Agent08 Reporting for Duty!

Disclaimer: Falala, CCS is only mine in my heart. HAHA.

"..." - talking
italic font - thoughts
(A/N: ...) - my interruptions

Now...on with chapter thirteen!

Sick Days

Sakura brought the woven blanket, given to her by Syaoran all the way up to her chin. She stuck her hand out from under the blanket, and rubbed at her already red nose. She sniffled, and coughed a couple of times. She groaned as she tried to hoist herself into a sitting position on her bed, but then she became dizzy, and gave a louder groan.

Syaoran bustled into the room, carrying a wooden tray with Sakura's breakfast, and a flower vase. It was filled with what was left of the cherry blossoms, because the weather had gone from sunny bright, to a comfortable cloud-ish, signalling that they had already gone well into the autumn season.

From the beginning of June was when Sakura and Syaoran had moved in with each other at the tiny cottage that they were so close to calling "home". July and August were one of the worst months of their lives, and October wasn't any better, so they counted the days until they would finally move out, and be told the whole reason they were put into such a terrible situation. There weren't much days left to count, because they were so close to entering November. The very last month that they would be spending together in the cottage.

Syaoran placed the tray and vase onto the bedside table. He rushed over to Sakura, and put his hand gently onto her forehead. She was heating up, which obviously wasn't a good sign.

"Kinomoto!" Syaoran said. "What did I tell you about trying to get up in bed? Lay down and get some rest!" He practically commanded.

Sakura gave out a loud groan once again, and flopped onto her back. That was a bad idea, because soon after, that same wave of dizziness that had swirled around her head when she tried sitting up came right back. That made her moan even louder.

"I hate this stupid fever. Go away, fever!" Sakura said, acting stupid. She knew she couldn't command a fever to come and go as she pleased.

Syaoran smiled at Sakura's childish remark. "I got you some breakfast," he said. "I made your favourite,"

Sakura smiled for the first time in three days. Her smile was bright, even brighter than Sophie's fake ones when she said, "Fluffy pancakes with strawberries, butter, syrup, and bacon and saussage on the side?"

Syaoran nodded. "Not one thing is missing,"

Sakura gave him a look of thanks. But her face went from thankful to serious. "Did you give me the occassional fruit cup?" she asked.

Syaoran shook his head while laughing. "Of course." he answered.

Sakura smiled once again, and balanced the tray on her thighs. She tried taking a big whiff of her favourite breakfast, but couldn't. Stuffy noses. One of the many disadvanteges that a fever can give someone.

"I told you - " Syaorab began, but was interrupted.

"Don't even say it," Sakura said, ignoring his eyes.

Syaoran smirked, and paid no attention to what she had just said. "I told you so!" he said.

Sakura groaned again. It seemed that she had been doing alot of that ever since the doctor said she had a high fever.

"I told you that you never should've ran outside in the rain!" Syaoran said, watching Sakura as she ate the fluffy pancakes Syaoran had made for her. She ate it very slowly, trying to get the actual taste of it, but she had no luck on that one.

Just three days ago, it had been raining for the first time in months. The rain fall was so heavy, that there was no one on the streets. Not even the children that would usually come running out from their homes, jumping in puddles and making mud castles. Not today. The weather was too harsh.

Sakura was the only insane person that went out into the rain, only wearing her home clothes and a thin summer coat. She came dashing out the front door, and onto the lawn, where she stomped on the puddles, making a tsunami for the bugs and insects on the ground.

"This is so fun!" Sakura said, dropping on her knees and making mud pies. "I haven't played in the rain since May!"

She continued stomping on the puddles and playing with all the mud. She was having the time of her life, when Syaoran suddenly came out of the cottage, carrying a big black overcoat which he held over his head.

"What in bloody hell are you doing?" Syaoran yelled, the heavy rain splattering noises muffling his voice.

"What does it look like?" Sakura yelled back, trying to make Syaoran hear her as best she could. "I'm playing in the rain!"

Syaoran held the coat over Sakura's head also. For a minute, the rain stopped falling on both her head, and Syaoran's, but because Sakura didn't want that, she shoved the overcoat away from her. She then began to fling her arms out, spinning around and around like the little girl she use to be.

"Sakura Kinomoto! Get your arse over here this minute!" Syaoran hollered behind her. "You're going to get malaria, or pneumonia, or...or...or a cold!"

"I don't care!" Sakura sang, continuing to do whatever she was doing.

Syaoran ran back to the cottage, and went inside. He stuck his head out the door, and warned Sakura one last time. "Fine, Kinomoto! Stay out here in the rain! Don't come running to me when you die of sickness!"

Sakura stopped dancing in the rain, and turned to face him, an angry look plastered on. "I won't! You know why? Because I - won't - get - sick!" She said, turning around and beginning to dance.

Syaoran shook his head miserably, and returned the overcoat to the closet. "Why, oh why does she always have to do that when it's raining?" He said aloud to himself. "Everyday since we were five...Why in the world does she always have to do that?"

Suddenly, Syaoran heard the front door open and close. He turned around and saw a dripping wet Sakura, soaked from head to toe.

"Because she loves the rain," she answered, and headed for the bathroom to get a towel.

"Hey, Kinomoto - " Syaoran began.

"I don't want to talk about it, Li. Lecture me later, I don't feel well,"

Syaoran merely shrugged his shoulders, and thought that she'd probably get better in the morning. Besides, all the years she had been prancing around in the rain since she was a kid, pre-teen, and teenager, which she was now, she never, ever got sick.

But this year was different.

She spent all of that night tossing and turning, feeling dizzy and out of balance. Syaoran woke up to the sound of her crying. Her nose was stuffed and she felt terrible. Her eyes were puffy from crying, and Syaoran promised her that as soon as morning came he would take her to the local doctor.

"High fever," the doctor stated, as he removed all his medical instruments from Sakura's body. She was lying on an old bed, ragged from all those years it had been used. She worse than the other night, and Syaoran was beginning to get worried.

"I prescribe that she take lots of fluids, and at least two of these, every six hours," the doctor said, holding up a small red bottle, with tiny pills in it. Syaoran and Sakura took it gratefully, and took a carriage back to the cottage.

They informed their Parents immediately of course, and seeing as how Sakura was not feeling well, it was obvious that she couldn't walk to the Doctor's. So just this once, they let them take a carriage there and back from the doctor's office.

And even though Fujitaka had never spent a day in his life without his daughter if she was ever ill, he couldn't help but leave the two alone. After all, it was a learning experience, and whether or not he liked it, they had to learn how to take care of themselves and one another. Even in sickness.

For the next two days, Sakura took the pills as the doctor instructed. She took as much fluids as she could, and before she knew it, she was feeling slightly better. She wasn't on top of the world or anything like that, but she had improved, and that was good enough for her to be in a good mood. Which also helped in getting her better.

Hmm, maybe she really was suffering from Symptoms of Him?

"Do you really think I'd listen to you? I mean come on, you know me better than that, Li," Sakura stated. "I run outside everytime it rains! You should know because I dragged you out there once, and you fell in mud. Your Mother got so mad at you for getting your new robes dirty!"

Syaoran snarled at her. "I was barricaded in my room for most of the week because of that! And I know I didn't fall! You delibrately pushed me, Kinomoto!"

Sakura smiled triumphantly. "Was it my fault I did that? You got locked in your room, didn't you? That was exactly what I was hoping. I was hoping to get you in trouble so I could finally have at least a few days to myself without having our parents trying to make us be friends,"

"Hmm..." Syaoran said, stroking his chin. "Why do you think our parents have been doing that anyway? They've always made us slow dance with each other at all those dumb formal balls...and they make us live together for half a year! Do you think we're like...betrothed to be married or something?" Syaoran asked.

Sakura stared at him for a long time. Syaoran did also. After a few minutes, they both burst out laughing, almost making Sakura choke on her pancakes.

"Yeah, right!" Sakura said, snorting. "They wouldn't do that!"

Syaoran snorted also. "Yeah, how stupid could I be, thinking something like that!"

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Very," she replied.

They both began to laugh again. This was the most bonding they'd done ever since Syaoran had given Sakura her first kiss.

Their laughter eventually died down, and Syaoran watched Sakura, as she ate her breakfast. He soon got bored of just watching her, and so he decided to leave the room.

"Where are you going?" Sakur asked, just as he was about to turn the door knob.

"Oh, well..." Syaoran began. "I just thought that you wanted some privacy, that's all,"

Sakura nodded. Syaoran nodded back. He stepped outside, and just before completely leaving, he stuck his head through the door, and said, "Don't forget to take your medecine. I left it underneath your plate,"

Sakura nodded once more, and finished off her pancakes. She started on her saussages and bacon, and before she knew it, she was finished with only her fruit cup to scarf down.

She picked up her fork, and began to pick at the numerous fruits in her cup. She began to eat away at the strawberries, grapes, and apple slices. She didn't eat the cherries, though. She always saved those to eat last. She always thought that you should always save the best for last.

When finally she finished everything, she grabbed the glass of water that stood on her night stand. She held up the plate that held her pancakes with her right hand, and with the other, she quickly took the folded napkin, which contained two tiny white tablets.

Quickly, she thrust them into her mouth, and held it under her tongue, until she took a great big gulp of the water. They went down easily into her throat, and went further down to rest in her stomach, where she hoped it would help her feel better sooner than later.

She flopped down on her back once again, and felt no dizziness erupt throughout her body. That was a good sign to show that she was feeling better. The pills must've been working really well. Sakura could tell, because the Doctor warned that the pills would make her feel slightly drowsy.

Before Sakura knew it, her eye lids started to become heavier and heavier with each and every moment. She struggled to stay awake, but darkness overcame her, and she was sent away to a land far away from where she currently was, sailing the waves of her imagination...

xxxxxx

Sakura was walking down an isle, holding a bouqet of flowers.

"Where am I?" Sakura asked. She looked at her arms, and saw that she was covered in what seemed to be a silky white fabric. Her vision was blurred. Not exactly, but it seemed as if a veil was covering her face...Which it was.

Her arm was linked with her Father's, and as she came closer and closer to the front of what seemed to be a church, people stood up, and bowed their heads down low.

"Father...?" Sakura asked. "What's going on?"

As if he had not heard her, Fujitaka kept on his smiling face, and kept on looking forward.

"Father!" Sakura practically shouted, as she walked along with him. "What's going on?" she asked for the final time. Her Father was now beginning to irritate her. He didn't pay any attention to her at all, and he just kept walking like a smiling mindless idiot, towards the front of the isle.

"Stop!" Sakura said, stopping in her tracks...And then the most unusual thing happened. Her Father did not stop walking, and although she thought she had, Sakura hadn't either!

Sakura watched as she - well, her body, dressed in what she now knew was a wedding gown, and her Father, walk down the isle, as she was left far behind, rooted to her spot. Then she realized she was still in her home clothing, while everyone else in the room was in formal gowns and suits.

Sakura gasped in shock. She ran as fast as she could to keep up with them, and stood infront of herself and her Father, to keep them from going any further. Then something even more strange happened. She stood infront of them, and saw that she, too, was smiling like an idiot.

"What in the world...?" Sakura asked, as she stood still, and waited for her Father to bump into her.

That didn't happen. Surprisingly, he walked right through her as if she were a ghost, and finally, Sakura, the dream Sakura, and Fujitaka had reached the front.

Tomoyo was there, along with the man that had been courting her for the past few months - Eriol.

Sakura gasped in realization. "No...this can't be," she clamped her hand over her mouth, "this can't be my...my wedding!"

She continued to watch as she kissed her Father on the cheek, and whisper something in his ear. She saw her brother, standing behind the man she was to marry, and she walked the two steps that led to her soon-to-become husband.

His face was slightly turned during the whole ceremony. During his vows, the placing of the rings, everything! But when time finally came for them to kiss, the man still didn't turn his head forward. He reached for her veil, and lifted it, and that was when she knew her mystery man had no face. All the time she thought he was turning away, she was wrong. There was his body, and everything from the face down, but no actual facial features. But she did notice he had a brown-ish kind of hair. Darker than your normal brown.

His blank face inched closer towards hers, and before he did anything, he whispered the three lone words, "I love you,"

I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.

xxxxxx

The three hollow words that came from her husband-to-be echoed inside her slightly aching head. They had meant nothing to her, those words. That man, whoever he might've been, could've told her the sweetest things girls could only wish to hear, and Sakura never would've given it the time of day. How could he have said those things to her, and how could she accept them when she had no idea who he was?

Sakura was in a cold sweat. She shook her head vigorously, as if trying to rid herself of the weird dream. That obviously didn't work, because she had thought about it the whole day. Trying to figure out what it meant. It's not like she found that out.

And then Syaoran came in the room, carrying two white fluffy pillows. "Oh, you're awake," he said.

Still in a daze because of the dream, Sakura answered quite rudely. "Thanks for stating the obvious,"

Syaoran brought his eye brows together, and as he did so, wrinkles began to appear on his forehead. He was obviously confused as to why she answered so rudely when he only said once simple thing.

"What's your problem?" He said, as he set the pillows down to her side.

Sakura shook her head. "It's nothing...I'm sorry. What's with the pillows?" she asked, trying to change the subject.

Syaoran suddenly remembered. "Oh, well I just came back here a few minutes ago to pick up the wooden tray and all your bowls. They were on the floor, and I could see why, because you were tossing and turning like your life depended on it. Anyway, I thought you were uncomfortable, so I brought you some pillows,"

Sakura smiled at him, and felt stupid because he had only entered the room to do something nice to her, and yet she spoke to him so rudely.

"Aww...That's sweet, Li,"

Syaoran shrugged. "It's no big deal,"

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Neither of them wanted to say anything. Even though they knew what they should talk about. The night they kissed. They hadn't spoken about it in a long time, and like Syaoran had said, they had to talk about it sometime, and they both knew it. So, reluctantly, Sakura began her piece.

"Li...I was thinking...Maybe we shoud talk about - "

"The kiss?" he interrupted.

Sakura nodded.

"Well...what's there to say?" he said, feeling unsure of what to do or say.

Sakura shrugged. "Well...Why did you do it?"

Syaoran shrugged also. "I...I don't know. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time..."

Sakura snorted. "Just how did that feel like the right thing?"

Syaoran shook his head. "I...I don't know. You were just so irritating! I felt so stupid for falling for a girl that was only in for my money. My Mother was disappointed in me, even though she tried not to show it, your Father was disappointed in me, YOU were disappointed in me, and you never let me live a day without mentioning my stupid mistake. I was just so frustrated. So...I kissed you,"

Sakura nodded away to everything he was saying. But she looked at him, and never said a word.

"I understand if you don't believe me, and I'll also understand if YOU don't understand - "

" - I do," Sakura interrupted. "I understand why you did it, and I don't blame you at all for anything that you've done,"

Syaoran looked at her with wide eyes. "Y - You don't? I mean, I kissed you. I was the first man to ever kiss you! And...Don't you remember? When we were thirteen years old, you told me that if anyone forced you into kissing them, you'd sue them until every single penny they had was yours, and then you'd donate it to an orphanage?"

Sakura smiled. "I know...But, I can't sue you. You're a Prince!" Sakura joked.

Syaoran chuckled, and for once, Syaoran's laughter didn't seem too bad after all.

"So...everything's okay now, right?" Syaoran asked.

Sakura nodded cheerfully. "Yes, of course."

Syaoran smiled widely. "Great! So then..." he shifted uncomfortably, the smile vanishing. "Does this make us...like, friends, or something?"

Friends? Did the fact that they had cleared up that one single argument make them friends? They had argued so many times in the past...what made this one particular fight any different? Well, it was the biggest fight they'd ever had, after all. It would only be right if they did become friends after this...

Sakura's smiled faded. "Right...we're...friends," she said.

Syaoran however, smiled even wider than before. "Great! Our parent's are going to be so glad we're finally getting along. Maybe then they'll let us move out of this horrid cottage. What do you think, friend?"

Sakura forced a laugh. Friends? Just friends? For some reason, that didn't sound right to her.

But what the hell, what did she know? She was sick! Her brain obviously wasn't operating properly, and sick days made you think weird. And it made you dream about weird things too.

Or was she just trying to avoid a certain feeling that she'd been feeling for the past five months?

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What a shocker. They're FRIENDS. Read and Review, please? x)

Signing Off,
Agent08 - My life as a secret agent xD