I'm sorry I couldn't update earlier. I would finish this story by May end with approximately 2 chapters left.

Thanks for your reviews. They always leave me elated.

Chapter 9: evening plans

Christen's apartment

Whatever happened last day had left her mind blank. Unable to concentrate on anything, christen had decided to come home and just have some time alone.

How could it be possible that sakura had a crush on Syaoran or better put, she loved him?

Even though, she was sure that Syaoran knew nothing of it, she kept sulking and perhaps, there was a fear lulling in her mind: what if Syaoran too loves her?

In that case, she never figured out anywhere in their lives.

Shaking her mind, she ignored her fear.

It can't be possible, can it? Of course…if there had been something like that, it would have been out by now.

Assuring herself, she concentrated on one thing on her mind: sakura. Before she leaves Hong Kong, christen wanted to do something for her. After all, sakura had done for her: befriended her, shared her worries and she gave her the love of her own life.

Just then the phone rang….

"Hey Chris"

"Hi honey" christen recognized the voice of her future husband, Syaoran. "I was thinking if we could spend the evening together, movie or something like it?"

"Oh sure" and just then something clicked in her mind.

"Syaoran, I hope you don't mind if we invite sakura along. I mean she's the one who helped us get together…"

"No problem" he said. "I'll inform sakura….so Imax at 6"

"Ok love you, bye"

………………….

"Morning, sleepyhead" sakura greeted tomoyo when she groggily entered the kitchen.

Sakura had woken up early-which was very unusual- but it was her last day.

"Oh, huh…..wait a minute…rewind…you are up so early?" tomoyo rubbed her eyes so as to make sure this was happening, and not merely a dream.

"Yes I am" sakura perked up cheerily. "Now I want you to help me cut these" she gestured towards the plate of uncut vegetables.

Hearing no answer, she turned back to see tomoyo sleeping on the counter.

An evil smile formed on her lips. She opened her refrigerator, took out a bottle of chilled water and poured it over tomoyo.

"hoeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" tomoyo cried and sakura burst into laughter.

"You just wait" tomoyo grabbed the orange juice and splashed it onto sakura's face….

And thus began the war…everything from yoghurt to coffee, from pastry to ketchup…..

And even rose water was poured on sakura and she wasn't so unhappy about it.

And finally, the war came to an end with both of them hugging each other.

"I'll miss you" sakura said. "Don't forget to invite me to your and eriol's wedding"

Tomoyo continued to sob "how do you know?"

"I can see it in your eyes and I know that you can see him in your heart."

And that's when the phone rang…

Sakura picked it up.

"Hello?" she said.

"Hi Syaoran here"

"Oh hi. So what's up?"

"Me and christen have decided to have an evening together with you"

"Oh"

"I mean like old days, movies and dinner"

"Sure. Where do you want me to meet?"

"Imax. 6"

"Ok I'll be there"

…………………

It was six already and sakura couldn't see Syaoran or christen anywhere.

After 2-3 minutes, she saw Syaoran walking towards her. Now it was usual for her to see him in casual clothes but every time, he practically made her jaw fall to the ground. Actually, he didn't need any occasion for doing that to sakura.

"You are 2 minutes late" she said mimicking his accent.

He smiled and ignored it. "Where is christen?"

"Don't know. Try calling her" sakura said.

"Ok"

Syaoran punched in the no. and talked to christen

"Hi Chris. Where are you? We're waiting for you"

"Oh syao, I am sorry, I can't come….I am at the designers and this dress has got some last fittings to be done. It is imperative, you know"

"Well?"

"C'mon you can enjoy with sakura"

"Well ok bye" he said.

"So what did she say?" sakura asked Syaoran when he switched off his cell.

"She can't come, last minute fitting of the wedding dress" he sighed. "But we can rock"

"Oh so you're excited to have a date with a hot girl on the eve of your wedding" sakura raised her eyebrows.

"Hot girl? Where? Let me see" he replied as if surprised.

"Syaoran!" she playfully hit his arm.

"ow" he cried.

"I'm sorry. Did it hurt? Are you okay?" sakura turned pale.

"Relax. You sound like you lov" he cut short his own line.

Sakura had got the meaning of it and mentally sighed.

But only you don't understand…git!

………………………..

Sakura and Syaoran went to see the movie – "13 going on 30". It was sakura's choice, you see.

"Oh I love these kinda movies" sakura exclaimed wiping her tears, which had well been a result of the movie. Anything emotional, even if it was only little could make her cry.

Syaoran, on the other hand, could have fallen asleep if

a) sakura's laughs and sobs hadn't kept him awake;

b) He hadn't been so busy to gaze at her dim lit face without her noticing. (ahem)

"Now where would you like to go mademoiselle?" Syaoran mocked French accent.

She giggled, only making his heart wrench. Was he making a mistake by marrying christen?

"I don't know, somewhere free would do" she replied.

"I know a restaurant, its Italian but not fancy." He suggested.

"Okay"

He grabbed her wrist, saying "let's go"

Sakura decided not to mention this, she was enjoying the touch.

He drove over to this folksy restaurant, which was like a cottage brightly lit.

Although it was small, it had a dance floor where some Italian music was played.

They sat at a table and ordered an Italian dish and wine.

Finishing up their supper, both clicked their glasses and sakura said. "A toast to this ever lasting bond of intimacy that exists since the day we met 15 yrs ago."

2-3 drinks of wine had made sakura feel intoxicated, though she tried her best not to make it obvious.

"Dance" Syaoran offered.

And together they waltzed to the dance floor

This time the music playing was a bit fast and soon with other couples joining, they all danced as a group.

(a/n: remember those European dances with girls and boys, girls in long skirts, and those stringed instruments making music. it resembles that.)

Everything was interwoven within music. Forgetting everything, her pain, her sorrow, her destiny, sakura had given into his arms.

Syaoran was enjoying every part of this. Every part. Whether it was her giggles, her sighs, her words…

After the dance, sakura and Syaoran went to the park, which was their favourite place of those yesteryears.

They both sat under the same cherry blossom tree, overlooking the lake….

"Syaoran, do you remember what you had said to me when yen had died?"

"Uh huh"

"That I'll never feel love less…and that if I had no one in my life…you'd marry me"

Syaoran looked up at sakura, her eyes fixed on the lake but there was nostalgia and hope in her eyes.

"Yeah" he replied.

"Now you can't do that naa."

"Why?" he said, making her turn her head towards him and back to its original position.

"You mean you'd leave christen just because I won't find any guy wroth being my husband"

She continued on…

"But I have found someone"

These words stabbed his heart.

She looked with finality on her face.

"Its you"

His eyes widened. But she didn't give him a chance to reply.

"It's always been you. From the day, I came to know what love meant, from that very day. It was you…."

Tears stained her cheeks. Yet her eyes did not leave his face.

"Sakura, I ….."

Before he could say anything, his heart had commanded him to capture her in a kiss.

It grew passionate and when they both stopped, grasping for air, sakura was claimed up by slumber.

He dropped her at her apartment. Tomoyo was surprised when she opened the door to see Syaoran carrying a sleeping form of sakura but decided against questioning him. She trusted both of them.

…..please review….

Kisses