A/N: Arigato!!! Thank you sooo much once again! THANK YOU!!! I'm sorri it takes me pretty long to just upload a new chapter...hehe, I have been loaded with tests and stuff...and of course, my laziness takes part in my delays! Sorri =) Here's chapter eight!
Chapter Eight:
Sakura opened her shut eyes and peered into the amber ones before her. At first, she was breathless, and not a single word could form from her lips. She blinked in curiosity, not sure if she was just dreaming or hallucinating....but it sure felt real.....and from Li's childish smirk, it must have been real..... Sakura's lips finally moved....and formed into a frown.
"LI SYOARAN!!!! YOU PERVERT! STUPID EVIL BASTARD! AND WHY THE HECK ARE YOU SMIRKING!!!!! YOU TOOK AWAY MY FIRST KISS!!!! GIVE IT BACK TO ME!!!" Sakura hollered while chasing after Li around the fountain.
Li stopped in his tracks and turned to face her. He smirked. "So, you want it back eh? Why, I'll be glad to give it back to you. Come closer!" he dared with a slick tone.
Sakura glared at him with rage. She quickly took off her shoe and threw it at Li's head....it hit...
"Ouch! Where the heck do you and your brother inherit such precise pitching skills!" Li moaned.
Sakura finally giggled, and Li smiled too...while rubbing his forehead that is.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ Sakura's Home
"Sakura!!!!!!! You're home!!!!" Kero beamed as Sakura stepped into their little home.
Sakura smiled at him and nodded. Then she grimaced at the window. Kero stared too with a questioning face. He saw a car drive away and nothing more. "What?"
Sakura shook her head, ushering Kero that it was nothing, but as she passed by him to walk up the stairs and change, he could have swore he heard her mutter "That idiot!"
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ Bedroom...sleep
*Yawn* Sakura frowned as she laid on her bed staring at the ceiling. Then she was smiling with happiness, and for some reason she wished it was tomorrow already. She laughed and giggled for about ten minutes until....
"Sakura! Mind telling me what's funny?" Kero growled from his bed.
Sakura smiled at him. "Sorry.... I was just thinking..."
Kero stared at her quizzically in the dark and sighed in frustration. He flew towards her with a pillow in his hands and stuffed in her face. "Here, laugh into this pillow so I can't hear you! GOOD NIGHT! What kind of idiot thinks at night anyways! And laughs about it too!!!" Kero cursed under his breath.
Sakura pulled away the pillow and continued to think. As the image of his lips upon hers traveled through her mind, her emotions did not smile nor frown....it was ...new.... but... the feeling was sweet and filled with affection....
Sakura sighed and frowned again. "Still, he was sneaky and rude. I should be mad at him.... I will be mad at him..... yes....I will be.......of course will....he's LI SYOARAN......*sigh*.....face it..... how can you ever be mad at him....." she thought silently to herself. Then she fell asleep with a tiny smile.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ Morning
"JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE ALL THE WAY, O WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE ON A ONE HORSE OPEN SLEIGH HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAKE UP!" Kero hollered. He sighed. "This is becoming a routine for me." he grumbled.
Suddenly, Sakura bolted from her pillow and yelled, "MERRY CHRISTMAS, KERO!"
"What the.... since when did you wake up after just one song?" Kero asked with a grin.
Sakura ignore his comment and ran to the bathroom. She quickly brushed her teeth and changed into a pair of baggy pants and large sweater. She tied her hair in a single pony- tail and dashed downstairs.
Kero stared in amazement. "I hope you know it's not a school day!!!!"
Sakura smiled from downstairs. Kero quickly flew down with her. "Hey, where you going with Li today? It's Christmas ya know.... no stores or anything is open....."
Sakura's grin widen even more. "I know.... but guess where Li's going...."
Kero stared at her with his questioning face. "Don't you mean, where Li and I'm going???"
Sakura gave him a smirk and a rare evil glint in her eyes, and answered, "Not when I'm already there...."
Kero's eyes widen in horror. "He's spending Christmas HERE!!!! What's the matter with you? I'll have to hide the whole entire day! MY FREEDOM IS TAKEN AWAY ON CHRISTMAS DAY!!!! AND YOU KNOW HOW I DON'T LIKE THAT KID! Grrrrrrrrrrrrr. O, I love Christmas this year...." Kero growled.
"You should. I'm here!" Sakura replied and winked at him.
Kero scoffed and muttered, "When's he going to be here?"
"Soon...." Sakura replied with a smile.
"And what exactly are you two planning to do here?" Kero asked with sudden interest.
"Something you'll enjoy..." Sakura replied and began fumbling with the cabinets, and the things within it.
Kero stared at her curiously. "Eat?"
Sakura laughed and nodded. "I made him promise to come here and bake with me."
Kero beamed with delight, then he frowned... "Wait a minute.... I'm not included....Hmph!"
Sakura smiled. "Of course you are!"
"Right, sure I'll be. I have the role of being the stupid stuff animal sitting upstairs on your stupid bed, lifeless, while breathing in the essence of fresh baked cookies!!!" Kero exclaimed.
"No.... I'll save a batch for you!" Sakura argued.
"Yea....the batch you burned!" Kero muttered.
"Am I that cruel?" Sakura asked him happily.
"You're asking me a rhetorical question you know..." Kero grumbled.
*Ding* *Dong*
Kero sighed. "Yea, yea yea, I know.... upstairs you stupid stuff animal!" Kero muttered
Sakura gave him a weak smile. "You're not a stupid stuff animal! You're Kero! My guardian......bear!!"
Kero gives her a grin and nods happily. "I want nice cookies later!" he yelled and flew up the stairs again.
Sakura chuckled and headed towards her door. She slowly opened it, and peeked out. It was snowing again, and you would expect travelers to wear thick pieces of clothing, but not Li apparently.
"Li?" Sakura questioned with a confused expression on her face.
"Wh....What?" His stuttering voice mumbled from his throat, which was close to paralyzed after being in the cold..
"It's 30 degrees below freezing you dimwit! You're wearing such a thin coat today!" Sakura snapped.
"I was sweating all morning!" Li retorted while continuously chattering through this words.
Sakura continued to stare at him curiously and irritatingly at the same time.
Li groaned. "Are you done staring??! Can I come in now??! You can stare at me all you want once I'm inside!!!" he exclaimed, again with the same stuttering style.
Sakura gave a small grin and stepped away from the entrance, allowing him inside. Li walked in stiffly, almost like a icicle. Sakura laughed, and Li glared at her. He slowly took off his jacket, and waited settled down on a chair within the kitchen. Sakura grinned, as she stepped into the kitchen too.
"Li?" Sakura slowly mumbled.
"What?" he growled.
"Merry Christmas!!!" Sakura beamed!
Li's expression changed at her comment, and he let out a small grin too. "Yea... you too.....uh... so...you wanted me to cook with you?..." he asked with slight doubt in his tone.
Sakura nodded. She began to dig through all her cabinets, looking for the necessary ingredients again. Finally, after the table was filled with all sorts of things, Sakura smile satisfyingly, and turned around to inform Li of her plans. Her happy expression changed into a curious one again. She stared at Li's strange actions, which consisted of constant rubbing of the head, and low audible moans. "Li..."
Li looked up from his hands.
"What's wrong?" Sakura asked with a frown.
"Huh....nothing. Just a small headache." Li muttered quickly.
Sakura stared at him with disbelief and concern. She walked towards his seat, and knelt down to see his face. She lifted her small hands and laid it upon his forehead. Li stared at her intense eyes and gave a mental tremble of warmth from the touch of her smooth caressing hand.
"Stupid! No wonder you were sweating! Feel your forehead! It's burning!!, and you walking in the snow with a cheap jacket didn't help at all!!!!" Sakura suddenly cried out, snapping Li from his daydream and inner thoughts.
"What do you mean cheap jacket! I paid a lot for this 'cheap' jacket!" Li exclaimed.
"And you couldn't afford to get a winter coat?! Now you end up with a stupid fever!" Sakura yelled.
"I don't have a fever!" Li argued stubbornly.
Sakura glared at him. "Fine.... we can start cooking!" Sakura replied, and began walking towards the stove.
Li moaned. He tried to get up, but a sudden pang of pain shot through his head, and he fell back into his seat after standing or about half a second. Sakura turned around just in time to see him fall. She smirked. "What did you say about not having a fever again?"
Li sighed, and muttered, "Yea...I was wrong.... I do have stupid fever, happy?"
Sakura nodded happily. "Now you can sit down and relax, while I cook for Christmas!" she cheered and walked into the kitchen. Li sighed. He wanted to help Sakura cook, so he forced himself to walk towards a chair that was closer to her. A little grin slowly formed upon his face as his amber eyes continued to gaze at the pacing figure before him. Gradually, his headache overpowered his energy, and his eyes fell shut.
Sakura glanced at the sleepy form and let out a fond smirk. She continued to work on the cookies she promised Kero, and the cake she was making along with it.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Hmm.... I wonder what the thing in the pot is..." Kero pondered to himself. Sakura had finished most of the cooking, and he had just finished the cookies she had given to him. Then she walked into the bathroom to take a bath.
He flew across the kitchen, careful not to wake up Li, whom Sakura had informed him, was sick. He gave silly grin.... it was soup.... probably made for Li.... suddenly, a evil smirk crossed his lips, and he searched the kitchen for what he was looking for.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Li?"
"zzzzzzzzzzzz"
"Li....? Wake up..."
"ZZZZZZZZ"
"Li! WAKE UP!"
"Ouch!" Li moaned while cupping the ear in which Sakura had screamed into. He slowly opened his eyes, and mumbled, "You finished cooking?"
Sakura nodded.
"What time is it?" Li asked, and weakly turned his head in search of a clock.
"It's 6:00.... you slept for hours." Sakura informed gently.
"O... sorry... I didn't help you do anything today...." Li mumbled apologetically.
"Don't worry about it... you were sick, you couldn't help it...." Sakura responded with a friendly smile. She turned around and returned with a tray.
Li stared at the tray in confusion and shock. "Is that..."
"Yes... it's soup! I made it just for you because you were sick..." Sakura replied.
"It's for me..." Li asked, not knowing if he had heard her right.
Sakura nodded.
"And you made it?" Li continued.
Sakura laughed and nodded.
Li stared at her with slight warm eyes. "O..." he managed to utter.
Sakura smiled. She picked up the spoon, scooped up some of the soup, and blew on it to cool it down. Then she placed the spoon in front his lips.
Li's POV
This feels weird... I don't know why she's being so nice to me. What's the matter with her..... what's the matter with me....
What the heck am I doing... Shoot.... I opened my mouth.... I can't believe she's feeding me.... I can't believe I like this feeling!
Omg! This soup taste horrible!!!!
Normal POV
Li winced. "Sakura..."
Sakura peered at his expression with awe. "Huh?"
Li continued to wince. "Did you use a lot of salt?"
Sakura's eyes widened in horror. "What?, but I didn't even use.... Kero!" She suddenly exclaimed. Her eyes traveled around the room, in search for any specks of yellow.
"Kero?" Li asked still choking from the salty liquid.
"I mean.... never mind.... here, I'll go order some soup from the store...I'm so sorry, I really didn't mean to give you a salt filled liquid!" Sakura informed nervously. She stood up and begun to take the tray with the soup away.
"Wait, no! I... um.. it's ok... I like salty drinks...." Li quickly lied while holding onto Sakura's wrist.
Sakura peered at him curiously. "You were making a face when you tasted my soup...."
"Uh... I make faces like that when I like something....." Li lied again.
"Yea... but it's not good for your health.... besides.... you're sick...you need healthy things..." Sakura murmured softly.
Li stared at her and smiled a little. "You care about me too much..." He implied with amusement in his tone.
Sakura returned his smile, with a smirk of her own. "You're not the only one I care about!!"
"But I still want the soup!" Li informed. He used the little energy he had and swiftly retrieved the bowl from Sakura, careful not to spill any. He quickly gulped down the bowl as Sakura watched in shock.
Once he cleaned the bowl, he smiled. He handed the bowl back to Sakura who continued to stare at Li in horror. "Li!!!!!! How could you do that!!! Why did you do that!!!!!? STUPID!" Sakura bellowed.
Li chuckled. "You might think it was the worse tasting thing I have ever drank in my life.... but....the truth is... it was the sweetest and warmest thing that ever filled my heart..." he informed Sakura truthfully.
Sakura blushed. "I um..... but......why?" she managed to ask, not knowing what else to say.
Li smirked. "Because you made it."
Sakura controlled herself quickly, and grinned. "So.... do you think you can have Christmas Dinner with me?"
Li nodded. "Sure, but I have a question... where's your family? It's Christmas, and they're apparently.... not home...."
Sakura halted. "They um.... you see.... my grandma wanted them to visit her...so they went, while I stayed...." she stuttered.
Li peered at her with confusion written on his face. "Why didn't you go?"
"Because she hates me..." Sakura quickly answered.
"Uh.... are you lying?" Li asked.
"Wha?!" Sakura asked nervously.
"Well, it surprises me how someone can hate... never mind...." Li grumbled.
Sakura let out a small smile, and followed him into the dining room.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Whoa... you made all this by yourself?" Li asked, and gaped at the glorious meal before him.
Sakura gave a wide grin, and nodded.
"Have you ever considered being a cook in the future?" Li asked playfully.
Sakura's smile disappeared. "What future..." She thought silently to herself.
"Sakura.... are you ok?" Li asked with concern.
Sakura snapped out of her daydream, and nodded while giving him one of her happy smiles. "Let's eat! I made sure that most of the food here won't make you get even sicker.... but I must forbid you to eat less of these food and drink more water so you can feel better soon...." Sakura explained.
"You sound like my mother." Li mocked with a grin.
Sakura laughed, and sat down on a seat. She filled two glasses with water sending Li inquiry once more.
"You like drinking water?" Li asked curiously.
Sakura shook her head. "I felt bad you had to drink it. So might as well join you!" she responded cheerfully.
Li gazed at the girl with a tiny smile. She was sweet, kind, and definitely pretty. The candles she lit hit against her soft features, and Li couldn't help but blush. He mentally scolded himself for doing so, and quickly stuffed his face in his food to hide the embarrassment. Sakura watched in amusement, and smiled.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"How was dinner!?" Sakura asked anxiously.
Li smiled warmly, and replied, "It was ....horrible...."
Sakura grinned.
"I should be going." Li mumbled. He slowly walked towards Sakura's door and retrieved his jacket.
Sakura's face sadden. She stared at Li's weak status and the pale face he had. She worried that his fever would get worse from traveling in the snow. "Li? Would it be better if you stayed here?"
Li turned around. He stared at the ground, as if asking the rug for his answer. "I uh..."
"It would be better, since traveling in the snow would be risky, and then your fever could get worse, and since you have a headache, you might not be able to see clearly on the road, and who knows what might happen to you!" Sakura reasoned dramatically.
Li smiled at her hesitations and the nervous tone she was using. "Ok, ok, ok! I'll stay... don't have to go on with why you I should stay, we all know how much you want me." Li mocked with a sly smirk.
"LI SYOARAN!!! Don't think I can give you any special treatment just because you're sick!" Sakura screamed.
Li laughed. "So... where's the bathroom?"
A/N: Done! I'm sorry if this was a boring chapter! I promise you a better chapter soon! O, and I believe the next chapter will be about Li's stay at Sakura's! Lolz, bye!
