AN: Hi! I'm actually totally clueless as to how I am supposed to write this chapter. And plus, I have never been to a club before… so I won't really give you a 'real' experience kind of thing. Just hope it's alright.

Disclaimer: Characters belong to clamp. All rights reserve.

Chapter 8: Troubled

Sakura tugged at the hot pink tube top that she was wearing. She had given in to Tomoyo, allowing Tomoyo to pick an outfit for her.

Sakura sighed. She should have expected Tomoyo to come out with something like that. Sakura was wearing a hot pink tube top and a tight pair of low-hanging jeans.

"Sakura… you will look great!" Tomoyo assured from the outside. "Just hurry up and come out before I ask Eriol to knock down your door," Tomoyo joked.

"Coming, Tomoyo!" Sakura said. Sighing again, she picked up her gun and slotted it in a 'secret' compartment Tomoyo had specially designed on the jeans.

Taking one last look at her self on the mirror, Sakura reluctantly open the door.

Upon hearing Sakura's door open, Tomoyo immediately whipped around and squealed.

"Perfect! Beautiful! Sakura! You look fabulously good!" Tomoyo praised. Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Thank you Tomoyo," Sakura said. "Like you said, can we go now?"

"Oh… right. Sorry… I kind of got carried away," Tomoyo answered sheepishly.

"Uh huh…" Sakura nodded knowingly.

"You should have seen the look on Tomoyo's face when she found out!" Meilin's loud voice and laughter echoed throughout the whole house.

"Found out what?" Eriol asked.

"Well… she wanted to know what Sakura was going to wear to the club and Sakura isn't really that sort… so she didn't exactly have the 'right' clothes that Tomoyo had in mind," Meilin said.

"What's taking them so long?" Syaoran grumbled as he stood at a corner.

"Relax Syaoran! It's still early," Meilin said.

"Yea… eleven's early," he muttered to himself.

"And anyway…" Meilin continued. "Almost the whole of Sakura's drawer was filled with dark clothes… as in black, dark blue, grey… that kind of thing."

Eriol raised an eyebrow at Meilin while Syaoran just remained silent.

"You don't have to tell the whole world… you know that Meilin?" a voice came from the top.

"Oh Sakura! Sorry!" Meilin said and hurried behind Eriol to hide in case Sakura wanted to start fighting her again.

Sakura and Tomoyo still hadn't appeared yet. The three could hear Sakura's whining and Tomoyo's persuading and encouragement.

"But Tomoyo…" Sakura said.

"You look great, Sakura. Relax… take a deep breath. Let's go," Tomoyo said. She took hold of Sakura's hand and pulled her down the stairs.

"Wait! Tomoyo!" Sakura shouted but it was too late. Tomoyo was already parading Sakura down the flight of steps.

"Come on Sakura… you look great! Right, Meilin?" Tomoyo turned to Meilin.

"You got to be kidding! She looks absolutely gorgeous!" Meilin laughed. Sakura still was not convinced.

"Right, Eriol?" Meilin asked, nudging Eriol.

"Really! Sakura! Believe us… you look just wonderful," Eriol smirked and turned to Syaoran.

"Right, Syaoran?" Eriol asked.

"Right," Syaoran said. Seeing the looks that crossed Sakura's features, he added, "Beautiful."

"See, Sakura! Syaoran says you're beautiful! You have got to be convinced now," Tomoyo said.

"Fine, fine," Sakura sighed. "Then let's get going."

Colourful neon lights flashed as teenagers danced in the black of the night. Sweaty bodies moved against each other, dancing the night away. The look on the faces of the teenagers was filled with content. It seemed like they had no troubles at that moment. The extremely loud music blared as the people moved to the beat. The whole place was crammed with teenagers and young adults.

Syaoran and the gang had entered easily with their VIP rights. They had retreated to a small room at the second level which was also reserved for them. They had ordered drinks and soon, Meilin was off with some guy, dancing in the middle of the club.

After a couple of drinks, Tomoyo was begging Eriol to go and dance with her.

"Please Eriol…" Tomoyo whined. "Better come with me or else I'll go and look for someone else!" Tomoyo shouted as she stumbled a bit because of the drinks.

"Alright Tomoyo dear," Eriol laughed. He was more sober than Tomoyo. "Come on, let's go!" Eriol smiled as he whisked Tomoyo off her feet.

Sakura hiccupped as she took another swig of her drink. She was feeling nothing there and then. She had drunk a lot to try and wash her troubles away.

Her father's death. Her mother's death. Her brother's death.

Wasn't life just perfect?

Sakura closed her eyes as she finished off her fifth glass and was getting another one. She thanked the bartender as she reached out for her next glass. Before she could take a single drop of it, someone had snatched it away from her.

"What the hell?" Sakura cursed as she looked at the culprit.

"Syaoran! Give it!" Sakura shouted as she tried to pry the glass out of the cages of his fingers.

"Enough, Sakura!" Syaoran shouted back. He sighed as he had no choice but to dump the whole drink on the floor. "Enough is enough!"

"Syaoran…" Sakura pleaded. She looked at him with her slightly watery emerald eyes. She was too dizzy to fight with him. She used her last option, which was to beg.

"Please Syaoran…" Sakura begged as she clutched the front of Syaoran's shirt to remain stable.

"Sakura…" Syaoran's voice was less harsh. "You had too much to drink," he told her.

"Says who? I only had two glasses," Sakura said as she put two fingers out.

"You had five and that's enough. And you just had to take such a strong drink too," Syaoran sighed as Sakura turned to the bartender to order another drink.

"Excuse me," Syaoran tapped the bartender for his attention. "Please don't make any more drinks for this young lady, thanks." Syaoran scanned the crowd for any signs of Tomoyo, Eriol or Meilin before scooping Sakura up into his arms and bringing her away from all the noise to a quieter area in a room.

He laid her on the couch and went to sit down on the chair away from Sakura. He didn't know what got to him. He would never do such a thing to a female, or so he thought.

"Syaoran! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" Sakura screamed repeatedly with her eyes closed. She was trying to ease the pain.

"Right, I believe so," Syaoran said.

"Just one more! I wanted just one more! Why wouldn't you give it?!" Sakura shouted.

"Sakura, anymore and you won't even remember tonight."

"What's wrong with that?! That's good!"

"Why?" Syaoran asked.

Sakura immediately shut up.

"Why Sakura? Is it because of your brother?" Syaoran pushed her.

"Shut up!" Sakura screamed, closing her ears, not wanting to hear anymore. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

"Ok… if you hadn't joined, I would never have to tell you this," Syaoran sighed, turning away from Sakura. "You should know that now, since you are a leader of the gang, you are never alone," Syaoran paused and sighed.

Sakura giggled. "You must be having a really difficult time. I never pictured you in this kind of situation."

Syaoran turned and glared at her. "I can stop now, you know."

"Oh no, please don't. Do continue," Sakura said in a less teasing manner.

"Fine," Syaoran hesitated for awhile.

"Quickly," Sakura urged him. "Before I decide to fall asleep, I'm getting really drowsy."

Syaoran picked off where he left at, "We… the gang and all, can be your new family if you allow us to enter your life, not only physically, but emotionally too."

Sakura remained silent.

Syaoran continued, "We can and will always be there for you, now that you're part of us." Syaoran stopped talking and the room hung in silence for a few minutes.

After awhile, Syaoran spoke. "Sakura? You got that?"

Hearing no response, Syaoran glanced at Sakura, only to find a sleeping angel.

"Great," Syaoran muttered to himself. "All that effort for nothing."

Unknown to Syaoran, Sakura had heard everything. Every single word. She was really touched.

Unfortunately for Syaoran, he had mistaken that Sakura fell asleep before his 'speech'. Actually, the side-effects of drinking had made Sakura fall asleep during the minutes of silence.

Using this opportunity, Syaoran observed Sakura. His eyes trailed down the features of her flawless face. The precious emerald eyes, the small, petite nose and the soft, pink lips.

Taking her into full view, Syaoran noticed that she was shaking. Getting off the chair, Syaoran walked towards Sakura.

Sakura was trembling because of the lack of cloths around her arms. Sighing, Syaoran silently cursed Tomoyo for giving Sakura this time of clothing, although he thought she looked really beautiful and sexy.

Better get her home before she catches a cold. Syaoran thought.

Again, he lifted Sakura into his arms and walked out of the room. He placed Sakura gently down on the passenger's seat of his two-door Lexus convertible. The roof lowered with a single push of a button.

Syaoran got into the driver's seat and started the engine. Taking out his cell phone, he messaged Eriol to inform him about his and Sakura's whereabouts. Sure, Syaoran knew that Tomoyo and Meilin were going to make fun of him about it, but it needed to be done.

Opening the door, Syaoran made his way in the mansion, dropping his keys on the table; he headed towards Sakura's room.

Syaoran opened the door swiftly with one hand and stepped in. It wasn't what he expected. The room, that is. It was painted with dark colours and that was black clothes strewed all over the place.

Tomoyo must have had a fit, seeing Sakura's clothes. Syaoran mused silently to himself.

Syaoran tucked Sakura in bed, eyed her for awhile and then left the room to get some paracetamol and a glass of water.

I'm sorry. I know this chapter was boring. I had to establish closer tie relationships between Sakura and Syaoran. If not, they would never get together. I mean, it would take a longer time for them to get together. I promise the next chapter at a club… but with action! But… this was a long chapter, right? Ok… maybe I shouldn't' have made it long. Now, it's a long, boring chapter. Oh… how I love to chide myself.