Author's Note: (Do Not Post in LJ!) I've decided to dedicate this latest chapter to Aikou-chan! You're reviews have been wonderful ;; I really, really hope you keep reading and reviewing! As a note, this does not mean I've totally disregarded everyone else who reads this story, in reality, I love you all
Fence
Syaoran was fairly appalled with himself at how long it had taken him to notice it. The huge, lumbering, fence that had been erected between Sakura and himself. Before, there had been nothing between them but friendship and love, well, for him anyway. Now there wasn't any of that, just this huge, steel wall blocking him from his precious Sakura. He could see her just fine, oh yes, but could he have her? That was another matter entirely.
As he sat next to her, he felt her body heat on his skin as their arms touched momentarily, and the fact that he couldn't pull her into a warm embrace, or kiss her fair cheeks, or hold her hand was shear agony. He couldn't even talk to her anymore, not like he used to. And he never would, never again. That God-damned Time Witch! His eyes grew and he lowered his head in shame; it wasn't fair of him to blame others.
He stared into the fire in the middle of the group's little circle and sighed. It was going to be a long, painful journey…
"Syaoran-kun?"
Blinking, he looked to his right. Sakura was looking, with worried eyes, straight at him.
"Syaoran-kun, are you alright?" she asked worriedly.
He scanned the circle and realized that it wasn't just Sakura, everyone was looking at him. He suppressed a blush and turned back to Sakura.
"I'm fine, don't worry." He smiled, masking the pain he felt in the lie he had just muttered.
She smiled and leaned up and kissed his forehead. "You looked far away, sad almost, you can talk to me if you feel sad, Syaoran-kun." Her gaze was so full and warm, it drew him in, but he couldn't follow.
Things won't ever be like that again…
"Thank you, Sakura-chan, that means a lot, but I think I'm going to go to bed now, I'm pretty tired." He got up and climbed into his bed-roll, back turned to them all, and fell into a restless sleep, haunted by the memories of better times that would never be reached again.