Monito I wouldn't say he's a bastard because he only said it to protect her…

lilxcutexmonstah I already explained why Tomoyo is the way she is, but I'm too lazy to type it out again. I haven't had any flames actually…

s+s destiny I feel so threatened?

babiepinkpenguin Thanks :D

kura52 Good idea, but I have no idea what the rules of tennis or soccer are. Maybe you could write it? Lol, I don't think I'm a good writer either.

Emeralddestiny Stalkers freak me out o0

I'm thinking of writing a story about the Li and Kinomoto kingdoms being enemies, and Sakura, the princess, will be forced to work as a slave for the Li kingdom to gather information, but I don't know. I might not write.

Chapter Eleven

Eighteen Months Later

Tomoyo sighed contently as she laid in the muscular arms of a chestnut-haired man. His hold on her tightened and she wiggled free to turn around and press a loving kiss to his lips, to which he responded tenderly.

"I love you," she whispered.

He murmured the same and stroked her hair gently, watching the dark locks cascade around her pretty face.

Tomoyo saw a flash of light at the window but when she looked again, she saw nothing. She shook her head and decided it must've been just her imagination. To make sure, she rose and walked to the window. Nothing.

"What's wrong?"

Tomoyo stared into the eyes of the man she loved. "Nothing. Go to sleep."

Sakura stepped onto the red carpet to be bombarded with reporters who stuck their microphones in front of her face.

"Sakura, what is your relationship with Li Syaoran?"

"Ms. Kinomoto, is it true you're dating Yamaki Julian?"

"Sakura, which do you prefer, Coke or Pepsi?"

If she faced each reporter who spoke, her head would be spinning in circles.

"No comment," she said politely, and was grateful as her bodyguard cleared the way.

It was the day she had been dreading for the past year and a half…the day she would see Li Syaoran again. Worse, the day she would see Li Syaoran and Daidouji Tomoyo together, holding hands and making out or whatever couples did in public. As if she hadn't had enough of seeing their happy faces on magazine covers everywhere she went.

'Stop it,' she scolded herself. Every day, she promised to forget Li Syaoran. And every day she failed. As much as she convinced herself she was over him, she knew it was false. In fact, the more she tried not to think about him, the more he haunted her.

Her breath caught as the spotted the object of her thoughts in front of her, his fingers twisted around the long, slender ones of Tomoyo. The deafening roar of the crowd faded away as the beating of her chest reached her ears. It was hard to believe that right now, seeing him, was a reality because she had had nightmares about this day for more than a year. Sure, she had the occasional fantasy that he would ditch Tomoyo and run away with her, but then she'd remember the cold, harsh words he uttered that last day, and she knew she had fallen in love with someone who didn't exist.

She often found herself reminiscing about the times they shared, but the real world would force her to remember that the man in her memories was not the real Li Syaoran.

Lost in memory lane, Sakura failed to notice she had entered the cinema where the premiere of her film was being shown, until she felt the soft plush of the seats. Being one of the stars of the show, Sakura had one of the best seats. Right beside Li Syaoran.

She sat down, suddenly surrounded by that intoxicating sandalwood aroma. Syaoran didn't do anything that indicated he knew she was there. Instead, he stared at the screen in front of him. The credits started rolling and the movie played, but Sakura couldn't watch it. Every scene was a reminder of the fun she had shooting.

Syaoran was aware that Sakura was seated beside him, and he fought the urge to rise out of his seat, drag her to a secluded corner, and kiss her senseless. It almost killed him knowing he could never do that, and that she probably hated him, and would for the rest of her life…

Sakura stiffened as the wedding scene and the kiss played. She closed her eyes, but couldn't escape the soft "I love you," Syaoran's character said to her's. The movie ended and the room erupted into thunderous applause. Sakura rose and tried to hurry out of there, but was continuously stopped by people congratulating her on her "wonderful, moving performance."

Outside, she was hounded. "Mr. Li and Ms. Kinomoto! How 'bout a picture?" Sakura felt herself shoved beside Syaoran's side as numerous cameras were aimed at her. She stiffened as Syaoran casually put his arm around her shoulder. Moments later, Sakura's shoulder still burned. She was being silly, she knew. He had only touched her for a few seconds, yet she was reacting like this.

Then, in front of what seemed like the whole world, Tomoyo handed Sakura a white envelope. "An invitation to our wedding. I hope you can make it."

Sakura gritted her teeth. She knew Tomoyo did it because she knew Sakura couldn't refuse in front of all the reporters. "Of course," she replied graciously, her heart sinking. She knew this to be the second biggest mistake of her life. The first was being in love with the groom.

The Li Elders, Syaoran, and Tomoyo sat around the table. Li Yelan pursed her lips. It was common knowledge in the Li family that she disliked Tomoyo, but she was forbidden to express that dislike.

"Excuse me. There is someone outside wishing to speak to you. He claims it is important. His name is Kinomoto Touya."

Surprised registered on everyone's face. What business did the brother of Kinomoto Sakura have with the Li clan?

"Send him in."

The butler exited, then returned with the tall, dark-haired man, who spoke as soon as the door closed behind them. "I don't plan to waste your time. I just thought these might interest you."

From his pocket, he took out a few pictures and handed it to the Elder closest to him, then turned to Tomoyo. "I read about your engagement to Li Syaoran. Then, one day I saw you with someone else, looking suspicious, so I did some investigation, and this is what I found."

The Elder took the pictures and Tomoyo gasped as she saw herself with a man who resembled Syaoran a little bit. Pictures of them hugging, kissing, and…

"Why would you do this!" she exclaimed angrily, knowing it was all over for her. She started sobbing as her future slipped away in a mere matter of seconds.

"My sister," Touya answered simply. He glared at Syaoran. "You hurt her. I know what you did to her, but I'm giving you one last chance to clear things up. Use it wisely." Without waiting for a reply, he walked out.

Everyone in the room immediately turned to Tomoyo, who grabbed Syaoran's arm in one last desperate attempt. He withdrew his arm like she was disgusting slime. "Please…" she croaked.

"There is no need to explain. The contract states that any infidelity cancels the engagement. Leave now." When Tomoyo didn't budge, security was ordered in.

As soon as Syaoran had heard Touya's words, he knew what he had to do. It was selfish, but he thought he deserved some happiness for once in his life. "I'm going to find Sakura and tell her everything."

The Elders narrowed their eyes. "If you do that, you will lose everything."

Syaoran shook his head. "No. She is my everything."

"You will lose your family and any ties of the clan. Are you willing to give that up?"

Syaoran looked at his mother, who looked pained, but gave him a small nod, a proud look on her face.

"I'd give up anything."

It was time for the final shot. "You would even give up her safety?"

That he had forgotten. In the spur of the moment, he had failed to remember the Elders' warnings. "I…"

To his surprised, the Elders all smiled. "You have proved your loyalty and strength, and the ability to fight for what you believe in. Those are the true qualities of a Li. If this Sakura is who you truly desire, go."

To say Syaoran was bewildered was an understatement. The Elders nodded encouragingly. "Thank you," Syaoran whispered, before running out of the room, with only one thing on his mind. Sakura.

He hopped into his car and drove on the streets to her house. He hadn't been on this route for so long, but he remembered it as clearly as if he drove here everyday.

The doorman nodded at him. "Long time, no see." It seemed like nothing had changed just then, but that was far from the truth.

Sakura sighed as the she heard the insistent pounding on the door for what seemed like the hundredth time. "Coming!" she yelled, though she had no idea who it was. She peered into the eyehole and got the shock of her life.

As if on autopilot, her hand unbolted the chain, and turned the doorknob, even though she didn't want to.

"Sakura," she heard Syaoran breathe. To his relief, and disbelief, she opened the door wider and gestured for him to go in. The apartment was exactly was he had remembered it, a bit messy but cozy.

"Just talk and get it over with."

He heard the contempt in her voice and he couldn't blame her. He had been such an ass…

"Sakura…" he started, but the look on her face shut him up.

"Just spit it out!"

"I'm sorry for all the things I said." As quickly as he could, he explained. "I knew it would hurt you, but I only did it to protect you."

"Who said you hurt me? Maybe it meant nothing to me. You're still the same stuck-up, arrogant bastard I first met. You think you're that important to the world? To me?"

Syaoran knew she was only saying those things because she wanted to wound him as much as he wounded her, but the words still pierced him like a sharp dagger. "You said you loved me."

"Said. As in past tense. I was stupid and naïve back then. Now, please leave."

"Sakura. I know you still love me!" he nearly screamed.

Her eyes hardened. "No. I loved someone who wasn't you. Someone who was a bit pig-headed, but sweet and charming on the inside. He doesn't exist anymore."

He felt his insides tear up, but he fought on. "I love you. And I know you still love me. I can see it in your eyes, in your face. I can hear it in your voice."

He grabbed her and kissed her. Sakura's eyes closed and she let herself drown in the familiar ecstasy she had missed so much, that she had yearned for. She was about to kiss him back, when her eyes snapped open and she pushed him away.

"I know you felt it."

"I felt nothing." A lie. She knew it, and she was sure he knew it too.

"Sakura, do you know how much I've dreamed of kissing you? I see your face every day, everywhere. I see your face, hear your voice, taste your lips every single second of my life. When I go to sleep, you're the last thing I see, and the first one I think of when I wake up."

"You mean, when you wake up beside Tomoyo? Tell me, which movie script did those lines come out of? After all, our whole relationship was written by other people." Her voice was full of scorn.

Her words were like a cold slap to his face. "We broke up. Your brother…he had these pictures of her and another man…"

Sakura's face burned. She told Touya not to do anything…

"Oh, so now you're after me because Tomoyo cheated on you. You just keep moving on one after another."

Syaoran heard himself growl in frustration. Why couldn't she just understand? "It's not like that. I told you, Tomoyo was forced on me and I wasn't allowed see you… I still love you. I told the Elders that and they understand."

His voice was full of longing and ache and Sakura knew she was giving in to him, but she decided to drag out his torture for just a bit longer. After all, she had suffered eighteen months.

Syaoran got down on one knee and pulled a velvet box out of his pocket. Sakura closed her eyes, sure that she was just imagining things, but when she opened them up again, Syaoran was still in front of her, holding a shiny ring out. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes."

"I love you and I promise to make you happier than any- wait, what did you just say?"

Sakura laughed. "I said yes."

Syaoran stood up and the lips joined as they continued where they had left off minutes ago…

Six months later

Syaoran stood in front of the alter. He got a feeling of déjà vu. This was almost exactly like the wedding scene in their movie, only there weren't cameras everywhere, and there was no set.

Suddenly, Julian, the best man, rushed into the room. Syaoran looked at him, concerned. "What's wrong?" he whispered.

"Sakura's not here. She never showed up."