Disclaimer: Don't own.

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- Ichiro's apartment: front door; 5:00 PM -

Sakura took the stairs of the apartment up to Ichiro's front door, a smile plastered on her face. As her foot reached the topmost step, her cell phone rang and she snatched it out of her pocket, glanced at the caller ID, flipped it open, and held it to her ear shyly saying, "Moshi moshi."

"Sakura? Can we have dinner some other time? My plane was delayed for a bit so I can't get home for another half hour or so. I'm so sorry."

"Oh...I'm already here. Should I go back?" Sakura asked.

"Then...okay, I'll be there as soon as possible. Sorry, Sakura. Bye." Sakura heard him hang up and flipped her own phone shut. She shoved it back into her pocket. Then her hand shot into her purse and she dug through it. After five minutes she loudly groaned.

"Hoe, where did I put my key!" Sakura mentally cursed herself and slapped her head as her own punishment. She leaned against her door and sighed. "How can I be so stupid to forget my keys! Mooouu...at least this is an apartment. I'd so catch a cold if it was outside."

After an hour passed, she walked around, trying her best to massage her neck and back. "Hoe, where is he!" She sat down and leaned her back against the door. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Syaoran's number.

-Syaoran's house -

Syaoran was cleaning out some food supplies from the refrigerator when his cell phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the caller and flipped his phone open and saw Sakura's distressed face. (A/N: These kind of cell phones let you see eachother. Cool, ne:P) He smirked and said, "Hey, Sakura."

"Hey, Syaoran. I wanted to ask something. If you came home and saw a girl on your doorstep...would you think she's so totally cheap?" Sakura looked worried on the phone, Syaoran noted. It made him snicker to himself.

"Well...depends on what she looks like." Syaoran then quickly added upon seeing her stern face, "Oh, alright, if it's you then it's okay."

"I'm serious, you dork!" Sakura yelled at her phone, seeing Syaoran snigger in it. Sakura pouted and reverted back to her concerned face. "Ichiro called earlier and said his flight was delayed…but even if he was in Osaka, he should be here soon, shouldn't he?"

"Maybe...but look at that face! Pitiful. Cheap." Syaoran then watched Sakura laugh and she adjusted her pouting lips into a small smile. "Now that's much better. Keep it up. Remember, he's already stressed from work and all so if he sees that pout, he'll probably just turn around and leave...or at least want to. I bet he's exhausted from work too so don't ask questions like 'Where were you?' or 'Who were you with?' and never mention how long you've been waiting. It'll only stress him out more, got it?"

"Mmhmm." Sakura said, maintaining her smile. "So what should I say? How about...'Here's your food delivery, sir!'"

"Give yourself a bit more credit."

"Mmm...'I am one of Charlie's Angels,'" Sakura said, managing a heroic and sly face, "'and I am here to guard your house.'"

"Pfft, that's too silly," Syaoran said with a bored face, but a smile was tugging at his lips.

"Hmm...how about: 'You've spent the whole day at a meeting on top of thinking about me. You must be extremely tired.'"

Syaoran stared at her face in the phone. She was giving him a 'How's-that' look. He smirked and nodded. "Irresistible."

Sakura giggled and hoped she wouldn't forget that line. She then saw a woman she didn't recognize come into the picture in the phone behind Syaoran. The woman had long black pigtails and ruby red eyes. Sakura tilted her head sideways in confusion. "Who's that behind you?"

"Oh! She's my cousin, Meling," Syaoran said turning to Meiling. "That's my friend Sakura."

"Hi!" Meiling chirped and waved at the phone. Sakura giggled and said "Hey!" in return.

"Look, Sakura, I have to go now. Movies and dinner with Arisu."

"Oh, right. You're looking great," Sakura winked. "She'll be happy to see you. Bye, Syaoran-kun." Sakura snapped her phone shut and crammed it back in her pocket. Syaoran did the same and Meiling pouted at him. "You didn't let me say goodbye, you butthead!"

"Too late," Syaoran said as he stuffed the phone inside his pocket. He looked up at Meiling to see her ruby eyes glinting evilly at him. Her mouth twisted into a sneer and she eyed Syaoran skeptically. Annoyed, Syaoran said, "What!"

"Oh, dear cousin, you know I have ways of making you spill the truth out to me," Meiling sneered and she stuck her face about an inch away from Syaoran's. She glared at him with narrowed eyes. "So who exactly is Sakura? Does Arisu know her? Hmmmmm? Tell me! Don't you think Arisu would be a bit mad when she finds out who Sakura is?"

"Heh, heh...why should she be?" Syaoran asked, backing away from Meiling. "She's just a co-worker."

"Just a co-worker?" Meiling smirked and crossed her arms. "If so, then why are you sweating? Unless I am mistaken, you just showered like half an hour ago, did you not?"

Syaoran brought his hand up to his forehead and rubbed it. "I am? I'm not sweating...Anyways! I have to go. There's food in the fridge." Syaoran got up from his spot and walked away, leaving a disappointed Meiling behind. She glared at his back until he slammed the front door behind him. "Hmph! I was so close to getting him to spill the truth!"

- Ichiro's front door; 9:30 PM -

Sakura's back was almost sliding off the door she was leaning on. Her head was tilted sideways onto her shoulders and her eyes were closed. Her breathing was deep and even as was the rise and fall of her chest. Just as drool appeared at the side of her mouth, Ichiro's feet stopped next to her and he stood above her. He took out his keys, stuck them into the keyhole and turned the lock. He then opened the door, bent down, and picked up Sakura. He carried her to the nearest couch and laid her on it as her eyes opened sleepily and she sat up, gazing groggily at Ichiro, a drop of spit still on the side of her lips. Ichiro sat down next to her and smiled.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I dozed off." Sakura quickly wiped the drool away from her mouth with her sleeve and fiercely rubbed her eyes open. Before she could stop herself, she told him, "I was waiting for a long time, Ichiro."

"I know." Ichiro replied.

- Restaurant -

A melodic cell phone tune was practically knifing the silence in the café. Syaoran stared at it nervously as Arisu came back and sat down across from him. She silenced it and completely ignored it.

"Aren't you gonna answer it?" Syaoran asked.

"Would you rather want me to answer it, or talk to you?" Arisu smiled.

- Ichiro's living room -

Ichiro's cell phone suddenly rang. He took it out of his pocket, looked at it, and turned it off.

"Who was it? Why don't you answer it?" Sakura asked.

"Do you want me to answer it, or talk to you?" Ichiro smiled.

- Restaurant -

"Do you love me?" Syaoran narrowed his eyes.

"Well...you're a big part of my life and without you, I'd be devastated," Arisu replied.

- Ichiro's living room -

"Do you really love me?" Sakura asked.

"I told you before. You're the only woman who understands me." Ichiro laughed.

"You're avoiding my question." Sakura looked at him firmly.

- Restaurant -

"Do you love him more?" Syaoran questioned.

"I've told you so many times already. I love you both the same. Isn't that enough for you? As long as I love you," Arisu looked at him. "Why? Are you afraid to lose me?"

- Ichiro's living room -

"I'm so tired and hungry right now. Can we eat first?" Ichiro replied.

"Ano...okay." Sakura stared at his back as he got up and strode into the kitchen. She mentally slapped herself and physically slapped her lips. 'Man, I totally messed up! And Syaoran gave me advice too! Oh, no...'

- Restaurant -

"You should believe in yourself more," Arisu commented, gazing at Syaoran across their small table.

- Ichiro's living room -

"You spent the whole day at the meeting and thinking about me, you must be exhausted," Sakura said shyly, placing a hand on Ichiro's shoulder as he was downing a glass of water. He almost spat the water out and Sakura's eyes widened. "Hoe! Sorry, I was just saying that you must be exhausted."

'I'm so gonna hurt Syaoran for saying that line was irresistible. Or maybe Ichiro's just not in the mood. After all, he is tired and just came back from work.'

"Don't be so silly," Ichiro chuckled, shaking Sakura's shoulders. "Actually, I should be sorr—"

"No, don't say it," Sakura said, placing a finger on his lips to silence him. "I believe you."

- Restaurant; Next morning -

Sakura, holding a towel and an empty coffee pot, was about to walk behind the counter to make some coffee when she almost ran into Syaoran, who was walking the opposite direction holding a couple pictures and pins. He was headed toward the bulletin board next to the counter. They both greeted each other and went their own ways. Chiharu, who was behind the counter already, made way for Sakura and turned up the volume of the radio so everyone could hear the song that was playing. (Sore ga ai deshou by Mikuh Shimokawa) As Sakura wiped a couple glass cups behind the counter, she started to mouth the words. So did Syaoran, who was pinning pictures to the board.

"...kedo

Yasashisa wa tokidoki zankoku dakara

Motomeru hodo, kotae wo miushinau

Ameagari no machi, niji ga mieru nara

Ima arukidasou nanika ga hajimaru

Kimi ga irukara

Asu ga arukara

Hitorikkiri ja ikiteyakenai kara..."

Syaoran leaned against the counter with his elbows on the top, propped up so he could see the picture better. At the same moment, Sakura also leaned against the counter on the her side of the counter with her elbows on the top, straight across from Syaoran and the towel she was using to clean the cup accidentally fell onto his picture. His eyes looked up and they found themselves gazing into emerald pools. Sakura broke the gaze and quickly turned away.

"...Konna ni chikaku ni kanjiru sore ga aide shou

Namida no kazu no itami wo kimi wa shitteru kara

Sukitooru sono me no naka ni tashika na imi wo sagashite

Egao mitsuketai..."

Sakura pressed a button on the coffee machine and the message box on the corner of the coffee machine read "SPECIAL COFEE". After five minutes, the machine beeped and Sakura carefully filled two cups with her special coffee and handed one to Syaoran.

"Had fun last night?" Sakura said as she sipped her coffee.

"It was okay," Syaoran said as he took a sip without thinking. His eyes quickly widened and he was about to spit it out when Sakura yelped and stopped him from doing so.

"No! Don't spit it out! Relax your tongue...then swirl it around in your mouth..." She trailed off as she watched him try it, then smiled. "Taste the complexity?" When Syaoran nodded, she added, "It's my special Double Shot Espresso...the ying-and-yang, a delicate, complex mixture of bitter and sweet." She did the same with her mouthful of coffee, swallowed, then sighed happily with an "Mmmmm" escaping her lips.

"I never looked at it that way." Syaoran said as he took another sip and swirled the taste around in his mouth. Sakura giggled and said, "I hope Arisu will be able to enjoy it. Those who try my Double Shot Espresso..." Sakura smirked, "Heeheehee, will never again be satisfied with regular coffee."

As Sakura took a sip, Syaoran quickly pulled out his camera. "Ooh, perfect lighting! Let's take a picture of you drinking your coffee." Sakura nearly spit her coffee out at these words but swallowed just in time.

"No! I look so...so tired and stuff!" Sakura turned away from the camera and held her hand up against it.

"Please?" Syaoran asked as he focused the camera. "You don't look that tired!"

"Are you kidding me?" Takashi suddenly appeared between them. "Sakura? Not looking tired?"

Sakura and Syaoran both glared him down. Takashi started to back away. "Eheh...later!" He disappeared into the kitchen. Syaoran held up his camera again and clicked...but Sakura was too fast for him. Her hand shot up and covered the lens as the flash exploded under her hands. "C'mon, Sakura!"

"Have you met your rival?" Sakura quickly asked Syaoran, hoping he'd put the camera away. To her luck, he did. "No. Not yet."

"Oh, why not?" Sakura eyed him suspiciously as she inched closer to him. "Scared? Hmmmmm?"

"Of what?" Syaoran said, backing away. Sakura stopped moving closer and said, "Mmm, I dunno...scared?"

- Sakura's car -

"I know a place," Syaoran said, fanning his panting mouth, "with chicken spicier than this." Sakura also fanned her mouth and stared at him. She then used her toothpick to stab another piece of chicken in her paper brown bag and stuff it into her mouth. "Don't talk, EAT! A numb tongue will make you less nervous! Hold this." Sakura handed him her paper brown bag of chicken and opened her water bottle to take a gulp of water.

"What she does," Syaoran said, wheezing after swallowing another piece of spicy chicken, "is none of my business."

"Giving up already?" Sakura said after her long gulp of water. "After you've come this far?"

"It's not that...it's just, I don't know who got cheated: Me or Him?" Syaoran grabbed Sakura's water bottle and tipped a mouthful of water into his mouth without spilling. Not bad for a birdie drink.

"It's no time to be polite! You're better than him! It's not a freaking competition but a chance for her to choose who to marry," Sakura gagged and held her right hand out to him palm up and fanned her open mouth with her left hand, "Pass the water bottle, please!"

Suddenly, Syaoran glanced over Sakura's shoulder to see Arisu walking to her car. Without thinking, he shouted, "Right! Right! She's starting her engine and driving forward!"

Sakura looked over at her and started her engine too, after a quick sip of water. She followed her and exactly when Arisu made a left turn, she accidentally made a right turn. "NO! What are you doing! She went left! LEFT! That way! 10 o'clock! LEFT, YOU IDIOT!"

"Who're YOU calling idiot? You said right!" Sakura screamed as she tried to reverse her engine, resulting in many sharp squeals from the tires of the car as she backed up. She glanced behind her every now and then, afraid to lose sight of Arisu.

"Let me drive!" Syaoran shouted as he attempted to push Sakura off the wheel. "NO WAY! I'M DRIVING, YOU MANIAC!" Sakura yelled back as she kept turning her driving wheel in many 360 degree angles to the left as Syaoran kept calling, "Hurry! Hurry!"

"Stop it! I'm going left! I see her!"

"GO! GO! GO! You're too slow!"

"SHUT UP SYAORAN!" The car screeched and jerked violently as Sakura made a sharp turn to keep up with Arisu. "AHH NO, THE CHICKEN! You don't have to make such sharp turns, baka!"

- Airport restaurant -

Syaoran ran into the airport and looked around. Since it was around lunch time, he went to the restaurants to find his rival. All he knew about him was that he was a pilot...so it shouldn't be hard to find someone in a uniform. Syaoran looked around, passing McDonalds and Starbucks along the way. He then found a Noodle House and saw a man in a navy blue uniform sitting alone at a two-people table reading a newspaper. 'I'll take my chances...' So he sat across from the pilot and stared at his forehead, which was the only part of his skin shown behind the newspaper.

The newspaper slowly lowered as the pilot realized that there was a presence across from him. A man with light brown hair and a slight beard stared over at Syaoran with his blue eyes. He glanced around him and then back at Syaoran, perplexed. "Um, sorry...but do I know you? Have we met before?"

Syaoran shook his head and his rival laughed. "Ummm, okay...uhh...sorry, I have a girlfriend." Syaoran nodded understandably. "Um...do you have no where else to sit? Or uhhh...what's the problem?"

Suddenly, Arisu walked up to them with her luggage in tow. She was wearing her blue uniform and she stopped in front of their table and looked at both men. "Ano...Syaoran. What a coincidence."

"Do you know him?" The pilot asked.

"Hai...this is Li Syaoran. You know, the cook I told you about," Arisu said. She turned to Syaoran, "This is my boyfriend Furuka Zen."

"Ohhhh," Zen laughed, "She told me a lot about your Italian food. I didn't know you could make pasta as well."

Syaoran nodded without saying a word. Zen bit his lip, wondering why he looked mad, "We'll have to try your cooking when we get back." He checked his watch. "Ah, my plane flight is in an hour. I should get going."

He stood up and held his hand out for Syaoran to shake. "It was nice meeting you." Syaoran hesitated before reaching out his arm and grabbing his hand. Zen then turned to Arisu and gave her a hug. "Bye, honey."

When he left, Arisu rounded on Syaoran. She pulled him up out of the chair and steered him to the escalators to go downstairs. "You came to see me off or what?"

Syaoran shook out of her reach. "This is way too complicated." Arisu looked at him and flattened her lips. "I'm happy with the way things are now. Marriage isn't until later anyways. I love you both. I've told you so many times."

"If you were to marry one of us, who would it be?" Arisu's head fell and she stayed silent.

Syaoran felt something tugging at his stomach. Something. What was it? All he knew for now was that Sakura's face, her dazzling emerald eyes popped into his head when he asked Arisu the question.

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R is for Review. XP