DISCLAIMER: I don't own any CCS characters, they belong to CLAMP.

yay for not have a lot of home work after finals!

Sakura's plight

Kaiba was ranting about how unfeeling Sakura was. "That's not true," she protested silently, " I loved once, but never again. It hurt too much to be separated from my dear Gareth."

She sat on the couch in stony silence. Her emerald eyes hard as agates stared straight ahead. In the years since becoming an immortal, she had learned to conceal her feelings. She remembered the first time Kaiba yelled. She yelled back. The second time, she just laughed at him, he didn't know how much father from the truth he could be every time he said she had no feelings.

Watching Kaiba, Sakura often wondered how exactly she had ever become his friend. Then she remembered...when she first came, and even now, he was always cordial. "I'm getting sick of this. Why does he have to such a baby? I don't like him the way he like me. After so long, one would think he's learned something."

Sakura stood up abruptly. In the soft voice she almost always used, she said, "If you are quite done Kaiba. I'll be going now."

Roughly, Kaiba grabbed her arm. "You can't run away from me, you need me. One of these days you'll realize that and come running to me. Then who will be the smart one eh?" Seeing that Sakura was about to hit him, he let go, causing her to momentarily loose her balance.

Standing erect again, she looked Kaiba squarely in the eye. It was Kaiba who had to look away though. "One day, you will realize that I'm not the one for you. I'm speaking to you as one god to another, not as woman to man." With that, Sakura stormed out of her house.

Going to the stables, she took a horse and rode to Syaoran's house. She took nothing with her. Over the years, she had stayed there so many times that she now had her own set of rooms in his house. Everything she needed was already there.

Putting the horse away, she walked into the house. The servants noticed her, but didn't tell Syaoran. They had learned that Sakura like to surprise their master. Sakura walked to the library. Seeing that Syaoran was not there, she went to the training courts. As she approached, she could hear swords clinking. Standing in the doorway, she saw Syaoran fencing with Eriol.

Syaoran was the first to spy Sakura. He lost his concentration and was neatly pinned to the wall by Eriol. Eriol, also noticing his friend's lapse in concentration, followed Syaoran's gaze to Sakura. Kaho had told him long ago that Syaoran was in love with Sakura, but didn't want to tell her because she didn't want to love. Eriol smiled, "I think I should get going Syaoran. Kaho will be expecting me." Syaoran could only nod dumbly, his gaze locked on Sakura. "Syaoran, my friend," Eriol whispered, "You'd better snap out of it, or else she'll notice."

"Huh? Oh, right, snap out of it." He smiled. The two gods walked over to Sakura. Eriol bowed to her. "Sakura, it's good to see you again. I'd stay, but Kaho is waiting for me."

"Of course," Sakura replied, curtseying.

Syaoran scratched his head, confused, "I thought we agreed not to do the little formalities when it was just us friends..."

"But it's so fun to see you perplexed Syaoran, right Sakura?" Eriol asked. Sakura nodded in agreement. "Well, I'd best be off," Eriol left.

Syaoran looked at Sakura. She looked at him and smiled a small, forlorn smile and he immediately knew that this was not a social call on her part; Kaiba had gotten angry again. "Come with me to the kitchen. Would you like to talk?" Sakura nodded and followed him to the kitchen. He got her a mug of apple cider while he rummaged around for sandwich making materials. Glancing in her direction every once in a while, he noticed that she was just staring off into space.

He walked over to her, carrying a plate of sandwiches. "Are you hungry?" Sakura shook her head. "Ok, Sakura, tell me, talk to me. Something must be really wrong for you not to be talking to me at all."

The silence in the room was almost tangible. When Sakura finally did speak, her voice was shaky and filled with emotion. "I can't take it anymore. I have to get away from Kaiba."

"That's easy, you can stay with me for as long as you need Sakura. "Syaoran replied.

"No." Sakura stopped for a moment, looked down, and when she raised her eyes, they were filled with tears. "No, it's not that simple anymore."

"What do you mean it's not that simple anymore?"

Sakura couldn't speak because she was crying. Her tiny body wracked with her sobbing. Syaoran gathered her into his arms and comforted her. His heart ached for her. He had always wanted to hold her in his arms, not because she was distraught, but because she loved him. "What am I thinking?" he berated himself, "I should be glad for every chance I get to be close to her."

Sakura's crying had lessened and she freed herself from Syaoran's embrace. "I need to tell someone why I'm like this. I guess I should tell him now before I chicken out...well, here goes." Syaoran was about to ask her a question, but she cut him off and started talking.

"I was born in the mortal world. I was fifteen when I came here. My mother and father told me that on the day I was born, the Fates came and told them I was to be a goddess. My parents didn't want to let me go. I guess I would have loved to follow the Fates here, but I was in love. With a boy named Gareth," Sakura could see the understanding dawn on Syaoran. Even though he was starting to understand, she wanted to make sure he did, so she continued.

"We didn't want to leave each other. We were so in love. But in the end, it was inevitable that we separate. Right before the portal closed between the two worlds, I told him I'd never forget him. He seemed to have something on his mind and I just wanted to comfort him. He said something back, but it was too late, I couldn't hear him. To this very day, I wonder that he said to me, and even though he's been dead for over a thousand years, not a day passes when I don't think about him. Do you understand now why it's so hard for me to love?"

Syaoran nodded, "because you're reluctant to let go."

"Yes, and Kaiba isn't exactly helping either. I need to go away for a while. Far, far away. Away to the mortal realms."

Syaoran looked stricken. This wasn't what he had expected. "Sakura, you're a goddess, how can you?"

"No one said anything about not being able to visit the mortal world. I'll be perfectly safe thanks to you and your martial arts training."

"Sakura please, think this through some more. I-" "I want to tell you how much I love you, but I know you wont be happy if I do. NO, no, no, Please, Sakura, listen to me, don't go. What am I going to do without her?"

"No, Syaoran. I've been thinking about this for more than a year now. This is what I need. I need to get away from Kaiba."

"Sakura, the mortal world has changed. We're more recognizable now."

"I can change my appearance too. Syaoran, I know you're worried for me. That's why you're such a good friend. I think I can handle myself though."

"I can see it in her eyes, I've already lost the argument...No, what am I thinking? There wasn't an argument to begin with. She came already determined to leave, with or without my approval" Syaoran sighed, "You're right I guess..."

"I really wanted your approval. Thank you." She paused. "Umm, I won't be leaving for a few days-"

"No need to ask, you're welcome here anytime."

"You answered one of my questions. I need you to do something. Promise me. Promise me that you will not tell anyone where I'm going. Act like I'm just staying here for the usual length of time, and you need to be surprised when I leave, so I'm not telling you when I'm leaving. But promise me."

"Sakura-"

"Promise."

"Fine. Where are you going?"

"Back to my world."

Sakura got up and left for her rooms.

Syaoran sat in silence, not sure what to do. No, he knew that the only thing he could do was follow Sakura in this. He sighed and went about his business.

a/n: Since i don't have that much hw (surprising for high school) I might get chapter 3 up tomorrow. talk to me more. What do you think?