Behind the Mask

This is dedicated to all my friends. I'll edit the chapters every so often cos it gets confusing. Sorry about the spelling and grammar. Thanks for all the reviews!

Chapter 8 – Never Been Kissed

On the phone

"Ohayo?" Sakura yawned waking up. Why does my head hurt so much? Damn. Why am I lying on the ground? Oh yeh now I remember we stayed at Syaoran's mansion last night. I must be in his room, it's all green. "Hi Sakura! You're finally awake! I've been calling for ages, but you didn't pick up." "Who's there?" Sakura asked. "I'm standing right next to you." "HOE!" "Sorry for scaring you like that. It's just I wish you would stop drooling on the carpet." "Syaoran it's just you. How'd you make your voice go all high pitched, it's creepy...." "Yes keep on going....about my carpet." "Oh yeh. I'm sorry carpet, there there. I'll pay for any material trauma." Sakura comforted stroking the carpet.

"That's okay Sakura, the cleaner is coming in today anyways." Syaoran tried to explain. "The carpet is telling me it wants better treatment. But that's okay cos it says it likes me so you don't have to do anything special." By now Syaoran was backing away to the door and trying to turn the knob. "Looking for this?" Sakura was swinging a key around her finger. "How'd you get it?" Syaoran asked suspiciously. "How'd I get what?" "How'd you get that in your hand?" "What in which hand?" "The key in your right hand?" "What key?" "That key!" Syaoran lunged forward and snatched the key away from Sakura murmuring thanks before trying to unlock the door when

"Damn! Why won't it unlock?" Syaoran kept on shoving the key into the keyhole. "Syaoran?" "Yeh?" "I was trying to save you the embarrassment by acting as if I had no key, but it turns out that you ended up doing it by yourself anyways. So I might as well explain." "What are you talking about Ying Fa?" "What I was trying to do before you rudely snatched the key off me I was going to tell you that I was playing with the key to my apartment." "And you decide to tell me this now? It's kinda a bit too late." Syaoran sweat dropped.

"I'm sorry." Sakura pouted. "It's okay. I was just attempting to escape cos guess who locked us in. In my own house. I'm trapped in my own house. Pathetic isn't it?" "Let me guess White locked us in here, but what I don't get is why you can't just break down the door." "Well you see, this aint exactly my mansion?" "WAAHHHH!" Thank god I bought these heavy duty ear muffs. Syaoran thought gladly. "Well it's a Li mansion so it technically belongs to all of the Li family, it's just that I've been living here for a few years now. I don't want to go breaking down this priceless door that contains all my memories." "What memories?" "Disturbing memories that you would probably slap me for." "Too late!" Sakura had made contact to Syaoran's now not so perfectly chiselled face.

"Ouch Sakura! I was referring to porn not fucking people!" "Woops, sorry." "And you were the one thinking I was a hentai. Shame on you Kinomoto Sakura. I would have never guessed that the feisty bitch Sakura would even consider thinking that about a friend. Hmph." Syaoran spoke teasingly earning a kick in the gut. "That should keep you quiet for a WHILE. But what would keep you quiet for even longer would be a kick in the royal jewels by Melinda!" By now Sakura was chasing Syaoran all around his room with a chair, ready to wack Syaoran. After about 30 minutes of "cat and rat" fun Sakura got tired, I mean Syaoran is the heir to the Li clan. He deserves the best and biggest room.

"Syaoran.......WAAAAHHH!" Sakura tripped over a shoe and fell flat on Syaoran that was on the floor chucking a laughing fit. They were so close to each other, so close you could feel the tension in the air. They were like two magnets attracting each other. They just couldn't find the strength to separate. For a while they just stared into each other's eyes, Sakura still on top of Syaoran. It's like their bodies together formed into the Yin and Yang sign. Syaoran began caressing Sakura's face so gently that it felt like he wasn't even touching her face. Sakura smiled sweetly and ran her hand through his soft, messy brown hair.

'She's so, so, so beautiful. No. Beautiful is an understatement. There is no perfect word to describe her. All I can say is that she is so Sakura. I think that's the only thing even remotely close to describing her. I could look up all the words in the world describe my Sakura, but I know it just wouldn't justify the true meaning of her. If I only I could tell her how I feel, what if she rejects me? I'll be shattered. Oh, Sakura if only you knew.' Syaoran thought with mixed emotions. Happiness, fear and he felt real for once in his life. Syaoran didn't want the moment to end, not just yet at least.

'I know I've never kissed anyone before, but I just want my first kiss to be with Syaoran...What am I thinking? Syaoran has probably kissed a million women by now thanks to his rep and his great physique. Who am I kidding? We're just friends right? Then why do I feel jealous? Why do I have the urge to hug him, run my hand through his hair, protect him, kiss him...?' With all these questions running though Sakura's mind she didn't notice Syaoran closing in on her lips.

Sakura finally broke her train of thought when she realised someone's lips were pressed onto her lips. 'Syaoran...' It was absolute bliss. Syaoran had expected Sakura to pull back, but after a few seconds he became comfortable when Sakura kissed back, or so he thought. If anyone else were in the room watching these two then they surely would have died of lack of air. The temperature in Syaoran's room was immense and still increasing. Sakura was giving Syaoran the breath of life to make him live again. All these years even after his family's death, Syaoran had always felt so alone, cold, distant and lifeless. This is what Syaoran needed to regain the sweet need for companionship, warmth, love and a will to live for something more than revenge. After what seemed like a second to Sakura and Syaoran, they finally broke the kiss breathing hard. "I'm so sorry Sakura. I totally betrayed your trust as a friend. I understand if you don't want to talk to me or you hate me. But I just want to say something first. I don't regret doing that, not at all. And I'm definite that was the best first kiss ever." Syaoran chuckled explaining. Sakura just stared at Syaoran fondly and managed to smile. "It's okay. It was kinda my fault too because I didn't push you away sooner." Syaoran and Sakura both blushed. "Umm....Sakura you're still on top of me you know?" "I'm so sorry. I'm just a little bit confused at the moment." Sakura got off Syaoran and helped him up.

"Hey Syaoran?" "Hmmm?" Syaoran grunted turning around to face Sakura. "Did you say that was your first kiss?" Sakura asked innocently shuffling her feet uncomfortably. Syaoran nodded very slowly and looked at the ground. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. It was mine too. I was kinda nervous thought cos I thought you were experienced." Sakura explained turning red. "Really? I thought you were the experienced one. Well, I guess I could have asked you first, but that would be really embarrassing. I kind of assumed that you were experienced cos Kenshin was your boyfriend." Syaoran smiled. Sakura looked down and frowned. "Sakura? Are you okay? You're going from really red to really pale." Syaoran noticed changing the subject. "No, really I'm fine. I'm just a little dizzy." "Go lie down on the bed now." Syaoran commanded. "Aye aye captain." Sakura plopped onto the bed and closed her eyes. "Wait here while I go get my stethoscope. I am a doctor you know." Syaoran beamed proudly. "Yeh, yeh Dr Li. Hurry up would ya?" Sakura tried to sound sarcastic but it ended up sounding like a dog was trying to talk.

Minutes later

"Well everything seems to be fine. It's most likely you got sick because you haven't eaten anything in hours." "By the way Syaoran, if we ever get outta here do you want to go out sometime?" "Like a date?" Syaoran asked smirking. Sakura nodded slowly and unsurely playing with her hands this time. "Of course I would." Syaoran smiled charmingly. "But you know, I don't mean like a candle lit dinner or anything." Sakura added. "I know. I was kinda thinking like a stroll in the park or a visit to Rae building." "That's what I was thinking too. And we could go feed the ducks and go feed Leia." "Her again? What's up with her? On the way here last night, I almost got attacked by her again. Then I remembered that giving her chocolate would make her go away."

"And then what happened?" Sakura crawled next to Syaoran and listened intently like a little girl. "I didn't have any chocolate so I ran for my life." "Oh." Sakura sweat dropped. "I thought your story would have been one about life and death and you racing to the local store to buy some chocolate to tame the wild beast." "You have quite the imagination Sakura. But if it's consolation, Eriol and Daniel were bombarded with bums. They had to fight their way out of the crazy crowd." Syaoran finished. "Sakura? Sakura? Where are you?" Syaoran looked around and finally saw Sakura rolling on the floor laughing hard.

Sakura finally got off the ground holding stomach. "Syaoran I found a way to get ourselves out of your room." Sakura's face turned serious. "Just follow my lead and do what I do, no questions asked." Sakura explained dead serious. Syaoran nodded and watched as Sakura walked over to the door.

"HELP! HELP! WE'RE TRAPPED IN HERE! ARGGHH! I CAN'T BREATHE! I'M CLAUSTROPHOBIC!" Sakura screamed her head off banging her fists on the door. Syaoran stood there astounded and sweat dropped oO". "You know the smart, reasonable thing to have done is just to use your cell phone and call White." "And you decided just to suggest this now?" "Well, I thought you would have been smart enough since you're a graduate of Tokyo University and you were in the top 50." "How do you know?" "Don't you remember?" "No." "The following disturbing scene is a re-enactment of what happened a couple weeks back when you were drunk.

"Syaoran. Don't think that I'm a stupid dumbass girl with a scar on her face." Syaoran walked around wonkily with a drunken feminine voice. "Who said I thought that?" Syaoran's voice was changing from feminine to masculine and Sakura was very disturbed. "Well let me tell you, if you ever decide to think that then just remember I'm a graduate of Tokyo University and my score was in the top 50." "Is that so? I was in the top 10 of the graduates at Hong Kong University." "Well soooorrryyy." Syaoran acted burping. "Syaoran you are really handsome you know that? I really like your sexy body."

"WAAAAHHH! Tell me I didn't say that." "You didn't say that last part Sakura. I just added that just to see your reaction." Syaoran smirked. "Pheww!" POW "That is for thinking that you could fool me." "I need medical assistance. I haven't mean punched in the gut this many times before by a girl."

"Sakura c'mon let's go." Syaoran ordered as he walked over to the door. "I think you're forgetting that we're locked up in this room." "No we're not." Syaoran said bluntly as he opens the door. "WAAAAAAAHHH! You mean the door was unlocked all this time and you didn't tell me!?" "Yeh." Syaoran answered plainly. "Eriol owes me one million yen now. We made a bet that I could fool you. The kiss was just a bonus." Syaoran lied convincingly.

"Kidding. I heard the door unlock a few minutes ago I just decided to talk to you for a little bit longer. Now what do you say that we go have that stroll in the park now. I'll go downstairs and get some bread and chocolate while you change." Syaoran walked out and closed the door. Sakura was trying to process the information and was about to yell when she noticed Syaoran was already gone. I think I'm falling in l---. No, no no. Sakura shook her head violently. I promised myself only to use that word when someone else said it to me first. I don't think I could bear to lose my heart again and get it snapped like a fragile twig....Since when I start using similes?

Mitoko Reserve

"So what do you think Syaoran? You up for it? If we do it this will be my first ever. I always thought of it as very fun and wildly dangerous. We can get into a lot of trouble for it. Do you want to do it at my house or yours?" "Yours." "Okay then it's settled. We're gonna have s- - ...."

Leia was charging straight towards Sakura and Syaoran. Syaoran fumbled in his pocket for some chocolate, but found nothing. Oh shit. "NOoOoOoOoOoOo!"Syaoran yelled in slow motion. Sakura was pushed onto Syaoran and for the second time that day their lips locked. Why does this keep on happening? Syaoran and Sakura thought together. Maybe I'm falling for you. Maybe it's destiny that we be together. Maybe it's destiny I lose her. Syaoran thought grimly.

Flashback to Syaoran's dream

"No don't please don't!" Syaoran pleaded. "Don't take her away gain! I can't live without her. I said I would protect her and here I am watching her being taken away from me forever!"

Syaoran was pushed to the ground and was paralysed. He couldn't protect her...he couldn't protect her. Syaoran began crying as it became dark. There was no more light in his life to brighten it. All his hope, all the love he ever needed was gone.......forever.

End Flashback

Syaoran opened his eyes and pulled away from Sakura. Sakura looked confused. I thought Syaoran liked me more than a friend. I guess I'm wrong. With the way he kissed me I thought....I'm so naïve. Sakura frowned and go up off the ground.

I don't want to hurt her. If my dream does come true and I lose her, I don't think I'll be able to bear it. Maybe it's better this way. If I break her heart I won't be able to live myself. If she breaks mine I won't be able to handle it. I'm not good enough for her. If she knew all my secrets I don't think she could stand the grief. If she knew who I really was, my enemies would probably take her. I can't let love get in the way. I know I love her, but I would rather she be happy with someone else. Someone who can protect her. If only I could tell her, if only I could show her. I won't do anything I can't say. I'll love you always and forever my Cherry Blossom. Syaoran thought sadly. He just wanted to be with Sakura.

Syaoran forced a smile and stood up. "I think Leia was running away from normal people again. Hahaha. She has normal-people-phobia." Sakura smiled fakely. Syaoran saw right through this. I'm so sorry Sakura. "Well do you want to go feed the ducks now?" Sakura grabbed Syaoran's hand and ran towards the pond. As long as we just stay friends then I won't be able to hurt her. Maybe when the time is right I'll tell her my little secret. Syaoran tried to think brighter. If her ever lets me in perhaps I'll be able to tell him my secret. Sakura thought sadly as her hopes of ever Syaoran ever needing her dropped.

As Sakura and Syaoran were talking while throwing pieces of bread to the ducks a woman approached them. "Oh hi Melissa. Got anything new today?" Sakura asked eagerly. Syaoran just stood there confused. Is she another one of Sakura's wacked friends? Syaoran thought. I've been thinking a lot lately. "Yes. I have those new The Dissociatives concert tickets. I only have two left so do you wanna buy them? And if you don't want them I still have Utada Hikaru or Porno Graffiti tickets." Mel stated looking at her watch.

"Hmmm......what do you think Syaoran?" Sakura asked putting her finger to her lip. "Well how about Porno Graffiti? I haven't seen them perform before." "But don't you own them?" "Yes. But that doesn't mean I've seen them perform." "Fair fair. Okay then Mel. Give me twelve tickets to Porno Graffiti." Sakura asked. "I only have two." "Fine. Just give me two. How much is it?" "Two hundred thousand yen." Mel replied sticking out her hand. "That seems a bit too much, but yeh whatever." "Pleasure doing business with you." Melissa whispered before disappearing.

"How'd she do that? Just disappear all of a sudden." Syaoran asked his eyes bulging out of his sockets. "Well anyone who deals with me knows how to disappear like that. It's a secret." Sakura whispered into Syaoran's ear before disappearing as well. Syaoran just stood there glued to the ground, trembling. When Syaoran finally regained his composure he walked towards his car and headed to Cherry Train. "I have to let off some confusion." Syaoran said to no one.

Somewhere else

"Good job Melissa. Here's your million yen." Someone hidden in the shadows handed Melissa a bag of money." "It was nice doing business with you." Melissa bows and disappears. "Sooner or later you'll have to admit how you feel. Your destiny must be fulfilled. I'm sorry Sakura...Syaoran. It's the only way..." The person hidden in the shadows disappeared in the wind.

Sakura's Apartment

"Syaoran? Yeh I just wanted to apologise for disappearing before...yeh.....uhuh...ok......the concernt is tomorrow.....so you can come right......great! I'll pick you up in my brand new Jagstang.......that's a mustang mixed with a jaguar...I'll pick you up at six...wonderful.....Ja!"

Please review! Thanks for all the reviews! I know this is boring but.....yeh.. Anyhow cyaz next time. )