Hey everyone, I'm back, and still writing.

Thank you to all my readers, but a special thanks to:

litod3vil

MunChixD

VampireJazzy

Cheekypoo

And

meow-mix23

Thank you to all my readers.

I don't own CCS.

Read on.

Sakura carried Tomoyo back to her house, which was just around the corner from Li and Eriol's. Sakura opened up the door with her key and punched in a code on her alarm panel. Li and Eriol were surprised to find a well-kept house with warm colors. The kitchen and living room were green and the dining room was a light blue. They also noticed an absence of pictures.

"Do you live here all by yourself," Li asked as he removed his shoes.

"Nope," Sakura said, walking over to the fridge after helping Tomoyo to the table, "Nicodemus lives with me." She took out a carton of milk and a bowl. "Nicodemus, I'm home!" A little black cat came in from the living room and meowed, rubbing itself against Sakura's legs. "All right, all right, here's your dinner." She set the bowl down and the cat lapped happily from it.

"You live here with only a cat," Eriol corrected.

"Yes," Sakura answered. "But Touya's almost always here. I'll be right back." The moment she was out of the room Eriol hugged Tomoyo gently.

"I was afraid for you," he said. She put her head on his shoulder, silent tears running down her cheeks, it had bothered her more then she let on.

"I can't believe she lives here alone," Li said, sitting down, "She's only, what, 16 at the most?" (I wonder what happened to her parents.)

"Hey," Sakura said from the stairs, "I got the stuff." For someone who lived alone she had enough medical supplies to keep eight people bandaged for quite some time. She inspected Tomoyo first. "I don't see anything to bad, just some bruises, but no broken bones. There's not much I can do for that. You're pretty tough, that was quite a beating you took." Sakura took out an ointment of some kind and applied it to Tomoyo's arms. "This will tingle." She the put it around her eye. On top of it all she added a cool compress. "Keep that on for twenty minutes, you can lie down on the couch if you want." Tomoyo nodded gratefully and walked into the room. Eriol almost walked after her.

"Just hold on there," Sakura said, "You've got a cut under your eye and it doesn't look to good." She took off his glasses and got alcohol and a cotton ball ready. "This will sting, a lot." Eriol nodded and winced as she applied the disinfectant. Suddenly she felt something. (What is that? An aura? Oh God, I hope there isn't another spirit about. This would be a really awkward time.) Eriol felt his powers slip away for a moment, but Li covered his aura. Eriol and he caught glances. (That was close!) Eriol thought. (I'm going to need to be more careful in the future.) She put some liquid stitches over his eye.

"Thank you," Eriol said after she put some ointment on his bruises as well and wrapped his swollen knuckles in cold cloth. She just smiled, the act warmed her face.

"Go look after your girlfriend," Sakura replied. Eriol did not need to be told twice, he practically sprinted to the living room.

"I'm last," Li said, he sat in front of her to be inspected. "What do you think they wanted?"

"They were sent," Sakura said, "Someone, probably from school, sent them to go after Tomoyo. I can't think of who she offended." The incident at school was forgotten. Sakura looked at Li's eye. "That's going to be black, there's nothing I can do about it." She put on a little ointment. "This can't get in your eye, so don't rub it anytime soon." Sakura took care of the rest of his minor bruises that she could see, then went on to his hand. She, very gingerly, removed the wool.

"How bad," Li asked through clenched teeth, not wanting to look.

"Well," Sakura said, dabbing it with alcohol, "Considering you could have cut off your hand it's quite good. It's not all that deep, considering, but I'll probably need to stitch it. I'll be right back." She stood and walked silently out of the room, Nicodemus jumped on the table and looked at Li with gold eyes.

"Hello there," Li said, offering his good hand out to the cat, "How are you little one." Nicodemus sniffed his hand and allowed Li to pet him, purring.

"He likes you," Sakura said, sitting back down. "He doesn't give his affection readily." She had brought up a needle, some strong thread, and a bottle of whiskey.

"How'd you get that," Li asked, looking at the large bottle.

"Touya," Sakura answered, "I've gotten some cuts that need to be cleaned, this works the best, but it will sting." She picked up a piece of leather and walked around behind him, putting it between his teeth. "Bite down and close your eyes. Think of someone who you like and keep your mind focused on them." Li racked his mind for a person. (Well, let's see, I definitely don't want to think about Melin, that in itself causes pain. Caso's just plain annoying. Tomoyo, she's Eriol's girl. Sakura.) He surprised himself when his mind fell on her, he did not even notice Sakura pour the whiskey on his cut and prep the area with cotton. (Damn, where did that come from? Well, she is beautiful.) The other half of his mind dared him to describe her while the needle pierced his flesh. Li barely even flinched. (She has hair like spun silk, the color of a leaf in the fall, but more so, more red. Her eyes are like gems, but deeper and filled with their own special fire. She hands, those beautiful hands, are strong and deft, but as delicate as porcelain. Hey body is beautiful, but it is her that I love. Her paradoxes. She is beautiful and warm, but cold at the same time, mainly at school. She helps us all, but hurts those who would touch us. She can fix a broken hand, and unfix a nose. She is a tomboy, but seems so attractive at the same time) He was so deep in his analyzing of Sakura he did not notice until she shook him.

"Syaoran," She said, "Hey buddy, welcome back. You must be head over heels for someone, you barely flinched." He only half opened his eyes to find her inches form his own face, his mind still buzzing. She backed away and folded her hands, then she snapped her fingers in front of his face. Li felt more alert in that moment then he had in years.

"Whoa," he said, looking at his hand, which was now bandaged in white gauze, "Where did you learn how to do that?"

"Touya was a tournament fighter," Sakura said, cleaning up, "I was dragged along and I helped patch him up. When I was older they let me join the tournament medics."

"Cool," Li said, standing. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his ribs and gasped, bending at the waist.

"Careful," Sakura said, she put the stuff in a cabinet and walked over to him. "Hm. Were you hit in the ribs?"

"I think so," Li said, straightening, very slowly.

"Take off your shirt," Sakura said, a no-nonsense tone in her voice.

"What," Li asked, backing away slightly, "Are you crazy?"

"Your ribs could be fractured," Sakura said, "If they are and are not properly handled then they might puncture lungs." Li, still holding his side, looked at her and shook his head. "Are you going to take you shirt off or I am going to have to do it for you?"

"You and what army," Li asked. Sakura smiled.

"I won't need one," she said, an evil smiled on her face. Now, normally would have invited the challenger to bring it on, but Sakura's evil smile made his blood turn cold. Li winced, and removed his shirt. Sakura made him stand near the counter so she could get a good look at his side.

(I can't believe I'm doing this!) Li thought to himself. (I'm letting a girl I barely know look at me half naked, and she's looking, very closely, at my chest. God, can this get any more embarrassing?) Suddenly Sakura ran her hand over his ribs and her hand brushed the tender area just beneath them. Li involuntarily jumped and yelped, which was closely followed by a blush. Sakura smiled, suppressing the urge to giggle.

"I didn't know you were ticklish," She said as she smiled. (God, he's really hot. Whoa, where in hell did that come from? I can't do this, I don't even know him! Still, you cannot deny that he is hot and has a really sexy body. Don't say that! He didn't even know I existed until I beat him and saved Tomoyo. Yes he did, he said "hello" to you when you were introduced to the class. No one likes me because of what they've heard. He'll be just like everyone else. They were like that here and in Tokyo, and I come back to find out people are still the same assholes they always were. He's different. He's like everyone else, now leave me alone!) Sakura banished the thoughts of Li and looked once more at his ribs. "They're not fractured."

"Told you so," Li said, crossing very well toned arms over his chest.

"They are strained," Sakura said, "When you stood up they twisted a little out of place. You'll have to be careful." She took some ointment and spread it over his ribs. Then she went to put it away. Li could not help but let his gaze wander over her form as she stretched to reach an upper shelf. Without thinking he walked over and took the jar with his good hand and easily placed it on the shelf. He was standing right next to her, barely inches away. Sakura feel their closeness and averted her gaze, fighting down a blush. "Thanks." She mumbled and walked back to the table to get everything else together.

"No problem," Li said, leaning against the counter, Sakura leaned over the table and picked up the bottle of whiskey. "Least I could do." (God does she have to be so sexy?) Sakura felt his gaze and quickly ducked in the other room. She replaced the whiskey in the locked cabinet and walked back to the kitchen, purposefully avoiding looking in the living room. Li still had not replaced his shirt.

(Oh, God.) She thought. (Why does he have to be so sexy? Wait, what? Sakura what the hell has gotten into you? Pull yourself together girl, he's just a guy. Yes, but he's a really hot and nice guy too. That's enough out of you for the moment, thanks.) "Put some cloths on," Sakura said, giving him a look out of the corner of her eye. "You guys can spend the night here, I don't think any of your parents would like to know why you're so beat up. You can call…shit." Sakura ran to the phone.

"What's wrong?"

"I forgot to call Touya," Sakura said, her fingers moving faster then speed dial, "I hope I get him before he gets here."

"What do you mean," Li asked, pulling she shirt over his head.

"What would you think if you walked in on your baby sister standing in a kitchen with a shirtless guy," Sakura asked.

"Ah," was all Li said, quickly pulling his shirt on.

"Touya," Sakura asked, then held the phone a foot away from her ear, Li could hear the screaming.

"SAKURA WHAT IN HELL WERE YOU THINKING," Touya asked, "I WAS WORRIED ABOUT YOU I'M HALFWAY TO YOUR HOUSE! WHAT'S WRONG? YOU SHOULD HAVE CALLED ME AN HOUR AGO!"

"Touya," Sakura said, very calm, "I'm sorry I forgot to call, I'm fine. I just ran into three kids from school getting the shit kicked out of them and decided to help them out."

Li looked over and mouthed, "Was not."

Sakura looked back and mouthed, "Was to."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" Touya asked, still screaming. "WAS IT THAT CHINESE GAKI THAT WAS GAPING AT YOU AT THE DOJO?" Sakura looked at Li apologetically.

"He's over-protective," she said.

"I had no idea," Li replied. Unfortunately Sakura forgot to cover the phone.

"WHAT, HEY WHO IS THAT? IS THAT HIM? DUDE, YOU HAD BETTER STAY AWAY FORM MY SISTER OR SO HELP ME I'LL…"

"Touya," Sakura snapped, Li had never heard that tone before. It shut Touya up immediately, probably out of shock. "Turn around and head home, I'm fine and so are the others. I stopped to help before they could rape Tomoyo, now go home."

"No fucking way," he replied, "You think that makes me feel better? What if they come back?"

"Touya," Sakura said, "You know me, those guys aren't going to be beating anyone up for quite a while, and they'll have to get out of the hospital first. Now go home. If you come here I'll just throw you out."

"Sakura," he began.

"Bye," she left no room for argument, "Stupid baka, he always thinks I'm in trouble."

"Well aren't you," Li asked, "What about school tomorrow?"

"I'll handle that tomorrow," Sakura said. "Right now, I'm starving." Her stomach grumbled and she blushed. "Ha ha, sorry."

"That's ok," Li said, "I'm hungry too." Sakura looked though the fridge.

"Lets see," she said, "What've we got that's really fast. Hm! Chicken, with pasta!" Within moment Sakura had chicken, lemons, spices, noodles, sauce, and an assortment of pots on the stove. Li gasped in admiration, he knew his mother would appreciate the speed required to have all that out with such efficiency. Sakura then handed Li some plates with an order to set the table, neither really felt like walking into the living room, Eriol and Tomoyo had still made little noise, which was not a good sign for them. Li finished setting the table and turned around just in time to see Sakura fall.

Nicodemus had jumped off the mantle above the stove and scared Sakura. She yelped as the black fur ball dodged the stove. Before she knew what was happening she was falling backwards towards the stone floor until a very strong pair of arms encircled her. Li lifted her, ribs or no, like she was no more then a feather.

Li was surprised at how light Sakura was for someone with such strength. He picked her up and set her back on her feet, now facing him. She had scared him; he had no idea where the depths of his feelings came from. He was still holding her and she did not pull away. Li looked into her eyes, those beautiful emerald eyes. He fell into them, the rest of the world melted away. He inched his face closer, Sakura pulled away sharply, breaking his grip on her and turning to the stove, taking Nicodemus in her arms, pretending not to notice what just happen.

"Thank you," she mumbled to Li and put Nicodemus around her shoulders, now cold from the lack of warm arms around them. (You can't do this Sakura, you have other responsibilities and you don't want to drag him into it, he could get hurt or killed, or worse. Yes Sakura, you do have responsibilities, but what about your heart? Shut up.) She stirred the noodles and checked the chicken. "You should go get the two lovebirds, this will be ready soon."

Li walked out of the kitchen and shook his head. (Baka, you have no time for this. You came to Japan to find the cards and you haven't even started searching yet. You don't have time to play with girls. You're not playing, and just because we have responsibilities doesn't mean we stop our lives. Mother is leaving soon and she will want me to come home. All the more reason to put off searching for the cards. The Clow Cards could unleash a reign of terror on the world. It needs one of those every once in a while, now go back and kiss the sexy lady in the kitchen. Shut up.) Li knocked and found Eriol and Tomoyo sitting calmly side by side, to calmly.

"Stop making out and come eat," he said. Eriol jumped, the only thing he loved more then Tomoyo was food.

"Yippee," he shouted, sounding very unlike Eriol. "I'm starved." He helped Tomoyo up, kissed her, and then led the way to the kitchen. Sakura had just pulled out the chicken.

"I hope you're hungry," she said, "I made a lot." Li looked out, surprised. There was enough food for nearly ten people, of coarse Eriol could probably eat half of it. They all ate until they were full and Eriol ended up over-stuffing himself.

"That was utterly delicious," he said, sighing.

"Well," Sakura said, "I'll remember to call you the next time I need the fridge emptied." She slipped a pudding cup into her cargo pocket and showed them upstairs. Her bedroom door was closed. She had two extra rooms. "Tomoyo, you can bunk in my room. Eriol and Li, you guys can each take a room." They each bade their "good nights," Li and Sakura felt very awkward for a few moments until Li pulled his horny ancestor away. Sakura handed the boys sheets and towels with directions to be careful of their wounds.

Later, Sakura's room.

Tomoyo finally broke down. Tears began running down her face and she shoulders racked with sobs. Sakura just held her, she continued crying. Sakura, well versed in the manor of comforting with her nephew, ran her hand over Tomoyo's hair. She hummed a little tune and rocked gently, soon her tears stopped.

"I got your shirt wet," Tomoyo said, still clinging to Sakura.

"It's all right," Sakura said, "I have a nephew, I'm used to it." Tomoyo laughed a little.

"Kinomoto," Tomoyo asked.

"Yes," Sakura replied.

"Would it be all right if I spend the night with Eriol," she asked, "I mean, not like that, but, I just need to feel safe."

"I understand," Sakura said, "And I trust you." She pulled out an extra set of PJ's and handed them to Tomoyo. "Here. I'll wash your cloths and give them back tomorrow, you can borrow one of my outfits for school." Tomoyo nodded in thanks and wiped her eyes. She went to the bathroom to change and Sakura plodded down the hall and knocked on Eriol's door.

"Hey," he said, "What's up?"

"Tomoyo's going to sleep in here tonight," Sakura said, "I think she's shaken more then she let on. She just spent the last ten minutes bawling her eyes out into my tee. I just wanted to pass on some advice, don't try and comfort her. Just hold her and let her get everything out. I've worked with rape and molestation victims at the dojo, it's not pretty. I'm going to need you to be strong for her. Can you do that?" Eriol nodded, he had a spell that would help Tomoyo sleep without dreams.

"I can," he said.

"Don't tell her I talked to you," Sakura said, she bowed. She then walked over and knocked on Li's door.

"Hey Kinomoto," he said, leaning against the frame. "What bring you to this end of the hall?"

(God, he's hot.) Sakura banished the thought quickly. "Sorry for disturbing you, but I needed a cover, I was just talking to Eriol about Tomoyo and I didn't want her to know."

"Oh," Li said, she had not come to talk to him. There was a small silence where Tomoyo ducked into Eriol's room, all Sakura saw was him catch her in his arms before the door shut.

"They make a cute couple," Sakura said. Turning back to Li. (So would we.) Her alter ego chose the worst times to come out.

Li looked down at her, her hair was around her shoulder and fell to her waist. The light from the hall caressed and softened the lines of her body, she looked like an angel. Suddenly, he couldn't resist anymore. "Don't kill me." She was about to inquire what he meant when he leaned in a kissed her, very quickly, on the lips. The moment lingered for him, her lips had tasted of cherry and mint, her skin had felt smooth beneath his. Sakura just stood there, stunned. She looked up at him, a strange look, was it sorrow, in her eyes. Thoughts were running through her head, but one prevailed. (You can't do this; he can't be involved, for his sake let him go. If he finds out, the next attack will be on him and he will die.) The next thing Li knew he was flying through the air and landed in a heap on his bed.

"Don't do that again," Sakura said, ice in her voice. Li knew he was lucky; she had aimed for the bed. He sighed and got under the covers, letting sleep heal his wounded body and pride.

Sakura's room.

"God, I can't believe he just did that," Sakura said, sitting on her bed.

"Ugh, finally," Kero said, "I thought that girl would never leave. Who did what?" Sakura handed him the swiped pudding and he flew in circles for joy. "Answer my question."

"Syaoran just kissed me," Sakura said, Kero almost dropped his pudding.

"He did what," he almost shouted, "I'll kill him!" Kero flew towards the door but Sakura grabbed him by the wings, he battled helplessly against her.

"No you don't," Sakura said, "I already threw him across the room, he doesn't need any more damage done tonight."

"If I were in my true form you would let me go," Kero said, he was referring to the great feline animal with wings that was Keroberos, his true form.

"But then you wouldn't fit in my room," Sakura said, "Eat, then lets get some sleep. I felt an aura downstairs earlier, a powerful one. We'll probably have to go after it later this week." Kero ate his pudding while Sakura got changed and crawled into bed. He got in his drawer and called.

"Good night kid!"

"Night Kero." Sakura let sleep take her, falling deep into her own world.

Well, there's the next chapter. I'll update soon, I promise.

Thank you all, I love you.

-Verya