Author's Chapterly Comments

Thank you for all your reviews, and I openly accept criticism because it actually helps me write my stories. I just don't like rude flaming with no reason.

FAQ

Syaoran has his own reasons for kicking Meiling out of the car. You'll see soon.

Disclaimer

I don't own the lyrics to the song "Cry"


Crossing Roads

"Persistence Gets you Places"

"See! You're doing that again!"

"I am not." Syaoran frowned. What was up with this girl? It's been half an hour…can't she figure out a way to entertain herself?

"There! Again! Can't you smile?" She said, grinning at him. Syaoran glanced sideways at her. She had her shoes off, and her bare feet were drawn on to her seat, she was staring at him.

"You're still frowning…" She said, "See – like this." She pulled down her mouth and made a face at him. Syaoran rolled his eyes at her and she laughed. Her laugh was addicting. It would bring up the sun itself but Syaoran forced himself to look passive.

"I'm not." Syaoran said grudgingly, turning his gaze back on to the road he struggled to keep a straight face. She didn't look very natural faking a frown. A grin was more normal for her.

"Yes you are."

"Am not – " Syaoran caught himself before beginning such a childish argument, "You know what – fine – what if I am."

"It doesn't bother you that you always scowl? Can't you smile? Please?" She demonstrated warmly.

Syaoran saw her folding her fingers under her chin and pouting at him. Normally, girls would do that just for him to say hi or notice them.

And normally.

No,

Typically, that would annoy him to no end.

This however. Why didn't it irritate him? Instead it actually irritated him that she thought he couldn't smile.

"I just don't smile." He said simply. Hoping she could catch his tone that meant.

End. Of. Conversation. So. Please. Stop. Talking. Thank. You.

"There is no way that you can't smile – you just don't do it often." She pressed urgently, dropping her cute act and just looked right at him. Syaoran shifted under her hard observing gaze.

Guess not.

Syaoran wisely chose to remain silent and looked up at the rich blue sky. It was around noon. Lunch sounded good soon. Maybe after he stopped by at a gas station. His tank was leaning very and dangerously close to empty.

He cleared his throat when he couldn't stand her eyes on him anymore. It made him plainly nervous.

She slumped in to her chair and folded her legs underneath her, "Fine – ignore me."

This was better.

Syaoran kept his eyes on the road for five minutes.

Five heavily impregnated silent minutes.

Now this couldn't feel stranger.

Why was he so bothered by the fact that it was quiet?

Quiet. Is. Good.

Okay…so he was curious. Syaoran finally peeled his eyes off the road and decided to sneak a peek at what she could be doing that was so interesting.

She didn't look like she was doing anything. He couldn't move his eyeballs that far from his face without permanently damaging them. Okay. So?

"Hey – Kinomoto." He said under his breath, his eyes still peering in her general direction. No answer.

So now she was ignoring him? No girls had ever really ignored him.

"Kinomoto." He said more forcefully.

Silence.

Okay, silence was about to really bother him now.

"Kinomoto…Kinomoto, are you ignoring me?" He said loudly and turned in his seat to get one good look at what she was doing.

Her eyes were closed.

Jesus Christ – she was sleeping!

Who in the world could fall asleep in five minutes?

Syaoran let out a breath of air and turned back to the road.

This girl was driving him nuts. One minute she's talking so much it doesn't annoy him. And the next she stops talking and that does annoy him.

What if she was faking it? Just to make fun of him?

Syaoran turned once more. No…her chest was rising slowly and her face was relaxed. She was really honestly sleeping. For god sake, stop looking at her.

He dropped his gaze and stared at his hands on the steering wheel.

How was Meiling doing anyways?

Stop thinking about her. She's not worth your time.

Right. Okay…

Syaoran watched the fences rush past him. The empty gravel rolling consistently underneath his wheels and the unmoving sky above. It seemed he was in a movie. A constantly repeating movie. The fence. The cattle. The road. The sky. The mountain.

Oh yeah. The only factor that wasn't part of his simple and easy movie...

That girl he had just spontaneously decided to stop and help sitting and sleeping next to him. Yeah. That wasn't really part of the country scene film.

What was he going to do with her anyways?

Just shut up and drive will you. Syaoran scowled at his thoughts. Fine.


Syaoran pulled in to the next gas station. It had been half an hour and he hadn't looked at her once. He felt somewhat relieved. He didn't exactly know why. But he needed to just get out of the car and more than just two feet away from her.

Once he stopped next to a station he stopped his car and stole one quick nervous glance her way. She was still asleep. Good.

Maybe it was how peaceful she looked sleeping. How her head had somehow found its way against the window and how she looked so natural being relaxed and comfortable.

Syaoran quietly opened the door and winced as his sneaker made contact with the hard gravel floor.

Scowling at the heavy smell of gasoline, Syaoran moved both legs to a place where he could stand. He looked over his shoulder. She was still sleeping.

Syaoran lifted himself out of the car carefully and shut the door with a soft click. From outside the window, she looked a lost smaller and farther away and a great relief over took him.

He held his breath.

Thank god she was a heavy sleeper.

Syaoran took in the fresh air that greatly compared to that of inside the car. Now he could actually move and stand. It felt good.

Syaoran stretched noiselessly before leaving the car.


"That would be…twenty dollars and thirteen cents," The man said behind the table.

Syaoran fished out his card and handed it to him.

"Alright – just wait." The counter clerk swiped the card and the ancient screen changed to show its acceptance, "Alrighty then youn'n you're all done – have a safe trip." The man gave him a toothy chuckle and handed him his card and his receipt.

Syaoran muttered a quick 'thanks' and hurried out the door. Somewhat – though he was anxious to leave the car, now he was anxious to get back.

Upon nearing his car he noticed the window of the passenger's seat to be particularly empty looking. Unless Sakura just happened to have ducked down really low…

Syaoran quickened up his pace. He still couldn't see her. His heart caught up in his throat. He forgot to lock the door. What if someone got in and…

"Kinomoto?" He said once he reached the passenger window, he peered inside. Nobody was sitting there. There was an indent in the seat where she had once sat. It hadn't been long since she left. He tried the door. It was unlocked.

"Kinomoto?" He said wildly. Where did she go? He looked around him. She wasn't hiding around the car…not behind the tanks…he hadn't seen her in the store either. So where was she?

God why are you so worried?

"Looking for me?" Someone said cheerfully.

Syaoran nearly jumped a foot in the air and whirled to see Sakura standing with her hands together and looking up at him, "Oh god! Don't do that!" Syaoran cried out loud, "Where were you?"

She peered up at him suspiciously, "…the bathroom…"

The bathroom…for Jesus Christ...she was only at the bathroom...!

"…you could've at least told me about that – god – you could've – " Syaoran stopped talking suddenly and tore his eyes away from her.

"Worried?" She laughed; she tugged at his arm and pulled open the door.

Syaoran stood frozen to the spot. He had just let her touch him. He hadn't even let Meiling touch him, not ever.

Snap. Out. of. it.

"You sure you're okay…?" She called through the window.

Syaoran jerked and looked around lost. Right. Going.

Crossing over to his side of the car stiffly, he found it difficult to use his legs. They felt like they were carved out of wood and the limbs couldn't bend.

He could feel her observing eyes on him as he rounded the front quickly.

Reaching the other side he pulled himself through the door and shut it behind him. Taking a deep breath he inserted the keys and started the engine noiselessly.

Sakura was still looking at him in a strange and peculiar way. Syaoran realized he hadn't answered her question and said quickly, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Okay," She shrugged, shot him one more look, and looked out the window.


"You have four sisters! Wow!" Sakura said with amazement, "I wish I had four sisters – I only have one big annoying brother that calls me monster all the time – but he can be really sweet sometimes too – "

Syaoran didn't know how he had somehow engaged himself in to a conversation about their families. It had just slowly happened.

"Do your sisters and you get along?" She asked.

"Yeah. No. Sometimes." He said indecisively as they ran over a small bump in the road. Syaoran imagined the scenery talking to him and not the green-eyed girl that was sitting besides him. This way, he wouldn't have to look at her.

A road sign that read '70' smiled at him, "Than you're really lucky – don't you think?"

No, he had never really thought about how lucky he was.

"You must get a lot of girl advice from them." The cow on the side of the road laughed. Or Syaoran tried to imagine it laughing anyways. He had to keep himself distracted.

Syaoran could feel his face turn hot, "More than I need."

She turned her attention to him and just smiled. Syaoran suddenly wondered why he couldn't fix that smile to an inanimate object like a cloud, he just had to look at her, "At least you'll be ahead of other clueless guys – don't you have a girlfriend?"

"No," Syaoran said a bit to quickly.

"Oh…well…" Sakura looked out the window distantly.

The two sat in silence for a moment before Sakura spoke again.

Syaoran had slowly grown more and more accustomed to her voice during the past hour. Now he wasn't as tense. It was almost relaxing to hear her talk.

"Can we listen to music?" She asked hopefully.

"No." Syaoran replied on instinct. He had always rejected music in his car. Meiling would always follow music with her usual sweet talk and trying to get her hands on him.

Sakura looked a little depressed, "Why not?"

"Because I said so."

"You sound like my brother."

"Either way, no."

"Yes…please? What about rock?"

"I don't like rock."

Sakura looked surprised, "A guy that doesn't like rock – wow…"

Syaoran raised his eyebrows at the road and hummed, "And so what if I don't?"

"Please?" She said, simply looking at him.

Syaoran firmly willed himself to keep his eyes on the road, "No."

"Please please please!"

Syaoran stayed silent.

"I can always scream out the window and claim you kidnapped me." She threatened mischievously. Syaoran caught a glimpse of her finger on the door.

Okay, that got Syaoran's attention, "That would be lying."

"So?" She gave him a small smile, "Please Li! Just one song?"

Syaoran groaned at the space in front of him secretly wishing he could turn his whole body around and groan in to her face, "Fine! Fine! ONE SONG."

Sakura laughed and popped a CD she had in her hand in to the car player.

Syaoran was now productively grumbling to himself that he would probably stuck listening to heavy rock music so she could probably just annoy him with.

And was surprised when instead, a melody background played and Sakura started singing. Her voice sounded like a warm beautiful cloudless day; flawless, perfect. In other words.

Syaoran found it absolutely impossible to tune her out.

"I'll always remember….it was late afternoon…"

"What are you doing?" Syaoran interrupted, looking over at the girl who had her eyes closed. And the music that was coming out of his CD player had no words to it.

She skipped a line and opened her eyes, "I'm singing." She said obviously, smiled, shut her eyes and continued.

Syaoran pressed his jaw firmly shut and tried to keep his eyes and ears focused on the road.

"Staring up at the dark gray sky…and I was changed…"

He knew this song. Sakura breathed and her voice filled the car with diamonds and sunrises as the song picked up beat.

"In places no one would fi-ind…All your feeling so de-ep insi-ide…It was then that I realized that forever was in your eyes…"

"The moment I sa-aw you cry – "

Now it was Sakura's turn to turn at him with a shocked expression, "You can sing."

Okay, bad idea smart ass, "No. I can't."

"No really – that was perfect!" Sakura said, ignoring the music that was still playing.

"I can't sing." Syaoran protested, shaking his head stubbornly.

"I heard that last line Li – don't act like you didn't sing that – and I know you know that you can sing! And really well!" She said, pointing at him.

"I can't – "

"Yes you can – c'mon – admit it – you sing."

Syaoran was getting steadily more annoyed, "No."

Sakura laughed, "Fine – but just so you know – you can so sing." She said through her child-like laughter, innocent and pure.

Syaoran frowned to himself because he enjoyed her laughter as she leaned back in her chair.

Maybe it was impulse.

Why else would he have actually decided to…

sing that last line.

Li Syaoran would never sing. Hell no.

For the next two minutes he remained stubbornly stuck to the windshield as the girl besides him threw his whole good sense out the window with her voice.

I wanted to ho-old you


I wanted to ma-ake it go awa-ay


I wanted to know you


I wanted to make your ev-erything… all right


I'll always remembe-er...


It was late afternoon…


A while after the singing scenario, Syaoran was uneasily aware it was rather quiet.

No.

Too quiet.

Eerily Quiet.

Scary Quiet.

"Kinomoto? You're not sleeping again are you?"

Amazingly, someone replied his question.

"Hm? No." She said, her voice sounded distracted.

Syaoran kept his eyes on the road. The sun was rather high, and he wondered if he should stop by the next town for lunch.

More silence.

If she wasn't sleeping, than what the hell would she be doing?

Than his ears picked up something, something small. The scratching of lead on paper. Was she writing something?

He could feel eyes on him.

More specifically.

Her eyes, he could just feel them running down his profile.

It made him uneasy, nervous, he felt his palms grow clammy with sweat.

"What are you doing?" He asked again, this time expecting a straight answer.

"Hm…?" She answered absent-mindedly.

Well that answered his question.

"I asked what you were doing…" Syaoran repeated.

"Doing?" She echoed.

Syaoran twitched and gripped the wheel tighter. Why wasn't she answering his questions?

More scratching.

The curiosity getting the better of him Syaoran pressed on, "Are you writing?"

"Mm…no…" She murmured.

Scratch.

Her eyes were traveling across the contours of his face, he felt the air around him turn dry and hot.

Not able to take the suspense any longer he turned his head to look at her only to achieve a large shriek that sent Syaoran grabbing the wheel so they wouldn't run off the road.

"What WHAT!" He shouted, furiously regaining his senses after Sakura's cry. His knuckles were tight and his shoulders had tensed considerably.

All he had seen was a pamphlet of paper and pencil before he was forced to turn back to the road.

"DON'T MOVE! You almost messed me up!"

Syaoran scowled as he regained control over the fast moving vehicle, "Messed up what?"

Damn it…she almost got us killed!

"Stop twitching! You were perfectly still before!"

"What are you doing?"

Scratch Scratch.

"Li!"

"Tell me what you're doing or I'm going to keep squirming." Syaoran said, twisting his face around to look over at her seat again, this time, well prepared for another outburst.

She, however, didn't shriek but stuck her tongue out at him. The sheet of paper was clutched against her chest so he couldn't see what was on it.

She had her knees drawn up to hold it in place and behind one ear tucked a normal yellow school pencil. Her back was crowded to the door and her whole body was twisted to face him.

"What is that?" Syaoran asked quickly.

"Nothing – keep your eyes on the road Li."

Grumbling, Syaoran checked the road to see nothing had changed and turned back, "Why won't you show me?"

"I'll show you later." Sakura answered, wrinkling her nose up at him.

Fair enough.

"Well – you said so yourself." Syaoran grumbling, turned back to the road feeling a bit more content knowing she would reveal whatever she was writing to him even if it wasn't now. He spotted an exit just a while away and pointed it out for her.

"Feel like eating lunch?" He asked, taking the wheel in an indication to make the turn.


"You couldn't find anything – less – fancy?" She hissed, sitting rather stiffly in the velvet seat. Her voice sounded uncomfortable. She looked uncomfortable. Well who wouldn't be uncomfortable wearing flip-flops in an expensive French Diner.

"I'm sorry – but this was the only place that we didn't have to wait for." Syaoran answered, frowning at the heavily decorated tablecloth in front of him and self-doubting himself for stopping here for an easy lunch.

"Ever heard of something called fast food?" She said shooting him a look while nervously moving around her spoons and forks.

"Hey – if you saw a McDonalds – "

"How may we serve you madam et monsieur?" The waiter lifted a rather curious eyebrow at the two casually dressed teenagers. The other parties in the room had dresses and suits. They seemed to be the center of attention and Syaoran didn't like how they were staring at them.

Syaoran coughed and looked at the menu Let's see...

Lobster...oysters...crab...


"Um – do you have anything that's not…seafood?"

The butler looked at him, "Mais monsieur this is a marine diner." Than gave him a stare that clearly meant, you must be joking.

"We'll just have two cups of water and two salads, thank you." Sakura interjected ignoring the heavy glares coming her way.

"Ah – and would that be all?" The butler sniffed.

"Yes please," Sakura said politely, folding her arms across her lap and blinking innocently up at him.

"Ah – they will be right up." Jotting something down he departed the table and Sakura caught Syaoran's gaze.

Innocently she returned with a sweet, "Yes? How may I help you?"

Syaoran did not return the same pureness and scowled.

"Are you trying to starve me? A Salad?"

Sakura snorted, something Syaoran had never seen a girl do in front of him, "It's healthy for you at least! You didn't seem to like sea food very much."

Well. He didn't have anything to say against that. Syaoran resorted to sitting crouched in his chair, arms crossed, and looking sour at the chandelier dangling overhead. Which was basically how he spent the time as they waited for their food.

No not food.

Morsel.

As they waited for their Morsel. damn...


"That wasn't so bad…" Sakura remarked as Syaoran stalked out of the diner in to the bright blue sky.

"Let's just go." Syaoran said, tasting the unfamiliar feeling of lettuce and tomatoes in his mouth. He was no way in hell going to admit that he had enjoyed that. No way.

"Aw Li…" Sakura followed him in a half light jog. They reached his dark blue car.

Syaoran opened his door and pulled himself inside without a word.

Sakura remained outside his door, with her hands crossed.

He peered through the window, "What now?" He demanded impatiently.

"Admit it – it wasn't that bad." Sakura looked at him stubbornly, her voice sounded like a firm brick wall.

"No – now stop being immature and get in."

"First you have to admit it."

Syaoran stared at her. What was up with this girl? It was just food.

"Why,"

"Because…or else I'll feel bad…'cause you did pay for it…" She said, looking down at her hands.

Guilt. More guilt.

Syaoran looked at the wheel, his fingers, the windshield, the side mirrors, and finally back at the window. Groaning exasperatedly he rolled the glass down so he could see and hear her correctly.

"If I said that it wasn't that bad will you get in?"

"Yes." She said, happily.

Syaoran smirked, "Well I just said it."

Now it was her turn to frown, "You did not – " Her eyes widened, "That wasn't fair! That was cheap! You have to say it again!" She said, feeling sold out.

"No way – you're getting in."

Sakura's eyes sparkled mischievously, "Than admit that you can sing."

"Now you're pushing it." Syaoran simply started the car and without another word, began backing out. After a while out of the parking space he looked out the window expectantly, "Coming in? Or should I leave you here."

She stood firmly in her spot, her arms crossed, "Not until you admit it, both of them."

This girl…

Was starting to really get on his nerves…

He frowned, "Why the hell do you want me to admit it so badly?"

"No reason." She said, smiling.

"Oh well – your loss – I have your bags and I can leave you whenever I want to."

"So? Than leave." She sounded sure of herself.

Well that took him by surprise. Did she just tell him to leave?

He rolled up the window and muttered, "Maybe I will."

He pulled the rod to drive and started for the road. She hadn't budged from her spot.

The farther and farther Syaoran drove away. The more and more he felt as if something was slowly sinking in his stomach.

What the hell was he doing?

He wasn't going to do the same he did to Meiling with Sakura.

Sakura didn't even do anything to deserve that. What kind of a guy…

Almost anxiously, he quickly backed up the car until it was right next to the girl who was still waiting for him, a smile planted on her face.

Syaoran felt as if he didn't deserve a smile for what he was just about to do.

Syaoran rolled down the window reluctantly and looked over at the waiting girl.

"Okay. Fine. It wasn't that bad. And I know how to sing. Now will you please get in the car?"

She sincerely smiled that sent a chill down Syaoran's neck, "Thank you!" Skipping around the back she appeared in the passenger's door and slid inside, "I was worried a moment there." She said gently as she pulled her seat belt across her lap.

"Now what kind of guy would I be if I left a girl all by herself." Syaoran muttered blandly to no one in particular. Basically. Trying to lie himself away from the self-guilt with Meiling.

Sakura heard him and looked up thoughtfully, "I don't know…maybe…you." She laughed, "I'm just kidding – of course you wouldn't."

Right. Of course not.

"So, since we're on subject - why don't you admit some other stuff?" She grinned, looking attentively at Syaoran as she drew up her legs.

Syaoran's jaw jumped. He had had quite enough. "I can might as well admit shit if you keep pushing it."

Two hours later, the sun had sunk considerably lower in the sky. Syaoran was getting rather sore sitting behind the wheel and his eyes were getting bored of the constant gravel and his back was tiring of the consistent jolts and rumbling of the endless road.

It was her who spotted it first.

"Look!" She shouted excitedly, pointing out the window at the bright stretch of blue appearing over the hill, " It's the ocean! Li, look!"

Syaoran pretended to ignore her. Surely after resting he had thought she would have more common sense. Apparently it had only re-energized her to want to talk more.

He jumped when a hand touched his elbow.

Jerking around he looked straight at her and raised an eyebrow, "What about it?"

"Let's stop!"

Syaoran groaned and swerved his gaze back at the road, "Let's not."

There was no way she was going to boss him in to this one.

Not going to happen.

Five minutes later Syaoran was rolling up his sand laden jeans and complaining loudly in to the ocean breeze. He had given up on his shoes and they lay deserted next to Sakura's flip-flops.

Syaoran folded the last crease in his pants and straightened up to stretch. The air was salty and cool. The wind was no longer dry. Syaoran swept his hair from his hot face and gazed around for the girl who had dragged him down the slopes. Syaoran looked longingly back up the hill where his car was parked.

Why couldn't he go back.

His car looked lonely.

Where the heck was she?

He spotted her right at the water's edge. Bare-footed and her pants rolled past the knees. She had just flipped a cartwheel as a wave crashed along the shore.

Laughing like a twelve-year old she called for him and splashed the water that swirled around her pale ankles.

Syaoran just stood and stared.

No way in hell…

"C'mon Li! It's not going to bite you!"

Okay

Just this once.

Nobody can see me. Nobody knows who I am…they won't even know its me…

Syaoran grudgingly sulked towards the girl, who had bent over, with her hands on her knees, peering at him with bright eyes.

As he neared her he saw the wet sand streaked down her arms and legs. Her pants were mildly damp at the edges.

He groaned loudly as she pulled him closer to the water. He didn't want to get wet. He really didn't want to be here.

"Stop being so scared of the water silly." She teased, jerking him as close as she could pull him. The freezing cold water barely rushed past Syaoran's toes but he stood his ground, his heels dug deep in the warm sand.

The sky was a beautiful blue, only a couple gray clouds lingered past the scope of vision. The water glittered like crystals and the waves were gentle. Clear blue and chilling to the touch.

Sakura dropped his arm and wandered away, deeper in to the coming waves. She laughed and twirled on the spot, her arms flying around her.

Syaoran found it more and more difficult to tear his eyes away from her body. She looked like some kind of angel with the sun shining behind her, lighting every part of her hair and her eyes.

Well.

Wake up Li.

Sakura burst out laughing as Syaoran cried in shock and fell on his back, the front of his shirt stinging with unfamiliar coldness.

She splashed me! She actually -

Syaoran, sputtering and grumbling he got to his feet swiftly and without thinking he stormed in to the waves dunked his palms in the water and threw a handful of sparkling ocean water at her.

She shrieked and flew back just as it landed flat across her legs, not exactly where he had intended to get. But Syaoran had other plans. He was knee-deep in water now, and the earlier thoughts of staying safe and dry were swept away with her laughter.

He had just bent over in to the swirling waters when another large cold wave flew on to his open back. A cold freezing sensation shot down his skin and tingled his newly awakened senses.

Well. There goes his perfectly dry shirt.

Syaoran looked up and smirked, "Oh you did not…"

"Yes – and what are you going to do about that Li Syaoran?" She teased, sticking her tongue out at him like a child, "C'mon – are you a man or are you a chicken?"

She laughed and shrieked as he tore after her, their feet splashing in the heavy waters and sand that sunk with each step. Their laughter rang for miles up the shores and down the cliffs.

She wasn't that fast of a runner.

Either that or she wanted him to catch him.

Their chase had took them away from the water's edge and on to the dry beach, Syaoran felt the sand stick to his wet feet and legs but was only aware of her running from him.

"Got you," He called as he reached her shoulder. Laughing, she turned around and to his shock and amazement; she grabbed him around the arm and pulled him to the floor with surprising strength.

Syaoran landed on his back so hard that stars shot up in his eyes and the blue sky was suddenly alit with fireworks.

"How did you – " Syaoran gasped as he looked up from the floor at the smiling girl. Her hair blowing past her eyes and in to the wind lighting up with the sun as Syaoran squinted.

"I work out," Sakura replied humorously and jumped a foot away as Syaoran made a move to grab her wrist, "I wasn't ready – don't cheat!" She shouted, her laughter ringing as Syaoran got to his feet. He took one step towards her.

But she stopped and held up her palms, "Let's stop – look at you – you're all wet and dirty!" She said, pointing at him.

Finally. She does have common sense after all.

Syaoran gave her one relieved glance and just fell to the floor again with a large crash. He sensed the alarm in her voice, "Li?"

But Syaoran comforted her worries by shutting his eyes and folding his arms behind his head, than he stretched his body out on the golden sand and relaxed.

He could feel the sand underneath his bare toes, the beach crumbling beneath him as he spread his weight. With every coming wave he could hear it crashing and receding just in front of him. With his eyes closed, every feeling and sound was tuned to each and every fine detail. Like a small dew of water sliding down a fragile spider web in the early morning.

Though the world was simply warm and black he could feel her lying down besides him. He didn't really know what she was doing, but it was good to know someone was here sharing this peacefulness with him.