Chapter 8- Ice Skating and a Visit from an Unwanted Girl

As Sakura and Syaoran were counting, Sakura opened her eyes to look at Syaoran. Was it her imagination, or was he sort of smiling as well? She blinked, and the small smile was gone.

'Must be my imagination….' She thought with a sigh. ''Why would she do so many things to her son to where he can't even smile? I want to make him happy, I WILL make him happy!' She smiled as they finished counting. However, before they could find Eriol and Tomoyo, her dad and Touya were ready to leave, so they couldn't finish her game.

The next day, she went over to Eriol's. They had planned to go ice skating, and Tomoyo and Sakura had decided to join Nakuru, Eriol, and Syaoran. Syaoran noticed a change in Sakura, something was making her tense.

"What's wrong?" He asked quietly, to where only she could hear.

"Hm? Oh, nothing…." And soon she was smiling again. Syaoran gave her a doubtful look, but then shrugged and decided to forget about it. They arrived, and Sakura took a long while to tie her laces on her ice skates. Syaoran had his eyes on her the whole time, and soon insisted on staying with her while skating. Eriol, of course, was latched onto Tomoyo, who didn't seem to mind, and Nakuru was off on her own, daydreaming about Touya. It wasn't long before Syaoran recognized a face he never wanted to see again.

"Oh noooooo," Syaoran grunted and hid behind Sakura. A little too late, however, for the girl had spotted Syaoran. She waved to him and skated over to him.

"Syaoran!" she said cheerfully. "How've you been? Who's your friend?" she asked the last part dully and narrowed her eyes.

"Who is this girl?" Sakura whispered.

"My cousin….." Syaoran groaned.

"AND FIANCEE!" She said proudly.

"EX- fiancée, my mother broke the engagement as "punishment" for when I failed to collect the Clow Cards." Sakura's eyes widened. "Her name is Meiling."

"Oh….I see, well, I'm Sakura." Sakura held out her hand, and Meiling glared at it as though trying to set it on fire with her eyes.

Meiling pulled Sakura aside to where they were out of range for Syaoran to hear. "Listen, Sakura," She spat when she said her name. "I don't like you. I want you to stay far away from Syaoran. If I see you within hand-holding distance, I WILL hunt you down and you WILL suffer!" She finished, and, with an angelic smile, skated back to Syaoran.

Sakura simply laughed. 'Well, you may like Syaoran, but i don't think Syaoran like you, o dear cousin of his,' she thought when she saw Syaoran's face. He was trying to hide the displeasure, but SHE was Sakura, SHE could see through anything. She inherited it from her dad!

She skated back to him and Meiling, but not to where she was in 'Hand-Holding distance" to Syaoran.

"Syaoran, honey, I'll be right back, I have to go to the bathroom," Meiling smiled and headed to the bathroom. After she left, Sakura hurried to Syaoran.

"Let's leave her and go to my work, I have to be there in 30 minutes anyway." Syaoran didn't need telling twice. He and Sakura were running out before Meiling had finished washing her hands. Meiling came out, very confused as she looked around and panicked.

"NOOOOOO!" she screamed, her voice echoing throughout the rink.

Syaoran and Sakura arrived just in time for Sakura to begin singing. Just as they were about to enter, Sakura tripped and fell hard onto the concrete floor. When Syaoran picked her up, he saw that her chin was bleeding. He tried to lift her up, but she screamed in agony.

"It's my ankle," she told him. "I can't stand to stand on it, I think I sprained it… aw man now how am I supposed to get on stage?" Her eyes then lit up. "Unless…. I don't sing….maybe I could get a FRIEND to sing FOR me?" she gave Syaoran puppy dog eyes, and he rolled his.

"Fine, but I'm singing the song I wanna sing!" Sakura agreed, and he carried her and put her into a chair near the stage. Syaoran explained the situation to her boss and he agreed to play the song Syaoran wanted. Syaoran was nervous, but as soon as the music started, he looked at Sakura and was ready.

Pretty girl is suffering, while he confesses everything
Pretty soon she'll figure out what his intentions were about
That's what you get for falling again
You can never get 'em out of your head
That's what you get for falling again
You can never get 'em out of your head

It's the way
That he makes you feel
It's the way
That he kisses you
It's the way
That he makes you fall in love

She's beautiful as usual with bruises on her ego and
Her killer instinct tells her to beware of evil men
And that's what you get for falling again
You can never get 'em out of your head
And that's what you get for falling again
You can never get 'em out of your head

It's the way
That he makes you feel
It's the way
That he kisses you
It's the way
That he makes you fall in love

It's the way
That he makes you feel
It's the way
That he kisses you
It's the way
That he makes you fall in love
Love

Pretty girl, pretty girl

Pretty girl is suffering, while he confesses everything
Pretty soon she'll figure out
You can never get 'em out of your head

It's the way
That he makes you cry
It's the way
That he in your mind
It's the way
That he makes you fall in love

It's the way
That he makes you feel
It's the way
That he kisses you
It's the way
That he makes you fall in love
Love

During the first chorus, Sakura began clutching her heart for 2 reasons. By the time the song had ended, both of the reasons were too much. She fainted and fell out of her chair, not even feeling her head hit the floor.

"SAKURA!" he yelled into the microphone and jumped off the stage to her aid. At his voice, her eyes opened a little, just enough to see her squint in pain yet smile. Syaoran was panicking, he had no idea what was wrong, until of course the pain caught up to Sakura, and she held her lower legs just above her ankles. Syaoran lifted up her pants and saw raw skin.

"Why didn't you tell me? What's this from!"

She was breathing hard as she answered slowly. "The…. Ice skates….. they were cutting into my skin……. I thought it was normal….. I guess not….at first I could ignore the pain…but now….."

"You idiot! Someone help me! Help her on my back!" A few people helped her and he ran out of the karaoke/restaurant and to her house.

Meiling, on the other hand, had been searching for him all across town. She was walking down the sidewalk when she saw Syaoran running down coming from the opposite direction with Sakura on his back. She was about to wave when he passed right by her with a whirlwind of speed.

"Huh! Rrrrrrr SAKURA!" she screamed, making everyone around her stare at her strangely.

Syaoran and Sakura arrived at Eriol's. He couldn't take her to her house; Syaoran didn't know how Touya or her dad would react. Hopefully Nakuru was home. Then it dawned on him- he had left them at the rink. But then again, that was over an hour ago…so there was a chance she was home… He knocked on the door… no answer.

"YUE!" He shouted to the sky. "YUE, WHERE ARE YOU!" At this Yue again appeared.

"What's wrong with Sakura!" Yue was confused. Syaoran told him of what had happened, and Yue simply nodded.

"I'll go to Sakura's and get some bandages." With that he was gone yet again. Syaoran gently let Sakura down and looked at her. She simply smiled through all the pain, which only made Syaoran want to cry. Maybe she was hallucinating, but she could've sworn she saw a few tears drip their way to the ground. Yue returned and helped Sakura bandage her ankles.

"They're going to leave scars," Yue informed them sadly. Both of their eyes widened.

"What!" Syaoran was infuriated.

"Yue, thanks, could you leave us?" Yue nodded and disappeared. Syaoran….I have a question for you……." She sounded serious, which made Syaoran gulp, wondering what it could be…..