. I swallowed up all my cowardice and being committed to this." Eriol explained. "So…" He shrugged.
Syaoran nodded. "Yeah I think you did it for the right reason." He looked up at Eriol as sort of a role model for him. Eriol was slightly older than Syaoran, and he was the one who had taught Syaoran the many facts in life.
Minutes passed between them, and then Eriol started. "It just sucks…you know…" His eyes lowered a little. "They won't be there," he whispered.
Syaoran's heart ached a little from his best friend's words. "My mom will be there, man. She's like your second mother. Don't worry, Eriol." He patted his friend's back. "Think of Tomoyo. She's your family now."
"Yeah," Eriol lit up. "She is…"
----
Sakura walked to the balcony and leaned on the railing, glancing out at the peaceful sky. There were no stars that night, but that didn't stop her from looking up. The cold wind gusted around her and she closed her eyes to just think. Life sure was full of surprises. Although she was extremely happy for her friends, she couldn't help wonder about Syaoran. She certainly hadn't taken up the courage to talk to him and…make an effort. But what could she do? She was afraid. Of what? 'I don't know…' She admitted.
"It's cold out tonight." Syaoran's deep voice shook her from her thoughts.
She turned around in surprise. "Yeah…I know."
He thrust his hands in his pocket. "Listen…we need to talk."
"I agree."
"Let's go inside." He suggested, looking into her eyes.
Her heart jumped at the sight of his. It had been a week at least since they last looked into each other's eyes. Nonetheless, she followed him out of the balcony in her room. Syaoran closed the door behind him and Sakura made her way to the bed.
"I'll start." Syaoran muttered.
"No I'll go." Sakura mumbled. "I've got to say some things out first."
"All right fine." He leaned on a wall and stared at her. She still was incredibly beautiful. That could never change.
Her cheeks turned pink at the tension in the room. "First of all…I'm sorry…for not telling you why I was so angry that day. The thing was…" She paused.
He longed to brush away those bangs on her face and kiss those red lips, but he kept still.
"I was afraid of losing you…Syaoran…" She admitted bashfully.
His heart stopped at that. 'Was?'
"And when you didn't care that Hikaru was here, I thought at first that you didn't know her…but when you did, it seemed like you were more nonchalant about everything. I got really confused and I went over the line. I don't know what came over me, but my mind just completely went in one direction…and that was you wanting to leave me and be with her." She explained, careful not to meet his eyes. "And when you said those things about you being with me instead of being with her…I sort of came to my senses. I just…I was just too stubborn to see your true feelings." She looked up at him. "I'm sorry Syaoran."
He looked down at his crossed ankles.
"You were afraid of losing me?" He asked quietly and then raised his glance at her. "Were…?" He paused. "Are you saying you're not afraid of losing me anymore or that we're not together?"
"Syaoran…no I didn't mean that…" Sakura stood up. "I…I am afraid, Syaoran."
"Sakura, I'm confused." He pulled away from her stretched-out hands. "Do you still have feelings for me? Be honest."
She looked into his eyes feeling hurt. "Of course I do. How could you think otherwise?"
He glanced down at her pouted lips and swallowed.
"I put my feelings out there, Syaoran. I've never felt jealousy in my life, well not that much jealousy, until Hikaru came in and told me about your past." She put her hands in her pockets.
"All right…I'm sorry." He said. "I was stupid." He took a step forward and she stayed. "I guess we're both sorry huh?"
She nodded and a small tear made its way down her cheek.
He wiped it away with one thumb. "I'm sorry that I've been so stupid not to see what's going on. I never thought that Hikaru was a big deal, you know, until I remembered what actually happened in the past. I'm sorry that I kept it from you, but it was unintentional…I wasn't trying to hide it or anything. I forgot." He smirked. "That's how much I think of Hikaru." He wrapped his hands on her smooth cheeks. "I forgot her, Sakura. I never loved her and won't ever love her. My heart belongs to you…and only you."
She hugged him tightly and cried on his shoulder. "I'm sorry too Syaoran. And you already have my heart."
As they pulled away, he leaned down towards her, and for the first time, he smiled and she didn't. Sakura leaned forward and captured his lips in hers.
----
"Syaoran!" The secretary called.
He turned around from his seat and glanced at the short-tempered woman. "What?"
"Someone wants to talk to you in Line 5."
"Who is it?" He asked, annoyed. No one ever called him through the office. It was usually through his cell phone.
"How 'bout you pick it up and find out?" The secretary retorted.
Syaoran glared at the thick black hair sticking out and fingered her.
"I know you're fingering me."
"What are you gonna do about it?"
"Simple. Finger you back!"
"Yeah, yeah." He took the phone by his computer. "What?"
"Syaoran?" An unfamiliar voice asked uncertainly.
"Yeah it's me. Who's this?"
"Good." The voice cleared. "This is Hikaru."
'Oh f-ck.' "What do you want?"
"Here's the thing. I'm tired of playing hard to get. I want you to go out with me."
"And if I say no?" He asked with sarcasm.
"I'm going to fire her, Syaoran!" She threatened.
His eyes hardened and he gripped the phone tightly in his hand, almost crushing it. "Are you f-cking kidding me?"
Her jaws tightened. "I have control over who I fire. I will if you don't give me a chance."
"How the hell do you think I'm going to fall in love with you if you fire the one person I care about??"
"Syaoran, don't say that!" She yelled. "You cared about me too, I know it! Or else, you wouldn't have kissed me!"
"That wasn't a kiss, idiot! It was like a second-kiss! It didn't mean anything to me, so just…forget it," Syaoran replied, softening his voice.
Hikaru felt small tears appearing on her eyelids. "I-I-I can't," she whispered, her lips trembling, "I still…I still love you, S-Syaoran…"
"Niijimata, don't fire Sakura. If you do…I don't know what I'll do to you," Syaoran warned, not feeling any sympathy for her.
"I still love you," she whispered ever so quietly. He then heard a dial tone.
----
"Sakura?" Her boss called.
She looked up in surprise and walked to the office. "Yes?"
"Come in." Hikaru signalled her over and she sat on a chair in front of the bureau. "I'd like to talk to you about…mmm…Syaoran."
"What about him?" She asked nervously.
"Are you two…planning to get married?"
Sakura looked down. "I'm sorry, Hikaru, but I don't think that's really any of your business."
"Oh, I didn't think that was such a personal question." Hikaru smiled.
She glanced up at those blue eyes. "Ok fine…um, we're not planning it." She murmured. "Yet." 'Someday…maybe we will,' Sakura thought as she pictured him proposing to her.
"So how is he?"
Blinking, she replied. "Fine." Sakura was getting very edgy. "But I don't understand why you care so much about him. I thought you two were over."
"We never had anything." Hikaru replied acutely. "I'm simply asking how he's doing. He was my friend too."
"Don't you see, though? You said was, meaning he's not your friend anymore."
Hikaru narrowed her eyes and stood up. "I don't need you to correct my grammar." She snapped. "I believe my job is a higher position than yours."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Sakura asked, just as angry. "Just because you landed yourself a better job doesn't mean you're intelligent."
Hikaru gasped. "How dare you insult me like this??"
"How dare you insult me first?" She asked, challenging.
"Do you know that I can fire you just like –she snapped her fingers-- that?"
Sakura was afraid of this, but she still stood her ground. "You think you have all the power as my boss? Or rather the entire office's boss? Do you know that no one here likes you because you're the boss? Do you plan to work here until the day you die with everyone hating you?"
"That is neither here nor there!"
Sakura stared intently at the woman in front of her. "If you want to fire me, go ahead." She confronted. "I doubt you'll find someone as skilled as I am."
Hikaru clenched her jaw. "Do not underestimate me, Sakura. I'm full of surprises." She gave a cynical smile.
"I know you, Hikaru. I don't think I'll be surprised with anything you do." Sakura bit back.
----
Syaoran sat on the couch rigidly as the flitting images in the TV passed. Nothing seemed to enter his mind but Hikaru's words. "I'm going to fire her, Syaoran!" and the last one she said, "I still love you…" He certainly didn't want Sakura to lose her job…and Hikaru still held feelings for him. Would she really fire Sakura?? She considered it as her biggest accomplishment yet…and he couldn't take that away from her. But he also didn't want to date this woman and waste a beautiful night on her. Sakura walked out of her room and into the living room where Syaoran was. She smiled and stood in front of him. His stare was still blank and looking through her. Raising an eyebrow at the weird look he wore, she waved her hand in front of his face. Suddenly his eyes focused on her hand and he leaned, pecking it quickly.
She giggled. "What's up with you?" She inquired.
"Hmm?" He decided to lie. "Oh uh nothing. Just have a lot on my mind." He said and stood up, holding her hand.
"I hope it's nothing bad." She smiled. "Is it about work?"
"Uh yeah, actually. It's not serious or anything." He replied.
"Sure?" Sakura looked into his eyes to see if he was telling the truth. She got nothing.
"I'm sure." He looked back at her doubtful eyes. "I'm sure." He repeated and kissed her on the lips.