Chapter Fifteen

Card Captor Sakura

Jagged Amber

--starjade--

Realizing

The cold air was biting and harsh. It swept around them like a whirlwind and Syaoran felt himself losing his senses-something he had taught himself over the years never to do.

For some reason, it always happened around Kinomoto. This time it was worse-he could feel her flesh on his, and it was heating his face, causing a flush to spread over his cheeks. Shaking his head violently, he tried to concentrate instead, on getting home.

" What's with the annoying questions," Syaoran grumbled. " You're causing enough trouble for me....getting drunk, man, you dumbass. Maybe now, you'll realize that the place you belong is back in Japan, away from me."

For some reason, that didn't give him any satisfaction anymore. Instead, something hurt in his chest and he frowned. This was not good.

The drunken girl on his shoulder giggled and started to play with his hair. " You hate me. Why?"

Okay, this Kinomoto slut was NOT touching his hair! This was really frustrating. He was trying to concentrate on his surroundings but with this girl on his shoulder, he was indeed, just a blind person, fumbling forward and not knowing where he was going. " I don't have to answer that, wench. Shut the hell up and stop frigging touching my hair!"

" I know why," She said happily. " You hate me because...because...."

Syaoran waited for her answer with baited breath.

" Because I'm prettier then you!" She let out, laughing insanely.

Syaoran rolled his eyes, his shoulders drooping. " You're so damn annoying."

Suddenly, a honk out of nowhere shocked his senses and he stumbled back. He was on the road! The stumble, however, made Sakura slip off of his shoulders and tumble down.

" OW!" Sakura moaned.

" Shit," Syaoran cursed. He was on a road, but not a fast one. He knew this road. Only a few more blocks and he'd be home. But if he carried her....his control on his senses would be lost. But there was no other way. He could just leave her there, moaning about some boo boo on her knee...but contrary to vast opinion, he wasn't THAT cold hearted.

Sighing, he picked her up again and trudged across the road. He'd just have to do the best he could...

After a few minutes of walking, he heard a voice go, "Xiao-Lang!" He rose his head with relief. It was Wei! Footsteps came running towards him and he heard Wei reach him, breathing heavily. " Xiao-Lang! What happened to the young lady?"

" The slut's drunk," Syaoran answered shortly. " Where are we?"

Wei was staring at him, strangely, and Syaoran knew it. The fact that Syaoran didn't know where they were-Wei knew something was up. " We are in front of the mansion, Xiao-Lang."

Syaoran felt relief flood through him. So his intuition hadn't betrayed him, unlike his senses. "Move," He commanded shortly and walked through the doors, and down the path. He pushed open the doors, ignoring the gasp of his mother, who had been waiting anxiously at the door and climbed up the stairs, tripping slightly on the top one but catching his balance. He walked down the hallway to Sakura's room and kicked open the door, walking to where he thought her bed was and dropping her.

Twisting on his heel, he attempted to walk out, but Sakura had grabbed his hand. " Where are you going?" She asked, drowsily.

" To my room. Now let go of my hand, if you know what's good for you," Syaoran warned, his tone taking on a dangerous quality. If only she wasn't a girl, she'd be knocked out cold right now. Trying to calm his tempter, he glared at her.

Sakura smiled faintly in drunken stupor. " I think I'm dying." Syaoran froze at her words and turned to her.

" You're such a fool, you aren't dying," Syaoran said, spitefully. " You're drunk. It was a dance, weren't you at least slightly smart enough to realize that at dances, the punch gets spiked?"

She was grinning. " No, no, no, I'm dying! I don't feel in control. Is that how you feel like when you're dying? I wonder if that's how my father is feeling."

Syaoran felt his whole body tense up and he felt warning bells clash in his head. Her father was dying? He didn't know that...and he shouldn't! She was drunk! She shouldn't be telling him this!

" He's in the hospital....I don't think we can afford his hospital bills anymore....it's getting hard...." Her voice was faint. " Maybe he'll be happy when he meets my mom in heaven....do you think so, Syaoran?"

Syaoran tried to answer but there was a lump in his throat and he couldn't speak as Sakura drifted off to sleep. Her hand dropped from its hold on his wrist but it took him longer to move from the spot he was frozen in.

" How's your health? You're not getting worse are you?...Daddy, maybe I should come back-Dad, please, I'm okay, really I am. Its you I'm worried about. How's the boy I'm supposed to tutor? Well, he's...okay. I think I'm progressing...I hope you get better, Daddy. Say hello to Touya for me, alright?"

Syaoran winced. Her father....This complicated everything....

-----------------

Sakura stumbled out of the washroom, her stomach rumbling unpleasantly. Well, it had a right to do so, after she had emptied her guts several times. Collapsing on her bed, she blinked hard. Memories of last night were invading her head and she groaned.

All in all, she had made a big fool of herself.

Wow....this was all great.

She also had a week before she had to leave Hong Kong. Which meant....a failing mark. Punching the pillow viciously, she growled deeply. She couldn't think about that. She couldn't think about leaving Tomoyo and Yelan....and Syaoran...

Syaoran....she had to apologize! She had made such a fool of herself in front of him, and he had to take her home too! He was blind! Something could've happened to him-and it would've been her fault!

Getting up, she tried to straighten her clothes and then stopped, smiling wryly. Why would he care if her clothes were wrinkled? He couldn't even see her.

Pressing one finger to her temple, trying to hold off a growing head-ache....or the nervousness of having to apologize to the one guy who hated her guts....she opened her door and knocked on his softly.

" Syaoran?" She whispered. Coughing, she tried to speak louder. " Syaoran??"

" WHAT?"

Sakura took a step back, flinching. No, she had to do this.

" Syaoran?? Can...c-can I come in?" She asked, wincing as she stuttered.

There was a slight crash and then a muffled voice. " I'm in the friggin washroom."

" You're not," Sakura said, her voice cracking with guilt. " You're voice is too close."

" Go away."

" Please?"

" Go away!!"

" Syaoran...." Sakura trailed off, but instead of leaving, she sat down, her back against his door, sighing softly. " I don't know what I said yesterday. I don't know what I did. All I remember was saying... a lot of stupid things and making a fool of myself...and most of all, putting you in danger. I know, you're the genius who can still live life even though you can't see....but I still feel guilty."

There was silence, but Sakura knew he was there, listening to every word. In the back of her mind, she wondered why he was still there. A month ago, he would have already kicked her off, complained, left, cussed her out-she didn't know, but she knew he wouldn't have been listening.

Taking a shuddering breath, she kept going, " To be honest, I was just angry....that you were letting all of those girls take care of you....but you never let me near you. This last month, it's been hard for me, I've struggled, I've cried, I've suffered a lot-but I still met you. For some reason....that just means a lot to me."

Her words hanging in the air, too late to grab them back, she waited with baited breath for a reaction, any sort of reaction.

Closing her eyes tightly, she waited...

And waited...

And waited...

Until she knew that he wasn't going to do anything. Sighing, she got up and left to her room, lying back down on her bed and closing her eyes against the hot tears that were burning her eyelids.

She wasn't a good tutor at all....maybe it was a good thing that she was leaving in a week...

-----------------

" ...you were letting all of those girls take care for you....but you never let me near you..."

Those words were pounding in his head, whirling around in a confusing tornado. He had never felt this way before....hell, he never LET himself feel this way.

He was actually caring about the girl.

This was fucking serious.

" Arrggghhh!" He moaned, holding his hair tightly in his hands. He couldn't let this happen! But it already had....too much was going for him. He was going to be the leader of the Li Clan, after proving himself in the Martial Arts competition that was tomorrow! He couldn't care about anyone-much less this random girl who popped into his life....and was going to leave very soon.

No, he wouldn't care.

He wouldn't care at all...

Some things were easier said then done...Sighing, he got up and threw on his practicing clothes, stomping down the stairs and out the door to the backyard, where he practiced every day. Setting up his moves, he began to practice, hitting an invisible opponent, ducking and weaving and throwing all he got into it.

He was going to be the winner....and show them all that being blind didn't stop you from doing what you loved.

His senses instantly blared to life as he felt the familiar scent of cherry blossoms waft into his nose and he breathed in deeply. She was there. Closing her eyes, trying not to be distracted by her scent, her being, her presence-he delivered a kick, and ducked, rolling, initiating another number of kicks and punches, before he couldn't take the silence anymore.

" What are you STARING at?" Syaoran burst out.

There was silence after his words. " Are you mad at me?" She answered, her voice lilting to his ears. Syaoran growled.

" If you shut the hell up, then I won't be! All you do is hang around like some leech. God, I don't even know why you care that much anyways," Syaoran grumbled.

There was another pause but then Sakura burst into happy laughter. " Thank you Syaoran! I felt so guilty! I thought you were mad and that-"

" SHUT UP!"

" Sorry, sorry!"

Syaoran shook his head, trying to concentrate on his martial arts, but there was no way with her....her SCENT right there! He delivered an air kick, but that was all he could do before she started to talk again.

" Can you teach me that?" Sakura asked, her voice light.

Syaoran halted and his eyes widened. " Teach you?" Syaoran guffawed. " Yeah right. Dancing was hard enough. Imagine martial arts-"

" Syaoran, pleeeasee?"

" No friggin way. Stop annoying me!" Syaoran growled, a little bit of wonderment creeping into his body. He never realized how much he talked....he never really did...until this Japanese girl comes out of nowhere. Suddenly, he had a use for his voice box.

" Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease? Please, please, please, please, please-"

" IF YOU SHUT UP THEN I WILL!! ALRIGHT!?" Syaoran roared, angrily.

There was silence and Syaoran hoped that he had scared away. Unfortunately, Sakura sounded smug. " I win."

Syaoran shot a glare at where she was sitting and sighed. " Get up here and do a kick."

Sakura got up and jumped happily towards him. He concentrated all his senses in feeling the motions she was doing. Her hands seemed to sweep back and her foot went flying in the air with no controlled movement and no style whatsoever until she fell back with a thump.

" Owwww!" Sakura moaned. " I tried kicking high...."

Syaoran stared down at her cynically. " Yes. This is worse then dancing. You desperately lack in co-ordination. As well as many other things. Style, looks, grace-"

Sakura glared up at him and got to her feet. " What are you saying?? That I'm clumsy? That I'm ugly?"

Syaoran pretended to think. "I think you said it for me."

He could almost imagine the look of rage on her face and felt a slow punch come to his face. It was rather pathetic and almost lazily, he reached up and stopped it. It had no skill behind it, but there was enough passion. She tried kicking him, but he just dodged it. He could feel her aura getting angrier, and she pulled her hand away from his and started punching him, but he stopped each one until he grabbed her hands. His heart felt lighter then it had in days.

" You're easier to beat then Yen!" Syaoran said spitefully.

Sakura let out a sound of pure anger. " YEN? You're comparing me to that thing?"

Syaoran nodded slowly, as if she was dumb. " Yes...I think I am..."

"ARGH!" Sakura growled and launched a sideways kick at the boy that...hit him. Straight in the side. Syaoran let out an "Oof!" And fell to the ground.

Sakura's eyes widened with horror. " Syaoran? Syaoran! Oh god! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" She fell to her knees beside him, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him. " Are you ok?? ANSWER ME!"

Then Syaoran opened his eyes. " You're more gullible then Yen too!"

Sakura's eyes widened with shock and then relief. " Syaoran! Don't scare me like that....you....you bastard!" She tried punching him again, but he stopped it once more. He just got up nimbly and to the shock of Sakura, grabbed her around the waist and plopped her over his shoulder. She froze with complete and utter disbelief as he carried her to the fountain and when it was too late, did she realize what was happening. With a high pitched screech, she felt herself being dropped into the fountain.

Cold water sprayed everywhere and she lifted her head out of the water, sputtering in anger. " You-you-"

There he stood, a smirk on his face. " Yeah?"

She sat in the water, too astonished to do anything. This was one of the most surprising days she had ever had with him. Here he was, if she didn't know any better, teasing her!!! It was too much for her to handle and she got out of the fountain, dripping in water and went over to him, placing her hand on his forehead.

" You don't have a fever..." Sakura mumbled absent-mindedly and Syaoran jerked away from her.

" Now leave me alone. You know the competition is tomorrow so let me practice!" Syaoran growled, his weird personality gone and replaced with the Syaoran she knew.

Sakura shook her head and said, " I could help you."

Syaoran raised an eyebrow ironically at her. " From your position?"

Sakura looked at the water dripping clothes and pushed the wet bangs off her forehead. " Well I could-"

" Will you shut up and go inside?" Syaoran said harshly.

Sakura was taken aback by her tone but she shook her head. She knew he was feeling a bit weird too. He had shown a side to her that she had never seen before. A sort of playful side. Wow....those two words did NOT go together. Playful and Syaoran.

Grinning, she replied, " Ok!" And walked off. As she walked, she had a weird feeling that she was being watched. Not by Syaoran, (he couldn't watch her! he couldn't even see her) but by someone else. She whipped around, but calmed herself down. It was probably just the after-effect of Syaoran's weirdness.

Smiling, she opened the door and headed inside. Yelan watched her with wide eyes as she passed by in squelching wet clothes.

" What happened to you?" Yelan gasped, surprised.

Sakura grinned. " Syaoran and I were just outside, playing around."

Walking away she counted down the seconds until she could hear the shocked screech, " Xiao-Lang?? PLAYING AROUND???"

---------

" Get the hell up, woman! How long do you freaking sleep?"

Sakura rolled over, groaning. " Shut uppp...I'm having a really nice dream..." She moaned, slowly.

More annoying rapping at the door. " KINOMOTO, GET THE HELL UP OR I'M COMING IN THERE AND DRAGGING YOU OUT!"

" What is all this yelling?"

" That little slut isn't getting out of her bedroom."

" Xiao-Lang! Don't say those kinds of words! I thought you didn't want her to come."

There was a moment of silence and then Syaoran replied, harshly, " I don't care!! I just thought that maybe you'd want her to come like last time! I don't want her to come! Let her stay there if she wants to!"

Sakura heard angry steps going down the stairs and out the door. Then soft tapping at her door. " Sakura?"

Sakura got up slowly. " Yes, Yelan?"

Yelan walked in, her face looking as though she had seen a ghost. Sakura rose her eyebrows. " Are you okay?"

Yelan grinned. " More than okay! The finals are today. They'll determine the two top fighters of China, who'll battle it out today. It's a pretty bit competition for Xiao-Lang. I think he may want your support."

Sakura's eyes bugged out. " What??"

Yelan smiled. " You've changed Xiao-Lang, so much that I can hardly see the old Xiao-Lang sometimes. You probably aren't aware of what you're doing. I can't even believe it sometimes. I'm sure now....that you are making great progress. Please come to the competition today."

Sakura was flabbergasted. " Of course I'll come! B-but are you sure that I'm actually helping him? I hardly taught him any Japanese-"

Yelan laughed. " I don't really care if he knows Japanese or not. Actually, I think he does know Japanese, he just doesn't like studying it. I only care that he has the strength to fight those demons inside of him. I know that you can help him." With a smile of gratefulness, Yelan got up and went out of the room, saying, " Get ready soon, we're leaving in ten minutes!"

Sakura watched Yelan's back as she left, too astonished to move. Something akin to guilt rushed through her. Was she actually helping Syaoran? Or had she lost sight of her goal, her job...and now was doing it on pure personal bases? Something fluttered inside of her every time she saw him, every time he spoke to her...

The day she would have to leave loomed closer.

She brought her knees to her chest and placed her head down on her knees. She had lost all focus. Things had gotten too personal. She wanted to be friends with Syaoran; she wanted to be close to him. Yelan thought she was the 'tutor', Syaoran, well she didn't know what he thought. He was changing...not a lot, but he was.

How could she leave now? The day she had been looking forward to, all these days, weeks, hours, she just wanted to leave, to rush back to her father's side, make sure he was ok, hang with her friends who loved her and who didn't push her away...now she was dreading that day.

All because of him. All because of Syaoran.

Groaning, she got up and trudged into the bathroom. She'd think about this later. She couldn't be absent-minded on a pivotal day for Syaoran.

------------

" GOOOO XIAO-LANG!" Meiling screamed. She pointed at him, her cheeks flushed with excitement. " That's MY fiancé!!"

Sakura winced at the word. She didn't know why she cared so much that Syaoran and Meiling were engaged. She had meant to ask Syaoran.....There was some sort of story behind it, but she was to embarrassed to. He'd probably want to know why she cared. She didn't have an answer for herself, how would she be able to answer him?

Yelan rose an eyebrow at Meiling. " The competition hasn't even started yet, Meiling. He's getting ready. Why are you cheering for him now?"

Meiling pouted. " He's my fiancé! I can do whatever I want," She looked pointedly at Sakura and Sakura glared back at her. Meiling had somehow figured out that being engaged to Syaoran slightly bothered Sakura and never failed to mention that fact.

Syaoran was dressed up in his green fighting clothes and Meiling and Yelan were heading to the stadium to sit down. Sakura stared at Syaoran, her heart beating hard. Syaoran looked really good in those clothes. Absolutely handsome. His amber eyes flashing with determination, his chestnut hair messy and falling over his eyes, the way he walked towards her-

Walking towards her?

" Kinomoto? What the hell are you still doing here?" Syaoran asked, his eyebrows raising. " Maybe you're blind too. The stadium is that way!"

Sakura glared. " I know that! I was just-I just wanted to-" She breathed and tried to calm herself down. " I wanted to know if you were going to wear my necklace....for good luck."

There was silence after her words and she felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. " I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to, you could just-"

" You talk too much, wench. I'm wearing it, aren't I?" Syaoran replied. Sakura stared at him in surprise as he turned around and walked away, the glint of her necklace around his throat. Something wrenched at her heart and she felt her whole body warm up.

Something was really wrong with her. In the back of her mind she knew what was happening, but she couldn't come to terms with it. Not now, not ever...

a/n: Heyyy! Wats up, ppl? Hope you guys liked dis chapter, it's getting a bit more romantic now. I juss wanted to say that Yen and Sairah's plan is a bit more complicated that it seems to be. Can't say anymore or it'll ruin...some of the surprise I guess. And Sakura has to leave in a week! With Syaoran's dense little mind, how can they get together? He's softening quick tho....most probably, after hearing about Sakura's dad.

Alright, review or email, tell me wut ya think! Aight? Aight!! Byeee!

--starjade--