A/N:  Dear Readers, sorry for the late update, but my modem died and when I got a new one, I accidentally deleted this chapter, and then I had to retype it, and ……. Yeah well you know the rest……anyways, Thank you for reviewing and reading chapter thirteen I really appreciate it!!!!!  Also, although I'm not an opera fanatic, I must inform you that I personally liked the Phantom of the Opera, I saw it on a school trip and found it very entertaining =)…but I must admit, my lack of experience caused me trouble with interpreting their dialects and songs.  Now…Chapter Fourteen is very long and eh…. I dunno…..but hope you enjoy it!

Chapter Fourteen:      

The dawning sun soared through the windows and crept warmly upon the bed of a worry-burden girl.  Sakura moaned as the sun's path penetrated her eyelids, but in response she stubbornly shifted around to face a pearly white wall instead.  Despite the fact she was under the pretence of sleep, her mind had reluctantly fluttered open, and the drowning sea of hopeless reminders flooded her desperately.  She forced her eyelids awake, and pulled herself up wearily.  She sat staring at her room with a certain degree of longing, and shifted her gaze upon Kero…who slept unperturbed by his surrounding light, drifting off to dream world with a dripping drool in supplement.

Sakura dragged herself off the bed and stared at the window with hopeless eyes …….  Morning just couldn't spare her a few more minutes from reality……  she walked up to the cold glass and pressed her fingers underneath the window's ledge….. Forcefully, she pulled the window up and exposed herself to winter's daily winds.  Bracing herself, she kneeled onto her carpeted ground, settled her elbows on the ridge, and propped her head upon the soft palms of her hand.  Gazing half-mindedly at the airy scenery before her, she caught sight of a singing songbird and an ecstatic looking squirrel. Sighing, she mumbled dully…..

"Funny how everything seems all happy and cheery today…..why am I the odd one out… nevertheless, I should be happy and cheery as well…..after all, I'm leaving tomorrow……which is a very good thing."  She convinced herself determinedly.  "….a very good thing…."  She repeated softly with distant eyes.  Her mind wandered off solemnly….

*gasp*  Sakura jumped up, hitting her head against the open window pane.  Though wincing from pain, she cocked an eyebrow in surprise.  The spotted song bird had obligingly flown next to her.  Inching her hand cautiously at the bird, it obediently stayed put and allowed Sakura to rub him.  The bird chirped gleefully in response, and a tugging smile fell upon Sakura's lips. 

"Who am I ruin their happiness….."  she softly mumbled to herself.  Suddenly, a thought came to mind, and at the speed of light, she pulled her head out of the window and dashed downstairs to her kitchen phone.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~  Li's Mansion

"Master Li…."

"ZZZZZZZZ"

"Master Li!!"

"ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ"

"MASTER Li!!"

"Huh?  Wha?"  *Groan*

"Sorry to wake you, but there's been another phone call for you."  Wei softly informed, offering the tiny ringing cell phone towards him.

Li stared at the phone with sleepy eyes and resignedly took it.  He lifted the top part of the phone, and glanced at the apparent time before answering.  "Hello?"  he moaned.

"Hi…."

Li grinned at the sound of her voice. 

"Um…..sorry to wake you up,  I know it's only 6:00 but---"

"Yea, I know."  Li interrupted carelessly.  

Sakura looked taken back.  "And you're not yelling at me…."

Li smirked.  "I should be getting use to your morning calls." 

Sakura feebly smiled.  "Yeah…."  She mumbled in a soft almost inaudible voice. 

Li frowned in confusion.  "What's wrong…"

Sakura quickly snapped out of her imaginations and gave out a large grin.  "Nothing!  I simply called to give you a little treat!"

"You're agreeing to marry me in the future."  Li guessed with a childish smile.

Sakura grinned too.  "Try again.  No, actually….. I'm letting you choose the place of destination for today.  Choose anywhere you like…. Anywhere that makes you…happy."  She concluded with a fatigue leer.

Li looked confused and at the same time in disbelief….  "What?"

Sakura laughed.  "I'm serious.  Today's entirely up to you."

Li retained his normal status, and immediately smirked furtively.  "What if I decide to bring you to a club?"

Sakura smiled, playing along.  "Sure."  She responded casually, knowing quite well he wouldn't.

Li chuckled.  "Well, aren't we going to have fun today?"

"Pervert, pick me up when you're ready."  Sakura concluded with a small grin.

Li laughed, and continuing his furtive tone, answered, "Of course I will."

Sakura hung up with a chuckle…….but stopped when she realized how happy one phone call with him made her……  she sighed and slapped herself dully on the cheek…  "Today's day nine…."  She reminded herself despondently, and went off to prepare breakfast.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~  9:00 P.M

"Morning!"  Sakura greeted happily, as she pulled her door ajar.

Li grinned.  "Cheerful for someone with huge panda eyes like yours……. Bad night?"

"Yeah….. Nightmares…."  She replied slowly.

"It was Kero wasn't it?"  Li teased.

Sakura chuckled. 

"I heard that you fool!"  Kero bellowed from the upper level.

Li smirked.   "Good for you!  I'm glad you finally realize the truth, your appearance is so hideous it fits perfectly in a nightmare!"

"Why you little!!!!!  Don't move while I finish level 32, and then I'll come downstairs to clobber you!"  Kero screamed.

Sakura sighed and dragged Li out the door before he could retort.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~  Car

"So, where are we going?"  Sakura asked curiously staring at the new environment passing through her eyes.

"Somewhere."  Li bluntly answered

Sakura narrowed her eyes at him.  "O really?"  She asked sarcastically.

Li chuckled, and continued driving down the desolated roads.

After an hour's worth of whining, Sakura soon found herself located in a small looking area with petite looking shops settling here and there. 

"Where are we?"  Sakura murmured, still observing the environment around her.

Li smiled slightly, and ignored her once again.  In a few moments, they found themselves parked in front of a grayish taunt building.  Sakura stepped out of the car and wondered in suspicion whether Li had brought her to a club.

"Come on, we're already late."  Li ushered and scurried off to the entrance. 

Sakura arched her eyebrows in confusion.  "Li…."  But before she could continue, he had disappeared through the heavy gray doors already.

Sakura sighed and hastily followed.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~  Inside

"Li can you stop walking so fa…"  Sakura stopped…. Her eyes widened slightly….however a smile crept upon her face.  "Li…"  she softly beckoned in wonder.

Li smirked at her stunned reactions.  "Thought we'd help the needy today…"

Sakura swallowed hard at the huge lump that caught her throat.  Her eyes were daring to flood with tears. 

 "What happened to the club…"  she asked wearily, still pondering if she was dreaming or not.

Li smiled innocently.  "Lost interest."  He answered truthfully.

Sakura smiled back.  "Who managed to divert your interests to soup kitchens?"  She joked.

Li shrugged…  "You."  He softly responded.   

Sakura smiled gently, cursing mentally at herself for feeling weak.  "So, what do we do here?"  she asked, trying to break the heavy emotion that trapped her mind.

"We cook."  Li stated at stared around at the hollow room.

"We?"  Sakura asked with uncertainty.

Li glared at her.  "What are you trying to imply?"

Sakura giggled as his cheeks grew pink. 

"Well hello.  My name is Susan Grady, glad to see you could make it."

Li and Sakura turned around. 

"Yea, sorry for being late…"  Li apologized politely.

The elderly women shook her head carelessly.  "No need to apologize.  It's great kids like you volunteer to help the needy."  She complimented.

Sakura smiled at Li brightly, but he seemed occupied in observing the fascinating ground.

"Well, lets get started.  You will be supplying the desert while others prepare the main dishes.  Your kitchen is right over there."  She informed happily, and waved bye. 

They watched as she dashed out another door. 

"Well….  Let's get going."  Li mumbled.

Sakura grinned and nodded in agreement.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"Nice kitchen…"  Sakura commented.  She walked up to the lit fireplace and smiled benignly.  "Has a nice homey feeling…"  she added, as she bent down closer to the fire, letting flushes of warm air brush gently against her cheeks.

Li eyed her in amusement.  "Must be the same feeling you have around me."

Sakura smirked and turned around to face him.  "Well aren't we a bit flirty today?"

Li chuckled and stared at the utensils.  He picked up one and stared at it with unfamiliarity.  "Is this a shovel?"

Sakura looked up and burst into laughter.  "That's a spatula!"

"A what?!"

"You must not go into your kitchen much do you?"

He shocked his head.  "No….I don't."  He answered with embarrassment.

"It's ok."  Sakura comforted as she scanned down the list of recipes they needed to complete.  "I'll help you."

Li beamed.  "Ok!"

~ * ~ * ~ * ~  *Ding* *Ding*

"The cookies are done!"  Sakura cried out joyfully.  She grabbed her gloves and dashed over to oven.  Li peered awkwardly at her and waited for her to carry the tray onto the counter top.

Quickly placing it down, she accidentally brushed her wrist against the ledge of the tray.  "Ouch!"  her hands immediately released the tray, but luckily, the cookies managed to survive the short fall.

Li rushed to her side, gently took hold of her hand, stared anxiously at the searing redness slowly forming upon her wrist.  He blew fervently at her wound.

Sakura blushed and vaguely scold herself to pull her hand away….. she stared curiously at him for a minute and began to giggle.

Li looked up from blowing on her hand and frowned.  "What are you laughing at?"

"You remind me of a puffer fish."  She teased.

Li glared at her.  "This is how you repay me for helping you; comparing me to a puffer fish."

Sakura smiled.  "I'm sorry, do you prefer blow fishes"

Li grinned.  "No, I prefer whales, they remind me of you."

"Hey what's that suppose to mean!"  she yelled indignantly.

Li was about to answer when the sight of his half of the cookies caught his full attention.  His eyes widened…..  "Chocolate chip cookies are supposed to be filled with chocolate…. Why are mine filled with holes?"

Sakura laughed out loud.  "Suits you right for calling me a whale, now you have to eat them all unless you want to serve Chipped Cookies instead!"

Li smirked.  "Ok, but the whale has to feed me."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~  3:00  P.M

Sakura peered at her clock intently, waiting for the seconds to complete the last minute before two. Finally, she jumped off her chair, and ran to the freezer, only to soon reveal the large container filled with ice cream.

"It's done!"  she exclaimed, plopping the dessert piece onto the table.  Li smiled at her in response and stared at the ice cream too. 

"Looks great."  He commented tersely.

Sakura jabbed her spoon for a small taste, and to her delight it tasted the way she'd wanted it to.  "Tastes great!"  she muffled blissfully, careful not to spray bits of ice cream all over Li's face.

Li grinned tenderly.  "I hope you'll always be this happy."  He softly replied.

Sakura froze, and looked.  His clear amber eyes held a deep sincerity and a pure trace of joy.  Sakura returned his smile.  "Hard to be sad around you."  She responded quietly.

*Ding* *Ding*

Their transfixed gazes immediately shifted to the oven.  "The pies are done."  Li mumbled.

Sakura nodded and hastily walked over to the oven with him.  She pulled opened the heavy door, and was about to dragged the tray over when Li nudged her on the head softly.

She looked up and smiled as Li waved at her with his mitten covered hands.  "I doubt you want to burn yourself again."

Sakura felt her cheeks turn rosy.  She quickly pulled the mittens off his hands and cautiously pulled the tray out. 

As each pie slowly came to view, Sakura burst into laughter.  Li looked at her with curiosity prickling on his face.  He then turned his head slowly towards the pies…

"What the!  Why are my pies pink?!!"  he exclaimed.  "I didn't even use pink ingredients!"

Sakura smirked.  "Wonder if it's poisonous….. you made them, so why don't you be the judge of that?"  she suggested innocently, handing him a fork with a piece of pink pie stuck to one end.

Li frowned.  "You're willing to put my life at stake for a piece of pie?"

Sakura chuckled as she carefully began to slice the pies into smaller pieces.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~   6:00 P.M 

As the last touches of light disappeared from the horizon, the doors of the soup kitchen opened, and slowly, the huge cafeteria began to fill with gracious people.

"Look!  The people are here!"  Sakura exclaimed delightfully.

Li growled, ignoring her words,  "I'm going to literally sue this place for making me wear a hair net!"  he yelled,  scratching his head consistently.

Sakura laughed.  "Leave it.  Fidgeting with it won't do you any good.  You're only going to get itchier."

"I can't help it when I feel like those fat lunch ladies in school!"  he complained.

"Hey!  You should be grateful for them.  They work in kitchens for hours, preparing meals for kids to eat and for you to eat!"  Sakura remarked, and started to arrange the desserts placed on their section of the room. 

"I pack lunch, stupid."  Li muttered.

Sakura smirked.  "I tried their lunch, and I can honestly say, it taste much better than your pies!"  she teased.

Li glared at her.  "Hey!  Who ate most of it?"

"Who made it?"  she shot back happily.

"You were a bad teacher!"  Li continued.

"Yea well, it's hard to teach someone who can't tell the difference between a shovel and a spatula!"  Sakura mocked, with a grinning delight splattered across her face.

Li frowned.  "It was a one time mistake.  It'll never happen again!"  he promised.

Sakura smiled.  "Right.  O, look….. here comes our first customer!" 

Li ventured his eyes across the room and notice a few more people motioning towards them.  Peering at the beaming Sakura, he couldn't help but feel happy too.

Half an hour later…

Sakura jumped up and down with an agonized expressing.

"Uh…Are you ok?"  Li gestured cautiously.

Sakura looked up, and shook her head.  "I have to use the bathroom, but I don't want to leave you."

Li smirked.  "I feel the same way about you too."

Sakura glared at him.  "I'm afraid you can't handle this dessert stand while I'm gone!"

Li widened his smirk.  "It's ok to cover your passion with an excuse such as that, but just bear with a few minutes and use the bathroom."  He encouraged innocently.

Sakura shot one more glare at him before dashing to the bathroom, and uttering curses under her breath…

After flushing the toilet, and washing her hands with soap, she ran out of the bathroom, afraid Li had started another usual argument with some of the populace….  But to her surprise,  he wasn't….  In fact, she could see a bunch of people crowding around him as he joked and served them… He was smiling broadly and distributing words thanks.

Sakura stared astonished by the scene with a weary smile… 

Though her eyes were a bit teary, and she spoke in an almost inaudible voice, you could just make out the words she mumbled.

 "Mission accomplished…"

~ * ~ * ~ * ~  8:00 p.m

"I must thank you both again for your kindness!"  The familiar elderly women replied.

Li smiled, and Sakura stepped up.  "You're welcome!  Pleasure volunteering for you Ms.Grady!"     

Leaving the building,  Sakura wondered what Li wanted to do now…

"So… have anymore surprises?"  Sakura asked contently.

Li smiled back knowingly, and beckoned her to get into the car.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~  8:30 p.m

In a matter of minutes, Li had parked his vehicle in a rather isolated parking lot. 

"We're here!"  He quickly stepped out of the car and lifted the cover of his trunk.  Sakura walked curiously next to him.  He took out a mysterious large bag, and a …. Cooler.

"You prepared a lot of things…  mind telling me what?"  Sakura asked, still staring at the large packages he was traveling with now.

Li looked back and grinned.  "Patience, my dear."

Sakura rolled her eyes at his motherly words.  She sighed as she followed him to God knows where.  Sighing again,  she lifted her head off the floor and she realized she was traveling on a wooden bridge.  Up ahead, she finally saw the solution to her mystery of where he had brought her.  She beamed.  He had brought her to the beach! 

"Pretty!  Look at the stars!  The moon!"  Sakura exclaimed excitedly, pointed anxiously at the sky, then at the waters.  "And the waves are…."  Before she could finish, she felt a heavier yet comforting burden on her shoulders.  She turned around.  Li had draped a jacket onto her shoulders. 

"It's windier here….  Put it on."  Li gestured sternly.

Sakura was close to being hypnotized by the look in his eyes, but her conscience revived her, and she immediately frowned.  "You're human too… won't you be cold?" 

Li dropped onto the sand, with the bags next to him.  He shook his head.  "I'll be fine."

Sakura smiled, and took off the jacket, handing it back to him.  "You're vulnerable to the cold, remember last time?"

Li grinned warmly at her.  "O well,  I kinda miss that salt – overloaded soup anyways…"  He softly informed.

Sakura felt a pang on pain flutter through her, and for a moment remained still as she remembered… 

Li smirked, and swiftly covered her with his jacket.  Sakura snapped out of her daze…  "What…..Hey!  Alright fine!  It won't be my fault if you're stuck at home with a fever!"

Li chuckle.  "OK, ok!  Come over here, and see what I have."

Sakura frowned.  "What is it.... bombs?"

Li laughed.  "No!  I made us dinner!"

Sakura turned green.  "That's worse then bombs!"

Li nodded carelessly.  "Fine.  Be like that.  I'll eat it on my own."  He replied nonchalantly, and started to open his cooler.   "I mean, I only put an hundred percent of my hard effort into it, and…."

"OK!"  Sakura cried out.  She plopped herself next to him and waited as he took out her dinner.

"Here you go!"  Li beamed, beholding the dinner.

Sakura laughed.  "You put a hundred percent of you hard efforts on a Ham and Cheese sandwich."

Li frowned playfully.  "So what are you implying, sandwiches aren't worth my efforts?"

Sakura grinned too.  "No, I think it's great."  She responded, taking the sandwich and soda from his hand.

Li waited for Sakura to take her first bite…

Sakura stared at him, waiting for him to tell her why he kept staring at her.  "I'm not use to being watched like that when I'm about to eat…" 

Li smirked.  "I've seen your sloppy eating habits.  No use in hiding it now."

Sakura couldn't help but smile, and took a bite from the sandwich.  She chewed the piece slowly, and then swallowed with a pondering expressing.  Li watched her every motion.  "Is it good?"

Sakura laughed.  "It's a Ham and Cheese sandwich!"

"So!  Is it?"

Sakura laughed some more and nodded. 

"Ha!  My first trial at dinner and it tastes good!"  Li exclaimed triumphantly.  "I am now officially good at everything!"

Sakura rolled her eyes, and tried to hide it by drinking from her soda bottle.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~  After the Ham and Cheese sandwich

"Wow….Look at the waves…isn't it pretty how they crash onto rocks…  I love the splash they make…too bad it's still in the winter….  I'd love to dump you into the waters and hear you make a splash, it'd be the most soothing sound of all."  Sakura joked.

Li smiled.  "The ways you think of me."  He commented, amused by her sense of humor.

Walking under the peaceful night, and besides the tranquility of the water,  they had almost lost track of reality…..  "Li…  what's in that bag of yours?"

Li looked confused.  "What bag…..O!  I almost forgot!  Close your eyes, and don't peak."

"Huh…"  she looked surprised at the sudden order.

"Just do it."  Li demanded, while started to walk away from her. 

Sakura gave out one last questioning glance then covered her eyes with her hands.

……..

"Ok, open!" 

Sakura lifted her hands from her eyes, and quickly opened them.  She saw the Li's now empty bag besides him.  Then she looked towards the direction in which he was looking.

There wasn't anything special in sight.  She cocked an eyebrow…

"What are you looking…*gasp*" 

In a distance, she could see sparkling objects soar through the sky….  "Fireworks!"  she breathed.

Hundreds of colors shot into the sky and rapidly burst into exhilarating beams of light.  Sakura stepped back, stunned.  This was the first time being so close to these wonders…

She took a glimpse at them when her step mother watched it on T.V.

Still amazed,  she turned to face Li, speechless.  He simply grinned knowingly at her, and continued to watch the spectacles.  The fireworks bloomed brightly, and the colors danced off their faces.  Sakura didn't know what to say… but she knew deep inside she was very contented by this rewarding gift.

"You know this is illegal."  She blurted out, not knowing what else to say.

Li smirked, already use to her spontaneous answers.  "Small price to pay to see you happy."  He answered sweetly.

Sakura couldn't resist the warmth that gushed through her.

They soon found themselves locked under each other's gaze….  Li shifted his position, so he was now facing her, and began to inch closer to her face in a slow compassionate manner; cautious not to rush this moment, and to startle the girl he felt confusingly overwhelmed with. 

Sakura felt her heart beating twice as fast, and wondered if this was a good time for a heart attack….

Although she found herself inching towards him too, her mind was yelling at her.  'Don't do it Sakura…  you'll know you'll regret it later…  it's day nine!, you're leaving him tomorrow, it's ok to hurt yourself….but what about him…'

Just as their lips brushed, Sakura pulled back, carrying a heavy pain with her.  The lingering desire had them stumped in an awkward silence…. Not even the blasts of the fireworks could interrupt their trance…..

Sakura grinned weakly at him, once she noticed the fireworks had reached their conclusion.  "It's late…  we should get home."

Li exchanged her smile with his.  "Ok…"

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

The ride home was a bit silent at first.  Here and there they would add in a joke, but no sooner had they resumed their typical carefree conversations.

Waiting by the step of her door, she watched as he pulled away.  "Thank you, Li Syaoran."  She whispered to herself.                  

Then, as if all the pain she had hidden so well today erupted, Sakura did something she hadn't done in what seemed like years. 

She dropped down and cried.  Resting her sobbing head upon the bumpy surface of her knees, she let all those tears come pouring out.  It was always better to cry it all out…   

The memories that flashed in her mind only provoked more tears, and huddled in the sadness, she only wished she could forget….. so it wouldn't be as painful to leave…

"You're going to dehydrate yourself…"

Sakura didn't bother to look up, but she knew it was Kero.  He flew out of the window, and sat on her shoulders.

This caused Sakura to look up.  "You changed back to a bear."

Kero smiled and nodded.  "It was too easy playing videos games with hands.  Using paws create a challenge."

Sakura returned him a weak smile, and then looked down at the gray pavement again.  "I wish I could forget…"

Kero cupped his chin, looking wise.  "Do you really?" 

Sakura didn't answer.

"You really want to forget?"  he persisted.

"It'd be easier to forget…."  Sakura softly responded.

Kero smiled.  "It'll be easier….  Maybe.  However, do you want to forget them?"

Sakura stared at him through her puffy eyes before answering truthfully,  "No."

"Exactly… why…?"

Sakura eyed him in confusion, not knowing how to answer him.

"Because they make you happy…of course, not all memories will be happy, but even the sad ones will do us good….they are our guides in becoming a stronger person."  Kero replied, answering for her.

Sakura thought carefully about his answer.  She lifted her head and gazed at the stars and it quickly reminded her of today.  She smiled weakly, and turned around at Kero.  "This must be the first wise thing you've ever said to me before."

Kero let out a smirk filled with pride.  "Of course…..  hey wait a minute, what do you mean by first!"  he exclaimed with a frown.

Sakura laughed and they walked into the house together.

"O, by the way, here's your result!"  Kero replied, and pulled out a huge folder.

Sakura smiled.  "I passed."  She simply told him, without even opening the folder.

Kero beamed.  "I know!  But don't you want to know your score?  It's the highest score you've ever obtained in anything!"

"Hey!!!"  Sakura yelled, throwing the couch pillows at Kero.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~  Night

Sakura sighed, as she looked out her windows, revisiting the stars once again. 

She was fortunate to meet Li Syaoran… not only had she helped him see things in another way, she had experienced more from him as well.  Kero was right, she would never want to forget...  but even though it hurt to leave…. She was glad she met him…

She knew what her plans for the next morning were, and the thought sent waves of pain though her body again.

Trying to find comfort from her pillow she stared at the little puppy Li have given her and smiled, despite the sudden tears that streamed down her face.

"Be strong, Sakura."  She whispered.

A/N:  End of chapter fourteen!  I know, wasn't a great chapter, but I tried.  Well, at least it was longer.  Hope you all enjoyed it though!  Hopefully, my computer will not back down on me when I type chapter fifteen!!  (^.^)