Oh man, I screwed up on the previous chapters. Aaarrrggghhh!

So, anyways, this here's chapter 3… The story is so full of ups and downs. Still the same as before, but better!

I promise I'll make the best of my story from now! Anything for the welfare of you readers, cos you the gig! Especially if you review!

Disclaimer: I don't own CCS. I have nothing more to say.

Oh, cut the krap and let's just get on with the chapter!

Chapter 3: Hatred Interlude

Sakura went back to her normal just-on-time-for-school schedule the minute she was discharged. It just seemed she didn't need to run away from Syaoran anymore.

Well, at least she didn't see why she needed to. I mean, not like he's a mad man-eating boar or something.

She stepped out of the mansion gates, only to see Syaoran at the sidewalk.

"5 minutes to get to school, Sakura," he smirked slightly. "Think you can beat me to it?"

"And why not?" She returned the smirk, take me on. She didn't have to worry about her leg, much to Syaoran's shock.

"What!" He hollered as Sakura raced past him.

"Hurry up or you'll be late for school!" Sakura cheered in the distance.

She healed fast, he thought to himself. Damn her magic elements. If it weren't for them, he could've played with her a bit longer.

Unsurprisingly, Sakura beat it to him. Her eyes sparkled in glamour at the sight of Syaoran entering the school.

"Hey Syao!" She greeted nonchalantly.

Syaoran
30 July 2005
Homeroom free period

Sakura beat me to it. Just nice. Just what I needed. Some time to think stuff over.

Well, the time spent was not wasted. I've decided to continue to adore her, and maybe even win her heart one day.

Hell no, I can't. I can't make Sakura love me. I can make her like me, I can make her hate me, and I can make her kiss me (oh, that's not much of a problem really). But I can't make her love me.

I walked into school and Sakura greeted me. Tomoyo and Eriol followed behind.

"Hey Syao!" She cheered.

God, I love that name. I especially adore the way she said it. Syao…

"U-ur hi-" I stuttered as I found myself aroused. "Sakura."

Her mocking happiness ceased to fade. Damn, she still has that sweet smile on her face, which conveniently makes her look so…

"You're later for school than usual! What kept you?" She questioned teasingly.

You know very well, Sakura. You made me… I snapped back into focus. I glared at her as cold as I could… Which was, if you asked me, not very much. My gaze softened as I realized I had once done her wrong. I couldn't stand hurting her again, even if it meant psychologically. "I had to… Um… To think some stuff over. Yeah, that's what took me so long," I said quickly, putting up a show for Tomoyo and Eriol to save my face.

Sigh, there goes the bell.

The last period for them was home economics. Not surprisingly, they were in the same group- food and nutrition.

Great, she thought as she sighted Syaoran enter the class, just what I need to make my day.

She fumbled with something rather imaginary as he plopped down on the empty chair beside her. Coincidental, but not so amusing on the long run.

Syaoran teasingly whispered to Sakura, "Hey, Kura-chin."

"Shut up," she snapped. He cackled.

"Why so angry all of a sudden? Aren't you supposed to be soaking in the rays of triumph?"

The teacher eyed them suspiciously, making Syaoran stop his whining. Sakura beamed. "Today's project will be chocolate fudge. To make things easier, you shall team up with the person beside you."

Syaoran breathed. "Yes!"

Sakura moaned. She buried her face deep in her hands and groaned in despair.

The teacher glared at them, then continued. "You can help yourselves to the recipes in the cooking books stacked here. You have until the end of the lesson, starting now."

30 minutes into the session, they were the fastest pair to concoct the mixture. Sakura took a spoon and dipped it in the milky-brown substance. She took a sip.

The way she takes the sip… Syaoran thought to himself. It's so… Gorgeous.

Sakura scrunched her nose. "It's too sweet!" She coughed. "Thanks to Your Royale Clumsiness!"

"No," Syaoran smirked at her. "It must be your sweet spit that spurted in there."

"Shut up," she hissed in defense.

"You still got your mind on the bet then?" He murmured in an undertone, making her blush. Much to his delight.

Sakura K.
30 July 2005
Royale Mansion. My room.

The bet. Oh, God. I'm blushing as I recall that tragic day…

"I bet you like me, Saku," Syaoran smirked

"Yeah, and I bet I don't, Li-chan," I challenged him, although it was quite very difficult on account of the fact that his muscular build had me squished up against a wall.

"Wanna make a real bet then?" He whispered in my ear, sending a bolt of electricity through me, making my goosebumps rise in tension.

"Sure," I invited his competition. "Place your bet."

"I bet I can get you to kiss me, and then sleep with me within a week after that." He traced his finger up and down my neck.

"Oh yeah?" I smirked confidently. "And what will the victor get?"

"If I get you to kiss me, and then go to bed a week after, you'll have to bunk with me for two weeks straight," he laid his terms without much hesitation.

"Fine by me. And if I don't kiss you and don't go and sleep with you…" she bit her lip enticingly, making him stand. "You are to obey my orders for a week. Oh, and when you say 'go to bed', no sex is included. Deal?"

"You bet it's a freaking deal…" He whispered distractedly in her ear. Obey your orders, huh? He was still in dreamland and by the time he realized what he had just promised, he piped up.

"What? No sex?" He asked.

"Nope," she said flatly. "No sex."

"Oh, come on," he whined as he curled her locks playfully around his fingers. "You'll be screaming my name not wanting me to stop by the time we entangle in the sheets."

She frowned at him. "You son of a bitch."

"Slut." He suddenly jolted. "Um, I didn't mean that-"

"Let's just seal this freaking bet," she snapped.

"Okay, but this is a special bet," he smirked, having a bunch of schemes, each one more preposterous than the previous. "And a special bet needs a special seal."

"Name your condition," she challenged, I'm not afraid of anything.

"Hmmm… I'd make it a kiss…" She playfully- glares from Syaoran I mean painfully- punched him in the groin. "Oomph!" He stumbled back, grimacing. "Okay, I would-" Sakura raised a fist at him, giving a warning. "-If the bet itself weren't already one!" He rushed quickly, defending his family jewels.

"How abouts a hug?" she suggested huffily.

"Too shallow."

"Bastard."

"Okay, okay, anything that pleases Your Highness." He sighed. "Just a miserable hug?"

"That or nothing, Li Syaoran. Take your pick," she hissed. In reality, she wanted so badly to feel the warmth of his masculinity against her.

And he wanted to feel the ardor of her body again as he had from the handshake before, even if it was…

"Miserable compared to a kiss…" He grumbled. His eyes darted to her clenched fist and he abruptly said, "Fine, fine, a hug…"

(A/N: Readers, you have to understand. He didn't want to stand her power-packed fist against his jewels, ridding him of all possible Father's Day celebrations, and neither did he want to cower away from a girl, running from her like a mad dog who doesn't know the meaning of courage. He had to give in…)

He put his arms around her, rather unexpectedly immediate, and she greeted that with her arms embraced around his waist.

Beneath the icy surface of Permafrost Queen… What really lies there is Summer Haven… Syaoran was lost in his fantasy delusions. Ice Missy meets Flaming Hot Adolescent. Perfect.

The hug got just a tad bit tighter, and then they let go. "See ya in the morning." He stepped back, releasing the tension in the atmosphere. "Oh, and by the way, the bet starts as of tomorrow." He shut the door behind him. Tomorrow. She would be going back to school then.

Sakura continued to lean against the wall, blushing fierily. How she wished the stupid bet was just getting her into bed with him, so that the seal could be a tantalizing kiss… His lips promised so.

Whatever. She was going to win, and wouldn't have to lose her dignity, and possibly her innocence, to him…

Right?

Syaoran
30 July 2005
My Apartment, living room.

Haha, I reminded her of our little bet today, and she blushed heavily.

The lingering hug. Was that it? I could feel her warmth against mine; it was so inviting.

Anyways, today. Home ec.

"I venture you're sweet," I whispered to her, purposely making her redden cutely yet steam at the same time. She gave me the finger. Rather unexpected, yet bold.

"You do that again, missy, and I'll spatter this sack of flour over you," I threatened.

She took me head on. I couldn't stand her freaking bravery. I grabbed the flour sack and hurled its contents at her. The asinine teacher didn't realize that one of her student had just magically transformed into Doughgirl.

A few classmates' gasps and muffled snickers could be heard vaguely.

She scooped a wad of the mixture and flung it at me. I took the whole tub and tipped it over her head, letting just enough mixture out to color her auburn hair. She soon found her face coated with rich milky chocolat. I thought I'd be a bit daring and licked her milk-coated lips.

"Not too sweet… Just nice," I taunted. "Tasty."

"Your Highnesses!" The teacher raved. There was nothing much she could do, really. We could choose not to be serious in class and not to listen to the teacher; she couldn't do anything about it. We are, after all, future leaders of the free world. And we could decide not to pay attention- we top the level every year anyway. "I expect a tub of hot fudge- double weightage- on my desk tomorrow morning. Class dismissed!" She huffed with such intolerance.

Later that day, they were at the gym's clean-up room, cleaning themselves up. Syaoran had offered to help her tidy the mess.

"Come on, I'll help you clean up all that delish," he flirtatiously licked some of the chocolat off her cheek. "Lick by lick. It'd be tastier that way-"

"Stop crapping up!" Sakura burst out. "Leave me alone, will you!"

"Sakura, I-"

"Don't Sakura, I me! I hate you!" She threw a towel at him. "First you break my leg. Now you coat me steaming with chocolat paste! What do you want? Haven't you had enough fun already?" She cried out and ran to the girl's restroom.

(A/N: Darn, I think that was rather retarded. But forgive me…)

Syaoran kind of regretted what he had done. Didn't he promise himself never to hurt her in any way ever again? Jeez, how was he to repay her- again?

(A/N: That was a statement both he and I, the writer, lamented to ourselves. We're both at a loss of what to do next… Especially since if I don't come up with anything, he won't be able to do anything either.)

switchpink: that was kinda crud.. I might work harder on Chapter 4: . I won't force you guys to review, but if you want a good chapter, you know what to do…