I can't remember if I'm late or not... so let's make this quick… I want to thank:

watercircle: Thanx for your comments, yeah it was a different thing right?? I mean all the stories are like the moment is perfect and we are in love and all that… but no is not like that… so yeah Syaoran is more real I love him too, thanx for the reviews!!!

iaintnothinbutadreamer: yeah i was a big fan i was a dreamer too so yeah is kind of like that, web Thanx for the review!!

simplyxkitty: Thanx (blushes) i hope you like this chapter too!!!

random person: Thanx for the review I really appreciate it

Peaceful Angel: Thanx for the review!!!

Kikimaru: Yeah, he and Sakura are a little ooc right??? Well I hope you like this chapter too!!!

Apelles: Ok loose ends... there are a lot so is going to take a few more chapters but I think in this chapter I explain some things… well thanx for the review!!!

Vampire Wolverine: Really??? I was going to make him obsessed with Tomoyo, but it was a lot of work and well I like Kaho better in that place… thanx for the review!!!

Spin

Summary: ExtremelyAU Something happened in Tomoeda a long time ago and now it's all screwy and everyone's in a bad mood. Eventually SS

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There's no place like home.

That's the sign over Syaoran's front door.

You know the sign. You've seen it before. Lots of people have them, or something along the same lines. It's made out of imperfectly cut wood. It almost always has some sort of picture painted on it, it's almost always fading.
A heart maybe, or a teddy bear, or some fat little naked cherubs. Syaoran's has a picture of a house, a red and blue house you imagine seeing somewhere in the backwoods of America. The words are printed onto a painted scroll that unfurls underneath the little house.

There's no place like home.

It looks handmade, like somebody's grandmother made it. But you've seen them so often you just know they have to be mass produced. I imagine a warehouse full of peoples grandmothers, row after row of grannies. Little grannies with cushy chairs and ergonomic desks, their paint supplies spread out before them. I imagine this all takes place somewhere near the north pole.

And my father says my generation has no imagination.

Yeah. The elves cut the wood, they send it to the grannies. On the wood, the grannies paint happy pictures. They paint tidy little statements about life that they've learned throughout the years. Life instructions. They don't always say the same thing. Sometimes you see them in peoples kitchens.

Sometimes they say:

Kiss the cook.

Home is where the heart is.

God bless this house.

There's no place like home.

I look down the street at the rest of the houses. The ones that somebody tried to make different from this particular house, and failed. There's no place like home my ass.

There's plenty of places like home.

That's what mine would say.

I ring the doorbell and Syaoran's mom answers.

She says, "Sakura! What a surprise! I thought you were leaving!"

She's doing the secret mom smile. The kind of smile moms get when their children have been talking about someone all weekend and then they see that person. She's also got the secret mom look, it's kind of evaluative.

Moms can do this sort of thing, you know, it's a secret mom power. She's looking me up and down and right through me, in a friendly way. You just know what she's thinking.

Let's see if this person is good enough for my son.

I'm thinking not.

Pathological liars aren't exactly the kind of people you want to bring home to Mom and Dad.

"Do you want some breakfast," she says with her secret smile, "There's still a few pancakes left."

Her generosity amazes me. She reminds me of my grandmother. I say, "Thank you, but I already ate."

That's the thing about people offering me food. I live above a restaurant, food is unlimited to me, I could never go hungry.

"Syaoran is upstairs," she says.

I wonder if she knows that they are magicians. Knowing Syaoran, probably not. He's probably too afraid to tell her.

I make my way up the carpet covered stairs, into the dark hallway. They must be saving energy, courtesy of the power crisis.

I knock on Syaoran's door. Heart pounding 'cause I know he's going to be testing my ability to breath and talk today. I have this whole plan though, I'll just try to treat him how I normally would, see if he realizes how stupid he's being.

He says, "What is it?"

I say, "Would you like to buy some girl scout cookies?"

I hear a few soft steps behind the doorway. The door cracks open and he looks through with his eye. He says, "Holy shit."

"I take that as a no?"

He smiles. It's different when he smiles and he's looking right at you. He never shows his teeth, you know. Just a shy smile that he's always reserved for Kaho. "You didn't leave."

I say, "Not yet, go somewhere with me."

"Where?"

"If I tell you, you won't go."

"Yea I will."

I say, "Jupiter."

I regret saying that immediately. I just implied that I wanted to go alone with him to another planet, how freaking romantic, I was just trying to think of something farfetched.

He opens his door wider, "Okay...? Let me put on some shoes."

I walk into his room and over to his bookcase. I like looking at his books. I skim my fingers over some of the titles. Near the bottom of his bookcase are his older books, spines wearing off from wear and tear, pages falling out. I reach a copy of Romeo and Juliet and laugh, such irony. I pull out the copy and flip through the pages.

Syaoran glances over, he says, "Good book."

I laugh incredulously, "You're kidding, right?"

"I thought it was your favorite."

I slam the little paperback shut, "Who told you that?"

"Tomoyo."

I hold it up, "This was my favorite book four years ago, not anymore."

"Well what happened?"

"I read it for the tragedy that it was."

I cringe inside, do I even dare to go here?

He says, "It's not that sad... I mean, it's sad, cause they have to die, but at least they do it together."

Yes, I dare go here, such a perfect analogy.

I say, "They kill themselves for no reason, their love was an impulse, Romeo was addicted to being in love."

He looks at me in confusion and drops his shoelaces, "How so?"

"Rosaline."

"Rosaline?"

"You have to pay attention to the first few pages, Syaoran," I say, "Puts the whole story into perspective."

I could debate Romeo and Juliet all day, I'm a pro at this.

I continue, "The first two scenes in act one, Romeo is going on and on about a girl. But is it Juliet? Nope. It's Rosaline, Syaoran. Romeo is ready to drive off a cliff because Rosaline is getting married to someone else, couple scenes later, he's only got eyes for Juliet."

I say, "Sound familiar?"

"He was addicted to love," I say, "He was impulsive. If Juliet had died and he didn't, he probably would have gotten over her in the next couple of scenes."

And the tension is so thick, you could cut it with a knife.

Syaoran expression becomes serious, "No he wouldn't."

"Yea, he would."

He says, "This is different."

"Sounds the same to me."

"Sakura," he says, "Romeo wasn't a magician."

"No," I say, "He was a Montague."

I'm thinking, so there.

He shakes his head and finishes tying his shoelaces, he stands up and faces me next to the bookcase.

He says, "Maybe Romeo chose to be in love with Rosaline because she was getting married. Maybe he did this because he didn't think he was worthy enough to be loved by anyone. Maybe," he says, "Juliet showed him he was wrong."

I shake my head, "None of this is implied in the book."

"Screw the book."

I look at my watch, 9:45, "It's time to go."

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Syaoran says, "We're going to therapy?"

I nod.

He says, "Cool."

We pull into a parking spot and walk through the glass doors to the front desk. The receptionist tells us that Dr. Reed will be in, in a moment, to go sit in his office.

So we go.

It's bright and sunny in the office, and quiet. The only thing you can hear is the tick tock of the clock. I sit down in one of the fluffy armchairs and Syaoran walks around the room. He turns around the globe on Dr. Reed's desk.

I know why he did this because I've done it before. See, Dr. Reed has a place for everything, a position for everything. Psychologists are like this. There's like a manual that tells them how to decorate their rooms so that they have the right environment for therapy. There are stack and stacks of books, and a big cherry wood desk, these imply power. The therapist always has to be in a position of power.

It would be safe to say that I've thrown off the power differential on a number of occasions, really freaks Dr. Reed out.

Syaoran turns around one of the pictures on his desk.

I say, "You're mean."

"You know you've done it."

I shrug and pick up the little skeleton.

I say, "Do you think he hates us?"

He settles down on an armchair, "Nah."

"If I was him, I would hate us."

I make the little skeleton fall and get back up again. I say, "I want this."

Syaoran nods.

"I've never stolen anything before."

"Maybe you should ask."

"Yea, it's my last session and all, he'll probably give it to me."

He frowns, "Sakura, don't leave."

"Umm..."

"Stay a couple more weeks, four months and schools over, you can take another four months."

"That's what you think."

"You're not even giving me a chance."

The door opens, Dr. Reed is more than surprised. He just stands there, mouth open slightly. He says, "Syaoran, Sakura, what a nice... surprise."

He hates us.

I hold up the skeleton, "Can I have this, this is our last session."

Syaoran groans.

Dr. Reed says, "What??"

I put the skeleton in my pocket, right next to the magician.

Now they get to live happily ever after in my linty pocket.

Syaoran says, "I like Sakura, she doesn't believe me, she's going to leave."

Dr. Reed sits down and smiles, "You like Sakura?"

Syaoran glances at me, "Yeah"

I say, "This can be explained."

I pull out a piece of paper from my pocket and begin to read. I say, "Number one, I found out his secret and I didn't tell anybody."

Syaoran says, "You made a list?"

"Hush. Number two, I still accepted him as a friend after I knew the secret."

Syaoran looks at Dr. Reed, "Is that a bad reason to like her?"

Dr. Reed raises his eyebrows and shakes his head. He says, "I think..."

"I'm not done. Number three, somebody found out the secret and I took the blame, well not really the blame, you know what I mean. Number four, he knows that I.... have.... that I..... l-l, l-like him."

Syaoran smiles.

Dr. Reed says, "Well why don't we..."

"Number five, I almost died saving the life of his object of affection."

Syaoran says, "Sakura, she's not..."

Dr. Reed says, "You almost died?"

"Under the circumstances, including that I'm leaving," I say, "It is understandable that he might be having certain unexplainable, fleeting, feelings for his new best buddy that happens to know his secret, that happens not to care, and so on, and so forth, thank you very much."

I fold the paper back up and put it into my pocket.

Syaoran says, "Unexplainable and fleeting my ass."

Dr. Reed says, "Syaoran, I think you should..."

I say, "He doesn't know what he wants."

"I know exactly what I want."

Dr. Reed says, "Well how about we..."

"Your feelings are superficial."

"Sakura, all that stuff just shows what kind of person you are, but that's not the only reason I like you."

Dr. Reed says, "Syaoran, Sakura, you really shouldn't...."

"Two weeks ago, you couldn't even remember my name."

"I was an idiot."

Dr. Reed holds up his hands, "Fine, don't listen to me, I'm just the therapist"

"You'll get sick of me, you'll forget about me."

"I will not"

Dr. Reed says, "I mean, why listen to the therapist, what does he know?"

"You got sick of Kaho, you forgot about Kaho."

"I never felt like this about Kaho, I didn't forget about her."

Dr. Reed says, "Why don't I just give you two my license and you can sit in here and bicker all day. Did somebody move my globe? Who moved my globe?"

"How am I supposed to believe you?"

"You give me a chance, that's how."

"Who moved my picture?"

"I want out of here."

"I can prove all this to you, but not if you leave."

"ENOUGH!!!!" Dr. Reed screams.

"WHO MOVED MY PICTURE?"

Me and Syaoran point at each other.

Dr. Reed nods, "I am very disappointed in both of you."

Me and Syaoran cower under Dr. Reed's glare.

"Listen to yourselves, you sound like kindergartners."

I lean forward, "You want to know Syaoran's secret Dr. Reed?"

Syaoran's and Dr. Reed's eyes fly wide open.

"He still listens to New Kids on the Block, has all their albums."

Syaoran smiles, "SHHHHHHHH, it's a secret."

"I caught him doing the running man in his room in the dark."

Dr. Reed says, "Unless you feel like getting serious, you can leave."

"That's illegal, you can't bail on a patient."

"I can if I feel the patient can no longer be helped by me."

HUH?

No way.

Dr. Reed can't bail on me.

Is this true?

I flip through the psychology field guide in my head.

Dr. Reed looks at my sympathetically, "Will you please listen to me?"

"Yeah"

He glances at Syaoran, "I talked to Syaoran last week, and I believe that him liking you is a healthy prospect."

I say, "Healthy?"

Syaoran smiles in satisfaction.

"However, Xiao Lang, perhaps you may have realized this too late."

Syaoran says, "Too late?"

"If Sakura wants to leave, you can't make her stay."

Inside, I get this feeling. That sinking feeling, that rollercoaster sinking feeling.

I want him to make me say.

I want him to lock me in his closet and make me stay.

Am I actually thinking this?

No.

No, I'm not.

I hate it here.

There's plenty of places like home.

The timing, it's just so wrong.

Dr. Reed says, "If we had more time, we could work on this together, but as of now, I don't think I can help you two any further."

Syaoran's eyes fly to the floor, he gets up and leaves. I follow, he has the car.

Dr. Reed says, "So was this our last session Sakura?"

I stutter, "I don't... can I... how about... I don't know."

I run to catch up with Syaoran. We get into his car. I wish he would stop acting so sad.

He says, "You're skipping town and I'm the impulsive one."

Not gonna cry.

He puts the car into drive, "That sucks Sakura, that just sucks."

He pulls out of the parking lot, "I know this is my fault, but you're not even giving me an inch to work with."

I put my hand in my pocket and listen to the magician fall apart and get back together.

Syaoran turns the wrong way on Fiery street.

He says, "If you didn't want to get out of here so bad, would you give me a chance?"

"Huh?"

"Even the slightest chance?"

"Where are you going?"

"Would you?"

"Yea, I would."

Syaoran nods.

"Where are you going?"

"It's a surprise."

Huh?

This is what's going through my head, over and over: Huh?

I say, "You're heading towards the highway."

He says, "yeah"

huh?

"Where are you going."

He says, "We're getting you out of here."

huh?

"Huh?"

"You wanted to get out of here, you're getting out of here, I can't make you stay, so we're getting out of here."

"Umm..."

"I can't give up right now, Sakura, there's too much I have to say."

"You're kidnapping me."

"Three days, just give me three days."

"You're a kidnapper."

Syaoran is kidnapping me.

"I am not."

"Where are we going."

"We're going to the poppy fields."

"Fukuoka?"

Syaoran is kidnapping me.

"Three days."

"You're insane."

"Nope."

"This is illegal."

Syaoran swallows, "I'll take you home, if you want, I'll turn right around."

"Huh?"

"Come with me, just let me talk to you, give me three days."

Oh.

My.

God.

"So how about it Sakura? We'll have fun, I promise."

Oh god. Oh god oh god.

"How about this, if you don't tell me to turn around in the next two minutes, I'll just keep driving, alright?"

"Huh?"

"Two minutes."

"What has gotten into you, you're not like this."

He shakes his head, "I don't know, I think this is a panic thing."

He says, "Go with me."

I say, "I wanted to see the poppy fields, I was thinking that when I almost died."

"Go with me then."

"I don't know."

"If the world explodes tomorrow, you'll never get to see the poppy fields, so go with me."

I'm thinking, I almost died.

I'm thinking, he might like me, he might really really like me.

I close my eyes, this is scary, this is beyond scary.

And I say: "Ok."

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Poor Dr Reed, I'll hate to be in his shoes… so we're nearing the end, well we're not that near but almost… so yeah I guess I'll see you before Saturday ok??? Maybe Friday night or something like that… ok see ya!!! Remember to review!!!