Chapter Seventeen

Jagged Amber

Card Captor Sakura

starjade

Friends

" So-So what if she leaves? Hell, why would I give a flying shit if she left?" He choked out, sitting up painfully.

Eriol laughed and Syaoran heard footsteps and someone settle beside him in the chair that Sakura had occupied just moments ago.

" Your expression tells me differently. Your actions tell me differently. Xiao-Lang, Sakura is a nice girl-"

" Aren't you the one whose into her? Why the hell are you pushing her onto me as if I was in love with her or something?" Syaoran scoffed but Eriol interrupted him.

" I'm not saying that your in love with her. Your the one whose putting words in my mouth," Eriol said, smirking.

Syaoran flushed hard and turned his head away. " Just get the hell out of my room."

" Think about what I said, Xiao-Lang. Sometimes, when you've been repeatedly hurt, you want to protect yourself from being hurt again....but while doing that, your protecting yourself from something that can give you happiness for the rest of your days. It's all about risks. Sometimes, to be happy, you have to take risks. And to risk getting hurt again-"

" Would you fucking shut up and get the hell out of my room?" Syaoran interrupted, angrily.

Eriol sighed. " Alright, dear descendant. But think about what I said-"

" Like shit I will," Syaoran shot back, but no one responded to his angry reply. He tried to settle down again, but he couldn't. He kept thinking about Sak-Kinomoto.

Maybe....maybe she was the one girl who was.....sincere. Who actually meant her words. Who he could....who he could finally.....finally trust...

His fists clenched. These thoughts had resounded before in his mind but he had never acknowledged them. The anger....no, the fear still surrounded him. He took another deep breath to calm his nerves.

His body ached. And he still had another fight coming up. He had won the semi-finals. He only had one fight left and that fight would determine the best martial artist in china.

He wanted-no he needed to win.

But most importantly....he had to get back that Kinomoto girl.

Look what your doing. Your blind in your eyes now your blind in your judgement? She's a lying slut and you know it! Your as foolish as the rest of them, your weak!! A voice inside his head echoed.

He pushed it out and he got up, wincing at the pain that electrocuted his body. Holding onto his side where the bandages were wrapped around his torso like a straitjacket, he got up, trying to push all the conflicting emotions out of his head.

First things first, he told himself. He'd just get her back. Then he'd deal with all the friendship shit afterwards.

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

" So somebody paid for father?" Sakura repeated, flabbergasted.

Touya's voice sounded relieved. " Yeah. He's safe now. The operation is going well. Dad's going to make it."

Sakura felt like a great weight was lifted off of her heart. She felt elated with happiness.

" Thank god!!! Who paid though? And what did he say about me??"

" All he said was that he was paying for Sakura's father. And that he wasn't doing it because of stupid reasons. That was it," Touya remarked, sounding confused.

Sakura sat down hard on her bed. " Really..." She trailed off and shook her head. Stupid reasons? It almost sounded like....no, but Syaoran would never do anything kind like that.

" Why do you care about me when I don't give a shit about you..."

Sakura banged the side of her head with her fist, trying to get the words out. But they kept pounding and pounding at her.

He didn't care about her. What did she expect? Him to be some sappy little baby, holding onto her and expecting her to guide him through the seeing world?

A little gratitude maybe, Sakura thought stubbornly. Not hatred. Not disgust. Not-

" Sakura? You there?"

" Ye-yeah, Touya, I'm here. The program ends in a few days," Sakura said, a bit sorrowfully. She had been looking forward to this day for days on end. Now she didn't want to leave...she didn't want to leave him...

What irony. He hated her. And she...

And she..

" Well, call when you're coming back. I'll update you on father's condition. I hope your staying good over there," Touya said, his voice growing stern.

Sakura giggled. " Good as you were at my age."

Touya's voice went high pitched. " Whaaaattt? When I was your age-dammit, I hope your not doing the things I did!!"

Sakura laughed harder and she quickly said, " Bye, Touya!" And hung up the phone to his yelling voice.

Her smile died as she thought about leaving. She didn't want to. But how could she stay? She had school back at home, she had to get back to her father....she had her friends, her whole life in Japan.

And here, she didn't exactly feel welcome..

She sat on her bed and folded her hands in her lap. Try to think of the good memories, Sakura thought to herself

Tomoyo....finally living in a mansion....Yelan and Eriol...the times Syaoran and her had a good moment...at the martial arts for the disabled....at school, when he stuck up for her....when he dumped her in the fountain, when he talked to her, when he wore that necklace, when they danced, when he carried her home, when he protected her and fought for her, when he supported her when she cried-

Someone burst into her room and she could hear cries coming from inside the mansion. She got to her feet and whirled around.

Then she gasped out of pure shock.

Syaoran stood there, tubes still taped to his arm and a bandage wrapped around his stomach. He was sweating profusely and his hair was tousled and his eyes seemed crazy.

" Sakura???" He said, his voice rough. " You there?"

Sakura....he said her name....

At times she thought that he didn't even know her name. Or maybe he hated her so much that he didn't even want to foul his mouth by speaking the word.

But, now, he said it with such urgency-it melted her heart and her chest banged with a feeling so deep, it nearly ate her up from the inside.

" I-I'm here..." She said, her voice cracking a bit from the emotion she felt. Just out of him saying her name. Confusion filled her at why he was here...when he should've been at the hospital.

Relief flashed through his face for a split second before contorting in pain. " That bastard....Hiirigizawa didn't know what the hell he was talking about..."

" Wh-what? Syaoran, what are you doing here? You should be in the hospital!! Your ribs are broken, you should be resting!!" Sakura cried, worry filling her.

Syaoran fell to his knees and his eyes were closed tightly and his jaw was clenched, his arm across his stomach. She could tell he was holding back the pain and she went down on her knees, facing him, her eyes searching his face desperately.

" Syaoran! How did you get here! Why did you come here? Why were you looking for me??" Sakura demanded, anxiously.

" I-I- th-thought-" he gasped with pain and Sakura felt hot tears spring to her eyes, "-y-you left-"

" No!! No, I would never leave..." She said, her voice ending in a slight whisper. " Never.."

His unseeing eyes opened, focusing on a spot behind her and then they closed again as he took a deep, shuddering breath. " Why do you care about me..."

Sakura waited with baited breath.

" Wh-when I've been a bastard to you?"

With that, he fell unconscious and Yelan and Meiling burst into the room with two hospital policemen and doctors. They halted short and with wide eyes, took in the scene in front of them.

Syaoran cared. Syaoran had cared enough to come running from the hospital.
He had changed. Changed so much that it wasn't possible to see the old, cold-hearted Syaoran anymore.

Sakura Kinomoto had changed him.

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

He was recovering quickly. Three days had flown by since the incident and Sakura was leaving in four days. The whole Li household was shocked and surprised at the incident and many regarded Sakura as a whole different person.

She was able to somehow get through his cold exterior and had actually formed a friendship with the boy.

And according to Yelan, maybe even more.

Yelan was careful not to mention love when discussing Syaoran with Sakura. She knew both of them were not ready to enter that stage, Syaoran would probably never recognize his feelings for the girl. Sakura was already quite aware that she felt something for Syaoran but she was too sensitive to ever grab hold of the feelings and take charge.

And it didn't help that she was leaving so soon.

Yelan had called the officials in which she had sent the application for tutors, requesting another month of stay for Sakura. Even though it was quite impossible that she could, Yelan hoped the answer would be yes.

If not, Syaoran might revert back to his cold self again....and slowly destruct everything he had worked hard for.

Meiling was angry about the whole situation and often teamed up with Yen to harass Sakura at school. Without Syaoran there, they were ten times more vicious. Meiling was quite jealous, for growing up with Syaoran, she always thought they would end up married.

Until Sakura came into his life, of course.

The first time Sakura went into the hospital to visit him after the incident, the situation was awkward. And quite destructive, to say the least.

Sakura knocked on Syaoran's door, nervousness emitting from her body like waves. When no one answered, she opened the door slowly, and walked in. Syaoran was sleeping on the bed, quiet as a lamb. She tip toed in and sat as silently as she could on the chair next to him.

Staring at his still face, she thought back to yesterday, where he had stormed into her room. He cared about her. Happiness was all she could feel . Her father was alright, Syaoran cared about her, now if only the school she was attending would be a bit better. Yen and Meiling were never off her back, for more ways to taunt and embarrass her.

" This reminds me of the time you were on that horse," Sakura whispered softly, giggling a bit. " And you fell off and hurt your arm. I watched you while you slept because that was the only time I was allowed in your room. You'd kick me out if I even stepped in it while you were awake."

She smiled softly and then shook with shock when he responded, " That was your fault by the way. I don't think you have a brain in that head of yours, which I expect out of all japanese sluts."

Sakura stared at him and he opened his eyes, facing the ceiling. Sakura then comprehended his words and glared at him. " I am not a slut!"

" Yes you are."

" NO, I'm not!"

" Yes."

" NOOO!"

" No."

" Yes-" Sakura halted and then thought. Syaoran smirked.

" You are as dumb as I thought you were," Syaoran remarked.

Sakura glared, sullenly. " Yeah, thanks for the gratitude. I come all the way to the hospital and have to bear with your insults. What a welcome."

" What do you expect??" Syaoran sneered. Then he put on a false, high pitched voice. " Ohh, Sakura, I am so overjoyed to see you! Let's be friends forever!"

Sakura stared at him and then burst out into giggles. " Now that would just be freaky!!"

Syaoran shook his head and Sakura's giggles died down. Then came that feared, awful, awkward silence. Sakura shifted uncomfortably, and Syaoran fingered the TV remote restlessly.

"I-" They both started at the same time and then they fell quiet.

Sakura looked at him from the corners of her eyes and smiled. " Thanks," she said. He twitched a bit and she elaborated. " For-for telling me-showing me-that you do-well-don't hate me. I thought you did."

" I did," Syaoran growled.

Sakura blinked and he glared at her. " We're not chums now just because I'm decided to let you off on my insults. Think of it as my going away present."

Sakura felt her heart sink a bit and she smiled. " It's a nice going away present."

Syaoran shrugged, indifferently. " At least you'll get your damned A."

Sakura giggled and got up. " And I'll get a friend too," She said cheerfully, walking out of the room.

A little bit of surprise shock came from Syaoran's end.

" We're not friends!!" Syaoran yelled, his voice flustered.

" Yes we are!" Sakura called out, happily.

" NO!"

" Yes!

" NO!

" No!

" Yes-" He stopped and Sakura burst into laughter before turning away and walking off, hearing his distinct, " Dammit!!" before she left completely.

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

Meiling stared down at her hands, seeing red the same colour as her irises. She wanted to hurt someone.....namely, the cheerful little slut Sakura.

She came, unbidden, into their lives and took over everything that Sakura was. And succeeded!! She succeeded in doing something in a month that Meiling couldn't do all her life.

She helped Syaoran feel. She helped him care, she helped him open up a bit, she changed him!!

Meiling lived for the day that she would change Syaoran. The day that he would turn to her, marry her, love her-it didn't matter if he was blind. At the accident, Meiling felt her daydreams turn to mush. Her daydreams never involved Syaoran being blind.

It involved him looking at her with love in his eyes, telling her that she was beautiful. But he couldn't see!! But she got over it through the years and knew that it didn't matter that he had a disability-

She would still be his future wife.Always.

Until she came along. Sakura Kinomoto. Meiling hated her.

" She can't just come in and take MY place!! MY role!!" Meiling screamed out, tears pouring from her eyes. Her hands clenched into fists and she pounded the ground in anger.

Tears trailed down her cheeks and fell off her chin, landing in droplets on the ground. Sakura had everything she wanted. Syaoran.

She had felt bad today when she had added in with Yen's insults. She had pushed Sakura, making her trip. She had badmouthed her to everyone and now the school hated Sakura. She made sure she did everything in her power to make Sakura's life hell.

But no matter what she did, she still wanted Sakura's life. She was jealous.

" How-How could she do that? Gain his trust, gain his friendship-" She broke into a sob. " And everything I've done, every sacrifice I've made only ended up in his coldness! I'm the one for him! I am!! Where did she come from??"

" Maybe you aren't the one for him, dear."

Meiling jerked and leapt to her feet, whirling to face the speaker. Her eyes widened at Yelan.

" Yelan!" She breathed, jerking into a short bow. " I didn't know you were there."

Yelan looked at her solemnly. " Meiling...I know you feel for my son. I know you've tried to help him change. I know you hate Sakura for succeeding. But you must realize....that if such a thing is happening, that maybe you aren't meant for Xiao-Lang. Maybe you are meant for someone else," Yelan spoke softly.

Meiling shook her head. " But-but-for years-I've only dreamt of him as my future husband-how can it be-"

" The agreement was that you are to be engaged to Xiao-Lang unless he finds someone else. He may indeed have found someone else dear....maybe it is time for you to let go," Yelan whispered, placing a hand on Meiling's shoulder.

Meiling just burst into tears and hugged Yelan tight. She didn't want to let go...even though she knew she had to.

a/n: DoooNE! lolll, hope you guyz liked this chapter. ooo and the competition isnt done yet. itz comin soon, the last one to figure out the best martial artist in china. ( or was it asia??) yuuuuup i knoe they're not together. yet. and yen has not revealed this drastic plan of hers. but it will all come soon and this story will end as well......WHICh i dont want it too!! lollll i love this story too much! aight ppl, give me suggestions (no matter how many times i say it, no one doeeeesss!!) and comments!!

see ya latez,

--starjade--