A/N: here's another looooonnnnggg one! Hope you all like this one, too! Sorry about the boring chaps…I am a beginner after all…it's only been…let's see…one and a half months…yup!

Anyway, story time! Yuppie! This was a fast update!

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Worthy Love

Chapter 11:

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"Fine! Here's what happened…" said an irritated voice.

(flashback)

Syaoran walked down an old unused deer trail. Following its path into the dark inhabited woods, he walked slowly, choosing a careful position to place his foot. Sounds of nocturnal animals waking told Syaoran that it was soon to be dark, though the light in the forest was already dim, making it hard to see.

As he followed the path, an owl hooted overhead, signaling the discovery of his lunch. Syaoran stopped in his passing to watch the breathtaking kill of the beast and it's prey, a rare sight.

Syaoran went on his way. Following the curvy, but leveled path, he ran across an old log. Putting a hand on the log for support, Syaoran pushed himself and jumped over with practice ease. The path slightly went upwards, then dropping it's level, Syaoran just barely stopped himself from falling down.

Checking if the next step was secure, Syaoran swung his leg and landed on the spot. Syaoran did the same for the next couple few, but he made a mistake when he jumped onto the last one, which was going to bring him to the raging river. Syaoran slipped, landing onto his side and slide down the steep hill side.

Rolling and twisting, he finally stopped his fall, landing at the bottom. Syaoran tried to get up only to find his ankle twisted and bruised.

"Shit. What am I going to do now?"

Just then, a loud thundering over head hinted oncoming rain.

"Great! Just great!" he said, a little too short tempered.

Dragging himself, he found a small hold under a tree, revealing to be quite a good refuge. The rain came a few minutes later, soaking the entire dirt floor. Syaoran huddled closer to the treem trying to stay warm and dry.

Hours later, he sat shivering in the never ending rain. It pounded the floor with a constant thumping sound.

"S-s-so c-c-co-ld…" he whispered to himself.

Just when Syaoran had given up on someone finding him, he heard the most beautiful voice calling out his name.

"Syaoran! Syaoran! Where are you?"

"O-ov-er h-h-he-here!"

"Syaoran? Syaoran! Keep screaming! I need to hear the sound of your voice!"

"H-h-here! O-ov-over h-he-here! H-h-here!"

He heard a sliding sound from nearby told him that the person was close. A loud thump on the tree he was hiding under indicated that his rescuer was right above him. The tree shook and swayed, bumping Syaoran in the head.

"Ouch!"

"Syaoran?" asked the sweet angelic voice.

Syaoran heard crunching noises come around the tree. A face appeared right in front of him.

"There you are!"

Lightning flashed, showing his rescuer's face. Large emerald green eyes appeared behind soft auburn colored hair that was cropped short to the shoulders.

"S-S-Sak-ura?"

"Uh-huh! At your service! I'm here to rescue you." she smiled her bright smile. It seemed to light up the whole area.

"Aww. There we go! I was wondering if what Eriol said was true, though I didn't have a doubt about his ability."

Grabbing one of Sakura's small hands, Syaoran climbed out of the tiny outlet he was holed up in. Once out, Sakura slipped a warm cotton blanket around his shoulders.

"Where…?"

Sakura held up the pack she was carrying. Tying the long leather thong, which held it closed, Sakura slung it behind her back. Another flash of lightning showed Sakura wearing a dark cloak that was protected by some type of magic. He could not only sense the magic being used on the cloak, but see the rain slide right off. Grabbing his own blanket, he saw that it too was enchanted with Eriol's magic.

"Ready?"

Syaoran nodded his head in response.

"Let us go." Sakura grabbed Syaoran's hand making him blush widely. Thankfully, it was dark and hard to see. Sakura led him back onto the path waving in and out of the trees. Syaoran followed willingly, obeying whatever Sakura commands him to do. "Oh! Watch out. I'll have to let go of your hand for a moment. Be careful."

Syaoran felt the warmth of Sakura's tiny hands leave his. A rush of cold air met his damp hands, replacing the warmth with ice cold winds. Syaoran walked forward, bumping his shins on a fallen log.

"Ouch!"

"Oh! Are you alright? I told you to be careful. Sorry for not warning you about the log. I was trying to get over it."

This made Syaoran confused. "You can see in the dark?"

Sakura let out a musical laugh. "No! I wish I could! The reason I held only one of your hands was because I used the other to grope the ground for anything that may block our path."

"Oh. Yeah." Syaoran waited until he heard Sakura's landing, stating that she was on the other side of the log. 'Stupid! Stupid, Syaoran! How stupid can you be?' he thought to himself as he began to climb the log.

"This way." Sakura grabbed onto his hand again, leading the way. Syaoran stumbled blindly along. "I hate this blinding darkness. I-" but before Sakura could finish her sentence, Syaoran heard a loud thump, like the sound of wood hitting against wood, followed by a pull.

Syaoran felt Sakura go down. Before he knew it, Sakura pulled him down with her. Syaoran slipped, not being able to hold his stance and landed on top of something soft.

"Oof!"

"Sakura? Sakura!" Syaoran blushed deeply as he came up face to face with Sakura. Syaoran's warm blood flooded across his face and down his neck. "Sorry! I-"

Syaoran quickly got up, hitting his head on the bough above their head. Ducking, Syaoran slipped once more. Not wanting to fall atop Sakura again, he stood up, bumping his head once more.

"Ouch!" Syaoran quickly ducked again and slipped with the movement. He found himself laying atop Sakura for a second time

Sakura burst with laughter, unable to hold it back and making Syaoran blush harder if it were possible.

Once Sakura had a little control of her laughing, she concentrated on breathing. "Syaoran! Are you alright?" Sakura said in between breaths.

"Yes. But, why are you laughing? I got hurt, which is not funny." Syaoran said, but he didn't hide his smile.

"Yes. I know, but it was funny all the same. I'm sorry; I was unable to control it." Sakura took a large gulp of air. "Umm…not to sound rude but will you kindly get-"

"Uh-sorry!" Syaoran began to get up.

"Don't stand or else you'll hit your head again."

Syaoran nodded. "Right." he got up slowly and sat next to Sakura. He watched as Sakura got on her elbows.

She turned her head in the direction of his breathing. "Okay. Well, it's awfully dark. I guess Eriol must have tired himself out. We won't be able to make it back until tomorrow."

"So that means we're stuck out here." Syaoran sighed. "Well, at least we have warm blankets. We'll probably have to find some cover."

Sakura sat up and took off her pack. Loosening the thong, she rummaged inside. "Well, good thing I brought provisions."

"What did you bring?"

"Food, three water skins, another blanket, and some dry clothes." Sakura looked up from the pack. "You'll have to do with Touya's clothes."

"Yes, that's fine. But the real question is, where do we hide from the rain?"

"Oh! I saw a cave somewhere nearby when Eriol's light was stronger. Umm…it's…" Sakura got up slowly and avoided the large branch. A lightning flickered again, this time with no booming sound accompanying it. "It's there! I see it." Sakura grabbed onto his hand again.

The sound of thunder erupted loudly over head, a few seconds after the lightning flash. Syaoran felt the grip of Sakura's hand tightened.

"Here. Let me lead. I saw the cave, too." Syaoran grabbed the pack that Sakura had left on the sodden floor. Slinging it over his shoulder, he walked briskly in the direction of the cave, dragging Sakura with him. He withered in and out of the trees, moving aside and dodging broken limbs. The trees thinned a bit, revealing a dark shadowy hole up ahead. The cave.

"Be careful."

"I checked the path when the lightning gave us some light. There was only a few rocks. Don't worry."

Sakura nodded, though she wasn't sure Syaoran had seen. He kept his head forward, concentrating on getting them to the safety and dry spaces of the cave. Sakura did as best she could to follow every step he took, but they were too long of a stride. She quickened her pace to keep herself from falling, a mistake she wished she hadn't done. Sakura felt her left foot bump a rock, hard. She let go of Syaoran's hand as to not drag him down.

"Ahhh…"

Syaoran felt the grip loosen and stopped, quickly turning around to look at what had happened. He held his laugh as he made out a dark shape sprawled on the floor.

"Oww." Sakura said as she picked herself up, one hand rubbing her forehead and the other on the floor, supporting her up.

"Are you-" Syaoran laughed. "S-s-sor-sorry!" He tried to stop his laugh and fail miserably.

"Syaoran! You-you laughed!"

Once hearing this, he stopped himself. "Uhh…" He blushed and thanked the darkness for blinding Sakura and not letting her see it.

"Don't stop. I like hearing you laugh. It was the first time I've ever heard you laugh." Sakura said a bit saddened.

"Sorry. It's been quite a while since I've truly laughed like that. I-I guess I'm just used to faking a smile or laughter when I'm truly bored."

Sakura smiled and tilted her head to one side. "Well, you can stop faking your smiles and laughs now."

"Yes, I think I can." Syaoran walked over to where Sakura sat. "Here, let me help you get up. The cave is just over there."

Sakura got up. Lifting her left leg, she set it down. Putting pressure on it, Sakura felt a wave of pain fly across her ankles and up her leg.

"Ahh.." Sakura fell onto her face once more. She sat up slowly.

"Sakura!"

Moaning, Sakura rubbed her leg and ankle. "S-Syaoran. I-I think I've twisted my ankle."

Syaoran walked behind Sakura. "Okay, but we can't stay out here forever. I'm going to lift you up, but don't put any pressure on your leg."

"Okay." Sakura felt his warm, strong arms wrap around her tiny waist. She felt herself blush as his warm breath brush and tickle the hair at the back of her neck.

Syaoran lifted Sakura easily. Deciding to just carry her, since she weighted so less, he bent a little. "Sakura, put your arms around my neck. I'm going to lift you."

"What? Carry me to the cave? Are-are you sure? I-uh…I might be heavy."

"Nonsense. Do as I say."

Sakura nodded and did as he commanded. She slowly draped her arms around his perfectly muscled neck. She felt Syaoran's arms slide down her thighs and under legs, picking her up like she was as light as a feather. As he began to move, she hugged herself closer to him, feeling the ache of her ankle. "I'm such a pain, aren't I? I'm always in the way. Sorry, Syaoran. I was supposed to come and rescue you; instead you are the one rescuing me. I shouldn't have come. I became a burden to you."

"Don't say that. If you hadn't come, I would have froze to death under that tree." Syaoran walked as smoothly as possible, trying to eliminate the pain as much as possible. Holding her closer to him, he felt the brush of her warm breath against his flesh. Her light pant from the pain stroked his exposed skin at the nape of his neck to his shoulders. "If you're tired, rest on my shoulder."

Sakura only nodded, bringing her head down slowly and resting in softly on his chest. She listened to the constant beating of his heart and felt the rise and fall of his torso. Sakura felt herself slowly fall asleep. Unable to fight against the fatigue, she let her eyes droop and close.

"Sakura?" Syaoran heard the soft sigh and then the slow, steady breathing as Sakura slowly drifted to sleep. He held her closer and smiled, happy that he could ever share a moment like this. So serenely did he feel.

Syaoran finally reach the cave. Setting Sakura down lightly, he opened the pack and brought out the dry clothing and blanket. He took his set of clothing and changed quickly, not wanting Sakura to catch a cold from wearing her soggy clothing too long.

After he was done, he walked over to Sakura and shook her gently.

"Huh?" She said groggily, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Sakura, umm…here." He handed her the set of clothing she had brought for herself. "Change quickly. I'll umm…try to start a fire."

As Sakura changed, Syaoran began building a fire with the wood he had collected earlier. Syaoran took a step backward once he was done stacking the wood. Lifting up his hand, he snapped his two fingers together. A fire miraculous appeared.

"I haven't done that since I was a child." Without turning around, Syaoran reached for his soggy clothes. Hanging them on the stack he had built, he said, "Give me your wet clothes when you're done changing. I'll lay them out to dry."

Sakura came up behind him, handing him her wet, sodden clothing. She sat down near the fire and watched him lay them down. Looking around, she saw that he had already unpacked the food and blanket.

"Go ahead and sleep. I've already laid out the blanket."

"But, what about you?"

"I'll be alright. I'll stay up and guard in case something comes and try to harm us."

Sakura shook her head stubbornly. "No. You should sleep. I've had enough rest already. It's not good to deprive your body of sleep."

Syaoran looked over at her. "And what do you suppose you're going to do when I'm sleeping?"

"I'll stay up and watch."

Syaoran shook his head, trying to cover up his shiver. His wet chestnut hair clung to both sides. "No."

"…" Sakura looked down at her hands. She had seen the way he shivered. From years of healing, she knew he was losing body heat. Standing up, Sakura walked up to him determinedly. "You're losing body heat, Syaoran."

He looked up, bewildered that she would notice such a thing. "Well, there's nothing you can do about it. Go and have a rest."

"No." Sakura shook her head. She moved closer to him. "I can share some of my body heat with you. If we don't do this, I'm afraid you'll get very sick. You might even get pneumonia."

Syaoran stared at Sakura, lost for words.

"Syaoran, it's nothing bad, if that's what you're thinking. I'm just trying to prevent you from getting a sickness." Sakura took a step toward him. He didn't flinch or move away. She then reached under the cloak he had on and wrapped her arms around his waist.

Syaoran felt the heat radiate from Sakura's body. They had made their way to the blankets. Laying down Syaoran slowly wrapped his arms around Sakura. He reached for the other cloak and covered them both.

Together, in each other's arms, they slowly closed their eyes and gave themselves up to the fatigue.

(End of flashback)

"And that's what happened." Sakura finished by telling Tomoyo they had gotten up early and that's why they came back just when the sun was about to come over the hills. She had left out many of the details and had decided not to tell her about them holding each other when they had slept.

"Nothing romantic? None? At all?" Tomoyo covered her face. "Oh! I can't believe you!"

"What would you have me do? Kiss him?"

"Yes!" Tomoyo yelled, throwing up her arms.

Sakura blushed and looked down at her hands. "I-I want my first kiss to be with someone I really like."

Tomoyo turned to her friend. "I can't believe you! You're too…too…argh! I can't even put my frustration into words!"

Sakura smiled. "Sorry to disappoint you, but that's how it went and nothing else can be done about it."

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"What! That's it! You didn't even try a single move on her!" Eriol yelled his annoyance and dissatisfaction. "Syaoran! What the hell is happening to you! She's your next victim!"

Syaoran looked annoyed, and glared at his best friend. "At least I was able to spend a whole night with her. What about you? You hadn't made as much progress as me. So I don't know why you're complaining."

"Yes, that's because I hadn't an opportunity yet. You had the biggest opportunity right in front of you and you decide to be the nice, shy guy."

"Shut up. I can take as long as I want. No need to rush me. She's a delicate one. You'll see." Syaoran said and smiled.

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A/N: man…I'm soooo tired! It's one in the morning and I've got school! Ahhh! Sleep! Thanks for the reviews! Love you guys! Good night!