I was disappointed by the lack of reviews, but at least I got some XD. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and corrected my mistake.

youkaigirl64 Lol, that's not going to happen, because I don't want everyone against Sakura.

heheangel kisses I consider you my best reviewer because you're the only one that actually gives me input :). I'll try and add details about Syaoran's thoughts.

Chapter Eight

Syaoran handed the phone to Sakura, a barely noticeable frown on his face. "It's for you."

Sakura took the phone, confused. Who would call her? "Hello?" she said tentatively.

"Hey," a pleasant voice replied.

"Who is this?" Sakura asked, still confused.

"How can you not recognize my voice?" the caller said in mock hurt. "It's Julian."

"Julian! How are you?"

Syaoran glanced at Sakura while she chatted animatedly with Julian. He noted how her face, which had been tired and sleepy looking only minutes before, now held a healthy glow. The frown on his face deepened before he realized this and he forced himself to smile. Sakura was happy, why did that make him feel bad?

He snapped back to reality when he heard Sakura say, "So I'll meet you there at two?"

Sakura hung up and looked at Syaoran, unaware of the wistful smile on her face. And her eyes…when they looked at him, they held regret. She had never looked at him like that before, not even when this whole thing had started. Why did she start regretting now? He had thought they were finally getting somewhere, finally having a healthy relationship, but now, seeing her, he wasn't really sure…

He thought what they had was great…they had troubles but that's what made their friendship strong, but these past few days, Sakura seemed out of it. She would stare expressionless at nothing, and whenever she saw him, she would turn away or avert her eyes. He couldn't deny that it hurt.

"We need to talk." His sharp words cut the air like a knife cutting tension, which in a way, it was. In his confusion, he didn't realize how angry he sounded.

"About what?"

Was it just his imagination or did Sakura's voice sound a little shaky?

"This. Us."

"There is no 'us'," Sakura stated bluntly. It was the first time she had voiced these words out loud to herself, and the finality of them hung in the air between them. She had told herself many times they would never be together. Syaoran would never like her. She wished she could stop saying 'never' to herself, but these days, it seemed so impossible. Syaoran lingered in her mind all the time, and even though Sakura knew it was pathetic, 'never' was all she had to defend herself against the constant battle in her head. And heart.

It was just a stupid crush. It would be over soon. One day, she would be free from the ropes her heart had tied around Syaoran and she would never have to think about him again. Filming would wrap up in two and a half weeks. After that, she would be Syaoran-free for a year, and then the movie would come out and she'd only seen him during promotions and premieres. Maybe she'd talk to him a few times on the phone. If limiting their friendship was what it took to erase Syaoran from her mind, then she'd sacrifice it. The only problem was, she didn't know if she could.

There is no us. Sakura's words swirled around in his mind, playing games with him. It sounded as if she didn't know if she was talking to him or herself, but he must have imagined it. "Then what do you call this?" he said finally.

Sakura faltered for a moment. "Friendship."

"What else did you think I was talking about?" he asked, exasperated.

That was a good question. Sakura wish she knew the answer. Or maybe she should just stop denying to herself. "I thought you were talking about our charade."

"…" "Sakura, what's going on with you?"

"What do you mean?" Her voice was a little high-pitched.

"Don't play dumb, Sakura. You've been acting strange since…since that day in the elevator. Look, I didn't mean to offend you… If I did something wrong, please tell me. I'm sorry."

The worry and sincerity in his voice added to the burden in her heart. It would've been so much easier to hate him if he was that arrogant, uncaring man she had first perceived him to be.

"There's nothing wrong. I've just been feeling moody these days. PMS, you know." The deceits in her words were evident to them both. Sakura knew that if she mentioned PMS, Syaoran would back off. It was a touchy subject with guys.

Syaoran stared at the girl in front of him suspiciously, but decided not to provoke her. "When you're ready to tell me, I'll be listening."

He strode across the hall and into his room without another word.

"Okay, today we're going to shoot scenes seventeen, thirty-eight, and forty-three. We'll start with forty-three," the director announced.

Sakura looked at script in her hands and flipped through the pages until she found forty-three. The kissing scene. Oh shit.

Surprisingly, she got through her lines perfectly. And then it came. Syaoran leaned down and their lips gently touched before-

"CUT!" The director bellowed. "I want you guys to put emotion in this. Syaoran, you seem too hesitant, and Sakura, you're tensed and look scared."

They both got into position and re-did it. This time, there was passion, and Sakura was unaware of everything but Syaoran's lips moving gently against her own. She could hear the pounding in her heart and wished the kiss would never end…

"Cut! That was great acting both of you!"

The director's words brought Sakura out of her dreamland. It was great acting. Yet, she knew she wasn't acting. She had put her everything into that kiss. She looked over at Syaoran, who seemed indifferent to the whole thing. He was too busy smiling at Tomoyo.

Syaoran's head snapped around as he heard heavy, quick footsteps from behind him. He saw Sakura hurrying out of the room, her hair covering her face, and instinctively ran after her.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

Sakura turned around to face him and he could see her glassy eyes, though they held no trace of tears.

"I-" She looked ready to spill everything then, but the only thing that came out of her mouth was, "Nothing. I'm just in a hurry to get out of here." She smiled up at him. He then realized how beautiful her smile was, even if it was fake, and even if it was bittersweet.

"Sakura…are you sure you're okay?" he asked softly.

'Stop it!' she wanted to scream at him. 'Stop showing me you care, stop showing up in my mind!' But nothing came out. She managed a simple nod.

Syaoran reached out for her hand, but then Tomoyo came bounding up to them. "Sorry, am I interrupting something?" she asked sweetly, her face turned towards Syaoran.

"No, nothing." Sakura began to walk away so she wouldn't have to put herself through more torture. 'Nothing' was all she seemed to say these days. Nothing was all she seemed to feel like.

"Sakura!" she heard Syaoran yell after her, but as much as it pained her, she ignored him. She promised herself she wouldn't get in his way. What he needed wasn't her. 'It's just a crush,' she reminded herself again.

"You said you have something to tell me, sir."

The Elder looked at the man in front of him. He remembered when Syaoran was just a child. How he had matured and grown since then. He smiled at Syaoran.

"We're all proud of you."

Syaoran looked at the Elders around him in surprise. Words of praise were seldom heard from the Elders, and Syaoran knew it was a great honour to have those words directed at him. He bowed his head slightly to the man he faced. "Thank you sir."

"Now, Syaoran, you understand you will be sworn in as the next Li leader in a few months. For that, you need a bride…"

Syaoran braced himself. He had been preparing for this day all his life, but he hadn't thought the impact would be as great as this. He had thought he wouldn't care. A bride would simply be a partner. There would be no love, no feeling, and they would each mind their own business. But now, he wasn't so certain… 'Responsibility comes with a price,' he reminded himself.

"We have picked one out for you. She is from a respectable family. But, if you do not agree with our choice, you may select someone else."

"Someone else" meant someone that came from a rich and powerful family. "Who have you chosen?"

The Elder paused. "We have taken into account your feelings, so we chose someone you are well acquainted with. I'm sure you and Daidouji Tomoyo are close? She has told us it is a great honour to be part of the Li clan and she accepted our offer immediately."

With his brain numb, all Syaoran could do was nod and manage a weak smile. He was to marry Tomoyo… He supposed he couldn't have asked for a better choice. Tomoyo was from a good family and he knew her. Better to marry her than a complete stranger…

He had been training for this day all his life, and he wasn't about to throw that all away just because he had no desire to marry. He could live without the love a wife was supposed to provide. He had lived his whole life without it, so it shouldn't make a difference now…

It was two days after Syaoran had spoken to the Li Elders. Sakura seemed to have recovered from her little spell, but Syaoran could help but feel that something was still off with her. He still hadn't told her about his engagement. He didn't know why he felt it was so important to tell her. After all, the Elders had decided to publicize it only after he and Sakura had broken up, then leave a few months in between the break-up and the announcement, to not ruin his image. Most fans had no idea that Li Syaoran came from the famous Li clan.

As for Tomoyo, she seemed happier than ever. In fact, she seemed to want to get closer to him, which he decided was a good thing. She kept her distance from him in public, so he knew her intentions were good.

So here he was in his dressing room during a break, so that he and Tomoyo could "get to know each other a little better," as she put it. Suddenly, out of nowhere, she put in arms him and started kissing him. He had to admit, she was a good kisser, but it didn't feel as right as what he had shared with another someone…

He vaguely heard the knock on the door before hearing a small gasp. The kiss was broken off, and he pulled away to see Sakura standing at the door.

"I'm so sorry…I didn't know. The director wants us to be ready in a few minutes…"

Tomoyo smiled at Sakura. "It's okay. I'm too happy to let anything spoil my day. Me and Syaoran are engaged!"

Sakura had thought she possibly couldn't feel any worse, but she was wrong. "Oh...um...congratulations…"

"We're going to keep it a secret until you guys break up, of course. And I have no problem with you kissing him in public or anything. Just don't do it in private," Tomoyo joked, winking.

Syaoran was starting to feel a little uncomfortable, and he detached himself from Tomoyo just as Sakura had closed the door. "Look Tomoyo, I know we're engaged and all, but I just don't feel comfortable doing this yet."

"I understand…" she replied, her voice trailing. Inside, she was laughing with glee as she remembered Sakura's expression.

"Good. Now let's go out there before they send someone else."

"So…I didn't know you and Tomoyo were going out…"

"We weren't. It was the Elders' decision."

"Oh."

"Sakura, why are you so mad?"

"Who says I'm mad?" Sakura said, her voiced raised and louder than usual.

"Well, for one, the tone of your voice, and you're on the verge of yelling at me. Come on, tell me what's troubling you."

'I love you.' 'No, I don't!' Sakura shouted back to the voice in her mind. There she went again, talking to herself…

"I don't," she whispered to herself.

"You don't what?" asked Syaoran, confused.

Sakura stared at him, as if seeing him for the first time. She had a terrified look on her face, and she began to back away from him.

'I don't love you.'