Well, thanks SO much for all your reviews! (I even got a threat saying my head was gonna get eaten off….hahah) Hope you liked the cliffie!
Many of you were right on with the engagement thing, but for who it is? And OMG some of you are brilliant!
Enjoy!

With Or Without You
Chapter Three: Engaged

"I'm engaged."

I never thought I'd ever hear those words come from his lips. I never thought those two simple words would break my heart.

But they did, oh did they ever.

"W-What?" I stammered. "Engaged?"

He nodded softly, his hands gripping into tight balls at his sides, but he didn't answer.

The world was melting away as I stood there, staring up at the boy I loved, the boy I had given myself to, the boy I wanted to spend my life with…and I wanted to scream.

Engaged. Syaoran was engaged. I don't think it had truly set in just yet, because I wasn't crying. I should be crying, shouldn't I?

Oh, but the tears would come soon, I was sure.

Wait…did this mean we were over?

"Sakura…I'm so sorry." Syaoran said, gathering the courage to speak. "So, so sorry."

I didn't answer. I don't think I could have, even if I wanted to.

"Sakura?" Syaoran said, finally looking into my eyes.

I didn't see his eyes, though. I couldn't. everything was fading away, those two simple words still ringing through my head. I'm engaged.

"Please, say something Sakura!" Syaoran said, gripping my arms lightly. "Please..."

I lowered my head, my bangs shading my eyes. "Who?"

"W-What?"

"Who is she?" I asked softly. Hey, why not ask? That way I knew who to kill.

Joking…somewhat.

Syaoran sighed. "Her name is Ciria. In order to combine our two companies…we have to get married. I don't have a choice in this Sakura."

Ciria. He was leaving me for a chick named Ciria.

Don't I feel loved?

But…he had no choice? This was the twenty-first century! No one was forced to marry anymore…much.

"I'm so sorry Sakura." Syaoran said.

I looked up at him then, a strange feeling vibrating through me. Was it anger? Jealousy? No…it was hurt. I was hurt.

I felt so…betrayed.

"To combine the companies." I said, my voice oddly steady. Why wasn't I crying yet? "You have to marry her, huh?"

Syaoran nodded. "Yes."

I wanted to know so many things like, how old is she? Is she prettier than me? Is she a good kisser? Has he slept with her yet?

You know, things like that, things that really were none of my business.

"When?" I asked.

"When?"

"When are you marrying her?" I asked.

Syaoran sighed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "When I'm old enough."

"Eighteen?"

"No." he said, shaking his head madly. "Well I could, but I don't want to."

"Do you…want to marry her?" I asked softly.

"Of course not!" Syaoran gaped at me.

I glared at him then, really, glared. "Then why are you agreeing to it?"

"I don't have a choice Sakura!" Syaoran said. "It's either I marry her or my family disowns me!"

I hated the Li family at that moment. They could all burn for all I cared…

"Disowns you?" I said tonelessly. "Whoa, nice family."

"Sakura please, you've got to believe me." Syaoran said. "If I had a choice, I wouldn't do it, not a chance!"

I could feel the tears coming then. Big fat tears threatening to spill from my eyes at any second.

Damn I hated crying.

I shook my head, backing away from him.

"Sakura? Sakura please, you've got to understand!"

"Oh, I do understand Syaoran." I said, my tone surprisingly jagged. "But what I don't understand is why you lied."

"Lied? Sakura I've never lied to you!" he gaped at me.

"You said you loved me," I whispered harshly. "And I always thought love was worth fighting for."

Whoa, that was totally deep.

Then I turned, and ran.

I was so not going to stick around so he could watch me cry.

"Sakura!" Syaoran shouted after me. "Sakura wait!"

I didn't listen, I didn't want to. Damn, now I knew how he felt when I'd broken up with him in Hong Kong.

It sucked, a lot.

I continued to run through the school Syaoran's shouting following after me.

I was not waiting for him.

My mind was still trying to grasp what he'd just told me.

Syaoran was engaged…Syaoran was engaged…oh God my life was over.

Hot tears streamed down my cheeks as I ran through the main doors, into the courtyard…

Only to come face-to-face with Meilin.

"Sakura!" she cried, wrapping her arms tightly around me, stopping me in mid-step. "I'm so sorry!"

"W-What?" I sniffed.

"Syaoran told you, didn't he?" she asked softly.

I pointed to my cheeks, which were wet with tears. "You think?"

"I'm so sorry Sakura," Meilin said, grasping my hands tightly in hers. "But he has no other choice! He still loves you!"

"He's freaking seventeen!" I cried. "How can he be engaged?"

"It's not illegal to be engaged, only married." Meilin said. "And besides, it's not like he wants to."

"I know…he told me." I breathed. "But still."

"I'm so sorry Sakura," Meilin smiled weakly. "I wanted to tell you, but Syaoran thought he should. I just wish it didn't have to come to this."

"It's not your fault Meilin, you don't have to apologize. It's not like you're marrying him."

"Well…" Meilin said, looking rather sheepish. "Ciria is, actually…my step-sister."

Well then, that changed things.

From bad to worse!

I gaped at her, tears blurring my vision. Wouldn't that make Ciria his…cousin, somewhat?

EWE!

"I have to go." I said flatly, staring blankly past Meilin. "I have to…get out of here."

"Sakura, Sakura wait!" Meilin gasped.

Too late, I was already gone.

Syaoran was engaged to Ciria, a girl I'd never met or even heard of, and she was, more or less, related to him.

My world was twisted.

Engaged. Syaoran was engaged. That meant I could never kiss him, never be with him, ever again…

My life, at that moment, sucked.

XxXxX

"Sakura where have you been?" Eriol gasped, swinging open his front door.

It was almost midnight, and it had finally gotten into my head. It being what Syaoran and Meilin had told me.

Syaoran was engaged. I was alone.

"Sakura?" Eriol breathed. "What's wrong?"

I looked up at him faintly, my cheeks damp from crying, my mascara smeared, everything. I must have looked terrible.

"Come in," Eriol said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders comfortingly, leading me inside. "Where have you been? Touya called at least twenty times, same with Tomoyo and Meilin and Syaoran, no one knew where you were!"

"You aren't going to tell them…are you?" I asked softly.

"Sakura, everyone is worried sick! I was just getting ready to go look for you!"

"No…" I breathed, staring down at the floor as he led me into the living room, making me sit down on the couch. "Don't tell anyone."

"Why?" Eriol asked. "Sakura what's wrong?"

"Syaoran…he…" I whimpered, fresh tears stinging at my eyes.

Just then the phone rang and Eriol got up and picked it up, leaving me to sit on the couch, silent tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Hello?" Eriol said. "Oh yeah, you don't have to worry, she just showed up here…uh huh…okay…are you sure? Yeah, I'll keep her here until then. Thanks, bye."

He hung up then and turned back to me, sitting beside me on the couch, resting his arm around me again.

God he was such a good friend.

"Syaoran's coming to pick you up." Eriol said. "He and Meilin were out looking for you."

Never mind.

My eyes widened and I shook my head madly, instantly getting to my feet, scaring Eriol, I think, a bit.

"What's wrong Sakura?" he asked.

"No…not Syaoran." I said. "I don't want to see him right now."

"Why? Sakura…I thought you loved him. Why?"

"I do love him!" I cried. "That's just the problem! I love him too much and he expects me to…to..."

I covered my face with my hands then and sunk to my knees on the carpeted floor.

I don't think I've cried so much in my life.

"Sakura?" Eriol said hesitantly, kneeling beside me on the floor, resting his hands on my shoulders. "Sakura what's wrong? What does Syaoran expect you to do?"

I could tell that Eriol was thinking something totally wrong, especially by the frantic way he was gripping my shoulders.

"He's engaged, Eriol." I said. "He's engaged."

Eriol gasped. "Oh Sakura…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry."

I shook my head, wiping the tears from my eyes with my wrist. "Whatever…it can't be helped, according to him and Meilin. But God…Ciria…she's practically his cousin for God's sake and they're making him marry her."

Eriol gaped at me. "Isn't it illegal to marry under the age of eighteen?"

I nodded, sighing, frustrated. "Yeah. But he's not marrying her yet…when he's older. It's to combine their family companies."

"But…I thought Syaoran handed over his family company to his uncle." Eriol said.

"I guess that isn't enough." I shrugged. "But God Eriol, I don't want to see him just yet."

Eriol nodded, smiling warmly at me. "No problem. Go in the guest room, I think I hear a car in the driveway."

I nodded and got to my feet, walking down the hallway towards the guest room, when I heard Eriol pull the door open.

Oh I wasn't going to miss this.

I crept close along the wall, making sure that not even my shadow could be seen, but enough so I could hear.

"Is Sakura here?" Syaoran's familiar voice asked. He sounded rather upset.

I wonder why.

"No, sorry." Eriol said. "I tried to stop her, but she just ran off, you just missed her."

Syaoran sighed, frustration evident in his tone. "Damn. Well…if you see her, please tell her that I have to see her, I have to talk to her."

"No problem Syaoran. I'll call you." Eriol said.

"Thanks." Syaoran said.

Then, he was gone.

"You can come out now Sakura." Eriol said.

I sighed and came around the corner, clasping my hands together against my chest. "Thanks for lying Eriol, I really appreciate it."

Eriol nodded, "No problem Sakura. But don't you think you should talk to him."

"What is there to talk about?" I asked, somewhat acidly. "I mean, there is nothing to talk about. He chose his family, his business, over me…not that I can blame him."

"Sakura," Eriol sighed, wrapping his arms around me tightly. "Don't say that. Maybe Syaoran just wasn't the one."

I wanted him to be.

"Maybe."

"You'll be fine." Eriol smiled, pulling away from me. "Life goes on, right?"

I smiled faintly and nodded. "Yeah. Well, thanks, I need to get home or Touya will have a coronary."

Eriol nodded. "Can I give you a ride at least?"

"No, I'll walk." I sighed, walking towards the front door. "I need the fresh air."

"Okay, but call me in the morning, okay?"

I nodded. "Will do Eriol. See you later."

Then, I pulled open the door and walked into the night.

Okay! Hope you liked it! (No this is NOT an Eriol/Sakura fic, just in case you were wondering) REVIEW!