Disclaimer:- Multiple choice question: which one of the following is NOT true? a) I'm a Scorpio, b) I own CCS or c) I'm seventeen. Answers on a postcard...

Chapter 9:- Meeting in moonlight.

Sakura trudged back to the mansion fuming and muttering curses under her breath about a certain infuriatingly-sarcastic-bastard of a bachelor.

"Arrogant acid-tongued alligator, Bullying bigheaded bastard, Cruel callous creep, Dumb despicable dog... "

Unlike normal people, Sakura uses alliterations whenever she is pissed or emotionally stressed.

Back inside the mansion...

"Hey where's Sakura?" Naoko asked frowning.

"I don't know, maybe she went down early to break fast " Kourin said thoughtfully.

The girls looked at her in shock.

Kourin finally noticed the look " What? "

"That's the first thing you've said that hasn't been filled with dirty innuendo. Congratulations! " Kasumi said smiling.

Kourin scowled and rolled her eyes.

They all made their way to the hall for break fast after being told that the date box will arrive at noon.

Breakfast was spent as usual, girls trying to hit on Syaoran, Syaoran barely covering his disgust and some of the girls arguing among themselves.

So it was a total surprise to all of them when Sakura came in looking like a cross between a tree and a deranged loon.

She has leaves and sticks tangled in her hair, her dress was dirty, she was muttering to herself and the maniac glint in her eyes didn't help her look sane either.

One thing the girls deduced was that Sakura was angry...crazily at it too...

Sakura looked up when Kasumi spoke up her voice full of concern.

" Sakura are you alright? You look like hell"

Sakura's eye twitched " Good morning to you too Kasumi " she said sarcastically.

Syaoran snorted from his place " Why, aren't you a bundle of Sunshine?" he said smirking "or should i say leaves and twigs "

Sakura scowled at him and went up the stairs, not before hearing one of the girls mutter "Dead girl walking ..." and the rounds of laughter from some of them at that comment.

Sakura blinked away the angry tears and went straight to her room , sat on her bed and stared out the window. She heard a hesitant knock on the door and ignored it.

"Sakura, it's me Naoko can I come in?"

Sakura sighed " yes..."

Naoko came in and closed the door behind her gently. She went near Sakura and sat beside her "What happened Sakura?"

"Stuff ..."

Naoko sighed ' Typical, Sakura's vocabulary gets limited when she is mad at someone ' " Did Syaoran do something?"

"yes "

Naoko frowned "What did he do Sakura? Did he harm you? "

"No"

"Come on Sakura, you can tell me anything you know " Naoko told in a coaxing and gentle voice.

Naoko then started to pluck all the leaves and twigs from Sakura's hair "Um, were you ambushed by a tree or something Saku ?"

Sakura rolled her eyes "I fell off one..."

Naoko raised an eyebrow " Why were you up in that tree, this early in the morning? Don't tell me you're dendrahellic..." she said trying to hide a smile.

Sakura looked confused "Dendrahellic?"

"A person who has sex with trees..." Naoko said trying to hide the laughter at the shocked face of her friend.

"WHAT? "

Naoko giggled "Hey relax Saku, we all know you and trees don't have an intimate relationship, what did Syaoran do anyway ?"

Sakura took a deep breathe " I HOPE THAT FRIGGIN BASTARD BURNS " she said snidely.

Naoko smiled " Well that was informative, honestly what happened I thought you guys were getting close "

Sakura seethed " Close? Close! We're not close. Friends are close! Couples are close! Doors close! Agh! What the hell am I talking about!" she yelled in frustration.

"Woah, Saku, breathe.."

"I'm breathing, I'm breathing.." she stopped her rampant pacing and did these little yoga-meditation exercises that apparently calmed her down.

" There we go," Naoko said in a therapist-soothing voice. "Now, what's troubling you?"

Sakura shot her this look that could freeze fire. "Thank you, Hannibal Lector."

"You're the one who looks like your about to start eating my brains." Naoko said smiling.

Sakura scowled "One minute he's all worried that I would've broken my neck from the fall and the next thing I know he's laughing at my face and calling me a wench ! "

Naoko sensed the confusion and anger that Sakura practically oozed out. and she came to one conclusion, it was time for some serious boy bashing.

" Ignore him then Sakura " Naoko said rolling her eyes " I know about his mood swings, from the dates I've gone on. Honestly, I swear he has a guy version of PMS. "

Sakura giggled " Tell me about it! He really can be stupid! Maybe if we to put in him a desert he would
slowly melt. "

Naoko laughed " Can you see him? ' Help me, I'm melting! I'm melting!' " she said trying to imitate Syaoran's deep voice.

Sakura smiled " I should try that sometime as my next prank..."

Naoko nodded still smiling " Perhaps he would fit in a stove..."

" Nah, his ego is HUGE. I'm surprised he's able to walk through the doors, he really should be wearing a sign that says ' Warning: Big head! " Sakura said with a large grin.

Naoko laughed " But really Sakura did Syaoran care that much? "

Sakura smirked" Yeah, Syaoran looked as if he was the most caring boss in the whole wide world..."

Naoko smiled but choked on laughter as she heard Sakura's finishing words.

" Well he would be, if the whole wide world only consisted of him and a cockroach. And even then, it would be a hard fight. " Sakura said rolling her eyes with a grin.

Just then Airo, Kasumi and Kourin entered the room.

Sakura's grin faltered though as she realized that he did look like he cared but then again, he made her fall to the ground and called her a wench.

' So it doesn't really matter right?... ' she asked herself.

' Of course it doesn't matter! He's just a stupid jerk...' a voice spoke up inside Sakura sounding strangely like Touya

'He really does care...' this time the voice sounded like Tomoyo.

' He made her fall ' Touya-like-voice said.

' He caught her when she fell off a tree, no jerk will do that !' Tomoyo-like-voice said.

"Will you SHUT UP ?" Sakura yelled in frustration.

Naoko and the girls blinked.

"Um, Sakura, we weren't exactly talking " Airo said with a frown.

"Oh, I didn't tell it you girls, I was speaking to the voices inside my head" Sakura said lamely.

The girls gave her a look that said you-are-turning-into-a-nutsy-cookoo-and-you-better-do-something-about-it.

Sakura scowled and gave them the I-don't-friggin-care-and-shut-up-before-I-really-turn-into-a-loon-and-bite-your-head-off. look before heading outside to the hall.

All that yelling and talking made her famished.

lllllllllllllllllll

Sakura sighed in relief as she reached the table, there was no sign of the bastard or any other bitchy girls.

Soon she began to eat her breakfast.

"My, my Sakura you eat as if you had been starving for days " Syaoran commented coming near her.

Sakura jumped in shock " Don't do that you jerk! You nearly gave me a heart attack "

Syaoran smirked "You're just 23, you can't have heart attacks so early "

Sakura scowled "Why are you here? " she demanded after a bit.

" For the sheer enjoyment of your company. " Syaoran said sarcastically.

" Well, I'm not enjoying yours " Sakura retorted.

" Temper, temper Sakura. Now we must all know how to respect people who are older, wiser and smarter than you " Syaoran said smirking.

" Listen Syaoran, do me a favor and tape your mouth shut, I'm trying to eat in peace" Sakura said scowling.

" A little feisty now are we? Besides you already ate a lot anyway "

"I'm a growing young writer, I need my food " Sakura said huffing.

"Growing horizontally perhaps ? " Syaoran said with a sadistic smile.

Sakura shot him a glare " Why don't you tie a rock to your foot and jump off a bridge "

Syaoran feigned a look of hurt "You wound me Sakura, is this the way you talk to your knight in shinning armor?"

" My knight shinning armor?" Sakura asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, I rescued you from such a devastating fall from the tree " Syaoran said his voice full of pride.

" That was before you dropped me to the ground, called me a wench and left me there in the middle of the forest" Sakura said evidently angry.

"Hey, you deserved it, besides you agree that I saved you don't you? " Syaoran said arrogantly

" Uh-huh, You were so brave and valiant in rescuing me. " Sakura said rolling her eyes.

" No problem. You can always count on your local superhero, Syaoran Li to come to the rescue." Syaoran grinned.

"Don't get use to the idea of me playing the damsel in distress." Sakura said smirking wickedly." I'm usually the villain with an Ink balloon in hand "

" Right. " Syaoran rolled his eyes "You need to improve your evil plans, if that's what you call them "

"Those weren't my evil plans, they were merely starters and I guess I misjudged your skills a bit " Sakura said scowling.

" Was that a compliment? " Syaoran asked trying to hide a smile.

"No, it's a warning that I won't go easy on you next time" Sakura said narrowing her eyes.

" Then expect something equally horrible as pay back " Syaoran smirked.

" Is this the part where I tremble, shrivel up and die?" Sakura asked, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Syaoran bent down and whispered into her ear. " I'm afraid it wouldn't be that easy. "

Sakura faked a gasp " I'm shivering in fear, oh whatever shall I do ? " she said her voice once again filled with sarcasm.

"Have you been taking a sarcasm class?" Syaoran said, raising one eyebrow.

"You betcha. Sarcasm ' Syaoran Li 'stylee. It had your name on it, so I just knew this class was for me!" Sakura answered.

Syaoran gave a half grin. " Who teaches it? " He then enquired.

" I can't tell you, It's Highly confidential " Sakura said giving him an impish smile.

"Well, then I'm off. Any last superhero requests? " Syaoran tilted his head towards Sakura.

Sakura smiled and looked thoughtful.

" Don't ask me to fly to the moon though. The man living on the moon is way creepy." Syaoran said shuddering a bit.

Sakura smiled. " Don't tempt me. "

Syaoran gave her one last half smirk and a half grin before walking out of the room.

Sakura watched him sighing to herself a bit 'I really don't understand you Syaoran... '

llllllllllllllllllll

Sakura finished her breakfast and went inside the girls room.

Naoko and Kasumi were sitting on their bed and greeted her looking very glad to see her back to normal.

For the next hour Sakura spent her time listening lying down on her bed to Brianna and Kourin's giggles as they mulled over their thoughts of what their perfect man should do.

" I always imagined mine to give me a nice bunch of flowers and dance with me in the moonlight " Brianna said dreamily.

"My perfect man, which is Syaoran by the way " Kourin said among the many glares she received "Should sweep me off my feet and get down and dirty with me "

" Big surprise there " Airo said in a deadpan voice.

Sakura stuffed a pillow over her head, told them, rather loudly, to stuff a sock in it, and finally just given up and listened to them.

After a while it became quite clear that their versions of the perfect man were actually quite different. And all quite impossible.

Bitterly, Sakura yelled over to them that the term perfect man was an oxymoron.

"Oh come on Sakura, we're just talking about what Syaoran should do " Kasumi said with an exasperated look.

Sakura gave her a sour look " If Syaoran did atleast one of the things you girls said willingly then I'll eat my shoes "

The girls rolled their eyes at her and before they could discuss further the final date box arrived.

Sakura smiled and was feeling glad for the first time over the arrival of a date box.

Soon the last three girls, were ready to go on their date and came back looking happy and cheerful.

Before she knew it, Sheifa Liang waltzed into the room.

"It's time for the rose ceremony girls, four of you gets eliminated today, good luck " she said smiling and went away.

lllllllllllllllllllllllll

Sakura and the girls got ready and slowly marched up to the elimination room following Shiefa Liang in silence.

Some of the girls were fidgeting nervously and biting their lip.

Sakura would've sighed in exasperation at those girls, but she really doesn't find the need to get smashed by a bunch of bitchy nervous and rabid girls in the middle of a TV show.

So Sakura wisely shut her mouth and only allowed herself the privilege of rolling her eyes at those girls.

' Honestly, this is just a stupid show, who cares if he selects you or not ' Sakura thought to herself.

' I know you would...' Tomoyo-like-voice said.

' Nah, she'd be just happy to get off this show ' Touya-like-voice piped in.

'You're just in denial ...' Tomoyo-like-voice said in a sing song voice

' I'm clinically insane, I have voices in my head ' Sakura thought frowning 'If I keep this up the whole world will think I'm a nutter '

Sakura shook her head to clear the unwanted mind argument she's been having lately..

She arrived at the elimination hall and saw Syaoran standing there with a small smirk on his face which he quickly wiped away as the girls entered.

They took their positions and he began his customary speech.

" This has been the most difficult decision so far. Each and every one of you mean something special to me... "

And blah blah yada yada the usual shit he makes up.

Syaoran approached the stand were the roses lied and took a deep breath.

' He really should be an actor ' Sakura thought annoyed at his planned-but-supposed-to-be-perfectly-natural behavior.

He picked up the first rose tenderly and Sakura fought back the urge to yell " Get on with it already! " and shove the rose down his throat.

The first name he called was " Kasumi, will you accept this rose? "

Kasumi made the whole sparkly eye thing again. Hey, she wasn't the drama queen for nothing you know.

" Yes " she cried happily and gave him a hug.

And so they went through the other four names Kourin, Naoko , Airo and Ashley before getting to the last one.

Five girls were left, including Sakura, Sandy and Brianna.

Sakura felt bad for them, she knew they weren't going to be picked.

Syaoran took the last rose and paused for a moment.

Sakura rolled her eyes, the way in which he's acting, she could practically envision a 'DUN DUN DUN ' machine going on somewhere at the background.

"Sakura" Sakura smiled and went to accept the rose from the blockheaded brute.

Syaoran looked directly into her eyes, while some of the girls would nearly jump in joy if Syaoran did this, Sakura merely smirked at him and gave him a haughty look.

lllllllllllllllllllllllllll

The girls were bidding farewell to all the tearful eliminated girls.

Brianna was practically bawling her eyes out , Sandy joined her and they both gurgled something which Sakura vaguely wondered whether it was a 'Good bye you nice people' or 'Hope you get dumped too '

Knowing Brianna, she opted for the latter one.

All the other five girls went to their rooms and started sleeping. But Sakura couldn't.

She tossed and turned and finally decided that some fresh air would do her good.

Sakura slowly crept out of the room, not wanting to wake up her new roommate Ashley and made her way to the lake she found near the manor.

lllllllllllllll

Sakura silently hummed a song to herself and soon reached the place she had been looking for. Sakura's eye grew in fascination as she took in the scene before her bathed in moonlight.

The garden was nothing short of magnificent, and somehow she knew that it would be one of her favorite spots in the mansion, it was a wonder to her that none of the girls saw this place.

A giant rose covered walls and the rows upon rows of exotic, beautiful flowers. A big fountain was in the middle, and a small stream lazily wound its way through the grounds.

The moon was high in the black cloudy night sky, and a few beautiful little stars dotted the heavens.

Sakura gazed up at them, a few feet away from the lazy, lily pad covered pond. Her arms were folded, trying to retain her warmth.

The water glimmered brightly in the moonlight and when her fingertips dipped into the substance, a cool, soothing feeling met her touch. Sakura smiled brightly and felt herself relax under the cool touch.

She let out a sigh of content...

And another sigh echoed back.

Sakura raised her eyebrows thoughtfully.' There is an echo around here!' she thought in glee and her eyes brightened enormously.

Carefully , she opened her mouth. " Hello? " she called , waiting forher echo to respond.

" Hello "

She giggled. ' Wow , this echo turned out really low...and really masculine...'

" My name is Sakura..." She said again, cheerfully.

" My name is Syaoran... "

Sakura jumped, she had been unaware of his presence, and nearly fell into the pond.

Syaoran's hand shot out and he caught her by the waist to keep her from falling.

Sakura smiled up at Syaoran who hadn't removed his arm from her waist. " It's so beautiful out here! " she said happily.

"It was a wedding gift to my mother when she married father " Syaoran said, gazing out into the beautiful garden.

Sakura joined him. Syaoran removed his arms from Sakura and gazed at her in fascination.

The moonlight was playing off of Sakura's Auburn hair, making it look smooth as silk. It reflected in her beautiful green eyes, giving her an unearthly look.

Sakura noticed Syaoran looking at her in a strange way.

" What? " Sakura asked confused.

"Um, nothing, " Syaoran muttered, his voice restrained. He reached uncertainly for his collar. " That dress, ah , the moonlight is very " He seemed to find this statement satisfactory and stopped there.

Sakura blushed as she realized she was just in her night gown. She shivered at the sudden chill that seemed to blow all of a sudden..

"Cold?" Syaoran asked frowning.

Sakura nodded her head. There wasa rustling of cloth and to her surprise she was suddenly wrapped up in Syaoran's green jacket.

She looked inquiringly at him and he responded.

" I always bring my jacket here, If you get sick because of this cold, we might catch it too " Syaoran said smirking a little.

" Thanks Syaoran " Sakura said with a grin as Syaoran returned it with a small smile as he gazed at her.

Sakura stifled a yawn and still shivered in spite of the extra warmth that the jacket gave her. "Man i'm so tired "

" You've had a hard day after all... one can only fall from the tree, eat like a sloth, and argue with me so strenuously for so long." Syaoran said dryly as he gently wrapped his arm around Sakura's small waist.

"Dumb Jerk ! " Sakura said, poking his chest. "Hey I heard Sandy saw you after the ceremony "

Syaoran rolled his eyes "She wanted me to take her back, but I said no "

" Did Sandy take it well? Sakura asked concerned.

"Hmm, not considering the way she screamed, pulled her hair, stomped around, did this weird little funky dance and started crying enough to save the world from drought, I would say she took it excellently." Syaoran said smirking.

Sakura barely stifled a laugh.

" Though therapy would be good. " Syaoran said smiling down at her.

"All this fuss for an irritatingly infuriating imbecile " Sakura said shaking her head with a sigh "What has the world come to "

"All this time you blamed innocent old me and yet it was YOU who is jealous and need counseling " Syaoran said leaning down.

" Am not " Sakura howled.

" Are too! "

" Am not! "

"Are too! " With this Syaoran pulled Sakura into his chest, rendering the her unable to respond.

Sakura was shocked and they sat there for several moments. Syaoran closed his eyes in pure bliss as Sakura tentatively hugged him back.

The silence was shattering when she Sakura giggled and pulled out her hands into the sky "Oh wow! Look, Syaoran it's snowing " Sakura said happily.

" Hmm? " Glancing up into the now opaque sky, Syaoran could see snowflakes falling down from above.

With a pensive expression, he spoke reflectively." My mom used to tell me a story when I was little, about when it snowed. "

"Really? " Sakura asked, turning her Emerald eyes attentively on him. " What did she say? "

Thinking for a moment, he let out a deep laugh. " I can't really remember right now. "

Sakura smiled "Oh, that's alright "

Syaoran checked his watch. "Well we should head back, it's way past your bed time " He said loosening himself from Sakura and smirking down at her.

" I do not have a bedtime! " Sakura yelled indignantly.

" Yes you do. You get crabby if you stay out too late. " Syaoran said as they walked to the mansion.

" How did you know " Sakura promptly clamped a hand over her mouth. " I mean how can you say that? "

" It was just a guess "

"Drats, you're really good " Sakura said scowling.

" I know "

They soon reached the stairs to their separate room.

" Good night Syaoran " Sakura said barely stifling a yawn as she made her way up the stairs.

" Good night Sakura " Syaoran said walking over to the nearby window and looking outside.

Snow was shimmering as it sifted on the grounds of the mansion, taking solace for one seemingly enchanted night on the rooftops and peaks beneath it, in the same way, it sieved from the limbs and sky in unison.

" Snow " Syaoran whispered so softly in his thoughts. " Snow begins to fall when two people are in love"

His eyelids lowered gradually. Snow means love...