D'Amour

By Bex Drake

Authors Note: 14/02/04- Seeing as this week is half term week for me I thought that I would 'attempt' to write the seventh chapter in a week and stick it up online. It is unlikely that I'll manage this goal but I'm determined to try.

A Dark Cloudy Sky

Sakura

It was midnight. The house was eerily silent and strangely unfamiliar, Sakura sat up in bed shaking. She had had the strangest dream, it had been really life like and it wasn't really a dream it was a nightmare. She had just dreamt that she had witnessed her Aunt Nariko's death and stood by and done nothing. She ran a hand through her hair breathing deeply to calm herself. She was just having another nightmare, like she had had practically every single week since Ayame's death. It was nothing new but the cold feeling in the pit of her stomach told her it was, that everything had changed. She didn't want to believe anything had changed because if it had that meant she would have lost someone close to her again and she wasn't sure she could bear the pain again, the feelings of isolation and despair. Absent-mindedly she ran her hand along her wrist, her fingers softly tracing the contours of her skin. At ten years old she head reached the point when she had just wanted to slit her wrists the pain had been unbearable but Nariko had walked into the bathroom right before she could put the first cut on her wrist and taken away the knife then she had made Sakura promise that no matter how bad things got she would never, ever, physically harm herself. It was like Nariko knew that she could never promise not to hurt herself psychologically. Sakura smiled sadly.

An arm squeezed her tightly round the waist and Sakura bit down a scream of shock wondering what on earth was going on. As she moved her left arm towards her face she noticed that her ring finger glittered and flickered gently in the light. As she drew her hand closer to her eyes to examine it she saw the promise ring on her finger and it all came flooding back to her, that it wasn't a dream. It was real. She was all alone now in the world and she was engaged to Li Syaoran- who she was right now sharing a bed with, at her request. Which of it self was a bit of a shock, she had never really thought that she would share a bed with him- with anyone, if she was to be frank- but here she was lying in the same bed as him. She rolled over to face him and gently brushed his hair off of his face; at least he was asleep. With a sigh she closed her eyes and willed herself back to sleep, into a land where she wouldn't have to face reality.

Syaoran

He opened his amber eyes and looked at her sleeping form, when she had brushed the hair off of his face he had pretended to be asleep because he didn't want her to catch him watching her. She had seemed so lost and so frightened that he had just wanted to reach out and kiss or caress all the fears away but he had restrained himself. He had no idea how she would react. He didn't want to push her away.

"I love you Sakura." He whispered, realising as he uttered the words how true they were.

"I love you too." She mumbled in reply turning over, away from him. Shocked he sat up in bed and studied her, he had thought that she was asleep. Looking at her lying in bed, and the gentle rise and fall of her chest he realised that she was asleep like he thought. What did it mean, then, her reply? Did it mean she loved him? With a sigh he closed his eyes and let sleep take him once more.

Uta

Yesterday's plan had been a complete success; she had managed to eliminate Nariko. A mere pawn that was standing in her way to the king- Sakura. She would have to be careful of Syaoran, he was the queen- able to move anywhere on the board to eliminate her side and protect Sakura. But sooner or later he would make a wrong move and fall into her trap. Once Sakura was short of Syaoran Uta knew that she would fall. The pieces were in place, and the first move had been made, all that was left to do what to wait for white to make their second move- the first had been the removal of her queen, Chase. Soon she would see how well Sakura would manage all on her own.

"Uta?" Zack called hesitantly, "Your car's out front." She nodded at him dismissively and got up out of the chair. The best way to celebrate a minor victory was to buy a new outfit, at least in her opinion it was, although a good fuck was a close second. She was sure Zack would be willing to provide it but she didn't want the baggage that she knew would follow.

Sakura

She awoke for the second time that day, well it wasn't really day when she had woken up earlier it was more like night but time wise it was today, this time to a gentle stream of sunlight falling across her face. She opened her emerald eyes and blinked sleepily waiting for them to adjust to the different level of light. When they did, she noticed that Syaoran was lying next to her watching her. She felt her cheeks go pink. "Morning." She said softly smiling at him, "What's the time?"

He casually glanced at his watch. "About half eight." He replied returning his gaze to her. She sat up in the bed and returned his gaze calmly, a light smile gracing her lips. She lent forward and kissed his cheek, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Thank you." She said turning and getting out of the bread. As she got out of the bed she caught sight of the dress she had been wearing last night and swallowed. This was every bit as hard as she had remembered it.

"Sakura?" Syaoran called. She turned around to find him standing directly behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lent down and kissed her. She brought her arms up and around his neck. When they broke apart Sakura smiled breathless, she looked into his eyes searching for something.

He was confused about her reaction, to him it just didn't seem real- it was like she had put up a facade- there was just something wrong considering that she had just witnessed her Aunt's death, but being cheerful and getting on with life was Sakura's way or rather dealing with by not dealing with it and pushing it FAR away. She poked him, deciding that he was taking too long thinking when he glanced at her she stuck her tongue at him laughing. "What's so interesting?" She asked grinning wickedly, her emerald orbs concerned. He shook his head his amber eyes playful. Sakura raised an eyebrow questioningly. "I don't believe that for a moment." She replied twisting so she ended up kneeling, with some weight on her arms. He smirked.

"Really?" He replied, "And what could I possibly be thinking about?" He asked suggestively winking at her; he was rewarded by a faint pink tinge appearing on her cheeks. He chuckled causing her to glare at him, although after a couple of seconds she was smiling slightly amused that she had allowed him to get to her so easily.

Without warning she lunged at him like a six or seven year old does to their older sibling when they want something the older one has got, he grabbed her wrists and using her momentum flipped her over the other side of him and rolled so he was sitting on top of her knees on either side of her torso and pinning her arms down above her head. She glared at him struggling for a couple of minutes but to no avail, abruptly she started laughing. He grinned down at her, moving his hands so that he was holding down both her arms with just one hand, then with his free hand he began tickling her. "No fair!!" Sakura complained between giggling fits. "You can't do this to me!" Syaoran made no reply and continued tickling her unmercifully.

When he stopped he found that he was looking directly into Sakura's face, and she into his. Slowly he lent down and their lips met in a timid kiss. They broke apart and he searched her eyes, then he let her hands go and she brought her arms up and around his neck pulling him down for another, deeper, kiss. They broke apart breathless looking into the others eyes, before leaning in for another kiss. As the kiss deepened Sakura realised that Syaoran's hands were inside her top, quite how they had got there she wasn't sure and she certainly wasn't complaining- to her they felt right against her skin. Slowly, almost timidly Sakura moved her arms and whilst kissing Syaoran began to undo the buttons of his shirt to allow her free access to his chest.

Syaoran began kissing her along her jaw line and down her neck as he began removing her top, as she had already done to him. Her hands were soft against his skin, and delicate where they touched it felt like a butterfly has just moved there. Having removed her top Syaoran drew back to look at his future wife and smiled, her emerald eyes were sparkling with lust and she was looking more beautiful than ever to him. Before they went any further he had to know one thing- did she know what she was doing? "Sakura…" He began. Sakura's eyes turned serious although she was still smiling at him.

"I know what I'm doing Syaoran." She said softly. Syaoran flashed her his 'devil may care' grin although he continued to search her eyes as if he just wanted to make sure that she wasn't just doing it because of how she felt- he didn't want to take advantage of her.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." She replied calmly, as if she knew that he had to make sure. "I know what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. I trust you Syaoran."

"Good." He replied, "But are you sure…" Sakura stopped him mid-sentence by kissing him, she knew what she was doing she was just about to sleep with her future husband for the first time and she had no idea how she really felt about him- but on the plus he sure had a nice body. She smiled involuntarily when this thought crossed her mind.

The world disappeared in passion.

Fujitaka

He rubbed his eyes tiredly, he and Lars had been up all night with Li Ieran working through business contracts, and dealing with the police, as they finally signed and sealed the deals that would link the two gangs together and the Kinomoto inheritance that Sakura or her descendants would receive upon the death of Touya because Fujitaka knew that there would be no Kinomoto heir coming from his son. Touya had agreed to the contract on the condition that Sakura didn't know, because he knew his kind-hearted cousin would not want to inherit the money. All that was left was for Sakura and Syaoran to sign the contracts to say that they too- as future leaders- agreed.

Last night had left him deeply troubled. Nariko's death had seemed like an ominous omen, that Sakura and Syaoran shouldn't get married because of the blood spilt at their promise ceremony. He was sure Sakura had kept some of the story back, almost as if she were afraid and that whoever had killed Nariko had threatened her with something- Lars agreed with him and both of them knew that they would get no where until Sakura was ready to tell.

The night her sister Ayame had been killed had never totally been explained, although Chase had been found guilty the probability of him actually committing the act was minute- they all knew that, even Sakura. He wondered if she still cried in private, like Nariko had told him once a couple of years after the dark day. Ever since Ayame's death Sakura seemed to have retreated within herself and she seemed to always be wary of men which was why neither he or Lars had ever taken her. Perhaps she resented them for this? But he knew in his heart that Sakura loved Nariko and her death- just like Ayame's- would tare his niece apart slowly. She would be forever shining and happy on the outside but once you looked into her eyes- really looked- you would see a whole new world, a world that made him afraid. A world where the price of life was known as were the lies- a place where there was only truth, even when the truth ripped your heart out.

He hoped that he and Lars were doing the right thing marrying her off. Nariko had been against it from the start and she was the one that knew Sakura the beat, apart from Tomoyo whom he had been secretly keeping in touch with over the years. Sakura would have gone along with the plan once she knew the why even if she was against it, he knew, because she always had cared more about others than herself. He only hoped that their actions wouldn't cause her downfall.

Syaoran

The day had started unexpectedly, to put it mildly. Last night he had slept in the same bed as a woman whom he hadn't had sex with for the first time since his childhood and it hadn't been as weird as he had thought that it would be- maybe that had been because the girl had been Sakura? Then this morning…

His thoughts trailed off as Sakura moved and sat up smiling at him. "Can we get some breakfast?" She asked pulling on the t-shirt she had borrowed from him, and turning her hopeful emerald eyes towards him. He laughed at the childlike quality the look took on, she stuck her tongue out at him in response almost like she was aware of what his thoughts were. A loud knock came from the door and it opened without him or Sakura saying that it was okay to enter, he scowled in annoyance at Wei.

"Syaoran, Miss Kinomoto." He began. "I apologise for disturbing you but there are two people here who which to see you both." Sakura glanced questioningly at Syaoran before turning to Wei, a pleasant smile on her face.

"Please, call me Sakura." She began her eyes dark for a moment as she thought about her family. "Did they give their names?" She asked running a hand through her hair, glad that she had, had, the foresight to put the t-shirt on.

"A Mr Aurelius and DI…" Wei trailed off thinking, the DI had had a weird name what was it?

"DI Yamagata by any chance?" She asked warily. Wei nodded; Sakura curled her lip in disgust. "It figures." She grumbled. "I mean we got on so famously last time- I bet he even volunteered!"

"Sakura?" Syaoran questioned wondering why all of a sudden she looked like she wanted to kill someone. She turned to him, her face passive- too so- but her emerald orbs burned with an intense fire that threatened to consume him when he looked into them. She blinked, breaking their hold on him.

"My sister Ayame was murdered…" She paused thinking how to best phrase the next part, she didn't want to phrase it wrong because of the repercussions that might ensue. "And DI Yamagata accuse me of murdering her." She said bluntly, her eyes hard and cold. "Me! I was only five years old at the time and had no idea what murder was." She said her voice bitter and she shook her head in disgust. "And he wouldn't drop it, no matter how much evidence there was against his beliefs as far as he was concerned I was guilty- I had murdered my sister." She laughed bitterly; her eyes though were strangely numb. " And for a long time I agreed with him. If I hadn't gone and left her then she'd still be alive now!" She said sourly. "But as Nariko said there is no guarantee of anything. You have to live for the moment." She said, though her tone portrayed the fact she didn't believe the words that she had just uttered. She climbed out of the bed and turned to face Syaoran. "Have you got anything else I could borrow?" She asked. "It's just…" She looked down at the t-shirt helplessly then smirked. "Much as I would love to see the look on Yamagata's face if I walked in like this I don't think it'd be a good idea."

Syaoran chuckled at the though of her actually having the guts to do something like that- he doubted that she would actually do it. He thought about her question, when the practicality of the situation reached him. "I think there are still some of my sisters clothes here, and you're bound to fit into them." He said to Sakura. "Wei, could you fetch Lita please?" He asked, Wei nodded and left the room.

Syaoran rolled over to find Sakura looking at him curiously. "You know…" She began matter-of-factly, smiling impishly. "You look kind of cute like that." He scowled at her, just as she had guessed he hated being called 'cute'. She laughed at his expression. "What? Did I say something wrong?" She asked her face a mask of innocence until she burst out laughing again because she couldn't contain her mirth. He leaned over and threw a pillow at her hitting her on the chest. She looked at him surprised for a couple of seconds and then leant down and picked up the pillow. "This means war Mr. Li" She said her emerald eyes sparkling with mischief, as she advanced towards him.

"Does it Miss Kinomoto?" He asked calmly, as he watched her move closer to him. When she was within striking distance he reached out and pulled the pillow from her grasp.

"No fair!" She mumbled pouting; he chuckled and lent forward so his mouth was by her ear.

"All's fair." He whispered, his warm breath tickling her.

It was mere seconds after he had uttered that that Lita walked in and found them when she walked into the room. "Good morning Mr. Li" She said cheerfully, looking curiously at Sakura- Syaoran didn't often bring his conquests home with him usually he just took them to some hotel or other.

"Lita, this is my fiancée Kinomoto Sakura." He said calmly, then she remembered that she had overheard him on the phone to his mother talking about his upcoming engagement. Lita turned her attention to the girl and began studying her quickly. "Could you take her to my sisters room, she needs to borrow some clothes." Lita nodded smiling, on a first glance the Kinomoto girl didn't look that bad but then appearances can be deceiving.

"Of course, sir. This way Kinomoto-san." She said cheerfully. Sakura waved slightly to Syaoran and turned and followed Lita. Syaoran climbed out of the bed and shut the door, running a hand through his tussled locks he yawned sleepily as he headed for the bathroom.

Sakura

In all honesty Sakura couldn't remember a lot about last night, apart from Nariko's death and that she wished she could forget. In her heart she felt like she had let Nariko down but she kept her thoughts silent because she knew everyone would deny it but in their eyes she would see a different story- just like she had seen with Ayame's death. They all thought that she should have stayed with her sister and then maybe they'd both be alive but the dark, truthful, part of her heart whispered that if she had stayed then they would both be dead now and was that really such a bad thing when they all blamed her?

"Kinomoto-san?" Lita said interrupting her thoughts. "We're here." Lita opened the door to a large grand room that was decorated in traditional Chinese style. They walked inside and Lita headed straight for a large wardrobe, Sakura followed her nervous.

"Please, call me Sakura." She said cheerfully, her eyes still sad from her thoughts. She cursed Yamagata silently, for making her relive the fears she had for so long fought to overcome. "If possible I need to wear something formal." She said softly.

"Of course Sakura." Lita said as she began rummaging through the clothes, "If you don't mind me asking how long have you known Syaoran?" Sakura shook her head smiling.

"Not at all. A day… two days." She shrugged. "Our marriage was arranged." She added by way of explanation. Lita nodded, thoughtfully. "Have you worked for Syaoran long?" She questioned.

"Since he was a little boy." Lita confided with a smile. "He was just as serious, as a boy. You were more likely to find him off in some corner studying from a book or with his sword than you were to find him with his sisters or playing." Sakura smiled. "If you don't mind me asking Sakura but I'd like to know a bit about you." Sakura's eyes darkened slightly and Lita realised that she had hit a nerve. "You don't ha…" She began but Sakura interrupted, her gaze firmly fixed on the carpeted floor.

"Don't worry, I know you only ask because you want to protect Syaoran and I believe you really want to know my answer. You'll have probably read my 'sad' story in the papers and not realised it was me." She continued bitterly. "But to give you a brief history my parents died before I was five and I was sent to live with an Aunt with my sister, then my sister was murdered by said Aunt's boyfriend and nothing really interesting has happened since- apart from discovering who my Uncle really was." Lita looked at the young woman, pity in her eyes, Sakura had had a harsh life and she deserved a much better one she only hoped that Syaoran could see this and he wouldn't treat her like any of his previous girlfriends. Sakura looked at Lita, her emerald eyes hard. "I do not want your pity." She said firmly, her eyes fell to the ground. "But I would like your friendship, if you're willing to give it to me." She added softly.

Lita glanced at Sakura startled; the girl was definitely straightforward if nothing else. "We'll see." She replied removing a pink kimono from the wardrobe. "I'm not an easy person to make friends with. I think this will suit you, why don't you try it on." Sakura smiled gratefully at Lita taking the kimono from her and moving to the bed where she stripped and put on the kimono.

"Thanks. Do I look okay?" She asked straightening the kimono absentmindedly. Lita turned around and took in Sakura's appearance- even Syaoran's sister Fuutie (whom the outfit had been designed for) did not look as good in it as she did- the silken material clung to her in all the right places. Lita beckoned her forward and indicated a chair in front of a large mirror, with a questioning look Sakura sat down obediently. Lita reached out and took the brush from the table and began brushing Sakura's hair gently.

"I'm just going to put your hair up." She explained, as she began twisting and fixing Sakura's hair. Ten minutes later she stood back to admire her handiwork, Sakura's hair was twisted up the back of her head with just the ends free and they were cascading back down her head over the twists (kinda like your hair looks if you stick it up in a crocodile clip). Sakura climbed daintily out of the chair and turned and bowed to Lita.

"Arigato" Sakura said bowing slightly to the other woman, as she straightened Lita frowned guessing that Sakura didn't know that you shouldn't do that to servants.

"You…" She began, but Sakura held up her hand guessing what Lita was going to say her eyes sparkled mischievously.

"I know I shouldn't have, but how else can I thank you and show my respect?" She asked, thinking back to the time Uncle Fujitaka had caught her doing that and the telling off she had received when she and Nariko had been visiting. "Do you think Syaoran will be ready yet, and if so do you know where he'll be?" She enquired in the hope of changing the subject. Lita looked at Sakura directly in the eyes guessing, correctly, that Sakura wanted to change the subject.

"Follow me Miss Sakura and I'll take you to his room." She said, walking out the room and heading to where she knew Syaoran would be waiting.

Tomoyo

Tomoyo lay in her bed letting the sun's rays fall gently across her face as she began to organise her thoughts. Last night had been the scariest night of her life not just because she had witnessed Nariko's death but because of the way her best friend had acted. She had never seen Sakura like that, she had never seen her really fall apart and having witnessed that she knew why Sakura always hid her grief from her because Sakura had known how she would feel if she knew. She had looked so lost and the spark that had made her Sakura had seemed to have diminished and she was just standing there like a shell. Tomoyo knew she should see her today, but she couldn't bring herself to. So instead she picked up the phone and dialled Eriol's number, she needed someone to talk to.

Sakura

She paused outside the room where DI Yamagata was, Syaoran waited patiently next to her knowing that she needed a couple of minutes to gather herself together before she entered the room. Finally, she took a deep breath, straightened her kimono and turned to Syaoran her emerald orbs oddly shielded. "Let's do this." She said her voice soft and oddly emotionless.

"Are you sure?" He asked, disliking the changes in her that made her seem to cold and remote- like she was a million miles away instead of standing next to him. She nodded and he pushed open the door and they walked inside to find DI Yamagata pacing back and fourth in front of the fireplace as soon as he heard them Yamagata turned to face them his black eyes hard. He glanced at Syaoran, then dismissed him before turning his gaze onto Sakura who returned it emotionlessly.

"I told you we'd meet again." Yamagata said, ignoring Syaoran. "I knew you'd strike again." Syaoran saw Sakura bristle at Yamagata's comment, which was totally out of place and bounds. Then almost as if he had just realised that there was a witness to his comments, Yamagata turned to Syaoran. "Hello Mr Li." He said respectfully because of the wealth and power that the Li's possessed. Syaoran scowled at Yamagata.

"In case you didn't know this detective." Syaoran said coldly, purposefully missing out the inspector part of Yamagata's title. "Everyone is innocent until they are proven guilty, and I would prefer it if you were at least civil to my fiancée." Yamagata looked at him surprised, and Sakura smiled at him gratefully.

"Y…you're…you're fiancée?" Yamagata stuttered, unable to stop himself. Syaoran regarded him coldly.

"I believe you wanted to ask her some questions, you don't mind if I stay do you?" He asked in a tone that broached no argument.

Eriol

Tomoyo seemed very shaken up about the events of last night and he wasn't sure what to do, he wanted to protect her but knew that he couldn't. Maybe it would be easier for her if they broke up then she wouldn't need to witness how cruel people can be. He opened his mouth to say something but Tomoyo placed her delicate finger on his lips silencing him. "No." She said softly. "If you're going to say you want us to break up to protect me, then no I don't want to. It wasn't so much I saw Nariko die it was more Sakura's expression- she didn't seem like the Sakura I know."

"She's been through a lot maybe Nariko's death was the final straw?" He murmured hugging her tightly as tears began to fall down her face.

"What scares me the most is I don't think I can bear to be near her any more. I know she didn't kill Nariko but…" She trailed off as the tears fell in earnest. Automatically he rubbed her back, and let her cry as he murmured words of comfort to her. "She's my best friend for Christ's sake and I'm afraid of her." Tomoyo continued. "It's like I don't know her anymore." She pulled back out of the embrace to look at him directly in his sapphire eyes.

"She's still the same Sakura you know." Eriol said quietly and firmly. "You need to give her time. Weren't you the one to tell me that she found her sister's body? Maybe last night just brought all the memories back that she thought she'd forgotten? Syaoran will take care of her." He said firmly, hoping that his words were true.

Sakura

She watched as Yamagata got into his car and drove away, she turned away from the window abruptly and began shaking as all the tension left her. Seeing the concerned look in Syaoran's eyes Sakura forced herself to stop. "Well I guess we better go and see this Aurelius person." She said cheerfully, turning to face him her face composed.

"Sakura…" He began hesitantly.

"Don't." She said, a bit too harshly only realising this when she saw the flash of pain in his eyes. "Sorry, I… I just need to be like this right now Syaoran, it's the only way I'll cope." She admitted her eyes glistening with unshed tears, she turned away to hide this from him but he had already seen them. Without a word he walked up to her and hugged her tightly. For a couple of seconds she sagged against him, then she pushed him away gently her eyes closed off. With an exasperated sigh, he led the way to where their final 'guest' was waiting.

The room they entered was dark, and if it wasn't for the pale outline produced by the light coming through the window they would have both thought that the room was empty and that the person had gone home. "Sorry for the delay." Sakura apologised taking a seat in the chair, Syaoran sat next to her but didn't utter a word. "You wanted to see me?" She prompted after a moments silence.

The guy stood up and moved into the light, revealing himself. Sakura gasped in shock recognising him from last night. "You…" She began but couldn't bring herself to go any further.

"Yes, it was I who told you your aunt wanted to see you- I meant your aunt by blood. I am sorry for your loss." He added after a moments pause. "But I guess your aunt really did want to get revenge."

"Revenge?" Sakura echoed confused, Syaoran watched the guy closely- something about him wasn't right.

"Who are you?" He demanded the guy glanced at him and then dismissed him. Syaoran felt himself bristling- how dare anyone just dismiss him?!

"Revenge." Aurelius said firmly, as if Syaoran had never spoken. "For putting someone where they shouldn't be. You know that Chase did not kill Ayame so why did you let him go to jail for it?"

"He was found guilty in a court of law- what could I do?" Sakura snapped a sneer on her face. "Who would listen to a five year old? Wasn't it bad enough that he loved her and he had sex with her- so obviously being a paedophile he was going to kill her. The judge had already found him guilty- I could do nothing."

"You wouldn't have though- would you- if you could have?"

Sakura looked away from both of them and stared out the window into the dark street below, it was somewhat surprising that so much of t he day had already gone. "No, I wouldn't have." She said softly, not daring to look at either of them. "Because the possibility of what could have- and probably did happen- was worse. It was easier blaming him." Sakura swallowed. "I know it wasn't him- but I don't want to even think about who it could be, who my heart is telling me it is." She turned towards them, tears falling down her face. "Because if it is who I think it is- then I know why Nariko was killed and why they made their threat and I don't want to." Aurelius nodded in understanding.

"I suggest you go and see Chase tomorrow, he'd like to talk to you and he may be able to help you. Tomorrow's his last day inside, after that you'll have a tough time finding him." Sakura nodded and licked her lips, her eyes flickering to Syaoran.

"We'll see." She replied evenly deliberate looking away from both of them.

"What do you mean you'll see?" Syaoran snapped as the guy left the room. "You shouldn't go Sakura."

"I shouldn't." She agreed. "But I have to, I have to know the answers. I cannot live not knowing anymore." She sighed, "I take it you won't come with me."

"I can't." He replied gruffly. "I have business to attend to tomorrow." Sakura turned around and searched his eyes; something told her that there was something he wasn't telling her- that it was simple business why he was staying behind.

Lars

The hotel room was dark because he wasn't in the mood to put on the lights, he hadn't seen anyone all day apart from the earlier meeting Fujitaka had forced him to attend- but then that was kind of unavoidable because he had stayed with Ieran and Fujitaka since the killing and had occurred and there was no real excuse to make a run for it. He sat in his chair in complete and utter silence looking at the bright city through the windows. To think that he had once known this area like the back of his hand- now it was just some dim sketchy picture that he occasionally draw on. He sighed remembering how he used to tell Nadesiko that he would never leave this city, his home, but that had all changed after her marriage.

Never had he seen what was scary about the dark. To him the dark was fascinating, exciting, timeless and concealing- metaphorically and literally. A shadow, darker than the rest, stepped into the dim light that was streaming in through the open window. He could only see the figures outline, revealing that they were feminine. "Hello Lars." Uta said coolly. "Long time no see, too long perhaps."

"Yeah, it probably has been too long." Lars agreed, disguising a yawn with his hand. "How are you?"

"Fantastic, but I'll be feeling better in a couple of minutes." Uta said innocently moving towards Lars and throwing her arms around him in a gentle hug. Lars yelped feeling a needle dig into his neck, he grabbed Uta's arm and half threw her away from him.

"What did you do to me bitch?" He demanded his voice sluggish. Uta chuckled coldly as she watched him fall to the floor; unable to control his body his eyes burned into her with malice promising revenge once they were free. Uta dragged him into the bathroom and dumped him in the middle of the floor and went into the medicine cabinet removing his cut-throat razor.

"You see, there was a terrible accident last night." Uta said rolling him over onto his back, the blade catching the light and blinding him slightly. "And you were so overwhelmed with your grief and loss that you decided to kill yourself." She continued reasonably. "And there is no reason for anyone to suspect anyone else- because everyone knows you are beside yourself with grief." She shifted the razor in her hand slightly and moved it down towards his neck, her eyes cold and merciless as she began digging the knife into his flesh and then slowly and deliberately placing his hand above her own and dragging the blade across his neck, letting the blood splatter everywhere.

Within minutes he was dead and she calmly stood up and exited the room, having completed her task of the day. Well, she had told Sakura that she would destroy everyone close to her and that was what she was doing- keeping her promise.

Sakura

She sat in bed, her knees drawn up to her stomach frowning at Syaoran who was standing across the room wearing a scowl on his face. They were in the middle of an argument that had somehow moved from one about the fact she wanted to- and was going to- see Chase to their relationship, and she had said something that could be taken one of two ways and Syaoran had taken it the wrong way. Without a word he turned and left the room.

Sakura sat where she was for a couple of seconds, and then in one fluid movement she was off of the bed and out of the door following him into his room. She closed the door purposefully behind her, causing him to swing around and glare at her because he hadn't realised that she had been following. "What do you want?" He snapped.

"Syaoran." She murmured helplessly.

"I told you to call me Li!" He snarled.

"Syaoran, I didn't mean it like that!" She said softly. "Please, will you hear me out and then I'll go." She paused slightly but received no response so she took that as her cue to continue. "The sex was fantastic this morning and I was aware of what I was doing, and I was doing it for the right reasons. It's just…" She trailed off unhappily, she stood there for a couple of minutes searching for the right words in her head.

"It's just what?" Syaoran prompted softly. Her shoulders dropped, like she was giving in and she lifted her head looking at him directly in the eyes.

"It's just I don't know where I stand with you. I know I'm going to be your wife, but that wasn't really your choice. I don't know how you stand with me, how I really feel about you. I trust you… but is that enough for either of us? I need someone I love and who loves me back, and well… we've only known each other a couple of days and I know I can't expect anything like that but the fact we're going to be husband and wife in a matter of days… I just…" She trailed off, not knowing how to continue. Her confession hung silently in the air for a couple of minutes and then she turned to leave, but he grabbed her wrist preventing her from leaving. Slowly she turned around to face him; nervously she licked her lip. Then he yanked her towards him and enveloped her in a hug, at first she stood rigid and then she relaxed into the hug and into him. "I just don't know anymore Syaoran, and it scares me." She whispered.

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Authors Note: 23.03.04- Wow, another chapter finished and again it's later than expected but at least it took less than a month to write. I hope you liked that chapter, I did it's given me clarity as to where the story is going and I estimate that there will be at least another three chapters (including epilogue) before this story is finished. Thank you for reading- and I only need twelve more reviews to reach my goal. ~Bex

A special thank you to all eighteen reviewers:

choco-flavour: well here's an update, and I try to update as often as I can.

b r o k e n: excuse me, it is not the same. Some parts I, will admit, are similar which I know is completely my fault but I do not- nor have I ever- purposefully copied LWL's work. I have, I think when I published the second chapter, emailed her and apologised for the similarity at the beginning and when I have finished and have some free time I will change it. This story is mine, and I am trying to write it to the best of my ability.

tortured-soul-246: Yeah S+S is a VERY kawaii couple. Yeah, you're right it should be that *hangs head in shame* I guess I must have missed that when I read through the chapter- thank you muchly for pointing it out to me.

Moonlight's Shadow: (cool name btw) Thanks for reviewing, I think it's only fair to thank readers because it is after all you guys (and gals [I wouldn't want to be accused of being sexist]) who I am writing for.

sarah: Well… they haven't realised that they're in love, but there were some revelations this chapter, ne?

annelee: Thanks for the review.

EcuaGirl: I hope the sleeping together this chapter was more to your taste ^_~ lolz

Shiroi Tsubasa: Thanks for your review n.n it helped me calm down, in a way ppl saying that makes me wish I hadn't written this story but I've got so far and I am determined to finish it.

*~*NeCi*~*: Thankies n.n

Scorpinac: Sakura didn't forget, it's just would you expect your aunt to kill someone and threaten you? I wouldn't. Uta's insanity will, however, be explained in a later chapter- I think.

silverymare: Yeah, Nariko was Sakura's mother figure but that was why Uta killed her.

Catherine: No, this story is not meant to be a mix of those two stories but I guess I can see why you said that. Thanks for reviewing.

blueice04: thankies

AmericanGirl1114: I hope S+S having sex wasn't took soon, I was in two minds about that but I decided to go along with it- I mean who wouldn't want to sleep with Syaoran? Lolz

synchrogirl: thankies- I'm beginning to wonder if they ever will admit they like one another ^_~

Frosted BlossomZ: *beams* Thank you muchly for the compliment.

inulova: thankies for reviewing