Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter One.

Thanks so much for reviewing everyone! Here's the next chapter, I hope you like it! The story's almost finished! Whee! And thanks a whole bunch to Avelyn Lauren for being my 100TH REVIEWER! W00t! Anywho, on with the story!


"Don't ask Eriol. He thinks of the strangest gifts." Syaoran shook his head. "If you have to get me something, get me something. But don't ask Eriol."

Sakura was bemused. Eriol-kun's taste in gifts was that bad?

"O-K." Sakura smiled and tugged at his arm. "I'll just get your gift later. Let's go home."

Syaoran was so relieved to hear the words, 'go' and 'home', he completely forgot to do something about Sakura's arm in his.

Or had he.


Snow Becomes Spring by Strawberry Promises

Chapter Ten: Sunrises and Sweet Melodies


Tomoyo finished washing the dishes and dried her hands on the kitchen cloth. Sakura had asked her about what to get Syaoran for Christmas. She was just as clueless as her friend.

Her thoughts were discontinued, however, as Eriol happened to walk through the door.

"Eriol-kun!" She leaped up with a sunny smile. "Can I get you anything?"

"Oh, Daidouji-san. It's ok, I don't need anything." Eriol said, seeming preoccupied.

"What's wrong, if you don't mind me asking?" Tomoyo inquired, taking a seat opposite him.

"Oh, I just don't know what to get Sakura-chan for Christmas." He said. (AN: Fanficpixie this is for you! A little ExS action for ya!)

Tomoyo felt a twinge of jealously. "Well, what were you thinking of getting her?" She asked, trying to maintain her outwardly appearance.

"That's just it." Eriol looked at her with a wry smile. "I'm not too sure of what to get girls."

Tomoyo was going to say something but Eriol continued.

"It's just that, I thought that if I got her something, then that would make Syaoran get her something as well." Eriol's smile grew into a grin.

"They would be the cutest couple, wouldn't they?" Tomoyo added excitingly.

Eriol chuckled. "Indubitably."


Syaoran sat, cross-legged in front of the fireplace. It was snowing pretty hard outside and he really couldn't get closer to the warmth of the fireplace.

He stared, unblinking, into the flames. They licked up and danced in a whirlwind of reds and oranges. They mesmerized him and he couldn't tear his eyes away.

Funny then, how one person could capture his attention like the blaze could.

"Syaoran?" Someone said, behind him.

He jumped at the familiar voice and turned to look at the newcomer.

She yawned. "What are you doing here? It's two o' clock in the morning."

He smirked. "What are you doing here?"

She blushed a little. "I was hungry."

He started to get up. "Do you want me to cook you something?"

She waved her hands at him. "Oh, no, no. I'm quite capable. You should go to bed."

And with that, Sakura turned her back on him and walked into the dark kitchen.


The next morning, Syaoran had gotten up pretty early for someone who had fallen asleep around 3 in the morning the night before.

He put a large sweater one and decided to jog around the property He kept to the paths where the snow was melted slightly, and where there were no ice patches. Just as the sun started to come up, he stopped and watched it.

The reds and oranges of the rising sun reminded him of the fire he watched. Suddenly, a sweet melody floated out to greet him.

Syaoran was startled. He had never heard anyone playing the flute out here before. He jogged around to look for the person who was playing, all the while straining his ears for the last haunting notes of the tune.

He found her, a few minutes later, sitting on a rock with her legs curled up underneath her.

A flute lay by her side, resting on a small blanket of sorts.

"You played that?" He asked her, breaking her reverie.

"What? You heard it?" She was blushing. "I never play outside, but I woke up this morning and I saw the sunrise and wanted to come out here."

Syaoran nodded. "How long have you been playing?"

She shrugged. "A few years now."

That made him think. For all the years that this girl had lived with him, Syaoran had never known her, or these details that were so astounding.

"You're good." He complimented her but smirked. "I'm better though."

She raised an eyebrow. "Really, you play the flute? Can I hear you?"

"I haven't played in a while," Hesitating, he took the instrument from her. He gently placed it under his mouth and blew lightly.

A faint sound was heard. With growing confidence, Syaoran started to play more loudly with self-assurance.

He played an upbeat little jig, of sorts and gave it back to her, blowing on his hands. "It's too cold to play out here."

Sakura nodded in agreement but smiled sadly. "It's so pretty out here. I want to sit and watch the snow slowly melt into spring."

For some reason, Syaoran was struck by her last statement. It rang in his ears. Snow… slowly, slowly… melt… spring… spring…

With a slight shake of his head, he dismissed the thought and stood. "Still, it's much too cold to be out here in the morning. I'm going inside."

He waited for her, but she just sat there, on the rock, her hand resting lightly on her flute.

He made an impatient noise. "Let's go!"

She looked to him in surprise. "You want me to come?" She asked softly.

"I can't just leave you out here to freeze," then he looked away uncomfortably.

She smiled again, gently. She nodded. "Alright then," Sakura stood up and walked with him into the house.


Sakura tugged at his arm. "Come on, I'm hungry."

He nodded and followed her.

After a while, Sakura came out of the kitchen, smiling broadly, holding up an apple pie.

Syaoran woke up from his daze with a jolt.

"Where did that come from?" He asked, surprised.

"I made it last night." Sakura began to cut it. "I was hungry, and wanted pie, but when I finished making it, I really didn't want it anymore."

She laid out a slice for Syaoran, and one for herself. With the rest of the pie, she covered it and left a note to Miyako, explaining the appearance of the mysterious pie.

Then she beckoned to Syaoran, motioning to him to follow her. He obeyed.

They sat on the porch, overlooking a great white field. Silently, they eat their dessert, tranquility flooding their minds.

The two didn't know how long they sat there, watching the birds fly and twirl in their endless dance. Their empty plates lay on the ground next to them, the crumbs gently fluttering in the wind.

Sakura had eventually fallen asleep, fatigued after the late bedtime and early rise.

She slept on Syaoran's shoulder. He started at the unfamiliar weight on his side, but quickly adjusted, his hand curled around hers.


Review Responses:

Chikichiki- Ooh, sparkle, sparkle. I like sparkly things. Lol, thanks for reviewing!

Littlelonewolf- Oh, ok. Lol, yeah this story's almost done. I'm thinking 12 chapters, and no epilogue. Sorry about the shortness of the last chapter! This one was longer, wasn't it?

AnimeObsessionFantasy- :giggles: He's not too good at it, is he:hehe:

Raye- X3 Thanks!

Kawaiiseeker987- Aw, thanks! Did you like this update?

Prozacfairy- He's is! Thanks so much! Hope you liked the update!

Pinaygrrl- Haha thanks so much! Hope you liked the chapter!

Avelyn Lauren- YOU'RE MY 100TH REVIEWER! WHEE! Anywho, yeah cell number, I completely didn't think of that. Lol maybe. Oh, yeah tons of mishaps, no worries! ;)

AnimeluvaJK- Aw, thanks so much!


Are we getting lazy? ;-; the review amounts have decreased! Wahhhh!

You know the whole formula for reviews?

How fast the writer writes story is equal to how many reviews she gets

If she gets 10 + reviews, writer writes at a pace of a chapter an hour.

Sorta. Not really… -.-;;

Anyways, if you want to see the fingers fly, REVIEW! Wheee!

PS: Thanks SO MUCH to Avelyn Lauren for being my 100TH REVIEWER!

And! Sorry if you guys wanted to see an awkward situation with them blushing and you know, all that, but this chapter was full of (I think) subtle fluff, and uhmm… you know, cute moments! Hope you liked it and (again) REVIEW!