D'Amour

By Bex Drake

Authors Note: Apologies, for the delay in writing and posting this chapter but this one was particularly hard for me to write so it ended up taking me longer than expected.

Smile Like There's No Tomorrow

Sakura

She looked at the man sitting opposite her. He wasn't anything to look at; he was the kind of guy you'd pass over in a crowd. He was dangerous, deadly and convicted of her sister's murder. Yet he was the only person she could turn to for the truth. Ah, the truth such a fickle thing. It could make you or break you in one swift move and she was just about to find out what fate had decided for her. "Hello Uncle Chase." She said softly brushing her hair away from her face as she studied him. His time in here had been hard, she could tell by the lines etched into his skin that was too pale and his eyes carried a horror in them that she had never seen before. Perhaps it had always been there but she had never seen it because she was too young.

"Hello Sakura." He replied trying to keep the surprise of his visit out of his voice. He hadn't seen her since the trail when he had been convicted of a murder he had never committed- the murder of her sister- and he had always felt that she thought he had done it. Perhaps he had, after all it was indirectly because of him that her sister was dead. "What brings you here?"

She bit her lip and looked at the floor. "I know this is a really strange question to ask and really insensitive on my part but I have to know." She looked up at him. "Did you love my sister? I mean really love her, or was she just the next person in a long line as far as you were concerned? That's what Aunt Uta wanted me to believe, only if that's the truth I'd like to hear it from your mouth." She looked at him beseechingly and Chase felt his heart beat painfully in his chest, she looked so much like her elder sister then that it was just heartbreaking. He swallowed.

"Yes." He replied quietly. "I loved your sister but I also caused her death. I should have got her… both of you out of that house and away from your Aunt."

"But you couldn't have Chase." Sakura remarked softly. "She'd have just called Social Services and they'd have taken us of you and given us back to her and then where would we have been?" Absent-mindedly she wiped a stray tear off of her cheek. "I can't tell you if Ayame love you in return, I was too young but I think she did. I think maybe she loved you more than she loved me." Sakura shrugged her eyes sad.

"Sakura? Do you mind if I ask you a question?" Chase said suddenly, she nodded. "Why are you here after all this time?" Silently Sakura berated herself, she should have expected this question.

"Because Aurelius said I should see you." She began and then launched into the whole story of what had happened recently. He listened attentively umm-ing and arr-ing occasionally to let her know that he was listening to her sorry tale. "And that's basically it." She said finishing with a shrug, "I wish I knew more about Aurelius and what his angle is in this." She grumbled.

"Maybe I can help you there." He remarked catching her off guard, she looked at him hopefully. "Before I was…put in here I was the leader of the Ravens or rather I was who everyone thought was the leader of the Ravens- like your Aunt for instance." He smiled wryly. "That was how we wanted it, well that's how the Raven himself wanted it. I'm forbidden to tell anyone the true identity of the Raven." He shrugged apologetically. "I know Marcus because of the Raven, he's a nice guy but only when he wants something. So be careful." He warned. Sakura bit her lip.

"I had a feeling that there'd be a catch somewhere." She wrapped some of her hair around her finger idly. "Do you know if he'd work for Uta?" She asked. "He was the one who told me that my Aunt wanted to speak to me." It was Chase's turn to look thoughtful.

"I think he could appear to be working for her." He said finally. "I don't think there's anything Uta can know about him that'll force him to do her bidding- she may think that she has. In fact there's only one person you could have used against him and she's dead now. He watched her die."

"He killed her?" Sakura questioned unable to stop herself.

"No, she had cancer and she wanted him to stay with her no matter what. So he saw the woman he loved die." Chase explained.

"Oh…" Sakura said softly blushing. "I… I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions." She said by way of apology. Chase smiled slowly.

"Don't worry about it." He advised. "You're not the first to think that nor will you be the last. I think he wants people to think that of him, so they fear him." Chase shrugged.

"Will you help me Uncle Chase?" Sakura asked glancing casually around the room, to make sure that no one was within hearing distance. Okay, it was stupid to ask him now, whilst he was inside and there was no real way to make sure you weren't listened in on- but what other choice was there? By tomorrow he'd have gone, vanished from sight and something told her that she would be unable to find hide or hair of him. "I know you're being released tomorrow and I have no right to ask you to risk your freedom but I have to ask. Lars is dead, he was found in his hotel room and it looked like a suicide but…" She sighed. "I just find that hard to believe. I need your help Uncle Chase." He looked at her before replying, his voice carefully measured so he wouldn't give away any of his thoughts.

"Do you have any idea what you're asking me?" He demanded. "Do you have any idea of the risk you want me to take?" She shrugged.

"I'm not naive, Uncle. I never was, I couldn't be with Uta as my Aunt. But that's not what you're asking are you? Let me guess you've still got contacts that have been keeping an eye on me. To put it simply I know what I'm asking, I know what it could cost you- me- by asking you a favour and offering you my protection but as you can see I have no choice. So what's your choice Uncle, would you like to come with me and pay my Aunt a visit?"

Syaoran

He looked across the dining room table at her in disbelief. "You did what?!" He asked calmly, the flash of fury in his eyes revealing to his companion his anger. "What right do you have to make that decision?"

"But that's just it Syaoran I have every right." His companion bit back furiously. "With Lars dead…"

"So you're going to cancel the wedding then Sakura?"

"No! When did I say that? When did our future marriage have anything to do with this Syaoran? This isn't about us."

"Like hell it isn't!" He snapped back, standing up and pushing the chair back from the table. "This has everything to do with us- with you and me." He bit the last bit out as though it was painful for him to say it. Syaoran picked up his wineglass and threw it across the room in Sakura's direction; it smashed against the wall behind her. The room descended into a death-like silence and Syaoran knew instinctively that he had crossed the line, that he had way over stepped the mark. He cringed slightly awaiting the tirade that he felt…knew was to come. But there was nothing, just the odd cold eerie silence. He looked at her, only to discover that she looked white- all the colour seemed to have drained from her face- and her eyes were as wide as saucers and she was trembling. In a flurry of movement she was up from the table and out of the room, as she shut the door he caught a glimpse of tears cascading down her cheeks and he felt his heart tighten. "Sakura?" He murmured softly to the shut door and the empty room.

Sakura

She stalked along the empty corridor absolutely furious. Furious with herself for letting him scare her, and furious at him for actually scaring her. It had been a long time since anyone had thrown anything at her. She cringed at the thought as the memories began resurfacing again. Damn him! Damn him! Angrily she brushed away the tears that were falling slowly down her cheeks. She hit the wall ahead of her, wincing at the pain that sped through her hand and slumping forward to rest her forehead against the cool wall. She turned over, so her back was resting against the wall and as her knees gave way she slid slowly down the wall until she was sitting at the bottom of the wall her arms wrapped around her legs. "Miss Sakura?" A hesitant voice questioned.

"Please, just go away." She begged between silent sobs.

"I'll just go and get Mr Syaoran…" The voice began.

"No, don't…" Sakura began looking up her vision blurry, but she could tell that Wei had gone. She sighed dejectedly, but stayed where she was realising that it'd do her no favours to get up and go anywhere- besides she wasn't totally sure if she could anymore…

Syaoran

He followed Wei down the corridors to where his friend/servant had said Sakura was. He couldn't leave it like it was, his mother had always taught him never to go to sleep on an argument because you didn't know what could happen over night and then where would you be? They turned the corner and he could see Sakura sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall like a lost child. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me," Wei whispered and with that he was gone. He wouldn't admit it to anyone but he was worried.

"Sakura?" He said hesitantly taking a step towards her. He took one step, and then another and another when he received no response until he was standing ahead of her. "You're ignoring me aren't you?"

"No." Sakura replied her voice cracking with emotion. "Why would I give you the satisfaction of letting you know that you can get to me, that you can scare me." She hissed, refusing to look at him. "Chase is my Uncle and he loved my sister and I do not believe he murdered my sister, I think someone much closer to home managed that! With Lars dead I am the Panther, Syaoran and I have to act how I believe is best for the Panther's it doesn't matter how I really feel." She swallowed. "I need him, Syaoran and I need you too. Please, don't force me to choose between you and my duty as Panther." She wiped away some of her tears using the back of her hand, he opened his mouth to reply but she held up her hands her eyes holding his. "Please, let me have my say and then you can say what you like." She stood up and ran a hand through her hair tiredly. "Tomorrow, I want to go and ask the Raven for a truce."

"You what?!?!?!!" Syaoran yelled just as she had predicted.

"Which is why I would like you to come with me as a representative of the Wolves." She smiled crookedly. "Not a truce in the way you're thinking, I want to call a truce to the fighting between her and me- if she is who I think she is anyway."

"And just who do you think she is?" Syaoran bit out.

"My murdering Aunt Uta." Sakura replied with a scowl. "I don't want a truce truce that 'll last for forever. I just want one that will last five or so years so that no matter what happens the Wolves and the Panthers will become one and that they will have a leader- a Li as a leader." She said looking directly at him. "I was also thinking that the Panthers should take on the Wolves name so that we don't have to come up with a new name." He watched her suspiciously, wondering if she had anything else to throw at him but she stayed silent watching him awaiting any comments or criticisms he would care to throw her way. Which he did, she stayed silent through his outburst listening patiently as he listed criticism after criticism in a never ending stream, only when he began to repeat himself did she deign to interrupt. "You're repeating yourself." She commented dryly, to which she was rewarded a stream of swear words but she remained unmoved. "Come on Syaoran, what choice do we have? Things cannot continue the way they are. At the rate we are going at the moment she will destroy us and there will be no Wolves or Panthers!"

"What makes you think she'll agree if that's the case?" He snapped. Sakura smiled secretly.

"Oh, she'll agree alright!" She replied mysteriously. Syaoran threw his hands up in the air in a gesture of resignation and disgust. She bit back a laugh. "Did I ever tell you I love you?" She enquired.

"Nope." Syaoran replied looking at her surprised.

"Well I do." She said firmly kissing him.

Sakura

They stood before Uta, who was sitting reclined elegantly in a throne like chair watching them carefully. "I have a proposition to make Aunty." She said into the silence, "I think it may interest you and work to both our benefits." Uta smiled at her unmercifully.

"What makes you think you have anything to offer me, that will be to 'my benefit' as you so charmingly put it?" Sakura felt Syaoran and Chase tense on either side of her, but she ignored them thinking back to what Aurelius had said in their secret meeting. She walked towards Uta ignoring the stirring of her cronies until one foolish one placed himself in her path. She regarded him coldly, Zack watched his mistresses niece with interest as she stood before him. He would be damned before he let her get any closer.

"Move." She instructed softly, her emerald eyes daring him to say no. Foolishly he took the bait and stayed exactly where he was. Sakura curled her lip in annoyance. "Move." She repeated again, hoping he would take the hint but still he refused to move. She sighed in exasperation. Uta watched from her throne in amusement. "Okay, let me put this simply for you." Sakura said ignoring everyone else and focusing slowly on Zack. "Frankly, I don't give a damn who you are but if you don't more right now I'll give even less of a damn."

"No." He replied speaking at last. "I will not let you any closer." He spat, stepping back into a fighting stance. Sakura felt both Syaoran and Chase move to aid her but she wasn't planning on waiting for their arrival so she moved forward in a blur of movement feigning to the left in the hope that Zack would move that way before twisting to the right but she was just a hairsbreadth too slow. Zack grabbed her right arm and without thinking she twisted forcing her arm into a painful position before snapping her leg up and under his chin knocking him out cold.

"I can take care of myself." Sakura remarked quietly as Syaoran moved to stand next to her. He shrugged.

"Of course you can." He replied focusing on the crowd that had 'mysteriously' appeared in front of them. Uta lazily waved the crowd away and beckoned Sakura closer, she obliged and moved until she stood in front of her aunt.

"Just what is this proposition you are 'kindly' offering me?" Uta demanded. Sakura smiled recklessly at her aunt and then began to explain her proposition in detail. "So what you're offering is a truce of sorts. Neither you nor I will directly order an attack on the other for five years to give my unborn child a chance to grow up?" Sakura nodded, Uta looked at her suspiciously. "Just what's in it for you?" She demanded sourly.

"I also want a chance to rear a child." Sakura replied, "Without having to worry." Uta nodded.

"Fine we have a deal. Now get the hell out of here!" Sakura smirked.

"Later!" She called as she began walking to walk out of the building. Syaoran caught up with her and grabbed her elbow.

"What makes you think she'll keep to the deal?" He inquired.

"I don't, but a deals a deal when all is said and done. She won't attack me because she'll be worried about the retribution."

"No." Chase replied appearing at their side. "She won't attack because she's not a fool. She's bought herself some time." Sakura smiled mysteriously.

"We'll see…" She murmured.

Authors Note: Well here it is, chapter eight. Finally it is complete… well only partially so. I was planning to write the whole chapter before I stuck it up but then I got to thinking that it wasn't fair on you guys to make you wait any longer than you already have. So here you have chapter eight part A. The concluding part of the chapter will be out soon.

I didn't start counting down earlier but there is only the completion of this chapter and the epilogue to go until I've finished this story, a whole lot later than I expected to. I hope you've enjoyed the tale so far. Unity, Bex Drake xxx

A special thank you to all who reviewed the last chapter:

Collide: I doubt this chapter made you any less intrigued but I hope you liked it anyway :)

NeCo: I didn't write a lemon because to be honest I was scared to try because I have read so many good ones and seen so many bad ones that I guess I was worried I'd fall into the bad ones category. Sorry if I disappointed you and my deepest apologies for not updating sooner!

Moonlight's Shadow: I'm glad you liked the previous chapter and I hope you liked this one as well.

Frosted BlossomZ: Thanks for the review :)

EcuaGirl: Unfortunately no, there won't be another sex scene simply because I am no longer comfortable writing this story and I just don't feel I'm writing it well. The story was going to end in another two chapters anyway but… I don't know. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter part and that it was an interesting chapter for you, I tried my best to make it so.

Cherry Jade: Thanks muchly for the review :)

Scorpinac: Ah, as to Uta's fate the concluding part of chapter eight will answer your questions on that ;)

silverymare: I'm making no promises about who lives and who dies, you'll have to read the final part of this chapter for that ;)

AmericanGirl1114: Yes, Sakura is the leader of the Panther's as I hope I made clear in this chapter. :)

Rushi Star: Thanks for the review!

Serena73: To be honest I was toying with the idea of pairing off Lars and Nariko but the plot faeries had other ideas, unfortunately. I try to make every chapter around 6k words, which is sometimes a hard target to reach without rambling on and I know that I sometimes tend to do that.

TheMysticWarrior: Wow. Thanks! What can I possibly say? LOL. I'm glad you liked the story, for me it's been quite hard to write but getting reviews like yours make it worth while :) I'm sorry I didn't update sooner but life (as it always tends to do) got in the way.

Yaua: Thanks for the review!

synchrogirl: I'm glad you reviewed and I'm currently trying to churn this story out as fast as I can :)

shimmery.sparkles: A cool name, btw. Sorry but you'll just have to wait a little longer to find out Uta's fate- not too long though this time!

a reviewer: Thank you for your comments, I have to say I agree with your idea that many people have the same idea but… well you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink ;) What I'm trying to say is, that for ever flame I've got I think there are at least five nice reviews- so I must be doing something right. I've done all I can to appease the flamers and well… in the long run they're only helping me gain reviews by flaming because well… they're adding to my review total. So thanks for the review and thanks for the support