Author's Note: I AM SO SORRY! I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T UPDATE FOR SO LONG! PLEASE FORGIVE ME! *begs* Okay, on with it.

Disclaimer: No, I do not own Card Captor Sakura. ^^ It's common knowledge, isn't it?

I Choose Sakura

By: Wings of Jade

Chapter 8: I Admit

As soon as Sakura disappeared behind the door, Syaoran felt as if all the air from his lungs vanished.

Are—you—insane?

Yes, yes, I'm insane, Syaoran fumed inwardly, but he anxiously probed his feelings, his heart fluttery and panicky.

Do I like Sakura?

"No, no, of course not," Syaoran muttered to himself.

Then why did you say you did?

"It was a mistake!" Syaoran said aloud angrily. "I just did something really stupid, and—" Syaoran felt as if he was going crazy.

Is love this strange? he wondered. Then he slapped himself mentally. Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up...

Syaoran felt dizzy and confused. He had told Sakura that he cared about her—actually told her! And she was acting really casual, as if it was nothing at all. For some reason, he found it weird. Shouldn't she be startled or something?

Another thing—he didn't really care for Sakura, he had just changed a bit when she had been Chosen...he had never liked beheadings anyway, all the blood and hair and meat and flesh...he imagined Sakura's head detached from her shoulders. He shuddered. See, he said confidently, who wouldn't want to save Sakura? How can someone stand to see someone like her beheaded?

However, Syaoran had a feeling that something else was to it, but he refused to think about it...if he did, it wouldn't go away. Instead, he focused on walking down the corridor, away, away, from Sakura's room, and concentrated so hard he even forgot to snap at Seiichi as he walked past with a, "Greetings, young Master Syaoran". He breathed a sigh of relief as he reached his room. The mere sight of his bed and dressing table and curtains made him feel at home, even though he was. He wanted to forget about what had happened between him and Sakura and relax.

He drew up a chair beside his window, letting the maroon curtains brush against his skin. A light breeze ruffled his hair pleasantly. Syaoran noticed a branch had snaked in. He examined it. Small pink flower buds sprouted out of the thin strip of wood. Sakura blossoms—how nice.

Then everything came back to him again.

Syaoran pushed his palms against his temple. He grew frustrated. "Why can't she just go away?" he raged. "It's not fair—is it my fault I tried to stick up for her? Is it my fault she went and got herself into trouble? Is this supposed to be my punishment or something?"

Stop panicking, you little dumbbell, said a soothing voice in his head. And no, you aren't crazy, trust me. Just relax and think about her.

But I don't want to!

Shh...it's okay. It's always like this, don't worry.

What's always like this?

I should laugh, but I can't. It's called love, silly. You care about Sakura. That's why you saved her in the first place.

"What?" said Syaoran in disbelief. "Does everybody think that now?"

No. You just won't admit it.

And I certainly won't be.

You just did.

Haha, that was so funny I forgot to laugh.

No, I'm serious. If you're not going to admit it, then you're obviously in love.

Syaoran was getting annoyed. "Bye." He pushed the voice out of his head and tried to think of everything but Sakura.

It wouldn't work. Syaoran sighed. Time to call somebody.

"Seiichi!" The humble servant appeared two seconds later.

"Yes, my lord?"

"Fetch Lord Eriol. It's an emergency." Seiichi bowed low.

"Yes, Master Syaoran."

~*~

"Your Highness," greeted Lord Eriol with a smirk, bowing low. "What can I do for you today, your highness?"

"I am your highness," snapped Syaoran. Eriol chuckled. Lord Eriol was a close friend of Syaoran's, and was always wise. That's why Syaoran usually went to him for help.

"But of course. What has you called me for today?" Syaoran bit his lip and refused to look at Eriol. The air was tense. Eriol observed for a couple of seconds and his smirk grew wider.

"I think I know now..."

"Oh really?" retorted Syaoran. Eriol nodded.

"A girl."

"Uh-huh."

"A girl named Sakura. She's currently in another room trying on a dress."

"Gee, how did you guess?" Eriol smiled gently.

"I know how it feels."

"Well, that's not really the point today."

"Then what is?" Syaoran raked his hair in frustration.

"It's me, Eriol! I don't know what's going on! A few hours ago I just saved Sakura's life, walked with her, talked with her, and told her I cared about her!" Eriol blinked. "Don't you know what this means?" He rolled his eyes impatiently.

"Of course I know what this means. You're falling for her."

"Exactly! And—I don't know, I'm—What if she starts acting weird or something? I—I don't really want her to know I kind of like her—and I don't really want this to happen or anything, but, well—"

"Syaoran," Eriol calmly interrupted. "Shut up."

Syaoran shut up.

"Look," began Eriol uneasily. "Love—it's something hard to explain. I'll try my best, but it's really up to you, you know—if you want to accept the fact or not. Now just listen to me, okay?

"I don't know if you wanted to fall in love with her—"

"I'm not in love!" countered Syaoran heatedly.

"Yes you are," said Eriol wearily.

"No I'm not!"

"Yes, you are."

"No I'm not!"

"Yes."

"No."

"Just let me finish."

"Okay."

"I don't know if you wanted to fall for her or not, but once you like someone, you like someone, okay? In this case, it's Sakura. She's not bad looking, and she's quite cute, you know? There's no reason not to like her...but I think I know what you mean. You're just afraid of love.

"Well...don't be afraid, okay? It's natural, it's not contagious—well, okay, it is contagious sometimes—but the point is, don't avoid it or you're going to end up hurting yourself." Syaoran stared at Eriol.

"And I'm supposed to believe all this wisdom fluff about love."

"It's the truth," said Eriol loftily. Syaoran snorted.

"Absolutely..." He sighed. "Me and Sakura are just so different, though." Eriol nodded.

"You're a guy, she's a girl, you're a prince, she's a commoner...yeah, you could say that..."

"Do you have any experience marrying commoners?" Eriol grinned.

"Actually, yeah. I'm getting married to one this week."

"WHAT?" Eriol grinned wider.

"Daidouji Tomoyo. She's a wonderful girl, you know." Eriol sighed. "She's so beautiful, too...not that I just love her because of that."

"And that has to do with my situation because..." Eriol was exasperated. He resorted to yelling.

"LOOK, SYAORAN, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF SAKURA'S A COMMONER OR NOT! THERE'S NO POINT IN MENTIONING THAT! SHE'S A GOOD GIRL, YOU LIKE HER, SHE'LL LIKE YOU SOONER OR LATER, YOU TWO ARE GOING TO GET MARRIED IN A FEW DAYS, CHEER UP AND LET YOUR FEELINGS TAKE CONTROL, OKAY?" Syaoran blinked.

"My GOD, I've never seen anyone so STUPID," muttered Eriol. "Just do what I say and everybody'll be happy."

"Um...sure." Syaoran wasn't so sure, in reality, but Eriol had never given the wrong advice, so he was determined to do what was right for him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Finally! I finished chapter 8! Again, I'm sorry for the delay, but I have contests and stuff so updating takes a while now! Ja ne, people!